ABSTRACT OF PEKING GAZETTES, August 26th.—(1) A decree. Li Hung-chang requests that tribute grain may be appropriated for the relief of certain districts in Chihli, where floods have occurred and all hope of a harvest is gone. At the junction of summer and autumn of the present year rain fell in excess, and the crops were submerged in An-chow, Hung. hsien, and other places; in consequence of which the people were being scattered and driven from their homes. Such a condition of things is truly pitiable, and as a special act of grace, We command that, in accordance with his request, Li Hung chang be authorised to detain 60,000 piculs of the Kiang-poh tribute grain of the present year, which he will cause to be distributed in instalments amongst the suffering districts proportionately to the amount of the distress in each that is ascertained to exist. The Grain Intendant of Chiang-an will also deduct the sum allowed for various expenditure in connection with the transport, etc., of this grain, and forward it to Chihli to meet the expense of transport.
(2) In accordance with the decision of the Board of War, Lo Ta-chun, Commander-in-chief in Hunan, is dismissed the public service. (See Gazelte of 27th July.)
(8) A decree directing the Governor of Hunan to order Chen Shih-chieh, formerly Judge of Fuhkien, now degraded to the rank of Taotai, to proceed at once to Fuhkien and place hiniself under the orders of the Governor-General, who has applied for his services in connection with the defence of Form (4) Joint memorial from Li Hung-chang, Ho Ching, Ting Jih-ch'ang, and Li Ming-chih, reporting the payment in full of the sum of $500,000 contributed by Lin Wei-yuan, a notable in Formosa, and suggesting the exceptional reward that should be bestowed upon him. This sum was contributed by Lin Wei-yuan and. his brother in the year 1877 towards defraying the expense of an experimental opening of mines, laying down a railway, and other undertakings. This was reported by the memorialist Ting at the time, who applied for the highest marks of distinction for the contributors and perpetual immunity for them from further contributions. The Imperial consent was given, but in consequence of the urgent and wide distress caused by the famine last year, His Majesty was applied to for permission to. borrow this sum for spplicaing the deceased officer in the highest terms for his bravery in action, the ready tion to the relief of the sufferers, and the assistance he has rendered in times of flood Board of Revenue, on being referred to, and drought, and his charity, liberality, decided that Lin' Wei-yuan should be and geniality of disposition.—Granted by rewarded in an exceptional manner as
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.