Yellow River, begs to bring to H.M.' notice the fact that of late years recommendations on account of special service in connection with the Yellow River have been tov freely bestowed, and would suggest that Viceroys and Governors beinstructedto be very careful as to making such recommendations. because the onus of proving that an. officer deserves distinction lies on them all the Board can do is to see if the promotion asked for can be granted within the regulations. Memorialist would not dare to put forward his humble view had he not reason to believe, from what he has seen with his own eyes, that a very unsatisfactory state of things in this respect exists at the present moment. He will make it his duty as far as he is concerned to carefully discriminate, recommending the deserving only and impeaching the undeserving. He has, however, in the present instance to bring forward the merits of an officer whose services warrant, the designation of more than extraordinary services.
The individual in question isthe intendant of the Hupeh Circuit, Wei Kuei-sen, and the circumstances which lead memorialist to recommend him for distinction are as follows. About the end of June or the beginning of July there were very heavy rains, and the Ch'in river in one day rose eighteen feet, threatening to burst its banks and scatter desolation and ruin among ten thousand homes. Wei Kuei-sen, regardless of the fact that several boats had already been upset by the current and those on drowned, at once set over towards the north bank, in spite of the tearful entreaties of the officials and the people, who prayed him to have regard for his own life. He brought con-
setting to work, proceeded to pull down the solation to the threatened villagers and, houses and walls, getting young and old to assist him in filling up the breaches. By dint of working day and night soaked to the skin and covered with mud he and he alone has the credit of having averted a great catastrophe. To this memorialist can bear personal testimony, and the people and gentry when they saw and heard thereof asked, "If these be not special services what are?" Under these circumstances he would request that Wei be placed at the head of the expectant roll and be appointed to the very first vacancy that arises.
Recommendations of two other officials follow, but after the above graphic and exciting description their exploits possess little interest.—A separate decree will be published.
15th November.
REQUEST FOR AN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.