A banquet has been given to Rear-Admiral Yeh, of the Peiyang squadron. It is known that Admiral Yeh was cut off from his lect last year on the fall of the Taku forts by the Allied Admirals. though not strictly a prisoner of war, he might safely have been called such it was undoubledly a very trying time for the Admiral, captain, and crew of the Haiyung at Taku'and Weihaiwei. The banquet was given by the d officers of the Northern Squadron and took place on Commodore Sal's ship, the Haichee. The after deck was nicely decorated with flags and flowers. The table was laid on the deck, and over it, underneath the awning, the Chinese, German, and British ensigns were displayed. The foreign dinner was excelently served; the wines were very good and the chinaware and cutlery were of the latest. design. During dinner several speeches were made. The Commodore the health of Admiral Yeh and the other speeches was one by inese lady who sat at the Admiral's ud. She sid that she hoped the time would soon come when Chinese officers would be able to bring their wives to banquets.
The referred to was Mrs.
peared at the banquet in nae This will. no doubt, be of interest to the Anti-Foothinding Society The Chinese officers looked very well in their uniform, but the peacock's feather could well be dispensed with. The fore instructors at the Forts were kindly i to the banquet and the invitation was readily responded to. That the peiyang squadron may have a bright future is the hearty wish of all foreigners who were present. Admiral Yeh has since left here for Shanghai.
19th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.