Feb. 9th, 11th. [The 9th of Fel +the first day of the Chinese New-year.
(1) Prince Tun and others return thanks for an Imperial present of eight-jewelled Pockets, worn on the person as ornaments.
(2) The Imperial astronomer reports that the wind blows from the Northeast, which indicates a-healthy and prosperous year. (According to the old arrangement of the Eight Diagrams J% means North west.
(3) Tso Tsung-tang having reported a victory over the rebels at Ping-fan,.an edict is issued decorating with Manchow titles three officers who specially distinguished themselves. 10 rebels were killed in the engagement. _(4) Chang Shu-sheng, treasurer of Shansi, is appointed governor-general of the transport service, and the criminal judge Li Ching-ngao appointed treasurer in his Chun-ta, criminal judge of Kiangsi, is transferred to Kwangtung, aad is succeeded by Li Wen-min, (6) Brevets ete., are conferred on four Kiangsi officials for capturing some lawless characters who had escaped to that province from Fukien.
(2) Li Hung-chang requests that the district magistrate of Ning-chin, and the inspector of police may be handed over to the Board of Punishments for having allowed the escape of two criminals from the district jail. The guards having taken shelter from a shower-of rain, fell asleep, and when they awoke the prisoners had gone.
12th and 13th.—Imperial edict. To show merey to the prisoner is the first essential of a benevolent government. In the 11th year of the reigns of Chien-lung, Chia-ching, Tao-kwang and Hsien-feng, were issued granting an amnesty to prisoners. His Majesty, since his accession to the throne, has been taught by their Majesties the Empresses Dowager, to solemnly ponder day and night how he may best love and cherish his people. He has now just completed the first decade of His reign, and is anxious to copy the mertiful example sct him by His illustrious ancestors; He therefore requests the Grand Secretaries of State and the Board of Punishments to devise a scheme for commuting the sentence of all prisoners throughout the empire, except those of the very worst character, and lay it before the Throne. All persons suffering for small offences, not punishable by banishment or by flogging with the larger bamboo, are to be liberated without delay. It is hoped that the recipients of this extraordinary grace will be induced to amend their lives, and thus accomplish the aim of Majesty in granting it.
(2) An edict is ment. of the Imperial land-tax and rice tribute in those portions of Chi-ning-chow, in the Shantung province, where the crops have been destroyed by inundations, (3) Wong Tung-ho, a secretary of the Privy Council, requests permission to retire from office, in order to attend to his mother, who is 82 years old and_ very unwell. (Her death was anounced in the Gazette of February 4th.)
The petition is recorded. ith and 15th.—Imperial edict. Some time ago Yungehuen, chief resident at Uliasutai, memorialized the Throne accusing Wen-she, amban at Cobdo, of neglecting to properly maintain the efficiency of the military posts; and Wen-she was consol quently re-called and handed over to the War for trial. Subsequently a memorial was received from him reporting his action in regard to the military posts. Orders were then sent to Chang-shun, tsan-tsan at Cobdo, to investigate the con duct of Wen-she and report to the Throne, and it-was intended to wait the arrival of that report before passing sentence on him, but to-day a memorial has been received from him (Weén-she) requesting permissi to give up his post, on the plea of ill-health, and advising a change in the Customs' depariment. His request to be allowed to retire from office is a dodge con-cooted to screen himself, and under the circumstance a most unseemly one; for although Chang-shun had not arrived to take charge of affairs, yet, forgetful of the vast interests at stake, he suddenly request permission to throw up' his post. The manner.also in which he has brought forward his proposals for certain changes in
yond all precedent; he appended the names the Customs' department is irregular be-of Kwei-chang, Tu-pu-hsin and Cha-mu-chu without having obtained their consent dose. Inshort, his conduct in every respect has been most reprehensible; he is therefore stripped of his buttons and dismissed. Respect this.
2.—Li Hung-chang announces his inton= tion of having the history of the Metropo-
and written up to the present time. tan Circuit (or Imperial' domain) revised now 140 years since this work was Inst sued, and it is high time that steps were taken to draw up the history of that period, otherwise there will be unrelinblo.materials for doing so. He proposes to intrust the preparation of the work to a committee of learned officials and gentry, acting under the direction of Dr. Hwang Pony-nien, the committee to meet in an office in Paoting to be established for the purpose. Materials for the history will be drawn from official documents, private family records, and from the tales of old people, Nothing trill be rejected because it may seem trivial, and every precaution will be tal to in: sure accuracy. The work will contain a full record of the laws promulgated by success sive Emperors, of the changes in the waterways, in the territorial divisions, in the official staff, and in the umber, &c., of the army; also of the prosperity. which the state may have enjoyed, or the evils it may have sutlered from time to time, of the s0- condition of the people, the progress of learning, "te. A record of such things should at all times be kept for the infor-motion of future ages. It is also proposed arrect the errors and supply the defi-neies of the old history, which is dofective in many particulars, It contains no account of the sacrifices which should be offereit at the Imperial tombs, no statement as to sources of the rivers and stroams flowing through the district, neither has it any catalogue of the books published; and although Buddhism and Taoism are heretical religions, yot the history takes cognizance of them and gives notices of the more famous priests &e.
ese and all other defects will he corrected in the proposed history. It will also contain a full account of the transport, service, military affairs, state of the const defences and the repairs of the embankments of the rivers and canals. Such a history it is believed will be of great value for future reference. The cost of preparation will be borne by the provincial exchequer.
Feb. 16th and 17th.—An edict is issued in reference to a memorial from Chang-chih-wan, lieut-governor of Kiangsu, reporting the capture of some members of a Secret Society, and recommending to the notice of the Throne the officials through whose efforts the capture was effected. appears that in the winter of 1871, the persons in question, headed by one Chang Chen-ta, plundered and burned the market town of Chang-chu in the district of Ching-chi, and designed an attack on Tsing, Ching-chi, and Li-yang, but the leader Chang Chen-ta and others having been taken prisoners and beheaded, the rising was quelled. The officials concerned certainly merit some notice for their prompt. and successful action. (A long list of officials follows, all whom are decorated with titles, peacocks? feathers and so forth.)
2.—Li Ho-nien, lieut.-governor of Honan, reports some miraculous interpositions on the part of the City and River Gods at Yiensz, and requests the Throne to bestow two tablets in commemoration of these events. In 1861 Yiensz was attacked by the Nienfei, but was successfully defended by the people for ten days, when the rebels raised the siege. After their
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.