100 .SUEGSOK-GENEEAL SIE C. A. GOEDON, M.D., K.C.B., ON 



definite and reliable. The first dynasty of China, or that ot 

 Hea, becomes established, the period of ancient history 

 properly so called begins, and is to continue till B.C. 263. Of 

 the precepts attributed to that monarch, the following are 

 a few examples : — " He '' (that is, the ruler) " who would 

 govern a people must do so in accordance with public 

 opinion ; he must be careful not to alienate the suffrages 

 of his people " (vox populi vox Dei) ; " virtue is the founda- 

 tion of government "; " Government consists in procuring 

 for tliP people all things necessary for its preservation, and 

 protection against whatever is injurious to health or life.* 

 National songs were encouraged for the double purpose of ani- 

 mating and exhorting the people."t Doubtless, therefore in 

 those far-off days Chinese patriots had their own equivalents 

 for " Rule Britannia," " The British Grenadiers," " Scots wha 

 hae," " Mourir pour la Patrie," etc. 



Public works of drainage and reclamation were vigorously 

 conducted. He devoted much attention to what would now 

 be called scientific agriculture, including drainage, the 

 methods of tilling and sowing, the levelling of irregularities 

 oa fields, and the application of suitable kinds of manure. 

 He instituted a class of feudal chiefs, and of tiibutary 

 princes, a system out of which in after years very serious 

 troubles to the empire arose. Certain crown-lands were 

 reserved for the maintenance of the Court ; others for the 

 public, and others for " the habitation of barbarians." Yu 

 committed to his tributary princes full powers of government 

 within their several principalities^ ; but held all of them 

 subject to military service, compulsory in all ranks. 



He directed that his subjects, whatever their rank or posi- 

 tion, should have free access to, and so lay their grievances 

 before him for redress. G overnment was carried on by means 

 of nine departmental offices,§ Unhappily, the introduction of 



* Thus ndicating the recognised importance of State Medicine. 



t Psalm 137, b.c. 1063-1015, is a "national song." Spartan boys, 

 under the system of Lycurgus, B.C. 884, committed to memory patriotic 

 songs. 



X Home government in fact. 



§ Those under Yu were : — 



1. President of the Council. 



2. Minister of Agriculture. 



3. Minister of Education. 



4. Minister of Justice. 



