Dr. Morrison's Translation of a Chinese Proclamation. -iS. 



alighting from my carriage, amongst you, to draw out a list of the important 

 things I would have attended to ; and publish them by way of proclama- 

 tion, commanding all the government officers, clerks, country gentlemen, 

 soldiers, and poor people, as one body, to yield implicit obedience thereto. 

 Oppose not! A special (Edict, or) Proclamation." 



First Topic. 



Encourage the Means of promising Good. 



5 Sections. 



1. A supply of water is fundamental to the existence of the people. In 

 agriculture, water to irrigate the fields is, to tlie husbandman, as the arteries 

 and veins to the life-giving fluid. Canton is near to hills and mountains, 

 and the land is dry ; so that ten days want of rain raises the complaint of 

 drought. (The Foo-yuen then states what efforts he employed, when he 

 was a magistrate at Nan-keung district, to promote a supply of water). 



2. Plant trees : of all nature's gifts there is none more important, than 

 the growth of trees, which neither require to be clothed with your gar- 

 ments, nor to eat your rice. 



3. Breed domestic animals. 



4. Encourage charity and compassion : nature cannot equalise benefits, 

 and give a complete competence to all, but relies on those, who have the 

 ability to compassionate tlie poor ; and they shall be abundantly rewarded, 

 in their children and grand-children. 



5. Honor economy: Canton is a luxurious extravagant province; and 

 of all the districts, Kwang-chow and Chaou-chow are the most so. The vice 

 begins with the retired literati, and passes to the country gentlemen ; from 

 them to the rich merchants ; and down to the common people, and petty 

 writers and lictors. They desire to have gay shining dwellings ; their 

 wives and children adorned with gold and jewels; their food and drink from 

 the seas, and the mountains; their garments to be silks and crapes; tlieir 

 ancestors' halls must, in violation of their proper sphere, have vermillion 

 beams, and doors and pillars— forgetting that Heaven's curse will come on 

 those who affect an enjoyment which does not belong to their place ; 

 whereas, in tlie affluent, charity to the poor, and rescuing the distressed, 

 bring a blessing on posterity for hundreds of years. Besides, tlie Emperor, 

 who is supreme, anil wiiose riclies embrace all tiie world, encompassed by 

 the four seas, Iiimself sets you an example, &c. 



