As I forecasted in my last, the Lai Wu expedition came back and' reported all quiet and peaceful. Moreover the report} is that it was a piece of score-settling against a family obnoxious to some Catholic adherents. They reported to the prefect of Taianfu that at a certain village there was a man who was practising "Boxer" arts, and in addition was storing arms, ammunition and silver in a cave, to which more than a thousand people were resorting to receive instruction. The resident agent (native) of the Catholic organisation insisted that the prefect should at once send troops to the village named and apprehend the man accused. Wisely thinking that this was rather a drastic measure, the pre fect first sent to make enquiries, and finding nothing, sent for the Catholic agent to ask him more particularly as to his source of information, and found that the agent had just gone' to Chinanfu. The prefect thinking this a move to report the matter to the Governor, at once sent off a runner with his version of the matter, and the Gor-cruor immediately sent—troops to investigate.
The result of course ers in general. It is perfectly as-rounding that the Chinese will be so foolish in the face of last year's events; but it is only too evident that there is even a greater desire than ever before to uso: foreign connections to forward their personal affairs. Where native agents are employed in missionary work, even the greatest caro will not avoid many complications, and when they are given a rather free hand, the things they wil do are well-nigh incredible. Aman who has been known as notoriously anti-foreign, is just now seeking to attach himself to the Catholics ata well-known place, and on being sought for, was found on the premises smoking opium and drinking wine with his cronies. It developed that he had learned of some influence that the native priest had got with the Governor, and as ho had a case pending, thought i¢ would be a good thing to connect himself with the church.
Another man in missionary employ (not Catholic) presuming on his position as representing the foreigner, attempted to make a social call on the prefect and thus enhance his influence in the eyes of the people, so that any affairs which he might have would be more easily managed. The prefect. very properly declined' his advances, and the agent made such xepresentations to the "foreign office" at the Provincial capital, as' to bring a reprimand on the prefect. The profect seems to be a man welldisposed, and of good character. That he and others like him should be annoyed and humiliated by such intolerable presumption, would be bad enough under most, pal-hating circumstances, bub under present conditions and with last year's lesson before men's eyes, such things are amazing. And set from the best information obtainable these are samples of what. is being very widely practised. Missionaries, whether Catholic or Protestant, are taken in by their agents, and no Chinese know better how to present a clear balance sheet when any enquiry is made. Besides, these agents are all supposed to be actuated by religious motives and their statements are given weight accordingly. That some are worthy of this confidence, there is no doubt, but a large" number of—them not, is only too painfully to one who takes a dispassionate view of the case. An examination of cases of trouble between Christians and their heathen neighbours would show that by far the greater part of them were occasioned by the interference of these same agents. The difficulty is, of course, in having Ecclesiastical organisations under foreign supervision with native agents. But a discussion of this would encroach on forbidden ground in this paper, so I refrain.
Ist October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.