granted within three
years from date. It is really a single chamber, which contains the
elements of two. It is composed of about one hundred members, appointed
by the Throne and drawn from certain privileged classes, including
thirty-two high officials and ten distinguished scholars, together with
the same number of delegates from the provinces. Those who obtain seats
are to serve for three years, and to have their expenses defrayed by the
state. It is a consultative and not an executive body; its function is
to discuss such subjects as taxation, the issue of an annual budget, the
amendment of the law, etc., all of which subjects are to be approved by
the emperor before being submitted to this assembly, and also to deal
with questions sent up for decision from the provincial assemblies.
Similarly, any resolution to be proposed must be backed by at least
thirty members, and on being duly passed by a majority, must then
be embodied in a memorial to the Throne. For passing and submitting
resolutions which may be classed under various headings as
objectionable, the assembly can at once be dissolved by Imperial edict.

There are, so far, no distinct parties in the National Assembly, that
is, as regards the places occupied in the House. Men of various shades
of opinion, Radicals, Liberals and Conservatives, are all mixed up
together. The first two benches are set aside for representatives of the
nobility, with precedence from the left of the president round to his
right. Then come officials, scholars and leading merchants on the
next two benches. Behind them, again, on four rows of benches, are the
delegates from the provincial assemblies. There is thus a kind of House
of Lords in front, with a House of Commons, the representatives of
the nation, at the back. The leanings of the former class, as might be
supposed, are mostly of a conservative tendency, while the sympathies
of the latter are rather with progressive ideas; at the same time, there
will be found among the Lords a certain sprinkling of Radicals, and
among the Commons not a few whose views are of an antiquated, not to say
reactionary, type.

With the above scheme the Chinese people are given to understand quite
clearly that while their advice in matters concerning the administration
of government will be warmly welcomed, all legislative power will
remain, as heretofore, confined to the emperor alone. At the first
blush, this seems like giving with one hand and tak