554 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
The law thus referred to consists of a Royal Decree — a 
translation of which is subjoined — by which it will be seen 
that it goes very much further in the way of preventing the 
cattle plague entering Holland than the observations of the 
Vice-President, as reported in the public prints, would lead 
the public to infer. Indeed, the decree is so complete in 
itself — even if unconnected with the promise given by the 
Government of Holland — as to furnish a perfect answer to 
the objectors of the policy of freeing Dutch cattle, and to 
render it unnecessary for us to support the course which has 
been adopted by any arguments of our own. 
Translation . 
# 
Decree of the 8th December, 1870, prohibiting the 
importation and transit from foreign countries of 
cattle , sheep , goats, fresh hides , fresh and salted 
meat , unsmelted fat, manure , unmanufactured 
wool, unmanufactured hair, hoofs and horns, as 
well as of everything pertaining to the animals 
above mentioned. 
WE, WILLIAM III, by the Grace of God King of the 
Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Grand 
Duke of Luxemburg, etc. etc. etc. 
Considering : 
That, on the 31st December, 1870, the law of the 17th 
October, 1865 (‘ Official Gazette/ No. 121), and also our 
decrees of the 10th and 20th September, 1870 (‘ Official 
Gazette/ Nos. 160 and 163), do not remain in force; 
That, nevertheless, the spreading of the cattle plague in 
neighbouring kingdoms still renders it necessary to make 
regulations, in order to continue to avert the disease ; 
Taking into consideration Clause 15 of the Act of the 
20th July, 1870 ( f Official Gazette/ No. 131), which will 
come into operation on the 1st January, 1871 ; 
Upon the recommendation of our Ministers of the In- 
