Feb. 15th-ith. (1.) A decree in reply toa memorial by Shen Pao-elihu, soliciting rewards on behalf of the ollicials who have distinguished themselves in the opening up of the mountains in Formosa,—The officials who 1 under the direction of Shen Pao-cheng in success sively throwing open the territory occupied by the savages in Formosa, hive achieved 4 degree of meritorious exertion for which it is fitting that rewards should be bestowed. In the ease of Lo Ta-chan, naval general of the province of Fuhkien, lot Ute sentence heretofore recorded against him, of deprivation of rank with di ished mark of approbation be sub-retention of ofice, be remitted, and let a
mitted for sanction by the Board. [Here follows a list of civil and military subordinates who are accorded advancement in different degrees.) With regard to the supplementary memorial, in which it is stated that general Mang Ting-kwei FE FE FE, invested with com mand-in-chief of the Ming, Wu, $4 and other divisions, who, since his arrival in Formosa, has taken hi sures with'minute care a ined a strict and enlightened discipline, is ordained that he be honoured with questing the basto litle of dsitinetion on a hero of the times of the Ming dynasty, and the erection of a temple in his honour. The feudatory of the Ming dynasty, Chu Ch'éng-kung, had a temple erected to his memory at Nan-ngan by imperial command, during the reign Kang-hi; and as it is how reported the memorial received that the departed chieftain, already illustrious through his heroic virtues and steadfast loyalty, has given ear to supplications whenever addressed to him in times of flood or drought, thus adding to the benefits for which Formosa has (o thank him, We ordain that the request b granted, and that a memorial temple be erected at T'ai-wan Fu, and a posthumous title of canonization be conferred upon him, in gratification of the public wish. Let the proper Board take note. (Note.—The deceased hero referred to above was the celebrated freebooter Cheng Ch'éng-kung, BR HI, who, for his services in the cause of the Ming dynasty in its last struggles against the invading Manchus, was honoured by the Vestowal of the surname of the imperial family, in exchange for his own. He is consequently spoken of above as Chu Ch'éng-kung; and from the fact of his investiture with the Kwoh-Sing or surname of the rulers of the stale, he was designated among his adherents by the title of Kwoh-Sing Yeh (BY HE Ff, which was rendered by the Portuguese as Koxingn or Koshings, Beside waging a bitter warfare against the Manchus, he undertook, for his own benefit, the expulsion of the Dutch from their settlements in Formosa, which he successfully achieved in 1661-1662, He died almost immediately after victory had rewarded his efforts in this directior uld his achievement tended only to the foundation of the Manchu Sovereignty over the island, which was surrendered in 1683 to the Manchu authorities of Fuhkien, by his grand nephew Cheng K'éh-shang).
(3) A decree in reply to n memorial by Shen Pao-cheng and his colleagues, reesting that the ancient interdict upon the cultivation of lands in the interior of Formosa, be removed. From the time when the whole island of Formosa became part of the Imperial dominions, in view of the alien customs prevailing among the various savage tribes of the interior, Chinese subjects of the mainland have been prohibited against crossing over to Foimosa, and likewise against illicit entry into the savage territory, (o the end that turbances. might be obviated, Now, inasmuch as Shen Pao-cheng and his colleagues have taken atops to throw open the interior, it is eminently necessary that cultivation of the lands lying waste should be encouraged, and the existing institu tions sheld be modified in consonance with the requirements of the present time. The removal of all prohibitions heretofore, in force, restricting Chines: subjects from crossing over to Formosa, is hereby granted, and the interdict upon trade in iron and bamboos is at the same time rescinded, with the object of affording encouragement. Let the proper Board take note.
memorial by the Censor Wu Hung-en, dwelling upon the importance of placing none but persons of staid and correct conduct in attendance upon his present Majesty. (For rescript of the two Empresses, see Gazette of Jan. 30th).
Feb. 17th-18th. Ting Pao-cheng, Governor of Shantung, memorializes reporting the measures undertaken for the repair of the breach in the embankment of the Yellow River at Shih-Chwang-Hu AGE A. Be has alrendy transmitted plans and specifications for the work which it was deemed advisable to carry out, in consequence of this occurrence, at Kia-Chwang BRE in the Ho-tséh district (in Ts'ao-chow Fu, on the Western border of Shanting). Imperial orders for the execution of this undertaking, as a matter affecting the interests of several provinces, were received on the 29th December; and steps were immediately taken to urge on the work, preparations for which were already in hand. The labour of constructing the necessary embankments has been greatly impeded by the downrush of ice which has swept over the flooded district, and also by the frozen condition of the #0'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.