The "Universal Gazette" denies the truth of the recent report of the execution of the notorious Kansu General, Tung Fu-hsiang, who was rumoured to' have been ately done to death by treachery. Tht paper declares that there is mo such intention as putting Tung to death, the fact being that the Empress Doway while at Vaoting, issued a secret edict ordering his imprisonment for life (whenever they could yet hold of him!). This secret edict. continues that paper, was issued on the 4th instant, but for obvious reasons, it has not been officially published-
On the other hand, our native corres: pondent at Peking writes as follows T am informed by an official who accom-pinied the Court from Hsinn to Peking, that the Empress Dowager is exceedingly apprehensive lest Tung Fuchsiang join Prince Tuan in a rebellion against her. She repeatedly asked the Grand Council chat should be done, bur none seemed able to devise anything. She therefore, on her own initiative, sent a certain official of Taotai rank, who used to he on terms of y with Tang, to Kansu to do what he could in getting Tang to disband as possible of the 14,000 men he has under his immediate command, Tt would appear that at first, when this "friend" of Tang's arrived at the latter's encampment (where it is not stated.—Translator.) the intended victim was suspicious and refused to sce his visitor, Eventually, through the good offices of the Colonel of of Tung's regiments, the Empress rager's secret agent obtained an int lew whea the following conversation ensued:—" Speaking of the events at Peking," quoth Tung Fu-hsiang, "1 was merely obeying the secret orders of Prinees Tuan and Chuang when T attacked the Lezations and slow foreigners; I did nothing against the Throne, Prince Tuan has repeatedly exhorted me to rebel, but I refused every time. So long as the Throne does not molest me and allows me to live out my life, I will never raise my hand against any one." To this the the visitor replied—" The Throne kas no 1 will against you at all, The fact there is not. sufficient money to pay the cat indemnity to foreign nations, Now: if you would stand well with the Empress Dowager, you cannot do better than help the Government to economise by disbanding, say, 10,000 of your present force, which will be a great annual saving to Govermment, whilst on the other h ud the Empress Dowager will be delighted at this substantial manifestation of your loyalty. Yon will by this step also lessen people's suspicions of your future in-}tentions. I can then" guarantee that no harm will befall you."
Fuchsians seemed pleased and consented. But so soon as Tung actually disbands the majority of his troops, there need be no surprise felt if news come ater on of Tung Fu-hsiang's premature death, I further learn that aniers have also been sent. to Sung Fan nehu), Viceroy of Shen-Kan, whose tors are at Lanchou, the capital ssu, to see what he can do with Tung, The President of the Grand Council.
"Hitherto," writes a correspondent, "the custom of the dynasty has. been to have a Prince as President of the Grand Council, but since leaving Hsian the Grand Secretary Yung Lu has so far filled that post. The Empress Dowazer has no confidence in Prince Ching who, she says, lacks firmness and strength of character, being always afraid of assuming responsi bility. Prince Li, who resigned the Presidency when he joined the Court at Hsian' in September or October 1900, is considered too slow" to refill the post, and so Yung Lu is {still President of this most important and powerful Council.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.