An Imperial Decree orders more gover ment funds to be devoted to the reli of the sufferers from famine in Shansi. The central government has already sent Tls. 100,000 from its own treasury. The province of Shansi itself has raised and expended Ts. 250,000, besides several tens of thousands of piculs of grain. Hu T'un; and other Peking officials have subseri 20,000 piculs. Li Hung-chang has collected contributions to the amount of Ts. 200,000, Though these gifts should be enough to Keep the people from actual starvation still there is wide-spread distress, which cannot but last for a long time. The Emperor therefore commands that the tribute rice from Hunan and Hupeh for this year, amounting to 65,000 piculs, be turned into money, and sent with all speed to Li Hung-chang, who will deliver it to the officials engaged in the distribution of relief.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.