_Contumacy_ towards his father (the late Emperor) by riding on horseback to the very door of the hall of audience at _Yuen-min-yuen_.
_Audacity_, under pretence of lameness, in causing himself to be carried to and from the palace through the door set apart for the Emperor.
_Scandalous behaviour_, in taking away the virgins of the palace, and appropriating them to his own use.
_Pride and insolence_, in countermanding his (the new Emperor's) order, for all the princes of Tartary to be summoned to Pekin, those who had not had the small-pox excepted, to assist at the funeral of his father, and by issuing a new one, in which _none_ were excepted.
_Bribery and partiality_, in selling and giving away appointments of weight to persons totally unqualified to fill them.
_Arrogance_, in making use of the wood _Nan-moo_ (cedar) in his house, which is destined exclusively for royal palaces; and in building a house and gardens in the style and manner of those belonging to the Emperor.
For having in his possession more than two hundred strings of pearls, and an immense quantity of jewels and precious stones, which his rank did not allow him to wear, and among which was a pearl of such wonderful magnitude, that the Emperor himself had no equal to it.
For having in gold and silver alone, which has been already discovered and confiscated, the amount, at least, of ten million taels (about 3,300,000_l._ sterling).
One article is singularly curious. For having been guilty of the deepest treachery in informing him (the new Emperor) of his father's intention to abdicate the government in his (the new Emperor's) favour, _one day_ before his father made it public, thinking by such means to gain his favour and affection!
After enumerating the several articles of accusation, the Emperor states, that this minister being interrogated by a Tartar prince on several points, had confessed the whole to be true, and, therefore, without further evidence, he commands the presidents and members of the several courts in Pekin, the viceroys of provinces, and governors of cities, on these articles of accusation being laid before them, to pass a proper sentence on the said _Ho-tchung-tang_. According to the majority, he was condemned to be beheaded; but as a peculiar act of grace and benevolence on the part of the Emperor, this sentence was mitigated to that of his being allowed to be his own executioner. A silken cord being sent as an intimation of this mark of the Emperor's favour, he caused himself to be strangled by some of his attendants.