A Shanghai correspondent of the Standard telegraphed on the 18th
inst. that the boy-Emperor of China, who is now just fifteen, will assume the Government in February, and that the E m press- Regent, who, it must be remembered, is only an aunt or great- aunt, will retire into private life. That means that a struggle has occurred in the Palace, in which the party of the Empress has been worsted,—not a good omen for the immediate future of China. The boy is quite absolute, yet cannot govern ; and he supersedes a Princess who, whether her character is or is not as exceptionally strong as it is said to be, has selected competent advisers. Internally, China has been quiet under her reign, and has greatly increased her financial credit, while externally she has never been so powerful. The statesmen of Pekin have directly faced those of St. Petersburg and Paris, and the Europeans cannot claim a victory. The new Chinese Army, of which we may hear a great deal more, has been entirely a creation of this reign ; and the bases have been laid of what may prove a most effective alliance with Great Britain, a change which ought, moreover, to be carried to the credit of Lord Granville. That statesman's services in many directions have been rather unfairly obscured by his failure in Egypt, where it must not be forgotten, every diplomatist has failed, and where he has had nothing like a free hand. An English Foreign Secretary, with the world on his hands, and orders from the people to avoid fighting, has an anxious and not enjoyable time.
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