Sept. 27th.—The Sacrificial Board tions that the Prince Foo may be deputed to offer the usual sacrifices at the Fung-teen-teen Ancestral Temple, on the 9th of the month, (80th Sept.
(2) Hoo Kea-yuh er FR =A President of the Board of Censors presents a petition containing minute information respectingexorbitant and unlawful taxation imposed by the officials in the province of Keang-se, and praying His Majesty to issue orders to the Board of Revenue to investigate the matter, in order that the Jaws may be upheld, and liberality extended to the people. The law of this province is that one additional mace be paid in with every ounce of silver, in order to make up the deficiency in weight, whereas the aforesaid officials now demand for mace additional, which proceeding is contrary to established law, and inflicts i ascribable injury upon the people.—His Majesty replies that the petition is recorded.
28th—Duke Benn having performed the usual sacrifices. at the White Dragon Pool, has returned to Peking and greeted His Majesty.
(2) An Eaict has been issued to the following effect, Shen Mow-kheeni(HUAERSIE) memorializes that his leave of absence has expired, but his health is not yet restored; and he' prays that We may permit him to retire from office. We grant the petitioner a further furlough of two months, during which period he may attend to his health without anxiety. There is no nece that he should resign his appointment together. Respect this.
(3) Ma Chung, General permitted to retire from sequence of ill-health.
29th,—The following Edict has been issued. Tsin Yul-ying (AgPEBE) has petitioned for leave to erect a temple in honour of a former Viceroy of Yun-nan and Kwei-chow, named Laou Tsung-kwang, who gained signal victories over the Rebels, and was much beloved by the people. We Heceased affeer be. ancrifices to in Spring rant the petition, and appoint that the
and Autumn, in order to make known his fidelity. Respect this.
30th.—To-morrow the Emperor will pass through the King-yun-mun gate to the Fung-seen-teen Temple to worship. His Majesty will then proceed to the Show-hwang-teen Temple for the same purpose, and will afterwards return to the Palace. Let all preparations be completed at 6 O'clock a.m.
(2) Edict. On a former occasion Too-hing-ah and others petitioned that the temple at the Yung-ling Mausolea might be repaired, and prayed Us to select an auspicious day for the removal of the divine tablets. We therefore issued orders to the Astronomical Board, to choose a propitious day in the 7th month for the purpose mentioned. According to the memorial of Too-hing-ah just received, the Astronomical Board selected the 28th day of the 7th month (Sept. 19th), but that day being now past, the petitioner pray that another day may be selected. We again order the Astronomical Board to select @ propitious day in the 9th month (Oct. to Nov.) and to inform Too-hing-ah which day they have appointed, in order that he may remove the tablets, The notification of the first day chosen by the Astronomical Board was dispatched on the 20th of the 7th month, and the distance which the messenger had to travel is only 400 lo; why then was it not ivered to us until the 28th of that month? Where could the messenger have loitered?_ We command Too-hing-ah to examine into this matter, and to report, in order that the delinquent may be punished. pie (3) Ying Yuen (4% FE) and others memorialize the Emperor. Wang Tib-sin, an inhabitant of the District of Kwei, in the Department of Tung-chang and Bro. vince of Shan-tung, has given information to the following effect. The plaintiff's father has been killed by a man named Chow-tseih and his associates. These lat ter stole some grain which the deceased had stored up, and the latter demanding it back, they set upon him and murdered him, The plaintiff being unable to get any redress from the local authorities, has appealed to Peking, and prays the Emperor graciously to issue orders that the ease be properly investigated.
(4) The same official presents a memorial to the following effect, The uncle of Sun Tong-hwuy, of the District of Seun in the province of Honan, has been murdered by a person named Leong-koo. The deceased was a cloth merchant, and was constantly from home. His wife took advantage of his absence to lead an irregular lifo, and this coming to the ears of her husband, she ran away from him, and. begged her brother Leong-koo to bring about a reconciliation, The brother, in consequence, iced the deceased to his house, where the whole family attacked and murdered him. The plaintiff appeals to the Emperor, as he cannot get redress from the local officials, October Ist.—The subjects for themes at the present year's examination for the second degree (SI J\), at Peking, are selected from the Four Books, and are as follows; 1° Confucius said; with regard to Hwuy, during the entire space of three months his mind harboured nothing conrary to Benevolence." Chung Yung, 2° Those who govern the Families and states of the Empire, should observe the Nine Rules; and the means by which these are put in practice is by perfect sincerity." Chung Yung. 8° © Mencius said; The people have this common 'The Empire, the States, and the Families.' The States are the foundation of the Empire, and the Families are the foundation of the States. The root ut each Family is the individual at the head of it." Mang-tsze.
(2) Yin Tsaow-yung (BE Jk Z)f) memorializes, giving a list of repairs necessary to be made at the Imperial Mavsolea, and praying the Emperor to appoint a day for the commencement of the works. His Majesty replica that the petition is recorded.
(8) Ting Paon-ching (J $f f49) Junior Guardian to the Heir Apparent, and Deputy Governor of Shan-tung, kneels and petitions. Some time ago the petitioner sent an official to Kwang-so to oversee the building of fourteen war junks. 'These vessels have now been completed, and are lying off the Customs Barrier in' the district of Lo-tsin. The petitioner states that there is no business of importance at present requiring his attention at his Yamun, and prays for leave to go and inspect them, 2nd.—PaouSeun (F¥ FI) kneels and petitions. The petitioner was seized with severe illness some time ago, while travelling, and the Emperor gave him one month's leave of absence in consequence. The month has now nearly expired, and his medical attendant pronounces him to be still unfit for travelling. The petitioner therefore prays for leave to resign his office.—His Majesty defers reply, (2) The Censor, Chang-Yung, (9g complains that the proper officers neglect their duty with regard to the distribution of rice amongst the sufferers from the floods around Peking, and prays that the gentry of each district may be ordered His Majesty to take the matter in hand,—The Emperor replies that the petition is recorded.
Srd.—The Prince Seun and others report that they have duly searched the perso of the students who have presented themselves for the second examination, (2) Lo He-neon presents a supplement tary petition on behalf of the Salt Commissioner in Fokeen province. The Ey peror has graciously appointed this officer Commissioner of Justice for the province of Shen-ce, but, as several business matters in his Yamun require attention, and as he is also now acting as Superintendent of Students, the petitioner prays that he may be allowed to remain at his present post for two months longer.—His Majesty grants the petition.
4th,—An Imperial Edict degrades a Goneral of Division at Canton to the rank of
and appoints another officer in his place, Brigadier, in consequence of incapacity, (2) Wang Win-chaou (=F 2PM) Deputy Governor of Hoo-nan, " petitions against any further posthumous honours being conferred upon the late District Ma-thee +hth degree hasalread; tapen the deceased offic and temples have been erected to our.—His Majesty acknowledges the receipt of the petition.
(3) Yih Yang (QEPA) presents a supplement petition on behalf of an assistant official at Keih-lin who has been auer cessful in apprehending and executing several rebela, and prays His Majesty to allow him to wear a peacock's feather as a reward for services, 6th.—Tsenen Khing, a President of the Board of Punishments, and a member of the Grand Secretariat, with others, petition His Majesty to adopt measures for the revision of the present practice regarding the punishment of Rebels. According to the ancient code of laws, a difference in the degree of punishment inflicted was made between the head rebels and their followers. Afterwards, however, in consol quence of the great increase in the number of these banditti, all those who were arrested were alike condemned to death. The petitioners pray that, as these robbers have now considerably decreased in number, the old distinction in the punishment of leaders and followers may be reverted to.
Oct. 6th.—The Palace Board pray the Emperor to appoint a high official to perform the sacrifices to the Yellow Wood god. His Majesty has appointed Sze-tsung.
(2) An Imperial Edict hands over a Commander-in-chief to the Board of Punishments, for petitioning the Emperor to confer honours on certain officers after the time appointed for bestowing such favours had expired.
7th.—Lew Chang-yew Bl & th, Deputy Governor of Kwang-se, kneels and memorializes to the effect that he- has instructed Pwan Sze-smith, the official messenger from the State of Yue-nan
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.