News reaches us at the Inst moment of a threatened disturbance: at the capital which, however, came to nothing owing to the prompt and vigorous action taken by Viceroy. Apparently a false rumour was started thit rice tickets were to be distributed by some or all of the missions a certain day, und hundreds of people decided to utilise the rumour for farther-their own latent schemes. Happily a detachment of soldiers and policemen who were purposely stationed at: sev centres in close proximity to the mission stations succeeded" in upsetting the calculations of the would-be rioters, and p-ace continues. But it is too clear that Chengtu, in spite of the renowned American' Deputation and its accomplishments of a year ago, has not yet quite made up its mind to allow foreigners to dwell in undisturbed tranquility within the circuit of its magnificent walls. Meanwhile I am glad to be able to say that on this occasion nothing came of the plot to injure or even seriously alarm the missionaries who are so gallantly holding the fort at the provincial capital.
12th January.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.