ABSTRACT OF PEKING GAZETTES, August 27th.—(1) A Decree, in reply to a Memorial from Pu Lien, commanding the Library of Imperial Inscriptions to write an inscription for a tablet to be placed in the Temple of the Five Spiritual Beings outside the town of Malanyi, in return for the miraculous disappearance, in ansirer to prayer, of the caterpillars that were eating the pines inside the boundary wall of the Eastern Mausolen, Kung Tang, Military Lieutonant-Governor of Urumts'i, forwards a third list of officers and men who died in battle, or fall victims to the rebellion, at Turfan and Guchéo. The list includes 210 names, and marks of approval are requested. In an enclosure Kung T'ang adds the name of Wo Ho, Lieutenant-Colonel at Chimusarh, who was killed on the capture of that city by the rebels. His widow brought his case before the Censorate, who wrote to the Memorialist.
(8) Wen Hsii reports having issued rift to the 500'militia retained during summer and autumn, the "robber season," at Hulau-thing,' The Memorialist has' made Ch'Sng Fa, their leader, who has soon much service against brigands, and was highly esteemed by Tu Hsing-a, a former Governor of Moukden, independent of the Deputy Lieutenant-Governor, that he may be froe to act as he dooms fit against the brigade,—Resoript: Noted.
(4) The arrival of Sheng An, Military Commissioner at Guchén, at his post, is announced by the Governor of Urumts'l.
August 28th.—(1) Li Wen-min, Governor of Kiangsi, reports inundations in Yi-shan District and other places. The Memorinlist states that from the beginning of June rain fall, and towards the end of the month, the lakes anti rivers were swollen by excessive rains. In Yi-shan, the moun. tain-streams were in violent flood, and the river suddenly rose many feet.' Houses were overthrown and many lives lost. A similar disaster befell Shang-jao, which lies in a line with Yii-shan, and some damage was dono in the adjoining district of Kuang-hsing. The Prefect and Magistrates took the proper steps to relieve the sufferers. A long list of places similarly afflicted and the conduct of different Magistrates follows, the details varying but slight-Jy. he Memorialist points out that the tive districts that have aufferod most severely cannot obtain sufficient relief from their in the opinion of the Memorialist, the Em-own resources; and reports that Ts. 14,000 pire, the people, and the officials have each have been istled by the Financial Com-of them an ideal condition—good govern-missioner by the Memorialist's orders, ment, unoppressed industry, upright ad-Other districts are to be relieved by ministration respectively—and it is to advances from the reserve funds or poll-tax the restoration of each and all of these receipts. The early rice in the district unin Shansi that his reforms tend. The visited by this calamity has been garnered, and the late crop planted. The: price of Memorialist then draws a dark picture of the state of Shansi, Since the reign in is unaffected, and the people remain Hsien Feng, when its condition might be quiet. (For Decree see Gazette of 6th called comparatively excellent, public and August.) private abuses have been transmitted in (2) Tseng Kuo-ch'tian reports his arrival ever-increasing number. Tsdng Kuoigtung, (where he is to act as ch'iian could not purify the administra.
(3) Li Wéu-min recommends Té Hsing, providing against the Famine; he had to tion, All his. energies wore directed to Sub-prefect at Kiukiang and several other put up with temporary shifts, and could officers of inferior rank for their exertion not adopt vigorous reforms,' Law and in international matters. The Memorialist principle were alike trampled under foot, states that these officers have supported while Pao Hong acted as Governor. Wei the late and present Inspectors in the re-Jung-kuang was transferred to Kiang-form of abuses and the fostering of trade, ssu before he had time to carry out his 80 that foreigners and natives alike willingly plans, but detailed all the advantages shew them respect. When questions conand defects of the provines to the Memo. cerning foreigners arise, they arrange them rialist, After some months' consideration impartially in accordance with the Treaty, the position, the Memorialist clearly and are swayed neither by impulse nor by perceived that the embarrassments and Partility. The receipts have of late yeara poverty, public and private, of Shanai increased. Although the flourishing state of Were such that utter ruin was at hand. the Customs is owing to the fulfilment of Resources were wanting; ability impossible is duty by the Inspector, yet such a happy to obtain; the administration of the higher result could not be arrived at except by posts was not under the control of the the counsel and support of the general titular holder; the small officials wore body of ofticials.—Granted by Rescript. restrained by no feat of the law; the people cdrbmnoe-General atte Hukusiy peo (4) Ts'in Yit-ying, newly appointed were habituated to that idleness which hastened their destruction; scholarship vinces, reports that none of the deficit i was at a low ebb, and learn ing neglected the accounts of the late Magistrate of Kuei the military organization grew more lax. yang district and other officials has been every day; the underlings were audacious paid up, though these elficers were pressed in ill-doing. The province was like an for payment within a given time. The emaciated body, attacked by a hundred Governor proposes to allow them two maladies and sores. Only reform, at once external and internal, could give relief, The Kes Granted. months in which to pay the full amount,—Memorialist submits his proposals under twenty heads. The first six tond to the supch og jui, Prefect of Ho-chien Fu in august 29th.—(1) Decree appointing Hu port of the people. They are:—1.—The ens couragement of the cultivation of the waste lands. 2.—Tho settlement of the reo (2) Dacreo, in answer to Ch'éng Tuan's ganization measures. 3.—The lightening denial of the charges brought against him Of the coreée. 4.—Tho abolition of the (soo Gazette of August 3rd), directing Pi burdens imposed under the Present land-'Tao-titan and Chou Chia-mei to ascertain—Tho_ prohibition of opium. the novi tax system. 5.—The storage of grain, ment, that the Blagistrate of Ch'ang-ping the truth or falsity of Ching Tuan's star two afford a check on official underlings by Chou' got the people to trump up false promoting economy. They are:—-7,- Thy charges against him, reduction of the public charges, 8—The (3) Decree, appointing Wen Ying to be abolition of assessment for public purpose Inspecting Censor of the Mongol Plain The following, by rooting out malyersn Blue Banner improve the finances, They uro. five (4) Decree, appointing A Ch'ang-ah and 9.—The settlement of all affaire. pending Ch'ing Lin to be Examiners of Manchu before a change of officials. 10.—Tho Translation at the approaching examina-auditing of the funds in the government tions; Yilipu and Hsti K'o-kang to be treasuries. 11.—T} Inspectors of the above; Hsiang Vu and malpractices. 12, 13.—The resters Ch'in Chung-chief to call the roil (of the candidates as they enter the Hall). tion. Wealth is stimulated by aiding (5) Decree, appointing the Prince of Yi, agriculture, the effect of the next two, id. Téung-hua, Ching Hsin, Hsing Lien, Pi—The development of the resources of the Tao-yuan, Ch'ing Fa, Ch°sng Chih, Ching country. 15.—Tho promotion of Labour Jui, Jung Kuei, and Ho Kun' to be and trade. 16.—Tho improvement of edu-Searchers (of the candidates). cation, which improves morality by giving importance to the scholar. 17,—The (6) The Board of War report the penalty provision of adequate military resources, incurred by Té P'ing.ah, Ninguta Military 18.—The training of native tro: 19.—Deputy Lieutenant-Governor for not issti-'The suppression of the first signs of robing pay to his battalions two months after bery. 20.—The improvement of the border it "was due and he had received the government. These four are designed for amount; and, also, fordepositing the money the strengthening of the province by secur-ina bank on purpose to withhold it from ing its borders." These reforms are all the troops. He loses three steps under the natural and ordinary; there is no idea of statute against grave misconduct, and is claiming extraordinary merit, or advan-not allowed to commute the punishment. tage, or special activity on' account of (See Gazettes of 5th August and 1st July.) them. The Memorialist complains of the (7) Memorial from Chang Chih-tung, inefficiency and carelessness of the Shansi ing the abuses of the administration officials, which he ascribes to the want of and his proposed reforms. The principle and equity in the late High Memorialist promises that the one remedy Auth ies. The ineflicientthe Memoriali for the distress of Shansi has been said of has denounced from time to time, and thus late to be the restoration of the ideal con-has been able to make all his subordinate dition [FEST] of the people. But, the zealous and right. The Memoriali Memorialist argues, the ideal condition asks His Majesty's special protection and of the people must have been impaired by favour in his undertaking, as the expenses outward maleficent influences, and can of the reorganization are very heavy and only be restored by beneficent ones, Now, some money must be retained to meet them. (Seo Gasette of 2ud August, For
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.