June 2st—(1) Decrees, in reply to memorials by the Censor Ya Shang-hwa, Jst.—The Censor having denounced a Secretary of the Board of Revenue for impropriety of conduct, hidden irregular rities in the discharge of his duty, and constant attempts to engross authority, the Ministers Pao-yun and Mao Ch'ang-hi are commanded to investigate the case. 2nd.—The Board of Revenue is commanded to examine and report upon the Censor's prayer that reform be effected mits administrative system, to guard against waste of the public revenue.
(2) An Edict, in reply to a memorial from the Board of Punishments and the Ofiico of the Peking Gendarmerie, orders that the clerk on night duty in the Shantung department, where the fire broke out, should be handed over to the Gendarmerie for punishment, and that other officials should be fined for not talking precautionary measures. [It would seem that portions of the Shensi, Kwangtung, and Hukwang Departments, and the clerks' offices of Shantung, Kwangtung and Shensi departments were burnt down.)
(8) The Superintendents of the Imperial Granaties memorialize with reference to the landing of grain for storage. 'Ihe rice brought up from the South roaches its penultimate terminus at the Ta T'ung Bridge, on the Peking and 'Tang-chow canal,' fo the east of this bridge there are four locks, and the trans portation of the grain up to the point in question is in the hands of the Southern managers, To the westward, lies the city moat, and th grain on reaching this point is carted away in six divisions to the dil ferent granaries. The object of the present memorial is to denounce the obstinate inefficiency of a Manchu Censor, named Ye'ian-shan, who persists in inspecting the transhipment of no more than 20 boatloads per diem. It is of the utmost importance to take all possible advantage of dry weather, before the roads become converted into quagmires, and the Chinese Censor Li Teh-tian, by going on duty at daylight, passes 25 boatloads per diem, amounting to upwards of 7,000 piculs of grain. By working at night the quantity may be doubled, and thus, in a hundred days, the entire operation might be completed, The Manchu Censor has paid no attention to the urgent requests addressed to him to increase the tale of his daily labour, and as the deliveries of grain thi Year are greater than heretofore, his re-moral and chastisement are soli chang memorializes for ion to return to his home on account of severe illness, He states that, lus; year, when the late Emperor summoned him to Court, he replied, through the Governor of Canton, declining the honor on the score of bad health; but afterwards, when he learnt that the Emperor had exchanged a terrestrial for a Celestial Throne, he at once started for the Capital in order to i grief at the side of the He was taken worse at Hwaigan-fu, on his way to the North, where he vomited a basin-full of blood, which fact was duly reported by the Commissioner for the Grain Tribute. His medical certificate reports amongst other reasons for his illness, the torrid atmosphere of Peking, and the ascendency of the element of wood and deficiency of that of water in his condition, June 22nd.—The Governor of Shan-se, Pao Yuen-shen, reports an accumulation of salt, and requests permission to be allowed further time to dispose of it, in accordance with precedent. Tt appears that ever since the time the public were admitted to share with the Government in the salt transport, there was no difficulty in this regard until the rebellion broke out in. Honan and Shan-se, when the salt accumulated, and it became impossible to dispose of it within the limited time. At the present moment, although the disturbances are over, the two provinces have not regained their former-condition, and are utterly unable to consume the quantity to be supplied. Moreover, other kinds of salt from Honan, ata lower rate than the Shan-se salt, are imported in large quantities and swamp the market.
June 23rd.—The Military Governor of Kirin memorializes reporting that a prisoner, under sentence of death, who had escaped from the jail at Chun-ch'éng Pao in February last, was re-captured on the following day. In consequence of his recapture, the officer in charge of the jail entitled to undergo only the penalty of remaining in office without rank for four years, at the end of which time, if no misconduct is recorded against him, his reinstatement in rank may be applied for. The escaped criminal has been examined, and declares that he effected his escape unaided and without complicity on the part of any of the jailers. He is remitted to prison to avait execution, Tune 24th.—(Court Circular.) Ting Jihch'ang had audience on his departure for Tients remainder ut to-day's Gazette is occupied by memorials on administrative details, from the Governor-General of Shensi and Kansuh.
June 25th.—(1) A Decree. Let Hia Hien-lun i} it be appointed to the post of Taotat of Waiwan, (N.B.—This officer has for some time past been acting Taotai.)
(2) Tso Tsung.t'ang, Governor-General of Shensi and Kansuh, memorializes reporting that an escort has been furnished and suite of a Tibetan who was sent from king with tribute offerings, in 1861, The K'anpw set out on his return journey in 1862, but the roads being interrupted by the insurrectionary troubles which had then broken out, he was delayed and died on the journey. attendants have remained in charge of is effects for the last 12 or 13 years at P'ing. fan, in Kansuh, The Si-ning region having been tranquillized last year, and the communications being open, an escort of 100 Mongol troops and 200 Tibetan soldiers has been detailed to escort the party back to Tibet.
Tune 26th.—A Decree. Whereas, owing to the want of rain that was of late experienced at the Capital, we have repeatedly issued mandates directing the Prince of un, Yih-tsung, to proceed to the Great Exalted Temple to offer incense, and the Prince of Kung, Yih-sin, and others, to offer incense at the Temple of Response to Prayers in Season, and other places, and have moreover at intervals caused special altars to be erected for the putting up of devout entreaties, now, for several days in succession clouds have thickly overspread the sky, and on the night of the 24th inst. a thunderstorm, accompanied by rain, was experienced, laving with refreshing moisture the surrounding plain. Profound is our gratitude for this succour, which we recognize as wholly due to the fostering. love of the august Supreme.
Let offerings of incense be made as follow: (Here ensues along list of princes and nobles appointed to make incense offerings at different temples).
June 27th.—(Court Circular.) 'The Board of Ceremonies reports the day fixed upon for the opening of the Historiographers' Office—i. e. the commencement of the task of compiling the ' Veritable Record" or chronicle of the late reign.
(1) Tseng K wob-ts'ian, Governor-General of the eastern course of the Yellow River, a peh (earl) of the first degree, memorializes reporting his assumption of office. Having been honoured with the appointment he holds, ho had audience of leave on the 3rd May, commenced his journey on the 7th, and having travelled by way of Tientsin and Pao-ting Fu, arrived on the 26th of the same month at K'ai-feng Fu, where on the following day he received the seal of his office from the Governor of Honan. Impressed as he is with his own unworthiness and with the magnitude of the interests committed to his keeping, he li strive to do his best, and to remedy lack of experience by availing himself of the united services of those under-his command, and by taking advice to the fullest possible extent with a view to economy and efficiency combined, (2) Ts'ung-shih, Military Governor of Sheng-king, memorializes proposing the suppression of an allowance of ''sels 200, granted annually since 1836, toward the expenses of an inspection of the Imperial hunting grounds held yearly by a Lieutenant-Colonel sent from Moukden, for the purpose of guarding against the acts of poachers on the deer preserves. He points out that of Into years the hunting grounds have become to such an extent settled upon and brought under cultivation, that deer have become scarce and poachers consequently few.
Tune 28th.—Ma In-lung, deprived of rank but left in his office as Commander-in-chief of the province of Hunan, reports his assumption of office on the 24th March, after paying his respects at the Imperial court, where, on the occasion of the Empress-Mother's birthday (in November last), he was admitted to the signal honour of being present ata theatrical performance in the palace. A lumblo native of Yunnan, coarse and dull of nature, he feels honoured beyond all measure by the sacred favour, and can only exert every possible effort in the discharge of his duty. The province has on its borders wild tribes of the Miao and Yao, and is moreover constantly the acone of action of secret societies; in consequence of which the task of control, whether by firm or gentle means, is of no slight importance. (N.B.—Ma Ju-lung is the late Commander-in-chief in Ytinnan, whence he was transferred last year to his present post.)
Tune 20th—Ts'én Yii-ying, Governor of Yunnan, memorializes respecting the supply of copper to Peking (for the cash coinage) from te provincial mines. In reply to a previous memorial, the Governor had been authorized to appoint a commission of four officials, who were to ce-operate with local notables and traders in obtaining a first instalment of one million catties (about six hundred tons) from the mines JO of Ning-tai, Mow-li-teh, Pao-ping, and Wan-pao. The officials in question have subsequently reported, undertaking to deliver the amount in question in two instalments, the first by the end of January and the second in the month April of the current year, delivery to be made at the provincial capital (Yunnan Fu). This has already been done, and it remains to effect the transportation to Peking with the utmost possible despatch, In conformity with the system to which Imperial sanction has been obtained, the route has been changed (i, from the old course by way of the Yangtsze) to that vid Peh-sch Ting
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.