The Governor of Shantung has reported the closing of the breach which was made last summer in the embankment of the Yellow River at Hsichihfang in Lich'eng Hsien. His Majesty therefore allows honours to be conferred on a long list of officers who were concerned in the suecessul work, 7th January.
SEW MOUTH TO YELLOW RIVER, The Emperor has been informed by the Governor of Shantung that during the past year sixty or seventy per cent. of the Yel low River water entered the sea through a new channel which left the old bed at Han-chia Yuan in Lich'eng Hsien thirty-nine li from the coast. The Emperor considers the floods which occur further inland in Shantung to be due to the choking up of the river's mouth, which prevents the water from running off rapidly; and he has no doubt that if the whole body of the stream {ean be confined to the new channel this will be incomparably cusier than dredging the present mouth of the river at Teh men Kuan. In accordance therefore with the Governor's representations, he desires him to embank the sides of the new channel and to construct a mound of earth across the old one, so as to prevent any water going that way. By this means the force Of the stream will be preserved and the tendency to silt be checked. The sum of Tls. 98,000 is required for the work, which amount the Governor is directed to take from his provincial treasury. But the Governor must not fail to proceed in the undertaking with the greatest care, He must satisfy himself whether the outflow can. really be increased when the new works are undertaken, and whether the resistance of the tide will he feebler or greater than at the old mouth. He must also send frequent reports to the Emperor giving full details of his proceedings.
DEATH OF LI CHSANG-LO, The Viceroy Li Hung-chang reports the death of Li Ch'ang-lo, Commander-in-Chief for the Province of Chihli. The memorial ist at the same time gives an account of the career of the deceased officer, and requests that the Emperor will be pleased to confer on him the marks of honour due to his rank and distinguished services. When the memorialist entered upon his campaign against the Taiping rebels in the neighbourhood of Shanghai, Li Ch'ang-lo commanded a battalion of the memorialist's troops and took part in the capture of a large number of cities. Next he was engaged in the operations in the neighbour Twod of Amoy. In 1866 he was one of the commanders employed against the Eastern Nien-fei_ in Honan and Shantung, and assisted in destroying them on the frontiers of Shantung and Kiangsu. Then the Western Nien-fei sprang up. Li Ch'ang-lo was ordered into Chihli, whence, after several conflicts, the rebels were driven into Shantung, and exterminated in the neighbourhood of Wuting Fu. From first to last he was noted as well for his dashing bravery as for his skill as a strategist. Of all the commanders of the famous Anhui troops, he stood forth undoubtedly pre-eminent. His merits were recognised by the Throne and he was given a Yellow Jacket and a Buturu title. Afterwards he was promoted to various high posts, and finally, as it was thought that the Anhui troops should have a commander worthy of their distinguished reputation, he was appointed their General and made Commander-in-Chief of Chihli. In this important position he fully justified the opinion held of him, being both feared and loved, and bringing'the army into a state of perfection, In order to provide for the defence of the coast, his head-quarters were removed from Kupeikou to Lutai, where he would be near to Peit'ang and Taku, Unfortunately, the cold sea air in that locality caused his old wounds to re-open, and this was followed by spitting of blood. He was besought by the memorialist to take~ rest and not to expose himself; but, he would not consent to leave his work. Thus he became hopelessly ill and died at the early age of fifty-two. Entering the arn fax a young man of good family, he was well educated, and never lost his fast for literary studies. His superior skill in stret. was partly due to the care with which was in the habit of working at military history. He was as gentle and retiring in ordinary life as he was full of fire in the moment of action.—Decree issued previously, &th January.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.