Towards the close of last year one of the Censors suggested to the Throne that the tax upon salt should be increased, and that the surplus revenue thus produced should be devoted to the relief of distress in the Southern provinces. This proposal received the sanction of the Throne and was submitted to the Viceroy at Nanking for any observations which he might wish to make upon it. The Viceroy now reports strongly aguinst the measure, hasing Ing remarks on the statement made to him by the Salt Commissioner. Not very tong ago an additional tax of two cash per catty was imposed upon Linsi alt to provide for the defence of the Yangtze, and the result has been a vast increase of smuggling and a correspunding diminution in the sue of Government salt. Any further addition would cripple the trade and seriously diminish the revenue receipts.—Rescript: Let the Board ut Kevenue take note.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.