As we ventured to predict last week, the summons of
the Viceroy of Yunnan to Pekin meant death. He started for the capital, but "committed suicide" on his road. That means he was strangled by orders from Pekin; and a similar fate is reported at Shanghai to have befallen Prince Bung. This is un- confirmed, but probable ; and Li Hung Chang, the great Viceroy of Canton, is in similar danger. He is protected from public attack by the love of his own race, but that very love makes him the object of deadly dislike to the Mantchoo party, which is now -triumphant at Pekin. This party has bolder men in it than the Chinese, and always comes to the front in times of excite- ment, but its drawback is this. It is the war party, and suffers heavily from every reverse in the field, losing through an inva- sion like Lord Elgin's all it has gained in a generation. Still, it is bold ; and from the decision with which its head, Prince -Chun, is acting, it may intend to bid France open defiance. This is the impression in China itself, where the excitement in- 'creases ; and as an explosion would be directed against all Euro- peans, the British Government will be wise to keep the fleet in Chinese waters up to its fullest strength. The Chinese party may yet assert itself, having an able General, Tso, and an able statesman at its head ; but if Li Hung Chang disappears from the scene, the Court must fight, or risk a serious insurrection. Its Chinese subjects will bear defeat, if the Empire does not, but will not submit to both humiliations at once.
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