September 6th.—(1) A Decree, commanding the Board of Civil Office to consider and report on the cases of the gentry who are recommended by Kuei-nien, Inspecting Censor of the Southern Division of the Capital, for ce-operating in the capture of certain robbers.
(2) Memorial from Chih-ho, President of the Board of War, and one of the High Officials in charge of the Hsien-an (jag Zo) Hall Government School. This School was established in the firstyearof therein Yung-cheng; the teachers Chinese and Manchu numbered fifteen, the scholars 110. Its constitution was superior to that of the Eight Banner Schools; for it was near the For-hidden Precincts, (therein resembling the Hung Wen and Ch'ung' Wen Colleges of the Tang dynasty), the buildings were fine, the allowances were liberal. The teacher's salaries, pupils' allowances and the school supplies were all reduced one half in the 23d year of Tao-kuang, and, as a consi quences the periodical examinations were deserted. During the reign of Tung-chih the buildings were borrowed for the Military Archive office, which reduced the attendance of scholars still further. Kuang-shou, on being entrusted with the management of this school, restored the half-monthly examinations i purposed restoring the legal exami in translation. The Memori pointed to act ducing Kuang-shou's ment, and considered that the Haid Hall School should be restored at the same time as the Eight Banner Schools. The Me-monalist found the former the easier task, as though the buildings were half of them in ruins, and the scholars few, the regul: tions were in existence and the examin; tions were still kept up. If the course of study is to be restored, the salaries of the teachers, the allowances of the scholars, and the supplies must also be restored, if po:
lo, due regard being had to the requirements of the times. The Memorialist requests that the reduction in the salaries and allowances which took place after the reign of Tao-kuang may be abrogated, The salaries, however, are to be drawn from the Board Treasury by the Prosidents (ABBR) of the school, instead of the Banner authorities, who will continue to receive and issue the rit low ances, The school buildings must be repaired, The Memorialist has personally inspected them, and given strict orders that the funds be really spent on the work, and that no false estimates or exaggeration of oxpenses bellowed. The Memorialist opines that the difficulty in the way of a gonoral improvement of the school, does not lie in the investigation of the regulations, but their adaptation to the present circum: lio in the kindling of a momentary but in the establishment of a lasting vigour, There are three points to be considered by all who desire that the education given in the school be perfectly adapted to all circamstances and be handed down free from abuses, These are to the Presid he pupils are to be 1.—Thochoiceofpupils must be entrusted between the years of 15 and 20, and well-educated, the Hsien-an Hall School not being merely for acquiring the classics by rate. This is the old system; hitherto, the choice has rested with the Suporintendent Ministers, and, the numbers of candidates being excessive, it is to be some have gained admittance by of personation or extraneous aid,' When once they have been selected, the Presidents do not care to be too critical of their fitness. Besides this, the Presidents rarely see the scholars, and thus a door is opened to a crowd of abuses.
2.—A further allowance must be made to the Teachers, as the original allowances are now insufficient. Leave asked to supplement the salaries by an annual grant of Tls. 16, to be supplied by the Memorialist's yamen, The Chinese teachers should receive clothes and hats each spring and autumn, and once in three years a sheepskin robe, 3—The students are to be incited to present themselves for examination, by having assigned to them a certain number of vacancies, as Secretaries or Clerks of the Translation Office, and Treasury-keepers. (See Gazette of August 8th.)
(8) Memorial from Kung-tang, Military Lieutenant-Governor of Urumts's, reporting the death of Sheng-an, lately appointed Military Commissioner at Guchén, on the 29th June. The deceased officer died of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.