In spite of his financial embarrassments, it is nearly certain
-that Lord Lytton has determined on a new war. As we antici- pated last week, Sir S. Northcote 'knew nothing about the Matter, Lord Lytton having sent " reinforcements " to British Burma', while the Chancellor of the Exchequer was repudiating them in the House of Commons. The horrible
young Prince who is governing Burmah either is or is not threatening us, and Lord Lytton has increased the garrison of Peg-ti to 5,000 men, while his regular organs speak of the Burmese King as a "standing menace" to Bengal. The King is almost entirely powerless, but Calcutta has long wished to annex Burmah, a valuable territory, though thinly inhabited, and much too near Western China. If the King threatens in any way there will be war, and he is said to be a hard-drinking lad, addicted to bloodshed, aud full of dislike to civilisation. Our own impression is very strong that the war has been de- cided upon, and will only be prevented either by peremptory orders from home, or unexpected difficulties in Afghanistan.
