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- members is general plunder and rapine, as in the Taiping rebellion, which desolated during several years some of the richest and fairest Provinces of China.
4.
Hongkong is a central and peculiarly favourable post of observation, while Sir Harry Parkes, (with whom I maintain the most cordial relations), complains of the comparative isolation of Peking. I shall not fail to transmit to Your Lordship any important information of a positive and reliable character which may reach me concerning the existing crisis in the affairs of this quarter of the globe.
I have the honour to be My Lord, Your Lordship's most Obedient Humble Servant,
Bowen
P.S. Since the above was written, a telegram from London has been received through Reuter's Agency, to the effect that France claims a war indemnity from China amounting to six millions of pounds (£6,000,000) Sterling. There is a local rumour that