MINISTER MEI-KWEI. 337 



self. On the ringing of the bells, his Majesty entered, and gave 

 audience to all the civil and military officers, and received what advice 

 they had to submit to him. The general business having been gone 

 through, the ministers arranged themselves into a line on the right 

 and left of his Majesty, when Mei-kwei, bearing his rank and the 

 number of his promotions before him, kneeling, thus addressed his 

 Majesty, " Your minister, who has held the appointment of Che- 

 heen, at Leih-ching, in the district Tse-nan-foo, in the province 

 Shan-tung, has recently been appointed a member of the Le-poo 

 Board of Ceremonies. Mei-kwei, on beholding your Majesty's coun- 

 tenance, wishes that your Majesty may live for ten thousand times 

 ten thousand years ! Your minister, though wanting in talent, 

 hopes and entreats your Majesty will not cast him forth as mean and 

 worthless. Should he hereafter merit promotion, though his body 

 and bones be reduced to powder, he will be unable to recompense 

 your Majesty one instance in ten thousand of your Majesty's muni- 

 ficence." His Majesty, in reply, thus spoke, " Minister Mei-kwei, 

 this is the first time that I have seen you, a person of distinguished 

 merit. Considering that you have for upwards of ten years held 

 office at Tung-choo, I have conferred on you. Minister, an appoint- 

 ment by which you are permitted to speak directly to your Prince (a 

 Privy Councillor). Doubtless you possess a soul for cherishing the 

 talent of the age." When Mei-kwei had bowed, and made the 

 usual prostrations, he returned to his place. On his Majesty retiring 

 to his palace, the ministers repaired to their several courts. 



Mei-kwei, on retiring to the tavern, and taking breakfast, entered 

 his sedan, and went to visit the several ministers. His Secretary, 

 addressing him, said, " I have to beg that you will not proceed in 

 your sedan." Mei-kwei enquired, "Why not?" The Secretary 

 not daring further to advise, the bearers proceeded and entered 

 the enclosui-e before the public courts. Mei-kwei was aware, that 

 from the number of horses and sedans that were arranged along the 

 palisades, that many officers were making their calls; he, notwith- 

 standing, ordered his bearers to proceed to the grand entrance, and 

 there to be set down. But he found the door closed, while at the 

 side entrance there were a number of retainers, who bawled out, 

 *' What officer is that that presumes to stop at that gate ? " The 

 Secretary, on presenting Mei-kwei's card, said, " It is his Excel- 

 lency Mei-kwei, who has lately become a member of the Board 

 of Rites ; he is come to pay his respects." That person replied, 

 " As he is only a newly appointed minister, why does he presume 

 to order his sedan to be taken to the main entrance ? had he not 

 better study etiquette before he comes visiting? '' Another remarked, 

 " Ah ! do not think because he is newly appointed that his Excel- 

 lency wishes to see him ! He should first make a handsome present, 

 then lie will be introduced to all the ministers." The Secretary re- 

 turned and informed the minister what had been said, and begged 

 that his Excellency would adopt the advice. Mei-kwei asked, 

 " How large a present would be sufficient to ensure an entrance?" 

 The writer replied, " There are fixed sums. There are those who 

 give a thousand pieces of gold ; but much less, a hundred tales will 



