Grand Court of Revision, prays that the Snered Glance may rest on his memorial in which " high provincial official is accused, without prevarication, of the crime of ingratitude to the Imperial Grace. Chang Chih-tung, now Governor-General of the Hukuang Provinces, is " man of deep literary attainments, expansive _knowledge, and thoroughly conversant with the Classics and History, beyond the common herd, In former years when memorialist was a colleague of his in the Imperial Academy, Chang Chih-tung was the object of deep. admiration and respect not only on the memorialist's part, but because of the former's erudition sincerely venerated by the rest of the members who were completed dwarfed by his superior literary attainments, At that time Chang Chih-tung and the now degraded Expositor of the Hnnlin or Imperial Academy, Chang P'ei-liin, were conceded to be the chief leaders of the literati of the southern portion of the Metropolitan Prefecture and having made " name for brilliant patriotism for themselves were introduced some time during the 5th and 6th years of the reign of Kuang Hsii (1879-80) to the Imperial Notice of Their Majesties the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, by-Li Hungtsuo, a number of the Grand Council of State. Your Majesty gave them both every latitude for the exercise of their talents and so within a few years from the time of their being brought before the Imperial Notice Chang Chih-tung was made Governor of Shansi and subsequently sent to direct affairs in Kuangtung. The great importance of this latter post was the initial etep towards filling the man's heart with haughty pride. For instance, such of his subordinates as the Provincial Treasurer and Judge and Tao-tels who had a right of audience on specified days of the month were often compelled to wait for ten hours at a stretch seeking for an audience and often had to withdraw without accomplishing their object. This became such a matter of common occurrence that Chang Chih-tung made no pretence of offering any excuses for this unwonted conduct. As for officers of the grades of prefects and district magistrates he did not deign to glance at them. He never made any enquiries as to the principles of his subordinates, of their fitness, or otherwise; or examined into their condition whether these men were energetic or lazy in their duties. If he was fond of a man he usually loaded him with a dozen and more offices, while those to whom he entertained a dislike, could rarely even get a glance at his face the year round. Unfortunately the men Chang Chih-tung liked were those of giddy empty-headed qualities, votaries of pleasure and who noticed a thing only when there seemed to be a chance of enriching themselves, Earnest-minded sober men were relegated to the category of useless men and hence obtained no employment under him. He took up matters at pleasure and employed no set regulations to guide them, and his secretaries and clerks suffered exceedingly by this slipshod policy. He made secret inquiries into the affairs of wealthy people of the province or of rich sojourners and when he found an opportunity he took advantage of it to obtain money by fines and contributions which were dubbed ' voluntary." Some of these fines and voluntary contributions" sometimes amounted up from Tis. government being thus siolated, the money 100,000 to Tls. 200,000. The principles of
this obtained was squandered in a reckless manner. Granted, he used none for own private ends, yet it seemed like throwing about as much mud and sand to view the way he employed money. He called it Using it for the public services but really it was throwing the funds in the "Land of Empty Vi He knew as well any one that he was simply filling the pockets of unprincipled underlings, but he pretended to be indifferent although it was hard to bear on his own part. None of his subordinates dared to remonstrate with him, nor was he in harmony with his immediate principal subordinates. It has become a common saying that Wang Chih-chun, his Provincial Treasurer, is a man of grasping and avaricious character, eager to repay a debt of gratitude and revenge himself onan enemy. He has tried to get on the right side of Chang Chih-tung's wife in order to gain his ends. Hence Chang Chih-tung, thinking that Wang Chih-chun is a man' of ability recommends him in high terms to the Throne. The sub-prefect Tsao Feng-ch'ang is a sycophant. A man of mediocre talents he is energetic in running the errands of his superiors and waiting upon them and so has succeeded in obtaining the favour of Chang Chih-tung who has taken the man into his confidence who on the other hand seldom leaves his superior's side. Hence officials, as a rule, who desire anything flatter and bribe him to obtain their ends. In sooth the man's reputation is exceedingly offensive. But this governor-General is contended to be befooled by him because he thinks himself clever and not to be outwitted. During Chang Chih-tung's five years' Viceroyship of the Liang Kuang, he squandered government funds, including the money extorted as "voluntary" contributions, to the tune of not less than several tens of million taels. The only thing he did worthy of mention was the institution of the Kuang Y6 College and Library for the benefit and encouragement of literary talents. Yet, with all that, these institutions were Inid down on most extravagant lines. The rest of his enterprises consisted of fruitless extravagance and useless expenditure. Tu 1889 he wrote a thrilling memorial on the construction of a railway irom Lukou Bridge, near Peking, to Hankow, in the Yisperal Deores waa' lased ordering province of Hupeh. In view of this an
him to exchange to the Viceroyalty of the Hukuang provinces in order to take up the question of railways as he pro-it. As soon as Chang Chih-tung received the Imperial Commands, he felt that he had lost his chance. Kunowing well, as he did, that the construction of railways according to his ideas was imae. and not expecting that he would chosen for the task, he wrote an eloquent memorial for no other reason than' ta go against the majority, and so show himself to be outside the common herd. But the and the Keen' perception of the Emperor, wisdom of. H.ILM. the Empress Dowager saw through the fallacy of Chang Chil tung's plans, and so commanded him to try them. ' He was unable to do as he offered in his memorial and so changed it into making steel and materials for the projected railway first. Getting possession of large sums of money for his purposes he became guilty of too lightly lieving in the words of others. Today it was opening an iron mine; tomorrow a coal mine. Taking advantage of his weakness people joined him asking for this and then for that, without ceasing. So that for instance, Tls. 5,000 was thrown away as an experiment on this thing and again Tls. 10,000 on another, None of his schemes succeeded under this kind of daily extravagance, - Failing in funds this Viceroy commenced to follow the system he inaugurated when Governor-General the Liangkuang provinces. Other grave faults he had, such as' shaking Hunan to its foundations by trying to introduce telegraphs in that provinces tearing down the T'ung bridge, in Hupeh, in order to pass his machinery-laden boats without extra labour or trouble, to their destination. The excitement. caused these actions almost. resulted in rebellion and caused much sorrow to the Imperial Bosom. Again, such misdemeanours as not reporting to the Throne when his own yamen caught fire, and forcing department and district magistrates being appointed to fice, to contribute to the public exchequer—instances such" as these can scarcely be enumerated, He styled this, "nourishing the people" when really it was done for fis own ends. In other words this high official nourishes the people for his own ends; but all this really tends to absorbing the vitality of the people who are looking around for other sources of support and it is to be feared will result in disaster and rebellion for the province of Hupeh. The people of Peking in talking over the unlimited and endless extravagances of this high official feel all the more indignant at him be-which Their Majesties the Dowager Ein-ouse presuming upon the favour with
press and the Emperor regard him, he still prosecutes his reckless and suicidal policy. Taken asa whole it at first. seemed to the memorialist that the usual conduct of Chang Chih-tung in managing the affairs of State, seemed loyalty itself his deeds seemed bold: his principles unbending: and his policy far-sighted, when in truth he backed up his ambition by boasting and big words. His strength is too weak for the important post he holds and although his exteriormay soomtothe beholder to be flourishing, yet it is all emptiness within, Moreover he has many eommencements but few completions and most of his institutions have ended in nothing substantial. He resembles, to the memorialist, Ying Hao of the ancient Chin dynasty and Wang Ngan-slich of the Sung period. Amongst the memorials of the high officials of the Metropolitan and Provincial A\ ministrations no deeds—on paper—surp those of Chang Chih-tung, while for speci-onsness of reasoning, eccentricity in deeds and cunning, no one again can come up to this Chang Chih-tung, This man is to be trusted neither with ofice in the provinces nor with the reins of government within the capital. All'he is fitted for is literary work and to write theses classical' works and compendiums. This is what he really excels in. Last year this high official in writing @ congratulatory scroll on the anniversary of the birthday of the Grand Secretary, Li
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.