We have to acknowledge the October number of the Far East. The photographs seem to be chosen partly in connexion with the continued "Memoir of the Evor-Conquering Legion," as they comprise two seenes in Quinsan and one at Soonkiong, which will appear rather tame to local readers, though their novelty may lend them interest in the eyes of people at home. An attractive photograph of Chungking and a portrait of General Lo Gendre are among the rest of the series.—Tho Description of Sinm is continued; a memoir of Kirino, one of the leaders of the late rebellion, isreprinted from the Japan Mail; and a history of the rising, with photographs of some of the localities rendered most famous in its course, is promised in future numbers. A lengthy memoir of Consul Lo Gondre, which is not yet concluded, with a few paragraphs relating to the illustrations, complete the number.
Our readers may remember the trouble into which the Financial Commissioner of Shansi lately fell, for sending forward insufficient subsidies to the army of the North-west; and the case against him seemed clear. It is remarkable, however, that he declines to accept the blame, and a decree in the Gazette of the 9th October orders the Board of Revenue to make a searching investigation into the facts as represented in his memorial. As he argues that he has not been guilty of the fraudulent misrepresentation charged against him, it is right that a public statement of the particulars should be made for his satisfaction."—The spirit of fairness evinced in the order, is noteworthy.
The same Gazette contains a curious memorial from the Governor of Ili, regarding the results of grain cultivation in that region during the four seasons ended in Juno, 1877. He was sent west, in 1873, to make arrangements with the Russian officers for taking over affairs in Th; and having done so and established his head quarters at Tarbagatai, land was at once brought under cultivation by military colonists to furnish supplies for the army. Details are then given of the gradual increment of the harvest. But a country where it is necessary to plant grain officially " to food the army of occupation, would scarcely seem worth having.
The Peking Gazette of the 10th October contains a memorial from Ting Jih-charly, soliciting a mark of Imperial approbation fora certain educational establishment at Foochow, which he calls the "College of Practical Results." It appears to have been founded a few years ago. by the provious Governor; but Ting has added to the endowment, and has caused, apparently, some changes to be made in the curriculum. The great distinction of this from the other colleges in Foochow la that, whereas these are exclusively devoted to the arts of pastry and style, in the "College of Practical Results" scholars are invited to study the canonical books and the historians, with a view to educate themselves to be statesmen. "In the memorialist's hum-opinion, what it is essential to aim at is that as large a number of scholars as possible should seek to follow the example of the worthies of the past, and to study doctrinal literature in its application to practical questions. Every individual who snow trained to make his mark in scholarship, is one more added to the list of public officials who will follow the right path in days to come; and by these means suitable agents may be effectively obtained, setting aside the vain repute of erudition which keeps itself apart from the work and ways of actual life." Very practical and sensible words! Though whether a course of study at the Foochow Arsenal would not be likely to make more practical men of the scholars, than a study of the Canonical Books of Ohina, may be an open question.
As a specimen of economical imbecility, we commend the picture drawn by the Governor of Szechuen, of the lehin tax ation in Kweichow. The whole province is "overspread with a network of lekin barriers," yet the entire revenue derived from that source does not exceed is, 100,000, The Governor's object is to relieve the Szechuen salt trade, which, he says, is so oppressed by the various legal and illegal exactions that it is nearly choked. Yet salt stands for only one-half of the Tls. 100,000 already referred to as the sum raised from lekin in Kweichow; and ho offers to pay this amount annually to the Kweichow exchequer, if Szechuen salt is onlered to be altogether exempted from taxation, in future, at the lekin barriers.
The Geographical Magazine for September states that the project for despatching an English expedition to Lizassa has definitely fallen through.
The Civil and Military Gazette says that, owing to the disturbances in Kssnoania, business is at a complete standstill. A large caravan consigned to the Central Asian Trading Compmy, consisting of churres, silk, push, and carpets, &¢., of gent value, after having been delayed for two months at Yarkand was allowed to proceed on the 20th of July last, as far an Shaheeddulla, to halt there until further orders, Mr. Dalgleish, the Company's agent, about whose safety some fears had been expressed, was at Yarkand on the above date, safe and well, and hopes to send on the caravan to Leb, the moment it is safe to do so.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.