are Rotting restless at the sight of this unexpected friendship between recent enemies, but so far they have made no hostile move nor given" much more than a bint to the Tauogli Yamen that "it will be better to keep the friendship of Russia alone instead of currying favour with a manifestly weaker Power like Japan, for even with England to help, Russia will still be able to protect China from the two countries." The Chinese are, however, forewarned and it is to be hoped forearmed also; and if what Peking has heard of British reverses in the Transvaal turns out true, it is anticipated that Russia, France, Germany, and Italy will soon make some clearer showing of the line they intend to take regarding the partition of this Bmpire, which all Chinese know perfectly well has only been prevented by the attitude of Great Britain and Japan. Our rulers are, however, determined to fight for the existence of the Empire and do not despair yet, with Tapanese and h help, of preserving their independence.
2nd November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.