§ MR. W. C. CARTWRIGHTasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether there is any foundation for the report that the expedition which had been sent out with a view to opening up a mail route from India to China had been encountered by Chinese forces?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI regret, Sir, to state that a telegram received yesterday at the India Office informed us that the expedition alluded to by the hon. Gentleman was attacked on the 22nd of February by several hundred Chinese and by a large number of the hill frontier tribes at a place called Manwine, in Chinese territory. The main body of the expedition escaped with a loss of three wounded; but I am afraid they have lost the greater part—if not the whole—of their baggage. I regret to add that Mr. Margary, a distinguished consular officer, who joined the expedition at Bhamo, having made his way overland from Pekin, was, with five Chinese servants, surrounded and killed.