On the 20th 3rd Moon, I received a letter from Mr. Seward, U. 8. Consul-General, on behalf of the whole number of Consuls, that the Chamber of Commerce had rece letters from Europe and America, complaining that the Silk of last season was no improve: ment, but rather worse, than that of the previous few years, of which complaint has heretofore been made, He also forwarded to me two copies of a notice prepared by the Chamber of Commerce for circulation among sill dealers.
Tu China, silk is a very important article of Commerce, and all those engaged in the pre~ Paration of and dealing in ilk, should) be faithful and honest, and on no account allow the least counterfeit in its preparation. I have before issued proclamations in regard to this matter. Having received this letter from the Senior Consul, have written to the officials in the Silk District, and now issue this proclamation with the notice of the Chamber of Commercs, Let all-engaged in the preparation of silk be careful to obey these instructions, and select the good from the bad, and constantly study how to improve the quality of silk until it is perfect, and on no account allow the least infraction on what is necessary to make it perfect.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.