The Project Gutenberg eBook of Brief Account of the English Character

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Brief Account of the English Character

Author: Charles Marjoribanks

Translator: Robert Morrison

Release date: May 31, 2017 [eBook #54820]

Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English, Chinese

Credits: Produced by Ting Man Tsao

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH CHARACTER ***

Brief Account of the English Character

大英國人事略說

Compiler's Note 按語

Believing in the power of print in converting and “educating” the Chinese, nineteenth-century European traders and missionaries invested significant amounts of energy and money in the dissemination of tracts on the China coast. One of these ephemera was 大英 國人事略說, "Brief Account of the English Character." It was first drafted in English by Charles Marjoribanks, president of the English East India Company’s Select Committee in Canton. Robert Morrison (馬禮遜), a missionary-cum-sinologist, translated the manuscript into Chinese and printed hundreds of copies at his 英華書院 (Anglo-Chinese College) in Malacca (Melaka). In 1832, despite his colleagues’ objection, Marjoribanks engaged Charles Gutzlaff (郭士立 or 郭實腊), a German missionary, and Hugh Hamilton Lindsay, the Company’s supercargo, to make an illegal voyage to China’s coastal waters in order to “ascertain how far the northern ports of the Chinese empire may be gradually opened to British commerce” (Ship Amherst, p.3). He asked the voyagers to load a ship with English products for sale as well as cases of his pamphlet for distribution.

What follows is a side-by-side bilingual e-text of the tract. On the left is Marjoribanks’s English manuscript, anonymously edited and published in The Canton Register dated July 18, 1832 (廣州紀事報). On the right is a complete transcription of the Chinese tract with punctuation added. Typographical errors in both texts were not corrected. Please scroll down to see page images of each document; the Chinese tract’s images are courtesy of Harvard-Yenching Library Chinese Rare Books Digitization Project.

Besides the edited one in The Canton Register, there is another extant, unedited manuscript of Marjoribanks's, housed in the British Library. My earlier work, “Representing ‘Great England’ to Qing China in the Age of Free Trade Imperialism: The Circulation of a Tract by Charles Marjoribanks on the China Coast” provides the full text of this manuscript and an introduction; please visit NINES (Nineteenth Century Scholarship Online):

http://www.nines.org/exhibits/Representing_Great_England?page=1

Ting Man Tsao, Ph.D.

Brief Account of the English Character

[Charles Marjoribanks]

The Canton Register

5.10 (July 18, 1832): p.68-69

道光十二年壬辰孟春新鐫

大英國人事略說

[馬禮遜， Robert Morrison 〔譯〕]

英華書院藏板

BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH CHARACTER.

英吉利國人品國事略說

The English people inhabit a country, at the distance of 16,000 miles from China;—at least this space is passed over by ships, from the necessity of their proceeding round the southern continent of Africa. Some idea may be formed of the spirit and enterprise of a nation, whose vessels traverse so vast an ocean, in safety and with facility.—They frequently encounter severe tempests, but from the skill of their officers, and the bold and daring character of the seamen, ships are rarely lost. Pirates or enemies do not venture to attack them. They bring the manufactures and productions of remote countries, and receive in exchange those of China. By this means the subjects, both of the Chinese and British Empires, are enriched, industry is greatly encouraged, and men are rendered happy and useful members of society.

英國人原活之地，距中華有七萬里之遠；即是其船，往南轉亞非里加州之大地方，遂來東 北到粵必行這樣遠路。既英國人坐船快捷，安然渡行，汎此重大海洋，其敢爲本事可見也。有時 伊遇著狂風大作，但賴船主夥長等之善策，梢人之膽行，未幾何致破船之患。又且在洋面海賊國 敵等，都不敢向攻也。英國船所帶進口的係遠國之土產之製造各物，所帶出口者係華夏之茶葉等 貨。如是華、英兩國商人發財裕國，且貧民有工夫做得飯食，爲良人度日，享此福矣。

The English have traded for upwards of two hundred years with China, and from sixty to eighty vessels under the English flag, are frequently within twelve months, in the Chinese waters. To how many tens of thousands of natives does not such a commerce give useful employment!

英國與中華交易，由來二百年之久，且今每年陸續到粵進口插帶英國旗之船，有六十、八 十隻之多。由此貿易豈非數十萬人得有工夫做麼！

The policy of the English government has often in China been most falsely represented, and it has been stated to be ambitious, and desirous of increase of territory. No assertion can be more distant from truth. The dominions of England are already so large, that the policy of the government is rather to diminish than to enlarge them. Besides the mother country, it has several valuable possessions in Europe; it has large territories in North America; and numerous islands in the West Indies. The Cape of Good Hope, in Africa, belongs to it; it has several prosperous settlements in Australia; numerous islands in Asia are subject to its rule; and the ancient territory of Hindostan with all the regions pertaining thereto, is now included in the British Empire. The small settlements of Penang, Martaban, Malacca, and Singapore, are those most contiguous to China. The government of so great an Empire has no thirst for conquest. Its great object and aim is to preserve its subjects in a condition of happiness and tranquillity. But while most desirous of doing so, it is very jealous of insult, and ever ready to avenge oppression and injustice.

英國國朝之志意，屢被人在東土妄稱及，即有假言，以英國總是多貪廣開新地，但謊言莫 大於此。葢英國之地方，現在太多，𡨴可減少，不可增多也。除英國母地外，其在歐羅巴亦有貴地 方，在北亞米利加其亦有好大地方。又在西忻度其有海島盛多，在亞非里加極南角好望之甲爲英 國之屬地。又於太平南洋有屬英國許多發達下落之地方，終者在亞西亞州多有海島，且忻都斯垣 古國各地方，皆入英國版圖矣。其最近中國屬英國之下落地方爲裨能埠、馬地班埠、馬拉加埠、 與先嘉波埠。夫英國朝廷既經有了這多大地方，何得復渴望開新地乎。其所尚者，特爲養護英民， 享平安納福樂而已。但懷此意時，仍最忌恨被人之欺負，且必想報壓治背義之仇也。

The object and endeavour of the English in China have always been to carry on a pacific and amicable intercourse, but their anxiety to do so has, on several occasions, been frustrated. The benevolent disposition of the great Emperor of China has induced him to state his desire, to treat remote foreigners with indulgence and consideration: but the Imperial benevolence of mind has, on several occasions, in past years, been opposed, by subordinatel officers of his government. Foreigners trading to Canton have been heavily taxed and oppressed; and commerce has been greatly impeded by the exactions to which it has been exposed. Natives have repeatedly been heavily fined and punished, sometimes cruelly tortured and put to death, for alleged treasonable connection with the English, whose only object was to conduct a commercial intercourse in tranquillity, and to obey the Imperial laws. In addition to the government duties, large sums of money have been forced from native merchants, and bribes have been received by inferior officers. Both natives and foreigners have been subject to these oppressions. The Imperial ear is too remote that even the echo of such things should be heard, for they are often done in darkness and silence; but the great and enlarged mind of the Emperor can never approve of such acts on the part of his servants.

大清國大皇帝，懷柔遠人之至意，但近年屢次因吏憲不體行上旨，所以皇恩不及遠客。且駐 粵外國商人之貿易，因吏員之勒索，多被阻難。又且民商因被誣告，以與英國人勾結爲漢奸，則 致罰銀、或拷打、或冤獄、斃命皆有之。但英國人特願照例買賣，公道貿易，納餉而已，何奸情 之有哉。又且正餉外，洋商多被勒索銀両，且有下吏暗中要賄賂陋規，如是內商與遠商均被壓害。 葢皇上耳朶離粵省遙遠，致事之應聲，亦不得聽聞，因所陳敝端，多在黑陰匿偶而作矣。不然何 得上志宏大者，依允下吏之妄爲乎。

Printed placards have even been affixed to the walls of public buildings, traducing the foreign character, and encouraging low and degraded natives to insult strangers who resort to China. Affrays and riots have frequently in consequence taken place; the public peace has been disturbed, and commercial intercourse interrupted. How much are the police officers to blame, who do not put an end to such improper and unjust proceedings! English sailors are often rude in manner, though kind in disposition. They cannot bear insult;—hence riots take place, wounds are inflicted, and death is sometimes the consequence. On board English ships that resort to China, strict discipline is preserved, and the men are immediately punished, if they commit violent acts, towards natives or others: but discipline is of little avail, if low natives are encouraged by low officers, to insult and attack them. The laws of England make no distinction of persons, and an Englishman is as severely punished for an act of violence towards a Chinese as he is for one towards a fellow-countryman.

又一層，或時揭貼街上，有臭諭詈罵遠客，謊言暗指，以逆性之惡行，致惹賤民欺凌遠客。 且緣此起有滋生鬬歐傷殺等敝，及終停止貿易，阻害公幹，但此患豈非衙門辦理不善所致乎！ 英國水手雖外形似粗，內懷尚存仁溫之心。但伊耐不得受人凌辱，所以民人非禮言行時，致 滋事釀出命案。抵粵之英國各船上有嚴束水手人等之例，倘強害何人，不論民人與否，必要治其 罪。但既有衙吏放縱賤民，任意欺凌遠客，則船上嚴束未致盡免鬧事也。照英國法律，不分內外 人色，其加害于外國人，或于英民者，治其罪同爲一例，皆准上衙自白其理，亦准給律師爲助遠 客之意。

The manners and customs of all nations are different. With just allowance made for such difference, why should not Chinese and Englishmen live together on terms of friendly cordiality? The commands of the Sovereign of England to his subjects are, wherever they go in the world, to endeavour to maintain an amicable and pacific intercourse with the people of the country, but never to be forgetful of their national name or honor. When Chinese subjects arrive in England, or in any other part of the English dominions, they live under the protection of the laws, which are equally administered to them with the natives of the country. Their wrongs and injuries are all equally redressed.

夫各國風俗大同小異，但雖其內有相異者，曉事達理之人可能彼比相恕，則清、英兩國人， 何不友心和睦交易乎。英國帝君常令其眾民以不論往向通天下何處，務要力試與各國人守友睦之 往來。惟總不可忘記英國之美名之貴體等意，或遇清國人到英國各地方，皆准之安住，似英民一 般，故無人敢欺之害之，而未蒙官吏伸其冤也。

Instead, then, of being encouraged to acts of enmity towards each other, why should not Chinese and English strive together, which should most excel in acts of beneficence and kindness? In many instances, natives of China, who have been found shipwrecked on barren islands, in the midst of the boisterous ocean, have been saved by the crews of English vessels, —unfortunate men who must otherwise have perished in want and misery. British sailors have long been distinguished for such acts of humanity, and are taught to glory in them, more than even in deeds of war. Yet these are the persons whom the natives of China are sometimes told, by designing men, to insult and despise.

既然情由如此，何苦要惹彼此相敵乎，何不彼此力勸自勉，相爭前進，看誰可出上頭，爲仁 慈恩愛之行作矣。即如向來屢次遇清國難水手，在大洋中荒州破船處，蒙英國水手爭先向救，遂 帶回中華，送到父母妻子等。倘非如此，該人無奈在彼海島餓死。比等仁情，是英國水手以爲可 榮，過於上陳殺賊之功矣。尚且世上有奸人妄指英國水手可爲欺凌藐視，豈不可惡哉。

The people of China are highly intelligent, industrious, and prosperous; but they are not the only people in the World that are so. Ignorant men have sometimes foolishly taught, that all that is good is centred in China, but that the rest of the earth is worthless. — How vain and childish is the man who reasons thus!—If he had visited other countries, he would have discovered, that Heaven had in its bounty and mercy bestowed manifold blessings on many other regions of the earth. In England, the people live in tranquility; their persons and property are protected by the laws; their religion inculcates peace upon earth and good will towards all men; they have arrived at a wonderful state of improvement in arts and science, and in the cultivation of all those means which serve to civilize mankind. They are feared in times of war, and honored in times of peace. There is no country with which it is more the interest of China to remain on terms of friendly intercourse than England. It carries on a great and lucrative commerce with this Empire, and the confines of its Indian dominions almost border upon those of China. One river which rises in Yun-nan flows through a portion of the British territory.

清國人民爲高明勤工興旺者，但普天下非獨清人爲如此。素有無智之人愚，然教以所有之美 好人物盡在中國，其餘他國爲賤陋，無值何也。但人有如是之教訓，則何等徒虛小兒之見哉。倘 該人經往至天下別國，則可見天心無私，乃恩慈公同賜于地球各方，盛多美物。即英國一處，人 民太平安居，親體財物皆爲法律所護，無人敢侵害。又英人所奉救世主耶穌之教，特諭訓以于地 神賜太平，且恩意向眾生矣。英人經大進格物技藝文墨詩書之學，可令人雅緻禮義聖善之德行也。 英人於用兵時被人之畏，於息兵時被人之貴，所有各國內清國該修好者，英國爲第一也。其年來 之貿易爲重大，其邊界近乎昆連，即雲南省發的一條河，流英國一所地方，而入大海。

It is much to the honor of Chinese merchants, that they are strict and accurate in their commercial dealings, and in some instances have shewn acts of much liberality to foreigners. The pride of a British merchant is to be just and liberal in his dealings. The high name and reputation of the English East India Company in China has long been established; the promise of its servants is as good as money accurately weighed, and its faith pledged in any mercantile transaction has never once been broken. Let the people of China think profoundly upon these things, and not treat lightly persons of this stamp and character. Let the officers of government, in accordance with the decrees of the benevolent Emperor of China, treat foreigners with the respect and consideration to which they are entitled. Then, indeed, will there be peace, union, and harmony, between the native and British Community in China.

清國商人多爲公平勤功辦事，且或時向遠商有仁義大量之厚行。英國商人所以爲貴者，係公 道豐厚交易，即如英國公班衙，派人駐粵貿易者，由來已久，有名聲矣。其主事人等，所應許爲 妥當，若經照數收銀両全完，則向來做生理，伊所應承，從未一次反口。茲請大清國人民，深想 上陳之各條，不要經視這種才具品行之人，且奉官職者，宜敬體大皇帝厚待禮接遠人之至意。則 果然將來在中華之英人與內地人民，固爲彼此友見和睦，各安本業享福矣。

A friend to China and England, whose anxious desire is the happiness of his fellow-men, traces with a feeble pen this hasty and imperfect sketch.

華、英兩國之友，特願我人類眾生，皆可享真福者，用軟且怱手此筆。

大英國人事略說終

[Header, p.67]

[p.68]

[p.69]

[Title Page]

[Page 1a]

[Page 1b]

[Page 2a]

[Page 2b]

[Page 3a]

[Page 3b]

[Page 4a]

[Page 4b]

[Page 5a]

[Page 5b]

[Page 6a]

[Page 6b]

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH CHARACTER ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

Brief Account of the English Character

大英國人事略說

Compiler's Note 按語

Brief Account of the English Character [Charles Marjoribanks] The Canton Register 5.10 (July 18, 1832): p.68-69 道光十二年壬辰孟春新鐫 大英國人事略說 [馬禮遜， Robert Morrison 〔譯〕] 英華書院藏板

BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH CHARACTER.

英吉利國人品國事略說

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE