Dr. Morrison's Translation of a Chinese Proclamation. 47 



Third Topic. 

 Address to Magistrates. 

 7 Sections. 



1. Laud and soothe the virtuous distressed, as virgins; those who suffer 

 death rather than a violation of chastity (or martyrs to chastity) ; unmarried 

 daughters, eminently dutiful to parents ; chaste wives ; martyrs to a chaste 

 widowliood ; wives eminently dutiful to parents : for these persons request 

 imperial honorary banners, &c. 



2. Honour filial duty. 

 S. Respect the aged. 



4. Hold up to view the eminently virtuous. 



5. Illustrate the good and charitable. 



6. Praise, and encourage to correct and benevolent conduct, village el- 

 ders, and city constables. 



7. Give honorary banners to families, that excel in domestic virtues. 



Fourth Topic 



7 Sections. 



1. Prohibit gaming. 



2. Interdict suicide, or making light of one's life. It is the detestable 

 custom of Canton Province, on every slight occasion, for a slight resentment, 

 to commit suicide. And the relatives of the self-murderer view the dead body, 

 as a piece of goods of extraordinary value. They contrive to allege that 

 the deceased committed suicide, in consequence of ill-usage from some rich 

 neighbour, who, to avoid litigation, gives them a sum of money ; or, if he re- 

 fuses, they combine with the police, and commence a prosecution, &c. 



When I was at Nan-keung district, in the office of magistrate, five or six 

 suicides occurred every month, &c. 



3. Canton abounding in hills and rivers, it abounds in thefts and robberies, 

 both by individuals, and associated bodies of men — let these be acted 

 against, &c. 



4. Vagabond attornies excite litigations, increase and protract them, in 

 numbers infinite, and to periods interminable. The innocent are accused, 

 and the utterly wrong become accusers ; they find avaricious and cruel 

 magistrates, and fraudulent police extortioners. Disputes about marriages 

 and lands, are viewed by magistrates as petty affairs, and are given to the 



