388 Mr. D.iris's Extracts from the Peking Gazette. 



President of the Censors. These appointments are gifts proceeding from 

 our more than ordinary regard and sympathy for aged ministers. Let 

 Sung Keun carefully attend to the established routine of his office, instead 

 of wildly confusing and puzzling himself with a multiplicity of extraneous 

 matters.* If he treads in his former track he will involve himself in cri- 

 minality. 



" Khin-tsze." 



VII. A Decree, cori/crrhig posthumous Hojiours. 



2d moon, 11th day (11th March). 

 " Le-she-seu, the Inspector General of rivers in Kea/ig-nan and the 

 neighbouring pi-ovinces (who has charge of the I'epairs of the Yellow River), 

 in the seventeenth year of Kea-king leceived from our virtuous predeces- 

 sor, the profoundly-wise Emperor, the important office of repairing and 

 superintending generally the rivers of those provinces. Without declining 

 labour and toil, without retreating from envy and intrigue, he for thirteen 

 years exerted all his abilities in duly discharging tlie duties of his station. 

 All the works which he erected were excellent and durable : iiis merit was 

 indeed great ! When, on account of severe indisposition, he requested to be 

 relieved, our heart was moved with feelings of sympathy towards him ; 

 and we sent down our will that he should retire for two months, and con- 

 ferred on him five ounces weight of ginseng ; with a view that leisure, and 

 the application of medicine, might restore him to health, that he might 

 long remain to us as a trust and a reliance. Hearing of liis sudden death, 

 deep was our emotion ! We direct that the posthumous title of Shang-shoof 

 be conferred on him, as well as that of Tae-tsze-tae-j)aoit,t and that he be 

 interred with the rites and honours attached tliereto. Let the proper Board 

 inquire into, and report to us, concerning the distinctions that are due by 

 established ride. Let his eldest son, Le-keit-hang, his second son, Le-keio- 

 yuen, and his third son, Le-keu-ching, be called to Peking after the expi- 



* Sung-keun is noted for tlie boldness of his expostulations with the sovereign, on occasions 

 when he conceives that his age and experience, as well as office, entitle him to give his ad- 

 vice. To this propensity he has been indebted for his frequent disgraces. 



f President of a board or tribunal. 



X Guardian of the heir apparent. 



