—To-day Sir Claude Macdonald invited all the British residents in Peking to a dinner held in the small theatre of the British Legation. We sat down sixty all told, and the only toast honoured was " The Queen." Then came a dance on the tennis court, and everything passed in the happiest way. This practically ends our cool season, too, and we are all making preparations to flit to Feiaiho or the cool slopes of the Western hills. Rumours of the Ihe Ch'uan (or Big Sword Society), commonly known as the Boxers, have been reaching us for some time past, but they have been so widespread for the last six months, and "Wolf!" has been cried so often that nobody worries much about the stories.
Sunday, 27th May.—News has come in that the Belzixn Tine has been attacked by a party of Boxers at Changhsientien. The engineers and foreign employees who were on this side of that station fled to Fengtai, while those who were there and beyond barricaded themselves in their houses. A party from the Peking Hotel, headed the proprietor and his wife—n plucky little American woman whose prowess with her shooting-iron was of great service—went out and rescued these people. Meanwhile the Boxers had not been idle. No sooner had the party left their barricaded homes than the flames were seen rising behind them. Then the attack passed on to Féngtai, which was immediately burnt, and the workshops ransacked, and looted. Three locomotives were absolutely stripped of al! their fittings, in connection with which an amusing incident is related. One of the ntly rumpered with the valve which had steam up. It immediately started off, crashing through the door of the engine house and finally overturning down an embankment. The surprise of the Boxer engine-driver may be imagined Tuesday, 29th May.—The Peking railway at Fengtai is now in the hands of the Boxers. Telegraphic orders have been dispatched for guards for the various Legations, but owing to the shillyshellying of the Tsungli Yamen their departure was delayed for two days.
Thursday, 31st May.—The guards arrived in Peking late this evening, and marched in at once. The Boxers have left Fengtai j temporarily on the approach of the train. [The frst detachment of guards consists of 80 British marines and a Nordenfeldt. 75 Russian sailors.
75 French sailors, 30 of whom were im-[mediately detailed off to the Peht'ang (North Cathedral).
50 American marines and a Colt.
30 Italians and a L-pdr gu. Ten of these accompanied the French to the Pebtang.
30 Japanese sailers.
The streets were crowded on the arrival of the troops, but owing to the darkness the Chinese have greatly exaggerated the actual numbers.
Sunday, Srd June—Trains have been running regularly since last Thursday, and to-day's mid-day train brought in 50 German marines, and 35 Austrian sailors with machine gun. The Boxers in the meantime have" been destroying such villages in the country as harboured missionaries or native Christians. The Church of England mission at Yungching, which has been established for several years, was oecupied by the Rev. Charles Robinson and the Rev. H. Norman. When the mission house was attacked these two missionaries were helped out over a wall by friendly neighbours. They fled to the magistrate's yamen for protection. He kept them there for some "days, but eventually was forced to let them out by his back door as the Boxers were clamouring at the yamen for them. They both, on being let out, made their way fo the north gate of the city. The Boxers overtook them, however, and native report says Mr. Robinson was cut to pieces in the street. Mr. Norman was captured and taken away in a cart. Ho was subjected to the most fearful tortures before being, some 24 hours later, put out of his misery. Of course, there are thousands of rumours floating round as to the fate of other missionaries in the same district. Nothing authentic, however, can be obtained.
Monday, 4th June.—After the first train from Tientsin had arrived to-day the line was again attacked and seized by Boxers. Anting, the next station below Fengtai, Uurnt, the poles hacked to pieces. This was destroyed, the track and sleepers
method of procedure was continued at other stations, and along the line towards Tientsin. The telegraph line towards Tungchou is, however, still in working order. The Diplomatic Body evidently now think the situation very serious. Constant meetings are held.
Tuesday, 5th June.—An overland carrier has been started by the Customs Post Office to take light mail matter to Tientsin only, and will leave here daily until the line is in' working order again. The officers in charge of the various detachments had a meeting this afternoon, and a combined plan of defence has been organised.
nesday, 6th June.—The Foreign Ministers went to the Tsungli Yamen this morning, and, in response to their demand for railway communication to be re-opened to Tientsin, Prince Ching gave his word of honour that the line would be repaired and in working order by the following Saturday, at the latest. The Foreign Ministers have accepted this, and will await developments during the next three days.
Thursday, 7th June.—An engagement was reported to-day between General Nieh's foreign-drilled troops and the Boxers at Yangtsun, some twenty miles north of Tientsin. The Boxers are supposed to have suffered somewhat severely.
Friday, Sth June—Rumour says the Chinese Government have ordered General Nish to retreat and leave the Boxers alone. From this action it is obvious that the Government intend to encourage the antiforeign movement of the Boxers by removing all obstacles from their path. General Tung Fu-hsiang's soldiers are pouring into the Chinese city here. They are a well-armed, irregular rabble, and it is from them we have far more to fear than froma Boxer attack. The Boxers are only armed with swords, and in spite of their boasts that they are bullet-proof we fancy that a Lee-Metford will use none of its penetrating capacity against them. The Diplomatic Body are awaiting to-morrow, when, according to Prince Ching, the railway will be opened again.
Saturday, 9th June.—The servant in charge of the Grand Stand at the Race Course, some six miles outside the city, came in early this morning with the news that the Grand Stand had been burnt to the ground, and he bad barely escaped
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.