Secretary Li Bung-chang has just been bereaved of his mother, and should by rights be permitted to satisfy his filial feelings by observing the full period of mourning. But considering that Li Hung-chang has long held the Viceroyalty of Chihli, and has acquitted himself carefully and successfully in the conduct of the numerous and important questions that have from time to time come before him, thereby obtaining Our fullest confidence considering, moreover, that the different niilitary divisions now garrisoning Chihli are all troops originally trained by him and owe their efficiency to Jong service under him, and that the establishment and training of naval contingent for th the northern waters is an experi quite a novel character, the supervision of which cannot well be transferred to inexperienced hands; and, lastly, considering, Tis Viewoy's intimate soqucintanoe with the details of the foreign trade he has so long superintended, We have, after careful reflection, come to the conclusion that a modification of existing usage is here necessary. Wo therefore direct Li Hung-chang, on the expiry of 100 days of mourning, to return with all despatch to his pos retaining his present rank as Grand tary, to administer the province of Chihli as Acting Viceroy. The questions of the hour are attended with much difficulty, and the Viceroy should struggle to suppress his private sorroir, looking upon the affairs of state as of the first importance, and ug to make some return to Us for Our kindness to him, This will be the conduct that will inspire his mother's mind with the comforting conviction that her son, following the precepts early instilled into him, is devoting himself to the aervico of try: and fervent is Our hope (that this view of the matter will commend itself to the Viceroy).
(2) A Decree, The mother of the Go-vomers General of Hukwang and Chihli was a woman of virtuous and gentle disposition who trained her sons in the paths of rectitude; and the nows of her decease has stirred Our profound pity. The state is bountiful in its treatment of high officials, and extends its liberality to the case of deserving mothers. Let due honour be shown to the remains of the mother of the Lis along the line of route to Anhui, and, on their arrival at their destination, let an altar be erected for the performance of a sacrificial ceremony; that Our bountiful compassion may be made manifest, (8) Ifa Teung-ying is appointed Viceroy of the Hu Provinces. Pien Pao-ti (f¥ Hp, once Governor of Shun-tien Fu, is appointed Governor of Hlunan, (4) Ting Pao-chen reports that, in erdex to secure greater regularity and honesty in the administration of the salt revenue, hho is engaged upon the compilation of book, embodying a codo of regulations on the subject, a copy of which will, if His Majesty shall approve of the conten be furnished to all officials and merchants at present engaged in the Szechuen Salt Prade.—Rescript: Noted, pointment as Director of the Court of Sacti-April 27th.—(1) Tsai-ying resigns his ap-
ficial Worship, on the score of ill health, (2) Memorial from Yen Ching-ming formerly Vice-President of the Board of Works, praying that his recent appointment to the Presidency of the Board of Revenue may be cancelled. Ho observes that sixteen years ago he retired from the governorship of Shantung through ill health, and during the intervening period he has had the honour to receive no less than ten summonses from His Majesty, all of which ho was prevented from obeying. For this inability His Majesty was pleased, on each occasion, to pardon him, but none the lasa does the senso of his own shortcomings in this respect lio heavily upon him, so much so that the thought of it at night throws him into profuse perspirations. On the 3rd of March he received a letter from Chang Chih-tung, Governor of Shansi, informing him that the Empress had issued a Decree, and summoning him to the Provincial Capital to listen reverently to its contents. The weather at the time was cold, and Memorialist was troubled with a cough and rheumatism in the left arm; but he elf at once to the cure of thes complaints and commenced daily to practise the ceremony of the kotow, with the determination of proceeding to the Provincial Capital in April or May, and thence, in spite of all maladies, lo Poking, to gratify his long deferred desire to see His Majesty and to afford him evidence,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.