238
Journal of Occurrences.
At this distance from the capital, little is known of the new monarch, of his person, his character, or his habits. Some of the people say he is likely to do honor to his country, others remark that he will find great difficulty in freeing himself from the influence of Kiying and his clique, and a third party ask how can such a novice and youth wield a sceptre surrounded with so many dutics and responsibilities. A variety of rumors prevailed in Canton, during the first part of last month respecting the proceedings in the palace one of which was that his uncle Mienyu had made a desperate effort to remove Yilchú, and seize the vacant throne himself, and had set the palace on fire to consume all its inmates at one fell swoop; and did so far succeed as to destroy Yihchú's wife and one of his younger brothers, but the heir apparent escaped. We think there are grounds for believing that a fire occurred about the middle of February in some part of the Forbidden City, and that Yih- chú's wife died not far from the same date as the empress-dowager; but we add the rest of the rumor chiefly that it may by and by be compared with the real circumstances, if they should ever be ascertained. We sup- pose the following proclamation of the district magistrates of Canton relating to the reported disturbance was issued chiefly to find favor with their supe- riors. It however shows the care the officials deem it necessary to take when the effect of such rumors can be at all disastrous.
Fung, acting chief magistrate of Nánhái, and Shau, chief magistrate of Pwányu, make proclamation as follows:-
Whereas in the 12th moon of last year, from a want of proper precaution, the library in the apartments of the sixth son [of his late Majesty] caught fire, several buildings were consumed in the flames; but they were in due time extinguished, neither was there anything remarkable in the occurrence. In the 1st moon of the present year, His Ma- jesty, the Emperor, with the flight of the Dragon mounted the throne: his youth- ful vigor of mind, his intelligence, his humanity, his piety, rendering his accession a real blessing to the government and people of his empire, he has ordained that the next year shall be called the first of the period Hienfung [Universal Plenteousness]. The nations along the many shores of the sea, within and beyond his frontiers, thence augur- ing regularity of the seasons and years of abundance, might have indeed congratulated themselves on the prospect of an endurance for evermore of the tranquillity at present prevailing. It has, however, come to our knowledge, that certain lawless fellows have had the audacity to mold the particulars of the abovementioned fire into a story of sedition, and have printed an account of this, of which several copies have been hawked about the streets. It is but tou probable that the rustics of the villages in their igno- rance may have their minds unsettled by these. And whereas it will be found that all persons viciously propagating what is noxious, or writing placards calculated to excite or unsettle the minds of men, are liable to summary decapitation, the law against them being of the highest severity, no trifling with it will be tolerated.
We have given orders to our police to make strict search for all who are taking chief part in these fabrications, and to seize them and the workmen who cut the blocks, that they may be punished with the utmost rigor. It is farther our duty to issue a proclamation, and we therefore call upon you, the soldiers and common people through- out our jurisdictions to abide in peace, attending to your vocations, and sharing in common the blessings of this reign. And we promise, if you will apprehend and bring before us any of the above class of disaffected vagabonds who may be fabricating these noxious reports, or printing or selling the same, that, upon their conviction we will richly reward such as have been foremost in their capture. Beware of allowing your minds to be unsettled by them, and thus exposing yourselves to charges of a grave nature. Do not disobey this, but tremble and respect it! A special edict, Issued on the 17th April, 1850.-China Mail.
Epidemic in Canton. There has been considerable alarmı felt among the citizens of Canton during the past few weeks, owing to an unusual number of sudden deaths, which the superstitious, ignoraut people have ascribed to a want of harmony between the elements. In order to restore their kindly in- fluences, they have celebrated the festival of the dragon-boats a month in advance, it being firmly believed that when the drums of the dragon-boats sound an epidemic Alces. The disease seems to be more like the Asiatic cholera than any other, cases of bilious fever also occurring, but our infor- mation is very unsatisfactory as to its virulence or the number of cases, Rumor has doubtless exaggerated the truth.