May 2ist.—(1) Decree. Let Kao Wanpléng fill the office of Expositor of the (2) A memorial from Li Ming-chih, Governor of Hunan, stating that the Hunan garrisons having been already twice reduced, a further reduction would be inexpedient, but that he had, in obedience to Imperial decree, made reductions in the numbers of local committees, by amalgamating one with another, and that the expenditure for salaries of the officials and gentry connected with them had been considerably cut down. The memorialist, whilst appreciating the dif- 8 ficulty of the times and the necessity for the economies called for by the Imcould not at present, cor tly with the proper government of the province, effect. a further reduction of the garrisons, diminished as they're already by the two previous reductions. He will, however, keep a careful watch, and if he sees any' possibility, owing to the improved and more peaceful' state of affairs in the province, of effecting an economy in the military expenditure will not fail to carry it out." The memorialist then gives details of the measures of economy adopted in rogand to the local committees, by which he hopes to save a sum of Tls. 40.000 in the course of the 3 script: Let the proper Board take note.
(3) Postseript- memorial from Li Min; chil' reporting the appointment of Espectant Intendant ut Circuit, Ch'éu Pav-shan, as Acting Intendant of the Circuits of Chang Chou and Pao Chou, and of the Salt Revenue, during the absence of the present incumbent, Hui Nien, who proceeds to Peking for an audience.
Li Wen-min, Governor of Shansi, forwards his hale-yearly report of the unsettled appeal cases in the province. He states that in no case has the limit of time allowed for settlement been exceeded.—Reseript: Let the Board of Punishment take note.
(3) The same officer reports that in accordance with the lay, the sub-Prefect by purchase, Lu Hsi-k'ang, has served a year's probation in the province, and that he has proved both able and intellixent.—Rescript: Let the Board of Civil Office take note.
(6) Li Hung-ch'ang reports that the Expectant. Magistrate Yang Ch'un-yuan has served a year's probation, and shews himself able and intelligent. He is recom. mended for employment in a post of the second order,—Rescript: Let the Board of Civil Ottice take note.
I Jung, Military Governor of Urga and Na-mu-evi-lé-tuan-to-pu, memorialise, that in consequence of protection and the opening up of new land on the frontier, for which purpose 4,000 soldiers have been despatched to that quarter, it is important that officials should be employed who are well acquainted with the requirements and circumstances of the district. The official writer and Expectant Assistant Secretary Ch'ung Lu, being a man of this description, the memorialist has again retained him for employment, although, his term of service expired, he should legally be transferred to another post, and although ho has been already retained once by the Imperial Agent. The memorialist further requests that Ting Fu and Ya Tai, both oficial writers and Expectant Assistant-Secretaries of the Mongolian Superintendency, may be sent at once to Urga to await employment.—Reseript: Let Ch'ung Lu be retained temporarily at Urga, and let the Mongolian Superintendency despatch the above-mentioned officials to Ury:
May 22nd.—(1) Tan Chun-p'u, Actin, Governor of Kiangsu, reports the despateh by sea of the full amount of tribute grain due from that province for the past year, which has to be remitted during the present one. As already reported, the first instalment left on the 13th of March last. 'The second fleet shortly followed, numbering seventy sail, and carrying 140,436 piculs of rice, with the usual allowances for waste, ete., amounting altogether to 17,800 Been despatched, consisting of 81,540 piculs odd: 'The last' instalment, has now
piculs, with the various allowances for waste, etc., amounting to 10,300 piculs odd, which has been stowed in 44 vessels, The usual inspection of crews was made, and licensosfor carrying arms were granted, after which the vessels left for Woosung on the Vth April, in charge ofa wei yuan, anchoring under Tsung Ming island until a fair wine enabled them to proceed northwards, In addition to the above, over 280,000 piculs of rice have been consigned to the China ints' Ca, for delivery at Tientsin.
(2) Postscript memorial from the same oticer, reporting that the grain Taotai has announced his departure for Tientsin to attend to the conveyance of the tribute rice from that port to T'ung Chow. He carries seal of office with him, and will attend to the more important portion of his duties himself, dealing with them en route, but matters of daily routine connected with his office will be managed by the Prefect of Soochow.
(8) Ching An, Military Assistant Governor of K'obdo, and his colleague report as follows:—Tamutivg-chap, the Hubithan, or "embodiment" in charge of the Lama-serv at K'obdo, has represented that certain old complaints from which he used to suffer have returned, and he does nut get rid of them, sv he prays for permission to retire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.