Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/150

126 their lives. The highest minister of state, being the creature of imperial power, can be degraded, bambooed, banished, and beheaded; subject to the whim of the only one, who claims and exercises irresponsible authority in China. Hence the Chinese have a proverb, that 'tis safer sleeping in a tiger's den, than basking in the sunshine of imperial favour.

The prime ministers of state, are called the "inner chamber," or cabinet; the first is a Mantchou Tartar, to which race the present royal family belongs; the second is a Chinese, who is likewise president of the imperial college; the third is a Mongul Tartar, also superintendent of the colonial office; and the fourth is a Chinese. This mixture of Chinese and Tartars in the great offices of state, with the latter always taking the precedence, is a specimen of the general system pursued by the Chinese, of setting the two races to watch over, and be responsible for, each other. They admit native Chinese to high and important stations, in order to satisfy the people, but they take care to have them associated with, or superintended by, Tartars; so that the former cannot devise schemes of rebellion, without being instantly discovered, and betrayed by the latter.

Under the cabinet they have the six tribunals, which take cognizance of their several departments, and report to the emperor for his decision and approval. The first is the tribunal of civil office, the presidents of which enquire into and report on the conduct of all magistrates, recommend persons to vacant stations, and suggest the propriety of promoting or degrading deserving or undeserving individuals. A vast amount of patronage, and power necessarily falls into the hands of a chamber