The Governor of Chekiang, Sung Chun, memporialises the Throne requesting that the recommendations for rewards for putting to death the notorious outlaw, Ma Mien Tu Jen, made by him some time since, may be adopted. Upon memorialist reporting the death of this pest of the di trict of ai chou in Chekiang, His Majesty granted leave to submit the names of the civil and military officials who had taken part in putting a stop to his career.
The Bourds of Civil Office avd War, however, objected to the proposals made, on the grounds that the officials in question had merely done their duty and did not deserve extraordinary rewards, Memorialist proceeds to vigorously combat this view. T'xi chou, he points out, is a mounts sea coast region, and has long been the haunt of pirates.' The officials in question hunt out these evil-doers both by land and sea the whole year round. Their work is trying and laborious, and their success has been recorded in'memorials to the Throne. Their proper duty being the arrest of law-breakers, memorialist. would not presume to recommend them for trifling services. But Ma Mien Tu Jen was a noted leader on the northern coast of T'ai-chou and was at the head of a large band. Had the slightest delay occurred in stopping his recent outbreak, the consequences to the public would have been most serious, The officials under notice, procuring infor-motion of his movements, pursued him by land and sea, regardless of danger in the midst of mighty waves and foaming billows. They put to death this formidable robber chief and broke up his gang. Such a feat is fully as meritorious as the suppression by regular troops of a band of rebels, and it is essential for the encouragement of similar brave deeds in thesetroublous times that generous rewards be granted, Memorialist has exercised great care in the selection of names and ventures to again submit the list for His Majesty's approval.—Rescript: Let it be as proposed. Let the Boards concerned take note.
4th and 5th March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.