To the Editor of the Dean Sm,—A brief notice in, your paper elsewhere, regarding the Bishop of Shansi's letter on the above subject, makes certain inquiries as to what should be done and as to the parties responsible for the closing of the Fund. The description of the state of things in that province, as given in the above mentioned letter, is truly painful, and cannot fail to awaken the keenest feelings of all who read it, We are familiar indeed with the details thus presented tous. They have been repeated many atime in the published accounts, but we were in hopes that matters were on the way to improvement. Not that all the misery and suffering entailed by the famine were at an end, only the harvest reaped Jost autumn and the prospect of a favourable yield this spring, recording to the advices we have been receiving from various quarters, led the Committee to understand things were ina much better condition than previously, and that in the course of a fow months more there would be no occasion for further aid. This has been assured to us again and again, at the instance of those who have been actively engaged in the work of distribution, and who are our responsible agents in the north, both in the famine field and otherwise. Natives and foreigners have coincided in this view, and the published accounts of both are in thorough agreement on the point.
Last October there was a heavy fall of snow in the southern parts of Shansi, and it seems there has been also an excess of rain, which injured the crops there in considerable measure, and rendered the continuance of our aid necessary for some time. This we were happily enabled to do, and large supplies have been sent to the most needy portion of the famine districts, as reported in the N.-C. Daily News, Shortly before the closing of the river, Tle, 26,000 were forwarded to Tientsin in sycee, and are now in course of distribution in Ping-yang-foo and other places. Since then, Ils. 6,000 have been transmitted by the Committee, through a well known native Bank, to Tai-yuen-foo, and the writer is aware of at least Tls. 14,000 in addition having been taken or sent in the same direction during the last few months. Besides, the sum of Tls. 15,000 was mentioned in our communications from that place as having been received by the Ronian Catholic Bishop there.
Altogether, there has been no remissness in the matter of men or means in regard to the province of Shansi, in the southern parts of which the effects of the famine are now felt most severely. Protestant and Catho-Tie Missionaries are alike actively engaged in ministering to the wants of the people, and the Governor of the province lately addressed a letter to H.M. Consul at Tientsin, "abounding with thanks" for the liberal stream of help that had flowed thither through the instrumentality of foreigners. It was also intimated, as as been amply reported to us otherwise, that there would be no such occasion for help there had been hitherto, and arrangements were being made for a remission of the work, We need only refer to the letters that have recently appeared in the Daily News in proof of this.
It is true the most harrowing pictures may be drawn of the condition of multitudes in the North, and all we can do is to endeavour to alleviate it, We think this has been done in no small measure, as all acquainted with the circumstances will acknowledge, In the way of further relief, however, we can only be guided by the information we are in the habit of receiving from our correspondents in the North, and we have had the fullest assurances that the prolongation of our help until the spring harvest was reaped, would be all that was necessary. Having these advices, we could inform the London Committee and others, that such was likely to be the case, and that there would be no occasion for continuing the work of relief beyond the time in question, We hope shortly to receive further details from the very centre famine districts, and we shall give publicity to them. It is satisfactory to know that the range of these districts is now very much limited, and we are concentrating our efforts in those places where the famine is and has been at its worst.
As to the state of things at Home, it does seem to be almost as bad as possible, and if it were in our power to advise the London Committee to cease their operations, in view of the improved and improving; condition of things here, it was a moral duty todoso. Our information was clearly and fully to this effect, and that course was taken accordingly.
Iam, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, Shanghai, 5th March.
Wa. Momnrap,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.