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The Emperor Tavukwang.
FEB.
heaven and revolving nature, the government of the world, issued the following proclamation."
No. 2.
"Our Ta Taing dynasty has received the most substantial indications of heaven's kind care. Our ancestors, Taetsoo and Taetsung, began to lay the vast foundation (of our empire); and Shetsoo became the sole monarch of China. Our sacred ancestor Kanghe, the emperor Yungching the glory of his age, and Keënlung the eminent in honor, all abounded in vir- tue, were divine in martial prowess, consolidated the glory of the empire, and moulded the whole to peaceful harmony.
"His late majesty, who has now gone the great journey, governed all under heaven's canopy twenty-five years, exercising the utmost caution and industry. Nor evening nor morning was he ever idle. He assiduously ained at the best possible rule, and hence his government was excellent and illustrious; the court and the country felt the deepest reverence, and the stillness of profound awe. A benevolent heart and a benevolent administra- tion were universally diffused; in China proper, as well as beyond it, order and tranquillity prevailed, and the tens of thousands of common people were all happy. But in the midst of a hope that this glorious reign would be long protracted, and the help of heaven would be received many days, unexpec- tedly, on descending to bless, by his majesty's presence, Lwanyang, the dragon charioteer (the holy emperor) became a guest on high.
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My sacred and indulgent father had, in the year that he began to rule alone, silently settled that the divine utensil (the throne,) should devolve on my contemptible person. I, knowing the feebleness of my virtue, at first felt much afraid I should not be competent to the office; but on reflecting that the sages, my ancestors, have left to posterity their plans; that his late majesty has laid the duty on me-and heaven's throue should not be long vacant—I have done violence to my feelings, and forced myself to intermit awhile my heartfelt grief, that I may with reverence obey the unalterable decree; and on the 27th of the 8th moon (October 3d), I purpose devoutly to announce the event to heaven, to earth, to my ancestors, and to the gods of the land and of the grain, and shall then sit down on the imperial throne.
Let the next year be the first of Taoukwang.
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"I look upwards and hope to be able to continue former excellencies. lay my hand on my heart with feelings of respect and cautious awe. When a new monarch addresses himself to the empire, he ought to confer benefits on his kindred, and extensively bestow gracious favors: whatevce is proper to be done on this occasion is stated below.
"First. On all persons at court, and those also who are at a distance from it, having the title of wang (a king) and downwards; and on those of, or above the rank of a kung (a duke), let gracious gifts be conferred.
"Second. On all the nobles below the rank of kung, down to that of kih-kih, let gracious gifts be conferred.
"Third. Whether at court, or abroad in the provinces, Mantchou and Chi- nese officers, great and smalk civil and military, shall all be promoted one step.