A note may be appended to our Chengtu and Mienchow correspondents' letters to-day to explain the general situation. The ~principal causes of unrest are the impending retirement of Hsiong Keh-wu, the Tuchun, and the anxiety of the Yunnanese to get control of this wealthy province—their own of course being notoriously poor. Hsiong Keb-wu has ruled for two years with apparently good suc ce Opinions differ about him, but, the Szechuanese can at least look back on two years of comparative peace, aiter disputes which brought them great misery and destroyed a large mart of the provincial capital. Now Hsiong wishes to retire and the question is who shall succeed him. There are two rival generals Lu Cha'o and Lu U-chin, and the Yunnanese troops, whose hope would, of course, be to "tome in behind the clash of other rivals and secure the plums for themselves. Hence the perturbation throughout the province. At the time when Hsiong's impending retirement became known, the great fair of Tsinyangkong was in full swing. The news fell on it like blight on roses and ruined it. That happened six weeks ago and no actual fighting has yet been recorded. But neither is there any news of Hsiong's successor. It is to be feared that if the Szechuanese (an unwarlike people) will not fight for their own rights, they will afford another example of the old fable of the wolf and the lamb.
The Latest Insurance it is a commonplace that brokers in London will insure against anything or everything. In the past war has been insured against, as well as peace, while kings and em-perers are ordinary chattels in their commerce. To-day they are dabbling in insuring against England becoming a dry country. Estimating the chances as 1 to 200, they are quoting a rate of 10/- per £190 against prohibition within the next 12 months. This is the only quotation of the kind that we have been able to discover. It was made after Pussyfoot Johnson left for France, so we are unable to say whether his departure has had the effect of lowering rates or not. It would also be worth knowing whether this rate also covers Scotland, for in spite of the distilleries which act as landmarks in that country. there is one district which adopted lo veto a few years back, and which should come into force either this or next year. Still even with thin edge of the wedge, we incline to the opinion that the rate quoted would include not only England but likewise Scotland as well.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.