MINISTER MEI-KWEI. '269 



satisfied that our son is ambitious to be a minister of state, and that 

 hereafter he will resent my death. At present the blood of the 

 inferior officers of the government is trampled on, and no one re- 

 gards their persons." Mei-kwei, on taking- the lady by the hand, went 

 forth, and bade their son enter the hall, who brought in the several 

 boxes and trunks, which he himself unlocked, when the lady and 

 son sorted and arranged the several articles of dress, which consisted 

 of only a few shirts, and long and short dresses, besides his official 

 dress. On opening his writing desk, he found about three hundred 

 tales of money (about 100), but possessed no jewels of any kind. 

 Mei-kwei, on taking out fifty tales, delivered the desk with its con- 

 tents to his lady, when he said, " Though I have held office these ten 

 years, this is all I have been able to save; when you have finished 

 packing, you will repair to Chang-chow. Having ordered a vessel,, 

 you will leave to-morrow. On thus speaking, he assembled his 

 servants to receive their instructions, when he said, " To-morrow you 

 will see my lady and son safe to her native village ; on the 

 following day you will accompany me to take leave of my senior 

 officers and the gentry, and then wait till I give over my seal of 

 office to my successor, with the standard measures, when I shall 

 proceed on my journey. You will now procure a light sedan chair, 

 and two horses, which will be enough to accompany me on the 

 road." 



Mei-kwei next required the presence of those who attended at 

 the court, with the three constables, and the six public clerks (who 

 sometimes act as a kind of attornies, and at times render the magis- 

 trate considerable assistance in difficult matters). On their entering 

 they formed two rows. Mei-kwei on noticing that none of them 

 were absent, asked if they were all willing to serve him in his new 

 appointment. They replied, kneeling, " that they were." Mei- 

 kwei said, " I, the been magistrate, am now appointed to the 

 capital, are you of the same mind as I am ? " They responded, 

 " Glory and promotion await your Excellency, accompanied with 

 rank, which is indicated by the gold and silken band that surrounds 

 your waist." Mei-kwei replied, " I have filled this appointment 

 upwards of ten years, and should have had no trouble, were it not 

 for those mean persons who purchase rank, at the exclusion of the 

 virtuous. When I have left, each of you should retain your good 

 reputation, and forget not to walk in the same path. Should you 

 attempt to impede me in the discharge of my duty, you will prove 

 yourselves disloyal. Though there may have been flaws in my con- 

 duct will you be able to escape the power of the law ? It is impe- 

 rative on you to be dutiful to your parents. The ancients have a 

 saying, ' If dutiful to one's parents, such are loyal to their prince.' 

 Such conduct bestows on man a reputation through life. If you can 

 prove yourself dutiful and loyal, the approbation of Shang-te (God) 

 will rest on you and your children's children. In this life you will be 

 blessed in your person with length of years, and hereafter be for 

 ever happy." They all replied, " We will act in accordance with 

 Venerable Father's (your Excellency's) luminous instructions," and 

 bowing they each took their leave. 



M.M. No. 9. 2M 



