1841.
The Emperor Tavukwang.
97:
en's throne must not be long unoccupied, it is incumbent thật, by the con- sent of the imperial manes, and the gods of the land, a sovereign do early assume his sway.' In consequence of their again and again remonstrating with me, I forced myself to yield to the general voice, and interrupting, for a short time, my keen sorrows-on the 3d day of the 8th month (September 9th, 1820), having announced the circumstance to heaven and to earth, and to the manes of my imperial ancestors, I sat down on the imperial throne. Let the next year be the first of the reign of Taoukwang.
"I look up reverently to the altars of the land and of the grain, and desire to receive, and to continue the will of my predecessors: and I profoundly hope that the imperial throne will remain eternally.
"Do all of you my relations behave as eminent worthics, you civil and military officers be unitedly faithful and devoted, and exert yourselves, that the dominion may be continued to an illimitable period, and that you may for ever enjoy the repose of a well regulated government.
"Proclaim this to the whole empire, and cause every one to know it."
From the several foregoing papers, the reader will be able to form an opinion respecting the character of the one man who now rules, as absolute monarch, the 360,000,000 of human beings inhabiting the Chinese empire. Whether the imperial title was or was not chang- ed, there are in the history of his reign repeated instances of some. thing very much like change. Repugnant as this idea may be to the mind of a true son of Han, changes there have been, and changes there will be. There are in this, as in all other human governments, imperfections with abuses of administration, which ought to be cor- rected. It augurs well, therefore, that there are changes and signs of changes. How have Turkey and Egypt changed their relations! And must not China and Japan likewise change? If illustrious reason, instead of brute force, is to have ascendency here, then well; and the changes, for the amelioration of the condition of the people, and the improvement of the state, shall be hailed with acclamations of joy.
It is not right to speak evil of dignities, and we forbear to repeat sundry idle tales which have been told derogatory to the character of his majesty. During the twenty years he has filled the throne, there has been a very tolerable degree of prosperity, though the present state of affairs is by no means flattering or pleasing to the imperial mind. But we will not dwell on this topic. Some noble and valorous acts are put to the credit of the emperor. In the 18th year of his illus- trious father's reign, when a plot was formed to destroy the monarch and subvert the government, the young prince (though ignorant of his being the heir, the will of his father not having then been made
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VOL. X. NO. IL
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