According to a well-founded report, the last memorial of H.E. Li Hung-chung the subject of asking permission to retire from public life on the ground of old age, which, by the way, is periodic cally presented, the four persons recommended by the Viceroy as fitted to succeed him as Governor-General of Chibli- were the Grand Secretary Fu K'an, " Manchu and a member of the Imperial Clan, the Assistant Grand Secretary Hsii Tung a Chinese Bannerman, both of whom have been connected for many years with the Tsungli Yamen or Foreign Office; Wu Ta-ch'én, Governor of Hunan, " native of Soochow, and Shao Yii-lien, Governor of Formosa, who, while calling Shaoshivg, Chikiang, his native city was really bora at Peking, These were the four men remmended by H.B. Li Hung-chang and course, as was to be expected, the Throne refused to entertain the subject of retirement and so matters stand as they are meant to stand, since these memorials are x matter ut official etiquette, and obtain to the lowest acting incumbent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.