(2) The Tartar General and Lieutenant-General at Sui-yuan in Shansi ask sanction for enrolling a supernumerary corps of bannermen for reinforcing the garrison of ity. The present force of Manchu and Mongolian troops is under the command of 20 captains, and is composed of 80 corporals, 200 sergeants, 1,720 cavalry, 700 infantry, and a supernumerary body of 500 men. Their numbers have greatly increased of late years and, including their fa they now amount to 10, views the men present the appearance of an able-bodied force, but the streets of the Manchu quarters of the town have an air utter poverty and desolation. The G vernor of the province had an opportu during his visit Inst year of seeing for himself its destitute condition. ince 1853 the troops have been frequently drafted for service in the southern provinces, and the purchase of horses and weapons for their own use on such occasions has been a sore drain upon their exhausted means, By fixed regulation the full pay of a corporal ey sergeant is Tls. 4 per month; that of a cavalry soldier Tls. 3 a month, while the infantry and supernumeraries should each draw Tls.1.5 a month. In 1854 a reduction of 36 per cent. was made on official salaries, and a reduction of 20 per cent. on the pay of corporals, sergeants, and cavalry troops. In addition to this the men suffer great hardships from the deficiency in the supply of their allowance of rice, and the delay which attends on its delivery. The region of Sui-yuan and Kuei-hua Ch'eng forms a position of great strategic -Importance on the frontier, and it is absolutely necessary that it should be securely guarded. The Memorialist has given the subject much consideration, and as a measure of relief for the hardships which the garrison has experienced for the last thirty years, he has decided to pray for Imperial sanction to the ereation of a supernumerary corps of 400 men, to be paid at the rate of Tls. 1.5 per month each. This will entail an annual expenditure of Ts. 7,200, and it is asked that the Financial Commissioner may be directed to find the money and lodge it in the offices of the Kuei Sui Intendant.—Autograph Rescript: Referred for the consideration of the board concerned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.