T hear that Yuan Shih-kai has sent in a memorial urging the Emperor to abolish a number of useless yamens, on the ground of economy. The Empress Dowager consulted with Prince Ching, who advised delay, stating that such a course would unsettle the minds of the people. With such timid advisers as Prince Ching, there is very little chance of any real reform in China at present.
Lith April. Rumours.
The excursion of the Court to the Imperial tombs has given rise to an abundant crop of rumours these last few days, and the Legations, not to be found napping, have doubled their guards and been sending scouts all over the country to find out what truth there may be in riem. One rumour has it that General 1 has been badly defeated at Jeho and th - rebel: marching on Peking; another that Shik-kai intends overthrowing the Empress Dowager and ascending the Throne himself; and still another th... Tung Fu-hsiang is marching on Pel with a mighty army. Although all these rumours, with perhaps the exception of general Ma's defeat. are nothing more than canards, still the fact that such rumours are abroad seems to indicate considerable unrest amongst the people, at unrest increased by the exit of the Cou t from the city and the prospective gran review of Yuan's troops in the Southera Hunting Park.
An Edict was issued on the 16th stating that the Court would arrive at the Hunting Park on the 2ist and stay at Tuan Ho, one of the finest of the four hunting lodges and situated in the south-east corner. This place was occupied by the British last summer, who found it entirely gutted by the allies, the Japanese having carried off, as usual, the lion's share of the booty among their trophies being a valuable jade Buddha standing four or five feet high. After the British gave up possession the Italian railway guard moved in, and it has been their quarters up to within the last week or two, when they had to leave to make way for the Empress Dowager. Now it is reported that the Court are to come straight into the city; the announcement that they were to visit the Hunting Park and hold a review of Yuan's troops being simply a ruse of the Empress Dowager to clear the Italians out.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.