Albert Swindlehurst

“ The punishment inflicted on traitors is extremely barbarous. All persons convicted of having been principals or accessories to any act of treason suffer death by a slow and painful execution. More over, all male relations in the first degree at or above the age of sixteen, without any regard to place of residence, are indiscriminately beheaded. The remaining male children, if proved to be totally innocent of and unacquainted with the commission of the offense, are suffered to live, but rendered eunuchs that they may be employed for the public service in the exterior buildings of the palace. ”

“ In general, when there are circumstances to trace, and witnesses to give evidence of the overt act, but not of any actual possession of the goods, the offense is punished as an attempt only. When actual possession is proved the theft or robbery is considered to have been completely carried into effect, and punished accordingly. ”

“ All persons rearing venomous animals, or preparing drugs of a poisonous nature, for the purpose of murder, are beheaded; their property confiscated, and family banished, even if no person is actually killed by such means.
The use of abusive language is very sternly repressed, especially if the offended person happens to be the husband or ancestor of the offender. The Code says: "Opprobrious and insulting language, having naturally a tendency to produce quarrels and affrays, this book of laws expressly provides for its prevention and punishment."
Robbery and theft are severely dealt with. ”

“ Female relations in the first degree are distributed as slaves to the great officers of the state, and the property of every description belonging to such treason able offenders is confiscated for the use of the government.
Parricide is considered only one degree less culpable than treason, and is punished as a crime of the deepest dye; such a violation of the ties of nature being held to be evidence of the most unprincipled depravity. Any person convicted of a design to kill his or her parents or ancestors, whether a blow be struck or not, is liable to suffer death by being beheaded. ”

“ On the contrary, in the case of large, heavy articles of wood or stone which the unassisted strength of man is not adequate to remove to any distance, they must not only have been displaced, but actually lifted upon the cart, or upon the animal provided for their removal. In respect to horses, asses, mules and cows, they must have been taken out of the stable, and some evidence must be adduced of exertion on the part of the offender to make himself master of them. Thus, if one horse is stolen and the rest follow, the thief is not responsible for the theft of more than one horse ”

“ The growth of a spirit of equality and freedom, upon which all true justice is based, is prevented by the division of the people into privileged and non-privileged classes, and the respect required to be shown towards government officials and per sons of rank. ”

“ In passing sentence on persons guilty of theft the magistrate always takes into consideration the rank of the person stolen from and the amount taken. In ordinary cases the guilty persons are branded in the lower part of the left arm with the words "Tsie tao," signifying "thief," as a warning to others and a reproach to themselves, in addition to receiving corporal punishment, and in some cases they are exiled perpetually. ”

“ Some of the provisions of the Chinese Code are of great merit, particularly the one guarding against monopolies of all kinds, which provides that if artful speculators, using undue influence in the market, oblige others to allow them an exorbitant profit, and by unjust contrivances raise the price of their goods far beyond their real value, they shall be severely punished. ”

“ The cook who prepares the imperial repast must also be exceedingly careful, for if he introduces any prohibited ingredients into the dishes by inadvertence; uses articles of food not clean and skillfully selected, or neglects to taste their quality when cooked, punishment is administered. ”

“ Great care is taken to ensure the health and comfort of the emperor, and if any physician inadvertently prepares and mixes the medicines destined for the use of His Imperial Majesty in any manner that is not sanctioned by established usage, or does not accompany them with a proper description and direction, he is liable to a penalty of one hundred blows. ”