The Censor Kao sich-tseng has suggested to us in a memorial that we re-establish the former practice of having the classics and other writings daily expounded to us. Since we have undertaken the task of governing in person we have daily received in audience the officials of the metropolis and the provinces and done our very utmost to rightly discern the proper men and pass judgment on their actions, Such time as remains at our disposal after transacting the multitudinous affairs of State we devote to the study of the classics and historical records, often the ya Oh'ing Kung the Imperial engaging in discussion with the elficers of
tutors) and never permitting ourselves for 4 moment to indulge in luxurious ease.
The proposal of the Censor that daily expositions be introduced, each officer undertaking the duty in rotation, at first sight appears a wise mode of. calling together the best talent and developing a knowledge of the art of government, but it is in reality a sham and the abuses connected with such a system are many. Since the abolition of the practice in 1750 it has never been once revived, and as several of our ancestors have expressed their views very fully on the subject, we are in a measure forced to publish them for the information of all, In the eleventh year © er (1747) we inal decree ran as follows find the following Edict: "The original intention with which we instructed the laid before the Censorate by Chiang Ssu-ta being reported to. us, members of the Hanlin College and the We appointed Kuei Hong and Shen supervising censors to expound in rotation Yuan-shen to proceed to Foochow and the classics and historical records was to attain to a clearer understanding of the investigate the whole matter. In this case Liang Yii-vii, an expectant prefect teachings conveyed in the former and raise whose turn it Wwas to be appointed to a the standard of moral virtue. We find substantive post, thought it would be to however that these officers make use of his advantage to seck the good offices of this opportunity to tender their advice Wang Chi-kuang, a Master of Arts and on things in general, which, were this private secretary to the Governor-General, advice of a kind likely io benefit good Wang thereupon wrote to Shen Mao-sheng government would be quite in order, but alleging that he had exerted himself on views proceedings must be at once when they solely wish to air their private Liang's behalf and asking him to recover money from the latter in consideration of ut a stop to." In the 14th year of Chien his having done so. This action of Wang's ung there appeared another edict on the clearly constitutes fraud and he is to be same subject, stating that after. listening deprived of his degree. Ashe has however in for 10 years and more to their irrelevant the meantime departed this life his puni comments on public affairs, which were by mentneednot reconsidered. Liang Yii ho means characterised by any enlightened or statesmanlike views, His Majesty had seeking to obtain the acting appointment of prefect at Chien-ning through the favour decided to suspend these expositions for future. Twosimilardecrees were issued by of others and in paying a sum of money in consideration of his believing that ese Chia Ch'ing in the 14th and 24th years of his others had actually used their influence on reign stating his objections to the practice.
It would only lead to attempts on the part his behalf has been guilty of intrigue, and is to be sent to the New Dominion to atone of those concerned to advance their private for his offence. The degraded General interests or to seek by flattery to obtain an Shen Mao-sheng ought to have had more undue influence. The decrees went on to point out that the experience COE fered respect for the high position he occupied affairs by members of the Hanlin than to collect bribes at the bidding of another, and seeing that when the matter College could not be very great, and as it would be quite exceptional to tind any one was discovered, he even ventured to deny all knowledge thereof he is to be sent to the who had a thorough understanding of an-military post-roads. Liu Ch'i-hsiang, an cient and modern politics a re-introduction expectant Taotai on the Kiangsu establish-of the old practice would be highly inexment, in that he reported by telegraph to pedient.
Two Emperors have thus expressed their Shen rarer J the fact that Liang li-vit had obtained the acting appointment has views with regard to this matter and the not maintained such reticence as was to be conclusion they arrived at was that these expected from him and the Board is directed expositions were a mere fraud, that they did not advance. true understanding of to consider what punishment shall be inflicted on him. Chiang Ssu-t's the the principles of government, that those degraded prefect began by asking that concerned endeavoured to put forward he be retained in his appointment and their private views and by Slattery car eventually refused to give up the seals out their false designs. We see throug! of office, bringing repeated accusations all this quite clearly and it would be well which were not in accordance with fact. were the Censor to reverently peruse the As however he had some grounds for lews of former sovereigns in regard to stating that Liang was intriguing and has his matter. His memorial is. moreover already been deprived of his rank his in many respects obscure and his arguments case need not be further considered, Yang not to the point. His proposition need not be entertained.
Ch'ang-chun, the governor-General, who has since been transferred toShenkan, has been
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.