Some time ago Liu Ping-chang, Governor-General of Szechuan, reported the stamping out of an outbreak of the aboriginal tribes in the north of his province and recommended for promotion nine officers who had distinguished themselves in convection with this matter. The Board made objection to this recommendation on the ground that the services rendered did not justify the promotions. Memorialist has to point out that it was entirely owing to the officers in question that this insurrection did not prove a very serious matter indeed, and that moreover the rescript on the original memorial was ' Let the Board concerned take note" not Let the Board concerned consider and report," and their action is accordingly extremely uncalled for. Ina question of this kind memorialist always uses extreme caution and does not indulge in reckless recommendation. Compared with other lists that have been sent in from elsewhere his is a very moderate one and he sincerely trusts that the Chron will not allow merit to be passed over silence. He again submits his list and begs that it be sanctioned.—Kequest granted.
28th April.
RBLIEE FOR SHANSI FAMINE, Li Hung-chang hands in copy of a report drawn up by certain of the Chihli gentry in which they give a very graphic picture of the distress prevailing throughout Shansi, Hungry crowds line the roads and those that are alive in the morning know not whether they can live until the evening, Male children are abandoned and female children are sold. Nor can this state of (hings be remedied as it is only in the fourth moon that vegetation springs up and in the meantime. everything edible vill have been consumed. Although heavy calls were made the year before last on the Rhantung floods and some Ts. 63,000 sub-purses of the benevolent on account of the
seribed, yet it was felt that something must be done' to relieve such great misery and 4 subscription list was opened which in a short time produced Tls. 100,000.
Memorialist specifies several donors of large amounts and as they have on previous occasions generously assisted all distress he suggests thut they receive some reward.—Kequest granted. Let the Board of Revenue take note, 29th April.
No documents of interest.
30th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.