The imperial cabinet of China has existed from time immemorial. During the last two reigns another board has been instituted, called the Keung-ke-choo, or privy council, the members of which are selected from the best politicians among the provinces, presidents of the six boards, and favourites, without reference to rank or station. They are called Keun-ky-ta-chin, or "great ministers of the military engine;" because the board consists chiefly of generals, and because its constitution resembles a military council. From the influence of its proceedings, which are enveloped in impenetrable mystery, the privy council may be considered the most powerful board in the whole empire. Its members meet every day at three o'clock to take council together, and its decrees, framed under the eye of the monarch, are unalterable. Attached to them are several officers for the despatch of business, as secretaries, recorders, writers, composers, and translators. The whole, however, is unconstitutional, and seems only to have been created for the purpose of supporting the Mantchoo power in China. It is so skilfully arranged, that few facts can escape the notice of the numerous officers belonging to it, and its leading members possess the power of punishing all delinquents. They have even usurped the power of other supreme courts, by deciding every intricate question. Moreover, they have the army entirely under their command, which renders them formidable; and it is only by their recommendation that grandees are retained in office, and able and youthful students exalted. Yet their power is limited. Though compelled to have such a council, the emperor is

careful not to assign them a permanent station. As he selects, so he dismisses them at his pleasure, and whenever it suits his interests. Hence this council, like the cabinet, is full of intrigue, for the exaltation of some, and the degradation of others. An abyss is ever yawning under the feet of its members; and while they are constantly endeavouring to hurl their fellows into it, they tread carefully, lest they should fall into it themselves. But all their care often proves vain. If the whisper of intrigue should cause the emperor to withdraw his favour, their ruin is sealed, unless they have a patron in the harem.

THE BOARD OF CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.

This board, like the other supreme tribunals, is under the direction of two presidents, and four vice-presidents, half of whom are Mantchoo Tartars, and half Chinese. It is a powerful tribunal, and possesses extensive patronage. To its members belong the province of promoting or degrading officers; subject, however, to the approval of the imperial cabinet, privy council, and above all, the emperor.

The board of officers is subdivided into four chambers, each of which has its definite duties to perform. They are thus described—

1. Chamber of Official Regulations. This chamber consists of five deputy presidents, four assistant-presidents, and three directors. The duties of these officers are, to attend to the distinction of official classes, the observance of the laws of promotion and degradation, and the presentation of mandarins at court. These, to an European, would seem to be very simple duties;

but it is far otherwise. The shades of difference in rank in China, are so varied and complicated, that it requires considerable knowledge. For instance, all the mandarins are divided into nine distinct ranks, each subdivided into two, which are marked by the colour and substance of the knobs which they wear on their caps. Then, again, the whole number of civilians, inclusive of the provincial magistrates, is twelve thousand nine hundred and ninety-six, and these being a mixture of Mantchoos, Mongols, and Chinese, it requires an acquaintance, not only with the law of rank, but also with the law of Chinese etiquette. Moreover, the sons of certain officers have a right to promotion to certain civil offices; and there are laws of promotion, by rotation, seniority, and merit, with all of which it is necessary that the members of the chamber of official regulations should be conversant. Finally, nominal ranks are dispensed by its members to the whole body of the people, in order to protect them from the bastinado of the inferior mandarins. Thus there are merchants of the first degree, and shop-keepers of the eighth or ninth ; and these different ranks have each a certain value and sum set upon them by the government; a knowledge of which is indispensably requisite in the retailers of these patents. Hence it will be seen, that the members of this chamber have no slight duties to perform. The latter, perhaps, is the most important, for the sale of patents brings a large amount into the coffers of the government.

2. Chamber of Investigation.-The duties of the members comprising this chamber consist in

keeping an account of the merits and demerits of every officer in the empire. These are reported to them by the governors and lieutenant-governors of the provinces, and they are examined once within three years. At the same time, a select committee of great ministers and kings is established at the capital, and the guilty are summoned to appear to answer for their crimes. These, or at least some of them, will appear strange to an European reader, for mandarins are liable to be accused of avarice, cruelty, remissness, idleness, disrespectfulness, old age, incurable disease, levity, and incapacity and if any of these charges are proved, they are either dismissed, fined, degraded, or bastinadoed. The more refractory officers are sent to the banks of the Amour, or the table-land of Ele, where they drag boats, or become slaves to the soldiery; in which situations they pine away their lives, without hope of restoration to lost honours.

The members of the chamber of investigation have to make inquiries as to the merits of officers: whether they have exhorted the people to cultivate the lands, or performed any meritorious actions, such as the capture of murderers and vagabonds, and the putting a stop to law-suits. Those who can lay claim to such merits, are noticed in their pages as deserving promotion; and the mandarin is soon ushered into the emperor's presence, and rewarded. Rewards, notwithstanding, are never conferred as dues, but as special favours. Because an officer has acted meritoriously, it pleases the emperor to have him in honour.

3. Chamber of Patents.-The members of this

court recommend meritorious officers for obtaining the rank of noblemen, and grant the necessary patents; exercise an inquisitorial surveillance over the members of the lower nobility, and keep an account of their merits or demerits; and control the various courts called Le-muh, which, being composed of vicious men, require superintendence.

4. Chamber of Records.-The members of this board keep an account of all the officers employed by government. To them, also, belong the duties of granting leave of absence to a mandarin who wishes to return home, either to nourish or to mourn the loss of an aged parent. They keep an account, likewise, of the money and rice delivered to the mandarins of the capital, as well as of that delivered to occasional visitors.

THE BOARD OF REVENUE.

In China there are three distinct treasuresthe imperial, national, and provincial. The imperial treasure is under the sole control of the emperor, but the national and provincial re placed under the care of the board of revenue.

The general control of this court is in the hands of two presidents and four vice-presidents. The court itself is divided into fourteen chambers, each of which has the superintendence of one or two provinces; the object of which is to exɛ.mine narrowly into the provincial accounts, and to insist upon the regular delivery of tribute. The treasure is under the immediate control of a Mantchoo Tartar, who is a friend of the monarch. It contains three deposits; one of silver; another of