Tune 27th 1) Li Hung-chang reports the arrangements made by him for the conveyance to Tientsin of tribute beans and millet from Newchwang and the surrounding districts by steamer instead of by junk. On account of the losses sustained every year by the jmkmen from Tientsin who Were employed to carry this tribute grain, the Memorialist obtained His Majesty's sanction to a proposal that the work should be entrusted to steamers instead of junks. He sent oticers accordingly tifeng-tientomake the necessary arrangements. "But the authorities there made the objection that though the Newchwang grain could be carried without diftculty from Yingtsze by steamer, the four districts of Chin Hsien, Ning-yuan, Kuang-ning, and I-chou were not accessible to foreign vessels, andtthat it would be a laborious and troublesome plan to convey the grain from them to Newchwang by junk in order to re-ship it thence by steamer. Afterwards it was proposed that steamers should call for the beans and millet at the two ports of Tiao-yiit'ai and T'ien-ch iao, where they would take them on board from, cargo-boats. Finally, the authorities of the four districts declared their ness to send their grain to Newchwang, where it could all be shipped together on steamers despatched for the purpose from Tientsin. This proposal was gladly accepted by the Memorialist's agents, as it was convenient, for all parties, and would save the risk of there being demurrage charged by the steamers if kept waiting at the two way ports. As steamers carry corn in bags and not in bulk, for the present year the Taotai ab Tientsin is despatching to Newchwang by the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, 20,000 "double thread" bays of foreign jute for millet and 10,000 single thread" bags of course hemp for beans. In future years the bags will be provided at Newchwang from the boat dues there, of which Tls. 10,000 will he remitted to Tientsin as payment for freight, and the balance retained for the purchase of bays. The grain will be inspected at Newchwang by an officer from Tientsin, and measured and shipped in his presence. When he has passed! it, the responsibility ofthe Newshwang oficial for cither quality or quantity will cease. The whole quantity for shipment must be safely warehoused at Newchwang before the Sth of the 5th month. When that is done, a telegram will be sent to the Taotai at Tientsin, who will charter steamers to fetch it. All expenses such as those for ortennge, bagging, shipping, keeping order, ill be borne by the Manchurian authori-An officer from these will come across by steamer with the Tientsin official, bringing a specimen of the bushel employed to measure in the grain, and they will proceed with the tribute to Tung-chou and hand it over to the Granary Department, Approved by Rescript.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.