These people are said to be connected with 24 districts of barbarous Meaoutsze, who yield a very partial obedience to the Chinese government, and who are quite similar to the Yaou-jin, of whom we have already given some account.
Du Halde gives a very tolerable description of these Meaoutsze, but does not explain the meaning of their name, for which his English translator reproves him, and tells his reader that Meaoutsze means the offspring of cats. In this, however, he is quite mistaken, and had better have left his reader to grope in the dark as Du Halde did, than so mislead him. The word Meaou denotes a plant springing from the earth; to bud forth; and perhaps, in its connection with these mountaineers, the term may denote, that they are the aborigines, the natives of the soil.
Robbery. The Imperial stores at Peking have been robbed of 222 cases of vermillion, weighing 11,090 catties. A strict inquiry is instituted.
Retirement of aged Statesmen. Chin-jo-lin, President of the Criminal Tribunal being aged and infirm, is commanded by the Emperor to retire. He is permitted to carry with him his original rank.
This person once begged his bread in the streets of Canton. He had an early education, and inherited a good patrimony, which he squandered in vicious courses, and reduced himself to the actual want of food; for his friends forsook him in the day of his calamity. The manager of a band of play-actors took a fancy to his appearance, and wished him to appear on the stage. He declined this, but became an assistant to the manager, for a few years, and obtained a little money to appear at the public examinations. He was successful and rose rapidly to the rank of Hanlin, and from thence he entered on the civil service.
In Canton Province, the scene of his early debauchery and disgrace, he afterwards appeared as Criminal Judge, and then as Foo-yuen. He afterwards became the Governor of the two 'Lake provinces,' i. e. Hoopih and Hoonan. And eventually he settled down in Peking as a President of the College Han-lin-yuen.
Our native correspondent remarks that Chin-jo-lin, in the course of his life, has experienced the vicissitudes of bitterness and joy. In this world generally, when a man's destinies have run their round, he ought to perform appropriate duties, and leave the rest to the decree of Heaven. Whether a man have adversity or prosperity does not depend on his own schemes. It it not by force that he can get rid of adversity; nor can he by covetous wishes attain prosperity.
So moralizes our heathen friend. He refers all to a mysterious course in nature; the revolution of events, a numerical destiny. The government of an infinitely wise and just God, the mercy and grace of the Father of the Universe, are ideas which have no place in his mind.
Another aged Minister, Sun-urh-chun, for several years Governor of Fuhkeen and Chekeang, has also retired, on account of illness. Having been very successful in quelling insurrections on the island of Formosa, His Majesty, after some hesitation, has allowed him to retire, with very high honours.—He is since dead and additonal posthumous titles have been conferred.
May 26th. As the reports, respecting the insurgents, continue unfavorable to the Government party, it is expected that Governor Le will soon repair to the seat of war in command of a body of 2000 men, who have already been ordered to proceed thither.
The continuance of the war is considered very injurious to the inland trade of Canton, as, it hinders all business between this city and the merchants of Szechuen, Yunnan, and Kweichow.
Arrival of new officers. "The new Poochingsze, Keih-hang, and the Foo-Tootung, or Lt.-General of the Tartar troops, Yuh-wan, lately arrived to take possession of their new offices. The arrival of Yang-chin-lin, the new Anchasze is daily expected.
