§ COLONEL SYKESsaid, he rose to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether information has been received of the dismissal of Prince Kung from his office of President of the Board of Foreign Affairs at Pekin, and who has been appointed his successor; and whether official Reports have been received from the diplomatic and consular authorities in China of the progress of insurrection in several provinces as affecting the Export and Import Trade of the Country?
§ MR. LAYARDSir, I am happy to inform my hon. and gallant Friend that Prince Kung has been appointed his own successor. We have received a telegram at the Foreign Office from Pekin to the effect that he has been re-instated with all his dignities, and is again Prime Minister. We have no official Reports with regard to British trade, but on the whole the accounts are very favourable, with the exception of those places occupied by marauders. There is every prospect of the trade increasing.