The news of the week from China is of rather
doubtful import. A telegram has, it is true, been received from Sir Claude Macdonald dated August 5th, which assures us that on that date all the Ambassadors except the German were still alive, that they are exposed only to "intermittent" rifle firing, that the fortifications have been strengthened, and that of all persons collected in the British Legation—probably seven hundred, including, Sir Claude says, two hundred women and children—only one hundred and ten have been killed ana wounded. On the other hand, Li-Ping-Feng, a anccessful soldier-bandit, and a " fanatic " devotee of the anti-foreign ideas, has arrived in Pekin with his army, and has caused the Empress to execute two of her highest Coun- cillors because they Were in favour of compromise. This has greatly alarmed Li Hung Chang and other Southern Viceroys, and has hastened the march of fresh "armies" to the defence of Pekin. Tbe Empress is as resolute as ever, and while ordering an attempt to recover the Taku forts she continues the preparations for the removal of the capital to Segan. It is to be noted also that she presses strongly, as Mr. Conger reports, the departure of the Embassies for Tientsin, the idea being, as is believed in the Legations, that they can be comfortably murdered en route without the avowed complicity of the Chinese Govern- ment.
