Pien, Prefect of Ningpo; having effective rank as Intendant, raised by brevet six grades &c., issues the following proclamotion.
Whereas certain scoundrels at Tientsin Kidnapped children and implicated the Roman Catholics in (their nefarious doings), and the people becoming suspicious, a disturbance arose, His Imperial Majesty issued the following edict. Let the Viceroys and Governors of Chihliand the other Focal officials to issue proclamations and ravinees send strict orders to the various
adopt efficient measures. to prevent distur-Dance; and, moreover, to afford full protection to merchants and missionaries, not allowing ignorant people to avail themselves of some specious pretext to create trouble, &e. Respect this!" This was transmitted to the Chekiang authorities in a dispatch from the Foreign office.
The Prefect having had the honour to receive the above from their Excellencies the Governor, Commissioner of Finance, and Intendant, yields reverent obedience to His Majesty's commands. Ningpo is a Treaty port, and native and foreign merchants have for many years carried on busines in harmony and peace. The Missionaries too have always acted in accordance with the wishes of the people, only teaching those who desired to be taught, never using any compulsion whatsoever so that there is no occasion for secking to frst some scoundrels who delight in mak-jive trouble on this score. But fearing
ing mischief, should fabricate groundless stories, and' go hither and thither, cir-gularing them among the people, the Prefect is compelled to issue this notification, forbidding such doings. The Prefect is sending instructions to the district magistrate, to ce-operate with him in carrying out His Majesty's commands; and now, as in aa bound, issues this notification to all within his jurisdiction, both soldiers and people, calling on them to recognise the rightful obligation they are under, to protect the strangers who have come from afar to reside in our midst.
Should any mischief-making scoundrels et up stories and spread them about, misleading the people and causing annoyance to foreigners, they shall be directly searched out, arrested and punished. The Prefect makes no difference between natives and foreigners, so that vagabonds who avail themselves of some specious pretext to create disturbances, will meet with no indulgence. Let each obey with trembling, or he will hereafter repent his folly.
'A special proclamation, 8th noon, 9th day.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.