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Men and Things in Shánghái.
FER.
regular return of these poor people is required by the government; for in a proclamation now before me, of recent date, the magistrate takes occasion to complain, that there are great differences in the numbers returned, when the present are compared with those in former years. The numbers of the poor people for the current year, the 29th of Táukwáng, if I correctly understand the case, are much augmented. This is no doubt correct; and it is easily accounted for by the single fact, that the present year is one of famine. Distribution of food by private individuals is also giving relief to a few. Multitudes, however, are perishing in the streets of the great cities of Kiángnán. Tens on tens, every week, during this cold winter, have been found dead in the streets and temples of this rich city. Want of food, want of clothing, want of shelter, coupled with debauchery and disease, are the combined causes of this misery.
Remission of taxes due from the distressed people in a large num- ber of the departments of this province, and in the adjoining one of Ngánhwui, has just been commenced by the emperor's orders, glad- dening the hearts of many. These departments are those which were so dreadfully inundated last summer. More than fifty places are
enumerated.
The rise in the price of grain has been considerable of late, caused partly by the distresses above enumerated, but more I believe in con- sequence of an order from Peking, directing purchases to be made by his majesty's officers to supply the demand of the capital. It is said the Yellow River, that most troublesome of all the emperor's subjects, is showing such symptoms of rebellion, that the officers in charge thereof dare not draw from it the full quantity of water requisite to feed the Grand Canal, lest in doing this the whole surrounding country should be deluged. Your readers, I suppose, are aware that not a little of the surface of the country, adjacent the banks of this great river, is somewhat below that of the mighty waters which roll along its bed to the ocean. It is said, further, that this state of things, the threatening attitude of the Yellow River and the consequent want of water in the Canal, will require another fleet of junks to venture out to sea and brave the dangers of the promontory of Shantung, and what is worse, large fleets of pirates. How fortunate it would be, not for the inhabitants of Peking alone, but for all China, if the new navigation laws,―based on the just principle of reciprocity,—could be extended to the Middle Kingdom.
The use of opium among the Chinese, was never more rapidly increasing than now, and its evil effects never more evident. Eighty