REGENT, [austriaer oF Puaine cazerTe, itH ssuly.] hhis accession to the Throne, and Governmen high Ministers could not The be without t receive instructions from garding the employment of individuals and the carrying on of Government, We yielded consent to th tire ty of the Court that We would "give an ear to affairs of Government from behind the curtain," We futher ordained that when he should have fulfilled the period of his education the Emperor should forthwith assume the pet ut of the Empire. more he has rudies, and has been and fit ing him-Of late he has been opening and perusing reports to the Throne, axguiug ow the merits of bygone policy, deciding questions of present moment, and has shown a capacity to detormine between proper and Enprvese courses: of action and justly to weigh questions of pro. and con.
Upon giving audience this day to Yihuan Prince Ch'un, Shih-to, Prince Li, other members of the Grand Council, We announced to them that, commend with the Great Sacrifices to Heaven at ti Winter Solstice of the present year, the Emperor would proceed to the Temple of to conduct the observances i we commanded that the Imps Board of Astronomy should select an auspicious day next year for the performance ceremonial attendant upon the po assumption of Government.
Upon hearing this announcement, the Emperor knelt long upos knees treating us to excuse him, while Prince Ch'un and the Members of the Grand Council urged that the difficulties of the time were many in number, that the were countless and complicated questions to be dealt with, end that the Emperor was still making daily progress and monthly advance in the pursuit of studies which he had not brought to completion. If, there-hie might be allowed to postpone the Government, ho would certainly be still i of the various details of
better able when the time did come to bring complete perception to bear upon his duties and perform them with even a larger measure of success, to the grest good fortune of the officials and people of the Empire at large.
These entreaties were urged upon us again and once again in language which was the outcome of complete sincerity, but Dearing in mind, as We do, that the establishment of a feminine Regency was onl; a matter of temporary expediency, We feel that as the Emperor has ascended the Throne as the successor to the great Dynastic Line, and has been charged with the burden of the great trust committed to his keeping by the Emperor Ssu Teung I (T'ung Chih), the time has ar:
ho has' fulGlled the location, when he should rightly the efforts of Metropolitan and vincial officials to govern the Empire aright, and do all that can be done to in alleviating the difficulties with which it is beset, Itis, therefore, his manifest duty, reverent obedience to the Decree of the Emprosees Regentof the 14th January 1875, to enter upon personal government forthwith, and thus satisfy the hopes and tions which are directed towards him from the Penetralia of the Palxce, He should observances at the Great Altars (Heaven, in order to manifest due sincerity and reverence, and he will commence by conducting in' person the Groat Sxcrifice before the Altar of Haven at the Winter Solstice of the present year.
We further command that the Imperial Board of Astronomy select an auspicious day during the first moon of next year for the performance of the ceremonial at-Inasmuch as the Emperor was of tender tendant upon the present assumption of various Yaméus concerned will rever ently search the records to ascertain the course of procedure to be pursued, and what old constitutional usages should be reverted to, submitting reports of the same to the Throne for action to be taken accordingly.
These commands will be circulated throughout the Capital and the Provinces.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.