July 19th.—(1) A decree referring to the case of Lin Hung-ngan, a criminal under sentence of banishment, who had returned to his home without permission to do so (see Guzettes of 29th June and 14th July.) he reports on the subject sent by Ch'un Fu and Ming Ngan (Military Governors of Kirin and' Uliasut'ai respectively) were at variance one with the other, that Liu Hung-ngan was sent to the Board of Punishments, who were ordered to examine him and discover the truth of the matter. They have now ascertained on the man's own confession that he did escape from his place of banishment and revisit his home, returning when he heard that orders were out for his arrest. They accordingly propose that as a punishment for breaking bounds, he shall now be sent to the New Dominion to work out his sentence, this being the heaviest penalty they are able to inflict. Their proposal is sanctioned, and the Lieutenant-Governor of Ch'ahar is directed to ascertain whether the officials on duty at the post station at which the prisoner served were bribed to connive at his escape. Penalties are at the same time to be inflicted upon T's'ing Ch'un, late Lieutenant-Governor of Ch'ahar, for neglecting to maintain proper supervision, and on Ch'un Fuh, in whose jurisdiction the man's home lay, for declaring he had not gone there without taking the trouble to satisfy himself properly on the subject.
(2) Li Han-chang, Governor-General of the Hu-kwang provinces, reports the rehearing of an appeal case that was sent down to him some time ago by the office of Gendarmerie. Wu Che-tao, Chang Ch'éngte, and Chang Bio-tsing are all natives of the Chu-ki district and close neighbours. Wu Yueyuan, deceased, was the father of Wa Che-tav. On the evening of the 12th April, 1873, Wu Che-tao went to the house of Chang Ch'éng-te to have achar. Shortly after his arrival some neighbours came in too, and it struck Chang Ch'éng-te that they might have a little gamble at pitch and toss, and the others accepting his invitation, he threw a cask dowa on the table and covered it with a bowl as it was spinning. Chopsticks wore used for counters, and bets were made on the fall of the cash, They gambled all the night, and when they came to settle accounts, it was found that Wu Che-tao had Tost 268. strings of cash, of which Chang Ch'éng-te had won 52, and Tsai Liang-li and other neighbours who had dropped in, the rest. Wu Che-tao having no ready money, asked Chang Ch'éng-te to induce the others to allow him time to pay. Chang consented, but after a while took to going to his house to dun him for the Chang's business with his son, objected, and an altercation ensued which was settled by the neighbours, who advised the old man to give Chang 48 strings of cash and take his receipt for the whole amount. Chang went and told his fellow creditors of the offer that was made, but they refused to accept it and wanted the whole of their winnings, Accordingly, after some lapse of time, Chang went again to the house to demand payment, whereupon Wu Che-tao accused him of extortion, as he had already accepted the offer that had been earlier made him. Chang then took him by the front of his coat and dragged him along the road, saying he would have it out if it cost him his life. As he was dragging Wu along, some people saw them, and persuaded him to let him go, whereupon Wu went home and told his father, who ordered him to lodge a complaint at the magistracy. The Magistrate, havin, heard the case, reprimanded Chang anc confiscated his winnings, taking from him a bond accepting the decision, and so the case was closed. Chang, however, was not satisfied, and went to tell Wu that he must and would have the money. Wu hid when he saw him coming, and Chang, out. of revenge, destroyed a number of varnish trees on the old man's land worth about 5,000 cash. The Magistrate was again appealed to, but as some delay ensued in summoning the parties for trial, the old man imagined that the Magistrate had been bribed and sent his son to the Prefect. During his absence the Magistrate's runners came to the house to summon the son to attend the investigation, and the ola man declared his willingness to go in the stead_of his son, He accordingly started off with the runners, and as the way was long and he well-stricken in years, they stopped half-way, and spent the night at the house of a friend, The next morning it was very foggy, and his conductors wished to wait until the mist had cleared, but the old man was impatient to get on and started alone. The road was hilly and the stones wet and slippery with the mist, and before he had gone far he lost his footing and fell nearly to the ground, striking his head against a stone with such violence that bodied where he lay. His conductors found him when they came up later on, and reported the fact in the usual manner, but the son when he heard of his father's death, would not accept this story, and suspected foul Fresh inquest resulting finally in an appeal to. play. Hence his repeated efforts to obtain a
Peking. The son is sentenced to eighty blows for having brought false charges against a number of people, and the men whose
cause of the mishap are adjudicated a slight gambling, propensities were, the, original penalty, of which however they obtain remission under the Act of Grace of 1875.
(3) The Governor of Kwangsi reports that the Annamese tribute mission crossed the frontier at Chen-nan-kwan on the 7th April, and passed into their own country.
(4) Postscript memorial by Tseng Kwohts'dan requesting permission to keep open the Government grain and money. shops which have been established in Shansi, with a view to enable those in distress to purchase grain at reduced rates and to keep down exchange, until the 9th moon, as their abrupt withdrawal would be the cause of much suffering.—Rescript: Noted.
(6) Postscript memorial by the same officer reporting that the various local authorities have been authorised to purchase land for the burial of the numerous unclaimed corpses that are lying about, which if allowed to remain exposed would breed pestilence and disease. Four hun-red cash are allowed on each' adult corps to provide for the purchase of matting and the expense of burial, male and female bodies being buried in separate pits.
July 20th.—(Court Circular.) The Board money. Wu Vu-yuan when he discovered ai Ceremonies submits a note of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.