the. distarbanees ta Gontral Ghine wae The following Imperial edict concerning,
issued on the 22nd instant:—* The other day when wa received news of the rising at Kuyang, Anhui province, we issued to-peated instructions to Liu Kun-yi, Viceroy of the Liangkiang provinces, and Teng Hua-hsi, Governor of Anhui, to act in concert in crushing the disturbances there, We now learn that desperadoes in Hsiayi district, Honan province, have also risen up in discontent, and it is to be feared that they will join the rebels of Kuyang and spread trouble in various directions.
laving in mind, however, that of late years the districts joining the two provinces of Honan and Anhui have been the scene of crop failures and much consequent suffering amongst the inhabitants thereof, it may be that the risings above noted were due to a famine-stricken people seeking for food and then fearing lest the authorities call the delinquents to account they were led to raise the flag of rebellion in order to prevent capture and punishment. Although such practice in
yet _an element in the present instance Eheory is perfectly unpardonable there is which calls, for. our -pity and clemency. And, lest, in sending forth the Imperial
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.