has been in bad health and has twice (2) Since August last Yen Ching-ming ay plied to be relieved of the duties of his ellice. In recently making a third request to the same effect, he states that he has wept tears of gratitude at the exceptional consideration which the Emperor has shown to him, and that he has employed his leave in taking all ible measures to restore his health, without, however, effecting an improvement in his condition. He is still so restless that he cannot sleep, and the left side of his body is totally paralysed. Though the summer has arrived, his lower limbs still suffer from cold. He can barely move about his room on a stick, and if he wishes to go farther he has to be supported in the arms ut two attendants. All his suffering are due to the exposure he underwent during his military career when he was in the prime of life, and now that he is over seventy his vigour. is gone and he has become a complete invalid. This request was refused, but he was granted a further extension of two months' leave, in acknow-edging which favour he again makes an earnest appeal for permission to retire. For months past -his duties at the Board of Revenue have been entirely perfonaed by his colleagues, Fu-kun and Wong T'ung-ho without the least assistance from him. He was always of an impetuous disposition, and cannot bear to be doing nothing, Ho is precluded from entertaining any hope of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.