"His Majesty shall then rise, step to the back of the palace, mount his chariot, and go forth by the left door, to the outside of the door of his private apartments, where he shall descend from the chariot; and entering the side palace by the left door, shall change his robes, and return to the mat (where the funeral obsequies are performed).

"The prime minister shall lead forward the presidents, who shall reverently take the Imperial seal, and deliver it at the door of the Imperial residence to one of the great officers of the Interior. At this time the proclamation-bearer, taking the document in both his hands, shall proceed to the outside of the Woo-gate, and place it in the Dragon-dome-shall kneel once, and bow to the ground thrice.

"Then the officers of the guard, and swordbearers, shall carry forward the domes, in the following order: the Incense-dome in front, and the Dragon-dome behind.

"The officers of the Board of Music shall lead on the procession, immediately behind the Imperial insignia, but shall not play (the national mourning forbidding this).

"One of the judges of the Board of Rites shall then ascend to the tower, on the wall opposite the gate of Celestial Repose, and they shall set down the Incense-dome: the proclamation being placed there also, in the middle of the Dragon-dome. The proclamation-bearer shall then

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THE GOLDEN BRIDGE.

kneel once, and bow to the ground thrice; after which, taking the proclamation in both hands, he shall lay it on the yellow table, which is placed on a high stage. The Dragon-dome and Incensedome shall be removed, and set down directly in front of the gate of Celestial Repose.

"The officers, civil and military, shall arrange themselves at the south end of the golden bridge. The master of the ceremonies shall say, 'Form ranks!' also • Enter!" The officers, civil and military, shall, accordingly, form ranks; and the venerable elders of the people, a little behind, shall form themselves into two files; and all stand facing the north.

"The herald-minister shall then ascend the stage. The master of the ceremonies shall say, An Edict!" Then all shall instantly fall on their knees.

“The herald shall next read the proclamation, in the Chinese language, after which he retires to the table. The words ' Bow!'-Rise!' being pronounced (by the master of the ceremonies), and answered by three genuflexions, and nine prostrations from all present, the proclamation-bearer, taking the said document in both hands, shall place it again in the cloud-capped basin, and suspend it by an ornamented cord from the bill of the golden phoenix. The judge of the Board of Rites, receiving the same, shall set it again in the Dragondome, and going out by the gate of Exalted

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Purity, the procession shall be led on as formerly by the officers of the Board of Music, behind the Imperial insignia, but without playing, to the office of the Board of Rites, where an incense-table being placed, the president of the Board of Rites shall bring forward the judges, who shall kneel thrice, and bow to the ground nine times.

"These ceremonies all finished, let the proclamation be reverently printed, and promulged throughout the empire. Such is our statement laid before your Majesty." The Imperial pleasure has been received thus: "Act according to the statement.—Respect this."

If you can render a reason for this lengthy ceremonial of guards, tables, gates, elephants, carriages, domes, pillars, robes, golden chariots, Leopard-tail legion, brazen whip, golden phoenix, proclamation, genuflexions, and prostrations, you can do what I dare not undertake. Perhaps we had better not puzzle our heads about it, but leave all the honour and all the profit of it to the followers of Confucius.

CHAPTER XV.

IMPERIAL PROCLAMATION.

Porcelain Flower-pots, Garden-seats, Images, Bowls, Jars, Vases. Proclamation.-Favours bestowed by the Emperor. -Gracious Gifts.-Promotion.-Sending Sons to the National College. Restoration of Rank and Pay.-Candidates for Distinction increased.-College Residence diminished.— A Button of the Sixth Degree of Rank bestowed.-Sacrifices offered to the Dead.—Crimes forgiven.—Old Soldiers relieved. Diligence in tilling the Ground rewarded.- Old Age honoured.-Pay to Manchow and Mungkoo Tartar Soldiers and Chinese Troops.-Attention to the Destitute.

THERE are not many things in the Chinese Collection that give me more pleasure than the porcelain. The beautiful flower-pots and gardenseats, the elegant ornaments and images, and the splendid bowls, jars, and vases which are profusely grouped together, never fail to call up in my mind scenes of Eastern magnificence. They lead me, step by step, through the mansions of the mandarins, and the palace of the Emperor, till I see Taou Kwang himself on his Imperial throne.

Though I have given you the ceremonies ob

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served on the accession of Taou Kwang's mounting the throne, at full length, yet is there another document that I wish to lay before you. It is the He Chaou, or Joyful Proclamation of the Emperor, on his receiving "from Heaven and revolving nature the government of the world." There is so much seeming moderation, justice, and charity in the edicts and proclamations of the Celestial government, that if we had not some knowledge of the past to guide us, we might be led to suppose that Chinese emperors ought, as a matter of right, to rank as the most virtuous specimens of humanity.

The following is the Joyful Proclamation to which I have alluded:

"Our Ta-tsing dynasty has received the most substantial indications of Heaven's kind care.

"Our ancestors Tae-tsoo and Tae-tsung began to lay the vast foundation (of our empire). And She-tsoo became the sole Monarch of China.

"Our sacred ancestor, Kang-he; the emperor Yung-ching, the glory of his age; and Këen-lung, the eminent in honour, all abounded in virtue: were divine in martial prowess; consolidated the glory of the empire; and moulded the whole to peaceful harmony.

"His late Majesty, who has now gone the great journey, governed all under heaven's canopy twenty-five years, exercising the utmost caution and industry. Nor evening nor morning