fundamental and unalterable laws for the empire, with an Imperial
preface, nominally from the hand of the Emperor himself. The next step
was to supply any necessary additions and modifications; and as time
went on these were further amended or enlarged by Imperial decrees,
founded upon current events,--a process which has been going on down to
the present day. The code therefore consists of two parts: (1) immutable
laws more or less embodying great principles beyond the reach of
revisions, and (2) a body of case-law which, since 1746, has been
subject to revision every five years. With the publication of the Penal
Code, the legal responsibilities of the new Emperor began and ended.
There is not, and never has been, anything in China of the nature of
civil law, beyond local custom and the application of common sense.

Towards the close of this reign, intercourse with China brought about an
economic revolution in the West, especially in England, the importance
of which it is difficult to realize sufficiently at this distant date.
A new drink was put on the breakfast-table, destined to displace
completely the quart of ale with which even Lady Jane Grey is said to
have washed down her morning bacon. It is mentioned by Pepys, under the
year 1660, as "tee (a China drink)," which he says he had never tasted
before. Two centuries later, the export of tea from China had reached
huge proportions, no less an amount than one hundred million _lb._
having been exported in one season from Foochow alone.



CHAPTER IV--K`ANG HSI

The Emperor Shun Chih was succeeded by his third son, known by his
year-title as K`ang Hsi (lasting prosperity), who was only eight years