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THE CHINA REVIEW.
treated in the one hundred sections or volumes of the work. They will constitute the divisions of the present essay.
Vol. 1.-Department of the Imperial Kindred. This is placed first in order be- cause of the teaching of the Ancient Classics that the government of the family is the test of ability, and the true model for the government of the state. The constitution of this department is first given. Much im- portance is attached to the Family Registers as a subject affecting the Imperial succes- sion, and the different degrees of kindred are marked by different titles. Many of the Imperial brothers and uncles have been dis- tinguished. It will be found as a general rule in Oriental monarchics that the near relatives of the sovereigns have been either enervated by self-indulgence or have been kept in the background by Imperial jea- lousy. But this cannot be said to be the rule in the present dynasty of China. The first name on the List of Officials who pre- pared this work, as has been mentioned, was an Imperial undle; a brother of the Emperor Two Kwong, lived to a great age was high in honor and died only a few years since.
His name was Mia. His title was Wai Tsfan Wong. The present position of Prince Kung, and of the Empressca Dowager are good examples of what is possible in the present order of government.
Vol. 2.-Cabinet or Privy Council. At the head of this branch of the Government are the highest officials of the Empire. They are the immediate and responsible advisers of the Emperor. The position is the object of the highest ambition. There are four chiefs of nearly equal rank, two Chinese and two Manchus. They are sometimes called Prime Ministers, and sometimes Cabinet Officers, and perhaps correspond well with those designations in the countries of the west. Properly they should of course reside at Peking, and be in immediate and con- tinual attendance upon the Sovereign, but of late years at least, this rule has been
changed to some extent in practice. Those having this high rank have in some cases held important posts at a distance from the Capital. The famous Viceroy Yeh captured at Canton during the last war was such an instance, as also the Viceroy Sui Lun late Governor-General of Canton, and the much more illustrious Li Hung-chang the present Governor-General of the province of Chih-li One of the associates of this high official is Pò Kwan, 寶鋆 a Manchu,
who must be considered the highest in houor as occupying the place nearest the Throne.
Vol. 3.-Board of Civil Offics. This is the first of the Six Boards, among whom are distributed the principal parts of the Govern- ment of the Empire in all its brauches. In practical working the lines are not to he considered an absolutely distinct, for there is a good deal of interlapping, and it is impossible to carry out perfectly the theory of separate departments. What would seem properly to belong to one Board is often found to be managed by another, by reason of some peculiar mode of argument, or special circumstances of the times. These Boards stand in relation to the Sovereign authority in some respects like the Houses of Parliament in England, and the two Houses of Congress of the United States. True, they are not elected by the people, but they aet as a check, in an important sense, upon the Imperial Will, and the action of the Government requires a concurrence of the appropriate Board and the Imperial sanction. The Board of Civil Office has charge of the promotion and degradation of all the officials of the Empire. Of course this is a very important province of Government, and it very properly takes the first place. There is no aristocratic class in China. The way of promotion to the highest official rank and position is open to all, with a few insignifi- eant exceptions, in theory at least and to a great extent practically, by means of the public examinations. The general mode of promotion is by simple seniority, and in
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE.
regular order. One who ought to know has declared that this is realized in fact, to the amount of six-tenths of all the officials in the Empire. Should this be a high estimate it can hardly be very wide of the mark. As for the remaining four-tenths, the promotion. is owing to merit, purchase and political influence.
The first subject treated is the constitu- tion of the Beard. There are two Presidents, one Chinese and one Manchu. Vice-Presi- deuts, right and left, also one Chinese and one Manchu. Under these there is a large staff, including four superintendents.
(1.) Superintendent of promotion and de- gradation-Regulations for Officials at the Capital. Regulations for Imperial Sacri- ficus, &c.
Vol. 4.-Regulations for Officials of Shing King. Regulations for Provincial Officials.
Vol. 5.-Standard of selection.
Vol. 6.-(2.) Superintendent for examine- tion of merit. Examinations for grade of official merit. Rules in regard to Retiring from office; Reporting sickness; Merit and Demerit; Periods for holding office; Hand- ing over office and returning home.
(3.) Superintendent for Conferring rank. ---Rules in regard to mourning and taking care of parents.
Vol. 7.-(4.) Superintendent for giving posthumous honours.--
Bules in regard to rank to be transmitted to descendents.
Report to Throne in regard to meritorious officials.
Rules for conferring rank upon ancestors,
descendants.
Local officials. Secretaries.
Vol. 8.-Board of Population and Re- venue. After an account of the constitution of the Board with Presidents and Vice Pre- sidents, and a large staff of officials, come the various subjects under its control,
Vol 9.-Geographical Divisions. Pro- vinces, Departments, &c.
Vol. 9.---Population.-Under this head a
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ceusua is given, not of individuals, but of families. The figures must be much less than what would represent the present popu- lation of the Empire. For instance that of Canton Province is declared to be only one million two hundred and forty odd thousand families. It is now estimated to have three times as much,
Vol. 10.-Land Tax.-As compared with that of other countries is very light. The amount of land and of taxes for each pro- vince is given.
Vol. 11. Weights and Measures.-Theme are regulated by the Government. Under this head the various sizes and patterns are given.
Vol. 12. Treasuries. All Government monies, receipts from taxation and duties, and expenditures of all kinds, are under the direction of this Board. The provincial Trea- surers, Commissioners of Land Tax and Salt monopoly, have vast sums to receive and dis- burse, and the system of keeping accounts would be an interesting study. The amounts remitted to the capital are doubtless but a small proportion as the cost of the local government must be very great and absorb the greater part.
Granaries.-It is interesting to notice that these are kept up in modern times. Those in the City of Canton are objects of interest to strangers. In theory they are intended to provide against scarcity, for troops &c., hut doubtless in practice the lit- tle benefit derived by their existence might be attained by cheaper methods.
Store houses.--The quantity of grain to be kept in hand is regulated. Each pro- vince according to the number of the popu- lation has to keep grain in store as provision for times of famine. The theory is admira- ble, but at the present time there is abundant testimony in illustration of the fact that the provision is utterly inadequate in practice.
Vol. 13.-Canals.-It is a matter of re- gret that those ways of inter-communication have in modern times been permitted by the Government to become almost useless,
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