Majesty the Empress: The exchange of silver into cash or cash-notes in Peking has recently fluctuated at the will of those who control the market, while the price of commodities has not been reduced, to the embarrassment of the soldiery and common people, The Board of Revenue represent that this state of things has resulted in furtive conjectures amongst thecommonalty that on the issue of chih chien, or the standard he fr eh ly i cash, will shortly be of jo the cash banks, i that they will lose on the notes issued by them, are all calling these in. The result is that there is a wide difference in the relative values of cash and cash-notes. The Decree issued in the first oon of the present year with reference to the resumption of the standard case currency states in the most explicit terms that the admixture of large, or one for ten cash, will continue to be allowed. How comes it, then, that the common people have not yet understood the situation? It must be entirely due to the machinations of dishonest traders who work matters h a view to their own gain, and insidiously delude the people. Such cunning and crafty dealings are deserving of the deepest detestation. The Board of Revenue have now drawn up regulations under which, when the standes cash comes into circulation, every tang shih, or Peking cash, shall be allowed to count as two chih chien, or standard cash. All purchases by officials or people, and all mercantile receipts or sales will be in nccordance with this standard, which shall be absolutely uniform, and all payments on account of contributions in aid of state expenditure as well as of customs duties shall be made in this scale in certain proportions of each kind of cash. In this wise the two currencies will circulate together, and neither will become obsolete or have an advantage over the other. The arrangements proposed have been devised in the interests of the people, and we accordingly direct that they be given effect to. Bankers may pursue their calling with an easy mind and need not be afraid of losses. The relative values of silver to cash or cash-notes must be governed by market rates and be uniform; there must be no fluctuations at the will of those concerned, to the embarrassment of the resident population. After the issue of this announcement, any further manipulation of the market for interested purposes by dishonest traders, and consequent disturbing of the currency, will be followed by prompt punishment on' the part of the local authorities, who will absolutely show no merey.—Let these commands be universally made known,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.