The Viceroy at Nanking reports the death of Hsit Chen-ta who was recently promoted to be Chief Justice of Fukien, and submits a statement of the deceased's services with a view to his being awarded posthumous honours. The deceased had only recently returned from Peking, where he had been received in audience, and had taken leave of the Viceroy before starting, for his new post, when the unexpected announcement of his death was made by a member of his household on the 16th May. Hu Chen-ta began life as a private soldier under the Imperial Commissioner, Tseng Kuo-fan, and subsequently served for many years as Commissary under Li Hung-chang in his various campaigns against the Taipings. He was promoted for distinguished services to the rank of Taotai, which office he filled for over ten years, during which he acted several times as Salt Commissioner and Director General of the Grain Transport. His knowledge of special questions, the salt administration and river works amongst others, rendered him a very valuable officer to the state, which suffers a at loss in his untimely death. The viceroy concludes his notice of the deceased's career by suggesting that his biography
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