Tun Peking Gazette of the 15th January contains an amusing and charaoteristic out-pouring from Ting Jih-chang, Governor of Fohkien, in his character of rigid moralist and disciplinarian, He has received a letter from an official named Kin Teb-hung saying that another official named Tsiang Feng-teao was desirous of contributing Tls. 1,000 to the fund for the relief of sufferers by the recent floods; but that, as the latter "did not wish his name to appear as contribator, he had requested the writer to address the Governor confidentially, entreating him to "take his humble aspirations into consideration." It is scarcely surprising that the Governor should have looked upon this as an intended bribe. As he very pointedly remarks, the floods are " thing long past, and if Mr. Tsiang was so anxious to relieve distress he had better have come forward at the time. Subscriptions for the relief of distress are public and perfectly proper undertaking; why then should the drafts be forwarded so secretly; and what necessity was there for calling attention to the giver's "humble aspire tions P" In fact, "the only explanation that could be attached to the affair is that it was his intention to tempt the Governor with surreptitious offer." The argument does eminent credit to Ting Fatai's discernment, and we can imagine the holy horror with which he was overcome on discovering such unheard of wickeduess.—Bat what is the object of all this out-pouring to the Throne? Is it necessary to the maintenance of his role that he should pose in this way at intervals, and call all the world, to witness his spotless purity? For, Ting's large experience of office can Jeave him in little doubt what verdict will be passed upon his proceedings at Peking. There will be a general expression of regret that the Tis, 1,000 were not offered in a quarter where been better appre-can imagine the members of even the inner cabinet chortling over Ting's final lament, that it is plain his own character fails to command the respect of his subordinates, and soliciting that he "may be handed over to the Board. for the adjudication of a penalty, by way of warning to those who fail to conduct themselves as is due in the relations between superior and inferior."
Really, the thing was done very clumsily; and we do not wonder that, apart from every other consi Ting was of the proceeding. They manage these things much better in Shanghai. We. heard a tale, the other day, of a former Taotai of Shanghai, who was reputed far from immaculate during his term of office, but who had nevertheless to be approached with becoming decency. An avowed fancy for rare books afforded one facile method of exchanging bank. notes for honours and emoluments, The suitor called, intimated his business, and in the course of the interview presented a work which he had recently dropped across, and which he thought His Excellency would be interested in perasing, The great man thanked him for the atten. tion, turned over the leaves directly hia visitor's back was turned, and proceeded to extract the bank order which constituted the plot of the, tale—But while this ceremony was being gone through on one occasion, it was interrupted by the arrival of another visitor; and it so chanced that the Trotai, quitting the room for a moment with the first arrival, left the second visitor alone in the room with the recently presented volume. Knowing the reputed weakness of his superior, this gentleman's interest was attracted to the book, and in turning over its pages he detected a Tls. 5,000 note which he quietly transferred to his own custody. The Taotai. returned, finished the interview, searched. for;
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.