Tt appears from an Imperial edict of the 10th instant that the Emperor is in thorough earnest about the establishment of schools and colleges, combining both Chinese practical literature and "Foreign Learning." In addition to the establishment of the Imperial University at Peking, those established in the provinces are to be divided into three classes, namely, those established in each of the provincial capitals are to be of the first class; the second class are those to be established in the various prefectural cities; and those in the departmental and district cities the third class, Two months are to be given to the various Viceroys and Governors to report to the Throne the: number of colleges and free schools within their jurisdiction, where situated, what their present incomes are, ete. as, without any exception, they are all to have their former constitutions and charters changed in order to give place to the new order of things—combination of Chinese practical literature and Western studies. Furthermore, all are to strictly follow the line of studies recently arranged by the Imperial University at Peking to which the Imperial assent has already bee iven; these regulations being ordered in this edict to be sent to the various Viceroys and Governors of provinces for distribution to all the colleges and schools within their jurisdiction. Should there be want of funds, surpluses from the earnings of the China Merchante' S. N. Ce., the Polegraph Administration, and the Weising Lottery at Canton are authorised to be devoted to the object of assisting the jyrovincial institutions of learning, while the authorities are also given permission ta call upon the gentry and notables under them to subscribe to the worthy object, ing in return certain scales of promotion proportionate to the amount subscribed. Yo the philanthropist who alone and unaided establishes a school or College the Emperor personally promises to reward the person beyond.the usual routine scale. For a beginning the Colleges of the 2nd and 3rd classes shall be required to study the books hitherto translated by the Reform Association now called the Official 'Translating Bureav.. Finally, as a measure of economy so as not to spend too much funds in College buildings, etc., all memorial and other temples' built by the people and not recorded in the lists of the Board of Rites and Court of Sacrificial Worship, wherein sacrifices authorised by edict'have to be made—are to be turned into schools and colleges for the teaching and propagation of the new learning. To all who study in these new institutions of learning and graduate therefrom is extended the promise of being accepted in the government services in the usual way.
As already noted in these columns recently, the rules and regulations of the Imperial University ut Peking, which are guide also the provincial schools and Galleges, were culled from the curriculum, of the various schools and Colleges of Europe and America.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.