When Keen Lung Had The Chance Of Bringing Matters Under His Own Personal Control He Did Not Hesitate To Exercise His Right And Power, And All Capital Punishments Were Carried Out At The Capital Only After He Had Examined Into Each Case.

It is declared that he always tempered justice with mercy, and that none but the worst offenders suffered death.

Transportation to Ili, which he wished to develop, was his favorite form of punishment.

To the end of his life Keen Lung retained the active habits which had characterized his youth. Much of his official work was carried on at an early hour of the morning, and it surprised many Europeans to find the aged ruler so keen and eager for business at these early conferences. His vigor was attributed by competent observers to the active life and physical exercises common among the Tartars. It will be proper to give a description of the personal appearance of this great prince. A missionary thus described him: "He is tall and well built. He has a very gracious countenance, but capable at the same time of inspiring respect. If in regard to his subjects he employs a great severity, I believe it is less from the promptings of his character than from the necessity which would otherwise not render him capable of keeping within the bounds or dependence and duty two empires so vast as China and Tartary. Therefore the greatest tremble in his presence. On all the occasions when he has done me the honor to address me it has been with a gracious air that inspired me with the courage to appeal to him in behalf of our religion.... He is a truly great prince, doing and seeing everything for himself." Keen Lung survived his abdication about three years, dying on the 8th of February, 1799 - which also happened to be the Chinese New Year's day.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 319 of 704
Words from 86261 to 86577 of 191255