Jan. 10th.—(1) A decree based upon a memorial from 'i'an Chung-lin, Governor of Shensi, denouncing certain officials who have failed in the due discharge of their duty in the distribution of famine relief. The Magistrate of the Fu-ping district is charged with having disregarded the instructions given him to issue a pro ratd allowance of food individually, and to have established relief-centres instead at the advice of certain of the notables. Owing to the large extent of the district and the distances to be traversed, the population was unable to obtain supplies of food, and crowds of complainants came to the provincial capital to represent their case. They stated, additionally, that the notables were in league with the Magistrate's retainers with dishonest intent, in connection with the levy of supplies of wheat. Again, the acting Magistrate of the Kao-ling district is accused of having made false returns of the number of distressed individuals and of grain issued. The dis-district notable Liu Jui-yih, a member of the local committee of management, and a military licentiate named Keng She-kwei, are also charged with having mutually transferred to each other a quantity of the grain in store, their conduct in this respect exposing them to suspicion of dishonest practices. The Magistrate had failed to detect these proceedings, and had shown himself to all intents and purposes blind and deaf. Again, on a personal visit being paid by the Governor himself to the relief agency in the southern suburb of the provincial capital, he found that a number of famine-stricken persons were still seeking a supply of food; and on asking an explanation from the officer in charge he was told that these people, although still asking for food, had aretay been given allowances of grain, for which reason they had not be enteredonthelists. The saineagency, however, subsequently reported its supplies as inadequate, the numbers of individuals to be provided for being augmented in two days by upwards of 700 souls. From this it plain that either present overstatement or past omission was chargeable against the agency. It was reported, moreover, that the attendants had conspired with the Hlour-dealers to make out false statements of the quantities they received. After dwelling upon the enormity of the off of neglect of duty under circums such as the present, the Imperial decree ordains that the two district Magistrates impeached be forthwith stripped of their rank and brought to trial in conjunetion with all the notables concerned in the matter. Should evidence of actual dishonesty be elicited they wre to be farther stringently denounced, "and the minor offenders Yoferred to are also to be pro-coeded against.
(2) The Supervising CensorKwohTs'ung-kit. memorializes urging the necessity of making provision on a large scale for the necessities of the province of Shansi, the financial exigencies of which are pressing in the extreme. Referring to the appropria: tions already allotted toward the needs of this province, he proceeds tu observe that the winter being already far advanced without snow having fallen, it is impossible to forecast with certainty the prospect of the crops in the coming year, whilst, at the same time, the issue of relief for the present season is itself no easy matter. According to report, the amount hitherto raised by the agencies established by the provincial government of Shansi for the raising of contributions, amounts to no more than from 500,000 to 600,000 taels; and this sum, if divided among the 4,000,000 souls who were lately reported by the Governor of Shansi as in need of relief, gives but about TI 0.14 per head, or say from one to two hundred cash. This amount would represent no more than a pint or two of rice apiece—a quantity wholly disproportionate to the actual needs. At the opening of Spring, moreover, the old stocks of rice will be exhausted and new supplies will not yet have been received; and the utmost endeavours of the provincial Governor to obtain financial assistance from the neighbouring provinees can scareely be depended upon to be of auch service in the emergency. The memorialist consequently solicits that sanction be given to the issue of certificates of the peacock feather decoration—the sale of which was put an end to in 1875—as a means of supplying the requisite fands.—Rescript, referring the proposal for consideration, already published, (8) Tso Tsung-tang, Governor-General of Kansuh, ete., ete., in a postscript memorial, dwells upon the desolated condition of the' province under his goverment, and the corrupt condition into which the services, both civil and military, have lapsed He is grieved at heart by thie provaleneo of dishonesty and incompetent and unworthy employes. A region so distant and abou ing in hardships is shunned by the majority of capable functionaries, whilst the persons of disreputable character and needy antecedents who are ready to Hock thither are such as should not be employed. On more than one occasion, when the memorialist has applied for the services of individuals whom he thought likely tu be useful, and who at the same time would be put in a position to gain experience fitting them for future duty, his request hus failed of yptance on the score ut incompatibility with some standing regulation or other. At the present juncture, when the prose tion of the campaign for the recovery of Kashg daily widening the field of action, increased urgency is felt in the need of capable subordinates; and the memorialist, whilst admitting that there is no lack of brave and honest men among those who are under his own eye, must confess that the number of individuals gifted with ceptions and the capacity for dealing with large questions of an administrative nature, is most limited. He asks, therefore, that the following officials maybe detailed to serve under his orders. He has heard that Lit Yao-tow (2) 343 a Compiler of the Han Lin College, is a person of sterling uprightness and devoted study of the true art of government ud although personally unknown to, he is highly esteemed by the memorialist from what he has learnt concerning him. Another official of the same degree, ching He AQ HA, attracted his notice whilst filling the office of Literary Chancollor of the provinces of Shensi and K. and as in addition ability he adds the qualification of bei a good horseman and capable of enduring physical exertion, beside having devoted his attention to frontier affairs he is indeed one in a thousand. If these two officials be sent to serve' with the army and thus gain experience, th are certain to prove useful men after. A third dual is ind Shun $Ss[f, who acted sume time ago as Military Governor of Uliasut'ai, a man much Dodily strength and martial capacity Owing to want of proper experience he wa misled by bad advice and thus incurred censure. The memorialist is unaware, at present, to which of the Banners Ch'ang Shun niay be attached; but if he be sent to serve under the memorialist, he will train him with care.—Reseript ordering two of the three officials above-named io proceed forthwith to Kansuh, and Wu Ta-cl'éng to do the same after fulfilment of his present mission in Honan, already published.
Jan. 11th.—No documents of importance.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.