In replying to the toast Mr. Liang said that the Senior British delegate had showered an avalanche of encomiums" on the members of the Chinese Commission regarding their linguistic qualifications which was much appreciated, though not necessarily deserved. It was up to his younger colleagues so to apply themselves to_ their future studies as to merit all the praises that Mr. Giles had been good enough to shower upon them. In speaking of his colleagues he was reminded of what the Administrator of the Government, Mr. Blunt, had said the other day, "Happy is the country that has no history." He would like to add, "Happy should be the boys of ow Chinese Commission," who were enjoying a round of entertainments and hospitalities from both their Chinese and foreign friends. He had described the members of his deputation as "boys," and hoped the dictionaries would forgive the classification of men of 60 odd summers like himself as '"'boys." However old\some of them might be in years, ''boys" they all were in spirit: it could hardly be otherwise in this beautiful watering place amidst their newly-made friends.
As regards the work of the Commission to which atr. pole: had alluded, speaking for himself, he would like to say that he had taken part in a number of such conferences and "I candidly tell you that I find our present meetings as pleasant as I could wish them to be, and the negotiators true and perfect friends in whom I have faith and for whom I have the greatest respect." He believed that each party to the negotiations recognized the difficulties with which the other was faced and they were doing their utmost to overcome these _difficulties—so much so, that he was "already dreaming: of a pleasant end, with gratification to all, at no expense to either party, direct or in-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.