We are expecting a Russian prince here shortly. The moti of the visit is. the return of the courtesies implied in the Li Mission of 1896. He is of course going to Peking for an audience with the Son' of Heaven.
The River is in statu quo no fairway for steamers; congestion at Tongku, and derangement' of trade all round. Probably for the last time the boat. passenger (native) traffic to Peking is extremely active just now; opposite the Bund any morning one may see scores pott scores of vessels preparing to start. No one will of course give 'Tls. 5 to 15 for a four or five days' tedious journey when for $2 he can go comfortably by train in three hours.
Capt. Dundas, R.N., arrived here yesterday but as there is no Peiyang Squadron and no hope of such till late in 1898, there is some difficulty in seeing where he will find an immediate field for his activities.
27th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.