the successor. But, in some days after, the new emperor, having consulted with those persons in whom he could chiefly confide, and maturely considered in his own mind the present state of his affairs, as well as the disposition of his people, convoked another assembly of his council; wherein, after some time spent in general business, suitable to the present emergency, he directed Lelop-Aw to give him, in as short terms as he conveniently could, an account of the nation's debts, of his management in the senate, and his negotiations with foreign courts: which that minister having delivered, according to his usual manner, with much assurance and little satisfaction, the emperor desired to be fully satisfied in the following particulars.

Whether the vast expense of choosing such members into the senate, as would be content to do the publick business, were absolutely necessary.

Whether those members, thus chosen in, would cross and impede the necessary course of affairs, unless they were supplied with great sums of money and continued pensions?

Whether the same corruption and perverseness were to be expected from the nobles?

Whether the empire of Japan were in so low a condition, that the imperial envoys at foreign courts must be forced to purchase alliances, or prevent a war, by immense bribes given to the ministers of all the neighbouring princes?

Why the debts of the empire were so prodigiously advanced, in a peace of twelve years at home and abroad?

Whether the Yortes were universally enemies to the VOL. X.

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religion

religion and laws of the empire, and to the imperial family now reigning.

Whether those persons, whose revenues consist in lands, do not give surer pledges of fidelity to the publick, and are more interested in the welfare of the empire, than others, whose fortunes consist only in money?

And because Lelop-Aw, for several years past, had engrossed the whole administration, the emperor signified, that from him alone he expected an an

swer.

This minister, who had sagacity enough to cultivate an interest in the young prince's family, during the late emperor's life, received early intelligence from one of his emissaries, of what was intended at the council, and had sufficient time to frame as plausible an answer, as his cause and conduct would allow. However, having desired a few minutes to put his thoughts in order, he delivered them in the following

manner:

"SIR,

"UPON this short unexpected warning, to an"swer your imperial majesty's queries, I should be wholly at a loss, in your majesty's august presence, "and that of this most noble assembly, if I were " armed with a weaker defence than my own loyalty "and integrity, and the prosperous success of my

" endeavours.

"It is well known, that the death of the empress "Nena, happened in a most miraculous juncture; " and that if she had lived two months longer, your "illustrious family would have been deprived of your

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right; and we should have seen an usurper upon your throne, who would have wholly changed the "constitution of this empire, both civil and sacred; and, although that empress died in a most opportune "season, yet the peaceable entrance of your majesty's "father, was effected by a continual series of miracles. "The truth of this appears, by that unnatural re"bellion which the Yortes raised, without the least "provocation, in the first year of the late emperor's reign; which may be sufficient to convince your majesty, that every soul of that denomination, was, " is, and will be for ever, a favourer of the pretender, "a mortal enemy to your illustrious family, and an "introducer of new gods into the empire. Upon "this foundation was built the whole conduct of our "affairs and since a great majority of the kingdom, "was at that time reckoned to favour the Yortes "faction, who, in the regular course of elections, "must certainly have been chosen members of the "senate then to be convoked; it was necessary, by "the force of money, to influence elections in such a "manner, that your majesty's father might have a "sufficient number, to weigh down the scale on his "side, and thereby carry on those measures, which "could only secure him and his family in the posses"sion of the empire. To support this original plan, "I came into the service; but, the members of the "senate knowing themselves every day more neces

sary, upon the choosing of a new senate, I found "the charges to increase; and that after they were "chosen, they insisted upon an increase of their pen"sions; because they well knew, that the work could "not be carried on without them: and I was more "general in my donatives, because I thought it was

"more for the honour of the crown, that every vote "should pass without a division; and that when a "debate was proposed, it should immediately be quashed by putting the question.

tr

"SIR, The date of the present senate is expired, "and your imperial majesty is now to convoke a new "one; which, I confess, will be somewhat more ex"pensive than the last, because the Yortes, from

your favourable reception, have begun to reassume "a spirit, whereof the country had some intelligence; "and we know, the majority of the people, without proper management, would be still in that fatal "interest. However, I dare undertake, with the "charge only of four hundred thousand sprangs*, "to return as great a majority of senators of the true "stamp, as your majesty can desire. As to the "sums of money paid in foreign courts, I hope, in some years, to ease the nation of them, when we "and our neighbours come to a good understanding. However, I will be bold to say, they are cheaper than a war, where your majesty is to be a principal.

"The pensions indeed to senators and other per"sons, must needs increase, from the restiveness "of some, and scrupulous nature of others; and "the new members, who are unpractised, must have

better encouragement. However, I dare under"take to bring the eventual charge within eight "hundred thousand sprangs. But, to make this "easy, there shall be new funds raised, of which "I have several schemes ready, without taxing bread «or flesh, which shall be reserved to more pressing " occasions.

• About a million sterling.

"Your

"Your majesty knows, it is the laudable custom of "all Eastern princes, to leave the whole management "of affairs, both civil and military, to their visirs.

"The appointments for your family and private purse, shall exceed those-of your predecessors: you "shall be at no trouble, farther than to appear some"times in council, and leave the rest to me: you "shall hear no clamour or complaints: your senate "shall, upon occasion, declare you the best of princes, "the father of your country, the arbiter of Asia, "the defender of the oppressed, and the delight of "mankind.

"SIR, Hear not those who would, most falsely, "impiously, and maliciously, insinuate that your go"vernment can be carried on, without that wholesome "necessary expedient, of sharing the publick revenue "with your faithful deserving senators. This, I know,

my enemies are pleased to call bribery and corrup"tion. Be it so: but I insist, that without this

bribery and corruption, the wheels of government "will not turn; or at least will be apt to take fire, "like other wheels, unless they be greased at proper "times. If an angel from Heaven should descend, "to govern this empire, upon any other scheme "than what our enemies call corruption, he must "return from whence he came, and leave the work " undone.

"SIR, It is well known we are a trading nation, and "consequently cannot thrive in a bargain, where nothing is to be gained. The poor electors, who "run from their shops or the plough, for the ser"vice of their country; are they not to be considered. “for their labour and their loyalty? The candidates, "who, with the hazard of their persons, the loss