Chibli, Li Hung-chang, detailing the distress caused in the extreme southern corner of the province by the overflow of the Yellow River this summer and autumn. In the K'aichow district 86 villages have suffered, some losing 70 per cent, others 40 per cent of their crops. In' Tungming district 126 villages have suffered in a similar way, and in Ch'angyiian district 429, Although the places named have been visited with so severe a calamity, the neighbouring country has had a good crop, and the people hava, been able to. obtain supplies and have retilled their land directly the water subsided. There is happily no necessity for charitable relief, but reduction of taxes is urgently called for. The reductions proposed are sanctioned by Imperial Decree and are as follows For those villages which have lout 60 or 60 per cent. of their crops, a reduction of two-tenths; and, for those which have lost 80 per cent, a reduction of four-tenths. Payment of these reduced taxes ie to be made in two yearly instalments by the losers of 50 to 70 por cent of their crops, and in three yearly instalments by' the losers of 80 por cent. Tu addition to this, all the villages which have suffered, though less severely thin the above, may defer Reductions corresponding to loanes will be ment of the grain tax till next autuam.
also made in the amount of Government labour to which the People are annually liable. To insure the full benefits of the Innperial favours to the populace the Decree is to be publicly posted in all the districts concerned.
POSTSCKIPT MEMORIAL FROM CH'ANG SHUN,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.