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1813 Hongkongng Pall Mall 297
CEP.14 1946
12th Sept. 1846
16
down, separately providing for the punishment thereof, and that therefore the prohibition was originally directed against those Chinese, who made a pretext of the religion to do evil, but it was by no means dirceted at that religion worshipped and received by all the Western nations. Now the request of the French Commissioner La Grené regarding the point, that those Chinese who practise this religion and do well, be exempted from criminality, seems as if it could be carried into effect. He must therefore request that as regards all who hereafter learn and practise the religion of the Lord of Heaven, no matter whether they be central or outside people, and who do not cause disturbances or do wickedly, he may respectfully erave the Celestial favour, permitting to and conferring on them an exemption from criminality; and should there be any seducing or defiling of men's wives and daughters, or using of craft to take out the pupils of sick men's eyes, or any other crimes, otherwise offending the laws, they shall, as before, be punished according to the established laws. With respect to those individuals of the French and all other Western nations, who practise the religion, let them accordingly be permitted to build halls for worship at the five ports of commercial intercourse, and they must not presume to enter into the Inner land to dis- seminate that religion. Should they act in opposition to, or turn their backs upon, the treaties, overstep the boundaries, and act irregularly, the local officers will, as soon as they seize them forthwith, send them to the Consuls of the several nations to restrain and punish them: but death must not be inflicted on the spot, in order to evince a cherishing and kind disposition. Thus peradventure the good and the vile will not be intermixed, and the laws of kindness will mani- fest their equitable course. This request regarding those who practise the religion and do well, being exempted from pun- ishment, it is his duty to present it to the throne in a respect- ful Memorial, and he humbly craves His Imperial Majesty graciously to assent and grant that it may be carried into effect.
A respectful Memorial,
T. C. JOHNS, Printer, Wine Ofco Court, Fleet Street.
In reply to your
letter of the 444
the
Instant, Sam desired to state, for information of Earl Grey, that the
Society for the Propagation of the Cospel having devoted such of its
Resources
Os
were available, to aid
the endowment of
a
Bishoprie in China, is unable to assist any Measures for the support of Schools at Hong Kong.
A is probable that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
have directed its attention to
may that object. The Secretary, the Rev F. B. Murray, by Lincolns Imm Fields, would be able to furnish Any information which,
you