In the Int year of Kuang Hail, for the purpose of preparing the coast defences of Kwangtung, the Provincial Tr invited the merchant Huang Ki FNE PO to farm the opium revenue of the entire province for five years, for the of $410,000 for the first year, with an addition of $20,000 in each succading year. In the 7th year of Kuang roy of Liang Kuang memorialized the Throne to the effect that the merchant Li Yti-hun ERB was willing to continue the contract for opium farming and pay to the Governsnent an annual revenue of $900,000 also for five years, If every province 18 to follow the plan of inviting merch farm the opium revenue as has in Kuangtng, then the provinces ly by the sea can each bring in $1,000, U0 or more annually; and the inland ones can each bring in several hundreds of thousands of dollars (to the Imperial treasury). But the conditions of the provinces differ from each other. In case in some provinces this plan is unsuitable, then some other method must be devised. We find in the commercial lat opium is allowed to be sold in Treaty Ports only; when once it is outside the Treaty Ports, it be-the property of (hina, and only Chinese merchants are permitted to carry it inland, Foreign merchants can give it no protection or accompany it, the Chinese Government has the full right to determine and how it is to be taxed, ete., ete, It is obvious from the articles of the treaties quoted, that foreigners can not interfere with taxation on opium carried inland, It is now proposed that there hould be no difference made between imported and native opium; that warrants should be issued by the Board to Chinese opium agents and firms, and that they should be taxed according to the number of warrants, s0 as to swell the mi funds. The opium agent's warra filled in with the name and nativity of the and is changeable once to pass ten catties of and two mace are to be levied ly. In passing barriers and Leki stations the usual lekin duties are to be collected, and the collectors must append the warrant the year, month and day 0 which the warrant, with the goods, passed, and affix their seal to show validity, so as to prevent any fraud being practised, All opium agents without such warrants will have their goods confiscated, and will be punished. The warrant for opium Gems is to be filled in with the name of the firm and Tis, 24 to be levied on ench firm" without regard to the amount of capital it possesses. Each warrant is tobe once a year, Those merchants nts are not permitted to keep open their firm, and are punished, But as sven as opium leaves the treaty ports, it becomes scattered glers will do what I is necessary to wait upon by each province, thods can be adopted to atop these evi No opium within the Treaty Ports is included in this uew system of taxation, but is treated as heretofore in accordance JAPAN AND COREA, The following documents, for the authenticity of which we do not vouch, have been published A Communication from Kin, President of the Corea Foreign Ofice, to the Japanese Minister Takezoyé
About nine o'clock on the 17th of the present month, Min, Vice-President of the Foreign Ofice, happened to be wounded by robbers, but not serivusl cause death. This was a very ordinary occurrence indyed; and we did not expect that your Excellency would march into the Palace and the forbidden grounds with soldiers, stopping ingress and og ting off all communication, removing His Majesty first to the Kin Yn Palace and slaugh successively six of the then to the residence of Li Tsai-y ian, and
roan officials. We fail to understand the meaning of all suorant populace could not but ant at your Excellency, to collect cromd to attack you, when we, fearing they might do some injury to your troops, requested the Chinese garrison to enter the Palace and afford protection, But your on meeting the Chinese, barred the way, commenced Giring; the result being that there was dune fo both sides, and into a battle-field.
But though you committed " blunder at your Excellency doubtless had no tention than that of affording protection; and as our Treaties with other Powers also promise protection we already communicated with the Mi your colleagues to deliberate upon the affair in question, We hope your Excel-louey will also arrive at n decision and give tus a reply.—A necessary communication. 19th day 10th moon, in the year Kia Shen, The Japanese Minister Ta'ezoyé makes a Communication.
The mob of your honourable country gradually came pressing round our Legation buildings, shooting guns, cotting fire, throwing stones, and causing a great deal of danger; yet your honourable Govern ment sat looking on without making an effort to interfere. That is the reason why I removed temporarily to Jenchuan, with the intention of reporting all the facts to my Government before deciding what steps to take, I therefore make this communi tion to request your honourable Govern ment to protect our Legation buildings during my absence, and hope your Excel-louey will not conformably.—A necessary communication to President Kin 7th day 12ch moon 17th year of Meiji. 3
The Japanese Minister Tukezoyé mak: s a Reply The reason why I entered the Palace ied by guards was that His Ma-ing favoured me with a Decrow me to repair thither to protest Decree I respectfully obeyed, and speedily went to the Royal residence Yesterday the soldiers ut the Chinese garri son unexpectedly rushed into the Palace having joined the soldiers of table country, opened fire ult being that we were attacked I, on account of having received the royal commands to sffurd protection, reluctantly replied with small guns [yfygf probably revolvers or car and accom panied Hi order to fend my ability pressed groat anxiety for the aufety of the Queen Mother, and vowed that he would attend upon Her Majesty even to the point of death. The King accordingly went through the back gate of the Palace, among the soldiers of your honourable country. On my attempting to accompany him with my guards, we were fired upon by your troops; and, fearing leat the uccurronce of some accident might frighten the King, whereby my services in protecting him would be fruitless, I respectfully took my lure and departed with my soldiers to the Legation. Your Exeolleney, in your comication, stated that I first removed the King to the Kin Vu Palace, and sfterwards elsewhere, Iam ata loss to know what you can mean by this, and beg to amort that T had nothing whatever to do with the removal of Lajent Having received a Decree or attend the Palace, I followed, and defended the King, As to your statement that I snee slaughtered aix of the high Corean of Tam simply astounded at it. During my stay in the Palace [did not for single i quit the side of the King, nor did I see any slaughtering of officials, My soldiers only kept guard round the royal person, and the entrances were strictly watched by sentinels who enquired of all, going in or out, their names, reporting the same to His Majesty, and permitting only those to pass in or vue who were allowed by the King to do so. Beyond this I know not! T ain desirous of knowing your Excellency's authority fur the statements you have been pleased to make, What proof have you? 'This is a matter of grave importance, and I will thank you to produce, for my information, satisfactory evidence to sustain your accusations, As regard your people gathering a mob' to muke ani attack, I know no reason why they should have done so. Moreover, your Excellency stated in your communi cation that my troops, having barred the entrance, commenced' to fire. Be yood enough to recollect who, besides your own soldiers, kept guard over the Palace gates While my troops were standing about the place where His Majesty was stationed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.