A copy of an edict from Hung Ch'iu-ch'uan [Hong Xiuquan] to the foreigners concerning (1) the Taiping police and foreign trade and merchants; (2) the appointment of the Rev. Issachar Roberts as foreign secretary of state in the Taiping government, charged with judicial and mercantile affairs; and (3) a request for foreign diplomatic communities to elect a just and impartial (in terms of not being in favour of the Ch'ing government) man as a representative to assist Roberts. The document includes an English note reading 'Edict - Translated by Forrest', and the handwriting suggests that the copy was probably made by Robert J. Forrest. A date of the '2nd moon, 7th day' (13 March 1861) is given at the end of the document, which may refer to when the copy was made rather than the original. Forrest's translation is incomplete and he appears to have ignored parts which he didn't understand.