(2.) Teng Kuo-ch tian furnishes a return of the "South Huai" Salt-tax receipts for the first half of the year 1886. The "Old Merchants Tux" has brought in Tls. 114,763 5 the "New Merchants Tax" Tls. 74,783: total, Tls. 1,215,549. The duty on salt sold as ap experiment in certain parts of the Hu-kuang provinces amounts to 10,314 strings of cash, and the lekin on Szechuan salt collected' at Wan-hu-t'o to 85,830 strings, These amounts are rather smaller than those of recent years. The cause of the diminution is undoubtedly the prevalence of smuggling, which is carried on from the adjoining provinces, and which no efforts have been able to check.
Hsii YUNG-I APPLIES FOR LEAVE TO RETIRE.
May 4th.—(1) Hsit Yung-i (one of the Toung-li Yamen) requests permission to retire from the public service on the score of sickness, During the last four years he has constantly suffered from hot sind cold fits, and is unable to regain his health, in spite of medical treatment and more than one period of temporary leave which has been granted to him. The doctors inform him that-his digestion is injured by worry and work, that the circulation of his blood is impaired, and that no remedies can cure him-immediately. "He does not wish to be idle, but-he feels that in his present state he' cannét- do good service. Should his health he given back to him, he will at once apply. for" work again.—By a Rescript issued earlier, Hsli's request was refused, hut two more months' leave was granted to him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.