884 Mr. Hay lis Extracts from the Peking Gazette. 



I. Malversations in Office. — Imperial Edict. 



1st moon, 11th day (10th February). 



The Censor, IVang-shi-fu, has presented to us a paper, concerning the 

 malversations in office prevalent among the clerks and official assistants in 

 tlie government offices of Cliih-lc * province. 



" The clerks in the large and small offices of Chlh-k province being as- 

 sisted by tlieir own friends in tiie prosecution of public business, the latter 

 make use of their official influence in the commission of every species of 

 iniquity. I, the Censor, have turned my whole attention to the examina- 

 tion of these abuses. Truly there is none to whom they will not vend their 

 services ! But this province being the place of imperial residence, ought 

 to be govemed with more especial probity, as an example to ail others. 

 It appears that in the offices of the Treasurer t and Judge there arc, in ad- 

 dition to the regular assistants, persons who call tiiemselves Keb-clioo (lieads 

 of departments), wlio dividing tiiemselves into two bodies, those who ma- 

 nage internal and those who manage cdternal affairs, monopolize all the 

 business of the Choxv and Heen districts, and in the progress of the rati- 

 fication or reversal of the decisions of the inferior courts, are guilty of all 

 kinds of false and criminal combinations. The official friends of the Chow 

 and H'ccn magistrates liaving formerly been clerks in the higlier coiu-ts, 

 have a secret correspondence with the above Keb-choo, and in all matters 

 of judgment consult togetlier with them, for the purposes of deceit and 

 plunder.! Wiicn the business of government falls into such hands as these, 

 they prove, in fact, the ' destructive insects of the soil.' Let the Viceroy 

 of the province direct the Treasurer and Judge to institute an inquiry, and 

 abolish altogether the office of Keb-choo. If among the official friends of 

 the Chow and || Hi-en magistrates there be any discovered wlio combine 

 to'Tcther for evil purposes, let tlicm be immediately apprehended and pu- 



* Or Pi-che-ly. 



f The treasurer is frequently a judge in civil matters relating to property within his pro- 

 vince: the judge takes cognizance chiefly of criminal matters, or "pleas of the crown" as 

 they are called in England. 



\ Futi^ei, " dividing or sharing the fat." 



II These are magistrates of inferior districts, possessing, however, in most cases, a jurisdic- 

 tion much more enlarged and independent than the local magistracy in England individually. 



