As all wise and sagacious rulers would do under the circumstances, the Empress Dowager has issued an Edict acknowledging the respectful sentiments of His Majesty the Emperor, in giving orders for the celebration of her sixtieth birthday, but expresses the wish that the government will not go to unnee expense on that account. Phe Edict enjoins upon the officials of the land not to make the usual presents to hor, as custom requires on such ocexsion. Lo show her graciousness to the people in distress, Her Imperial Highness orders the funds for the relief of the destitute people in Shéngtion prefecture and in Chibli, to be taken from the private treasury of the Imperial household this year, and in future Ts, 20,000 will be given each your for the sume purpose, whilst in the year of grace, each provines in the domain is to receive a corresponding sum of Tls. 20,000 to be devoted to the relief of the needy classes, For the express purpose of alleviating the burden upon the national treasury all these sums are ordered to be taken from the private purse.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.