waggons stuck fast. stuck fast. At last we were compelled to leave the waggon bodies behind us, and content ourselves with the gun and waggon limbers. The Punjaubees, finding their boots an impediment, preferred throwing them away, and pushed boldly on."

The force was greatly diminished by the necessity to leave men to hold the line of communications. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the Allies reached Tientsin on 23rd August (the height of the rainy season). Here camps were formed, and the troops rested until the 8th September, when Sir Hope Grant, at the head of only 1,500 men, marched to Hosiwu, half way to Peking. They met with little opposition, for the reason that the people were already impressed by the force which had marched through their country; and here we find the dominant note to the whole situation. The Chinaman is only to be impressed by force! All other reasoning is wasted on him. Let him see that sufficient force is available, and, without the necessity of using it, he becomes submissive. Let him believe that sufficient force is not available, and he remains a terror.

The losses among the allied troops in 1860 were slight. The only tragedy by which the advance was accompanied was the capture of a party of Europeans, of whom six were barbarously done to death. The only two engagements fought, those at Chan Chia Wan, and Palikao Bridge, both against enormous odds, resulted in the utter rout of the Chinese, and Peking was reached without further adventure, with results that have already been recorded.

What was possible in 1860 is surely possible to-day. The Chinese have not changed. Despite the tuition they have received, their nature remains the same; and, above all, it must be remembered that they have never held their own against a European foe, however disproportionate. The much belauded feats of the "ever victorious army" of General Gordon were performed against a Chinese rabble; and their failure to hold their own on each occasion, with one trifling exception, when they have been opposed to

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the Japanese, affords further evidence of their lack of military spirit.

While the representatives of the Powers were thus remaining inactive at Tientsin, events were moving apace around the beleaguered Legations. Various rumours of the wildest description became current. It was stated that

;

the Legations had fallen and their inmates been slain that the Europeans had been succoured by Prince Tuan and placed for safety in the palace; that the ministers and their staffs had driven off the rabble and taken refuge in a disused palace. Every day brought a fresh statement. On the 20th July a cipher message was received from Mr. Conger, the United States minister. On the 25th came a letter from Sir Claude Macdonald stating that it would not be possible to hold out many more days, and reporting forty-four deaths among the besieged; and on the 26th came another message from Mr. Conger, which read "Relief soon, if at all." Then, after six days of silence, a letter, undoubtedly written by Dr. Morrison, the well known Peking correspondent of the Times, on the 21st July, was received by that paper, and published in its columns on the 2nd August. The letter is as follows:

There has been a cessation of hostilities since July 18: but, for fear of treachery, there has been no relaxation of vigilance. The Chinese soldiers continue to strengthen the barricades around the besieged area, and also the batteries on the top of the imperial city wall; but in the meantime they have discontinued firing, probably because they are short of ammunition. The main bodies of the imperial soldiers have left Peking, in order to meet the relief forces. Supplies are beginning to come in, and the condition of the besieged is improving. The wounded are doing well, the hospital arrangements being admirable. One hundred and fifty cases have passed through the hospital, none of them septic.

The Tsungli Yamen have forwarded to the British minister a copy of a despatch telegraphed by the emperor to the queen, attributing all the deeds of violence which have been committed to bandits, and requesting her Majesty's assistance to extricate the Chinese government from their difficulties. The queen's reply is not stated; but the Chinese minister in Washington has telegraphed that the United States government will gladly assist the Chinese authorities. This despatch to the queen was sent to

the Tsungli Yamen by the Grand Council on July 3; yet the day before an imperial edict was issued calling upon the Boxers to continue to render loyal and patriotic services in exterminating the Christians. The edict also commanded the viceroys and governors to expel all the missionaries from China, and to arrest all the Christians, and compel them to renounce their faith. Other decrees applauding the Boxers speak approvingly of their burning out and slaying the converts. Their leaders are stated in a decree to be princes and ministers.

Another decree, which was issued on July 18, made a complete volte-face, due to the victories of the foreign troops at Tientsin. In this decree, for the first time, one month after the occurrence, allusion was made to the death of Baron von Ketteler, which was attributed to the action of local brigands, though it is undoubted that it was premeditated, and that the assassination was committed by an imperial officer, as the survivor, Herr Cordes, can testify.

The force besieging the Legations consists of imperial soldiers under Yung Lu and Tung Fuh Siang, whose gallantry is applauded in imperial decrees, though their gallantry consisted in bombarding for one month defenceless women and children cooped in the Legation compounds, using shell, shrapnel, round shot, and expanding bullets. The Chinese undermined the French Legation, which is now in ruins; but the French minister was not present, M. Pichon having fled for protection to the British Legation on the first day of the siege.

The greatest peril we suffered during the siege was from fire; the Chinese, in their determination to destroy the British Legation, burning the adjoining Han-lin Academy, one of the most sacred buildings in China, and sacrificing the unique library, which has been reduced to ashes. The Chinese throughout, with characteristic treachery, posted proclamations assuring us protection, and the same night made a general attack in the hope of surprising us unawares. There is still no news of the Pei-tang Cathedral.

The following are the casualties:-Killed.-British-Captain Strouts, R.M.L.I., Messrs. Phillips and Scadding, civilians, Messrs. David Oliphant, consular assistant, and Henry Warren, studentinterpreter; Italians, seven; Russians, three, and M. Sitroff, of the Russo-Chinese Bank; Germans, ten; Austrians, four, including Captain Thormann, commander of the Zenta, cruiser; Americans, seven; Japanese, Captain Ando and five marines, M. Nikamura and M. Kojima, students; French, M. Herbert and eight men, M. Wagner, of the Chinese customs, and M. Gruintgens, engineer. The wounded number 138, including Captain Halliday, severely, the American surgeon, Dr. Lippitt, severely, and Captain Myers

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who are all doing well. All the ministers and the members of the Legation and their families are in good health, and the general health of the community is excellent. We are contentedly awaiting relief.

The receipt of this letter served to stimulate the Allies to action. On the 6th August a force of 12,000 strong, consisting of British, French, Russians and Japanese marched, out from Tientsin for the rescue of the Europeans in Peking. After a brief and futile resistance on the part of the body of rebels two miles beyond the city, the Allies marched on Peitsang, where the Chinese had thrown up earthworks, with the object of giving battle. They were speedily driven out and put to flight, and a second stand was similarly overcome at Yangtsun. The result was never in doubt. A squadron of Indian cavalry got in among the Chinese and promptly routed them, with heavy loss; and the Allies resumed their march without further molestation, until just after reaching Tungchow, where another skirmish left the road to Peking open.

The celestial capital was entered without serious opposition on the 15th August, thus ending a siege which had kept the inmates of the Legations prisoners ever since the 10th June.

The whole of the circumstances which had led to the attack on the Legations will probably never be known. The dowager empress and Prince Tuan, the ringleaders in the anti-foreign conspiracy, have fled, it is reported, to Sigan Fu, the ancient capital of China. The Emperor Kwangsu is reported to have fled, and none but minor Chinese officials remained, but there is reason to believe that recent events, if not actually inspired by Russian agents, were encouraged by Muscovite protestations of friendship for the dowager empress, who thus became primed. for the execution of her plans. The greed for territory and the love of intrigue are equally strong in the Russian character; and her policy of backing up the Chinese against the European Powers in order that she might pose as the protector of China for her own ends, has been

consistently displayed during the past six months. The supplying of improved armaments to a race permeated with hatred of Europeans would be in line with this policy; and the scandalously outspoken manner in which the semi-official Russian press has dealt with the situation leaves little doubt as to the real aims of the ministers of the Tsar. In Russia the press is so strictly censored that nothing can be published without the official imprimatur. Any outspoken articles may be safely credited to the inspiration of the powers at St. Petersburg, and as such supplies a fair index to the trend of Russian policy. A few extracts from such "literature" may be instructive.

In the Gaseta of the 22nd June appeared an article on the situation of M. Avsseyenko, a well known Russian writer :

"The danger is, that the restless British policy may regard the present state of affairs as a suitable opportunity for extending its sphere of influence' in China, and for disturbing Russia's great interests in the Far East. For such a change in the position Russia must hold itself fully prepared; and it must be mindful of the fact that Great Britain always treats cautiously an opponent ready to strike."

The Russian journalist then goes on to prove that Russia is in the fortunate position of being able to concentrate large bodies of men between Tientsin and Peking far more speedily than any other Power.

By making proper use of this advantage, Russia must win equally in Europe as in Asia. Great Britain will be compelled to operate in the most circumspect manner, and a political victory gained over the British love of discord will be in itself a great gain, which will enhance the international standing of the fortunate opponent. A waiting and threatening rôle assumed by Russia in China would beyond a doubt result in making the most favourable impression from a Russian aspect. The Asiatic races and governments respect force far more than magnanimity. If Russia will co-operate with the other Powers in suppressing the revolt, and in so doing take the leading place by virtue of the number of its bayonets and field guns, it would then be, in the eyes of the Chinese, the first Power entitled to a decisive voice in settling the affairs of the Far East."