(1) I, the Empress Dowager, Tze-hsi-tuan-yn, ete., have, of lute, been considering, the importance of raising and putting our drilled armies upon a better basis as to arms, welfare, and comfort, and for this reason repeated decrees had been issued by the Throne to clear out all uselessyaged and superfluous characters on the rolls of the various regiments in the provinces, the idea being that, with these aged ahd superfluous men cub of the way, the money spent on them could be used in giving extra pay and comfort to those who had been retained for their fitness in age and physical strength and courage to become yood soldiers. This indeed is the most important question for development by this Government at the present mo-mont. But Iam most-indignant to learn that there is a habit among military officers to curry favour with their superiors, using large portions of funds, confided to them for payment to the rank: and file, to buy favour amongst their superior officers in order to obtain promotion and lucrative posts. On this account we often hear of denunciations against military ollicials for pocketing the pay and food-money of their troops, and many more delinquencies. Can our armies then be expected to improve when such pernicious practices are allowed? What then are our Viceroys, Governors, and Tartar Generals in the provinces doing? Knowing these bad habits we must now set about to reform them, so that when the time comes, I can depend upon the help and actual services of every soldier to whom the government allowance is paid. Teall upon my Viceroys, Governors, and urtar Generals to prove their gratitude for the gracious bounties bestowed upon them by the Throne by setting earnestly to work on this most important question, and I promise further that if in the future I shall hear of any more embezzling of the pay of the soldiers and like frauds, I will not exercise any leniency but shall order the miscreants to execution in accordance with military law.
(2) Jung Lu, Grand Secretary, Generalissimo, ete., etc., is hereby granted the privilege of riding on horseback within the precinets of the Western Palace-gates.
(8) Hu Yii-fen is hereby commanded to resign his of Governor of Peking and is appointed, instead, an ex-octant Vice-President of one of the Six and Minister of the Tsungli Ya+ men,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.