NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Chinese not only tolerate kicks in a very discreditable way,—they invite them. They have ceded to us a small territoryknown as Kowloon, to be used as an extension of Hong- kong, and on Monday it was to have been taken over. Captain May, with fifty police, accordingly went there on Friday, April 14th, to make preparations, but was attacked and com- pelled to retreat. Next day a hundred Sikhs of the Hong-kong Regiment, supported by the 'Fame,' a torpedo-destroyer, were de,spatched to the spot, and found it occupied by a thousand Chinese Militiamen in uniform, with a small battery of artil- lery. The Chinese opened fire, but killed no one, and when the 'Fame' responded and the Sikhs charged, the Militiamen fled, and the British flag was quietly raised. The Viceroy explains that the soldiers were employed by a secret society ; but the British Chargé d'Affaires will probably demand his dismissal, and the surrender of the Chinese reserved rights over the city of Kowloon, as a compensation for the insult offered. The truth seems to be that the local Governors dis- like all territorial concessions, which hurt their pockets as well as their pride, and that Pekin looks on at a rising disin- terestedly, just. to see which will win. It is very disagreeable to be compelled always to use force in China ; but what is one to do with a Government which never tells the truth, which only keeps promises when convenient, and which leaves its great agents to do exactly what they please 7
