50 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1878.
Happily the Chinese Government and private individuals are exerting themselves in the matter, and large contributions have been raised and forwarded both in money and food to the Famine stricken districts.
But the whole is of course utterly inadequate to meet the wants of the case, and Missionaries alike Catholic and Protestant, are engaged to the utmost of their ability in the work of distribution and more are ready to enter on it, if means are provided for the purpose. Urgent appeals are to hand for aid, and the Relief Committee here have resolved on adopting the same line of action that was pursued last year, namely, canvassing the foreign settlements at this place, writing to the outports, including Hongkong and Japan, and, in addition to telegraph to England and America.
Last year the Colony of Hongkong responded liberally to the appeals that were made for Shantung, and the necessities of the case compel us to renew our appeals this year, also in the hope that they will be as effective as they were then.
We have been appointed to write your Excellency for this purpose, and to lay the matter before you, requesting that such means may be carried out at Hongkong, as may be thought most suitable. Your kind attention to this will be the occasion of much thankfulness to the members of our Relief Committee and it is desired that any monies contributed for the object may be sent to the Treasurer of the Fund, F. W. LEMARCHAND, Esq., Agra Bank, Shanghai.
We have, &c.
WM. MUIRHEAD,
Hon. Sec., China Famine Relief Fund. E. REEVES PAlmer,
Minister of Union Church, Shanghai.
His Excellency
The Governor of Hongkong,
&c.,
&c.,
&c.
R. C. MISSION House,
HONGKONG, 7th February, 1878.
EXCELLENCY,-The appalling news of the horrors of famine, which I almost daily receive from the North of China, compels me to recur to the generosity of the heart of Your Excellency, craving for a relief for so many fainine-stricken fellow-creatures. As Procurator of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, I continually receive letters from the heads of the Italian Missions, that is the Provinces of Shen-Shi, Shan-Shi and Honan, the Provinces most suffering from famine. My great friend the Right Reverend Bishop VOLONTERI, Vicar Apostolic of Honan, well known here in Hongkong (where he worked as Missionary for 10 years and who made the so widely spread chart of the San-ou district) writes me in date of 12th January, that the horrors of famine are so great, that fathers are seen eating the corpse of their children, and children assisting at the death of their fathers, eating them immediately as they have expired. Indeed the local Mandarins do something, but quite powerless for so many dying people in those huts where at times some 5 or 6 thousand people collected receive a daily soup by the Government, some 60 or 100 corpses are extracted every day.
After such terrible description of the horrors of famine, the Right Reverend Bishop VOLONTERI, and the Right Reverend Bishop LING, Vicar Apostolic of Shan-Shi pray me to do all that lay in my power to find some relief for so many poor creatures, whom they are condemned to see dying every hour around them, unable as they are through poverty to stretch forth their hands to help them. I urged by such pitiful motives take courage to put my humble petition for some relief in the hands of Your Excellency, knowing the sincere feelings of charity which animates your heart, and hoping that the Colonial Government, which was so liberal last year for the poor people of Shantung Province will also come to the help of those of Shan-Shi and Honan.
I have, &c.,
His Excellency
JOHN POPE HENNESSY, C.M.G.,
Governor of Hongkong,
&c.,
&c.
No. 30.
G. BURGHIGNOLI,
Procurator of Pro.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following letter from His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and CHANDOS, dated Government House, Madras, 11th January, 1878, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.