A cycle of Cathay, or, China, south and north . panded until it nowcounts in ordinary eight or nine ministers and as many under-secretaries, or chiefs of bureaus. Under these, again, are anarmy of assistants, exclusive of scribes who are not in the lineof promotion. In this service promotion is more rapid thanin any other—possibly because it is deemed dangerous or dis-agreeable to have anything to do with foreign affairs—andevery under-secretary or assistant is entitled to expect a stepin advance once in three years. It thus happens that scholarsof the second or third degree (for no others are
A cycle of Cathay, or, China, south and north . panded until it nowcounts in ordinary eight or nine ministers and as many under-secretaries, or chiefs of bureaus. Under these, again, are anarmy of assistants, exclusive of scribes who are not in the lineof promotion. In this service promotion is more rapid thanin any other—possibly because it is deemed dangerous or dis-agreeable to have anything to do with foreign affairs—andevery under-secretary or assistant is entitled to expect a stepin advance once in three years. It thus happens that scholarsof the second or third degree (for no others are admitted), whoenter the Yamen as apprentices, are in about ten or twelve yearsgraduated as prefects, or taotais, or drafted off to legations assecretaries, to be promoted to a chargeship or ministership ac-cording to tact, talent, and a judicious application of palm-oil. The president of the Tungwen College, who maintains adirect correspondence with the TsungH Yamen, is brought atall points into contact with this phalanx of mandarins. Be-. TSUNGLI YaMEN and MINISTERS OF TUNG. MAO. MANDARINS AND GOVERNMENT 339 sides elaborate entertainments at the Yamen, to which the in-cumbent of the office is often invited by princes and other highdignitaries, some of the ministers have been in the habit ofattending the examinations of the college, and it has been thepresent writers duty to dine with them at the college four orfive times in the year, and on business to meet some of themevery day in the week. These ministers comprise most of theheads of the six boards and always two members of. the impe- Irial cabinet. They have daily access to the throne, and, col-lectively, form the most powerful tribunal in the empire, issu-ing orders to viceroys, and able at the same time to enforcethem if they choose to do so. The emperor always complieswith their request when they assure him that there is no otherway out of a difficulty. It is accordingly far easier for them)to procure th
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