The Memorialist, in compliance with an Imperial Decree directing him to make propositions for the necessary coast defences, prostrate requests the establishment of a special Minister of Coast Defence, with fall powers, 60 as to have the direction of affairs centralized, and all the conditions of coast defence under one control; and beys Their 'Majesties' Sacred Glance upon his Memorial. The Memorialist humbly states that on the 25th day of the Sth moon, 1th year of Kuang Hsti, he received from the Cabinet Ministers an Imperial Deere pronnulgated on the 9th day of the 6th moon. "Although all the conditions of peace "are completed, still there should be no laxity in preparing coast defence. Great and sincere exertions should be made for the future well being, so that the defences may be relied upon long and permanently. Obey th he Memorialist, looking upwards, perceive that Their Majesties are profound in their designs, caring for future contingencies, and showing deep solicitude for the coast provinces; all of which calls forth unspeakable admiration. 'The old age and the many ailments of the Memorialist render him unfit to animadvert upon and take in every affair of state; still, if the Memorialist discerns anything (beneficial to the State) how dare he disobey Their Majesties' order and he therefore presents the follo ing propositions, which may Their Majesties be pleased to select from and approve.
The Memorialist humbly is that the Western countries have modelled and manufactured constantly for tens and hundreds of years guns and ships, thereby. becoming powers on the seas, and doing what they wished todo in all things. Were the military preparations of China of twenty years ago compared with those of the west, we should bein no position to face them (foreign armies and navies) in a single engagement. But during the last ten or more -years China has begun to establish gradually dock-yards, arsenals, and naval academies; although things have not been carried to perfection, start and build ships and manufacture arms fundaniental principles have been. in a single corner of the Empire is not Acquired. From this fact a year ago when the French troubles were' initiated the ring a complete state of coast defence. Chinese were able to join in battle with If it is now desired to rae. the evil of orders not being executed effectively, it is the enemy, who retreated before the fire of necessary to select with care a virtuous and our tremendous at Chin-hai, The able man, and raise him to a high post successful result of our military prepara-which is to be called either Minister Plenitions is obvious. Taking the present conpotentiary for Coast Defence, or Minister dition of our navy into consideration, the of the Board of Marine. In all matters Meniorialist is sincerely of the opinion relating to coast defence, the Minister that the Chinese are inferior to foreigners calculating upon the entire' state of affairs in drill and practice. Still, even foreigners under his control can report to the Throne admit that the Chinese are very clever and act. He should have full powers to select and quick with eyes, ears, and thoughts officers, drill soldiers, devise funds, and and if those who hold superior positions build ships. His permanent residence should would learn in all sincerity, following the be on the Yangtzii; but southward he good points of the foreigners, it would be should watch over Fuhkien and Kuangtung, possible even to direct their destinies, not and northward guard the seat of Govern-to speak of protecting our own country. ment. He should be at liberty either to per-In another Imperial Decree the Memorialist form his duties in his yamen or to make his reverentially perused the following: We, tours of inspection about all places under in planning and preparing defences, have his control, as circumstances demand, with-built dockyards and established a' navy, out being fettered in any respect. An yet the ships built are not strong, the arms assistant Minister should also be chosen, to manufactured are not perfect, the officers give advice and help to his chief when in selected are not experienced, the funds the yamen: superintend the works, and devised are not sufficiently ample." The guard the office when the first Minister is Memorialist is of opinion that in building away on his tours, When powers are vested ships ironclads should take the lead, and ina single person he cannot shirk his in manufacturing arms steel-guns ought to be considered essential. A Memorial pro-responsibilities; then success may be inn-mediately looked for. But such a Minister posing the building of large dockyards and occupying such " high position and shoulder. arsenals with all the particulars fully set ing such enormous responsibilities must forth has already laid before the Throne be a man of excellent character and re-by the Memorialist; since to purchase pute, well versed in foreign (studies 4 or ships and guns is not so advantageous as to build and manufacture them. The affairs LIF %) and respected by both for-Fuhkien Arsenal is not so spacious as eigners and Chinese. As to the various to admit the building of largo ironclads details the Memorialist cannot propose and the request for establishing big doc) beforehand lest a pre-established opinion yards is of imperative importance, permit-may cause mistakes. The Memorialist, ting no delay. The Memorialist hears that enjoying high Imperial favours without the former Acting Governor-General being able to repay a particle, tremblingly Hu-kuang, Pien Pao-ti, proj starting following the precept of the Holy Philoso-an arsenal at the entrance of Fan-yang Hu phers of taking warning of the past, and ERIBM in Kiangsi. The Yangtzii river care of the future, and laying before Their Majesties his humble and limited experience, below Hankow and Wuchang is. nowhere so deep and so dangerous to navigation by how presents the seven propositions which are possible to decide on for the Imperial the banks and indentations as this pla perusal and awaits a Decree for their execu-(Fang-yang Hu) and the Memorialist begs tion and Their Majesties instruction Their Majesties to order the Governors of Hupei and Kiangsi to despatch officials to The Memorialist respectfully proposes lave the place sounded and to deliberate Seven Propositions of Coast Defence devised upon the advisability of carrying out the propositions. 'The Dbroechlouding big guns are and framed according to the exigencies of the present times; and reverential to be speedily manufactured as soon as the sents them for Their Majesties' arsenal is finished. Perhaps it is more perusal. expedient as the Memorialist thinks to order the arsenals in Kiangnan and Kuangtung to first try manufacturing (big breech-numbers. Foreign navies have fast-steaming Warships must be built in, sufficient Toading guns) as experiments, so as not to cruisers, gunboats, fish-torpedoes to assist waste money and commit mistakes, All their strong and powerful ironclads, trans. these should be taken into early con-ports to cary provisions, steam-launches sideration. 'The Memorialist considers that and gigs to facilitate every movement that the chief importance of organizing just as the Chinese land forces, consisting coast defence is to have a proper man to of infantry, cavalry, battalions' of gingals take charge of it. That the Chinese navy and shields, which combined form is ineffective, some attribute to the want of army,—because they are in neod of each exertion (on the part of the authorities) other they benefit one another. Since it yet among the metropolitan and provin-is proposed to make a grand re-organization ial ofcials patriotic and good men are not of the navy, it is necessary not only tu ting. There must be some reason have everything prepared but to have every hich accounts for the hindrance which thing perfect. The old-fashioned half. interferes with every step that. is taken fighting and half-merchant vessels should (in naval affairs). The Memorialist is act-be made to do duty as transports, 'The ing as Commissioner for the Defence of fast-steaming cruisers of the latest pattern the Seaboard and adviser to the Cabinet are capable to a certain extent to enter and he humbly perceives that on account into battle; but they cannot' fight alone. of the direction of affairs not being cen-The entire length of the Chinese sea coast tralized everything is difficult of manage-is estimated to be over ten thousand li, ment. The Reason is this. The power of and we must at the least have ten large the Board Ministers is great, because they naval squadrons well drilled, each squadron receive direct Decrees from the Throne coniposed of several ironclads and a suf-to deliberate in unison; but in every ficient number of auxiliary vessels; s0 that matter whether great or small they mostly in case of war we may be able to meet propose and follow out the requests of the high provincial authorities. The the enemy. power of provincial Viceroys and Governors The naval regulations must be deliberated is limited to the territory under their upon and adopted. The conditions of coutrul; even the High Commissioners of the navy established in former times are the Northern and Southern Oceans are not different from those of the present. Beat liberty to intrude into the matters of sides the naval forces doing duty in the a province not under their jurisdiction.
Yang-tsze and the inland rivers (which are As Their Majesties have truly said, to to remain just as they are) the sea forces
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.