Page 5
I sent him on yesterday morning for Shanghai, where he is expected to meet St. Johns. Chang, who appears to be, at the present moment, the most influential Minister of the Chinese Empire.
2. M. Lucin remained for nearly a week at Hongkong. As he was in constant correspondence by telegraph with Paris and was much occupied, he preferred to live on board a French steamer in the Hongkong harbour, but I nevertheless entertained him at the Government House, and had much interesting and important conversation with him respecting the present critical relations between France and China. I understood from him that the French Government will not recede from the position which it has taken; but he is inclined to hope that war will nevertheless be avoided.
3. The severe check which the French troops recently sustained at Hanoi (or Kwang Hung) distant thence about three days' marching from Hongkong; and the loss of their distinguished leader, Commandant Rivière, with several other Officers, and a large number of men, allows to have resulted in...