Mr. Davids Extracts from the Peking Gazette. 399 



Her death was surely the consequence of her despair and resentment, in 

 being forced to acknowledge herself guilty. The circumstances of the 

 report are evidently contradictory, and invented for the support of the 

 particular allegation, as well as to protect the officers therein concerned : 

 for if it be examined into, how should a female only twelve years of age 

 be persuaded to give her consent on such an occasion ; and if she had 

 suffered no wrong at all, what should make her put an end to herself? I 

 have heard that, though the weather was uncommonly hot at the time, and 

 notwithstanding that the body remained several days uninterred, it suffered 

 no change whate^'er : a circumstance which removes all doubt of her having 

 suffered grievous wrong. It is consistent with established practice to peti- 

 tion that some distinction be conferred on the memory of this chaste virgin, 

 whose name has been stained with dishonour. It is a question in which 

 good reputation is deeply interested ; and should her wrong be allowed to 

 pass unredressed, what security will remain for the public morals or for the 

 obsen'ance of the laws ? Shan-se is not far distant from the capital : your 

 Majesty's consent is therefore petitioned for bringing the case before the 

 criminal board, in order that it may be proved beyond a doubt. The 

 circumstances that have come to my knowledge, contrary to the Governor's 

 report, I dare not but present to the Imperial attention." 



XIX. Grain Junks on the Corel. — Imperial Edict. 



4th moon, 10th day (8th May). 



•' Wei-yuen-heb and others have applied for our instructions respecting 

 the formation of certain restrictive regulations, calculated to keep in check 

 the unruly crews of the grain junks.* 



" The late outrageous and violent conduct of the people in the grain 

 junks, towards private merchants and individuals has rendered it necessary 

 to enact certain regulations for their future government and control. The 

 said superintendent has reported, that it has hitherto been the custom 

 for every division of grain junks to employ the people of the province 



• These junks were seen by Lord Amherst's embassy extending for several miles along the 

 side of the Pei-ho. Were this annual supply cut off by blockading the southern extremity of 

 the grand canal, the capital and its neighbourhood must necessarily be starved. 



Vol. I. 3 G 



