Prince Kung to Benj. P. Avery, January 14, 1875

Prince Kung to Mr. Avery.

Prince Kung, chief secretary for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication.

A mandate from the [late] Emperor was yesterday reverently received, saying:

It was owing to the exalted love of our imperial literary ancestor, the Emperor Hien, (or intelligent,) our canopy and support, that the “divine utensil” (the throne) was bestowed upon our keeping. Having set forth in our childhood upon the throne, we reverently succeeded to our great heritage, and from the day of our accession, we had gazing upward to thank their two Majesties the Empresses, for that, in ordering as regents the affairs of the government, they devoted night and day to their laborious task.

When, in obedience to their benign commands, We subsequently personally assumed the supreme power, it was in reliance on the guidance of the ancestral precepts of the sacred ones before us, that we made the fear of Heaven, the example of our fore-fathers, devotion to the government and love toward our people, the main-spring of every act. Couscious of our own deficiencies, we did not dare to do aught but labor late and early, with anxious application, each day showing this single purpose.

For more than ten years past, blessed with the counsels of maternal love, we have striven to reach the highest path. Happily it has been so, that wherever the armies I of the state came, the [Taiping] rebels of Yueh (Kwangtung and Kwangsi) and the [Nienfi] banditti were vanquished and subdued before them, and the insurgents among the Miaotse and the Mohammedans in Yunnan, Kweichau, and Shensi have all been conquered and brought into submission. Tranquillity has been everywhere restored; but though the miseries of war have ceased, the injuries and wounds of our people are not yet healed, and whenever we think of them it drives away all sleep and repose.

Whenever, too, in times of visitation by flood or drought in the provinces, their governors have prayed us to remit taxation or bestow relief, the instant outpouring of Our bounty has in no case been withheld. The anxious care which has filled our breast, even in the seclusion of the palace, must have been witnessed by our ministers and people throughout the whole land. Our bodily health has usually been strong, and, when attacked last month by the small-pox, the utmost care was taken in its treatment; but for some days past strength has so far gone that all hope of recover has passed away. Is not this the will of Heaven?

Deeply mindful of the grave interests of the dynasty, it behooves Us to transmit the charge to worthy hands; and now we have received the following benign mandate from their Majesties the Empress Dowagers.

“Let Tsai-tien, the son of Prince Chun, be adopted as the heir of Our literary an-cestoi, the Emperor Hien, and enter upon the inheritance of the great dynastic line, as Emperor by succession. A special edict.”

Our imperial successor is unselfishly filial and very intelligent, and will undoubtedly know how to accept with reverence the trust now committed to him. Heaven, which gives the people birth, appoints a ruler for them, and makes him their governor and shepherd; but he must continually exert himself with anxious zeal and watchful diligence By a wise choice of servants, he will give the people ease, and thereby assure our great inheritance for ever. Let him, moreover, cherish with filial care their Majjesties the two Empresses, and devoutly console their loving hearts.

It is equally our hope that all Our ministers and servants, both civil and military, in all parts of the land, will unite in public-spirited and loyal efforts for the common good, each zealously discharging his allotted duty, that thus they may uphold for our adopted successor a more and more glorious rule. If this be done, the cravings of our breas will be assuaged.

In accordance with former usage, let the robes of mourning be laid aside at the end of twenty-seven days. Be this proclaimed throughout the whole empire, so that all may hear and know it. Respect this.

As behooveth me, I have now the honor to make the above known to your excellency

To His Excellency Benjamin P. Avery, United States Minister to China.