Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 322

221

Journal of Occurrences.

MAY,

accession and person. Ilis majesty belonged to the fifth generation of the royal family called Mien (see Vol. XII., page 22, for an explanation of the rules of naming) his own name being Mien-ning; the last charac- ter of the two wns ordered to be contracted to when used by the com- mon people, the other form being too sacred for any other use than his ma- jesty's name. This singular freak of pride (almost impossible in any other language than the Chinese) began with Tain Chi-hwangti, B. C. 249; the number of characters which have been altered on this account is very few, seven or eight in all, for the custom did not become common until the Tsing dynasty. Mienning was not the son of the late empress dowager, but we are informed in the China Mail that she preferred him to Mienkai, her own son, to succeed Kiáking, and that he was at that time the eldest surviv ing son of that monarch, by one of his concubines.-His Majesty has been noted among his people for his filial duty to the late empress, and for his do- mestic virtues generally, though the reported violence to his eldest son in 1832, which caused his death, rather militates against such a reputation. He evinced great cruelty to the prisoners taken by his troops in Ii, when repress- ing the disturbances caused by Jehanguir, being himself, it was said, present at their execution. The general opinion of his subjects has been on his side in relation to his numerous efforts to repress the opium trade, though individually they never seemed to suppose they could do aught to assist him by each one refraining from using the drug.

His two half brothers, Mienkai and Mienyü, have not, so far as we know, held posts of any influence even in the imperial clan, and the latter, and on- ly one now living, was degraded some years ago from his rank as isinướng, but has since been restored; the rumored troubles in the palace upon the late change of the crown have been ascribed to his intrigues.

The manner in which H. M. Táukwáng smooths over the war with the English in the following paper, has rather excited the sneers of the people, who take occasion to compare the denunciations he issued in 1840 against the rebels and barbarians with the remarks now made in 1850. That war did not, however, weaken the loyalty of the people to any perceptible degree, though it did much to destroy the notion of the invincibility of the imperial soldiers. The following paper is called Tá hing Hwangti wei cháu ★ ÍT 皇

lit. the Testamentary proclamation of the Augustus who

A

has gone the great journey; it is in some respects a singular document.

He who received in course from Heaven the decree to be emperor, proclaims saying:-We, grateful to our imperial father, the emperor Jin-tsung-jui (Kin- king), protected and supported by his abounding grace, for the transmission of thedivine utensil' (the throne), have held the reins of government full thirty years. Looking up and meditating upon the orders of our sainted ancestors, and primarily that we might reverence heaven and imitate our predecessors, we have regarded the diligent governance of our beloved people as of the high- est importance. Seeing that our virtue was but small, durst we do otherwise than vigorously attend to business in the morning, and in the evening seriously reflect on our actions, indefatigable throughout the day? For this, from the day we ascended the throne till now, we have ourself perused and examined all memorials and papers, and have personally held audience with our ministers, and appointed them to their several duties, so that the day declined before we ate, and our attire was always plain; [in this manner] like a single day have the thirty years passed, nor have we presumed to take any respite or relaxation to ourself. We have also personally set an example of economy and retrench- ment to the empire.

From the commencement of our reign, we have sent out orders written by Ourself, warning above all things against gaiety, licentiousness, covetousness