92
The Emperor Taoukwang,
FEB.
"Nineteenth. Old men have in every age been treated with great respect; let a report be made of all above seventy, both of Tartars and Chinese, with the exception of domestic slaves, and people who already possess rank.
"Twentieth. Let one month's pay be given to certain of the Mantchou and Mongolian Tartar soldiers, and also to the Chinese troops who joined the Tartar standard at the conquest.
"Twenty-first. Let men who belonged to the Tartar army, and who are now above seventy years of age, have a man allowed to attend upon them, and excuse them from all service. To those above eighty, give a piece of silk, a catty of cotton, a shih measure of rice; and ten catties of flesh meat; and to those above ninety, double these largesses.
"Twenty-second. Let all overseers of asylums for widows and orphans, and sick people, be always attentive, and prevent any one being destitute. “Lo! now, on succeeding to the throne, I shall exercise myself to give repose to the millions of my people.-Assist me to sustain the burden laid on my shoulders! With veneration I receive charge of heaven's great con- cerns.-Ye kings and statesmen, great and small, civil and military, every one be faithful and devoted, and aid in supporting the vast affair; that our family dominion may be preserved hundreds and tens of thousands of years, in never ending tranquillity and glory! Promulge this to all under heaven- cause every one to hear it!”
The following paper was issued previously to the august ceremony to which it relates, which took place on the 27th of the 8th month, and was called tăng keìh, 'ascending the summit,' meaning evidently the summit of power, honor and glory. There does not seem to have been literally any coronation or putting on of a crown; the term, however, is a fair equivalent for the ascension act.
· No. 3.
On
"The members of the Board of Rites beg respectfully to state the usual ceremonies observed at the ascension of the emperors. the day appointed for the ceremony, the commander of the foot- guards shall lead in the troops to take their station at the several gates of the imperial city. The members of the Board of Rites, and of the Hung-loo office, shall assemble in the imperial Council Cham- ber, and set the seal-table (on which the imperial seal is to be placed) in the palace of Peace, to the south of the imperial throne, and exactly in the middle. Let them set the report-table (on which the petition, requesting his majesty to ascend the throne, is to be laid) on the south side of the eastern pillar of the palace; the edict-table (on which is to be placed the imperial proclamation, announcing the ac- cession,) on the north side of the eastern pillar. Let the writing-table (on which the pencil and ink, used on the occasion, are to lie) be set on the right or left of the western pillar; and the yellow-table (from which the proclamation is to be promulged) on the red steps, (or elevation at the foot of the throne, where ministers advance to pay
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