Mr. Davids Extracts from the Peking Gazette. 403 



the poverty of the husbandmen's fields looking in vain for enriching showers, 

 we sent down our will, that altars for sacrifice should be erected at Hih- 

 lung-tan and Keo-sang-sze. During the last ten days, although there has 

 been a very slight appearance of rain, it was quite inadequate to moisten the 

 earth. Let our eldest son, Yih-heng, on the seventh day of the present 

 moon, proceed reverentially to the temple of the Spirit of Heaven to 

 worship ; let the Imperial relative, Meen-kae, proceed with reverence to 

 the temple of the Spirit of Earth to sacrifice ; let Meen-hin, the Imperial 

 relative, proceed with reverence to offer sacrifice in the temple of the Spirit 

 of the Year -, let our son, Yih-chaou, sacrifice also at the temple of the 

 Spirit of the Winds. On the 6tii day let them all lodge together in the palace 

 at Peking, and on the 7th of the moon repair separately to those different 

 spots, to supplicate for speedy and plentiful supplies of fructifying rain. 



" Klwi-tsze." 



Another Edict. 



" Having sent down our will regarding the sacrifices to be performed by 

 the princes and great ministers on the 7th of the moon, we now intimate 

 that on the same day ourself shall burn incense at Hilulung-tan. 



« Khin-tsze." 



The crowded state of the capital is proved by the following extracts : 

 " The numerous resort of an hungry populace from the surrounding 

 country has led to the occasional plundering of articles of food, and we have 

 already issued our commands for restraining and controlling them. The 

 censor, Lang-paou-shin, has reported that sundry vagrants, under the plea 

 of want and starvation, have been committing depredations in the markets 

 and other places of public resort, in direct contravention of the laws. The 

 proper authorities are hereby commanded to issue proclamations on the sub- 

 ject, and exercise a rigid control, that the neighbourhood of the Imperial 

 residence may be well governed and orderly. The erection of additional 

 playiiouses, as has been reported, being highly prejudicial to the morals of 

 the people, the police of the city must also restrain and keep them within 

 bounds. Let not this be regarded as a mere form. 



" Khin-tsze." 



