may also be of interest to those whose views of a "pin-pricking policy" are accord with those of the writer. The Russian Railway, I should say, the " Chin-exe" Eastern Railway representatives, when first surveying the river bank with a view to selecting a favourable position, itched upon site to the west of thei present location, and sending for the Owners offered them Tls. 8, if I am not per'mow. The price asked by ves, about Tls. 16. per mow, was Tookéd upon as unteasouable, and they ordered to go back and think matters phar while their conduct would ported, sand that it was possible, ay, even probable, that the price they would receive would be less than the present offer of 2le. 4d. per mow. The nistives cogitated to some effect, and offered the ground for sale to certain fore eigners who purchased, recognising the. value of land likely to be contiguous to the as anything, Tes purely business trais-future Railway Depot. To look upon this action tbsurd,—and to ascribe it to a "pin-pricking policy" and to a desire to annoy the Russians is a quite indefensible assumption, and one which could only arise from political hysteria. After this transaction the Taotai was. induced to make proclamation to the effect that no ground was to be sold to any but Russian subjects,—our first intimation ofthe present entente cordiale. Mr. E. L. B: Allen, then H.B.M. Consul at this port, considered this an
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