Ting-jui, Salt Comptroller of the Chekiang province, vacate his post and proceed to the capital for audience.
(2) A memorial from Kwang Ying, Superintendent of Customs at Huai An, suggesting that the Customs station at Yung Feng K'ou should be transferred to Ch'ing K'ou Chen, in order to check the falling off in the revenue which has already been the subject of several memorials. The measure is the more necessary now, in view of the pressure for funds and the difficulty of the times. It appears that hitherto there has been no Custom station at Ch'ing K'ou Chin, the export of all goods except beans from that port being prohibited, the authorised route being by Yung Feng where the goods pay duty. The memorialist, on assuming office, caused the strictest investigations to be made, which resulted in the discovery that large quantities of bean-cake, oil, and other produce were exported secretly from Ch'ing Kou Chen without paying duty, to the Actriment of the collection at the Hu station, If preventive measures are taken, they generally result in empty words, and if the old system is maintained there is no Protection for the revenue. suggests therefore thatthe shall be transferred to Ch'i and that the collection of duties be carried on under the same regulations as those im force at the Huai An station. He hopes that by the adoption of this plan the revenue will be increased without detriment to the merchant or the opening of new ports.—Rescript: Let the Board' of Rerenue report.
(3) Memorial from Tso 'Tsung-tang, reporting that the Colonel Shen Mao-kuei, stationed at Kao Chow-hsien in Shansi, is compelled to return to his home to attend to the funeral of his mother, lately deceased, and that the Brevet 'Brizade General,' Yen Hsi-ch'éng, has been tempora arily appointed to the vacant post.—Rescript: Noted.
(4) Pan Chin-pei, Treasurer of Kiangsu, memorialises as follows. The city of Soochow is filled with people from all quarters. Outside the city walls a number of poor people in search of food have built huts and established themselves as squatters, and amongst them are a number of thieves. It has therefore been the m to send officers, both civil and military, to keep a watch over the place, these officers being at the same time under orders not to interfere in any way with the duties of the local officials, as such action might give rise to difficulties. It appears that the Expectant Colonel Ytan Jung-ch'ang, who was on duty outside the Hoi Men, has taken upon himself magisterial functions and inflicted punishment aman and his wife. While investigation into this matter was proceeding, Tuan Ko-tsao, a native of Hong Shan-hsien in Hunan, with his wife, xe Huang, presented themselves at the memorialist's yamen with an appeal for redress. The plaintiff stated that he had come with his wife to the Men, outside which he had built roomed hut. A man named Tw rented a portion of this hut and was living there with his wife. Tang went out all day to ply his trade as a boatman, and the plaintiff also had employment away from his house. In the 12th month of last year he returned home, and Tung, who came back a little later, stated that some dollars had been stolen from a box in his room, which he considered the plaintiff, as proprietor of the house, should make good, The plaintiff's wife stated that she knew nothing of the dollars, and that, as Tung's wife was at home all day, she was responsible for them; it was no concern of the proprietor's. Tung insisted that plaintiff should pay the money, and plaintiff then requested the constable to settle the dispute. Tung thereupon went to Yuan, who was in command of the patrol, and falsely accused the plaintiff of theft. Colonel Yuan then arrested plaintiff, and after examining him caused him to be beaten. Plaintiff's wife was also arrested and examined, and, as she ventured to argue the question, she received a beating with a cane. The evidence of the constable, Yeh as taken, and agreed with of the uti. He also called also Hsiao fan; that he ud other less practices; that he had already been under arrest by the District Magistrate but had escaped; and that as he had now been re-arrested, he should be sent to Chang Chow-hsien for trial. 'The memorialist considers that Ytan Jung-ch'ang has acted in a most irregular and' lawless manner in venturing, while in command of his patrol and within the precincts of the wall, to take upon himself judicial functions, and' indiscriminately inflict punishment upon a man and his wife. If the law is to be respected, he should without doubt be degraded; and the memorialise requests that he may be forthwith cashiered and Drought to justice—Rescript: Let Yitan Jung-ch'ang be cashiered, and let the preper Board take note. the reesipt of a Governor of Chekiang, on the subject of the enquiries he has caused to be instituted, T'ung Hua, Ssu in obedience to Imperial command, into the condition of land subject to taxation in the Hang Kia Hu circuit and other districts. The officers deputed to make these enquiries experienced great ditticulty in arriving at a correct knowledge of the actual condition of the country, and the relative capacity of different districts to bear taxation, owing. to the systematic efforts of the people to conceal the truth and the reticence of the local authorities, In the Kia-hing prefecture particularly, the difficulty was increased owing to a combination of clerks and disreputable notables, who brought pressure to bear upon the authorities with a view to securing gain to themselves. On a recent occasion, when the inspecting officer summoned a clerk to give evidence, the latter collected a number of people who assaulted and insulted the officer in question, and then proceeded in a mob to the prefectural city, which they entered and sacked a yamen (or yan The decree announces that such Inwless proceedings cannot be allowed to continue, and the Governor is called upon to direct a number of deputies quietly to arrest the ringleaders of this riot, and send them to the provincial capital for trial. Anyone attempting to resist their action is to be promptly dealt with in the most rigorous manner, that a salutary warning may be given to the people. The condition of the land under inspection, whether barren or otherwise, is to be clearly established, and the malpractices complained of puta stop to, both in the interests of the Imperial revenue and of the people themselves.
(2) Hui Nien HEAF is appointed Salt Commissioner of Chekiang.
(3) A memorial from the Grand Secreta Pao Yun and other high officers entrusted with the supervision of the compilation of the "Veritable Record," applying for instructions as to the method in which the canonical titles or personal designations of Imperial personages are to be written in the copy of the Veritable Record " that is being prepared for the palace at Moukden. It has hitherto been the custom, they find, to fill in these names in vermilion ink, and they now beg to submit a list of officers recommended for this duty from whom His Majesty may make selection, The officers nominated will be called upon to finish the task in one day, and as soon as His Majesty's pleasure has been signified, an auspicious ty will selected for the ceremony. On this day, incense tables will be set out in the largo hall of the State Historiographer's office, and the officials engaged will apply them: selves reverently to the task, dressed in their Court robes.
(4) Peng Yii-lin, Admiral of the Yangtsze, who had obtained conve for the purpose of recruiting his health, reports that he left his home on the 17th of April, on his way to resume his duties. He is still far from well, but a sense of duty and ai the dobe of gratitude he owes to His Majesty prevents him from selfishly seeking the repose he would wish to indulge in.
(6) Li Han-chang, Governor-General of Hu Kuang, reports that he is in receipt of a communication from Chang K'ai-sung, formerly Governor-General of Yun Kuei, who was cashiered some time since, announcing his intention of leaving his home on the 29th of April for Peking, in obedience tu the Imperial summons. The letter acknowledges in the most humble manner the generosity of His Majesty in receiving the Writer once more into favour, useless and old though he tecla himself tu be.
May 25th.—(1) The following officials appointed to osamine the papers of the es at the recent examina-
{metropolitan graduate, ang Usiin, Lis Lung, Sen, Yi Choy, Lin Shu,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.