ure, bidding the cabinet minister be tremblingly attentive.
Opium.—It is commonly reported that when Governor Le visited Peking last year, his son took with him a quantity of opium, some thousands of dollars worth, to give away to the great men about the court. As a Governor's baggage is not searched there was no fear of detection. The opium dealer who supplied his Excellency's son with the drug, cheated him by putting up one half of it of a very bad quality. On the Governor's return, it was his intention to punish the offender, not for putting up bad opium, but for dealing in it at all. However, the culprit heard what was coming, and absconded with the fruit of his fraud.
Whether this story be true or false, it is believed by many. But under such circumstances, what respect can the people have for laws and edicts, emanating from those who so flagrantly violate the rules which they make for others!
Revenue.—The Emperor has issued a rather severe edict, addressed to the Governors of provinces, requiring them to look more sharply after the revenue. His Majesty says, that the superintendent of the revenue has reported to him, that within the last year and a half, the disbursements have exceeded the receipts to the amount of above twenty-eight millions of taels. There is yet enough for the present, says his Majesty;—but this system cannot last long.
One million of taels have been deposited in the treasury of Kansuh province, for immediate use in the event of disturbances on the western frontier.
Strangulation.—A recent Gazette announces the sentence of strangulation against a wife, for killing her husband by mischance, whilst resisting an adulterer, introduced by the husband.
Piracy is said to be very prevalent in some parts of Canton province. A new class of boats, carrying sixty or seventy men, has been set agoing. There are twenty of these boats in conjunction with each other; they sometimes carry off wealthy individuals in the country, and then demand a ransom for them. There has long been a class of boats called crab boats; these new ones are called muscle-shell boats.
Famine.—The Heo-tae or Literary Chancellor has lately returned from a circuit through the eastern districts of this province. When in the department of Hwuy-chow-foo, superintending the literary examination there, he was affected by the famine which prevailed around him; and set on foot a subscription, to which he himself gave 800 taels. The wealthy inhabitants of the place followed up his example, and subscribed among them above 22,000 dollars. Chancellor Le did more: he persuaded the chief magistrates to open the public granaries; offering to bear the expense of refunding, in case the measure was objected to by the Governor. Le-tae-keaou is considered by the Chinese of noble family, his ancestors for several generations having held office.
Chinese Justice.—The gentry of Heang-shan have petitioned the Foo-yuen against their magistrate Paou, his remissness having suffered numbers of associated banditti and pirates to infest the island and rivers. The magistrate has therefore been required to bring five hundred of these persons to trial, within two months; and the people plundered by them are set at work to catch them, at their own expense.
Slavery.—By the Peking Gazette, we learn that an officer of rank, who has been accused, by the Governor of Hoonan and Hoopih, of coming too late against the rebels, has been consigned to the pillory and perpetual slavery.
Imperial Journey. His Majesty went early in the year to visit the tombs of his ancestors in Leaou-tung. On the day fixed for his return to Peking, the greater number of the lords and high officers about court, were directed to appear in half dress only, and to meet the Imperial carriage at a much less distance from the city than is usual on such occasions. Others were to go, the day previously to the usual place of meeting.
