February 12.
A errer from our Peking Correspondent, which we published yesterday, summarized the momorial presented to the Throne by the Shuiwacha on the subject of Sir Robert Hart's leave of absence and the appointment of Sir Robert Bredon to the post of Acting Ins sector-General of Customs. It is satisfactory to note that the Chinese Government does not allow the withdrawal of Sir Robert Hart from the scene of his fifty-three years of devoted and brilliant ser-Vice to take place without some tangible expression of its sense of gratitude and obligation, The veteran Inspector-General's_ser~ vices to China cannot be repaid by money or decorations—there is, indeed, no reason why an attempt to repay them should be made—but the farewell honour conferred upon him is a tactful indication that his devotion is recognized an-l appreciated, while the titular distinction granted to Sir. R. Bredon, who temporarily succeeds him, shows that the position created for himself by Sir Robert Hart is regarded as having attained some degree of permanency in the Chin-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.