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i general Ve/cription of 
id Judges upon this Examination, which is fo f vere a 
the moft part only the greateft Perfons offending are 
4rpofe we read, that in the Year 1607. fo fIri& an Ex 
at four thoufand principal Magifirates, who had misbehav'd 
ceiv'd Rewards jufly due to their demerits.- 
rns fo condemn'd are divided according to the quality of their 
five Ranks : Under the firft are comprehended fuch as takd 
nrich themfelves out oF the Emperor's Treafury ; thefe being 
e forever ni c incapable of bearingany publick Office. Under 
nk are fet 4dwn thofe who are too cruel in their Punifliments; 
rife turn'd out of their Places, and fetn home to liveas private 
ir the third are reckon'd fuch as are decrepit, and too far ftric. 
)r Govern ment or elfe fuch as-are too rcmifs in their Offices; 
they areputby the Exercife of their Offices, yet enjoy all their 
hey were Wont when they'were in their Places, fo long as they 
urth Rank are put down fuch as have been too hafty and rafh in 
nce, a ing without any forecaf in the Affairs of the Empire; 
aded, 'and put'in fome inferior Offices, or elfe cploy'dd el. 
efs'weighty Affairs. In the lafi place, all fuch as. live impru. 
nbecoming the gretnefs of their Station and Empl oyment, are 
iv'd ofthci'r Places, but alfo of their Liberties and Privileges for 
e general Inquifition and- Examination is made every twelfth 
the Xix-Councils, as alfo amongft the Military Officers. 
le M'andorins and Afliftants are oblig'd once  day togive an Ac- 
overnor of their City,oftheir own and other Perfons Tranfadi. 
ir Jurifdi&ions, as alfo what has p4(1 either in City or Country; 
rbear to give notice of any thing that tends to' he prejudice of 
ich afterwards comes to be known, they are mft fevcrely pu+ 
nun a, witnout any delay, or reipect or ntheir crions  an initance wnereot
hapned at Canton whien we were there, the old Vice-Roy caufing one of th
chief Mandorins to be kill'd in his Prefence for fuch a Crime, and would
not de- 
lay the expiation of the Criminal's Offence by his Blood fb long, till the
Exe- 
cutioner could be fetch'd to behead the Offender, according to the Cuftom
of 
the Country. 
Fourthly, None may in the Province where he was born aie upon him 
the Office of a Magiftrate,!butis admitted to he'a-Vield.Commander; the rea-
fon whereof may be, left he who fits in the Place of Juflice fhould favor
his 
Relations; but the'Soldier being at home in his own Country, will Fight 
pro.,ris  Fois, and the more Valiantly defend it. The Sons of fuch as are
Magiftrates, are not permitted to go much abroad, that fo they may not be
-corrupted with Bribes. 
Fifthly, The Chinefes will not fuffer any Stranger to continue in their Coun-
try, whohas an intention to return home into his own native Soil, or is found
to hold any Correfpondence with, forein Kingdoms; neither is a Foreiner 
permitted to come into the heart of the Empire : And this is the caufe that
no Stranger Aares venture into China, otherwife than under the pretence of
an 
.Embaffy; which is not only to be underftood of fuch as are far diflant from
Cbina, but alf'oof their Friends, Allies, and Tributaries, who pay Taxes
to 
them f of which fort are the neighboring Iflanders of Ciea, who for the mof
partobfirve the Chinefe Laws  and if they difcover a Foreiner to hivc liv'd
'privately