nt grand secretaries, half of whom,
according to a general rule formerly applicable to nearly all the high
offices in Peking, must be Manchu and half Chinese. It constitutes the
imperial chancery or court of archives, and admission to its ranks
confers the highest distinction attainable by Chinese officials,
though with functions that are almost purely nominal. Members of the
grand secretariat are distinguished by the honorary title of
_Chung-t'ang._ The most distinguished viceroys are usually advanced to
the dignity of grand secretary while continuing to occupy their posts
in the provinces. The best known of recent grand secretaries was Li
Hung-chang.

Under the Manchu dynasty the Grand Council (_Chuen Chi Ch'u_) became
the actual privy council of the sovereign, in whose presence its
members daily transacted the business of the state. This council is
composed of a small knot of men holding various high offices in the
government boards at Peking. The literal meaning of Chuen Chi Ch'u is
"place of plans for the army," and the institution derives its name
from the practice established by the early emperors of the Manchu
dynasty of treating public affairs on the footing of a military
council. The usual time of transacting business is from 4 to 6 a.m. In
addition to the grand council and the grand secretariat there were
boards to supervise particular departments. By a decree of the 6th of
November 1906 the central administration was remodelled, subsequent
decrees making other changes. The administration in 1910 was carried
on by the following agencies:--

A. _Councils._--(1)The grand council. Its title was modified in 1906
and it is now known as the Grand Council of State Affairs or Privy
Council. It has no special function, but deals with all matters of
general administration and is presided over by the emperor (or
regent). (2) The Grand Secretariat. This body gained no increase of
power in 1906. (3) The advisory council or senate (_Tu Cheng Yuen_)
created in 1907 and containing representatives of each province. It
includes all members of the grand council and the grand secretariat
and the heads of all the executive departments.[32] The members of
these three bodies form advisory cabinets to the emperor.

B. _Boards._--Besides boards concerned with the affairs of the court
there were, before the pressure of foreign nations and the movement
for ref