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"IMPORTANT EDICTS AND GOVERNMENT CHANGES. 25established, an event which has not yet taken place,though it seems imminent. The changes in the judicialsystem were foreshadowed by converting the Board ofPunishments into the Board ofRevision as the Court ofJustice and by the reconstitutionof the Grand Court ofCassation. The former Board of Works had its sphereenlarged, becoming the Board of Agriculture, Industryand Commerce, and as such it has played a most important part in the development of the resources of theempire coming under its cognizance ; whilst all affairsrelating to shipping, railways, telegraphs and postswere placed under the newly created Board of Communications. The Younghusband Mission to Lhasa and theManchuria had awakened the Governrecent events inment to the necessity of conserving the frontier possessions, so that the Mongolian Superintendency took awider scope and became the Board of Colonies. TheBoard of Education remained unchanged, as did theCeusorate, except in some minor matters which in noway removed the irresponsibility of that body. Twonew bodies were created, the Government Council,"where prominent officials are appointed to assist instate affairs," and the Court of Auditors, where all therevenues and expenditures have to be audited." Ofthis latter body nothing seems to have been heard orseen since its creation. "TheImperial Clan Court,Hanlin Yuan, Imperial Board of Astronomy, ImperialEquipage Department, Imperial Household, BannerBattalions, Imperial Guards, Peking Gendarmerie, thePeking City Government and the Peking Granaries donot need to be reformed." By the same decree allBoards were to have one President and two Vice-Presidents,without distinction of Manchu and Chinese,though the Waiwu Pu was to continue to be officered asformerly. The abolition of the old system of two Presidents (one Manchu and one Chinese) with four Vicepresidents(two Manchu and two Chinese) has gone,but it has left behind perhaps even greater discrimma-