In Wuchang things have been unusually quiet, though three weeks ago there was some little excitement at a rumour that the Viceroy was dead and that the Allies were sending an expedition up the Yangtze. Happily both rumours proved to be false. The Viceroy was ill and only a few days ago sent for a foreign doctor, who reported his illustrious patient to be suffering from bronchitis. But yesterday he was out driving in his carriage, so we trust he is now nearly, if not altogether, restored to health, Should anything happen to him it would be nothing short of a public calamity; both Chinese and foreigners pray that he may long remain the Viceroy of the Lianghu.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.