Deo, 23rd.—(1) The Censor Li Kia-yoh memorializes impeaching the Lieutenant-Governor (Financial Commissioner) of Honan, Liu Ts'i-hien 2) JK ($7, on the ground of his having wilfully suppressed reports of the famine-stricken condition of the & vernor to the removal of the Prefect the province, and obtained the sanction of
of Wei-hwei Fu from his post for sending in such report. The functionary in question is farther denounced as having continued to insist upon the revenue being collected in the various districts of the peg of the total amount leviable, and rovinee up to the proportion of 80 per
intimidating the local authorities from making any representations of the real state of affairs. Tt is alleged, in plain language, that his object was to secure the profit accruing to himself from the surplus amount collected under the head of "weight allowance." He is accused also of violent and overbearing conduct toward the Governor, Li K'ing-ngao, The memorialist, himself a native of Honan, adds that when returning last year from his mission as Special Literary Examiner in Kwangsi, although he did not visit the provincial capital of Honan, he nevertheless passed along the line of post-toad through that province in both going and returning, and the reports he then heard concerning Lin Tsi-hien's dictatorial conduct to his superior, and_ his oppression of his subordinates, have been confirmed by the statements that have been made to him subsequently by persons who have visited Peking of late. Having been twice honoured with audiences in the course of the present year, in which the Imperial commands were vouchsafed to the effect that, in representations to the Throne, he should not base his statements upon merely idle words, and that, in dealing with affairs, he should not allow himself to be influenced by regard for individual interests, he feels bound to bring the facts within his knowledge to the notice of the sovereign, and to solicit commands which shall act as a warning to those who endanger the welfare of the territory committed to their charge. (For decree, cashiering the impeached official, see Gazette of 14th inst.)
(2 and 3) Postscript memorials from the same Censor, denouncing the Taotais Liu Ch'éng-chung and Yin Keng-yun, of the province of Honan, for inefficiency and corrupt conduct. Yin Keng-yun, in particular, is accused of being influenced by bribery whilst holding the Taotaiship of the Ho-Shan-Ju Intendancy, and it is related of him that when a popular disturbance broke out in the Ling-pao district, in consequence of the oppressive conduct of the Magistrate in supporting the action of the local notables at the head of the local transport office, and on an official being deputed by Liu Ts'i-hien, whilst temporarily acting as Governor of the province, to proceed to the spot to institute an enquiry, the Taotai took it upon himself to order the official in question to return to the provincial capital. The acting Governor remarked upon this to some of his staff, that this was an act of contempt toward the Taotai's superiors, and that he would assuredly overhaul the bribery transaction in which the functionary in question had previously been implicated. Yin Keng-yun, on hearing of this, instantly proceeded, travelling day and night, to the provincial capital, and—the memorialist is unable to say by what means—arranged the affair, and quietly returned to his post. He is now further accused of suppressing reports of a state of famine in districts under his control, thus lending himself to further the ruinous policy bursted by the Lieutenant-Governor to the detriment of the population. (See Gazette of 14th inst.)
(4) A postscript memorial in which tie Censur Yti Shang-hwa accuses Li K'ingngao, Governor of Honan, of suppressing the facts relat to the distressed condition Dec. 24th.—(Court Circular.) Yuan Pao-hong had audience of leave on_ his departure for Honan as special Commissioner.
The whole of this day's Gazette is occu pied with the report presented by Ts'ung K'i and Shao Hong-ya, the Imperial Commissioners appointed to investigate the state of affairs in the province of Honan. For rescript summarizing their statements, followed by the degradation and removal of the Governor Li K'ing-ngao and the Lieutenant-Gorernor Liu Tsi-hien, see Gazette of 14th instant. The Vice-President Ts'ung-K'i adds, in conclusion, that the duties of the special commission being now completed, he returns to Peking, whilst Shao Hong-yi proceeds, according to his instructions, to take up his postes Governor of Hupeh.
Dec. 25th.—(1) A decree appointing Ki She-ch'ang Prius to act as a Vico-President of the Board of Punishments during the absence of Yuan Pao-hong as 3 special Commissioner.
(2) A decree placing certain officials at the disposal of Yuan Pao-hong, at his request, to assist him on his mission to supervise the distribution of relief in Honan.
(8) A decree based upon 'a memorial from Yuan Pao-hong, who has solicited sanction to the issue of brevets for the peacock-feather and the blue-plume decora ation, to be offered to contributors purchasers) with a view to the raising of ds which are urgently required for the relief of the pressing necessities of the province of Honan,—and also upon a memorial from the Supervising Censor Kwoh Ts'ung-kit, who, on behalf of the funds to be raised by public contributions for the benefit of the province of Shansi, asks that substantive rank in the degree' of Taotai, Prefect, Department Magistrate, and District Magistrat may be made accessible to purchasers, as as brevets for decorations. The Board of Revenue is commanded to consider and report hereupon, (4) A decree in answer to a memorial from Wan Ts'ing-li, Governor-Adjoint of Shun-tion Fu, and his colleague, the Civil Governor, representing the necessity for additional supplies of grain for distribution at the relief-agencies established in various parts of the capital, owing to the great increased number of the applicants for food, It is commanded, hereupon, that a farther j donation of 600 piculs of millet be awarded to the P' "ang and, Kung-eh Lin relief-agencies, and that Tls. 600 be con tributed likewise from the Revenue of the Peking Customs on the same account.
kland Shao ig-y, in continuation of 8) Postscript memorial from Teung the report of their joint enquiry into the conduct of the high authorities of the province of Honan, See Gazettes of yesterday and of 14th inst.
Dec. 26th.—(1) A decree ordaining, with reference to the absence of the snowfall which is anxiously looked for in the interests of agriculture, that a series of intercessory services be held on the 28th inst. at the aris State Temples, His, Majesty, will himself offer incense at the Ta Kao Tien, and certain of the Imperial princes at other places of worship.
(2) A decree appointing Mei K'-hi to the post of Prefect of Taingan in Shantung. (W.B. Mei K'i-hi has hitherto officiated as one of the Court of Censors, A representation in which he urged the stringent enforcement of the sumptuary laws was published in the Gazette of 14th Dec., 1875.
(8) A decree based upon a memorial from Teo Tsung-tang, Governor-General of Kan-sub, ete., who has represented that officials are urgently required in connection with the military operations pending on the western frontier, and requests that certain individuals whom he names may be placed under his orders, to the end that their experience may be utilized. Ch'ang Shun, formerly acting Military Governor of Uliasutai, and the Hanlin Compilers Lu Yao-tow and Wu Ta-ch'éng are hereupon ordered to proceed without delay to Kansuh and place themselves under Tso Tsung-t'ang's orders—Wu Ta-ch'éng, however, who is at present assisting in famine relief work in Chihli, to postpone his departure until his employment in this capacity can be dispensed with.
(8) A posteript memorial from, Teng and his colleague in the recent Commission of enquiry in Honan, concluding their report with reference to the conduct
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.