November 26th.—Two long memorials giving a report of the capture of some horse-stealers and of the suppression of a rising of mounted banditti in the Amoor region, are the only two documents, with two exceptions, in this day's Gazette. None of the papers ake of any interest, November 27th.—(1) A decree. The Censor Wu Ch'an-ku reports that a scrutiny of the mint for the casting of Peking cash by the Board of Revenue has disclosed a large deficit in the stock, the balance of amall cash in hand being also insufficient to meet the expenditure, and suggesting that an enquiry be held to ascertain whether or no there is not a deficit as well in the stock of the latter. The Board of Revenue are hereby called upon to report whether or no stock has been taken of the small cash as well as the Peking cash, and what has oon the result of this scrutiny.
(2) Memorial from Pao Hong, Acting Governor of Shansi ad interim, reporting; the abolition of certain illegal foos an presenta in thatprovinco, suchascompulsory offerings on birthdays and festivals, the subscriptions known as tien ya yin, or outfit money," etc. The attention of His Majesty having boon directed to the existence of these irregular offerings in Shanei and other provinces, by Ti-fang and the Censor K'ung Hsien and directing provincial high authorities to state in what manner was proposed to supplant them. On receipt of this decree, the memorialist took counsel with Tseng Kuo-ch'tian, the Governor, and they came to the conclusion that inasmuch as Shansi had not, like other provinces, Customs stations or a of money commutation on the land-the authorities had to depend entirely upon their anti-extortion allowances to meet their contingent expenses. These allowances being issued at a considerable discount, did not do more than pay the salaries of the clerks and secretarica they had to engage. Hence the introduction of the fees and contributions which have been complained of as irregular. The only way of mooting the deficits caused by the abolition of these offerings is by pro rata asaessraent of Department and District Magistrates, those collecting a comparatively Larger revenue being called upon to pay, certain percentage of their surplus land revenue towards a fund that shall take the, place of the offerings that territorial authorities have hitherto been expected to make to their superiors on the respective birthdays of -themselves and their wives, and on the three chief festivals of the year. The pro rata assessment that it is now proposed to make will be revised every ton years. There remain two other items to be provided for, viz: the "out fit" contribution and a periodical fee known as the huan chi yin Ce seers 0) or money for the seasons, which was supposed to provide the necessaries for each season of the: year, such as ice in summer, fire in winter, painting, papering, and the like. It is now proposed to adopt the rule down in Fuhkien by the Governor-General Tso, viz: that each yamen provides its those respects, and the rided will be drawn from the income derived from the public funds put out to interest.—Rescript; Let the Board gonserned take note.
November 28th.—(1) Memorial from the acting Director-General of the Grain Transport reporting the amalgamation of certain brigades under his command in the interests of economy and efficiency. The number of men under the Director-General'a command is 3,800, inclusive of 500 men enlisted in 1876. One hundred and ten men of this force have now been disbanded, and fifty men have been transferred from the infantry to the cavalry, which now consists of 500 men, and the infantry of 2,800. This force has been divided into corps under the command of two 1° tu, and is employed in the maintenance of order along the Canal, and the preservation of embankments and other works. The economies effected by this now arrangement amount to 4,000 strings of cash per annum, exclusive of the economies effected by the formation of the men into corps, which enables the staff of officers to be reduced and an annual saving of Tls. 3,000 secured, ial from Tu-ka-erh, Governor and Ni h'ek-t'u, the Acting Resident of Uliasut'ai, "denouncing a Secretary of the Military Pay Office in that town for wilfully neglecting to pay over to the previous acting agent half the anti-extortion allowance of the post, to which he was entitled as Acting Resident, The Acting Resident claimed this allow an as usual, but the Secretary refused to cit on the ground that Acting ere not entitled to any allow an inspection of the archives of this post shows that several Acting Residents had drawn the half allowance, but the Secretary refused to issue it on the occasion in question because the incumbent had not a special seal. "At the same time, neglected to apply for this seal, and it evident from his attitude that he wished to defraud the Acting Resident of his just rights. On being taxed with the irrogu-Inrity, he could offer no other explanation than that he had been careless, and as his gleet of duty in this instance is more than culpable, the memorialists have to request that the chief Secretary be deprived of his button and peacock's feather, and that the Assistant Secretary be deprive of the brevet of Assistant Secretary of a Board which he at present holds.—Granted by Rescript.
November 29th.—(1) Ch'ungli (Mini of the Tsung-li Yamen) is appointed Senior Police Provost of the Gendarmerie.
(2) A decree, Fu Sheng, M Deputy Lieutenant-Governor of Shi king, denounces certain high officers for disregard of the conveyances, and also solicits the bestowal of severe form of Penalty upon himself. Shih-yi, Prince. of i, who has now been sent to Shengking to conduct the ceremonies attendant upon the installation of the sacred relics, was invited by the Military Governor' Ch'i Yuan and others to a banquet given in his honour at Feng-tien Fu upon the 14th of November last. On this occasion, Mien Yi, Vice-President of the Board of War at Shengking, rose from his seat, and went over to jest with the Prince of Li, carrying his disregard of etiquette to such a point as to be forward, rude, and wanting in common courtesy, indulging even in horse-play. Such conduct is certainly a blot upon the official character, and We command that Mien Yi be forthwith cashiered as a warning to others. The giving of banquets is one of the ordinary courtesies of society, but to do so before the conclusion of certain special duties shows a failure [to appreciate the] fitness of things. Let Shih Yi, Prince of Li, Lung Ch'in, Prince of Ssu, Hsi Tung, President of the Board of Ceremonies, Kuei Ch'tian, Vice-President of the Board of Ceremonies, Hsing Lien, Vice-President of the Board of Works, Ch'éng Tsu-kao, Acting Vice-President of the Board of Works, Ch'i Yuan, Military Governor of Shengking, Fu Sheng, Lietitenant Governor, En Fu; Vice-President of the Board of Revenue at Shéngking, Ch'i_ Hsin, Vice-President of the Board of Punishments, Hsing En,. Vico-President of the Board of Works, Sung Lin, Civil Governor of Feng-tien Fo, and P'an Ssti-lien, Deputy Governor, be handed over to their respective Yaméns for the adjudication of penalties. © Fu Sheng, in his denunciation of Mien Yi for disregard of the conveneness, has not been at the slightest pains to be circumspect, and has had the audacity to introduce vulgar and improper language into his memorial, wherein he has acted in a careless and stupid manner. Let him be handed over to the Board for the adjudication of a farther penalty for this offence, As regard his allegation that habits of wine-bibbing, feasting, pleasuring and amusement are daily on the increase in Feng-tien, such habitual giving of oneself up to pleasure is incompatible with the conscientious performance of official dntie, The Military governor and those asso% with him will hereafter positively eradicate these evil habits, and direct all their energies to the careful and diligent performance of duty. return to their former ways will be visited with certain punishment.
(3) Chih Ho is appointed President of the Mongolian Superintendency; Lin Shu is appointed President of the Court of Vice-President of the Buard of Civil Office K'uei Jun is transferred to the Junior Vice-Presidentship of the Board of Civil Office; and Yo Nien is promoted to be Vice-President of the Board of War.
(4) A decree expressing the Imperial regret at the death of Ch'a Hang-ah, President of the Mongolian Supe tendency.
November 30th,—(1) Postscript memorial from Tso Taung-tang. The gonoral of the regiment under memorialist's command designated by the character liang (td) reports that the adjutant of his regiment, an expectant Lieutenant-Colonel, by name Tsai Shao Tien (34) 14) has roy rewonted to him that his, the Colonel being pronounced in ti the personal designation of his Majesty, (HRHB, it behoves him as a matter of respect to avoid the xemblanco of a name corresponding to that of his Majesty, andre accordingly requests permission to change his name to. The memorialist hae to observe that at the close of the 3rd year of Kuang Sil, a decree was issued direction, that the character forming the personal designation of his Majesty should in future be written with one stroke less, and that any similar characters having a different radical or phonetic need not be tabooed. It appears that although the personal name of the officer in question is one which, under the terms of this decree, need not be avoided in literary composition, it in one which no servant of lis Majesty could bear with any satisfaction to himself. He bogs therefore to support the application of BARADNG. for permission to change. his name to 444 FA, and has written to the Board of War to request them to make an entry to this effect in ti regis The remainder of this dsy's Gazette is occupied with memorials of a formal nature, December Jst.—(1) A decree from the two Empresses, directing the Pritice of Ch'un to take' command of the Peking Field Force and to carry the scala and keys of that office, the [civil] duties of the post being entrusted to Pao Yun. The rrinco of Po is relieved of the command.
(2) Memorial from the Superi of Customs and Octroi, re between some smugglers of wine and exch officers in Peking, which led to the death of one of the latter, On the 20th-of October bat
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.