The following translation will. be read with great interest. The memorial was intended to be presented to the British Consul-General here, but Mr. Brenan was, of course, unable to receive it. It is a pathetic document, and we hope our contemporaries in England, as well as in China, will reproduce it.
Smm,—The avarice and extortions of the mandarins of China and their underlings was the cause of the Emperor's estrangement from his people; and it was this estrangement that has led to his present weakness and their distress.
Recognising the need for reform, the Emperor in his wisdom and good judgment began during the fifth moon of the present gent to issue edicts, having for their.object the complete renovation of the Empire. The main subjects dealt with were as follows 1.—The substitution of men of modern ideas and learning for old and useless officials.
2.—The establishment of colleges and technical schools for the advancement of ions.
3—Oonferring the right to memorialise the Throne direct upon all officials throughout the Empire, without distinction of rank, 4.—The abrogation of the twéncha" system of examinations for degrees an offices. great power for the immediate uplifting among the people, who recognised in them The above edicts caused much rejoicing
of the Empire, and its future prosperity.
We, your memorialists, are firmly convinced that if the reforms embodied in the Imperial Edicts could have been put into operation for twenty or thirty years, great and benefici"l changes would have been brought about, which would have resulted in the entire change of the customs of the land, and establishment of better relations with the West. Thus we could have looked forward confidently to the inauguration of era of universal peace.
But now, through the machinations of evil men and the shortsighted policy of the Empress Dowager, our Emperor has been imprisoned, the lives of many faithful officers have been ruthlessly taken, and all the Imperial Edicts calling for reform have been revoked. All educational societies have been interdicted, and the native newspapers have been suppressed. Moreover, the lives of all those favourable to reform ate in the gravest danger.
We, your memorialists, being - loyal Chinese subjects, regard with great indignation such unwary-ritable action on the part of the Empress Dowager; but we have no power to rectify thisjunbappy state of affairs.
Therefore, we pray you, Sir, according to that {equity which is'recognised among all nations, to pity China-in her distress, by sending a cablegram to the Government urging your people to assist us by restoring the Emperor to his rightful throne, and by filling the offices of State with faithful and enlightened men.
Thus will the renovation -of China be due to the favour of your Sovereign Ruler, and to you, Sir, who forwarded the memorial.
Chinese officialdom is at present divided into two classes, the old and new—Conser-votives and Reformers.' The former have placed their reliance in Russia to help them, in'return for which Russia will gain enlarged territory. The Reformers look to Great Britain and the United States for help, knowing that th policy of these two nations is to keep the. Chinese Empire intact.
Should the reactionists triumph in their present schemes, no. power that will prevent the division of China among all. the nations of the earth.
The reformers have no power. "They can only weep at their country's distress, while they present this memorial asking for your honourable country's assistance.
The first thing to be done is to liberate the Emperor and to restore him to power, and to remove the Empress Dowager.
A proclamation from-the Emperor calling responded to by all his faithful subjects his people to his protection would be loyally throughout the land.
A joint memorial from the scholars—Literati—of China.
24th Year of H.M. Kuang Hsii, 9th moon, 17th day, (Bist October, 1898.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.