(1) Peng She is appointed Litera Chancellor of Hupeh, vice Chiang Shih-fen resigned on account of illness.
Note:—Chiang Shih-fen has the reputation of being a strong. anti-foreigner_ and was one of the original drafters, in conjunetion with Yung Lu's protege, Fan Tsénghsiang, now Provincial Judge of Shensi, of Prince Tuan's Imperial Edicts" last year commanding the extermination of all foreigners, converts and sympathisers throughout the empire.—Translator.
Deputy-Governor. of the Imperial Pre-(2) Sith Hsi-chuan is appointed acting fecture of Shuntienfu (Peking).
(3) Decree commanding the Viceroy and Governor of Hupeh Province to select the man best fitted for the vacant post of prefect of Wuchang (the senior prefecture of Hupelt Province) from amongst all the substantive effects of the province, and to give the post thus left vacant to the newly-appointed expectant prefect Liang Ting-fen.
Note:—Liang Ting-fen, a Hanlin and a former "Reformer," who changed his opinions after 1898, is a special favourite of the Viceroy of Hukuang, who is now apparently pushing on his protege as speedily as possible.—Translator.
'2nd October.
(1) Decree, emanating from the Empress Dowager, informing all the officials and People of the Empire, that she and the emperor are at one in their hearts to reform the Government and abolish all abuses prevalent in the country. Her Majesty is convinced from what has passed during the last year that unless China accepts and imitates Western methods of education, civilisation and government, after mature selection of what is best, China cannot be strong or prosperous; hence their Majesties' anxiety to inaugurate reform in the Empire. "The officials and people of China must therefore divest themselves of the too common belief that the Throne is not in earnest. for reform, for the Empress Dowager is determined not to allow half-measures in future, wherever good may be obtained for the Empire in following Western methods. The pursuit from henceforth will be for the substance and not for the mere veneer, as hitherto been the lamentable habits of officials at large, (2) The Grand Secretaries Yung Lu and Wang Wen-shao are by extra act of Impermi grace hereby allowed the privilege of using vermilion-coloured reins to their horses.
(3) Wang Yen-wei is by extra act of Imperial grace promoted to the rank of an expectant Metropolitan Official of the 3th grade.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.