a memorial published to-roy Li, acting upon previous suigyests that, in view of the damage by the recent floods, a general reduction of rent should be granted this year to the tenants on the estates in the provi owned by Princes, Dukes, and other men ders of the Imperial family. Ten years ago one of the Censors advocated sich a re-Auction under similar circumstances and coupled with his proposal the suggestion hat the collection of the rent should be entrusted to the local authorities. Tt was not deemed expedient, however, to withdraw the control of the matter from the princely houveholdy, and. ass compromizo, the Tunperial Landlords were directed by perial decree to investigate the condition Of their tenantry and to notify to the local authorities for general information the #intement of rent. they proposed to make in each district. Measures were to be! taken to prevent stewards and rent receivers from exacting the full amount and the same principle was to be applied in dealing with the lands owned by the Gendarmerie Office and. other publ departments. The distress on the. present occasion is, the Viceroy considers, more severe than it was when the fore: going decree was issued, as is. abundant-testified by the very liberal donations of both grain and money issued for relief purposes by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. The Viceroy feels confident that the Princes of the Imperial family will not fail to follow the example of generosity set them by their Imperial Master, but he is not so sure that the land stewards will refrain from making illegal exactions to recoup themselves for the loss of rent caused by the abatement. He therefore prays that explicit instructions may be iasved Manchu landlords requiring them to notify to the local authorities the amount of reduction granted in each ease, so that it may be made known to the tenantry by proclamotion. No previous arrears ate to be payable during the present year and any payments of rent that have been made before the issue of the proclamation are to be carried to the credit of the tenants in next year's accounts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.