(4) The Viceroy of Chihli, Li Hung-chang, represents to His Majesty that in the transaction of international business he has need of an interpreter acquainted with the French language, and he has therefore retained the services of an officer named Lien Fang, who is an excellent French scholar and a person of merit in other respects. Lien Fang holds the rank of expectant Prefect, and was formerly acting secretary of legation to the mission to Russia, He had been in China on leave and arrived in Tientsin on his way back to Europe, when the Viceroy detained him and attached hin to his personal staff, The Viceroy is communicating on the subject with the Tsung-li Yamen and the Minister to Russia and England.—Autograph Rescript: Let the yamen concerned take note,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.