Page:Ta Tsing Leu Lee; Being, The Fundamental Laws, and a Selections from the Supplementary Statutes, of the Penal Code of China.djvu/4



N undertaking the work which is now ubmitted to the eye of the Public, the Tranlator was not unconcious of the difficulties and diadvantages he would have to contend with in o novel an attempt. He was however encouraged to proceed by the peruaion that the work was in itelf amply deerving of the labour which it might be neceary to betow upon it; that the intrinic value, the unquetionable authenticity of the materials, and the general importance and curioity of the ubject, would fully compenate thoe particular defects and imperfections which, in an undertaking of this nature, were foreeen to be unavoidable, and, upon the whole, make amends for the too concie and almot obcure brevity of the text, in ome places, its tedious and unintructive prolixity in others, and its general unuitablenes for tranlation into an Englih idiom. Under all circumtances he flattered himelf, that a faithful verion of the Fundamental Laws of the Penal Code of China might, with the addition of ome upplementary matter, not only prove intereting as far as regards its immediate ubject, but likewie afford a more compendious and atifactory illutration, than any other Chinee work that could have been elected, of the peculiar ytem and contitution of the Government, the principles of its internal policy, its connection with the national habits and character, and its influence upon the general tate and condition of the people in that country. Rh