1822.] 
in Europe to the gentlemanly manners 
and superior abilities of privileged 
juris-consults. This observation will 
derive strength from the instances and 
detailed particulars annexed, which 
claim attention, and are entitled to the 
fullest examination. 
Entering on their diurnal career in 
the courts, pipes, tea. and coffee are 
brought them by the clerks, and all 
the papers they may want are fetched 
from the repositories. All who hold 
situations in the colleges, except the 
judges, who arrive after dinner, dine at 
the college house, between the hours of 
ten and eleven in the morning. The 
table expences are defrayed from the 
fund Jun-fei. On the pretext of 
making the officers industrious in the 
performance of their duty, terms are 
fixed for the performance of every busi- 
ness with which they may be charged. 
When, for example, a question is re- 
ferred to the tribuuals or colleges, by a 
special order of the emperor, for their 
consideration and determination, their 
report upon if must be made within ten 
days. But if the business is sent from 
other colleges or tribunals, the time 
allowed is twenty days; after which, if 
necessary, they report to the emperor. 
In matters of importance, concerning 
the finances, er on any points which 
require long investigation, and cannot 
be terminated in the appointed time, 
the true cause of the delay must be re- 
ported at an early period. 
If a magistrate is charged with any 
business in the provinces, from three 
to seven months time is allowed him, 
according to circumstances ; but should 
this prove insufficient, the governors or 
vice-governors must transmit to the 
emperor a report of the cause of delay, 
and requesting additional time to finish 
the matter. If the reports and accounts 
to be sent to Pekin are not dispatched 
at the fixed period, they are demanded, 
and if the answer is still delayed, the 
magistrates in faut are fined by a de- 
duction of salary at certain rates. For 
one month, they lose two months’ sa- 
lary, for two moths, six, for three 
months, nine, and for four or five 
months, the salary for a whole year. 
If they still continue to neglect their 
duty, they are degraded, and if they 
allow two years to pass, they forfeit all 
claim to their dignity. In the same 
manner, the officers in Pekin are 
punished, if they neglect laying before 
the emperor such matters as are to be 
referred to him at a fixed time. 
Courts of Justice in China. 
219 
If any one desires to resign his office, 
he must give, in his petition, a detailed 
explanation of the causes, accompanied 
by vouchers from his superiors, as to 
the truth of the statements. But if he 
wishes to exchange his place or situa- 
tion, this can only be obtained by ballot. 
If by this means, no place suilable oc- 
curs, he receives his dismissal, and 
must wait till the next month for any 
other appointment that may be con- 
signed to him by ballot. 
All the chief commanders of pro- 
vinces are’to repair to Pekin once every 
three years, and present themselves 
before the emperor, when thei con- 
duct is investigated by the tribunal of 
mandarins and college of justice, and 
reported to the monarch. The gover- 
nors are then introduced tothe emperor, 
and certain salutary rules are read to 
them in his name, of which they receive 
copies. If in the investigation they are 
found blameless, they are rewarded ac- 
cording to their merits ; otherwise they 
are punished. 
The Chinese laws are, no doubt, ex- 
cellent, and well adapted to the coun- 
try; but in the courts they are as liable 
to be perverted 2s in other countries, 
and generally the rich and powerful 
obtain the ends of justice, versus, the 
humble and poor. There are, however, 
persous appointed to keep a vigilant 
eye upon such abuses. but they gene- 
rally act in concert with the judges, and 
seldom perform their office with inte- 
grity, unless when at variance with 
them, or combining tooverthrow them. 
That government feels the necessity of 
keeping such a rigid controul over the 
magistrates, is shewn by the fact, tha 
a censor is not punished, even though 
his accusation against a venal judge 
should prove unfounded. 
No law-suits are more rare in China 
than such as concern debts; both par- 
ties knowing that in a legal process 
above one half of the sum at stake will 
be expended in court. If any one is 
commencing a law-suit of imporiance. 
the party invites to his house the clerks 
of the court and other officers, and lays 
his case before them. If they find that 
there is a chance for him (right or 
wrong) to gain it, they inform their 
superiors, who fix the sum which the 
plaintiff is to pay. They undertake 
then te insure his cause, and they in- 
variably fulfil their promise, for fear 
of losing future confidence. But if the 
plaintiff, without any such preparation, 
presents his suit to the court, they will 
take 
