August 8th.—(1) A decree in answer to a memorial from the Censor Shao Chi-china First Secretary in the Boatd of ch'eny, who represents that Wang Ch'ing-
Works, has been placed on the staff of olticials charged with the duty of superintending the arrangements for the forthcoming Imperial funeral. Although it is generally allowable for a high official to place his son on any ordinary commission for the purpose of widening his experience, yet in this instance the Secretary in ques tion has been on duty at the Board a very short time, and the fact that he is now entrusted with a most important duty has given rise to much comment. Ho is accordingly to be removed from the staff. In the ease of two other Secretaries, Ching and Ssu Linz, their period of service has been longer, but a particular watch is from time to time to be kept upon their conduct by the high officers of the Board.
(2) Memorial from Ming An, Military Governor of Kirin, applying for leave to throw open for cultivation the hunting grounds which lie at the south of his province and separate it from that of Féngtien. In former times large herds of deer and other animals would stray northwards from the Feng-tien hunting grounds, but since these latter grounds have been reclaimed there is scarcely an arum any sort to be found in those of Kirin. Moreover, the tract of country in question is possessed of a rich soil and is said to show
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.