(1), With reference to a former memorial by Chin Chi, a Manchu Brigade-General, recommending the establishment of House and Opium taxes throughout the empire as means of increasing the Imperial exchequer, a scheme which was favourably.reported upon by the Board of Revenue, and made law by the promulgation of Imperial edict, we have learned through independent testimony and secret invesigivion that such a measure would entail much misery and inconvenience on our subjects. Ts avoid such a calamity the suid Board of Revenue has asked that the above measures may be repealed and Tartar Generale, Viceroys, and Governors we at once telegraphed.to the various
of the empire to stap the said taxes once, without any delay whatever. But as we spprenend that perhaps our. merchants and subjects might not all know of this repeal and that dishonest officials and yamen underlings might take advantage of the general ignorance to extort from our people, under colour of the law, we deem it incumbent upon us to prevent all sach causes of disturbance and trickery by the proclamation of this special edict to be sent through the usual Imperial. Courier Post to all the provincial authorities concerned, telling them in so many plain words that this law has been repealed by us and that they are in consequence commanded, on pain of severe punishment, to proclaim our edict throughout the length and breadth of our pire. In this way eve one of our subjects will know the truth and resist any attempts at extortion at the hands of dish-nest officials and avaricious scribes and yamen underlings. If any b found indeed to be guilty of such misdemeauours the said high provincial authorities are bound to severely denounce the culprits so that they may be punished to the utmost extent of the Inw. Let there bias hic ing in.this respect.
Taotai of the Hui-Ning-Chile-T-at Kuang 2) 1ou-peng is hereby appointe Intendancy of Anhui, (Wuhu Trotaiship) vice Yuan Chang, promoted Provincial Judge of Shensi as already noted.
6th June.
DIPERIAL DECREE, General Kuo Pao-chang'of Anhui having finished his term of mourning and reported himself anxious to re-enter the Imperial army service is hereby reappointed to his former post of Bi General of the Shouchun Military Division of Anhui.
7th June.
No papers of importane'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.