If proof were wanted of the ruthlessness of the Empress Dowager and Prince Tuan, the latest news to hand of the recent al Clansmen and high officials would alone con-sewn them. Aning-t those slaughtered just prior to the reported flight of the Empress Dowager and Tuan we now learn were sil Yung-yi (Chinese), President of Beard of War; Li Shan (Manchu), Vice-President of the Board of Revenue Lien Yuan (also Manchu); the first Jast named of whom were Ministers of the Tsungli Yamen. The crimes of which these unfortunate officials were cha were of cours, friendliness to the Forei Legations in Peking, a too high opinion of the prowess of the Western troops, and a too low estimate of the Boxers, As to the second-named official, Li Shan, it will be remembered that he was imprisoned at first on the charge of having furnished food ete., to the Legations during the lull in the attacks on them (16th July to begining of this month). Tuan wished to execute him but_on the entreaties of Jug Lu, the Empress Dowager consigned Li Shan to the Board of Punishments. The facts of the case however, seem to be that Li Shan's residence was close to the Legations and during the lull in hostilities the Foreign troops took advantage of it to dig deep entrenchments running close to Li Shan's house. This caused the Boxers to openly accuse Li Shan of making an underground passage to the Legations with traitorous intentions. They themselves arrested him and took him to Prince Tuan demanding Li Shan's immediate execution. Tuan was willing to obey the Boxers' edict but it so happened that Jung Lu was in the Palace at the time and successfully pleaded for his life—for the time being. Prince Tuan, however, seems to have kept Li Shan'in mind even during the panic and confusion raised by the rapid and near approach of the Allied forces, and ere leaving the Capital obtained permission of the Empress Dowager to behead not only Li Shan but also all who were suspected of being friendly to Foreigners. The list we are afraid will be a large one. It_is now also stated that even Jung Lu himself, is now a prisoner at the Board of Punishments on the same charge, but his confinement may possibly have been made to save him from the rage of the Foreign Powers and so enable him to be appointed one of the plenipotentiaries to _negotiate for peace with them. Had Jung Lu really been imprisoned on a bond fide charge of favouring foreigners, he would probably have had the same fate as Li Shan and the others.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.