'A Decree censuring the common practice among the provincial gentry and literati of mixing themselves up in matters of public business, and sometimes even bringing pressure to bear on the authorities with a view to the furtherance of schemes ostensibly for the public good, but in reality designed for selfish purposes of their own. The Provincial Governments are directed to give orders to all subordinate authorities to strictly suppress all al ybuses of the kind, denouncing forthwith any individual unscrupulous enough and so devoid of all sense of self-respect as to repeat the offence in spite of these injunctions. It constantly happens also that the metropolitan officials who have the privilege of addressing the Throne on matters affecting their native districts, submit representations which on examination prove to be either Altogether impracticable, or. else totally unfounded. By law this in itself subjects themtoapenalty, besides which they should, in matters relating to their own provinces, naturally be in a position to obtain the very best information, and for this reason it is J cially incumbent on them to ascertain the real facts instead of importuning the Throne with haphazard complaints which they are unable to substantiate. The Board of Civil Office will therefore consider and report as to the form of severe penalty to be inflicted in cases of this description. It rests entirely with the high provincial authorities to set an example in their own persons to their subordinates, faithfully devoting themselves to the task' of government, avoiding any show of favouritism, and dealing with all questions that come before them in a just and impartial spi Their subordinates and the gentry class w: thus have no opportunity of unduly arrogating authority to themselves, whilst those who have the right of addressing the Throne will find nothing to take exception to. His Majesty positively enjoins upon all Governors-General and Governors of provines to rouse themselves to activity, carefully keeping watch over the conduct of the official class, and enabling the people to pursue their avocations in peace and comfort, that thus the government of the country may day by day attain more nearly to a state of perfection, Condign punishment will be meted out to those who continue to indulge in the practice of dishonest misrepresentation, and pursue the evil ways that have hitherto prevailed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.