"We, The Princes and Ministers constituting the Imperial Board of Foreign Affairs, do issue the following instructions in reply "The American Missionary, Gilbert Reid, has many times presented to this Board documents setting forth his views as to the requirements of the times. He has also laid before us proposals for the erection of an Institute of Learning. These papers we have looked over, and find them marked by sagacious insight.
"The said Missionary has lived in China many years, and is intimately acquainted with the state of affairs. His learning penetrates to fundamental principles; and his heart is animated by benevolent motives, which are worthy of high praise.
Besides keeping these documents on file for future reference, we assure the said Missionary, that when his plan for the Institute goes into operation, if the actuality answers to the prospectus, producing good and not evil, this Board will, after due investigation, confer on him additional tokens of approval.
In the meantime let the Secretaries of the Board convey to Mr. Reid this expression of our cordial commendation, along with his original petition.
"Given (at Peking) under the seal of the Board of Foreign Affairs in the 2nd moon of the 23rd year of Kwang-sil (March, 1897)."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.