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with this draft, previous to the military examinations, as is on record and that therefore, when in this year the Ping-woo military triennial examinations were caused to commence, fair copies were made out in accordance with the old drafts, and the proclamation issued with- 'out the addition or subtraction of one word. He at the same time sought out and presented to us for examination and comparison the old drafts, according to which the proclamation had been issued on the above two times, at the Kwei-mow and Kiáshin examinations, both of which agree with the copy you sent us of the proclamation issued this time.
After examination we find, with reference to this proclamation, that as it has been copied from the old drafts used at successive past examinations, it forms a part of the routine business, which it is not customary to examine, and that it is by no means that the present district magistrate has any other (peculiar) views.
What is stated in the copy,—that the hong merchants and fin- guists should transmit commands to the foreigners is, however, very unfitting; and we have therefore written to the said district magis- trate, ordering him to bear in remembrance, that when the time of the military triennial examinations next arrives, he is forbidden again to issue a proclamation according to this old draft; and that if there be any matters of local interest which he wishes to make known to Englishmen, he must make a communication to you, that you may issue commands accordingly. A special declaration 20th Nov.