'A proclamation of which the following is a translation was issued on Saturday by the Shanghai Magistrate Wang VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION, am in receipt of a dispatch from the prefect of Sungkiang stating that he received on the 24th inst., the following dispatch from H.E. Liu K'un-yi, Viceroy of the Liangkiang:—'The disturbances caused by the Ihe Ch'van outlaws in the North have attracted to them revolutionary Society-men and disbanded soldiery who have combined with them in causing widespread destruction, burning and tearing down telegraph poles, destroying railways and slaughtering military officials who tried to suppress them. It is also known that these outlaws have already taken the of Chochou, Shenping, and Anping, in consequence of which an Imperial edict was issued directing officers in high military command and local authorities to combine and attack the outlaws. The Imperial edict also commands that the local authorities throughout the Empire are to protect Missionary Chapels, etc., from the mob. Now it is clear that hose Ihe Ch'uan people are practically outlaws and revolutionists, who by their wicked arts and incantations seek to excite the masses and inveigle them to join them in their outlawry. Of lite, however, we have in Kiangsu and Anhui provinces a large number of revolutionary societies and disbanded soldiery, and the inhabitants of these two provinces have also the reputation of being a brave, savage, and restless people who are ensily excited to break the laws. The year before last we had indeed an attempted rebellion amongst the Great and Little Sword societies at Huyang, Anhui province, and although they were easily suppressed they may as easily be led to create disturbances again. The provi cial high authorities now hear that the Imperial forces in the North have recently come to blows with the Ihe Ch'uan outlaws and it is a foregone conclusion that these people will as easily be exterminated in a short time. There is fear, however, that these outlaws in flying from just punishment may retreat southwards into the Liangkiang provinces and by their arts and incantations seek to gain recruits into their rankg, thereby bringing down destruction upon the heads of all who ara ignorant and simple enough to join these outlaws and brave the Imperial armies of the Liangkiang and other provinces. Steps therefore should be taken at once to prevent such a catastrophe among the masses, and all local authorities are hereby required to proclaim the actual conditions now existing and to be alert in looking out for and arresting all defeated outlaws who may enter their several jurisdictions. Armed forces should be provided to put down all attempts at resistance, and if any official succeeds in capturing an outlaw chief or defeating any large body of outlaws coming to his territory high rewards will be granted him in recognition of his services. Let proclamations be issued for the information of the masses that the ignorant and simple may understand and that order be preserved. All are warned from listening to baseless rumours and false stories of the outlaws' supernatural gifts, as_condign punishment is in store for such. Let steps be taken at once to keep secret watch over evil persons, and if any be caught trying to excite the people let such be at once arrested and punished to the utmost extent of the law. All civil and military officers are also required to give every protection to missionary property and let all beware of the punishments in store for lazy and incapable ofiiicals who fail in their duty.
In obedience to these commands I the Shanghai magistrate, hereby issue this proclamation warning all my people to take cara how they get influenced by evil and baseless rumours, attempt to secretly aid the outlaws, or to create disturbances on their own account. There will assuredly be no merey for them."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.