Since the time when the additional import duty began to be levied by the customs, it has been the rule that this duty and likin must be retained in the treasury of the Custom House which collected them till instructions arrive from the Board of Revenue #s to the disposal of the money. A report of the sums collected must also be furnished to the Throne at the termination of every three months, During the third quarter of last year the receipts at Chinkian; amounted to Tls. 22,023 on account duty, and Tls. 58,729 on account of likin. Of these two sums there remains, after the payments which have been made from them, a balance of Tls. 29,534.
16th January.
IMPERIAL GIFT TO THR POOR, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is aware that the excessive rains this year have caused more than ordinary distress among the poor people of the metropolitan prefecture and the rest of the province of chibli. She is deeply moved by the thoughts of the sufferings which they must endure at the present season of severe cold, She therefore has desired the Emperor to bestow upon them a sum of twenty thousand taels from the privy purse. In making known this Decree His Majesty commands the high authorities of the metropolis and the province to select trustworthy officers who shall visit the different localities and take means to ensure that the imperial bounty reaches those for whom it is intended, in accordance with the beneficent wishes of Her Majesty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.