23th March.
Te Reuter's telegram that we print this morning explains the dispatch of the Hermione and Brisk to Taku.
Lhe Legations have realised at last the menacing nature of the anti foreign organisations that have been fostered by Yii Hsien and ultimately by the present actual rulers China, and concerted action is to be taken, Before the winter began we first drew attention in these columns to the danger that is now recognised and we are very glad to see that there is a chance of the Powers being united on the matter. It is an excellent thing in every way that the Empress Dowager and her immediate circle of Manchu advisers should be made to understand once more that they are not an independent Power, and that the despised foreigners will unite to control them when they go too far. Sir Claude Macdonald will do well if he gets all the Powers to act frankly together in the present situation, which threatened to become a crisis if it had been neglected much longer. It is amusing to note Peking and Tientsin deny the tence of any trouble in the North. Applied to for news, their answer is:
is: "Absolutely newsless Peking and Tientsin extremely quiet."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.