166
Journal of Occurrences.
MARCH.
preserve his vigor and health. How unwished for! We had barely received his last cominanda aud regards, when his malady increased in force and violence, eren to the utmost limit, and he drove the dragon and became a guest on high Beating the ground and invoking heaven, I vainly assayed to reach after and recall him.
I reverently reflect that my august Father ruled the world for thirty years; day and night with careful diligence he attended to his duties, not allowing himself the least leisure. In all things he reverenced heaven, and imitated his predecessors; and his sedulous attention to the affairs of government, his love for his people, his literary attainments and his military prowess, are not easily described. And in respect to his diffusing happiness and his anxious care lest there should be pestilence or other distress, no sooner had any province met with a slight calamity than he disbursed his treasures, and reniitted the taxes, his gracious benevolence being instantly shown. So too, he constantly was lay- ing up the revenue in store for use, and devising means to prevent damage from the [Yellow] river, and planning so that no living thing should lack for protection.
His boundless humanity drew all within its influence, so that everything that has breath can not fail to express their heartful laments (at his departure]: We, weeping tears of blood and beating our breast, how can We yet refrain our words! But remembering that the position I succeed to is of the greatest responsibility, in order that I may diligently obey the Holy who has gone be- fore, I reverently accept my predecessor's commands. As we consider the duties imposed upon our unworthy self, We are troubled with painful apprehensions, and our fears daily deepen; yet forbearing grief, and lessening lamentations, we tremblingly mount the throne. We still rely upon the constant loyalty of our civil and military officers of every grade throughout the empire to assist us to rule with glory.
In regard to the regulations for mourning, we have received our Imperial Father's will ordering it to be worn for twenty-seven days according to the old rules [of the Manchûs]; but our feelings can not admit of this, and in accor- dance with the ancient custom [of China], let mourning be reverently worn for three years; thus in some degree relieving our affectionate regrets.
In regard to the important ceremonies of sacrificing to heaven and earth, and in the hall of ancestors, there evidently should be no diminution in any of the rites on account of mourning How the proper officers shall be ordered, and Ourself proceed to the several places, let the several departinents examine into the former regulations, and deliberate for the purpose of reporting to us; and let officers and people throughout the empire observe the fixed regulations for mourning Let this public command be proclaimed throughout the empire and in other countries for general information. Respect this.
Kiying's position and influence seem to be at present as high as ever, and his appointinent to superintend the funeral rites of the Empress Dowager, in conjunction with the princes of the blood, shows the high station he occupied in his late majesty's confidence. It is to be hoped that in the acts of the new government, his influence may have its due weight, especially in preserving peace with foreign countries. The following notice of his official life since 1848, we extract from the China Mail of the 28th ult.
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Kíying arrived at the capital from Canton in June 1848, and paid his respects to the emperor on the 11th of that month, returning thanks for the doubled-eyed peacock's feather conferred upon him, as stated in the Gazette of the 5th, for the improved tranquillity of the government he had just quitted, during the time it had been in his charge. Between this date and the 26th August 1849, he had no fewer than forty-nine audiences of his majesty. The Gazette is however evidently at fault, for upon some of the days mentioned, he must have been absent on particular service in Shảnsí and Shántung.
“On the 25th of July 1848, it is stated that he returned thanks for his appoint- ment to the supervision of the affairs of the Board of Rites; on the 5th of August, to that of the Board of War-a decree of this day directing that he should remain in the city as an assistant-minister of the Cabinet. On the 3d
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