The marriage-day of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of China and the augnstruler of hundreds of millions of subjects, has passed over here as if it had not een. There was no popular excitement demonstration, such as would accompany the nuptials of royalty in Europe, nor even a very general interest displayed by the citizens of the capital in the event. Bverything seemed to be formal, and, so far as the outer barbarian or the more favoured celestial of unofficial position were concerned, perfectly private, For some time we have known that His Majesty Tung-chih would, on this 16th of October, in the eleventh year of his reign and sixteenth of his. age, be united to, the accomplished and virtuous Ah-lu-te, daughter of Chung-chih, a lecturer in the Hanlin, now raised to the dignity of Duke, We have heard of silks and sycee being sent in any quantity to the capital, and now and again the Being Gasttte. "Wo were curious, there-approaching event was noticed in thi
Tore, to see 80 much of the ceremonial as might be public, but were after all obliged to gratify our curiosity in almost a surreptitious manner. A few days before the event, Chung-how and another high official from the Tsung-li Yamen called on the Foreign Ministers, and suggested that they should ask their nationals to keep out of the way.. Some of the Ministers, Mr, Wade among the number, and Mr, Hart for the Customs officials, accordingly issued notifications requesting foreigners to avoid showing Unemselves while the procession passed along-—which the foreigners considerately did, so far as was consistent with their determination to see somewhat of it, Among the wedding innests were the Ambassadors from the ibutary States of Corea, Annam and Loo-chao. The first mentioned came, it i expressly to do homage on the aus; occasion. The resident Foreign Ministers, who refuse to kctow, were of course excluded from the ceremonial. Excepting the procession from the Imperial palace to the Empress-elect's residence, everything was conducted within the sacred privacy of the palace. The procession part is therefore all that can be noticed.
For some weeks previously, the road along the route to be taken by the process sion was put under repair and carefully watered and cleaned, so that it was brought up to @ pitch of finish altogether ex. ceptional in China. The portion traversed is rather over a mile in length; and on the 10th inst., the processions began by the tronaference of the Tmperial furniture. to the palace. 'The first lot consisted of the Imperial bedstead, of the ordinary Chinese four-poster style,' in Canton blackwood, splendidly carved and with rich hangings, A looking glass, eight wardrobes, eight trunks and a few chairs, allin the same material and style, formed part of the suite; and during the next few days other articles of furniture and objects of vertu were sent in to the palace, many of them no doubt wedding presents. About four in the afternoon of the 16th the grand wedding procession issued from the Imperial palace to bring the bride to her imperial Lord. A body of runners preceded it, and at the head of the procession rode a Mongol Prince, with his attendants. Then 50 white ponies, with yellow housings, and led by men in scarlet, The Band, dressed in scarlet—silent. A number of men marching in pairs, with banners—small flags of yellow or red, having blue or black dragons emblazoned on them, and home on red poles.
A scarlet umbrella of state.
About 200 men with lamy 48 large round emblem fans.
Two. black Umbrellas.
white do-Six do. low do.
Two blue do.
Two embroidered yellow do.
About 150 men with banners.
Pwo men who walked by the side of the path and bore aloft lamps from which depended banners. These men were clothed in scarlet, and had their dress varied with yellow spots, Two Princes, one a fine looking man, said to be Prince Kung. These Princes were the masters of the ceremonies.
The Empress's Book and Seal, each borne on a white chair.
The Empress's chair, covered with yellow silk and gold, the poles red, and carried by sixteen eunuch bearers, all in scarlet and freely be-buttoned;'sixteen spare bearers followin; A Manchu Prince, with numerous attendants and officials on horseback.
About 200 guards on foot.
In enumerating the etceteras of the procession, we have here the additions—principally' the lamp-bearers and the chairs with the Empress's Book and Seal—which were made on the return, between 11 and 12P.x. The procession was not very long, but the coup d'eil {was magnificent, The dresses and appointments were rich and splendid; and everything was carried hrough in the quietest manner.
October 16, 187
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.