NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THERE is no farther hope for the European Embassies in Pekin. Sheng, the Director of Telegraphs at Shanghai, and the coast Viceroys continue the artistic lying which they hope will gain them time ; but there is no reasonable ground for doubting that a tragedy absolutely outside precedent in the history of the world has occurred. Up to July 6th the Ambassadors and their marine guards—being supplied with food by Prince Ching, a Manchu noble threatened by the Empress-Regent, and being partly sheltered by her intense desire to take them alive, and use them to strike a bargain with Europe—successfully defended themselves, but on that day, seeing the end of their ammunition, they joined Prince Ching and the Household guard which he commanded in a desperate sortie. It failed. Ching was deserted and killed, the Europeans fell back on the Embassy, and Prince Tuan ordered a final attack. He shelled the Embassy all night, and attacked at dawn through the breaches. The defenders, who had only revolvers left, shot their wives and children, and died fighting, not even Sir Robert Hart escaping. He was, it is said, offered a disguise, but he had remained an Englishman, and he elected to die with his countrymen. There is no evidence that any one was spared, and as the instinct of the Court would be to remove all witnesses, and so allow itself full latitude for lying, an escape is most improbable.
