The following edict has been addressed by the Emperor to the Viceroys and Governors of Provinces, desiring them to maintain order, Lately, in consequence of there having been villains engaged in the practice of kidnapping children at tientsin, the Chapels of the Sect got to be drawn in and involved; the people became suspicious, causes of collision arose, the Consul for the French nation was assaulted and killed by the mob, the Chapels of the Sect were destroyed or burnt, al persons. were beaten to death, and. some' Russian merchant were inadvertently slain."
The whole circumstances of the case were match to be deplored; and we have already given forth our decree, ordering Chung-how, as well the several local authorities. who had mismanaged the matter; to be handed over to the Board, in the'first instance, td: have the.punishments duevto them determined upon. We likewise directed Tseng: kwo-fan to institute. a strichinquiry and report the result; as also to-cause the kid napping vagabonds, and: the ringleaders' in' the disturbance, to be rigorously prosecuted: and-punished. air Reflecting, we recall to mind that, ever since commercial intercourse with all. me nations was introduced, any matters of dispute that may have'arisen between tHe one! and the other Itave always'been determined in accordance ' with'treaties; and' Chinese" and foreign.merchants have' thus lived on" terms -of mutual equity "for-a long time. past—our Imperial 'Court regards.all alike' with equal benevolence.' But-bad and good-mirist ever be intermixed, and should the ill-disposed- in any locality: attempt ° to:
ift suspicion from themselves, by insinua+ ting that the adherents of the Sect'are the'
its of crime, they shall immediate ly be searched out and rigorously' prosecuted and punished. "How-cam it'be permit. ted that people should disseminate baseless stories,.and wickedly foment disturbances.
Since, however, such" popular riots hava* now taken place at Yenitsin, it-is to be? feared that the local authorities' ini other, provinces may, perhaps, be induced; in con-. Sequence, to harbour suspicions and get up occasions of quarrel. 'Let, therefore, the: Viceroys and lieutenants-Governors of Provinces issue strict instructions, to' all: the local authorities within their respective jurisdictions, inculcating the necessity of their putting forth stringent proclamations, ahd Keeping their several populations in' close subjection; also of affording every protection to those places, "at the ports, in which the tenets of the Sect are being pro—parated; and seeing to it that the people for raising disturbances. Respect this. do not, in their stupidity, got up occasions
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.