Nov. 4th—(1) A decree of the Empresses Regent bestowing honours and rewards upon the officials who have distinguished themselves by their exertions in the superintendence of the construction of the Mausoleum of the Emperor lately deceased, whose services have been reported upon by the Princeof Kungand his colleagues inthe Imperial commission. A list extending to thirty-three pages of the Gazette here ensues, the catalogue beginning with an officer of the rank of Prefect, who is ordered to be advanced to the head of the list of officers of his own, grade eligible for immediate employment, and is farther rewarded with the peacock-feather decoration. A Jarge number of non-commissioned officers and men of the Banner forces in Peking are also included in the distribution of honours and promotions.
(2) The Governor-General of the Two wang memorializes reporting the decease of the Brigade-General Méh Lung-t'ao, who was appointed by decree of the 19th May last to the Yeo-kiang command in Kwang-si. A despatch from the Brigade-General commanding in North Formosa reports the decease of the officer in question while attached to the military forces in the Island, on the 7th July last. (See Gazette of Oct. 17th.
Nov. 5th.—(1) A Decree. Let Ying Han BRB succeed to the post of Military Lieutenant-Governor of Urumts'i. (N.B.—Ying Han, who was degraded in September, 1875, from the office of Governor-General of the Two Kwang, for his patronage of the gambling lottery scheme, was again restored to favour toward the close of last year, and appointed by decree of 13th Dec., 1876, to act in the post in which he is now confirmed.)
No other documents of importance.
Nov. Gth.—A decree based upon a memorial from Wen Keh, Governor of Shantung, reporting upon the safety of the embankments of the Yellow River. A memorial tablet is commanded to be inscribed and forwarded to the Governor, to be suspended in the Temple of the River God in token of devout thanksgiving, and ten: sticks of Tibetan incense are bestowed as an offering in the same quarter.
Nov. 7th.—{1) A Decree. The Grand 'Tutor of the Imperial Academy of Learning, Pao Ting, in his memorials tendering counsel in' pursuance of Our appeal for the submission of advice, has represented that in the present calamitous state of affairs, when the nation is labouring under grievous afflictions, and the Sovereign is occupied incessantly, by day and night, with earnest endeavours to conduct aright the task of government, everything depends upon the activity with which the function aries of the State, from the highest to the lowest, throughout the Empire, bring their natural gifts to bear and devote their utmost energies to the accomplishment of their duty, with the object of striving unitedly to relieve the prevailing difficulties. If it be true, as the memorialist asserts, that the heads of the central departments of State and the high provincial authorities are in the} constant habit of shufffin off the responsibilities of their office anc following supinely a course of routine, so that their subordinates are left without fear of superior control—and that the Ministers actually charged with the guidance of the affairs of State have neither the courage to assume responsibility nor the will to expose themselves to e, the public service becoming, for this reason, daily more and more remiss, and the interests of the people daily more and more exposed to harm, so that indignation combines itself with menace, whilst the miseries produced by natural calamity are constantly repeated if this be true, then, indeed, while the Sovereign in all earnestness aims at what is, ight, His servants make but a pretence of responding to His appeals. How shall it be possible, in such case, to roll back the spread of multiplied abuse, and to promote the cause of righteous government? Let the Ministers of the Grand Council of State and the high functionaries at the head either of the central departments or of provincial governments henceforward hold themselves bound to, aim vigorously at, just and loyal discharge of their duty, Shrinking from no encounter with unpopularity or ill-will. In the grave questions relating to the bestowal of public employ and the exercise of the functions of adtration, let them duly scrutinize the reality of all pretensions, and bring a careful judgment to bear upon the decision of every point, making themselves in this wise an example to their subordinates, The functionaries of the public service in general, throughout the Empire, should furthermore exert themselves with industry in their respective spheres. Let them not indulge in illusory pretence and practice of dishonest misrepresentation, continuing to tread in the path of the evil habits that have hitherto prevailed. In that which concerns the Yamen of Foreign Affairs, whose position connects it with the external interests of the State, the conduct of international questions depends in a signal degree upon its selection of agents and the trust it reposes in its representatives, It is the duty of the heads of this department to bring scrutiny to bear upon abilities and character, and to give employment in proportion' to individual capacity. Let them laxly suffer none who can be characterized as frivolous, corrupt, or unworthy, to gain admittance in their ranks, and thus to entail detriment upon the public cause.
With reference to the proposals set forth in the Grand Tutor's supplementary memorials, recommending that measures be devised for the instruction and education of members of the Imperial kindred, and that exemption from lekin taxation be granted in perpetuity in favour of all kinds of grain, let the departments concerned consider and report to Us.
i King-ngao, Governor of Honan, who CYS decree based upon a memorial from has submitted a report upon the extent of the famine-stricken area in his province, and solicited sanction for the official issue of relief. The application is acceded to, and it is commanded that in the 23 departments (chow) and districts (hien) enumerated in the memorial, rations for one month be in the first instance issued. The following scale is farther to be observed. Where the distress reaches the extent of 90 per cent. (of intensity?) subsistence for three months is to be granted to the most destitute, and for two months to those who are reduced to a less degree of destitution. Where the distress is rated at 70 or 80 per cent., the scale as above is to be applied for two months and one month respectively; xd where it stands at 60 per cent., one month's subsistence is to be granted to the most: destitute. One month's rations are to be bestowed. upon the villages where the famine rate stands at 50 per cent. In the two Districts of Tang-yin YAP and Lin Of, (prefect ture of Chang-tth Fu) irespetivey ofthe question of famine-rate or of the degree of individual distress, two months' rations are to be bestowed upon all alike, Three other hien, namely, the Hih, Sin-hiaag, and Hwei districts, forming part of Wei-hwei Fu, are named as requiring no relief measures. The subsistence issued is to be distributed as the regulations provide, in accordance with the recognized faminesrare, and the Governor is authorized to cause this to be proceeded with in the districts and villages enumerated in the list he has submitted, taking care to provide against malpractices on the part of the official underlings employed in the service.
Nov. 8th.—(1) A decree in answer to a memorial from Liu Ch'ang-yeo, Governor General of Yunnan, é&c., who has submitted recommendations on behalf of sundry officials for services rendered in the capture of Chang Ch'ung-yang, a leader of train bands in Yun Chow, and the destruction of his insurgent following. The promotions solicited are accorded.
(2) A decree commanding a fourth series of propitiatory services to be held on the 10th inst., at the various State temples, for the purpose of supplicating rain on behalf of the afflicted provinces.
(3) Ting Pao-cheng, Governor-General of Szoch'wan, memorializes reporting the rehearing of a case referred back for trial after appeal at Peking. By decree dated March 25th, 1875, the complaint lodged by one Hu Shun-hing, on behalf of the appellants, Kiang Ch'un-mow and others, was referred. back for provincial investigation, the particulars of the case (see Gazette of April 7th, 1875)relating to alleged acts of extortion and oppression on the part of the Magistrate of the department of P'ei Chow. The. me-monalist now reports that the individual named Hu Shun-hing has appeared before the commission appointed to investigate the charges preferred, and has declared that the appellant, Kiang Ch'un-mow, a military licentiate who had been deprived of his grade, had trumped up the allegations set forth in his appeal in order to satisfy a grudge he bore against the district authorities for refusing him a place in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.