The other day we ordered the establish-mont of a Peking University which was to "be supplied by students from the middle and lower schools; the lower graduate into the middle schools and from the latter into the Peking University. This plan-w considered a very good one and anticipate! great success from the scheme. The trouble was that these middle."nd lower schools had not yet all been established in the provinces, but there should bea number colleges and public schoula in exch provincial capital, prefectural, departmental and district cities thereof, which ought to be able to furnish accommodation, and we hereby command the. Viceroys Governors of provinces to instruct their subordinates to draw up lists of the schools and colleges in th it jurisdiction, their revenues and expenses, the reports om-which mu-t be handed up to us 1 tw months from now. The present..grest colleges in the provinces are hereby ordered 10 be changed into colleges: for the. joint stuily of and Western literature and sciences.
gradations in rank the colleges in the provincial capitals are to be termed First-Class oullezes, those in prefectural cities Second-Dis colleges, and the depitmental and district city colleges Third: Class colleges. To these institutions shall ba distributed the rules and regulations ageeed upon by the Peking University authorities for the guidance of the former, and which they sre commanded to simplicity follow. As for schools which: have been tablished by public subscription as charity schools ur-local public schorlls they 1 to have the western studies introduced their curriculum in order that edu be widespread and talent and abi developed and nourished everywhere throughout our. empire. With reference to the funds riqui-ite for these new measures we he-eby dorise command the Viceroys and Governors con: cerned to devote all the surplus-which we hear is being *nnually obtained from the 'Telegraph Administeation and China Merchants' S..N. Ca., at Shanghai, and the surplus from the Weising Lottery at Canton to the purpose. Besides the money from the above sources there are large sums which used to be th" purquivites of local and petty officials, which have recently been turned over to government, which shall also be diverted for educate purposes. Furthermore, such members of the gentry, notables or literati as may be able to give money for the object of building schools themselves or use their endeavours in exhorting others 10 subscribe towards endowing new schools, permission is hereby given t" the Viceroys and Governors of provine-s to report to us the names of such energetic and patriotic ite each person in proportion ty the entry, ete., and recommend the rewards
amounts subscribed by him ur the amounts collected through him. Should any one be able to donate a large sum and of his own unaided effort establish a school or college we give our imperial word that we will specially: reward such a one with extraordinary honours. As for th hooks to be studied in these middle lower colleges and schools they are to obey the instructions formerly issued, namely, that the veal officials shall establish translation bureaux for the trans—lation of foreign be-ks into Chinese, which shall be distributed to suck schools for the use wf the studems. As-regards memorial temples belonging to the people which are no' entered in the official records of the Board of Rites, the local officials shall issue proclamations t" the: peuple informing them that they are I to be changed into schools for the instruction and spread of Western and Chinese learning, in order to save money and avoid erecting now buildings. By advocating reforms in this direction the minds of the masses will be enlightened by education and whatever they. may learn will be of the useful and practical kind; and thus our ambition to nourish talent and ability for the good of our empire shall be accomplished.
Lot'this edict be distributed far and wide for the information of all our subjects.
12th July.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.