1822 Aug 5.

Bey of Tripoli © Proclamation

and when thou hast heard their counsel, thou shalt profit by it. Thou shalt cause they will to be written in a ”book•, and wheresoever the book of ”my• law is kept the book of ”thy• law shall be heard.

"Thou shalt divide thy dominion into districts, and from each district thou shalt call unto thee a wise man © the man whom the people shall have chosen.

In each district thou shalt place a ”Judge•. At his right hand shall lie the book of ”my• word: at his left hand shall lie the book of ”thy• word, and of the words of those, concerning whom it is written on the Table of brass, that in all ages they shall come after thee. The seat of the Judge shall be on high; it shall be in the presence of the people. Under him shall sit at all times two men, three men, or, as the case may require more also /some greater number/ taken by lot among the fathers or sons of families. Without these men he shall do nothing. On each occasion he shall pass such decision as, in his own judgment, shall be according to the law, and according to the facts that have come before him: but whatsoever these men shall see good to say, shall, in the first place, have been heard.

"Thus doing, thou shalt be loved, as Sovereign was never before loved: for never before did people receive from Sovereign such gifts as thy people will thus have received from thee.

"Thus doing, thou shalt be safe © safe against adversaries from within, even as before thee no Sovereign was ever safe: for, that safety which other Sovereigns seek in vain from fear, thou wilt have received from love.

"Thus doing, thou wilt be safe © safe against adversaries from without, even as before thee no Sovereign was ever safe: for, seeing thy people clinging to ”thee•, while their subjects flee from ”them•, they will see, that, instead of assailing thee, those whom they would lead or send against thee, would cast themselves at thy feet, and sue to be received into the number of thy subjects.

People!