Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 325

1850

Journal of Occurrences.

287

they may presently receive a button of the sixth rank as a personal decoration; and let them be in readiness for our orders; but let none be reported who are not fully known, for there must not be an excessive return.

*12. Let officers be dispatched to offer the accustomed sacrifices at the tombs of all former emperors, at the birthplace of Confucius, the five mountains, and four rivers.

*13. Let all criminals, whether officials, government clerks, soldiers, or com- moners, except such as have been convicted of these ten crimes, viz., treason and sedition; of the murder of parents or grandparents; of a husband or master by wife, concubine or slave; of a family of three innocent persons; of mutilating or destroying persons, for bad purposes; of planning or threatening murder, certainly involving life; of making poisonous preparations ; of diabolical charms against life; of putting up noxious medicines for poisoning people; of violent robbery, and of magical incantations, which truly are capital crimes; also all soldiers guilty of desertion or of harboring runaways;-be pardoned, if their of- fenses were committed before the 25th of February, whether they have been ac- cused or not, and convicted or not; and if any person charges those now pardoned with these crimes, they shall themselves suffer as if guilty of the same offense. *14. All convicts banished to 3000 or 5000 l distance, who have fulfilled three years at the place of their exile, and have conducted themselves peaceably and obediently, and all banished convicts over 70 years, are permitted to return

home.

*15. Let all Manchus, all members of the Imperial household, and men of the five banners who wear robes, who have peculated in the public moneys, and who are now sued for the recovery of the deficiency, if it be found that they really are destitute of property, be excused of repayment after investigation; and those who are responsible for, or bear a part of the repayment, or are in- volved in the case, all be released from further implication.

*16. All civilians who are required to pay up the deficiencies in the public moneys, and all sons and grandsons who are now held responsible for the pecu- lations of their fathers or grandfathers, are released from all claims after an ex- amination has been made.

*17. All officers and soldiers in the army, who in consequence of going on service, or by reason of disasters, have overdrawn their pay and rations, are released from repayment.

18. Let all privates in the army, who have already distinguished them- selves for bravery, or have retired from service by reason of wounds or age, re- ceive extraordinary consideration, and examination be made as to the favors and largesses they should receive.

*19. Let all persons in the provinces who have five generations of descen- dants living, or those who have seen seven generations, receive in addition to the usual legal tablet, some largess and favor after proper examination.

*20.

Whereas agriculture is the basis of the country's prosperity, let the local magistrates in every department and district always grant favors to all dili- gent husbandmen and those who labor in the fields, that the imperial bounty be made known.

*21. Except the robe-dressed, and all under majors, down to horsemen in the five banners [of the household troops], let the Manchu, Mongol and Chinese bannermen, both horsemen, artillerymen, and footmen, all receive a month's pay. *22. Let every soldier and subject above seventy years of age have a man to cherish and take care of him, who shall be exempt from body-service; and let every man who is above eighty years receive a button of the ninth rank; above ninety, a button of the eighth rank; above a century, a button of the seventh rank; and those of one hundred and twenty years, a button of the sixth rank; let all persons over a century be separately reported, that an honorary portal be erected for them, and money granted.

*23. Let all charitable institutions for the support of widowed and orphan persons both male and female, who have no one to support them, with all dis- eased or deforined persons, who have no one to speak for them, be borne in inind by the local officers, and their wants provided for at all times, that they fail not of a home.