The well known Minister of the Tsungli Yamen, Sun Ya-wen, has already received one extension of leave; but, at the expiry of it, finding his health still'not recovered, he once more has requested permission to retire. The Emperor again refuses to accede to his petition and grants him a further period of three months' holiday for the benefit of his health, In accordance with the permission grunted some tue ago by the Emperor, a temple has been built to the honour' of Tso Tsung-tang in his native town of Ch'angsha. His Majesty is now requested to oram that official services be performed at the temple twice a year, and to remit the trifling sum at which the ground acquited for the temple is assessed for the annual land tax. In describing the met torious acts of Tso Tsung-tang in the Tightly upon his dealings with floods and province of Hunan, the applicants touch
famines and dwell at greater length upon his exploits against the Taipings. In the early part of the reign of Ht en Fdag, Changsha was invested by an army of the rebels. 'Tso Tsung-tang was acting at that time as Military Secretary of the Governor. 'Taking personal command of the troops he remained on duty day and night. Three times breaches wore effected in the walls, bu', repulsing the enemy, he had them repaired, and preserved the city till the siege was raised. It was owing to him also that {rocpe, were dea arched to destroy the rebels at Liuyang and the various bands in the south of the province. In the year 1854 three attempts were made by Shih Chen-hsiang to invade the province from Hupeh; but on each occasion he was beaten back; and the first grand triumph of the Hunan troops was won in the Hsiang-than campaign, Tu 1859 Hunan was attacked by Shih Ta-kai, who c"me from across the Kinnysi frontier, and with thirty thousand followers laid siege to Paoch'ing Fu. The, whole province was in consternation; but the peril was averted by the energy with which Tso, acting for the Governor, raised levies and assembled troops. Nor was his activity shown in purely military matters alone, but also in the raising of funds and the collection of taxes indispensable for the support of the troops.
In forwarding the above application the Governor states that all the people in,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.