CHINA.
Constitution and Government.
The form of government of the Chinese empire is strictly patiarchal. The sove- reign called "Ta-hwang-li," or the Great Emperor, is regarded as the father of his people, and has unlimited power over all his subjects. The fundamental laws of the empire are laid down in the first of the "Four Books" of Confucius, which prescribe the government of the state to be based upon the government of the family.
Reigning Emperor.-Ki-tsiang, "High Prosperity," formerly Prince Tsai-sung, born April 5, 1855, the eldest son of the Emperor Hienfung, "Perfect Bliss; succeeded to the throne at the death of his father, August 22, 1861.
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The present sovereign is the 8th Emperor of China of the Tartar dynasty of Ta- tsing, "The Sublimely Pure," which succeeded to the native dynasty of Ming in the year 1644.
The Emperor is spiritual as well as temporal sovereign, and, as high priest of the empire, can alone, with his immediate representatives and ministers, perform the great religious ceremonies. No ecclesiastical hierarchy is maintained at the public expense, nor any priesthood attached to the Confucian or State religion.
The administration of the Empire is under the supreme direction of the Interior Council Chamber, comprising four members, two of Tartar and two of Chinese origin, besides two assistants from the Han-lin, or great College, who have to see that no- thing is done contrary to the fundamental laws of the Empire, contained in the sacred books of Confucius. These members are denominated Ta-hyo-si, or Ministers of State. Under their order are the Le-poo, or six boards of Government. They are: 1.-The board of civil appointments, which takes cognisance of the conduct and administration of all civil officers; 2.-The board of revenues, regulating all financial affairs; 3.-The board of rites and ceremonies, which enforce the laws and customs to be observed by the people; 4.-The military board, superintending the administration of the army; 5.-The board of public works; and 6.—The high tribunal of criminal jurisdiction.
Independent of the Government, and theoretically above the central administra- tion, is the Tu-che-yiven, or board of public censors. It consists of from 40 to 50 members, under two presidents, the one of Tartar and the other of Chinese birth. By the ancient custom of the empire, all the members of this board are privileged to pre- sent any remonstrance to the sovereign. One censor is to be present at the meetings of each of the six government boards, without taking any part in the deliberation, and others have to travel through the various provinces of the empire, to inspect and superintend the administration of the chief public functionaries.
Revenue and Population,
The estimates of the public revenue of China vary greatly, and while they are stated by some to exceed 100 milions sterling, are held by others not to come up to half that amount. Official returns of the Chinese government-intended for a special public use, and as such not very reliable—which were published in 1844, give the revenue as follows:*
Taels 53,730,218
Land-tax, in money...
Ditto in kind, valued at.
Salt tax
Tea duties..
Duties on merchandise.
113,398,057
7,486,380
Duties on foreign ditto, at Canton
Sundries....
Duties on marketable articles..
Duties on shops and pawnbrokers.
Gingeng.
Coinage...
Total taels.
Sterling.
204,530
4,335,459
3,000,000
1,052,706
1,174,932
5,000,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
191,804,139
£63,934,713
The above was returned as the net revenue of the country. No statement of the expenditure is given in the official accounts; but from missionary reports, as well as the
* Macgregor, John, Appendices to Commercial Report, Part 23, London, 1850.
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