abandons himself to rural sports, as though he was anxious to forget that, like the departed great, he also was mortal. But although he arrogates to himself titles which convey an idea of his immortality, death, the mighty leveller of the human race, pays no more regard to the emperor of China, than he does to the beggar on a dunghill.

The manner of mourning on the demise of an emperor of China, may be seen in the following rules, laid down in an edict issued at the death of Kea-king.

"When any one of the immaculate sages of the family is numbered with those gone before, the succeeding emperor shall be the chief mourner. He shall take the fringes from his cap, and wail and stamp his feet for sorrow. The empress, and all the ladies of inferior rank in the palace or harem, shall put away their ear-rings, and every ornament of their head-dress. A table shall be spread out before the coffin, and there the kings, princes, and nobles shall pour out libations. The empress, concubines, and imperial children, and grandchildren, shall all assemble there, to weep and stamp their feet, as an expression of grief. After the first burst of sorrow is over, they shall retire. Then the imperial successor shall put on mourning, cut off the ribbon with which his tail is plaited, and take up his abode in a hovel with the corpse. The princes, imperial grandchildren, the kings, nobles, and great officers of the household, and all the kindred, shall likewise cut off their tails; and the empress, concubines, and ladies of the harem shall shave their heads.

"The emperor shall mourn for three years,

The officers of the

and, during the first hundred days, shall cause all imperial edicts to be written with blue ink. During as many days, the Chinese shall desist from shaving their heads. government at Pekin shall not give their sons and daughters in marriage for the space of one year. The Mongol kings and nobles, as well as ambassadors from Corea, who may be at Pekin, shall wear mourning and fringeless caps. Ladies, also, who may accompany them, shall not wear any ornaments in their head-dresses.'

The honours paid to a deceased empress are nearly as great as those paid to the emperor himself. Of this there can be no wonder; for during life her power is second only to that of her royal spouse. In some cases, indeed, as at the present day, the empress rules, notwithstanding the Chinese constitution forbids them to meddle in state affairs. Love of ease and pleasure have frequently induced the emperor to part at least with a moiety of his power, and sometimes he has appeared but a cipher in the state.

By the Chinese nation, the empress is supposed to represent mother earth, whilst the emperor personifies heaven. In this high capacity, she is considered to influence nature, and to possess a transforming power. In particular, she is charged with the homage due to the god of the silk-worm; and it is her duty to rear this insect, for the encouragement of her sex. Under her inspection, also, silk stuffs are woven by the ladies of the harem, and annually brought as offerings to the gods. Her sway, unless she usurps the authority of the emperor, is confined to the palace, and acts of benevolence. In the former, she is absolute

F

monarch; and there are many instances on record of their exertions on behalf of suffering humanity, which display the tender compassion of a woman's heart. Whole districts have been rescued from annihilation, by the timely relief of food and clothing which they have afforded them. Despite of the glitter and pomp by which they were surrounded, and which, too often, stifle the emotions of pity, they have shown themselves to be women still.

The manner in which the empress of China is chosen, illustrates and receives illustration from the records of Persian manners, in the book of Esther. They are raised to that rank from the imperial harem, which is periodically supplied with a number of young females, mostly the daughters of noblemen. Frequently, as in the case of Esther, she is chosen for her beauty; but the choice is sometimes determined by the birth and connexions of the individual. From the moment the emperor has fixed his choice, the empress assumes the government of the harem ; and the females therein lavish the same ceremonies and homage upon her as upon the emperor.

Concerning the harem of the Chinese emperor but little can be said. It does not appear to be equally licentious with that of the Turkish sultan, but it is frequently the abode of envy and intrigue, and always of sorrow.

In this abode of splendid misery, as in all oriental courts, eunuchs are to be found; and they maintain their character for intrigue in China, as they did in all the courts of antiquity. This is discernible in the "Summary of Chinese History," where many a plot devised and executed

by them is recorded. The present dynasty has made regulations to prevent their cabals, and even limited their numbers; but they prove factious still. They have been repeatedly accused of laying plots; and one was concerned in the rebellion against Kea-king, for which he suffered an ignominious death. When a weak prince ascends the throne, they are sure to become dangerous to the state. By their arts they inevitably gain the ascendency over such a character; and, leaguing with powerful statesmen, they then frequently subvert the govern

ment.

Another class of persons, equally dangerous to the safety of the reigning dynasty with the eunuchs, are the Lama priests. In the days of Kang-he and Keën-lung, an establishment was granted these priests in the palace; and they likewise possess temples in the neighbourhood of the imperial pleasure-houses. Thus situated, and

possessing great influence over the weak and superstitious, they are ever seeking to enrich themselves, and to usurp authority. On several occasions, they have obtruded themselves into the harem, and there fomented disturbances; and yet they still maintain their position in the palace. To eject them by force, indeed, would probably be fatal to the interest of the existing dynasty ; for the minds of both the Mantchoo Tartars and Chinese who form the court, are led captive by the gross absurdities taught by the Lamas. Hence, any restrictions now laid upon them, would be to call the latent sparks of rebellion into action.

The number of male attendants at the palace

is

very limited. Females and eunuchs, however, are so numerous, that, together with the officers who are constantly being summoned to court, the interior palace is made to resemble a city with many thousand inhabitants. These officers may in truth be considered as part of the household of the emperor; and in order to represent the court of China as it really is, it is necessary to describe them as they exist according to their rank.

THE IMPERIAL CLASS.

Taught by are carefully even from all The life of a more enviable

The imperial family is so numerous that all the principal stations of government might be filled with its members. But this is not the policy in China at the present day. experience of former ages, they excluded from all authority, and opportunities of acquiring power. private gentleman is, indeed, far than theirs; for while they have no respectable establishment, their liberty, also, is confined within narrow limits. A high-sounding title is the only portion they enjoy; and that is not secure, for by misdeeds it may be, as it frequently is, forfeited. Nor is it by misdeeds alone that they are degraded. A superior genius is sufficient to insure its possessor imprisonment or exile. At the present day several of the descendants of imperial majesty live like porters at Pekin, and hide their birth in order to cover their shame. Those who live without occupation frequently indulge in a life of vicious ease; and it is not uncommon, in such cases, for them to be