Chang Chih-tung some time ago made application that the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Hunan province, Lou Yun-ching who is at present serving in Kuangtung, be directed to lose no time in. repairing to his post and that he be also instructed to bring with him 750 men of the 'Ch'ing Tzu' battalion whom he has there under his command. Li Han-chang points out that the soldiers in question are stationed at the Tiger Island Forts and that it would be extremely inexpedient to move them. He gathers, however, from the copy of Chang's memorial which he has perused that affairs in Hunan are in a very critical condition, and that it is quite intelligible that Lou should wish to have tried men under him. He has accor3- ingly issued orders that new men be once enlisted for the Humén and Shachtieh Forts to take the place of those who are leaving. Of the latter he proposes to retain forty to instruct the new levies. The Commander-in-Chief has also applied for a oan of rifles, ete., and memorialist, knowing that few facilities for obtaining munitions of war exist in Hunan, has consented give him some. A list of the articles supplied has been made out and will be forwarded to the Governor of Hunan.—Let the Board concerned take note.
9th January.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.