—Yo-lu reports that Lin Ping-chang (Ji)
TH), formerly Governor of Kinngsi, fas started for Peking on the completion of his term of mourning. er to a memorial appointee: sident of commanding him to obey the former (2) Wang Wen-shao renews his entreaty to be allowed to vacate his post. Ho was med with grateful awe by His Decree (Dec. 2.) Ho bethought him that, his poor abu ho has been unable to repay the least degree the Bounty that has repeatedly honour him with appointment in the City and in the provinces, and his errors have been multiplied by the want of public confid His request for punishment met with a refusal, and his prayer for leave to resign his office to wait on his mother was nega rived: how dare he reiterate his request? But, if he continue to disgrace his post, not only will he himself lose reputation—a small matter, but His Maje will be perturbed.' As an official, ti memorialist is possessed of no pre-eminent abilities, he only exerts the powers he has to the utmost: personally, he has no extraordinary talents, but he must distinguish between righteousness and gain. At present how can he defend himself from the charge of seeking gain, of which the public voice accuses him? The memorialist further urges his mother's keen longing to return home. Thus he is perplexed by the fear of failing to shew aren the gratitude of a dog to His Majesty, or of falling short of the duty a son owes his parent. Further hesitation and silence would increase his guilt. He has no option, therefore, but to renew his request for leave to retire. (Seo Gazette of 4th December.)
Pawushops are established in the interest of the poor. Though it is uow nineteen years since Kiangnan was restored to the Empire, the province has not recovered its former condition, and special efforts must be made to relieve the distressed state of the people. The memorialist found that the rate of interest charged by pawnshops, and the period for redeeming pledges varied considerably in Kiangnan, to the detriment of the people. He therefore fixed the mouthily interest on all pledges at 2 p.c., and the period within which goods must be redeemed at twenty-seven months, and he decided that, besides the duty, pawnshops in the cities must contribute to the lie service 20,000 cash, in the country 12,000 cash, every month.' On all public funds issued to the shops only 12 p.c. waa be be paid acineally; apd all legsloy fees wore done away with. These reforms he communicated to his subordinates, and announced to the people by a public notice, Complaints from Lis Chow and several places in Anhwui, that the new regulations pressed too hard on the shopkeepers, have induced him to remit the payment of in-torest on the public funds. The Financial Commissioner has been instructed to consider what scheme of repayment shall be adopted. Shopkeepers who do not exact interest during bad years will be entitled to marks of approbation, Hereafter, any icret breach of the regulations, increasing interest on advance or shortening the time of redemption, and any extortion on the part of the clerks, will be punished, Rescript: Let the Board of Revenue take note.
December 22ud.—(1) Memorial from Wei Jung-kuang. "Phe Governor of Auhivui having reported that Te'ii Tenn-zi, Grain Intendant of Ytiunan, who was aummonod to the Capital for examination with regard to the Yitnuan case, had not returned home, the memorialist directed in qui to be made at the places in Kiangsu on the way from Poking to An hui. The Magistrate of Tan-t'' now reports that, on 16th November, a servant of wai Tstn-zi's, named Mu Sheng, ro-ported that his master had died of on board a vessel within the juri of Pan-t'u. Mu-sheng said that Ts'ui Tsunyi started from Poking for his home on August 10th, and on Septombor27th reached Yii-t'ai in Shantung, where he fell ill, and on 18th October. His remains had yen carried by his family to his native place on 16th November. The servant handed to the magistrate the d officer's warrant to return home. magistrate, considering that the delay of a whole month in making the report, and the statement that the coffin had boon taken to Auhwui, looked most suspicious, especially as the servant's statement was confused, reported the oceurreneo with all speed. The memorialist has written to Avhwui to hare inquiries instituted, and has ordered the T'an-t'a magistrate to carefully examine the servant as to the truth of his report. (Soe Gazette of December 9th.)
December 23rd.—(Abstract of Memorials). eng Kuo-chuan requests that no more petty officials {4 $4£) may be sent to Kwang-tung for two years, their number being still in excess of the appointments open to them in that province, (Q) Memorial from Chang Shu-sheng, requesting the dismissal of Wang Hsi-chi, acting Magistrate of the Hsin-te Chibli. This officer imp: man, named Ma Yang-ch'ang, who reported that he had been robbed, on the ground that there was no proof of the alleged crime. The man died suddenly next day; and the magistrate, on enquiry being held, tried by false statements to escape punishment, The memorialist has again and again en-don the inferior magistrates that they must obey the improved regulations
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.