ransomed them for Tis, 200 (of which three-fourths are said to have reached the Boxers, the rest finding other and dev' ous channels for its disappearance). in three days after this event a grent mumber of Boxer bandits had drifted toward Wueb'eng, on the Grand Canal north of Linch'ing, where the government troops met them on the 13th, and killed about twenty of them, besides capturing many more. Two of the soldiers were killed also. What followed is involved in the confusion always ap-Pertaining to "things Chinese-" But it is certain that we are now in the recurrent cycle where we were about five months ago, plug the experience gained in that time, an experience, it is needless to say, quite wasted on the Boxers. They still seem to believe. that they are "immune" from bullets, not~ withstanding the number always left dead on the field, and that they can exterminate the soldiers, despite the fact that they never kill but one or two, as it were by accident. The whole country positively SWARMS WITH SOLDIERS, who ought to put an end to the disturbances in a month, if the right means were only used, But the right means are severe, and it is Chinese tradition not to be severe. The prefect has issued an excellent proclamation, advising everybody not to follow the Boxers, and threatening those who do, As this is just what was said in the numerous proclamations of the 27th of November, it is simply re-thrashing the old straw. Threats under these conditions are absolutely idle, and the people are well aware of it.
Mennntime it is by no means easy to see what is in store, General and Governor Yuan Shu-kai continues to promise well, and only wants "time." Que is sometimes reminded of a remark of Curran in Parliament when a member had talked on and on for ever, and someone remarked that was "trenching on the time" of another. "Time? Time?" said Curran bitterly, "he has long since done with time'; he is trenching on eternity!"
It is impossible to predict accurately when ther the sentence upon the murderers of Mr. Brooks will have any effect upon the general situation, but in the capital itself it cannot bein vain that an able and impartial British official ling spent so much time and shown much pertinacity and discrimination in British subject, Tt is certain that all El efting justice fora heinous wrong to one ese officials are at present anxious to render any such event impossible in the future, and are prompt in offering escorts to all foreigners, no mutter where they are going.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.