The Viceroy Li Hung-chang represents that distress prevails over a very wide area in the province of Chihli; and'as a large amount of money will be required to cope with it, he asks; permission to invite subscriptions as he has done before. He has already reported that in the low-lying districts there is great suffering on account of the floods caused by the excessive rains in the past summer; and the Emperor has graciot commanded that 'a hundred printed for the benefit of theca in needs He-thousand piculs of tribute rice be appro-cently more complete reports have reached the memorialist, from which he learns that there have been inundations in more than thirty, districts, involving the loss of the roster part of the harvest. 'The quantity of water covering the ground: is so great that it can not be run off soon enough to. allow any re-planting this, autumn. In view of the pitiable' state of the farmers, the memorialist has had soup kitchens set up at Tientsin, and has sent officers to, see to the immediate wants of the sufferers, Bat. the administering of relief will be necessary for'a long period; and there are mainy, breaches in the embankments: of all the rivers, which must be closed before the flooded lands can. be dried. These two tasks will require immense sams of money. "Two years' ago money was wanted' on account of the floods in Chihli, and. the public were consequently invited to. offer contributions. It was arranged that for gifts amounting to forty per cent. of the sums ordinarily authorised, subscribers might obtain brevet titles, posthumous titles, decorations, buttons up to the' second class, the grade of licentiate, and brevet rank up might apply to have their tank restored. to that' of colonel.—Disgraced. officials
'Nominal donations of clothes, if the money value' of the' articles were "presented instead, would entitle the givers to similar honours. The' money. raised by the above means was. of incalculable benefit to the sufferers, and facilitated: the speedy completion of the' public' works required. At the present moment funds are similarly requited; and there' seems no possibility of taising them by any other means.: Chitli isa poor' proviticé, im.
by its position' in' the: neighbor ood of the capital. His Majesty's attention hasbeen turiied towards these sufferers, and every effort must be made to: give them The" -memorialist- therefore begs that he may have leave to follow the'precedent quoted above. He proposes-that thie lists shall be open for ona year exactly,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.