LI HUNG CHANG, China's aged statesman, died at Peking on November 7, at the age of 79. This leaves Prince Ching alone in charge of foreign negotiations at Peking. There is much speculation over the possible effect of the death of this statesman. Earl Li was known as the friend of Russia, and was believed to have aided that country in many of the diplomatic moves by which Russia triumphed over the other powers. He was certainly a remarkable man; and tho China more than once censured him, yet she turned to him in every case of emergency, and he is believed to have acted many times as a check upon the harsh measures which the empress dowager contemplated toward the foreigners. Now that his influence has been removed, it is feared that new complications may arise, both from the attitude of the empress toward foreigners and from the jealousies of the powers toward one another. The Russian minister was very persistent to have Earl Li sign a treaty with reference to Manchuria before his death; but through the influence of Japan and the southern viceroys, the empress dowager forbade the signing of the document.