-x1, the Literary Chancellor of this province, evidently holds that it is not the quiet study rendered possible by a retired life in the country that predisposes to literature and strengthens the intellect, but the attrition of mind against mind where the popular thicker and many go to and fro. That is where knowledge is increased. In his report on the examinations in this province, published in our extracts from the Peking Gazette yesterday, he points out that the Hsii Hai circuit has no water communications and lies at a distance of some two hundred and fifty miles from the capital, and the consequence is that the literary talent in the district is not particularly. striking. It seems curious to find a Literary Chancellor closing his report with the remark that; "The rainfall for the year has been uonual, and the crops promise well." The two previous extracts from the Gazette are concerned with that most energetic of Viceroys, Chang Chih-tung. In the first he reports his partial recovery from an attack of fever brought on by exposure to the sun while inspecting river works in jurisdiction; from which it is to be inferred that Viceroy Chang looks after his work himself, and does not leave everything to his subordinates. In the second the Viceroy, backed up by the Governor of Hupeh, gives his reasons appointment of Fang Kung-chou, ai at Ichang, to the Hankow Taotaiship. The Haniow Taotai having been promoted, Chang made the appointment in question, but the Board of Civil Office at Peking objected to the nomination, as Fang, a provincial graduate whose first important appoiutment was to the Ichang Taotaiship, had not sufficient service to qualify him for the position. Chang Chih-tung and the Governor make in reply what is practically a strong argument for merit as against seniority. They point out the importance of the post at Hankow, as the Taotai there is ex-officio superintendent of the Kiang-Han (the Yangtze and Han rivers) Custom house, and is "likewise charged with the conduct of international affairs", that is, he is charged with keeping the relations pleasant between the foreigners and the Chinese at the treaty port. he memorialists have carefully gone through the list of eligible officials in the province, and find that Fang is really the only man qualified for the post. He has served in the Tsungli Yamen, and has been acting as Provincial Judge while Taotai at Ichang, and in both positions " he has displayed great ability and had splendid opportunities for obtaining the necessary exlence for the post of taotai at Hankow." One can never know in China whether the reasons given for recommending a man for a post are the real ones, or whether there are hidden wheels within the apparent ones but the memorial certainly has the air of being inspired by a genuine desire to have the government well represented vis-d-vis foreigners at Hankow; and as the Viceroy at Wuchang is the referee from the 'I'aotai at Hankow when the latter has any di: ment with a foreign consul, it is easily intelligible that the Viceroy should wish to have as good an appointment as sible made to the subordinate post. Jnfortuuately, the Emperor instead of writing "Approved" at the bottom of the memorial, refers it to the Board of Civil Office, which made the original objection, for report, and it remains to be seen if that conservative body will raise precedent in consideration of the exigencies of the case, or has perhaps a candidate of its own whom it wishes to favour, The report from Sung Chun, Director of Grain Transport, which appeared on the 26th ult. shows the slipshod way in which money is provided for public works in China, The Director details the measures he has taken to protect the banks of the Grand Canal during the stummer and autumn rains, and com-leu that his operations have been pampered and his protective plans restricted, by the insufficiency of the remittances he has received from the provinces. The Director-General of Grain Transport is a sort of chartered libertine who has no one province on which he can rely for the funds he requires, and whose duties often bring him into opposition with the authorities of the provinces through which the Canal runs, and he seems to have to depend for the money he wants on what he can persuade the provinces to spare him. All the comfort he gets from the Throne is; "Let the Board of Works take note"; and as long as the grain junks are poled or pulled or sailed or dragged through somehow, Peking is The Imperial indignation is finely stirred, however, when a presumptuous Censor dares to attack the Emperor himself. Our Peking correspondent referred briefly to the matter in his last letter, but the publication of the Imperial decree in the Gazette is such a good illustration of the democratic freedom with which the personal acts of the Emperor are made public, that it is worth a more detailed reference. The Censor Wu Chao-t'ai, says the decree, has suggested that ly view of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.