pencils, ink, and paper, and a subject is given them to write upon.  Out of some four hundred candidates fifteen may be selected, who receive the lowest degree.  There is another triennial examination for the second degree, at which a small number of the bachelors are promoted.  The examination for the highest degree, that of doctor, is held at Pekin only, when some three hundred are taken out of five thousand.  These are capable of receiving the highest offices.  Whenever a vacancy occurs, one of those who have received a degree is taken by lot from the few senior names.  But a few years since, there were five thousand of the highest rank, and twenty-seven thousand of the second rank, who had not received employment.

The subjects upon which the candidates are examined, and the methods of these examinations, are thus described in the Shanghae Almanac (1852).[11]

The examinations for the degree of Keujin (or licentiate) takes place at the principal city of each province once in three years.  The average number of bachelors in the large province of Keang-Nan (which contains seventy millions of inhabitants) is twenty thousand, out of whom only about two hundred succeed.  Sixty-five mandarins are deputed for this examination, besides subordinate officials.  The two chief examiners are sent from Pekin.  When the candidates enter the examination hall they are searched for books or manuscripts, which might assist them in writing their essays.  This precaution is not superfluous, for many plans have been invented to enable mediocre people to pass.  Sometimes a thin book, printed on very small type from copperplates, is slipped into a hole in the sole of the shoe.  But persons detected in such practices are ruined for life.  In a list of one hundred and forty-four successful candidates, in 1851, thirteen were over forty years of age, and one under fourteen years; seven were under twenty; and all, to succeed, must have known by heart the whole of the Sacred Books, besides being well read in history.

Three sets of themes are given, each occupying two days and a night, and until that time is expired no one is allowed to leave his apartment, which is scarcely large enough to sleep in.  The essays must not contain more than seven hundred characters, and no erasure or correction is allowed.  On the first days the themes are taken from the Four Books; on the next, from the older classics; on the last, miscellaneous questions are given.  The themes are such as these:  “Choo-tsze, in commenting on the Shoo-King, made use of four authors, who sometimes say too much, at other times too little; sometimes their explanations are forced, at other times too ornamental.  What have you to observe on them?” “Chinshow had great abilities for historic writing.  In his Three Kingdoms he has depreciated Choo-ko-leang, and made very light of E and E, two other celebrated characters.  What is it that he says of them?”