Daz Mr, Munareay,—Your last note was along time getting here, but all our arrangements for postal matters have been utter failures this winter. Detring tells me, however, that the courier service is all right now, so one"ean venture to write.
First of all, Shansi will be all right after May next, for the amount of snow which has fallen' all over North China will enormous fertility to the soil. The Chinese Famine Commissioner has got leave of absence, and there will beno need of further efforts as far as the relief of starvation is concerned. Of course orphanages will be more than ever useful. The Governor of Shansi has written me the letter appended, but Ihave nothing from Richard or Hill, We expect, however, their messenger daily. Phe river has not frozen here since Sth January, and it is now quite spring weather.
Yours very sincerely, R. J. Forrest.
Tientsin, 4th February.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.