The following letter from ex-Consul-General George Jamieson appears in the "Times" of the 28th of June TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. h appeared at Shang-Herald" May 16th from its native correspondent Peking throws considerable light on the origin and purpose of the present anti foreign uprising in China. The letter written some six or seven weeks ago, time when probably no foreigner either in China or Europe dreamt of the rapid and tragic developments we are now witnessing, and it tells with most prophetic a curacy what was going to happen. The personality of the correspondent is unknown to me, but it can be inferred from his previous letters that he has more than ordinary access to higher official circles. aken in connection with what has actually happened, the letter throws a lurid light on the inner workings of the Peking inet, and should enable us, when the time comes, to fix responsibility on the right parties. The warning he conveys is best given in his own words in the following extract Leaving a somewhat distasteful subject (the death of the Dowager Empress's favourite eunuch) I now come to one which should be seriously considered by the foreign readers of your paper, for it is question which concerns all of them and may happen at any moment. This is t avowed enmity of the Conservatives against all foreigners except, perhaps, Russians. T in all seriousness sincerity; great secret scheme, having for its crush all foreigners in China and wrest back the territories "leased" to them.
The chief leaders of this movement are the Empress Dowager, Prince Ching, Prince Tuan (the heir-apparent's father), Kang Yi, Chao Shu-chiao, and Li Ping-hong. The forces to be used to achieve this end are all Manchus, viz:—the Peking Field Force (50,000 men) under Prince Ching the Huskeng Corps or " Glorified Tigers (10,000 strong) under Prince Tuan, and the various Banner Corps of the Imperial Guards (aggregating 12,000 men) under Kang Yi and others. These 72,000 men are to form the nucleus of the "Army of Avangers," whilst the " Boxers" are to be counted upon as auxiliaries to the great fight that is more imminent than foreigners in Peking or elsewhere dream. All Chinese of the upper classes know this, and those who count foreigners amongst thei friends have warned them, but have to my own knowledge been rather laughed at for their pains "than thanked for feeling ensiety on their Western friends' behalf. May I be more fortunate in warning you. The foreign Ministers, I know, have protested to the Tsungli Yamen about the increase of the Boxer organisations in the Northern provinces, but dust has, as usual, been thrown into these foreigners' eyes. Not only have the Boxers increased tenfold in numbers since the beginning of the year in Shantung and Chihli, but even the" Imperial Prefecture of Shuntien (Peking) and the three north-eastern. provinces (Manchuria) are now filled with the ramifications of this dangerous society.
To show the high favour in which the Boxers stand in the eyes of the Powers that be in Peking, a Censor named Wang, ence of the Empress Dowager, and the subject of the Boxers having come up the Empress Dowager said to the Censor, "You are a native of this province and so ought to know. What do you think of the Boxers in Chihli? Do you really think that when the time comes for action they will really join the troops in fighting the foreign devils "I am certain of it, your Majesty. Moreover the tenets taught the members of the society are 'Protect to the death the Heavenly dynasty (T'ien Ch'ao) and death to the devils (Kuei-tze).'" For your servant's own part, so deeply do I believe in the destiny of the society to crush the devils' that young and old of your servant's family are now practising the incantations of the Boxers, every one of us having joined the socie to 'Protect the Heavenly dynasty' and drive the devils' into the sea. Had I the power given me I would willingly lead the Boxers in the van of the avenging army when the time comes, and before that time do all I can to assist them in organising and arming them."
'The Empress Dowager nodded her head in approval, and after ruminating in her mind, cried' "Aye! It is a grand society But I am afraid that, having perienced men at their head just now, these Boxers will act rashly and get the Government into trouble with these Yang kuei-tze, before everything is ready." Then after another pause, "That's it. These Boxers must have some responsible men in Chihli and Shantung to guide their conduct"—and the audience then ended, The next morning a decree was issued naming this Censor, Wang, Governor of Peking. That is to say, a sixth grade official was by a stroke of the pen raised to a fourth grade metropolitan post—a sub-prefect to a Provincial Judgeship Wang will therefore have the opportunity he wishes—namely, to organise, advis, and arm his friends the Boxers.
St any doubt existed as to the womplicity of the Chinese Government in the Boxer movement, this letter should set it at rest. It is said in some quarters China is honeycombed with secret societies, that the Boxer movement is only one of the ordinary kind, differing from the others merely in that the Government have let it go too far. Nothing, it seems to me, is farther from the truth. The Boxer rising differs from all others in that it has been deliberately fomented by the Empress Dowager and her advisers with the object of driving all foreigners from the country. A time came when the Government had to choose between the Boxers and the foreigners. They have thrown off the mask, and now the whole strength of the military forces at their command is being used for the massacre of defenceless jas, including women and children, who had gone there on the faith of treaties and under a promise of protection.
The first point, therefore, that forces itself on one's attention is that no compromise or negotiation is possible with a Government capable of such atrocities. Happily the existing Government of China is in no way to be taken as representing the Empire at large. It is, in fact, in the view of probably nine-tenths of the leading officials, a Government of usurpation, and nothing but their extreme regard for con stitutional form, coupled with the fear of vengeance, has prevented a general remonstrance, if not more serious steps. Protests, as we know, against the deposition of the Emperor have been made by several at the risk of their necks. To put down the Empress Dowager and her clique and restore the authority of the Emperor would therefore be no shock to the nation, but would in all probability' be eagerly welcomed.
The task before the Powers is therefore simpler than it would otherwise be, but none the less it may prove a work of serious
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.