The following is a translation of a des-Rfesod to the Consuls-General and Consuls from the Viceroy at Nanking ad-
at Shanghai in reply to a joint communication sent his Excellency GuntieMex,—I received your communication some time ago, stating that the Har-hour-master of the Shanghai Customs had drawn ut plans and estimates for the dredging of the Woosung Bar, and inviting me to inform you whether I would order the work to be proceeded with, as you had understood that the matter was now being decided upon.
T referred to the correspondence, and directed the Shanghai Taotai to notify you in the first instance what plans he had ready for proposal. Later on I received his official report. stating that a period of several months must elapse before the additional steam-launch, iron mud hoppers, s&e., being purchased would be ready, and requesting me to depute an officer of rauk to proceed to Shanghai in order to consult with him about these purchases and proposed measures, Thave already instructed the Taotai Hu to arrange with the Shanghai Taotai to take charge of the matter with the ce-operation of the Const Inspector and to have it properly carried out, Thave, ete. ed) Tseng, 1st February, 1888.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.