The influence of Li Hung Chang with the Empress- Dowager
of China seems to be on the wane. He was recently ordered to report upon the floods of the Yellow River, which has been drowning a few thousand persons in its usual way, and remonstrated against the order, which was of course a sentence of exile under honourable forme. The Empress gave him an audience, but in spite of his prayers the order was repeated, and the old man, who is a Chinese of seventy-seven and too feeble to stand up before his Sovereign, has to betake himself to a swamp. This is supposed to be a triumph for Great Britain, Li Hung Chang being Russian in his sympathies, but it may be questioned if we shall gain any- thing by the change. The great Mandarins of the orthodox school submit to force, but are perfectly impartial in their hatred for all barbarians. They will listen to Sir Claude Macdonald if he promises most, or threatens most, but if not, they will be as deaf as adders. They care about themselves and China—in that order—not about us. or any other oppres- sive persons who are demanding favours by the bayonet.
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