China Repository - 1841 | Directory





THE

CHINESE REPOSITOY

VOL. X.

}

:

FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1841.

CANTON:

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS.

1841.

INDEX.

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ACCOUNTANT, story of an,

Affairs with the English..

Agriculture in Japan..

81|British forces in China...57,478,688 529||British merchants return to Canton 233 284||Broken island, or Mamuh shan.....268

Alceste island, notice of.......................371||Broughton in the Japanese sea..160

Alcoholic liquor invented. America, how first peopled. Americans, attempts of, to enter

Japan.

...

348

55

126 Brown, Rev. S. R., reports by....564 .311 Budhism introduced into China..140 Buffaloe's Nose, notice of the........ 254 .160||Burial places inviolable.. .443

445 CABINET, a new one at Peking..200 525||Cabinet, members of the imperial. 56 .527,623||Cabinet, new measures of.. .682,684 at...590||Calendar for the year 1841....

638,686||Caine, capt. William, of Hongkong 286 ..524,621||Cambridge, the British ship. 179 shore..261||Cannibalism, an instance of.................. 349

4 Canton, list of officers at. 72||Canton, state of affairs at .529,687 472||Canton, the defenses of. 32 Canton, the capture of,

...535 506||Canton river, operations on the...179 588||Canton, attacked by Brit. fors. 295,391 527 Canton, the ransom of the city...296 279||Canton, the bombardment of.

Amoy, English beaten from Amoy, heroes of rewarded. Amoy, fall of its defenses. Amoy, forces left at............... Amoy, losses of the Chinese Amoy, notices of the city Amoy, the capture of. Anchorage on the Chusan Ancient learning, a view of. Anecdotes of the Japanese. Angling for frogs by Chinese. Anglochinese College deed................ Anstruther, capture of capt... Anstruther revisits Ningpo. Arms, supply of, to Chinese............. Arts among the Japanese..

Authors, a list of distinguished... 9 Cantor, Dr., collections by.... Averil's travels in the east...... .301|Cape Montague, notice of the.

Cards of invitation to marry.

56

113

.340

434

.253

68

.309

257

136

.68;

.120 105

BELCHER, a letter from capt.....548 Cathay, early attempts to reach..245 Benevolent Societies in China. Bengal govt. notification.... Bible, work of translating the. Bilbaino, indemnity for, paid. Black island, or Heishan. Blackheath, or Chang too, Blackwall or Tsihtsze. Blood, use of, among the Chinese. Bocca Tigris, the fall of the.. Bocca Tigris, the defenses at. Bogue, the several forts at. Bogue, the battle of the..

52||Central Asia, notice of... .535||Central islands, notice of the. 30 Che hwangte, the reign of. .424||Chěkeäng, affairs in.....

371 Chesapeake, the ship, burnt. island.270||Chinaman, the character of a..........

"267||Chin Leënshing, shot in battle.. 41

104||Chin dynasty, notices of the. .116||Chow dynasty, notice of the

.146

.132

110||Chow dynasty, the after or second 152 37 Chimmo, B, naval secretary. .475 .176||China, its first inhabitants.

248

246

Books burnt by Che hwangte....136 Chinese empire, state of the......... Bremer, sir J. J., appointed plenipo 352 Chinhae attacked and taken. .626 Britain tributary to China........ .340||Chinhae, Chinese losses at...... 588

iv

Chinhae, notices of.

INDEX.

.128

..283

                   685||E Yin, the faithful minister,. Chinhae, notices of the place. 636 Economy of Chinese workmen..473 Christian books in China. .644 Edict, urging on the war...... Christians, early in China. .311 Edwards, Mr. A. P. seizure of...639 Chookeätseen, notice of the.. .260 Elephant island, notice of............ 262 Chronology of the Chinese. .121||Elepoo, tial and condemnation of.633 Chuenpe, the battle of. .37,108 Eliza, the ship, goes to Japan........161 Chuhshan island, notice of the...373 Emperors of the Ta Tsing dynasty 593 Chusan, the government of... 57 English intercourse with Japan..168 Chusan, under It.-governor Lew..118 Examinations, literary instituted.. 148 Chusan archipelago, notice of the 251 Expedition moves northward.....523 Chusan, notices of 264,425,587,636,686 Expedition, progress of the second 587 Chusan, topographical notice of..328 Chusan, meterological observa-

tions made at...

Chusan, reminiscences of. Chusan attacked and taken. Chwastoff's visit to Japan. Classes of people in Japan.. Classical literature of China.. Climate of Chusan island:

291

124

FIELD, the death of Mr..... 354 Fire in suburbs of Tinghae ?...JU:515 fhusan, medical operations at...453||Fisher's island, notice of. 72.270 .481||Fisherman and pirates at war: 17:528 .623 Fourmont, the conduct of... ....673 166 Frénoh commercial mis. to E. A..688 17 Friend of India, note from.....7.560 593 Fube and his cotemporaries. 428||Fuhkeën, account of by gov: Yen.639 Coast of China, surveys on the..371 Funtoo shan, the island, notice of 257 Coins among the Japanese... .282 Colleges in the city of Tinghae..490 GAMBLING by quadrating cash.....474 Colonial Magazine, note from........560 Gardeners, the Japanese. Columbine goes to Chusan.....291 Gazette, the Hongkong. Commerce of Japan..

                 282 Geology of the Chinese coast.../425 Commerce of Chusán.

                 429 Gifts conferred by Taoukwang..... 90 Commissioners, three imperial...234||Gode, Record of the Chinese. Compass invented by duke Chów 132||Gold, abundance of, in China.. Confucius, the writings of.......646 Golownin's visit to Japan. Confucius, conversation withi ..614 Government of Japan... Conspiracy in Japan. Consuls, foreign in China. Coolidge, seizure of Mr.. Corea, coast of, noticed Corkers, or isolated reefs.

Coronation of Taoukwang.

285 286

75 Gough, sir Hugh's dispatches....535 58 Gough, sir Hugh, arrival of. 415 Gough's Passage, notice of..

87

.248

.166

10

.184

..256

.378,380 Grammar of the Chinese.....

253 Grammatica Sinica, notice of. ..678

87 Granaries at Tinghae.

7.222

.483 .687

77 Gulf of Cheible, tides in the. .382

122,125 HALF-TIDE rock, notice of the...258

Hea dynasty, notices of the.

.126

258

567||Heights above Canton.

391

263 Han dynasty, the eastern, noticed 140 525 Han dynasty, notice of the..

.139

Counsels, division of, at Peking...682||Grattan; captain. Crucifixion of Japanese.

Cruelty of Japanese government.. 75|| Cycle of sixty years..

· D¿v, Dr., a recommendatory

letter from...

Deer island, passage.. Defenses at Amoy noticed. Dictionary, a Latin-Chinese, by'

Prémare.

Heäke Mun, notice of the.

Han dynasty, the After.

140,150 679.685

674 Hangchow, the dangers of. 193 Hangchow, notices of the city....643 Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee's donation 479 80 Herbert, an official let. from capt. 549 128 History of China, Magaillans'....641

49 History made easy.

    Douglas, lieut., shipwrecked. Douglas, lieut., notice of his cage.508 Drollery among the Japanese. Drought, seven years of. Dual powers, notice of the.

Duelling by Japanese, notice of.. 80, History, method of studying.

1

6

INDEX.

14

373

Hobson, Dr., Medical report by...465||Krusenstern's visit to Japan.. Holidays consecrated to worship. 70 Kungtung, notice of... Holderness Rock, notice of the...252 Kutsu or Kootsze, island. Hongkong, rules and regulations of 287| Kuper, A. L, official letter of........547 Hongkong declared a British set- Kwan Teenpei, commander-in- {

64 chief.

..267

.....109

350 Kwan Teenpei, the family of....687 351 Kwan shan, notice of,,

Kwokenso, a military post.........、

240

    tlement.. Hongkong made a free port. Hongkong, sale of lands at, Hongkong, the population of, 289,592 Hongkong, British settlement of. Hongkong, affairs at. Hongkong Gazette, notice of . Hospital for foreign seamen, Hospitals in Tinghae city. Houki, notice of the island.....

Ice and icebouses, in Tinghae.

52-LACKER-Work in Japan. 286 Lampoon on governor Tăng 479 Tingching..

270

**: 256

.280

172

.652

374||Language, study of the Chinese.. 48

495 Land Measure, notice of.

Lanterns, manufacture of..

430 Laoukeun, notices of.

662

309

19

*****.168

*9* •,150

.146

378

Illustrations of men, &c.,. .49,104,172||Laws of the Japanese.

472,519,613,662 Laxmann, visit of, to Japan.

130 Leng, the After, dynasty 516||Leang, the dynasty.

Leaoutung, cost of..

Images, invention of. Indian Oak, wreck of the. Interview with the imperial com-

missioner Keshen. Innes, death of Mr. James. Instructions, notice of the sacred. Island, one to be possessed.

1.

617 .118,675

517 Letters, specimen of Chinese., 424 Low Yunko's memorials. .593 Lew Yunko, conduct of............ 503 .513|| Lew chew, death of an envoy from 688 Lewis, letter, of king, to the emp. 312 688||Library, catalogue of the imperial. 2 10,72,160,205||Library, a Chinese, in England.. 35

279,309 Lin goes to Chekeäng.

JANCIGNEY, Colonel A. de.. Japan, notices of

292

592

649

Japan, the population of.. 16 Lin sent to the Yellow river Japanese, the language of the. 205||Literature of the Chinese....550,669 Japanese, national character of the 72 Lockhart, Dr. medical report by..453 Japanese, the religion of the....309 Long Measure of the Chinese. Japanese, some shipwrecked, 120|Louisa, loss of the cutter.... 407 Jesuit missionaries.....

301||Lowang, description of . Jocelyn's Six Months' narrative.,510 Luh Tseihchang, report of. Johnston, A. R.. gov. of Hongkong Julien on Chinese particles. Justice, the administration of.

KAEFUNG FOO, Fuhe's capital.

351

222||Macao, medical practice in, 249 Macao, the government of.

Magaillans, funeral of..

124|| Magaillans' History of China. .599||Magaillans, life of father G.,,..

Kanghe's voluminous writings.. Kanghe, character of the emperor.599 Malacca, the college at. Keaking, character of the emperor 90||Malcolm, arrival of major G. A....... Keshen, an interview with. Keshen's correspondence.

.255.256

.676

465

57

.611

.641

.605

32

.475

.517||Mantchous, early history of the.,642

502||Manufactures in Japan. 235||Maria, the schooner, lost.

279

528

65

84

111 Medical philanthropic society. of. 184] Medical practice in China.

21

22

257

235

.480

Keshen's memorial on state affairs Keshen, a memorial from. Keshen, particulars of his trial. Keshen, edicts respecting. Keshen, degradation and recall Keshen, charges against. Kintang, the island of. Kite, loss of the ship.. Kitto point, the situation of.

10 Marriage ceremonies. 590||Matsoo Po, the goddess.

352||Medical Missionary Society...52,448 .267||Mei-shan, or Plumb island.

.191||Memorial from Keshen.

253 Memorial from Yihshan.

vi

Mencius, biography of..

Mencius, the writings of.

Mercy, the goddess of..

INDEX.

.320||Parker, arrival of sir William. .648||Parsees, character of the. 185 Parsees Journals of two..

475

...653 .652

.656

Meshan and Lanjett, island of........254 Parsees, language and books of...657 Meterological observations..... .354||Parsees, religion of the....... Miaotaou, the group of islands...875 Particles, remarks on Chinese. Mikado, character of the.

10 Patahecock, position of the island 252 Mile, ita length in Chinese............. .651||Pei ho, mouth of the river.......376 Military, duty of the Japanese... 14 Pellew, captain of the Phæton.... 72 Military operations on the coast. .438||People encouraged to take arms..529 Militia, native, at Canton. 592 People in Canton, bad feeling of..527 Mines, the opening of, mooted. .685 Perfidy of the Chinese government 119 Ming dynasty, notices of the.... 156 Persians, language of the ancient.660 Minister to the court of Peking..475 Phaeton's entrance to Nagasaki 72,168 Miscellany, a Chinese toy-book..613 Philological works of Dr. Morrison 31 Morrison, boat of the ship...........295,415 Phleghthon, arrival of the steamer 424 Morrison, memoir of Dr.... 25 Picture of the battle at Canton...519

....

Morrison Fiducation Society...52,564 Pihkwan, situation of............. Mountain, lieut.-colonel, D. A. G..391||Pirates, numerouns and trouble- Mountaineers, the independent. .644| some.

.622

.291

Pirates, destruction of near Chusan 515 16 Plenipotentiary, policy of the new 476 .138 Ploughman, an island.

.560 Poetry of the Japanese.

..254

· 214

.434 Policy of the new plenipotentiary. 476 ..648||Poo Nang che tsang sin, Sack of

Wisdom..

.636 Poote, notice of the island.

NAGASAK1; government of, National titles introduced. Native words, bad use of. Natural history of Chusan. Navigation through China. Nemesis, proceedings of the

      steamer.. Nestorian Christians enter Chitra 148 Population of Hongkong. Nine islands in Chusan Archipel..269||Population of Tinghae. Ningpo, letter from the prison in..119 Pottinger, arrival of sir Henry. Ningpo, military operations at... 291 Pottinger, commissions of sir H...476 Ningpo, Brit occupation of...588,629 Powers of nature illustrat d..... 49 Ningpo, notices of the city.

Ningpo, fall of the city... Noble, a narrative by Mrs..

550

.260

592

.488

.475

636||Pratt, major, commands at Chuenpe 38 676 Princes in Japan, character of...........13 119 Prisoners at Ningpo released........... 120 Noble, Mrs., embarks for England 424||Prisons in Japan, notices of the.. 21 Note-book, Leaves from a soldier's 510 Proclamation, an imperial.......6×3 Notices of China, No. 5.

                   65 Proclamations about Hongkong.. 63 Notifications from Bengal govt.....535||Proclamations to the people of Notitia Lingue Sinicæ,.,

.671 Canton.

180 Proclamations by captain Elliot..344

ODE of Soo Hwuy, translation of.663 Promotions in the Chinese army..445

Official rank, sale of.......... Oifice, the magistrate's, of Chusan Opiuni, Jocelyn's notice of the

trade in.....

Oswainong, or Black rock. Outrages against Chinese,

Painting among the Japanese. Paper, collection of waste. Paper, the manufacture of'. Paper, when invented. Parke's history of the Chinese

empire...

[684] Punctnation, new mode of.

487 Punishments in Japan.

512

19

Pwankoo, meaning of the word 49,123

259 QUESAN islands, surveys of the...251 ..530||Queen, notice of the steamer..

Quoin, or the Kiaoushan.

..279

523

.374

.104 RAINBOW, Chinese name of the.. 50

Ransom of the Canton city.

.281

.13 Rebellion of the Yellow caps.

Regulations for Hongkong..

.241||Religious secte mi Japau..

.349

98

.2x7

.309

   Religion of the Japanese. Reminiscences of Chusan.

Report of the M. M. Society..

Report of the M. E. Society. Residents in China, list of.

INDEX.

30918urveys, extension of..

vir

.481||Suy dynasty, the northern... 144,146 448 Suy dynasty, notices of the After. 154 .568 Syllabaries of the Japanese.

........206

56 Szema Kwang, notice of................ 152 44 Szema Tseen, the historiographer. 138

Residents in China, address to... Rewards for British subjects. - 120,174 Robert's passage, notice, of, Routes, the various, to China, Russia, the discovery, of.......... Russian intercourse with Japan.

256 TA Tsing dynasty, notices of the..... 158 310 Tae Shan, notice of the island.. 270 245 Taikok, the defenses at.. 102 Taoukwang's succession.

110 87

Taoukwang's slaughter of rebels,. 98

150

SABBATH, observance of the............. 49 Tang dynasty, the After.... Sack of Wisdom, review of the..550 Tang dynasty, notices of the.....148 Sacred Instructions of Ta Tsing..503 Tăng Shun's paper on foreigners.531 Sailing north, the order of.

Sap Kwo Che, notice of the. Sarah Gally Passage....... School-books, a desideratum.

524 Tăng Tingching banished to Ele 421 98 Tang Tingching, memorial from. .443 259 Tang Tingtsae, prefect of Ningpo 685 .577 Tang Tingtse of Ningpo.....

670

148

Schools for Chinese in Macao....568 Tea, impost on, commenced,. Schools for Chinese in Singapore.575 Teaouchow mun, notice of.................... 257 Schools for Chinese in Malacca. .575 Teaobwa ahan, notice of.. Sciences among the Japanese,...2 6 Teën te, a Chinese goddess, Seaouping taou, notice of. 379 Teenming, first Mantchou sov........595 Senhouse, dispatches of sir Le F..545||Teëntsin, defenses at............. Senhouse, sir H. Le F. death of. .352 Time, divisions of, in Japan. Self-destruction of the Japanese.. 72 Tinghae, capture of the city..484,514

Seogun, character of the.

Shaluyteen, notice of the.

Shakok, the defenses at,

Shamo, a small island..

259

84

686

216

11 Tinghae city, description of............ 332 377 Thnghae, proclamation at.

625

110 Tinghae, notices of the city.

487

373 Tinghae situation of the city 260,263

132

..373

.261

63

Shang dynasty, notices of. .....125 Tinker, a cliff steep rock.......254 Shang dynasty, name changed...130 Titles called the Meaou haou........ Shantung promontory, notice of...373 Toki, notice of the island.. Shaou Yung, the report of......676 Tower Hill, the passage... Sheihluh mun, or Sixteen passages 265 Toybook, review of a Chinese...613 Sheppy, the island of... .269||Trade, interruption of, at Canton.292 Sherry, loss of the sailor-boy.

....419||Treacherous conduct of Chinese..292 Shinkeä mun, or Singkamong.

........264 Treachery of Chinese officers....527 Ships, list of, for January 1841... 61 Treaty, preliminaries for a....... Shunche, the reign of........... .......597 Troops in and near Canton

....240 Sickness of troops at Hongkong..618 Troops, number of, in Canton...... .421 Singapore institution schools...34,53 |Trumball island anchorage.... Sinkong or Chinkeäng.... ...266 Tse dynasty, notices of the...... Soldiers of righteousness. .................350 Tsin dynasty, notices of the.. 136,142 Soldiers, character of Chinese....514 Tein dynasty, the Eastern.......143 Sovereigns, the three august.123,231 Tsin dynasty, the After..

....150 Sow Shin Ke, Records of the gods 87 Teotang, new one in Macao...

                                        .292 Spies, description of Japanese.... 15 Tung Keen Kang Muh, notice of. 7 Stead, the death of captain...

              .....291 Tung Yuen Tsă taze, a toy-book.613 Succession in Japan, rule of........... 78 Tungcha shan, notice of. Superintendents of British trade.. 58 Tungtsze Kong, the bay of. Sung dynasty, notices of the

Southern..

Twan Yungfuh, notice of. .155 Tyfoons, notices of two.

263

144

372

...378

342

.421

viii

Tyfoons at Hongkong..

USEFUL Knowledge Society.....

VESSEL, a sunken ohe, raised........ Vessels of the Japanese.. Victoria bay, description of. Victoria bay, notices of. Victoria, speech of queen.

INDEX.

.620|| Writers on Chinese affairs.

Writing apparatus, a portable. 53|| Writing of the Chinese.

641

667

646

.383

82 YANGTZE keäng, survey of". 283|| Yellow caps, the rebellion of the.. 98 380 Yen, memorial from governor....639 379 Yihking appointed generalissimo.683 290 Yihshan, imperial commissioner.234

Yihshan's memorials..

346,402 .529

WALKS, Chinese mode of making 172 Vihshan's crooked policy. Wall, notice of the Great.... 136,519 Yu Paoushan, prefect of Canton..527 Walls, Chinese mode of making..172 Yu Pooyun general.. ...503,676 Wanton use of native words.....560 Yu the Great, prosperous times of.126 War, the probreas of the.....176,688 Yuen dynasty, notices of the....154 Warren, an official let. from capt..549 Yuhwhang Shangte, sketch of...305 Whelps, a group of islands. 253|Yukeen's mémorial.. Wisdom, review of a Sack of....550||Yukeen's conduct at Chinbae.', 588 Woman, Memoir of distinguished. 138 Yukeen, notice of the death of.. 680 Woo Tsunle Leih yuen..

4 Yungching's character & writings 603 Woo Shingkeuen Tseotsae. 7 Yuyaou, a visit to the city.

W Veosnam, Mr., assistant surgeon 475 Worshiper, an idolatrous..

.438

688

.173 ZOROASTER, the religion of..... 658

.

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THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-JANUARY, 1841.- No. 1.

ART. I. Chinese history: its value and character, as viewed and exhibited by native historians; with a notice of the work entitled History Made Easy.

Who does not wish to know the full history of the Chinese? The time, the manner, and the route, by which the progenitors of the blackhaired race reached the hills of Tang-their leader and his line of ancestors, with all the knowledge, traditional or self-taught, possessed by him-the rise and progress of learning in every depart- ment, concerning things and relations, civil, social, and moral,- such as the invention of writing and the materials for executing it, the wheel and the loom, and the successive steps in bringing to per- fection the various products of the soil in both their natural and arti- ficial states-architecture and the vast varieties of handicrafts, with every branch of knowledge whereof these all are applications-schools, of every grade and class, with their numerous regulations-domestic and state policy, in their all-but-endless changes-oh, who would not like to draw back the veil that now shrouds the past and look through the vista of bygone ages, and see in their germ and progress all those things which now fill, or ought to fill, the history of the Chi- nese empire? But is this practicable? Can any one venture upon such an undertaking? For drawing a map of the empire in its ori- ginal state-for ascertaining the situation of the first little colony- and for marking the earliest advances in the arts and manufactures-- where can the historian collect his trustworthy materials? In fact, do any exist? If so, what and where? Are there monuments, or

VOL. X. NO. 1.

1

2

Q.

Chinese History.

JAN.

testimonies and witnesses of any kind, capable of being wrought into an edifice so complete that it shall exhibit the successive dynasties, as they rise one after another, in full relief and in their true propor- tions? For completing all that the most curious can desire, doubtless the requisite materials cannot be found; but with our own present very limited knowledge of Chinese antiquities, it is quite impossible to say how much can be obtained, or what can be achieved. Yet surely a faithful exhibition of whatever does exist, bearing the stamp of authenticity, will not, cannot fail, to interest the reader, and there- by secure in behalf of Sinim a degree of consideration not hitherto or at present enjoyed.

On a work so arduous, it were impossible to enter without being impressed with a deep sense of its greatness-too great ever to be accomplished except by the united strength of many. Brief and mis- cellaneous notes are all that we dare to promise; and for the imperfec- tion of these, we must crave the most candid indulgence of the critic. A complete history of China, from the earliest times, may be easily pictured in fancy; but in reality to draw forth the full outline, collect and arrange the materials, is a work far beyond the grasp of any single hand: our notes, however, though they must be brief and mis- cellaneous, shall usually, if not in all cases, be derived from original

sources.

With a catalogue of the imperial library, 四庫書目,

Sze Foo Shoo Muk, by our side, for a guide, references can be made to the best authors; and these it will be our endeavor as far as prac- ticable to consult. Sometimes we shall introduce translations, and sometimes analyses may be substituted, according as the one or the other may seem most likely to meet the wishes of our readers.

The Chinese empire-unsurpassed in its antiquity and almost un- rivalled in its extent and resources-now invites our attention.

Na- tive historians,-who have studied with the best advantages for arriving at the truth-denying to the empire that duration which weaker and more credulous minds have conjectured-assign limits for it which do not much differ from the chronology of our own inspir- ed records. What these native historians have written, it shall be our endeavor to ascertain and to state. In our earlier volumes some short papers have been given-sketching an outline of Chinese history; and in our last volume, the reader has in his possession valuable biographical notices, by Rémusat, of some of the most eminent Chi- nese historians of ancient or of modern times. The writings of Szema Tseën, and those of other early historians, we shall have oc casion frequently to consult; but we have here first to introduce to

1841.

Chinese History.

3'

the notice of our readers a popular work of modern date: it is the

     A & Kang Keen E Che Luk, or History Made Easy. The character and value of Chinese history, generally, as viewed by native historians, are exhibited in an Introduction and Preface to this work more fairly than can be done by any equally": brief remarks of our own. And our readers, we presume, will not be displeased with these papers, although cumbered with the disadvan- tages almost inseparable from mere translations. The first paper is a short Introduction, written by an uncle of the principal author, of which the following is a translation:

Introduction.

"Succeeding the Annals written by Confucius

Chun

Tsew] and subsequently, in one grand whole illustrating the rise and fall of states, no work is superior to the Kang Muh; indeed the incidents comprised therein are so numerous, extending over a period of several thousand years, that the reader seems in an ocean, wide-spreading and boundless. Compilers-following brevity, par- ing off the redundancies-celebrated hands, have appeared in crowds; but their nice words and profound thoughts, the meaning of their lan- guage, the reality of their statements, are so imperfectly and obscurely expressed, that even those who are the most fond of learning and of profound thinking, with minds fitted to comprehend what they read, are yet without means of forming a connected chain of the events recorded. And this they are unable to do even after they have ex- amined other books and consulted their friends and teachers. Being myself ever fond of investigating the great principles of the Annals by Confucius, I have always found delight in perusing the entire Kang Muh (or Historical Principia). During the ten years and upwards that I held office in Shense, Szechuen, Shanse, and Honan, so completely was I engrossed with public affairs, that very few were the days afforded for the pleasures of historical reading. The mo. ments of leisure that occasionally occurred were insufficient for the study of entire histories; and of the compilations, seized at intervals for reperusal, I was only able to comprehend their general import.

66

Formerly my relative, the honorable Lewtsun, a member of the Board of War, rising from the office of lieutenant-governor in Fuh- keen to the governorship of Kwangtung and Kwangse, with Tsootsae my nephew, having collected the productions of many ancient and modern worthies of celebrity, compiled a work which they called £ x H It Koo Wan Kwan Che, or A Complete View of

Chinese History.

JAN.

Ancient Learning [the Ne Plus Ultra of Aucient Lore]. This ny relative published, with an introduction of his own. Already it has circulated through the whole empire: as a corrector of youth, and as a work servicable to those of more advanced learning, its merits are neither few nor small.

1

"In the spring of this year I received an imperial commission, appointing me lieutenant-governor of Yunnan; and Tsootsae with his friends the Chows, Tsingchuen and Singjõ, having prepared a draft of their work, entitled History Made Easy, sent it far away to me. Upon a cursory perusal of its-leading parts, I found it modeled after the Kang Muh, as compiled by Wang and Lew, with brevity and diffuseness, elegancë and plainness, blended in an admirable manner. Selecting a chapter at random and carefully perusing it, I found that no principles had been omitted, no books left unconsulted; so that the readers, without examining other writings or consulting their friends and teachers, could comprehend it and form a connected chain of events. And I was also pleased to find that I now under- stood in the minutest details that of which before I had only obtained general ideas. The terms "Made Easy," are fitly and correctly applied to it; and as a corrector of youth and a work servicable to those of more advanced learning, its merits far surpass the Koo Wan Kwan Che. Will not its popularity, therefore, excel in an equal ratio? I quickly directed its publication, having prepared for it this Introduction.

    "Written by Tsunle Leihyen, uncle to the [principal] author, lieutenant-governor of Yunnan, assistant director of military affairs in Keënchang and Peihtseě and of the military stores in Szechuøn and Kweichow, and one of the principal members of the Censorate, on an auspicious day, in the spring of 1712.

(L. S) "Seal of Woo Tsunle Leihyen."

Here ends the commendatory essay of the patron of Woo Tsoo- tsae, Chow Tsingchuen, and Chow Singjo, the three joint authors, or rather compilers, of the History Made Easy. Immediately after the Introduction, we have from Woo Tsqotsae the following-

Preface.

"When a youth I had a strong inclination to read historical works, but had advanced even to old age, without having read through a single one: and why? Because, being naturally very dull, and unable quickly to comprehend what I read, it was, even while trying to understand it, suddenly forgotten. Moreover, my know-

1841.

Chinese History.

1

ledge of words being very limited, it was constantly necessary to consult authorities. Besides, early disabled by diseased feet, I had no mind for the study of the classics and general literature; while of cities and towns, of mountains and rivers, not one was visited. Although possessed of a strong inclination to read history, I was yet like the deaf devoid of hearing, and like the blind devoid of sight; therefore ere the reading a single chapter was completed, I suddenly became disgusted and wearied. This was the reason why I never read through a single work. Still, although I possessed a strong in- clination to read history, and desired to study a multitude of books for perfecting my inquiries, and to visit all the noted hills and great rivers for the extension of any observations, I deemed it impractica- ble. Hence I was led to inquire, what method of reading I should adopt in order to obtain the accomplishment of my wishes.

"

Always I have observed that those who found delight in history, were for the most part far more intelligent than other men, capable of compassing much at a glauce, never forgetting what they had once read, and without any labored effort readily digesting what they had acquired; hence, when they read historical works, they must needs seek for such as were ample; and when they discoursed there- on they must necessarily be inclined to such as were profound; but those who are stupid, like myself, should take that history which is concise rather than those which are ample, and that which is plain rather than such as are profound; then perchance they may be able to obtain that to which they aspire.

"The two Chows, Tsingchuen and Singjo, were the friends of my earliest years, my youthful fellow-students, engaged with me in the study of history. In the 43d year of Kanghe (a. d. 1705), having compiled from the Kang Muh a complete work, they submitted it to me as a model for historical reading; and immediately in conjunction. with them I engaged in its revision, which without interruption from the winter's cold or the summer's rain was continued for six succes- sive years.

   "Displeased with the diffuse style of the manuscript, we aimed to select what was most important and to pare off what was redundant; and anxious to remove all obscurity, we labored to bring forward the general heads and to present them in the most' perspicuous order.: Of the facts which were recorded therein we diligently searched for the origin and source, carefully describing and attentively explaining them, endeavoring to make them as distinctly visible as the finger laid in the palm of the hand, so as not to burden the mind or oppress the

+

6

Chinese History.

JAN.

memory.

       The geography has been traced in such well defmed lines, and the ancient names so compared with the modern, that the whole seem as reality before your eyes, without shadow of error in any way whatsoever. The rivers, too, with their names and all their turnings and windings, are described with faithful precision. Obscure and difficult phraseology, and terms that are unusual or obsolete, are marked and pointed with such clearness and distinctness, that they may be read without impediment or hesitancy.. The writing of the: characters for words) and their words have been attended to and inarked with every possible care; so as to avoid following and perpe- tuating former error and mistakes such as writing loo for t yu, hae for she, &c. If in every place required, notes and explanations were to be introduced, they would be multiplied to an indefinite extent; their entire omission would be a capital defect, their too frequent repetition cumbersome; hence a system of refer- ences has been adopted, which may serve to give life and animation, and add spirit and unity to the whole, not unlike the blood-vessels that penetrate every part of the human body! Such, as here deline- ated, is the method of studying history, which, with grateful emotions for its completion, I now submit to the reader.

My former condition of inability to read through a single work while possessed of a strong inclination to study history, and the impracticability of obtaining such a method of reading as I desired- obtained at length by the completion of the work compiled by my two friends,-although unable to read a multitude of books for the perfect- ing of my inquiries or to traverse noted hills and great rivers for the extension of my information-compared with that previous state of having ears devoid of hearing and eyes devoid of sight, differs in a very great degree! Yes, at length I perceive that the disinclination for historical reading, and the inability to understand discourses on this subject, do not result entirely from poor natural endowments and bad masters, but rather from the defective works of compilers; constructed in such a manner that they are unfitted to direct the inclination or enlighten the understanding.

看看

· My two friends desired me to publish our work without delay. To this I replied, that it was not well to give it so hastily to the public, urging that it should be delayed for further correction, so as to allow time to supply its defects-permitting it to be used only as a text-book for the children in private schools. Unexpectedly at this moment my friend Choo Shinghwae sent me the records of the Ming dynasty, which he had copied out in a complete work. These I immediately.

1841.

Chinese History.

compiled, that they might be added to the other in case of its publi- cation,-which, after being kept under review for another whole year, began to assume a fiuished shape. Again my two friends desired that the work, introduced by a preface from an able master, should be published, believing that it would obtain a wide circulation. I replied, that it was yet without that surpassing erudition which could give it celebrity and fix with sufficient accuracy the rise and fall of a hundred generations, and that moreover it but faintly portrayed the merits of those it describes, and but poorly exhibited their achieve- ments and their failures. In all the minor points of style-such as the structure of sentences, the form and sounds of the characters, &c., it has only a mediocrity of merit. Though it may obtain a place in the most obscure schools and libraries, celebrity it cannot have, nor be expected to acquire a lasting fame. Being published under the terms "Made Easy," how many are there, except those who are as stupid as myself, who will not be offended by its conciseness, and who will not laugh at its humble style?

"Written by Woo Shingkeuen Tsootsae at the hall Chihmŭh in Shanyin, on the 15th day of 7th month in the spring of the 50th year of the reign of Kanghe.

(L. S.) "Seal of Woo Shingkeuen Tsootsae."

The History Made Easy comprises a chronological series of events, extending from the earliest times of Chinese history to the close of the Ming dynasty. The copy before us is bound in 36 vols., the whole being divided into 112 sections or keuen, giving a total of nearly 8000-pages. Immediately after the preface, introduced above, the compilers have given in detail the rules, ten in number, by which they have been guided in preparing their work for publi- cation.

L

The 1st has reference to the mode of compiling their work. A general history ought to the studied throughout, from beginning to end; but men of ordinary capacities are not capable of performing such a task; hence the necessity for an abridgment of general his- tory-which ought to be prepared only with the greatest care, so as to preserve unity, and by giving brevity to the narrative render every object and every subject more lucid. This the compilers have en- deavored to effect. Their work is, for the most part, an abridgment of one of the Tung Keën, or "General Mirrors" of history-appar- ently that of Choo, the celebrated commentator of the Four Books, and is called

Tung Keen Kang Mũh.

Chinese History.

The 24 has reference to the arrangement of the

Muh, in order to give method and order to their work.

JAN.

Kung and the

The Kang

糊 are the heads or the principal parts of the history; they form a brief text of the whole work, down to the close of the Yuen dynasty. The Muh are the subordinate parts of the history; they are to the

Kang (so the Chinese say) what the eyes are to the the strands are to the rope, of which it is composed. a Kang without a Muh; vice versâ, not.

head, or what

There may be

In the first part

The 3d has reference to the arrangement adopted by the coin- pilers in the subordinate part of their work. down to the reign of

Weilee of the Chow dynasty, and also in the last part of it, after the fall of the Yuen family, our compilers do not employ the Muh;

they use

Kang and

in

the first part, prior to Weilee's reign, Ke; in the last part, after the rise of the

Ming line, they presume not to employ either Kang Muh or Kang Ke, but content themselves with a plain and simple narrative, with- out any of these divisions.

The 4th explains their system of references, adopted with the special purpose of rendering more easy the reading of history "by Inen of only ordinary capacities," like themselves. Having divided their work into sections (112 as specified above), and numbered the leaves of each section, the references are easy, and need no explana- tion from us. References in this manner, so common in our own, are seldom made by the Chinese in their books-for, as they inti- mate, it argues a want of intellect and a bad memory.

    The 5th explains their mode of referring to, and specifying, the original works from which their materials have been derived. This they have done to enable the reader, whenever disposed, to refer to those authorities, either to see that there be no error in the abridg- ment, or to make himself more fully acquainted with the subject in hand.

    The 6th explains their manner of treating the subject of geogra- phy-which is simply that of specifying the place, by its modern 'name, where each respective event occurred,→for if the reader of history is ignorant of the place, "the narrative will be to him like a dream.'

    The 7th explains the new mode of punctuation, employed by the compilers.

         The Chinese usually omit all marks of punctuation; but in the History Made Easy, not only is the whole of the text di- vided into sentences and clauses by appropriate marks, but the good

1841.

Chinese History.

and bad qualities of men and things are indicated--the first by white

marks or small circles, the second by black marks.

The 8th describes their use of marks for indicating sentences or

periods, and the clauses or the subdivisions of periods.

They say,

詞住而意亦住者句用小圈於字之旁

46.

tsze choo, urh e yik choo chay, wei keu; yung seaou keuen yu tsze che pang; i. e. a complete proposition, where the sense also is com- plete, makes a period (or sentence); and it is indicated by a small round mark placed at the side of the word (where it terminates):"

訶住而意未住者為讀用小圈於字之中

tsze choo, urh e we choo chay, wei tow; yung seaou keuen yu tsze che chung; i. e. "a complete proposition, where the sense is not complete, makes a clause; and it is indicated by a small round mark placed between the words."

    The 9th explains and illustrates the care which has been taken to secure a correct text,- a particular in which Chinese typography is exceedingly defective, especially in all books of light reading.

    The 10th and last explains and illustrates the care taken to mark the different readings of the same character when it may chance to have different meanings, distinguishable only by different sounds.

Immediately following these ten rules is a long list of distinguish- ed authors and literati, 178 in number, beginning with Szema Tseen of the Western Han, and closing with one of the later worthies of the Ming dynasty. Their principal works are also given, in notes attach- ed to their respective names. The list is a good one, and might not, perhaps, be out of place in the Chinese Repository; but in case of publication, it would require original notes, which at present we are unable to prepare-and this must be our apology for omitting it.

Next to this list of authors, we have a catalogue of sovereigns, from Pwankoo to Tsungching or Chwangleě, whose reign closed with the late dynasty, A. D. 1643. This list of sovereigns, if practica- ble, shall appear in our next number. After it, the compilers proceed with the main body of their work, commencing with

koo, who, according to Chinese tradition, yu she, "first appeared in our world."

Pwan- show chuk

VOL. X. NO, 1.

B.

10

Notices of Japan, No. V.

JAN.

ART. II. Notices of Japan, No. V.: political state of the empire,

classes of people, laws, prisons, &c.

    THE government of Japan is supposed to be, like that of most oriental states, despotic; and so in fact it is, although the received idea of despotism requires some little modification to render it perfectly applicable to the sovereign ruling authority of Japan. We must especially abstract from that idea one of its great- est evils, and one which is habitually, whether or not justly, conceived to he inseparable from, if not an essential part of, despotism-namely, its arbitrariness. Liberty is, indeed, unknown in Japan; it exists not even in the common inter- course of man with man; and the very idea of freedom, as distinguished from rude license, could, perhaps, hardly be made intelligible to a native of that extra- ordinary empire. But, on the other hand, no individual in the whole nation, high or low, is above the law; both sovereigns, the supreme mikado, and his lieu- tenant-master the siogoun, seeming to be as completely enthralled by Japanese despotism as the meanest of their subjects, if not more so. If it be asked, how despotism can exist, unless wielded by a despotic sovereign, either monarch, oligarchy, or democracy, which last may be interpreted demagogue; the answer is, that at least at this present time, law and established custom, unvarying, known to all, and pressing upon all alike, are the despots of Japan. Scarcely an action of life is exempt from their rigid, iuflexible, and irksome control; but he who complies with their dictates has no arbitrary power, no capricious tyranny to apprehend.

     Japan is a feudal empire, according to the very spirit of feudality. The mikudo, as the successor and representative of the gods, is the nominal proprietor, as well as sovereign, of the realm; the siogoun, his deputy or vicegerent. His dominions are divided, with the exception of the portion reserved to the crown, into princi- palities, held in vassalage by their respective hereditary princes. Under them, the land is parceled out amongst the nobility, who hold their hereditary · estates by military service.

     The utter impotence for good or for evil of the nominally all-powerful mikado has been sufficiently shown in a former paper, as also the perpetual thralldom in which he is held by the very honors paid him. It is, probably, the ever-recurring annoyance of these troublesome honors, that still induces the mikado frequently to abdicate in favor of a son or daughter. If even by this step they gain very little that can be called liberty, they at least escape from their taşk of diurnal immobility, and are no longer, it may be hoped, actually restrained from all lo- comotion.

The next personage to be noticed, in speaking of the political condition of Ja- pan, is the mikado's vicegerenț, the siogoun, or kubo, the names being indifferently given him, without any clear explanation of diversity of signification between them.* Klaproth, however, indicates siogoun as the more appropriate title. This * [In the note on page 305 of vol. IX, the term kubo is applied to the mikado at Miyako. It is however more commonly applied to the siogoun at Yedo, but an examination of the Chinese characters employed for this title shows that or the lord's palace,' might sometimes be applied to the mikado without

公方

L

committing a very glaring blunder, though it is no doubt incorrect to apply that term to thể mikado though he is known by it in some parts of Kiusiu.]

F

F:

i...

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. V.

*

11

supposed virtually-absolute sovereign, who is still so called by many writers, we find, upon carefully examining the details given by those same writers, to be nearly as destitute of real power, as much secluded from the public eye, and en- meshed in the inextricable web of law and custom, as his nominal master.

The siogoun* scarcely ever stirs beyond the precincts of his spacious palace inclosure; even his religious pilgrimages, and his journeys to Miyako to do homage, or in Japanese phrase, make his compliment, to the mikado, being now performed by a deputy. The business of government is represented as wholly unworthy of engaging his thoughts and his time is said to be so skillfully oc- cupied, as scarcely to leave him leisure, had he the wish, to attend to the affairs of the empire.

The mere official duties of ceremony imposed upon the siogoun-the obser- vances of etiquette, the receiving the homage or compliment, and the presents of those permitted and bound to offer both, upon frequently recurring festival days and the like-are represented as sufficient fully to occupy three individuals. These important ceremonies are regulated and conducted by a host of courtiers, holding what we should call household offices, and always about the person of the siogoun. But lest any notion of degradation in this actual nullity, any percep- tion of being, like the mikado, but the shadow of a sovereign, should germinate in the imperial breast, or be planted there by some ambitious favorite, both the siogoun and his court are constantly surrounded and watched by the innumera- ble spies of the council of state, which now constitutes the real executive power. The members of the council of state are differently given by different writers; but the best authority makes them thirteen-to wit, five councillors of the first class, uniformly selected from the princes of the empire, and eight of the second class, selected from the nobility. Other ministers are mentioned who do not appear to be comprehended in the council; these are the temple lords, who seem to be laymen, though the actual regulators of all religious matters, and the two ministers, called by some writers commissioners for foreign affairs, by others lieutenants of police, or heads of the spies; and, indeed, the concerns of Japan with foreigners should naturally belong rather to the police department than to any especial minister. The councillors of both classes are almost uniformly chosen from amongst the descendants of those princes and nobles who distin- guished themselves as partisans of the founder of the present siogoun dynasty, during the civil war that preceded, and the intrigues that assisted his usurpation. Over the council presides a councillor of the highest class, and he is invariably a descendant of Ino Kamon no kami, a minister who rendered an essential service to the same usurper's posterity. This president is entitled Governor of the Em- pire: and his office, if resembling that of an European premier, or rather of an oriental vizier, appears even to transcend both in authority. All the other councillors and every department of administration are subordinate to him; no affair can be undertaken without his concurrence; and a notion is said to prevail in Japan, that he is individually empowered to depose a siogoun who should go- vern ill, and to substitute another, of course the legal heir, in his place; but this is manifestly a mistaken or confused conception of a power vested in the whole council, though possibly exercised by their president, which will presently be explained, and which it will then appear is not held gratuitously.

* Fischer.

+ Siebold.

12

Notices of Japan, No. V.

JAN.

This council of state transacts the whole business of government ; decides upon ́every measure, sanctions or reverses every sentence of death pronounced by an -imperial governor, appoints to all efficient offices, corresponds with the local authorities; and upon the occurrence in any part of Japan of any affair in which the course to be pursued is not clearly marked out by law or precedent, must be 'consulted, and pronounce its decree, before a single step be taken by even the highest local officers. Each councillor has his own specific department, for which, in the common routine, be alone is responsible; but the measures of which, upon any important point, must be discussed, and adopted or rejected, by the whole body of his colleagues, headed by their president.

When any proposition has been duly investigated and determined upon by the -council, the resolution taken is laid before the siogoun for his sanction. This usually follows, as a matter of course, nine times in ten without the monarch's even inquiring what he is called upon to confirm. But if, by some extraordinary accident, he should chance to trouble himself about the concerns of his empire, and, either upon rational grounds or through caprice, withhold the sanction re- quested, the proceeding consequent upon the difference of opinion between the monarch and his ministers is prescribed by law. The measure is not at once abandoned, as might be imagined by persons thinking of the siogoun as a despotic sovereign; it is, on the contrary, referred to the arbitration of three princes of -the blood, the nearest kinsmen of the monarch, his probable heir, in default of a son, being one, if of sufficient age. The sentence of these arbitrators, whatever it be, and whatever be the question submitted to them, is not only final, but fraught with important, and, to European minds, painful results.

J

Should the verdict be in favor of the council, the siogoun has no alternative; be may not revoke his previous refusal, and yield to the united judgment of his ministers and the arbitrators, but must immediately abdicate in favor of his son or other legal heir. Such an abdication, for various causes, is an act so constantly recurring, that it bears a specific name, inkio; and a regular habitation for the abdicating siogoun is as established and essential a provision of the Yedo court,

· as a jointure-house for a queen-dowager in this country. To this inferior abnde the siogoun, against whose opinion the arbitrators have decided, instantly retires, - and his successor takes possession of the vacated palace.

Should the arbitrators pronounce in favor of the monarch, the consequences are yet more serious, inasmuch as the minister who proposed and most strongly urged the obnoxious act, if not every member of the council, headed by the president--whose supreme authority should involve responsibility--is under the necessity of committing suicide, according to the Japanese mode, by ripping him- self up. When to this always possible, if not often recurring, necessity, is added, that the whole council, collectively and individually, is surrounded by spies known and unknown, employed by superiors, inferiors, rivals, and each other, it will be evident that these seemingly absolute ministers cannot venture upon the - infraction of any law, or upon any deed of violence, of rapacity, or of arbitrary tyranny, except with the sword of Damocles, it may be said, literally as well as metaphorically, hanging over their heads.

1

    Turn we now to the vassal princes of the empire, whose power appears to be the chief object of apprehension to the siogoun and his council.

    There were originally sixty-eight principalities, hereditary, but subject to for- feiture in case of treason. Of this penalty, advantage was taken by successive

1840.

Notices of Japan, No. V

13

    usurpers during the civil wars, to weaken apprehended rivals by the subdivision of their dominions. The consequence of these proceedings is, that there are now said to be 804 distinct administrations, including great and small principalities, lordships, and imperial towns.

     The princes, called kok-shyu [or kokushi], or lords of the land, are of two grades, the dai-mio ('very much honored'), who hold their principalities directly of the mikado, and the sai-mio ('much honored'), who hold theirs of the siogown. Both dai-mio and sai-mio are nominally absolute in their respective states. They go. vern with all the forms and organization of actual sovereignty, and each, by means of his noble vassals, maintains his own army; but they are entangled in a net of suzerain policy, which disables even the mightiest from attempting aught against the siogoun or his council; and so completely and annoyingly are they controlled, alike in their public duties and in their private enjoyments, that in no class of Japanese is the practice of (inkio) abdicating in favor of a son so pre- valent as amongst these grandees. A reigning prince of advanced age is never seen in Japan.

     The actual administration of every principality is conducted, not by the prince himself or ministers of his choice, but by two go-karó, or secretaries, appointed by the Yedo council, the one to reside in the principality, the other at Yedo, where the family of the absent secretary is detained in hostage for his fidelity. These double appointments extend to all high provincial posts, and it is only by the regular annual alternation of situation of the two colleagues that men holding such posts ever see their families. Nor are the secretaries, thus obtruded on their nominal master, allowed to act as their own or the prince's judgment may dictate. They are, in fact, the mere delegates of the council, whose orders are transmitted by the secretary at Yedo to the secretary at the capital of the prin- cipality.

     Either every alternate year, or the half of every year, the princes are compelled to spend at Yedo, and that is the only time during which they can enjoy the society of their famílies, there kept as hostages. During their residence in their own dominious, they are not only separated from those families, illegitimate as well as legitimate, but strictly prohibited from holding any species of intercourse, innocent or criminal; with the other sex. The ceremonious observances that fill ́their time, as the siogoun's, are prescribed from Yedo. They may not appear without their palace-walls, except at stated times and according to stated forms; nay, the very hours of their down-lying aud up-rising are imperatively preördain- ed by the council. That no infraction of these intolerable restrictions can escape the knowledge of the council through the instrumentality of their spies, every prince and his household are well aware; but it is said that into some of the prin cipalities those spies penetrate at the hazard of their lives; from one, Satzuma;* hardly any are said ever to return, and the Yedo government, never acknowledg- 'ing them as its servants, never inquires into or avenges their fate. ⠀

...

But all this does not afford sufficient security in the opinion of government.

+

* Doef · [This principality lies in the southern part of Kiusiu, and its prince is one of the most powerful in the empire. He monopolizes the whole trade be- tween Lewchew and Japan, and governs Lewchew and the intermediate islands by his own officers, and has the reputation of allowing an underhand trade with the Chinese in a few articles.]

!

14

Notices of Japan. No. V

JAN.

Lest the princes should, even at the sacrifice of all that is dear to them, confederate against the siegoen, neighboring princes are not allowed to reside simultaneous- ly in their respective dominions, unless, indeed, ill-will should be known to exist between them, in which case their mutual jealousies are sedulously fomented, by affording them occasions of collision. But the plan chiefly relied upon for insur- ing their subjection is to keep them dependent by poverty. To reduce them to the required state of indigence, many means are employed.

     Nearly the whole military duty of the empire is thrown upon the princes; they are required to maintain troops rateably, according to the extent of their domin- ¡ons, and to furnish even those required for the imperial provinces, the admin- ¡stration of which is avowedly in the hands of the Yedo council. Thus, at Naga- saki, which during the last two centuries has been the only seat of foreign com- merce, the whole profit of which is devoured by the siegeus, council, governors, and their understrappers, and which for that very purpose was dismembered from a principality, and coverted into an imperial city, the duty of guarding the bay falls altogether upon the princes of Fizen and Chikuzen, whose dominions the bay divides. The two centuries of profound peace, which Japan bas enjoyed since the adoption of the exclusive system, bave naturally lessened the need of troops. The consequent diminution of expense is felt to be a great object; but neither the princes nor their subjects are the persons destined to profit by the saving thus effected. The number of troops to be maintained by each prince is, indeed in just proportion to that originally allotted them; but the sum which the troops so dispensed with would have cost them, they are required to pay into the treasury at Yedo.

    Other modes of impoverishment there are, to which, when necessary, recourse is bad. One is that of obliging the princes to display extravagant pomp and magniñcence during their residence at Yedo, involving them in every imaginable expense. Should these ways of draining his exchequer prove insufficient with some extraordinarily opulent or prudent prince, two resources are kept in reserve, which have never yet failed. One of these is the stogoun's inviting himself to dinner with his inconveniently wealthy vassal, at his Yedo palace; the other, the obtaining for him, from the mikado, some highly coveted post at the daïri. The expense of duly entertaining the siegoun, or of receiving the investiture of an exalted datri office, is such as no Japanese fortune has yet proved able to stand.

     Of the lordships, it may suffice to say, that they seem to be merely very inferior principalities, the government of which is managed and controlled in a manner perfectly analogous to that just described.

    The provinces and towns retained as imperial domains are administered by imperial governors, appointed by the state council at Yedo, and whose fidelity is similarly secured. To every government, two governors are appointed; one of whom resides at Yedo, the other at bis post, his family remaining as hostages at court, and he himself being subjected to the same restrictions and annoyances as the princes in their principalities; the two governors annually relieve each other in their government. Their authority in their governments is equal to that of the princes, or rather of the princes' secretaries in the principalities; except that a governor cannot inflict capital punishment until the sentence has been ratified at Yedo, whilst the princes may freely exercise this act of sovereignty. But neither prince nor governor likes to pronounce sentence of death, lest the

1840.

Notices of Japan, No. V.

15

   perpetration of crimes requiring such punishment should be imputed to conni- vance, negligence, or general mal-administration on their part.

    The governor is assisted by an official establishment, appointed by the council of state, most of the members of which are subject to the same restrictions as himself; and their number would be incredible, were we not told that the principle of Japanese government is to employ the most persons possible of the higher and middle classes. The official establishment of Nagasaki, the only one of which the Dutch writers have personal knowledge, may be worth giving as a sample.*

    The gevernor has under him two secretaries, and a number of go-banyosi,† or superior police-officers, to each of whom is allotted a department, for which he is responsible, and a number of banyosi, or under police-officers, to execute his orders. All these are subject to the governor's authority; but the following officers are wholly independent of him: the treasurer, a sort of district chancellor of the exchequer, who is second in rank to the governor, and has an accountant to assist him in his labors; and the military commandant of town and district, the third in rank. Of all those official persons-the banyosi, who are of a very inferior degree, excepted-only the treasurer and the military commandant are permitted to have their families at Nagasaki. It is needless to repeat, that all these are surrounded by spies.

    And here, having again occasion to mention the ever-recurring spies, it may be worth while to pause, in order to say a word or two further upon this mainspring of Japanese government. Their Japanese name of metsuke is interpreted by Dr. Von Siebold to mean 'steady looker,' or observer; by the Dutch writers, 'lookers across. They are of every rank in life, from the lowest to the highest beneath that of a prince, since even the proudest noblemen undertake the base office, either in obedience to commands which it were death-that is to say, imperative self-slaughter-to disobey, or impelled by the hope of succeeding to the lucrative post of him in whom they can detect guilt. Those spies at Nagasaki, who are subject to the governor, are entitled to demand on audience of him at any hour of the day or night; and woe betide him, should he, by postponing their admission, incur the risk of their reports being transmitted to Yedo otherwise than through himself. But there are other spies, not officially known, upon himself; and this, which notwithstanding the constant mention of spies as official public characters, it is self-evident must be the case, is further proved by the following anecdote of the success of a high-born spy. The incident did not, indeed, fall under the personal observation of the Dutch factory, inasmuch as it occurred in another and remote government, Matsmai; but it is given upon good authority, and is general in its application.

44

     · Complaints† of the governor of this province had reached the court, which took its own measures for ascertaining their truth. The agreeable tidings that the governor was displaced were speedily received; but it was not without astonisht. ment that the capital, Matsmai, recognized in his successor a journeyman

* Doeff and Meylan.

    † [Go.banyosi is a term of general designation; go means imperial or govern- mental, and is applied to whatever appertains to the government; ban means to watch, to judge, to oversee (a ban no iye or ban-ya, is a guard-house); and ai is officer; so that a go-banyosi is a governmental overseeing officer. These officers are perhaps confined to imperial cities like Nagasaki, for none of our informants have ever heard of such a title.]

Meylan.

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tobacco-cutter, who, some months before, had suddenly disappeared from his master's shop. The journeyman tobacco-cutter had been personated by a noble of the land, who had assumed that disguise in order to exercise the office of a spy, for which he had been sent to Matsmai by the court."

To return to Nagasaki. The officers hitherto mentioned are all governmental officers; but the affairs of the town itself, its own police, &c., are managed, not by them, but by separate municipal authorities-to wit, a council of nine, some, thing akin to a mayor and aldermen, but holding their offices hereditarily. The resolutions of this council must, however, be unanimous ; if not, they are submit. ted to the governor. The municipal council employ, as their ministers and ser- vants, a regiment of ottone and kashira, to whose superintendence the peace and good conduct of every street in the town is committed; a superintendence much facilitated by closing the gates of every street at a certain hour of the even- ing, after which no one can pass in or out, without an especial permission from his kashira or ottona.

But all this organization of watchfulness does not satisfy the care, despotic or paternal, of the government, or perhaps we should say of the institutions, for the safety of the people. Every town and village in the realm is parceled out into lots of five houses, the heads of which are made answerable for each other; each is bound to report to his kashira every and any misdemeanor, irregularity, or even unusual occurrence, in any of his four neighbors' houses, which from the kashira is transmitted through the oltona to the municipal council; so that it may be said, not that one half, but that each half, of the nation is made a spy upon the other half, or that the whole nation is a spy upon itself. The householders are further bound to exercise the same vigilance over the portion of the street before their houses; any disaster that may there happen, in a chance broil among stran- gers, being imputed to the negligence of the adjoining householders. Any neglect of interference or report is punished, according to the occasion, with fine, stripes, imprisonment or arrest in the offender's own house; which last is a very different thing in Japan from what it is in other countries. In Japan, the whole family of the man sentenced to domiciliary arrest is cut off from all intercourse with the external world; the doors and windows of the house being boarded up, to insure the seclusion. The offender is suspended during the whole time, if in office, from his office and salary; if a tradesman or artisan, from exercising his trade; and, moreover, no man in the house may shave, a disgrace as well as an inconvenience. How the subsistence of the family is provided for during this long period of inac. tion and non-intercourse, does not appear.

One consequence or necessary concomitant of this system of mutual espial is, that a man should have some power of choosing the neighbors whom he is to watch and be watched by. Accordingly, no one can change his residence without a certificate of good conduct from the neighbors he wishes to leave, and permis. sion from the inhabitants of the street to which he would remove to come amongst them. The result of this minutely ramified and complete organization is said to be that, the whole empire affording no hiding-place for a criminal, there is no country where so few crimes against property are committed; and doors may be left unbarred, with little fear of robbery.

The population of Japan, which is variously estimated by different writers at from 15,000,000 to 40,000,000 of souls, is divided, if not exactly into castes, yet into nearly hereditary classes. It is held to be the duty of every individual to

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remain through life in the class in which he was born, unless exalted by some very peculiar and extraordinary circumstance. To endeavor to rise above his station is somewhat discre:litable; to sink below it utterly so. These classes aré eight.*

    Class 1 is that of the kokushi, or princes, including both dai.miỏ and sai-mið, whose condition has been already sufficiently explained.

    Class 2 is that of the kie-nin; literally, noblemen,' These noblemen, as be- fore said, hold all their lands in flief, by military service, due to the several princes, or, in the imperial provinces, to the siogoun. The number of warriors due from each nobleman is regulated by the size and value of his estate; and they provide for the performance of his duty by the under-granting, or stubinfeudation of their lands. From this noble class are selected the ministers who are not princes, the great offices of state, governors, &c., &c.; and the universal passion for these offices serves, in great measure, to keep the nobility dependent upon the court, but not sufficiently so to satisfy the jealousy of government. Many of the precau- tions employed towards the princes are likewise resorted to with respect to the nobles. They are not, indeed, deprived of their families, except when holding provincial office; but they are compelled to spend a considerable part of every year at Yedo, and are there required to display a magnificence, which, if not quite equal to that exacted from the princes, is so far beyond their means, that it doubly weakens them; first, by actually impoverishing, and secondly, by inducing them to lessen the number of their military vassals, in order to derive a larger income from their estates. In the profound peace Japan has for two centuries enjoyed, this is probably esteemed safe policy.

Class 3 consists of the priesthood of Japan, Sintoo and Budhist alike. Of these, it well be more convenient to speak in an account of the religion of Japan. Class 4 is that of the samorai, or military, and consists of the vassals of the nobility. The service by which they hold their lands is now, and has long been, if not altogether nominal, yet very easy, as they have only to furnish troops sufficient to give guards and splendor to the courts of the mikado, the siogoun, and the princes, to preserve internal tranquillity, and to watch the coast. In former times, prior to the closing of the empire against foreigners, and confining every native within its limits, the Japanese soldiery are said to have been well known and highly valued throughout Asia, where, as soldiers of fortune, they served every potentate and state willing to engage them. That practice is now forbidden; and their military prowess must have died away, since it has had no field of action. But still, this class, useless as it may now appear, ranks in ge- neral esteem next to their feudal superiors. The siogoun is said to maintain, besides the samorai of the imperial provinces, a body of armed men called the dozin, in- cluded in this class, but considered very inferior to the samerai, and bearing more affinity to the French gendarmery than to regular troops.

    It should be observed, whilst upon this subject, that captain Golownin, in his account of his captivity in Japan, says the imperial soldiers were so superior in rank and appearance to those of the princes, that he at first mistook the imperial privates for officers. No writer of the Dutch factory mentions any such differ- ence; and generally speaking, Golownin's situation-a prisoner in a remote pro- vince, conversing only through rude and ignorant Kurile interpreters, or by

Meylan.

*

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teaching his visitors Russian-rendered him so obnoxious to error, that when he differs from those who have better, though still very imperfect, means of informa- tion, his testimony can have little weight; but upon this subject, having been almost wholly guarded by military, it is at least possible that he should be better informed than upon most others, and that such a difference may exist. These four classes constitute the higher orders of Japanese, and enjoy the especial, the envied privilege of wearing two swords, and the hakama, or petticoat- trowsers.

Class 5 comprehends the upper portion of the middle orders of society.

it con- sists of inferior officials and professional-that is to say, medical-men; persons deemed respectable, or, to borrow an expressive French phrase, comme il faut, and permitted to wear one sword and the trowsers.

    Cass 6 comprises the lower, or trading portion of the middle orders; as mer. chants, and the more considerable shopkeepers. In this class, regarded with ineffable disdain, are found the only wealthy individuals in Japan. Far from being, like their superiors, forced into extravagant ostentation for the purpose of impoverishment, these persons are not allowed to imitate that ostentation. The degree of that splendor they may display is strictly limited, and they can spend their money only in those luxuries, comforts, and pleasures, which their superiors are obliged to forego, in order to support their station. The degrading step by which alone, if he aspire to ape his superiors, the richest merchant can, as a nominal, evade these sumptuary laws, has been already noticed; and even when thus indulged with one sword, never may he, under any circumstances, aspire to the trowsers.

as p

their

Class 7 is composed of petty shopkeepers, mechanics, and artisans of all des- criptions--one trade, of which presently, expected--and including, strange to say, artists. The general appreciation of this class it is not easy to fix, as every sepa. rate genus, and even species, appears to be differently valued, according to the different occupations and trades; as, for instance, we are told that goldsmiths and is. painters rank much above carpenters and blacksmiths; but whether any difference thority be made between artists and housepainters does not appear.

Of the

Class 8 consists of the peasantry, and day-laborers of all kinds. former, the greater part appear to be, in fact, the villains or serfs of the landed proprietors; and even those who make some approach to the condition of an English farmer, or rather of a contineutai metayer-that being the Japanese mode of letting landare said to be so heavily burdened with contributions, that indi- gence keeps them in a state of complete degradation.

    To these recognized eight classes might be added a ninth, to locate the excep- tion from the seventh above alluded to.. This exception consists of the tanners, curriers, and all unhappy beings connected in any way with the leather trade. From some peculiar prejudice, originating probably in the Sintoo doctrine of defile- ment by contract with death, these dealers in hides or leather are the very pariahs,` or outcasts of Japanese society. They are not permitted to dwell in the towns or villages with other men, but inhabit villages exclusively their own, whence they are called into the towns only to discharge the functions of executioners and gaolers, in which, if they need assistance, the tea-house proprietors are bound to supply it. They are not allowed to pollute an inn or public house with their presence, but, if in need of refreshment on a journey, they are served with what

Bi

anall tra

der.

Ta

21

4

Y

+

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Notices of Japan, No. V.

19

      they purchase outside, and the landlord would rather throw away than take back a vessel from which one had drunk. Finally, they are not numbered in a census of the population; and, what is yet more whimsical, their villages, when situated upon the high road, are not measured in the length of that road *-are subtracted from it, as nonentities-so that, in paying by the distance between town and town, the relays of men and cattle stationed at the post-houses, the traveler is actually carried gratis through'a village inhabited by makers of leather.

The Japanese laws are very sanguinary, admitting but little distinction between different shades of guilt, and none that turn upon the magnitude of theft. They admit of no fines-except, perhaps, in some trifling † misdemeanors amenable to municipal jurisdiction, because in the opinion of the Japanese legislators, anch pecuniary punishments would give an unfair advantage to rich over poor criminals. Due pains are likewise taken to make the laws known to all classes alike. In every town and village is a spot inclosed by palisades, where, from a scaffold, every new law is proclaimed to the people; and where it is afterwards placarded, for the benefit of such as may have been absent from the proclamation. The code of police regulations is constantly placarded there.

In fact, the administra ion of justice is said to be extremely pure, making no distinction between high and low, rich and poor. If offenses against the state are more certainly punished than se against individuals, it is only because the officers of government would rk their own lives by neglecting to prosecute a state criminal, whilst the procution of crimes of the second class rests with the individual injured, who my not think it worth his while, for the mere gratification of taking a fellow-creare's life, to add the expense and trouble of a lawsuit to the evils he has ay endured.

Minor complets and offenses are carried before the ottona, who act, in a manner secret as police magistrates, under the advice and control of the spies. The fairnes their adjudications is further insured by a right of appeal to the public tribis. But to afford means of escaping such publicity is one main ob. ject of thithority intrusted to these municipal delegates, who redress grievances and punimall transgressions natbon, thus sparing the character and feelings of many an der. The public tribunals are very solemn, diligent, and astute in their proceedings, and selo.. fail, we are assured, to elicit the truth. But to effect this, when evidence and other mens are wanting, they have recourse to torture. From their verdict there is no appeal.

Capital punishment, and even sentence of death, nécessainy involve connis- cation of property, and disgrace to the family of the criminal. Hence, a man of the higher orders, publicly accused and conscious of guilt, prevents his trial by at once ripping himself up. If the criminal be arrested too suddenly to allow of this step, and the family excite sufficient interest to induce the judicial and prison authorities to incur some little risk for their sake, recourse is had to two nathon forms of death before sentence. When most kindness is felt, the prisoner is privately supplied with a weapon with which to rip himself up; but this is a rare indulgence, because attended with considerable risk to the friendly agent. The more ordinary course is, to order the prisoner to be tortured, for the purpose of extorting confession; at the same time, causing an intimation to be given to the executioner, that should the operation prove fatal, no questions will be asked. In

# Fischer.

* Siebold.

+ Meylan,

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either case, the prisoner is reported to have died of disease; and being presumed guiltless, because unconvicted, the body is delivered to the family for internent, and the concomitant evils of conviction are avoided.

The criminal, who, not having thus eluded or forestalled his fate, is sentenced to death, is bound with cords, set upon a horse, and thus led to the place of execu- tion-an opon field without the town, his crime being published both by word of mouth and by a flag. Upon his way thither, any person who pleases may give him refreshment--a permission seldom made use of. Upon reaching the appointed spot, the judges, with their assistants, take their places, surrounded by the insig- nia of their office, and with unsheathed weapons. The prisoner here receives from the executioner a cup of sake, with some of its regular accompaniments, as dried or salted fish, roots, mushrooms, fruit, or pastry; and this he is allowed to share with his friends. He is then seated upon a straw, mat, between two heaps of sand, and his head struck off with a sword. The severed head is set up upon

a stake, to which is affixed a placard, announcing the crime that had incurred such punishment. It is thus exposed for three days, after which the relations are allowed to bury as much of the corpse as the birds of prey have left.

     This is the description given by the Dutch writers of an execution, and doubt. less is what they have witnessed at Nagasaki. But a conjecture may be hazard- ed, that the forms are those practiced only towards criminals of the lower orders founded upon what was said in a former paper of the mode of putting high-born offenders to death; and perhaps a second, not improbable, conjecture might be added-to wit, that however precise are the laws of Japan, much is left to the plea. sure of the judge, in relation to the mode of inflicting the immutable doom. But whatever be thought of the ideas here thrown out, it is very clear that both of these . are the merciful forms of execution, as we elsewhere learn that prisoners are fre- quently and publicly tortured to death, and that the excellence of the executioner is measured by the number of wounds-sixteen is said to be the maximum-that he can inflict without causing death.* Upon these occasions, it is reported that the young nobles habitually lend the executioner their swords, as a trial of the edge and temper of a new blade. It is further asserted, that they take great delight in witnessing executions, especially such as are enhanced by torture.

                                     One species of torture, in which a shirt of reeds, the criminal's only garment, is set on fire, is considered so superlatively entertaining from the sufferer's ́contortions, that it has acquired the name of the death-dance.'t

While speaking of executions, it should be said that, in the Annals of the io. gouns, the abdomen-ripping is spoken of as a mode of punishment commanded by the monarch. This statement, though at variance with every other upon this subject, derives a character of authenticity from the book's Japanese origin. Yet, when it is considered that the nominal translator, Titsingh, was very little ac- quainted with Japanese; that his translation was, in fact, made by native inter- preters with their imperfect knowledge of Dutch; that the scientific philologist, Klaproth, finds the opperhoofd's other translations full of blunders; and, finally, that the work was first published long after Titsingh's death in a French version; the probability may be suspected of an imperial hint to a great personage, that he would do well and wisely to perform the hara-kiri, being converted into a com mand.

* Titsingh.

† Meylan.

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     The prisons for slight offenses, and the treatment therein, are very tolerable. Captain Golownin describes the worst in which he and his companions were con. fined at Matsmai, as a row of cages in a building like a barn; and, despite his bitter complaints, it is evident, from his own account, that the cages were reason- ably airy, with provision for cleanliness and warmth; also that the prisoners were reasonably well fed, according to the dietary of the country, though inadequately for Russian appetites. That this was the ordinary prison is likewise evident from several circumstances; such as his having been told, when about to be removed thither from another place of confinement, that he was now to be in a real prison ; his finding in one of the cages a native culprit ́under sentence of flagellation; and the name, roya, ' cage,' given by Golownin as designating this building, and also by old Kæmpfer as the name of a prison.

But this description by no means appplies to prisons destined for heinous offen- ders, tried or untried, and which every account represents as frightful, and appro priately named gokuya-Anglicė, hell. In these prisons or dungeons, fifteen or twenty persona are crammed together into one room, situated within the walls of the government-house, lighted and ventilated only by one small grated window in the roof. The door of this dungeon is never opened, except to bring in or take out a prisoner. The captives are refused books, pipes, and every kind of recreation ; they are not allowed to take their own bedding in with them, and their silken or linen girdle is exchanged for a straw band, the wearing of which is a disgrace. The filth of the dungeon is removed through a hole in the wall, and through that same hole the victuals of the prisoners are introduced. These victuals are of the very worst description; and although the prisoners are allowed to purchase or to receive from their friends better food, no individual purchaser or receiver of sup- plies can derive any benefit from his acquisition, unless it be sufficient to satisfy the appetites of all his chamber or dungeon-fellows. The inmates of this detestable abode, a detention in which might be punishment adequate to most offenses, being left wholly to their own government whilst confined there, have established the law of the strongest, and that in its worst form; a ruthless democratic tyranny, where the weakest is the minority.

* Fischer.

ART. III. Prospectus of the Medical Philanthropic Society, fon

China and the East. London, 1840.

[From this prospectus our readers will learn with pleasure, that Mr. Lay is not unmindful of the promise made to the Medical Missionary Society at a public meeting in Canton. Along with the prospectus, we have the names of a provisional committee, consisting of the following gentlemen: G. Tra- descant Lay esq., Joseph H. Arnold esq., Horatio Hardy esq., M. Chalmers esq., M. D., Rev. Samuel Kidd, James Beunet esq., M. D., Hezekiah Clark esq., W. Alers Hankey esq. An early day was to be named to organize a society for carrying into effect the suggestions contained in the Prospectus.

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Medical Philanthropic Society.

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The efforts of this new Society we hope will be commensurate with the exigencies that have called it into being. In the prospectus, a reference night, we think, with propriety have been made to an institution established in Macao by Dr. Morrison, and thus noticed by Dr. Pearson in 1821. Dr. P. says: "Some months ago, Dr. Morrison instituted a dispensary for supplying the Chinese poor with advice and medicines, which he superintends himself from one to two hours every morning. I have also been able to give pretty constant attendance, and have had an opportunity of observing the details of Chinese practice, in from about ten to fifteen cases daily. * * * I am happy to say that the institution has already done much good-much human suf- fering has been relieved. Upwards of 300 patients have made grateful acknowledgments for renovated health." A native physician and apothecary was employed as an assistant in this establishment, with the occasional at. tendance of an herbalist. See the Anglo-Chinese Gleaner for January, 1821, pp. 6, 7.]

THE honor of founding the first institution, for conferring upon the Chinese the benefits of European science in medicine and surgery, is due to Dr. T. R. Colledge, surgeon to the English factory in China. Observing the prevalence of diseases of the eye among this people, and their entire unskillfulness in treating them, he opened, in 1837, an Ophthalmic Hospital in Macao, in which, during the five years of its continuance, more than four thousand persons were relieved, not only of those disorders, but likewise of other maladies. This establishment was closed in 1832, from an increase of medical duties devolving upon Dr. Colledge, in consequence of the departure of the late respected Dr. Pearson to England.

    The success which had attended it led Dr. Colledge, in 1834, to suggest to Dr. Parker, a physician from the United states, to esta- blish a similar institution in Canton, which, after a course of increas- ing usefulness, has been brougnt to a close (only a temporary one is hoped) by the political events, which have lately interrupted Brit- ish intercourse with China.

    The eagerness with which the Chinese, not only of the lower, but the higher ranks,* availed themselves of the benefits thus afforded them; and the influence which the evident superiority of western science had over their own, in softening ther national prejudices, led the benevolent promoters of these measures to contemplate the prac- ticability of conferring, in union with them, blessings of a still higher order. It is well known, that the late eminent Dr. Morrison, and others associated with him, after translating the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language, had for many years endeavored, by the circulation of them and other publications, to lead the people of that country to

    * The author of the interesting work on China, entitled Fanqui, states the case of two young ladies, brought by their parents, persons of consideration, from Nanking, a distance of many hundred miles, to the institution in Canton, for dis- orders in their eyes, and who returned cured.

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a dispassionate consideration of the claims of Christianity, as a divine revelation.

To these benevolent efforts, the well known contempt of the Chi nese for all that is foreign had placed a barrier, apparently insur- mountable. Experience has, however, since shown that even this inveterate prejudice could not always withstand the claims to atten- tion, which such convincing proofs of superior knowledge, united with disinterested kindness, carried home to the understanding and the hearts both of patients and observers. Sufficient tokens of such an improved state of mind were perceived, to justify the committee in China in saying in their report" We hope this is but the beginning of a great work, that will eventually remove from the Chinese nation all those unfounded prejudices which at present prevent general inter- course, and lead this people to call those their enlightened benefac- tors whom they now call barbarians."

    To bring these two important branches of Christian philanthropy into more obvious union before the Chinese people, it was resolved to form a society at Canton, under the title of "The Medical Mission- ary Society,"

            a fundamental rule of which should be, that the agents employed by it should possess, in union with the requisite, medical and surgical skill, that sincere piety and religious know- ledge, which would incline, and qualify them to impart to those who might become desirous of receiving it, an acquaintance with the evidences and truths of Christianity.

    The plan was adopted, and the Society established accordingly, at Canton, in February, 1838; and a valuable medical library, through the liberality of its friends, was attached to it. Considerable sub- scriptions were made for its support, to which some of the Chinese themselves contributed. Two large hospitals, one at Canton and the other at Macao, were opened, and so greatly were these institutions valued by the Chinese, that they were the last English establishments interrupted by the late political events. Short as the duration of these institutions was, it served to evince the beneficial tendency of the principle on which they were founded, and to encourage the ap plication of it on a more extended scale, as the means of so doing shall allow.

therefore, to invite the benevolent British public to encou- rmation of a Society in England, for the communication Sings of European medical skill, and of the Christian reli- Chinese and other eastern nations that the present ad- mitted to their notice.

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Medical Philanthropic Society.

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It is proposed that this Society shall stand in an intimate, though in its proceedings an independent, relation to the Society already formed in China; and that it shall extend its friendly coöperation, so far as medical assistance can avail, to all Missionary societies, in their labors in that quarter of the world. The individuals under the patronage of this Society will, in the first instance be sent to the institutions in China, for the sake of additional information, and will diverge from thence to their future spheres of labor, as circumstances shall direct.

    The measures proposed to be adopted for the accomplishment of the objects of this Society (subject to the final decision of its direc- tors, when appointed by the members) are as follows :-

    I. To invite and send out pious and well qualified medical men to engage in this Christian labor, and furnish the means of their support.

    II. To afford, under the superintendence of a medical committee, to young men, intended for missionary labors in China and contiguous countries, in connection with any Protestant society, such profession- al instruction as will qualify them for combining medical and surgi- cal benefits with their religious teaching.

III. To communicate to the public, by its Reports, such infor- mation as may enlarge their knowledge of the state of medical sci- ence among the Chinese.

    The provisional committee trust that their object will approve itself to the best feelings of the friends of religion and philanthropy. It aims at communicating to the most numerous, and, in many respects, interesting portion of the human family, blessings which their Jiar social condition has hitherto kept them from attaining; and which, most probably, will still be long unenjoyed, unless the active benevolence of those whom they affect to despise, shall prove the means of introducing them. This office, the British nation seems especially called upon to undertake; and it appears to the friends of the proposed measure, that the present period invites it to make the needful preparations for the efforts without delay. It may reasonably be hoped, that the political differences between the two nations will shortly be terminated, and that a basis will be laid, in their adjust- ment, for a more amicable and dignified intercourse than has hitherto subsisted between them.

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Life of Dr. Morrison.

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London, 1839.

ART. IV. Memoirs of the life and labors of Robert Morrison

D. D., F. R. S., &c. Compiled by his widow. 2 vols. 8vo. pp. 362, 421

WITH thankfulness, commensurate to the eager expectation with which we have looked for its appearance, do we now receive this detailed account of the youth and education, the early efforts and matured labors, of a valued and venerated friend. In a series of faith- ful sketches, the chief incidents of his life, delineated for the most part by his own hand, and his personal characteristics portrayed by those who knew him well, the loved wife and tried friends,--we are vividly reminded of one who lived among us, and with whom was our daily walk and conversation. Of these sketches, Mrs. Morrison thus speaks: "In the compilation of the work, it has been the constant aim of the writer to elucidate social, moral, and intellectual traits - of character, by a simple narrative of facts, which supplies in itself such evidence of sound wisdom and true piety, as to render unne- cessary the aid of editorial embellishment, or indeed any originál composition, further than was requisite to unite the different portions. of the narrative, and explain their mutual connection and depen- dence. But while fidelity and simplicity chiefly characterize the narrative, it is hoped that its deficiencies will be satisfactorily sup- plied by the very comprehensive analysis of Dr. Morrison's literary labors, given in the appendix, by one whose extensive acquaintance with the language and literature of China qualified him to fill the office of principal in the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, and now fits him for the professorship in the same department in the Universi- ty College, London."

This is, indeed, so far as it goes, what biography should be, espe eially the biography of one whose literary life and extensive corres- pondence have afforded such ample materials for the depicting of himself. It sets before our eyes the person to be portrayed, in the same form and stature in which he appeared when living, neither exalting him to gigantic shape, nor reducing him to dwarfish size, according to the dimensions of the writer's own mind. And we are speaking not our own sentiments alone, but those also of others who have read this life, when we satisfy ourselves of the accuracy of the plan, by remarking that in these sketches, the lineaments of ripe age are most readily recognized in the self-drawn portraits of youth. Yet, with all this, it may be doubted whether something more might

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Life of Dr. Morrison.

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not be superadded with advantage. Single portraits and separate sketches afford but glimpses of the man at specific periods, in a few only of the more marked characteristics, or incidents of his life. These we would not have altered or remodeled at the fancy of an- other. But might not one who had carefully studied these portraits, and sketches, and to whom also the man whom they represent had been well known,-with advantages of such a nature, might not such à one have presented to us a more complete and more perfect paint. ing? A painting wherein might be intimately conjoined (as on canvass Chinnery has not unsuccessfully aimed at conjoining), historical delineation with personal portraiture, that we might see the man's life as a whole,-before tracing the features in each suc- cessive sketch. Such a painting would be, as it were, an index- picture to the separate and minute etchings. But if it were what we mean, it would be far more than this: for the painting that we seek should show, with accuracy of delineation and mellowness of color- ing, the man's own peculiar features, as displayed to view in all that he did or suffered, and should draw together around him, not the work of one day or one year, but the associated toils and endurances of youth as of age, of the plodding student and the earnest inquirer, as well as of the laborious scholar and the devoted missionary.

     From one to whom Dr. Morrison's life, as well as the features of his mind, were so well known, we did hope,-we do still hope,-for such a portraiture. But that we have it not yet, is doubtless attribu- table to Mrs. Morrison's ill health, and the cares of a young family, combined perhaps with diffidence of her ability to do justice to a subject to herself so especially interesting. To attempt even an out- line of what Mrs. Morrison has declined to undertake will not, in this brief notice, be expected of us. Rather will we look to receive, hereafter, as the fruits of renewed health and increased strength such a view as we now seek of our friend's life. A view, it will be not simply of incidents and labors, but of a human mind of no low order, developing, in the varied incidents of fifty years, and the ar- duous labors of a quarter of a century, many high powers and fine sensibilities,-raising with itself our minds to the thankful adoration of Him who has endowed man with such capabilities. As one of lofty mind-when contemplating the influence of a parent over him in early years, not in any single trait but in all the character and con- duct- →was so struck with admiration as to exclaim, 'O God, I thank thee for my father,'-so, in a kindred spirit, should we regard the me- mory of our departed friend, to whose walk and converse we are so

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Life of Dr. Morrison

27

     much indebted, for whose instruction and example we are so bound in gratitude to the Giver of every good.

An outline of the principal incidents of Dr. Morrison's life has been given in a former volume of the Repository, from the hand of one who is now also with the dead. What we have here proposed to ourselves is, to lay before our readers a few of the more observable - of the sketches with which these volumes furnish us. The sketches they give are no doubt of varied merit, and some perhaps are mere outlines, so imperfect or so barren of much that can serve to illus- trate the mind to which they relate, that they might with advantage have been excluded from the work. With such we have indeed nothing at present to do. Yet we may express the hope, that, in a future edition of these memoirs, they may be left out, and if others. more worthy cannot be found to supply their place, that the work may, by their omission, be reduced to a size more convenient to the general reader, and this too may be done without injury to those, who, more personally interested by kindred ties of blood, of friendship, or of similar pursuits,-would study the minuter traits of character. A republication will also afford opportunity for remodeling the arrange-. ment in some parts, where the pressure of a printer's demand for manuscript would appear to have interfered with a careful attention to method, to a bringing together-we mean-of all that bears on any one point, less in the order of dates, than in the order that true art would prescribe. But we must proceed to our selections.

     Robert Morrison was born at Morpeth in Northumberland, in the year 1782. He was of poor but pious parentage. His early years, therefore, though without the advantages of learning, received a good moral and religious training. By this he was placed in a favorable position for finding,-without wasting time and energy in a long un- satisfying search, a distinct and clear view of the true aim of life,- a sojourn, whereof it is nowise the purpose to collect such things as may adorn our cabinets or fill our treasure-houses, (though these be lawful and well so long as they draw us not away from, nor render us regardless of, the true end,) but a sojourn the object of which is, that all malice, pride, and self-confidence may be destroyed in us, and that we may become loving, grateful, humble dependents and disciples of the meek and lowly Master of this world.

The advantages of such early religious training are well sketched by the youthful Morrison, shortly after he had been favored with a clear view of human life: Let us look at some fragments, selected chiefly for their brevity.

Life of Dr. Morrison.

JAN.

    The following account was written by himself on his application for admission into Hoxton Academy in the year 1802.

"In the early part of my life, having enjoyed the inestimable privilege of godly parents (a blessing for which I desire ever to be thankful), I was habituated to a constant and regular attendance on the preached gospel. My father was ever careful to keep up the worship of God in our family, and educated me in the principles of the Christian religion. When farther advanced in life, I attended the public catechising of the Rev. John Hutton, from whose instructions I received much advantage. By these means, (under the good hand of God,) my conscience was somewhat informed and enlight- ened; and I was kept from running to that excess of riot to which many persons in an unregenerate state do, though as yet I lived without Christ, without God, and without hope in the world. I was a stranger to the plague of my own heart; and, notwithstanding that I often felt remorse, and the upbraidings of conscience, yet I flattered myself, that somehow I should have peace, though I walked in the ways of my own heart.'

"It was, perhaps, about five years ago, that I was much awakened to a sense of sin, though I cannot recollect any particular circumstance which led to it, unless it were, that at that time I grew somewhat loose and pro- fane; and more than once being drawn aside by wicked company, (even at that early time of life,) I became intoxicated. Reflection upon my conduct became a source of much uneasiness to me, and I was brought to a serious concern about my soul. I felt the dread of eternal damnation. The fear of death compassed me about, and I was led to cry mightily to God, that he would pardon my sin; that he would grant me an interest in the Saviour i and that he would renew me in the spirit of my mind. Sin became a burden. It was then that I experienced a change of life, and, I trust, a change of heart too. I broke off from my former careless companions, and gave myself to reading, to meditation, and to prayer. It pleased God to reveal his Son in me, and at that time I experienced much of the kindness of youth, and the love of espousals;' and though the first flash of affection wore off, I trust my love to, and knowledge of, the Saviour have increased. Since that time (soon after which I joined in communion with the church under the Rey. John Hutton, my present pastor, and likewise became a member of a praying society), the Lord has been gradually pleased to humble and prove me; and, though I have often experienced much joy and peace in believing, I have likewise experienced much opposition from the working of indwelling sin- 'the flesh lusting against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these. being contrary the one to the other, I could not do the things that I would.' I have gradually discovered more of the holiness, spirituality, and extent of the divine law; and more of my own vileness and unworthiness in the sight of God; and the freeness and richness of sovereign grace. I have sinned as I could; it is by the grace of God, I am what I am.'" Vol. I., pp. 4, 5.

1841.

Life of Dr. Morrison.

About the same time the following private record was also made by his own hand :

      **✪ blessed Jesus, long have 1 sought for rest to my immortal soul, at one time in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh;' and at another of the mind.' When very young, I was a companion of the drunkard, the sabbath. breaker, the swearer, the profane person; but in these my heart smote me, 1 had no rest. Then I made learning and books my god; but all, all, are vain! I come to thee: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,'-Fatigued with unsuccessful pursuits after happiness, and burdened with a sense of guilt, Jesus, thou Son of God, I come to thee, that I may be refreshed, and my burden removed.

Jesus! my Lord, thou art possess'd

Of all that fills, th' eternal God!

Oh! bring my weary soul to rest,

Remove my guilt, that pond'rous load!"-Vol. I, p. 29. From the time (probably the early part of 1798) that such princi- ples laid firm hold upon his mind, the course of his thought and feeling was changed, and an ardent desire was kindled in his mind "to serve the gospel of Christ," and promote those views which had conduced to his own enlightenment. "At an early age he was ap- prenticed to his father, and learned the trade of a last and boot-tree maker, in which his industry was very commendable."

But it was in a few years overruled by an invisible hand that that industry should be employed in a higher calling, and, after many exercises of mind he was induced to propose himself for admission into " Hoxton Aca- demy (now Highbury College);" one of the most valuable 'Institutions formed by Evangelical Dissenters,' for the purpose of affording an extended education to candidates for the holy ministry." This ap- plication was made in November of 1802, and in the following Janu- ary we find him commencing the regular curriculum of studies at that Institution. Meanwhile, as his mind developed, a field of labor seemed to offer itself to him among pagan nations. The record of his own views of this subject, and the whole correspondence with his friends respecting it, are peculiarly interesting; but we may not enter upon them. Having been recommended to the directors of the missionary society, generally known under the designation of "The London Missionary Society," his services were at once engaged by them, and he was shortly after appointed missionary to China, where it was designed he should lay the foundation of a Protestant mission. It was in the early part of the year 1807, that he embarked for Chi- na, when commenced a most interesting era of his life. That (ac- cording to the plan of the memoir which divides his life into five

1

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periods) is the third period, and embraces incidents "from his einbar- kation for China, to the foundation of the Anglo-Chinese College." It would, however, be impolitic to enter at any length on the narratives given of his checkered voyage to Canton, of his reception at Can- ton, of his incipient labors, of his appointment as translator to the English factory, of the mission to Malacca, of his successes in trans- lation, &c., &c. Suffice it to say, that in the larger part of the first volume, there is much matter to interest the historian, the politician, the merchant, and the missionary.

The second volume opens with the fourth period of our friend's "

's "life and labors," and announces the translation of the whole Bible into Chinese as completed. This work had been commenced soon after Mr. Morrison's arrival in China in 1807, and terminated in 1819. He had been partly relieved in this labor by the late Dr. Milne, who join- ed him in 1813; and had derived some assistance in the translation of the New Testament from a MS. found in the British Museum; but the onus was borne mainly by himself. In writing to the directors of 'The London Missionary Society,' he speaks candidly his own senti- inents on the value to be attached to that translation, by no means regarding it as the ultimum. The following is an extract from the same communication expressive of his own views of the duties of a translator of the Sacred Scriptures.

"The duty of a translator of any book is two-fold, first, to comprehend ac- curately the sense, and to feel the spirit of the original work; and secondly,' to express in his version faithfully, perspicuously, and idiomatically, (and, if he can attain it, elegantly,) the sense and spirit of the original.

    "For the first part of this duty, a Christian student will be much more. competent than a heathen, translator generally is; for the second part of the work, of course, a man who trauslates into his mother tongue (other things being equal) will much excel. Till those who are now heathen literati, cease to be heathens, these qualifications will not easily be found, in tolerable per- fection, in the same individual.

"That the first is of more importance than the second, is, I believe, true; for no elegance of composition can atone for a misunderstanding of the sense of the sacred page; whereas a degree of uncouthness in the style of any writ- ing destroys not the sense. Some think that the doggrel version of the Psalms used by the Church of Scotland is a better translation of the sense of that divine book than the most elegant that ever was attempted. And I know, by much experience in commercial and political translation, that a very inelegant written version of a foreigner, will enable a native student to comprehend very clearly the sense and spirit of the original, and that also much better than a verbal statement of the meaning can.

46

By these remarks, I mean to convey it as my opinion, that a less pure

1841.

Life of Dr. Morrison.

31

and idiomatic translation, made by a Christian missionary of a sound judg- ment and moderate acquirements, is likely to convey the sense of divine revelation better than a translation made by the most accomplished pagan scholar, who has not studied the sacred writings, and who, if he possessed the adequate knowledge, in consequence of his dislike of the subject, rarely brings mind enough to the work, to comprehend clearly the sacred text. Not to mention the influence of his preconceived pagan notions in his compost- tion, and the dishonesty which generally characterizes most heathens, I think any of the Chinese I have ever seen would slur the work over in any way, or, if they were more zealous, would affect to amend the sense of the original, when it did not comport with their previous opinions.

66

• In my translations, I have studied fidelity, perspicuity, and simplicity; I have preferred common words to rare and classical ones; I have avoided technical terms, which occur in the pagan philosophy and religion. I would rather be deemed inelegant, than hard to be understood. In difficult pas. sages I have taken the sense given by the general consent of the gravest, most pious, and least eccentric divines, to whom I had access.

"To the task, I have brought patient endurance of long labor and seclu- sion from society; a calm and unprejudiced judgment; not enamored of novelty and eccentricity, nor yet tenacious of an opinion merely because it was old; and, I hope, somewhat of an accurate mode of thinking, with a reverential sense of the awful responsibility of misinterpreting God's word. Such qualifications are, perhaps, as indispensable as grammatical learning, in translating such a book as the Bible."

    Of Dr. Morrison's Philological works, the second great object to which he devoted his time and strength, and of his Dictionary in par- ticular, we need not here say much. These works are well known by reputation to the literary world in general, and to those with whom Chinese study is an object, they are the daily and invaluable compa- nions. His Grammar was compiled, at an early period in his studies, chiefly for his own advantage; and others of more value have since been published: yet Sir George T. Staunton speaks of it, as "a work which will prove, both in regard to its plan and its execution, a most valuable acquisition to the student of the Chinese language." His Dictionary is such as no student of Chinese can, without great injury to himself, fail to make daily use of. A living sinologue of the highest merit speaks of it as being laid aside for other dictionaries, only by those whose means are so limited that they cannot afford to purchase anything so expensive as it is. The Vocabulary of the Canton dialect has till lately been the only publication for the advantage of those who, residing chiefly at Canton, choose the study of the local dialect in preference to that of the general language.

The next great work, in the promotion of which Dr. Morrison took

82

Life of Dr. Morrison.

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a leading part, was raising the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca. The foundation-stone of this institution was laid on the 14th of November, 1818, by major William Farquhar, formerly English resi- dent and commandant of Malacca. To the history of the College down to this time we cannot at present refer,-its fortune has been various. But for the benefit of our readers, we transcribe the " Anglo- Chinese College Deed," given in Vol. II. pp. 47-51, as it discovers the intentions of the original founders.

*

I, Robert Morrison, D. D. of the University of Glasgow, having been sent to China in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven, by a Society of Christians meeting in London, and composed of mem- bers of various British Churches for the purpose of learning the Chinese language, rendering the Sacred Scriptures into the said tongue, and compos- ing an English-Chinese Dictionary, with the ulterior view of the diffusion of the Christian Religion in China, and the Extra-Ganges nations; and having, in the year 1818, nearly brought these several works to a conclusion, my mind was led to pray to God for direction, and to meditate on what further means could be used to bring about the final object of my mission.

"The Divine Providence having increased my personal property in a small degree, I determined to appropriate One Thousand Pounds sterling to found a College, to be called the Anglo-Chinese College, the object of which should be the cultivation of English and Chinese literature, in order to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    "As the above preamble shows, the cultivation of literature is not to be considered the final object of the Institution, but attended to as a means of effectuating, under the blessing of God's Holy Spirit, the conversion to the faith of Christ of the Extra-Ganges nations who read or speak the Chinese language; so, on the other hand, the College must never be considered as a mere dwelling-house for Christain missionaries, but as a place devoted to study, with apartments only for the Principal of the College, and such other persons engaged in tuition, or the appropriate studies of the College, as it can accommodate with rooms.

     ·Having intrusted the building of the College to the Rev. William Milne, my first associate in the Chinese Mission, and we, unitedly, having laid our views and wishes before the public, soliciting their pecuniary aid, and they having confided in the sincerity of our intentions and deemed our object laudable, and deserving the pecuniary aid of Christians,-ull monies received from the donors and subscribers (whose names are written in the College record) are to be considered as appropriated solely and inalienably to the objects stated in the preamble.

T

    "The College, then, and its funds, shall never be diverted from the original object, stated in this deed by any authority whatever; whether by the will of the Founder, or of the first Principal of the Anglo-Chinese College, the Rev, William Milne, or of any Trustees hereafter to be appointed.

1

10

N

TE

3

F

+

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1841.

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Life of Dr. Morrison.

33

      May He, on whose shoulders is the government of the world-who has all power in heaven and on earth-recognise this offering, humbly designed to operate as a means of bringing many sinners to obedience and happiness ; and may He secure the performance of thie Deed. To His Providence the Anglo-Chinese College is reverently committed ; and may the whole Eastern hemisphere be soon filled with the glorious light of His gospel, and be taught to ascribe to Him the glories of creation! Amen and amen.

       "Since neither Doctor Morrison nor Mr. Milne, although the Founders of the Institution, have any power to alienate either the building or the funds of the Anglo-Chinese College, so, as long as they adhere to the original object of it, as stated above) it is but equitable and seemly that the first named should be a perpetual Trustee, and the last-named perpetual Principal, during their lives.

      "The Honorable the East India Company's Pinang Government having granted, at the request of Mr. Milne, a piece of ground in Malacca, to the Missionary Society (usually called the London Missionary Society), and that Society having, at the request of Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne, allotted part of that ground to be the site of the College; the ground, as well as the build- ing and funds (already, or hereafter to be, received), cannot be alienated from the aforesaid object of the College. All books given by Dr. Morrison and various other donors (whose names are recorded) to the Anglo-Chinese College Library, shall be,Inalienable.

"I will not anticipate the failure of the object for which these grants have all been made, and therefore I shall not insert any reservation of my personal property, in case

of the object failing; nor stipulate that, in case of such an event occurring, it shall revert to my heirs and successors. 1 have a firm reliance on the Divine Providence.

"But should it happen that circumstances render it impracticable to con- duct the studies of the College at Malacca, the premises shall, in that case, be sold, and the College be removed to some other place in Extra-Ganges India. No merely local difficulties shall put an end to the Institution. . If it be stopped in one place from any unforeseen cause, let it be recommenced in another, 1

"The records of the College shall always be open to the inspection of the local Christian authorities in the place where it may be situated; and annu- ally, at least, a statement of its affairs, whether showing its progress or its decline, shall be laid before the Christian public in a printed document.

"To the spiritual Church of Christ on earth,-to the learned, the scien tific, and the opulent, and also to poor and unlearned Christians-to those who, next to their own salvation, desire the happiness of their fellow-crea- tures, of every nation and of every tongue, the Anglo-Chinese College is, by this Deed, respectfully commended.

"In case of a failure of Trustees, appointed according to the constitution of the College, or the demise of Mr. Milne, its temporary management: shall devolve on the senior, in mber of the Chinese department, and the acting

VOL. X. NO, 1.

5

34

Life of Dr. Morrison.

JAN.

committee of the Ultra-Ganges Missious; and in case of the failure of re- gularly appointed Trustees, and of such senior meniber and committee, the management of the College shall devolve on the above named Missionary Society in London.

"Sealed, signed, and delivered, at Canton, in China, where no stamps are

   used, this twentieth day of March, A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty.

(Signed):

#Robert MORRISON.

"In the presence of us, who have hereunto set our names,

"J. B. UrmsTON,

"Chief for all affairs of the Honorable East India Company in China.

"J. REEVES."

On thinking of our revered friend and on perusing his memoirs, we are again and again constrained to use the common saying, He was far before his generation.' The object at which he aimed was great, and the means which he set on foot, or which he sought to iustitute, were, as far as a mortal could make them, proportionately. great. And though the result of such agency might not immediately or speedily appear, he was still encouraged by a confidence that "the anticipated harvest should be fully reaped." With such expectations it was that, in conjunction with the late sir T. Stamford Raffles, Dr. Morrison aided in commencing the "Singapore Institution," the object of which was to exert that influence on "the islands of the Archipelago, and the continental nations of Eastern Asia," which it was intended the Malacca college should use in enlightening and evangelizing China.

            We would request the reader to peruse pages 186-190 of the second volume, which will throw some light on the formation of this institution.

    In the close of the same year, 1823, we find the subject of this inemoir returning to England with a view to recruit his strength; which had been for seventeen years spent in China, and to promote the great objects of his mission. It was by no means his original intention to detain himself long in his native country; but he saw fit to prolong his stay with a view to the formation of a Universal Lan; guage Institution. (See p. 298.) In this he met with some success.

    " A universal language institution was formed, and brought into operationį and so far as there was opportunity of judging, the result was likely to prove successful; while from the catholic principles on which it was based, and the patronage it had obtained, there was every reason to hope for its continu

ance.

    But, alas! the mover was not so supported as he should have been. The language institution waned with the departure of Dr. Morrison

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Life of Dr. Morrison.

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from his native shores; so vain and heartless is the applause and assent of man! Probably, if he had remained on the spot and con- tinued to set that example which we know he did during his visit, of promptness "to teach," and to forward those who attended at the institution, his coadjutors might have been stimulated. But it was not so, and we have at this day to lament the passing away of another promising institution, as a proof of the fickleness of humanity. However, we have to congratulate ourselves, that at length something has been done to afford the willing student an opportunity of study- ing the Chinese language in his own country. Dr. Morrison carried with him to England a Chinese library, numbering 10,000 volumes, "many of them scarce and expensive, so that the cost of the whole amounted to upwards of £2,000." With his characteristic liberality of mind, he proposed offering this library as a gift to either of the then existing universities, on condition of their instituting a professor- ship of the Chinese language, for the instruction of individuals desirous of studying it, for religious, or other, purposes.

     To this effect he wrote to the Rev. J. Dealtry, during his stay in London:

     "On Tuesday morning last, I had to regret that indisposition prevented your meeting us at Mr. Ware's, for the purpose of conversing on the in- troduction of the Chinese language into one or both of the Universities. The desirableness of such a measure may be made apparent to three different! departments of the community. First, the knowledge of Chinese language and literature by the Christian philanthropist, for the communication, of re-: vealed religion to China, Japan, Corea, Loochoo Islands, and Cochinchina,, which countries contain a population equal at least to one fourth of mankind., As all these nations read the Chinese language, there is an immense reading, population, with, I believe, scarcely any other than pagan books to read. I believe that it is practicable to acquire the Chinese language in this country' sufficiently well, to write in it Christian Chinese books, for the instruction

of all those nations.

"In the next place, as the British possessions in the East gradually ap- proach the Chinese empire and the territories of Cochinchina, and there is a very valuable commercial intercourse with Chip, which will probably. require the attention of government at no distant period; a knowledge of the Chinese language seems desirable to his majesty's government. The French Government, although it has no immediate connexion with China, has estab- lished, in Paris, a Royal Professorship of Chinese. Again, to the literary part, of the British public, the knowledge of one of the most ancient languages of the world, in which is found a great variety of ancient and modern publica- tions, is surely a desirable acquisition. The philosophy of language is in- complete if it exclude the Chinese,

}

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Life of Dr. Morrison....

JAN.

"These, my dear Sir, are the thoughts which I have to suggest, on the reasons for attending to Chinese in this country. It is my opinion, that more attention, on the part of Christians generally, to the literature of pagan na- tions which possess any, would facilitate greatly the diffusion of Christian knowledge amongst them. I shall be happy to furnish any further explana- tions, either by personal interview or otherwise, that may be in my power.

"Your's sincerely,

"To Rev. J. Doaltry.

"Robert Morrison."-

    But, "owing to some cause which cannot now be satisfactorily ascertained, he was obliged to relinquish the hope of seeing a Chi- nese professorship instituted in either of the universities;" and the Chinese library was, on the doctor's embarkation for China, com- mitted to the shelves of an upper chamber, whence, it has often call- ed forth our surprise and sorrow, that in England, which boasts of her Cambridge and her Oxford, there was not zeal enough to encou- rage the study of that language, the repositories of which were spread before us, exposed to the corrosion of damp, and the ravages of insects.

At length, through the efforts of Dr. Morrison's personal and tried friends, sir G. T. Staunton, and Mr. W. A. Hankey, some 12 years after their introduction into England, a surer and more honorable place was found for these "10,000 volumes," in the building of the University College, London; in connection with which institution the first Chinese professorship in England has been founded.

    To return, however, to the "Memoirs." Dr. Morrison left England a second time on the 5th of May 1826, and with his family reached his former station. During the remaining eight years of his life, he was as laborious as before, adding to the number of his writings for the instruction of the Chinese, continuing his philological labors, aiding his younger fellow-laborers in the study of the language, and, amid many lesser duties and much official work on behalf of the East India Company's factory, commencing a commentary on the Scriptures, and a collection of marginal.references. He was ever "diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;" and at last we have seen him sink into the grave. He has gone to his rest, to receive the crown of joy prepared for him; and, while his tomb reminds us of our friend, there are many works which remain to speak his merits, of each of which it may be written, (as was written by a friend, for a private tablet, of the version of the Sacred Scrip tures :)

"Moriensque reliquit,

Patronis honorem, Patriæ decus,

Genti humanæ lucrum."

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Battle at Chuenpe

37

Yes, our friend has gone to his rest; but we have often indulged a sacred pleasure in visiting "the spot consecrated by his honored remains," and, while we have mused on him, we have silently-used- the panegyric which he passed on his lamented coadjutor Dr. Milne, "in the usual course of things there is reason to fear; that it will be long ere we shall see his like again.'"

(

M.

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+

ART. V. Battle at Chenpe: the position and number of the respre- tive forces engaged in the action, with details of its progress ant effects. PROCEEDING up the river towards Canton, about twenty miles from Lintin and about twice that distance from Macao, you reach the first two forts at the Bogue, one on Tycocktow (or Taikok) on the west side of the channel, and the other on Chuenpe (or Shakok) on the east side. Both Tycocktow and Chuenpé are islands: the battery on the first is built upon the south eastern point; that on Chuenpe stands near the northwestern point; and above it, on the top of the hill, a small battery, called the hill fort, has recently been built round the old watch-tower;' further eastward are other fortifi- cations. Three miles above Chuenpe, and on the same side of the river, are the batteries of Anunghøy, separated from Chuehpe by Anson's Bay. In the middle of the river, opposite to Anunghoy, is Wangtong; and three miles farther up is Tiger Island. · There is also a small fortification on the west side of the river opposite to Wangtong. On all these sites the batteries are strongly built, well furnished with men and guns, and are looked upon by many of the Chinese as impregnable-and so they would be,' were they in the hands of those who are trained in modern warfare.

   These notices of the positions occupied by the Chinese being kept in mind, the reader, though never having been at the Bogue; wil be able to understand the mqvérpents of the British forces' on the forenoon of the 7th instant.

་་

   At 8 o'clock, or sodn after, the squadron, under sommand of Sin J. J. Gordon Bremer, having waited out the time that had been allowed for the concession of certain demands made on the Chinese government-was in readiness to move up the river, from its anchor. age off Sampanchow, three miles below the first forts.

x

Battle at Chuenpe.

JAN.

Boats with the marines of the squadrow and royal artillery first shoved off; and these were shortly joined by the rest of the land force, conveyed from the transports into shallow water by the stea- mers, Enterprise, Madagascar, and Nemesis: the land force was to disembark near the watering-place on the south side of Chuenpe, and was then to march up a valley, extending from thence, with some windings, to the forts.

The Calliope, Hyacinth, and Larne, all weighed at nearly the same time, the Queen taking the Calliope in tow.

These ships, under the command of captain Herbert, were to proceed directly up the river and bombard the lower fort on Chueupe. The Queen and Nemesis, as soon as disengaged and able to get into position,' werė to throw shalls into the hill forts, and into, the entrenchments on the inner side of it.

    The Samarang, Druid, Modeste, and. Columbine, getting under weigh soon afterwards, steered for Tycocktow, under the direction of captain Scott, to whose management the taking of the fort there had been committed.

    These arrangements having been made, the Wellesley and the other large ships, weighed and moved on in midahannel, to take posi- tion above these two forts preparatory to an attack on the batteries further up the river. At half past eleven o'clock they came to anchor above: Chuenpe, the action on both sides of the river having then closed, but not without great slaughter on the part of the Chinese. Never before had they met such a foe, nor witnessed such dreadful havoc. From those who were present, and from others who have visited the battle-ground, we will now detail the particulars, so far as we have been able to ascertain them.za: 40

}

2

#1

The action commenced on Chuenpe, and at nearly the same hoitr by both the land and naval forces. The troops for the field service, consisting of a battalion, of royal marines, a detachment of royal artil lery, having one 24 pr., howitzer and two 6 pr. fieldpieces, drawn by a party of seamen from the Wellesley, Blenheim, and Melville,- detachments of the 26th and 49th regiments, the 37th Madras natives infantry and a detachment of Bengal volunteers, in all about 1400 men, under the command of major Pratt of the 26th of Cameronian regiment, began to land about half past 8 o'clock; two miles south of the lower fort on Chuenpe-near the watering-place, as before stated: They landed without opposition; and major Pratt having for med them, sent forward an advanced party of two companies of ma- rines; the guns came next, dragged by the seainen, and supported by

1841.

Battle at Churnpė.

39

detachments of the 26th and 49th; the remaining troops following int column-the ships meanwhile moving up to attack the lower fort, and the steamers getting ready to throw shells into the hill fort. After advancing about a mile and a half and reaching the top of a ridge, the troops came in sight of the hill fort and of a very strong entrenched camp, having a high breast work all round and a deep ditch outside, well palisaded, with two field batteries on its flanks, facing the way the enemy was expected to approach, and having one of its sides prolonged up the hill so as to connect it with and protect the hill fort. In the valley, to the right and eastward of this first entrenchment, there was a second, having also a large mound, on which were placed three guns in its front, and three more in ano- ther battery on its flank. Still farther to the right and eastward there was a third entrenchment of a circular form, with small bat- teries commanding the approach in every direction. There were deep ditches in the rear of the guns, for the purpose of sheltering the men from the enemy's fire. From the freshness of the materials, it would appear that all these field-works (except the round fort) were of recent construction, and they formed altogether a very formi dable position, and one from which, if held by a determined enemy, it would have been very difficult to hive dislodged him. They were thickly lined with Chinese, as was also the crest of the hills in front of and near them.

     The confused noise of the warrior was now heard. The Chinese in the entrenchments, seeing an advanced party approaching, cheered and waved their flags, as if in defiance, and opened their fire froin the field batteries, which was quickly returned by the field pieces of the artillery which had been drawn up and placed on the ridge of the hill. The Queen and Nemesis at nearly the same time began to throw shells into the hill fort. Though the Chinese were the first in this direction to fire on the troops; yet it was not till after several shells had been thrown that they began to return from the forts the fire of the vessels. It is said, that, in consequence of the firing on the Queen' from Chuenpe in November, the high commissioner had given an order, that not even the firing of shotted guns from the vessels should be returned, except after frequent repetitions. It is further 'said also, that, in consequence of this order, the friends of the late heëtae are about to appeal to the emperor for redress,-they alledging that he fell in consequence of not being permitted at once to beat back the assailants.

The first hill: (to the right of the guns on the ridge) was soon

*

40

Battle at Chuen pe

JAN.

cleared by the advanced party of royal marines-who, descending juto the valley, drove the enemy from their entrenchments and from the field batteries behind them. Major Pratt then ordered two' cóm- panies of the 37th native infantry (supported afterwards by another company), to circle round the other hill-still more to the right of the guns which was also held by the Chinese.. These parties met with considerable opposition, but they drove all before them, killing and wounding not a few. Seeing that the guns on the ridge-the howitzer and two fieldpices, which had now been firing for twenty minutes were causing the Chinese to fly from their first and prin cipal entrenched camp, the main column moved down the valley right upon it, the soldiers clearing the field batteries as they proceeded.

  Two of the leading companies, the royal marines, were now ordered to drive the Chinese from a wooded hill which they still occupied, a little farther to the north, not far from Auson's Bay.

  A small party, at the same time, passing through the first entrench- ment, already déserted, hastened up to the hill fort. Major Pratt, with only two men, was the first to reach it. Finding the Chinese there at their posts, as he looked in over the walls, he ordered one of the men to fire, whereupon, they all fled in consternation. The British flag was then hoisted on the fort.

  Ere this was done, the guns in the lower fort had been silenced, by the ships which had taken up their position before that battery ; and now the guns of the ships also ceased firing, lest the shot might strike those who were advancing to attack the fort on the land side. Find ing themselves assailed from above by those in the hill fort, as well as from the ships, the main body of the Chinese had left the battery, and were retreating eastward, when they were met by the parties of royal marines and 37th native infantry that had circled round and taken possession of the wooded hill. At this unexpected encounter, they were mowed down with sad havoc those who escaped unhurt either hetaking themselves to the water, or retiring to the fort and there looking themselves in. Their pursuers, reaching the gate, applied their muskets to the lock, and so forced it open, dealing death in every direction as they entered. Resistance was unavailing; the Chinese were quickly overcome; their flag hauled down, and the Union Jack displayed from the ramparts. About a hundred, ac- cepting quarter, were taken prisoners; but were released by the com- modore as soon as he landed. The rest, shutting themselves up small out houses, or hiding themselves behind walls, and thence (when not perceived) attacking their captors, soon drew down upon them- selves indiscriminate slaughter.

+

:

in

1841.

Battle at Chienpe.

#

      In the meantime, the fort on Tycocktow was attacked and carried by the division under the command of captain Scott. The Samarang led the division, and pushed straight on for the centre of the battery, heedless of the fire which, on this side, the Chinese commenced and continued, until her anchor was let go within less than a cable's length of its guns. At that moment three hearty cheers were given, and then came her broadside. The Modeste soon anchored close by her, and the Druid and Columbine were not far astern. The broud sides from the long guns of the Druid were terrific, and mass after mass of the solid masonry crumbled away beneath their concentrated shot......... Though silenced, the Chinese did not quit their posts until the crews landed from the boats, and, entering through the breach that had been made, carried the fort by storm. In doing this there was some hard fighting hand to hand, and opportunity afforded for the Chinese to display their best strength. But they could not long withstand the deadly fire of the musketry, and numbers of them were shot down while climbing up the sides of the hill, vainly endeavoring to escape. The guns of the fort were spiked and thrown into the giver.

Thus, after an action of an hour and a half, fell the boasted strength of Tycocktow and Chuenpe--and the latter (fortunately for its moral effect) was carried chiefly by the land forces. The superiority of foreign ships and great guns had long been acknowledged; but on shore, hand to hand, the sons of Han believed themselves inferior to #1016. Their defenses on Churenpe were not small; the lower and the hill fort, and the entrenchments beyond, were well constructed, containing in all probably not less than 2000 men, of whom full 500 were killed, and many more wounded.

     Among the killed was the heětae, or brigadier, commanding in the fort, by 'namre Chin Leënshing, a native of Hookwang, and a veteran of about 50 years. He had risen from the ranks, and ob- tained the honorary distinction first of a blue and then of a peacock's feather, for his services in the field against various insurgents and mountain-tribes, in Hookwang, Szechuen, Shense, and Kwangtung. He remained at Leënchow, in the northwest of this province, for several years after the suppression of the troubles there in 1883: and last year he was called from thence to expell the English from Hong- kong. He received a bullet in his breast, standing at the head of his men; his son, who, though repeatedly urged to save himself, refused to leave him, when he found his father was dead, and himself unhurt, leaped into the water, and so perished. This and other

·

VOL. X. NU. 1.

6

Battle at Chaenpe.

·JAN.

Chinese officers, if we may believe many concurrent reports, well sustained the part of brave men and faithful soldiers, dying at their respective posts. Some, nay many, of the roen in the ranks too, fought bravely-desperately. Such warfare the Chinese seem never before to have witnessed. The storm burst on them like a thunder- bolt, and in the space of a few minutes, their forts, their entrench- ments, their batteries, their barracks, their magazines, were all in ruins-beaten-down, set-on-fire, blown-up. In some places, the dead lay, literally, heaps upon heaps.'

The superior advantages of armed steamers were very clearly seen during the engagements of the morning. The iron steamer in par- ticular did masterly. First, she disembarked the 37th regiment; next, as already remarked, taking a good position, she threw shells with great effect into the hill fort; then she rounded the point, pouring her grape and canister, and other missiles, into the lower battery as she passed; and after this, she pushed on into the shallow water in Anson's Bay, and her first Congreve rocket "took terrific and in- stantaneous effect, blowing up one of the largest of the war junks, with all her crew," the rocket having passed through its deck into the magazine. Aided by a number of boats, she kept on in the work of destruction, and junk after junk was set on fire and blown up, until eleven were destroyed. Then, to the great astonishment of the Chinese, she pushed quite across Anson's Bay and proceeded up a creek, where two more war junks were moored to the shore, which she grappled and dragged away, without giving or receiving a single shot. This was the Nemesis.

3

There were 97 guns in the forts and entrenchments when they were carried-25 in Tycocktow, the others on Chuenpe, 44 mounted and 38 dismounted. There were 80 or more in the junks. These, with a variety of stores and magazines, were destroyed. It is said also, that a sum of money, about $5000, which had been brought down to the Bogue for the half-monthly pay of the troops, was blown up in one of the junks, instead of being disbursed to the officers and soldiers on that day, it being the 15th of the

                      › ́moon, and their pay-day.

   The Chinese suffered severely from the burning of their powder flasks, and garments padded with cotton, which were set on fire by their matches, as they fell. Wearing their cartridge-boxes around their waists, some of the men were literally blown up, by the ex- plosion of the powder contained in them.

The damage and loss sustained by the attacking forces were small,

1841.

Battle at Chuenpe.

43

exceedingly small in comparison with those of the Chinese. Not one was killed; and only 38 were wounded, and most of these slightly. Of the wounded, 3 officers aud 27 men were on shore; and most of these were burnt by the accidental explosion of an expense ma- gazine in the lower fort.

     Such are the details of the action of the 7th. A few remarks res- pecting the impression it has produced on the Chinese, with par- ticulars of what succeeded, the renewal of negotiations, &c., will find a place in the Journal of Occurrences: we close this article with the following

"GENERAL MEMORANDUM.

             "Wellesley, off Anunghoy, January 8th, 1841. "The commander-in-chief has to express his admiration of the gallant conduct of the whole force during the affair of yesterday, and requests that the captains and commanders of the squadron, and the commanders of the steam vessels, will accept his best thanks.

    "To major Pratt, commanding the force on shore,-major Johnstone, commanding detachments of the 26th and 49th regiments,-captain Ellis, royal marines,-captain Knowles, royal artillery,-lieuta. Symons of the Wellesley, and Wilson of the Blenheim (employed on shore), captain Duff, 37th M. N. 1.-captain Bolton, Bengal volunteers, and lieut. Foulis, com- manding a detachment of the Madras artillery, together with the officers, non-comissioned officers, and privates,-his best thanks are also due.

"The commander-in-chief wishes to mark in an especial manner the conduct of the whole of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the European and native force, in abstaining from the least excess or irregulari- ty, a

    ‚-a circumstance alike honorable to themselves, and beneficial to the cha- racter and interests of their country.

(Signed) "J. J. Gordon Bremer. "Commodore of the 1st class, and commander-in-chief.

• To the respective captains, commanders, and commanding officers of H. M. ships and vessels, and the Hon'ble Company's steamers; and to the military officers employed at the capture of Chuenpe and Tycocktow; the respective ships' companies, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of the marine and land forces.'

Troops engaged at the assault and capture of Chuenper

Royal Artillery, under command of capt. Knowles,

Royal Artillery

Seamen, under Lt. Wilson of H. M. S. Blenheim Detachments of 26th and 49th regiments under

Major Johnstone of the 26th regiment,

non-com.officers and privates.

33

137

104

504

607

76

Total force

1461

Royal Marine battalion, under capt. Ellis of the Wellesley, 37th Madras Native Infantry, under capt. Duff, 37th N. I. Detachment of Bengal Volunteers, under capt. Bolton

44

Address to Foreign Residents in China.

J'AN

    Major Pratt 26th regiment in command. Lt. Stransham of Royal Marines, from H. M. S. Calliope, acting Brigade Major. Lt, Stewart Mackenzie, of the 90th Light Infantry, and military secretary, acting ajd-de-camp. Capt. Ellis of the Royal Marines commanded the advance. Lt. Symons of the Wellesley superintended the landing and reembarkation of the troops.

ART. VI. Address to foreign residents in China; the new year; re- trospect; present position of affairs; opening prospects; and increased responsibilities.

ABOUT Commencing a new era, in the relations of foreigners with this country, a glance at the past may aid in the guidance of future conduct. With the opening year, too, it is customary and befitting, that there be made some recognition of that bounteous Hand, which guides the seasons, and assigns to every man his lot with the number of his years. Our limits, however, will not allow, nor is it neces- sary, that we dwell long either on the past or the present-suffice. it, that coming days find each one of us readily "doing the things that are right."

    A retrospect, touching only on a few prominent points in the fo- reign relations with China, will furnish data sufficient for drawing a comparison between the past and the present.

    'Raphael Perestrello arrived here in 1516.' Adventurers from Spain, France, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, and England, soon fol- lowed those from Portugal. The impressions made here by these early visitors, like those made by adventurers from the same countries to the New World at the same time, were far from being salutary. Their's was an age of chivalry. In both the Indies, bold enterprises were prosecuted with no regard to the native inhabitants, whenever their rights could be disregarded with impunity. The famed riches of Cathay had no inconsiderable attraction; but the Chinese, was not so easily beguiled as the Indian. Queen Elizabeth saw this; and accordingly she wisely framed her policy, and addressed to the empe ror letters commendatory, which she intrusted to the chiefs of an ex- pedition destined to this country. That, and various other efforts, inade at sundry times, even down to the present day, failed. Between

1841.

Address to Foreign Residents in China.

45

the Chinese and the other nations of the earth there never have exist-: ed any relations, commercial or political, established on equitable principles. The intercourse with the sovereigns of Europe, barely enough to allow them to be claimed as tributary, has been wholly in- sufficient to secure for them an acknowledgement of independence. Ministers plenipotentiary from the states of Christendom never found a residence in these eastern capitals. Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, and Chusau, are the only commercial marts, of any note, ever opened in. this empire to western enterprise.

      The few foreigners who have gone into the interior, have for the most part done so in disguise-if we can except only some of the Catholic fathers, who for a time were allowed to reside in the empire, and remain close to the seat of majesty. But the privileges which Ricci and his companions enjoyed were of short duration; while from Chusan and Ningpo and Amoy the commercial establishments were by degrees withdrawn. In fact, all the privileges, of whatever kind, enjoyed by foreigners in this country, have been begged or bought ;, and hence they have been looked on by the Chinese as "special favors." With such a condition of circumstances, honorable relations, were incompatible. Thus, during three centuries, the empire has remained closed against the free ingress of men from afar. European, embassies, not excepting Macartney's, served only, or at least mainly,, to foster that spirit of exclusiveness which by their projectors it was, intended they should overcome,

Iu Canton, the residence of European families has never been al- lowed; and in Macao, even the temporary residence of ladies (not Portuguese) used, to be obtained with much difficulty. In 1798, an American ship, the. Betsey, arrived off Macao, having on board, Mrs. M'Clannon, her infaut daughter and a servant maid, with part of the crew of a vessel, wrecked on her way to Sidney. The morning, after, his arrival, the captain "waited upon the governor, a mandarin of high grade, who declared...he would not only not allow the female passengers to land, but must also refuse a permit and pilot to enable the ship to proceed to Whampoa." The next day, finding him "as stubborn as ever," he presented the case to the honorable Mr. Hall the president, of the select committee of the F. I. Co.'s factory; yet nothing was sufficient to induce the Chinese to allow the female pas- sengers to land. Thus, the second, the third, and the fourth days were passed, with no more encouragement on the last than on the first. On the fifth day the case was finally arranged by Mr. Hall, who made the mandarin a handsome cumshaw, giving bonds that the

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46

Address to Foreign Residents in China.

JAN.

first English vessel or Company's ship that sailed should take the females away."

    The Chinese were long, and until very recently, supported by foreigners themselves in this exclusive policy. British subjects, resort- ing to China for commercial purposes, in more than one instance, deemed it necessary to provide themselves with consulate certificates from foreign courts, in order to prevent their deportation in ships of their own country. And the man who has done more than any other, to improve the relatious of his country with China, deemed it inex- pedient to be publicly known as an Englishman for months after his arrival here in 1807.

    The foregoing instances, few as they are, present a faithful view of the policy hitherto maintained towards foreigners--a policy restric- tive and unfriendly in a degree exceedingly unjust and reprehensible. To the men from afar it allowed no rights; whatever was received by them was of grace, granted out of tender compassion. The sovereigns of Europe were enrolled as the 'liege subjects of the son of heaven, and both from them and their people implicit and unconditional obedience was claimed as rightfully due.

    Thus affairs remained till the summer of 1840, when first an al- tered tone was assumed, and efforts for amelioration were commen- ced. As part of the means for gaining the proposed end, the submis- sion of Chusan was peremptorily demanded. This demand not being complied with, the island fell to the arms of H. B. M. Of the acts which have since occurred there, at the Pei ho, and in this vi- cinity, our readers need not be reminded.

i

    'The interruption of negotiations on the 7th instant, was followed by such a stroke as the Chinese had never before felt. The horrors of war, however, lasted but for an hour; then peace became the order of the day. But will it be lasting and salutary? Will the terms of the treaty, now under consideration, be such as will lead to the pre- servation and extension of friendly relations?

These questions are not easily answered, in direct terms; nor is it possible in few words faithfully, nor even in many fully, to describe the opening prospects. It is safe to say, that things are not as they used to be. In some essential points they are improved. The false notion of foreigners being tributary has been exploded; and along with it have gone those assumptions of high preeminence which for so long a time prevented any acknowledgment of equality. The Chinese having once felt the power of the "rebellious foreigners," will in future be slow to repeat overt acts, affecting the lives and pro-

1841.

Address to Foreign Residents in China.

47

perties of those who (as they now know) have it in their power to ask, and, if need be, to take, redress. A safe channel for communi- cation has been opened, on fair and honorable grounds, so that, whenever necessary, complaints and demands may be made with equal facility. The rule of right must, we would fain hope, be here henceforth respected, and all enmities and violence laid aside.

War-an evil, and a great evil is ever to be deprecated, whether offensive or defensive. The expedition of 1840 will be viewed very much according to the interest af those who look at it. If it termi- mates, as it seems likely soon to do, with a treaty of commerce and amity, and without more bloodshed, its projectors will no doubt be well satisfied. The belligerent parties have both suffered much, and will both rejoice at the restoration of peace, the advantages of which they can now more than ever before appreciate. Chastisement is sometimes necessary. It is an evident part of the divine administra- tion even in this world. And it was not an unnatural remark for a Chinese, "that the gods were angry with both his own countrymen and with foreigners because of their wickedness, and that when a few hundreds or a few thousands of each had fallen as sacrifices they would then be satisfied." But with such sacrifices, we know the God of heaver is not well pleased. It is happy there has been here comparatively so little suffering. It is matter for rejoicing that the scourge of war is stayed, and that there is a prospect of peace being henceforth maintained, and that, at the same time, foreigners will be more respected and enjoy such immunities as are usually possess- ed in other countries. In these prospects, obscure as they yet are, we rejoice, and the more because the proposed objects of ameliora- tion are likely to be gained without protracted war.

Comparing now the present with the past, we see considerable advances have been made. However reluctantly, the Chinese are coming into-nay they are already within-the great circle of na- tions, from which they cannot recede. In the course of improvement there will be checks; these, however, by degrees will be all over- come or removed.

These new and altered relations are happily of a nature suscepti- ble of easy and rapid improvement; and to the means of effecting this, we wish to draw the attention of our readers, and of those par- ticularly who reside in China; for upon such, the events of the past year have devolved new obligations with increased responsibilities.

Firinness and decision-always accompanied with a mild, accom- modating, and straight-forward policy-are now more than ever

1

Address to Foreign Residents in China.

WAN.

before required of those who may be in any way drawn into contact with the Chinese authorities. But these points are of such promi nent importance that they cannot be overlooked, and we pass: them by without further comment, assured they will receive all due atten- tion from those whom they concern. If the Chinese, as they profess, really wish for peace, then let them cast away their childish restric- tions; let them, like all enlightened and independent states, freely allow foreigners to come or to go, or to remain, as they' please, only holding them responsible for good behavior;-let them, talking no inore of tribute, send and receive plenipotentiaries and consuls, open their ports and their highways, and on just and friendly terms reci- procate the honors and the favors duc alike to and froin equals.

any man.

The acquisition of honorable gain, though it may be the main, yet may never be the only, nor the most important, object of pursuit with His strength, his power, his riches, his honors, are all fading, transient, uncertain. How much, during the last few months, have we seen fade and disappear! But though all that is earthly in man vanisheth away, yet it is not so with his being. That ceaseth not for ever; and so blended with the present is its eternal state, that it is only the part of wisdom carefully to guard and measure all the acts of our mortal life-never forgetting that for all these things, whether they be good or whether they be evil, God will bring us into judgment."

L

46

    Leaving it with the common sense and enlightened consciences of our readers-aided always by the light of Holy Writ→to determine the things that are right, and to choose the ways and means of pur- suing them-we hope to be excused in calling their attention to a few particulars of paramount interest.

The study of the Chinese language, to those who purpose long to remain in this country, cannot be too strongly recommended. Its acquisition will be not only of great personal advantage, but it will give us influence with others, will secure respect, and promote good- will and friendly feelings. It is, and well it may be, against us, in the eyes of the Chinese, that we know so little of their language, their literature, and their history.

S

}

    The maintenance of kigh moral character, with special reference to the power of good example, claims from us in China very much more attention than it has been wont to receive. Such character is of great value; it can neither be counterfeited, nor dishonored. In its best estate, it causes wrath to be conquered by kindness, lové to be exercised towards enemies, and friendly offices to be done even

1841

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

49

to those who hate us Its acts are all unequivocal, and as salutary as they are powerful. And if moulded and adorned according to the precepts and rules of the Christian code, it is man's best safeguard and his richest ornament.

..

The observance of the Sabbath-last, not least-would we récom- mend with the utmost earnestness and becoming deference. The ' great Author of our being, knowing the infirmities of our nature, doubtless saw that man needed the rest which this day affords from the excitements of ordinary business and pleasure, with the opportu nity also which it gives for more undivided attention to spiritual and étérnal interests, and therefore ordained the Sabbath for man's bene- fit. On this high ground, we recommend its observance. Careful recognition of Jehovah's government, cheerful obedience to his laws, are most suitable for such worms as we are. The nations are all his; and he exalteth and abaseth when and whom he pleaseth. Plague, pestilence, stormy winds, and volcanic fires, are all his ministers and fulfill his pleasure. And shall not we fear him, bow submissive to his will, and hallow his Sabbath? Judge, ye who have understand, ing. Judge ye.

B.

#

.1.

Q

ART. VII. Illustrations of men and things in China: popular, no-

tions and allusions to the powers of nature.

}

Tux few sentences here given will exhibit some of the most current notions of the Chinese upon the heavens, and metaphors drawn from them. The explanations are also those of the Chinese. Few people relish racy sayings and neatly turned allusions better than this people, and few use them more frequently.

1. When the primeval chaos was first separated, then the dual powers began to be fixed,

71

deven Hail adr tes

T: 0.

The idea of chaos is expressed by bubbling, turbid water; heaven and earth are the dual powers; before the chaos was separated, these two powers were mingled 'and pent up as a chick in oed, hat when the renowned Pwankoo appear- ed, who was the offspring of these powers, then their distinction and operation were apparent. " Pivan' means a basin or receiver, referring to the shell of the egg; kob' ustálly means' antient; but here it means (we are told) solid, to secure, intending to show how the first man Pwänkoo was hatched from the primeval chabs'liy Mid dial posvers, unfu then softlèd'and'exhibited 'the 'arrangement of the

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VOL. X. NO. 1.

50

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

JAN.

causes which produced him~(we would add)-a mode of explaining the crea- tion peculiarly Chinese.

2. The light and pure parts of chaos ascended and floated forming

heaven.

    3. The heavy and foul parts of chaos descended and solidified, forming earth.

Gods are the noble (yang) spirits of heaven; demons are the ignoble (yin). effluence of earth. The light and pure ether was 10,800 years in rising and forming heaven; the glorious and animated portions concreted and made the sun, moon, planets and stars, which when completed all moved in harmonious con- cert. The heavy and foul parts that descended were also 10,800 years in so- lidifying and forming the globe; from the best were made the hills, rivers, and. fountains, and when all were completed, citics and towns arose.

4. The sun is the focus of all the male principles.

5. The moon is the type of the great female principle.

     The sun is the lord of life; like a great prince, he nourishes and bestows his favors; the moon, his spouse or queen, is matched to him; together they arrange and marshal their nobles and courtiers, i. e. the stars and planets.

6. The rainbow is called

of heaven and earth..

tae tung, and is the impure vapor

7. The toad in the moon is the bright spirit of the moon.

    When the foul vapors rise from the earth, and meet those descending from the sky, a rainbow is the product; it is always opposite to and tallies with the sun, and is duplicated. The Chinese fable that Chang-go drank the liquor of immortality, and straightway ascended to the moon, where she was changed into a toad, which they always trace in the face of the moon.

8. A whirlwind is called a ram's horn.

9. A flash of lightning is called the Thunderer's whip.

10. When the flakes of snow fly in sixes, it is a sign of a fruitful

year.

+

''Snow and rain come from the earth, they do not descend from the high ¡¡eaven. The flakes of snow and the petals of flowers are usually in fives, and when the snow is in sixes it shows a predominance of the yin principle, or that of the earth, and by eonsequence that there will be much rain.

11.

"The sun

is up

three rods," is to say that you are late. 12. "The dogs of Shuh barking at the sun," is a metaphor for those who learn little from what they see.

>

13. "The oxen of Woo panting at the full moon," ridicules those who are excessively timid.

    The hills of the country of Shŭh were so high that the days were very short, and the dogs on seeing the sun were terrified, and set up a simultaneous howl.- The country of Woo had oxen which feared the heat, and seeing the moon, be- gan to pant, supposing it to be the sun; just as Poo Fun, who, fearing the cold, shivered as he saw the north through a glass screen.

    14. To cover ones-self with the stars, and to put on the moon, speaks of a fleet post traveling early and late.

1841.

Illustration of Men and Things in China.

51

     15. To be washed by the rain, and combed by the wind,' is a figure for the hard toil of those who are exposed to the weather.

16. To be busy without a purpose is like the clouds driven about without a thought; i. e. such a man is at the mercy of circumstances,

as the clouds are driven by the wind.

17. A benevolence which extends to all around is likened to the vivifying spring having legs; i. e. its diffusive goodness is like the heat of spring upon vegetation.

18. When one makes a present to another to show his respect, he

says,

       [In giving this] I have the simplicity of the man who presum- ed to teach his betters to sun themselves.'

19. When one engages another to be his advocate, he [politely] Bays, • I wish to put my case upon a strength able to turn heaven.'

In the Sung dynasty, there was a clodpole sunning himself one day; and, being ignorant that the empire contained large palaces with deep apartments, or that peo. ple wore silks and furs, he said to his wife, 'people do not know that the sun is warm to their backs; I will go and report it to the king, and he will certainly givé me a large reward.'-'To turn heaven' refers to a talented statesman of the Sung dynasty, who by his wise counsels turned the purposes of the emperor, and saved the country from disaster.

20. The kindness which moves one to save another from death

is termed a second creation.

21. The affection which induces one to rescue another from death is called a 'second heaven.'

the

22. He whose power easily vanishes (i. e. depends on the whim of

is called an ice hill.' sovereign)

<

23. The morning stars resemble wise and good men who are neglected and forgotten.

24. The echo of thunder resembles different accounts agreeing. 25. The man who frets himself exceedingly to no use, how does he differ from the man of Ke who feared the sky would fall on him?

This man of Ke was so afraid lest the sky should fall on him, and he be able to find no place to escape to that he could hardly eat or sleep. One told him that the sky was made of solid ether, and would not fall. 'If so,' he replied, "the heavenly bodies ought not fall down (i. e. set).' They are merely the bright spots of ether, and do not injure when they fall.' On hearing this, he was appeased.

$

26. He who undertakes an affair for which he is not capable nowise differs from Kwafoo who chased the sun.

27. When Confucius finished the Chun Tsew and Heaou King, the rainbow was changed to pearls.

   28. The Hyades desire wind, Sagittarius desires rain; they are like two people whose thoughts and wishes cannot agree.

52

Benevolent Societies,

JAN.

ART. VIII. Benevolent Societies: Medical Missionary "Society ; Morrison Education Society; Useful Knowledge Society; Sin- gapore Institution Free School; the Anglo-Chinese College. THE several benevolent institutions in China, hitherto supported chiefly by the foreign residents, have been kept very much from public view, by the disturbed state of political affairs, during the last two years; it is matter for congratulation, however, to know that in the meantime their operations have been only in part suspended. With the restoration of peace and a thrifty commerce, we trust the friends and patrons of these institutions will have the satisfaction of seeing them prospering and extending their influence more than ever before-an influence as salutary as it is benevolent, acting with nearly equal power both upon the benefactor and the beneficiary. Charity is like the exercise of mercy-'tis twice blessed. It is a pleasure to know, that there are in the foreign community not a few, who are not only ready as they have opportunity, but who seek for occasions, to do, or to aid in doing, those acts of mercy and of chari- ty which are ever duc to the poor, the ignorant, and the afflicted.

    By the Medical Missionary Society, a very great amount of suffer- ing has been alleviated or removed. The Society has established hospitals in three places-one in Canton, one in Macao, and one in Chusan,-at all of which collectively there have been received more than ten thousand patients. Most of them have been, from among the poorer classes, but there have been some from the highest ranks. The late imperial high commissioner and governor of these pro- vinces has, very recently, even since his removal from office, sought for medical aid from foreign practitioners. Four medical officers are connected with the Society,-two of whom are, for the time being, absent from China.

The Morrison Education Society, attracting less public notice, has not been less successful in its sphere. The effects of its labors are designed to be of the most beneficial and permanent character,- for they touch the mainsprings of society, and give form and shape to the intellectual machinery of those who are to be the organs of com- munication between this and other nations. It is of great importance that such persons should be thoroughly trained. Hence we think the Society has acted wisely, in resolving so to limit the number of its pupils as to make their education as thorough and complete as pos- sible. In this plan we have had full opportunity to observe its pra

1841.

Benevolent Societies.

53

gress and success.

               Its school, under the tuition of the Rev. S..R. Brown, was opened early in November, 1839, with six boys; though there have been some changes in the individuals, the number still remains unaltered; and their course of studies has been so shaped as to secure to them, in addition to the principal benefits afforded in their own schools, the best that are now enjoyed in European institu- tions. The want of proper school-books and apparatus has been very much felt; and it has already become desirable that there be an assistant or an associate tutor in the school. Since the new-year holydays, the trustees have visited and examined the pupils, and were much pleased and well satisfied with their proficiency.

    Note. The Library of the Institution, containing between two and three thousand volumes, is open to those who desire to borrow books from it, at the' Society's house, near St. Paul's, Macao, under the care of Mr. Brown.

    The Useful Knowledge Society, wanting both the literary and pecuniary means of carrying on its operations, has been compelled. during the last two years to restrict them to the printing of one work a Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton dialect-which is now nearly through the press, and will be ready for publication in two or three months.

The sixth Annual Report of the Singapore Institution Free School, for 1839-40, kindly forwarded to us,-though not drawn up in so perspicuous a manner, nor published in so neat a style, as we should like to see it,-shows that a very considerable advance has been made during the last year. The whole number of boys on the lists is 208-thus distributed: 15 Macao Portuguese, 4 Armenians, 1 Spaniard from Manila, 2 Jews, 25 Protestant Christians, 13 Klings, 2 Parsees, 3 Cochinchinese, 23 Roman Catholic Christians (not including the Macao lads), 50 Malays, and 70 Chinese. To the list of instructors in the schools, a very valuable acquisition has been made, by securing the entire services of the Rev. J. T. Dickinson. Of the Chinese department of the school, the Report says:

"If compared with European schools, and especially with those of the better sort, our Chinese school cannot be called good. But if it be compared with other Chinese schools (a much fairer criterion), it will not suffer in the comparison. There are some peculiarities of Chinese schools which strike Europeans unfavorably, such as the excessive noise, the committing of whole books to memory, and the exclusive attention paid for the first year or two to the mere learning of sounds without any reference to their meaning.

In these respects the school is believed to be better than those schools which are un der the uncontroled management of Chinese masters. The pecu- liarities referred to, however, are not so objectionable as might be supposed by those unacquainted with the Chinese language. So many characters are not to be learned without imposing an enormous

54

Calendar for 1841.

JAN.

load upon the memory, and accordingly Prémare, the great sinologist, would have even European students of the language commit to memory the Chinese classics after the manner of boys in Chinese schools. The noise of Chinese schools is also in some measure perhaps necessary, for words and tones so closely resembling each other are not to be acquired with closed mouths."

 From the Anglo-Chinese College, Malasca, no report for the last year has reached us. By recent letters from the Straits, we learn, with deep sorrow, that its late principal, the Rev. John Evans, has been suddenly removed by the cholera-which in November and December was carrying off large numbers of the native inhabitants. The late Rev. J. Hughes was also one of its victims. By the death of Mr. Evans, the sole management of the Institution has devolved on the Rev. James Legge, who arrived at Malacca in January, 1840. We hope soon to be enabled to lay before our readers à particular account of the institution; for the present we can only say that its: several classes of Chinese youth, and its printing department, are both continued as hitherto. On page 32 of this volume will be found an account of the origin and design of this institution.

1

ART. IX. Calendar for 1841; with lists of members of the im- perial cabinet; provincial afficers at Canton; Portuguese govern- mentat Macao; British naval and military forces in China; foreign consuls, &c., and other foreign residents, commercial houses, and merchant ships.

A. D. 1841 corresponds to the 4478th year of the Chinese era, which is computed by cycles of sixty years, the present being the 38th of the 75th cycle, and the 21st in the reign of his imperial majesty Taoukwang. The Chinese at the present time date all their papers, official or otherwise, from the first year in the reign of each succes- sive emperor. Though the reigning sovereign ascended the throne in 1820, he was pleased to ordain that that year should be considered the last of his father and predecessor's, and the next the first of his /own reign. They reckon by lunar months; introducing occasional- ly an intercalary month; their 1st day of the 1st month of this year corresponds to January 23d; an intercalary month occurring between the 21st of April, and the 20th of May. The comparative calendar, on the next page, will enable the reader easily to find the corresponding date of any document, when given only in Chinese, and also vice verṣâ.

Sep.

1841.

Calendar for 1841.

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نار

Lists of Chinese Officers

1. Nuy Ko, or Imperial Cabinet, Peking.

JAN.

The presiding members of the Nuy Ko, (lit. Inner Council,) are four principal (ta heòszc) and two assisting ministers (heepan ta heõsze), alternately Mantchou and Chinese. The present incumbents are

1. 穆彰阿 Muchangah,

a Mantchou.

2. 潘世恩

Pwan Shengan,

a Chinese.

3. 琦善

Keshen,

a Mantchou.*

4. 王鼎

Wang Ting

a Chinese.

a Mantchou.t

5. 伊里布 Elepoo,

6.Tang Kinchaou, a Chinese.

2. Provincial officers at Canton.

     The list contains only the names and common titles, of the officers who are at the head of the provincial government, and most concerned with foreigners, or who are resident at Canton and at Macao. For a complete list of the titles of the provincial officers, the reader is referred to vol. IV., page 529.

Keshen (acting).

督院 governor,

It.-governor,

琦善

怡良

Eleảng.

將軍 gen.-commandant, 阿精阿 Atsingah. 左都統 1st It.-general, 玉瑞 Yuhsuy.

右都統 2d t.-general, 英隆

Yinglung.

學院 literary chancellor, 單懋謙 Shen Mowheen. 海關 com. mar.customs,

Eleäng (acting).

水師提督 admiral, 關天培 Kwan Teënpei.

藩司 com.administration 梁

Leang

臬司 com.of justice,

王廷闌 Wang Tinglan.

JERF prefect,

糧道 com. for grain,

'com. of gabel, 宋 朱

Sung

Choo

Yu Paoushun.

南海 magistrate,

magistrate,

梁星源 Leäng Singyuen. 張曦宇 Chang Eyu.

intendant at Macao, sub-prefect.

香山縣 magistrate,

Yih Chungfoo.

立昂 Tseing Leihngang.

Woo Szeshoō.

山縣左堂 sub. mag 楊維善 Yang Weishen.

Imperial high commissioner, and acting governor of Kwangtung & Kwangse. † Governor of the two Keäng, and imperial high commissioner in Chekeäng-

1841.

List of H. B. M. Forces.

3. Portuguese government at Macao.

Adrião Accacio da Silveira Pinto, Governor. Jozé Maria Rodrigues de Basto, Judge.

João Teixera Lira, commandant.

Bernardo Estevão Carneiro. Procurador.

57

Present Members of the Senate-Bartholomeo Barretto; Antonio Joaquim Cor- tella: João Damasceno Coelho dos Santos; Claudio Ignacio da Silva; Manoel Antonio de Sousa; Bernardo Estevão Carneiro.

4. H. B. M's ships and vessels on the coast of China, Jan. 1, 1841, Under the command of commodore, sir J. J. Gordon Bremer, knt., C. B., K. C. H., commander-in-chief in the East Indies.

Wellesley,

72, captain T. Maitland. (Flag-ship)

72, captain sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, knt, K. C. H. 72, captain the hon. R. S. Dundas.

44, captain H. Smith.

26, captain Thomas Herbert.

Blenheim,

Melville,

Druid,

Calliope,

Samarang,

26, captain James Scott.

Herald,

26, captain Joseph Nias.

Larne,

18, commander J. P. Blake.

Hyacinth,

Modeste,

le, commander W. Warren. 18, commander Harry Eyres.

     Columbine, 16, commander T. J. Clarke. Sulphur,

           8, surveying vessel, commander E. Belcher. Starling, schooner, tender to Sulphur, lieut-commanding H. Kellett. Jupiter, armed en flute as troop ship, master-commanding R. Fulton. Louisa, cutter, tender to flag-ship, T. Carmicheal. R. N., commanding.

Queen, master-commanding W. Warden, Enterprise, master-commanding C. H. West. Madagascar, master-commanding J. Dicey. Nemesis, master-commanding W. II. Hall R. N.

H. Co's arm- ed steamers

Blonde,

The above off Canton river.-The following at Chusan.

42, captain Thomas Bourchier.

26. captain C. R. Drinkwater Bethune.

Conway,

Alligator,

26, acting captain A. L. Kuper.

Nimrod,

Pylades,

18, commander T. Y. Anson.

20, conmander C. A. Barlow.

Algerine, 10), lieutenant-commanding T. H. Mason.

Rattlesnake. 28, troop ship, master-commanding W. Brodie.

Young Hebe, schooner, R. R. Quin, tender to Conway, surveying.

Hon. Co.'s armed steamer Atalanta, commander J. Rogers. Indian Navy.

5. Detail of H. B. M.'s military force at Chusan on 1st January.

18th regiment, Royal Irish, Lt-colonel Adams, 26th regiment, Cameronians, Lt--colonel James, 49th regiment, Lieutenant-colonel Bartley, Bengal Volunteers, Lieutenant-colonel Lloyd, Madras Artillery, Lt-colonel Montgomerie c. B. Madras sappers and miners, captain Cotton.

291

487 rank and file.

27

326

"

402

185

F

227

Staff officers with H. B. м. military force at Chusan, Jan. 1st,

Brigadier-general Burrell, 18th regiment, Lieutenant Mitford, 18th Royal Irish, Major Mountain, 26th Cameronians, Major Becher, Bengal army, Captain Moore, Bengal army, Major Wilson, Bengal army, Major Hawkins, Bengal army, Captain Smith, Bengal army. ·

VOL. X. NO. I.

Commanding. Aid-de-camp.

Depy. adjutant-general. Depy, quarter-master-general. Depy, judge-advocate-general.

Paymaster-general.

Deputy commissary-general.

do.

Assistant do.

58

List of H. B. M. Forces.

Captain Davidson, Bengal army, Surgeon Grant, Madras artillery, Major Stephens, 49th regiment, Captain Caine, 26th regiment, Lieutenant Dennis, 49th regiment, Lieutenant Dunbar, 18th regiment,

1AN.

Assistant commissary-general. Superintending surgeon.

Commissioner of public property. Magistrate.

Assistant magistrate.

Assistant magistrate.

6. Establishment of Superintendents of the trade of British subjects.

His excellency, capt. C. Elliot,

R. N., British plenipotentiary, A. R. Johuston, esq. Edward Elmslie, esq.

Mr. A. W. Elinslie,

Mr. L. d'Almada e Castro, Mr. J. d'Almada e Castro, John Robt. Morrison, esq. Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, Robert Thom, esq.

Mr. S. Fearon,

 Mr. J. B. Rodriguez, Mr. W. H. Medhurst, jr. T. R. Colledge, esq. (absent) A. Anderson, esq.

Chief Superintendent.

Deputy Superintendent. Secretary and Treasurer.

Clerks in the secretary's office.

Chinese secretary and interpreter. Joint interpreter,* Joint interpreter,}

Clerks in the Chinese secretary's office.

Surgeon. Acting surgeon.

7. Foreign Consuls.

French-Charles Alexandre Challaye, Esquire.

American.-P. W. Snow esq. (W. Delano, jr., esq., acting vice-consul.) Danish-James Matheson, esq.

Foreign

Residents.

Abeel, Rev. David,

am.

Almack, W.

br.

Burjorjee Manackjec, Burjorjee Sorabjec,

par.

Amroodeen Sumsudeen

moh.

Burn, D. L.

br.

Anderson, Alexander,

br.

Bush, F. T.

Ardaseer Furdoonjec,

par.

Baldwin, T.`R.

br.

Calder, A.

Bateman, J.

Calder, D.

"

Byramjee Rustomjee,

Cannan, John H.,

Challaye, C. A.

Chinnery, George.

am.

"

fr.

br.

par. br.

11

""

Coolidge, J. jr., and family. am.

Cowasjee Pallanjec,

Baylis, H. P.

Beale, Thomas, Bell, William, Blenkin, W.

19

"

Clarke, W.

Board, Charles,

""

Compton, J. B.

Bomanjee Eduljee

par.

Boone, Rev. W. J., and fain. am.

Couper, W.

Bovet, L..

sw.

Boyd, W. Sprott,

br.

Braine, George T.

19

Bridgman, Rev. E. C..

am.

Brooks, George R.

am.

Brown, Rev. S. R., and fam, am,

Bull, Isaac M.

am.

Croom, A. F.

Burd, John,

dan.

sw.

par.

Burkhardt, F. S., absent Burjorjee Manackjee,

*

Cowasjee Sorabjee,

am.

Cowasjee Shapoorjee Tabac, Cowasjee Shapoorjce Lungrali, Cox, Richard H.

Crawford, Adam

Cursetjee Frommurjec, Cursetjee Rustomjce

Dadabhoy Burjorjee,

 Lent to the government of Chusan. Lent to the senior naval officer at Chusan.

quar.

br.

""

par.

"

1841.

    Dadabhoy Byramjee, Dadabhoy Rustomjee,

Dale, W. W.

Davis, J. J.

Delano, Edward, Delano, Warren, jr. Denham, F. A. Dent, John, jr.

List of Foreign Residents.

par..

Henry, Joseph.

Heras, P. de las

br.

Heron, George.

Hobson, B., M. B.,

"9

am.

Hogarth,--

am.

.br.

""

"

19

+

Dent, Lancelot.

Dent, Wilkinson.

De Salis, J. H.

Dickson,

Dhunjeebhoy Nasserwanjce, par.

Dinshaw Furdoonjee,

am:

par.

Diver, W. B. M. D. absent am.

and family.

Holgate, H. Holliday, John, Holmes, R. Hooker, James, Hormuzjee Framjee, Hormuzjee Sapoorjee, How, James absent Hubertson, Hughesdon, C. Hughes, W. H.

Humpston, G.

Hunter, W. C. Innes, James,

br.

sp

br.

"

"

"

$9

par.

37

br.

13

"

99

am.

br.

59

Douglass, L. P.

br.

Drysdale, A. S.

"

Drummond, F. C.

absent

"

Dudgeon, Patrick,

br.

Jalbhoy Cursetjee,

Durran, J. A., jr.

fr.

Jardine, Andrew,

par. br.

Eduljee Furdoonjee,

par.

Jardine, David,

Ellis, W.

Elliot, Charles, and family,

Elmslie, Adam W.

br.

Jeaneret, A.

sw.

"

"

Johnston, A. R.

Jumoojee Nasserwanjee,

br.

par

Elmslie, Edward.

Just, Leonard,

absent

pr.

"

Erskine, W.

"

Just, L., jr.

""

11

Fanning, W.

Kay, Duncan J.

11

"

Fearon, Christopher.

Kennedy, G.

"

Fearon, Charles.

Fearon, Samuel.

"

Kerr, Crawford, and family,

King, C. W., and family, absent am.

Fessenden, Henry.

am.

King, Edward,

Findlay, George,

br.

Lane, W.

Fletcher, Angus,

Larruleta, M.

19

Forbes, D.

""

Le Geyt, W. C.

am.

br.

sp.

br.

Fox, Thomas,

absent

99

Framjee Heerajee,

par.

Lejeé, W. R.

Leighton, H. J., and family

19

am.

Framjee Jamsetjee,

Leslie, W.

Fryer, W.

br.

Limjee Bomanjee,

Gemmell, W. absent

""

Lloyd, Charles."

Gibb, John D.

"

Gibb, T. A.

"

Gillespie, C. V.

am.

Gilman, Daniel,

Gilman, J. T.

Gilman, R. J.

Gray, W. F. absent

am.

br.

moh.

Manackjee Bomanjee,

""

par.

Gribble, Henry, and family.

Gully, R.

Gutzlaff, Rev. C., and family. " Halcon, J. M.

Hamilton, L., and family.

Harker, Henry R.

Hart, C. H. and family.

Harton, W. H.

Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee,

Manackjee Pestonjec,

19

par.

br.

Martin, H.

sp.

i

am.

br.

Matheson, James.

McMinnies, H.

"

17

absent

"

par.

Melville, A.

Medhurst, W. H.,

jr.

"

Lockhart, W.

Low, W. H.

Macculloch, A. Mackean, T. W. L. Macleod, M. A. Mahomedbhoy Alloo,

Markwick, Charles

Matheson, Alexander, absent

Matheson, Donald.

am.

br.

"1

br.

par.

du.

br.

60

List of Foreign Residents.

Moller, Edmund,

Mollyer, A,

pru. dan.

Monk, J.

Morgan, W.

Morrison, J. R.

br.

Morsa, W. H.

am.

Moul, Henry

br.

JAN.

Scott, W.

br.

Sucksen, C. F. absent

prus.

Shaikamod Dossboy,

moh.

Shaikassen Budroodin

moh.

"

Shawuxshaw Rustomjee,

par.

Sherifkhan Kanjee,

rach.

Shillaber, John

am.

Murrow, Y. J.

Shuck, Rev. J. L. and family

Mercer, J. A., and family,

Silverlock, John

Merwanjee Dadabhoy,

par.

Simpson, J. W.

Merwanjee Eduljee,

Skinner, John

Merwanjee Jeejeebhoy,

Millar, John

Milne, Rev. W. C.

Nacoda Elias

Slade, John

要鳖

br.

Smith, Gilbert

Nacoda Saboo

Nacoda Seleman.

Nasserwanjee Bhicajee,

Neave, Thomas D.

Nowrojee Cowasjee,

Nye, Gideon, jr.

Nye, Thomas,

Oswald, R.

br.

Palanjee Dorabjee,

par.

Smith, John, and family

Smith, J. M.

Snow, P. W. absent

"

moh.

19

*

Somjee Visramn,

par.

br.

par.

am.

Spooner, D. N.

Stanton, Vincent.

| Staples, Edward A..

Stevens, T. Woodhouse Stewart, C. E.

Stewart, Patrick, and family.

Stewart, W.

**

**

am.

moh.

am.

br.

90

um.

br.

Pallanjee Nasserwanjee Patell,

par.

Still, C. F.

"

Parker, Rev. Peter. M. D.

abs. am.

Strachan, Robert

Paterson, A., and family,

br.

Strachan, W.

**

Pattullo, Stewart E.

**

Sturgis, J. P.

am.

Pestonjee Cowasjee,

par.

Tait, James,

absent

br.

Pestonjee Dinshaw,

11

Talbot, W. R.

absent

am.

Pestonjee Jamsetjee,

"

Thom, Robert,

br.

Pestonjee Ruttonjee Shroff,.

**

Pestonjee Nowrojee,

"

du.

"

Pestonjee Rustomjes,

Pitcher, N. W.

Prosh, John

br.

*

br.

19

*

Pyke, W.

Ragoonath Juvan.

Racine, H. absent

Rees, Thomas

Rickett, John, and family

Ritchie, A. A. and family.

Roberts, Rev. I. J.

Robertson, P. F.

Rohin Raypall

Ryan, James.

A. A. Ritchie.

    A. & D. Furdoonjee, Augustine Heard & Co. Bell & Co.

    Bovet, Brothers, & Co. Christopher Fearon. Daniell & Co. Dent & Co.

Thomson, W.

Van Loffelt, J. P. Varnham, Warner, Walker, J. Waterhouse, B. Webster, Robert, Wetmore, S., jr. Wildridge, P. Wilkinson, Alfred,

Williams, S. Wells,

ind.

SID.

br.

99

am.

am.

Wright, Henry

br.

Young, Peter

moh.

Yriarte, R.

am.

Wookerjee Jamset jee,

**

am.

br.

am.

par.

br.

19

sp.

Yruretagoyena, G. de, and fain. sp.

Commercial Houses.

! Dirom & Co.

D. & M. Rustomjee & Co. Elgar & Co.

Fergusson, Leighton, & Co. Fox, Rawson & Co. Gibb, Livingston, & Co. Gribble, Hughes, & Co. Gideon Nye., jr.

1841.

Heerjeebloy Rustomjer. Holliday, Wise, & Co. Hooker and Lane. Isaac M. Bull.

lanes, Fletcher, & Co. J. A. Mercer. James Ryan.

Jamieson & How.

Jardine, Matheson, & Co. John Smith..

Merchant Ships..

1 L. Just & Son. Lindsay & Co. Macvicar & Co. Olyphant & Co. Robert Webster. Russell & Co. Turner & Co.

W. & T. Gemmell & Co. Wetmore & Co.

William Scott.

Merchant Ships in China, Jan. 1841.

61

Acasta,

br.

Ryle,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

294 tons

Akbar,

am.

Dumaresq,

Russell & Co.

642

Ann

br.

Denham,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Ann Gales,

br.

Giles,

Dent & Co.

203

Ariel.

br.

Warden,

Dent & Co.

Bengal Packet,

br.

Steward,

Lindsay & Co.

231

Brigand,

br.

Paddon,

Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee.

Caroline,

br.

Fryer,

C. Fearon,

Charles Kerr,

br.

Arnold,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

463

Danish Oak

dan.

Rabé,

Russell & Co.

300

Dos Amigos,

sp.

Matta.

J. P. Sturgis.

Duchess of Clarence br.

Buck

W. & T. Gemmell & Co.

274

Eagle,

br.

Patterson,

Elizabeth,

br.

Geffrey,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Eben Preble

am.

Hallet,

Russell & Co,

488

Fort William -

br.

Hogg,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

1230

Frances Smith

br.

Edmonds,

Macvicar & Co.

600

George 4th,

br.

Brownless.

Gertrudes,

3p.

Good Success

br.

Fraser,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Harriet,

br.

Martin.

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Hellas,

br.

Baylis,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Hope,

br.

Simpson,

Macvicar & Co.

300

Horatio,

am.

Howland,

Gideon Nye, jr.

John O'Gaunt

br.

Robertson.

Turner & Co.

449

Kelpie,

br.

Konohasset,

Kosciusko.

am.

am.

Forbes, Waterman.

Peterson,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Jardine Matheson & Co.

432

J. Shillaber.

Lady Hayes

br.

W. Strachan,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Lambton,

br.

High,

C. Hughesdon.

Lam heart,

br.

Hopkins,

Dent & Co.

268

Lloyds,

br.

Green,

Lindsay & Co.

463

Lowell,

am.

Remmonds,

Russell & Co.

484

Lydie,

fr.

Meshek,

T. W. Stevens.

315

Lyra,

br.

Huberston,

J. A. Durran,

Manty,

br.

Phillips,

Elgar & Co.

200

Mellish,

br.

James,

Dent & Co.

424

Monarch,

br.

Robertson,

Holliday Wise & Co.

460

Mau Imein,

br.

Guy,

Oneida,

am.

}

Swift,

G. Nye jr.

Orwell,

br.

Hews,

Dent & Co.

Parrock Hall,

br.

Parsaus,

Dent & Co.

Premier,

br.

Were,

Gribble Hughes & Co.

561

Prima Donna,

br.

Kell,

Dent & Co.

222

Sanderson,

br.

Bushby,

Dirom & Co.

308

Scale by Castly,

br.

Johnstone,

H. Rustomjee.

1256

Scotland,

br.

Cunningham.

W. & T. Gemmell & Co.

363

Snipe.

br.

Ade.

1

62

Journal of Occurrences.

JAN.

St. George.

br.. Wright,

Russell & Co.

388

Spy,

br

Paterson,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Syed Khan,

br.

Horsburgh,

Ternate,

br.

Cleverly,

Fergusson Leighton & Co.

271

Tomatin,

br.

Wingate

Jamieson & How.

428

Urgent,

br

Water Witch,

br.

Reynell,

Dent & Co.

200

Westmoreland,

br.

Emery,

Lindsay & Co.

405

William,

Wilhelmine Maria, ham.

Young Queen, br.

Valentin,

am.

Underwood,

Holmes,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Ships arrived in January.

1st Bella Marina, br.

Wickham, Sing, and Liv. Bell & Co.

Eagle,

br.

Patterson,

Chusan,

3d Mysore,

br.

Ward.

Singapore,

4th Giraffe,

br.

Wright,

Manila,,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Defiance, br.

Evalt,

Ernaad,

br.

Hill,

**

5th Chieftain,

br.

Clark,

Chusan,

Innes, Fletcher & Co.

Florida,

am.

Falcond,

U. S. & Manila, G. Nye, Jr.

Rafaela,

sp.

Manila,

Isabella II,

"

sp.

Manila,

14th Clifford,

br.

Sharpe,

Manila

15th Dartmouth, br. Jacob,

H. M. F. S. Danaide 18, Rosamel,

Bombay,

Jardine Matheson & Co.

Manila,

19th Lema,

21st Herald,

am.

Endicott,

Sing and Bom. Russell & Co.

br.

Watt,

Loudon,

22d Kingston, br.

Maclean,

Sing and Bom.

Black Swan, br.

Hart,

Singapore,

10

Hamilton, am.

Kilham,

13

31st Folkestone, br. Jolly,

Manila, London.

ART. X.

Journal of Occurrences; commercial business; negotia- tions; cession of Hongkong; treaty; Chusan; public affairs. FEB. 18th. The occurrences during the past month, no space is left us now to detail: suffice it to say: 1; the blockade not being raised, commercial business remains in statu quo; a few merchants only are in Canton, and they, "in a very unpleasant neighborhood just now," are ready to leave: 2; negotiations have nearly reached their ne plus ultra: 3; Hongkong has been ceded to the British crown, and Chuenpe restored to the Chinese: 4; a trea- ty is understood to be in an advanced state, and must soon be exchanged or rejected: 5; the evacuation of Chusan has commenced; and the wliole of the British forces there, with the prisoners at Ningpo, are soon expected to arrive at Hongkong: 6; the aspect of public affairs is indeed, at this moment, of a very ominous cast; and it is believed by almost every Chinese, so far as we know, that the emperor will discard the acts of his minister Ke- shen; and in this belief they are supported by the assembling of troops and other hostile movements, and by imperial edicts and other official papers. Some of these documents are in our possession, and shall appear in our next number. We are inclined to think, but are by no means strong in the opi- nion, that Keshen will stand. It is said three new commissioners are on their way to join-or as some will have it-to supersede him. We subjoin three official papers.

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

63

No. 1.

To Her Britannic Mujesty's Subjects. Macao, 20th January, 1841. Her Majesty's plenipotentiary has now to announce the conclusion of per- liminary arrangements between the imperial commissioner and himself involving the following conditions.

      1. The cession of the island and harbor of Hongkong to the British crown' All just charges and duties to the empire upon the commerce carried on there to be paid as if the trade were conducted at Whampoa

     2. An indemnity to the British government of six millions of dollars, one million payable at once, and the remainder in equal annual instalments ending in 1846.-

3. Direct official intercourse between the countries apon equal footing.

      4. The trade of the port of Canton to be opened within ten days after the Chi- nese new-year, and to be carried on at Whampoa till further arrangements are practicable at the new settlement.

Details remain matter of negotiation. The plenipotentiary seizes the earliest occasion to declare that Her Majesty's government has sought for no privilege in China exclusively for the advantage of British ships and merchants, and he is only performing his duty in offering the protection of the British flag to the subjects, citizens, and ships of foreign powers that may resort to Her Majesty's possession. Pending Her Majesty's further pleasure, there will be no port or other charges to the British government.

The plenipotentiary now permits himself to make a few general observations. The oblivion of past and redressed injuries will follow naturally from the right feeling of the queen's subjects:-Indeed it should be remembered that no extent of modification resulting only from political intervention can be efficacious in the steady improvement of our condition, unless it be systematically seconded by conciliatory treatment of the people, and becoming deference for the country, upon the threshold of which we are about to be established. The plenipotenti- ary can only presume to advert very briefly to the zeal and wisdom of the com- mander of the expedition to China: and to that rare union of ardor, patience, and forbearance which has distinguished the officers and forces of our arms at all points of occupation and operation. He is well assured the British communi- ty will sympathize cordially with him in their sentiments of lasting respect for his excellency and the whole force, which he is ashamed to express in such in- adequate language.

' * སཙྩེཝཾ

He cannot conclude without declaring that next to these causes the peaceful adjustment of difficulties must be ascribed to the scrupulous good faith of the very eminent person with whom negotiations are still pending.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary in China.

Circular. To Her Majesty's subjects.

Macao, 20th January, 1821. Her Majesty's plenipotentiary considers it incumbent upon himself to lose no time in assuring the commercial community that he will use his best efforts with her majesty's government to secure an early and entire advance of their claims for indemnity. And mindful of the interests of parties in India, he will not fail respectfully to move the Right Honorable the Governor general of India to second these purposes as far as may seem just to his lordship.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT. Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

No. 2.

PROCLAMATION. By Charles Elliot, esq, a captain in the royal navy, Chief Superin- tendent of the trade of British subjects in China, and holding full powers, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to execute the office of Her Majesty's commissioner, procurator, and plenipotentiary in China.......... THE island of Hongkong having been ceded to the British crown under the seal of the Imperial minister and high commissioner Keshen, it has be come necessary to provide for the government thereof, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure.

    By virtue of the authority therefore in me vested, all Her Majesty's Rights, Royalties, Privileges of all kinds whatever, in and over the said island of Hongkong, whether to or over lands, harbors, property, or personal service, are hereby declared, proclaimed, and to Her Majesty fully reserved..

:

64

Journal of Occurrences,

    And I do hereby declare and preclaim, that, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure, the government of the said island shall devolve upon, and be exer- cised by, the person filling the office of Chief Superintendent of the trade of British subjects in China for the time being.

And I do hereby declare and proclaim, that, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure, the natives of the island of Hongkong, and all natives of China thereto resorting, shall be governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description of torture excepted.

And I do further declare and proclaim, that, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure, all offenses committed in Hongking by Her Majesty's subjects, or other persons than natives of the island or of China thereto resorting, shall fall under the cognizance of the criminal and admiralty Jurisdiction, present- ly existing in China.

    And I do further declare and proclaim, that, pending H. M.'s further plea- sure, such rules and regulations as may be necessary from time to time for the government of Hongkong, shall be issued under the hand and seal of the person filling the office of Chief Superintendent of the trade of British sub- jects in China for the time being.

And I do further declare and proclaim, that, pending Her Majesty's fur- ther pleasure, all British subjects and foreigners residing in, or resorting to the island of Hongkong, shall enjoy full security and protection, according to the principles and practice of British law, so long as they shall continue to con- form to the authority of Her Majesty's government in and over the island of Hongkong, hereby duly constituted and proclaimed.

Given under my hand and seal of office,'

on board of Her majesty's ship Wellesley, at anchor in Hongkong Bay, this twenty- ninth day of January, in the year one thou- wand eight hundred and forty-one.

GOD SAVE The Queen.

(Signed) CHArles Elliot.

(True Copy) EDWARD ELMSLIE Secretary and Treasurer, &c.

No 3.

BREMER, Commander-in-chief, and ELLIOT, plenipotentiary, &c. &c., by this Proclamation make known to the inhabitants of the island of Hongkong, that that island has now become part of the dominions of the Queen of Eng land by clear public agreement between the high officers of the Celestial and British Courts: and all native persons residing therein must understand, that they are now subjects of the Queen of England, to whom and to whose officers they must pay duty and obedience.

The inhabitants are hereby promised protection, in her majesty's gracious name, against all enemies whatever; and they are further secured in the free exercise of their religious rites, ceremonies, and social customs; and in the enjoyment of their lawful private property and interests. They will be governed, pending her majesty's further pleasure, according to the laws, customs, and usages of the Chinese (every description of torture excepted), by the elders of villages, subject to the control of a British magistrate; and any person having complaint to prefer of ill-usage or injustice against any Englishman or foreigner, will quietly make report to the nearest officer, to the end that full justice may be done.

Chinese ships and merchants resorting to the port of Hongkong for pur- poses of trade are hereby exempted, in the name of the Queen of England, from charge or duty of any kind to the British government.

                               The pleasure of the government will be declared from time to time by further proclama- tion: and all heads of villages are held responsible that the commands are duly respected and observed.

Given under Seal of office, this 1st day of February, 1841.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-FEBRUARY, 1841.- No. 2. ·

,

ART. I. Notices of China, No. V marriage ceremonies, translat- ed and abridged from the Annales de la Propagation de la Foi From a letter of M. BoHET, missionary in Fubkeën. By: S. R

1

}

    Ir is no uncommon thing in China, to contract matrimonial alliances for children before they are born, as follows. Two women mutually promise to marry their expected offspring, provided they be of differ- ent sexes; and to render the promise more obligatory, pledges are given; as for instance,' 'a' ring and bracelet for her who shall be the mother of a daughter, and two fans of the same shape and color, for the one who shall give birth to a son. When this agreement is enter- ed into, it is almost impossible to withdraw from it. The mutual promise is afterwards written in a book with gilt leaves, consisting of a single sheet of paper. After the birth of the daughter, her name is recorded upon this document, together with those of her father and mother, and the place of her birth. As a matter of etiquette, the book is then sent to the parents of the boy, who receive it, and on their part return à similar one to the other party. These formalities being finished, it is impossible to draw back, and the marriage must take place, except in case one of the children becomes a leper. We see then, that the affair of marriage is not a question of consent between the affianced parties, since it is concluded by the parents, long before the children are of an age to give it. This is the reason

Dated Hinghwa foo, March 4th, 1882.

VOL. X. NO. I.

9

+

+

66

Notices of China, No. V.

FEB.

why there are so many unhappy women who find no end to their domestic troubles, but in suicide. Ordinarily, the parents take the first steps towards concluding a matrimonial contract, but there are persons in the country, men and women, intrusted with the business of match-making. These people make it their profession, get their livelihood by it, and generally follow no other. Marriage is a sort of trade, of which these go-betweens are the monopolists!

*

    It is dishonorable to a girl ten years of age not to have been be- trothed, and after that period, the saying is, 'the market is dull.' At the age of fourteen or fifteen years, a girl can no longer go out of the house, though she may be pardoned if curiosity has led her now and then to peep out at the door. But when strangers enter the house she is obliged to hide herself in the most retired apartment. Every thing being ready for the espousals, the parents of the lad inform those of the girl, that they may fix the day. At the appointed time, the go-between, attended by two men and as many women, goes to the house of the future spouse with the usual presents in baskets. In one are found the two gilt books, mentioned above, around which are arranged diverse kinds of fruits, according to etiquette; and in the four corners are coins ranged in piles. Another contains a small fresh ham, the foot of which must be sent back to the intended fa- ther-in-law. A third basket has vermicelli in it. On the arrival of the bearess of the presents, crackers are fired to proclaim the news to the neighbors, and two red tapers are lighted in the hall of entrance. Afterwards, the betrothed apportious the ham to those present, but the number is often so great, that there is scarcely a morsel for each. She also sends the little book, containing the promise of marriage, to Her intended husband; and her parents send him as many baskets containing articles of the same value as those presented to her. They are, however, of a different kind, and consist of various fruits, of which they make six separate parcels, each having a certain flower, set upon red paper, fastened to its four corners.

· The affianced boy likewise receives from his mother-in-law (that is to be) some small tokens of trifling value, which he immediately distributes to those who may be present. The seed of the gourd, dried in the sun, forms one of the latter. After these ceremonies, espoused; he has never

-

the youth cannot upon any account see his seen her yet, nor will he till the day of their nuptials. If he has not done it already, the father of the girl is not tárdy to demand her price, about $32 being the most moderate sum for a wife. commonly it is from 66 to 80 taels. In all cases, the

More

young man

1841.

Notices of China, No. V.

67

cannot have his bride till the stipulated price has been paid, and he is furthermore obliged to pay the additional expenses incurred when she quits the paternal roof, and goes to live with her husband.

     At length, when the money is paid, and the time for the marriage comes, the guests resort to the house of the bridegroom, to celebrate it. The courier, who acts as guide to the chair-bearers, accompanied by a person appointed to direct the movements of the bride, takes the lead; yet before starting, they consult an astrologer, to ascertain whether the day is propitious or unfavorable. In the latter case, they take care to provide themselves with a large piece of pork, so that the demon, which in the form of a tiger, may be likely to oppose them, being wholly occupied in devouring the meat, may leave them unmolested. Mean- time the maiden, rising before dawn, makes her toilet in the haut ton of elegance, dressing herself with her richest jewels and apparel. The best garments are concealed by others less beautiful worn over them, and the whole is covered by a bridal dress, which is simply a large mantle that completely envelops her. She is also muffled up in an enormous hat, resembling a flat wide basket, that descends to the shoulders and covers the whole figure. Thus attired she takes her seat in a red [and gilt] sedan, borne by four men. All who meet her

upon the road are obliged to yield the path, even though it be the viceroy of the province that passes by. The sedan is entirely closed, so that she can neither see nor be seen. At a little distance from it, one or more chests of the same color as the sedan, contain, ing the apparel of the bride, are borne in state. Most commonly they contain nothing but old petticoats and small linen, the sport of all sorts of vermin. Custom requires that, during the time of the pro- cession, all those who form the train should weep and cry, and until they arrive at the bridegroom's house, no music is heard but that of wails. [?] If however the distance is great they make a pause, and only resume their lamentations when near the end of the journey.

At last, the courier, who is in advance of the train some minutes, arrives at the house all panting for breath, knocks loudly at the door, and cries out with vehemence, "There she is!" and at once a multi- tude of crackers, to the noise of which are added the discordant sounds of many instruments of music, announce to the neighborhood the arrival of the bride. As she stops at the door, the bridegroom hastens to conceal himself in the most retired part of the house, and there closets himself, now and then putting his eye to the key-hole to see what is transpiring without. The go-between, who accompanies the spouse, then takes a little child, if there be one in the house, and ·

68

Notices of China, No. V.

FEB.

makes him salute the young bride, after which she also enters the chamber of the intended husband, to inform him of his bride's arrival. He at first affects indifference to all that is going on around him, and seems occupied in other matters; however he goes out with the go-between, advancing with a grave step, and approaching the sedan, opens the door with an air of agitation and trembling: the bride steps out, and they both go forward together to the ancestral tablet, which they salute with three genuflections, and then seat themselves_at table opposite to each other face to face. The go-between serves them, and the bridegroom eats and drinks, but the bride merely makes a pretense of it, for the large hat, which all the time screens her and conceals her figure, prevents her from raising anything to her mouth. The repast being finished, the now wedded pair enter

their chamber.

I

All the guests have a lively curiosity to know the result of this first interview, for it is then only that the husband removes the mask from his wife's head, and for the first time in his life beholds her features. Whether pretty or ugly, blind, blear-eyed, or deformed, he must make up his mind to have her for his lawful wife, and whatever may be his disappointment, he must disguise it, and outwardly ap- pear content with his lot. After he has considered his wife for some time, the guests, parents and friends, men and women, all enter the apartment to do the same, and view her at their leisure. Every one is allowed to express his opinion aloud, but the criticisms of the women are most severe. They closely scrutinize the newly married lady, and make every little natural defect which they observe, the subject of remark and malicious exaggeration. They are the more severe in their censures, from the recollection that they themselves have been ill-treated in like circumstances, and find great pleasure in having an opportunity to be avenged. This cruel examination, during which she who is the object of it, must keep silence, and cannot in any manner complain of the severe remarks that are made upon her per- · son, being finished, she is at first introduced to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, who respectively salute her according to etiquette, and afterwards into the presence of her own father and mother.

:

It should be observed that neither of the parents of the bride ap- pear at that wedding. Neither of them can be invited on the oc- casion, that matter belonging entirely to the bridegroom, who invites his parents and friends a fortnight beforehand.

1

The cards of invitation are peculiar in their form. They consist of a large red sheet of paper folded into two small ques, in the forın

1841.

Notices of China, No. V.

69

of letters, but on which there is nothing written. Only those who have received these cards in due form can be present at the nuptials. 'The bridegroom is always the bearer of them, and in delivering them to the guests, he at the same time makes to each a present of two cakes made of rice flour, cooked in water and colored red. : The persons invited must, a few days before the fête, send him a sum of money equal to and even greater than the expenses they will be con- sidered as occasioning. The least sum is eighty cash for a child, and a hundred and forty or more for an adult. This contribution serves not only to cover the cost of the bridal feast, but the additional expenses.

The second day of the wedding, the husband carries to the same gests, another card of invitation, like the first and with the same formalities, and everything passes off as on the preceding day. On the second day, the bride goes to present her respects to the ladies who have honored the nuptials by their presence, and makes a genu- flection to each. They, in return, each ́ make her a present of a ring, or something else, of indeterminate value. The smallest they can give, however, must be worth at least 40 cash... The young gentlemen, invited to the wedding, unite together after the feast, and make the bridegroom a present of two Chinese lanterus. Io the course of the night the guests in concert get up a hurly-burly to the wedded pair. In the midst of the uproar, and when the latter are supposed to be asleep, the former try to break into their apartment, either by forcing the door, or by making a hole in the wall, in order off seine of the garments, or other things belonging to the married couple. If they succeed, the husband is obliged to repur- chase the stolen 'articles.

to carry

J

:

?

In the ceremonies that accompany marriage entertainments, the gravity of Chinese manners does not allow of those animated signs of inirth, which we often see among us under similar circumstances, but on the other hand they indulge in many indecencies which our morals forbid. Throughout the whole of the fête, music is incessant, and the scene closes with a comedy, performed by professional actors, whose theatrical pieces are in as bad taste as those of the merry- andrews that go about our country to amuse people with their farces. Before the guests retire, they make an image of paper, or something else, representing a little child, which they carry to the bridal bed to secure a son for the first-born. The comedians receive a handful of cash for their services. Should the father and mother of one of the betrothed happen to die, the marriage is postponed during the season

70

Notices of China, No. V.

FEC.

of mourning. An interdict to the same effect is laid upon the whole empire when the emperor dies.

Marriage among the poor is more simple. They often purchase for a small sum, a little girl whom they train up to be their son's wife, when he is of a suitable age, and in that case the expenses are very much reduced. On the other hand, poor parents, who have a daughter already affianced, whom they find it difficult to maintain, send her with ceremony to the parents of her intended husband, who are obliged to receive and support her.

J

The 12th, 13th and 14th days of the Chinese moon, are holidays, consecrated to the worship of the genii or spirits, to whom the people address themselves praying for health and riches, the only blessings, alas! which these poor idolaters know or desire. At these times, in villages, where there are persons that have been married in the course of the year, the inhabitants, men and women, join together on one of these days, and go by night to visit the new wife, who, shut up in the house from which she cannot go out, as yet knows nobody in the place of her confinement.

The young woman receives her visitors standing by her bed, with her husband at her side. The men enter first, and carefully scruti- nize her, but no one can say a word. She too is silent, but her husband being the speaker on the occasion, makes a pompous pane- gyric upon his wife, especially upon her external perfections, calling their attention to her pretty little feet, her beautiful hands, &c., &c. Meantime they are going and coming incessantly, and from their eager appearance, one might take them for people going to see rare beasts shut up in a menagerie. As fast as they retire, they are regal- ed with a cup of tea and a pipe of tobacco. After the men have satisfied their curiosity, then comes the women's turn. The husband withdraws, and leaves them the open field with his young wife. They notice her person with the closest scrutiny from head to foot, and afterwards every article of her apparel. She must take good heed not to be abashed, and to be very discreet in her words, for her per- son, her conversation, her carriage, everything about her is noticed, remembered, and very soon divulged and maliciously exaggerated. Every defect which they can discover becomes the common topic of conversation for a long time, among those of her sex, so that we may say that her reputation for life turns upon her discretion at that time, and besides, however grave and reserved may be her manner, how- ever wise her words, however accomplished her person, the tongues -of jealous women will always find matter for their censures.

.

The

1841:

Notices of Japan, No. VI.

71

   poor creature, well knowing that she cannot please every body, some- times resolves to say nothing, and remains motionless as a statue, with an elongated visage, her eyes half-shut and fixed upon the ground, making no reply to any address, and suffering herself to be examined without uttering a word.

    After the wedding is over, the son-in-law will not enter the house of his father-in-law, and vice versa, unless they are mutually antici- pated by a formal invitation to a feast, in which no point of etiquette can be dispensed with. When this duty has been performed they can visit each other at pleasure.

    As the husband's father is considered as having purchased his daughter-in-law, she belongs to him, and he has the right to dispose of her. Hence it is, that many sell their son's widow to other per- sons, and often at a low price. If she has had children by her first marriage, they appertain by right to the father-in-law, and she cannot take them away with her. Henceforth these children have no rela- tion to her, and no longer regard her as their mother.

    In China, no account is made of relationship on the mother's side, and therefore the children of sisters may lawfully marry each other; but on the side of fathers and brothers it has no end, and relatives by the male line, though of the hundredth generation from the com- mon stock, can in no case intermarry. The laws severely forbid it, and such a marriage would be null.

i+

1.

    A woman cannot visit her parents for at least a year after her nuptials, unless the most urgent circumstances, such as the death of one of her parents, oblige her to do so. Before she pays them a visit, they must call upon her. After that she is at liberty to go, accom panied by her husband, carrying presents with her, in great formali ty, with a sedan, music, &c., and returns to her home only when her father-in-law recalls her ip state, after having repeated her presents

allew.

Note. These notices of Chinese usages are by us the more valued, because they afford information concerning things which exist in the interior of the coun- try, where they have been described by eyewitnesses; but more notes are requir- ed than are here added, especially where the usages described are different from what we find in this part of the empire. Thus, in the present article, the writer speaks of the weeping and crying of those who go in procession when carrying the bride to the home of her new husband; in this part of the country, nothing of the kind, so far as we know, exists; but previously to her leaving the home of her parents and usually some ten or twenty days previously-there is a long season of weeping and wailing, in which she is joined by many of her friends and relatives.

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Aur. II.

  Notices of Japan, No. VI, anecdotes illustrative of Japanese character; the visit of the Phaton; a conspiracy; a wrecked ship; a magistrate's sagacity &c., &c.

Or this kind of illustration, the Dutch writers afford very little, and that little is chiefly found in Doeff's Recollections; though from Titsingh's unreadable An- nals a few anecdotes may be gathered, that strongly exemplify some national peculiarities both of mind and manners; for example, the vindictive 'spirit and inflexible constancy of the Japanese, the slight account they make of humanı life (save as its loss, would imply an act of injustice), their love of a jest, and their ideas of good breeding. Upon the established principle, that tragedy should pre. cede farce, we will begin with an instance given by Doeff of the abdomen-ripping, He does not give it as an anecdote, but relates it as part of the history of his presidentship. His story is too prolix to be given in his own words, to say noth- ing of his ignorance of the object of the English officer.

 In: the year 1808; Capt. Pellew of the Pheton, while cruizing in the Indian seas, projected the capture of the annual Dutch vessels trading with Japan. His search for them proved unsuccessful, that being one of the years in which none were dispatched'; but he prosecuted it even into the bay of Nagasaki. The con- sequences of this step, unintentionally and unconsciously on his part, were such as to excite a fierce hatred of England in the minds of the Japanese.

}

+ Upon captain, Pellew's making the coast, and the report of a strange vessel in sight reaching. Nagasaki, the usual deputation was sent forth ;---the previous in- quiries and taking of hostages, described by Siebold, have been ordered in conse. quence of this transaction. The boat bearing the members of the Dutch factory was in advance' of 'that with the Japanese commission, and, as the ship displayed Butch 'dolors, advanced joyfully to meet her shallop, when, as soon as they were; within reach of sách other, the Dutch officials were grappled, dragged for- cibly into the skip's, host, and carried on board. ́. The Japanese police-officers and interpreter, in utter dismay at so unexpected, so incomprehensible a catastrophe, rowed back to relate the misadventure of their foreign colleagues. The governor of Nagasaki, to whom the loss of two of the strangers in his charge was matter of life and death; ordered the two go-banyosi to Bring back the captured Dutch. men, or not to return alive; and then sent to ask Doeff what could be the mean. ing of the occurrence, and whether he saw any means of recovering his people. Doeff replied, that he conceived the ship to be an English man-of-war, and that the Dutchmen, being civilians, might be recovered by negotiation. But even whilst those › messages were passing, the Phaton-made her way, unpiloted, into the harbor, and the Japanese, confounded at an exploit altogether unprecedented, raised a cry that she was bearing down upon Dezima.

 The governor, who now feared to lose his whole factory, ordered all the Dutch- men, with their most valuable effects, to the government-house, there, at least, to be as safe as himself. They found him in a fearful rage, and he greeted Doeff with the words: "Be you easy, opperhoofd; I will have your Dutchmen back for you." Soon afterwarde came a note from one of the captives, stating that the ship was English, and that captain Fellew requested provisions and water.

1

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With this demand the governor declared himself little disposed to comply; and he was busily engaged in making preparations for destroying the strange vessel, ac- cording to the general tenor of his instructions. His first measure was to summon the troops from the nearest post, one of the prince of Fizen's, where a thousand men were bound to be constantly on duty; only sixty or seventy were found there, the commandant himself being amongst the missing. This neglect of orders by others nearly sealed the governor's own fate: but he did not intermit his efforts to regain the Dutchmen, and his scheme for succeeding by negociation was truly Japaness. The chief secretary waited upon Doeff, informing him that he had received orders to fetch

back the captives; and to the question, "How ?" replied, "Even as the ship has seized the Dutchmen, treacherously; so shall I go on board quite alone, and with the strongest professions of friendship; I am then to ask for the captain, to request the restoration of the Dutchmen; and in case of a refusal, fo stab him first, and then myself." Doeff's representations to both the secretary and the governor, that such an act must infallibly cause the death of the captives by the hands of the enraged crew, could with difficulty induce them to abandon this wildly-vindictive project.

One of the Dutch captives was now sent on shore, on parole, to fetch the pro. visions asked for. He reported that he and his comrade had been strictly inter- rogated as to the annual Dutch ship; and that the English captain threatened, should he detect any attempt at deception respecting them, to put both captives to death, and burn every vessel in the harbor, Japanese or Chinese. The go. vernor was most unwilling to let his recovered Dutchman return to captivity, but was at length convinced of the necessity of suffering him to keep his word, for the sake of the other. He then gave him provisions and water to take on board, but in very small quantities, hoping thus to detain the ship until he should be ready for hostilities. Capt. Pellew had by this time satisfied himself that his intended prizes were not in Nagasaki bay, and in consequence, upon receiving this scanty supply, he sent both Dutchmen on shore. Their release was to the two police officers, who were still rowing despondingly round and round the Pheton, meditating upon the impossibility of executing their commission, a respite from certain death.

Meanwhile, the governor was collecting troops to attack the English frigate : but his operations proceeded slowly, and other subsidiary measures were suggest. ed. The prince of Omura, who came to Nagasaki with his troops before dawn, advised burning her, by means of fifty small boats filled with combustibles, the Dutch president preventing her escape by sinking vessels laden with stones in the difficult passage out of the harbor. But whilst all these plans were under con- sideration,

           whilst troops were assembling as fast as possible, and commissioners rowing from shore to shore to gain time by proposals to negociate respecting com. merce, the Englishman, who had no further object in remaining, sailed out of the harbor as he had sailed in, unpiloted, leaving the Japanese even more confounded than before.

     The Dutch now returned to Dezima, and as far as they were concerned, the whole affair was over.

Not, so with respect to the Japanese. The governor had, involuntarily indeed, disobeyed his orders, by suffering the escape of the intruder; and he felt that he had been negligent in not knowing the state of the coast-guard

YOL. X. NO. II.

10

1

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posts. To a Japanese, his proper course under such circumstances could not re- quire deliberation. Nor did it. The catastrophe is thus told ;*

"He so well knew the fate awaiting him, that, within half an hour of our departure, he assembled his household, and in their presence, ripped himself up.. The commanders of the deficient posts, officers not of the siogoun but of the prince of Fizen, followed his example; thus saving their kindred from inevitable dishonor. That their neglect would indeed have been punished with the utmost severity, ap- pears from the circumstance that the prince of Fizen, although not then in his dominions, but compulsorily resident at Yedo, was punished with a hundred days of imprisonment, because the servants whom he had left behind him had not duly obeyed his orders. On the other hand, the young son of the governor of Nagasaki, who was altogether blameless on the occasion, is at this hour in high favor at court, and has obtained an excellent post. When I visited the court of Yedo in 1810, I was told the following particulars respecting this youth. The prince of Fizen, considering that the death of the governor of Nagasaki might in a great measure be imputed to him, inasmuch as the desertion of the guard posts, though occurring without his fault, had mainly contributed to it, requested permission of the council of state to make a present of two thousand koban (about £2,650) to the son of the unfortunate governor. Not only was this request granted, but the wholly unexpected and unsolicited favor was added, that, to spare him further applications, he might repeat the gift annually. This permission, being equivalent to a command, compelled the prince of Fizen to pay an annuity to the governora orphans."+

This story, falling within Heer Doeff's personal knowledge, accurately cha- racterizes the spirit of the Japanese government, and the occasions rendering suicide imperative. It is melancholy to be obliged to add that, according to re. port, Dr. Von Siebold has had the misfortune of causing a similar catastrophe, though upon a smaller scale. The details are not yet before the public, but are said to be these. The high reputation of the doctor for science, and the favor of influential Japanese friends, obtained for him permission to remain at Yedo for the purpose of giving instruction to the learned members of the college, when Col. Van Sturler returned to Dezima; and afterwards permission, more extraordinary still, to travel in the empire. He was, however, prohibited from taking plans or making

* Doeff.

+ Both Meylan and Fischer, in speaking shortly of this unfortunate visit of the Phaeton to the bay of Nagasaki, assert that captain Pellew insisted upon a supply of fresh beef, as the ransom of his Dutch prisoners, threatening to hang them in case of a refusal; that the governor, out of pure humanity, sacrificed å bullock to save the lives of two men, and killed himself to expiate this sin of com. mission, this violation of a positive law. Now, to say nothing of the improbability of an English gentleman's being guilty of an act so idly and so foolishly violent and cruel, neither Meylan nor Fischer, who were not then in Dezima, could know this story save by hearsay; while Doeff was not only on the spot, but one of the chief actors in the prologue to the final tragedy; and the narrative in the text is taken from his pages, with no other alteration than compression, explanation of captain Pellew's views, and omission of some vituperation of that officer in par- ticular, and his countrymen in general. Doeff, who explicitly states the governor's reasons for killing himself, says not a word of beef; and he assuredly desires not to favor England or the English, to whom he imputes every body's misdemeanors, The tale had grown more marvelous by tradition when told to the later writers- that is all,

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maps, but was detected in the transgression of this prohibition, and imprisoned. His escape was effected by the fidelity and attachment of his Japanese domestics; but the

     person or persons who were responsible for his safe custody had no re- but the hara-kiri. This is the story circulated on the Continent; the ac- source curacy of the details cannot be avouched; but of the fact, that the German doctor's escape, like the British sailor's, caused Japanese suicide, there seems to be, unhappily, no doubt.

But to leave the subject of self-slaughter. The following fragment of history, from the Annals of the siogouns of the Gongen dynasty, is characteristic alike of the vindictive temper, resolution, high sense of honor, and ferocity in punishment of the Japanese, and also of their long enduring hereditary gratitude.

During the civil wars (which will be related in a succeeding paper on Japan- ese history) between Gongen and his grand-daughter's husband, Hideyosi, the prince of Toza had been a faithful adherent of the latter; after whose discomfiture, he fell into the conqueror's hands. He endured much cruel, much degrading treatment; and at last his hands were ordered to be struck off, which in Japan is the very extremity of dishonor. The prisoner upbraids the usurper, who thus appears to have been present throughout, with his perjury to Hideyosi, and his barbarity to himself. The answer to his reproaches was sentence of decapitation. The prince's son, Marubasi Chuya, instantly resolved to avenge his father's death; but being then a destitute and helpless child, but nine years old, he careful- ly concealed his purpose until he should find himself in a condition to effect it. This did not happen until the accession of Gongen's great-grandson, Minamoto no Yeyetsuna, in 1651, when he was appointed commander of the pikemen of Yorinobu, the new singoun's uncle. Chuya now deemed the moment of revenge arrived. He concerted his schemes with Ziositz [or Yuino Siosits], the son of an eminent dyer but a man of such talent, that he had been tutor to Yorinobu. This prince himself was suspected of being implicated in the conspiracy; if he was, the presence of mind and firmness of his confederates effectually screened him. Yet, when we are told that the drift of the plot was to exterminate the whole race of Gongen, and to divide the empire between Chuya and Siosits, this seems a design so unlikely for a prince of the proscribed family to participate in, that we must suppose the views of the conspirators to be misrepresented, or Yorinobu to have been duped by his accomplices, as the issue of the transaction renders it hardly possible to acquit him of all knowledge of the plot.

An

measures

act of indiscretion on the part of Chuya, after so many years (nearly fifty) of prudence, betrayed the conspiracy, and orders were issued for his arrest, and that of Siosits. It was deemed important to seize both, or at least Chuya, who resided at Yedo, alive, in the hope of extorting further disclosures; and were taken accordingly. An alarm of fire was raised at Chuya's door, and when he ran out to ascertain the degree of danger threatening his house, he was suddenly surrounded and attacked. He defended himself stoutly, cutting down two of his assailants; but, in the end, was overpowered by numbers, and secured.

His wife, meanwhile, had heard the sounds of conflict, and apprehend- ing its cause, immediately caught up those of her husband's papers which would have revealed the names of his confederates (amongst whom were men of distinc- tion and princes of the land), and burnt them. Her presence of mind remains

*

Titsingh, page 14.

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even to this day a topic of admiration in Japan, where the highest eulogy for judg- ment and resolution that can be bestowed upon a woman, is to compare her to the wife of Chuya. Such qualities, it may be conjectured, had procused her the honor, contrary to Japanese custom, of being her husband's confidant.

The plans of government being thus foiled, even in their apparent success, the next orders were to arrest all the known friends of Chuya. Siosits avoided caps ture by the usual form of suicide; but two of his friends, named Ikeyemon and Fachiyemon, were seized and interrogated. They promptly acknowledged their participation in a conspiracy which they esteemed honorable, but refused to betray a confederate. The destruction of Chuya's papers left no possible means of discovering the parties implicated, except the confession of one of the prisoners, and they were therefore subjected to tortures sickening to relate, but which must nevertheless be known, if we would justly appreciate either the firmness or the ferocity of the Japanese character.

    Chuya, Ikeyemon, and Fachiyemon were, in the first instance, plastered all over with wet clay, then laid upon hot ashes, until the drying and contracting of the clay, rent and burst the flesh into innumerable wounds. Not one of them changed countenance, and Fachiyemon, taunting his tormentors like a Mohawk in the hands of hostile Cherokees, observed, "I have had a long journey, and this warming is good for my health; it will supple my joints, and render my limba more active." The next form of torture tried was making an incision of about sight inches long in the back, into which melted copper was poured; and this cop. per, when it had cooled, was dug out again, tearing away the flesh that adhered to it. This likewise failed to conquer the fortitude of the victims: Fachiyemon af- fected to consider it a new.fashioned application of the mora, a Japanese mode of medical treatment by actual cautery; and Chuya thus replied to the judge. minister, who urged him to avoid further suffering by revealing his accomplices : Scarcely had I completed my ninth year, when I resolved to avenge my father, and seize the throne. My courage you can no more shake than a wall of iron. I defy your ingenuity! Invent new tortures; my fortitude is proof against them!" The government now despaired of obtaining more victims than those they already held, and the day of execution was appointed. When it dawned, the death-doomed, amounting in number to thirty-four, were, conducted in procession through the streets of the town, headed by Chuya; his wife and mother, with Ikeyemon's wife, and four other women, closed the melancholy train. here be remarked, that, out of thirty-four prisoners, only three were tortured; pro- bably because the ringleaders only were supposed to possess the knowledge desir- ed; and Chuya's wife, who was manifestly in the secret of the names so keenly and ferociously sought, could, as a woman, give no available evidence, even if confession were extorted from her.

It may

    As the procession reached the place of execution, a man, bearing two gold-hilted swords broke through the encircling crowd, approached the minister of justice whose duty it was to superintend the work of death, and thus addressed him: "I am Sibata Zabrobe, the friend of Chuya and of Siosits. Living far remote, I have but lately heard of their discovered conspiracy, and immediately hastened to Yedo. Hitherto I have remained in concealment, hoping that the siogoun's elemency would pardon Chuya; but as he is now condemned to die, I am come to embrace him, and if need be, to suffer with him."" You are a worthy man,"

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replied the judicial officer, "and I would all the world were like you. I need not await the governor of Yedo's permission to grant your wish; you are at liberty to join Chuya."

The two friends conversed awhile undisturbed; then Sibata produced a jug of suke, which he had brought, that they might drink it together, and as they did so, they bade each other a last farewell. Both wept. Chuya earnestly thanked Sibata for coming to see him once more. Sibata said: "Our body in this world resembles the magnificent flower asa.gawa, that, blossoming at peep of dawn, fades and dies as soon as the sun has risen; or the ephemeral kogero (an insect). But after death, we shall be in a better world, where we may uninterruptedly enjoy each other's society," Having thus spoken, he rose, left Chuya, and thanked the superintending officer for his indulgence.

     All the prisoners were then fastened to separate crosses, aud the executioners brandished their fatal pikes. Chuya was first dispatched, by ripping him up

with

two cuts in the form of a cross. The others were then successively execut. ed; Chuya's wife dying with the constancy promised by her previous conduct.

It may here be observed, that the difference between this execution and all the descriptions given in the last paper, tends to confirin the conjecture there hazard- ed that the manner is not fixed, but depends much upon the judge. The different writers describe what they have seen, rather than what is prescribed. This rip. ping up of Chuya does not affect what was there said of the hara-kiri, the essence of which is, its being suicidal, or the proper act of the sufferer. This in merely a substitute for decapitation. But our story is not yet finished.

66

When this judicial massacre was over, Sibata presented his two valuable swords to the official superintendent, with these words: "To you I am indebted for my conversation with my lost friend; and I now request you to denounce me to the singoun, that I may suffer like Chuya,' "-"The gods forbid that I should act thus!" rejoined the person addressed. You deserve a better fate than to die like him; you, who whilst all his other friends were consulting their own safety by lurking in concealment, came boldly forward to embrace him."

As the name of Sibata Zabrobe does not again occur in the Annals, it may be hoped that this stout-hearted and faithful friend was suffered to return safely to his distant home. But the fate of another of the suspected conspirators is still to be told, and the manner of his escape exemplifies one of the lofy characteristics of the nation-their devoted fidelity.

    The burning of Chuya's papers had destroyed all proof, if any had existed, of Yorinobu's complicity; but circumstances were strong against him. His palace was searched, but nothing found that could decidedly inculpate him; and now his secretary, Kanno Heyemon, came forward with a declaration, that he, and only he, in the prince's establishment, had been cognizant of the conspiracy, confirming his assertion by ripping himself up. The fruit of this self-immolation was, that Yorinobu, although still suspected, remained unmolested at Yedo; and that a suspected prince did so remain, may show how modified and bound by law is Japanese despotism. Some generations afterwards, Yosimune, descendant of Yorinobu's, became siogoun, and evinced the gratitude of the family for the preservation of their ancestor, by raising the posterity of Kanno Heyemon to some of the highest honors of the state, and rendering them hereditary in his race.

The next anecdote, 、 taken from the same source, will both show that the wo

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men share in this lofty contempt for life, whether their own or another's, when they conceive duty, or the public interest, to require the sacrifice; and that, if a siogoun possesses despotic power, there is little disposition to let him exercise it arbitrarily.

Early in the eighteenth century, the siognun Tsunayosi, a profligate prince, who by his vices had destroyed his constitution, accidentally lost his only son, and resolved to adopt an heir, the dignity of siogoun having never been inherited by a daughter. This is a constant practice in Japan with the childless, whether sovereign or subject; but the established rule is, to select for adoption the son of a brother, or other near relation; in direct contravention of which, Tsunayosi, disregarding the claims of his nephew, fixed his choice upon an alien to his blood, the son of a mere favorite of inferior birth.

The prime minister, Ino Kamon no kaini, remonstrated, alleging that a step so unprecedented would exasperate not only the princes of the blood, but all the grandees of the empire. His representations proved unavailing against the fæ. vorite's influence; whereupon he sought the empress, or midai. To her the minister revealed his master's illegal and dangerous design; explained the pro- bability, if not certainty, that a general insurrection would be its immediate con- sequence; and declared that, unless she could avert it, the adoption and its fearful results were inevitable. The midai-a daughter of the reigning mikado, and high-minded, as became her birth and station-meditated profoundly for some minutes; then raising her head, she bade the alarmed minister be of good cheer, for she had devised means of prevention. But what these means might be shre positively refused to tell him.

Upon the day preceding that appointed for the adoption, the daughter of the 'son of heaven,' who had long been wholly neglected by her libertine husband, invited him to take sake with her; and upon his assenting, prepared a sumptuous entertainment. While he was drinking, she retired for a moment to her private apartment, wrote and dispatched a note of instructions to Ino Kamon, and then, placing in her girdle the ornamented dagger worn by women of exalted rank, she returned to the banqueting-room. Shortly afterwards, she announced her wish for a private conversation with the siogoun, and dismissed her attendants.

    The Japanese annalist relates, that when they were alone, the princess ear- nestly implored her consort to grant the request she was about to prefer to him. He refused to pledge his word until he should know what she desired; and she then said: "I am assured that you purpose adopting the son of Dewa no kami as your heir.

          Such a step, my most dear and honored lord, must grievously offend all those princes whose claims are thus superseded; it will unavoidably provoke a general insurrection, and occasion the destruction of the empire. My prayer therefore is, that you would renounce so ruinous a design." The siogoun was incensed at such feminine interference with his project, and indignantly replied; How darest thou, a mere woman, speak upon state affairs? The empire is mine, to rule at my pleasure. I need not female counsel, nor will I see or speak to thee more !"* With these words he arose, and was leaving the apart- ment in a rage. The midai, followed, and detaining him by his sleeve, persisted with humble urgency.

Yet bethink you my sovereign lord. Reflect, I implore

*

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44

      Whether this lady's high birth would have saved her from divorce or not, is not said. This threat might imply only neglect.

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you, that should you execute this baneful resolution, to-morrow's sun may see all Japan in rebellion." The singoun was inflexible; her expostulations, gentle and submissive as they were, serving only to exasperate his resentment. The heaven-descended lady, finding argument and solicitation fruitless of otherwise averting the impending disaster, suddenly plunged her dagger into his breast, and, withdrawing it, repeated the blow. Her aim was true; the monarch fell, and his consort, sinking on her knees by his side, implored his pardon for having in an emergency so critical, employed the only possible means left of securing the throne to the Gongen dynasty. She concluded with an assurance that she dreamed not of surviving him. The moment the siogoun Tsunayosi had breathed his last, the stabbed herself with the same dagger, and fell lifeless upon his corpse- Her ladies, hearing the noise of her fall, ran in and found both weltering in their blood.

     At this moment appeared Ino Kamon, who, startled by the purport of the empress's billet, had flown to the place. He was instantly admitted to the cham- ber of death, and stood confounded at the fearful spectacle" it presented. After a while, recovering himself, he exclaimed, "Lo! a woman has saved the empire! But for her bold deed, Japan would to-morrow have been convulsed, perhaps destroyed!"

The self-slain princess had not it seems, thought it sufficient thus effectually to prevent the sisgoun from executing his illegal design: she had further given Ino Kamon, in her note, precise instructions as to the course he was to pursue. By obeying them, the minister secured the accession of the lawful heir, and alleviated the disappointment of the youth whom Tsunayosi had intended to adopt, by obtaining a principality for him from Yeyenobu, the monarch he had been intended to supplant. Ino Kamon's own services were recompensed by the and grateful siogoun, who rendered the office of governor of the empire hereditary in his family; and the midai is said to divide the admiration of Japan with the wife of Chuya.

new

In a subsequent reign, that of Yosimune, the following incident occurred. *

·He reigned thirty years, and from Titsingh's account, would appear to have been elected siogoun, after the death of the preceding, who was a mere boy.

he was

    One of the inferior servants of the siogoun, named Iwaso Gozo, had a daughter. who was

Constantly ill; he took her to the hot baths, in hopes of reëstablishing her health. He had been there three weeks, when three men belonging to the retinue of the prince of Satsuma came to see him, and requested him to lend them ten kaban, promising to repay him at Yedo. Gozo declined, alleging that poor, and his daughter's illness very expensive, and expressing his regret that it was not in his power to secommodate them. They appeared to be satisfi- ed with his excuses; and as he was to set off the next day, they invited him to supper, purposing to detain and make him drunk with sake. Gozo, having no suspicion of their design, accepted the invitation, and after supper, finding that it was late, he returned thanks, and begged permission to retire, that he might take a little. rest before his departure. Next morning, very early, he set out, but had scarcely proceeded three miles, when, on examining his sabre, which seemed heavier than usual, he discovered that it was not his own. He immediately re- turned, went to the persons with whom he had supped the preceding night, and

Titsingh, page 70.

#

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delivering to them the sabre, begged pardon for having taken it away in a mis- take. Instead of accepting his excuses, they replied, that this was an affair which could not be so lightly passed over; that he could not have offered them a great- er affront than in exchanging his sabre for one of theirs; and that they would be dishonored, if it were known at Yedo that they had not taken a signal revenge for it. They, therefore, declared, that he must fight them, and urged him to fix the time and place for the combat. Gozo complained of their injustice; remind. ed them that he had with him a sick daughter, who would be left destitute if be were to perish by their hands; and again intreated them to pardon him, assuring them that his daughter and himself would never cease to bear their kindness in grateful remembrance. All his remonstrances were fruitless. Finding, therefore, that he could not appease them, he was compelled to accept the challenge, and agreed to meet them the following day.

Gozo, on leaving them, reflected on his situation, which was in reality terrible; for he had no other alternative than either to perish in the combat, or, if he vanquished his enemies, to die by his own hand. Such was the law established by the prince of Satsuma. In this dilemma, he called upon one of his friends, who was a servant of the prince of Mito, related to him what had happened, and begged that he would lend him a pike to equip him for opposing his anta- gonists. His friend not only gave him bis pike, but assured him that he would accompany him as his second, and assist him if he saw him in danger.

     Next day, Satsuma's three servants repaired to the field of battle, where they were met by Gozo. They were armed with long sabres, while he had nothing but his pike, which, however, he plied with such dexterity and success, that with the two first thrusts, he extended two of his adversaries at his feet: the third, ap- prehensive of sharing their fate, ran away. Gozo, after pursuing him for some time, but without being able to overtake him, because fear lent him wings, re- turned to the place of combat for the purpose of dispatching himself. At this moment his friend ran up. wrested his arms from him, and cheered him, by repre- senting that justice was on his side, as he had been provoked in an unwarrantable manner, and obliged to defend himself. "I witnessed the combat," added he; "I will make my report of it, and be bail for you. Meanwhile, the best thing you can do is to lose no time in acquainting the governor of Yedo with what has happened."

The governor wrote, in consequence, to the prince of Satsuma, who soon afterwards returned for answer, that on inquiry he learned that the malefactors were not his subjects, but must have come from some other province. Gozo was in consequence set at liberty, and thus the affair terminated.

We may now turn to anecdotes less painful, illustrative of lighter parts of the Japanese character. The following will prove that, if an implacable vindictive spirit, over which time can exert no softening influence, be part of that character, at least it is not excited by petty provocations, and may likewise afford a specimen of the good-humor and love of drollery that mingle rather oddly with the national ferocity and passion for ceremony.

About the middle of the last century,* Fota Sagami no kami, a man of high reputation for learning and talent, was advanced to an eminent place in the coun. cil of state by the young siogoun, Yeye-sige, upon his accession. In the business.

* Titsingh.

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VI.

81

of administration, Fota Sagami fulfilled all the expectations to which his reputed ability had given birth; but he provoked great, if partial, animosity, by the in- exorable severity with which he treated the officers of the old siogoun, who had abdicated, depriving them of the rewards their former master had bestowed upon them for their services.

The despoiled men, having vainly petitioned for redress, meditated revenge, but determined first to make an effort for the recovery of their lost wealth by intimidation. In pursuance of this scheme, a pumpkin, carved into the form of a human head, appeared one morning over the state counselor's door, with the following inscription attached to it: "This is the head of Fota Sagami no kami,

cut off and set up here in recompense of his cruelty."

Fota Sagami's servants were enraged at the insult offered to their master, but yet more terrified at the idea of the fury they anticipated it would awake in him, and which they feared might in some measure fall upon themselves, as though their negligence had given the opportunity for so daring an outrage. Pale and trembling they presented themselves before him, and reported the ominous appari. tion of the pumpkin-head, with its inscription. The effect was far different from what they had expected. Fota Sagami's fancy was so tickled by hearing, whilst full of life and health, that his head was announced to be actually cut off and set up over his own door, that he laughed heartily at the joke; and, joining his col- leagues in the council-chamber, felated his vicarious decapitation in the person of a pumpkin. There, likewise, the jest excited bursts of laughter, amongst which, however, unbounded admiration was expressed of Fota Sagami no kami's fortitude. Whether the jesters were permitted again to enjoy the rewards assigned them by the ex-siogoun, does not appear.

Another incident of the same reign, at a later date, exhibits a Japanese view of good breeding, and mode of testing talent and character.* Oka Yechizen no kami, one of the governors of Yedo, was directed to seek out able men for the service of the siogoun, and amongst others, a skillful accountant. A person named Noda-bounsa was recommended to him as an able arithmetician, and in other respects well fitted for office. Oka Yechizen sent for Noda-bounsa, and when the master of the science of numbers presented himself, gravely asked him for the quotient of 100, divided by 2. The candidate for place as gravely took out his tablets, deliberately and regularly worked the sum, and then answered 50. "I now see that you are a man of discretion as well as an arithmetician," said the governor of Yedo, "and in every way fitted for the post you seek. Had you answered me off-hand, I should have conceived a bad opinion of your breeding. Such men as you it is that the siogoun wants, and the place is yours."

    Yeye-sige did, indeed, want men of discretion about him, to supply his own deficiency, for he had by this time so completely destroyed his intellectual facul- ties by excesses of various kinds, as to reduce himself to idiotcy. To have plainly stated the fact, however, or to have applied to the monarch the appellation be. longing to his mental disease, would have been treason. The wit of his subjects devised means of guiltlessly intimating his condition, by giving him the name of a herb that is said to cause temporary insanity, and Yeye-sige was surnamed Ampontan.†

*

Titsingh.

[The disposition to caricature and ridicule high officers is very common

VOL. X. NO, II,

11

Notices of Japan, No. VI.

FEB.

An instance of the quick talent and ingenuity' evinced by the least educated portion of the community, akin to this sort of wit, occurs in the history of the transactions at Dezima during the long administration of president Doeff; but, upon the occasion in question, these qualities were directed towards a more useful purpose than nicknaming a sovereign. An American ship, hired by the Dutch at Batavia to carry on their permitted trade with Japan, whilst the Eng- lish cruizers rendered the service too hazardous for their own vessels, or for any but neutrals, as she set sail in the night, laden with her return cargo of copper and camphor, struck upon a rock, filled, and sunk. The crew got on shore in boats, and the problem that engrossed the attention alike of the American cap- tain, the Dutch factory, and the constituted authorities at Nagasaki, was how to raise the vessel.

"The first idea was to employ Japanese divers to fetch up the copper; but the influx of water had melted the camphor, and the suffocating effluvia thus disengaged cost two divers their lives. The attempt to lighten her was neces. sarily abandoned, and every effort to raise, without unloading her, had proved equally vain, when a simple fisherman, named Kiyemon, of the principality of Fizen, promised to effect it, provided his mere expenses were defrayed; if he fail- ed, he asked nothing. People laughed at the man, who now, perhaps, for the first time in his life, ever saw an European ship; but he was not to be diverted from his purpose.

He fastened on either side of the vessel under water fifteen ~ or seventeen boats, such as those by which our ships are towed in, and connected them all with each other by props and stays. Then, when, a high spring-tide favored him, he came himself in a Japanese trading-vessel, which he similarly attached to the stern of the sunken ship, and at the moment the tide was at the highest, set every sail of every boat. Uprose the heavy-laden, deep-sunken mer. chantman, disengaged herself from the rock, and was towed by the active fisher. men to the level strand, where she could be conveniently discharged and repaired. Kiyemon not only had his expenses repaid to him, but the prince of Fizen gave him permission to wear two swords, and to wear as his arms a Dutch hat and two Lutch tobacco-pipes!"

Without making any remark upon either the extraordinary coat-of-arms assign. ed to the fisherman, or the yet more extraordinary want of liberality evinced in the payment, or rather the apparent non-payment, of his successful exertions-for no hint is given that either the American captain, or the Dutch president made him any pecuniary recompense-it may be observed, that the permission to wear among the Chinese, and we should infer from this instance, and from others relat. ed by different authors, that it is also common in Japan. One, more allied to a pun than anything else, we give, which was made on the present siogoun, Tenpo, by taking the elements of his title, and making a sentence out of it. The two characters

Ten po are made into the following sentence: ·大人

ichi dar shtono kuchi hōzo, which means that "people's mouths are

not well supplied" by the monarch. This was made of him in consequence of a famine that occurred about ten years ago, in 1831. The point of it is, that these five characters, when combined, make the imperial title; and their meaning when read is an imputation upon his want of goodness and carefulness, by which the people suffer from hunger. The last character does not mean wood, as it usu- ally does in Chinese, but is the Japanese word ho, to nourish, which is written in this way.)

* Doef

.1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VI.

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two swords is a satisfactory proof that the line of demarcation beween the different classes of society is not absolutely impassable.

Another Japanese fisherman seems to have displayed ingenuity equal perhaps to Kiyemon's, though in a less honorable and useful form, for the mere purpose of making money by his countrymen's passion for everything odd and strange.* He contrived to unite the upper half of a monkey to the lower half of a fish, so neatly, as to defy ordinary inspection. He then gave out that he had caught the creature alive in his net, but that it had died shortly after being taken out of the water; and he derived considerable pecuniary profit from his cunning in more ways than one. The exhibition of the sea-monster to Japanese curiosity paid well; but yet more productive was the assertion that the creature, having spoken during the few minutes it existed out of its native clcment, had predicted a certain number of years of wonderful fertility, and a fatal epidemic, the only remedy for which would be, possession of the marine prophet's likeness. The sale of these pictured mermaids was immense. Either this composite animal, or another, the offspring of the success of the first, was sold to the Dutch factory, and transmit. ted to Batavia, where it fell into the hands of a speculating American, who carried it to Europe, and there, in the years 1822-23, exhibited his purchase at every capital, to the admiration of the ignorant, the perplexity of the learned, and the filling of his own purse, as a real mermaid.

     Ere closing this paper, let us for a moment recur to the Japanese Annals for a gratifying proof of the care with which justice is administered by the delegated representatives of the council of state; although even that care, it must be allowed, smacks somewhat of despotic power in the whole manner of the transaction. The mode of trial alone renders the story worthy of attention, especially considering the asserted success of the Japanesc tribunals in eliciting the truth. The incident occurred at Ohosaka.

An usurer,+ named Tomoya Kiugero, lost a sum of money, amounting to 500 koban (upwards of £650). As no stranger had been seen about his premises, suspicion fell upon his servants, and after considerable investigation, finally settled upon one of the number called Chudycts. No proof was found, and the man, in spite of cress-questioning, menaces, and cajolery, positively denied the crime imputed to him. Tomoya now repaired to the governor of Chosaka, preferred his complaint, and demanded that Chudyets should be tried and punished. The go. vernor, Matsura Kawatche no kami, who had been promoted to his post in conse quence of his reputation for ability, wisdom, and virtue, sent for Chudyets, and examined him. The accused protested his innocence, and declared that torture itself should never compel him to confess a crime of which he was innocent. Matsura Kawatche now committed Chudyets to prison, sent for Tomoya and his other servants, told them the result of his inquirics, and asked what proof they had of the prisoner's guilt. They had none, but persisted nevertheless in their firm conviction that Chudyets was the thief, and Tomoya insisted upon his immediate execution. The governor asked if they would set their hands to this conviction of guilt, and demand of execution. They assented, and master and men, together with the master's relations, signed a paper to the following effect;-" Chudyets, to Tomoya Kiugero, has robbed his master of 500 koban.

This we attest by these presents, and demand that he be punished with death, as a warning

+ Titsingh, page 38.

servant

* Fischer.

84

Sketch of Teen Fe, or Matsoo Po.

FEB.

to others. We, the kinsmen and servants of Tomoya Kiugeto, in confirmation of this affix to it our signatures and seals. The second month of the first year Genboun (1736)." The governor, taking the paper, said to the complainant, Now that I am relieved from all responsibility, I will order the head of Chudyets to be taken off. Are you so satisfied?" Tomoya replied that he was, returned his thanks, and withdrew his party.

4

    Soon after, a robber, who was taken up for a different offeuse, and put to the torture, confessed, amongst other crimes, the theft of Tomoya's money. This discovery was communicated to Matsura Kawatche, who immediately sent for Tomoya, his relations and servants, laid before them the true thief's confession, and thus addressed them :-" Behold! you accused Chudyets without proof, attesting your accusation under your hands and seals. 1, upon the strength of your assertion, have commanded the death of an innocent man. In expiation of this crime, you, your wife, kindred, and servants, must all lose their heads; and I, for not having investigated the business with sufficient care, shall rip myself up." At these dreadful words, Tomoya and his friends were overwhelmed with despair. They wept and bemoaned their sad fate, and implored mercy, whilst the magistrates and officers present united in praying for some mitigation of so terrible a sentence. But the governor remained sternly inflexible.

    When this scene of agony had lasted a considerable time, Matsura Kawatche suffered his features to relax into a milder expression, and said, "Be comforted; Chudyets lives. His answers convinced me of his innocence, and I have kept him concealed in the hope that the truth would come to light." He then ordered Chudyets to be introduced, and proceeded thus:-" Tomoya, your false accusa- tion has caused this innocent man to suffer imprisonment, and nearly cost him his life. As this irremediable misfortune has been happily averted, your lives shall be spared; but as some compensation for what he has undergone, you shall give him 500 koban, and treat him henceforth as a faithful servant. Let the pangs you have this day experienced be graven on all your minds, as a warning how you again bring forward accusations upon insufficient grounds."

This decision of Matsura Kawatche's gave universal satisfaction, and in testimony of the siogoun's approbation, he was soon afterwards promoted to the more important and lucrative government of Nagasaki.

ART. III. Sketch of Teën Fe, or Matsoo Po, the goddess of Chi-

nese seamen, Translated from the Sow Shin Ke.' By J. L. S. FE's surname was Lin. She formerly dwelt in the department of Hinghwa, and district of Ninghae, being the present Pooteën heën, about eighty le from the sea-board, in the village of Mechow. Her mother, whose family name was Chin, dreamed that she saw the goddess Kwanyin' of the southern ocean, who presented her a fig flower which she swallowed. This done a pregnancy of fourteen

2

1841.

Sketch of Teen Fe, or Matsoo Po.

85

months ensued, at the end of which period she gave birth to the god- dess Fe. Her birth took place in the first year, third month, and twenty-first day of the reign of Teenkwan of the Tang dynasty. At the time of this birth a wonderful fragrance was perceptible for a mile around, and at the end of ten days it was not dispersed. In her infancy her intelligence was extraordinary. During her first year, while she was carried in the keảng paou,* when beholding any of the gods she folded her hands, and manifested desires to do them reverence. At the age of five she could recite the sacred books of Kwanyin; and at eleven she was able with gravity to attend upon the feasts and music of the gods.

     Now Fe concealed her sacred proceedings, thus rendering them obscure to vulgar eyes. She would attend to her toilet, but would speak but little. She had four brothers, who in their mercantile pursuits proceeded backward and forwards among the islands of the sea. Upon a certain day while Fe was busily engaged, all her ener- gies were suddenly paralized, and closed were her eyes for a time. Her father and mother perceiving that a great storm had arisen call- ed out for her. Fe, upon awaking, sighed and said, why did you not allow me to assist my brothers that there might have been no misfortune? To her father and mother her meaning was inexplicable, nor did they make any further inquiries of her. Her brothers having gained a competency and returned, they, weeping, said, three days ago a mighty gale of wind arose, the waves reached the heavens, and we brethren being each in different vessels, our oldest brother's ves- sel was driven by the storm beneath the surge. Each one of them declared that during the prevalence of the gale they beheld a female child leading the vessels along, and proceeding over the waves as if upon level ground. The parents now at once perceived that when formerly Fe had closed her eyes, her spirit had gone to the rescue of her brothers. The eldest brother was not saved, owing to Fe's being too hastily aroused, and the spirit therefore could not achieve his deliverance, which caused the parents unceasing regret. When Fe became of sufficient age to wear the hair-pin," she made oath that she would not become the bride of any man, nor did her parents presume to force her to marry. She did not remain long with them, for sud- denly while sitting in a grave dignified posture her spirit passed away. Again the fragrance was perceptible for several miles around, just the same as upon the day of her birth. At first her spirit was frequently observed, and in aftertimes there have been many who have seen her. These persons who saw her, supposing her to be an

ناع

+

Sketch of Teen Fe, or Matsoo Po.

FEB.

attendant upon the mother of Sewang," said she thoroughly under- stands the superintendency of posterity.

A whole city publicly worshiped her, and in that city there was a certain woman who had been ten years married but had no son. She traveled into various regions to worship the gods, but in the end received no favorable response. At last she paid her adorations to Fe, and then she became the mother of sons. Thus all who have no sons let them forthwith come and worship Fe, and at once will their prayers be answered.

    During the Sung dynasty Yuenteil and Le Foo were followers of the imperial messengers, who were dispatched to the country of Co- rea, and as they were proceeding by the village of Mechow, a mighty wind arose, and when their vessel was about to be engulfed, bright clouds of variegated beauty suddenly appeared, and they saw a per- son ascending the mast, and then proceeding round and taking hold of the helm. This person's strength being exerted for a long time, they were at length enabled to cross over the sea. The above honora- ble officers made inquiries about the matter of the people of the boats. Their followers Yuenteih and Le Foo both placing themselves in respectful attitudes towards the south, and thankfully worshiping said, now as we have the golden paper and ruby book, we have therefore verily escaped being devoured by the monsters of the deep. His majesty diffuses rain and dew throughout the various regions of foreign lands, and his aid is afforded to his embassadors who do not disregard his commands. The gods lend their assistance, and special- ly are we assisted by the soul of Fe. These gentlemen remember- ed this, and on their return represented it to the court, and it was royally declared that she was a divine personage. A temple was

erected for her in Mechow, at which a hundred families maintained their worship, and they carved images of wood for the use of vessels.

    At the beginning of our country, in the seventh year of the reign of Ching Tsoowan, an imperial officer named Tsangwo, was deputed to the south-western barbarians. He worshiped at the shrine of Fe, and obtained a favorable response, as those did in the time of Sung, so he returned, and made the matter known to the court, and she was proclaimed the safeguard of the nation, the assister of the people, the 'excelling spiritual essence, the illustrious answerer of prayer, of enlarged benevolence, affording universal aid, THE CELESTIAL FE! Those who worship her are to be found throughout the empire.

   Fe when living obtained the essence of highest spirituality, and cherished the perspicuity of the divine oxcellence, and dying she

1-41.

The Emperor Tavukwang.

Thus men are not deficient in progeny.

S*

She

controls posterity. rules the seas, and their waters therefore cannot become billows. She creates happiness, and largely bestows it upon men. I, having examined the historical annals of the district of Hinghwa (Fe's native region), and uniting the traditions of the people with the re- corded tablets, have herewith drawn up this abridgement, and thus submit the information.

搜神記

1. The Sow Shin Ke, or Record of Researches concerning the Gods, are comprised in 3 octavo vols., and was compiled during the Ming, the last Chinese dynasty. The compiler's name is not attached to the edition which we` have translated from, nor are any dates affixed. The work contains brief sketches of one hundred and eighty-one popular Chinese deities, and a pretty good idea is given of what the natives themselves regard as the origin of their idols, and an enlightened mind will perceive how debased must be a people who worship as divine, objects whose history according to their own accounts, is enveloped in such unreasonable and superstitious fancy. There are other different traditions of Matsoo Po besides the notice found in the Sow Shin Ke. Mr. Medhurst has written a Christian tract entitled the "Birthday of Matsoo Po," which well ex- poses the absurdity of the history and worship of the idol.

       2. Pooteën heën is in the province of Fuhkeën, and hence the Fuhkeễn sea- men are more attached to Fe than any other class of seafaring meu.

      3. Kwanyin is the Chinese goddess of mercy, and is a very popular idol. A sketch of her history is also contained in the Sow Shin Ke.

     4. The keang paou is a cloth by means of which small children are carried unon the backs of their mothers and nurses. It has four bands attached to if, one of which goes over each shoulder, and two around the waist of the nurse, and are tied upon the breast. The cloth is sometimes of various colors, and highly wrought with ornamental figures.

      5. That is became of a marriageable state. Young ladies do not put up their hair with pins, but allow it to hang down until they are about to be married.

     6. Se wang is the superintendent of the female genii, as Tung wang kung is of the male genii.

7. The golden paper and ruby book have reference to the dispatches of the great emperor,

ART. IV. The emperor Taoukwang: his succession to the throne of his father, coronation, with notices of his character and go-

vernment.

WHEN the destinies of an empire so vast and populous as the Chi- nese, are swayed by one man, we naturally wish to know something of the history and character of such a monarch.

At the present time, this wish is strengthened by an expectation that his imperial majesty is about to change (or to have changed) his relations with the other potentates of the earth, with whom he is to fellowship as brothers,

consins, &c.

The Emperor Tumukwang.

FEB.

          Hitherto men from afar, albeit richly imbued with his great favors, have known, or had the means of knowing, but little of the son of heaven.' Once we saw what was said to be a portrait of his august person; and once we had in our possession an auto- graph, written with the vermilion pencil. A great many and very diverse sayings, touching the character and conduct of H. I. M. we have heard first and last; but having failed to write them in a book at the time, we dare not now trust to memory for a portraiture of one whose person and character are so sacred as his majesty's are. Could we borrow the note-books of certain historiographers, then perhaps a faithful and full picture might be given. But being without these ample materials, we hope our readers will not be displeased with the few fragments we have been able here and there to collect. subjoin three state papers, to which we add a few explanations and some brief notices.

No. 1.

We

    The chainber of ministers (Nuy Kŏ) has received with due respect the following imperial edict :

"From the late emperor, who has now gone the great journey, I received the utmost possible kindness and care; and from him I derived my being; his gracious kindness was infinite, like that of the glorious heavens above. Although his benevolent life had been continued more than six decades of years, his celestial person was still robust, and his energy and spirits undi- minished. I, the emperor, who continually waited on him in the palace, desired his days to be protracted, and hoped he would reach his hundredth year. This year, on a tour, he was to solace with his presence Lwangyang, in Tartary, and I, the emperor, followed in his train. His sacred person was on the journey as strong as usual, till he happened to be affected by very hot weather; however, he still ascended his chair without weariness ; but finally he became ill, and after three days, a great encroachment on life was apparent. I, the emperor, beat the ground with my head, and called on heaven to bring him back-but, in vain ! With reverence I meditate on his late majesty's reign during twenty-five years,-how effectually he sup- pressed banditti and rebellion, and gave tranquillity to millions of common people. Night and day he diligently labored; and never idled away a single day. His official servants, and the black-haired race, all looked up gratefully to his benevolent rule, under which they enjoyed the happiness of a glorious tranquillity. Now, when but a few days of his tour had elapsed, the great event has occurred; the dragon on horseback has ascended and be. come a guest on high. All creatures, endued with blood and breath, mourn with grateful feelings, proceeding from the most perfect sincerity; and how much more deeply do I, the emperor, feel; and how much more durable will be my grief, who have received such vast benefits, ten thousand times re.

The Emperor Tamukwang.

1841.

RY

peated!

        1 received his late majesty's last will, commanding that the funeral mourning should be the same as formerly. That in twenty-seven days I should put off deep mourning, is what my heart submits to with difficulty; but I yield obedience to ancient rules, and will reverently wear mourning for three years; and shall thereby, in some small degree, manifest the affectionate grief which I feel. Let the governmental officers and people, throughout the empire, observe the former laws for national mourning. The kings and great officers of state are hereby ordered to assemble to deliberate and report to the emperor. Respect this."

    Copies of this paper were circulated in Canton early in Oct., 1820. Doubts were then entertained of its authenticity, the document being, contrary to what is usual on such occasions, without the names of the ministry or any titles for the emperor, excepting only his kwõ haou, or national designation,' which was Yuenhwuy,

元徽 meaning "an original assemblage of natural beauties." (See the Indo-Chinese Gleaner, for January and February, 1821, from which we borrow these papers.) This first one purported to have been issued on the 9th of September, six days after the demise of Keäking, which occurred on the 2d. On the 20th of October, the governor of Canton received a dispatch from the Board of Rites, ordering him "to close the seals of office on the 20th of the 12th month of the 25th year of Keäking, and to open them on the 19th of the 1st month of the first year of Tavukwang," which, instead of Yuenhwuy, was to be the national designation, or imperial title of the new em- Dr. Morrison, commenting on this title says, "the meaning of the taou, is similar to the 'eternal reason of some European writers, the 'ratio' of the Latins, and the Ays of the Greeks; in a political sense, the Chinese use it for a perfectly good government, where reason, not passion, dictates its acts: kwang means light, lus- tre, glory, illustrious, and so on. The new imperial title of Taou- kwang may be rendered by the two words, reason illustrious,' by which the monarch wishes to intimate that his reign shall be the glorious age of reason' in China, that he will rule gloriously, accord- ing to the pure dictates of eternal reason." Dr. Morrison further adds, referring to this first paper, and the title Yuenhwuy therein as- sumed, "Whether it be supposed that the people dared to print and hand about a spurious imperial proclamation, or that the emperor and his advisers changed their minds on the subject of the title, the pre- ceding appears very strange."

peror.

The second of the three papers is called he chaou, or joyful pro- clamation,' and was thus prefaced: "On the 17th of the 8th mouth (September 23d, 1820), the great emperor, who has received from

VOL. X. NO. 11.

12

90

The Emperor Tavukwang.

FEB.

   heaven and revolving nature, the government of the world, issued the following proclamation."

No. 2.

"Our Ta Tsing dynasty has received the most substantial indications of heaven's kind care. Our ancestors, Taetsoo and Taetsung, began to lay the vast foundation (of our empire); and Shetsoo became the sole monarch of China. Our sacred ancestor Kanghe, the emperor Yungching the glory of his age, and Keënlung the eminent in honor, all abounded in vir- tue, were divine in martial prowess, consolidated the glory of the empire, and moulded the whole to peaceful harmony.

"His late majesty, who has now gone the great journey, governed all under heaven's canopy twenty-five years, exercising the utmost caution and industry. Nor evening nor morning was he ever idle. He assiduously ained at the best possible rule, and hence his government was excellent and illustrious; the court and the country felt the deepest reverence, and the stillness of profound awe. A benevolent heart and a benevolent administra- tion were universally diffused; in' China proper, as well as beyond it, order and tranquillity prevailed, and the tens of thousands of common people were all happy. But in the midst of a hope that this glorious reign would be long protracted, and the help of heaven would be received many days, unexpec- tedly, on descending to bless, by his majesty's presence, Lwanyang, the dragon charioteer (the holy emperor) became a guest on high.

     My sacred and indulgent father had, in the year that he began to rule alone, silently settled that the divine utensil (the throne,) should devolve on my contemptible person. I, knowing the feebleness of my virtue, at first felt much afraid I should not be competent to the office; but on reflecting that the sages, my ancestors, have left to posterity their plans; that his late majesty has laid the duty on me-and heaven's throne should not be long vacant-I have done violence to my feelings, and forced myself to intermit awhile my heartfelt grief, that I may with reverence obey the unalterable decree; and on the 27th of the 8th moon (October 3d), 1 purpose devoutly to announce the event to heaven, to earth, to my ancestors, and to the gods of the land and of the grain, and shall then sit down on the imperial throne.

Let the next year be the first of Taoukwang.

1

"I look upwards and hope to be able to continue former excellencies. lay my hand on my heart with feelings of respect and cautious awe.-When a new monarch addresses himself to the empire, he ought to confer benefits on his kindred, and extensively bestow gracious favors: whatever is proper to be done on this occasion is stated below.

    "First. On all persons at court, and those also who are at a distance from it, having the title of wang (a king) and downwards; and on those of, or above the rank of a kung (a duke), let gracious gifts be conferred.

    "Second. On all the nobles below the rank of kung, down to that of kih-kih, let gracious gifts be conferred.

    <

1841

The Emperor Tamukwang

91

       "Fourth. Those officers, whose deceased parents have received posthu- mous titles of honor, shall have those titles increased, to correspond with the promotion of their sons.

<< Fifth. Officers at court of the fourth degree of rank, and in the pro- vinces those of the third, shall have the privilege of sending one son to the national college (Kwo-tsze-keën).

       "Sixth. Officers who have been deprived of their rank, but retained in office, and whose pay has been stopped or forfeited, shall have their rank and pay restored.

      "Seventh. Let the number of candidates to be accepted at the literary examinations, in each province, be increased from ten to thirty persons.

66

Eighth. Let the required time of residence in the national college be diminished one month on this occasion.

      " Ninth. Let all the graduates of the degree of a. m. be permitted, as a mark of honor, to wear a button of the sixth degree of rank.

"Tenth: Let officers be dispatched to sacrifice at the tombs of departed emperors and kings, of every past dynasty; at the grave of Confucius, and at the five great mountains, and the four great rivers of China,

      "Eleventh. Excepting rebels, murderers, and other impardonable offen- ders, let all those who may have committed crimes before daybreak of the 27th of the 8th moon (the day of ascending the throne) be forgiven. If any person again accuse them with the crimes already forgiven, punish the ac- cuser according to the crime alleged.

"Twelfth. All convicts in the several provinces who have been transport- ed for crimes committed, but who have conducted themselves quietly for a given time, shall be permitted to return to their homes.

1

Thirteenth. Tartars under the different banners, and persons of the imperial household convicted of the embezzlement of property, and punished by forfeits, if it can be proved that they really possess no property, let them be all forgiven.

Fourteenth. Let all officers of government whose sons or grandsons were charged with fines or forfeits on account of their father's crimes, be forgiven. "Fifteenth. Let officers and privates in the Tartar army, to whom go- vernment may have advanced money, not be required to repay it.

       "Sixteenth. Let all old soldiers of the Tartar and Chinese armies, who have seen service, and are now invalided, have their cases examined into, and have some favor conferred on them in addition to the legal compassion they already receive.

}

      "Seventeenth. Let there be an inquiry made in all the provinces, for those families in which there are alive five generations; and for those persons who have seen seven generations ; and rewards be conferred in addition to the usual honorary tablet conferred by law.

"Eighteenth. Agriculture is of the first importance to the empire-let the officers of government everywhere, and always, laud those who are dili- gent in ploughing and sowing.

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    "Nineteenth. Old men have in every age been treated with great respect; let a report be made of all above seventy, both of Tartars and Chinese, with the exception of domestic slaves, and people who already possess rank.

"Twentieth. Let one month's pay be given to certain of the Mantchou and Mongolian Tartar soldiers, and also to the Chinese troops who joined the Tartar standard at the conquest.

"Twenty-first. Let men who belonged to the Tartar arıny, and who are now above seventy years of age, have a man allowed to attend upon them, and excuse them from all service. To those above eighty, give a piece of silk, a catty of cotton, a shih measure of rice; and ten catties of flesh meat; and to those above ninety, double these largesses.

"Twenty-second. Let all overseers of asylums for widows and orphans, and sick people, be always attentive, and prevent any one being destitute. "Lo! now, on succecding to the throne, I shall exercise myself to give repose to the millions of my people.-Assist me to sustain the burden laid on my shoulders! With veneration I receive charge of heaven's great con- cerns.-Ye kings and statesmen, great and small, civil and military, every one be faithful and devoted, and aid in supporting the vast affair; that our family dominion may be preserved hundreds and tens of thousands of years, in never ending tranquillity and glory! Promulge this to all under heaven- cause every one to hear it !"

The following paper was issued previously to the august ceremony to which it relates, which took place on the 27th of the 8th month, and was called tăng kẽih, 'ascending the summit,' meaning evidently the summit of power, honor and glory. There does not seem to have been literally any coronation or putting on of a crown; the term, however, is a fair equivalent for the ascension act.

No. 3.

    "The members of the Board of Rites beg respectfully to state the usual ceremonies observed at the ascension of the emperors. On the day appointed for the ceremony, the commander of the foot- guards shall lead in the troops to take their station at the several gates of the imperial city. The members of the Board of Rites, and of the Hung-loo office, shall assemble in the imperial Council Cham- ber, and set the seal-table (on which the imperial seal is to be placed) in the palace of Peace, to the south of the imperial throne, and exactly in the middle. Let them set the report-table (on which the petition, requesting his majesty to ascend the throne, is to be laid) on the south side of the eastern pillar of the palace; the edict-table (on which is to be placed the imperial proclamation, announcing the ac- cession,) on the north side of the eastern pillar. Let the writing-table (on which the pencil and ink, used on the occasion, are to lie) be set on the right or left of the western pillar; and the yellow-table (from which the proclamation is to be promulged) on the red steps, (or elevation at the foot of the throne, where ministers advance to pay

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their obeisance,) exactly in the middle. The imperial guards, both officers and men, shall then enter, and set forth, in order, the impe- rial traveling equipage, in front of the palace of Peace. They shall next make ready his majesty's foot-chariot, (i. e. one usually drawn by men) without the palace gate. The five (ancient) imperial car- riages shall then be set forth without the Woo gate. The docile elephants shall be placed to the south of the five carriages. Let them draw up the imperial horse-guards, on the right and left of the middle path of the vestibule, fronting each other, east and west. Let the imperial canopy and cloud-capt basin (in which the imperial pro- clamation, announcing the emperor's ascension, is placed) be set within the vestibule. After this, the members of the Board of Music shall arrange the ancient musical instruments, used by Shun, to the east and west, on the palace causeway; and the musical instru- ments, used on state occasions, they shall set in order within the palace. These shall be thus placed, but not (for the present) used. -Next, the musical instruments, used at the arrival and departure of his majesty, together with the dragon-dome, and the incense- dome, (i. e. a kind of portable shed, or portico) shall be set forth without the Woo gate. The officers of the Board of Public Works shall place the golden phoenix at the gate of Celestial Repose, direct- ly in the middle; and set the stage, from which the proclamation is to be made, in the first chamber, on the eastern side of the gate. The second officer of the Board of Rites, having ready the petition, (re- questing the emperor to ascend the throne) shall take it, reverently, in both his hands, and place it on the petition-table, already set on the southern side of the eastern pillar. One of the officers of the Coun- cil Chamber, taking the proclamation, to be subsequently issued, în both his hands, shall place it on the edict-table, standing to the north of the eastern pillar. One of the secretaries of the Council Chamber shall, in the same manner, take the pencil and ink-stone, and put them on the table, on the western side of the palace.

"The prime minister shall then lead forth the members of the Coun- cil Chamber to the gate of Celestial Purity (i. e. his majesty's private apartments), and beg for the imperial seal. One of the members shall receive it with profound reverence, and the prime minister shall follow him from the gate of Celestial Purity to the palace of Peace, where it shall be laid on the seal-table, which is in the middle of the hall, on the south of the imperial throne; after which they shall re- tire. Then the officers of the Hung-loo office, shall bring up the kings and nobles of the imperial kindred, from the highest down to those of the eighth rank, on the elevation at the foot of the throne. Then the great officers of state, civil and military, all in their court dresses, shall range themselves in order acccording to their rank, within the vestibule.

"At the appointed hour, the president of the Board of Rites shall go and intreat his majesty to put on his mournings, and come forth by the gate of the eastern palace, and enter at the Jeft door of the middle palace, where his majesty, before the altar of his deceased

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imperial father, will respectfully announce, that he receives the decree-kneel thrice, and bow nine times.

    "This finished, the emperor will then go out by the eastern door, into the side palace. The president of the Board of Rites shall issue orders to the governor of the palace, officers of the imperial guard and the chief ministers of the interior, to go and solicit his majesty to put on his imperial robes, and proceed to the palace of his mother, the empress-dowager, to pay his respects. The enpress-dowager will put on her court robes, and ascend her throne; before which his majesty shall kneel thrice, and bow nine times. After the perform- ance of this ceremony, the governors of the palace shall let down the curtain before the door of the emperor's private apartments, and the officers of the interior imperial guards shall have in readiness the golden chariot, directly in the middle, in front of the door of the imperial residence The president of the Board of Rites shall then bring forward the officer of the Astronomical Board whose business is to observe times, to the gate of his majesty's residence, to announce the arrival of the chosen and felicitous moment. His majesty will then go out by the left door of his apartments, and mount the golden chariot. The president of the Board of Rites, together with ten of the great officers of the same Board, shall take their stations in front of the imperial chariot, to lead on the procession. Two officers of the personal guard shall walk behind. Ten chief officers of the leopard- tail legion of guards, holding spears (perhaps muskets), and ten bear- ing swords, shall form the wings of the personal guard. The proces- sion shall then move in order, to the palace of Protection and Peace, where his majesty will descend from the chariot. Here the president of the Board of Rites shall solicit his majesty to sit down in the roy- al iniddle palace.

     Then the president of the Hung-loo office shall lead forward the great officers of the interior, the officers of the imperial guard, of the Council Camber, of the National Institute, of the Chin-sze office, of the Ke-keu office, of the Board of Rites, and of the Censorate, arranging them, in front and rear, according to their rank. He shall then call upon them to kneel thrice, and bow nine times.

"This ceremony over, the president of the Board of Rites step- ping forward, shall kneel down, and beseech his majesty, saying, Ascend the imperial throne.'-The emperor shall then rise from his seat, and the procession moving on, in the same order as above described, to the imperial palace of Peace, his majesty shall ascend the seat of gems, and sit down on the imperial throne, with his face to the south. At the Woo gate the bells shall then be rung, and the drums beaten; but no other instruments of music shall be sounded. The chief officer of the imperial guards shall say aloud, strike the whip' (a brazen rod called by this name). The whip shall accord- ingly be struck below the throne. The master of the ceremonies shall command the attendant ministers to arrange themselves in ranks. The president of the Hung-loo office shall bring up the kings and dukes on the elevation, at the foot of the throne; and the master

:

1841.

The Emperor Tavukwang

33

of the ceremonies shall lead forward the civil and military officers, and range them in due order within the vestibule.

He shall say

      advance;' they shall accordingly advance. He shall say kneel;' then the kings, and all the ranks downward, shall kneel. When he says-bow your heads to the ground,'-and, ' rise,'-then the kings, and downward, shall kneel thrice, bow the head to the ground nine times, and rise accordingly. When he says retire, the kings, and downward, shall all retire, and stand in their former places.

"Then the prime minister, entering by the left door of the palace, shall go to the table, and taking the proclamation in both his hands, shall place it on the middle table; after which he shall retire for a moment, and stand with his face to the west. The president of the Council Chamber, advancing to the middle table, with his face to the north, shall seal the proclamation, and retire. The president of the Board of Rites shall then approach near; and the prime minister, taking the proclamation in both hands, shall walk out with it by the imperial door of the palace of Peace, and deliver it to the presi- dent of the Board of Rites, who shall kneel and receive it. After rising, he shall carry it to the table, in the middle of the elevation, below the throne, and lay it thereon, with profound reverence-shall kneel once, and bow to the ground three times. Next, he shall kneel and take up the proclamation in both hands-shall rise, and descend by the middle steps. The president of the Board of Rites, kneeling, shall take up with both hands the cloud-capt basin, into which he shall receive the proclamation, and then rise. The officers of the imperial guard shall spread out the yellow canopy (or umbrella) over the said basin, and go out with it by the middle door of the palace of Peace. The civil and military officers shall follow out by the gate of Resplendent Virtue, and the gate of Virgin Felicity. The chief officer of the guard shall then say strike the brazen whip;' it shall accordingly be struck thrice, below the steps.

"His majesty shall then rise, step to the back of the palace, mount his chariot, and go forth by the left door, to the outside of the door of his private apartments, where he shall descend from the chariot ; aud, entering the side palace, by the left door, shall change his robes, and return to the mat (where the funeral obsequies are perform. ed). The prime minister shall lead forward the presidents, who shall reverently take the imperial seal, and deliver it at the door of the im- perial residence, to one of the great officers of the interior.

"At this time the proclamation-bearer, taking the document in both his hands, shall proceed to the outside of the Woo gate, and place it in the dragon-dome-shall kneel once, and bow to the ground thrice. Then the officers of the guard, and sword bearers, shall carry for- ward the domes, in the following order the incense-dome in front, and the dragon-dome behind. The officers of the Board of Music shall lead on the procession, immediately behind the imperial insignia, but shall not play (the national mourning forbidding this). One of the judges of the Board of Rites shall then ascend to the tower on the wall, opposite the gate of Celestial Repose, and they shall set

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down the incense-dome: the proclamation being placed there also, in the middle of the dragon-dome. The proclamation-bearer shall then kneel once, and bow to the ground thrice; after which, taking the proclamation in both hands, he shall lay it on the yellow-table, which is placed on a high stage. The dragon and incense-domes shall be removed, and set down directly in front of the gate of Celes- tial Repose. The officers, civil and military, shall arrange them- selves at the southern end of the golden bridge. The master of the ceremonies shall say form ranks;'-also, 'enter.' The officers, civil and military, shall accordingly form ranks, and the venerable elders of the people, a little behind, shall form themselves into two files; and all stand facing the north. The herald-minister shall then ascend the stage. The master of the ceremonies shall say- 'an edict!'

         Then all shall instantly fall on their knees. The herald shall next read the proclamation, in the Chinese language, after which he retires to the table. The words bow' and 'rise' being pro- nounced (by the master of the ceremonies), and answered by three genuflections and nine prostrations, from all present, the proclama- tion-bearer, taking the said document in both hands, shall place it again in the cloud-capt basin, and suspend it, by an ornamental cord, from the bill of the golden phoenix. The judge of the Board of Rites, receiving the same, shall set it again in the dragon-dome, and going out by the gate of Exalted Purity, the procession shall be led on as formerly, by the officers of the Board of Music, behind the imperial insignia, but without playing, to the office of the Board of Rites, where, an incense-table being placed, the president of the Board of Rites shall bring forward the judges, who shall kneel thrice, and bow to the ground nine times.. These ceremonies all finished, let the proclamation be reverently printed, and promulgated throughout the empire. Such is our statement laid before your majesty."

4

The imperial pleasure, has been received thus: 'Act according to the statement. Respect this.'"

    Shortly after the new emperor had assumed the reins of govern- ment, he issued another paper. It begins abruptly, and some of the first words of the original are probably wanting.

No. 4.

    "Mine is not a vacant office. For a long period the whole empire receiv- ed from the late emperor the most gracious beneficence; the utmost liberali- ty in times of distress; and the most perfect admonition and correction. It sometimes happened that individuals willfully violated the laws; but when the time of signing death-warrants occurred, he examined the papers con- taining the cases of capital offenders with the utmost care; and if any way of saving them could be discovered, he exercised benevolence beyond the laws. All my people should be dutiful to their parents, respectful to supe- riors, ashamed of crime, and 'cherish a dread of punishment, to aid me in imitating his late majesty, wllo showed a love of the lives of others, such as heaven displays. Now, in consequence of all the kings, Tartar nobles, great statesmen, the civil and military officers, having said with one voice, Heav-

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The Emperor Taoukwang.

Emperor

97

     en's throne must not be long uuoccupied, it is incumbent thạt, by the con- sent of the imperial manes, and the gods of the land, a sovereign do early assume, his sway.' In consequence of their again and again remonstrating with me, I forced myself to yield to the general voice, and interrupting, for a short time, my keen sorrows-on the 3d day of the 8th month (September 9th, 1820), having announced the circumstance to heaven and to earth, and to the mares of my imperial ancestors, I sat down on the imperial throne. Let the next year be the first of the reign of Taoukwang.

      "I look up reverently to the altars of the land and of the grain, and desire to receive, and to continue the will of my predecessors: and I profoundly hope that the imperial throne will remain eternally.

1,

      "Do all of you my relations behave as eminent worthies, you civil and military officers be unitedly faithful and devoted, and exert yourselves, that the dominion may be continued to an illimitable period, and that you may for ever enjoy the repose of a well regulated government.

"Proclaim this to the whole empire, and cause every one to know it.'

From the several foregoing papers, the reader will be able to form an opinion respecting the character of the one man who now rules, as absolute monarch, the 360,000,000 of human beings inhabiting the Chinese empire. Whether the imperial title was or was not chang- ed, there are in the history of his reign repeated instances of some. thing very much like change. Repugnant as this idea may be to the mind of a true son of Han, changes there have been, and changes there will be. There are in this, as in all other human governments, imperfections with abuses of administration, which ought to be cor- rected. It augurs well, therefore, that there are changes and signs of changes. How have Turkey and Egypt changed their relations! And must not China and Japan likewise change? If illustrious reason, instead of brute force, is to have ascendency here, then well; and the changes, for the amelioration of the condition of the people, and the improvement of the state, shall be hailed with acclamations of joy.

/

It is not right to speak evil of dignities, and we forbear to repeat sundry idle tales which have been told derogatory to the character of his majesty. During the twenty years he has filled the throne, there has been a very tolerable degree of prosperity, though the present state of affairs is by no means flattering or pleasing to the imperial mind. But we will not dwell on this topic. Some noble and valorous acts are put to the credit of the emperor. In the 18th year of his illus- trious father's reign, when a plot was formed to destroy the monarch and subvert the government, the young prince (though ignorant of his being the heir, the will of his father not having then been made

VOL. X. NO. II.

13

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FEB.

known,) with his own hand destroyed two of the rebels who were at- tempting to climb over the palace walls. This bold act caused the other rebels to fall back with terror, and thus the sacred abode was preserved in quiet. Judging from the protrait which we have seen, his majesty is tall, thin, and of a dark complexion. He is now sixty years of age, and apparently strong and robust. He is reputed to be "of a generous disposition, diligent, attentive to government, and economical in his expenditure." He is greatly revered by his subjects, and apparently much swayed by the counsels of his minis- ters, of whom some are very able men,-though we much fear as he says, "they know not what truth is." Of the emperor's present line of policy much remains to be said. It will be questioned and scanned as that of his predecessors never was. The old order of things is passing away, and now→

Magnus ab integro sêclorum nascitur ordo.

ART. V. The Rebellion of the Yellow Caps, compiled from the

History of the Three States.*

As the insurrection, that ended in that dismemberment of the Chi- nese empire which became the foundation of the popular San Kwŏ Che, or "History of the Three States," forms the subject of an in- teresting passage in the records of former times, we take the liberty of inserting, in the pages of the Repository, a short digest of the account of the rise and progress of the Yellow Caps to the death of their first leaders, as given in the first and second sections of that work.

The history of the Three States-Shŭh, Wei, and Woo-opens by dating the origin of those causes, which led to the division of the empire into three kingdoms, at the reigns of Hwan (A. D. 147) and Ling (a. D. 168), the immediate predecessors of Heuen, the last emper- or of the Han dynasty. The historian finds occasion for the civil wars, that caused the downfall of that house and disjointed the whole em- pire, in the corrupt state of the government, which had shut up the avenues to preferment against the good and the wise, and admitted See volume seventh, number fifth, pp 232-249, for a brief account of this

work.

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eunuchs, that class of weak, low, and depraved courtiers,into the councils of the state. It was the emperor Hwan who began this course of degeneracy, and the dire consequences of it were gradually evinced during the reign of his successor, more weak than himself. Soon after Ling had ascended the throne, signs most strange and alarming appeared in the heavens and on the earth, all portentous of some approaching calamity. The sagacious and patriotic of the princes knew full well the occasion of all this, and presumed to warn their sovereign of a crisis at hand. His own fears were to some de- gree excited, but they were speedily dispelled by the craft of the eunuchs, who induced their master to degrade those ministers, who had dared to remonstrate with imperial majesty. Finding that their opportunity had now come, the eunuchs formed themselves into a body of counselors, called the shĩh chang she, or "the_ten constant attendants," and, enjoying the emperor's implicit confidence, they took the reins of government into their own hands. Having thus briefly pointed out the causes of future calamities, the historian, like a patriot, sighs over the weaknesses of his sovereign and the misfor- tunes of his country, "Alas, my father! The imperial government waxed worse every day, until there was universal disaffection, and marauders rose up like wasps.'

"

At this time, when the country had become disposed for change, a leader appeared in a family of the principality of Keuluh. In this family there were three brothers, whose surname was Chang. Chang Keo, the eldest of them, was chief in the insurrection, to which he bad been incited by an interview with a singular personage, who gave himself out to be one of the mountain genii. This sage of Nanhwa called Chang Keò aside, and put a book into his hands, at the same time announcing that he was to be the "liberator_mundi," and threatening the worst of evils, if he should decline his appoint- ment. On this, the stranger vanished. Keo took the book and de- voted himself to its study, till at length he gained superhuman power, and was able to control the elements of nature.

     It happened, that in the eighteenth year of Ling's reign, and in the first month, a pestilence broke out, and raged furiously among the people. During that plague, Chang Keò rendered himself po- pular, in curing large numbers by the successful use of magical papers and charm-waters, and increased his own influence by send- ing forth, to every part of the country, men who had been inspired by him, with supernatural virtue to overcome the same distemper. In this way he gained the confidence of myriads, who were disposed by

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The Rebellion of the Yellow Caps,

TES.

him in various districts under regular leaders, and he only waited for a fit time when to carry his projects into execution.

    Very shortly after, he gave out that the time had arrived, when the reigning family should cease and give place to another line of em- perors; and he assured his countrymen that heaven would favor them, as a new cycle was just opening. Thus he won an immense

body of the nation over to his side. To render the plot complete, he sent one of his trusty followers to form an alliance with one of the eunuchs, and, lest they should lose the present opportunity through delay, he dispatched a second confidant to apprize the intriguing party at court of the badge adopted by their allies, and of the day when they would rise; but the messenger, who had been intrusted with the final instructions, repented and discovered the scheme to the imperial cabinet.

    This disclosure led to the immediate seizure and imprisonment of Fung Seu and his party, who formed the court cabal; and the imperial troops were ordered out to crush the first symptoms of insurrection.

When the rebel generals Chang Keo, Chang Paou, and Chang Leäng heard that their secrets had been betrayed, they took it as a sign for an instantaneous rise, and, assuming high sounding titles, they put forth a public manifesto, calling for the aid of their countrymen- They were at once joined by 400,000 or 500,000 men, who all wore yellow caps, in sign of their attachment to the new cause, from which circumstance this insurrection is generally designated in history, "the rebellion of the Yellow Caps." While the rebels were scattering themselves over the country, orders were issued by the emperor that every district should be in readiness to defend itself; and that three of his chung lang tseäng (high generals) should proceed with troops to subdue the Yellow Caps.

    The first act of aggression, on the part of the malcontents, was in the district of Yew, the lieutenant of which immediately issued a pro- clamation for a general levy of troops.This call brought forth the famous Lew Pe Heuentih, a descendant in the line of the Han family, who, it had been predicted by his relatives and comrades, would some day rise to eminence. It, at the same time, brought Heventih

· in contact with the heroes Chang Fei and Kwan Yu, the result of which interview was that these three persons entered into a solemn covenant, to stand by each other in supporting the interests of the house of Han, and to keep the unity of mind and purpose inviolate.

Thus leagued, these heroes of the San Kwo Che sally forth to join the ranks of lieutenant Law Yen, who gladly welcomed them.

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His excellency, hearing in a few days that a party of the enemy was coming down upon one of his districts, gave orders to his officer Trow Tsing, to proceed against them and avail himself of the assistance of Heuentih, whose comrades signalized themselves in the first onset, by killing-the one a colonel, the other the general of the rebel troops. On this, a large body of the enemy seeing themselves thus early de- prived of some of their leaders, joined the imperial party; and the leutenant of Yew conferred rewards on the victors.

But, on the day following the victory, he received a dispatch from the governor of Tsing department, to 'the effect that he was placed in imminent danger by the siege, which had been laid against him. His request, that auxiliaries should be sent to him, was forthwith grant- ed; and in a very little time the siege was raised, chiefly through the stratagems of the three brothers:

Immediately on the distribution of rewards by the gov. of Tsing, Heuentih and his comrades separated themselves from the troops of Yew, to hasten to the relief of Loo Chili, (Heuentih's former tutor, and one of the chunglang tseäng already spoken of,) who was then en- gaged in contest with Chang Keỡ, the leader of the rebellion. On their reaching the scene of warfare, Loo Chih was much pleased with this mark of attachment in his late pupil, but directed him to proceed to the assistance of his colleagues Hwangfoo Sung and Choo Sun who were, in the Ying district, waging war against Chang Keo's brothers. While Heuentih was advancing towards Ying, the imperialists had routed the Yellow Caps,-who fled in all directions before the con- At that instant, another hero of those times, Teaou Tsaou, (called by a Spanish writer the Buonaparte of China,') made his appearance, to share in the glory and the spoils of the day.-This Tsaou Tsaou displayed early in life a roving and wily disposition, which it was impossible for his father or his uncle to curb. However, men perceived that he was qualified for the times, and foresaw his future eminence, at the prediction of which Tsaou Tsaon was not a little delighted. At the age of twenty, he entered office, and con- ducted himself with strict impartiality, so that he became a terror to evil-doers. · After a few minor promotions, he was made an officer of cavalry, and it was then he led forth a company to assist the im- perial house.

1

5.1.

:

   · Heuentsh arrived only in season to congratulate the victors on the repulse of the enemy, and detailed his interview with his tutor Loo Chih, to whom the two chung lang tseäng directed the three bro- thers to return, as they felt persuaded the fugitives would immediate-

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ly resort to Kwangtsung, where Chang Keo was besieged by. Loo Chĩh. The brothers at once retraced their steps, but had proceeded only half the distance, when they met Loo Chỉh confined in a cage and guarded by a party of soldiers, who were conducting him to the capital. The captive explained that he had been maligned at court, and that, under the false representations of a crown officer, who had been sent down to extort money from him but had failed in his at- tempts, he had orders from the emperor to hasten to the capital for examination, and that meanwhile Tung Cho was appointed to super- intend those hostilities against the chief Chang Keŏ, which had wek uigh been closed, but for this unhappy interruption. Chang Fei, when he heard this account, got furious, and was on the point of cutting down the guards with his sword, when Heuentih quieted him by the irresistible argument that, as it was the emperor's will, nothing could be done in opposition to it. So Loo Chỉh was allowed to pass on to meet his doom.

At the advice of Kwan Yu, the sworn brothers resolved to returù without delay, to their native district. But on their progress north- ward, they perceive, from the din of war, that conflicting parties are at hand. It is the imperial bands routed and put to flight by Chang Keo's overpowering numbers. Heuentih and his friends take a stand and, by a vigorous attack, beat the rebels back, and saved the honor of the throne. It was Tung Chŏ (Loo Chĩh's substitute,) who had been thus rescued by an unknown branch of the imperial house, but this general treated his deliverers only with disrespect, which the ever ardent Chang Fei could not brook, and he swore that nothing should appease him, short of the blood of the haughty and uncivil Tung Chŏ.

1

However, his brothers Heuentih and Kwan Yu successfully remon- strated with him; but, as it was their united opinion, that, rather than join the corps of such an officer, they should put themselves under the banner of Choo Sun one of his colleagues, they accordingly pro- ceeded to enter his ranks, and were treated by him with all urbanity. As that general was engaged in an attack on the rebel Paou's forces, he took the faithful three with him. In this instance, Heuentih also -signalized himself in a close combat with one of the enemy's colonels, whom he left dead on the field. A general engagement instantly ensued, when general Paou, by some magical art (which produced a storm of wind and thunder, and drew down a black cloud from -heaven, in which appeared a countless ́host of matchless warriors,)

drove his opponents back in fear and consternation.

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1841.

The Rebellion of the Yellow Caps.

103

But, on the next assault, Paou's juggle was not so successful, as it was rendered futile by the superior stratagem of Choo Sun. He, im- mediately after he found Paou having recourse to his magical powers, had arranged that a quantity of the blood of pigs, sheep, and dogs, should be collected and carried up to a neighboring height, and that, on the first appearance of the same phenomena which had occurred before, this should be poured down. When the assault was made,

· Chang Paoù acted the magician, there was a tremendous wind and thunder, the sand flew, and the stones ran (along the ground), a black cloud overcast the sky, and an immense number of men and horses fell from heaven." Heuentih turned his horse and hastily retreated, while Chang Paou pursued him, with all his men, as far as the ris ing ground, when the mixture was thrown down from its top, and then there could be seen. "in the air, paper-men and grass-horses, falling in confusion to the ground. The wind and thunder ceased, nor did the sand and stones continue to fly about." Chang Paou, finding himself baffled in this attempt, was obliged to flee for his life, and, with difficulty reached one of his fortresses, where he shut himself up and his troops.

While Choo Sun was occupied in besieging Chang Paou, he heard that his colleague Hwangfoo Sung, had been appointed to take the place of Tung Cho, whose frequent losses had occasioned his degradaṛ tion from office; that, when Hwangfoo entered upon his office, Chang Keò died, and was succeeded in command by his brother Chang Leäng; that Chang Leäng had been cut off by Hwang, for which achievement the emperor promoted him, and yielded to his interces- sions in behalf of the defamed Loo Chih, whose misfortune has been noticed; and that Tsaou Tsaou also had been promoted in consi- deration of the services, he had lent in support of the imperial cause. Choo Sun, on hearing all this intelligence was stimulated to a simul- taneous attack of the town, in which Chang Paou had taken shelter, and he brought the besieged to such a stress at length, that one, of Paon's own officers beheaded his master and delivered up the city to the imperial general. Thus fell the first leaders of "the rebellion of the Yellow Caps."

W. C.

108

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

FEB.

ART. VI. Illustrations of men ́and things in China: priest col- leeting paper; uses of blood; mode of cutting glass; a 'China-

mar.

   PRIEST collecting paper.I met a respectable looking Budhistic priest one day, perambulating the streets with two small baskets slung on his arm, on which were written the four characters

king seth tsze che, meaning, 'respect and pity paper having charac" tera on it.' I asked him what he was doing; 'I am going about picking up all written paper,' said he, "lest sacred names should be defiled.' His baskets, "so far as I could see, held as much orange peel as paper; but I suppose he thought that all useful things coming in his way, were not to be passed by, any more than pieces of written paper. This respect for paper! with characters on it is universal among the Chinese, and among this class of religionists it is deemsed meritorious to go about and rescue all printed and writteń paper from defilement. The reader must not infer, however, that this is done gratuitously, for the priests collect money, from shopmen and others who write much, in order to pay themselves for picking up waste paper in the streets in their stead; thus making gain out of their reverence for holy characters.

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    Uses of blood-Thé butcher receives the blood of the ox or hog iniò a tub, and after it coagulates, drains off the watery serum, and sends the rest to market. It is cooked in various ways by the people, both alone and combined with other viands. The blood of ducks, after co- agulation, is warmed over a fire, and when the color has changed, and the mass become a little concrete, it is cut into cakes and ex- posed for sale lying in water; the purchaser adds salt and other condiments when he cooks it a second time. The blood of hogs and cattle is also extensively used as a paste. It is, after coagula- tion, thoroughly worked by squeezing it through a handful of straw, to separate the fibrine, and then kimmered over a slow fire with the addition of a little lime. When made it is of a dingy-red color; it must be used soon, for it spoils in a day or two; the shopmen paper tea-chests, boxes of goods, &c., with this paste.

י'

    Mode of cutting glass.-The diamond and corundum are both employed by glaziers; they select the natural grains, or break them into fragments, and insert them in a pencil, so as to expose a corner; none of the lapidaries here can cut these genis. The

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China,

105

itinerating workmen who mend and clamp broken glass and china-. ware, have one set into the point of their drill. But the corundum is. far too expensive for a common workman, and he employs another method of trimming his pane of glass. He marks an ink-line where he wishes it to be divided, and then files a notch on the edge to com- mence after this, he slowly follows up the line with a lighted joss- stick; the glass cracks pretty evenly after the fire, which is detained upon a spot until it splits; the edge of the pane is rather uneven,

                                                   but the putty, says he, will hide all those defects.

A 'Chinaman.'-What a number of things there are to which we prefix the adjective China as a convenient mode of designating them! Porcelain and China are synonymous with many persons; a set of chi- na, or chinaware, China silks, China sweetmeats, China root, China orange, China rose, are all sufficiently marked merely by the adjec- tive; for ages have the productions of this country excited the com. mercial enterprise of other lands, so that the terms China ship, China merchant, and China cargo, in common life, designate a peculiar branch of commerce. But among all the odd things this country produces, a Chinaman himself is the oddest. Ever since the day

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when Milton sang.

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Of Sericana, where Chineses drive, With sails and wind their cany wagons light,'

down to these matter-of-fact times of tea and Patna, a Chinese has remained an image of himself. He is, in truth, a curious speci- men. Judge him by our standard, and he is to it a very antipodes, but weigh him in his own scales, he is of great gravity; try him by his own measure he is faultless. It is hard to say which of the two standards is the best for arriving at a fair decision. Next to the son of heaven, a true Chinese thinks himself to be the greatest man in the world; and China, beyond all comparison, to be the most civilized, the most learned, the most fruitful, the most ancient-in short, the best country under the starry canopy. It is useless te toll him to the contrary, for he will no more believe you than you do him; "If your country is so good, why do you come here after tea and thubarb?" is a puzzler ;-"If your people are so good why do you bring opium here to destroy us?" is unanswerable in his mind to prove his own goodness and our wickedness;- "We can do with- out you, but you cannot live without us," says he, to clinch them both; and when a Chinese is thus intrenched in his own wisdom, he is beyond persuasion.

If we examine some of the minuter shades of his character we

VOL. X. NO, IĮ.

14

106

Mustrations of Men and Things in China.

FEB.

shall at once perceive that he was cast in a different mold from us barbarians;' and albeit the outlines of the two are alike, their finish is quite diverse. Let us glance at some of these lesser traits, as they are grouped in the following sketch:

    "On inquiring of the boatman in which direction our port lay, I was answered west-north; and the wind, he said, was east-south. We do not say so, in Europe,' thought I, but imagine my surprise when in explaining the utility of the compass, he added that the needle pointed south. On landing, the first object that attracted my attention was a military mandarin, who wore an embroidered petticoat, with a string of beads around his neck, and a fan in his hand. His insignia of rank was a button on the apex of his sugar- loaf cap, instead of a star on his breast, or epaulettes on his shoulders; and it was with some dismay, I observed him mount on the right side of his horse. Several scabbards hung from his belt, which of course I thought must contain dress-swords or dirks, but on venturing near through the crowd of atten. dants, I was surprised to see a pair of chopsticks and a knife-handle sticking put of one, and soon his fan was folded up and put into the other, whereupon I concluded he was going to a dinner instead of a review. The natives around me had their hair all shaven on the front of their head, and let it grow as long as it would behind; many of them did not shave their faces, but their mustaches were made to grow perpendicularly down over their mouths, and lest some straggling hairs should diverge cheek-ways, the owners were busily employed pulling them down. We arrange our toilettes different- ly in Europe,' thought I, but could not help acknowledging the happy device of chopsticks, which enabled these gentlemen to put their food 'into the mouth endwise, underneath this natural fringe.

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"On my way to the house where I was to put up, I saw a group of old peu- ple, some of whom were graybeards; a few were chirruping and chuckling ¡to singing birds, which they carried perched on a stick or in cages; others were catching flies to feed the birds; and the remainder of the party seemed to be delightedly employed in flying fantastic paper kites, while a group of boys were gravely looking on, and regarding these innocent occupations of their seniors with the most serious and gratified attention. As I had come to the country to reside for sometime, I made inquiries respecting a teacher, 'and the next morning found me provided with one who happily understood English. On entering the room, he stood at the door, and instead of coming forward and shaking my hands, he politely bowed, and shook his own before This breast. I looked upon this custom as a decided improvement upon our mode, especially in doubtful cases; and requested him to be seated. I knew 1 was about to study a language without an alphabet, but was somewhat astonished to find him begin at what I had all my life previously considered the end of the book. He read the date of the publication, The fifth year, tenth month, and first day. We arrange our dates differently,' I observed, and begged him to begin to read, which he did from the top to the bottom, then proceeding from the right to the left. You have an odd book here,"

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1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

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remarked 1, taking it out of his hands; and looking farther, saw that the running title was on the edge of the leaves instead of the top; that the pag- ing was near the bottom; that the marginal notes were on the top of the page; that the blank space at the top of the page was very much larger than at the bottom; that the blanks for correction were large black squares in the middle of the column · instead of white openings ;* that the back was open, and the name written on the bottom edge; and lastly that the volume had d heavy line near the middle of every page, which he said separated the two works contained in it. I asked the price of the work, and he said it was a dollar and eight thirds, and on counting out $34 he gave me back $21, say- ing I had paid him too much; I asked an explanation, and learned that in China eight thirds meant three eighths; a long time after 1 learned still fur- ther that it was really eight divided by three, a mode of expression, which, by placing the numerator after the denominator, is just opposite our own. An- other small volume which he took out of his pocket, had the number and caption of the chapters at the foot instead of the head; and my astonishment was increased, when on requesting him to find a word in a small dictionary, he told me the words were arranged by the end instead of the beginning→→ ming, sing, king, being all in a row..

44

Giving the book back to him, I begged him to speak of ceremony. He commenced by saying, When you receive a distinguished guest, do not fail to place him on your left hand, for that is the seat of honor; and be cantious 'not to uncover the head, as it would be an unbecoming act of familiarity.' This was a severe 'below to any established notions, but re- quested him to continue. He reopened the volume, and read with becoming gravity, The most learned men are decidedly of opinion, that the seat of the human understanding is in the belly.' 'Better say it is in the feet, and done with it,' exclaimed I, for this so shocked all my principles of correct philoso- phy, that I immediately shut up the book, and dismissed my moonshe to come another day.

     "On going abroad, I met so many things contrary to all my preconceived ideas of propriety, that I readily assented to a friend's observation that the Chinese were our antipodes in many things besides geography.' 'Indeed,' said I, 'it is so; I shall almost expect shortly to see a man walking on his head; look, there's a woman in trowsers, and a party of gentleman in petticoats; she is smoking a segar, and they are fauning themselves; but I was taught not to trust to appearances too much, when on passing them, I saw the latter wore tight under-garments. We soon after met the comprador of the house dressed in a complete suit of white, and I stopped and asked him what mer- ry making, he was invited to; with a look of the deepest concern, he said, he was just returning from burying his father. Soon we passed a house, where we heard sobbing and crying, and desiring to alleviate grief, I inquir- ed who was ill. The man, suppressing a smile, said, it is a young girl just about leaving her father's house to be married, and she is lamenting

The black places which occur in some books, as for instance the Court Ca- lendar, are'caused by the block being left uncut for subsequent correction.

108

Memorial from Keshen.

FEB:

with a party of her fellows.' I thought, after these unlucky essays, I would ask no more questions; but carefully use my eyes instead. Looking into a shop, I saw a stout strapping fellow sowing lace on a bonnet; and going on to the landing-place, behold, there all the ferry-boats were rowed by women; and from a passage-boat just arrived, I saw the females get out of the cabin which was in the bow. What are we coming to next? said I, and just by I saw a carpenter take his foot-rule out of his stocking, to measure some timber, which his apprentice was cutting with a saw that had the blade set nearly at right angles with the frame. Before his door sat a man busily engaged in whitening the soles of a pair of shoes with white lead. We next passed a fashionable lady who was just stepping out of her chair, hobbling, I should rather say; for unlike our ladies with their com- pressed waists, her feet were not above three inches long; and her gown; instead of having gores sewed into the bottom, was so contracted by embroi- dered plaits as apparently to restrain her walking. Come let us return home,' said I, * for 1 am quite whirled about in this strange land.'"

    This sketch will somewhat illustrate a Chinaman's ideas of pro- priety; it is very manifest from it that there is no accounting for or reasoning against tastes, and that if we wish to judge fairly of many things that he does, and of many of his notions, some know- ledge of their rationale is desirable. If this his outer man is unlike what we deem good taste, we shall find, alas, that his inner man is much more unlike, much farther estranged from what we are taught to regard as (and know to be) good morals.

ART. VII. Memorial from Keshen, concerning the attack on Chuen-

pe; with replies thereto from the emperor.

MEMORIAL from your majesty's slave, Keshen, with reference to the English foreigners' not waiting for replies, but straightway attacking the forts of Shakok and Taikok ;-even now, while the contest, yet rests undecided, is this report sent with all speed, by an express, traveling diligently more than 500 le daily, in order to be humbly submitted to your majesty's sacred perusal.

·

After your slave had this morning dispatched his respectful re- port, regarding the communication he had prepared to send in answer to the English foreigners, and regarding the actual warlike display ́of banners,-a dispatch was received by express, at a later period of

1841.

Memorial from Kesken.

109

the day, from your minister, Kwan Teenpei, the commander-in-chief of the naval forces. It reported, that all the vessels of the English foreigners had weighed anchor, during the morning of the 7th, and in distinct squadrons had proceeded to attack the forts of Shakok and Taikok, outside the Bocca Tigris: that the fire of the guns was kept up incessantly, and the contest sustained all around, from 8 a.m. till 2 e. M., during which the foreign vessels had fired above 10 [rounds of] cannon: that our forces, with all their strength and energy, responded to the attack, till about 2 P. M., when from a dis- tance some of the foreigners were seen to have fallen into the water: that, as it happened, the tide began to ebb, and the foreign vessels ceased firing, and are now anchored in the middle of the stream; between Shakok and Taikok, each side maintaining its ground: that, probably, with the making of the flood, the next morning, the con- test would recommence :: and, further, that there were four steam- vessels, which fell upon the war junks, but finding the attack res- ponded to by our vessels, drew off again without having decided the contest on either side.

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     Your slave, since his arrival at Canton, has in repeated instances exchanged communications with the English foreigners: and has at all times given them admonitory commands, with mildness: and as regards the several things solicited by them, though he has not been able completely to satisfy their rapacious cravings, still he has with a liberal hand granted a measure of what they desired. Yet these foreigners, on the present occasion, having, upon the 6th, sent in a foreign letter, hastily, on the morning of the 7th, without waiting for a reply, proceeded straightway to attack the forts→ to such a degree has their presumptuous overbearing and unruly violence been car- ried! Some, giving their advice on this matter, express it as their opinion, that if the whole defensive and preventive guard be firmly maintained, that will suffice in time to weary them out. Or, it is said, if they only be granted commercial intercourse, a restraining cordon may then be kept around what they have. Whether or not these schemes are worthy of coufidence, your sacred majesty's wisd om and thorough knowledge will determine,-and to escape it would be impossible.

·

     These foreigners, now, having dared to commence this attack, and having begun troubling and disturbing, the present quarrel is then of their own creation; in their behalf nothing can be said; and, as they would not wait for the communication prepared for them, there would be no propriety in now sending it to them.

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Memorial from Keshen.

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The fort of Shakok stood solitary, cut off by the sea; and it is to be observed, that, before this collision, from apprehension that it was insufficiently protected, 200 men of the lieut.-governor's brigade had been sent to occupy the important entrance into Tungkwan district; and 200 of the personal brigade of the commander-in-chief had been sent to defend such places as should need increased protection.

The fortified point of Taikok nearly adjoins the range of land call- ed Nansha (the southern sands), and it is to be apprehended, lest the said foreigners, making a cireuit behind the hills should make their way inwards. Having sent an express to your majesty's minister, Kwan, the commander-in-chief, 'to inquire of him what points will require the addition of forces, he has himself personally examined those positions near to that place, where it will be suitable to post military guards, and having reported the same he has received in- structions accordingly to post forces thereat. At the same time direc- tions have been given, to prepare, with all celerity, large quantities of gunpowder, iron ball, and so forth, sufficient, it is hoped, for many months' use,-in order thus to facilitate the defense of the various places.

The Bocca Tigris is the post of which the commander-in-chief retains the defense. To cooperate with and aid him in its defense, your slave has sent Le, general of the Chaouchow division, who will be able to give him efficient counsel and assistance.

    A detachment of naval forces has also been posted on shore at Woochung kow, distant about sixty le (roughly, about 20 miles) from the city of Canton; the river has been filled up by sinking stones; and rafts of spars have been so placed as to prevent any passage beyond. These arrangements were all, on the 27th of December, successively reported complete, under the superintendence of the chunghei, Keshow, and the foosze, Cho Szeleảng.

    At Canton itself, adjoining the walls of the city, are the houses of the people, rendering it a matter of difficulty to fire from thence- But at the same time, the river flows all round, leaving no place for the epcampment of troops. There are found, however, on the river itself, forts of old standing, for the better defense of which the gar- risons have been increased-and to such as have flats adjoining them, encamped forces have also been attached, to aid in the defense of each place. 12

   With regard to the provinces of Fuhkeën and Chěkeäng, your slave, as early as the first decade of last month (the close of Novem- ber), having carefully inquired into the actual and daily more press-

1841.

The Emperor's Reply.

ing condition of things with all the said foreigners, felt reason to apprehend that they might go to other ports and inlets; and therefore communications were immediately sent to your majesty's minister Woo Wanyung, governor of Fuhkeën and Chěkeäng, and to the high commissioner in Chěkeäng, Elepoo, to afford them every informa- tion; and they were moved to transmit the same information to the adjoining government of Keängsoo, that there also all requisite ob- servation and defense might be maintained. The distance being however considerable, and the regulation of the governmental posts being rather lax, it is uncertain whether the dispatches then sent will have yet arrived, and whether the information sent has been communicated to the various provinces along the coast.

      Whether or not our forces have suffered in this conflict, and tò what extent wounds may have been inflicted, shall be reported with all haste as soon as ascertained. And of the state of things hencefor- ward, full reports shall be transmitted from time to time. The me- morial is now first sent by an express, traveling with diligence to exceed the rate of 500 le daily, in order to convey intelligence of the circumstances attending the attack made by these foreigners, with- out waiting for replies, and of the collision which in consequence took place. · The memorial is respectfully submitted, imploring the august sovereign to cast on it his sacred glance. (Jan. 8th, 1841.)

     Imperial edict-issued on the 5th day of the 1st month (January 27th, 1841:)..

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A report has been received from Keshen, setting forth the circum- stançes, of an attack on, and capture of, certain forts, by the English foreigners...

These rebellious foreigners, from the time of their return to Can- ton, have been daily increasing in disorderliness and insubordination. And we have therefore issued repeated and strict commands to all thé provinces, that the most attentive and well ordered guard of pre- vention; should be maintained; and that fit occasion should be taken to proceed against them for their destruction. With what care, then, did it become all the high officers, civil and military, of the 'pro- wincés, to have arranged their defense! But to-day, the report is

· received: from: Keshen, that where he is, the fort of Shakok has been attacked and taken by the rebellious foreigners, and that that of Taikok: also has been destroyed; and withal that the soldiery of the government have fallen, dead and wounded, and the naval vessels have been carried off and plundered. It is plain from this, that the

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The Emperor's Reply.

FEB.

   said acting governor, and his fellow-officers, have in no way taken the needful preparative arrangements for prevention and defense. Let the proper Board take into its severest consideration the conduct of Keshen. At the same time, let him have direction of the forces sent from all parts, and exert his utmost efforts to drive off or destroy these foreigners, speedily reporting an entire victory.-Kwan Teën- pei, though, filling the post of commander-in-chief, and having under his control the whole naval force, has shown himself at all times devoid of talent to direct, and, on the approach of a crisis, perturbed, alarmed, and resourceless. Let his button and insignia of rank be at once taken from him,-but let him, at the same time, bearing his offenses, labor to attain merit, and show forth his after-endeavors. The said acting governor and his colleagues will make clear inquiry and full report as to all the officers, subalterns, and soldiers, wounded or slain. Respect this.

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    On the same 27th day of January, this further imperial edict was issued.

An express from Keshen reports that the rebellions foreigners have attacked and destroyed certain forts. In consequence of the daily increasing disorderliness and insubordination of these rebellious fo- reigners, our commands were before repeatedly issued, declaring it as our pleasure, that secure preparative arrangements should be made, and fit occasion taken to proceed to their destruction-considering that they have coveted Canton, and that not merely for a day.

The said high commissioner, sustaining a most weighty trust,--- and knowing, as he did, that the temper of these foreigners is proud and overbearing, seeing also that the military condition of the pro- -vince where he is has fallen into decay for this long time past,-

   should have begun with defensive precautions, with the view of being prepared to avert any disaster. Yet is this report now received from kim, that the rebellious foreigners have seized upon the fort of Sha- kok, and further attacked that of Taikok. From the fact that, when, these, foreigners, on the 7th of January, let loose their passions, and began firing upon these two forts, they were at once able to destroy them, it is to be seen, that no preparations whatever could have been made in that province: such neglect calls forth bitter indigna- tion. Our commands have therefore been plainly declared, that Keshen and Kwan Teënpei be, the last deprived of his button and other insignia of rank, and the former subjected to the severest con- sideration of his conduct. ·

1841.

The Emperor's Reply.

113

The rebellious dispositions of these foreigners being now plainly manifested, there remains no other course than, without remorse, to destroy and wash them clean away, and thus to display the majesty of the empire. What room can there yet be left for showing them consideration and exhibiting to them reason! Expresses have con- sequently been sent to Hoonan, Szechuen, and Kweichow, to direct that forces be sent from each of those provinces, with all speed, to Canton. And to Keängse, an express has also been sent, directing that the 2000 men before ordered from thence shall proceed with all haste to join these. All the forces of the province of Kwangtung itself shall be under the control and direction of the said acting governor. And, the posture of affairs being at this time urgent and pressing, let him at once proceed to occupy each several post and passage of im- portance: let him not suffer the least remissness or negligence to appear. The forces ordered from various parts may all successively reach Canton within the second month (beginning 21st February). And let him then proceed immediately to take command of all the officers and subalterns, and lead them on to the extermination of these foreigners, thus hoping to atone for and save himself.

     Regarding the forts of Kwangtung, it was before represented by Tăng and his then colleagues, that they were protected by rafts and chains thrown across so as to stop the progress of the foreign vessels. Let Keshen, then, ascertain and duly report, whether or not these places now taken, Shakok and Taikok, are the same places (as those where the rafts were thrown across). That these commands may be made known-let them be sent by an express traveling 600 le (about 200 miles) daily. Respect this.

Upon the same day this further imperial edict was also received: Our ruling dynasty has kept in good order and discipline the ex- terior foreigners, wholly by the perfect exercise of good favor and of justice. So long as those foreigners have been truly compliant and dutiful, they have unfailingly been treated with generous liberality,- in the hope that all might rejoice together in the blessing of peace.

     Some time back, owing to the daily increasing prevalence of the poisonous opium, introduced by western foreigners, commands were issued to make vigorous endeavors to arrest the growing contumacy. But the English alone, staying themselves upon their pride of power and fierce strength, would not give the required bonds; and for this it was commanded, that they should be cut off from commercial intercourse. But, in place of repenting themselves, they daily in- creased in boastful arrogance. And suddenly, in the 6th month of

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The Emperor's Reply.

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last year, they went so far as to invade with several tens of vessels, Abe district of Tinghae, seizing and occupying its chief town. And they further came and went, as they would, along the coasts of the several provinces of Fuhkeën, Chěkeäng, Keängsoo, Shantung, Chih- le, and Moukden, causing disturbance and trouble in many ways. The violence, presumption, and disobedience, of these rebellious foreigners having reached such a degree,-it would have been no hard thing to array our forces, and to exterminate and cut them off utterly. But, considering that these foreigners had presented letters, complaining of what they called grievances and oppressions, it was deemed unsuitable to refuse to make investigations for them, and thus to fail of displaying the perfect justice of our rule. Hence special commands were given to our minister, Keshen, to proceed with speed, to Canton, and to examine and act according to the facts. Had these foreigners possessed a spark of heaven-bestowed goodness, they would assuredly all have returned to Canton to await his arrange- ment of matters. But a half only weighed their anchors and proceed- ed southward, while a half still remained at Tinghae,-thus exhibit- ing the craft and slipperiness of their dispositions, too clearly to need pointing out. And we have recently received intelligence, that at Tinghae, during these months past, they have debauched and ravish- ed women, plundered and carried off property, erected fortifications, and opened out canals,-even setting up a mock officer, to issue pro- clamations demanding of the people payment of the revenue. What evil have our people done, to be subjected to this bane and hurt? To speak, or to think, thereof removes even from sleep and from food their enjoyment. After the arrival of Keshen at Canton, when he proceeded plainly to admonish and point out the right course, they still continued insatiable in their covetous desires. Having first thought to extort the cost of the opium, they further requested that places of trade should be given them.

   We had anticipated finding them changeable and inconstant, and had estimated them as persons not to be influenced by truth and jus- tice we had, therefore, made provision, last year, for the selection of veteran troops, of the provinces of Szechuen, Hoonan, and Keängse, to be ordered for service in Kwangtung; and we had also ordered forces from Hoonan, Hoopib, and Nganhwuy, to proceed to Chekeäng, as a precaution against attack. And now the report received by express from Keshen is, that on the 15th day of the 12th month of last year (7th January, 1841), these foreigners, in combina- tion with Chinese traitors, proceeded on board many vessels, directly

1841.

The Emperor's Reply.

113

for the offing of the Bocca Tigris; and that, having opened the thun- der of their fire, they inflicted wounds upon our officers and soldiers, and also destroyed the fort of Taikok, and possessed themselves of that of Shakok. Thus rebellious have they been against heaven, op- posers of reason, one in spirit with the brute beasts,-beings that the overshadowing vault and all-containing earth can hardly suffer to live, obnoxious to the wrathful indignation alike of angels and of men. There can only remain one course, to destroy and wipe them clean away, to exterminate and root them out, without remorse. Then shall we manifestly discharge our heaven-conferred trust, and show our regard for the lives of our people.

       The various forces that have been ordered for service must now speedily reach their posts. Let Elepoo instantly advance with the forces under him, and recover Tinghae, that he may revive its peo ple from their troubles. And let Keshen on his part, stir up the soldiery, and with energy and courage proceed right on, making it his determined aim, to compel these rebellious foreigners to give up their ringleaders, that they may be sent encaged to Peking, to re- ceive the utmost retribution of the laws. The base and vile fellows among those foreigners, and the Chinese traitors who abet their re- bellious practices, are yet more to be sought after. Measures must be devised for seizing them, nor must proceedings cease till they be utterly slain.

     Regarding the coasts of all the maritime provinces, it has repeatedly been declared to be our pleasure, that strict and well arranged mea- sures of precaution be everywhere taken. Let all the authorities, generals, governors, lieut.-governors-with increased diligence main- tain a constant plan of observation, and, as soon as any come, attack them. And let them also proclaim it to all, whether officers or people, that it becomes them to regard these foreigners with a hostilę spirit, to cherish towards them the asperity of personal enemies. Speedily report perfect victory, and all shall enjoy rewards from their sove- reign. That it will be so, we indeed cherish strong hopes.

Be these our commands made known universally. Respect this.

ART. VIII. Journal of Occurrences: perfidy with interruption of negotiations; battle at the Bogue; rewards for Englishmen; detention of prisoners at Chusan; imperial edict declaring war of extermination ; present state of affairs; shipwrecked Japanese.

116

Journal of Occurrences.

FEB.

FROM the following notices, and from the documents contained in the preceding article, may be seen of what sort of government, and of what sort of men, the celestial empire is composed.

No. 1. Circular to her majesty's subjects.

    The imperial minister and high commissioner having failed to conclude the treaty of peace, lately agreed upon by H. M.'s plenipotentiary, within the allotted period, hostilities were resumed yesterday afternoon. A Chinese force, employ- ed, under cover of a masked battery and strong field-work, in blocking "up a channel of the river at the back of Anungboy, was dislodged, the obstructions effectually cleared away, the guns in battery and deposit, amounting to about 80 pieces of various calibre, rendered unservicable, and the whole of the military materiel destroyed. This effective service was accomplished without loss, in two hours, by captain Herbert, of H. M.'s ship Calliope, baving under his com. mand the steam vessel Nemesis, and pinnaces of H. M.'s ships Calliope, Sam- arang, Herald, and Alligator. The extent of the enemy's loss has not been ascertained.

On board H. M.'s ship Calliope, off South Wangtong, February 24, 1841.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. No. 2. To her majesty's subjects.

    The batteries of the Bocca Tigris have this day fallen to her majesty's forces. Several hundred prisoners have been captured, the enemy is in flight in all directions, and no loss reported up to this hour on our side.

H. M. ship Calliope, off North Wangtong, 26th February, 3 P. M.

(Signed)

CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.

No. 3. Public notice.

H. M.'s ship Wellesley, at anchor off North Wangtong, 20th Feb. 1841. The batteries at the Bocca Tigris having this day fallen to her majesty's arms, notice is hereby given that all British and foreign merchant vessels are permitted to repair to that point, and that they will be allowed to proceed higher, as soon as it is ascertained that the river is clear of all obstructions.

(Signed)

J. J. G. BREMER, Commander-in-chief.

    This failure to conclude the treaty of peace, this perfidy with in- terruption of negotiations, can be rightly understood only when view- ed in connection with the whole course of events since the arrival here of H. B. M.'s expedition last June. Its objects were to obtain redress and indemnity for the past, with securities and immunities for the future. However; the instructions to the plenipotentiaries not having been here published, their import can only be conjectured from what has transpired. It should be carefully borne in mind, as we pro- ceed, that to make war on the Chinese, formed professedly no part of the objects of the expedition, provided its ends could be secured by other means; consequently a trial of pacific measures must needs first be made.

The first question with the plenipotentiaries was (or appears to have been) whether the forts at the Bogue should be demolished or left standing, while they with the naval and military force should move northward. The feeling of the British and foreign community here was almost unanimous in favor of the first measure; they chose the latter, and wisely-at least so we were inclined to think.

It having been determined on-we presume in accordance with in- structions from the queen's government at home-to take immediate possession of Chusan, an advanced force under commodore Bremer inoved forward for that purpose. The plenipotentiaries, with the

1841.

Journal of Occurrences,

117

When off the coast

remainder of the expedition, followed soon after. of Fuhkeën, one of the vessels, bearing a flag of truce, was sent with. a dispatch to the port of Amoy. The ship was fired on, and the communication refused. As Chinese policy forbade the reception of this dispatch, it would have been wise, perhaps, not to have given opportunity for the committal of such an outrage.

As to the right and expediency of occupying Tinghae--which fell on the 5th of July,-we have been in doubt. Indeed, the occupation of any insular position has always seemed to us objectionable. There may have been reasons for, and advantages resulting from, taking Chusan, of which we are ignorant; but judging from what we know, it would have been better to have rendezvoused at some small island (of the size of Shachow in this vicinity). This would have prevented the long detention of the expedition at Chusan, and would have al- lowed the entire force to have gone up-a part upon the Yangtsze keäng, and a part to the mouth of the Pei ho, early in July: and at these two positions-the nearest to the court that it was possible for them to reach-the forces should have remained until all questions at issue were settled.

-a great desideratum"-says Mr. Warren, "penetrate to Peking, and learn what is the real state of things there; and let us cheerfully yield to what we shall find to be the reasonable and just wishes of the emperor." So we have always argued; and accordingly would have abstained from attacking Chu- san, and from every other hostile act, save only to lay on a blockade. A different course was resolved on, and it may have been the right With its principal details, our readers are familiar. After a month's delay, and the rejection of lord Palmerston's communication by the provincial authorities, the plenipotentiaries proceeded north, and arrived off the mouth of the Pei ho, August 9th.

The presence

one.

"Let us

of so large a squadron, (though not the half it might have been) so near the capital, had no small effect. The tone of the imperial go- vernment was changed, and in correspondence it became respectful and courteous and pacific. No doubt the blow on Chusan helped to produce this effect; and perhaps it may on this account be justified. Negotiations soon commenced between the plenipotentiaries and the imperial minister Keshen. The twice rejected letter was at once. received; a long interview was held; and at length it was agreed, that Keshen should meet the plenipotentiaries at Canton, that half the forces should immediately withdraw from Chusan, and hostilities cease all along the coast.

     The emperor's participation in this agreement, is fully attested by H. I. M.'s own edict, dated September 17th at Peking, appointing Keshen high commissioner, and ordering his officers in the provinces to observe the armistice. See vol. IX. page 411.

     The accepting of this agreement was an act of great generosity on the part of the plenipotentiaries, who, at the moment the edict above alluded to was being issued, were on their return with the squa- dron to Chusan. There they found that the Kite had been lost, and that her crew, with others, had fallen into the hands of the Chinese:

120

Journal of Occurrences.

Rewards for Englishmen were offered, under the seals of the high provincial officers, on the 25th, the day before the battle. For each of the ringleaders, $50,000 were offered; for others a smaller sum. This measure was devised some days previously to the interruption of negotiations!

Ön the 27th a battery of some 50 guns was demolished, about 200 Chinese killed, the Chesapeake burnt, and a squadron of 40 vessels dispersed at or near Whampoa. The next day the Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Modeste, Sulphur, with the steamers Nemesis and Madagas- car were at anchor above the First Bar off the Brunswick Rocks.

On the present state of public affairs it is not easy to form any opinion which may not be shaken or changed the next hour. The Chinese are dumb, and some of them even deny the capture of the forts at the Bogue. It is certain, however, that they have been de- molished, excepting one which is to be reserved by the captors.

What, now, is the proper course to be pursued? With whom can the plenipotentiary now treat, and where? At Canton and with the imperial commissioner? But can his promises be received? Will he not again make false pretenses?

    Shipwrecked Japanese.-The American brig Argyle, captain F. Codman, which arrived from South America on the 19th instant, brought three Japanese sailors who had been rescued from a wreck in the North Pacific (June 9th, 1840), in lat. 34° N., long, 170° 30′ E., more than 2500 miles from their home. They were bound to Yedo, and, driven beyond their port by a westerly gale, had been drifting about for 181 days when found; the vessel was a single masted boat, loaded with a cargo of 400 peculs of rice. They are from the village of Okinosu in the principality of Toötomi, lying about 100 miles SW. from Yedo. Their names are Akahori Shentarō, aged 37, the captain of the vessel; Kamiyama Matsunoski, aged 50, who has left a family at home; and Asayama Tatsuzoii, aged 28. They were much pleased to find some of their countrymen in China. From them we learn that in many parts of the empire, especially among the eastern principalities of Nippon, severe famines have been ex- perienced for three or four years past, so that the poor had died by the roadside of starvation; some of the princes had prohibited the ex- portation of all provisions out of their own dominions.

The cargo

of this vessel was designed for one of the princes of Toötomi then at Yedo. They represent the country as generally at peace internally. Much praise is due to capt. Codman for the kindness he has shown to these men since they were rescued, and the hope is not a groundless one that they may still be returned to their native land.

   P. S. March 5th. We learn that the prisoners at Ningpo have been released, and are with the troops and transports on their way down from Chusan. Some of them have already arrived.

On Wednesday the 3d the ships were at Whampoa, and a force was preparing to move on Howqua's fort, when a flag of truce came off, and a conference was held between the plenipotentiary and offi- cers from Canton at 3 P. M..

44

"

$

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-MARCH, 1841.- No. 3.

ART. 1. Chronology of the Chinese; their era and mode of reck- oning by cycles, with a complete series of their successive dy- nasties and sovereigns.

CHRONOLOGY is so intimately connected with the record of historical events, so essential to the proper arrangement of facts, that the study of the latter cannot be pursued with pleasure, without some attention to the former. Without chronology, history will be dark and con- fused, and its study devoid of the advantages it would otherwise possess. Waving here all questions respecting the accuracy of the Chinese mode of computing time, it will suffice for our present pur- pose, if we can lay before our readers a concise account of their cycle, with complete series of their successive dynastics and sovereigns.

For the cycle of sixty years, which the Chinese call

7

Ta

hwa keǎ tsze, they acknowledge themselves indebted to Naou, or Naou the Great, one of the ministers of Hwang te, or the Yellow emperor. By command of his sovereign, in the sixty-first year of his reign, Naou the Great, taking the sheih kan, or ten

horary characters,甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸 keă, yeih, ping, ting, mow, ke, káng, sin, jin, kwei, and together with them the+sheih urh che, twelve other horary characters, 子丑寅辰巳午未申酉戌亥tsze, chow, yin,

maou, shin, sze, woo, we, shin, yew, seah, hae, he formed this cycle. The sheih kon have been called the 'ten stems,' and the sheik urh che, the twelve branches.' Naou, commencing with

VOL. X. NO. III.

16

TABLE OF THE CHINESE CYCLE OF SIXTY YEARS, OR HWA KEA TSZE.

122

Chronology of the Chinese.

MARCH,

1805

.

1804

-1745乙丑

1744 甲子

1814

1754甲戌

1824

1764 甲申

1774

1834

甲午

1784

1844

甲辰

1794

1854

甲寅

keď tsze

keă seuh

kéa shin

keǎ woo

keǎ shin

keŭ yin

1755

1815

乙亥

1765

1825

乙酉

1775

1835

乙未

1785

1795

1845

乙巳

1855

乙外

yeih chow

yeih hae

yeih yew

yeih we

yeih sze

yeih maou

1746

1806

丙寅

1756

1816

丙子

1766

1826

丙戌

1776

1836

丙申

1786

1846

丙午

1796

1856

丙辰

ping yin

ping tsze

ping seuh

ping shin

ping w00

ping shin

1807

1747 T

1757

1817

丁丑

1767 丁亥

1808

1748 戊辰

ting maou

1818

1758 戊寅

ting chow

1828

1827

ting hae

1768 戊子

1837

1777 TRY

1787

1847

丁未

1797

1857

丁巳

ting yew

ting we

ting sze

1838

1778 戊戌

1788

1848

戊申

1798

1858

戊午

mow shin

mow yin

mow tsze

mow seuh

mow shin

mow wo0

1749

1759

1809

1819

已外

1769

1779

1829

1839

1789

1849

1799

1859

已未

ke maou

ke chow

1820

1760 庚辰

1770

1830

kăng shin

kang yin

1771

1831

ke sze

1750 庚午

· 1810

kang 000.

1751 辛未

1811

sin we

1752壬申

1812

1753

1813

jin shin

癸酉

kwei yew

1761 辛巳

1821

sin sze

1762 壬午

1822

jin tw00

1763癸未

1823

kwei we

sin maou

1772 壬辰

1832

jin shin

1773 癸巳

1833

kwei sze

1781 辛丑

1841

sin chow

1782 壬寅

1842

jin yin

1783葵列

1843

Jerwei maou |

1791 辛亥

1851

kăng shin

1861 辛酉

1802 壬戌

sin hae

1852

1792 壬子

1862

jin tsze

jin

seuh

1793

1803

癸亥

1853

1863

kwei chow

kwei hae

ke ha

ke yew

ke we

1780

1840

庚子

1790

1850

庚戌

1800

1860

庚申

kăng tsze

kăng seuh

1801

sin yew

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

123

     the first of the stems and the first of the branches, formed coup- lets, and by repeating the first series six, and the second five times, framed the cycle--a tabular form of which stands on the opposite page. This being completed, was, according to tradition, imme- diately adopted by the emperor, and the 61st year of his reign thus became the first year of the first cycle,-seventy-four of which, mak- ing 4440 years, were completed a. D. 1803.. The present year 1841 is the 38th year of the 75th cycle; it is called sin chow.

      Besides the mode of indicating time by the cycle, the Chinese date from the commencement of each successive monarch; thus the first day of the present month of March they write according to their

calendar, thus, 道光二十

年二月初九日,

Taoukwang, 21st year, 2d month, 9th day.

We now proceed to give, in their order, the names of the several dynasties with the titles of the sovereigns in each.

1. THE THREE AUGUST SOVEREIGNS;

1. 三皇紀 SAN HwaNG Ke.

1. Pwan koo, the first on earth.

2.

Teen hwang, the celestial sovereign.

3.

Te hwang, the terrestial sovereign.

4.

Jinhwang, the human sovereign.

 5.有巢 Yew chaou. 6. A Suy jin.

     The 2d, 3d, and 4th, in this series, are generally considered, by way of eminence, as the three sovereigns. For an explanation of Prankoo, see page 49; for the meaning of the imperial and royal titles, see volume II., page 309.

     This period, even by the Chinese, is regarded as wholly mytholo gical. After the, separation of the heavens from the earth, Pwankoo was, the first that appeared in the world. Teen hwang is, sometimes regarded as a line of sovereigns, thirteen in number, reigning 18,000 years. Te bwang is another line, eleven in number, reigning 18,000 years; and Jin hwang, a third, nine in number, reigning 45,600 years.

124

Chronology of the Chinese.

2. 五帝紀 Woo TE KE.

Names of the Sovereign.

1. 伏羲 Fuhhe.

2. 農神 Shinnung.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

Fishing, grazing, &c., instituted.

3.

4.

Agriculture commenced.

Hwang te.

Calendar adopted.

Shaouhaou.

5. 顓頊 Chuenheuh.

6. 嬰

Kuh.

7. 堯

Yaou.

Destruction by a deluge, K

hung shwuy wei hwan.

8. 炸

Shun.

Fuhhe, Shinnung, Hwang te, Yaou, and Shun arc regarded, by most historians, as the five sovereigns. During this period, from 2852 B. C. to 2204, very little can be ascertained concerning the persons who then lived, or the events that occurred; in Chinese his- tory, a few particulars are recorded, handed down by tradition. They are worthy of notice, chiefly because they are so frequently referred to by the Chinese in all their writings.

    The capital of Fuhhe is reputed to have been situated on the southern bank of the Yellow river, in the province of Honan, near the present provincial capital Kaefung foo, lat. 34° 52′ 5′′ N., long. 1° 55′ 30′′ W., from Peking.

Shinnung, the Divine Husbandman, known also as Yen te Shin- nung, is chiefly renowned for his attention to agriculture.

    To Hwangte credit is given for several useful inventions, of which that of the cycle is the most notable. The honor of inventing letters, the calendar, &c., are claimed for him and his principal ministers. He was born in Kaefung the ancient capital.

Of Shaouhaou called also Shaouhaou Kinteën, of Chuenheuh called also Chuenheuh Kaouyang, and of Kuh called also Kuh Kaousin, little comparatively is recorded."

    Of Yaou and Shun, volumes have been written; they are by the Chinese even to this day regarded as the illustrious patterns of all that is good in everything.

1841.

..

Length

No.

of

B. C.

Reign.

of Cycle.

1.

115

2852

2.

જે

140

2737

3.

100 2697

Cycle

Chronology of the Chinese.

THE FIVE SOVEREIGNS.

Number

and Year

Cotemporary Events.

125

The creation 4000, or accord-

ing to Hales 5411 B. C.

Adam dies, aged 930 years,

3070.

Noah born 2944.

begins.

4.

84 2597

:41

5.

78 2513

2:05

6.

78

2435

3:22

The universal deluge 2344, or according to Hales 3155.

7.

102 2357

4:49

8.

50 2255

6:23

The tower of Babel commenc- ed, 2230.

The Assyrian and Egyptian em- pires commenced, about 2229.

     The numbers of sovereigns in each successive dynasty, given on the right hand page, in the first column, correspond to the same num- bers on the opposite or left hand page.

The cycle era is that of the Chinese, it begins with the 61st year in the reign of Hwang te, who occupied the throne 100 years, conse- quently his successor's reign cominenced in the 41st year of the 1st cycle, marked :41, the next reign, in succession, commenced on the 5th year of the 3d cycle, and is marked 2:05; and so on of the rest, as indicated in the fourth column of figures. Thus 2:05 shows two complete cycles and five odd years, or a total 125-which number, 125 is the year in which Chuenhouh's reign began. In like man- ner 6:23 indicates six complete cycles and twenty-three odd years, or a total 383 years, this number 383 being the first year of Shun's reign, dating from the 61st of Hwang te, which is adopted as the commencement of the Chinese era.

     A few cotemporary events, on the remaining part of the page, are sélected from Lempriere and Calmet, (the former following Dr. Blair's chronology;) unless it be otherwise stated.

The Chinese names are 'copied from the Kang Keën E Che1; ·

and

the Chinese chronology is selected from a native work, called the

三元甲子 San yuen kex:tste.

126

Chronology of the Chinese.

3. 夏紀 HEA KE。

Names of the Sovereign.

4. 大禹 2.帝啓

Ta Yu.

3. 太康

4. 仲康

Te Ke.

Tae Kang.

Chung Kang.

Te Seäng.

5.帝相

6. 少康

Shaou Kang.

7. 帝檸

Te Choo.

8. 帝槐

Te Hwae.

9. 帝芒

Te Mang.

10. 帝泄

Te Seě.

MARE

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

*

It was in this age that yu kin, it rained gold.

About the same time, also,

Eteih tso tsew, Eteih made wine: Yu banished him and interdicted the use of the tsew- a strong and alcoholic liquor, and not simple wine, since it is known that the grape is not indigenous in China.

11. 帝不降 Te Puhkeäng.

12. 帝扃

Te Keung,

13. 帝廑

Te Kin.

14. Te Kungkeð.

15. 帝臯.

Te Kaou.

10. 帝發

Te Fă,

17. 桀

Kee Kwei.

1

This dynasty, commencing B. c. 2205 and terminating 1767, oc cupied the throne 439 years, the records of which are brief and of doubtful authenticity. Of all the seventeen emperors, the first, Ta Yu, or Yu the Great, was the most celebrated, for his virtues; the last, Kee Kwei, was the most notorious for his vices. Of the other monarchs of this family, little is recorded besides their names, and these read like mere chronological characters.

e to his

sposition

+

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

3. THE HEA Dynasty.

127

No.

1.

Reign.

Year

B. C.

of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

82205 7:13] Division of the earth, 2200; Gen. xi. 18.

9 | 2197 7:21

3. 29 2188 | 7:30

4. 13 2159 | 7:59

5. 28

21468: 12

6. 61

7.17

21188: 40 The kingdom of Sicyon established,

2089, and the first pyramid built

20579:41

8. 26 | 2040 8:58

9. 18 2014 10:24

10. 16 1996 10:42] Abraham born 1992.

11. 59

12. 21

1980 10:58

1921 11:57 Abraham goes into Egypt, 1916.

1900 12:18

13. 21

14. 31

1879 12:39

15. 11

1848 13:10

Kingdom of Argos founded 1856.

16. 19

1837 13:21 Memuon, the Egyptian invents letters,

1822.

17. 52 1818 13:40

Dating the commencement of the building of Babel from about the year 2230, and presuming that the dispersion, which soon followed, drove mankind eastward to the Yellow river, it is possible, and per- haps probable, that Yu was the founder of the Chinese empire. The allusion to his draining off the waters of a deluge seems to support this supposition. All the records extant, regarding this dynasty, are of very doubtful authenticity.

128

Chronology of the Chinese.

4. 商恕 SHANG KE.

Chingtang.

Names of the Sovereign.

1. 成湯

2. 太甲

Taekeǎ.

3. 沃丁

Wuhting.

4. 太庚

Taekang.

5. 小甲 Seaoukeǎ.

6. 雍已

Yungke.

7. 太戊

Taemow.

8. 仲丁

9. 外王

Chungting.

         Waejin. 10. Ÿ ¶ Hotankeă.

11. 祖乙

Tsooyeih.

Toosin.

Wuhkeă.

12. Jill

13. 沃甲

14.

TTsooting.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

Seven years of great drought,

大早七年 ta han tseik nein. The emperor then 幬于桑 taou yu sang lin prayed in a grove of mulberries: he prayed,

saying 無以予一人之 不敏傷民之命 Woose

yu yeih jin che púh min; shang min che ming, do not, on account of the negligence of Ourself, de- stroy the lives of the people.

With regard to his own conduct. in six particulars he blamed him.

self, 言未已大雨 yen 20e

e, ta yu, his words were not end- ed, when the rain descended co- piously.

In the 25th year of the 16th cy- cle (B. c. 1713), # Yin- hung, E Yin died, loaded with honórs. "In ancient or modern times, no one has ever used power better than E Yin, nor any dis- coursed of it better than Mencius."

This dynasty reigned 644 years, the throne being occupied in the meantime by twenty-eight sovereigns in succession.

The first emperor of this line is reputed to have been a very pious, deyout, discreet, and humane prince, distinguished by the worship and honor which he paid to Shang Te, the Supreme Ruler. In the chronological table before us, his name first appears в. c. 1783, before he ascended the throne. He was a descendant seventeen years of Hwang, te, and saw with grief and indignation the abuses that pre- vailed at court and throughout the empire. Some of the ministers of state were beheaded, others fled, and found a safe retreat at his resi- dence. Among these, was the renowned E Yin. This minister

Sters

the

s frecu

1841.

No.

Reign.

1. 13

2. 33

3. 29

B. C.

Chronology of the Chinese.

3. THE SHANG Dynasty.

Year

of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

129

1766 14:32 The deluge of Ogyges in Attica, 1764.

1753

14:45 Joseph born 1741.

1720 15:18 The shepherds, expelled from Egypt, set-

tle in Palestine, 1714.

4. 25 1691

15:47 The seven years of famine begin in

Egypt, 1704.

1666 16:12

7. 75

8. 13

5. 17

6. 12 1649

1637

1562

9. 15 1549

10. 9 1534

11. 19 1525

12. 16 1506

13. 25 1490

16:29 Joseph dies, aged 110 years, 1631.

16:41 Moses born, 1571, according to Blair.

The kingdom of Athens begun under 17:56 Cecrops, who came from Egypt with a

colony of Saites, 1556.

18:09 Scamander migrates from Crete, and be-

gins the kingdom of Troy, 1546.

18:24

18:33 The deluge of Deucalion in Thessaly

1503.

18:52 Cadmus comes into Greece, and builds

the citadel of Thebes, 1493.

19:08

The ten plagues inflicted by Jehovah on 14. 32 1465 19:33 the Egyptians, begin 1887.

    again and again remonstrated with his degenerate sovereign, but always in vain. At last he advised Chingtang to assume the reins of government; in this counsel, he was joined by many other high officers. With great reluctance, he yielded to their solicitations, and took the throne, 1766. Upon the fall of the Heä dynasty, two suns were seen fighting in the firmament, the stars lost their brightness, mountains were precipitated, and the earth quaked! So deeply did all nature sympathize with the suffering state.

The wars which broke out during this dynasty were numerous; nearly every succession was followed by a state of anarchy. The droughts, famines, and other calamities which occurred, were like- wise frequent, and were attended by dreadful omens and fearful sights. Now and then were found a few who respected virtue and

VOL. X. NO. III.

17

130

Chronology of the Chinese.

4. SHANG KE (Continued).

Names of the Sovereigns.

15. 南庚 Nankăng.

16. Yangkeй.

17. 盤庚 Pwankáng.

18.

19.

20.

Seaousin.

Z Seaouyeih.

T Wooting.

21. 翩庚 Tsookáng.

22. Tsookeǎ.

23. 廩辛 Linsin.

24.Kǎngting.

Wooyeih.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

The seventeenth emperor of this dynasty, Pwankăng,-having re- moved his capital to Yin,改國 號日殷 kae kroǒ haou, yuè

yin,-changed the name of the nation, and called it Yin.

The conduct of the twenty-fifth emperor is most notable: the his- torian thus describes it:

武乙無道爲偶人謂 之天神與之博合人 爲行天神不勝乃僇 辱之

Wooyeih, devoid of reason, made images, called them gods, and gambled with them, having order- ed a man to play for them; the gods, being unable to win, he dis- graced them.

25.

26. T Taeting.

27.

Z Teyeih.

28. 紂辛 Chowsin.

Tanke, the infamous fe-

male companion of Chowsin.

truth, and acted the part of good men; but the great mass of the people were vicious and miserable in the extreme.

Of the rulers none could be more wicked than Wooyeih. Having made his images of clay in the shape of human beings, dignified them with the name of gods, overcome them at gambling, and set them aside in disgrace, he then, in order to complete his folly, made leathern bags and filled them with blood and sent them up into the air, exclaiming, when his arrows hit them and the blood poured down, I have shot heaven-i..e. I have killed the gods of heaven. Afterwards, when abroad hunting, he was suddenly overtaken by a storm and killed by a thunder-bolt. This is the first instance of idolatry recorded in the Kang Keën E Che.

1841

Chronology of the Chinese.

4. THE SHANG DYNASTY.

Year of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

131:

1433 20: 05 Servitude of the Israelites in Egypt, under Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia,

No.

15

& Reign.

B. C.

25

16

7

17

28

1401 20:37 Othniel delivers them, 1401.

1408 20:30 eight years, 1409.

18 20 1373 21:05 The Eleusinian mysteries introduced at

Athens by Eumolpus, 1356.

19 28 1352 21:26

20

21

2 2 2 2

22

59

my

1324 21:54 Servitude of the Israelites renewed, 1339

and 1321.

1265 22:53 The Argonautic expedition, 1263.

33 1258 22: 60 Gideon delivers Israel, and governs them

during nine years, commencing 1241.

1225 |23:33 The Theban war of the seven, heroes

against Eteocles, 1225.

1219 23:39

23:60 Æneas sails to Italy, 1184.

23 6

24

21

25

4

1198

26

3 1194 24:04

The city of Troy taken, 1184. Samuel born, 1151.

27

37

28

333

32

1191 24:07 Samson marries at Timnath 1133, and 20 years afterwards kills himself under the

1154 24: 44 ruins of the temple of Dagon.

The last of this line of emperors was also remarkable for his crimes and his follies. He was proud, cruel, and debauched. Pos- sessed of

        great strength and good natural abilities, he abandoned him- self to every species of vice, and to the most dreadful cruelties. In every thing that was base and wicked, he found a fit companion in the infamous female slave Tanke. " They collected a vast concourse of people devoted to pleasure and dissipation; they had made for'

lake of wine, and surrounded it with meat suspended on trees; to this banquet naked men and women resorted, and passed long nights in drunkenness and debauchery. Profligacy to this ex- tent is more than the common sense of mankind, in the worst of The king and court fell into contempt." Most

them a

times can approve.

horrible crimes and punishment followed.

132

Chronology of the Chinese.

5. 周紀 Chow Kz.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1. it E Woo wang.

2. 成王 Ching wang.

3. 康王 Kang wang.

4. 昭王 Chaou Wang.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Mo wang.

Kung wang.

IE wang.

Heaou wang.

9. 夷王E wang.

10.

Le wang.

11.

宣王

Seuen wang.

12.

Yew wang.

13.

Ping wang.

14.

桓王

Hwan wang ·

15.

釐王

Chwang wang.

16. Le wang.

17.

惠王! Hwuy wang.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

With this line of emperors, posthumous titles commenced; and from their being inscribed on tablets deposited in temples, they were called廟號

haou, or temple titles.

meaou

That of Woo wang is thus explained, 諡法克定禍亂曰武

she fa, keih ting ho hwan, yuě woo, according to the rules for pos-

thumous titles, one able to settle the calamitous disorders is called martial.

周公作指南車 Choo

kung tso che nan chay, the duke of Chow made the compass, about 1112.

馬化人

ma fa jin, a horse

transformed into a man.

川竭山崩 chuen keě, shan

păng,

rivers became dry and

mountains fell.

Bosing yunjoo yu,

stars fell like rain.

(Falling rocks and stars appear

to have been very frequent in these early times.)

     Amidst all the cruel and shameful abominations that marked the close of the Shang dynasty, a few able and virtuous men weregeon- spicuous; among these, the members of the Chow family were chief. Wăn wang 'the king of letters,' or civil king as he has sometimes been called,-was born about the year 1231 B. c., and in the reign of Taeting was raised to the rank of prime minister. He was a ta-

=:

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

5.

THE CHOW Dynasty,

133

No.

07

Reign.

my

37

B. C.

Year

of

| Cvete.

Cotemporary Events.

112225:16 The ark taken by the Philistines, 1112.

1115 25:23 Saul made king over Israel, 1095.

26 1078 25: 60

26:26

The kingdom of Athens ends in the death of Codrus, 1070.

The migration of the Ionian colonies from Greece, and their settlement in Asia Min-,

|27 : 17/or, 1044.

The temple of Solomon finished, 1000. Visit of the queen of Sheba, 988.

28:24 Solomon dies, 971.

3

4

51

1052

5

55 | 1001

6

12

946

28:12

77

25

934

8

15

909

9

16

894

10 51

878

11

46

827

12 11

28: 49 Homer and Hesiod flourished, according

to the Marbles, about 907.

29:04 Elijah the prophet taken up into heaven

Jabout 892.

i

29: 20 Lycurgus establishes his laws; the Olym-

pic games restored about 884. 30: 11 Carthage built by Dido, 869.

781 30:57 Fall of the Assyrian empire, 820.

1351 770

1423

719

15

15

696

16

5 681

31:08 Kingdom of Macedonia founded, 814.

31:59 Kingdom of Lydia begins, 797.

32:22 Isaiah begins to prophesy, 757.

Rome built, 753.

32:37 End of the kingdom of Israel, 717.

i...

17 25 676 32:42 Draco establishes his laws at Athens, 623

1

lented and upright` man, and for his fidelity was thrown into prison, where he completed the Yeih King, or Book of Changes. From his Incarceration he is said to have been liberated by the influence of his son Woo wang-the first monarch of the Chow dynasty; grieved at the imprisonment of his father, the son sent to the emperor a beautiful lady, with whom he was charmed, and by whose influence the libera- tion of the minister was effected. Wăn wang is celebrated for erudi. tion, and for the good counsels which he gave to those who were in authority.

136

Chronology of the Chinese.

6. 秦紀 TsıN KE.

Name of the Sovereign.

莊襄王 Chwangseäng wang.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

This emperor meě chow,

exterminated Chow,

Note. These two dynasties-if they are to be separated-may be considered

as one. They are separated here because they are thus arranged in the work from which we obtain them-the History Made Easy.

7. How Tsın Kɛ.

Names of the Sovereigns.

With cotemporary Chinese events.

始皇帝 Che Hwangte.

chuh chang ching,

Urlishe Hwangte Che built the great wall, and

fun shoo, burnt the books.

Parts of the Chinese history are involved in much obscurity, and few more so than that of this period. The 'unravelment of history,' has

been made an object of particular attention with some of their best scholars, and one of their works bears such a name.

                                  But it forms no portion of our present object of enter upon the discussion of these entanglements, or to attempt their unravelment.

   In the year 250 B. C., a prince named Heaoumăn wang obtained the throne, but died a few months afterwards; in the Kang Keën E Che, his name does not appear upon the list of sovereigns; it has a place however in the chronological tables, San yuen keå tsze.

Che Hwangte, the successor of Chwangseäng was a remarkble person, and his acts more memorable than those of any other sover- eign who ever occupied the throne of this empire.

With all his greatness there was much that was base and execrable in his character. His name was Ching, and his sirname or the name of his family was Leu: he was of mean parentage and an illegitimate -at least, our historians so affirm. He had reigned twenty-five years when he gained possession of the whole empire. Hitherto he had borne the name of Tsin wang ching; he now, on becoming universal monarch'of the whole world as he supposed, took the name

son-

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

137

Cotemporary Events.

6.

THE TSIN Dynasty.

No.

Reign.

Year

B. C.

of

Cycle.

1

3

249 39:49

The sea-fight at Drepanum in Sicily, and the Romans defeated by Adherbal.

Note. It may be remarked here, once for all, that the object of the writers of the History Made Easy is to give, in this concise form, only what they regard as the true imperial line; consequently, all the minor and cotemporary states are omitted; but in the body of their work they supply the details.

No.

Reign.

1

37

2

t

B. C.

7. The After Tsin Dynasty.

Year of Cycle.

246 39:52

209 | 40:29

Cotemporary Events.

Hamilcar passes with an army and his son Hannibal to Spain, 237. The temple of Janus at Rome closed, 235.

Plautus, Evander, Zeno, Ennius, Epi- cydes, flourished about this time..

    Che hwangte, the First Emperor, and entertained the vain and am- bitious purpose of obliterating the names of all those who had pre- ceded him.

The building of the great wall, and the order for destroying all the sacred and classical books in the empire, are the principal acts that give character to his reign. The first was achieved at an amazing expense, and will remain among the wonders of the world down to the end of time. How far the other was executed it is impossible to determine. It was an iron rule that could draw forth men and means sufficient to erect, in the course of a few years, that immense pile which stretches along the whole northern frontier of the empire; a power that could do all this, would be ablé, we may suppose, to achieve almost anything in the range of possibilities. The emperor did cause great numbers of the literati to be put to death; and he did command all the sacred and classical books to be burnt, but it seems to us impossible that such a decree could be obeyed. Over so great an extent of territory thousands of copies had been multiplied; and on the promulgation of decrees, it were easy for the admirers of the classics to conceal them in secret places, utterly beyond the reach of the public authorities. However, many of the Chinese believe that no entire copy remained undestroyed.

VOL. X. NO. HII.

18

138

Chronology of the Chinese.

8. 漢紀 HAN KE.

Names of the Sovereigns.

Kaoutsoo.

2 惠帝

Hwuy te.

Leu how.

Wăn te.

King te.

3 呂后 4. 文帝 5景帝

Woo te.

6 武帝

7 昭帝

Chaou te.

8 宣帝 9元帝

Seuen te.

Yuen te.

10

Ching te.

11哀帝

Ngae te.

12

Ping te..

13

Jootsze ying.

14 淮陽王 Hwaeyang wàng.

MARCI

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

韓信國士無雙 Han

Sin was without an equal.

yu heuě, it rained blood. Leu how (i. e. the empress Leu) the first female sovereign.

Paper said to have been invent- ed by the Chinese in this reign.

地震二十二日 earth

quaked for 22 successive days, 司馬談

Szema Tan received the title of first historiographer.

司馬遷 Szema Tseën, his

son,

the Herodotus of China, was born 145 B. C.

In the time of Seuen te the

Chinese empire extended to the Caspian sea.

劉向作烈女傳 Lew

Heäng wrote the Memoirs of Dis- tinguished Women.

(This dynasty down to the time

of Ping te is sometimes called the Western Han, in contradistinc- tion to that which arose soon after.):

Lew Pang--for this was the name of the first emperor of the new dynasty-did not gain full possession of the empire till 202 B. C., which year is marked in the tables before us, as the 5th of his reign; by most writers, however, 202 is regarded as the 1st year of the Han dynasty.

It should be remarked here that the sovereigns of this line intro- duced what is known as the kwỡ haou or national title;' historians however have preferred to give the first place to the meaou haou, and to regard it as the proper name of each emperor; but it could be used only after the sovereign's demise; while the other, the kwo haou was used during his lifetime, and by some of the emperors was often changed, and frequently more than once. In this concise view, we venture to omit the introduction of all these kwo haou.

:

18414:

No.

Chronology of the Chinese.

8. THE HAN DYNASTY.

Year of

Cotemporary Events.

Reign.

B. C.

I cocle

8

202

7

194

4

$23

5

16

6 54

40:36 The battle of Zama, 202.

139

40:44 The first Macedonian war begins, 200.

18740:51

179 140:59

15641:22

The luxuries of Asia brought to Rome among the spoils of Antiochus, 189.

Numa's books found in a stone coffin at Rome, 179.

After the fall of the Macedonian empire 168, the first library was erected at Rome 140 41:38 with books from Macedonia, 167.

Restoration of learning at Alexandria,

86

42:32 137.

Sylla conquers Athens, and sends its li-

*73 42: 55 braries to Rome, 86.

7

13

25

16

48

22

10 26 32

The reign of the Seleucidæ ends in Sy- 43: 10 ria about 65.

Alexandria taken by Cæsar, 47. The 43:26 war of Africa, and Cato kills himself, 46.

Egypt reduced into a Roman province. 43:52 About this time flourished, Virgil, Stra-

bo, Horace, Livy, Ovid, &c.

JESUS CHRIST born..

11

12

5

A. D. 143:58

13

17

6

14

23

44:03 Ovid banished to Tomos, 9.

44 20 Augustus dies at Nola, 14.-

     For a pretty full explanation of impérial names and titles, the reader is referred to our last volume, page 389; those who wish for the kwō haou will find them in Dr. Morrison's View of China, Mr. Gutzlaff's Sketch of Chinese history, and in the introduction to the Kang Keën Ę Che.

1 i

4

     This dynasty has been more celebrated than any other that ever occupied the 'throne of China. Its heroes and its literati were nu- merous, and of high and noble character. To be called a Han tsze, or a son of Han, even at this day, is regarded as a high honor.

?

      Arémarkable coincidence is noticable" in the name of the 12th emperor, who ascended the throne in the year of Immanuel's advent, and after a reign of five years received the title of Ping te, "prince of peace." In add

#

140

Chronology of the Chinese.

9. 東漢 TUNG Han Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1光武 Kwang woo.

2明帝 Ming te.

  3章帝 Chang te. 4 和帝 Hote. 5殤帝 Shang te. 6 安帝 Ngan te. 7順帝 Shun te 8冲帝 Chung te. 9質帝 Cheih te. 10桓帝 Hwăn te.

11 靈帝 Ling te.

12 獻帝 Heën te.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

東都洛陽故日東漢

('This emperor) eastward built his capital Loyang, (the modern Ho- nan foo) and therefore the dynasty was called the Eastern Han.

Mingte, A. D. 65, sent messen- gers to India to search for and bring back the religion of Budba.

Shang te becoming emperor when a child, his mother establish ed a regency, placed herself at its head, and on the demise of her son placed her nephew on the throne. She was a pupil of the great authoress Pan Hwuypan.

In the reign of Hwăn te people came from India and other west- ern nations with tribute, and from that time foreign trade was carried on at Canton.

Note. It was near the close of this dynasty that the three states-Shub, Wei,

and Woo-arose'and flourished.

a

10. How HAN KE.

後漢紀

Names of the Sovereigns.

1昭烈帝 Chaouleě te. 2後帝

How te.

With cotemporary Chinese events.

i

A law passed by the state of Wei, viz. From this time quéens shall not assist in the government.

The messengers of Ming te, according to the wishes of their mas- ter, proceeded to India, where they found the doctrines and disciples of Budha; and, having obtained some of their books with skamun, they brought them to China. It is said that the emperor dreamed that he saw a golden man walking in his palace, and in the morning

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

9. THE EASTern Han DynASTY

141

Cotemporary Events.

44:22 St. Paul converted to Christianity, 36.

44:55 The expedition of Claudius to Britain,

43.

45:13 Nero visits Greece. The Jewish war begins. Josephus and Pliny the elder

.8945: 26 flourish, abont 66.

Death of Vespasian, and succession of 45:53 Titus, 79.

25

No.

Reign.

A. D.

Year of

Cycle.

133

25

2 18

3 13

288

58

76

4 17

5

1

106

6

19

107

my

19

126

8

I

145

9

1

10

21.

11 22

12

31

About 106 flourished Florus, Pliny jun., 45: 54 Dion, Plutarch, &c.

Adrian visits Asia and Egypt, 126; and 46 : 03 [rebuilds Jerusalem, 130.

46:22] Antoninus defeats the Moors, Germans,

     and Dacians, 145. 14646:23

Lucian, Hermogenes, Appian, Justin the

147 46: 24 martyr, flourished about 161.

Commodus makes peace with the Ger- 16846:55 mans, 181. Albinus defeated in Gaul, 198.

Severus conquers the Parthians, 200;

19047:07 and soon after visits Britain.

       Note. The historical novel, called the San Kwỏ Che, extends its narrative from A. D. 170 to 317.

10. THE AFTER HAN DYNASTY.

No.

Reign-

A. D.

Year of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

1

221

242 228

47:38 The age of Julius Africanus, 222,

Goths exact tribute from Rome. 4740

The

i

#

when he received his ministers at public audience, he told them of the dream; whereupon one of them gave him an account of what he had heard of Budha. The consequence was the embassy and the in- troduction of Budhism into China. The writers of the History Made Easy reprobate this conduct of the emperor, and denourice both the shaman and their doctrines as being false, and wicked. Shamun is a Sanscrit word, used as an equivalent for hoshang, pricts of Budha.

1

Chronology of the Chinese.

11. 晋 TIN KE

Names of the Sovereigns.

1 武帝 Woo te: 2惠帝 Hwuy te. 3 懷帝 Hwae te. 4愍帝 Min te.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

Woo te簒魏稱帝 Lsoan Wei ching te, destroyed Wei and made himself emperor.

4

Min te's reign was an age of wonders: a sun fell from the fir- mament; and the earth changed its course and went backwards; &c.

    Note. This dynasty is sometimes called the Se Tsin, or Western Tsin, in con-- tradiction to the next, the Eastern Tsin.

12. TUng Tsin Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

Yuen te.

2明帝 Ming te. 3成帝 Shing te.

4 康帝 Kang te. 5 穆帝 Müh te. 6 哀帝 Ngae te. 7 帝奕 Te yeih.

8 Keenwän.

9孝武 Heaouwoo. 10 安帝 Ngan te. Kung te.

11

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

日夜出高三丈 the sun

in the night rose 30 cubits high; and again black spots were seen

upon his disk. Other strange phenomena were noticed, with many fearful signs. It was a dark age.

A stamp duty,

shouy

ke, on the sale of lands and houses ́said to have been introduced

about the year 367. /

"Children of concubines, priests, old women, and nurses

were the administrators of government.

1

,

i!.

"

Among the great men of the Han dynasty there was a good deal of the heroic and chivalrous, especially in those leaders whose actions are described in the History of the Three States. With all thei

1841.

11.

No.

Reign.

Year

A. D..

of

Cycle.

1.

26

265

48:22

Chronology of the Chinese,

THE TSIN DYNASTY.

Cotemporary Events.

143

The Scythians and Goths defeated by Cleodomus and Athenæus, 267.

2 17

290

48:47

Britain recovered, and Alexandria taken, 296.

3

6

4

4

307 49:04 About this time flourished Gregory and

Hermogenes, the lawyers.

31349:10

      Note. The much to be commiserated emperor,' Min te 'had grief and sorrow for his lot, while presiding over the nation.'

No.

Reign.

THE EASTERN TSIN DYNASTY.

12.

Year

A. D.

of Cycle.

1

317

49:14

3

323

20

3

17 326

4 2 343

5 17 345

א.

.0

6

4

362

7

366

371

9

24

373

10

11

22 397

419

Cotemporary Events.

The emperor Constantine begins to favor the Christian religion, 319.

49:20 The first general council at Nice, 325.

$

49:23 The seat of empire removed from Rome

to Constantinople, 328. 49:40

49:42 An earthquake ruins 150 cities in Greece

and Asia, 358.

49:59

50:03 Julian dies, and is succeeded by Jovian,

363.

50:08 The Goths permitted to settle in Thrace,

on being expelled by the Huns, 376.

50:10 The Vandals, Alani, and Suevi, permit- ted to settle in Spain and France by Hon- 50:34 orius, 406.

Rome plundered by Alaric, king of the 50:56 Visigoths, 410.

"

knight-errantry there was no lack of superstition, magic, witchcraft, and the many nameless vagaries usually accompanying them. But in the time of the Tsin, the heroic and chivalrous degenerated into the most pitiable weakness. Base and cruel women exercised great influ ence at court; the religions of Budha and Laou keun were in vogue; and the people suffered. Some few writers are found during this

1

201

!

144

Chronology of the Chinese.

13. 北宋紀 Pın Suna Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1 高祖

Kaou tsoo..

Shaou te.

2 少帝 3文帝 4. 武帝 :5.廢帝 6 明帝

Wän te.

..

Woo te.

Fei te.

Ming te.

7蒼梧王 Tsangwoo woo

8順帝 Shan te.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese events.

宋人好譽 Sung jin haon

yu, the people of Sung loved praise and commendation.

女子化為男

neu tsze hwa

wei nan, a woman transformed into

a man.

射鬼竹林堂 shay loanei

chuk lin tang (the emperor) shot

a demon in the court of the bam-

boo grove.

Note. This is often called the Nan Pik Sang; it is also styled Sung Ke foo Peih Wei, or the Sung attached to the Northern Wei.

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

+

14. TSE KE.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1. 高帝

Kaou te.

2 武帝 3.明帝

Ming te.

Woo té.

!

篡宋位tston Sung

tseih wei, (this is said of the founder of the new line) he exter- minated Sung and took the throne.

4.東昏侯 Tunghwăn how. 五銖錢 Woo choo tseên, five

5.和帝 Hote.

pearl cash.

period. It was about the year 286 that the literary title sewtsae was introduced.

1

!、 *

In the reign of Shaou te of the Sung family, Budhism was inter- dicted. Under the reign of his successor, Wăn te, learning began to revive. The prince of Wei also persecuted the Budhists, burnt their temples and put the priests to death.

1841.

No.

1

2 1

3 30

424

51:01

4

10

454

Reign.

A.D.

Chronology of the Chinese. .

13. THE Northern Sung Dynasty.

ear

of Cycle.

3 420 50:57

Cotemporary Events.

145

The kingdom of the French begins on the lower Rhine.

423 50: 60 The Romans take leave of Britain, and

Inever return, 426.

The Saxons settle in Britain; Attila, king of the Huns, ravages Europe, about 51:31449.

LO

5

1 464

51:41

6

8

465

51:42 The paschal cycle of 532 years invented

by Victorius, 463.

t

4

473

51:50

The western empire is destroyed by the king of the Heruli, who assumes the title

8

2

477

51: 54 of king of Italy, 476.

      Note. The founder of this line (the Sung, or Northern and Southern dynas- ties) was Lew Yu.

Reign.

14. THE TSe Dynasty.

Year

Cotemporary Events.

479 51:56 Constantinople partly destroyed by an

earthquake, which lasted 40 days at in-

51: 60 tervals, 480.

No.

A. D.

of Cycle.

1

4

2 11 483

3 5

494

4 2

499

5

1

501

Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, con- 52: 11 quers Italy, 493,

52 16 Christianity embraced in France by the

baptism of Clovis, 496. 52:18

Seaou Taouching was the founder of the Tse dynasty, which took its name from a dukedom of which Seaou was master.

The Tse ke, like the Sung, and like the Leäng and Chin which follow it, was called Nan Pih, Southern and Northern, there being most of the time two distinct governments, one Tartar, the other Chinese, the former occupying the northern part of the country, and the latter the southern, and hence styled Northern and Southern dynasties.

VOL. X. NO, IIĮ.

19

146

Chronology of the Chinese.

15. LEANG Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1 武帝 Woo te.

2Keën wăn.

3元帝 Yuen te. 4. 敬帝 King te.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

twan tseën, short cash, were interdicted by this emperor. The depreciation amounted to 10, and sometimes 20, and even 30, in a hundred.

"The people began to sit with their legs hanging down," i. e. they used chairs!

Note. Budhism which had been discarded, again revived. The first emperor himself, when old, became a priest, and lived according to the rites of the order.

16.

Chin Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1 高祖

Kaou tsoo.

2文帝 3廢帝

Wán te.

Fei te.

4 宣帝

Seuen te.

5 1/2 ±

How choo.

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

Cloth, paper, and iron money

had

been sometime in vogue when,-

鵝眼錢

1000 yen tseën, goose-eyed__money-now

came

into use. Pearl money was soon

used in its stead.

女學士

neu heŏ sze, make

their appearance.

17. và ht Sux KE.

Names of the Sovereigns.

Kaou tsoo.

1 高祖 2煬帝 Yang te.

3 帝侑 Kung te yew.

4. 恭帝佪 Kung te tung.

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

天下地震 teën heäte chin,

an earthquake throughout the whole empire.

lung chow, an imperial

boat-built. This was 45 cubits

high, 200 long, having four sto-

ries.

    Yang Keën was the founder of the Suy dynasty. He was fond of power and extended his rule oyer the whole of the empire, uniting in

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

15. THE Leang DynasTY.

147

No..

Reign.

Year

A. D.

Cycle.

1

48

502

2

2 550

3

3

552

2 555

Cotemporary Events.

52:19 Alaric defeated by Clovis, 507; and Paris made the capital of the French do- 53:07 minions, 510.

53:09 The Turkish empire in Asia begins, 545; and the manufacture of silk intro- 53: 12 duced into Europe from the east, 553.

      Note. During this short dynasty, the empresses exerted great influence in the councils of state. One of them was a distinguished heroine.

16. THE CHin Dynasty.

Year

Part of Italy conquered by the Lom- bards, 568.

No.

Reign.

A. D.

of

Cotemporary Events.

Cycle.

1

3

557

53:14

A dreadful plague in Europe, Asia, and Africa, commences 558.

2

7

560

53: 17

3

4

14

569

5

2. 56753 : 24

53:26 Latin ceases to be the language of Italy

about 581.

6 583 53:40

     Note. The capital of the empire was frequently changed; the last sovereign of Chin reigned at Nanking.

17. THE Sur Dynasty.

Cotemporary Events.

53:46 The Saxon heptarchy begins in England

No.

Reign.

Year

A. D.

of

Cycle.

1

16

589

2 13

605

3.

1

4

1

619

Jabout 600.

54:02 The Persians take Jerusalem with a

slaughter of 90,000 men, 614.

618 54: 15 Mohammed in his 53d year, flies to Me- dina, and this becomes the 1st of the He- 54 : 16 gira, 622.

one the northern and southern empires. Corea, which had drawn off from its allegiance, was humbled and

made to sue for peace,

148

Names of the Sovereigns.

1 高祖 2太宗 3 高宗

Kaou 'tsoo.

Tae tsung.

Kaou tsung.

4 中宗

Chung tsung.

5 睿宗

Juy tsung.

6 玄宗

Heuen tsung.

7肅宗

Suh tsung.

8 代宗

Tae tsung,

• 德宗

Tih tsung.

10 順宗

Shun tsung.

1 憲宗

Heën tsung.

12

穆宗

Múh tsung.

13 敬宗

King tsung.

14

+

文宗

Wăn tsung.

15

武宗

Woo isuug.

16 宣宗

Seuen tsung.

17

懿宗

E tsung.

18 僖宗

He tsung.

19 昭宗

Chaou tsung.

Chronology of the Chinese.

18. TANG Kɛ.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese Evepts. ·

Ha tung paou tseën, the

copper coin, now current, first comes into use.

The Nestorians enter China about this time, when the empress Woo Tseihteën lived.

And books began to be bound;

previously scrolls only were used.

梨園弟子 theatricals com-

mence.

kaou she, the literary ex-

aminations-instituted about this

time.

帝聞空中神語 the em-

peror heard in the fimament' di-

vine words.

choo shuy cha, an

impost on tea began in the 9th year of Tih tsung.

The feast of lanterns comes in-

to vogue.

Heën tsung brought one of the

fingers of Budha in procession to his capital.

服金丹而崩 The emper-

or Müh, a devotee of the Ration-

alists' school, fuh kin tan urh

pång, swallowed the philosopher's stone and died.

無憂城

woo yew ching, a

city without sorrow.

Eunuchs exercise great influ-

ence in the affairs of state.

The emperor Chaou commanded

one of his prisoners to be

20

昭宣帝

Chaouseuen te.

keu che, sawn asunder.

Le Yuen, of the house of Leäng, was the founder of this dynasty, which is second to none except perhaps that of Han. During this

1841.

Chronology of the Chinese.

149

No.

Reign.

A. D.

18. THE Tang Dynasty.

Year of

Cycle.

620

54: 17

2 23

627

54: 24

3 34

650

4 26

5 3

710

6 43

.00

=

17

25

Cotemporary Events.

Constantinople besieged by the Persians and Arabs, 626.

Mohammed dies, 632; Jerusalem taken by the Saracens, 634; Alexandría taken, 54: 47 and its library destroyed, 637. The Sa-

racens ravage Sicily, 669.

68455:21 The venerable Bede among the few men of learning of this age. Pepin engrosses 55: 47 the power of the French monarchy, 690.

The Saracens conquer Africa, 709; and 55:50 Spain, 713.

713

756

}

A market opened at Canton, and an offi- 56:33 cer appointed to receive the imperial

duties.

763 56:40 Bagdad built and made the capital of the caliphs of the house of Abbas, who greatly 78056:57 encourage learning, 762.

Irene murders her son and reigns alone, 1805.57:22 797; Charlemagne emperor of Rome, 800; Egbert ascends the throne of En- 57:23 gland, 801.

9

10

11

-15

806

12

4

821

13 2

825

14 14

827

:

15 6

841

16

13

847

17 14

860

The Arabians arrive in China, and settle 57: 38 in Canton prior to 805.

The Saracens of Spain take Crete, which 57:42 they call Candia, 823.

1

57: 44 Origin of the Russian monarchy, 839.

57:58

58:04 The Normans get possession of some

cities in France, 853.

58: 17 Clocks first brought to Constantinople

..from Venice, 872.

18 15 874 58:31

X

Paris besieged by the Normans, and 19 15 889 58:46 bravely defended by bishop Goslin, 887.

King Alfred, after a reign of 30 years

20 3 904 59:01 dies, 900.

line of emperors, China stood comparatively higher than at any other period. The darkest age of the West, was the brighest in the East: !!

150

Chronology of the Chinese. 19. 後梁紀 How LEANG KE.

Names of the Sovereigns.

MARCH,

With cotemporary Chinese events.

1太祖 Tae tsoo.

2Leang

The greatest hero of this age 劉鄩一

+

步百計 Lew

2 Leäng Choo teen Tsin at one step could execute a

hundred stratagems!

20. 後唐紀 How Tang Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1.莊宗 Chwang tsung.

2明宗 Ming te. 3 閔宗 Min te. 4. 廢帝 Fei te.

* ། '

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

傳粉墨與優人共戲

This emperor (Chwang) painted his face and with stage players engaged in theatricals.

每夕焚香祝天,this

emperor (Min) every evening burnt incense and paid his vows to heaven.

21. How Tsin Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

With cotemporary Chinese events.

口高祖

Kaou tsoo.

2

2出帝

Chuh te.

楊延政剝皮 Yang Yen-

ching flayed the poor people. He set up his throne in Fuhkeën,

22. 後漢紀 How Han Ke.

od: d.

Names of the Sovereigns,

Kaou tsoo.

2隱帝 Yin te..

i

درم

With Chinese cotemporary events.

大風發屋拔木 a tem-

pest overturned the houses and uprooted the trees.

These woo tac, or five dynasties-Leäng, Tang, Tsin, Han, and

1841.

No.

1

Reign.

Chronology of the Chinese.

19. THE AFter Leang Dynasty.

Year

A. D.

of Cycle.

907

59:04

2

10

913 59: 10

Cotemporary Events.

151

The Normans establish themselves un" der Rollo in France.

Romanus the First, general of the fleet, usurps the throne.

20. THE After Tang Dynasty.

No.

co Reign.

Year

A. D.

of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

923

59:20

Fiefs established in France, 923.

2

8

926 59

3

4

93459:31.

2 934 59:31

Reign.

21. THE After Tsin Dynasty.

No.

A. D.

Year of Cycle.

1

936

59': 33

2

3.

Cotemporary Events.

The Saracen empire divided by usur pation into seven kingdoms, 936.

944 59:41 Naples seized by the eastern emperors,

942.

22. THE AFTER Han Dynasty.

No.

Reign.

A. D.

Year of Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

1 947 59:44 The sons of Romanus conspire against

their father.

2 3

94859:45

F

Chow, occupy the throne from 907 to the close of 959, a period' of fifty-three years, giving an average of little more than ten years to each house. There were other families that claimed authority,' and the several monarchs had to contend moreover with foreign foes; consequently this period presents one unbroken series of disor- ders and revolutions. - ⠀⠀⠀

{

1,52

Chronology of the Chinese.

23. How CHOW KE.

Names of the Sovereigns. '

1太祖 Tae tsoo.

2世宗 She tsung.

3 恭帝 Kung te.

MCHAR,

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

佛像鑄錢 the images' of

Budha were made into cash: this was done by an imperial order issued by She tsung.

Note. The first and second of these three emperors exhibited wisdom; and She tsung was zealous in promoting the welfare of his people.

24. SUNG Kɛ.*.*..

Names of the Sovereigns.

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

1太祖 Tae tsoo.

the set-

2太宗 Tae tsung.

3. 真宗 Chin tsung. 4仁宗 Jin tsung.

5 英宗 Ying tsung.

6 神宗 Shin tsung.

7哲宗 Chě tsung.

I

日下腹有一日

T:

ting sun reäscended for a day:

this was seen and attested by the

astronomer Meaou Heun.

得天書于泰山(one of

the emperor's ministers) obtained

celestial books from Taeshan.

Pop. 9,955,729.

In the fourth year of Ying

tsung, Canton was first walled in.

司馬光 Szema Kwang. 男人誕子。

8徽宗 Hwuy tsung.

birth to a child.

9欽宗 Kin tsung.

a man gave

女人生鬚 a woman wore.

a long beard.

Learning received much attention during both this reign and the next succeeding it. The first emperor was rased to the throne by military men, who were about to wage war against some northern hordes; and being unwilling to serve; under the rule of a mere child, the emperor Kung being only nine years old they determined.to elevate in his stead a servant of the deceased monarch. They im- mediately dispatched a messenger, who found him 'lying under the influence of wine, and in that state communicated to him, their

1841.

23.

No.

Reign.

Yea

ear

A. D.

of

Chronology of the Chinese.

THE AFTER CHOW DYNASTY.

Cotemporary Events.

153

Cycle.

1

3

951

59:48

2

6

954

59:51

3

960

Romanus II., son of Constantine VII., by Helena, the daughter of Lecapenus, 59:57 succeeds, to the Eastern Empire 959.

     Note. She tsung not only destroyed the images of Budha, he also pulled down their temples, and took their sacred utensils and converted them into money, having established a mint for this specific purpose.

Reign.

24. THE SUNG DYNASTY.

Year of

No.

A. D.

Cycle.

1

16 960

59:57

2 22 976 60:13

Cotemporary Events.

Italy conquered by Otho, and united to the German empire, 964.

The third or Capetian race of kings in France begins, 987; arithmetical figures 60: 35 brought into Europe by the Saracens, 991. A general massacre of the Danes in 1023 60: 60 England, Nov. 13th, 1002.

3 25 998

4

41

5

4

1064 61:41

The kingdoms of Castile and Arragon begin, 1035. The Turks invade the Ro- 18 1068 61: 45 man empire, 1050; take Jerusalem, 1065;

William the conquerer crowned, 1066.

7 15 1086 62:03

25

Asia Minor taken by the Turks, 1084; 110162: 17 first crusade 1096; Jerusalem taken by the crusaders, 1099; learning revived at

9 1 1126 62:43 Cambridge, 1110.

decision; and ere he had time to reply, the yellow robe of state was placed upon him. Thus he was made emperor, the exalted sire of the blackhaired nation. Rude and ignorant as he himself was, learning flourished under his auspices, encouraged by the colleges he built, and the rewards he conferred.

     The number of authors given to this and the southern Sung families, by the writers of History Made Easy, is sixty-one; among this crowd of literary men, Choo He is the most distinguished.

VOL. X. NO, III.

20

154

Chronology of the Chinese.

25. 南朱紀 NAN SunG Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

Kaou tsung.

2 Heaou tsung.

孝宗

3光宗 Kwang tsung-

4.寧宗 Ning tsung.

6

理宗 Le tsung.

Too tsung.

7恭宗 Kung tsung.

8端宗 Twan tsung.

9帝昞 Te Ping.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese Events.

Choo He, the able critic

and historian, known as Choo foo- tsze, flourished early in this reign.

白虹貫日 a white rain- bow seen passing through the sun.

天赤如血 the heavens red

as blood.

蝗飛蔽天 lights of locusts

obscure the heavens.

An officer appointed by the emperor to reside at Canton as commissioner of customs.

Gunpowder and fire-engines used.

Movable characters, made of burnt clay and placed in a frame for printing.

26. YUEN Ke.

Names of the Sovereigns.

1世祖 She T'soo.

2 成宗

Ching tsung.

3 武宗 4 仁宗 5英宗

Woo tsung.

Ying tsung.

Jin tsung.

6泰定帝 Taeting te.

7明宗 Ming tsung.

With cotemporary Chinese Events.

Huuhpeihleě, or Ku-

blai, was the founder of this dy- nasty.

Foreign trade for a time inter- rupted at Canton.

枋得不食二十餘日 Fangtih lived more than

20 days without eating any food.

The Grand Canal.

周歲童子暴長四尺

a child one year old suddenly

grew to more than four cubits in height.

8夜宗 ̇順宗

Wăn tsung.

Shun, tsung.

雨毛如線而綠 feathers

rained down like thread of a green color.

Kublai's life and actions-especially, his attention to the Polo

#

1841.

No.

Reign.

Chronology of the Chinese.

25. THE Southern Sung Dynasty.

A. D.

Year of Cycle.

136.1127

1127 62:44

2 27 1163 63: 20

3 5

4 30

5 40

6 10

17

1

1190 63:47

Cotemporary Events.

155

Accession of Stephen to the English crown, 1135.

The Teutonic order begins, 1164; the conquest of Egypt by the Turks, 1169.

Third crusade and seige of Acre, 1188; John succeeds to the English throne, 1199. Genghis khan's reign and conquests. The Magna Charta, 1215. Origin of the 1225 64: 22 Ottomans, 1240.

1195

63:52

1265 65:02 The uncle and father of Marco Polo the Venetian traveler in China.

1276 65: 12

2 127665: 13

9

2

Reign.

1278 65: 15

1295

No.

A. D.

116

1280

2 13

3

4

9

5

3

6

5

Edward I. on the English throne, 1272.

The famous Mortmain act passes in England, 1279.

26. THE YUEN DYNASTY.

Year of

Cycle.

Cotemporary Events.

65:17 During the Sicilian vespers, 8000 French murdered, 1283. Wales annexed to Eng- 65: 32 gland, 1283. Regular succession of En-

glish parliament begins, 1293.

1308 65:45

1312 65:49 The mariner's compass said to be invent-

jed or improved by Flaveo, 1302.

132165:58

132466:01 The Swiss cantons begin 1307. Edward

II. succeeds to the English crown.

1:1329 66:06 Edward III. on the English throne,

{

:

1327.

3

133066:07

The first comet observed, whose course is 9 35 1333 66: 10 described with exactness, in June, 1337.

family, his embassy to the pope, his predilection to Christianity,- are narrated in the travels of Marco Polo,an historian of no mean

ta

156

Chronology of the Chinese.

27. MING KE.

Names of the Sovereigns.

Meaou Haou,

Tsae 1900.

2建文帝 Keënwǎn te.

KwŎ Haou.

Hungwoo.

Keënwăn.

MARCH,

Cotemporary Chinese events.

奏戶

Yunglo. 六

十戶萬十四十

六年戶

部百百五八

Hunghe. 十四萬五千八

Seuentin 百 +

In the 26th year of Hung-

3 太宗 Tae tsung.

4仁宗 Jin tsung.

5宣宗 Seuen tsung.

6

7景帝 King te.

8憲

Heen tsung.

Chinghwa. in the empire.

Ying tsung.ingung woo, the Board of Revenue

9孝宗 Heaou tsung.

10i

11

Woo tsung.

She tsung.

12 穆宗 Mäh tsung.

13 神宗 Shin tsung.

Teënshun.

reported that the number of

Kingtae. families was 16,052,860,

and the persons 60,545,811

京師地震有聲

Hungche. (in the 11th year of this reign) there was an earth-

Chingtih. quake at the capital ac-

companied by a noise.

Keutsing.

天鼓鳴 sound of a

Lungking, drum in the heavens.

In the 4th year of Hung-

Wanleih che, it was only 9,113,446 families, and 53,281,158

In the 6th year of Man-

14 光宗 Kwang tsung.

Taechang individuals.

15 熹宗 He tsung.

Teënke. leih, the families were 10,621,436, and the per-

16 懷宗 Hwae tsung. Tsungching. sons 60,692,856.

   rank. He held his court at Peking, which was called Kambalu. The history of his ancestors, Genghis and others, and that of his own times, are full of interest. They were great men, and achieved great things. Central Asia-their theatre of action-may again erelong become a scene of interesting events, and opened and free for the European traveler.

The native historian says, 'in the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the government paid no regard to rank in the employment of its sub- jects. In commencing the dynasty, there was an urgent demand for

1841.

No.

10

Reign.

CD

Chronology of the Chinese.

27. THE MING DYNASTY.

Year

A. D.

of Cycle.

1368 06:45

Cotemporary Events.

157

Timur on the throne of Samarkand. William Occam, Peter Apono, Wiclif,

1398 | 67: 15 and Chancer flourish.

Henry V. succeeds his father Henry IV,

1403 | 67: 20|1413.

Constantinople is besieged by Amurath 67: 42 II., the Turkish emperor, 1422.

Cosmo de Medici recalled from banish- 67: 43 ment, and rise of that family at Florence,

1434.

67:53

Glass first manufactured in England, 1457. The arts of engraving and etching

1457 68: 14 invented, 1459.

1

30

2

5

3

22

4

1

1425

5

10

1426

6

21

1436

7

8

8

23

1465

9 18

1488

10

16

1506

11 45

12

6

13 47

14

1

15

16

16

68:22

68: 45

The Cape of Good Hope discovered. Shillings were first coined in England, 1505.

Edict of Worms proscribing Luther and his adherents, 1521. The pope taken 69:03 prisoner, 1527.

Huguenots, i. e. 'the allied by oath,' first 1522 69: 19 so called, 1560; massacre of them at

Paris, 1572.

156770: 04

1573 70: 10

The Turks invade and ravage Russia, 1575.

A British colony established in Virginia, 1614; and an English settlement made at 162070:57 Madras, 1620.

1621 70:58 War commenced by England against ¡France in favor of distressed French pro- 1628 71:05|testants, 1627.

talents; and the people of the empire being roused by the hope of rank and nobility, the human intellect at once rose above mediocri- ty. At this time they had fire-chariots, fire umbrellas, &c.

     Again the historian says: In the 3d year of Keätsing, people came in foreign vessels to Macao, and affirmed that, having encoun- tered a gale of wind, their ships were leaky: it was desired, that Macao, on the coast, might be allowed them to dry their goods,' Hence originated the foreign settlement.

159

Chronology of the Chinese.

28. TA Tsing Chadu.

The Names of the Sovereigns, or Meaou Haou.

hwangte,

1肇祖原皇帝 Shaoutsoo Yuen 2興祖直皇帝 Hingtsoo Cheih

hwangte.

3景翼皇帝 Kingtsoo Yeih

hwangte.

4顯宣皇帝 Heëntsoo Seuen

hwangte.

5 太祖高皇帝 Taetsoo Kaou

hwangte.

6 太宗文皇帝 Taetsung Mán

Kwo Haou.

MARCH,

N. B. These were mere

chieftains, without

tional titles.

天命 Teënming.

天聰 Teëntsung.

崇德 Tsungtih.

Shetsoo Chang Shunche.

7 世祖章皇帝 Shetsoo Chang

8聖祖仁皇帝 Shingtsoo Jin

hwangte.

9 世宗憲皇帝 Shetsung Heën

hwangle.

10 高宗純皇帝 Kaoutsung Shun

hwangte.

11 仁宗睿皇帝 Jintsung Juy

hwangte.

12 (The reigning monarch.)

Recapitulation.

康熙 Kanghe.

雍正 Yungching.

乾隆 Keënlung.

嘉慶 Keäking.

道光 Taoukwang.

1. The three August Sovereigns reigned 81,600 years.

na-

2. The five Sovereigns

reigned 647 yrs., commencing a. c.

2852

3. The Hea dynasty

4. The Shang dynasty

reigned 439 reigned 644

2205

"

**

1766

99

39

5. The Chow dynasty 6. The Tsin dynasty 17. The After Tsin dynasty

8. The Han dynasty 9. The Eastern Han dynasty 10. The After Han dynasty 11. The Tein dynasty

12. The Eastern Tein dynasty

reigned 873 reigned 3 reigned 44 reigned 226 reigned 196", reigned 44 19

1122

""

11

249

11

246

19

202

$9

**

"

A. D. 25

221

reigned 52

265

19

19

reigned 103

317

"

13. The Northern Sung dynasty

reigned 59

420

14. The Tse dynasty

reigned 23

479

15. The Leäng dynasty

16. . The Chin dynasty

reigned 55

502

"

reigned 32

557

"

1841.

No.

1

Reign.

Chronology of the Chinese.

28. THE Great Tsing Dynasty.

A. D.

1583

Year of Cycle..

Cotemporary Events.

159

N. B. The reigning family feign to derive their origin from the gods: it is believed, however, that the nation was formed of Tongouse tribes, situated on the banks of the Amour, north of Corea; and during comparatively very modern times.

}

10 60

11

25

12

1616

1627

6

1636

7

8 61 1662

War declared between the Turks and Venetians, 1645. Charles I., king of

18 1644 71:21 England, beheaded, 1649. Carolina plant-

ed by English merchants, 1676.

First king of Prussia crowned, 1701.

71:39

9 13 1723 72:40 War between the Ottoman Port and Per- sia, 1730; the Russians invade Tartary,

3

1736 72:53 1338.

1796 73:53 An emigration of 500,000 Tourgouths

from the Caspian to China, 1771.

1821 74:18

17. The Suy dynasty

reigned 31 yrs., commencing a. D. 589

18. The Tang dynasty

reigned 287

620

19. The After Leang dynasty

20. The After Tang dynasty 21. The After Tsin dynasty 22. The After Han dynasty

reigned 16 reigned 13 reigned 11 reigned 4

907

"J

923

""

"

936

"9

947

"1

11

23. The After Chow dynasty

reigned 9

951

59*

"

24. The Sung dynasty

reigned 157

960

25. The Southern Sung dynasty reigned 153

1127

"

19

26. The Yuen dynasty

27. The Ming dynasty

reigned 88 reigned 276

1280

""

23

1368

"

"

28. The Ta Tsing dynasty has reigned 196

1644

39

**

     The whole number of sovereigns in the foregoing lists, exclusive of the mythological line, is 243.

     The number of years-excluding the reign of the three august sovereigns-is 4692, which gives to each dynasty a fraction more than 173 years; and to each sovereign a period of little more than

19 years.

160

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

MARCH,

ART. II. Notices of Japan, No. VII.: recent attempts by foreign- ers to open relations with Japan; by Americans; by Russians; and by English.*

WHEN Christianity was finally extirpated throughout Japan, and the remnant of the European trade committed to the Dutch factory at Dezima, the resolute seclu- sion of the insular empire was long respected and left undisturbed by other nations. The slight attempt made by the English under Charles II., which the Dutch foil- ed by proclaiming the English queen to be a Portuguese princess, can hardly be called an exception.

This abstinence from any endeavors to transgress the prohibitory laws of Ja- pan allowed the strong feelings in which they originated to die away; and towards the close of the last century, the continuance of the system appears to have proceeded rather from indifference to foreign trade and respect for existing cus- toms, than from hatred or fear. Whilst the public mind of Japan remained in this ́easy state, although no trade, nor unnecessary intercourse with foreigners, was permitted, foreign ships in distress for provisions or other necessaries, were freely suffered to approach the coast, and their wants were cheerfully relieved. Captain Broughton,t when exploring the Japanese seas in the years 1795-6-7, was, perhaps,

* [Several papers on foreign intercourse with Japan have already appeared in the pages of the Repository; see Vols. VI and VII. In this paper, some things are repeated that are found in those articles, but much that is here given concern- ing Russian and American intercourse has not been before related, and we retain it in the series.]

     [Capt. Broughton published an account of his cruise in the Japanese waters in 1804, in a small quarto of 393 pages. Speaking of the conduct of the Japanese towards him and his ship, he says; "The same unremitted jealousy of foreign- ers seems to have pervaded every place in those seas where the Providence touched at; and although the desires of the crew for wood and water were readi- ly complied with, yet any wish of exploring the interior of the country, or of gaining a more perfect knowledge of its government, produce, and manners, was invariably and pertinaciously resisted." The Providence was a strongly built ship of 400 tons. After taking her departure from Oahu in 1796, she made a cruise north of Nippon, and in the spring of the next year anchored at Macao. Here, her enterprising commander having purchased a tender, left in April for the same seas, and on 17th of May, he was unfortunately wrecked on a reef at the north of Typinsan, one of the Madjicosima (or more correctly Hachi kosima, the Eight islets), a group of small islands between Lewchew and Formosa. The tender now proved to be of great service, and by the kind assistance of the natives of the group, who from his account are much like the Lewchewans in dress, language, and appearance, he was able to provision her and return to Macao in June. Hay- ing discharged some of his crew, captain Broughton planned a continuation of his cruise in the tender, notwithstanding she was only 87 tons, and, as he adds, "in- adequate in many respects. But still there was some prospect of acquiring geographical knowledge of the Tartarean and Corean coasts; and I was unwill- ing, even under the existing circumstances, not to use every endeavor to the utmost of my power, that could tend to the improvement of science by the ex- ploration of unknown parts." With these wishes, so characteristic of British navigators, and seconded by his officers, he left for the Japanese seas; he touched at Lewchew, Endermo harbor in Yesso or Insu, Matsmai, Tsus sima, Chosan in Corea, and Quelpaert I.; and returned to Macao in Nov. 1797. The volume contains but little else than nautical observations and remarks, which may be one reason why it has since its publication been so little spoken of or quoted.]

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

161

   the last English sailor who thus benefited by unsuspicious Japanese Hospitality.* Since that period, attempts have been made and accidents have happened, the effects of which are represented by the Dutch to have been the revival of their alienation from foreigners in all its original inveteracy. Siebold, however, rather questions this resuscitation; and thinks, that if it did take place, the feeling has again died away.

    The first aggression upon the Japanese prohibitory code was made by the Americans, and originated in the war between England and Holland, during the subjection of the latter to France. It has already been intimated,† that the Dutch authorities at Batavis, when they durst not expose their own merchantmen to capture by British cruizers in the Indian seas, engaged neutrals to carry on their trade with Japan. The first North-American ship thus hired was the Eliza of New York, captain Stewart, in 1797; and her appearance at once aroused Japan- eee suspicion.

    A vessel, bearing the Dutch flag, but of which the crew spoke English, not Dutch, was an anomaly that struck the Nagasaki authorities with consternation. It cost the president of the factory some trouble to convince the governor of Nagasaki that these English were not the real English, but English living in a dis- tant country, and governed by a different king. All this, however, even when believ- ed, was of no avail; the main point was, to prove that the Americans had nothing to do with the trade, being only employed by the Dutch as carriers, on account of the war.

        The governor was at length satisfied that the American was no inter- loper, the employment of neutrals being, under existing circumstances, unavoida-

and he consented to consider the Eliza as a Dutch ship.

ble;

Upon his second voyage, the following year, captain Stewart met with the ac. cident mentioned in the last paper; and it seems not unlikely that his increased intercourse with the Japanese, during the attempts to raise his ship and her repairs, gave birth to his project of establishing a connection with them, independent of his employers, the Dutch. His scheme and his measures do not, however, very distinctly appear in Doeff's narrative, either because the Dutch factory president is perplexed by his eagerness to identify them with English incroachment, or because the successful foiling of captain Stewart's hopes prevented the clear development of his intended proceedings.

When repaired and reloaded, the Eliza sailed, but was dismasted in a storm, and returned again to refit. All this occasioned such delay, that the American substitute for the Dutchman of 1799 arrived, and had nearly completed her load. ing for Batavia, when captain Stewart was at length ready to prosecute the voyage that should have been completed in the preceding year, 1798. For his consort he obstinately refused to wait, and sailed early in November, 1799. The follow. ing year capt. Stewart again made his appearance, but in a different vessel and under a different character. He had still not reached Batavia, and told a piteous

    * [So far as merely supplying the necessary wants of distressed mariners who may be wrecked on their shores, we are inclined to think the Japanese are as kind now as they have ever been; that is, they would feed and clothe such persons, and get them sent out of the country as soon as possible. When the Morrison was at Satsuma, the Japanese on board were told that three sailors from a foreign ship had some years before been sent to Nagasaki. Capt. Gordon in the Brothers (sco Chi. Rep., Vol. VII., page 589) was not treated at all inhospitably.]

↑ Doeff.

+ No. VI. page 82.

VOL. X. NO. III.

21

1841.

Notices of Japan,. No. VII.

163

     During the reign of Catherine II., a Japanese vessel was wrecked on the coast of Siberia, and the empress ordered such of the crew as had been saved to be con. veyed home. A Russian ship accordingly landed the rescued Japanese at Matsmai in 1792, and the captain, Adam Laxmann, made overtures respecting trade. He was formally thanked for bringing home the shipwrecked sailors, and permitted to repair to Nagasaki, there to negotiate with the proper authorities upon his com mercial propositions. He was further informed that at Nagasaki alone could fó- reigners be admitted, and if the Russians ever again landed elsewhere, even to bring home shipwrecked Japanese, they would be made prisoners.

     Capt. Laxmann did not go to Nagasaki, and the attention of the empress being probably withdrawn from so small a matter as trade with Japan by the engrossing character of European politics at that moment, the opening was neglected. It must be stated, however, that Dr. Von Siebold doubts of there having been any real opening. He ascribes the implied possibility of the Russian overtures for trade being entertained at Nagasaki, to the prince of Matsmai, or his secretary, feeling that the town was in no condition to sustain a conflict with a man-of-war, and being consequently anxious to get amicably rid of the Russian visitor.

      In 1804, exertions were made to repair this omission. A Russian man-of-war appeared in Nagasaki bay, conveying count Resanoff, ambassador from the czar to the siogoun, and empowered to negotiate a treaty of friendship and commerce between Russia and Japan,. The count brought with him official Dutch recom. mendations to the president of the factory, who had previously received advices/ upon the subject of the embassy, and recommendations from Batavia. These Heer Doeff had communicated to the governor, so that the constituted authorities of Nagasaki were not altogether unprepared for the embassador's arrival.

It was on the 7th of October * that the Russian vessel was reported to be off the mouth of the bay. The usual commission was sent out to visit her and receive her arms in deposit; and upon this occasion, in compliment to the embassador, the president was requested to accompany the deputation in person. Even at this first meeting the dissensions between the Russian and Japanese dignitaries began. The commissioners, regarding themselves as the representatives of the siogoun, required, as usual, that the marks of repect due to his person should be paid to themselves; whilst the embassador deemed it inconsistent with either his indi- vidual or his official rank to humble himself before the deputies of a provincial governor. The next dispute related to the arms, which Resanoff positively re- fused to surrender, this quarrel turning, like the former, upon the point of honor,

* Doeff.

+ Upon the subject of this representation of the siogoun's person, a difficulty that occurred with the Coreans, and was settled during Doeff's presidentship, may be mentioned. The king of Corea sends an embassy to pay a sort of homage to every new siogoun upon his accession. They formerly repaired to Yedo for that purpose, but upon the accession of the present monarch, the Corean embassy was refused permission to visit the capital, and required to do homage to the prince of Tsu-sima, the immediate superior of Corea, who has a garrison upon the peninsula. This the Corean refused as a degradation, claiming admission at Yedo; and the dispute remained for years unsettled, the homage unpaid. At length, the prince of Kokura, grand treasurer of Japan, and the grand accountant (probable the Japa- nese chancellor of the exchequer), were sent as representatives of the siogoun, to Tsu-sima, to receive the Corean homage; and to this representation of majesty the embassy were content to pay it. The deputation from Yedo visited Doeff at Dezima upon their return to court,

· 164

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

MARCH,

    not of safety, as he readily suffered the ammunition to be landed and held by the Japanese.

     President Doeff avers, that it was solely owing to his good offices and personal influence with the governor, that the ship, thus imperfectly disarmed, was permit- ted to enter the harbor, and take up a secure anchorage, there to await the answer from Yedo, not as to the future opening of negotiations, but as to the present ceremonial. This single evening the Dutchmen were indulged in spending cheer. fully in European society. But the next day a suspicion seems to have arisen of possible confederacy between the two sets of foreigners, however manifestly op. posed their interests, and they were never again allowed to exchange a word. They contrived, however, to correspond in French, through the medium of the interpreters, always, ready apparently to favor the violation of the rigid code: the way, indeed, in which excessive rigidity is in most cases usefully though illegally compensated.

The jealousy of combination between the Dutch and Russians went so far, that the annual ship, this year really Dutch, and then in course of loading, was remov. ed from her wonted berth to a distant station, and when she set sail, the captain and crew were forbidden to answer the kindly greetings and farewell of the Rus- sians. The Dutch captain durst only wave his hat in reply, and this want of politeness seems to have given great offense to the courteous Muscovites, who imputed it to mercantile ill-will.

Meanwhile, the Russian embassador earnestly solicted permission to land, and Capt. Krusenstern, the commander of the ship, as earnestly desired leave to repair his vessel. These requests, being contrary to law, required a reference to Yedo. But Nagasaki now witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon-the simultaneous presence of the two governors: the relief governor having arrived, and the reliev. ed governor fearing to depart at so critical an emergency. Whilst awaiting the orders from Yedo, the colleagues deliberated. They inquired whether the Dutch factory could accommodate the embassy at Dezima, which Doeff, though straiten. ed for room in consequence of a recent fire, agreed to do. But the proposal was not repeated, and the governors next talked of giving the Russians the use of a temple. This idea likewise was abandoned, and finally a fish warehouse, over against Dezima, but at the further extremity of Nagasaki, was selected for the residence of the Russian embassy. It was accordingly cleared out, cleaned, and prepared, for their reception, by inclosing it with palisades, to prevent external communication. These preliminary arrangements being completed, count Re- sanoff was, about the middle of December, installed with his suite in this strange hotel d'ambassade, where the Russian soldiers mounted guard with unloaded mus. kets. It is said that the court of Vedo decidedly disapproved of this ungentle- manlike treatment, in minor points, of the rejected European embassy. A former siogoun had, indeed, beheaded a Portuguese embassy, leaving only enough sur. vivors to carry home the report of their reception, but he had not degraded or insulted them.

All these delays, difficulties, and annoyances, which Doeff ascribes to Resanoff's refusal to give up his guns and perform the kotow, were imputed by the Russians to Dutch influence and misrepresentation. This question requires no investiga. tion; of course, the Dutch did not wish the Russian mission success, but under- hand efforts were scarcely wanted to insure its failure. The affair was, however,

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

165

deemed important even at Yedo, as this is said to have been one of the very few occasions upon which the siogoun* consulted the mikado; probably wishing for his sanction of a refusal that might lead to war.

Towards the end of March, a commissioner, who appears to have been a spy of the higher grade, arrived from Yedo with the answer of the siogoun, and the Russian embassador was invited to an audience, at which he should hear it read. The governor requested Doeff to lend his own norimono for the conveyance of the embassador from his warehouse-lodging to the government-house. The other pre- parations made were directed solely towards preventing the European intruder from acquiring any knowledge of Nagasaki or its inhabitants. The shutters of the windows of all the houses in the streets through which he was to pass were ordered to be closed; the ends of all the streets abutting upon those streets to be boarded up, and every inhabitant, not called by official duty to the procession or the audience, was commanded to remain at home.

      A pleasure-boat of the prince of Fizen's conveyed the Russian embassy across the bay to the landing-place, where the Dutch president's sedan awaited the embassador; a solitary acknowledgment of rank, as his whole suite followed on foot. The next day a second audience was granted, and in consequence of a heavy rain, cago were provided for the Russian officers. The answer was a decided refusal, and Doeff was requested to assist the interpreters in translating the Japanese official document into Dutch. He observed that the Russians pro- bably did not understand this language, and offered to make a French version of the paper. But the Japanese, knowing nothing of French, could not have judged whether a translation into that language was correct; a point far more important in their eyes, than such a trifle as the answer being intelligible or not to those to whom it was addressed.

But though the object of the negotiation was peremptorily rejected, the negotia- tion itself was not yet over. The siogoun had rejected the presents offered him from the czar, whereupon count Resanoff naturally declined accepting the Japan. ese presents sent for himself. This was a point of vital importance to the go. vernor of Nagasaki individually; he had been ordered to make the embassador accept these presents, and a failure would have left him no alternative; he must have ripped himself up, imitated, most likely, by a reasonable proportion of his subordinate officers. By dint of intreaty, the interpreters, who had by this time picked up a little Russian, prevailed upon Rosanoff to accept something; and in. deed if they, or Doeff by letter, explained to him the inevitable consequence of his pertinacious refusal, a man of common good-nature could not but yield.

The Japanese, according to custom upon occasion of rejecting overtures, defray- ed the expenses of the Russians at Nagasaki, and gratuitously supplied the ship with necessaries at her departure. The bitter reciprocal accusations between the baffled Russian diplomatist and the Dutch president are irrevelant to our object; the more so, perhaps, that Resanoff did not live to hear Doeff's charges against himself, or even to give an account of his mission. But short as was the remain- der of his life, it allowed him time to take measures for the gratification of his own anger at his treatment at Nagasaki, which must have determined for a long time, if not permanently, the exclusion of his countrymen from any intercourse with Japan.

* Fischer.

166

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

March,

Instigated by these vindictive feelings, he appears to have resolved upon mak- ing Japan feel the wrath of Russia. For this purpose, during his stay in Siberia or Kamtschatka, he directed two officers of the Russian navy, named Chwostoff and Davidoff, then temporarily commanding merchant-vessels trading between the eastern coast of the Russian dominions in Asia and the western coast of North America, to effect a hostile landing upon the most northern Japanese islands, or their dependencies.

It must here be stated that, before this period, the Russians had gradually possessed themselves of the northern Kurile islands, the whole Kurile archipelago having for centuries been esteemed a dependency of the Japanese empire, and 'more immediately of the prince of Matsmai. Whether this loss of a few islands in a rude and savge state were even known at Yedo; the Dutch factory were of course ignorant; and it seems not unlikely that the prince and his secretary-mas. ters, if they could secure themselves against spies, would deem it expedient to conceal a disaster rather disgraceful than otherwise important.

It was upon Sagalien, one of the southern Kuriles, still belonging to Japan, that Chwostoff and Davidoff, according to Resanoff's orders, landed in the year 1806. This being the most unguarded part of the empire, they were able, unop. posed, to plunder several villages, commit great ravages, and carry off* many of the natives. On reëmbarking, they left behind them papers in the Russian and French languages, announcing that this was done to teach the Japanese to dread the power of Russia, and to show them the folly of which they had been guilty, in rejecting count Resanoff's friendly overtures.

The Japanese government, provincial and supreme, was utterly confounded at this whole transaction. The governor of Nagasaki, evidently by orders from on high, repeatedly asked the Dutch president's opinion of its object; and the French papers were sent to the factory with a request that Doeff would translate them. Some of the interpreters had gained sufficient Russian during the six months' detention of the embassy to make a sort of translation of the Russian copy; and thus, by comparing the two versions, the council of state would be enabled to judge of the fidelity, as to matter and spirit, of Doeff's.

The only immediate result of this really wanton outrage, was the degradation of the prince of Matsmai. He was judged incapable of protecting his subjects or defending his dominions; for which reasons, the principality of Matsmai was converted into an imperial province, and, with its dependencies, Yezo and the Kuriles, thenceforth committed to an imperial governor.

    Four years later, Capt. Golownin was sent in a frigate to explore the Japanese seas, and especially the portion of the Kurile archipelago still belonging to Japan. In the course of a voyage of discovery so likely to offend the feelings of the Japan. ese, some of Golownin's crew indiscreetly landed upon the Kurile island Eeterpoo -or, according to Siebold's orthography, Jetorop-near a fortress, and they were in danger of being taken; but Golownin persuaded the commandant that the hos tile incursion of Chwostoff and Davidoff had been a sheer act of piracy on their part, for which they had been punished-they had been imprisoned, but suffered to escape, and as far as appears, not dismissed the service-and that he himself had only approached the coast because in want of wood and water. A Kurile who spoke Russ, and a Japanese who spoke the Kurile tongue, were Golownin's usual media of conversation. The commandant was satisfied, treated Golownin

F

Jiz

I

ཞུ་

the

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

167

hospitably, and gave him a letter to the commandant of another Jetorop fortress, where, the anchorage being safer, wood and water might be more easily shipped. Golownin made no use of this friendly introduction, but continued for weeks to sail about amongst the islands, exploring, according to his instructions. When at length the wants he had prematurely alleged really pressed, he did not seek the Jetorop harbor recommended to him, but cast anchor in a bay of another yet more southern Kurile island, Kunashir. Here a similar misunderstanding occur- red with the commandant of an adjoining fortress, but was not so happily got over.. The Japanese officer merely affected to be satisfied till he had lulled Golownin in- to security; and then, upon his landing without his usual precautions, surprised, overpowered, and made prisonors of him, his officers, and his boat's crew.

The mixture of cruelty and kindness that marked their treatment astonished the Russians, but is easily intelligible to those who have made acquaintance with the Japanese character. The cruelty was deemed essential to their safe custody, and any torture contributing to such an object would be unhesitatingly, as relent- lessly, inflicted. The kindness was the genuine offspring of Japanese good-nature, ever prompt to confer favors, grant indulgences, and give pleasure, even at the cost of some personal inconvenience.

Thus the Russians were bound all over with small cords so tightly, as to render them perfectly helpless, as to induce the necessity of their meat and drink being put into their mouths: whilst their legs were allowed just sufficient liberty to enable them to walk: The ends of each man's cord were held by a soldier; and in this state they were driven over land or piled upon one another in boats, when they were to cross the sea. Their complaints that the cords cut into their flesh were totally disregarded, and though the wounds were carefully dressed every night, the cords were neither removed nor slackened; but their guards, who underwent more fatigue than themselves, were always ready to carry them when tired, and seemed to grant with pleasure the frequent requests of the compas- sionate villagers of both sexes upon their road, to be permitted to give the prison. ers a good meal: when the givers stood around, and feeding them like infants, seemed to enjoy the refreshment they afforded. The Russians were moreover constantly assured that they were only bound as Japanese prisoners of their rank would be.

      They were finally conveyed to Matsmai, and there kept in prison. After a while, a good house was perpared for their accommodation, where they could be guarded with less annoyance to themselves. The use they made of this indulgence was to attempt an escape, which of course led to their being again committed to the surer custody of a prison. The continued friendship of the governor after this eva. sion, the success of which must have compelled him to the hara-kiri operation- and they were not retaken for some days-is a lively example of the good disposi tion of the Japanese. So is the behavior of one of their guards, who, though degraded from a soldier to a prison servant, because on duty at the time of their flight, exerted himself unremittingly to procure them comforts. The great topics of Golownin's complaints in prison, where he and his companions were immediate- ly unbound, are want of food and troublesome questions; but this simply means, that the abstemious Japanese could not even conceive the appetite of a Russian sailor, and that the Europeans were above answering questions which, under reversed circumstances, they would gladly have put.

168

Notices of Japan, No. VII

MARCH,

    The Japanese government endeavored to profit by the captivity of the Russians, both to instruct and improve the interpreters in that language, and to acquire astronomical science, of which they hoped to learn more from naval officers than from merchants. Amongst the learned men sent from Yedo for this purpose was Doeff's friend, the astronomer Takahaso Sampai, who was likewise, according to the opperhoofd, a commissioner appointed to act with the governor of Matsmai.. As Golownin, who calls him Teské, and speaks of him with affection, seems unconscious of this branch of his mission, it may be suspected that even the philosopher upon that occasion played the part of metsuke, or spy.

    Nearly two years from the seizure of Golownin elpased ere such a disavowal of Chwostoff and Davidoff was obtained from competent Russian authority, as would satisfy the court at Yedo. When the disavowals and explanations were at length admitted, and the prisoners allowed to reembark in Golownin's own ship, which had carried on the negotiation between the two empires, the cordial joy and sympathy of the Russians' Japanese friends are described as really affecting. Golownin, upon his departure, was charged with a written document, warning the Russians against further seeking an impossibility, such as permission to trade with Japan. The warning seems to have been respected, as no subse. quent attempts with or upon the sonthern Kuriles are mentioned.

     The English attempts at opening a commercial intercourse with Japan are the next and last to be narrated. The first of these was too slight to give offense, and may be briefly dispatched. Soon after Capt. Stewart's last visit to Nagasaki, another strange vessel was reported to be off the bay. She was visited by the accustomed Japanese and Dutch deputation, and announced herself as a British merchantman from Calcutta, sent thither to endeavor to open a commercial intercourse between India and Japan. The cross was omitted in her flag, in compliment to the prejudices of the latter nation. The captain's request for leave to trade was refused, and the ship ordered away.

     The next British vessel that visited Japan was the Photon. Her intrusion into the bay of Nagasaki, as has been explained, had no connexion with views of traffic; but its unfortunate result left a hatred of the English name rankling in the hearts of the Japanese, very unpropitious to subsequent amicable or mer. cantile relations. Various additional measures of precaution were ordered, of which the demand of hostages from every strange sail prior to her entering the bay, as mentioned by Siebold, is one.

The British merchants made no second effort to trade with Japan; but in the year 1811, Batavia was attacked by an English armament, and governor Jansens capitulated for Java and all its dependencies. One of these dependencies the factory at Dezima undoubtedly was, the president, as well as the inferior officers and members, having always been appointed and sent thither by the governor of Batavia for the time being, with whom the opperhoofd corresponded, and to whose authority he was always subject. The English governor of Java, sir Stamford Raffles, naturally considered the Japanese factory as part of his government, and in the year 1813, proceeded to enforce his authority in that quarter, and thus effect the transfer of the factory and the trade to England. The measures he took for this purpose were the quietest possible; he dispatched two ships, as the annual traders, having on board a new Dutch opperhoofd--now British by allegiance- Heer Cassa, to relieve president Doeff, who had already held his office more

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

189

then double the usual time, and two commissioners-one Dutch, Doeff's pre- decessor and patron, Wardenaar; the other English, Dr. Ainslie-to examine and settle the affairs of the factory.

To the Japanese, these ships upon being visited appeared simply two more Americans, hired by the Dutch; and although to the factory deputation there seemed a something mysterious about them, it was not till Wardenaar landed and explained to the president and the warehouse-master that Holland was no more, the European provinces being incorporated with France, and the foreign colonies surrendered to England, that the state of the case was understood. Neither, in- deed, was it properly understood then, for the first of the facts stated Heer Doeff refused to believe, and consequently to acknowledge English authority.

      The question between sir Stamford Raffles and Heer Doeff, who was assuredly bound by the act of his superior, governor Jansens, is perhaps somewhat com- plicated by the English governor, like the Russian embassador, not having lived to know the charges brought against him. It is one not to be investigated without the examination of official documents, and even then the discussion would be mis. placed here, being irrelevant to the peculiarities and nationality of the Japanese. It may suffice to point out the improbability of Heer Doeff's statement, that not only no proofs were given him of the facts alleged, but that none were even sent the following year, although he had grounded his disobedience upon the want of Buch proofs-even of European newspapers.

Be this as it may, Heer Doeff resolved to remain opperhoofd, keeping the factory Dutch, and the trade in his own hands. The animosity against the Eng- lish, originating in the suicides occasioned by the adventure of the Phaeton, placed power in his hands, and he used it skillfully for his own purposes. He was obliged, however, to seek the aid of the interpreters, as in all underhand proceedings.

Heer Doeff invited the five chief interpreters to Dezima, and in Wardenaar's presence communicated to them that gentleman's statements, his own disbelief of all beyond the conquest of Java by the English, and the fact that the shipm then in the harbor were English. The Japanese were confounded at the idea of public vicissitudes foreign to their experience, and terrified at the weight of responsibility impending over the authorities of Nagasaki, who had again been duped into suffering the intrusion of English vessels. Willingly, therefore, did they agree to the scheme by which Doeff proposed to avert such consequences. This was to suppress the whole history of the conquest, and to state that a suc. cessor had been sent him, in case the Japanese should object to the further pro. longation of his already unwontedly prolonged presidentship; but that the go- vernor of Batavia wished, if not disagreeable to the governor of Nagasaki, to continue him yet a while as opperhoofd, that he might profit by a few years of trade, after so many blank seasons. This arranged, Doeff proposed to buy the cargoes of the ships, negotiate their sale and the purchase of return cargoes on his own account with the Japanese, and finally sell the latter to the English commissioners.

The strong representations made by Doeff and the interpreters of the hatred entertained by the Japanese towards the English, of the conflict and bloodshed that must ensue upon revealing the truth, evils they had not been sent there to provoke, induced the intended president, the commissioners, and the captains of the vessels, to submit to Doeff's terms. The stratagem succeeded; the vessels

22

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Notices of Japan, No. VII.

MARCH,

passed for Americans in the Dutch service, and Doeff remained Dutch president, Dezima alone in the whole world then being in fact Dutch.

     Dr. Ainslie, who now visited in Nagasaki, according to Doeff, as an American physician, appears, from the very slight report of his mission given in sir Stam- ford Raffles' Memoir, to have experienced great kindness and hospitality, and to have been much pleased with the Japanese character, especially with the treat- ment of women, and the elegant manners of the ladies. It is to be observed that this report gives the impression of Dr. Ainslie's having been known as an Eng- lishman. Indeed, he positively states that the Japanese spoke to him of his coun- trymen with respect, averring their conviction that the English would never play a second act of the Russian embassy. But, as before said, this is not the place for discussing the question as mooted between sir S. Raffles and president Doeff; and the subject may be dismissed with the wish, that the publication of the Recollections of the latter may induce some one who possesses, or has access to the requisite knowledge of the facts to give a British statement of them to the world.

     In 1814, Heer Cassa again appeared at Dezima as appointed opperhoofd, bring- ing tidings of the great events of 1813 in Europe, especially of the Dutch insur- rection in behalf of the House of Orange, and the consequent prospect of the immediate restoration of the Dutch colonies by England. Sir S. Raffles and Heer Cassa probably expected that this information would remove all Heer Doeff's patriotic objections to follow the fate of his lawful superior, governor Jansens, and obey orders from Batavia, as of old. But Doeff still professed dis- belief, and recurring to the measures of the preceding year, inforced compliance by the same threats then employed. He was now energetically aided by the interpreters, whose lives would be forfeited should their previous complicity he discovered.

     This year, however, Heer Cassa was less unprepared for the conflict-he counter-manœuvred; and had he engaged no lady-domestics from the tea-houses, might possibly have triumphed. He gained over two of the confidential inter. preters, and negotiated through them, not the disclosure replete with danger to all, but the procuring from the court of Yedo a refusal of Doeff's request for leave to remain. But some of the women in Cassa's service were Doeff's spies; from them he learned what was going forward, and by threatening the interpreters to lay the whole truth, at all hazards, before the governor of Nagasaki, he car. ried his point, and again sent away his appointed successor. Sir S. Raffles did not apparently think it worth while, under the circumstances, to renew the at- tempt. He sent no more ships; and as some time elpased ere a Dutch govern- ment was reestablished and in full action in Java, Heer Doeff paid the price of his triumph in another interval of years without trade, emoluments, or European comforts. It was not till 1817 that Dutch vessels brought him a Dutch appointed successor, Heer Blomhoff.

     All that need be added, upon the subject of these attempts, is, that Japan now possesses interpreters understanding English and Russian as well as Dutch, and that, since the year 1830, these interpreters are according to Siebold, stationed at different points all round the external coast, in preparation for the possible approach of any strange ship. It seems something singular that in Dr. Parker's account of his repulse in 1837, these interpreters are not mentioned; unless we 'are to suppose that they might be present, but finding Mr. Gutzlaff perform their

2

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*

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1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VII.

171

part, thought it well to conceal their own knowledge of English. If this were so, they might thus discover the missionary scheme, and hence the virulence of the hostile attack, without the vessel having been first ordered away-the usual course.*

Dr. Siebold speaks of squabbles in his time with English whalers, which neces- sarily or unnecessarily violated the Japanese harbors. Yet as it appears that some of these very offending whalers have since been supplied with wood and water, it may be hoped that the bitterness of animosity to England has subsided, unless revived by Dr. Parker's missionary views, as it must still and ever be difficult for the Japanese to distinguish between English and Americans.†

* [The account already given of this voyage in a previous volume (see vol. VI., page 353) obviates the need of any further remarks here as to its objects and doings, but when that article and Dr. Parker's Narrative were both before the writer of this paper, we think the character and intentions of the voyage might have been more fairly stated. It was not a missionary, but a commercial, voyage; and the medical services of the physician with the aid of interpreters, and the bringing back of shipwrecked natives, were made use of to obtain, if possible, an interview with the Japanese authorities, and learn their present feelings regarding a trade. It is indeed something singular, that if the interpreters mentioned by Siebold are stationed along the coast none came on board the Morrison, and the difficulty is most easily removed by concluding that there are none; for how are they to obtain the knowledge of Russian and English, two most difficult languages for foreigners to learn to speak, even with living teachers, while shut up in their own land and having never seen an Englishman, and very seldom a Russian? Even if there are such interpreters, they would have found great difficulty in discovering a *missionary scheme' which had no existence. In the bay of Yedo, the vessel was fired upon before she came to anchor, or even her national flag could be seen or known; and at Kagosima, she was told that at Nagasaki, there were proper au- thorities with whom she could treat; and the probable reason of her being fired at was from misunderstanding her intentions in laying at anchor after the officers had declined to receive the men. These very officers expressed the most lively sympathy for their unfortunate countrymen, and regretted that they were for. bidden to receive them.]

      [If the Japanese government so sedulously guard their coasts from the ap proach of foreign ships, and forbid their people from going abroad, the winds which prevail on their coasts are constantly driving their vessels out to sea, and scattering the natives over the face of the earth, thus bringing them in contact with other nations. Last month we had occasion to mention the arrival in Ma- cao of three tempest-tost mariners picked up in the Pacific; and a ship from the Sandwich Islands this month brings an account of the arrival there of seven taken off a wreck in lat. 34° N., and long. 174° E., on the 6th of June, 1840, by captain Cathcart of the whale ship James Loper; this happened only three days before the rescue of the three men by captain Codman, the two junks being about 200 miles from each other. The seven men were sent to Kamtschatka. In Decem- ber, 1832, a Japanese junk anchored in the harbor of Waialua in Oahu, which had drifted about in the Pacific almost a year; it had on board only three men, who, after remaining at Honolulu for eighteen months were also sent to Kam tschatka. Besides these two instances, there are the two mentioned in vol. VI. of the Repository, page 209. In 1836, six Japanese were brought to Canton, by the Chinese, authorities, who had been wrecked on the island of Hainan; and in 1838, four more were brought to Canton, who were supposed to be Lewchewans. The case mentioned by Siebold in No I. of this series of papers (see vol. IX, page 121,) is another that had like to have proved fatal. The men brought in the Argyle say that two junks left their village last year, which were never heard of after- wards. K'aproth, too, derived much of his knowledge of Japan from shipwrecked men, whom the Russians took up; and we cannot doubt that many more vessels are driven off from the coast which founder, or are never more heard of]

172

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

MARCH,

ART. III. Illustrations of men and things in China: mode of ·

making walls and walks; a lampoon; a worshiper.

Mode of making walls and walks. The Chinese have a substitute for stone or brick pavements, called by foreigners chunam, derivep from an Indian word meaning lime, from the use of lime in its com- position, and which they call sha hwuy, or 'sanded lime.' It is made by mixing sifted sand with quicklime in the proportion of about 15 to 1, and thoroughly working them together with a hoe, occasionally sprinkling the heap. It is then thinly spread upon the ground, and beat very solid with a kind of wooden peels, now and then wetting the place to assist the solidification. The materials for walls are the same, but the gravel is rather coarser. In constructing a wall, boards are set within posts on each side of the foundation just the thickness of the intended wall, and the prepared gravel poured in and pounded down solid with long heavy beaters. When full to the top of the boards, additional ones are placed above them, and the process repeated, till by successive increments the wall is done. When thoroughly dry, it is coated with coarse plaster for preservation from rain, and if the coating is well done, the wall becomes in time very hard and stony. Besides the usual mode of laying brick to make the walls of dwellings, either plastered or not, houses are also con- structed in the same manner of this sanded lime; but more commonly tiers of bricks are loosely laid in to render it more substantial, and the whole covered with plaster, and whitewashed.

the

In places where burned bricks are expensive, the people have devised a substitute, viz., large blocks made of disintegrated felspar and lime. Localities often occur in the granitic strata in this region where the felspar predominates, and, by exposure, has disinte- grated and fallen down in the form of coarse clay. The workman brings his tools to the place, consisting of a sliding wooden form of the size of his intended bricks, and a long beater.

He turns up clayey felspar, and mixing more or less lime with it as he sees fit, pours the same into the mold, and pounds it in as solid as possible; then opening the frame, he dries the mass in the sun. These blocks. are about 14 inches long by 6 square, and sell for $3 to $34 a hun- dred. Almost all the houses on the island of Hongkong are built of this material, which in dry situations answers well enough to sustain. a roof, and shelter the inmates from wind and rain; but when a freshet

1841

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

173

     flows into a village of such dwellings, it soon causes them to be dissolved, an event by no means unknown in some seasons.

      A lampoon. The following satirical piece was written and circulat- ed soon after the riot in Canton, Dec. 12th, 1838, to which the ninth and tenth lines refer. The two persons named in the third and fourth lines were notorious opium dealers, and while holding office were sup- posed to be screened by gov. Tăng, who, from them and others.of the inferior magistracy, is charged with having received three tens and six,' or 36,000 taels per month for the use of the revenue cutters for purposes of smuggling. It is a pretty close translation.

+

In truth, there's no luck at all in Canton,

For Tingching in governor's hall is found,-

Who, of Cheih Shakwang, is the well known patron,

  And Ta Luhchuh by him rose from the ground. The boats of Two Kwang are privily let,

For a monthly sop of three tens and six. Poor Ho Laoukin! he strangled him to death, Because his cash and coin could not suffice ;- How was the cross all broken down and lost, And the curtained tent quite overset and tost! He put a tell-tale cangue on Punhoyqua, And squeezed the pelf from uncle Howqua. He scared poor Fung Sühchang almost to death, And Lew Shoolúh had well nigh lost his breath. If we hope for halcyon days of peace to come, Unbutton and dismiss this infamous Tăng; For if he stays three years in power,

Canton will be just like one hot cauldron.

A worshiper. I was walking one day in the environs of Honan, when I came across two respectable elderly matrons worshiping be- fore a small shrine, which, from all appearances, they had themselves placed there among the graves by the wayside. No image was visi- ble, but my attention was arrested by the inscription over the shrine, kew tseih tih e, freely rendered by, 'Ask and ye shall receive.' One of the women was kneeling on the grass, and devoutly praying, while her companion was making ready the paper to burn before the deity. In the streets of Canton, altars are erected, and before some of them, six, ten, twelve, and more, women, are sometimes seen worshiping, lighting incense sticks, kneeling, and endeavoring by repeated throws of the keën pei, or divining blocks, to ascertain the answer to their prayers. This worship in the streets is not deemed indecorous, nor does it appear to be done by them to be seen of men.

174

Rewards for British ships.

MARCH,

ART. IV. Rewards for British ships and. British subjects, offered by Eleäng, the lieutenant governor of Canton, in a procla- mation, dated February 27th, 1841.

BOUNTIES have again been offered for British subjects and British ships. Early in the summer of 1840, about the time the expedition arrived in China, the governor of this province issued a proclamation promising large rewards for the capture of Enghish vessels, and for the seizure of British subjects. One or two seizures were made, but no notice seems to have been taken of the proclamation by those against whom it was designed to operate. This second document holds out the promise of still larger rewards, and is apparently attract- ing no more notice than the first It is issued, however, under cir cumstances which fix a very foul stain on the character of the pro- vincial government-none the less foul, because it may have been occasioned by the spirit and letter of the emperor's own commands. The document is chiefly deserving of notice on occount of the exhi- bition it makes of that bad spirit which is so characteristic of the Chinese government, especially in its relation to foreign countries. It was resolved upon, drawn üp, and made known in private circles, while ostensibly amicable negotiations were going on with those who were to be its victims-dead or alive. It is not simply a declaration of war, it is a call for hostilities in their worst forms. The emperor's edicts, given at Peking on the 27th January, show unequivocally what line of policy had been fixed upon by the imperial counsels. "There can only remain one course," says the emperor, viz., destroy and wipe them clean away, to exterminate and root them out, without remorse." Accordingly he instructs his high officers "to compel these rebellious foreigners to give up their ringleaders, that they may be sent encaged to Peking, to receive the utmost retri- bution of the laws;" i. e. to be cut into ten thousand pieces, to under- go death in the most ignominious and cruel manner.

+

"to

    Before introducing the proclamation, which we borrow from the Canton Register, a few things must be remarked concerning his ex- cellency, the lieutenant-governor, by whom it is issued. E, or Eleäng, is a Mantchou, and is said to be (as is evidently the case) much under the influence of Lin, to whose measures he adheres, and by whose policy he is guided. His proclamation of rewards is a mere second edition of that issued by Lin. Indeed, since Liu's de-

1841.

Rewards for British Ships.

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gradation, Eleäng has been the principal local agent in hastening on that collision which has been so disastrous to the military and naval forces and defenses of this province. To the rational and very pacific policy advanced by the imperial commissioner Keshen, he has been violently opposed, and very likely chief actor in causing his removal and recall to Peking. It is said, and on good authority, that he has charged Keshen with having received bribes from the British plenipotentiary! It is said also, that he compelled Keshen, before giving up the seals of governor, which he was temporarily holding, to affix them to this infamous proclamation,-which he him- self had issued, Keshen having declined taking any part in getting up that paper. The following is the translation.

E, lieutenant-governor, &c,, issues the following scale of rewards.

1.-If the native traitors can repent of their crimes and quit the service of the (English) foreigners, come before the magistrates and confess, their offenses will be forgiven; and those who are able to seize alive the rebellious foreigners, and bring them before the magistrates, as well as those who offer up the foreigner's heads, will be severally rewarded according to the following scale.

2.-On the capture of one of the line-of-battle ships, the ship and guns will be confiscated, but all that the ship contains, as clothes, goods and money, shall be the reward of the captors, with an additional reward of $100,000; those who burn, or break to prices, or bore holes through a line-of-battle ship's bottom, so that she sinks, upon the facts being substantiated, shall be rewarded with $30,000; for ships of the second and third class the rewards will be proportionably decreased.

3.-The capture of one of the large steamers shall be rewarded with $50,000, for the smaller, one half.

Those among the brave who are foremost in seizing men and ships, and who distinguish themselves by their daring courage, besides receiving the above pecuniary rewards, shall have buttons (official rank) conferred on them, and be reported for appointments in the public service.

4.-Fifty thousand dollars shall given to those who seize either Elliot, Mor- rison, or Bremer, alive; and those who bring either of their heads-on the facts being ascertained-shall get $30,000.

5.-Ten thousand dollars shall given to those who seize an officer alive, and $5000 for each officer's head.

6.-Five hundred dollars shall be given for every Englishman seized alive; if any are killed and their heads brought in, three hundred dollars will be given.

7.-One hundred dollars will be given for every sipahe or lascar taken alive, and fifty for their heads.

       8.-Those among you who, in their efforts to seize the English rebels, may lose their lives, on examination and proof of the facts, a reward of three hundred dollars shall be given to your families.

       The foreigners of every other country are respectful and obedient, and do not like the English cause commotions; it is not permitted to seize and annoy them-thus will the good and virtuous remain in tranquillity. (February 27.) ·

176

Progress of the War.

MARCH,

ART. V. Progress of the war; battle of the Bogue and destruc- tion of the forts there and on the river up to Canton; armistice and arrangements for trade agreed on.

In our last number, we briefly summed up the proceedings of the expedition to China, from the time of its arrival on the coasts in June last, to the breaking off of negotiations, resumption of hostilities, and taking of the Bogue forts, on the 26th of Feb. The details of the battle at the Bogue we were then unable to give. That omission we now supply, by insertion of the following extract from a commu- nication made to our cotemporary of the Canton Press. After parti- cularizing the opening of hostilities, on the expiry of the time allowed for the conclusion by Keshen of the treaty arranged with him,-our cotemporary's correspondent thus proceeds: in his narrative, we have ventured to make a few changes and omissions.

Owing to the calmness of the weather, the progress of the fleet was very tedious; the steamers here came into requisition, and the forces now assem- bled consisted of the following vessels :-Calliope, Samarang, Herald, Al- ligator, Sulphur, and steamer Nemesis, forming the advanced squadron, which arrived at the Bogue on the 19th; the Wellesley, Blenheim, Melville, Druid, Modeste, and steamers Queen and Madagascar, which arrived be. tween the 23d and 25th, with the transports Sophia, Minerva, Thetis, Eagle. "During the whole of the 25th, the note of preparation for the approach- ing struggle was sounded through the fleet. In the forenoon a landing was effected on South Wangtong, of three howitzers, and about 150 men of the 37th M. N. I., with parties of the royal and Madras Artillery, under the superintendence of sir Le Fleming Senhouse. The landing was re- markably well managed; the Nemesis, having towed the troop-boats ashore, took up a snug berth, nearly shut in from the fire of Anunghoy and the fort on the western side of the river, backed out, and gave it to Anunghoy with her bow-gun, and to the western fort with her stern. Some of the shot from these forts fell pretty near her; from North Wangtong the Chinese could make nothing of it, their shot falling a long way outside of her. The position taken by the landing party was perfectly covered from the fire of the Chi- nese. It is singular, that with all the care with which they appear to have fortified and protected North Wangtong, they should not have seen how easily a landing could be effected on South Wangtong, without being exposed to their fire. This was a fatal mistake, for it gave us a position that com- manded their stronghold of North Wangtong.

"At daylight on the morning of the memorable 26th, the three howitzers opened from the sandbag battery, raised during the night by our men on South Wangtong-upon the Chinese fortifications on the northern island. The firing was kept up with spirit, and the shells told with great precision, for the buildings and wooden huts, under the walls of the custom-house fort, were perceived to be on fire, and were soon demolished. The shells, and rockets must have made considerable havoc in a large encampment, stretch- ing from the fort on the west end of the island, behind the round fort on

1841.

Progress of the War.

177

the hill, towards the upper custom-house fort.* The whole defenses of North Wangtong were very strong, and exceedingly well covered and protected by sand-bag battaries, most regularly and neaty made, and had they been brave- ly served, would have cost a severe struggle, and the blood of many a gellant fellow, before them.

"It was arranged that a combined and simultaneous attack should be made on all the Bogue forts, shortly after daylight on the morning of the 26th, but owing to its falling calm, with a strong ebb-tide, it was found im- practicable, some of the ships that weighed being obliged to bring to again, and wait for the flood-tide to serve. About 11 o'clock a. ■. the Blenheim was seen under weigh, bearing down for the great Anunghoy fort, accompanied by the Queen steamer, with three rocket boats, keeping a little away into Anson's bay, and followed by the Melville about one mile distant. The ships for the attack of Wangtong were also on the move. It was nearly calın, and the ships dropped down very slowly: the suspense became oppressive; it was with breathless interest we watched the majestic gliding of the ships slowly to their work of destruction; not a sound breaking the ominous stillness that hung over the waters. The hills above Anunghoy, and stretching far away inland, were covered with large bodies of the enemy, posted at commanding points, covered by sand-bag batterics. On the opposite side of the river, along the ridge of the Tanan hills, the enemy also were seen in great strength. "The Queen steamer commenced the action, firing the first shot. The Chinese replied promptly from the strong sand-batteries lately raised towards Anson's bay, and the lower Anunghoy fort. The Blenheim coolly dropped down, without returning a shot to the brisk fire opened on her, till within 600 yards of Anunghoy, when she brought to, clewed all up, and opened her broadside. The Melville followed about 10 minutes later in the saine gallant style, and took up an admirable position about 400 yards off the fort, a short way ahead of the Blenheim. Like the Blenheim she did not fire a shot till she had brought to, then she gave her starboard broadside in quick succes, sion. Her firing was splendid, and did considerable damage to the fort. The Blenheim's fire was directed more against the sand batteries than against the people at the guns in the fort. The practice of the Queen and the rocket-boats deserves the greatest praise. During the heat of the action, a boat broke adrift from the Melville, and drifted close in under the gune of Anunghoy. A boat was dispatched to bring her back, which was effected in cool and gallant style without loss. After a few broadsides, the dragon hearted Tartars were seen flying out of the fort in great numbers, up the hill at the back of it, and around its base towards Anson's bay. Sir Le F. Senhouse then landed with about 300 men, consisting of the Blenheim and Melville's marines and blue jackets, and carried the forts, sweeping them clean from one end to the other. The British jack was hoisted, and the famed Anunghoy forts were in our possession at half-past one o'clock. The loss of the Chinese at this point was not so severe as one would have thought from the heavy broadsides of the 74s. They only lost about 20 killed, amongst whom were two officers, one of whom was a fine stout elderly man, lying near the officer-house, situated in the centre of the lower Anunghoy fort, with a bayonet wound in the right breast. By some he was supposed to be Kwan; one or two low officers were taken prisoners, but, after being taken

* To render clear what is here meant, it should be observed that North Wang. tong was strongly protected by a double fortification on the eastern side, near which was the custom-house, by a good and new battery, à fleur d'eau on the west side, commanded by a little old crumbling hill fort, and by recently erected batteries of earth and sand, on the northern and southern sides. In the centre of all these was the encampment referred to.

VOL. X. NO, III

23

178

Progress of the War.

MARCH,

on board of the ships, were let go. On our side not a single casualty oc- curred. The rigging and spars of the ships were a good deal cut up, a few shot also hulled them. Two hundred and five guns were taken, spiked, and destroyed. It is almost incredible, considering the heavy fire maintained by the forts on these vessels, that they should have escaped without losing a

man.

    "Whilst the Blenheim and Melville were engaging Anunghoy, on the eastern side, the Calliope proceeded up the other channel, on the western side of Wangtong (or Thwart-the-way) island, and opened the action at North Wangtong, closely followed by the Samarang, Herald, Alligator, the advanced squadron being directed to take up a position, north of the island- while the Wellesley, Druid, and Modeste attacked the western defenses. The continued firing of the fleet and forts, produced a roar, echoed back by the neighboring hills, like incessant peals of thunder, perfectly awful, and formed the grandest spectacle of this memorable day! About 12 o'clock the Chi- nese fire on Wangtong slackened, and the Nemesis was seen towing the troops to the landing place, close to the fort on the western end of North Wangtong. The landing was soon effected, the gallant major Pratt leading, with detachments of the 26th and 49th, in two boats, under major Johnson, closely followed by the marines under captain Ellis, the 37th M. N. I. under captain Duff, and the Bengal Volunteers under captain Mee. The force pushed rapidly up the ascent, passing in the rear of the first battery, and to the top of a steep hill. The fort here was expected to cost us a severe struggle and great loss to take, which it certainly would have done, had it been held by brave men. It was carried in splendid style, major Johnson, closely fol- lowed by captain Moorhead, leading the escalading party. The Chinese were driven out with considerable slaughter, and fled down the hill toward the custom-house fort, closely pressed by our force. It was an animating and cheering sight to see our brave fellows pursuing the enemy; but it was with feelings not unaccompanied by pity that I saw the poor flying wretches shot down. The whole of our force now pressed quickly on to the custom-house fort, and formed under the walls, opening a sharp fire of musketry on them. A few minutes more saw the British flag hoisted on the lower custom-house fort, which was greeted with cheers from the transports. Thus Wangtong was in our possession. The detachment for the service of the engineer department was furnished by the seamen of H. M. S. Wellesley, under com- mand of lieut. Birdwood, Madras engineer.

"The loss of the Chinese on North Wangtong amounted to about 250 kill- ed and 100 wounded; above 1000 were made prisoners in the custom-house fort, all of them excepting about 100, who were kept to bury the dead, were landed and set at liberty on the western side of the river.

"Whilst the vessels were dropping down to engage the forts, 4 boats were observed to leave the island, and stand away for Tiger island, the Chinese from the upper custom-house fort opening a fire upon them, but without effect. It was afterwards ascertained, that these boats contained most of the officers and their immediate followers, who fled panic-struck the moment they saw our ships under weigh, taking, it has been supposed, the base and cruel pre- caution of barring the gates, to prevent their countrymen from following their example.

"About 4 o'clock in the afternoon the Nemesis, having in tow several boats filled with the Wellesley's marines, proceeded to occupy the fort on the western shore under the Tanan hills. This fort had been previously silenc- ed by the admirable firing of the Wellesley. The troops effected a landing without difficulty, the Nemesis throwing an occasional shot or two to keep the Chinese in play. The force proceeded up the hills and dispersed the Chi-

1841.

Progress of the War.

179

nese, and destroyed and fired their encampments. The fire blazed long after dark, and formed a grand closing spectacle to this eventful day's work. The blaze must have been seen for miles off, and told the sad tale to the Chinese of the fall of the Bogue forts. It burned in a circle of nearly two miles, cast- ing a strong glare over the heavens and waters of the Bogue, forming, as it were, a vast illumination in commemoration of our triumph over the back- haired race of Han! I did not hear the number of Chinese killed in this fort

stated; they lost 30 guns. All the fortifications, those on Wangtong ex- cepted, are now being dismantled and leveled."

On the morning of the 27th, the advanced squadron, under captain Herbert, consisting at this time of the Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, and Modeste, (the Samarang having been sent to lie in Macao Roads, where the Hyacinth had previously remained,) pro- ceeded up the river, with the steamers Nemesis and Madagascar. In the evening was issued the following.

Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.

      A Chinese force of upwards of 2000 troops of élite (strongly intrenched on the left bank of the river at this point, and defended by upwards of 100 pieces of artillery), was entirely routed this afternoon, after an obstinate resistance, at- tended with great loss of life. The cannons were rendered unserviceable, the encampment and ammunition destroyed, and the late British ship Cambridge blown up, she having previously taken part in the action from a position close to the opposite side of a raft reaching across the river from the west of the intrench- ed camp. This signal service was achieved by an advanced squadron, consisting of the vessels named in the margin, under the command of captain Herbert of H. M.'s. ship Calliope. The casualties on the side of H. M.'s forces have been in- considerable, but are not yet accurately ascertained.

H. M.'s ship Calliope, at anchor off Brunswick Rock,

Whampoa Reach, 27th February, 1841, 9 p. M.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Vessels engaged: Calliope, Herald, Alligator, Modeste, Nemesis, Madagascar.

      We have been informed, by an eye-witness, that two of the Chi- nese officers fell on the bayonet of the marines. When driven to the rear of their intrenched camp, some of the soldiers stood like men, fighting hand to hand. About 200 fell; and it was supposed that the chief officer in command was among that number, he having recently arrived from Hoonan. The steamers received a few shot, one grazing the top of the steam condenser of the Nemesis.

On Monday, 1st March, the raft that had been built across the river near the above-named fort, was taken away, and the ships pro- ceeded. The taking of the next fort was thus announced.

Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.

Whampoa Reach, 3d March, 1841. A masked battery (situated on the N. E. end of Whampoa island) fired upon H. M.'s ship Sulphur and a division of boats yesterday morning, and was gallantly carried by the boats' crews. The advanced squadron, consisting of the ships mentioned in the margin, is at anchor off Howqua's Folly, and that place is oc- cupied by H. M.'s forces. H. M.'s plenipotentiary was this day visited by the Kwangchow foo, under a flag of truce, and there is a suspension of hostilities.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary. Ships in advance: Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Modeste, and two sail of trans- ports.

     About twenty Chinese were killed here, and twenty-three guns destroyed. The Pylades from Chusan, Starling, transports, &c., joined the advanced squadron in the afternoon.

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MARCH,

Sir Hugh Gough, major-general and commander-in-chief of the land forces, arrived on the 2d.

The several circulars and notices which follow bring down the narrative to the close of the month.

Circular to Her Britannic Majesty's Subjects.

The armistice granted to the enemy having expired yesterday morning, at 11 ▲. ., the works in immediate advance of Howqua's Fort were occupied." The ac- companying proclamation was then issued to the people of Canton.

(Signed)

CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.

"On board H. M. S. Calliope, Whampoa Reach, 7th March, 1841.

"

By Charles Elliot, Esq., &c., H. M. Plenipotentiary in China, -a Proclamation. Prople of Cantov':

Your city is spared, because the gracious sovereign of Great Britain has com- manded the high English officers to remember, that the good and peaceful people must be tenderly considered. But if the high officers of the celestial court offer the least obstruction to the British forces in their present stations, then it will become necessary to answer force by force, and the city may suffer terrible injury. And if the merchants be prevented from buying and selling freely with the British and foreign merchants, then the whole trade of Canton must immediately be stopped. The high officers of the English nation, have faithfully used their best efforts to prevent the miseries of war; and the responsibility of the actual state of things must rest upon e heads of the bad advisers of the emperor. Further evil consequences can only be prevented by wisdom and moderation on the part of the provincial government.

"Dated off the fort of Fshamee, near to Canton, the 6th day of March, 1841."

Circular.

Macao, 10th March, 1841. A report has this day reached the undersigned to the effect that the authorities at Canton have granted pilot chops to ships other than British to proceed to Whampoa. The port of Canton, from its entrances to the opposite extreme, be- ing in the military occupation of her majesty's arms, there is no reason to believe that his excellency the commander-in-chief of the naval forces will under present circumstances admit the efficacy of passports or papers granted by the Chinese government; the undersigned, therefore, apprehensive that disappointment may be created, considers it right to give notice that it is highly improbable that ships will be allowed permission to enter the river under any authority other than that of the commander-in-chief. It should also be stated, that a close embargo will very shortly be laid on the city and trade of Canton, unless and until the whole foreign trade proceeds upon a perfectly equal footing.

T

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M.'s Plenipotentiary.

Public Notice.

Macao, 13th March, 1841.

    At the request of his excellency the naval commander-in-chief, notice is hereby given that British and foreign merchant ships will not be permitted to proceed higher than North Wangtong until further notice.

By order of H. M.'s plenipotentiary, Edward Elmslie, Sec., &c.

Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.

H. M. S. Calliope, Whampoa Reach, 15th March, 1841. The fort in the Macao passsage near Canton, which had been considerably strengthened and supported by flanking field works, was carried on the evening of the 13th inst., by the force mentioned in the margin, under the command of cap- tain Herbert, of H. M. ship Calliope; the enemy manifesting more spirit than has been observable since the affair of the 27th ulto. The fort has been since garrison. ed and the Modeste is at that point. On the morning of the same day, the Nemesis with the boats and marines of H. M. ship Samarang, and a boat from the H. C.'s steam ship Atalanta, proceeded from Macao towards Canton by the Inner Pas- sage. Seven small works or batteries have been carried, 105 pieces of cannon des- troyed, and 9 sail of men-of-war junks blown up, between Macao and Tszenai; the

1841.

Progress of the War.

181

chop-house at the last place was burnt down. The briefest notice of this service would be unsuitable, which failed to mention the admirable steadiness and ability displayed by Mr. William H. Hall, &. N., commander of the Nemesis, in the navigation of that extraordinary vessel. She was moved onwards for some suc- ceeding miles in her own depth of water, and with the breadth of the river so near her own length, that it became necessary on several occasions, to force her bow into the bank and bushes on one side to clear her heel of the dry ground on the opposite. Formidable obstructions to the navigation were removed by the steam- er with characteristic energy.

EDWARD ELMSLIE, Secretary, &c.

i

By order.

(Signed)

1

H. M. ships Modeste, Starling, and the H. Co.'s steamer Madagascar: boats of H. M. ships Blonde, Conway, Herald, Alligator, Hyacinth, Nimrod, Pylades, and Cruizer.

Circular to Her Majesty's Subjecta.

H. M. cutter Louisa, at anchor off Canton, 19th March, 1841. A flag of trúce having been fired upon from a work on the left bank of the Ma- cao Passage, near this city, on the 16th inst., captain Herbert, in command of the squadron in advance moved forward the ships and vessels named in the margin (Modeste, Algerine, Starling, Hebe, Louisa, Nemesis, Madagascar, bouts of H. M. ships, Calliope, Blonde, Conway, Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Hyacinth, Pylades, Nimrod, Cruizer, and Columbine), and a flotilla of boats under the com- mand of captain Bourchier of H. M. ship Blonde, formed into 3 divisions under the immediate charge of commanders Barlow and Clarke and lieutenant Coul- son of the Blonde, captain Bethune of H. M. ship Conway seconding and assisting capt. Bourchier in the general direction of this branch of the service. H. M. S. Hyacinth and a division of boats under the command of commander Belcher, seconded by commander Warren, were placed at the south entrance of a branch of the river re-communicating with the main stream at Fatee; this movement being made with the purpose to cut off the retreat of a numerous flotilla which had taken part in the aggression of the 16th inst. The necessary arrangements having been completed, the whole force was moved forward simultaneously yes- terday at abont noon, carrying in the course of two hours all the works in im- mediate advance, and before the city (the Dutch Folly inclusive), and taking, sinking, or destroying the enemy's flotilla. The Chinese defended themselves with constancy at the main point of attack, notwithstanding the excellent fire of H. M. S. Modeste and the other attacking vessels, some of the people standing to their guns till they were dislodged by the musketry from the seamen and marines. H. M. S. Herald, brought over the flats by dint of great care and exertion, entered the reach during the engagement, and the appearance of such a reserve no doubt contributed to the success of the day. These important and admirably conducted operations have placed Canton under the guns of the squad- ron, and the vessels remain at an anchorage commanding all approaches to the city, from the southern and western branches of the river. The casualties on the side of H. M. forces have been inconsiderable.

(Signed) - CHARLES ELLIOT, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

Circular to Her Majesty's Subjects.

Canton, Hall of the British Factory, 20th March, 1841. A suspension of hostilities at Canton in this province has this day been agreed upon between the imperial commissioner Yang and the undersigned. It has further been publicly proclaimed to the people under the seals of the commis sioner and of the acting governor of the province, that the trade of the port of Canton is open, and that British and other foreign merchants who may see fit to proceed there for the purposes of lawful commerce shall be duly protected. No bond will be required by the provincial government, but there will be no objection on the part of the British authorities to the like liabilities for the în. troduction of prohibited merchandize, or smuggling (duly proved), which would follow such offenses in England, detention of the person or penal consequences of all kind excepted. Pending the final settlement of affairs between the two countries, the undersigned has consented to the payment of the usual port charges and other established duties. Ships of war will remain in the near

182

Progress of the War.

MARCH,

neighborhood of the factories for the better protection of Her Majesty's sub- jects engaged in trade at Canton.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

Public Notice.

     Notice is hereby given that British and foreign merchant vessels have permis sion to proceed to Whampoa, all consequences arising from the possible and sud- den resumption of hostilities of course remaining at the risk of the parties. Given on board the Wellesley off Wangtong, 21st March, 1841.

(Signed) J. J. Gordon Bremer, Commodore 1st Class, Commander-in-chief.

Proclamation to the people of Canton.

     Yang, joint imperial commissioner, a noble of the second order, &c., and E, acting governor of the Two Kwang, &c.,-hereby issue a proclamation, to carry on commercial intercourse as usual, and peacefully to pursue ordinary avocations. Whereas, upon the 19th of the present month, the English plenipotentiary officially represented, that it was his desire to maintain peace, and he demanded nothing else, but only immediate permission for the trade to be carried on, as usual: and whereas the commercial intercourse enjoyed by various countries is owing to the good pleasure of the celestial court that all should cherish ten- derly men from afar: therefore, the English plenipotentiary having so repre- sented, that he demands nothing else but trade only; and the merchant ships of America and other countries having in consequence of the war, suffered deten tion, so that their cargoes remain unsold, and there is no prospect to them of returning homeward:-a change cannot but be made, commensurably to these cir- cumstances, permitting them alike to trade, and thus displaying a compassionate regard. While the facts will be duly represented to the throne,these special com mands are at the same time issued for the information of all. For this, then, it is proclaimed to all the tradesfolk, soldiers, and people in general, for their full infor- ination, that henceforward the merchants of all nations are alike permitted to repair to Whampoa and trade. You will hold intercourse with them, and pass to and fro, as usual; and there shall be no hindrance or obstruction made, nor any trouble created. After the English vesssels of war shall be withdrawn, it will yet more be right and seeming, to protect, and carefully to look to and well treat the merchant vessels at Whampoa, and the merchants dwelling at Canton. Let every one tremblingly obey. Oppose not this special proclamation. Taoukwang, 21st year, 2d month, 28th day. (20th March, 1841.)

    To the foregoing brief enumeration of engagements and results, our limits allow us at present to add no details. It is worthy of spe- cial notice, that, during all these successive engagements, in which the Chinese have lost above 2000 men (counting from the engage- ment of 7th January, at Chuenpe), there have been killed by their shot, on the side of the English, only one man, a seaman wounded on the 3d of March, and who has since died of his wounds. Three others have been killed, by accidents with guns, and in the destruc- tion of the fortifications of the Bogue. We regret, however, to have to add the death of the master of the Pestonjee Bomanjee, transport, by the hands of the Chinese, at Chusan, since the evacuation of that island. He was sent out with stores, direct from England; and on his arrival at Chusan, finding no part of the force there, he landed to learn the cause, when the party was instantly attacked. He fell, and was supposed killed; some of the boat's crew were wounded, but succeeded in making good their retreat back to the vessel. An attempt was made the next day to take the vessel, but wholly without

success.

On the 26th two officers of the Blenheim, proceeding to their ship in Macao Roads, were in company with another British subject, on

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Journal of Occurrences.

183

board a small cutter, when a dark night and contrary winds compelled them to anchor. About 3 A. M. a Chinese boat ran foul of the cutter, when these three, from alarm of sinking, or some other cause, jumped on board the Chinese boat-described to be a fishing vessel. The boat made off immediately, and nothing has since been learned of the fate of the three persons, thus unfortunately made captives.

ART. VI. Journal of Occurrences: the British expedition; major- general Gough; Keshen's degradation and recall; new commis- sioners; foreign factories in Canton; return of the shipping to Whampoa and of the foreigners to the city; evacuation of Chusan, release of the prisoners; war between the Cochinchinese and Siamese; renewed declaration of war.

     REFERRING the reader to the preceding article for an account of the progress of the war, we will here briefly describe the situation of the expedition as we now find it, nine months after its arrival. Though no one of its great objects has yet been gained, it does not follow of course that it has been badly conducted, or that no advantages have been secured. By pursuing a pacific line of action, and reducing the demands to the lowest point, an experiment of great value has been made before all nations the Chinese have now proved them- selves to be-what long ago many believed they were-false, faith- less, impotent, merciless, hostile to all the world, in a degree far be- yond what has generally been supposed. It is now clear,-clear as the sun, that the Chinese government will yield nothing to, nor keep any faith with, foreign states, except by constraint. Happily this constraint they already begin to feel; and it is devoutly to be wished, that this may be continued on them until they are well esta- blished in their right position among the great nations of the earth. We admire the moderation and generosity that have been displayed by the commander-in-chief and those who are with him. lities exhibited in the exercise of overwhelming power are most salu- tary. Negotiate, treat-with whom and where?... Dictation must now become the order of the day. If possible, let there be no more destruction of life, no taking possession of empire; but henceforth, as in other countries, let direct access be had to, and intercourse maintained with, the emperor and his court; and let the foreigner enjoy the same protection and the same immunities here, and be held responsible in the same manner, as is usual among the most favored nations. Such an achievement, good as it may be to the foreigner, will be as life from the dead to the Chinese-it will wake them from the long slumber of ages and put them at once, in a day, on the great march of modern improvement. Let the son of heaven know that he is not above the other potentates of the earth. By the course pursued, notwithstanding any eriors that may have been com- mitted, the expedition has gained high vantage ground; and though

Such qua-

184

Journal of Occurrences,

small numerically, and late in action, it has given a blow that will shake the empire to its centre. Its commanding attitude, however, must be maintained unwaveringly, till every just right be gained; and until the ratification of new arrangements, for permanent peace, shall have been signed at Peking.

The naval force at present is thus distributed: Wellesley, at the Bogue; Blenheim, in Maaco Roads; Druid, at Hongkong; Calliope, Blonde, Conway, Sulphur, Nimrod, and Columbine, at Whampoa ; Alligator, Pylades, and Cruizer, at Howqua's fort, six miles east of Canton; Herald, Hyacinth, Modeste, and Algerine, in Macao Pas- sage, two miles south from Canton; Starling, Young Hebe, and Louisa, passing to and fro; the Atalanta with the advanced squa- dron; the Nemesis, at Macao. The Melville sailed for England on the 26th, the Samarang on the 29th, and the Madagascar for Cal- cutta on the 30th inst. The naval commander-in-chief, we hear, will proceed in the Queen to Calcutta this day, the 31st. The land forces and transports are in company, at various points, with the naval.

The arrival of major-general sir Hugh Gough, on the 2d instant, we have already noticed. He is an experienced officer, of high re- putation, and comes on, as we understand, from Madras, to command in chief the land forces.

Keshen, the late high minister and imperial commissioner, has been degraded, and recalled to Peking, to be put on trial for traitorous conduct towards his master. He left Canton on the 12th.

Of the new commissioners, only Yang Fang is known to have ar- rived. He is an old man of more than 70 years, deaf and doltish; and, instead of exterminating the rebellious at the head of his 30,000 veteran troops, has been compelled to proclaim, on the walls of the city, their admission to Canton, with protection for their persons and property. There is a rumor of Yihshan's arrival.

    The foreign factories were approached and occupied by British arms on the 18th-just two years from the date of Lin's notable edict demanding the surrender of opium.

    The foreign shipping, for months past anchored in the Roads off Macao, is proceding up the river, several sail are already at Wham- poa, and a few of the merchants in Canton, with the expectation that business will be immediately resumed.

Chusan was evacuated by the British troops, on the 24th ultimo. Some particulars respecting it, and the captivity of Mrs. Noble and others, intended for this article, must be postponed.

Early this year, a stockade belonging to the Cochinchinese on the frontiers of Camboja, was taken by the Siamese. The prisoners were released, on condition they would never again be found in arins against their conquerors.

1

i

A paper, purporting to be an imperial edict issued on hearing of the capture of the Bogue forts, has just reached us. The emperor, it appears from this, has sworn that he and such rebellious people as the English shall not stand together under the same heavens. He requires that they be entirely exterminated. For allowing the fall of the forts, he deprives of their rank, but retains in office, all the officers in and of Canton!

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-APRIL, 1841.- No. 4.

ART. I.

Sketch of Kwanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. Translated from the Sow Shin Ke. By J. L. S.

KWANYIN, originally called Shen, was the third child of Shekin senior, who dwelt in the mountains of Tsewling, situated in the district of Keshoo of the state Koochŭh-and by spiritual transformation of per- son was re-born in the state of Pihheuě. Her father was king Meaou- chwang, his surname being Po, and his name Heä, while the mo- ther was of the family of Pibya. The parents having hitherto had no male issue, repaired for worship to a temple among the fragrant hills of the west. The celestial emperor,' however, declared to the father that he was at heart a murderer,2 and therefore his hopes of male posterity should be cut off, but that daughters should be granted to him. His eldest daughter was called Meaou Tsing, the next Meaou Yin, and the third Meaou Shen (Kwanyin). Now at the time of Meaou Shen's birth a wonderful fragrance filled the apartments, and red clouds and brightness filled all parts of the house. When she was an infant she was remarkably intelligent, and had no desire to attend to human affairs. When she had reached her ninth year, she became strenu- ously disobedient to her father's commands, and took oath that she would never marry. Afterwards, in consequence of her two elder sisters having taken husbands who could not succeed to the throne, her father then pressed her to conclude a matrimonial alliance, but Shen still positively refused. She was consequently placed under strict prohibitions at the back part of the garden, where she gave herself up to the hearty and sincere study of moral principles. On

VOL. X. NO. IV.

24

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Sketch of Kwanyin.

APRIL,

her being released, she entered the district of Luugshoo, in the de- partment of Yuchow, and at the White Bird temple, she became a nun. Eyew, the chief of the temple, received secret instructions (from her father) to endeavor to change Shen's determination in relation to her vows of celibacy, but she continued steadfastly to refuse.

    Meaou Shen was then (for her refusal) subjected to the most bitter drudgery. In the mornings, she was made to draw water from the well, and her evenings were spent in listening to the Budhistic doc- trines. At break of day she had to burn the incense, and sweep the apartments, while her noonday task was to bring the wood with which to cook the rice; but notwithstanding all these difficulties not a murmur escaped her. Heaven was aware of the sincerity of her principles, and dispatched three thousand of the celestial army to lend her their assistance and protection. The god Kealan brushed the halls, Teënwang swept the kitchen, Lŭhting offered incense, while Yaouyeih lighted the candles. The ke bird prepared the tea, a nimble monkey carried in the vegetables, a white tiger brought fuel in his mouth, and the goddess Feking and Maouchang entered the inner courts bearing flowers, while the genii offered up fruits. Dur- ing every night the noise of the clouds, as if shaken by the winds, were heard, and the rapid movements of these gods were observed. 'The whole company of the priests became alarmed, and conveyed the information to her father, who sent five of the city cavalry under Hwuhpeihleih, ordering him to hasten and with the soldiers sur- round the temple and set fire to it. But Shen prayed to the god Budha, and biting her forefinger spurted forth the blood, causing crimson colored rain to descend, which put out the fire, and thus rescued five hundred priests, not one falling a prey to the flames. Peihleih again fired the temple, and in like manner was it put out. Three times was it set fire to, and three times was it extinguished as aforesaid. The impossibility of burning the temple was announced to her father, and his anger being aroused, he ordered Peihleih to go and bind Mezou Shen fast with cords and bring her, under arrest, in- to the common execution ground, but at the same time intimated his willingness for her mother to rescue her; for toward the tender and amiable disposition of this his third daughter he felt very kindly af fectioned, and his only wish was that she was married, and he had a son-in-law that might take charge of the affairs of the state.

    This murderous design did not even change the color of Meaou Shen's countenance, but her intention became still more firın, and

1841.

Sketch of Kwanyin.

she was imprisoned in a cold and desolate room of the palace.

{

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Day

!

and night the female attendants of the palace, as well as her father and mother pressed their intreaties upon her, but Meaou Shen remained inexorable, and becoming outrageous she railed in angry speech at her father. The father himself also became greatly enraged, and forthwith granted his permission to Peihleih really to decapitate her. The god Tooshin hastened and announced this intention to Yũh te, who

      gave her a red brilliant light to screen her body, and when the ax of the executioner attempted to do its work it broke in sunder; and I trying to spear her the instrument was severed to pieces; and they then put her to death with a long red silken cloth. Just then a tiger leaped in and bearing the corpse upon his back ran off with it;-upon which her father exclaimed, "Unfilial child; it is right that you should obtain a woful recompense!" But he was not aware that Heaven had sent for her. This fierce tiger bearing the corpse as be- fore entered a forest of black fir trees, and verily was Shen fully allow- ed to be a genuine religious contemplator. For a time she remained in unbroken sleep, and her spirit roamed in regions unknown. Sud- denly there appeared to her a lad holding a chwung fan in his hand, and making his obeisance, said, 'the Yenkeun have ordered me to make known their requests to your royal highness.' Shen said,.'what are they?' The lad replied, having heard that your royal highness exercises the most enlarged mercy and benevolence, ten of the yen gods, are waiting your appearance at the Pooteën bridge.' Shep yielding to their commands accompanied him, and at the entrance of the gate of perdition she beheld a god with the head of a cow kneeling at the door, and saw the god Taycha holding a candle, while a god with an iron head was sweeping the yard. Entering per- dition she saw one prison house where punishment was inflicted. by cutting the flesh from the body, Shen inquired about it, and she was told that such punishment was for unfaithful ministers, and unfilial children. She saw another den where punishment was inflicted by pounding with a pestle, and grinding in a mill, and they told, her that this punishment was for those who would throw away what they had to spare of the five grains rather than give it to the poor; and for those also who would take the life of any living thing. She also saw a place where punishment was administered by means of a large brass boiler, and was told that this was for those who prided them- selves in their overbearing wickedness. Shen asked, Why are your punishments so very rigorous? They told her that they had punish- ments than still more severe even these. At present, said they, in

J

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Sketch of Kwanyin.

;

APRIL,

these regions of the lost we have forests of swords in order to recom- pense those who make it their business to transgress with their mouths by everywhere dealing, out to vulgar eyes and ears; their insidious calumnies. We inflict the punishment of plucking out eyes, and extirpating tongues, in order to recompense those who sow discord among friends, and those also who curse and swear.

                                         We have too the punishment of ripping out the intestines for the purpose of awarding retribution to those whose hearts are daggers, and whose tongues are spears (persons of dark and intriguing designs). Those who dash people into wells are rewarded by being plunged into a deep river; those who beat and flog both males and females receive the punishment of the whip and the club; those superiors who oppress inferiors, and who injure birds and beasts with stones and arrows, are punished by tigers and serpents; those who, when living, were not benevolent with their riches are punished by being made to become hungry devils, and those who inveigle their fellows are recompens- ed by means of a forest of spears. All the certain punishments of hell are innumerable, and who can say that the eyes of Heaven are not discriminating, and who can escape from the net of hades?

    All the kings of perdition who attended Kwanyin at the golden bridge had immense and ornamented umbrellas, and under foot was a red cloud colored carpet, while they also had a ruby chariot in which to receive Kwanyin, attended by singing girls. Shen express- ing her thanks to them, said, 'I have no virtue, and how dare I dis- grace your affectionate summons ?' The kings all replied, 'We have heard of your vast mercy and tender compassion, and we wish to at- tend at the banquet of your sacred books that we may not lose the smallest portion of your instructions.' Shen then exclaimed, Ometo, the supremely excellent! and they beheld her folding her hands, and offering up prayers, upon which flowers indiscriminately fell from heaven, the earth became covered with the golden water-lily, the whole of hell's iron instruments and brass frames were shivered to pieces, and more than eight thousand regions of perdition were entirely annihilated, while all the guilty were released from hell, and permitted to ascend to the mansions of heaven. Then all the execu- tioners of the said punishments represented to Shen, saying, There is a superior and there is an inferior principle; there are those who are good and those who are wicked; if there is no hell what will be the lot of murderers? And what will there be for those to fear who com- mit wickedness in the world? Such places for repaying a guilty world should not be few, but you have come here, and in your a

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189

bounding mercy and compassion have delivered your doctrines, and hell has crumbled to pieces. Were you to remain long here, then even iron itself would be insufficient for a durable perdition. When the celestial emperor hears that this wrong has been inflicted he will at once call you to return to earth.

In a

All the infernal kings attended Kwanyin to Mangpo Ting, and there separating from her, commanded the troops of perdition to lead her to the black fir forest, and give her spirit back to her. Shen awa- kening said, I have ascended to the very borders of heaven, and how is it that I have returned hither? She sat upon the grass buried in deep thought not knowing whither to bend her course. little time Budha came riding upon the clouds, and bowing and wor- shiping, playfully said, We can well endure to dwell together in a thatched cottage, and there together let us live. Shen answered, why profane me by such a sensual speech? Budha said, I am only jesting with you, my heart is really established toward you, and I desire to proceed with you to the fragrant hills. Shen making no reply, Budha farther said, I am no other than the real Sheihkeä (Budha), and specially proclaim to you the place to which you can repair. Siren bowing her head and expressing her thanks asked, To what place? Budha replied, In the country of Yuě (present Chě- keäng), near the southern seas are the isles of Pooto Yen," which is the place to which you can repair, and I will, in your behalf, call upon the dragons of earth to create a water-lily stand upon which you can cross over the seas. At Pooto, a white tiger gnawed wood for her, the god Kealan opened out for her a pleasant piece of ground, eight dragon kings both day and night took charge of the rising tides, and four celestial kings arranged the stone pillars for her dwelling. Shen dwelt on the isle of Pooto Yen nine years, and hav- ing perfected herself in merit cut out flesh from her arm in order to rescue her father from illness, and she held a bottle containing a sweet dew in order to secure long life to all the people. She was attended on

her left by Shen Tsae who possessed universal intelli- gence, and on her right by Lung New of unbounded virtue. Shen converted the whole of her family, and cultivating the principles of virtue, they all ascended to heaven. The supreme emperor, be- holding that Kwanyin's merits filled the world, and that her miracles were everywhere manifest, assented to the representations of the gods Laoukeun and Meaouyo, and proclaimed her the deity of abounding mercy and vast compassion, the rescuer-from distress and difficulties, the most faithful one, the spiritual assister, and the guardian sound of

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the world. The precious water-lily was given to her for a throne, and she became the sovereign of the isles of Pooto Yen in the southern seas. Her father, the king Meaouchwang was allowed to become the god Shen shing seën kwan, and her mother Pihya, was made the goddess Keuenshen. Her eldest sister became the goddess Tae shen wăn choo, and sat upon a sky colored lion; and her other sister Meaou Yin was deified as the goddess Tae shen poo been, and rode upon a white elephant.

1. The idea of the Chinese classics seems to be that

                             Hwang Te is the emperor who has under his jurisdiction all the nations of earth, and

that 天帝 Teen Te, and 玉帝 Yih Te, and 上帝 Shang Te, are

only different designations of a supreme emperor who controls the heavens and the earth, and the gods.

    2. Kwanyin is an exceedingly popular goddess among the Chinese, and her images and her shrines may be found in almost every temple of any note throughout the land; but Kwanyin's father, according to the published ac- counts of her votaries themselves, was declared by the highest power of the universe which they acknowledge, to be a murderer at heart.

3. The Chinese notions of female baseness and inferiority are fully de veloped in this passage. This man was denied sons because he was 'a mur. derer at heart,' while at the same time he was deemed sufficiently worthy of daughters. Female degradation is intimately connected with all the ramifica- tions of heathenism.

    4. Two other characteristics in the history of the goddess Kwanyin's origin are disobedience to parents, and angry railing! Heathenism is as inconsis tently absurd according to the principles of true reason as it is daringly blas- phemous according to the principles of true religion.

5. Yuh te, the Gem Ruler, considered as the god above all gode, and the great director of all other deities.

    6. The chwang fan are long streamers which are used in the temples of Budha. They are sometimes made of variegated silk with groups of fan- tastic figures of men, women and children wrought upon them with much tedious labor, and at great expense. The most beautiful and costly of these banners are only used on occasion of processions and feast-days in honor of the idol.

7. There are ten of the

閻君

Yen keun gods, who are denominated

kings, and who have the entire supervision of the various regions of hades, as well as all devils and evil spirits.

8.

Kung choo is the title by which the daughters of emperors and kings are addressed. Kwanyin being the daughter of king Meaou- chwang was consequently entitled to the epithet of kung choo. / 1

+

9. Ome is an epithet of Budha. Messrs. Modhurst and Stevens visited Pooto during their missionary tour in the brig Huron in the latter part of 1835, and Mr. M. thus refers to this phrase. "The only thing we heard out of the mouths of these dull monks was Ometo Fuh, or Amida Budha. To every observation that was made re-echoed 'Ometo Fuh? and the reply to every inquiry was Ometo Fuh.' Each priest was furnished with a string of beads, which he kept continually fingering, and while he

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counted, he still repeated the same dull monotonous exclamation. The characters for this name met the eye at every turn of the road, at every corner of the temples, and on every scrap of paper: on the hills, on the altars, on the gateways, and on the walls, the same words presented them. selves, even the solid rocks were engraven with Budha's titles, and the whole island seemed to be under the spell of this talismanic phrase, as if it were devoted to the recording of 'Ometo Füh."" Ometo Fuh is a phrase used also by all devout Chinese as well as priests when they wish to express a strong affirmation of solemnity or serious concern, and also by the careless and profane swearer.

10. The island of Pooto is a part of the Great Chusan archipelago, and is entirely devoted to the religion of Budha. The island is said to contain five thousand priests; and two of the largest and handsomest temples are covered with yellow tiles in order to show that they were erected by imperial patron, age. Mr. Stevens refers to the island of Pooto in his account of the voyage of the Huron; see Chi. Rep. vol. IV.,

page 333.

1

ART. II.

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Loss of the ship Kite, and Mrs. Noble's narrative of ker captivity and sufferings in prison in China in 1840-41; in a letter to a friend...

1

Ningpo prison, Feb. 19th, 1841.. MY EVER Dear friend. -On Sunday, the 14th, I received your kind letter, containing the glad tidings of peace, and the joyful hope of a speedy release from prison; and in which you so sweetly and affectionately offer a home to the homeless. The Almighty alone, who searcheth the heart, knows how deeply grateful I feel for all your abundant goodness towards me in my great afflictions, but as my last letters were sent publicly, I could not express my feelings; I sincerely hope you have not thought me ungrateful. As I may now do so with safety, I will try to write to you the sad particulars of the dreadful wreck of the Kite, and of following events, as far as memory and the few notes I have been able to make from time to time, will enable me to do. May the Almighty in mercy strengthen me for the truly melancholy duty.

I shall infer, that you know all our affairs up to, I think, the 10th of September, when the Kite was again on her way to Chusan; all went well till the 15th, and we then hoped to reach Chusan in two days.

Alas for earthly prospects; they are indeed fallacious. About twelve o'clock in the forenoon, the vessel struck on a quicksand, not laid down in the chart. The shock was as sudden as it was dread-

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ful; all efforts at the moment were used, but in vain, and in a few moments, almost before we could think or speak, or alas! even have time to fetch my sweet child from the cabin, the vessel went over with a tremendous crash on her broadside, and every creature on board (except my dear child) was precipitated with great violence into the sea. The moment was so dreadful I saw nothing, and, whether my

beloved husband, who was giving orders till the last mo- ment, ran to the cabin to save his darling child, or whether he fell with the rest, I know not; but he was never seen or heard of more; his last words to me were 'hold on, Anne!' Never, never shall I forget them. My child must have perished in his cradle. I trem- ble to think of the sufferings of them both. Oh! how often have I wished I had shared the same grave, yet the will of God was other- wise, and I know it is very wicked, but when you know my almost unparalleled sufferings you will not wonder at it. To return to the wreck; after struggling under water for some time, I caught hold of one of the iron bars that hold the boat on the quarter, to which I clung, my body being still in the water, and the breakers coming over me with great force. A poor little dog saved itself on my breast for some time, but at last I was obliged to put it off; oh! had it been my child, I would have died rather a thousand times. Lieutenant Douglas arose close by me, and although for a time he could not help me, yet I shall ever remember with the deepest gratitude the kind manner in which he stood by me, doing all in his power to soothe me, and, by his orders, to save the lives of all. Oh! could I picture to you the scene at this moment,--the vessel on her broadside, her masts and sails in the water, numbers of persons rising and clinging to the wreck, the horror of every countenance, and the dreadful noise of the breakers: but it is too much even to tell you I saw it all; never, never shall I forget the sight. Lieut. Douglas, with Mr. Witts the chief officer, who now kindly came forward to my aid, did all in their power to save me, and they were, by the blessing of God, the means of preserving my life. These two gentlemen, with I had just strength to raise

the poor cabin boys, got into the boat. my foot, of which one of the gentlemen took hold, drew the boat to, and lifted me in. The boat being nearly full of water, and the breakers still coming over it every moment, the gentlemen were obliged to cut the rope to prevent her sinking. The current imme- diately took her, and nothing could prevent her from leaving the wreck. The people got on the upper side of the vessel. I strained my eyes in vain to find those so dear to me. I saw all but them. I

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tore my hair in despair, and called till they could hear me no longer, telling them to seek my husband and child. Hour after hour the wreck was seen; at last we lost sight of it entirely. You will fancy me weeping and screaming all this time; I assure you, No; my trou- ble was too overwhelming; I could not shed a tear, although my heart was fit to break; I sat more like a statue, my eyes seeking in vain for the wreck. The boat's little kedge was thrown out, and the water rushing by was almost like a wall on either side of our boat. We saw many things washed from the wreck pass us. About 4 o'clock the current turned in our favor, and after some hours of anxi- ety we came in sight of the wreck; as we drew near, we found the vessel had sunk in the sand, and only her maintop was now in sight, to which all the poor sufferers clung for life. Efforts were made to reach the wreck, but it was impossible. Lieut. Douglas spoke to the men and told them to make a raft, hoping on the morrow to be able to render them some assistance. We now again left the wreck and night began to set in; the gentlemen lay down in the bottom of the boat, and I sat and kept watch by the stars. It was a beautiful moon- light night, but I need not say it appeared very long, and often did I speak to lieut. Douglas who slept very little.

In the afternoon we

On the 16th, we again passed the wreck early, and, as before, strove in vain to reach the poor crew. A few words were spoken, until we were carried away by the current. passed the wreck for the last time; everything possible was done to reach it but to no purpose; and after speaking a few words, once more we had to endure the trial of being carried past. What our feelings were, none but those in a like situation can conceive. It was again night, and, as before, I kept my melancholy watch. · After this we could not find the wreck, and we were obliged to come to the dreadful conclusion, that all the crew must have perished, or have been taken from the wreck by the Chinese. I now felt almost sure that I was a widow, and all alone in the world; but yet I think I hoped even against hope, and lieut. Douglas, who was most kind to me, rather led me to believe such happiness possible. Oh! could [ only tell you all of the kindness I received from that gentleman. One remark he made, when I felt almost heart broken, was, "depend on it, my dear Mrs. Noble, the Almighty has preserved you for a future and a better purpose." Thus did he at all times, in the most kind and soothing manner, try to cheer my truly sad heart. Picture for a moment our situation,-five of us in a small boat: with little clothing, the gentlemen being but thinly clad, and myself in a thin

VOL. X. NO, IY.

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morning gown, no bonnet, no shawl, and no shoes, the latter having been washed off: no food, no water, no sail, only two oars and near an enemy's country. On this day, we went on board a fishing boat; the men were kind to us and gave us a little dry rice, some water, and an old mat to try to make a sail of. Soon after, we thought we saw a small English sail; never shall I forget the excitement we felt; but after a long time, we found we were mistaken. Towards even- ing we picked up a small pumpkin, of which I took a little,-the first food I had taken since the wreck. Whilst we were thus driven about from place to place, again we thought we saw a steamer, and we did all in our power to make them observe us, raising a signal of distress on one of our oars, and once more we were disappointed. On Wednesday night the breakers came over our little boat with such violence, that we thought she would have sunk; it washed away one of our oars, and we were all wet through; but still the Almighty preserved us. Thursday the 17th, we boarded another boat and asked them to take us to Chusan, which they promised to do, but to this the master of the party would not accede. However, they took us up a canal, and told us that was the way. It now began to rain a little, and at night we found ourselves in a small creek, with numbers of Chinamen round us. They appeared kind and brought us a little boiled rice. Wonderful to say, although we had been so long with- out food, not one in the boat complained of hunger, and of the rice now brought very little was eaten; the rain now fell fast, and we all lay down in the bottom of the boat, laying the old mat over the top. About 12 o'clock, I thought I heard footsteps, and on looking up. saw about twenty Chinese around our boat, carrying gay lanterns. I awoke lieut. Douglas in alarm; however, they still appeared kind and gave us more food. In the morning, it being very wet, we went barefooted to a Chinese house. After sitting a short time, they told us, that they would get us something to eat, and then take us to Chu- We followed; they took us to a temple for shelter from the rain. One of the party now left us, and we began to suspect that all was not right, and set off to regain our boat. But it was too late. We had scarcely ascended the bank, when, on looking behind, we saw a large party of soldiers, an officer, and numbers of Chinese, pur- suing us. We saw af once we were betrayed; flight was impossible, resistance as vain. I was leaning on lieut. Douglas' arm; he stood boldly in my defense, but it was of no use, for they struck me several times. They then put chains around our necks, hurrying us along a path not half a yard in breadth, to a large city, through every street

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    of which they led us. The people thronged by thousands to stare, so that we could scarcely pass. Their savage cries were terrific. From this they led us to a temple full of soldiers, and one of the wretches stole my wedding-ring from my finger, the only thing I treasured. Alas! that I was not to keep that one dear pledge of my husband's affection. Never shall 1 forget that temple, their fierce grimaces and savage threats. Hitherto lieut. Douglas had been my only friend, and, I think I may say, that we have been a mutual comfort to one another throughout our sufferings. But we were now to part. The soldiers bound lieut. Douglas' hands behind him, and tied him to a post, and in this situation I was forced from him. We took an affec- tionate leave of one another, as friends never expecting to meet again, until we met in heaven. He gave me his black silk handker- chief to tie around my waist, which I shall ever treasure as a remem- brance of that truly sad moment. We anticipated instant death in its most cruel form, and I think 1 could say, surely the bitterness of death is past. I now felt indeed alone. Mr. Witts, one of the boys, and myself, were now again dragged through the rain, and my bare feet slipped at every step, so that they were at last obliged to bring me a pair of straw sandals. I was obliged to hang to the coat of a tall man, who held me by the chain. We must have looked wretch- ed in the extreme, our clothes being much covered with dirt as well as drenched with rain. My hair hung disheveled around my neck. In this state we must have walked at least 20 miles, and pass- ed through numberless cities, all the inhabitants of which crowded around us; their hooting and savage yells were frightful. We twice passed through water nearly up to our waist. After having reached a temple, we were allowed to rest ourselves on some stones. They here gave us some prison clothes and food. At night they laid down some mats and a quilt, on either side of a large temple. Mr. Witts and the boy took one side, and after a short prayer to my heavenly Father, I lay down but not to sleep; the chain round our necks being fastened to the wall. Would that I could describe to you the scene: the temple beautifully lighted up with lanterns, our miserable beds, all the dark faces of the frightful looking Chinese (of whom I think there were eight), the smoke from their long pipes, the din of the gongs

        and other noises which they kept up all night. Long, very long, did this night appear. Morning at last dawned, the keepers brought us a little water to wash with, which was a great comfort ; after which they led us to an open court, to be exposed to the public gaze of numberless spectators to come throughout the day. Here they

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took our height, the length of our hair, and noted every feature in an exact manner, and then made us write an account of the wreck of the Kite. In the evening I was taken to see the mandarin's wife and daughters, but although my appearance must have been wretch- ed in the extreme, they did not evince the least feeling towards me, but rather treated me as an object of scorn. This I felt the more, as I was enabled to make them understand, that I had lost both my husband and child in the wreck. We remained here two days and three nights, derided and taunted by all around us. On the morn- ing of Monday the 21st, they took the end of our chains and bade us follow them. They put our coats and quilts into small cages, just such as we should think a proper place to confine wild beasts, in: mine was scarcely a yard high, a little more than ₫ of a yard long, and a little more than half a yard broad. The door opened from the top. Into these we were lifted, the chain around our necks being locked to the cover. They put a long piece of bamboo through the middle, a man took either end, and in this manner we were jolted from city to city to suffer insults from the rabble, the cries of whom were awful; but my God had not forsaken me, and even then, although a widow and in the hands of such bitter enemies, and expecting death at every moment, I could remember with delight, that Christ my Savior had said,- I am the resurrection and the life, he that be- lieveth on me though he were dead yet shall he live." I need not tell you, my friend, how much I thought of my sweet and once happy home, and my fatherless child, and how fervently I prayed to that God of mercy, who had so wonderfully upheld me in all my sufferings, to bless her also. Death was nothing to me: I longed to be with my Savior to praise him for ever, and to meet again my affectionate hus- band and sweet child, who were more than life to me. Oh my dear friend! how often do my feelings at this and many other times of my suffering shame me, when I feel myself cold in my duty towards my Redeemer.

    We again stopped at another city and were taken out of our cages, having heavy irons put on our legs, with a chain half a yard long. Mr. Witts and the boy had also irons on their wrists; although I saw mine, they did not put them on at that time. The former were car- ried on board one boat, and I myself put into another, and thus we proceeded two days and three nights on a canal, during which time I did not taste any food, as they would not permit me to get out of my little cage on any account. You may judge what my sufferings were. I believe it was Wednesday the 23d, that we arrived at Ning-

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But fears were confirmed, What can I say ? My

po. You may imagine my happiness in finding my friend lieut. Douglas, and my delight to hear that he had been treated rather better than myself, and had arrived there a short time before. I also heard with gratitude and joy, that all the Kite's crew had been taken from the wreck by the Chinese and were prisoners in the city. alas, alas! with all this good news my worst that all I treasured lay buried in the ocean. dear child could not have lived in an open boat and suffered as I had done, and my devoted husband, being of a warm and most affection- ate temper would not, could not, have lived to have seen me suffer as I have suffered, and how would it have torn my heart to have seen those, ten thousand times dearer to me than my own life, endure so much! I humbly pray to be enabled to say, "Thy will be done!" God has I believe in goodness and mercy taken my treasures, who was able to do for them more than I could even ask or think. And although I am lest destitute and alone and far from home, yet in his mercy he has raised you up, my Christian friend, with many others for my comfort, on account of which I shall praise the Savior both in time and eternity; and want whatever I may, may I ever possess a thankful heart.

      At Ningpo I was sorry to find another prisoner, captain Anstruther of the Madras artillery, who has since proved to me a most kind and true friend; there was also the comprador, whom I think you have some knowledge of. My most cruel sufferings were now at an end, and of course I felt more deeply my sad loss; yet I knew that I still enjoyed many blessings. Captain A.'s prison was next door to mine, and I had the pleasure of seeing him often. The mandarins gave me some Chinese clothes of the gayest colors; distressing as it was to my feelings, I was obliged to wear them, and I was put into, what the keeper styled, a clean prison, with a woman to attend on me in my captivity. After breakfasting with lieut. Douglas at the man- darin's, I went to my lonely cell,-a small dirty room, two sides of which were a mere grating, in many places daylight appeared through the rafters, and it was scarcely fit to live in, its only furniture being my cage, (in which I still slept at night, and into which I was put whenever I went to any of the mandarins,) a lamp, an old table, and a stool. For the first time after the wreck, I was enabled to undress myself and arrange my hair. I could not but rejoice when a large room was prepared for the three gentlemen to reside together in,-lieut. Douglas having been hitherto obliged to endure all the discomforts of the common prison. Subsequently we met only when we visited and

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dined at the mandarin's, which we did at first frequently, but after their curiosity was satisfied I seldom saw them. When at their house, they amused themselves by questioning us about H. B. M., and her government, the number of her navy and army, and the rank and income of the officers. Often I had to repeat my sad tale, particu- Jarly on the arrival of other officers; this I thought a great trial, especially when alone. Their inquiries about our respective families were most minute, particularly what relatives we were to queen Vic- toria, and whether I myself was not her sister, which I was declared to be, notwithstanding what was said to the contrary. But it would be endless to repeat all the foolish questions they asked; however, they made notes of all our replies.

    Two days after the removal of the gentlemen from the common prison, all the remaining captives were taken to a far distant jail under the pretence of better accommodations, excepting two who were sick. I had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing them passing my door, but was not allowed to speak to them; it made my heart bleed to observe their distressed looks and haggard countenances.

    It was October the 8th, that captain Anstruther received some sup- plies from Chusan, with letters that held out hopes of release. He kindly sent me a large share of his clothes. The comprador was now taken away from us, which distressed me greatly, as I had now not a creature to whom to speak. They now gave me a bedstead, which I found a great luxury, having hitherto lain on a dirty floor. I was sometimes allowed to see and converse with the sick prisoners, and I almost felt a consolation in dwelling upon the dreadful past. Frequently my heart was sadly torn, on account of different reports about my late dearly beloved husband and child. I was once told, that he was seen going to his cabin to rescue his child, and was afterwards seen dead with the baby on his bosom. Many were the sleepless nights that such accounts gave me, but I found subsequent- ly, when meeting all the prisoners at the mandarin's, and minutely examining into the fact,-that this rumor was unfounded, for they had not seen the captain after the ship had heeled over.

    On the 8th of October I was far from well; two days afterwards I suffered much from violent pain, and was not able to lie down during the whole night, on account of the pain. This I felt deeply, not being able to speak to a creature, and being threatened to have irons put on my wrist; they had let them off only one night on account of my being so ill. On the 9th I was too glad to see the comprador return, who had been sent to Chinhae in order to ascertain whether

:

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the British delegate was really captain Elliot, and, if this was not the case, the individual who dared to appear under an assumed namne was to be taken.

      On the 14th, they sent another woman to wait on me, with a little cross boy about four years old, who cried the whole day long. This I felt to be a great trial, as I could not have a moment to myself. The other old woman brought also her girl, so that there were four dirty creatures in my dirty hovel. This was scarcely endurable, but, after many intreaties and the lapse of a considerable time, both the children were removed. On Sunday the 18th, I heard the melancholy tidings of one of our sailors being removed by the hand of death. I had seen the poor boy several times, and, as I felt sure he could never recover, the few moments we were allowed to speak, were spent in dwelling upon solemn subjects. Though he was a mere skeleton and weak as a child, still he wore his irons to the last. A day or two before his death, he told me he knew that he would never be well again, but his mind was calın, and I fervently hope that the Savior was present with him. As we parted for the last time, he said with much earnestness "God bless you, Mistress;" these words I still remember, they have been fulfilled, and God has remembered me. The two sick marines were much distressed at the death of the poor boy, and I was delighted to afford them some comfort, temporal as well as spiritual.

      On the 26th, we were all summoned by the superior mandarins. I felt much grieved on my way being entirely alone,-little thinking what joy was in store for me. Clothes and letters had arrived from Chusan, clothes in abundance for myself and also for my dear boy, which I had not the least reason to expect, but for which, as I sub- sequently heard, I was indebted to dear Mrs. Proudfoot. The sight of clothes, intended for my dear lost one, was overwhelming. May the Almighty reward the kind donor, and, by his gracious and merci- ful providence, ever protect her from requiring such a comfort as she bestowed upon me. Among the above, I received a very kind note, with an acceptable present of shoes, from my friend captain Baily. The gentlemen received large supplies of clothes, wine, ale, and other articles, with 300 dollars from the plenipotentiaries; and all the prisoners had clothes given to them. All the Englishmen, except the two sick, were present, and to our great satisfaction our fetters were struck off; we were also informed, that we should be free within five or six days for a certainty. Gladness then pervaded every breast, but, as usual, mine was mixed with bitter grief,-to think how short

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a time since a happy wife and a joyful mother, and that I must now return desolate and alone. However, I could but be thankful to be freed from my fetters, having worn them, as I imagine aright, for 32 days; and on our way home,-if our wretched prisons deserve such a name,- -our hearts were much lighter and we began to put confi- dence in the glad tidings. But little did I then think, that we should be obliged still to drag on four long months of our existence in the dreary abode.

    About the 1st of Nov., it was reported publicly that I should be sent to Chusan alone, and that the gentlemen would be sent to Canton. On the strength of this account, they wrote letters for their friends, which I was to have taken, but, like the many rumors we had before heard, this also proved groundless. Sometime afterwards the two marines, already mentioned, were removed to the other prison. I felt sure, that one of them was then dying, and I greatly feared that he would never reach the prison. His weakness was so excessive, that he once fell down on his way, though supported by a Chinese; after a few days, the news of his death was brought to me. Notwith- standing all the representations of lieutenant Douglas, the irons were not taken off this poor man, until he breathed his last. The prison was so excessively small that they could not turn around, without squeezing each other, and though their commander remonstrated and insisted upon their being allowed to walk about and enjoy the fresh air, they were never permitted to take any exercise in the court. I frequently wrote a few lines to the lads, for whom I felt most deeply, as well as for the crew in general. Lieut. Douglas was now able to provide them with money, and once only, during the four months' imprisonment, was he permitted to visit his men: for, on seeing the deep interest he took in their welfare, and his great anxiety to better their condition, they never permitted him to see them any more. I was delighted to observe the noble feelings, evinc- ed by lieut. Douglas towards the crew of the Kite, who suffered great hardships.

Our joy was inexpressible, when a channel of private communi- cation with our friends at Chusan was opened, and when I receiv- ed from you, my friend, the first letter (Dec. 29th), which afforded us very great consolation. Before this we heard of the death of another marine, which affected us all deeply, and especially his master. Death has made sad havoc amongst us, and the Almighty alone knows the reason why he afflicted us, and I fervently hope that these many solemn warnings may be sanctified to us.

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201

     On the 9th, I had again the great happiness of receiving two letters from you, from one of which I-learned our then contemplated rescue, which at that time gave me great uneasiness, as I trembled at the idea of any of my countrymen running the risk of such sufferings as I had undergone. But it is wonderful how often we heard of our speedy release and were as often disappointed; still for the time being our spirits were kept up by such good news.

Your first letter was accompanied by a copy of the holy Bible, an inestimable treasure for which fer ad long and earnestly prayed; but, to avoid discovery, I had to read it during the night, so that it was in truth a secret treasure, and henceforth my constant compa- nion. On Tuesday, the 2d of February, I heard that the gentlemen had been summoned by the mandarins to receive clothes and letters, and with an anxious heart I watched the whole afternoon, expecting every moment a visit from them. However, I was obliged to con- tinue in suspense till the next day, when I was called to appear be fore the mandarins to obtain another most affectionate letter from you, my friend, with an abundant store of clothes and every comfort I could desire. Grateful and thankful as I felt for them, my spirits be- came deeply affected, inferring as I did, that so many things would not have been sent, if my captivity was not to be prolonged; yet the linguist cheered me by the assurance, that I should be free within three weeks, or a month. At this time they treated me with great kindness, and I went to see the mandarin's lady, who gave me some fruit and artificial flowers, the first mark of kindness I had received from a Chinese lady. They allowed me to remain until the evening, and I was once more gladdened by meeting my countrymen, and, after staying some time, we all went to my prison to write answers to our letters.

February the 8th, I had the pleasure of a visit from some Chinese naval officers, who told me, that we were to leave Ningpo within a fortnight. We thought there was truth in the news, but we were not certain until the 14th, when I received the glad tidings from yourself. It would be impossible to describe what our feelings were on that occasion. I had thought that the gentlemen had known it the day before, so that our meeting at the first moment was not so joyful as it otherwise would have been, but they had no sooner read my letter, than our mutual congratulations were warm and most sincere, and I again had the happiness of welcoming them to my prison, where we wrote answers to our friends.

VOL. X. NO, IV.

26

202

Loss of the Ship Kite.

APRIL,

               On board ship Blundell, March 1st. On the 22d Feb., before I arose, my attendant came to my bedside, exclaiming "Chinhae, Chusan, get up!" and immediately the compra- dor called to me, saying that we were indeed to go to Chinhae. But he little thought that he was not to form one of the party; as to myself, I am sure, you will believe me, when I tell you, that I knew not which thing to do first. Numbers of people came around my prison, and I was obliged to shut the door to keep them out. After my morn- ing duties, I got all my boxerpacked with the comprador's aid. While thus engaged, he was sent for by the mandarins, who told him, that he was not like the other English prisoners; they would therefore not allow him to accompany them, but send him down to Canton. This threw an immediate gloom over my spirits, and I felt deeply, when, a few minutes afterwards, I saw him locked up in his prison, for he had long been my friend in adversity. I now with difficulty got through the crowd to the gentlemen's prison, where I received a hearty welcome and the warmest congratulations, and was forbidden to speak of past troubles. Captain Anstruther now insisted upon seeing the comprador to give him money, and, after many intreaties made to the officer, whom he had greatly offended by withholding a picture for some unkindness shown, he at last succeed- ed in beating his way through the crowd. We walked a great while in the prison-yard until, by dint of perseverance and much pushing among the immense crowd, we got into our palankeens. a guard to escort us, and, having crossed the river in our convey- ances, I looked back and was astounded at the dense mass of specta- Mandarins of every grade were in attendance. Indeed the excitement at Ningpo was indescribable. Our road to Chinhae led principally along the river side, and our traveling was anything but comfortable, the way being so bad, that I feared our palankeen bearers would slip. When near Chinhae, one of my bearers tum- bled, and the palankeen thumped on the ground. I struck. my head, but the alarm was more than the injury. I thought my trou- bles would not be at an end, until I reached Chinhae. On the road we met several emissaries urging on the bearers to use all speed, to the mutual gratification of both parties. At last we arrived safely at Chinhae, where we were received with due honor by the mandarins. We had not breakfasted, and, when the gentlemen asked for food, a filthy fellow came in with an apron-full of cakes. Afterwards they brought us each a bason of meat. Captain Anstruther was now taken to see commissioner E, and, after remaining a little while, he re-

tors.

We had

1841.

Loss of the Ship Kite.

203

     turned telling us, that we should soon be sent for to hear the same story told him,-namely, that we should not have come to China if the admiral had not sent us, and that we must now return and tell the commanding officer, he must get the ships away with all speed, as a great many soldiers were waiting to enter Chusan so soon as the English evacuated it, but at the same time, he intreated us to labor under no apprehensions, for they had no hostile intentions. At first it was concluded, that lieutenant Douglas was to accompany me to Chusan, while captain Anstruther should remain and see all the men embark; but when we were with E, lieutenant Douglas told him, that captain Anstruther had nothing to do with the people, and begged that he might be allowed to remain with his crew, and that captain Anstruther might accompany me. It was at length determin- ed, that both the gentlemen should stay behind, and only Mr. Witts accompany me. I made every inquiry for my only bonnet and other things which the mandarin had previously sent for to inspect, but in vain, as the officer had kept them and would not restore them. Soon after, I took leave of the gentlemen and reëntered my palankeen which conveyed me to the water's side, where the linguist presented me with a fan. On the mandarin's premises I had the pleasure of meeting all my fellow-prisoners, which relieved my mind, as I was not before aware that they had come down from Ningpo, and had not seen them for several months. I spoke a few words to them as my sedan passed. On our way we were taken to the soldiers' tents; it being a late hour, and quite dark, I could see but little of them, but they appeared to be numerous, and to occupy a very large space of ground. Every attention was now shown me; they carried me close to the boat, and fixed a chair in the sampan for my comfort. The mandarin, who accompanied me, showed me every attention. For some hours our boat lay at anchor, to enable the other prisoners to embark and, during the night, proceeded on her way to Chusan. About seven o'clock in the morning of the 26th, I was once more gladdened by the sight of an English vessel. Soon after, we were boarded by two naval officers, and Mr. Johnson was the first to welcome me to freedom. In a short space of time, we saw several other vessels which lay at the outer anchorage; a few moments more, and the whole fleet was before -us. 1 thought I saw as great a change on Chusan as on myself; the tents were no longer on the hills and to me, at least, all things looked strange. As the boat drew hear, captain Bourchier of the Blonde sent his gig to convey me on board, and glad indeed was I to step into it, and thus quit for

204

Loss of the Ship Kite.

APRIL,

ever a people, at whose hands I had received such bitter wrongs. When safely arrived on the deck of the Blonde, I received the warm- est congratulations of captain Bourchier and the many friends to whom I was then introduced. What my feelings were at that mo- ment noue but one so long in captivity can conceive. Every one seemed a participator in my enjoyment, and each countenance wore the smile of heartfelt sympathy. I once more sat down to a comfor- table breakfast, but my joy was too exquisite to allow me to partake of it. I remained on board the Blonde until the arrival of my fellow-pri- soners, whom I was most anxious to see once more. Lieutenant Douglas and captain Anstruther soon joined us, and it heightened my pleasure greatly to see those, I so much esteemed, restored to their usual comforts and warm friends; and erelong, the European part of the crew came safely on board. I was much distressed at seeing their wasted frames and pale countenances, yet it was a cheer- ing certainty that every kindness would now be shown them. It is to be hoped, that, by the blessing of God, they will soon regain their wonted strength, and I trust the sad lesson they have so dearly learned will never be erased from their memories. Being most anxious to see you, my dear friend, and, Dr. Lockhart being in waiting to ac- company me, I lost no time in hastening on board the Blundell, where you had so carefully provided for my comfort. My dear friend lieut. Douglas did not leave me, until I was safely on board; and no sooner had I reached the deck, than I received the loud and hearty cheers of the whole crew, which not being anticipated was completely over- whelming, combined as it was with the cordial welcome of captain Trail and his officers. To describe our meeting would be needless, it is too indelibly engraven on the heart of each ever to be forgot- ten; but I would not conclude without a sincere, solemn, and heart- felt ascription of praise and thanks to the almighty Father, the gracious Savior, and the all-sustaining Spirit, who has so truly fulfilled his promise, " I will not leave thee, nor forsake thee."

ANNE NOBLE.

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

205

ART. III. Notices of Japan, No. VIII.: character of the Japanese language; its various syllabaries; poetry, science, divisions of time, &c.

THE Japanese language was long supposed to be, if not a mere dialect of the Chinese, yet as closely connected therewith as the Italian and Spanish languages are with each other, or with their common parent, the Latin. This supposition, not based upon any knowledge of the two languages, was probably deduced from the fact, that the Japanese understood written, though not spoken, Chinese, whilst the Chinese reciprocally understood Japanese when written in the Chinese cha- racter-one of the many used in Japan: a circumstance perfectly intelligible, when it is recollected that the Chinese characters express, not letters or unmeaning sounds, the mere constituent elements of words, but the words themselves, or rather the ideas which those words signify; and therefore must convey the same ideas, expressed by different words, to whomsoever knows the meaning of the characters: just as the numerals 1, 2, 3, convey the same ideas of numbers, ex- pressed by different names, to the natives of different countries.*

      The more profound and accurate knowledge of the oriental languages acquir. ed of late years by the scientific philologists of England, France, and Germany, has thrown light upon this erroneous idea respecting the Japanese tongue. The erudite Klaproth explicitly declares, in his Asia Polyglotta, the Japanese to be so dissimilar to all known languages in structure, grammar, and every characteristic, as to prove the nation who speak it to be a distinct race. A disquisition on this subject would be out of place here; but a glance at the specimens given by Meylan and Fischer, is sufficient to show one essential dissimilarity between Chinese and Japanese. Every body knows the former to be a monosyllabic lan- guage, while Japanese is polysyllabic; nay, it might be called hyper-polysyllabic, since the simple pronoun I cannot be expressed in Japanese by a smaller number of syllables than four, watakusi; and to multiply I into we, requires the further addition of a dissyllable, as watakusidomo. At the same time, it must be admitted that, of these syllables, some are held so far supernumerary as to be dropped in speaking. Thus, in the Japanese dialogues given by Overmeer Fischer, who avows his knowledge of the language to be merely adequate to the common pur. poses of everyday life, the watakusi and watakusidomo of Meylan's gram. matical specimens are contracted into the less euphonous, but much shorter, watakfs, and watakfadomo.t

      * [It is not quite correct to say that the Chinese understand Japanese when written in the Chinese character. A sentence written this way is nothing more or less than Chinese, and when thus expressed it can with propriety, no more be called Japanese than it can be called Corean, or Cochinchinese, or even English. The comparison introduced of the Arabic numerals is an apposite one; see also Chinese Repository, volume III, page 15. That the Japanese understand the Chinese language when written, after they have learned the meaning of the characters, although they cannot converse in it, is no more surprising, however, than that an Englishman comprehends French when he sees it in a book, but hardly understands one word of what a Parisian says to him when he first crosses the Channel.]

† (Like the Chinese, the Japanese have a great variety of terms for expressing

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Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

APRIL,

     Fischer says that the sound of Japanese is soft and sweet; Meylan, that some of the letters cannot be articulated, save by native organs "to the manner born:" a matter that seems not unlikely, judging from the difficult contraction of the per- sonal pronoun. The president adds, that in Japanese there are no articles; and that the declension of nouns is by small words following the noun to be declined, like the domo following and attached to watakusi, for the purpose of making it plural. In fact, the name and nature of the preposition are simply reversed, by being made to follow instead of preceding. With respect to verbs, they remain unvaried by person or number, though changing with the tense and voice.*

The Japanese have a syllabary of forty-eight letters, which may be in a man- ner doubled, by affixing marks to the consonants that modify their sound, render- ing it harder or softer. This syllabary dates from the eighth century, and may be written in four different sets of characters. These are, the kata-kana, which is held appropriate to the use of men; the hira-kana, similarly appropriated to wo- men; the manyo-kana and the yamato-kana, the difference between which, in use or nature, is not explained, but they are said to show the original type of

every letter. In addition to these four sets of characters, the Chinese is used as a sort of learned character; probably a symptom and consequence of the arts and sciences having been brought from China to Japan. In this Chinese character ́all works of science, or appertaining to the higher departments of literature, as also official papers and public documents, are still written or printed. But even learned men employ their own kata-kana in writing annotations upon books, the the personal pronouns, meny of which convey, in themselves, an intimation of the relative standing of the parties, or in some degree indicate deference to the person spoken to or spoken of, and respect from the person speaking. This feature of the Japanese language is not confined to the pronouns, but extends to many words indicating an action, decrce, a thing, a word, or aught else, of the high per- sonage, be it a divinity, emperor, or honored friend, who forms the subject of the sentence; so that a highly polished and deferential sentence is much longer than one in ordinary conversation. Thus, in speaking to a friend, they say, Konnichi omaiyewa nani no tokorpni yukuka? meaning, where are you going to-day? But to a superior, the phrase would be, Konnichi no kimiwa nani no tokoroni on ide asobasaruka? In the instance given above, wasi is the word for the first person speaking, among equals or to an inferior, while watakusi is used when speaking respectfully to a superior or to a stranger; so with wasidomo and watakusidomo for the plural we. The syllable that is dropped is not a supernumerary one, but is contracted in speaking, as is the case with words generally in conversation. for the Japanese, in rapid enunciation, frequently make an elision of the last vowel, wherever the euphony of sentence requires it, in this respect resembling the French.]

* [The examples of Japanese poctry given in this paper will somewhat illustrate the pronunciation of the language; it is, in truth, an agreeable tongue, and, more. over considerable changes are permitted for the sake of euphony. When it is written in English, almost every other letter is a vowel, and when consonants unite and the vowels are dropped, it is for the most part in words where they readily coalesce; thus shrano for shirano. There are, however, many exceptions to this apparently simple rule, and study is required before the student can read correctly even after he knows the syllables.-The contraction of watakfs is probably written by the Dutch to express a kind of aspirated clipping of the word, for there is no f sounded by those whom we have seen from other provinces, nor is it thus written in Rodriguez' Grammar.

               The language is very copious, for it has not only its own native stores to draw from in expressing ideas, but unlimited use is also made of the Chineso; and the two are combined, and separated, apparently altogether according to the fancy of the writer. The verb especially is very full in moods

1841.

Notices of Japan, Nu. VIII.

207

text of which is in the Chinese character. The Japanese, like the Chinese, write in columns, from the top to the bottom of the paper, and begin from the right side.* and voices. For some general remarks on the Japanese tongue, see Chi. Rep., vol. VI., page 105.]

       * We give a few additional particulars, concerning the syllabarics of the Japan. ese language, most of which are abridged from an article by Klaproth, in the Nouveau Journal Asiatique for Jan. 1829. The following is his account of the introduction of the Chinese literature into Japan.

"Up to the time of the sixteenth datri, named

Ouzin tenwa,

the Japanese had no writing, all ordinances and proclamations being made vivá voce. Under the reign of this prince, Chinese characters began to be employed. In the year 284 B. C., Oüzin tenwo sent an embassy to the kingdom of

王仁

Haku-sat, which then existed in the southeastern part of Corea, to obtain learned persons, who were able to introduce the civilization and literature of China into his dominions. The embassador, on his return, brought the celebrated Wonin or Wangjin, who perfectly fulfilled the object proposed. He was des. cended from the emperor Kaoutsoo of the Han dynasty, and on his arrival was appointed the instructor of two princes. His descendants subsequently filled high military dignities, and his own merit appeared so great to the Japanese that they afterwards accorded him divine honors. Since the time of Wonin, the Chinese characters have been in use among the Japaneso. In the form of pure Chinese, they are employed principally in works of learning; but this does not hinder their diffusion throughout the country.

"However, as the construction of the Japanese language differs materially from that of the Chinese, and as the same Chinese character frequently has many meanings, the need of a remedy for this inconvenience was soon perceived, and consequently, a syllabary was formed, in the beginning of the 8th century, from

parts of Chinese characters, which was called for this reason kata-kana, H

       meaning 'parts of letters. This syllabary is used, at the side of Chinese characters, to indicate their pronunciation or their signification in Japanese, or between them to mark the grammatical forms of the idiom rendered difficult by the use of isolated characters. It is not known certainly who is the author of this syllabary, but tradition ascribes its invention to the illustrious Kibi. An- other Japanese work called

                    Wa Zi Si (Origin of Things in Japan), assures us that Kibi composed the kata-kana syllabary, and that he traveled to China, from whence he returned in A. D. 733. After his death, flourished the famous

           Koubo, the inventor of another syllabary, which could be used for the Japanese language alone, without having recourse to the Chinese. It is called hira-kana

or equal writing, and like the kata-kana is derived

from Chinese characters.

+

      "Of the invention of the third syllabary, we read as follows: 'In the year 1006 A. D., a priest of Budha, called Ziäku sõ

(or Shahchaou in Chi-

nese) went from Japan to carry tribute to China. He did not understand the spoken Chinese, but as he wrote it very well, he was directed to make out a list of Chinese characters with their meanings in Japanese. At this time it was he made some letters for his country, forty-seven in number; this number was adopt- ed because the syllabary brought from India had that number.' The forty-eighth syllable was added afterwards. This syllabary, which is used indiscriminately with the hira-kana, is called after the name of its inventor.

"There is still another ancient syllabary, with which was written the collection of odes called the Myriad Leaves, and which for this reason is called Mänyo-kana,

208

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

APRIL,

      Books intended for the instruction of either children or the lower orders are invariably printed in hira-kana letters; but we are told that, in those designed for

These characters are frequently mixed up with those of the two other syllabaries; it has the same order, and is composed of complete Chinese characters, written both in the common and in the running hand, and many characters are frequently employed to represent the same syllable. The following list contains the proto- types, but others are as frequently used as these; and it should be observed that the Chinese characters which compose this syllabary, as likewise of all the others, do not always represent the Chinese sound of the words that they designate. Thus, the Chinese character keang I a river represents the syllable ye, which in Japanese has the same signification; also neu 女 a female is called me, mean.

ing the same thing."

THE SYLLABARY CALLED

huyo

tau

ke vei sin

爲 津

MANYO-KANA.

wa

ho

to

cong vi

鐙ing

ye

飛 fe

飛in

hifi ku nae

ki

fu

不一乃ㄇㄞ

no

ne

毛:

tsun

wunmi ten thay it.

美惠 天 也

ke

ko

moo you ke #yu #nae 與利波 波。

maou

se

yew

ku

ra

ta

#heme Yeang kero Ę teang ★ lae

neu

mu

1000

re

le

ne

kettchi

che

呂o 知

ha

nu

noo

jin

禮 Flew

ru

bo,fo po

shi

+

Zganman yu

SO

10, wohe, fe isang yuen heuě

     This syllabary commences on the right, and reads in the Chinese manner. The syllables in italic are the sounds of the characters according to the court dialect of China, as given in Morrison's Dictionary; the others are their Japanese sounds, written as they are expressed in a table given in the VIIth volume of the Repository, page 496.

"There is still another syllabary, made of Chinese characters considerably contracted, which is call Yamato-kana

or 'Japanese writing."" One

of the modes of employing Chinese characters in Japanese is here exhibited. Yamato-kana is formed of three characters; the first one is an old name for Japan, and is read Yamato, though its sound is i; of the other two, the first is called according to its sound ka, the other according to its meaning in Japanese na, i. e. a name, and by the combination of the two is derived kana, a syllable or a character. The Chinese characters for hira-kana, kata-kana, and manyo-kana are all used in the same manner.

It may be added, that with the exception of the kata-kana, these various sylla baries are seldom used alone. Ordinarily, the characters of two or three are mixed together, without any rule, which renders the decyphering of the whole much more troublesome. And as if it was not already sufficiently difficult, Chinese characters are interspersed here and there, sometimes with and sometimes without the meaning or sound given on the side, just according to the whim of the writer. So that if we take into consideration the number of signs in each of the five sylla-

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

209

the well-educated, all four kinds of letters are often indiscriminately used and intermixed with the Chinese ideographic characters; one word, or even one sylla. baries, with the variations (or synonymous characters as they may be called), all of which cannot be much less than three hundred, together with the unlimited use made of Chinese characters, both in the running-hand and in the common form, it must be conceded that the scholars of Japan have succeeded in making their language one of the most difficult to read of any in the world, if indeed it is not the first in this respect. So close and so extensive is the connection between the two languages, that before the native student can make much satisfactory progress in his own literature, he must acquire a knowledge of three or four thou- sand Chinese characters, and ascertain how they are used by authors in his own country, the various modes of combining the two languages, and the different ways of writing the same character. Indeed, as it may easily be supposed, much of the time of the scholar is consumed in merely learning to read and write. We give a specimen of a common Japanese book, in which the hira-kana forms the ground. work as it were, intermixed with numerous Chinese characters, and with syllables from_the_yamato-kana. A translation of it can be seen by turning to vol. IX., page 90, bottom paragraph, on 'roasting_ore.' The first three lines are read as

follows:

Haku shekiwo yaku dzu.

      Haku shekiwo yaku nite, hazhimete kanadowo tskuru; kanadoni ardshi guchi urri, hiwo towasu kuchi nari, kanado no sotoni takigiwo shiki, fc., &c.

It will be observed that many of the cominon Chinese characters are without either collateral explanations, or sound; and also that such characters as have been explained once are left unmarked when repeated soon after.

Specimen of common Japanese Writing.

火车 璞索

whi

Bi

くの先竃を作る富嵐踊り

あつ

薪を

打多萱

三十日

めて取出

-

焚くり

کامی

*#*

VOL. X. NO. IV.

210

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

APRIL,

ble, being written in one character, and the next in another: no small addition to the difficulty of making any progress in Japanese literature.

In order to bring the various syllabaries which are employed in Japaness writing into view at once, we have combined them together in a tabular form. This table is made out from those in Rodriguez' Grammar, and Siebold's Epitome linguæ Japonicæ. The list of synonymous Chinese characters employed to repre- sent the sounds of the syllables given by Rémusat in Rodriguez' Grammar amounts to 382; a few of them are, however, used to represent the sound of two syllables. Sounds of the Japanese Iroha, or Syllabary.

chi

S

yo

ji

ra or la

ya

ye

ta

ro or lo

ri or li

sa

mu

ma

da

28

EE'2

hi or fi

bi

pi

ha or fa

L

ke

ba

nu

re or le u

ki

mo

ge

pa

03.

fu

60

ni

ru or lu

i & wi

ZO

23

bu

yu

se or she ze or zhel

pu

2 2 2 2 2 L

pe

ho or fo

tsu

bo

WO

no

dzu

명장

ko

BU

me

go

zu

he or fé be

wa

ne

ye & e

mi

'n

a

to

99

ka

ku

te

si or shi

na

do

ga

gu

de

zi or zhi

This syllabary is read perpendicularly, commencing on the left side, and each space corresponds to a space in the table on the opposite page. In each square are inserted: 1. The kata-kana, which occupies the centre, having the inflected syllables immediately underneath them, as ha, ba, pa; the addition of two marks, (") called a nigori, changes the initial into a harder or rougher sound; the addi- tion of a maru (°) or circle, changes the initial h or ƒ of six syllables into p. 2. The Chinese characters, from which the kata-kana is derived, placed in the top corner on the left side of each square. 3. The yamato-kana immediately beneath it, in the left lower corner; it will be seen that this is sometimes a contraction

   of the preceding, and sometimes not. 4. The hira-kana occupying the upper right hand corner; a few of these syllables are derived from the Chinese charac ters in the opposite corner. 5. The syllabary of Ziaku-só immediately underneath the hira-kana, together with some other forms used for certain syllables, as in ta, ma, no, na, &c. Many of the syllables in this are identical with those in the hira kana. There are also other forms of hira-kana besides these, for which see Ro driguez' Grammar, or Klaproth in Journal Asiatique. The last and forty-eighth

1841.

良也

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

་་

.

ヤ ア

211

惠忌

EN

3

武七萬

チヂ

路万利,太

ㄜ宇

れれ液

好禮

二1

之汞

キギ

けあり

ˇ

ふ由

升乃

つりば

ツヅ

线

7

ネガポ

杂度

白免

免め付す

, ス

JJ M

打江

身双

h

三房

N

称 お

迦奈

久 天

ラデ

タグ

なある

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APRIL,

     Japan has long possessed the art of printing, after a fashion sufficient for the diffusion of literature, but not emulating the splendor of the London press. The Japanese printers are unacquainted with movable types, and they rather multiply manuscript copies by means of a very inferior sort of stereotype in wood, or by wood-cuts, than really print, as we understand the process. Still, they supply the public with books, and we are assured that reading is the favorite recreation of both sexes in Japan, especially at the mikado's capital.

Japanese literature comprises works of science, history, biography, geography, travels, moral philosophy, natural history, poetry, the drama, and encyclopædias. Of the merits of the productions of Japanese genius in most of these departments, the Dutch writers speak highly; but considering that the members of the Dezima factory are not likely in general to have enjoyed the most finished or scholarlike. education, we may be allowed to receive their judgment with some distrust. Nor is this want of confidence in the critical taste of these eulogists of Japanese liter. ature diminished by turning to the very few data upon which we, in this country, can form an opinion for ourselves.

syllable is an imperfect nasal sound, and was added subsequently to the formation of the preceding syllabary, (Klaproth says by one Saï-chiu, who employed the character king to represent it,) and apparently for the purpose of represent. ing Chinese sounds ending in ng. In composition its sound is always n (some- times m for sake of euphony in the middle of words), but alone it resembles a half enunciated ng, and is formed by putting the tongue on the roof of the mouth, and then making a sound in the throat.

The characters in the last square of the table are marks used in writing. The first, when used, shows a repetition of the preceding syllable; the second is placed between Chinese characters to show that they are to be read continuously, or joined together as a single word in Japanese; its use may be seen in the speci. men plate given below. It is also employed in kata-kana after a syllable to lengthen its sound. The last two niarks show that a dissyllable or word is repeated; for instance in the word kotogoto, this mark is written instead of goto, and with a nigori to show the change in the first syllable from ko to go.

The sounds of some of these syllables vary in different parts of Japan, and dif ferent modes of writing Japanese words have also been adopted by scholars of different countries. Siebold writes lo, and Klaproth ro, for the second syllable, and so of ra, re, ri, and ru; those natives whom we have heard pronounce them, say ra, re, but yet cannot distinguish between the two sounds of ra or la. When either of these five syllables begins a word, the r is sometimes pronounced as if preceded by a soft d. Siebold remarks, "that the sound is difficult to express, but vibrates between 1 and r, something like the first efforts of children to sound it: in Yedo, the predominates, and in some principalities the obtains." Those syllables beginning with h, except fu, we have always heard pronounced ha, he, hi, ho, &c., but Klaproth writes fa, fe, fi, and fo, and this was the old Portuguese mode, now retained in Fatsisio, Firado, Figo, &c. Those whom we heard also say she and shi, but Siebold and Klaproth both writes se and si. There appears to be little or no difference between the sounds of the syllables i and wi, e and ye, and we have written them thus in this table because it can be hardly be supposed there are two syllables of precisely the same sound; the natives whom we have consulted, however, (and they are from three principalities,) make no difference between them either in sound or use.

In preparing Chinese books for the Japanese public, or when writing Chinese, the grammatical additions are more or less numerous according to the caprice of the editor or writer. Sometimes, however, the works are simple reprints. The cases of nouns, the terminations and tenses of verbs, and the marks to show the transposition of characters are seldom omitted. The perpendicular lines between characters, and the meaning of difficult and unusual characters or their sounds, are

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

213

      Klaproth has given a version of a geographical treatise, and Titsingh has trans. lated, or caused to be translated, Annals of the Daïri, and Annals of the Sin-

introduced into books which it is desirable to make very plain. In the specimen here given, the small figures at the right hand corner of many of the characters are the grammatical terminations; the catches and figures at the other corner of many others show that they are to be transposed in reading. For instance, the

first two characters 取𨨏 are transposed, being read kawawo toru, and the

     catch at the left hand corner of toru shows that it is to be read after the other. It will be observed that the second of the two has hira kana syllables on the side; this is an instance of their use in explanations, for the character is an unusual one, and moreover is here used in an uncommon sense. The circles are marks of punctuation. A translation of this paragraph also will be found on page 96th of vol. IX.

Specimen of Chinese Writing with Japanese explanations.

復或輕風于煇

燻橐

陳造几

加。灑浮火爐 候水 津 力頭。

然鎔 鎔把亍

棄之璞

復加候其良者滿愧乃

随出

流化長

籥洪取

座訓俗屋鈹?

〒安登下未俗 人置辣設成謂 鉄 就 宇墙假之, 燻璧字波

爐前通

謂世冬

鈹不

干炭冷麺

滓耗

人放槽

酪及立

道。

波銅

      Prefaces of books are frequently written in Chinese, while the body of the work is in hira.kana; in these cases, the running-hand is often employed, which mach

increases the labor of decyphering the text, if the reader has learned only the com-

mon form.]

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gouns of the Gongen dynasty. Of these works, the first is by far the best; it is minute, and no doubt imparts accurate knowledge of the geography and form of administration of the three claimed dependencies of the Japanese empire, Corea the Lewchew islands, and Yezo, including the Kurile archipelago. Its faults are dryness and dullness, unavoidable, perhaps, in a geographical description, and a great deficiency of statistical information. The Annals of the Datri have been recently corrected and edited by Klaproth; and a more jejune account of births, marriages, accessions, abdications, and deaths, with a few sicknesses, pilgrimages, and rebellions--but even these last uninterestingly told-it would be difficult to conceive. The Annals of the Siogouns are similar in character, though inter-. spersed with curious anecdotes; but even these are very heavily narrated, whilst some of them are evidently gleaned by Titsingh, or his Japanese translators, from other sources than the original Annals. Altogether, the three works, though valuable for the information they supply are such as it is a serious task to wade though.

Of the moral philosophy, all that can be gathered is, that it deals in ́cormmenta. ries* upon the moral precepts of the Chinese philosopher Kung footsze, or -Confu. cius, commentaries upon the Sintoo mythology, which the highest philosophy allegorizes into the epochs of creation. The encyclopædias (of which M. Rémusat has given an excellent specimenf) appear to be little more than picture-books, with letter-press explanations, arranged, like other Japanese dictionaries, sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes according to a not very scientific classification of the subjects.

Of the Japanese art of poetry, of its metre or rhyme, or substitute for either, nothing is said by any of these writers; but presidents Meylan and Titsingh furnish some specimens, as far as prose translations can be said to afford a speci. men of poetry. A selection from these examples may be here introduced; and as these gentlemen give the originals, printed in Roman characters, the insertion of one or two of these will show the form of the stanza, rhyme, &c. They will also show that either the Japanese language has great power of compression, or the Dutch translation, from which ours is rendered line by line,' is

* Siebold and Fischer,

Alta Kampei,

Kawo mita Kampei,

Mamani hanasiwo itasita Kampei,

Uchi siri tara yakamasi Kampei,

Sekenni waru Kampei.

Yes! eager is my longing

To look upon thy face,

With thee some words to speak ;

But this I must renounce;

For should it in my dwelling

Once chance to be divulged, That I with thee had spoken, Then grievous were the trouble On me would surely light. For certain my good name Were lost for evermore.

very diffuse.

+ MSS. de la Bibl. du Roi. vol. xi. p. 123,

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Notices of Japan, No. VIII.

215

      The following ethical stanza is likewise given in the original, because in it arc some lines longer than in any of the other specimens; but whether this be ac- cidental, or regulated by the nature of the subject, is not explained.

Kokorodani makotono,

Michi ni kanať naba, Inorazu totemo kamiya, Mamoran.

Upright in heart be thou, and purc, So shall the blessing of God, Through eternity be upon thee; Clamorous prayers shall not avail, But truly a clear conscience,

That worships and fears in silence.

      One of Titsingh's specimens, a short poem upon the murder of Yamasiro, a councillor of state, is both rather more poetical, and exemplifies the allusions to old stories or legends, and the play upon words, said to characterize Japanese poetry. This president, or rather his French translator, has added to his Dutch a Latin version, professedly literal, and no longer than the original; for which reason, it may be better to translate that (even if not literally, which the singular collocation of the words, dislocated beyond ordinary Latin dislocation, would, even more than the extreme compression, render difficult in English), than to copy the doubly and trebly translated translations; his work being published only in French and English, not in Dutch. It must be premised, that the constituent parts of the murdered man's name, being yama, 'a mountain,' and siro, ' a castle,' afford a happy opportunity for puns.

"That the young councillor is cut off at the castle on the hill by a new guard, exciting a tumult, I have just heard.

* Yamasiro's white robe being dyed with blood, all behold in him the reddening councillor.

41

       Along the eastern way, through the village Sanno, the rushing waters poured, burst the dyke of the swamp, and the mountain-castle fell.

"The precious trees planted in vases, the plum-trees and cherry trees beautiful with their blossoms, who threw them into the fire? 'Twas Sanno cut them down." (This alludes to an old tale of one Sanno's still unbounded hospitality, when reduced to extreme indigence.)

      "Cut down is the insane councillor. We might say, had such things ever before been heard of, this was the chastisement of Heaven."

       These specimens may suffice; but as the compression and style of Japanese verse have certainly not been displayed in the Dutch translations, perhaps one stanza of the Latin, which professes to be line for line, may not be unacceptable.

Kirarelawa,

Bakadoshi yorito,

Kikuto haya;

ľazamo o shiro mo

Ya

Sawagu shinpan.

Præcidisse

Consiliarum minorem

Nuper audivi;

In montis castello

Turbas excitantem novum custodem.

       With the statement that ballads, romances, and songs are said to constitute the greater number of Japanese pouins, this subject may now be dismissed. Of the drama, all that could be found has already been given, in speaking of the theatrical representations at Chosaka ; and we turn from light literature to science.

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The only sciences that can be said to be cultivated in Japan, are medicine and astronomy, and upon these were are assured that original works, as well as transla- tions of all accessible European publications, are constantly appearing. Of the merits of the original works we have no means of judging, save by inference from the reports of the abilities and knowledge of the Japanese physicians and astrono- mers; and on this head, those of the medical travelers are favorable. Dr. Von Siebold dwells eulogistically upon the zeal with which physicians from all parts of the empire thronged about him to acquire medical science of a higher character than their own; and his opinion of the intelligence and knowledge evinced by their questions has been already mentioned. The latter remark applies equally to the astronomers; and it may be added, that their sense of the scientific superiority of Europe, alone places the Japanese far above the self-sufficient Chinese.

    Of the proficiency of the medical profession in Japan, some further notion may be formed from the assertion that acupuncture and moxa burning are native inven- tions. The former of these remedies, having been introduced into this country, needs no description; but it may be worth mentioning, that among the books brought to Europe by Heer Titsingh, is one containing accurate directions for its use, with an enumeration of the maladies it is calculated to relieve, and accom- panied by a doll, upon which is marked every part of the frame adapted to the operation, according to the several cases. Moxa burning is a means of blistering, or making an issue, by actual cautery, or burning balls of flaxen down, made by triturating the leaves of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), upon the skin.*

   The drugs employed in Japanese pharmacy are mostly animal and vegetable, chemistry being for too superficially and imperfectly known to allow physicians to venture upon mineral remedies. But botany, as connected with the knowledge of simples, is diligently cultivated, and the medicines used are said to be generally. beneficial; the chief reliance, however, is upon diet, acupuncture, and the moza. Superstition is the main obstacle to the progress of medicine and surgery; its baneful influence was apparent in what has been incidentally mentioned respecting the obstetric department of the science: and the pollution incurred by contact with death renders dissection, and consequently anatomical science, impossible.

In astronomy, the proficiency made is yet greater, perhaps, from there being no superstitious impediments in the way of progress in this science. The Japan. ese astronomers study the most profound works that have been translated into Dutch, and have learned the use of most European instruments. These they have taught Japanese artists to imitate, and Meylan saw good telescopes, barometers, and thermometers, of Japanese workmanship. In consequence, the almanacs, which were formerly imported from China, are now constructed at home, the cal. culation of eclipses included, in the colleges at Yedo and Miyako.

    The measurement and division of time are in Japan very peculiar, and not very easy to be understood. For chronological purposes, cycles are employed; of these there are three, unconnected and concurrent. The one is formed by a somewhat complicated blending of astronomy with other branches of natural philosophy; the remaining two are simple, and may therefore be first mentioned.

The cycle habitually used in history for dates is the nengo. This is a period of arbitrary, and therefore ever-varying length, from one year to any number of * [The use of the actual cautery is very common, acconding to Kæmpfer: and a great number of the people who crowded the decks of the Morrison had scars on their bodies showing where it had been applied.]

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217

years. It is regulated by the pleasure of the reigning mikado, according to any remarkable or accidental occurrence that he thinks worthy of such commemo- ration; he may, for instance, appoint a new nengo to begin from the building of a temple, from an earthquake, or the like; and he gives it a name descriptive of its origin, either simply, or, in the oriental style, metaphorically, allegorically, and enigmatically. Thus, a mikado ordered a new nengo to begin on his abdication, and named it the nengo genrokf; literally, 'the nengo of the happiness of nature and art; implying that he, in his retirement, should have leisure to enjoy both. The new nengo lasts till some new event induces the same mikado, or his succes- sor, immediate or remote, to terminate it and commence another.

The other simple mode of computation is by the reign or dat of every suc- cessive mikado. This, as the most straightforward, is the one in common use. The only difficulty to which it seems liable, mamely, the interruption of a reign in the middle of a year, is obviated by the provision, that the whole year in which a mikado abdicates or vanishes is reckoned to him who begun it, and the dat of the successor calculated only from the next newyear's day.*

The third, the astronomical cycle of sixty years, is far other, and a very com. plex affair, being constructed by calculation out of the signs of the Zodiac and the elements. The former are reckoned in Japan, as perhaps wherever astronomy has been studied, twelve, and differ from ours only in their names. They are col- lectively called ziyuni no shi, or the twelve branches,' and run thus:

1. Ne,

2. Ushi

3. Tora,

4. U,

5. Tats,

6. Mi,

the rat, answers to Arics.

the cow, answers to Taurus.

the tiger, answers to Gemini.

the rabbit, answers to Cancer.

the dragon, answers to Leo.

the snake, answers to Virgo.

7. 'Mma, 4. the horse, answers to Libra.

the goat, answers to Scorpio.

8. Hiteuzi

the ape, answers to Sagittarius.

9. Saru,

10. Tori,

the cock, answers to Capricorn.

11. Inu,

the dog, answers to Aquarius.

12. I,

the wild boar, answers to Pisces.

      The † elements of the Japanese are more original. They are held to be five in number, excluding air, and including wood and metal as elementary substances. But these five are whimsically doubled, by taking each in a twofold character; separately as one in its natural state, and another as adapted to the use of man yet in each an element. This is so strange as to be worth giving at length, and in the proper order.

      * [The year of the siogoun's reign is also employed as a mode of computing time, for the dates of all the Japanese books we have seen are reckoned by the number of years he has sat on the throne,]

+ Meylan.

VOL. X. NO, IV.

218

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1. Ki no ye [represented by the Chinese character is wood in its natural state, as tree; this is the first element, and becomes,

2. Ki no to [represented by Z] when cut down and converted into timber. 3. Fi no ye [by, is the element of fire in its original state, as appearing in the sun's heat, lightning, volcanic eruptions, &c.

4. Fi no to [by

           is fire kindled by man, with wood, oil, incense, &c. 5. Touchi no ye [by] is earth in its uncultivated state, on- mountain-tops, at the bottom of the sea, &c.

6. Tsuchi no to [by

              is earth as wrought by the hand of man into por. celain, earthenware, and the like. Tilled ground appertains to this element, and it is sometimes represented by a rice-field.

7. Ka no ye [by] is the metallic element in its native state of mineral ore; sometimes also symbolized by manufactured metal, as a sabre or a bell.

8. Ka no to [by

nails, shears, &c.

is the metallic element smelted, worked into hammers,

9. Midzu no ye [by] is water as it flows from springs and in rivers; and 10. Midzu no to [by the character is the other watery element, as stag. nant in pools and morasses: a curious deviation from the principle laid down, that adaptation to human use constitutes every second element. [It is, however, sometimes represented by water issuing from a pipe or reservoir.]

Now, these ten elements being five times combined with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in some way more complicated than intelligible, sixty compound figures are said to be obtained, each of which stands for a year in this most scien- tific cycle.*

    The year is divided into twelve lunar months, but contains more than 336 days, because the mikado and his astronomers add a couple of days to several of the months, announcing always in the almanac of the year how many and which of the months they have thus increased. The difference between the lunar year, even thus lengthened, and the sidereal year, is corrected by inserting every third year an intercalary month of varying length, according to the number of days the mikado has been pleased to make requisite.t

* [The mode of combining the ziyuni no shi, or twelve branches, with the five doubled elements, or rather with the ten characters which stand for them, collectively called shikkan, or 'the ten stems,' is the same in China as in Japan, and was no doubt adopted from the former by the latter. The subsequent adaption of the 'ten stems' to the five elements belongs to the Japanese, and has no con. nection with the original formation of the cycle; nor do the latter in numbering the years by it do more than express the Chinese characters which stand for any given year. The apparently complicated nature of the arrangement is chargeable more to its Dutch commentators than to the system itself. The mode of combin- ing the two is explained on page 122 of this volume.]

    → [The division of the year into months is the same in Japan as in China, and we rather suspect that the mikado, or his officer the Reki Hakase, who superintends the preparation of the almanac at Miyako, does no more han publish the already settled arrangement of the various lunar and solar periods of the year. The year is luni-solar, and consists of twelve months, except when by this mode of reckon ing, the lunar time falls behind the solar time one whole revolution of the moon; then an intercalary month is added by the following rule: if during any lunar month the sun does not enter any sign of the zodiac, (that is, if there are two full

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219

But perhaps the most whimsical, and certainly the most inconvenient, division of time in Japan, is that by hours. A natural day and night is there divided into twelve hours, of which six are always allotted to the day-that is to say, to the interval between the rising and the setting of the sun; the other six to the night, or the period between sunset and sunrise. Thus, the hours of the day and of the night are never of equal duration in Japan, except at the equinoxes; in summer, the hours of the day being long, those of night short, and in winter vice verad.

moons in any one sign) that month is intercalary, and the year consequently con- tains thirteen months. The intercalated year contains 384 days, and the common year 354; the lat, 3d, 4th, 8th and 12th months have 29 days; the others 30 each. Besides these monthly divisions depending on the moon, the year is still further divided into twenty-four periods of about fifteen days each, the settlement of which depends on the time when the sun is in the first and fifteenth degree of any zodiacal sign. This division was also obtained from the Chinese.

twa miyo 和名:

The Japanese have a sort of descriptive term for each of the months called its , or harınonizing name; they are thus explained in the chapter entituled, Nippon gets rei zen, or, All the monthly festivals of Japan, found in the work called the Mirror of Female Education.

1st month, or shiyo gwats, is called

A

mo tsuki, the amicable month

"

because the hearts of people are then mild and goodnatured from the festivities of the newyear.

2d month, ni gwats, is called

ki-sara-gi, the month to change

clothes, because then the winter clothing is laid aside.

3d month, san gwats, is called

yayoi, the budding month, because

nature then revives from the slumber of the winter.

4th month, shi gwats, is called

the flowers are in bloom.

u dzuki, or flourishing month, when

5th month, go gwata, is called sa tsuki, or transplanting month, at which time the crop of rice is transplanted.

6th month, roku gwats, is called mina dzuki, or dry month,

because no rain falls.

7th month, sichi gwats, is called ♬ fumi tsuki, or letters' month, be-

cause in this month an ode to the stars is written on papers and suspended on poles.

     8th month, hachi gwate, is called ha dzuki, or leaf month, because the leaves of autumn begin to fall.

9th month, ku gwats, is called ♬ naga tsuki, or the long month, for the nights begin to grow long,

10th month, ziyu gwats, is called

kami-na dzuki, or godless

month, because it is supposed that all the deities leave their shrines this month, and go to Idzumo on the north of Japan.

11th month, ziyu-ichi gwats, is called

shimo tsuki, or hour.frost

month, because the rains congeal into snow and hoar frost.

12th month, eiyuni gwats, is called shiwasu, the final or season-ending month. The number of festivals, and civic and religious ceremonies, occurring through. out the year, is very great, and the important ones are carefully observed by all classes. Titsingh has given an account of some of the great festivals, and others that are observed by the court; see his Annals, pages 114-144.]

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    Strictly speaking, the length of the hours should vary from day to day; but such extreme accuracy is dispensed with, and the variations are regulated only four times in the year, upon averages of three months.

Again, the numbering of these twelve hours, which seems so straightforward a matter for people who can count twelve, is in Japan so strangely complicated, that had not the expedient been adopted of bestowing upon each hour the name of a sign of the Zodiac, in addition to its number, it would there be no easy task to answer the seemingly plain question of "What's o'clock?" An attempt must be made to explain this abstruse and original system.

     Nine being esteemed the perfect number, noon and midnight are both called "9 o'clock"-the one of the day, the other of the night; while sunrise and sunset are respectively "six o'clock" of the day, and "six o'clock" of the night. If it be asked how nine can occur twice in twelve, the answer is, that the arithmetical impossibility is conquered or obviated by omitting the first and the last three num- bers, beginning with four and ending with the perfect nine. The intermediate numbers are laboriously evolved from the multiplication table, and the system is based upon the profound respect entertained for the number nine. Here is the

process:-

     Nine, being the hour of noon and midnight, is the point from which the num. bering begins, and considered as the first hour. Twice 9 is 18; subtract the decimal figure and 8 remains, therefore the hour following noon or midnight, say the second hour, is 8 o'clock of the day or of the night. Three times 9 is 27; subtract the decimal figure and 7 remains, and the third hour becomes 7 o'clock of the day or the night. Four times 9 is 36; repeat the operation, and we find the fourth hour, which must invariably be sunset or sunrise, 6 o'clock of the night or the day. Five times 9 is 45; and the usual operation makes the hour following sunset or sunrise, fifth from either poon inclusively, 5 o'clock of the night or the day. Finally, six times 9 is 54; and by the same operation we obtain a 4 for the sixth and last hour, which becomes 4 o'clock of the night or the day. Then comes again the noon, or 9 o'clock of the night or the day. A table, which without previous explanations must have been unintelligible, will now place the sequence of the twelve hours of a natural day distinctly before the reader.

Midnight is kokonots or 9 o'clock of the night, the hour of the Rat.

2 A. M. is yats or 8 o'clock

do.

do.

Cow.

4 A. M. is nanats or 7 o'clock

do.

do.

Tiger.

Sunrise is mutsu-doki or 6 o'clock of the day,

do.

Rabbit.

8 A. M. is itsutsu or 5 o'clock

do.

do.

Dragon.

10 A. M. is yots or 4 o'clock

do.

do.

Snake.

Noon, is kokonots or 9 o'clock

do.

do.

Horse.

2 P. M. is yate or 8 o'clock

do.

do.

Goat or Sheep.

4 r. M. is nanats or 7 o'clock

do.

do.

Ape.

Sunset, is mutsu-doki or 6 o'clock of the night,

do.

Cock.

8 P. M. is itsutsu or 5 o'olock

+

do.

do.

do.

Dog. Boar.*

10 P. M. is yots or 4 o'clock do.

* [Each of these hours is divided in eighths (equivalent to our quarters), and the notation of the intervals is done by additions to the word denoting the hour; thus, kokonots han is 1 a. m.; kokonots han sugi is half past one; kokonots han sugi maye is quarter past one, &c., &c. The use of the twelve branches' to desig. nate the hours is borrowed from the Chinese, but the other arrangement of num- bering the six hours as here explained is peculiar to the Japanese.]

*

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      These hours are always sounded by the bells of the temples. The measuring them seems a more difficult matter, although lengthening and shortening the pendulum is spoken of as sufficient for this purpose* (of course, daily, or twice a day, at sunrise and sunset, must be meant). Two indigenous modes are also mentioned. The one, which may, evidently answer, by the burning of bodies of determinate magnitude-analogous to our Alfred's candles; the other, by a peculiar sort of clock, described, not very intelligibly, to consist of a horizontal balance, having a weight at either end, and moving backwards and forwards upon a pin. The subject of hours and clocks may be concluded with the description of a clock-not its mechanism, unluckily-ordered in 1826 by the governor of Nagasaki as a pre- sent for the siogoun, and considered as a master-piece of mechanical genius. As such it was proudly exhibited to the Dutch factory, and certainly indicates more skill than taste.

      "The † clock is contained in a frame three feet high by five fect long, and pre- sents a fair landscape at noontide. Plum and cherry trees in full blossom, with other plants, adorn the foreground, The background consists of a hill, from which falls a cascade, skillfully imitated in glass, that forms a softly flowing river, first winding around rocks placed here and there, then running across the middle of the landscape, till lost in a wood of fir-trees. A golden sun hangs aloft in the sky, and, turning upon a pivot, indicates the striking of the hours. On the frame below, the twelve hours of day and night are marked, where a slowly creeping tortoise serves as a hand. A bird, perched upon the branch of a plum-tree, by its song and the clapping of its wings, announces the moment when an hour expires, and as the song ceases, a bell is heard to strike the hour; during which operation, a mouse comes out of a grotto and runs over the hill. Every separate part was nicely executed; but the bird was too large for the tree, and the sun for the sky, while the mouse scaled the mountain in a moment of time."

*

The Japanese possess some little knowledge of mathematics, mechanics, tri- gonometry, and civil engineering; they have canals, intended chiefly for irriga. tion, and a great variety of bridges; they have learned to measure the height of mountains by the barometer, and have latterly constructed very good maps of the Japanese empire. In mechanics, they have not got much beyond lathes and water-mills, nor do they desire to make further progress. The views entertained upon this subject were explicitly announced, upon occasion of the model of ap oil-mill, forming part of the Dutch present one year, offered to the siogoun. The ingenuity of the invention and its admirable mechanism were highly commended, but the model was returned, because the adoption of such an aid to labor would throw out of work all those Japanese who earn their bread in the ordinary mode of making oil.

* Fischer.

+ Meylan.

999

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

APRIL,

ART. IV. A short tract respecting four Chinese characters, which perform a very remarkable office in the writings of Mencius and his commentators, published at Paris, A. D. 1830. Trans lated from the Latin of Stanislaus Julien, by S. R. WHILE reading and treating of Chinese books, it has long since ap- peared to me (and the opinion has every day become stronger), that some characters, in certain cases determined by a certain law, throw off altogether their primitive and accustomed signification, and then become merely the phonetic signs of regimen, by which the accusa- tive case is denoted.

Those we shall at present consider are four in number : 1st. The character

e, commonly signifying uti, utor, e, ex,

etc., to use, I employ, of, from, &c.

2d. The character

in, &c.

yu, usually meaning a, ab, in, etc., from,

3d. The character Tyu, commonly meaning in, causâ, propter, etc., in, by reason of, on account of, &c.

4th. The character hoo, ordinarily importing in, propter, nota interrogationis, etc., in, on account of, a mark of interrogation, &c.

Until I shall attempt in a special dissertation more fully to set forth the doctrine from which flows a most copious abundance of princi- ples, and by the aid of which the greatest and most frequent diffi. culties are solved, I cannot refrain from submitting to my readers in a brief and compendious way the principal and most obvious uses of these characters, so far as they denote the accusative case; supported by some proofs from among the thousands which I have from time to time collected and arranged. For in my emendationes,' and espe- cially in the 4th section of Mencius, which embraces the V, VI, VII, and VIII chapters, many things occur which might justly be charg- ed upon me as faults, should I not openly avow my reasons for never having once declined from the royal way.'

* The Ewang taou, or regia via, is the great subject of the discourses of

Mencius, and we conceive that M. Julien here delicately compliments himself for his rigid adherence to the opinions of the best Chinese commentators, many of whose writings he has most carefully studied and compared, and without whose sanction he has never advanced any interpretation of Mencius. M. Julien cer- tainly deserves the thanks of all Chinese students for his translation of Mencius; and the industry and judgment, which are displayed in it, reflect the highest credit on the author. He gives us in his preface the names of eight editions of the Four Books, embracing the interpretations of more than forty authors, all of

1841

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

223

Of the charactere, commonly rendered uti (se servir), cùm, xí, causâ, e, ex, etc., to use, employ, with, as, by reason of, of, from, &c.

case.

§ I. All sinologues have plainly perceived and known that in the more modern Chinese books the characters pa and tseäng (vulgo, to take, hold), when prefixed to words that precede the active verb by which they are governed, place those words in the accusative These characters so situated are very often prefixed to things that cannot be taken hold of, and they so entirely lose their usual signification that, to the mind of the reader or hearer, they appear to be mere potential characters, indicating the accusative case. It is almost the same thing as if in writing Latin, one should cut off the termination of the accusative, which is inseparably suffixed to the last syllable of the noun, and place it before the same noun. I beg leave to do this in the following examples, that I may more clearly and distinctly explain the peculiar property, as I regard it, of these cha-

racters.

I shall adduce first an example from the learned Grammar of the distinguished M. Abel-Rémusat; see § 392.

A 把 pa

I write : As

Literally: prehendens veri

1

veri

chin sinhwa

cordis

verba

cordis loquel.

shwolenou

enuntiavit.

enuntiavit.

That is, veri cordis loquelas (sive verba) enuntiavit: "He spoke

the words of a true heart."

Another example ;

B

tu pa

Literally: prebendens

I write : am

眾 chung jin 偷 tow. 看 kam

aspiciebat.

aspiciebat.

hominum-turbam

furtim

hominum-turb-

furtim

chung, (vulg. many,) a multitude, denotes-

That is, homines furtim aspiciebat: "He stealthily beheld the

men." Observe that

the plural number.

    That the charactere, which appears in theKoo wăn, or ancient style of writing, performs, in certain cases, the same office as that of the aforesaid characters pa and tseäng, will be

evident from the following proofs.

which, he informs us, he has felt bound to read again and again, while he has admitted no sense, nor criticised any rendering of others, unless the authority of many, or at least some, of these commentators favored him. And in addition to this he has studied and compared with equal care the two Tartar versions of the same books. The man who has the ability and patience to do all this, in order to expound the Chinese classics, certainly does not boast, if he says he has adhered to the royal road to true interpretation, though unlike the modern regia via it is long and tedious. Tr.

224

Examination of Four Chinese Characters:

Mencius, Book II. page 56, line 2d.*

C

Me

em

仁jin

humanitat.

存 tsum

心sin.

Conservat

corde.

APRIL,

That is, humnauitatem conservat in corde: "He (the superior man)

preserves humanity in the heart," which exposition three of the four

editions of the Four Books which have been compared confirm. Two of them explain the word

tseäng, as indicating the accusative case, to wit in this manner.

e bypa, and the third by

B. 把 pa

← jin

存 tsum

心sin.

D C.tseäng

將 tseing

仁 jin

存 tsun

sin.

Compare § I., examples A and B, and also Rémusat's Grammar,

$346 and 392.

Hence it appears that the learned Noel erred egre-

e

   giously, when servilely adhering to the usual signification of like a tyro he interprets the same passage "by the aid of humanity he preserves the heart," as if he had written, "using humanity he preserves the heart."

    Respecting the office of e, each of the Tartar interpreters agrees with us.

gosin

humanitat

be

em

moutsilen in-corde

de

That is, "he preserves humanity in the heart."

teboumbi.

reponit.

    For every one knows that in the Tartar language, the particle be, in construction with the direct compliment preceding an active verb, points out the accusative, as if it were a separable termination of the fourth case.

The reader will find it to his advantage if he can have access to the Tartarico-Chinese Grammar entitled

Tsing

Wan Ke Mung, where (Book 3d, page 6) the particle be just quoted, inasmuch as it denotes the accusative case, is explained by the cha-

racters 杷 pa, 將 tseing, and 以

€.

* The edition of the Four Books to which all the quotations in this tract are

referred is the one styled Sze Shoo Ho Kang. The mode

of reference is as follows:

四書合講

The pages have been numbered as they are in our books, and thus the reference is to each page, and not to the sheet as in the Chinese mode of numbering. The lines are counted from the right to the left, and the space between every two black lines, which run from the top to the bottom of the page, is counted as two lines, whether it is occupied by the large character when only one line of cha- racters is found, or whether it is blank from occurring at the first of a section. Thus counted, every page has eighteen lines, and the reference is easy. This work has been chosen because it is a common one and supposed to be in hands of every student of Chinese; and because all the editions of it are very uniformly printed. Tr.

1841.

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

Another example. Mencius B. II., page 167, line 12.*

E 以。

F1 le

em

utilitat-

ht

shroo

eloqui

wang,

regi.

225

That is, utilitatem (sequendam) regi proponere, "to propose to the

king utility (to be followed)." Both of the Tartar versions taking

We to fill the place of

pa or

tseäng, as in the foregoing

examples, render the passage thus:

aisi

be

dchafafi

wang

de

kisourefi,

Literally, utilitat- em

prebendens reg-

elocutus,

utility

taking

to the king

spoke.

e, has two com-

$II. If an active verb, in company with plements, the one direct and the other indirect, three forms of con- struction may occur, which the following examples will elucidate.

     1st. Either the verb is followed immediately by the complement indirect, and the complement direct, with Ve before it, is placed after the indirect complement; as Men. B. I. page 164, line 16.

A

分 fun

dividere

λ jin

hominibus

e

As

Af tsae

diviti-

That is, hominibus divitias (suas) dividere, "To divide to men

(comp. indirect) his riches (comp. direct),

agrees with this.

The Tartar version

nialma

de

oulin

be

houtmni-

bus

diviti-

89

dendeme dividendo

to men

riches

by dividing

poure dare.

be

to give.

2d. Or, the direct complement, preceded by the word e, is

placed before the active verb, and the indirect complement is subjoin- ed. We will adduce an instance from Kanghe's Dictionary under the

shwuy.

word

B.

e

物 wuhweijin yuě shwuy

m

re-

legare

homini dicitur

shwuy.

a thing

to devise

to a man is called

shwuy.

C.

βασιλεί

Lil yu

dare

A jin

homini.

Another example from Mencius, B. II. page 81, line 10.

Ye teën

天 下 hei

That is, the kingdom to give to a man.

      *The translator ventures to suggest to those who write for the public, and who have occasion to cite examples from Chinese works, that in every case some standard edition of the work be selected, and page and line referred to as has been done in this tract, that the quotations may be readily found and read in the connection in which they stand in the respective books from which they are quoted.

29

VOL. X. NO, IV.

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

APRIL,

The Tartar version renders in a like manner:

French,

apkai ciel da

fetcher gui dessous

be

le

nialma komme

de

boume.

donner.

"To give to a man that which is under the heavens (i. e. the

empire)."

3d. Or again, the word

e, is placed after the direct comple-

ment preceding the verb, and then as we have seen above (§ II. A

and B), the indirect complement is put after the verb; e. g. Mencius,

Book II. page 89, line 4.

D.

un

yerhkeae

puh

不puh以

e

與 yu jin

festuc-

non

am

dare

homini

That is, unam festucam non dare homini, "Not to give à straw to

à man."

In the same place there follows a correlative passage entirely like it in construction.

un

Xtseu A jin

yeih 介keae puh 以取 tseu

festuc-

non

am

dare

homini.

"Not to take a straw from a man." The Tartar versión agrees with

our interpretation.

Another example. One interpreter, explaining a passage of Men-

éius, says,

E.

鱼 yu

e

PAT yu

D săng

pise-

em

a

fish

comparat he compares

vitæ to life.*

    * But if as is the custom of many with such passages, we rendere, by the preposition ex, of, or from, then contrary to the opinion of the Tartar interpreters, it will be necessary to take the direct complement for the indirect, and indirect for the direct, viz.

I. Example C: ex humanite conservat cor.

$ II.

""

"From or according to bumanity he preserves the heart." A: dividere homines ex divitiis.

*To divide men from riches."

"

B: ex re legare hominem.

"Of or from a thing to devise a man.'

E: ex pisce compărare vitam.

"From a fish to compare life."

+1

    In these examples, the Tartar interpreters, who, as every one knows, consider it a matter of conscience to give the Chinese words their genuine signification and proper office in every place, oppose such an exchange in the regimen. We are persuaded that P. Basile fell into an error which should be guarded against, when in his Chinese dictionary, under

cusative by the preposition ez; e g.

ex

from

e

道 chin

recto

the straight

wei, he renders

#wei

w tacere

to make

e, the sign of the ac-

keuh

J

the crooked.

1841.

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

§ III. It often happens that

227

e, in conjunction with the verb kaou (to tell), when no complement precedes it (the verb), repre- sents the remark of some one brought forward from above, although no mention is made of the ramark, as if it (the remark understood) were the compliment of the verb kaou in the accusative case;

e. g. Mencius, B. I., p. 171, line 6.

A

Seu

Seu

tsze

tsze e kaou Măng

以告kaow 子 tsze

sign of acc. dixit

Mencio.

Which passage the interpreters expound by subjoining the words

that are understood after C. Thus;

B

徐 Sou子 tsze

以此

tsze 言 yen

Şeu

tsze

as

ill.

loque-

告 kaou

#kaou

Máng 子 tsze

dixit

Mencio.

That is, Seu tsze told these words (ie. the speech of E tsze,) to Mencius.*

Mencius himself sometimes expresses the wordyen, which is

understood in the former example. Hence it is plain that his inter

preters, justly supposed that the words

tsze yen, in the sen-

tence quoted above, were to be understood. E. g. Mencius, Book

I, page 131, line 16,

C

氏 she Fisze che

Z

yen

em.

Isze

- τος

sermon-

She

告 kaou孟 Máng 子tsze

dixit

Mencio.

That is, "the disciple Chen tsze narrated to Mencius the speech

of She tsze."

The Tartarico-Chinese Grammar in an example precisely similar, e 真 chin weiked, (Gallice, rendre faux ce qui est vrai, "to render false that which is true,") translates the word e by the particle be, as denoting

the accusative case and answering to the words pa and tseđng, which

point out the same case. Moreover, if in P. Basile's example above cited,

pa and tseang, which are signs of the accusative, be substituted for

chik wei #ketch

the explanation will be:

將 tseang (or pa)

Literally prehendens

rectum

(or as $1A) um

rect-

L

facere

curvum.

facere curvum.

That is, rectum curvare, "to bend the straight," or that which is straight.

Compare Book I. page 69, line 14. Page 131, line 16.

Page 175, line 18. Book II. page 93, line 6. Page 160, line 8.

Page 135, line 12.

Page 184, line 2.

228

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

Of the word in," &c.

IV. The word

APRIL,

yu, commonly, a, ab, ad, in, etc., "by, from, to,

ya denotes the accusative case as often as it is subjoined to an active verb that is separated from its direct complement by the intervention of one or more words, especially

when the latter are in the genitive; e. g. Mencius, Book I. page 125, line 12.

A

tsin

exhaurire

於 yu

A jim

心sin

um

hominis

anim-

15

That is, "to exhaust the heart of a man.' The Tartar version

assents.

Another example. Mencius, Book II. page 21, line 12.

B

ek keae

mutare

於 yu

em

#ke

ejus

德 tin

indol-

That is, "to change his disposition." The Tartar version assents.

$V. But when the verbs

tsin and

keae are not separat-

ed from their direct complements by the interposition of one or more words, Mencius omits the word

yu; e. g. Mencius, Book I, page

16, line 6.

A

kwa

Ʌ jin

盡 tsin

心 sin

exiguus

vir

exhaurio

animum.

That is, "I, the man of little virtue, exhaust my heart (in reliev-

Another example. Mencius, Book I. page 136, line 2.

ing the people)."

B

王 wang 庶 shoo

rex -

forsitan

with ke 改 keae 之 che

mutabit

That is, rex forsitan illud animi consilium mutabit. jesty perhaps will change that purpose of the mind."

illud.

"Your ma-

where

VI. Still however instances occur, but they are rare, yu, the mark of the accusative is prefixed to the direct complement following an active verb. But since in examples altogether similar, sometimes in the same passage, Mencius at one time uses the word Ayu, and at another omits it without at all changing the sense, it is plainly redundant in all cases when it is placed before the direct complement following an active verb. Mencius, Book II. page 19, line 2.

親 tsin

A

yue. 於 yu

gaudio-afficere

You

   That is, gaudio-officere (reus) yevras, vel parentes, "to make glad one's parents." The Tartar version assents.

1841.

yu.

Examination of Four Chinese Characters.

In the same passage, a little above, the phrase occurs without

B

yuě 親 tsin

有 yew

gaudio-officiendi parentes

est

That is, "there is a way of delighting parents."

version assents.

道 taou

ratio.

029

The Tartar

Compare also Mencius, Book II, page 43, line 16.

Page 55, line 10. Page 76, line 10. Page 125, line 2.

Another example. Mencius, Book II. page 206, line 12.

C

觀 koan

aspectat

於 yu

um

海 hae

pelag.

者 chay

qui

That is, "he who looks at the sea." The Tartar version assents.

See above § VI. A.

In the passage above quoted a little below line 18 we find,

觀 koan

D

aspectandi

That is,

水 shouy

有yerw

術 shuh

aquam

est

ars.

"there is an art in viewing water."

Another example. Mencius, Book I. page 144, line 2.

E

問2wán

interrogavit

於 yu

ium

nh Măng

'tsze

Menc-

That is, interrogavit Mencium, or "asked Mencius."

In another place we read, (see Book I. page 85. line 18.)

F

敢 kan

ausim

問 20ăn

interrogare

★ foo Ftsze

magistrum.

"I presume to ask the master." Compare Mencius, Book II. page 159, line 18, where the name of the person inquiring is subjoined to the verb wan, and the word yu omitted.

The reason is not obscure to me, why Mencius in the passages

    adduced above, at one time uses the word without at all changing the sense, omits it.

yu, and at another, But it is not my purpose.

to run at large over the domain of grammar and syntax, nor do mły proposed limits allow me space to undertake it.

§ VII. Sometimes the word

yu, placed before a noun preced-

ing the verb by which it is governed, places that noun in the accu-

sative absolute, to which the relative che answers, so that the

noun is plainly governed by the verb next directly following; e. g.

Mencius Book II, page 223, line 4.

於 yu

民 min

th, yay

仁jin

Z che

um

popul-

humaniter-tractat illum.

That is, populum humaniter-tractat; "he treats the people hu-

Euamination of Four Chinese Characters.

230

manely."

Tartar version assents.

almost the same office as

APRIL,

In this place, Ayu performs

e in the following example, which may

be referred to § II. rule 2d, example B. Mencius, Book II, page 202,

line 2.

以。

200

則 tseik

K puh

(cibos) os

matern.

non

sheik comedit.

妻 tse

則 tseih

leang che:

Z

09

comedit

uxori

illos.

This is, maternos cibos (seu a matre oblatos) non comedit, uxorjos "He would not eat maternal food (i. e. food brought

vero comedit.

by his mother); but he ate food brought by his wife." This is con- firmed by the Tartar version.

Of the words

yu and

hoo.

VIII. The words

yu and

hoo have the same uses as

то

the word

yu of which we have treated in §§ IV., V. and VĮ.

'o save paper and time it will suffice to point out a few fit exam-

ples for the reader to refer to the principles already laid down.

Examples which answer to IV.

An example of yu; compare § IV. A and B.

An interpreter, explaining a passage in Mencius, says;

不puh 能 năng

non

possum

Byeihche

diei

not, gen.

解 Ikeae

explicare

A sin

anim-

F yu

um

此 tsze

hujus

    That is, non possum (mihimet) explicare hujus diei animum, vel quisnam illo die animi sensus mihi fuerit; i. e. "I cannot to myself

explain the mind of that day, or what emotions of mind I had that day.

hoo; compare IV. A and B. Mencius, Book

An example of

I. page 89, line 4.

I

塞 sein hoo teen

F ✈ te

teche keën

r

implet um

cæli

terre

siga of poss. intervall-

That is, implet cæli et terrræ intervallum: "fills up the interval

between heaven and earth."

Examples that answer to § VI.

An example of † yu; (compare § VI, A, C, E.) Mencius, Book

1. page 187, line 12.

**

取 tseu

comprehendam

Fyu

殘 tsam

tyrann.

um

I will seize the tyrant."

1841.

San Hwang Ke.

231

In the same passage we read (line 18) the letter yu being

omitted;

取 tseu

#ke

tsan

comprehendam To

"I will seize the tyrant."

tryrannum.

An example of

hoo (compare VI. A, C, E).

One of the

commentators explaining the passage in Mencius, at Book I. page 28,

line 2, says―

paou

conservare

hoo

um

民 min

popul-

That is, conservare populum, " to protect the people; where Men-

paou min, conservare populum, "to pro-

cius simply writes

tect the people."

Another example.

throo

問 20ăn

+ hoo

aliquis

ura

Mencius, Book I. page 77, line 14.

interrogavit

鱼 Tsáng 西

se

Tsǎngse-

That is, aliquis interrogavit Tsăngsium vel Tsangse. "Some one

asked Tsangse."

Which indeed is the same as if Mencius had written

  kwo wăn yu Tsǎngse (compare § VI. hwo wăn Tsăngse (compare § VI. F).

Not only on the words

e,

E); or

或問

yu, yu, hoo, of some of

the uses of which we have summarily treated, but

                       also on many others of no less moment, at which tyros often stumble, we have at hand the greatest abundance of examples and rules; but these must be reserved for another work.

ART. V. San Hwang Ke, or Records of the Three august Sovere- igns, subjects of the early mythological history of the Chinese. CELESTIAL, Terrestrial, and Human sovereigns-Teën hwang, Te hwang, Jin hwang-are the appellations of three august ones, often alluded to by the Chinese, but whose existence is, beyond all ques- tion, purely mythological. The authors of History Made Easy, commence this part of their work with a prefatory note, quoted from one of the learned writers of the Sung dynasty, who says, the desig-

232

San Hwang Ke.

APRIL,

nation 'three august ones' appears in the Ritual of Chow, which however does not point out their names. The scholars of Tsin, about 246 B. c., are the next, who are found discoursing about the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns. A writer of the Han dynasty, in the preface to his history, speaks of Fuhe, Shinnang and Hwang te as the three sovereigns, but he fails, unfortunately, to give any au- thority for his statement. In the Domestic Sayings of Confucius, all the sovereigns after Fuhe are called te. The author of the note in question, after adducing some further evidences, concludes that the designation 'three august ones' cannot be obliterated, and refers it to the celestial, terrestrial, and human sovereigns, spoken of above; but who these were or whence they originated, he has no means of ascertaining. Thus the question ends with mere conjecture.

    The traditions respecting Pwankoo are briefly noticed by our his- torians. They say, "when heaven and earth were first divided asun- der, Pwankoo was born in their midst, able to comprehend the height and depth of heaven and earth, and also the principles of creation: hence the vulgar traditionary saying, Pwankoo divided asunder heaven and earth." Further they say, "Pwankoo was the first who came forth to rule the world." For the production of all the numerous orders of beings, which have appeared on earth, reference is made to

tae keih, or great extreme, identical with le, or reason. The operations in nature which were produced by the far famed but undefinable dual powers, were possessed of this reason, to which as master dominant they were subject. This tae keih produced two principles; the two principles, four forms; and by these operations were commenced; and great was the multitude of beings which then arose!

The celestial sovereign succeeded Pwankoo in the government of the world. Thirteen persons, all of one family name, as tradition goes, constituted this celestial sovereign (or sovereignty), that ruled in undisturbed tranquillity, while the manners of the people enjoyed self-renovation. The names of the ten stems and twelve branches, designed to mark the periods of the year, were now first formed. These names were different from those in use at the present time. The reign of this sovereign was 1800 years.

   : Next in succession came the terrestrial sovereign, with eleven per- -sons all of the same family name, continuing through another period of 1800 years, during which the sun, moon and stars, night and day, became known.

The human sovereign, with nine persons of the same surname,

:

:

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

succeeded; he inspected the hills and the rivers, and divided the world into nine parts, allowing one to each of the nine persons. All things were now multiplied in great abundance.

Yewchaou and Suyjin next appeared. "In high antiquity, the peo- ple, having dens and deserts for their abodes and dwelling-places, lived in friendship with the brute creation, and there was no disposition to injure or to harm each other." This happy age was not of long du- ration. The people soon acquired subtilty and wisdom, but were unable to cope with the wild beasts, which had become numerous and savage. In this unprotected condition, Yewchaou built log-huts, and caused the people to live in them, so that they might escape from danger. Yet, still ignorant of husbandry, they ate the fruit of trees, drank the blood of animals, and clothed themselves with their skins. In this stage of their improvement, Suyjin, observing the times and seasons, and inspecting the elements, obtained fire from wood, and introduced the art of cooking. At this time there were no letters in use, and Suyjin formed cords, in order to preserve a record of passing events, and to aid in carrying on the affairs of go-

Schools, commerce, &c., also received attention.

vernment.

ART. VI.

Journal of Occurrences: return of British merchants to Canton; business of the season; H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary ; new commissioners and governor; Keshen's memorial on the defenses of the province; court of inquiry at Hongkong; settle- ment on the island; Chinese troops; British forces; future ope-

rations.

IMMEDIATELY after the opening of the trade at Canton, by proclama- tion of the joint commissioner Yang Fang, and the acting governor Eleäng, on the 20th of March, British merchants with those of other nations repaired to their old residences at the provincial city, and the shipping, so long detained outside the Bogue in Macao Roads and its neighborhood, proceeded to Whampoa; so that at the beginning of this month, the river was again crowded with passers to and fro, and the foreign factories showed signs of becoming again what they for- merly were.

     The business of the season, though commenced under many dis- advantages, has steadily increased throughout the month; and confi- dence that no further contest is to be carried on in this neighbor- hood has been daily increasing. Native capitalists and merchants, who had removed from the city, have returned, and their shops and warehouses are

           being reopened. The new governor has issued a proclamation, requiring the people in the city to remain quiet, advis

FOL, X. NO. IV.

30

234

Journal of Occurrenceș.

APRIL,

ing those who had removed to return, and commanding them all to go actively about their own business. "Their families are as his family, and their bodies as his body;" therefore they are to be kept in perfect safety.

H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary returned to Canton and took up his temporary residence in the British Hall on the morning of the 5th instant, where he remained till the 17th. The day after his arrival, captain Elliot was called upon by the prefect, who came, it is said, to speak with him on various subjects of detail, and to convey to him the actual intentions of the high officers. The prefect repeated his visit on two subsequent occasions-the last being on the 16th, to convey a communication from the joint-commissioner Yang Fang, relative to the dispositions of his newly arrived colleagues, general Yeihshan, and the first joint-commissioner Lungwan.

The new commissioners, Yeihshan and Lungwan-with Ke Kung the new governor-entered the city on the 14th,-and in sedans from the land side, instead of taking the boats that had been sent out to meet them, thus avoiding any exposure of themselves to the British naval force on the river. On the same or the following day, the seal of a fourth member of the imperial mission-a third joint-commis- sioner-reached Canton: the officer for whom this seal is destined is coming on from Szechuen, of the troops of which province he has been for some years commander-in-chief. His name is Tseshin.

The following notices have been made public; No. 3. was publish- ed in Chinese at Canton, and printed copies of it were widely circu- lated by the people.

No. 1.

It is publicly resolved.-That on all commodities exported and imported in the 21st year of Taoukwang, the consoo charge called Hongyung ("for the use of the hongs,") profit, &c., shall all be the same as in the business arrangements of the 20th year of Taoukwang: nor shall there be anything taken in excess thereof. In witness of which this is given.

(April 12th, 1841.) (Signed)

No. 2.

By the ten Hong Merchants.

A satisfactory communication has this day been received from H. E. commis- sioner Yang, declaratory of the faithful intentions of his newly arrived colleagues concerning the arrangement concluded between H. E. and the undersigned.

The Kwangchow foo having also issued a proclamation by desire of their ex- cellencies intended to reassure the trading people, the plenipotentiary bas, for a like reason (with the concurrence of the government), made public the accompa nying notice under his seal. (Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. `M. Plenipotentiary. A Notice. British Factory, Canton, 16th April, 1841. Elliot, &c., &c., learning that the quiet and industrious people of Canton are disturbed by constant rumors of warlike preparations against this town and pro- vince, upon the side of the British forces-clearly declares to all the people that these reports are false and mischievous.

No. 3.

    The commissioner Yang and the high officers of the province, acting with good faith and wisdom, have now opened the trade; and whilst their excellencies are fulfilling their sealed engagements with Elliot, there will not be the least disturbance of the peace at Canton by the British forces.

The high officers of the English nation have clearly and manifestly proved, that they cherish the people of Canton, and if misfortunes befall the city and the whole trade of the province, assuredly the evil will not be justly attributable to them.

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

No. 4. Public Notice.

235

Macao. 20th April, 1841.

Notice is hereby given, that all persons requiring passports,for small craft pro- ceeding up the river after this date will receive the same, on application at the office of the superintendents of trade.

The passports must be exhibited on board the senior officer's ship off North Wangtong, and it is particularly notified that all small craft attempting id pass with- out examination will be liable to be brought to by the ships of war or their boats. (Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary. No. 5. Public Notice. British Factory, Canton, 17th April, 1841. To prevent general and serious inconvenience to the trade, notice is hereby given, that her majesty's plenipotentiary has applied to the senior officer in com- mand of H. M. ships on the coast of China (and received his consent), not to suf- fer any schooner or other small craft to pass inwards beyond North Wangtong without producing on board of the senior officer's ship at that anchorage a pass- port signed by the plenipotentiary. And it is further notified, that all small vessels without such passes will be liable to dismissal from the river by the commanding officer of H. M. ships. To except vessels furnished with his own passports from the visit or examination by the officers of the provincial government, upon the ground of protecting the revenue, or any other, the plenipotentiary has also pro- cured licenses bearing the seal of the Kwangchow foo.

But the plenipotentiary, has at the same time pledged himself, not to issue his own or these passes of the government to any other than persons who shall afford him assurance, to his own satisfaction, that the boats shall only be employed in the conveyance of letters, passengers, or supplies of table provisions or conve

niencies for the use of H. M. ships in the river. The passports therefore will be canceled, whenever the plenipotentiary shall see cause to determine that suck a course is necessary in discharge of his engagements. Subjects or citizens of fo- reign states, desiring passports for boats to be employed in the abovementioned pursuits, will be pleased to refer to their respective consuls, upon whose appli- cation to the plenipotentiary they will immediately be issued.

And notice is further given, that H. M. plenipotentiary with apply to the senior officer in command of H. M. ships, to remove out of the river any ship or vessel, proved to his satisfaction to be engaged in dangerous pursuits, calculated to dis- turb the truce, and interrupt the general trade. (Signed Charles ELLIOT, &c.

About Keshen there have been many reports and several docu- ments in circulation, some of which we know to be false. His me- morial, which we here introduce, will enlist the reader's feelings in his favor. Some of the other documents shall appear in our next number.

No. 6.

      Memorial, from the minister, &c., Keshen, to the emperor, showing the posture of affairs, and the condition, offensive and defensive, of Canton.

Your majesty's slave,* Keshen, minister of the Inner Council, and acting governor of the two Kwang, kneeling presents this respectful memorial,- setting forth, how that the English foreigners have dispatched a person to Chekeäng province to deliver back Tinghae,-how that they have restored to us the forts of Shakok and Taikok, in the province of Kwangtung, along with the vessels of war and salt-junks which they had previously captured, all which have been duly received back,-and how that the war ships of these. foreigners have already retired to the outer waters :-all these facts, along with his observations upon the military position of the country, its means of offense and defense, the quality of its soldiery, and the disposition of its people, observations resulting from personal investigation,-he now lays be-

    * Slave or nootsae. It is always the practice of the Tartar officers in ad- dressing the throne, to apply to themselves this humiliating epithet, except when associated with Chinese officers, and then for uniformity they use chin, a "miuister."

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fore your imperial majesty, praying that a sacred glance may be bestowed upon the same.

Previously to the receipt of your majesty's sovereign commands, your slave had, with a view to preserve the territory and the lives of the people, ventur- ed,-rashly and forgetful of his ignorance, to make certain conditional concessions to the English foreigners, promising that he would earnestly im- plore in their behalf a gracious manifestation of imperial goodness. Yet, having done this, he repeatedly laid before your majesty the acknowledgment of his offense, for which he desired to receive severe punishment. It was subse. quently thereto, on the 20th of January, 1841, that he received, through the General Council, the following imperial edict.

"Keshen has handed up to Us a report on the measures he is taking in regard "to the English foreigners, under the present condition of circumstances. As "these foreigners have shown themselves so unreasonable that all our com- "mands are lost upon them, it behoves us immediately to make of them a "most dreadful example of severity. Orders have now been given that, with "the utmost speed, there be furnished from the several provinces of Hoonan, "Szechuen, and Kweichow, 4000 troops, to repair without loss of time, to "Canton, and there to hold themselves under orders for service. Let Keshen, availing himself of the assistance of Lin Tsihseu, and Tăng Tingching, take "the necessary measures for the due furtherance of the object in view. And "if these rebellious foreigners dare to approach the shores of our rivers, let "him adopt such measures as circumstances shall point out for their exter- "mination.' 33

Again, on the 26th of January, your majesty's slave received the following imperial edict, sent him direct from the cabinet:

     Keshen has presented a report regarding the measures he is pursuing "against the English foreigners: which We have perused and on the sub- "stance of which We are fully informed. In conformity with our previous "commands, let a large body of troops be assembled, and let an awful display "of celestial vengeance be made. Whatever may be required for the expenses "of such military operations, may be drawn equally from the duties arising "from commerce, and the revenues derivable from the land-tax, the drafts

•being made after due consideration, and a correct statement being drawn "out of the expenditure. If these united sources do not afford a sufficient "amount, let it be so reported to us, and our further pleasure awaited."

64

With respect, your slave, humbly, upon his knees, has heard these com- mands. He would remark, that, while he had indeed made certain condi- tional concessions to the English, these amounted to nothing more than that he would lay their case before your majesty; and thus, in the article of trade, though it was expressly said, that they desired the trade to be opened within the first decade of the first month of this year (23dJan. to Ist Feb.), he still has not, up to this time, ventured to declare it open. Yet have these foreigners, nevertheless, sent a letter, in which they restore to us the forts Shakok and Taikok, along with all the vessels of war and the salt-junks which they had previously captured; and, at one and the same time, they have dispatched a foreign officer by sea to Chekeäng, to cause the withdrawal of their troops, and have given to your slave a foreign document which he has forwarded to Elepoo, at the rate of 600 le a day, by virtue whereof he inay receive back Tinghae;-conduct, this, which on their part shows a more meek and compliant disposition than they have evinced before. But alas! your slave is a man of dull understanding and poor capacity, and in his arrangement of these things, he has not had the happiness to meet the sacred wishes of his sovereign." Trembling from limb to limb, how shall he find words to express himself! He humbly remembers that in his own person he has received the imperial bounty. Nor is his conscience hardened. How then should he, while engaged in the important work of curbing these unruly

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foreigners, presume to shrink from danger or to court unlawful repose! 80 far from thus acting, he has, from the moment he arrived in Canton until now, been harassed by the perverse craftiness of these presuming foreigners, who bave shown themselves every way obstinate and impracticable,-yea, till head has ached, and heart has rent, with pain, and with the anxiety, ere even a morning meal, quickly to exterminate these rebels. Had he but the smallest point whereon to maintain his ground in contest with them, he would immediately report it, and under the imperial auspices make known to them the vengeance of heaven. But circumstances are, alas! opposed to the wishes of his heart. This condition of circumstances, he has repeatedly brought before the imperial eye, in a series of successive memorials.

Now, after that these said foreigners had dispatched a person to Che- keäng to restore Tinghae,-and had delivered up all that had been captured by them in the province of Kwangtung,-after, too, their ships of war had all retired to the outer waters,-it so happened that Elliot solicited an inter- view and as your slave had not yet inspected the entrances of the port, and the fortifications of the Bocca Tigris,-as also the troops ordered from the several provinces had not yet arrived, it did not seem prudent to show anything that might cause suspicion on the part of the foreigners, and so to bring on at once a commencement of troubles and collision from their side. Therefore, the occasion of visiting, for inspection, the Bocca Tigris, was taken advantage of to grant an interview.

       Having left Canton for this purpose, on the 25th of January, your slave bad to pass by the Szetsze waters (the Reach from First to Second Bar): and here he was met by Elliot, who came in a steam-vessel, desiring that he might see him. His retinue did not exceed a few tens of persons, he brought with him no ships of war,-and his language and demeanor upon that occa sion were most respectful. He presented a rough draft of several articles on which he desired to deliberate, the major part having regard to the trou- blesome minutiae of commerce; and he agreed, that, for the future, in any cases of the smuggling of opium, or of other contraband traffic or evasion of duties, both ship and cargo should be confiscated. Among the number of his proposals, were some highly objectionable, which were at the moment point- ed out and refused,-upon which the said foreigner begged that emendations should be offered and considered of. It has now accordingly been granted him, that alterations and emendations be made, and when these shall be determined on and agreed to, the whole shall be presented for your majesty's inspection. Your slave then parted with Elliot.

      He now found that the Szetsze waters were yet distant from the Bocca Tigris about 60 le (or nearly 20 miles). Even there, the sea is vast and wide, with boisterous waves and foaming billows, lashed up into fury by fierce winds. Majestically grand! How widely different the outer seas are from our inland river-waters!-Having changed his boat for a sea-going vessel, your slave stood out for the Bocca Tigris: and, there arrived, he made a most careful inspection of every fort and battery in the place.

Such forts as did not stand completely isolated in the midst of the sea, he yet found to have channels, affording ready water communication, behind the hills on which they were situated. So that it were easy to go round and strictly blockade them; nor would it in that case be even possible to intro- duce provisions for the garrison. After this careful inspection of the place,- the depth of water in the river, beginning here and proceeding all the way to the very city, was next ascertained; and the soundings, taken at high water, were found to be irregular, from one chang (or two fathoms) and upwards, to three and even four chang. Hence, then, it has become known to all, that the reputation of the fortifications of the Bocca Tigris as a defense, has been acquired, first, by the circumstance, that merchant-vessels require a sonie- what greater depth of water; and secondly, because that in ordinary times,

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when the foreigners observe our laws and restraints, they naturally do not venture to avoid the forts by passing through circuitous courses. But when they bring troops, to resist and oppose rather than to obey, they may sneak in at every hole and corner, and are under no necessity of passing by the forts, to enter the river, and so can easily proceed straight up to the provin cial metropolis. For as soon as they may have in any way got beyond the Bocca Tigris, there are communications open to them in every direction. It is then clear, that we have no defenses worthy to be called such. This is in truth the local character of the country,-that there is no important point of defense by which the whole may be maintained.

In reference to the guns mounted in the forts, their whole number does not exceed some two hundred and odd, hardly enough to fortify the fronts alone, while the sides are altogether unfurnished. Moreover, those guns that are in good order, ready for use, are not many. The original model has been bad, and they have been made without any due regard to principles of construction :-thus the body of the gun is very large, while the bore is very small: and the sea being at that place extremely wide, the shot will not carry above half way. As regards, then, their number, they are not so many as are those which the foreign ships carry, and in point of quality they are no less inferior to those on board the foreign vessels. Again, the embrasures in which they are placed are as large us doors, wide enough almost to allow people to pass in and out: from a sustained fire from the enemy, they would afford no shelter at all to our people; and they may, then, at once be said, to be utterly ineffective. A founder of cannon has recently presented himself, who has already given in a model, and is about to make some experimental pieces of artillery. But, should he really succeed in casting good cannon, yet can he only do so as a preparation for the future, and in no way can he be in time for the business we have now in hand. These are the proofs of the inefficiency of our military armament, which is such that no reliance can be placed upon it.

    Further, with reference to the quality of our troops: we find that the only way to repel the foreigners is by fighting them at sea, but to fight at sea it is necessary to have a good marine force. Now, we have at present to ac- knowledge the forethought and care of your majesty, in dispatching land forces from the several provinces to Canton: but these troops, before they can meet the foreigners in battle, will require to embark in ships of war and proceed to the outer waters. Though the objection be not maintained, that, being unaccustomed to the seas and waves, they needs must meet with dis- aster and overthrow; yet, seeing that the conduct and management of the vessels is a thing with which they are quite unacquainted, the services of the naval force still cannot at all be dispensed with. The recruits to the naval force of this province are, however, all supplied by its own sea-coast, by encouraged enlistment; and their quality is very irregular. Your slave had heard a report that, after the battle upon the 7th of January, all these men went to their tetuh (or commander-in-chief), demanding of him money, under threats that they would otherwise immediately disband. The other day, therefore, when on the spot, your slave made inquiries of the leth on this matter, when he answered, that the report was perfectly true, and that he, having no other remedy at hand, was obliged to pawn his clothes and other things, by which means he was enabled to give each of them a bonus of two dollars, and thus only could get them to remain until now at their posts. Hereby may be seen, in a great measure, the character of the Canton soldiery. And, supposing when we had joined battle, just at the most critical moment, these marine forces were not to stand firm, the consequences would be most disastrous. For although we should have our veteran troops serving with them, yet these would have no opportunity of bringing their skill into

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play. Still further, our ships of war are not large and strong, and it is diffi- cult to mount heavy guns on board them. By these observations, it is evident, that our force here as a guard and defense against the foreigners is utterly insufficient.

Your slave has also made personal observation of the character and dis- position of the people of this province. He has found them ungrateful and avaricious. Putting out of view those who are actual traitors, and of whom, therefore, it is unnecessary to say anything, the rest dwell indiscriminately with foreigners, they are accustomed to see them day by day, and after liv- ing many years together, the utmost intimacy has grown up between them. They are widely different from the people of Tinghae, who, having had no previous intercourse with foreigners, felt at once that they were of another race. Let us reverse the circumstances, and suppose that the English had craftily distributed their gifts and favors, and set at work the whole machi- nery of their tricks, here as at Chusan: and it might verily be feared, that the whole people would have been seduced from their allegiance; they would certainly not have shown the same unbending obstinacy that the people of Tinghae did. These plain evidences of the want of firmness on the part of the people here, give us still more cause for anxiety.

      We find, on turning over the records of the past, that, when operations were being carried on against the pirates of this province, although these were only so many thieves and robbers, with native vessels and guns of native casting, yet the affair was lengthened out for several years; and was only put an end to by invitations to lay down their arms under promise of security. And it is much to be feared, that the wasp's sting is far more poisonous' now than then.

Your slave has again and again revolved the matter in his anxious mind. The consequences, in so far as they relate to his own person, are trifling: but as they regard the stability of the government, and the lives of the peo- ple, they are vast and extend to distant posterity. Should he incur guilt in giving battle when unable to command a victory, or should he be criminal in making such arrangements as do not meet the gracious approbation of his Sovereign, he must equally bear his offense; and, for his life, what is it, that he should be cared for or pitied!

But if it be in not acting so as to meet the gracious approbation of his sovereign that he becoines guilty,-the province and the people have yet their sacred sovereign to look to and rely upon for happiness, protection, justice, and peace. Whereas, if his guilt should lie in giving battle when unable to command a victory, then will the celestial dignity of the throne be sullied, the lives of the people sacrificed, and for further proceedings and arrangements it will be, in an increased degree, impossible to find resource.

Entertaining these views, a council has been held of all the officers in the city; namely, the general and lieutenant-generals of the garrison, the lieuten- ant-governor, the literary chancellor, and the commissioners, intendants, prefects, and magistrates, as also the late governors, Lin Tsihseu and Tăng- Tingching; all of whom agree, that our defenses are such as it is impossible to trust to, and that our troops would not hold their ground on the field of battle. Moreover, the troops ordered from the different provinces by your majesty having yet a long journey to come, time is still necessary for their arrival; nor can they all arrive together. The assemblage of a large body of troops, too, is a thing not to be effected without sundry rumors flying about,- -our native traitors are sure to give information; and the said fo- reigners will previously let loose their contumacious and violent dispositions. Your slave is so worried by grief and vexation, that he loathes his food, and sleep has forsaken his eyelids. But, for the above-cited reasons, he does not shrink from the heavy responsibility he is incurring, in submitting all ⚫ these facts, the results of personal investigation, to your celestial majesty,

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And, at the same time he presents for perusal the letter of the said foreign- ers, wherein they make the various restorations before enumerated. He humbly hopes his sacred sovereign will with pity look down upon the black- haired flock-his people,-and will be graciously pleased to grant favors beyond measure, by acceding to the requests now made. Thus shall we be spared the calamity of having our people and land burned to ashes, and thus shall we lay the foundation of victory, by binding and curbing the foreigners now, while preparing to have the power of cutting them off at some future period.

It is humbly hoped that your sacred majesty will condescend to inquire regarding the meeting in council, and state of circumstances, here reported. And your slave begs, that a minister of eminence may be specially dispatched hither, to re-investigate matters. Your slave has been actuated entirely by a regard to the safety of the land, and the people. He is not swayed by the smallest particle of fear. And still less dare he use false pretexts, or glozing statements. For the real purposes herein declared, he humbly makes this report (which he forwards by express at the rate of 600 le a day),-in the hope that it may be honored with a sacred glance.-A most respectful

memorial.

A court of inquiry, concerning the mortality of the British troops in Tinghae last year is in session at Hongkong.

A British settlement on that island is about being commenced, and captain W. Caine of the 26th or (Cameronian) regiment of foot, is to enter on the duties of chief magistrate.

    Chinese troops to the number of some say-50,000 are collected in and near Canton. Not more than one fourth of these, judging from all we have seen, are fit to bear arms. Many of thein are wandering as vagrants about the suburbs. Even those on guard at the gates of the city appear unarmed.

The position of the British forces is nearly the same as at the close of the last month-the guns of the advanced squadron commanding the whole city, the Union Jack waving over the factories. General Gough, and the senior officer of the squadron, sir Le Fleming Sen- house, visited Canton on the 4th. Some officers and a small guard of marines are daily at the factories.

    The late hostile movements of the expedition seem to have stopped at the right point. It must have been hard, when at the gates of the defenseless metropolis, the heights in its rear covered with troops, to stop short of actual possession. Such possession, however, would most assuredly have broken to pieces the provincial government, and thrown the whole of this part of the empire into anarchy-a state of things as much to be deprecated by the foreigner as by the native.

The future operations of the expedition are becoming a subject of daily increasing attention. Recent operations here, notwithstanding the wrathful edicts of the emperor, have induced H. I. M,'s high officers to act with good faith and wisdom,' and open Canton to whomsoever pleases to go thither for lawful purposes. Similar ope rations, at other points along the coast, will very likely lead to simi- lar results. If the emperor is wise, he will hasten-with grace to yield, what otherwise force will erelong demand of him-to open his empire, and treat foreigners, and receive the plenipotentiaries of other states, as they are treated and received elsewhere.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-MAY, 1841.- No. 5.

-

ART. I. The historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof; togither with the great riches, huge citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke. London. Printed by I. Wolfe for Edward White, and are to be sold at the little north doore of Paules, at the signe of the gun. 1588.

     SOME months have now elapsed since any of the old writers on China have been served up for the entertainment of our readers. In the meantime several authors have fallen in our way, the oldest and the rarest of which is the one here introduced. The reasons assigned by Parke for translating the historie' out of Spanish and putting it into print, two centuries and a half ago, would be a sufficient apolo- gy, if any were needed, for our now taking the work in hande.' As the 'good courteous reader' may like to know these reasons, we introduce them here entire. They are addressed, "To the right worshipfull and famous gentleman, M. Thomas Candish esquire, increase of honore and happie attempts." And thereupon the trans- lator thus proceeds.

      "It is now aboue fiue and thirty years passed, right worshipfull, since that young, sacred, and prudent prince, king Edward the sixt of happie memorie, went about the discouerie of Cathaia and China, partly of desire that the good young king had to enlarge the Chris- tian faith, and partlie to finde out some where in those regions ample vent of the cloth of England, for the mischiefs that grew about that time neerer home, aswel by contempt of our commodities, as by the

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242

Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.

MAY,

arrestes of his merchantes in the Empire, Flanders, France, and Spáine: foreseeing withall how beneficiall ample vent would rise to all degrees throughout his kingdome, and specially to the infiuite number of the poore sort distressed by lacke of worke. And although by a voy age hereuppon taken in hande for this purpose by sir Hugh Willobie, and Richard Chauncellour a discouerie of the bay of St. Nicolas in Russia fell out, and a trade with the Muscouites; and after another trade for a time with the Persians by way of the Caspian sea ensued, yet the discouerie of the principall intended place followed not in his time, nor yet since, vntil you tooke your happie and renowned voyage about the worlde in hande, although sundrie attemptes, at the great charges of diuers honorable and well disposed persons, and good worshipfull merchants and others haue beene made since the death of that good king, in seeking a passage thither both by the northeast and by the northwest. But since it is so (as wee vnderstande) that your worshippe in your late voyage hath first of our nation in this age discouered the famous rich ilandes of the Luzones, or Philippinas, lying neare vnto thecoast of China, and haue spent some time in tak- ing good view of the same, hauing brought home three boyes borne in Manilla, the chiefe towne of the said ilands, besides two other young fellowes of good capacitie, borne in the mightie iland of Iapon, (which hereafter may serue as our interpretors in our first traficke thither) and that also yourselfe haue sailed along the coast of China not farre from the continent, and haue taken some knowledge of the present state of the same, and in your course haue found out a nota- ble ample vent of our clothes, especially our kersies, and are in pre- paring againe for the former voyage, as hee that would constantly perseuer in so good an enterprise: we are to thinke that the know- ledge and first discouerie of the same, in respect of our nation, hath all this time beene by the Almightie to you onely reserved, to your immortall glorie, and to the manifest shew of his especial fauour borne towards you, in that besides your high and rare attempt of sail- ing about the whole globe of the earth, in so short a time of two yeares and about two monethes, you haue shewed yourselfe to haue that rare and especial care for your countrie, by seeking out vent for our clothes, that ought vpon due consideration to moue many thou- sands of English subiects to pray for you, and to loue and honor your name and familie for euer. For as you haue opened by your attempt the gate to the spoile of the great and late mightie, vniuersall, and infested enimie of this realme, and of all countries that professe true religion: so haue you by your great care wrought a way to imploie

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the merchants of Englande in trade, to increase our naiue, to benefite our clothiers, and (your purpose falling out to your hoped effect) to releeue more of the poorer sort, then all the hospitals and almes houses can or may, that haue beene built in this realme, since the first inhabiting thereof.

"And sir, if to this your late noble attempt, it might please you, by your incouragement, and by the help of your purse to adde your pre- sent furtherance for the passage to be discouered by the northwest, (for the proofe whereof there bee many infallible reasons, and diuerse great experiences to be yeelded) our course with our commodities to the rich iland of Iapon, to the mightie empire of China, and to the ilandes of the Philippinas, for the vent that you haue found out, should be by the halfe way shortened, and you should double and many folde treble the credite of your fourmer late enterprise, and make your fame to mount, and your self to liue for euer in a much higher degree of glorie, then otherwise it might be, or that by any other mean you could possibly deuise: in which action, so highly importing the generall state of this lande I haue perfect experience that many worshipfull and wealthie marchants of this citie and other places would most willingly ioyne their purses with yours: and to play the blabbe, I may tell you they attende nothing with greater desire and expectation, then that a motion hereof being made by some happie man, your selfe and they might friendly and seriously ioyne together for the full accomplishing of this so long intended dis- couerie. And to descende to some particulars, there is one speciall reason that giueth an edge vnto their desires, proceeding from the late worthie attemptes of that excellent and skilful pilot M. fohn Dauis, made for the search of the aforesaid northwest passage these three late yeares, hauing entered into the same foure hundred lea- gues further than was euer hitherto thoroughly knowen, and returned with an exact description thereof, to the reasonable contentment for the time, of the aduenturers, and chiefely of the worshipfull M. Wil- liam Sanderson, whose contributions thereunto, although they haue beene verie great and extraordinarie, yet for the certaine hope or rather assurance that he conceiueth vpon the report of the captaine himselfe and all the rest of any skill employed in these voyages, remayneth still constant, and is readie to disburse as yet to the freshe setting on foote of this enterprise entermitted by occasion of our late troubles, euen this yeare againe for the finall perfection of so profitable and honorable a discouerie, a farre greater portion then in reason would be required of any other man of his abilitie. And all

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   beit, sir, that you have taken in your late voyage, besides the know- ledge of the way to China, the intelligence of the gouernment of the countrie and of the commodities of the territories and prouinces of the same, and that at the full, according to the time of your short abode in those partes, yet neuerthelesse for that of late more ample vnder- standing hath beene in more length of time, by woonderfull great endeuour taken by certaine learned Portingals and Spaniardes of great obseruation, and not long agoe published in the Spanish tongue, I haue for the increase of the knowledge of the subiectes of Englande, and specially for the illuminating of the mindes of those, that are to take the voyage next in hande to Iapon, China, and the Philippinas, translated the same worke into English, and committed it to print, passing ouer Paulus Venetus, and sir John Mandeuill, be- cause they wrote long agoe of those regions: which labour, to say trueth, I haue undertaken at the earnest request and encouragement of my worshipfull friend master Richard Hakluit late of Oxforde, a gentle- man, besides his other manifolde learning and languages, of singular and deepe insight in all histories of discouerie and partes of cosmo- graphie: who also for the zeale he beareth to the honour of his coun trie and countrimen, brought the same first aboue two yeares since ouer into this court, and at this present hath in hande a most excel- lent and ample collection of the sundrie trauailes and nauigations of our owne nation, a matter long intended by him, and serving to the like beneficiall and honorable purpose, which I hope will shortly come to light to the great conteutation of the wiser sort. In the meane season, hauing nowe at length finished according to my poore skill and leasure this my translation, I thought best to dedicate and commende the same to your worshipfull patronage, as the man that I holde most worthie of the same, and most able of our nation to judge aright of the contentes thereof, and to correct the errors of the author whensoeuer you shall meete with them; beseeching you to accept in good part the trauaile and good meaning of the translator: and so wishing vnto you, health, increase of knowledge, with fortu- nate and glorious successe in your further couragious attempts, I leaue you to the protection of the Almightie.

"From London the first of lanuarie, 1589.

"Your worships alwaies to command, Robert Parke." Bancroft, alluding to the anticipated discovery of a new and nearer passage to southern Asia, says:

"Thrice, at least, perhaps thrice by Cabot alone, the attempt at a north- western passage had been made, and always in vain. A northeast passage

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was now proposed; the fleet of Willoughby and Chancellor was to reach the rich lands of Cathay by doubling the northern promontory of Lapland. a. D. 1553. The ships parted company. The fate of Willoughby was as tragical as the issue of the voyage of Chancellor was successful. The admiral, with one of the ships, was driven, by the severity of the polar autumn, to seek shelter in a Lapland harbor, which afforded protection against storms, but not against the rigors of the season. When search was made for him in the fol- lowing spring, Willoughby himself was found dead in his cabin ; and his journal, detailing his sufferings from the polar winter, was complete probably to the day when his senses were suspended by the intolerable cold. His ship's company lay dead in various parts of the vessel, some alone, some in groups. The other ship reached the harbor of Archangel. This was "the discovery of Russia," and the commencement of maritime commerce with that empire. A Spanish writer calls the result of the voyage 'a discovery of new Indies.' The Russian nation, one of the oldest and least mixed in Europe, now awakening from a long lethargy, emerged into political distinç- tion. We have seen that, about eleven years from this time, the first town in the United States' territory was permanently built. So rapid are the changes on the theatre of nations! One of the leading powers of the age, but about two and a half centuries ago became known to Western Europe; another had not then one white man within its limits,"

The work in hand is a small octavo, of 410 pages, printed in old German text, and is divided into three parts, which are further sub- divided into numerous books and chapters. It must have been in its day a notable production. The work opens with a description of China and the confines it hath belonging.' After a very few words, by way of introduction, Parke brings his reader at once in medias res.

"You shall understande that this mightie kingdome is the orien- talest part of all Asia, and his next neighbour towards the ponent is the kingdome of Quachinchina, whereas they doo observe in whole all the customes and rites of China. The greatest part of this king- dome is watred with the great oriental ocean sea, beginning at the iland Aynan, which is hard by Quachinchina, which is 19 degrees towards the north, and compassing towards the south, whereas their course is northeast. And beyond Quachinchina to- wards the north, the Bragmanes do confine, which are much people and verie rich, of golde, silver and precious stones, but in especiall, rubies: for there are infinit. They are proud and hawtie men, of great courage, wel made, but of browne colour: they haue had (but few times) warre with them of China, in respect for that betwixt both the kingdomes there are great and mightie mountaines and

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   rocks that both disturbe them. And harde unto this nation ioyneth the Patanes and Mogores, which is a great kingdome, and warlike people, whose head is the Gran Samarzan: they are the true Scythas or Massagetas, of whom it is affirmed that they were neuer ouercome by any other nation: they are a people well proportioned and white: by reason they dwel in a cold countrie. Betwixt the west and the south is the Trapobana, or Samatra, a kingdome very rich of gold, pretious stones and pearles: and more towards the south, are the two Iauas, the great and the lesse, and the kingdome of the Lechios: and in equall distance, are the Iapones: yet notwithstanding those that are more indifferent to this kingdome are the Tartarians, which are on the selfe firme land or continent, and are alonely deuided by a wal, as shalbe declared in the 9 chapter of this booke."

    In Parke's day the empire was divided into 15 provinces, 591 cities, 1593 towns. The temperature of the climate and the fertility of the soil and its productions are carefully noted.

    "The inhabitants in this countrie are perswaded of a truth, that those which did first finde and inhabite in this lande, were the neue- wes of Noe, who after they had traueiled from Armenia, (whereas the Arke stayed, which God did preserue their grandfather from the waters of the flood), went seeking a land to their contentment: and not finding a countrie of so great fertilitie and temperature like vnto this, wherein was all things necessarie for the life of man, without comparison: they were compelled with the aboundance thereof for to inhabite therein, vnderstanding that if they should search through- out all the world they should not finde the like: and I thinke they were not deceiued, according as now it is to be seene, and what may be considered in the proces of this chapter, of such fruits as the earth doth yeeld. And although there is declared here of such as shall suffice in this worke, yet is there left behind a great number more of whose properties, as well of herbes and beasts, which of their particulars may be made a great volume, and I do beleeue that in time there will be one set forth.'

"In all parts of this kingdome, there is great store of sugar, which is the occasion that it is so good cheape: for you shall haue a quin- tall of verie excellent white and good sugar, when it is most deerest, for the value of five ryals of plate. There is great abundance of honie, for that their delight is in hiues, by reason whereof not only honie, but waxe is very good cheape: and there is so great quantity thereof, that you may lade ships, yea fleetes thereof. They do make great store of silke and excellent good, and giue it verie perfite

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colours, which dooth exceed very much the silke of Granada, and is one of the greatest trades that is in all that kingdome. The vetuets, damaskes, sattens, and other sortes of webs which is there made, is of so small price, that it is a wonder to speake it, in especiall ento them that doo know how their prises be in Spaine and in Italie. They do sell none of their silkes there by the yard, neither any other hinde of websterie, though it be lynnen: but by the waight, wherein there is least deceit. They haue great store of flaxe, wherewith the common people doo apparell themselues: also hempe for the cawlk- ing of their ships, and to make ropes and hasers. And on their drie and tough landes, although they be stonie, they gather great stoore of cotton wooll.'

     "Besides the fertilitie of this countrie beforesaid, all the fields be verie faire to behold, and yeelde maruellous odoriferous smelles, by reason of the great quantitie of sweete flowers of diuers sorts. It is also garnished with the greene trees that be planted by the riuer sides, and brookes: whereof there is great quantitie. And there is planted there, orchards and gardens, with banketing houses of great pleasure: the which they doo use verie much for their recreation and avoyding the troubles of minde. The loytias or gentlemen doo use to plant great forrests and thicke woods, whereas doo breed many wilde boores, bucks, hares and conyes, and diuers other beasts: of whose skins they make very excellent furres, but in espe- ciall of martas ceuellinas, of which there is a great number. There is great aboundance of muske, the which they do make of a little beast that doth feede of nothing else but of a roote which is of a maruellous smell, that is called camarus, as big as a mans finger. They do take them and beat them with blowes till they be brused all to peeces: then they do put them in a place whereas they may soon. est putrifie, but first they do bind very fast such parts, whereas the blood may run out of their brused bones all to peeces remaining with- in them. Then after when they thinke they be putrified, then they do cut out smal peeces with skinne and all, and tie them up like bals or cods, which the Portugals (who doth by them) do call papos: And this is the finest that is brought out of all Indies (if there be no deceit used in it), for many times they will put amongst it small peeces of lead, and other things of weight. There is also great store of kyne, that are so little worth, that you may buy a very good one for eight rials of plate: and beefes that are bought for halfe the mony: one whole venison is bought for two rials: great stores of hogs, whose flesh is as holesome and good as our mutton in Spaine. There

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is great abundance of goates, and of other beasts that are to be eaten - which is the occasion that they are of little value. The flying foules that don breed about the lakes and rivers, are of so great quantitie, that there is spent daily in small villages in that countrie many thousands, and the greatest sort of them are teales. The fashion how they do breed and bring them up shalbe declared in a chapter particularly for that which is said shal not seeme impossi- ble. They be sold by waight, and likewise capons and hens, for so smal value, that two pounds of their flesh being plucked, is woorth ordinarily two fʊys, which is a kinde of mony like unto the quartes of Spaine: hogs flesh, two pounds for a foy and a halse, which is 6 marauadiz. Likewise all other victuals after the same rate, as it doth plainly appeare by the relation made by the friers.

"There are also many herbs for medicines, as very fine reubarbe, and of great quantitie: and wood called palo de China: great store of nutmegs, with the which they may lade fleetes, and of so lowe a price that you may buy foure hundreth for a ryall of plate; and cloues, five pound for half a ryall of plate: and the like in pepper. Synamom, one roue which is 25 pound, for foure ryals of plate, and better cheape. I do leaue to speake of many other hearbs medicina- ble and profitable for the use of man: for that if I should write the particular vertue of euerie of them, it would require a great vo- lume. Of fish, both swimming and shell fish of all sorts, that they have with them is to be wondred at: not onely vpon the sea coasts, but also in the remote places of that kingdome, by reason of the great riuers, which be nauigable vato such places. Besides all this it is verie rich of mines of golde and siluer, and other mettals, the which (golde and siluer excepted) they do sell it so good cheape that a quintal of copper, yron or steele is to be bought for eight rials of plate. Golde is better cheape there then it is in Europe, but siluer is more woorth. There is founde great store of pearles in all this kingdome: but the most part of them are not rounde, by the which you may gather and vnderstande the goodnesse and fertilitie of the same. And that the first that did discouer and inhabite that king- dome, were not deceived, for that they founde all things necessarie vnto the preserving of the life of man, and that in aboundance: for the which with iust reason, the inhabitants may thinke themselves to possesse the best and fertilest kingdome in all the whole world."

To these descriptions of natural objects, our worshipfull and fa- mous author adds several chapters respecting the antiquitie and big- nesse of the kingdome, its wonderful buildings, the mightic wal, the

}

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249

     dispositions, manners and customs of the people; and hazards the opinion that the time will come when all these things will be fully described so as to make a great booke! He then proceeds to dis- course of the religion that is among the people, and of the idols that they do worship, and of other things that they do use above nature.' Their temples and their various ceremonies, burying of the dead, mourning, marriages, &c., are all briefly noticed. Parke's account of the poor tallies badly with what exists in these degenerate times. The luxury of smoking opium was unknown in his day. Respect- ing the poor he says:

Manie things of great gouernment hath beene and shall be de- clared in this historie worthie to be considered: and in my opinion, this is not the least that is contayned in this chapter, which is such order as the king and his counsell hath given that the poore may not go a begging in the streets, nor in the temples whereas they make orations vnto their idols: for the auoyding therof the king bath set downe an order, vpon great and greeuous penaltie to be executed upon the saide poore, if they do begge or craue in the streetes, and a greater penaltie vpon the citizens or townes men, if they do give vnto any such that beggeth, but must incontinent go and complaine on them to the justice: who is one that is called the justice of the poore. ordayned to punish such as doo breake the lawe, and is one of the principallest of the citie or towne, and hath no other charge but only this. And for that the townes be great and many and so full of peo- ple, and an infinite nomber of villages, whereas it cannot be chosen but there is many borne lame, and other misfortunes, so that he is not idle but alwaies occupied in giuing order to remedie the necessi- ties of the poore without breaking of the lawe. This judge the first day that he doth enter into his office, hee commaundeth that whatsoeuer children be borne a creeple in any part of his members, or by sicknes be taken lame, or by any other misfortune, thát:incon- tinent their fathers or mothers doo giue the judge to vnderstande thereof that he may prouide for all things, necessarie, according vato. the ordinance and will of the king and his counsell, the which is, the: man 'child or woman child, being brought before him, and seene the default or lacke that it hath, if it be so that with the same it may exercise any occupation, they giue and limit a time vnto the parents, for to teach the child that occupation ordayned by the judge, and it is such, as with their lamenes they may vse without any impediment; the which is accomplished without faile: but if it so be that his lame- nes is such, that it is impossible to learne or exercise any occupation,

VOL. X. NO. V.

32

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this judge of the poore doth command the father to sustaine and main- taine him in his owne house all the dayes of his life, if that hee hath wherewithall: if not, or that hee is fatherlesse, then the next rich kinsman must maintaine it: if he hath none such, then doth all his parents and kinsfolkes contribute and pay their parentes, of give of such thinges as they haue in their houses. But if it hath no parentes, or they be so poore, that they cannot contribute nor supply any part thereof: then doth the king maintaine them in verie ample manner of his owne costes in hospitalles, verie sumptuous, that he hath in euerie citie throughout his kingdome for the same effect and purpose: in the same hospitalles are likewise maintayned, all such needie and olde men, as haue spent all their youth in the wars, and are not able to maintaine themselves: so that to the one and the other is minis- tred all that is needefull and necessarie, and that with great diligence and care and for the better accomplishing of the same, the judge doth put verie good order, and dooth appoint one of the principallest of the citie or towne, to be the administrator, without whose licence, there is not one within that hospitall that can goe foorth of the limittes for that licence is not granted vnto anie, neyther doo they demaund it, for that there they are prouided of all thinges necessarie so long as they doo liue, as well for apparell as for victualles. Besides all this, the olde folkes and poore men within the hospitall, doo bring vpp hennes, chickens, and hogges for their owne recreation and pro- fit, wherein they doo delight themselues. The judge doth visite often times the administrator by him appointed. Likewise the judge is visited by another that commeth from the court, by the appoint- ment of the king and the counsell to the same effect: and to visite all such hospitalles as bee in the prouinces limited in his commission, and if they doo finde any that hath not executed his office in right and iustice, then they doo displace them, and punishe them verie rigo- rouslie by reason whereof all such officers have great care of their charges and liue vprightly, hauing before their eyes the straight ac- count which they must giue, and the cruell rewarde if to the con- trarie. The blinde folkes in this countrie are not accounted in the number of those that of necessitie are to bee maintayned by their kinsfolkes, or by the king: for they are constrayned to worke, as to grind with a querne wheate or rice, or to blowe smythes bellowes, or such like occupation, that they have no neede of their sight. And if it be a blinde woman, when she commeth vnto age, she doth vse the office of women of love, of which sorte there are a great number in publike places, as shall bee declared in the chapter for that pur

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pose. These haue women that doo tende vpon them, and doo paint and trim them vp, and they are such that with pure age did leaue that office. So by this order in all this kingdome, although it be great, and the people infinite; yet there is no poore that dooth perish nor begge in the streetes, as was apparent vnto the austere and barefoote fryers, and the rest that went with them into that countrie."

These extracts must suffice, The subsequent chapters of this first part of the book are occupied with moral and political topics. The - remainder of the pages are filled with miscellaneous matters, curious and miraculous-at least, the author doth so aver. The story of Limahon, and the particulars of his attack on Manila, are related at great length. This roving pirate came into notice about 1570, and the narrative, 'done into plain Euglish,' would be worth reading. The notices of several Spanish friars, who visited the coast of China about the same time, are not without interest and instruction. But we must close the book.

ART. II. Chusan Archipelago: sailing directions, derived from

nautical surveys, made by H. B. M.'s squadron in 1840-41. [We are proud of being able to lay before our readers the collection of very valuable details comprised in the following article; as surveys progress and extend, we hope often to have the pleasure of furnishing them with many similar communications. While making grateful acknowledgement for this paper, we beg to solicit from friends (and from strangers also) such addition- al information as it may be in their power to communicate.]

THE Kew shan (or Quesan islands) are eleven in number,

韮山 besides several rocks. The largest is three miles long, and its greatest breadth 12 mile; in some places, however, it is not more than a cable * or a cable and a half wide: the others are much smaller, varying from to of a mile in extent. They are thickly populated, probably to the amount of 1500 inhabitants, who principally subsist on fish. They have goats, pigs, and fowls. The sweet potatoe is cultivated upon most of the islands, and forms during the winter their principal article of food.

The geographical extent of the group is from lat. 29° 21′ N., to 29° 28′ N., and from long, 122° 10′ to 122° 16′1⁄2 E.

$

A cable's length is one tenth of a mile.

}

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Chusan Archipelago.

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Patahecock or Påtszekeõ. The south-easternmost island is called Patahecock (Pa tsze keo, or the 'letter Pă Point,' so named from its resemblance to the form of the character ?} Its flat and table appearance will cause it to be easily recognised, when compared with the adjacent islands to the south,

Hib- shan or Hesan, which are rugged and uneven. Four small islets lie off its northeastern shore, and one off the southern. The summit is more than 450 feet above the level of the sea, and in lat. 29° 22′ N., and 122° 13′ 40′′ E. The northeastern islet of the group is a nar- row cliff, an islet uninhabited. To the westward are four small islands, inhabited and cultivated; and north of them, three cables, is a flat precipitous rock; its colored appearance renders it remarkable, being composed of red porphyritic hornstone. This face of the island may be approached without danger.

The westernmost island is the second in size and attains an eleva- tion of 400 feet. The body of the large island lies due south 'from it. Between the two is a mud bank, gradually shoaling to the shore of the large island. By keeping the western extreme of the west island to the eastward of N.N.E., not less than 3 fathoms will be found and good holding ground without much swell. The highest part of the large island forms a sharp peak, near the western extreme, and is 490 feet high. The coast line of the island consists of steep high cliffs, with the exception of six small sandy bays.

    South, and separated by a channel a cable and a half wide, there is another island, which is also high, with steep cliffs. Off the west- ern point is a half tide rock, and a reef runs off from its south

extreme.

!

Holderness Rock. The Holderness rock lies N. 88° W. 1 mile from the highest part of this island. It has 1 fathom over it, and breaks occasionally. From it, the highest part of the western island bears N. 24° E; a small peaked islet to the S.E.S. 52° E., and Pa- tahecock table, S. 66° E. The reef of rocks, lying off the south ex- treme of the nearest island, being in line with it. /=

    Sunken rock. Another sunken rock, with only three quarters of a fathom on it, lies S. 20° W. three quarters of a mile from the summit of the island, south of the large Kewshan; and N. 70° W. from Pata hecock, the east extreme of the large island being in line with the east extreme of the nearest island bearing N. 509 E. The inhabi tants were civil, and sold their pigs, potatoes, and goats readily. Fresh water probably could not be procured in any quantity.

During the expedition against Chusan in 1840, H. M. ship Pylades

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     encountered three piratical junks here, one of which was taken and burnt.

         The inhabitants did not appear to participate, at all in the crimes of these marauders, and expressed themselves well pleased; at their being driven away.

:

Cape Montague. Several small islets lie off Cape Montague (or Szechaou shan), the depth of water close into them being 4 and 5 fathoms. The cape is in latitude 29° 10′ N., and longitude 122° 5′ E. A passage exists between it and the main, which is used by the junks. Between it and Buffaloe's Nose many deep inlets occur, which render the extremity of the continent doubtful.

      Half Tide Rock. The half tide rock lays S. 32° W. from Pata- hecock 7.8 miles, being in a straight line for Cape Montague and from the Bear (an island called ★ Tamuh shan by the Chinese, with a sharp peak at its eastern extreme), S. 42° E. 11 miles. It is uncovered two thirds of the tide. ́High tide and smooth water some-

times prevent its being seen.

+

High Water. The time of high water in the neighborhood of the Kewsan islands is 2h. 30m. before the moon's transit, and the rise and fall 14 feet. The change in the direction of the stream does not take place until 2 hours subsequent to the change in depth. The flood tide comes from the southward and seldom exceeds 2 knots per hour. The variation of the compass (1840) is 1° 57′ westerly.

Between the Kewshan group and the Bear, the depth of water varies from 3 to 6 fathoms, gradually shoaling towards the latter. Two small groups of islands lie between the Half-tide rock and the Bear, lying 5 miles from the main. From the N.E. extreme of the Kewshan islands, Buffaloe's Nose bears N. 53° W., 16 miles, and a small rock called the Mouse (nearly level with the water's edge at high water) N. 24° W. 6 miles.

The Whelps. The Whelps are a group of four small islands, N. 70° W., 10 miles from the Kewshan. ⠀

19:

1

Starboard Jack. Starboard Jack is a low flat reef with two rocks off its eastern ends, N. 47 W., 10 miles from the Kewsan.

:

Corkers. Between Starboard Jack and the outer rock or the Cor- kers, (a number of isolated reefs lying between the Whelps and Buffaloe's Nose), the distance is 34 miles, with a depth of from 5 to 6 fathoms. The outer rock of the Corkers is occasionally covered, and bears from the extreme of Buffaloe's Nose S. 31° E. Two islets, `a cable's length farther to the westward, are always above water, and will give warning should the sea not break on the outer rocks.

"

+

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Chuson Archipelags.

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   Goughs passage. This passage (by far the best of any leading to Chusan) is formed by Futoo shan on the east, and the Central is- lands (four in number) on the west. In the passage both shores are steep to; but south of the southern islet of the central group is a shoal, of which the lead will give warning. The passage is 1.4 mile through, and 5 cables wide.

Robert's passage.

             'Robert's best passage' is formed by the Cen- tral islands on, the east, and the mud extending from Mei shan on the west, which dries que mile from the solid ground. The boundary of the passage westerly, therefore, is not known, except at low water, the lead giving no warning. The depth of water varies from 6 to 40 fathoms. The channel is 1.8 mile through, and 5 cables wide.

Ketow or Kitto

              (also on some Chinese maps written MED). The course, after you are through these two passages, for Ketow point, will be N. 41° E, 94 miles. Anchorage will be found anywhere along the Ketow shore, until one mile to the north- ward of Singlosan, a small islet near the Ketow shore, where the water deepens suddenly; and as there is no anchorage beyond this, until you get to Elephant island, ships are advised not to proceed, unless they have sufficient wind or tide to carry them in.

    Tides. In these passages the first of the flood comes from the northward, and runs sometimes for three hours before it takes the same direction as the ocean tide.

   Ten foot Junk passage. Between Mei shan and the Ketow shore there is a narrow passage 24 cables wide. It has deep water 5, 6, and 7 fathoms through, until you arrive at its southern extrem- ity, where it shoals considerably. There may be more than 10 feet, as only one line of soundings was run across the bar. There is how- ever no likelihood of its ever being used. Near the centre of the passage, on the Ketow side, there is a custom-house, and two canals which communicate with large villages in the neighborhood.

Kuŏkeu so

Two miles from the northern entrance

is the walled town of Kwokeu, a military station; interruption to our

1

sounding operations in 1840 was experienced from this quarter.

The several islands which form these passages may be here briefly described.

Lowang or Luhwang

is 94 miles long, and 6 miles across,

at the broadest part, which is the western extreme. Near the centre it is little more than two miles across, and very little elevated above the level of the sea. The southeast body of the

island'' rises to the

I.

10

C

VF

Fift

do

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Chusan Archipelago.

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    height of 865 feet, being a conical bare hill. On the isthmus is an isolated peak. On the northwestern side of the island are five high peaks, the highest being 920 feet above mean tide level. The south- western coast has been already described: that to the west, in the Duffield's passage, has several small bays, with stone èmbankments stretching from point to point, by which means a considerable quantity of land has been gained from the sea. The points of these bays form nearly a straight line. Beyond the Bird rock, the coastline takes a sudden turn to the northeast. Cape Lowang, the northern extreme of the island is high and bold. The island is 26 miles in circumference, very populous, and well cultivated.

Futoo shan

Futoo shan is not quite three miles long and one broad: the southern extreme forms a narrow point, con- nected, at low water, with St. Andrew's. The channel between the point and Tree-a-top is 34 cables wide, and has deep water. A spit runs off the northern extreme of Futoo shan, to the northward of which are three small islands.

      Central islands. The south-westernmost of the Central islands is a small islet, connected by a reef and spit with the next, which is the largest of the group. This island is one quarter of a mile long, and is the resort of several fishermen, whose stakes and nets in 7 fa- thoms water will be seen in the neighborhood.

Meishan (or Plum island) appears formerly to have been eight islands, now however united by substantial stone walls, one of which is 11⁄2 mile in extent. The mud dries 11⁄2 mile from its southern extreme, and 21 cables from the northern. Off the northwest side are two small islands, from the northernmost of which a shoal extends northerly, there being 3 fathoms at the distance of 4 cables from the shore. By keeping the Central islands open of the two islands mentioned above, until your are passed them half a mile, the shoal will be avoided, and the Ketow shore may be approached with safety.

Teaouchow Mun. The passage next to Buffaloe's Nose is called Teaouchow mun by the Chinese. The entrance to it is N. 8° E., 18 miles from the northeast extreme of the Kewshan islands.

The island called Beak Head (or

Tunglo shan) forms

its southwest extreme, off the east end of which lie three small islets ; and two hummocks near the end of the island, render it sufficiently remarkable. Between the Beak Head and Front islands are three islets and a rock, which, with Lowang, form Harbor Rouse.

VOL

NO V

NO

258

Chusan Archipelago.

MAX,

    There is a narrow passage, having 34 fathoms, between. Lowang and the Beak Head, but there would be no object in using it, while there are other passages so much superior.

    Beak Head is 5 miles long, and very narrow 11⁄2 mile from the east extreine. Two reefs lie close in shore upon the northeastern side. The distance across to Vernon island or Heäke is 2.8 miles, with 18 and 20 fathoms. Near the west extreme of Beak Head the channel narrows to 5 cables, and there is no bottom with 34 fathoms. A reef of rocks, the northernmost of which is always above water, bounds the channel on the south side; and an island with a conical hill and two small islets on its south side, bound it on the northern; this island is situated midway between Vernon and Beak Head; be- tween it and the former are two small islets and a reef, which render the channel, on that side, more intricate.

Having steered N. 59° W., 81⁄2 miles from the entrance you will pass another island, to the northwest of which good anchorage will be found, in 9 to 10 fathoms. The same course, and 4 miles farther will carry you clear of the passage. On the north side of the chan- nel are four small islets, and between them and Taou-hwa shan is an archipelago of reefs and islands. There is a passage through into the Heäke mun, but it is awkward for sailing vessels. On the Lo wang side is a reef, and an islet, with a small pinnacle on it. The reef bears S. 34° E. from cape Lowang, and is generally uncovered. The mud dries 7 cables off Lowang in the bight. Vessels, there- fore, beating through, should not stand into this shore, so as to bring cape Lowang to the northward of the bearing given above to avoid the reef. On this side of Lowang it will be found difficult to land, except at high water.

The southeast passage, or Heäke mun,, lies five miles further to the northward. It is formed by Vernon island on the south, and Taouhwa shan on the north. The east extreme of the former island is rugged, with large boulders of granite. There is a cove at this end of the island, which runs in three quarters of a mile, and would afford good shelter for boats.

Vernon island (Heäke shan

or Crab-cape island) is

five miles long. On the northwest side of the island there is a long bay, where vessels may anchor in 4 to 5 fathoms, and procure water from the island of Taouhwa shan opposite. There are several cas- cades, and the water might be obtained without removing the casks from the boats. The passage here is 12 mile wide. Six miles from the entrance it narrows to 31⁄2 cables. Two small islands and some

1841.

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259

rocks on the Taouhwa shan side, and an island with a sharp peak- (half a cable off the northern extreme of which is a rock), form the boundaries.

Taou-hwa shan) shore is bold and precipitous. The peak rises to the height of 1680 feet. Near the western end the island becomes very low, rising however again towards the extreme, where it is surmounted by a peculiar crag, which will be recognized nearly throughout all the southeastern part of the archipelago.

The depth of water in the channel is 60 fathoms in some parts, and the tide is very strong. It will, however, be found a convenient passage to sea from Chusan during the northwesterly monsoon: the distance from Elephant island to the open sea, by this passage, being only 17 miles. It should not however be attempted in light winds, as vessels are liable to be becalmed, and to experience flaws, under the high land of Taouhwa shan. The passage is 8 miles through, and from its northeast entrance to Round-about island the distance is 5 miles, N. 41o W.

     Sarah Galley passage. This passage is by no means so eligible as those already mentioned. The entrance is situated N. 12° E., 21 miles from the Kewshan group, near which will be seen the Jansen rock, a steep cliff islet with a reef 14 cable from the east extreme. Another rock, uncovered at half tide, bears from the Jansen 8. 25° W., 1.3 mile. From it the highest part of Oswamong island bears N. 75° W., 1.8 mile, and the highest part of Taouhwa shan S. 5° E. The coast line of Oswamong is high cliffs, and off the southeastern extreme is a ledge of rocks.

Oswamong is called by the Chinese Woosha, or Usha, that is, ' Black sand.'

     Two patches of rock. South of Oswamong, 5 cables, are two patches of rock, lying northwest-half-west and southeast-balanst from each other, not quite 2 cables apart. From the sonthe is, 201 patch the Jansen bears N. 52° E., and a flat peaked island between them and Taouhwa shan S. 16° E. Very high tides may cover them, but they are generally above water. The distance between them and some rocks extending from the north extreme of the flat peaked island is 7 cables. There is no bottom with 31 fathoms in the vici- nity of the rocks, after passing which the course is west 24 miles, leaving two small islets with a reef between them to the southw-2. The channel is here 7 cables broad, between Tangfow on the so sin,. and an island (with a hut on its summit and a reef of rocks off the southeast extreme) to the northward. From hence the course is S.

260

Chusan Archipelago.

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50° W., 1.7 mile. The channel is now 1 mile broad, between a small island with two hummocks (nearly divided at the centre,) and an island to the westward with a building, something similar to a Druidical temple, on its summit; between this island and Chookeä tseën, the mud dries nearly all the way, leaving only a small passage for boats. In standing over to the Chookeätseën shore, vessels should not bring a small flat islet (with two rocks off its southeast extreme) to bear to the southward of S. 15° W., as the depth of water decreas- es very suddenly. Off the eastern end of the island, with the Druidi- cal temple on it, the small flat island (above mentioned), which is at the west extreme of the Sarah Galley passage, bears S. 21° W., 2.6 miles. Before reaching the flat island the southeast extreme of Chụ- san will be seen. There is a bulding constructed of slabs of stone (similar to the one already mentioned on the island,) on the hills over the point, and a small tower or a fort near the water's edge. From the flat island to Round-about island the distance is 7.7 miles, W. 7° S.

Between Chookeä tseën and Oswamong there is another navigable passage, two cables wide, which may be used with a fair wind, by which means the reefs in the entrance of the Sarah Galley passage will be avoided. Off the north end of Oswamong is a small island. The passage between Tangfow and Taouhwa shan is very narrow in one part.

Chookeä tseën (or Choo's Peak,) is 6 miles from east to west. The west line has many deep indentations, some of which are inclosed from the sea by stone walls. On the eastern extreme are 4 remarkably high peaks; and near the centre of the island is a smooth cone-topped one, which is 1164 feet above the level of the sea, and forms one of the most remarkable features in this part of the archi- pelago. On the west face of the island are several sandy bays, and the hills in this neighborhood are covered with large isolated masses of granite. Off its northeast extreme is a group, consisting of five islands; and to the eastern are three small islets, the outermost of which is 83 miles distant. A half-tide rock bears N. 14° E., 7 miles from the cone-topped hill. From the summit of Pooto it bears S.

78° E., and from the south-easternmost island of the northeast group, S. 49° W.

Tinghae, The harbor of Tinghae is difficult of ingress

定海 and egress, owing to the strong tides and narrow passages. The best entrance is that round Tower hill, and between Bell and Tea is- lands, in which no hidden danger has been found.

1841.

Chusan Archipelago.

261

Tower hill passage. The course for vessels intending to enter by this passage, will be west by north 8 miles from Ketow point. The depth of water in this part of the passage varies from 35 to 110 fa- thoms, and no anchoring ground is to be found unless close to the shore. Vessels, therefore, not having sufficient tide to carry them round Tower hill, or wind enough to stem the current, should re- main at anchor to the eastward of Round-about island, or in the neighborhood of Singlo shan. If possible the time of starting should be so arranged as to obtain the first of the ebb after rounding Tower hill. After having rounded Tower hill, Tea island may be steered for. The depth of water between Tower hill and Bell island varies from 30 to 40 fathoms. On the northwest side of Tower hill a bank ex- tends a cable's length from the shore with 3 to 4 fathoms on it. Spring tides set at the rate of 3 to 3₫ knots; and vessels, in light winds, should be careful that they are not set into the archipelago between Tea and Elephant islands, where the channels are narrow, and the water deep with foul ground.

      Anchorage between Bell and Tea islands. Between Bell and Tea islands good anchorage will be found in 10 to 12 fathoms. Ships intending to remain here should not open the channel between Bell island and Chusan, as the tides are stronger and the ground loose. Proceeding from thence to the inner harbor of Tinghae, another an- chorage will be found on the Chusan shore. A sunken rock, with 24 fathoms upon

            it at low water, lies due south of a small hillock in the valley, and 24 cables from the shore.

      Anchorage on Chusan shore. Opposite to a canal entrance is a mud bank, with 3 fathoms in the shoalest part, and deep water be- tween it and the shore. The tides are irregular at this anchorage, but it is convenient for watering, In light winds vessels should avoid the strength of the ebb, when passing through the channel between Tea and Guard-house island, which otherwise is liable to set them through the Straight or Southern Passage. A ledge of rocks extends off the northeast extreme of Tea island, 1 cable. It is steep to, and between the islands 40 fathoms will be found.

     Middle Ground. After passing Guard-house island it is necessary to steer for Macclesfield island, in order to avoid the Middle Ground, which has two feet in its shoalest part. The 3 fathoms line extends within 24 cables of the latter island, and Tower hill on with the slope upon the south rise of Tea island will keep you in 4 fathoms, or not to open the fort on Trumball island, with the north end of Mac- elesfield.

202

Chusan Archipelago.

MAY,

The middle ground is situated at the western extreme of the har- bor. On all but the western edge the water shoals suddenly. The passage between it and Chusan is I cable wide, with 12 to 14 fa- thoms. Between Guard-house island and it, the channel is 1 cable broad.

    South passage. The South, or Straight, passage lies between Deer and Elephant islands. Two sunken rocks lie near the centre of the channel, which narrow it to 12 cable. It should never be at- tempted without a commanding breeze. The tides in the vicinity of the sunken rocks flow from three channels, forming eddies which render a ship, in light winds, totally unmanageable. Intending to enter this passage, the course from Round-about island is northwest by north 44 miles.

⠀⠀ Elephant island is remarkable for a curious crag near the sum- mit, and cannot be mistaken. The tides or wind not suiting to go into the harbor, anchorage will be found abreast of it in 16 to 18 fathoms water; the bottom is gravel and not good holding ground. Beyond Round island, which is a small islet lying to the northeast of Elephant island, the water deepens from 28 to 34 fathoms, until you arrive at the Southern rock, which has 12 fathom on it at low water. The marks for it are the Cap rock, or with the saddle of Kintang, N. 75° W., and the joss-house on the hill near the suburbs showing between Truinball and Sarah Galley islands; it lies S. 63° E., 2 cables from the Black rock, and N. 75°. E., 1§ cable from the ledge extending off the island to the southward of Tea island.

    The North Rock lies due north of it 12 cable. The marks for which are a bushy tree on the eastern slope of Sarah Galley island, in line with the square beacon on the east hill, and the Black rock's north extreme on with the south part of the Cap; it bears from the former N. 63° E., 24 cables; it has 9 feet at low water. This patch is about 30 feet by 20, the water deepens suddenly on all sides of it.

:

To avoid these dangers, the best direction is to keep the western shore on board, taking care not to avoid the ledge of rocks which extend three quarters of a cable from the island south of the Cap and Black rock, the latter is steep to; at this part of the channel the bot- tom is rocky and the depth very irregular. Having passed Sarah Galley island, steer for Macclesfield, which may be rounded close, to avoid the Middle Ground, the marks for which have been already given, in the direction of Tower hill passage.

Inner harbor. The inner harbor of Tingkae is formed by the coast of Chusan on the north, Trumball and Macclesfield islands on

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Chusan Archipelago.

263

the south, Grave island and the Beacon rock on the east, Guard. house and Tea islands to the west. It is 3§ cables wide and 6 cables long, the depth of water varies from 4 to 8 fathoms; at the eastern extreme, is a patch of rocks with two fathoms, lying S. 85° W. 1 cable from the Beacon rock, which may be avoided by keeping the Chusan shore on board until Sarah Galley is open by Trumball.

      Deer island passage. The inner harbor also may be entered from the eastward by passing between Deer and Sarah Galley islands, which are 1 cable apart. The Beacon rock, to the northeast of Sarah Galley, may be passed close on either side. The Chusan shore may then be steered for, keeping I cable to the eastward of Grave island, and when the harbor Beacon rock opens with Grave island it may be steered for: pass between it and Chusan, and keep the Chu- san shore on board until Sarah Galley island is shut in with Trum- ball. This passage is superior to the South or Straight passage, as although in some parts it is only 14 to 14 cable wide, the limits are always marked, except off the northeast end of Deer island, from whence a spit extends 1 cable northerly. It is also the only passage into the harbor, in which the flood tide is in your favor all the way.

     Anchorage between Trumball and Sarah Galley. There is good anchoring ground between Sarah Galley and Trumball islands, in 8 to 10 fathoms. A spit extends from the southeast extreme of the lat- ter, the 3 fathoms line being 3 cables from the shore. By keeping the south end of Macclesfield open of the summit of Tea island it will be avoided.

Suburbs. The suburbs called Taontow

contain many houses, forming a long street, running parallel to the beach. To the east, and close to the water's edge, is a small hill, with a temple or joss-house on it (the mark for the south rock) 122 feet high.

     The level ground intersected by canals extends 1 mile to the eastward, where it is terminated by a ridge of hills 642 feet high, extending down to the beach, upon which are 3 beacons, 2 round and 1 square; the latter is 595 feet high, and also one of the marks for the north rock. Westerly from the suburbs the level ground extends 1.1 mile, a ridge of hills 450 feet high run down to the coast, form- ing two points. There are also 3 beacons on this ridge, the central one is 323.7 feet above mean tide level.

The latitude of the eastern of these points (the one opposite Guard- house island) was ascertained to be 30° 0′ 20′′ N. and its longitude 122° 5′ 18′′ E.

264

Chusan Archipelugo.

MAY,

The variation of the compass was 2° 33′ E. in 1840: and high water, on fall and change days, 1 hour before the moon's transit.

Rise and fall of the tide 12 feet and 6 inches. Scarcely any change takes place in the depth of the water three quarters of an hour pre- vious and subsequent to high water. At low water the change Ordinary tides rise and fall

   in the depth occurred more rapidly. from 5 to 7 feet.

    In all the channels, generally speaking, the change in the direc tion of the stream does not alter until 14. 40m. after the change has taken place in the depth. In the inner harbor, and along the coast of Chusan, the flood comes from the eastward; at the outer an- chorage, off the Elephant, from the southeast; between Bell and Tea islands, ships flood-rode tend to the northward. The strength of the tide varies from 2 to 3 knots. Strong breezes from the northward materially affect the rise and fall, the range in two conse- cutive days being sometimes 2 feet and 6 inches.

Chusan. The island Chusan (or Chowshan f¡ so called from its supposed resemblance to a boat) is 51.5 miles in circumference, its extreme length being 20.8 miles; it lies in a northwest and southeast direction. The greatest breadth in any part is 10.5 miles. From the beach at Tinghae to the northern shore, the distance is 7 miles. Towards the eastern end of the island it becomes narrower, never however being under 6.1 miles.

    The city of Tinghae is a walled town 1.8 miles in circumference, situated 0.5 cables from the beach. There are four entrances situat- ed at each of the cardinal points, which are through double arched gateways at right angles to one another.

                      The span of the outer one is 7 feet and 6 inches, and 9 feet high. The city wall is 14 feet and 9 inches high, surmounted by a parapet 4 feet and 6 inches. The width of the wall is 13 feet, and the parapet 2 feet. The southern face runs east and west. The western face north and south. The east face north 350 yards and then northwest. The northern face is irre-

gular. On the northwest side the city is overlooked by a hill, part of which is inclosed by the wall. A canal 33 feet wide and 3 feet deep nearly encircles the city and enters it near the south gate. A canal and paved foot path communicate with the suburbs, but the principal means of communication with the sea is by a canal further to the

east.

    There are three other commercial ports in the island, viz., Shin- keä mun, (Singkamong), Chinkeäng (Singkong), and Shaou.

Shinkeä mun, or Singkumong. This is situated at the

沈家門

}

.

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Chusan Archipelago.

265

southeast extreme of the island. The town is situated at the water's edge, and is a miserable assemblage of huts. The principal occupa- tion of the inhabitants is fishing. About 35 junks, of 100 tons bur- den, and carrying from 30 to 35 men, with 250 smaller boats, each containing 5 men, are employed for this purpose. The harbor is form- ed by the island of Lookeä (which is divided into six islands at high water), and is 1 cable wide, with 4 to 5 fathoms abreast the town. The southwest extreme lies between Lookeä and Takan, and has not more than 14 fathom at low water. A reef and mud spit extend easterly from Takan one cable, and the mud extends westerly from Lookeä 4 cables.

     H. M. ship Pylades laid between Takan (4) and Chusan in 5 fathoms, the width here being 24 cables. The high land (600 feet) on the Chusan shore, occasioned the squalls to be sometimes very vio- lent. H. M. ship Conway laid to the westward of Lookeä, with the small flat island (with two rocks off it), at the entrance to the Sarah Galley passage, bearing west 0.7 miles in 5 fathoms. The distance from Shinkeä mun to Tinghae is 11 miles. The channel along the Chusan shore has deep water. It is not, however, advisable for ships, owing to a number of small islands 3 miles to the east of the suburbs, which render the passage narrow and crooked.

Sheih-luh mun +, or sixteen passages, is the name given

十六門

to this narrow and crooked passage by the Chinese.

       Several islands with extensive mud banks confine the channel be- yond this to half a cable, occasionally it is I cable wide. Vessels, therefore, bound from Tinghae to Shinkeä mun must use one of the passages already described, or must pass to the northward of Deer island and the island east of it: this passage is not above 1 cable wide. It has deep water, except at the southeast entrance, where there are only 3 fathoms.

}

      Between Takan and Aou shan there is shoal water; to avoid which vessels should not stand so far to the northward as to bring the reef off the southern end of Aou shan in line with the crag on Ele- phant island. The channel between the east end of Chusan and Pooto has only 14 fathom at low water, and off the southeast end of Chusan it is only 2 cables wide, owing to a reef with a stone pillar on it, near the centre of the passage.

After rounding the flat island with two rocks, this Beacon' will be seen bearing N. 35° E, A course should be steered to pass between it and Chusan. Shoal water extends 31⁄2 cables from Lookeä, and 6

VOL. X. NO, V.

34

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Chusan Archipelago.

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cables from the island with the Druid's temple on the summit. To avoid which, do not stand further to the eastward, when a cliff islet off the east extreme of Chusan is in line with a building on the sum- mit of the flat peninsula at the northeast extreme of Chusan. The Beacon rock in line with the cliff islet is a good mid channel mark. After passing between the Beacon rock and Chusan, keep the cliff islet on with the building upon the peninsula, which will keep you in the deepest water. The flat is extensive, the 2 fathoms line extend- ing 1,7 mile. On it were several hard casts of the lead. Vessels therefore, should cross the flat under easy sail.

There is also a good passage or Green island which is 7

Pooto

             The island of Pooto is 3.4 miles from the south- east point of Chusan, and 1.6 mile from the east point. The channel is termed by the Chinese

                   Leënhwa yang, or sea of water-lilies. After passing the flat noticed above, the water deepens suddenly to 6 and then to 12 fathoms. between Pooto and 'T'sing shan cables wide. The flat extends within 5 cables of Pooto, which must therefore be kept on board. The island is 34 miles long. In one part it is only six tenths of a mile broad. A narrow projecting point extends from the west side, forming a deep sandy bay, with 3 fathoms in it. A stream runs into the bay, which might be used during the northwesterly monsoon, by vessels in want of water. There are two reefs in the bay, but they are always above water. This island and the Chookeä tseën group belong to the priests of Budha. The temples on Pooto are very numerous, the largest of which is situated on the western side of the island, and a broad flagged road leads to it from the south side.

Singkong or

Chin keäng. Chinkeäng harbor is situated at the western extreme of Chusan, and is distant 71⁄2 miles from Ting- hae. From the Inner harbor to the southwestern point of the island, the distance is 4 miles. The passage between Bell island and Chu- san is not recommended, owing to the strong tides which exist in it. Near the centre is a half tide rock, with a beacon on it; and to the southwest of it, two cables, a rocky patch with only 14 fathom on it. Vessels bound to Chinkeäng had therefore better use the passage between Bell island and Tower hill. Should, however, the other be used, that part of the channel between the Beacon and the Chusan shore will be found the best.

   › Between Kiddisol and Chusan there is no danger, the distance being rather less than a cable and a half.

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267

      From the southwest point of Chusan the coast-line is mud (with the exception of a small islet) to the point of-Chinkeäng harbor. Anchorage will be found along this shore in from 10 to 12 fathoms. A small islet (the Steward) lies midway between Chusan and Kini. tang. There is 45 fathoms water in its vicinity : 2 cables to thẻ eastward there is a rocky patch, on which 9 fathoms were found i.

     Chinkeäng harbor is formed by three islands, (Waeteȧod Chungteaou, and Leteaou, i. e. Outer-hook, Mid dle-hook, and Inner-hook,) and Chusan; a reef of rocks lies off the southwest point of the first island, and the mud extende from the island nearly to the reef. Between Waeteaou and Chusan the dis- tance is 6 cables, with 7 to 8 fathoms. The mud extends half q cable from the island; on the Chusan shore is a circular fort, which:: can only be approached along the embankments.

     Opposite the island of Chungteaou, the channel is less than a cable wide, with 7 fathoms. The passage increases but little in width, until you have passed the island of Leteaou, opposite to which is the landing-place, and the entrance of a stream, which is naviga- ble up to the town, distant 6 cables, at high water. Near the beach are a few houses.

      Upon the islands forming the harbor, and also on the point near the entrance, are extensite quarries of stone. The passage through is 1.7 mile long, and being both narrow and crooked can only be avail- able for steamers and small vessels.

蓏茨

      Kutsu or Koo-tsze. To the northward of Leteadu, is a flat island, Kootsze. A reef of rocks extends from it towards the island of Chusan, narrowing the passage to one cable, in which there is no bottom with 30 fathoms.

Channel between Blackwall and Chusan. Between Kootszé and Blackwall or Tsatsu (Tsih tsze) the distance is three cable. The eastern side of Blackwall has several deep bays and indenta tions; a sunken rook lies off the northeast point, distant 14 cable, and between it and Chusan, the water varies from 12 to 19 fathoms.

Kintang. From the Steward, or Pwanyang tseaou (half-

金塘 way rock), to Kintang, the distance is two miles; near the south- east extreme of the latter is a remarkable saddle hill, which with the Cap rock forms one of the marks for the southern sunken rock, in the South or Straight passage. There is a peninsula (connected by mud which is overflown at high water) at the southeast point, from which a ledge of rocks extends, the southwestern part of which is

268

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always above water. Nearly opposite to Chinkeäng, there is another. sharp peak on Kintang, which is 1519 feet above the level of the sea. Channel between Kintang and Blackwall. Vessels bound from Chin- keäng to Seaou Sha-aou, or to sea by the northwest passage, must bear in mind that there is no anchorage after leaving Chinkeäng, until to the northward of Blackwall, the distance being 6 miles. The channel between Kintang and Blackwall is half a mile wide. A small islet lies off the southwest extreme of the latter. Between the two there is deep water, and from the summit of the islet, Chin- hae (at the entrance of the river leading to Ningpo) may be seen over Kintang, which, abreast of this part of the channel, is very low. After passing the islet there is a long bay on Blackwall island, from the northern point of which a reef extends 12 cable. Off the north extreme of Kintang there is a group of 5 islands.

Broken island, or Mamuh shan

The northern rock off Broken island bears from the northwest extreme of Blackwall N. 15° E., 61⁄2 miles. Between it and Broken island there is a good channel. The latter is connected with Chusan at low water; it is about 700 feet high. The ridge of hills at the northwest extreme of Chusan rises to the height of 761 feet, and on them are three beacons. The entrance to the harbor of Seaou Sha-aou is between Broken and Fisher's island (Chang pih shan), and is 6 cables wide- Broken island is steep to, except on the S. E. side, where it joins Chusan. A shoal extends 5 cables off the west side of Fisher's island.

The harbor is formed by Fisher's island and Chusan; it is 2 miles long and 1.7 mile broad, with a depth of water from 5 to 9 fathomis. This harbor is well sheltered from all winds, and easy of ingress and egress. The coast of Chusan is lined with a mud bank, which ren- ders landing (only at one spot, which is at the eastern extreme of the harbor) difficult except at high water. Near the landing-place is a small village; the principal town is situated some distance up the valley from the landing-place. The south shore of Fisher's island is also an extensive mud bank, a considerable portion of which has been inclosed from the sea. Off the southeast extreme of the island the three fathoms line extends five cables. The depth decreases gra- dually, so that the lead will give warning. The eastern entrance to Seaou Sha-aou harbor is 8 cables wide. A small islet and a rock lie off the north extreme. They may be rounded close, passing between the islets mentioned above and the islets to the eastward.

    Passage between Sheppey and Chusan. Vessels intending to go to the eastward from Seaou Sha-aou may pass either between Sheppey

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Chusan Archipelago.

269

     (Lan and Lew shan) and Chusan, or to the northward of Sheppey, The latter is the more eligible. The former is 2 cables wide in the narrowest part. The Houbland islands lie between Sheppey and Fisher's island. Vessels should pass between them and two small islets, which lie off the southwest side, between which and Chusan is the narrowest part of the passage. Having passed this islet, vessels may either stand along Sheppey, or steer a course for the open sea.

Passage between Sheppey and Blackheath. To pass to the north- ward of Sheppey, a N. 56° E. course must be steered for a long bar- ren island, with a round peak upon it. The distance between which and Sheppey is 1.6 mile. The mud runs off the latter 0.5 mile. The barren island is steep, to, on the southeast shore. In the channel, between Kwan shan and Sheppey, are several islets; and in standing over to the Sheppey side of the channel the mud may be avoided by keeping the north end of the largest of these islands open of the northern extreme of Sheppey.

Having passed the barren island a course must be steered to pass close to Kwan shan, which lies west from the barren island 11⁄2 mile, in order to avoid a reef which is covered at high water. It is distant from Kwan shan 24 cables. From it the barren hill bears N. 85° W., and the highest part of Sheppey S. 26° W.

Having passed the reef, the large island, mentioned as the mark for avoiding the mud bank extending westerly from Sheppey, bounds the passage to the southward. A reef extends a short distance from its northern extremę.

      Nine islands. Besides Kwan shan there are nine islands lying off the southeast end of Tae shan. A reef of rocks lies off the southern point of the one east of Kwan shan. The channel then lies between these Nine islands to the north, and the large passage island on the south. A due west course will carry you along Changtoo and the northwest group to the open sea.

Vessels wishing to anchor under Sheppey, which will be found a secure anchorage in the northwesterly monsoon, may haul to the southward, after passing the first island to the eastward of the large Passage island, and run between them and a cluster of rocks to the eastward. The east extreme of Sheppey is a low cliff, which may be passed within a cable; good anchorage will then be found in five fa- thoms, the water shoaling gradually towards the shore.

     Sheppey. The island of Sheppey is 7.5 miles long, and 5.6 broad. On the east side are several deep sandy bays. A considerable por- tion of the east extreme is separated from the island by a narrow

270

Chusan Archipelago.

MAY,

   channel at high water. The island appears formerly to have been two

Lan shan and Sew shan) the land being very low and protected from the sea by walls, near the northern extreme.

H. M. ship Pylades anchored here in the month of Feb., in 5 fathoms, six tenths of a mile from the west point of Sheppey, bearing N. 8° W.; the island south of Sheppey bearing 8. 54° W.; and the highest peak of Chusan S. 7° E. To the eastward of Sheppey are two cliff islets, the nearest is 1.8 mile distant, and the further 41 miles. South from the western, 2 cables, is a ledge of rocks, which is occasionally covered; and 0.6 of a mile W.N.W. from the eastern, is another small islet. The mud bank from Sheppey gradually deep- ens to the eastward, the depth of water, when the island of Pooto bears due south being 8 fathoms.

་་

·

?

    Tae shan To the northeast of Fisher's island, 51⁄2 miles, is the island of Tae shan, which is very populous. The centre of the island is an extensive flat with many villages near to its eastern ex- treme; the hills also separate, leaving a level plain across the island. Midway between Fisher's island and it are two small islets; and between Barren island and it are three others, off the south end of the westernmost of which is a sunken rock. Rocks also extend off the southwest and north points of the central one of the three. A mud bank extends from the northwest point of Barren island nearly to the first islet of the three, which lies to the N. W. of it. Between them and Tae shan the bottom is sandy with irregular soundings.

    Kwan shan. The passage between Kwan shan and Tae shan is 3 cables wide; on the Tae shan shore are several small islets; the channel is deep. H. M. ship Pylades anchored in a small cove to the north of Kwan shan on the island of Tae shan, and rođe out a heavy gale of wind. The cove, however, is too small to be recom- mended, and the deep water in its vicinity is also disadvantageous.

    To the westward of Tae shan, the islands extend about 15 miles, and from the summit, the termination of the group northerly could not be defined.

Changtoo To the eastward of Tae shan, and separated

      長塗 by a channel 1.5 miles, is another large island, called Changtoo by the Chinese, and is probably the Blackheath of Thornton's chart. The southe-n face of this island has many deep indentations, and may be composed of several islands. The time allotted for the ser- vice did not admit of a closer investigation.

1

'The breadth of the channel, between Changtoo and the two islands

1841.

Chusan Archipelago.

271

to the eastward of Sheppey, is 2.3 miles. The group of islands con- tinues to the eastward of Changtoo, and a little to the southward of the same parallel for 25 miles.

Eastern Group. The easternmost island of this group is in lati- tude 30° 7′ 45′′ N., and longitude 122° 46′ B0" E. From the an- oborage under Sheppey it bears. E. 5° 8., 27 miles, and from the summit of Pooto E. 20° N., 21 miles. From the outer islet east of Chookeä taeën N. 29° E., 184 miles. It is five miles in circumfar- ence, and about 500 feet high. There is a small village on its north- western side. The shores are precipitous cliffs. The intervening islands between this and Changtoo were not examined, their outline therefore has only been inserted in the chart. Two small islets lie N. 74° E. about two miles from the eastern island.

Coast-line of Chusan. The coast-line of Chusan, after passing between it and Sheppey, trends to the northeast. At the distance of

three miles there is a small island with a narrow passage between it and the shore, and a deep bay to the westward, in which the mud dries out a considerable distance, rendering it difficult to land, except at the extreme points.

:

:

      Three miles and a half farther to the southeast there is a larger island with a remarkable fall in the hills near its centre; a small inlet. lies half a mile west from its extreme.

To the eastward ́are three islands at the distance of, a half, one and a half, and three and a quarter,. miles. The nearest is the largest of the three, and has a patch of rocks 2 cables from it to the north- east, Northeast also from the centre of the three, is another reef 4 cables from the island. The outer island is a narrow cliff (with rock off its northeast end...

!

To the northward and northeast of Pooto are three islets, and three rocks, which are steep to, except to the westward of the southern and largest of the three, where there is a reef. To the northeast of these islands, and 34 miles from the summit of Pooto, is a small co. nical islet E 8° S.; 2 miles from it is a group of 4 sharp pinnacled mocks, with several reefs among them. The reef already described (when treating of the island of Chookeä tseën) lies 8. 42o E., 64 miles-from these rocks, and is the last danger in the passage. The northeast extreme of Chusan is high, rising probably 1400 feet, the hills approaching near the coast-line. A flat peninsula, with 2 build- ings composed of slabs of stone, forms the extremity of the island.

Ships bound to the north side of Chusan, ought to make the land in about latitude 30°, when the easternmost island of the northern

272

Chusan Archipelugo.

MAY,

group will be seen to the northward, and the high land of Chookeä tseën to the westward. On closing the land, three small islets to the eastward of Chookeä tseën will be made out, and also the island of Pooto, which may be known by a small lookout-house on its summit. Intending to communicate with Chinkeä mun (Sinkeamoon), the most eligible anchorage will be found to the southward of Pooto, for which purpose a course may be steered to pass between that island and Lookeä, taking care to avoid a half tide rock which lies E. 12° S., 9 miles from the highest part of Pooto. The best anchorage will be found opposite two sandy bays, near the west extreme.

It is re- commended not to open the passage between Chusan and Pooto, as by standing too far to the westward vessels may get on the flat be ween Pooto and Chinkeä mun. Good water may be obtained from a well in the sandy bay near the temple.

!

    If bound to Sheppey or Seaou Sha-aou, a group of sharp pinnacle rocks must be kept to the southward, a remarkable island near Chu- san with a sudden fall in the land near the centre, will be seen to the westward. There are three islands with rocks off them to the east- ward of it when abreast the easternmost of these-one course may be steered so as to pass between Sheppey and Kwanshan, in which case a vessel should get to the northward of a small cliff island one quarter of the way between Changtoo and Chusan, and keep mid- channel between it and Changtoo; 34 miles to the westward of the first cliff island, there is a second, which must also be kept to the southward, you will then be abreast several small crooked islets, which lie off the southeast extreme of Tae shan; and Kwan shan, 21 miles to the W.N.W of the second cliff island, is high with a flat summit; keep it close on board to avoid the sunken rock near its south extreme, bearing from the highest part of Sheppey N. 26° E., you may then steer a west course to pass close to Barren island, from whence a S. 56° W. course, 5 miles, will carry you to Seaou Sha-aou harbor-or, instead of passing between the islands of Changtoo and Kwanshan, you may pass between Sheppey and Chusan, in which case keep the Chusan shore on board, passing between it and a small islet (which lies S. 23° E. from the south end of Sheppey): The course then lies between an islet on the Chusan shore and the south islet off Sheppey, from thence steer so as to pass to the northward of three small islets, and a reef which lies 2 miles to the westward, from whence a west course will carry you past a rocky point, and into Seaou Sha-aou or Small Sand-harbor.

1841.

TABLE

Containing names of places in the Chusan Archipelago.

The list commences at the extreme south, and the places are given nearly according to their latitude proceeding northward.

Chusan Archipelago.

Chinese

Sounds of the Chinese

Thornton's orthography.

characters.

in the court dialect.

Sounds in Fuh-

keën.

Latitude of

the places.

Longitude of the places.

Half-tide rock

Hesan island

Cape Montague (h. p.)

The Bear (peak) -

黑山

Hih shan

Hek san

14

Szechaou shan

Sod-cheaou san

29° 10′ N.

122° 5' E.

29° 15′ 3′′

122° 9'

大目山

Tamuh shan

Tae-bok-san

29° 23′ 5′′

122° 0′ 4′′

The Cubs

Quesan island

韭山

Kew shan

Patahecock (h. p.)

字角

Pătsze keŏ

Kew-san

Pat-joō kak

29° 21′ 9*

122° 13′ 7′′

Holderness rock -

Whelps (centre) -

29° 29′ 4′′

122° 5' 1"

Allen island'

Mouse

鼠山?"

Shoo shan

Ch'hé-san

29° 32′ 7′′

122° 13′ 6′′

VOL. X. NO.

V.

Starboard Jack

Castle rock

Gorkers

273

274

Chusan Archipelago.

COURT DIALECT.

Szetseacu

Sod-ta

FUHKEËN.

LATITUDE.

LONGITUDE.

29° 36′ 5′′ N 122° 9′ 2′′ E

Newpe shan

Gnêw-pit san

29° 36′ 2′′

122° 1′ 4′′

29° 37′ 6′′

122° 13′ 2′′

Luhwang

Leuk-hêng

29° 47′ 2′′

122° 7′′ 5′′

Wǎnchow, yu

Wun chew-sẽ

29° 42′ 4′′

122° 0′ 5′′

Tông-lô-kwuy

29° 40′ 9′′

122° 17′ 4′′

29° 44′ 2′′

122° 18′ 8′′

鑼龜

Tunglo kwei

Keaoupei

Futoo shan

Meishan

Heäke shan

Hoone shan

Laoushoo shan

Kwŏkeu so

Laoushoo shan

Ketow

Chuenpe

Kaou-pöey

Hwut-toe-san

Boêy-san

Kay-kê-san

Hoe-nee'

ng.san

Lá ch'hé-san

Kokke-só

Lá ch'hé san

Ke-t'hoê

Ch'hwan-pit

Tinker

Mesan & Lanjett (h.p.)

Harbor Rouse

CHINESE.

Buffaloe's Nose (h. p.) 14 牛鼻山

Front Island (high p.)

Lowang cape

'Tree-a-top

Bateman

Beak Head (E. ext.)

Footosan

Vernon island (E. ext.)

Jansen Rock

John Peak

Kitto

St. George

嶼龜山山山山所 横州 鑼盃肚山岐泥鼠渠鼠頭鼻

六温 銅交佛梅蝦湖老霩老岐穿

29° 52′ 9′′

122° 7′ **

MAY,

<}' b wată ->

Chuan pren

1841.

Chusan Archipelaga.

275

'Tinghae

Taeseay shan

Teng-haé

Tae-sea-san

Taoutow

To thuê

30° 0′4′′

122° 6′ 4′′

29° 53′ 7′′

122° 9′ 3′′

Má-chin

29° 52′ 2′′

122° 16′

Chew-san

Teng poe

定大衢

海榭頭

馬舟燈烏朱摘峠小大雌亮小王 秦山境沙家山箬頭猫猫山小渠家 山尖 山山山1 貓山山

Matsin

Chowshan

Tăngfow

Woosha shan

Chookeä tseen

Aou shan

Teibjo shan

Chetow shan

Seaoumaou shan

Ta maou shan

Tsze shan

Oe-say-san

Choo-kay-cheem 29° 54′

Aoù-san

Tek-jeak-san

Se thor san

Seaóu-beaðu-san

Tae-beaðu-san

Ch'he-san

Leäng seaoumaou shan] Lëäng-seaóu

Seaoukeu shan

Wangkeä shan

beaðu san

Sëáou-ke-san

Ong-kay-san

122° 25′ 3′′

Tinghae

Tygosan

Suburbs, temple hill

Round-about island

Bell island

Chusan

Tingboo

Oswamong

Chuttatham (cone)

Elephant island

Deer Island

276

Chusan Archipelago.

MAY,

LONGITUDE.

Hông-gnêw-ta

29° 57′ 7′′

121° 54′ 2′′

Sëáou kan

Kim tông

30° 1′ 7′′

121° 54′ 7′′

Taë-kan

Pwàn-yang-ta

30° 0′ 9′′

121° 57'

COURT DIALECT.

Takeu shan

Pwanche shan

'Taewangkeo shan

Heache shan

Waewookwei shan

'Tawook wei shan

Laou shan

Seaouchŭh shan

Yatan shoo shan

Kwafoo tseaou

Kwantow shan

Yanglo shan

Hwangnew tseaou

Seaou kan

FUHKEEN.

LATITUDE.

Taë-ke-san

Pwân-se-san

Tae-ông keak-san

Hey-se-san

Goey-gnóe-kwuy s.

Tae-gnóe-kwuy-s.

Lô ch'hé-san

Së áou-teuk-san

Ah-tan san

Kwa-hoo-ta

Kwan-t'hoê-san

Yang-lô-san

山山山

山山勝山奎奎山山山礁山山礁

Kintang

半洋礁

Taekan

Pwanyang tseaou

大盤大蟹外大老小鴨寡關洋黄小金大半 渠峙王峙五五鼠竹蛋婦頭螺牛干塘干洋

Tower Hill

CHINESE.

Sarah Galley I. 大渠山

Tea Island

Bell Rock

Bell Island.

Macclesfield Island

Trumball

Guard-house

N. W. Beacon

峙山

Kiddisol

Just-in-the-way

Kintang peak

Steward

1841.

Chusan Archipelago.

十六門

獎門

盧沈靑洛 十 KKIS K

##

陀花山花港子日藤沙白山

門山西 山

普蓮橫菜鰺冊馬小長官

Lookeä yu

Shinkeä mun

Tsing shan

Lõkeä

Loe-kay

Sim-kay-bûn

Ch'heng-san

Lök-këå

Sheihluh mun

Sip-leuk-bûn

Poote

Leënhwa yang

Hwang shan

Tsaehwa

Chinkeäng mun

Tsihtsze shan

Mamuh shan

Kootsze

Seaousha

Changpih shan

Kwan shan

Phoé tô

30° 0′ 3′′

1.12° 28′ 5′′

Liên-hwa-yâng

Hồng san

Ch'hae-hwa

Gîm-káng-bûn

Ch'hek-choo-san

Má-bok-san

30° 9′ 7′′

121° 57′ 8′′

Koe-choo

Sëáou-say

30° 9′ 1′′

122° 4′ 4′′

Tëâng-pék-san

30° 11′ 3′′

122° 3′ 2′′

Kwan-san

Singka moon

Pilot fish

Two Bouseys

Two Sisters

Pooto I.

Singkong moon..

Blackwall island

Broken island (h..p.)

Landing place

Fisher's island

: -

277

278

Chusan Archipelago.

頭 1

則肉山

長舉

CHINESE.

I 191-

崚岱蘭長螺鍋星桃枕則長

中山秀塗頭堪羅花頭肉嶴

Teaouhwa shan

Chintow shan

Tseibjuh shan

Chang yu

COURT DIALECT.

FUHKEEN.

LATITUDE.

LONGITUDE.

Chechung shan

Sẽ-teúng san

Tae shan

Lansew shan

Changtoo shan

Lotow shan

Kwokan shan

Singlo sban

Tae-san

Lân-sew-san

Teang-toe-san

Lột hoa san

Seng-lô-san

Thanhwa-san

Chim toê san

Chek-jeak-san

Tëâng-se

30° 15′ 4′′

122° 11′ 4′′

30° 10′ 3′′

122° 10′ 5′′

30° 15′ 6′′

122° 16′ 5′′

Houbland island -

Do. I

do. (h. p.)

Sheppey island

Blackheath

tseen

tained

29° 5' 7"

122° 35′ 8′′

Reef near the same

29° 58' 6"

122° 33′ 8′′

Druidical island

金鉢盂

Kinpo yu

Kim-phwat-e

7

East islet off Chookeä | Names not ascer-

MAY,

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. IX/

279

ART. III. Notices of Japan, No. IX: arts and manufactures among the Japanese: lacker-ware, paper, commerce, tea, &c. THE state of the arts in Japan is another point upon which there is some dif ficulty in forming an opinion, partly from a little distrust in the connoisseur-ship of the members of the factory at Dezima, and partly from the unanimous assu- rances that the best specimens in any department are utterly unattainable by fo- reigners. Some notion might, indeed, be formed upon the subject from the station of the artist in the classification of society, but for the possibility that this may denote rather a past than the present state. All that can, therefore, be safely affirmed is, that the arts are more advanced in that country than in China.

Respecting the art of music, there needs no addition to what has been already stated. We are told that the Japanese are extremely fond of painting, and eager collectors of pictures; that they sketch boldly with charcoal and often in ink, never having occasion to effacc; that their outlines are clear, and their drawing as good as may be compatible with ignorance of perspective and anatomy. From this ignorance, probably, arises their acknowledged inability to take a likeness, the professed portrait-painters bestowing their care rather upon the dress than the features of their sitters. In birds and flowers they succeed better; and two folio volumes of paintings of flowers, with the name and properties of each written on the opposite page, the work of a Japanese lady, and by her presented to Heer Titsingh, her husband's friend, are spoken of as beautiful. Delicate finishing seems to be the chief excellence of all Japanese artists.

Of the higher department of the art, landscape and figures, some specimens are afforded by the writers upon the subject, but so various in merit, that they perplex almost as much as they assist the judgment. Titsingh's plates of weddings, funeral processions, &c., from paintings by native artists, are, as nearly as may be, on a level with Chinese pictures. Meylan's are a shade better, and such as the qualified praise bestowed might lead one to expect.* Siebold's, although he visited Japan prior to Meylan, are far better, at least those of them which are taken from pictures painted for him: and this he explains, by stating that the young native artist whom he employed was studying the European principles of But the plates in Overmeer Fischer's splendid volume are of a character so very superior to all the others;-they are so highly finished, and have so much of light and shade, though defective enough in drawing and perspective, that it is difficult not to suspect some few improving touches to have been given in Holland

his art.

* A story, told by Meylan, of the proficiency of Japanese artists two centuries ago, might startle those who have read the opinions of these writers, or looked at most of their plates. It is that, when the ceremony of image-trampling was first ordained, there being a scarcity of Portuguese pictures of the Madonna and Child for simultaneous trampling, a Japanese painter was ordered to make a copy of one, and the copy was not to be distinguished from the original. It is to be ob served that the president never saw the copy, and the connoisseurs who had pro- nounced upon its undistinguishableness were Japanese. The painter was rewarded with decapitation. This story, however, is quite compatible with very poor de- signing on the part of the artists, for, like the Chinese, they are no doubt excellent imitators.

280

Notices of Japan, No. 1X.

MAY,

before the Japanese pictures passed into the engraver's hands; a suspicion cer tainly not weakened by the inspection of the Japanese rooms in the Royal Museum at the Hague, where we are told to seek the best specimens of every description that can be smuggled into Dezima and on ship-board.*

The Japanese are unacquainted with oil-painting, but skillful in the manage. ment of water-colors. These they prepare from minerals and vegetables, obtain. ing tints far more brilliant and beautiful than ours.

Prints they have in abundance, but only wood.cuts. The art of engraving up. on copper has, however, been recently introduced amongst them, and adopted with an eagerness which promises well for its cultivation.

Of the art of sculpture, no trace appears in any of the authors, beyond the oc- casional mention of a little ornamental carving; but we are told that the Japanese have attained as much excellence in casting as is compatible with utter disregard of proportions. They are said to cast handsome vases and images, and their bells arc remarkable for the beauty of the bas-reliefs that adorn them. These bells have no metallic tongues, but are sounded by striking them externally with wood. Of architecture, as an art, no idea exists in this country. Of military engineer. ing and navigation, as sciences, the Japanese are also ignorant, though they have the compass, and probably also possess such knowledge of military tactics as is sufficient for their purpose.

Of the lacker-work, known in this country as Japan, all the writers assert that no adequate idea can be conceived from the specimens commonly seen in Europe. What is really fine cannot be purchased by foreigners; and the best ever obtained by the members of the factory are received as presents from their Japanese friends. These are mostly deposited in the Royal Museum at the Hague; and although esteemed at home scarcely second-rate, are so really superior to the ordinary Japan, that no opinion should be given upon the beauty of the art, with out having inspected that collection.

The whole process of lackering is extremely slow. The varnish, which is the resinous produce of a shrub called urusi no ki, or 'varnish plant,' requires a tedious preparation to fit it for use. It is tinted by slow and long-continued rubbing upon a copper-plate with the coloring material; and the operation of lackering is as tedious as its preliminaries. Five different coats, at the very least, are successive- ly applied, suffered to dry, and then ground down with a fine stone or a reed; † and it is only by this patient labor that the varnish acquires its excellence. The brilliant mother-of-pearl figures consist of layers of shell, cut and fashioned to the shape required, and colored at the back; then laid into the varnish, and subject- ed to the same coating and grinding process as the rest, whence they derive their glittering splendor.

    The Japanese do not understand cutting precious stones, and therefore set no value upon them, which may account for the want of jewellery in the dress of both

* Dr. Von Siebold's Japanese museum is said to be richer and superior to the Japanese rooms in the Royal Museum. It has very recently been purchased by the Dutch government to add to their museum at the Hague.

    + Grinding with a reed, or rush, sounds strange; but Fisher's-words, "Met enn fignen steen of bies afgeslepen," admit of no other interpretation, the diction- ary affording no other signification of bies than 'rush,' or 'reed.' If we suppose the warehouse-master, or the interpreter through whom he obtained his informa. tion, to have included bamboo in the genus reed, the difficulty would be much lessened.

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. 1.X.

281

Bexes. In metallurgy, they are, however, very skillful; and the beautiful work called syakudo, in which various metals are partly blended, partly combined, pro- ducing an effect much resembing fine enamel, is used in lieu of jewels for girdle- clasps, boxes, sword-hilts, &c. But the branch of this art in which they surpass most other nations, is the tempering of steel, and their sword-blades are said to be of transcendent excellence, bearing the fine edge of a razor,* and capable of cut- ting through an iron nail. They are valued accordingly; as we are told that a sum equal to £100 is not thought too much to give for a peculiarly fine sword-blade, whilst an old one, of exquisite temper, is esteemed beyond all price. Their ex- portation is prohibited, from some superstitious idea of an intimate connexion be. tween Japanese valor and Japanese arms, as a joint heritage from their divine

ancestors.

       Of the manufactures of the country, it is enough to say that they make øvery. thing wanted for their own use; that their porcelain has degenerated from its pristine superiority, it is said, owing to a deficiency of the peculiar fine clay; and that their most beautiful silks are woven by high-born criminals, who are confined upon a small, rocky, unproductive island, deprived of their property, and obliged to pay for the provisions, with which they are supplied by sea, with the labor of their hands. The exportation of these silks is likewise prohibited. ✦

* Fischer.

* [The_manufacture of paper in Japan is worthy of a more particular notice than has been given to it; the following_account, compiled from Kæmpfer, is ex. tracted from the Saturday Magazine. The tree from which the paper is made is the Broussonetia papyrifera, called kaji by the Japanese, and shoo by the Chinese. Some of the finest specimens we have seen are much whiter than the bamboo paper of the Chinese; the color of the common sorts is a yellowish white; and by much use the surface becomes furred though it does not soon wear out.

From a strong, branched, woody root, rises a straight, thick, equal trunk, very much branched out, covered with a fat, firm, clammy, chestnut-colored bark, rough without and smooth on the inside, where it adheres to the wood, which is loose and brittle, with a large moist pith; the branches and twigs are very fat covered with a small down, or wool, of a green color, inclining to purple.

£6

Every year, when the leaves are fallen off, or in the tenth Japanese month, which answers to our December, the twigs are cut into lengths, not exceeding three feet, and put together in bundles, to be afterwards boiled in an alkaline lye. These faggots are placed upright in a large kettle, which must be well covered, and boiled till the bark shrinks so far as to allow about half an inch of the wood to appear naked at the top; when the sticks have been sufficiently boiled, they are taken out of the water and exposed to the air to cool; the bark is then stripped from the wood and dried, and laid up to be manufactured at a future time.

"When a sufficient quantity is collected, it is soaked in water for three or four days, and when soft, the blackish skin which covered it is scraped off with a knife; at the same time also, the stroyer bark, which is of full a year's growth, is separated from the thinner, which covered the younger branches, the former yielding the best and whitest paper, and the latter only a dark and indifferent sort. If there is any bark of more than a year's growth, it is likewise picked out and laid aside for the purpose of making a coarser description of paper. All knotty particles, and discolored portions, are also picked out and laid on one side. After it has been sufficiently cleansed and separated, it must be boiled in clear lye. During the time it is boiling, it is kept constantly agitated with a strong reed; this part of the process must be continued until the bark has become so tender as to separate, when gently touched with the finger, into flocks and fibres.

      "After the bark has been boiled, it has to be washed, and this part of the busi. ness is of no small consequence in paper-making, and must he managed with great

VOL. X. NO. V.

36

282

Notices of Japan, No. IX.

MAY,

     With respect to commerce, the external trade is now limited to two Dutch ships, and twelve Chinese junks yearly. Nor is this all. The value of the cargoes these vessels import is limited; for the Dutch to about £75,000 sterling, for the Chinese to half as much more, annually. The exports have been progressively narrowed, until they are nearly confined to camphor and copper, and the quantity. of the latter to be allowed is matter of constant dispute between the Dutch fac- tory and the exchequer of Nagasaki. The government dreads the exhaustion of the mines.

     The internal trade is said to be very considerable, its activity and importance originating in the variety of produce, resulting from the great variety of climate. The islands constituting the empire of Japan and its dependencies, the Lewchew islands to the south, and Yezo and the Kurile archipelago to the north, extend* from the 24th to the 50th degree of north latitude, and from the 123d to the 150th of east longitude. Hence the southern islands, although all of them are not hot enough for the sugar-cane, teem with most of the fruits of the tropics, whilst the northern yield those of the temperate zones. The mountains abound in mineral wealth of every description, and the volcanic districts in sulphur.

     The circulating medium of the country is gold, silver, and copper, but only the gold and higher silver pieces can properly be called coin. They bear the mint stamp, and are of ascertained value; the smaller silver pieces, and all the copper, appear to pass by weight. Paper-money is likewise current in some principalities. † judgment and attention; if it is not washed long enough, the paper will be strong and of a good body, but coarse and of little value. If, on the contrary, the washing has been continued too long, it will afford a whiter paper, but too spongy in its texture and unfit to write on; so that the greatest care and judgment is necessary to avoid either extreme. The washing takes place in a running stream, the bark being placed in a sort of fan or sieve, which will let the water run through; it is stirred continually with the hands until it becomes a delicately soft woolly pulp. For the finer sort of paper the washing must be repeated; but, in this case the bark must be put into a linen bag, instead of a sieve, for fear it should escape along with the water. The bark having been sufficiently washed, it is spread on a thick smooth wooden table, and beaten with a wooden mallet until it is suffi. ciently fine.

      The bark, thus prepared, is put into a narrow tub with a slimy infusion of rice and of a root called oreni. It is then stirred with a thin clean reed, until the ingredients are mixed into a uniform liquid mass of a proper consistence; this succeeds better in a narrow tub, but the pulp is afterwards placed in a larger and wider-mouthed vessel. The moulds on which the paper is to be made are formed of the stems of bulrushes cut into narrow strips, instead of brass wire, as in Europe. Out of this larger vessel the leaves of paper are lifted, one by one, by means of the mould. Nothing remains now, but proper management in the drying of them. In order to this, they are laid up in heaps upon a table covered with a double mat, and a small piece of reed is placed between every leaf, which standing out a little way, serves afterwards to lift them up coveniently, leaf by leaf.

• Every heap is covered with a small plank or board of the same shape and size as the paper, on which are laid weights, first, indeed, very small ones, for fear the leaves, being yet very wet and tender, should be pressed into a solid mass; but, by degrees, the pressure is increased, for the purpose of pressing out all the water. The next day, the weights are taken off, and the leaves lifted up singly, by the help of the small reeds already mentioned, and carried on the palm of the hand to a long rough plank, on which they are placed, and afterwards dried in the sun."]

* Siebold.

46

[We have lying before us a Japanese work on numismatology, he Kin Gin

Dzu Roku, A Memoir and Plates on Gold and Silver [coins],

1841.

Notices of Japan, No. IX.

283

      A post for letters is established thoughout the empire, which though pedestrian, is said to be wonderfully expeditious.* Every carrier is accompanied by a part ner, to guard against the possibility of delay from any accident that may chance to befal him. The men run at their utmost speed, and upon nearing the end of their stage, find the relay carriers awaiting them, to whom the packet is tossed the moment they are within reach of each other. The relay postmen have started before the arriving postmen have stopped. The greatest prince of the empire, if he meets the postmen on the road, must give way, with his whole train, and take care that their course be not obstructed by him or his.

      By land, goods are conveyed on pack-horses and pack-oxen, that ascend and descend the already-mentioned staircase roads over the mountains. But the principal carriage of merchandize is by water; and for the navigation of their rivers and lakes, for fishing on the coasts, and even crossing the sea from island to island, the Japanese vessels are very sufficient. That they are utterly inade- quate to long voyages arises from the governmental system of seclusion. A sort of Japanese navigation act prescribes the form in which ships must be built, re quiring them to be so weak about the stern,† and the rudder to be so hung, that a rough sea must be almost certain to carry away the latter, if not to break a leak in the stern: a device pretty effectual to prevent the voluntary undertaking of long voyages, but that must cause the loss of many fishing-boats and coasting- Vessels.

      Almost all the Japanese craft are equally calculated for sailing and rowing. The largest are of sixty tons burden, and have one heavy mast, bearing an im- mense square sail, with a small mast and sail at the prow. The oars are very long, and not taken out.of the water in rowing. The rowers stand to their work, and are said to impel the vessel with extraordinary swiftness. Japanese sailors are generally bold and skillful. The fisheries are very productive, and the fisher- men in constant activity, fish being the principal food of the people.t

in 7 vols., octavo, published at Yedo in the 6th year of the reign of Bunchei, (a. d. 1822), which gives an account of ancient and modern coins. There are 550 kinds described, most of which are figured; the figures are colored by means of painted stamps, a branch of the typographical art which we have never seen attempted in any Chinese book. Gold, silver, and copper coins of different values are common in Japan; they are cast (if we are rightly informed) and not coined, but the finish of the workmanship and distinctness of the die would do credit to any artist, and far surpass that of the Chinese coins. We suspect there must be some uninten- tional mistake in this place, since Japanese coins have long been known and prized by amateur_numismatologists. Thunberg's collection sold for a large sum, and Titsingh also brought many specimens from Japan. The paper money in the principality of Figo is issued by the sovereign, and cannot be carried out of his dominions. Various devices are resorted to for the purpose of rendering the bills difficult of imitation. The law punishes forgery with death.]

      * Siebold. [It appears that this post, like that in China, is almost wholly for the convenience of the government, and its officers. Some of the princes too have their own postmen; private letters and parcels are carried much on the same plan as among the Chinese. Sée Chi. Rep., vol. IX. page 636.]

† Fischer.

       [The Japanese coast is filled with vessels, engaged in carrying cargoes, and in fishing. La Peyrouse met several of them, one of which he thus describes.

      "This vessel, which would carry about a hundred tons, had but one mast, very tall, placed in the centre, and apparently composed of several spars, bound together by copper hoops and wooldings. The sail was made of linen; and the

}

981

Notices of Japan, No. 1X.

MAY,

    In agriculture, the Japanese are equally diligent and successful. With the ex- ception of the roads, and of the woods required to supply timber and charcoal, hardly a foot of ground, to the very tops of the mountains, is left uncultivated.* Where cattle cannot draw the plough, men take their place, or substitute manual husbandry. The soil is naturally sterile, but the labor bestowed upon it, aided by judicious and diligent irrigation, and all the manure that can in any way be collected, conquers its natural defects, and is repaid by abundant harvests.

    The grain principally cultivated is rice, maid to be the best produced in Asia. Barley and wheat are likewise grown--the former for feeding the cattle; the lat ter is little valued, and chiefly used for cakes and soy. This last is made by fermenting together, under ground, wheat, a peculiar kind of bean, and salt. Beans of all sorts, some other vegetables, and various roots, are sedulously cul- tivated, as is the mulberry, solely for the sake of the silk-worm. A coarse sugar is said to be obtained from the sap of a tree as well as from the cane.

    But the grand object of cultivation, next to rice, is the tea-plant. This was introduced into Japan about the beginning of the ninth century, when the bonze Yeitsin, returning from China, presented the first cup of tea to the mikado Saga. Its consumption is now almost unlimited. To supply this demand, in addition to the large plantations where it is grown and prepared for sale, the hedges upon many farms consist of the tea-plant, and furnish the drink of the farmer's fami- ly and laborers. The finer sorts of tea require especial care in the cultivation.* The plantations are situated remote from the habitations of man, and as much as may be from all other crops, lest the delicacy of the tea should suffer from snioke, impurity, or emanations of any kind. They are manured with dried anchovies and a liquor pressed out of mustard-seed. They must enjoy the unobstructed beams of the morning sun, and thrive best upon well-watered hill sides. The plant is pollarded to render it more branchy, and therefore more productive, and must be five years old before the leaves are gathered. The process of harvesting the tea, or rather of storing the harvest, is one of extreme-nicety. The leaves for the finer and coarser teas are sorted as they are plucked; and no more of either kind are gathered in a day than can be dried before night. There are two modes of dry- ing, called the dry and the wet process. In the one, the leaves are at once roast- ed in an iron pan, then thrown upon a mat and rolled by hand; during the whole operation, which is repeated five or six times, or till the leaves are quite dry, a yellow juice exudes: this is called the dry preparation. In the wet process, the leaves are first placed in a vessel over the steam of boiling water, where they

   breadths were not sewed together, but laced in the direction of the length of the sail. It appeared of vast size; and two jibs, with a sprit-sail, composed the rest of the suit. A little gallery, three feet wide, projected on each side of the ves- sel, and reached one-third of her length from the stern. Over her stern were projecting beams painted green. The boat placed athwart her bows, exceeded by seven or eight feet the width of the vessel, which had a very ordinary sheer, a flat stern, with two small windows, very little carved work, and resembled the Chinese junks in nothing but the manner of fastening the rudder with ropes. Her side galleries were only two or three feet above the water-line, and the ends of the boat must touch the water when the ship rolled. Every circumstance led me to presume that these vessels were intended only for coasters, and could not be very safe during a gale of wind." See also Chi. Rep., vol. VI. pages 220 and 361.]

* Meylan.

+ Siebold.

1841

Notices of Japan, No. LX.

285

remain till they are withered; they are then rolled by hand, and dried in the iron roasting-pan. When thus prepared, less of the yellow juice exuding, the leaves retain a brighter green color, and more of their narcotic quality. Hence Dr. Vori Siebold conjectures that all black and green teas differ solely from the mode of drying the leaves, but without the use of copper. Yet it must be remembered that Linnæus held them to be of two distinct plants; and that in the best European botanical gardens-e. g. at this moment at Leyden, where Dr. Siebold resides- two distinct plants, with somewhat differently shaped leaves, are shown as the black and the green tea plants. When fresh dried, the tea is delicately susceptible of odors, and requires to the carefully guarded from their influence.

Ere quitting this subject, a few words must be said of Japanese gardeners, although their horticultural skill should rather entitle them to rank amongst the artists or artificers than the agriculturists. These gardeners value themselves alike upon the art of dwarfing, and also of unnaturally enlarging, all natural productions. They exhibit, in the miniature gardens of the towns, full-grown trees of various kinds, three feet high, with heads three feet in diameter. These dwarf-trees are reared in flower-pots, as alluded to in one of the poems before quoted; and when they bear luxuriant branches upon a distorted stem, the very acmé of perfection is attained; or, to speak more correctly, it might be supposed attained, had not president Meylan, in the year 1826, seen a box, which he describes as one inch in diameter by three inches high, but which Fischer repre- sents, somewhat less incredibly, as four inches long, one and a half wide, and six high, in which were actually growing and thriving a bamboo, a fir, and a plum- tree, the latter in full blossom. The price of this portable grove was 1,200 Dutch gulden, or about £100.

As examples of the success of these horticulturists in the opposite branch of their art, Meylan describes plum-trees covered with blossoms, each blossom four times the size of the cabbage-rose-of course, not producing fruit, which the Japanese appear not greatly to value-and of radishes weighing from fifty to sixty pounds; radishes of fifteen pounds weight he speaks of as of common occurrence, This gigantifying art, to coin a word, is more beneficially applied to fir-trees: many of these growing in the grounds of temples are represented as extraordinari- ly large. No dimensions of trunks are stated, but we are told that the branches springing at the height of seven or eight feet are led out, sometimes across ponds and supported upon props, to such a length, that they give a shade of three hund-

red feet in diameter. Thunberg also mentions a pine he saw near Odowara near Yede, the branches of which were twenty paces long, and supported on poles, the whole forming a vegetating covering over a summer-house.*

* [To the person acquainted with Chinese arts and agriculture, many of the operations described in this article will be seen to bear a very close resemblance to those practiced in the former kingdom. The cultivation of rice and tea is con- ducted on the same plan; the taste for vegetable monstrosities, as dwarfed trees, crooked and fantastic shaped bamboos, &c., is peculiar to both; many of the processes employed in agriculture, as will as in other occupations, are the same in both countries; and lastly, many of the features of the social system are apparently identical.]

286

The Hongkong Gazette.

MAY,

ART. IV. The Hongkong Gazette: Nos. 1 and 2, May 1st and 15th, 1841, containing official notices of the government and population of the island.

THESE two numbers afford the best information we have of the new possession of the British crown in the east. "A gazette will be published, under the authority of the government of this island (Hongkong), at semi-monthly periods from this date," May 1st 1841, "with a view to afford greater publicity to the general orders that may from time to time be issued by the officers of the British go- vernment and forces. The sheet will be filled up, when it is found necessary, by the insertion of such statistical returns and other pub- lic documents as shall be deemed valuable or interesting." The 1st number contains a translation of Keshen's memorial, published in our last, with the following public notices.

No. 1.

    Captain William Caine, of her majesty's 26th (or Cameronian) regiment of in- fantry, is appointed Chief Magistrate of the island of Hongkong, pending her majesty's further pleasure, and all persons repairing thither are required to respect the authority in him vested, agreeably to the annexed warrant.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary,

Charged with the government of the island of Hongkong, WARRANT. BY CHARLES ELLIOT, esquire, her majesty's plenipotentiary, &c., &c., charged with the government of the island of Hongkong:

    Pending her majesty's further pleasure, I do hereby constitute and appoint you, William Čaine, esquire, captain in her majesty's 26th (or Cameronian) regiment of infantry, to be Chief Magistrate of the island of Hongkong; and I do further authorize and require you to exercise authority, according to the laws, customs and usages of China, as near as may be (every description of torture excepted), for the preservation of the peace, and the protection of life and property over all the native inhabitants in the said island and the harbors thereof.

    And I do further authorize and require you, in any case where the crime, ac. cording to Chinese law, shall involve punishments and penalties exceeding the following scale in severity, to remit the case for the judgment of the head of the government for the time being.

Scale :-Imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for inore than 3 months; or

penalties exceeding $400.

Corporal punishment exceeding 100 lashes.

Capital punishment.

And I do further require you, in all cases followed by sentence or infliction of punishment, to keep a record, containing a brief statement of the case, and copy of the sentence.

And I further authorize and require you to exercise magisterial and police au- thority over all persons whatever (other than natives of the island, or persons sub. ject to the mutiny act, or to the general law for the government of the fleet), who shall be found committing breaches of the peace, on shore or in the harbors of the island, or breaches of any regulation to be issued from time to time by this govern- ment, according to the customs and usages of British police law.

    And I do hereby authorize you, for the police purposes herein-before specified, to arrest, detain, discharge, and punish such offenders, according to the principles and practice of general British police law.

1341.

The Hongkong Gazette.

237

       And all persons, subject to the mutiny act, or the general law for the govern ment of the fleet, found committing police or other offenses, shall be handed over to their proper military superiors for punishment.

And I do further authorize and require you, to detain in safe custody any per- son whatever, found committing crimes and offenses within the government of Hongkong, amounting to felony, according to the law of England; forthwith re- porting your proceedings herein, and the grounds thereof, to the head of the government for the time being. And for all your lawful proceedings in the pre- mises, this Warrant shall be your sufficient protection and authority.

       Given under my hand and seal of office at Macao, at this thirtieth day of April, in the year 1841.

CHARLES Elliot.

No. 2.

Rules and Regulations for the British Merchant ShiPPING.

       The following Rules and Regulations for the preservation of the peace, and the maintenance of due subordination on board the British merchant shipping, now at anchor or hereafter arriving within the port of Hongkong, are published for the information of all whom it may concern.

SECTION 1. Of the functions of the magistrale.

       REG. No. 1. To repair forthwith on board of any British ship, sending or making the signal for assistance (signals hereinafter specified), by reason of the riotous state of the crew, and, if a state of actual violence or resistance to authority shall exist, to take instant and energetic measures for the restoration of the peace and due subordination.

      REG. No. 2. Fire-arms in no case to be used on such occasions, except for the protection of life, till the magistrate, or in his absence the command- ing officer of the ship, or one of the constables of police, shall have, audibly and ineffectually, made the following proclamation (or words to the like effect): "Our sovereign Lady the Queeu commands all persons here assem- bled, immediately to disperse themselves, and to return peaceably to the per- formance of their duties. God save the Queen."

      REG. No. 3. The Magistrate on the spot, after summary inquiry into the occasion of any riot, may issue his warrant for the apprehension of any persons who shall appear to him to have acted as ringleaders, either leaving them for safe custody on board their own ships, or committing them to jail, as he may judge best under the circumstances.

      SECTION 2. Of the offenses cognizable by the magistrate, and the penalties thereunto attached.

REG. NO. 1.

Offence.

1. Drunkenness with riot, either on- board a ship, or on shore.

Penalty,

1. Confinement, with, or without, hard labor, not exceeding two weeks,- or a penalty not exceeding 20 shillings, or both-according to the particular gravity of the offense, and its frequency.

2. Either of the above penalties.

2. Contempt of the authority of the magistrate on any occasion of inquiry,

3. Disobedience of orders to desist 3. Confinement in the like manner, from riotous conduct, or abusive and not exceeding 14 days, or a penalty, menacing language tending to the dis- not exceeding £2 10s.; or both accord- turbance of the peace and of due suboring to the circumstances.

dination.

4. Ringleaders in riots, attended with 4. Confinement in like manner, not violence towards officers, or resistance exceeding one calendar month,- or a to the magistrate, or the constables of penalty not exceeding £5,-

                                       -or both, police, engaged in the restoration of according to the circumstances.

the peace.

REG. NO. 2. A decision against a prisoner involving higher penalties, or longer confinement, than those set down in the 1st and 2d specification, needs the the sanction of the head of the government, or in his absence of

238

The Hongkong Gazette.

MAY,

the deputy superintendent, and is therefore not to be pronounced by the Magistrate, till that sanction has been received, the prisoners being re- manded after the closing of the evidence on the defence.

Reg. No. 3. All other offenses of a more aggravated nature, or not spec- ified above, to be reported to the head of the government by the Magistrate, and the prisoners to be left in confinement according to the customs and usages of the sea service, pending further instructions under his hand; or to be committed to jail.

REG. No. 4. All prisoners to be maintained on the half allowance of provisions (without spirits), for which maintenance, a sum of 9d per diem shall be paid, and charged against their wages.

REG. No. 5. If the prisoner shall have been confined on board the ship to which he belongs, no charge shall be made for his maintenance.

REG. No. 6. Commanders of ships to which prisoners belong, under confinement according to these rules and regulations, are at liberty to hire laborers to supply their place, charging the daily expense to the wages of the prisoners.

    REG. No. 7. In the case of prisoners not having wages enough to meet the penalties they have incurred, the magistrate may remit the same at the end of their confinement, and the want of funds may not be made a ground for detention beyond the period originally determined.

    REG. No. 8. Commanders of ships, who have been called upon to pay penalties out of seamen's wages, to be furnished with a certificate by this government.

    REG. NO. 9. Nothing herein contained to be construed, to prevent the commander of any ship from restraining his crew, by such lawful means as he may see fit to use on his own responsibility, and without making applica- tion for police assistance.

    SECTION 3. Of the signals to be made by British ships, requiring assis- tance, by reason of the riotous state of the crew,

REG. No. 1. In the day time, ensign, union downwards to be hoisted wherever most conspicuous or convenient, and a musket to be fired to draw attention. In the night time, three or four lights in the after rigging, at irregular heights, and firing of single muskets, to be repeated at intervals till assistance arrives.

    SECTION 4. Of the rate at which payments are to be made, and the dis- posal of penalties.

    REG. No. 1. All payments and penalties, made or incurredunder these rules and regulations, to be at the rate of 5s. the Spanish dollar.

REG. No. 2. All penalties, levied agreeably to these regulations, to be for the use of Her Majesty, in part payment for the police expenses of this government.

SECTION 5. Of the manner in which seamen or others on board British ships are to seek redress.

    REG. No. 1. Any person having a complaint of ill usage to proceed respectfully to the commander, or commanding officer, and to request to be allowed to repair on shore to the office of the magistrate; and, failing redress by that means, to forward a letter to the head of the government, in order that such present inquiry and remedy may be had as the case demands.

Given under my hand and seal of office at Macao, this thirtieth day of - April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.

CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary,

Charged with the government of the island of Hongkong.

In the second number are given the names of the villages and hamlets on the island with the number of their estimated population.

1841.

The Hongkong Gazette.

280

The list is as follows, the names being written as they are pronoun-

ced on the spot.

No. 3.

the capital, a large town.

Chek-chu,

Population 2000

Heongkong,

A large fishing village.

200

Wong-nei-chung,

An agricultural village.

300

Kung-lam'

Stone-quarry-Poor village.

200

Shek-lup,

Do.

Do.

150

Tai-shek-ha,

Kwun-tai-loo,

大路

Soo-koon-poo,

Hung-heong-loo,

Soo-ke-wan, 掃箕灣

Stone quarry, a hamlet,

Fishing village.

A hamlet.

Hamlet.

Do.

Large village.*

1200

20

50

10

50

Sai-wan,

Hamlet.

30

Tai long,

Fishing hamlet.

5

Too-te-wan,

Stone quarry, a hamlet.

Tai-tam,

Hamlet, near Tytam bay.

88.

60

20

Soo-koo-wan, Hamlet.

30

Shek-tong-chuy,

Stone-quarry. Hamlet.

25

Chun-hum, Deserted fishing hamlet.

00

Tseeli-suy-wan, 淺水灣

Do.

.00

Sum-suy-wan, 深水灣

Do.

00

Shek-pae, 石牌

Do.

00

4350

:

In the Bazaar.

In the Boats,

Laborers from Kowlung.

Actual present population.

The Isthmus of Kowlung, or Tresemshatsuy,

tains about 800 people.

Kowlung 九龍, Taipang 大鵬, and Lye moon 鯉魚門

are villages and places near the isthmus.

* The population of this place is migratory: the place is often completely deserted, and the present influx of inhabitants depends upon the great demand for stone.

800

2000

300

7,450

g

con-

VOL. X. NO, V.

37

200

Journal of Occurrences.

MAY,

ART. V. Journal of Occurrences: the war spirit; the new_cabi- net; military operations at Ningpo and Chusan; murder of cap- tain Stead, and visit of the Columbine; death of Mr. Field and the loss of two British officers; pirates and fishermen; the new tsotang in Macao and his edicts; Lin's departure for Chě- keäng; punishment for talking on politics; interruption of trade at Canton; perfidy and cruelty of the government; the prefect's edict and captain Elliot's notice; the plot and attack on the British forces; seizure and release of American merchants; fires in the suburbs; rifling the factories; fire-rafts; bombardment; future operations.

   WAR, and nothing but war, seems now contemplated and resolved on by the Chinese, from one extreme of the empire to the other. War against queen Victoria and her subjects is to be waged, without mercy, at all points, and by all means. • Exterminate the rebels !' 'ex- terminate the rebels' are the reiterated orders that come in quick succession from the one man occupying the dragon-throne.

It is

said by many of the Chinese, who suppose they know the truth of the matter, that the emperor will listen to no proposals for an amicable arrangement with the rebels, and is angry when any such are brought to his notice, while he threatens with death the man who may dare to talk of making peace with the English!

    The gratification hoped for, as expressed on the 26th of January, in the address to my lords and gentlemen' from the British throne, cannot be realized: it was a vain hope: her majesty's sentiments, however, deserve to be put on record, in contrast with the imperial will of her elder brother. She says,

{ Having deemed it necessary to send to the coast of China a naval and mili- tary force to demand reparation and redress for injuries inflicted upon some of my subjects by the officers of the emperor of China, and for indignities offered to an agent of my crown, I at the same time appointed plenipotentiaries to treat upon these matters with the Chinese government. The plenipotentiaries were, by the last accounts, in negotiation with the government of China; and it will be a source of much gratification to me, if that government shall be induced, by its own sense of justice; to bring these matters to a speedy settlement by an amicable arrangement."

A new cabinet has been formed by the emperor. Keshen the 3d, and Elepoo the 5th, members of the Nuy Ko, or Imperial Cabinet, have been displaced, and Paouhing a Mantchou, and Yi- king also a Mantchou, have been placed in their stead. These new members are leading ministers of the war party; the first is distantly, and the second closely, connected with the imperial family. Concerning the fate of Keshen we have nothing as yet but We trust his life will not be required to appease the wrath of his master. The opinion has been expressed by many-officers and gentlemen-in Canton, that it will not.

rumors.

10

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

291

Military operations for defense of Ningpo and Chusan, since the British evacuated the latter place, have been carried forward with the utmost dispatch of which the Chinese are capable. This we were led to suspect from the tenor of imperial orders, and the circum- stances of the case. By the visit of the Columbine the fact of such works being in progress is confirmed. Similar preparations are going on along the whole line of coast, and heavy drafts are being made on the imperial and provincial treasuries for their accomplishment.

      The report of the death of captain Stead, of the Pestonjee Boman- jee, noticed on page 182 in our number for March, is confirmed by intelligence which captain Clarke obtained at or near Singlo, a few miles from Ketow point. The natives in one village fled in consterna- tion, as the Columbine's boat approached the shore. At another, not far from the same, the people, who manifested no alarm, declared that the foreigner had been beaten to death at the former village.

      The visit of the Columbine, capt. Clarke, with a dispatch for the government of Chěkeäng, was spurned, and all intercourse denied ; and not only so, but the most unequivocal demonstrations of hos- tilities were made. She returned to Hongkong on the 11th.

The death of Mr. Field, who was lost with two officers of the Blenheim on the 26th of March, has been already noticed, on page 182. The body of Mr. Field was found washed up on shore, off the the Barrier on the morning of the 1st ultimo. It was easily recogniz- ed, and the marks it bore left little or no room to doubt that his death had been caused by violence. The only conclusion regarding the two officers is that they have also suffered the same fate, by the same hands-doubtless piratical. The whole truth of this case, and that of the Black Joke and some others, will probably never be fully disclosed in this world: if it could, and the government were impli- cated, the case of these sufferers should be registered - with that of those in the Spanish ship Bilbaino. That the provincial authorities deny all knowledge of the case is naught-for again and again it has been proved that they know not what truth is.'

Pirates, always numerous in troublesome times on these coasts, have of late showed theinselves unusually bold and daring. In re- peated instances they have approached European boats; but, except it may be in the case of Mr. Field's boat noticed above, they seem not to have had any success.

On the unarmed fishing-boats, these 'water-thieves,' as the Chi nese call pirates, have been more successful. Several have been cut off-the boats destroyed and the people killed. This (the go- vernment being otherwise occupied) has constrained the fishermen to arm for self-protection. On the 10th of the month some three hundred of these fishing smacks were in the Inner Harbor of Macao. They have procured a few small guns and again disappeared. There are other reasons assigned for their presence here: one, given by the 'mandarins,' is that the fish outside are scarce just now! Another is that they were going to carry divers up the river to attack the queen's ships near Canton! It is quite true that they have succeeded in capturing some of the pirates.

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    A new tsotang, or under-magistrate, arrived in Macao about the middle of the month, and has issued several proclamations--one for- bidding the Chinese to sell strong drink to foreigners, another threat- ening punishment to bandits and robbers, a third prohibiting all the good natives to embrace the religion of the foreigners or to as- sume their dress, and a fourth disallowing their serving the barba rians as chair-bearers, nurses, &c.

Lin, late commissioner, governor, &c., left Canton for Chěkeäng early in this month, leading 2000 soldiers, for the defense of Ningpo, Chinhae, Chusan, &c.

    Summary punishment was inflicted upon a traitorous native' on the 8th instant in the streets of Canton. The man had presumed to speak regarding the business in hand between the Chinese and fo reigners. Accordingly it was necessary that he should be disciplined and others admonished. Two small sticks-little mimic flags were stuck one through each ear, so as to stand erect one on either side of his head. His hands were bound behind his back, and then with one man beating a gong before him, and another following to beat his bare back with a rattan, he was marched through the streets of the city under a guard of soldiers.

    Interruption of the trade, which had been carried on with unusual dispatch during the last month, and first half of the present, was at length again to be interrupted. The Horatio was the first ship that sailed from Whampoa after the raising of the blockade; she went to sea on the 12th ult. The Akbar followed on the 14th, and others soon succeeded. Thus business went on until Friday night, the 21st instant, when the scene changed, hostilities by fire and sword com- mencing at dead of night.

    The perfily and cruelty of the Chinese government has been ex- hibited in the late rupture in a manner that will deprive its officers of all sympathy for whatever sufferings they may have to bear. The conduct of these officers has been false and treacherous to a degree of which we had supposed man, even but half-civilized, quite incapa- ble. Such treachery deserves the strongest reprehension, with pu- nishment the most signal and exemplary. When such treachery can be practiced with impunity a government cannot long exist. And if the Great Pure dynasty must be supported by such means, its downfall will be no matter of surprise or regret.

When the advanced squadron reached the gates of the city, on the 18th of March, its government and people were spared without ran- som, on condition of their ceasing from hostilities, and allowing an immediate restoration of trade. There was neither doubt nor equi: vocation in the terms of agreement. Nothing but good faith was needed to render the engagement permanent aud safe. In a measure, the Chinese officers succeeded in restoring confidence. The people returned to their homes and shops in the city, and business com- menced. On the first of this month, there were all the appearances of peace, and little concern was manifested for the safety of persons or property in the provincial city. Such were the appearances; but they were all false and treacherous.

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This falsehood and this treachery were early known to many na- tives, as they now confess, and were suspected by some few foreign- Fresh troops were daily arriving at the city: but, it was said, they had been ordered hither by the emperor, and sufficient time had not elapsed for the orders to be countermanded. They were quar- tered in the city, because the temples there afforded them convenient shelter from the rains of the season. New cannon were being cast at Fatshan, because many of the old ones had become useless. Thus and thus the Chinese excused every overt act that attracted notice, while in secret they were maturing their plans and collecting the means for destruction.

When it was stipulated that Canton should be spared, it was known to the Chinese that the objects of the expedition would be pressed northward. The 15th of this month, according to common report, was the day fixed for a detachment to move from Hongkong and proceed to Amoy. Preparations were made accordingly. But before this day arrived, alarm in Canton had caused thousands of natives to leave the city; while the foreign merchants were by no means free from anxiety, believing, as many of them did, that the local govern- ment was meditating evil.

     On the 10th, H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary proceeded to Canton in the Nemesis; on the 11th had an interview with the prefect, and left the city the same evening. Captain Elliot was accompanied by Mrs. Elliot-thus showing the Chinese that he entertained no suspicions of their breaking faith. We do not know what information was gained by this visit and interview with the prefect, but we suspect there was no longer any doubt in the plenipotentiary's mind of the certainty of a speedy rupture. Operations were planned accordingly. The expedition to Amoy was postponed; and the only question ap- peared to be; How it should move on Canton-should it wait for the Chinese to complete their plans, or should it strike first?

On the 17th captain Elliot again left Macao; and the commander- in-chief, sir Hugh Gough, and the senior officer of the squadron sir Le Fleming Senhouse, at nearly the same time, proceeded with their forces towards Canton.

     The new guns, cast at Fatshan, had been brought to the city, and pumerous batteries were erected along the river's bank from one end of the suburbs to the other, manned by full complements of soldiers, Guns and soldiers were also lodged in warehouses and temples near the river, and elsewhere in the suburbs.

Under such circumstances it was not surprising that men, women, and children, fled from the city in crowds. Many of the foreign merchants also hastened to remove with their effects, when the pre- fect issued the following edict, under the seals of his office.

     "Yo, the acting prefect of Canton, issues this edict for public information, in order to calm the feelings of the merchants, and to tranquilize commercial bu- siness. It appears that the detachments of troops for Canton have all succes- sively arrived; the laws for the army, however, are very strict, and without being commissioned, soldiers can never move about to create disturbance. Still it is

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feared that, as the military hosts are gathered in clouds, the merchants of all natious here engaged in commerce, hearing thereof, will tremble with alarm, not knowing where these things will end. "Some, frightened out of their wits, may abandon their goods and secretly go away; and others may not know whether to expect quiet or danger; while all cherish their fearful apprehensions: Those foreign merchants who are respectfully obedient, are viewed as noways different from the children of the celestial dynasty; and the imperial commis. sioner and general pacificator of the rebels, and the high ministers and joint commissioners, with their excellencies the governor and lieutenant-governor, ma. naging all things with due consideration, assuredly will not involve the good and the upright in trouble. These merchants, being respectfully obedient, ought to be protected from all injury, and the goods which they have brought with them ought also to be preserved in safety. It is therefore right to issue this edict for full information. And accordingly, this is published, for the assurance of the merchants of every country trading at Canton : to yon, who have always been respectfully obedient and long enjoyed our commerce, the high afficers of the celestial dynasty in fulfilling the gracious pleasure of his imperial majesty to- wards foreigners, will give full protection to the utmost of their strength. Should native robbers and bandits come out to plunder or molest you, they shall be punished with increased severity; and any goods carried off shall be restored, so that the smallest loss shall not be sustained. And you, the said foreign mer- chants, ought also, on your part, to remain quiet in your lawful pursuits, continu- ing your trade as usual without alarm or suspicion; but joining with the disturbed affairs will give occasion for subsequent repentance. A special edict."

This was

    Copies of this edict were put into the hands of the foreign mer- chants, and pasted up on their factories and in the steets. done Thursday, the 20th. The next day captain Elliot issued at Canton the following

"Circular.

    "In the present situation of circumstances her Britannic majesty's plenipoten- tiary, feels it his duty to recommend that the British and other foreigners, now reniaining in the factories, should retire from Canton before sunset.

(Signed)

CHARLES ELLIOT, H. B. M.'s plenipotentiary.

· British Factory, 21st May, 1841.

The plot was now to be developed-we say plot, because there is no doubt that, in violation of their engagement, the high officers had concerted and matured a scheme to attack simultaneously the Brit ish forces at all points, and also to make prisoners of all the foreigu merchants in Canton.

    At about 11 o'clock, Friday night, the Chinese began the attack, with fire rafts, which were sent off against the vessels of the advanc- ed squadron at Canton, and at the same time against the Alligator off Howqua's fort. This was the signal for general attack, when the cannonading commenced at every point where the Chinese could bring their guns to bear on their enemies, and was continued during the whole night. They failed utterly. The cutter Louisa and schooner Aurora, anchored off the factories, were in imminent danger both from the rafts and from the guns of a battery which had been erected abreast of them on shore. The Algerine returned the fire from the battery at Shameen with good effect; and the Goddess of Vengeance,' hastily getting up her steam, gave the Tartar lads on shore a good supply of round-shot, shells, and rockets. A few spent shots struck the factories, but did no great damage. Messrs. Coolidge

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and Morss, with a few of their people, were the only foreigners who

remained at the factories during the night.

Saturday morning, the 22d, at an early hour, a boat, belonging to the American ship Morrison, with four seamen, an officer and three passengers, pushed off for Whampoa, carrying a "chop" written in large characters, and so displayed that it could easily be read. The boat was fired on, before she was out of sight of the factories, and the passengers and the crew (excepting one man, who is said to have been killed) were taken prisoners, and carried into the city. Of the whole party, one only escaped without wounds, and some were se verely injured. Such conduct in the face of the prefect's edict ought not to be passed without the severest chastisement.

      The Louisa and Aurora received a few shot, but succeeded in re- tiring in good style down the Macao passage.

At daylight, the Modeste, Pylades, Algerine, and Nemesis-hav- ing now done with the fire-rafts,-moved up to silence the western fort at Shameen. This done, the Nemesis, followed by boats at some distance, pushed further on to the destruction of a large flotilla, lying pear the westernmost packhouses, where 39 war-junks and fishing smacks, and about as many fire-boats, were burnt.

     During the morning-at about 8 o'clock,-the rabble began to en- ter the factories; and all those east of Hog-lane were gutted, The large mirrors, chandeliers, &c., in the British Hall were all dashed to pieces. The clock and all its appurtenances were hauled down, not excepting the vane on the top of the belfrey. The rabble also entered the chapel, destroying everything they could lay their hands on, not excepting the beautiful stone monument and tablet, erected on the east wall in memory of one of the former chiefs of the British factory.

1

In the midst of this confusion, Mr. Morss succeeded in getting his boat from the factory to the river, and effected an escape to the Ne- mesis, and in safety reached Whampoa. Mr. Coolidge was not so fortunate, but was carried off into the city, where he met the party that had been taken from the boat of the Morrison. More particu lars concerning their treatment shall be given in the sequel-suffice it here to remark, that they were all released on Monday.

1

     The confusion and consternation of Saturday were evidently some- what increased by two fires, one of which broke out in the western suburbs near the fort at Shameen, the other was on the south of the river in Honam. They did not burn very extensively. By night, fall, all was quiet.

    The fire-rafts, boats and junks were numerous, and the Chinese hoped to have done great damage therewith. Besides those which were put in motion in Friday night, others on subsequent days were set on fire further down the river, attempting the destruction, some at the Bogue of the Wellesley, and some of the Scaleby Castle near the Second Bar. In the latter instance, which happened on the 24th, a very serious accident occurred. By a boat's crew from the Scaleby, one of the rafts on shore was boarded, and some of the

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   combustibles being thrown into the boat, and the raft set on fire, the boat drew off; but the fire seeming not to take, the boat returned and on reaching the raft an explosion took place, throwing combustibles and cinders into the air, some of which fell into the boat causing the powder there to explode: eighteen men were injured, of whom three or four are dead.

On Monday, the 24th, sir Hugh Gough and sir Le Fleming Sen- house, having the preceding day come up with their forces, move- ments commenced for general attack and bombardment. Full and exact details of these, it is not now in our power to give-but our rea- ders shall have them in our next. The course of the river is nearly due east from Canton to' Whampoa; and a few rods west of the fac tories, which are say 150 yards from the southwest corner of the city, is the Macao Passage running due south; a little farther west there is a bend, and you may ascend one branch of the river in a northerly direction, while the other branch leads off to Fatshan.

                           Up this northern branch, the land forces, about 2000 strong, with some ten or twelve pieces of artillery, chiefly in native boats, were moved by the Nemesis from the Macao passage; and during the same night, or early on Tuesday, they took possession of the heights on the north in the rear of the city-a position commanding the whole plain on which Canton and its suburbs are built. While this was being done, the forces for the attack on the south side had got into position at proper distances on the river from one extreme of the suburbs to the other. Attacked nearly at the same time both on the north and south, the Chinese troops soon fled from the hills and the suburbs into the city. Once on Tuesday the prefect came out to the Hyacinth with a flag of truce, but his proposals could not be accepted, and the cannonading continued during the 25th. The report is that $1,000,000 were delivered on board the Hyacinth on the 27th, and that similar payments were to be made on seven more days in suc- cession as a ransom for the city. Of the losses sustained, and of the arrangements for the captured, we are as yet uninformed. The numbers of killed and 'wounded, on the part of the Chinese must have been great. Some of the English troops have also fallen.

    Future operations, on the part of the British government, must now needs be pushed on with all possible dispatch and decision-the forces stopping nothing short of the walls of the capital. "China inust bend or break." The exclusive spirit of the government, and the false and treacherous conduct of its officers, are incompatible with every principle of right and reason. Strong reinforcements are, we suppose, near at hand, and the world has now just reason to ex- pect that Great Britain will do what is necessary to establish free and friendly relations between this empire and the other nations of the earth. The principles and usages common among other states, se- curing free intercourse with reciprocal rites and privileges, must be acknowledged and established here. Nothing short of this will an- swer the demands of the age, or the expectations of the many millions of spectators of the British expedition to China.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-JUNE, 1841.- No. 6.

ART. I. Travels in divers parts of Europe and Asia; underta- ken by the French king's order to discover a него здау by land to China. By father Avril, of the order of the Jesuits. London, Tim-Goodwin, 1693.

PARK's narratives or rather those translated by him-were mainly concerned with travelers who came hither by sea; but those compiled by Avril refer to adventurers who reached China by land. Avril, however, was himself a traveler, having been pitched upon by his su- periors to discover an overland route for the Jesuits to China. 'Fa- ther Couplet,' says he, 'had made it his business to form an exact computation of the number of Jesuits who had set forward out of the several parts of Europe, in order to undertake the mission which he had quitted (after a residence of thirty years in China); and he found that of six hundred who had taken shipping for China, since our Company were permitted entrance into that kingdom, not above a hundred safely arrived there, all the rest being sacrificed by the way, either by sickness or shipwreck.' The travels contain many curious remarks in natural philosophy, geography, and history, with a descrip-- tion of 'Great Tartary,' and of the different people who inhabit there, to which is added a supplement extracted from the works of Hak- luyt and Purchas, giving accounts of several journeys overland from Russia, Persia, and the country of the Moguls to China, with the roads and distances of the places, &c., &c. The author's preface is worth reading. He says:

"It will not be improper in giving the publick an account of my travels, to ~

VOL, X. NO. VI.

38

306

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speak a word or two about the reasons that first induce'd me to undertake. them. Some years ago, the R. F. Verbiest of the society of Jesus, a famous missionary in China, acquainted his superiors in Europe, that the missions of the East were in great want of evangelical labourers; and that it would be easy to finish a considerable number of them, without exposing them to the hazards that had stopt the best part of those who were going into China heretofore by sea. ile show'd them that the Tartars in making themselves masters of China, have made a passage into that vast empire through Great Tartary, and that it would be easy to take the advantages of the commerce the Tartars had maintain'd ever since with the Chinese, to introduce the light of the gospel among both nations.

"This project prov'd the more acceptable, by reason that the loss of an in- finite number of zealous missionaries, who had consummated the sacrifice of their life, before they could reach the place of their mission, was sen- sibly regretted; and that this way, though difficult in the beginning, did not seem impracticable, since history mentions some travelers who have had the good fortune to reach China by land. But whereas the way thither was not particularly known, I was pitch'd upon by Providence, and by my superiors, for the better discovery thereof, and to get such instructions and informa. tions as were most proper to that end. I hope this relation may prove ser- viceable to such missionaries who find themselves inclin'd to carry the gospel into those countries; and that charitable persons who are zealous for the glory of God, will the more willingly contribute to a design so glorious, the execution whereof will daily become the less difficult.

6

• Besides the advantage of those missions which were the principal aim of my travels, my relation will give several new insights into sciences, and particularly into geography. I will give an instance of it in this place. None had yet been able to discover the exact distance of Peking. It is true, that the last relation of Siam, and the observations of the stars, and of the eclipses, taken in that country, and by the way, by the fathers of the socie- ty of Jesus, sent thither by his majesty as his mathematicians, had already show'd us, that our geographical maps had plac'd the extremities of Asia above 25 degrees too far. But yet Mr. Isaac Vossius, who had already print- ed his sentiments about the measures of longitude, taken according to the principles of astronomy, seem'd to distrust those kind of proofs, and was so far from allowing China to be nearer, that be pretended it lay even farther. The relation of Siam not having been able to convince him, he publisd'd a small pamphlet to maintain his first sentiments. But father Gouye, profes. of the mathemathics at the college of Lewis the XIV, refuted all his reasons, in a very solid manner, which satisfi'd the publick. The truth is, that both the ancient and modern astronomers have effectually made use of the eclipses of the moon to determine longitudes; and those who are anywise vers'd in those matters, know how much we are oblig❜d to Galileo for the discovery of the satellites of Jupiter, and the value we ought to set upon the learned and easy method the illustrious M. Capini has given us to find out

sor

i.

1841.

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Travels in Europe and Asia.

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longitudes with certainty, in discovering the cinersions and immersions of It is childish to say, that we will not find wherewithal to fill up the other hemisphere; and since M. Vossius was no better vers'd in the those principles of astronomy and geography, as M. Hire observes with reason, he might at least, to satisfie himself, have taken the trouble to look upon father Riccioli's geographical tables, or Dudly's maps. Vossius was undoubtedly & great man, and incomparably well read, nay, beyond any other; but at the same time it is undeniable, that the desire of appearing universal, often plunged him into gross errors, in taking him out of his province.

"In fine, I am persuaded, that were Vossius alive still, though never so prepossessed with his hypothesis, he would yield to the proofs that are set down in this book. And indeed, I have not only observed the stars to take the altitudes of the countries where 1 have been myself: I have also followed the rules he has prescribed to discover the exact extent of every country, the which he prefers to astronomical demonstrations: I have taken information from the inhabitants; I have spoken to them, I have heard from them how many days they employed in traveling to China, and how many leagues they travel'd a day: I have seen them go from Moscow, and come back from Peking: in a word, I have taken such precautions, that I have reason to believe, I have not been deceiv'd. All my third book is chiefly employed in relating the different roads the Muscovites and Tartars use to travel into China; for which reason I call this book, Travels into China, though I have not had the happiness to reach it myself, according to my expectation.

      ** L may add in this place, that though our profession in general obliges us not to be sparing of our lives and health, and to run to the utmost bounds of the world, through the greatest dangers, to the assistance of souls that are redeem'd by the blood of Jesus Christ, and that we are engaged so to do by a solemn vow; yet people may the better rely upon the certainty of the way 1 have discovered, by reason that this project has been approved and followed by the superiors of our society, who have always a particular eye upon our foreign missions, as the most essential and most holy part of our profession, and are always cautious not to expose their inferiors too rashly, without a reasonable ground, thereby to derive some advantage for the good of the church, and for the propagation of the true faith.

So that it may

be inferred from thence, that they would not have hazarded twelve of their brethren, all persons of singular merit, who are gone within these few months for China, and all of them by land, unless they had found some solidity in the memoirs and instructions I have given them. There are yet several others, who being moved by these examples, and the desire of suffer- ing much for God's sake, are disposing themselves for the same journey, who are resolved to take the way of the Yousbecs and of the Thibets, according to the design that had been proposed to me by the late count Syri, which he would have put in execution before this, had not death stop him in the mid- dle of his glorious enterprise.

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"In order not to lose time, and to make that road the easier for those that shall follow them, they go first to Constantinople, where they will find father Beauvollier, my companion of mission, who will be the bearer of the king's letters to the sha of Persia, and who will conduct this apostolical company to Trebizond, to Erzerum, to Irivan, and to Schamaki. They will tarry some time in all those cities, there to get new formation, and to establish good correspondencies, as also to leave two or three of their company there to serve, towards the conversion of the people of the country, and to give instructions to the missionaries that shall henceforward go that way. From thence they are to repair to Ispahan, which is the metropolitan of Persia, where they shall desire the sha's protection, and deliver our monarch's letters to him, whose recommendation and zeal will be very material for the solid establishment of our design. From Ispahan they will repair to Samar- kand, or to Bokara, there to make the like establishment, while father Gri- maldi, who has been chosen by the emperor of China to succeed the late father Verbiest in his place of president of the tribunal of the mathematics, will use his utmost endeavors to facilitate their design in China. They may likewise in that journey learn the language of the Chinese Tartars. They are also in hopes to meet in their way from Bokara to Peking, among the Chinese Tartars, some of those that have been converted in coming to the court of Peking. This road has been chosen preferably to that of the Mus- covites, both for the reasons set down in my book, and because father Grimaldi is always diffident of those schismatics, and dreads their appearing too much in China to the shame of Christianity, which they disgrace by their ignorance and brutality.

     "Our superiors design to send yearly some missionaries who shall follow the same road, and stop at Constantinople, at Trebizond, at Erzerum, at Iri- van, and at Schamaki, in the room of those who shall be sufficiently acquaint- ed with the languages to continue the voyage of China. The Persian tongue will also be of use to them, since it may serve to convert the Chinese-Maho. metans, whose conversion St. Francis Xavier did not neglect. It is much easier to bring them to the true faith, than those who are under the Turk's dominion. They may likewise usefully employ themselves during their jour. ney in bringing back the Greeks to the church of Rome, which some of them are pretty well inclined to, as it appears particularly by what I have related of the Armenians, and by the relation from Julfa, which I have annexed to this book.

       Julfa is a suburb of Ispahan, and one of the chief establishments of the Armenians in Persia.

     "Those missionaries will likewise have the advantages of being versed in the apostolical functions at their arrival in China, by the essays they shall have made by the way, and by the experience they shall have acquired. They will consequently be in a condition to labor effectually at their first arrival into China, which could not be expected from those who have hither- to been sent there by sea.

"Although these precautions seem to be very good, we are sensible at the

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same time, that he that plants, and he that waters, is nothing, and that none but God is capable to grant success to this great undertaking. The revolu- tion that happened in the kingdom of Siam has showed us, that God through the secret judgments of his providence, sometimes permits the best contrived measures, and the designs that are best laid for his glory, to miscarry, con- trary to our expectation. However, we shall have the satisfaction of having done our duty; and after all, we shall be too happy to acknowledge ourselves useless servants: we hope that all good Catholics will be willing to second this design, and to move the mercy of God by their prayers, since our sins perhaps hinder him from pouring his mercies upon China and Great Tartary."

Most of father Avril's observations, good and useful enough no doubt in his day, have been rendered valueless by subsequent and more accurate researches. Some facts and incidents are worthy of remark. The practice of medicine among pagan people which has attracted so much notice within these few years, is not a new thing. At Diarbeker, the capital city of Mesopotamia, our traveler was de- lighetd to find that the Jesuit fathers had made an advantageous use of physic, to settle themselves in a post most favorable to the Catholic religion, as appeared from the surprising progress they had made. Both in Kurdistan and Armenia the practic of physick had "gained more credit than the most authentic credentials."

The first book of the travels is filled with notices of Armenia. The second is occupied with memoranda of things seen or heard of in Tartary. The veteran traveler seems not to have thought much of the difficulties of passing across central Asia, nor would it be very strange if railways should erelong be constructed through those re- gions from one extreme of the continent to the other. Avril thus

speaks of the way to China by land.

16

Now in regard that every degree of the equator of the earth consists of twenty leagues, and every league of a thousand geometrical paces, follows, that every degree of the forti'th parallel, containing no more than fifteen leagues, and nine hundred and fifty-nine geometrical paces, the distance from Bokara to Peking in a straight line could be no more then about sixhundred and thirteen leagues, and to Kokutan the first city of the Chinese, four hun- dre'd sixty-three only. This being so, as it is easy for every one to be con- vinc'd of it, there is no question but that the way by land to China is much more safe and short than to go by sea, let the wind serve never so fair. I must confess that things speculatively consider'd, appear always more easy than they prove to be in practice, because we cannot certainly foresee all the accidents we may meet with in a long journey; nor do I pretend to warrant the person that undertakes them from all accidents. But as I have travel'd long enough in the east to know what success a man may have; I dare

+

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assure him after a long experience, that it appear'ed to me more easy in the practical part than it appears perhaps to others in the speculative. For not to speak of those who have formerly attempted very near the same things with success, as Paul the Venetian, Benedict Goez the Jesuit, and some others who happily arriv'd in China, by a way that was but very little known at that time, and then to come to a display that makes our way moře plain, by that little knowledge we have of the eastern countries, which are the nearest to us, there is no dispute of the casiness to go from France to Bo. kara, or Samarkand; from whence it is apparent by what I have said, that there remains no more then a fourth part of the way to reach Peking.

44

The voyage from Marselles to Constantinople is usually made in a month; from Constantinople to Teflis, and by the Black-sea, is but eight or ten days sail at most; from thence to Erzerum is but seven or eight more; from Eszerum to Irivan the most heavy laden and encumber'd caravans get to their journeys end in twelve or thirteen; from thence to Tauris, the ancient Ecbatana of the Medes, much about the same time. From this city, which is the second of Persia for spaciousness and beauty, and which is the resort and thoroughfair for all nations that traffick almost over all the East, there are two different ways to reach the Yousbecs. The first, which is the shortest, leads to the province of Kilan, so well known to all the world for the beautiful silks which are there wrought; and this journey is perform'd in three weeks; and being arriv'd there, you may embark upon the Caspian sea, the southern part of which is call'd the sea of Kilan; from whence you may in a straight line to Bokara, enter the river Oxus, which washes the wall of it. The second road lies through Ispahan, the capital of all Persia, and which, though it be the longest, is however the most com- modious, and the most advantageous to pass securely to the prince of the Yousbec's court. For in regard to this, it is a usual thing for that same Tartar prince to send ambassadors to Ispahan, and for the king of Persia to send as frequently his envoy to Bokara, to accommodate differences that arise between those two princes, by reason of the vicinity of their territories, 'tis an easy things to step into the trains of those publique ministers, when they return, or are sent to Bokara, which is not above a month and a half's jour ney from Ispahan."

    Book third contains an account of several roads into China, by land. The 1st, is that through India and the Mogul's cauntry. The 2d, is that which the merchants of Bokhara take, through Kaboul, Kashmere, Tourfan, Barantola (the residence of the delae- lama). The 3d, is that frequented by Usbecks, and Muscovites, along by the lakes near Irticks and Kama to the city of Sinkame, and thence through the territories of the Kalmucks and Mongols. The 4th, carries you through Tobolsk along the Obi, Szelinga, and thence through Mongolia. The 5th is throngh Siberia, "to the city of Nero-Sinki upon the river Szilkå; aster that to Dauri not far from

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Naiunai, and to Cheria that lies upon the entrance of China." The 6th, is through Nerczinski and Mongolia to the lake Dalai. "Out of this lake the river Argus takes its rise, which carries you, by water, to the river Yamour, into which it falls. Near the Argus are several mines of silver."

The inhabitants of all these central regions are next noticed, with cursory remarks respecting the Nestorians, Catholics, and the delae- lama,

"the patriarch of the idolatrous Tartars.' This patriarch, by the by, "is without all contradiction that same famous Preste-Jean, concerning whom historians have written so variously." Avril is inclined to think that St. Thomas reached China, and does not fail to notice the celebrated monument found at Singan foo in 1625. Haylon, a Christian author, of the blood reyal of Armania, "testifies that, in the thirteenth age, Tartary was full of Christians, that Kublai their emperor embarced the Christian faith, and that his brother entered into a religious war for the sake of Christianity." Albazin and its inhabitants, and the war in which they had been engaged, are briefly noticed.

     Concerning the little colony that first peopled America, father Avril obtained the followiug particulars from the vaivode of Smolènks, Mouchim Pouckhim "a person of as great a wit as a man can well meet with, and perfectly acquainted with all the countries that lie beyond the Obi, as having been a long time intendant of the chan- cery of the government of Siberia.

14

There is, said he, beyond the Obi, a great river call'd Kawoina, into which another river empties itself, by the name of Lena. At the mouth of the first river that discharges itself into the Frozsen sea, stands a spacious island very well peopl'd, and which is no less considerable for hunting the behemot, an amphibious animal, whose teeth are in great esteem. The in- habitants go frequently upon the side of the frozen sea to hunt this monster; and because it requires great labor and assiduity, they carry their families usually along with them. Now it many times happens, that being surpriz'd by a thaw, they are carry'd away, I know not whither, upon huge pieces of ice that break off one from another. For my part, added he, I am per- suaded that several of those hunters have been carry'd upon these floating pieces of ice to the most northern parts of America, which is not far off from that part of Asia which juts out into the sea of Tartary. And that which confirms me in this opinion is this, that the Americans who inhabit that country which advances farthest toward that sea, have the same physiogno- my as those unfortunate islanders, whom the over-eager thirst after gain exposes in that manner to be transportod into a foreign climate,'

"

Travels in Muscovy and Moldavia fill the fourth and fifth books,

313

Travels in Europe and Asia.

JGNE,

   Avril's object in traveling in those countries was to gain information from those who had traveled in the east, and at the same time to awaken in those he visited an interest in behalf of the eastern mis- sions. He had also to search for new missionaries, fitted for this hard service. His efforts were successful. He had with others enlisted the feelings of count Syri, and from king Lewis they obtained the following recommendatory letter to the emperor of China:

"Most high, most excellent, most puissant, and most magnanimous prince, our dearly beloved good friend, may God increase your grandeur with a happy end. Being inform'd, that your majesty, was desirous to have near your person, and in your dominions, a considerable number of learned men, very much vers'd in the European sciences, We resolved some years ago, to send you six learn'd mathematicans, our subjects, to show your majesty what ever is most curious in sciences, and especially the astronomical observa- tions of the famous accademy we have establish.d in our good city of Paris : But whereas the length of the sea voyage, which divides our territories from yours, is liable to many accidents, and cannot be perform'd without much time and danger: We have form'd thè design, out of a desire to contribute towards your majesties satisfaction, to send you some more of the same fa- ther Jesuits who are our mathematicians, with count Syri, by land, which is the shortest, and safest way, to the end they may be the first, near your majesty, as so many pledges of our esteem and friendship, and that at the return of the said count Syri, we may have a faithful account of the admira- ble and most extraordinary actions that are reported of your life. Whereupon we beseech God, to augment the grandeur of your majesty, with an end altogether happy. Written at Marly, the 7th of August, 1688.

"Your most dear, and good friend, Lewis."

one of

    The volume closes with "notes collected by Richard Johnson, who was at Boghar with Mr. Anthony Jenkinson, of the reports of Russes, and other foreigners giving an accouut of the roads of Rus- sia to Cathay, as also of sundry strange people." The first note is from one Sarnichohe, a Tartar: he makes the way thus; from Astrakan to Serachich ten days; thence to Urgense fifteen; on to Boghar fifteen; thence to Cascar thirty; and from Cascar to Cathay thirty days more. Notes by other Tartars give a different course, which is from Astrakan through Serachich, Urgense, Boghar, Ta- shent, Occient, Cassar, Sowchich, Camchick, to Cathay. The next note was sent out of Russia from Giles Homes." This contains an account of the "Samoeds," who feed upon the flesh of harts, and sometimes eat one another. They are very ill favored, with flat noses, but are swift of foot and shoot very well: they travel upon harts and dogs, and cloath themselves with sables and harts skins." Beyond this people "live another kind of Samoeds by the sea side,

"

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305

who speak another language: these people one month in a year live in the sea and never dwell upon land for that month." Another road to China is described as follows: It is

-

      "The relation of Chaggi Memet, a Persian merchant, to Baptista Ramu- sins, and other eminent citizens of Venice, concerning the way from Tauris in Persia, to Campion, a city of Cathay by land; which he travel'd himself before with the caravans.

From Tauris to Sultania, From Sultania to Casbin,

Days journey 6

4

From Casbin to Veremi,

From Veremi to Eri,

15

From Eri to Bogara, (Bokhara)

20

From Bogara to Samarchand,

5

From Samarchand to Cascar, (Kashgar) -

25

From Cascar to Acsu,

20

From Acsu to Cuchi,

20

From Cuchi to Chialis,

10

From Chialis to Turfon, (Turfan)

10

From Turfon to Camul

13

From Camul to Succuir,

15

From Succuir to Gauta,

5

From Gauta to Campion,

6

Campion is a city in the empire of Cathay, in the province of Tangut,

from whence comes the greatest quantity of rhubarb."

'A long and dangerous journey from Lahor to China, by Bene- dict Goez,' is not so easily traced as the preceding one.

                                      It was per- formed in the years 1603-05. Goez died in China; his companion, an Armenian, returned from Peking to Macao, and from thence to In- dia. The day may not be far distant when Europeans will again traverse every part of Central Asia, and with far greater facilities and better securities than were enjoyed in father Avril's day.

ART. II. Sketch of Yuhwang Shangte,' one of the highest deities of the Chinese mythology. Translated from the Sow Shin Ke by J. L. S.

    In the holy records it is inscribed, saying, In the former ages there was a country named Kwangyen meaou lõ (brilliant majesty and vast delight). The name of the monarch of this country was Tsingtih

VOL. X. NO. VI.

39

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Sketch of Yuhwang Shangte.

2

JUNE,

(purest virtue). At this time the king had a royal consort, named Paou yuě kwang (the gem moon-light). This monarch had no sons, and upon a day he thought thus to himself: 'I am now well stricken in years, and am still destitute of a royal heir, and when my body shall have fallen and is no more, who then will there be to assume the care of the altars, the shrines, and the temples?' Having finished his musings he forthwith issued orders, summoning a large company of Taou priests to repair to his palace in order to perform religious rites. They hung up their bauners and screens, and arranged out in due order the offerings and utensils of worship. Throughout each day they unceasingly recited the sacred books, and offered up prayers to all the true sages.

And when they had continued their worship for half a year their hearts were as deeply attentive as at the beginning.

Upon a night the flowery empress, Paou yuě kwang, dreamed that she saw the great and eminent Laoukeun, together with a great number of superior deities, among whom were Poso, Yuhtseë, and Tsingtsing. They rode in cinque colored carriages, bearing vast resplendent banners, and shaded by bright variegated umbrellas. Here was the great founder Laoukeun sitting in a dragon carriage, and holding in his`arms a young infant, whose body was entirely covered over with pores, and out of which came forth unbounded splendors illumin ating all the halls of the palace, and producing a hundred precious colors. Banners and umbrellas preceded Laou- keun in the way, while he came floating in the air. Then was the heart of the (dreaming) empress elated with joy and gladness, and receiving Laoukeun with the ceremonies of congratulation and rever- ence, she kneeled down before him, and to him addressed her words as follows: 'At present our mouarch has no male descendants, and I wishfully beseech you for this child, that he may become the sove- reign of our hearths and our altars. Prostrating I look up to your mercy and kindness, and earnestly implore thee to commisserate, to give ear and grant my request!' Taoukeun3 at once answered saying, it is my special desire to present the boy to you; whereupon the em- press, with much thankfulness received him. When she had thus received the child, her spirit returned from pursuit of the dream (i. e. she awoke), and she then found herself a year advanced in preg-

nancy.

In the forty-third year of the cycle, first month, ninth day, and at twelve o'clock, the birth took place in a near apartment of the palace. At the time of the birth, a resplendent light poured forth from the pores of the child's body, which filled the whole country with brilliant

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307

    glare. His entire countenance was supereminently beautiful, so that none became weary in beholding him. When in childhood, he pos- sessed the clearest intelligence and compassion, and taking the posses- sions of his country, and the funds of the national treasury, distributed the whole to the poverty stricken, to those burdened with afflictions, to widowers and widows, to orphans and the childless, to those who had no homes, to the sick, to the halt, the deaf, the blind, and the lame. To all classes of people he was benevolent, affectionate, kind, and accommodating. Songs of commendation resounded in his praise, and the fame of his principles extending to distant regions all- hearts beneath the heavens were drawn out in reverence toward this eminent youth, while his father the king rejoiced with increasing joy.

Not long after this the demise of the king took place, and the son succeeded to the government. Seriously reflecting upon the insta- bility of human life, he gave orders for his high ministers to assume the duties of the throne. Then forsaking his kingdom he repaired to the hills of Pooming, and gave himself up to religious devotedness, and having thus perfected himself in merit he ascended to heaven, where he secured eternal life. He, however, descended again to earth eight hundred times, but still rejecting his kingdom, and sever- ing his affections from all worldly care he became a companion of the common people, and instructed them in his doctrines. At the close of these eight hundred descensions, he engaged in medical practice, and in his attendance upon the sick he successfully rescued the peo- ple from disease, and administered to them peace and gladness, These eight hundred descensions being all ended, he made still eight hundred more, and throughout all places from hades to earth he ex- ercised universal beneficence, expounded all abstruse doctrines, eluci- dated the spiritual literature, magnanimously promulged abroad the correct renovating ethics, gave glory to the widely spread merits of the gods, assisted the nation, and saved the people.

      After the above had terminated, he again descended eight hundred times to earth, and though men destroyed his body and put an end to his earthly existence, yet he patiently bore it all, even parting with his own blood and flesh. Thus in the dissemination of his holy prin- ciples, he made three thousand two hundred visitations to earth, aud became the first of the verified golden genii, and was denominated the pure and immaculate one, self-existing, of highest intelligence.

In the records of Chintsung of the Sung dynasty, it is stated that in the seventh year and ninth moon of the reign of Tachung tseäng foo, his majesty addressing himself to his privy ministers, said, I have

308

Sketch of Yuhwang Shangte.

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been desirous together with all the ministers and people of the em- pire to make an unanimous exaltation of the title and office of the gem imperial holy one (Shangte). During the first year of the reign of Teën, the first moon, and first day, his majesty repaired to the Taetsoo palace, and reverently proclaimed Yuhwang (Shangte) the great celestial and holy emperor, to be, the great predecessor who spread out the heavens, the holder of charms, ruler of the times of the heavenly bodies, containing the spiritual essence and enveloped in reason, the most venerated of the luminous heavens, the gem like, imperial, vast and CELESTIAL Emperor.

The couplets (on the door-posts of the temples) are

1. The holder of the charms of the luminous heavens, while all are everywhere the recipients of his cherishing bounty.

2. The emperor Shangte in his gem palace rules all spirits and men, and the whole universally remain subject to his instructions.

    (The translator subjoins an extract from a sketch of the three great original * potentates, also found in the Sow Shin Ke.)

The three great original supreme ones in the beginning became the bones of the genuine genii, and by a transformation were chang ed into life, and being re-born became human beings. Their father's surname was Chun, and his name Tszechun; and he was also desig- nated the man Chunlang. He was possessed of supereminent intel- ligence and excellence.

Upon a certain time there were three daughters of the dragon king who of their own accord, vowed that they would become the wives of Chunlang. These three sisters bore him three sons, all of whom possessed intellectual capacities of vast extent, and were un- bounded in their knowledge of the recondite arts. The celestial superior, perceiving that they possessed such vast intellectual capaci- ties, and that the manifestations of their illustrious powers were inex- haustible, forthwith bestowed upon them their respective ranks as follows:

SHANGYUEN to become a celestial ruler, the sovereign prince of the red mystery and the bestower of happiness; the anniversary of whose birth to be celebrated on the fifteenth of the first moon.

   CHUNGYUEN to become a terrestrial ruler, the sovereign prince of departed spirits, and pardoner of sins-anniversary to occur on the fifteenth of the seventh moon.

Anniver

HEAYUEN to become a ruler of the waters, the sovereign prince of the regions of the rising sun, and disperser of difficulties. şareto take place on the fifteenth of the tenth month.

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309

1. The Chinese worship two deities under the title of Shangte, the one Yuhwang Shangte, the gem imperial

they denominate Shangte, and which is meant in the sketch here translated; and the other

Heuenteën Shangte, or Shangte of the sombre heavens, a sketch of which is also contained in the Sow Shin Ke. The Yuhwang Shangte holds the highest rank in the whole Chinese mythology, and is a very popu- lar idol. Mr. Medhurst has written a Christian tract of eight pages, enti- tled The Birth-day of Shangte, which seems to have more especial reference to the Heuenteën Shangte.

2. The sect of Taou, or Rationalism, was founded by

Laoukeun

who was cotemporary with Confucius, about 550 years before the Christian era. The Sow Shin Ke contains a sketch of the wonderful origin of Laou- keun.

      3. Taoukeun, the Prince of Reason, is only another appellation of Laoukeun.

4. The Chinese make three of their cycles of sixty years comprise one period or age; the first of the three they call

Chungyuen, and the third

Shangyuen, the second Heäyuen, and as these three

deities bear respectively the same appellations it is possible that they might have derived it from this manner of reckoning the cycles. The Shangyuen, Chungyuen, and Heäyuen deities are said to be principally worshiped by the

doctors of the Taou sect.

5.

           Lungwang, the dragon king, is represented as the deity pre- siding over oceans, seas, and fishes, but is not regarded as an object of worship. He is the Chinese Neptune.

6.

Teëntsun the celestial superior, here meane Yuhwang Shangte. The phrase is given in Morrison's Dictionary as an epithet of Budha,' It is perhaps so applied on certain occasions, but not in the present instance.

1

ART. III. Notices of Japan, No. X.: sketch of the religious sects of the Japanese, anul principal particulars of the modern his- tory of Japan.

THE history of Japan is, in its commencement at least, so connected with the religion of the country, that, in the little here intended to be said of either, the latter seems naturally to take precedence of the former.

The original national religion of Japan is denominated Sinsyu, from the worde sin (the gods) and syu, (faith); and its votaries are called Sintoo. Such, at least, is the general interpretation; but Dr. Von Siebold asserts the proper indigenous name of this religion to be Kami-no-michi, meaning, the way of the kami,' or gods, which the Chinese having translated into Shin-taou, the Japanese subsę, quently adopted that appellation, merely modifying it into Sintoą,

4

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Notices of Japan, No. X.

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     The Sintoo mythology and cosmogony, being as extravagantly absurd as those of most oriental nations, possess little claim to notice, except in such points as are essential to the history of Japan, and the supremacy of the mikado.

     From * primeval chaos, according to the Japanese, arose a self-created supreme god, throned in the highest heaven-as implied by his somewhat long-winded name of Ame-no-mi-naka nusimo-kami-and far too great to have his tranquillity disturbed by any cares whatever. Next arose two creator gods, who fashioned the universe out of chaos, but seem to have stopped short of this planet of ours, leaving it still in a chaotic state. The universe was then governed for some myriads of years by seven successive gods, with equally long names, but col- lectively called the celestial gods. To the last of these, Iza-na-gi-mikoto, the only one who married, the earth owes its existence. He once upon a time thus addressed his consort, Iza-na-mi-mikoto : There should be somewhere a habita. ble earth; let us seek it under the waters that are boiling beneath us." He dipped his jeweled spear into the water, and the turbid drops, trickling from the weapon as he withdrew it, congealed, and formed an island. This island, it should seem, was Kiusiu, the largest of the eight that constituted the world, alias Japan. Iza- na-gi-mikoto next called eight millions of gods into existence, created the ten thousand things' (yorodzu no mono), and then committed the government of the whole to his favorite and best child, his daughter, the sun-goddess, known by the three different names of Ama-terasu-oho-kami, Ho-hiru-meno-mikoto, and Ten-sio- dai-zin, which last is chiefly given her in her connection with Japan.

With the sovereignty of Ten-sio-dai-zin began a new epoch. She reigned, instead of myriads, only about 250,000 years, and was followed by four more gods or demi-gods, who, in succession, governed the world 2,091,042 years. These are terrestrial gods; and the last of them, having married a mortal wife, left a mortal son upon earth, named Zin-mu-ten-wou, the immediate ancestor of the mikado.

     But of all these high and puissant gods, although so essentially belonging to Sintoo mythology, none seem to be objects of worship except Ten-sio-dai-zin, and she, though the especial patron deity of Japan, is too great to be addressed in prayer, save through the mediation of the kami, or of her descendant, the mikado. The kami, again, are divided into superior and inferior, 492 being born gods, or perhaps spirits, and 2,640 being deified or canonized men. They are all mediatory spirits.

Their temples

are a

But with divinities thus numerous, the Sintoo are no idolaters. are unpolluted by idols, and the only incentives to devotion they contain mirror, the emblem of the sour's perfect purity, and what is called a gohei, con- sisting of many strips of white paper, which, according to some writers, are blank, and merely another emblem of purity; according to others, are inscribed with moral and religious sentences. The temples possess, indeed, images of the kami to whom they are especially dedicated, but those images are not set up to be worshiped; they are kept, with their temple treasures, in some secret receptacle, and only exhibited upon particular festivals. Private families are said to have images of their patron kami in shrines and chapels adjoining the verandah of the temple; but Meylan confidently avers that every yasiro is dedicated solely to the one Supreme God, and Siebold considers every image as a corrupt innovation. He seems to think that in genuine Sinsyu, Ten-sio-dai-zin alone is or was wor

* Siebold; the authority for nearly the whole of this chapter.

3

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     shiped, the kami being analogous to Catholic saints, and that of these no images existed prior to the introduction of Budhistic idolatry.

There is, as there was likely to be, somo confusion in the statements of different writers upon the whole of this topic; amongst others, respecting the Sintoo views of a future state, of which Dr. Siebold, upon whom the most reliance must ever be placed, gives the following account : "The Sintooist has a vague notion of the soul's immortality; of an eternal future state of happiness or misery, as the reward respectively of virtue or vice; of separate places whither souls go after death. Heavenly judges call them to account. To the good is allotted Paradise, and they enter the realm of the kami. The wicked are condemned, and thrust into hell."

The duties enjoined by Sinsyu,* the practice of which is to insure happiness here and hereafter, are five (happiness here, meaning a happy frame of mind): Ist. Preservation of pure fire, as the emblem of purity, and instrument of puri- fication. 2d. Purity of soul, heart, and body to be preserved; in the former, by obedience to the dictates of reason and the law; in the latter, by abstinence from whatever defiles. 2d. Observance of festival days. 4th. Pilgrimages. 5th. The worship of the kami, both in the temples and at home.

The impurity to be so sedulously avoided is contracted in various ways; by associating with the impure; by hearing obscenc, wicked, or brutal language ; by eating of certain meats; and also by contact with blood and with death. Hence, if a workman wound himself in building a temple, he is dismissed as impure, and in some instances the sacred edifice has been pulled down and begun anew. The impurity is greater or less-that is to say, of longer or shorter duration-accord- ing to its source; and the longest of all is occasioned dy the death of a near rela- tion. During impurity, access to a temple, and most acts of religion, are for- bidden, and the head must be covered, that the sun's beams may not be defiled by falling upon it.

But purity is not recovered by the mere lapse of the specified time. A course of purification must be gone through, consisting chiefly in fasting, prayer, and the study of edifying books in solitude. Thus is the period of mourning for the dead to be passed. Dwellings are purified by fire. The purified person throws aside the white mourning dress, worn during impurity, and returns to society in a festal garb.

The numerous Sintoo festivals have been already alluded to; and it may suffice to add, that all begin with a visit to a temple, sometimes to one especially ap- pointed for the day. Upon approaching, the worshiper, in his dress of ceremony, performs his ablutions at a reservoir provided for the purpose; he then kneels in the verandah, opposite a grated window, through which he gazes at the mirror; then offers up his prayers, together with a sacrifice of rice, fruit, tea, sake, or the like; and when he has concluded his orisons, depositing money in a box, he with- draws.

The remainder of the day he spends as he pleases, except when appro. priate sports belong to it. This is the common form of kami worship at the temples, which are not to be approached with a sorrowful spirit, lest sympathy should disturb the happiness of the gods. At home, prayer is similarly offered before the domestic housc oratory and garden miya; and prayer precedes every mical.

* Sicbold.

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The money contributions, deposited by the worshipers, are destined for the support of the priests belonging to the temple. The Emtoo priests are called kami musí, or the landlords of the gods; and in conformity with their name, they reside in houses built within the grounds of their respective temples, where they receive strangers very hospitably. The kami nusi marry, and their wives are the priestesses, to whom specific religious rites and duties are allotted; as, for instance, the ceremony of naming children, already described.

But pilgrimage is the grand act of Sintoo devotion, and there are in the empire two-and-twenty shrines commanding such hornage; one of these is, how. over, so much more sacred than the rest, that of it alone is there any occasion to speak. This shrine is the temple of Ten-sio-dai-zin, at Isye, conceived by the great body of ignorant and bigoted devotees to be the original temple, if not the birth-place, of the sun-goddess. To perform this pilgrimage to Isye, at least once, is imperatively incumbent upon man, woman, and child, of every rank, and, it might almost be said, of every religion, since even of professed Budhists, only the bonzes ever exempt themselves from this duty. The pious repeat it annually. The singoun, who has upon economical grounds been permitted, as have some of the greater princes, to discharge this duty vicariously, sends a yearly embassy of pilgrims to Isye. Of course, the majority of the pilgrims journey thither as conveniently as their circumstances admit; but the most correct mode is to make the pilgrimage on foot, and as a mendicant, carrying a mat on which to sleep, and a wooden ladle with which to drink. The greater the hardships endured, the greater the merit of the voluntary mendicant.

It need hardly be said that no person in a state of impurity may undertake this pilgrimage; and that all risk of impurity must be studiously avoided during its continuance; and this is thought to be the main reason why the Budhist priests are exempt from a duty of compliance with Sinsya, enjoined to their flocks. The bonzes, from their attendance upon the dying and the dead, are, in Sintoo estimation, in an almost uninterrupted state of impurity. But for the Isye pilgrimage, even the pure prepare by a course of purification. Nay, the contamination of the dwelling of the absent pilgrim would, it is conceived, be attended with disastrous consequences, which are guarded against by affixing a piece of white paper over the door, as a warning to the impure to avoid defiling

the house.

    When the prescribed rites and prayers at the Isye temple and its subsidiary miya are completed, the pilgrim receives from the priest who has acted as his director a written absolution of all his past sins, and makes the priest a present proportioned to his station. This absolution, called the oko-haraki, is ceremo. niously carried home, and displayed in the absolved pilgrim's house. And from the importance of holding a recent absolution at the close of life, arises the necessity of frequently repeating the pilgrimage. Among the Isye priestesses, there is almost always one of the daughters of a mikado.

    The Føye temple is a peculiarly plain, humble, and unpretending structure, and really of great antiquity, though not quite so great as is ascribed to it, and is surrounded by a vast number of inferior miya. The whole too is occupied by priests, and persons connected with the temple, and depending upon the con- course of pilgrims for their support. Every pilgrim, upon reaching the sacred spot, applies to a priest to guide him through the course of devotional exercises incum- bent upon him.

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313

      In addition to the kami nusi, who constitute the regular clergy of Japan, there are two institutions of the blind, which are called religious orders, although the members of one of them are said to support themselves chiefly by music-even constituting the usual orchestra at the theatres. The incidents to which the foundation of these two blind fraternities is severally referred, are too romantic, and one is too thoroughly Japanese, to be omitted.

The origin of the first, the Bussats sato, is, indeed, purely sentimental. This fraternity was instituted, we are told, very many centuries ago, by Senmimar, the younger son of a mikado, and the handsomest of living men, in commemo- ration of his having wept himself blind for the loss of a princess, whose beauty equaled his own. These Bussats sato had existed for ages, when, in the course of civil war, the celebrated Yoritomo (of whom more will be spoken) defeated his antagonist, the rebel prince Feki (who fell in the battle), and took his general, Kakekigo, prisoner. This general's renown was great throughout Japan, and earnestly did the conqueror strive to gain his captive's friendship; he loaded him with kindness, and finally offered him his liberty. Kakekigo replied, "I can love none but my slain master. I owe you gratitude; but you caused prince Feki's death, and never can I look upon you without wishing to kill you. My best way to avoid such ingratitude, to reconcile my conflicting duties, is never to see you more; and thus do I insure it." As he spoke, he tore out his eyes and presented them to Yoritomo on a salver. The prince, struck with admiration, released him; and Kakekigo withdrew into retirement, where he founded the second order of the blind, the Fekisado. The superiors of these orders réside at Miyako, and appear to be subject alike to the mikado, and to the temple lords at

Yedo.

      Sinayu is now divided into two principal sects: the Yuitz, who profess them. selves strictly orthodox, admitting of no innovation; they are said to be few in number, and consist almost exclusively of the kami nusi; and Siebold doubts whether even their Sinsyu is quite pure: the other, the Riobu Sintoo, meaning two-sided kami worship, but which might perhaps be Englished by Eclectic Sinsyu, and is much modified, comprises the great body of Sintoo. Any explanation of this modification will be more intelligible after one of the co-existent religions-- namely, Budhism-shall have been spoken of.

      It might have been anticipated that a religion, upon which is thus essentially founded the sovereignty of the country, must for ever remain the intolerant, exclusive faith of Japan, unless superseded for the express purpose of openly and avowedly deposing the son of heaven. But two other religions co-exist, and have long co-existed, there with Sinsyu.

      The first and chief of these is Budhism, the most widely diffused of all false creeds, as appears by an authentic estimate of their respective followers, in which we find, 252,000,000 Mohammedans, 111,000,000 believers in Brahma, and 315,000,000 Budhists. A very few words concerning this creed may help to ex- plain its co-existence and actual blending with Sinsyu.

      Budhism does not claim the antiquity, the cosmogonic dignity, or the self. creative origin of Sinsyu. Its founder, Sakya Sinha-called Syaka in Japan- was not a god, but a man, who, by his virtues and austerities, attaining to divine honors, was then named Budha, or the Sage, and founded a religion. His birth is placed at the earliest 2420, and at the latest, 543 years before the Christian

VOL. X. NO. VI.

40

314

era.

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JUNE,

Since his death and deification, Budha is supposed to have been incarnate in some of his principal disciples, who are, like hunself, deified and worshiped, in subordination, however, to the Supreme God, Budha Amida. Budhism is essentially idolatrous; and in other respects, its tenets and precepts differ from those of Sinsyu, chiefly by the doctrine of metempsychosis, whence the prohibi- tion to take animal life, the theory of a future state, placing happiness in absorp. tion into the divine essence, and punishment in the prolongation of individuality by revivification in man or the inferior animals; and by making the priesthood a distinct order in the state, bound to celibacy.

     The Budhist somewhat hyper-philosophic theory of heaven does not appear to have been taught in Japan; and in the rest, there is evidently nothing very in- compatible with Sinsyu. The Budhist bonze, who, after it had for five hundred years failed to gain a footing, established his faith in Japan A. D. 552, skillfully obviated objections, and enlisted national prejudices on his side. He represented either Ten-sio-dai-zin as having been an avatar or incarnation of Amida, or Bud. ha of Ten-sio-dai-zin-which of the two does not seem certain-and a young boy, the eldest son of the reigning mikado's eldest son, as an avatar of some patron god. This flattering announcement obtained him the training of the boy, who, as a man, refused to accept the dignity of mikado,* although he took an active part in the government of his aunt, raised subsequently to that dignity. He founded several Budhist temples, and died a bonze in the principal of thess temples.

Budhism was now fully established, and soon became blended with, thereby modifying, Sineyu, thus forming the second sect, called Riobu Sinsyu. There are inany other sects in which, on the other hand, Budhism is modified by Sinsyu; and these varieties have probably given rise to the inconsistencies and contradictions that frequently occur in the different accounts of Sinsyu. Fur- ther, Budhism itself is, in Japan, said to be divided into a high and pure mystic creed for the learned, and a gross idolatry for the vulgar. The Yama-busi hermits are Budhist monks, although, like the priests of the Ikko-ayu, they are allowed to marry and to eat animal food.

*

     The third Japanese religion is called Sintoo, meaning the way of philoso phers; and, although by all writers designated as a religion, far more resem bles a philosophic creed, compatible with almost any faith, true or false. It consists merely of the moral doctrines taught by the Chinese Kung footsze (Confucius), and of some mystic notions touching the human soul-not very dissimilar to those of high Budhism-totally unconnected with any mythology or any religious rites.

Sintoo is said to have been not only adopted, immediately upon its introduc. tion into Japan, by the wise and learned, but openly professed, accompanied by the rejection of Sinsyu mythology and worship, and by utter scorn for Budhist idolatry. But when the detestation of Christianity arose, some suspicions appear to have been conceived of Sintoo, as tending that way. Budhism was, on the contrary, especially favored, as a sort of bulwark against Christianity; and thence- forward every Japanese was required to have an idol in his house--some say a Budhist idol; others, the image of his patron kami. The last is the more proba. ble view, as Dr. Von Siebold distinctly states that, at the present day, the lower * Klaproth.

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315

orders are Budhists; the higher orders, especially the wisest amongst them, secretly Sintooists, professing and respecting Sinsyu, avowedly despising Bud hism; and all, Sintooists and Budhists alike, professed Sintoo.

      Such is said to be the present state of religion in Japan. But the subject must not be closed without mentioning a story told by president Meylan, of a fourth religion, co-existing with these three, prior to the arrival of the first Chris. tian missionaries. He says that about A. D. 50, a Brahminical sect was introduc. ed into Japan, the doctrines of which were, the redemption of the world by the son of a virgin, who died to expiate the sins of men, thus insuring to them a joyful resurrection; and a trinity of immaterial persons, constituting one eternal, omnipotent God, the creator of all, to be adored as the source of all good and goodness.

       The name of a Brahminical sect given to this faith cannot exclude the idea, as we read its tenets, that Christianity had even thus early reached Japan; and this is certainly possible through India. But it is to be observed, that neither Dr. Von Siebold, nor any other writer, names this religion; that Fischer, in his account of Japanese Budhism, states that the qualities of a beneficent crea- tor are ascribed to Amida, and relates much as recorded of the life of Syaka, strangely resembling the gospel history of our Saviour, whilst the date assigned to the introduction of this supposed Brahminical sect pretty accurately coincides with that of the first unsuccessful attempt to introduce Budhism. Further, and lastly, whoever has read anything of Hindoo mythology must be well aware that the legends of the Brahmins afford much which may easily be turned into seemingly Christian doctrine. But whatever it were, this faith was too like Christianity to survive its fall, and has long since completely vanished.*

*

'[For a few additional particulars concerning the religious sects and creeds found among the Japanese, the reader is referred to an article in the second volume of the Repository, page 318. The statements there made correspond very well to those in this abstract of Siebold's notices. We add a few explana- tions of some of the terms used in both that article and this. Sinsyu is, according to Siebold's explanation,

meaning the faith in gods or spirits; sintoo

        (shin taou in China) or kumi no michi as it is when translated into Japanese, and a mere synonime with it, strictly means not the way of the gods,' but the doctrine of the gods.' ¿ma-terasu-oħo-kami are the native words for the four characters

Ten-sio-dar-zin, (as they are written for us,) which mean the great god of the pure heavens. The gohei are long strips of white paper, standing, we are told, instead of the spirit worshiped, just as the ancestral tablet stands for the ancestor whose name it bears."

TP)

       The Budhistic sects appear to be much more numerous than the Sintoo, and the priests are employed by all classes on occasions of burial and mourning. from which no doubt their influence is also great. Buddoo or Budtno is (

the doctrine of Budha or Amida. The yama-busi ||} }

                                         are a class or sect, who, as their name is explained in a Japanese work, and as the Chinese charac- ters also signifiy, hide themselves in the mountains. They are also called, (or perhaps more properly their tenets,)

syn-gen-dou, practicing and

investigating doctrine. The account goes on to state regarding the yama-busi, that "they keep their bodies in subjection and practice austerities, ascending high and dangerous mountains. They study heavenly principles, the doctrine of the eight diagrams (hakke), chiromancy, the determination of good and bad luck, the

316

Notices of Japan, No. X.

HISTORY OF JAPAN.

JUNE,

Of the history of Japan, it is needless to trouble the reader with more than the few and far distant events out of which has grown, and upon which is based, the present condition of that empire of 3,850 islands, including uninhabitable rocks.

    This may, however, be not inappositely introduced by a few words touching the name, which in Japanese is Dai Nippon, or 'Great Nippon'-a name of great dignity, and referring probably to the patronage, if not the birth, of the sum-god. dess; the word nitsu signifying 'the sun,' and pon, or fon, 'origin;' and these, when compounded according to the Japanese rule, become Nippon, or Nifon. The largest island, upon which stands the Isye temple, be it remembered, bears the simple name of Nippon, without the dai, or 'great' and hence it might be inferred that Nippon was the island originally fished up by Iza-na-gi-mikoto, rather than the smaller and less holy Kiusiu. The name Japan * is derived from the Chinese Jih-pun, 'origin of the sun.' Marco Polo calls the country Zipangu (not Zipangri, as most editions of his work have it), which is the Chinese Jih. pun kwo, or 'kingdom of the origin of the sun.'

    The mythological or legendary portion of Japanese history has been suffi. ciently explained in the preceding portion of this paper-though it may be added, that the whole nation claims a descent from the kami-and what is deemed authentic history need only be adverted to here.

The authentic history of Japan began with the first mortal ruler, Zin-mo-ten- woo, whose name imports the Divine Conqueror.' Accordingly, Zin-mo-ten-woð did, it is said, conquer Nippon; and having done so, he there built him a datris or temple-palace, dedicated to the sun-goddess, and founded the sovereignty of the mikado. Whatever were his new origin-whether he was a son of the last terrestrial god, or, as Klaproth thinks, a Chinese warrior and invader-from him the mikado, even to this day, descend. His establishment in the absolute sove- reignty. of Dai Nippon is generally placed in the year 660 x. c.

    For some centuries, the mikado, claiming to rule by divine right and inheri tance, were indeed despotic sovereigns; and even after they had ceased to head their own armies, and intrusted the dangerous military command to sons and kinsmen, their power long remained undisputed and uncontroled. It was, per. haps, first and gradually weakened by a habit into which the mikado fell, of ab. dicating at so early an age, that they transferred the sovereignty to their sons while yet children; an evil the retired sovereign frequently strove to remedy, by governing for his young successor. At length, a mikado, who had married the daughter of a powerful prince, abdicated in favor of his three-year old son; and the ambitious grandfather of the infant mikado assumed the regency, placing the abdicated sovereign in confinement. A civil war ensued; during which, Yoritomo, one of the most celebrated and most important persons in Japanese history-who has been already incidentally mentioned, and was, seemingly, a distant scion of ́h› mikado stock-first appeared upon the stage. He came forward as the cham- mode of finding stolen things, and other such like sciences." The yama-busi wear A sword, and have a peculiar cap and neck strap to distinguish them. The ex- planation of the name yama-busi, given by Dr. Burger (vol. II., page 324) may also be correct, as , which means a soldier, is also called busi.]

* Klaproth.

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pion of the imprisoned ex-mikado against his usurping father-in-law.* The war lasted for several years, and in the course of those years occurred the incident in which originated one of the institutions of the blind. At length, Yoritomo triumphed, released the imprisoned father of the young mikado, and placed the regency in his hands; but the fowo, as he was called, held it only nominally, leaving the real power in the hands of Yoritomo, whom he created sio i dai sio. goun, * generalissimo fighting against the barbarians.' The ex-mikado died, and, as lieutenant or deputy of the sovereign, Yoritomo virtually governed for twenty years. His power gradually acquired solidity and stability, and when he died he was succeeded in his title, dignity, and authority, by his son.

After this, a succession of infant mikado strengthened the power of the sio. goun, and their office soon became so decidedly hereditary, that the Annals begin to tell of abḍicating siogoun, of infant siogoun, of rival heirs contending for the siogounship. Even during the life of Yoritomo's widow, this had advanced so far, that she, who had become a Budhist nun upon his decease, returned from her convent to govern for an infant siogoun. She retained the authority till her own death, and is called in the Annals of the Datri, ama siogoun, or the nun sio- goun. She seems to be the only instance of a female siogoun. But still, if the actual authority were wielded by these generalissimos, all the apparent and much real power-amongst the rest, that of appointing or confirming his nominal vice- gerent, the siogoun-remained with the mikado. In this state, administered by an autocrat emperor and a sovereign deputy, the government of Japan continued until the latter half of the sixteenth century, the siogoun being then efficient and active rulers, not the secluded and magnificent puppets of a council of state that we have seen them at the present day.

It was during this phasis of the Japanese empire, that the Portuguese first ap- peared there; one of their vessels being driven by contrary winds from her intend. ed course, and upon the then unknown coast of Japan. The occurrence is thus recorded by a national annalist, as translated by Siebold; -"Under the mikado Konaru and the siogoun Yosi-haru, in the twelfth year of the Nengo Tenbun, on the twenty-second day of the eighth month (October, 1543), a strange ship made the island Tanoga sima,† near Koura, in the remote province Nisimura. The crew, about two hundred in number, had a singular appearance; their language was unintelligible, their native land unknown. On board was a Chinese, named Gohou, who understood writing; from him it was gathered that this was a nan-ban ship (southern barbarian,' in the Japanese form of the Chinese words nan-man). On the 26th, this vessel was taken to Aku-oki harbor, on the northwest of the island; and Toki-taka, governor of Tanega sima, instituted ́a striêt investigation concerning it, the Japanese bonze, Tsyu-syu-zu, acting as interpreter, by means of Chinese characters. On board the nan-ban ship were two commanders, Mura-

* Klaproth; and Titsingh's Japanese Annals of the Daïri,

4

      + It has been said that sima means island; whence it follows that Siebold's expression, "the island, Tanega sima," is tautological; but, in translating a lan- guage and speaking of a country so little known, such tautology could hardly be avoided at a less sacrifice than that of perspicuity. This remark is also applicable to many other terms used when speaking or writing of Japan, by which the native word that classifies, or explains the proper name has become incorporated with it. For instance, to say the bridge Nippon-bas, where bas (or hasi) means bridge, in, like Tanega sima I., tautological,

318

Natives of Japan. No. X.

JUNE,

syukya and Krista-muta; they brought fire-arms, and first made the Japanese ac- quainted with shooting-arms, and the preparation of shooting-powder."

The Japanese have preserved portraits (and curious specimens of the graphic art they are) of Mura-syukya and Krista-inuta, who are supposed to be Antonio Mota and Francesco Zeimoto, the first Portuguese known to have landed in Japan. The Japanese were at this time a mercantile people, carrying on an active and lucrative commerce with, it is said, sixteen different countries. They gladly welcomed the strangers, who brought them new manufactures and new wares ; they trafficked freely with them, and erelong even gave their daughters in mar- riage to such as settled amongst them. The Jesuit missionaries, who soon fol- lowed, were equally well received, and permitted to preach to the people without interruption. The extraordinary and rapid success of the Fathers has been al ready mentioned. Even at Miyako, in the vicinity of the daïri, if not in it, they boasted neophytes. These bright prospects were blighted by the civil war, which had seened for a moment to promise the complete establishment of Christianity in Japan.

About the middle of the sixteenth century two brothers of the race of Yoritomo contended for the singounship; the princes of the empire took part on either side, or against both, striving to make themselves independent; and civil war raged throughout Japan. In the course of it, both the rival brothers perished, and the vassal princes now contended for the vacant dignity.

The ablest and inightiest amongst them was Nobunaga, prince of Owari, the champion of one of the rival brothers so long as he lived. After the death of the claiment he supported, he set up for himself. Powerfully aided by the courage and talents of a low-born man, named Hide-yosi, who had attached himself to his service, and gradually gained his confidence, the prince of Owari triumphed over his opponents, and become siogoun, the mikado confirming to him a dignity that he felt himself unable to withhold. The new siogoun recompensed Hide- yosi's services by investing him with a high military office, and showed himself a warm friend to the Christians and the missionaries.

In process of time, Nobunaga was murdered by an aspirant usurper, who thus possessed himself of the singounship. The murderer was shortly afterwards in his turn, murdered; and, amidst the confusion that ensued, Hide-yosi seized upon the generally coveted office. The mikado again, without hesitation, approved and confirmed Hide-yosi as siogoun, by his newly-assumed name of Taiko, or Taiko-sama, i. e. the lord Taiko,

     Taiko retained upon the throne the energies and warlike spirit that had ena- bled him to ascend it; and he is still considered by the Japanese as nearly, if not quite, the greatest of their heroes. It was he who made the greatest progress in reducing the mikado to the mere shadow of a sovereign; with him originated the system, already described, as inthralling the princes of the empire; he subdued Corea, which had emancipated itself since its conquest by the empress Sin-gon- kwo-gon; and he had announced his intention of conquering China, when his career was arrested by death, at the age of sixty-three, in the year 1598. Taiko. sama's only son, Hide-yori was a child of six years old; and to him, upon his deathbed, he thought to secure the succession by marrying him to the grand- daughter of Iyeyas (or as some write it, Yeye-yası), the powerful prince of Mikawa, his own especial friend and counsellor, whom he had rewarded with three

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Notices of Japan, No. X.

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      additional principalities. He obtained from Iyeyas a solemn prontise to procure the recognition of Hide-yori as siogoun, as soon as the boy should have completed his fifteenth year.

The death of Taiko-sama was the signal for the renewal by the vassal princes of their efforts to emancipate themselves from the yoke, nominally of the mikado, really of the siogoun; whilst the ambitious and treacherous Iyeyas, who had long aspired to the office he had promised to secure to his grand-daughter's husband, secretly fomented disorders so propitious to his designs. As regent for Hide-yori, he gradually extorted higher and higher titles from the mikado; at length, he demanded and obtained that of singoun, and waged open war upon the ward to whom he was bound by so many ties, to whom he had sworn al- legiance. Hide-yori, was supported by all the Japanese Christians, whose zeal in behalf of the son of the universally admired and regretted Taiko-sama was, to say the least, warmly approved and encouraged by the Jesuits; and the re- verend Fathers had good cause to exert themselves strenuously on his side, inde- pendently even of any idea of the justice of his cause, since the young prince showed them so much favor, that they actually indulged the flattering hope of seeing him erelong openly profess Christianity, and, should he triumph, make it the established religion of Japan.

But, in 1615, Iyeyas besieged his grandchild's husband in Ohosaka castle, and took this, his rival's last remaining stronghold, as perfidiously, it is said, as he had gained the singounship. Over the fate of Hide-yori a veil of mystery bangs. According to some accounts, after setting fire to the castle, when he found it betrayed into his enemy's hands, he perished in the flames; according to others, he effected his escape amidst the confusion caused by the conflagration, and made his way to the principal city of Satzuma, where his posterity is still believed to exist. It is certain that the princes of Satzuma are much courted by the siogoun, who seek their daughters as wives. The consort of the present singoun is a Satzuma princess.

      Iyeyas, who in the progress of his usurpation had successively taken the names of Daifu-sama and Ongonchio, had now only to secure the siogounship to him- self and his posterity. For this purpose, he confirmed all the measures devised by Taiko-sama for insuring the fidelity of the princes, bestowed many confiscated principalities upon his own partisans and younger sons, and weakened all, as far as he could, by dismemberment. He deprived the mikado of even the little power that Taiko-sama had left him, reducing the absolute autocrat to the utter help. lessness and complete irremediable dependence, which have been described as the present and actual condition of the son of heaven; and, finally, he proceeded to enforce the persecution of his rival's supporters, the native Christians and foreign missionaries, which Siebold decidedly ascribes to political, not religious, motives on the part of the new Japanese potentate; and which, in the reign of his successor, resulted in the system of exclusion and seclusion still followed in Japan.

Iyeyas, upon his death, was deified by the mikado under the name of Gongen- sama; and his policy has proved successful. His posterity still hold the siogoun- ship in undisturbed tranquillity; and although evidently so degenerated from the energy and talent of their ancestor, that they have suffered the power to fall from their own hands into that of their ministers, the change is one which they perhaps feel as gratifying to their pride as to their indolence,

320

Biographical Notice of Mencius.

JUNE,

    Every writer belonging to the Dutch factory, and therefore possessing the best attainable means of knowledge, affirms that rebellion has been prevented by the inthrallment of the princes, and that the empire has, since the quelling of the Arima insurrection, enjoyed profound peace, internal as well as external. Dr. Parker, in his little journal, tells us, indeed, that he was assured rebellion was everywhere raging; but when it is considered that he was hostilely driven away, without being suffered even to set foot on shore, little reliance can be placed upon such hearsay information. Were any further change to be anticipated for Japan, it might perhaps be that the hereditary prime-minister may play against the sio. goun the game they played against the mikado; abandon Yedo to the general. issimo, as Miyako is abandoned to the son of heaven, and establish elsewhere a third court of the vicegerent's vicegerent, the governor of the empire.*

    * [ Two articles in the sixth volume of the Repository, pages 460 and 553, contain additional particulars concerning the history of Japan during the entire century (1540-1640) when its ports were open, its princes striving for supremacy and independence, and its internal polity undergoing the revolution which has for two centuries since been so strictly maintained. Dr. Parker's sources of information were probably as little to be depended upon as is stated above; and the three shipwrecked men, who arrived in Macao in February last, confirm the declaration of the Dutch that peace has generally existed throughout the empire; but they add that at the time, Dr. Parker was in the coast (1837), and subsequently, famines have been so severe in some parts as to lead the suffering people to commit many excesses. If any inference can be drawn from the nature of Japanese politico- religious education, the close espionage maintained by the government over all classes in society, and the feebleness of purpose which such popish domination over all the powers of the intellect naturally produces, we should say that there was little prospect of any change in the internal or external policy of the country. Causes for change must come from without; nor, judging from the changes now going on in Asia, do we think that the opinion, that even the exclusive policy of the sea-girt empire of the siogoun will give way before the progress of events, is at all chimerical; and that this too will take place long before another two centuries have rolled away, perhaps even before this one is completed.]

ART. IV. Biographical notice of Măng tsze, or Mencius, the Chinese philosopher. Translated for the Repository from the

French of Rémusat.

MANG tsze, who during his life was called Măng Ko, and by the early missionaries, Mencius, is considered as the first of Chinese philosphers, after Confucius. He was born at the beginning of the fourth century before Jesus Christ, in the city of Tsow, at this mo- ment a dependency of Yenchow foo, in the province of Shantung. His father, Keih Kung-e, descended from a certain Măngsun, whose prodigal administration incurred the censure of Confucius, was origi- rally of the country of Choo, but established in that of Chin.

1841.

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Biographical Notice of Mencius.

321

+

He died a short time after the birth of his son, and left the guardian- ship of the boy to his widow Chang she.

The care that this prudent and attentive mother took to educate her son, has been cited as a model for all virtuous parents. The house she occupied was near that of a butcher: she observed that at the first cry of the animals that were being slaughtered, the little Măng Ko ran to be present at the sight, and that on his return he sought to imitate what he had seen. Fearful that his heart might become hardened, and be accustomed to the sight of blood, she removed to another house which was in the neighborhood of a cemetery. The relations of those who were buried there, came often to weep upon their graves, and make the customary libations. Mencius soon took pleasure in these ceremonies, and amused himself in imitating them. This was a new subject of uneasiness to Chang she: she feared that her son might come to consider as a jest what is of all things the most serious, and that he would acquire a habit of per- forming with levity, and as a matter of routine merely, ceremonies which demand the most exact attention and respect. Again, there- fore she anxiously changed her dwelling, and went to live in the city, opposite to a school, where Măng Ko found examples the most worthy of imitation, and soon began to profit by them. I should not have spoken of this trifling anecdote, but for the allusion which the Chinese constantly make to it, in the proverb so often quoted: 'Măng tsze's mother was particular about her neighbors.'

Măng tsze did not fail to practice those virtues, which the Chinese suppose to be inseparably connected with the study of belles-lettres. He devoted himself early to the classics, and by the progress which he made in the right understanding of these venerated books, he was thought worthy to become one of the diciples of Tsze sze, the grand- son and not unworthy imitator of Confucius himself. When he was perfectly versed in that moral philosophy, which the Chinese call, par excellence, "the Doctrine," he made a tender of his services to Seuen wang, the king of Tse: but not succeeding in obtaining employment from him, he next went to Hwuy wang, king of Leäng, or of Wei; for at this time, the country of Kaefung foo, in Honan, constituted a little state which was known by these two names. This prince gave a cordial welcome to Mencius, but took no particular pains, as the philosopher would have wished, to profit by his instructions.

The

     Mencius' views of antiquity appeared to him, perhaps not without reason, to be of a nature not applicable to the present moment. men to whom were committed the administration of the different provin-

VOL. X. NO. VL

41

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Biographical Notice of Mencius.

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   ces into which China was at that time divided, were not capable of re- storing tranquillity to the empire, continually disturbed by leagues, divi- sions, and intestine wars. For them, the true science was the art of war. Mencius might well boast to them of the government and the virtues of Yaou, of Shun, and of the founders of the three first dynas- ties; but perpetual wars broke out on every side, and extending themselves wherever he went, destroyed the good effect of his teaching, and thwarted all his plans. At length, convinced of the impossibili- ty of doing any good to princes such as these, he returned to his own country; and there, in concert with Wan-chang, and others of his disciples, he employed himself in arranging the Book of Odes, and the Shoo King, following in this the example of Confucius, and an- xious to execute the task in the spirit of the great philosopher. He composed also, at this time, the work in chapters which bears his name. He died about 314 years before Christ, aged 84 years.

The book of which I have just spoken is Mencius' chief claim to reputation: always united to the three works on morals which contain the exposition of the doctrine of Confucius, it forms with these, what is distinguishingly called the Sze Shoo, or the Four Books. It is of itself longer than the other three united, nor is it less esteemed, or less worthy of being read. In the words of a Chinese author; 'Mencius has gathered in the heritage of Confucius, developed his principles, as Confucius did those of Wan wang, of Woo wang, and of Chow kung; but at his own death no one was found to do the like for him. Not one of those who came after him can be compared with him, not even Seun tsze, and Yang tsze.' I will not transcribe, even briefly, the pompous eulogies which this author, and a hundred others, have emulously bestowed on our philosopher. Let it suffice to say, that by unanimous consent he has been honored with the title of A Shing, which signifies, the Second Saint, Confucius being regarded as the first. He has also been honored, by public act, with the title of Holy Prince of the Country of T'sow; and in the great tem. ple of the literati, they pay him the same honors as to Confucius. A portion of this distinction, according to Chinese custom, has been transmitted to the descendants of Mencius, who bear the title of Masters of the Traditions concerning the classic Books, in the impe- rial academy of Hanlin.

The kurd of merit which has procured for Mencius so great celebrity, would not be regarded as of much value-in the eyes of Europeans; but he has others which, if his book were adequately translated, would procure him favor. His style, less dignified and less

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concise than that of the prince of letters, is equally noble, more em- bellished, and more elegant. The form of dialogue which he has retained in his philosophic conversations with the great personages of his time, admits of more variety than we can expect to find in the apothegms and the maxims of Confucius. Their philosophy also differs equally in character. Confucius is always grave and even austere; he elevates the good, of whom he draws an ideal portrait, and speaks of the bad only with cold condemnation. Mencius, with the same love of virtue, seems to feel for vice contempt, rather than horror; which he attacks with the force of reason, and of ridicule. His style of argument is like the irony of Socrates. He contests nothing directly with his adversaries; but while he grants their premises, he seeks to draw from them consequences the most absurd, which cover his opponents with confusion. He does not spare the great, nor the princes of his time, who often pretended to consult him only that they might have an opportunity of boasting of themselves, and of ob- taining the praises which they conceived to be their due. Nothing could be more cutting than the answers he made them on these oc- casions; nothing in short more opposed to that character for servility and baseness which a too common préjudice attributes to eastern ́ nations, and especially to the Chinese. Mencius resembled Aris- tippus in nothing; but rather Diogenes, though with more dignity and decency. At times we are tempted to condemn a vivacity which almost amounts to harshness; but we forgive it, when we find it in- spired only by a zeal for the public good.

The king of Wei, one of those princes whose dissensions and continual wars desolated China at this time, detailed complacently to Mencius the pains he took to make his people happy, and expressed his astonishment that his little kingdom was not more flourishing nor more populous than those of his neighbors. Prince,' said the philo-

sopher, 'you love war; permit me to draw a comparison from thence : two armies are in presence; the charge is sounded, the battle begins, one of the parties is conquered; half its soldiers have fled an hundred paces, the other half has stopped at fifty. Will the last have any right to mock at those who have fled further than themselves?'

'No,' said the king, 'they have equally taken flight, and the same disgrace must attend them both.'

'cease then to boast of your efforts You have all deserved the same

'Prince,' says Mencius quickly, as greater than your neighbors. reproach, and not one has a right to take credit to himself over another.' Pursuing then his bitter interrogations, he asked, 'Is

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there a difference, oh king' between kuling a man with a club, or

with a sword?

1

'No,' said the prince.

Between him who kills with the sword, or destroys by an inhuman tyranny!

No,' again replies the prince.

     'Well said Mencius, your kitchens are incumbered with food; your studs are full of horses; while your subjects, with emaciated countenances, are worn down with misery, or found dead of hunger in the middle of the fields or the deserts. What is this, but to breed ani- mals to prey on men? and what is the difference between de- stroying them by the sword, or by unfeeling conduct? If we detest those savage animals which mutually tear and devour each other, how much more should we abhor a prince, who, instead of being a father to his people, does not hesitate to bring up animals to destroy them. What kind of father to his people is he who treats his chil- dren so unfeelingly, and has less care of them than of the wild beasts he provides for!

I have heard,' said the king of Tse, one day, 'that the old king

      had a park of seven leagues in extent: can it be true?' 'Nothing is more true,' said Mencius.

Wăn wang

'It was,' replied the prince, an unwarranted extent.'

(

    'And yet,' said Mencius, 'the subjects of Wan wang thought this park too small.'

+

    'My park,' said the prince, 'is only four leagues, and my people complain of it as too large. Why this difference?'

    'Prince,' replied Mencius, 'the park of Wan wang was of seven leagues; but it was there that all who wanted grass or wood went to seek it, as well as game. The park was common to the people and the prince. Had they not reason therefore to find it small? When I entered your dominions, I inquired what was particularly forbidden there, and was told of an inclosure beyond the frontiers, of four leagues in extent, wherein whoever should kill a stag, should be pu- nished as if he had slain a man. This park of four leagues, therefore, is like a vast pit in the centre of

your estates. Are the people wrong to find it too large?'

We need not hesitate to borrow from the conversations of Mencius other passages fitted to give us a just idea of his work, since they afford us, at the same time, details of his life, and a type of his cha- racter; and it would be impossible to describe him better than he has done himself in his book. The man who has lost his wife; the

1

E

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Biographical Notice of Mencius

825

woman bereaved of her husband; the old man who has no children ; the orphan who has seen his parents die: these,' said Mencius one day to the same prince, in all your kingdom are the most unhappy. They have none to whom they can tell their sorrows, or who will listen to their grief; and therefore, Wan wang, extending to all the blessings of a good government, yet acknowledged the higher claims of these four classes of unhappy persons: as we find it expressed in the Book of Odes: The rich can escape from the common suffering, but how great should be our compassion for the isolated, who have no resource !' ›

"The saying is a noble one!' exclaimed the king.

      'Prince,' replied Mencius instantly, if you find it so noble, why not conform your conduct to it? One of your subjects, O king! being about to leave for the kingdom of Tsew, intrusted his wife and chil- dren to a friend; but on his return he found that they had been left to suffer the pains of hunger and cold: what ought he, then, to do?'

4

Reject, entirely, so false a friend!' answered the king of Tse.

'If the higher functionaries were unequal to their duty; what would you do ?'

'Deprive them of their rank.'

'And if your own kingdom is not well governed, what then?'

it

The king turned from left to right, and spake of other things. Sometime after this, Mencius speaking to the same prince, said, is not the the ancient forests of a country which do it honor; but its families devoted for many generations to the duties of the magistracy. O king in all your service there are none such; those whom you yesterday raised to honor, what are they to-day?'

'In what way,' replied the king, ' can I know beforehand that they are without virtue, and remove them?'

'In raising a sage to the highest dignities of the state,' replied the philosopher, 'a king acts only as he is of necessity bound to do. But to put a man of obscure condition above the nobles of his kingdom, or one of his remote kindred over princes more nearly connected with him, demands most careful deliberation. Do his courtiers unite in speaking of a man as wise: let him distrust them. If all the magistrates of his kingdom concur in the same assurance, let him not rest satisfied with their testimony. But if his subjects confirm the story, then let him convince himself; and if he finds the individual is indeed a sage, let him raise him to office and honor. So also, if all the courtiers would oppose his placing confidence in a minister, let him not give heed to them; and if all the magistrates are of this

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   opinion, let him be deal to their solicitations; but if the people unite in the same request, then let him examine the object of their ill-will, and if guilty, remove him. In short, if all the courtiers think that a minister should suffer death, the prince must not content himself with their opinion merely. If all the high officers entertain the same sentiment, still he must not yield to their convictions; but if the whole people declare that such a man is unfit to live, then the prince, inquiring himself, and being satisfied that the charge is true, must condemn the guilty to death: in such a case, we may say that the people are his judge. In acting thus, a prince becomes the parent of his subjects.' It is impossible to attribute more importance, to that which in our own times and country is called public opinion.

But Mencius goes further in the following passage, in which his zeal for the good of the people calls forth an apology, such as we did not expect to find in a Chinese work. The king of Tse, inquiring of the philosopher, respecting events which took place in periods already remote, spoke to him of the last prince of the Heä dynasty, who was dethroned by Chingtang, and of the last prince of the Shang dynasty, put to death by Woo wang the founder of the third, ' are these things true?' said he to Mencius.

.

History vouches for them,' replied he.

A subject put his sovereign to death! Can it be?'

    'The true rebel,' retorted Mencius, 'is he who insults humanity. The true robber, he who is guilty of injustice. A rebel or a rob- ber is a simple individual; what was Chow but such? and in him the individual was punished, and not the prince.'

Mencius did not often give way to this tone of bitterness, but his replies are commonly full of vivacity and energy, and sometimes his language has met with disapprobation.

We are told that Hungwoo, the founder of the Ming dynasty, was one day reading Mencius, and lighted on this passage: The prince looks on his subjects as the ground beneath his feet, or as grains of mustard-seed, of no account: his subjects, in return, look on him as a robber, and an enemy.' These expressions shocked the new em. peror. It is not thus,' said he, 'that kings should be spoken of. He who has given utterance to such language is not worthy to share the honors which are rendered to the wise Confucius. Let Mencius be degraded, and let his name be stricken from the temple of the prince of letters! Let no one dare to remonstrate with me on this, or to transmit any memorial on the subject, until they shall have first pierc- ed with arrows him who has prepared them."

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One of their

This decree threw men of letters into consternation. number, named Tseën-tang, president of one of the supreme courts, resolved to sacrifice hinself for the honor of Mencius. He drew up a memorial, in which, after quoting the passage entire, and explaining the true sense in which it should be understood, he described the empire such as it was in the time of Mencius, and the deplorable condition to which petty tyrants had reduced it by their incessant wars with one another, and all against the lawful authority of the princes of the Chow dynasty.

{

'It is of this sort of sovereigns,' said he in conclusion, that Mencius has spoken, and not of the son of Heaven. What, after so many centuries, shall it now be imputed to him as a crime?

I die, since such is the command; but posterity will hallow my death.' After having drawn up this appeal, and made ready his coffin, Tseën-tang repaired to the palace, and being arrived at the outer gates: 'I come,' said he to the guards, 'to present a petition in favor of Mencius; here is my memorial;' and then exposing his breast, added, 'strike, I know your orders.' Instantly one of the guards wounds him with an arrow, and taking the petition, transmits it to the emperor, who had already been informed of what had hap- pened. The emperor read the appeal attentively, and approved or feigned to approve it. He gave orders to heal the wound which Tseën-tang had received; and decreed that the name of Mencius should remain in possession of all the honors he had enjoyed. I have thought it proper to relate this anecdote as showing at the same time the fanaticism of the class of men of letters, and the veneration which attends the name of our philosopher.

His book being, as I have said, an integral part of the Four Books, must be learned entire by those who submit to the examinations and aspire to literary honors. It is, of course, one of those which has been most often reprinted. Thousands of editions exist, with and without commentaries. Numberless men of letters have devoted themselves to elucidating and explaining it: it has twice been trans- lated into Mantchou; and the last version, revised by the emperor Keënlung, forms, with the text, three of the six volumes of which the Mantchou-Chinese copy of the Four Books in the Royal Library is composed. Father Noel has included Mencius in the Latin tran- slation that he has made of "The six classic Books of the Chinese empire," but we look in vain in this translation for any of those qualities which we have remarked in the style of Mencius; and the meaning is too often lost in a verbose and fatiguing paraphrase.

C

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Topographical Account of Chuesan.

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Thus this author, who of all Chinese writers is, possibly, the most calculated to please Europeans, is one of those who have been the least read and admired.

There is a biographical notice of Mencius in the Sze Ke of Szema Tseen; and some particulars, literary and bibliographical about his works, in the 184th book of the Library of Ma Twanlin. Father Du Halde has given a copious analysis of Mencius; and we have some details about his life in the memoirs of the missionaries. J. B. Carp- zou has written a meagre dissertation on Mencius, which consists only of passages taken from Noel, and is unworthy of notice. A work, every way remarkable, is the beautiful Chinese and Latin edi- tion of Mencius by Stanislas Julien, since it required not merely a study of the text of Mencius, but of all the commentaries of this author which have reached Europe. (For a more extended notice of this translation, see page 222 of this volume.)

ART. V.

    Topographical Account of Chusan; its territorial divi- sions, population, productions, climate, &c., &c.

   TINGHAE, under the Chinese rule, forms a heën, or district, having the town of the same name for its chief town and seat of government. This is what by Du Halde, and other European writers, is called a city of the third order: the two superior orders being chow and foo (or tcheou and fou),-words that do not, however, properly distinguish the cities and towns, but rather the territorial divisions which are under the jurisdiction of such cities and towns. A chow contains, sometimes, several heën subordinate to it; at other times it does not: a foo always comprises several heën, and frequently also one or two of such chow as have no subordinate heën within their precincts. By regarding these last chow as nowise different from the heën, and the others (those that have jurisdiction over several subordinate heën) as answering to the foo*, we may confine to two names the distinctions of the more marked territorial divisions:-the higher of these we may call prefectures or departments; and each prefecture will contain a number of districts, as many sometimes as ten, twelve,

or even more.

* They differ only in the number and gradation of officers, and the consequent expense of establishments.

i

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329

      Tinghae heën is one of these districts. It is subject to the pre- fecture of Ningpo foo; Chinhae heën, at the mouth of the river of Ningpo, is another district in the same prefecture.

      The heen is the smallest division of territory in which the presiding officer is invested with all the powers of government. This officer is called a cheheën, i. e. 'knower of the district.' His powers and position relatively to the high officers of the provincial government resemble, in a great measure, those of magistrates over districts in India; and he has hence often been called a magistrate. The territory under him is frequently declared by Chinese writers to be analogous to the states or kingdoms of former days. And in accordance with this view of it, the actual "knower" of a district has under him clerks in the six several departments, of administration, revenue, civil and religious rites, war, justice, and public works, into which the business of the general national government is divided. To no officer of subordinate rank are these general powers given. The magis- trate's district is, however, subdivided into portions, under officers of police at times, otherwise under village elders. The duties of these parties consist chiefly in the preservation of the peace, and the col- lection of revenue. In addition, there is generally in each subdivi- sion of the district a tepaou, or "protector (or insurer) of the country," a person held responsible for all disturbances and crimes committed within his beat. The village elders are called by various names, in different parts of the empire, and are much more recognized by the government in some parts than in others. The police officer, with powers for collection of the revenue, above spoken of, is generally called seun keën (3) i. e. offices who "go around" and "ex- amine," and the divisions of country under them are called sze ( (司);

another common designation of divisions of country subordinate to a

V

heën is chwang (JE). The primary sense of this word being a farmstead, it has been employed probably with a special reference to the collection of revenue. And thus in each chwang are to be found- besides the officers of police, the village elders, and the responsible tepaou or constables-sundry officers subordinate to the collectors of revenue, who are at times military men, but in general men looking forward to a place on the civil list.

With these explanations premised, it will be more easy to under- stand the following brief remarks respecting the district of Tinghae and its divisions.

      Chusan, the largest of the cluster or archipelago of islands to which it gives its name, is but a part of the district of Tinghac. The

VOL. X. NO. VI.

12

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heen, or district, includes also all the islands to the southward as far as the Kewshan islands, and all to the northward of the group, except a few of the most northerly ones which belong to the next province. The position of the town of Tinghae is in lat. 30° 0′ 20′′ north, aud long. 122° 5′ 18′′ east ; the island is 511⁄2 miles in circumference, and 204 miles long; the greatest breadth is 10 miles, and the narrowest 6 miles; the direction of the island is from northwest to southeast. The general aspect, and that of all the neighboring islands and coasts, is ridges of lofty hills, very steep and occasionally running into peaks. These ranges of hills inclose beautiful and fertile vallies; some of those in the interior of the island, are almost completely sheltered by the hills, but the greater number run from the interior towards the sea.

       In passing around the island, the various vallies are seen to good advantage; all the larger ones have a stream of water running through them, which are sometimes honored by the name of rivers, though none of them possess a depth of water sufficient for large boats more than a mile and a half from the shore.

    The mouths of those vallies that are open to the sea appear, without exception, to have a retaining wall or bound running along the beach, so as to make the valley behind an alluvial plain of more or less ex- tent; in that, for instance, in which Tinghae is situated, the bound is fully two miles long, and the valley runs up into the gorge of the hills at least three miles in some parts, but this varies according to the slope of the hills. These retaining walls have sluices for regulating the quantity of water which flows from all the subordinate ravines. The plain is intersected by canals navigable for small boats, and consists principally of paddy fields, though here and there occur patches of brinjal, maize, and beans. Up the slopes of the hills, in every spot capable of cultivation, sweet potatoes, yams, or some other vegetable is grown; on those parts where the soil is unfit for general cultivation, a sort of dwarfish fir is planted for fuel.

    In traversing the island, and ascending some of the higher ridges, cultivation is found to be carried even to the summit, in every spot where the rock is covered with earth. It would appear that much more rice is produced than can be wanted for the inhabitants; the surplus is either directly exported, or distilled into the spirit called samshoo; when the island was occupied, immense stores of this spirit ready for exportation were found in the city; in fact the chief trade of Chusan seems to have been in this article.

    Timber trees are scarce, nor are fruit-trees plentiful; the timber for building, whether for houses or junks, is principally fir, aud comes

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Topographical Account of Chusan.

3.1.

from the central provinces of China. Charcoal is plentiful and cheap, and mineral coal is brought in small quantities from the main- land, but appeared not to be of very good quality. The horned cattle are evidently few; nor are there many goats, and, so far as could be learned, no sheep; but hogs are numerous, as also are geese, ducks, and fowls. Fish at first was brought only in small quantities, but afterwards the market was abundantly supplied.

The roads which intersect the island are paved footpaths passing in every direction across the lowest parts of the ridges, and are in many places steep and difficult of ascent. There are no wheel-car- riages of any description, so that all goods, even the most weighty articles, are transported by men.

Great diversity of opinion exists regarding the population of the island. The official reports to the native government give 40,000 families or houses; and, allowing five individuals to each, (and this is perhaps by no means too large an allowance,) the population would be 200,000. From all that was seen of the number of people in the large villages, this estimate will probably be found to be lower than the actual number.

This district is divided into 34 chwang,-18 are upon the chief island or Chusan,-and 16 include all the islands of any conse- quence subordinate to it. Pooto forms an exception, being free from all imposts, and under the direction of a chief priest or abbot residing in the principal temple. He possesses the island, and a few others to the south of it, as the property of the monasteries, paying no revenue, and only being in penal matters under the control of the magistrate of Tinghae.

      The chwang, or divisions, on Chusan, are composed chiefly of large valleys, and are hence called aou . Each has one or more streams running through it, and affording means of irrigation; and every large valley is separated from its neighbors by hills surrounding it on three sides, leaving only one side open, to the sea. To this, there are two exceptions, namely of two inland valleys, one communicating with a more southerly, the other with a more northerly, one.

                                       There are also two or three chwang that comprise two large valleys, with a com- munication between the two through a gap in the hills.

     The sixteen chwang under which the subordinate islands are rang. ed are here briefly mentioned.

1-3. Kintang (or Silver island), comprising three chwang.

4. Tsihtsze (Tsatsu or Blackwall island).

5-6. Taeseay (or Tygosan), divided into two chwang.

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Topographical Account of Chusan.

7. Taouhwa, west of the Sarah Galley channel.

JUNE,

8. Tăngfoo (Tingboo) in nearly the same part of the archi- pelago.

9-10. Luhwang or Lowang island, divided into two chwang.

     11. Heäche, comprising also several islands between Lowang and the Great Chusan.

12. Sewshan, or Lan-Sew shan (the two islands called Sheppey). 13. Changpih, or Fisher's island.

14-15. Taeshan, or Large island, near the northern extremity of the archipelago, divided into two chwang.

    16. Changtoo, a long island to the northeastward of Sheppey. Pooto, with Chookeä tseën (or Chuttatham) and other small is- lands, are under the jurisdiction of a priest.

The eighteen chwang of the chief island of Chusan are,

1. The town itself, with its southern suburb called Taoutow. 2. Yungtung, the large valley within which the town is situated. 3-6. Eastward of Yungtung, are four, namely; Wooseay, Tung aou, Loohwa or Loo-Poo, and To aou.

     7-13. On the northern side of the island, are six; viz. Tachen (facing northeastward), Petan, Pihtseuen (or Pejuen), Kanlan, Ma aou, Seaousha, and Tasha.

    14-15. On the west side, Sinkong (also called Chinting), and Tszewei or Tsevi.

16. On the southwest, or westward from Yungtung and the town, Yentsang, off which is the outer harbor, where large ships lie.

    17-18. Two inland valleys, Chaeho, on the north of Yentsang, and Kaousee on the south of Pihtseuen. These eighteen chwang are here briefly described in the same order.

1. Ching chwang, which comprises the town, or 定海縣

Tinghae heen ching, the city of the district of Tinghae, is situat- ed in the valley of Yungtung, about half a mile from the beach. Whe- ther or not the ditch and walls form the limit of this division does not appear. The city is of an irregular pentagonal form, about 1200 yards in extreme length from north to south, and 1000 yards in average breadth.*. It is surrounded by a wall of 23 miles in length, having 4

     * References to reconnoitering survey of the town and suburbs of Chusan, taken during the week after the occupation, by captain Anstruther, and lieuts. Little and Cadell of the artillery. A. Encampment of the 26th Cameronians. B. Camp of the artillery, Sappers. and Miners, and Bengal Volunteers. C. Pagoda hill, the head-quarters of the 18th Royal Irish. D. Main guard. E. Arsenal. F. Pay office. G. Chief magistrate's. H. Brigadier Burrell's. I. Guard chiefly in the joss houses. J. A large pawnbreker's establishment (Madras Artillery Record, from which the accompanying plate is taken.)

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*

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for:

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:

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1841.

Topographical Account of Chusan.

333

gates, each supported by an outer gate, and defenses at right angles to the inner gate, and distant from it about 20 yards. The wall is about 18 feet high and 15 feet thick, surmounted by a parapet of 4 feet high and 2 feet thick. This wall is surrounded on those sides where it looks on the rice fields by a canal running parallel to it, about 30 yards distant, the interval being, as all the flat land is, oc- cupied with rice grounds. The southern face of the wall runs due east and west 1000 yards, nearly in the centre of which is a gate- way, and at very irregular intervals five towers, each 8 yards square. From the eastern end of this, the wall turns due north 350 yards. In this face is another gateway and two of the towers just described; from the northern point of this face, the wall runs nearly straight 950 yards to the northwest, defended by three small towers, one of these being the extreme northern point of the city.

long, is crooked and irregular, At 200 yards from the western hill, on the top of which is a

The fourth face, about 700 yards with a gateway and three towers. end, the line of wall ascends a steep large bastion. A fifth side, 800 yards long, joins this bastion to the western end of the southern face, and completes the wall. The hill spoken of above, as partly inclosed by the northwest angle, is a spur from a high peak of the surrounding hills, due west from the north- west bastion, and slopes down to the angle of the city.

The steeets are all roughly paved with granite, having sewers run- ning down the centre, covered with large slabs of the same stone; these sewers except, when cleansed, are at all times very offen. sive, especially in the narrow streets which are much crowded. None of the streets are more than 20 feet wide, and generally do not exceed 12 or 15 feet. The houses are low, and the great majo- rity of them built of wood.

The city possesses no large gardens or squares, but a considerable extent of open ground on the eastern side is devoted to the cultiva tion of rice. The canal, which nearly surrounds the city, sends a large branch through a water-gate near the southern gate, which, dividing into many branches, traverses the greater part of the city in all directions. These branches form several large pools of foul stag- nant water into which every description of filth was thrown; and the street sewers also opening into the canals, rendered the latter ex- tremely offensive, and, during the warm weather, caused a most un- pleasant smell throughout the city. Added to this source of malaria, great numbers of large jars were placed at the corners of most of the treets, and in all vacant spaces, which were filled with a fermenting

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mass of animal and vegetable offal gathered from the streets, and preserved for manuring the fields in the neighborhood; as may be supposed in some of these places the stench was dreadful.

    No very exact account of the population of the city can be given, but it may be estimated at from 25,000 to 30,000, before the arrival of the British force there; but not more than 10,000 ever returned during the occupation of the place.

    At the distance of 800 yards from the southern gate of the city is Pagoda hill, an eminence 150 or 200 feet high, which commands the city and harbor. The hill, in its greatest length from north to south, is 500 yards at the base, with a breadth of 200 yards; a canal skirts its eastern face. On its southern slope is a roomy and commodious temple. The southern descent is steep and rocky directly down to the beach.

The sea-port town or suburb

Ta Taoutow is a street

   of 900 yards long, running due west of the Pagoda hill. It is inter- sected by numerous lanes of 100 yards long leading to the various jetties, and at the foot of the Pagoda hill is a square landing-place well faced with stone, measuring 55 yards long by 20 yards broad. It is also paved and flagged, and is the point at which the troops first landed. Nearly the whole of this suburb is composed of shops and stores. There were also one or two extensive samshoo manu- factories and some large paddy stores, and several well stocked tim- ber yards. This sea-port or trading town is probably attached to the city division, a number of paddy fields and vegetable beds inter- vene between the two.

    2. Yungtung (an ancient name originally pertaining to Ningpo). This valley, in which the city is situated, is of conside- rable extent, and stretches far to the eastward, and incloses a range of hills. The southern portion of the eastern ridge, and the spurs or offsets from these inclosed hills make several subordinate vallies which open into the larger one. That portion of the valley which particularly belongs to the city is almost surrounded on three sides by hills, the harbor is the southern bound; it is about 4 miles long and 3 broad. This valley is wholly occupied by rice fields, except a few patches for brinjal, sweet potatoes, millet, and buckwheat.

One large stream runs through the valley from the eastward and falls into the sea; near the east gate, and about 1 mile from the sea, there is a large sluice which dams up the water, so that in rainy weather a large quantity is collected here which overflows and thus inundates a great portion of the valley. This sluice is the nearest

چیم

1:

a.

גיז.

1841.

Topographical Account of Chusan.

335

    point to the city, which heavy laden boats can reach, and hence it is a spot of considerable importance; there is a substantial stone bridge over the stream, and several shops and other buildings near at hand. At the mouth of the stream is a tolerably good landing-place, to which the Ningpo boats come in great numbers to all hours of the day, when the tide permits, (for at low tide the bed of the stream as far as the sluice is always dry); hence this is a place of much bustle. A respec- table house of entertainment for the travelers who pass to and fro, is in the vicinity, with its sign at the side of the door, giving notice that all customary viands are procurable there. About a quarter

     of a mile above the sluice, the stream divides into two main branch- es, one running to the east, and the other to the northward, and just beyond the separation, the streams are crossed by two handsome stone bridges. The span of one is formed by long slabs of stone with a central support, the other consists of a well spanned large arch, formed of stones hollowed on the inner and outer faces to the slopes required.

     The other branches of the stream are crossed by smaller bridges, some flat, others formed by flat stones, the upper one slightly over- lapping the lower, to the top of the arch; one or two are also made with the wedge-like stones used in European bridges, but here there is nothing like a keystone, at the point of junction of the two sides. Great pains are taken at the sluice to dam up the water, and throw it over the flat land, so that the greatest part of the surface is usually co- vered with water, and the whole face of the country is very damp and muddy, rendering it at all times impossible to walk across the fields with comfort. Passengers must confine themselves to the causewys, which though narrow, not more than 3 or 4 feet wide, are kept in good order and well paved with granite; indeed were the foot paths not made with slabs of stone or well paved, they would be completely washed away during the heavy rains.

over

near the

    The passes in this chwang are Heaoufung ling (A) the west Beacon Hill, into Yentsang; Maou ling() head of a small tributary valley,-leading to the point of junction of Chaeho and Yentsang. Tsing ling(), directly north of the town, leading into the tributary valley just named: Chaeho ling,-

eastward of north from the town, and hid from it by a hilly spur,-leading into Chaeho and so directly across the island to Ma aou: Yătan ling (), a low pass, leading into Pihtseuen, probably the shortest road to the sea on the north side :

336

Topographical Account of Chusan.

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Tungkaou ling(), leading into Pihtseuen, and the inland valley of Kaouseé: Tangkeen (), and (4) Shinkung ling, leading into Kaousee from a long tributary valley northeastward from the town: Hwangtoo ling (1) leading into Wooseay and Sekeih ling () leading into the lesser valley before mentioned, which is called Yang aou (J).

Saddle Hill (Shwangke tseen) is a very marked highland on the north.

3, 4. Woo seay (吳榭) and Tung aou (洞

)

are contermi- nous valleys. The former reaches to the sea only at its southwest corner; the latter overlaps it, and lies between it and the sea, along the rest of its southern boundary,-the two being separated only by a stream and embankment. Wooseay seems also at some portion of its northwest- ern boundary, to join its fields to those of Yungtung, no hill interven- ing. On the southwest, hills separate the two. It seems to consist of one principal and one lesser valley, besides four still smaller val leys on the west and north, nearly surrounded by hills. The road into Wooseay from Yungtung seems to be over the Sekeĭh ling into Yang aou (洋 by which road the small western valley of (青)

     ), Tsing aou is reached; thence over the Woopoo (1) ling, across a second valley, over the Yew ling into the principal, which

   is also the most easterly, valley. The second road continues in a south-easterly direction into Tung aou and it, branches off northeast- ward over the Wan ling(), then through a small valley, and again across the Shinkang ling(), into Kaouseě.

There is much land in cultivation and of varying quality. For this, and for several valleys that are to follow, we have at present little beyond written Chinese authority of a rather old date.

    Fung aou consists of two valleys, a northern and a southern, and several smaller tributary ones. The high peak of Hwangyang tseën, (i) apparently the highest on the island, distinguishes it, No hills intervene between it and Wooseay on the northeast. Shakang ling

        leads into Tachen: there does not appear to be any pass directly into Kaouseĕ; eastward the Changkeä ling

leads into Loohwa.

Its fields are numerous, but not very fertile. There seems to be a considerable quantity of salt prepared here.

5. Loohwais divided into two principal valleys, Poo aou, and Loohwa proper: and hence it is called Loopoo sometimes: a num- ber of short hilly spurs give to each principal valley several tributary

1841.

Topographical Account of Chusan.

ones; Loohwa

proper counts six or seven such. Its soil is good, and its fields fertile adjoining To aou on the southeast, without any hills.

: to divide them, a very great extent of level ground, completely under cultivation, may be seen from the northern heights. The character of this part of the country is, bare heights, with partial culture, and a few stunted firs, overtopping richly cultured plains. The tallow tree is not, however, uncommon, and honey is to be found. The Taling (答嶺) on the north leads into Tachen; the Se aou (西

ling, on the northeast, into To aou.

The sharp peak of Tingleäng tseën (IR) distinguishes it. 6. To aou

              bears much the same character as Loohwa. Beyond its eastern hills is the channel of Pooto,) and at their foot on the seaside, two small valleys. The principal valley is to the west, adjoining Loohwa: between it and the eastern hills is a small valley attached to the little trading town of Singkeä moon

(沈家門) or Shinkeä mun, so named from the channel which

     orms its harbor. There are several other small valleys on the sea- shore. The fields are represented as being far from fruitful. This place was formerly the station of a police officer, (seunkeën): many of the inhabitants of Shinkeä mun are Fuhkeën people.

     7. Tachen (), on the east side of the island, seems to be more hilly than any other of the valleys open to the sea,-if it is al- lowable to judge from the Chinese maps; for the opportunity has not been afforded for speaking from personal observation. Seven or eight hilly spurs running into the principal valley inclose as many small tributary valleys. The fields are represented as very unfruitful. It has communication, over passes, with Loohwa, with 'T'ung aou, and with Pihtan.

8. Pihtan, at the north-east corner of the island, is as little known as Tachen. It consists of two valleys, Seaouchen, for- merly attached to Tachen,-and the proper valley of Pihtan. Its fields are represented as rather fertile. It has the inland valley of Kaouseě on its south. The islands known by the name of Lan-Sew shan), and in the old European maps as Sheppey island, lie opposite its northern coast at a short distance. Its communica- tions with adjoining valleys are entirely over hill-passes, one leading into Tachen, one into Pihtseuen, and one or two into Kaouseě.

    9. Píhtseuen (É). This is an extensive and rather important valley. There are two passes into it from the valley of Yungtung; it receives the waters of the inland valley Kaouseě, and it is only by the

VOL. X. NO, VÍ,

43

333

Topographical Account of Chusan.

JUNE,

hilly nucleus, (so to speak), which the pass out of Ma aou crosses, that it is separated from the other inland valley of Chaebo. Its fields are extensive and fertile; it carries on some little trade; and its shores produce some salt. There are a number of small tributary valleys. The landing is easy for Chinese boats when the tide is not very low. It is moderately wooded in some parts.

   10. Kaouseě (1) is an inland valley, nearly surrounded by hills, but opening towards the northwest into the valley of Pihtseuen. Its fields are few, and do not produce very abundantly. What the character of the higher ground on the hill sides is, must be learned from personal experience. Its direct communication with Yungtung is over the Tungkaou ling.

【橄欖)

11. Kanlan (or appears to be a small valley compared with most of the others; it is wider however inland, than on its seaward face. There appears to be a nucleus of hills north of Yungtung, south of Ma aou, and between the two inland valleys of Chaeho and Kaouseě, on the west and east. The pass through this nucleus is from Ma aou, very gradually rising for a long distance, under the name of (F) Pingshih ling, "the low stone pass," till it reaches the summit of

                   Changtsing ling, when it descends into Chaeho, and reascends the Chaeho ling, north of the town of Tinghae. A branch from the Pingshih ling leads off eastward into Kanlan. There is also a pass directly from Ma aou, not far from the seashore.

12. Ma aou

       () is a very extensive valley lying nearly due north from the town of Tinghae. The character of the hilly coun- try lying between Yungtung and Ma aou has just been alluded to. This hilly country presents little besides barren granite and grass, except near the banks of a stream which runs parallel with the Pingshih ling road nearly all the way till it reaches the elevation of the Changising ling. At the southern extremity of Ma aou, the hill sides are well clothed with wood, chiefly firs and cedars. The valley is almost unbroken by hills, the land very flat, producing good crops, the water deep, and, as the chief point of intercourse with the large island Taeshan (), the place possesses some trade, and a very large village.

    13. Seaousha has communication with Ma aou through a gap in the jhill near the sea, and over a hill-pass near its southern limits. It communicates with Tasha both by a hill-pass and a sea-side road. With the inland valley Chaeho, and with Singkong, it communicates by hill passes; communication with Tszewei also exists, that valley

1841.

Topographical Account of Chusan.

339

    running up into a narrow neck called Keämun or Kameng. Nearly opposite to it is the fine island of Changpih shan & 14 or Fisher's island. It is very populous: but its fields, though nu- merous are not considered fertile. The hills on its southern side are well clothed with wood, especially the fir, the bamboo, and the tallow tree. It is considered as good pasture ground for cattle. The pass into Singkong is very beautifully wooded.

(大沙)。

کر

14. Tasha aou (). A hilly district, with no very wide val- lies, but several rather long ones communicating the one with the other. It is regarded as a poor and unfruitful land, but appears to be well wooded. Changpih shan is directly opposite to it. Passes from it lead into Seaousha, and into both portions of the division of Singkong.

    15. Singkong ( or Singting(), the latter name being derived from the district comprising two perfectly distinct val- lies of considerable size, Tingche or Tingtse() and Sing- kong or Chinkeäng proper. There are also two very fine vallies of smaller size. The northern one is not known from personal obser- vation; but the southern one is a beautiful valley stretching between the hills for a length of three or four miles; it is well cultivated, abounding in sweet potatoes, in the native cotton, and in the tallow tree, bamboo, and firs. The island lying off Singkong, called Teaou- shan () forms a channel, and a good and perfectly secure anchorage during the northerly monsoon. There are some granite quarries both on the external islands and on the chief Chusan itself. Blackwall island or Tsihtsze () lies off the coast of Singkong. There are several passes into the next southern valley Tszewei. Singkong was the station of a seunkeën police officer, and a place of trade.

    16. Tszewei() is a wide valley, richly cultivated with rice, sweet potatoes, and other vegetables. It is divided by a hilly spur running nearly east and west. It has two passes into Seaousha, two into Chacho, and one, the Sekaou ling (into Yentsang. It is the nearest point for communication with the main. The Hwangshwuy yang (7) forms a channel between it and Kintang (,) or Silver island. It is pretty well wooded.

    17. Yentsang (E) is the valley opposite to which the men- of-war have been lying. The inland valley of Chaeho opens into it, and sends its waters through it to the sea. Its rice fields are consi- dered fertile, and in some parts it is well wooded.

340

Attack on Canton.

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18. Chneho, () has been so often mentioned in speaking of the vallies all around, that nothing more need be said here of its communications. It is well wooded, and moderately fertile.

    Note. In the Sailing Directions for the Chusan Archipelago, commenc- ing at page 251, in our last number are the following errata, which owing to circumstances could not be corrected while the sheets were going through the press.

    On page 253, line 35 from top, for or read of; p. 260, 1. 25, for line read coast;

1. 33, for eastern read eastward; p. 262, 1. 21, for or read on; l. 33, erase not; p. 263, 1. 6, for by read of; p. 264, 1. 19, for it lies read which is; 1. 25 for 0.5 read 5; p. 265, 1. 8, for extreme read entrance; 1. 9, for 14 read 24; 1. 35, 14 read 11; p. 270, lines 15 and 16, the punctuation should be thus:.

       with many villages; near to its eastern extreme the hills, &c.; 1. 22, for lies read lie; p. 271, 1. 38, for 2 read a; p. 272, 1. 26, for and Kwan shan, read Kwan shan lies.

N. B. The latitudes and longitudes in the article are given in degrees, minutes, and decimals, instead of degrees, minutes, and seconds. On p. 278, the latitude of the east islet of Chookeä tseën should be 29° 51′.7 instead of 29°5′ 7′′.

ART. VI. Notices of the bombardment of Canton by the British forces under sir Hugh Gough, on the 25th of May, 1841. THE bombardment of the city, and some of the events connected with it, were noticed in our last number; the further details there promised we now proceed to lay before our readers. It had been agreed, as they will remenber, that no military preparations were to be made by the Chinese, while the trade of the port was to be allowed to proceed at usual. These terms, on which the city was spared, were simple and explicit. However, not long after the arrival of the new governor Ke Kung, and the principal commissioner Yihshan, a difference of opinion was found to exist among the high officers at Canton. The advocates for war gained the ascendant; and plans accordingly were framed, and preparations made for attempting, by one grand movement, to effect the entire destruction of the 'rebel- lious English.'

    Rebellious-so the Chinese term them; and it is worthy of remark, that such indeed they are, according to the statutes of the imperial court. The name of Great Britain is enrolled in the Ta Tsing Hwuy Teën, among the states that are tributary to China. National honor, and the rights of supremacy, therefore, are deeply concerned in this contest. Reproof and remonstrances have all failed, and the

"

1

1841.

Attack on Canton.

341

    impiety of the rebels has attained to such a degree, that nothing but their blood can appease the wrath of offended heaven, whose vice- gerent has resolved no longer to exercise mercy towards his disobe- dient subjects. This is not an exaggerated view of the case, as it appears in the eyes of the Chinese. The emperor, in maintaining the honor and rights bequeathed to him by heaven, has already issued his decree for an entire and indiscriminate extermination; and this the high officers are sworn to execute. The promises of Yangfang and Eleäng, to abstain from hostilities, were to be observed no further than was necessary for purposes of deception, in keeping from public view the preparations going on to fulfill the imperial will. While promising to abstain from hostilities, these officers engaged with the other authorities, in erecting new batteries, in reärming old ones, and in collecting an immense flotilla of war and fire-boats-all of which, at the proper time and at the points most convenient, were to be put in requisition. Complete success in these deceitful pur- poses was to be the sure and triumphant result.

                              As the advantages were to be great, no expense was to be spared. With such high anticipations, these officers deceived both themselves and their adhe- rents. The better to carry out their plans for destruction, both the native inhabitants and the foreign merchants at Canton, were assured by repeated proclamations, that their properties and their persons should be protected in perfect safety. These solemn assurances, made in the most public manner under the seals of the imperial commis- sioners and of the principal and subordinate authorities of the city, were repeated until the very day on which their combined attacks' were to be made.

Thus, by the Chinese, the terms of the armistice were broken both in their letter and spirit. When duly called upon to return to the conditions of their agreement, and to remove the guns with which they had been reärming their batteries, they refused compliance. This conduct left but one course open for the British officers. The cominander-in-chief of H. B. M.'s forces was not long in bringing them in from the outer waters, while the foreign merchants were advised by captain Elliot, then in Canton, to prepare for an early withdrawal from the provincial city.

Before sunset on Friday night, May 21st, captain Elliot had em- barked, the guard had been withdrawn, and no British merchants (as such) remained in the factories. The business and bustle of the day closing in as the darkness of the evening came on, no signs of immediate hostilities were visible. Everything and all apparently

342

Attack on Canton.

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   were quiet. Yihshan, supposing the victory would be certain and easy, had determined to take the lion by surprise. The second watch of the night had not closed, ere his operations commenced. The Modeste was then at anchor west from the factories, and at that point where the fort at Shameën nearly due north was within the range of gunshot. The Pylades, Algerine, and Nemesis were some rods further to the southward and eastward. The cutter Louisa, and the Aurora a private schooner, were at anchor in front of the factories. The Alligator was at her old anchorage near Howqua's fort, three or four miles east of the city.

It is not quite certain, whether the Chinese officers had selected this day as a fortunate moment for putting in operation their hostile forces, or whether they were induced to anticipate the hour of attack, finding as they did that their designs had been detected. There are those who pretend to affirm that many of the Chinese, and even the prefect of the city, were not aware the attack was to be made that night. We are constrained to think far otherwise, for many persons in the city have assured us that early on the morning of the 21st they were apprised of the intended attack.

The Western fort, or Se paoutae, situated about a mile beyond the factories on the north bank of the river, is a small square piece of work, built of stone and brick, and had recently been lined with a great number of sand bags. Directly in front of it, one small sand battery had been quite recently thrown up, and also a second one on a projecting point a few yards further to the east. In this last battery was one very large gun, weighing 8000 catties, with a 10 inch bore. Some of the other pieces were large and well made.

In

   command of these works Yihshan had placed Twan Yungfuh ( 永福)

a brave veteran officer from Szechuen, with a detachment of picked men. On the river beyond the fort were collected more than two hundred fire-vessels of various sizes.

It was from this quarter, and by these forces, that the 'combined attack' was commenced. Eight or ten of these boats, chained together two and two, filled with combustibles, and well manned with 'water braves,' or naval militia, bore down in disguise upon the En- glish ships. This was at 10 o'clock, P. M., and near the ebb of the tide. When within a few yards of the Modeste, the advanced ship, being hailed by the sentry on the forecastle, these boats were simulta- neously set on fire, and almost instantly wrapped in a blaze. This bold onset was promptly warded off, with some hazard, but no serious damage. The water braves were so near the Modeste when they

1841.

Attack on Canton,

343

abandoned their fire-ships for their small boats, that some of them drifting alongside were shot down by the musquetry from the ship's deck. In concert with the movements of these fire-vessels, the guns in the batteries at the Western fort opened on the ships. Other bat- teries, imitating them, commenced firing on the Louisa and Aurora. By the light of the burning boats, a large number of other similar craft were seen under sail, intending no doubt to have followed the first ones, had they taken effect. At nearly the same hour, the Alligator was menaced by similar boats brought up the river with the first flood tide. They also made second attempt by fire-boats from the Honam shore, to burn the Modeste, which, however, with the other vessels and the Louisa and Aurora, succeeded in keeping them at bay, and in maintaining a safe position in the Macao passage dur- ing the night. The principal damage caused by all these operations was the destruction of some houses which were set on fire by one of the burning boats. The Chinese kept up their fire at intervals dur- ing the whole night.

Soon after it was light on Saturday morning, the Modeste with the other vessels, moved up and silenced the guns in the batteries at the Western fort. A great many round shot were thrown into the suburbs all about above and below the batteries. During the cannonading, a fire broke out, which spread nearly a hundred rods, destroying many poor and a few very valuable houses.

The guns in the batteries having been silenced, the Goddess of Ven- geance turned her head up the river. Of the scenes that followed the Chinese give most amusing accounts. Of the whole flotilla of boats, more than 200 in number, about one half were destroyed in the course of three or four hours, and the remainder had either been abandoned, run on shore, or had disappeared in some of the shallow creeks. In the midst of the flotilla, the Chinese had prepared some gun-boats or floating batteries, furnished with a few heavy guns, which had they been properly served might have made sad havoc. As it was, however, they did no harm. The Nemesis returned from her trip decked with Chinese flags and banners, and her crew habit- ed in the coats and caps of those who had fled.

    While this part of the scene was being enacted on the river, Yih- shan sent 2000 of his troops to search the factories for guns. These men entered the Creek, Dutch, and English factories, comprising some fifteen or twenty suits of rooms-the whole of which were ran. sacked and everything in them destroyed or carried off. Not a door, not a window, not a lock, not a hinge, was spared. Officers having

844

Attack on Canton.

JUNE,

   loaded their horses with goods, woolens, &c.,-were seen trudging off with their booty into the city. In the course of the morning, the rabble joined the soldiery in their strife for plunder. And it was not till near evening, when, Yihshan's troops having been recalled, the Kwangchow foo and Nanhae heën appeared at the head of their police and dispersed the mob; having done this, they intrusted the custo- dy of the pillaged factories to the care of armed coolies under the su pervision of the hong merchants.

Sometime in the course of this day captain Elliot issued the following proclamation to the people of Canton.

No. 1.

     "It is well known to all the people of Canton, that the city and the whole trade of the province have twice been spared by the high officers of Great Britain, in recollection of the long and peaceful intercourse which has subsisted between them and the western nations. But now it is already ascertained that the three high commissioners have violated the agreement lately entered into with the British officers, by arming one of the forts, given up to them on the distinct as- surance, that no guns should be put there, till all the difficulties were settled be- tween the two nations. And it is further known to the English officers that fresh troops are constantly poured into the city from the other provinces, and that secret preparations are in progress to attack the British forces who are the real protectors of the city. Let the people remember the hour of battle, and consider whether they owe the safety of their lives and properties, to the wisdom and valour of the commissioners from the court, and the troops of the other provinces, or to the forbearance of the British officers. The troops of the other provinces áre no more than scourges to the good and industrious inhabitants, and if they are suffered to remain in Canton they will draw down destruction upon the city, and upon the wealth of the whole province. It is now therefore plainly proclaimed to the people of the province of Canton, that if the commissioners and all the other troops have not departed from the city (with an understanding that they shall immediately leave the province) within twelve hours, the high officers of the English nation will be obliged to withdraw their protection from the city, and take military possession of it, confiscating all the property to the queen of England. But if the commissioners and their troops do indeed retire within the period indicated, it will still be possible to enter into arrangements with the high officers of the province; prudent men acquainted with the foreign character, mindful of the lives and property of the people, and responsible to the emperor for their safety. The commissioners have no property at stake in Canton, and care nothing for the prosperity of the province, but desire only to make reports which may serve their interests at court. The troops they have brought with them are anxious for trouble and confusion, that they may plunder the city, enriched by the foreign trade. Let the people of Canton, as one man, call for the departure of the commissioners and their troops, and by these means it will still be possible to save the city and the whole province from the miseries of war. At Canton, the 22d day of May, 1841."

On Monday the 24th, the necessary reconnoitering having been made, and the forces having arrived in the Macao passage two or three miles from the city, the movements for a combined attack on Canton commenced.

    At noon the royal salute was fired, it being the anniversary of queen Victoria's birthday. Soon after this, the Sulphur proceeded up the north brauch of the river, towards Neshing and Tsangpoo, at

1841.

Attack on Canton.

345

which latter place the debarkation of the troops was to be effected; the Nimrod and Pylades took up their position opposite the batteries at Shameen ; while the Hyacinth, Modeste, Cruizer, Columbine, and Algerine, having moved up to the head of the Macao Passage, rounded the point of Honam, and anchored in front of the fac- tories, the Algerine at a later hour taking up her berth before a heavy sand battery between the Dutch and French follies. At about 3 o'clock, P. M., the Atalanta came in, and the Cameronians, under major Pratt, disembarked in the garden of the British consu- late. The Chinese now opened their fire from every point where they could bring their guns to bear upon the ships. They also put in motion some more fire-vessels, which drifting across the river, got on shore near the hongs a few rods east of the factories, where the flames communicated to the suburbs, causing no small damage ere they could be extinguished. During the remainder of the afternoon, the fighting was kept up by the Chinese with much fortitude, they sometimes engaging hand to hand with the parties that landed to dismantle their batteries and spike their guns. The Nimrod and Algerine, in particular, were exposed to a direct fire. In addition to the cannonading, the fire which had broken out along the north bank of the river increased the excitement and alarm among the Chinese, and drew their attention away from the movements of the land force.

Thus far had we written, when a "Brief account of the capture of the heights and forts above the city of Canton, &c., &c.; by an eye- witness," was laid on our table. This shall appear in our next; and following documents, extracted from

we close this article with the the Hongkong Gazette.

No. 2.

By Charles Elliot, &c., &c., &c. Proclamation to the people of Canton. ·

Let all the people of Canton understand that they may return and continue their pursuits, in peaceful security whilst the high officers are faithfully fulfilling their engagements. The recent hostilities in this province have been against the will of the high British officers, and are attributable to the breach of faith and violence of the imperial commissioners. For although the general measures against the imperial court will not be relaxed till full justice be done, assuredly there never would have been any disturbance of the people of Canton and this province, unless it had been provoked by the misconduct of the imperial commis- sioners. What else have the imperial commissioners done in this province than to injure the dignity of the imperial court by a violation of their pledges under their seals, and to occasion grief and loss to tens of thousands of innocent people? When the commissioners and all the other troops save those of the province have departed, the people of Canton will once more enjoy peace and security. At Canton, this 3d day of June, 184·1

No. 3.

PUBLIC NOTICE TO HER MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS. The perfidy of the imperial commissioners having induced a course of brilliant

VOL. X. NO. VI.

44

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Attack on Canton.

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operations by land and water, placing H. M. forces in commanding positions over the walls of Canton, the authorities on the 27th ultino made overtures for the pre- vention of further hostilities, upon which the following terms were granted to them: "lat. It is required that the three imperial commissioners and all the troops, other than those of the province, quit the city within six days, and proceed to a distance of upwards of 60 miles.

     "2d. Six millions of dollars to be paid in one week, for the use of the crown of England, counting from the 27th of May, one million payable before sunset of the said 27th of May.

"3d. For the present, British troops to remain in their actual positions; no additional preparations on either side. If the whole sum agreed upon be not paid within seven days, it shall be increased to seven millions. If not within 14 days, to eight millions. If not within 20 days, to nine millions. When the whole is paid, all the British forces to return without the Bocca Tigris, and Wangtong and all fortified places within the river to be restored, but not to be reärmed, till affairs are settled between the two nations.

"4th. Losses occasioned by the destruction of the factories, and of the Spanish brig Bilbaino,' to be paid within one week.

4

5th. It is required that the Kwangchow foo shall produce full powers to con. clude these arrangements on the part of the three commissioners, the governor, the general of the garrison, and the fooyuen, bearing their excellencies' seals.

Scal of the Kwangchow foo.

"Agreed to."

     An extensive evacuation of troops having taken place from the city, with their arms, but without display of banners, and five millions of dollars being paid up, and securities taken for the remainder, her majesty's forces have retired from their positions over the city. The places to be restored will be delivered up, as soon as the departure of the two chief imperial commissioners has been ascertained, and officially reported by the officer left in command before Canton. In this brief campaign of less than ten days, a resolute night attempt to destroy the ships of war by fire and other means has been repelled: a flotilla of upwards of 100 sail of armed and fire-vessels has been destroyed; a line of works mounting upwards of sixty pieces of artillery has been carried; and by an unsurpassable combination of masterly disposition, ardor, and constancy, a small British force (moved through a country presenting excessive difficulty, in the face of a numerous army,) wrested from the enemy, in the short space of 8 hours, a line of fortified and steep heights, protected by a well-sustained fire from the city wall, and dislodged a heavy and menacing mass of troops from a strong encampment on the left of their position. The whole course and results of these most remarkable and admirably executed operations, will reflect lasting honor upon the distinguished officers under whose command they have been achieved, and upon all arms of the force taking part in

CHARLES ELLIOT,

the success.

4

No. 4.

Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary.

The following translation is from a Chinese document purporting to be the substance of a report from the commissioner and general-in-chief, Yihshan, to his imperial master.

On the 29th of May, 1841, a memorial was forwarded to Peking, at the rate of 600 le a day, extra express. The tenor of it was as follows:

44

     'Your majesty's minister, since the time of his arrival in Canton, seeing that Woochung, Tahwang-kaou, and Funghwang kong (First-Bar, Macao passage fort, and Swallows'-nest battery) had all been lost, has been engaged, in concert with the joint-commissioners, Lungwan and Yangfang in forming, defenses along the whole shore-line. At Neishing (northwest of the city), at the stone fort, at Wongsha (in the western suburb), at the landing opposite the Tsinghae gate (south of the city), at the grove of the temple of Hungwoo, on Wongsha and Eeshamee (alluvial islets to the eastward), &c., &c., guns were planted, and bands of men and officers were stationed. They were fenced round with double lines of sand-bags, supported by beams of wood and heaps of stones and shot; and to these were added pits dug in the ground to enable the soldiers to screen themselves from the enemy's fire. Everywhere, too, at the foot of the fortified

{

1841.

Attack on Canton.

347

posts, sand-bags were placed, rendering all most firm and complete. Your minis- ter, accompanied by his colleagues, and attended by his soldiery, went round about all sides of the city, making the proper defensive arrangements. In addi- tion to all this, a Fubkeën militia corps and a naval militia corps were formed; and rafts were prepared, and launched, and straw collected, ready to make an attack by water.

      "On the night of the 21st of May, then, a great battle was fought with the foreigners off the western fort, when they were attacked by a combined move ment with fire and cannon. Five foreign boats were instantly burned; and two of the foreign guns having been destroyed, and two ships' masts shot away, they forthwith retired. At the fifth watch your minister was on the point of leading on the troops to put them all to the sword, when suddenly the foreign vessels were reinforced by the arrival of sixteen ships, eight steam vessels, and more than eighty boats; all of which pushed ou together. In consequence of having fought hard throughout the night, the troops were weary and fatigued; and the guns too were few. Nevertheless, the guns were fired several tens of times in rapid succession; but the foreign ships being strong, and withal so numerous, they could not be driven back. In fine, continuing to advance, they made a sudden rush, and landed near the city, and then marched straight up to the forts flanking the great and little northern gates, and possessed themselves thereof. They now attacked the city upon three sides;-wildly flew their arrows about; on all sides fell their cannon balls; the houses of the people were in all directions on fire; and the soldiery had no place whereon to stand. By the burning of the houses, and the disabling of guns, the artillery was rendered ineffectual; and troops of all arms, including officers of rank, also suffered loss in wounded (the precise extent of which has not yet been distinctly ascertained) ; this condition of things compelled all to retire within the walls of the city. A whole people, weeping and wailing, sending up loud cries to heaven, choked every pathway; and earnestly did they beg that peaceful arrangements should be entered into. Your minister, as he looked upon them, lost all heart; and bowing to their de- sires, he went to the city wall to ask the foreigners what they wanted. They all said, that the price of the opium they had delivered up, amounting to several mil- lions of taels, had not yet been given to them: and they earnestly wished that a million of taels of silver might be granted to them, when they would immediately call in their forces and retire without the Bocca Tigris; they had nothing else to ask for,-and all the people would thus be left in their ordinary state of quiet. Inquiring of them regarding Hongkong, if they would give it back, they answer- ed that it had been given to them by the minister Keshen, and that of its being so given they possessed documentary evidence.

       "Your minister, calling to mind that the city had been so frequently troubled and endangered, that the whole people were as dead men,-thought it right tem- porarily to accede to and promise their requests. In turning the matter over again and again, in his mind, it seems to your minister, that for a solitary city thus to stand all the brunt of battle is utterly destructive of its prosperity: and that in such a position the grand army can find no opportunity for displaying its strength: he deemed, therefore, that it was his undoubted duty, to draw the enemy forth without the Bocca Tigris; and then to renew all the fortifications, and seek another occasion for attacking and destroying them at Hongkong, and thus to restore the ancient territory.

      "He has to beg that he and his colleagues may be delivered over to the Board, for punishment of their offenses; and also, that Ke Kung, Eleäng, and the other high officers, may be subjected to a scrutinizing inquiry.

Respectfully he presents this report of the circumstances under which he yield- ed to the intreaties of the people, that he should make peaceful arrangements: with trembling awe he does it, conscious that he lacks understanding, and is most guilty. A respectful memorial."

     The following proclamation, bearing date June 1st, 1841, was issued at Canton by Chinese officers, in order to preserve from injury the graves of those foreigners who had fallen in the attack on the heights in the rear of the city.

**

348

Attack on Canton.

No. 5.

JUNE,

Chang, Twan, and Chang, brigadiers in command of divisions,-forming the committee of superintendence of military concerns of the force serving in Kwang. tung,-issue this proclamation. Whereas, the square fort was recently in the occupation of the English foreigners; and now that those foreigners have been left buried near to the fort: it is hereby forbidden that any of the adjoining inhabi. tants, or of the soldiery or militia, or any others, loiter idly about such places, or attempt to dig up the bodies of the said foreigners there interred. Should any willfully disobey, and venture to dig up and disinter such bodies, no sooner shall they be discovered and apprehended, than they shall receive such punishment as shall be then determined. Not the slightest indulgence shall be shown. To this end clear proclamation is hereby made; each should with implicit submission obey. Be there no opposition. A special proclamation. The above is for general information. Taoukwang, 21st year, 4th month, 12th day. [1st June, 1841.]

No. 6.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Ship Marion, June 5th, 1841. The operations before Canton having now closed, "major-general Hugh Gough feels the highest gratification in recording that every individual of the force, native as well as European, gallantly and zealously did their duty. The major-general further desires to record his thanks to officers commanding brigades and corps, and heads of departments, for their able assistance.

To major-general Burrell, commanding right brigade, supported by lieutenant- colonel Adams, commanding 18th regiment, and captain Ellis, commanding royal marines: To captain Bourchier, H. M. ship Blonde, commanding the naval brigade, aided by captain Maitland H. M. ship Wellesley, and captain Barlow, H. M. ship Nimrod, commanding battalions: He offers his best ac- knowledgments.

It was the first time, that sir Hugh Gough bad had the honor to command a body of seamen, and the whole conduct of captain Bourchier's brigade was such, that it will always be matter of proud recollection to the major-general to have had it under his orders on the occasion.

To lieutenant-colonel Morris, commanding the left brigade, seconded by major Stephens commanding 49th regiment, and major Blythe who commanded that corps, during the latter part of the day: To captain Duff commanding 37th M. N. I., and captain Mee, commanding Bengal volunteers: to major Pratt, com- manding 26th Cameronians; to captain Knowles, commanding the Artillery brigade, captain Anstruther, commanding Madras Artillery, and captain Cotton, field engineer: To all the general and personal staff, the major-general's best thanks are due for the zealous support he has received from them.

Having thus expressed his sense of the services of officers commanding brigades and corps, and heads of departments, sir Hugh Gough has no less pleasure in noticing the praiseworthy conduct of the sailors and soldiers under his command; during eight days that the force was on shore, there were but two cases of drun- kenness, and the soldiers of the 49th, having found a quantity of samshoe in the village they had taken, brought it to their officers and broke the vessels in their presence. It is by conduct such as this that the sailor and soldier secure the confidence of their officers, and that their gallantry in action remains untarnished.

     Discipline is as indispensible to success as courage, and the major-general has the satisfaction to find that the trust which he reposed in the force under his com- mand has been fully justified.

    Sir Hugh Gough feels that such results are only produced by the attention of all to their duty in their several capacities, and he requests that his sentiments and approval may be made known to the officers of every grade, and to the non- commissioned officers and soldiers, by their respective commanders, and that captain Bourchier will be pleased to convey them to the officers, petty officers, and seamen that composed his brigade.

By order. (Signed)

ARMINE S. H. MOUNTAIN, Lieutenant-colonel, and deputy adjutant-general.

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

349

ART. VII. Journal of Occurrences: results of the war; cannibal- ism: payment of ransom; the people arming; Yikshan's and Lungwan's departure from the city; withdrawal of the British forces; port of Hongkong proclaimed free; sale of lands; Mr. Johnston appointed governor; death of sir H. Le Fleming Sen- house; new plenipotentiary; charges against Keshen; second movement of the British forces to the north.

THE course of events here, since the return from Chusan of H. B. M.'s plenipotentiaries last November, has been singular enough. On the part of the Chinese the losses have been great. More than a score of their forts have been dismantled or destroyed; hundreds of vessels sunk or burned; upwards of a thousand cannon rendered un- servicable. These are a part only of their sufferings. The losses occasioned by moving families and effects from Canton must be computed by millions, while not less than a thousand houses, with great quantities of goods, &c., have been reduced to ashes. Go- vernment and the native merchants have been the principal sufferers. Direct losses on mechanics and the yeomanry have been few; and the prospects of the husbandman in the coming summer harvest are very fair. Generally too, good health has prevailed among the Chinese in Canton and its vicinity. But after all that has occurred, there is ap- parently no disposition to succumb, nor is it certain that the provin- cial authorities and high commissioners will abstain from making preparations for a renewal of hostilities.

2. Cannibalism. We have been assured by many, some of them very credible witnesses, that during the recent rencontre in Canton between the imperial troops from Hoopih and the local militia, some of the former cut off and ate the flesh of the latter! We shall feel obliged to any of our neighbors for additional information about this matter. The contest rose very high; some say hundreds of lives were lost. We suppose there may have been ten or twenty. This occur- red while the British forces were on the heights, before the armistice had been concluded.

     3. Regarding the payment of ransom, we are indebted to a com- mercial friend for the following memoranda.

The authorities paid four millions of dollars in sycee towards the recent levy made upon the city, and the hong merchants contributed two millions in the fol lowing proportions. Howqua paid

Pwankequa

Samqua, Saoqua, Footae, and Gowqua, each $70,000

$820,000

260,000

280,000

60,000

     Mowqua, Kingqua, Mingqua and Punhoyqua, each $15,000 Cash in the consoo treasury, being taxes upon the foreign trade,

and intended to pay the debts of broken hong merchants, 280,000 The obligations of Samqua, Saoqua, Footae, and Gowqua, each

for $50,000, which is to be reimbursed from the first surplus in the consoo funds, or offset against any duties they may owe to the consoo

200,000

-$2,000,000

350

Journal of Occurrences.

JUNE,

    The four hong merchants who contributed $70,000 each, at first refused to give more than $20,000, saying that as Howqua had most at stake he should bear the burden, and that they had little to fear for themselves; for the loss of the cotton and other foreign inerchandize, if destroyed, would fall on the foreign owners or importers. Besides Howqua's contribution, he has lost more than $750,000 by the burning of two packhouses in Shameen.

Indemnity for the Bilbaino and for the demolished factories has been promised, and some part of it has been paid.

4. The people commenced arming for their own defense, in the neighboring villages soon after the British landed above Canton. On the 1st instant, this had extended to 113 villages, each numbering from 15 to 100 fighting men, including the whole male population, between the ages of sixteen and fifty years. They called themselves

     eping, i. e. 'soldiers of righteousness,' and have these two words written on their banners. We have been told that it was with great reluctance that these soldiers of righteousness' yielded to the commands of the native authorities, who, at the instance of sir Hugh Gough, went out on the 31st to require them to cease from their attacks. Their leaders have published several manifestoes, some of which have appeared in the papers of the day; and they have got into circulation some very bad and exaggerated stories regarding the conduct of the fanqui.

5. Yihshan and Lungwan took their departure from Canton on the 6th, having received a visit from captain Warren of the Hyacinth as they proceeded on their way. Nearly all the troops from the other pro- vinces had at that date left the city, and the people were beginning to resume their usual avocations and in their usual manner. On the 16th it was rumored that Yihshan had returned to the city incog. It has been said also that levies of troops, as recruits, are still being made in this province.

   6. All the British forces had withdrawn on the 1st, from the heights, and all have since left the river. Twelve merchant vessels were at Whampoa, on the 15th, and among the number were two opium vessels.

   7. Hongkong has been declared a free port, by the British autho- rities. The following has been made public.

By Charles Elliot,, &c. &c., &c. A proclamation.

    "It is hereby declared to the merchants and traders of Canton and all parts of the empire, that they and their ships have free permission to resort to and trade at the port of Hongkong, where they will receive full protection from the bigh officers of the British nation: and. Hongkong being on the shores of the Chinese empire, neither will there be any charges on imports and exports payable to the British government. And it is further clearly declared, that there will be an immediate embargo upon the port of Canton and all the large ports of the empire, if there be the least_obstruction to the freedom of Hongkong. Persons bringing information to the British officers which shall lead to the detection of pirates will be liberally rewarded; and the pirates will be taken and delivered over to the officers of the Chinese government for punishment. At Macao, this 7th day of June, 1841."

8. The first sale of land, with a view to permanent settlement has been made, of which the following account is extracted from the Hongkong Gazette.

1841.

Journal of Occurrences,

351

1. Upon a careful examination of the ground, is has been found impossible to put up the number of lots namned in the governmental advertisement of the 7th instant; and only 40 lots, having sea frontage of 100 feet each, can at present be offered for sale. These lots will all be on the seaward-side of the road. Lots on the land-side of it, and hill and suburban lots in general, it will yet require some time to mark out.

      2. Each lot will have a sea frontage of 100 feet nearly. The depth from the sea to the road will necessarily vary considerably. The actual extent of each lot as nearly as it has been possible to ascertain it, will be declared on the ground. And parties will also have the opportutity of observing the extent for themselves.

3. The biddings are to be for annual rate of quit-rent, and shall be made in pounds sterling, the dollar in all payments to be computed at the rate of 4s. 4d. The upset price will be £10 for each lot, the biddings to advance by 10s.

       4. Each lot having been knocked down to the highest bidder, he will receive an acknowledgment that he is the purchaser of the lot; and this acknowledgment will be exchanged for a more formal title, as soon as the precise measurement and registration of the lots shall be completed.

5. Upon delivery of the titles, the purchasers will be called on to pay the rent for the first year, reckoning from the date of sale.

      6. They will also be required to erect upon each lot a building of the appraised value of $1000, or to incur upon the land an outlay to that amount, within a period of six months from the date of sale. As security for the performance of this engagement, a deposit of $500 shall be paid into the hands of the treasurer to the superintendents within one week from the day of sale,-the deposit repayable as soon as an equal amount shall have been expended. Non-compliance with these terms will incur forfeiture of the deposit and allotment.

J. ROBT. MORRISON,

Acting Sec. and Tr. to the Superintendents of Trade. No. Sq. Ft. Knocked down to, price No. Sq. Ft. Knocked down to, price. 1-2 6700Gribble, Hughes&Co £80 24-25 15200 H. Rustomjee. £160 2-3 7000 Lindsay & Co. 80 25-26

                                      Reserved. 3-4 7800 Dent & Co.

18000 J., Matheson & Co. 150 17300 J., Matheson & Co. 185 21850 J., Matheson & Co. 230

64 26-27

4-5 6900

Dent & Co.

65:1027-28

5-6 5400

D. & M. Rustomjee. 50

28-29

6-7 6300

Hooker and Lane. 43

30-31

4644 R. Gully.

35

7-8 7500 Pestonjee Cowasjee. 50

132-33

8755 Jamieson and How. 60

8-9 8100 Dirom & Co.

57

133-34

8000

John Smith.

57

9-10 8400 Reserved.

34-35

9600

John Smith.

67

10-11 9600 H. Rustomjee.

52

136-37

4600

Framjee Jamsetjee. 25

11-12 11200 H. Rustomjee

52 |38-39

7616

Charles Hart.

57

12-13 10600 Holliday & Co.

38:1040-41

6000

Macvicar & Co.

75

13-14 10800 14-15 15000

Gemmell & Co.

32:10||41-42

9700

Macvicar & Co.

95

F., Leighton & Co. 21

42-43

11500

Fox, Rawson & Co. 100

15-16 15900

Robert Webster.

20

16-20

Reserved.

43-44 16500 44-46

Turner & Co.

115

Reserved.

20-21 16200 D. Rustomjee.

111

46-47 30600

Captain Larkins.

265

21-22 14400 Innes, Fletcher &Co. 150

47-48 35000

P. F. Robertson.

250

51

Not sold. Captain Morgan.

205

22-23 12700 W&T Gemmell &Co.140 ||49-50

23-24 11800 Reserved.

     9. Mr. Johnston deputy superintendent, has recently been ap- pointed acting governor of the island, and has proceeded thither ac- cordingly. The following is also from the Gazette.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

ALEXANDER ROBERT JOHNSTON, esquire, deputy superintendent of the trade of British subjects in China, has this day assumed charge of the government of the

1

852

Journal of Occurrences.

island of Hongkong, on behalf of the chief superintendent: and all whom it may concern are hereby required to respect his authority accordingly.

By order,

J. ROBT. Morrison,

Acting Secretary and Treasurer to the Superintendents.

Macao, June 22d, 1841. 10. The death of captain sir Humphrey Le Fleming Senhouse, K. C. H., &c., &c., of H. B. M.'s ship Blenheim, and senior officer in command of the British naval forces on the coast of China, is an- nounced in the Gazette. "He participated in all the privations that the troops underwent on the heights above Canton, and has fallen a sacrifice to the zeal which marked his character." This mournful event occurred at Hongkong on the 13th instant. His remains were interred at Macao on the 17th, in style becoming his rank and station.

     11. Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer arrived here on the 18th, in H. C. steamer Queen from Calcutta.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.

fler Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint his excellency, sir JAMES JOHN GORDON BREMER, KNT., c. B., K. c. H., Commodore of the first class, commander-in-chief of Her Majesty's ships and vessels in the east, &c., &c., to be joint plenipotentiary. By order.

J. ROBT. MORRISON,

Macao, June 22, 1841.

Acting Secretary and Treasurer to the Superintendents.

12. A series of charges has been brought against Keshen, in a mernorial to the emperor by the imperial commissioner Yukeën, It.- governor of Keängsoo. At ranslation of the memorial has ap peared in the Canton Register of the 22d. The crime of being thrown into consternation and using deceit is the first charge which Yukeen brings against Keshen; that of tarnishing the honor of his country, by being absent from the post of danger, and by being un- prepared to resist the enemy, is the second; an undue assumption of the emperor's power is the third; his base accommodation of matters to his country's disgrace is the fourth; having lowered the dignity of his country, and thereby provoked a bloody and mortal war is the fifth. Yukeen has issued to the people of Keängsoo a proclamation, offering rewards for Elliot, Bremer, Morrison, and others. Possibly he may have the satisfaction of seeing them near his own residence in the course of a few weeks. Among the newsmongers, there is an inventory of Keshen's property. The amount of gold, silver, and precious stones is immense.

13. A second movement of the British forces to the northward is expected to be made in a few days. It is supposed they will first visit some places along the coast, and then upon one of the great rivers move into the heart of the country. We hope ways and means may be devised to gain direct access to the court. What forces are to be employed we do not yet know. It may be easy to take property and obtain ransom money, but a difficult task it will be to gain security for the future: this never can be done until the foreign rela- tions with this country are changed. It is rumored that the emperor has issued new orders for extermination, and proposes to cut off all foreign trade.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-JULY, 1841.- No. 7.

ART. 1. Meteorological observations made at the island of Chusan

      from the month of September, 1840, to February, 1841. Tax barometer employed was one of Newman's mountain barometers; the difference between which and the standard barometer at the observatory, Cape of Good Hope, was + 0.014 inches. The elevation of the cistern above the level of the sea during the month of September was 72 feet, during which time the observations were made on a point at the western extreme of the bar- bor, opposite to a small island called Guardhouse island in Thornton's chart, and Seaou-chuk san by the Chinese. The subsequent months the observa- tions were made in a house at the western extreme of the suburbs, where the level of the cistern was 21 feet above the mean tidal level. The temperature of the air in the shade was ascertained by a box-wood thermometer (Fah- renheit's scale), close to which was placed a similar one, with a piece of cotton attached to the bulb, which was kept moist and registered at the same period to show the degree of dryness in the atmosphere. The observations for radia. tion were made with similar thermometers, the bulbs of which were ex- posed to the sun's rays, one of them blackened by indian ink. A self-regis- tering thermometer was placed near to the shade thermometer, and the maximum and minimum temperature registered every morning. The rain guage during the month of September was a copper cube of 6 inches, which was surrounded with straw to check the evaporation. Upon the removal of the instruments to the suburbs, one of the rain guages supplied by H. E. the Governor-general was obtained. The register in the table indicates the actual measurement daily, (the rain guage never being emptied.) The observations during the month of September were made by Mr. W. H. Symonds mate of H. M. S. Blenheim, and subsequent to that period by Mr. A. Roger of H. M. S. Blenheim. The hourly register on the 21st of each month was taken in accordance with the directions of the committee for the antarctic expedition and magnetical observatories.

VOL

NO

VIL

AL

September.

BAROMETER

D.

6 A. M.

m. Baro.

Th.

39,800 78 2 800 79

3

826 78

860 84

850 82

920 85

924

866 81

914

84

866 81

870

86

838

80

886

85

846

78

888

85

938

78

960 84

918 78

830 78

782 77

962 85

850 84

800 78

800 74

880 77

918

74

30,050

17, 30,000

73

[18] 29,900

74

890

19

8863

70

952

[20] 30,000]

69

30,020

|21| 29,900

72

[22] 960] :75

000 84

23

950

72

048 81

338 81887 7432E2 2ZREZ.

9 A. M. Baro. Th. Baro. Th. 29,820 85 29,8401

Noon.

3 A. M.

6 P. M.

Baro.

Th.

Baro.

Th.

9 P. M.

Baro.

Th.

GA.M.

Air. | Wet.

THERMOMETER.

9 A. M.

354

Noon.

Air.

Wet.

90

836

87

866 87

924

88

910 86

876

86

876 88

936 89

960 87

950 86

812 89

800 76

848 81

1866 98 8*88*.

29,800

93

29,800

83

810 84

810 80

874

90

874 87

874

862

87

838 86

888 91

930 90

763

758

848

5 8 28 ***

850

836

848

882 85

930 84

898 85

760 8.4

78

776 73

82

876

1235 2328 8383FZ

29,840

82

832 78

78

86

880 81

866

880

===

79

79 79

81 77

75

PER

F22 822**

BEERZ

" 76

88

77

85

76 76

94

81

86

85

900

930 85 75

800 83

***

75

806 73 74 74

80

PERZE

**P**

86

76 77

85

76

84

73 71

76

79

81

71 71

76

824 77

71

944

74

75

30,026

026 77 29,994

980 89

30,000

86

[24]

950 :77

29,976

|25| 888 79

950 84

{26}

868

75

29,900 76

936 77

|97| 30,064

72 30,116 73

28 116 71

210

76

29

110 68

110

72

080 70

201

080 69

148 69

120

FECC8352 22

794 77

936

76

980

990

86

950

89

986 86

84

996 81

942 89

30,102 75 30,090

064 70

72

100 71

**88888 * 22

750

77

82 30,000

29,992

79

950

81

786

80

976 80

892

88

30,006

75

118 74

004

074 69

480

* 227833**===

792 75 73

30,032

1222

72 67

012 73 67 022 73 69 70

73 71

70

29,900

79 75.5

30,040

150 73

74

70

100

2 ZEE

77 72

72

090 71 71 69

67

68

67

FAGGORRÅKR2=66

FREBRFRED27866

76

74

75

77.5

81

70

80

g*LEZ* 2*1*** **2** **||

ZZZZZZ ***** *22

81

Air. | Wet.

100

86

N7

સે

89

פא

85 94 85

85 80

91 87

87

90

81

93

83

80

87

90

81

86

92

77 74

74

73

74

75

73

32222

66

78

72

74

73

76 77

75 74

71.5

71 70

76

222

71

71

67

]

23 2È83915822

72

78

76

79

84

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

zz2 2623 5* **R

1222 3=82 1822F=

85

78

74.5

74

73

JULF.

1841.

IKS

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

355

THERMOMETER.

6 P. M.

3 P. M. Air. | Wet.'Air.

96 84

388

9 P. M.

9 A. M.

RADIATION.

Noon.

3 P. M.

RANGE.

6 A. M.

RAIN

Wet. Air. Wet. Blk. | Com. Blk. | Com. Blk. Com. Max. | Min.GUAGE. 82 80 79 78 123 123 104 103 77 76 76 94 95 101 98 82 80

1898

80

79 | 76

92 83 87 83

81 81

13

93 83 81 77 79 76

92

228

ZII3

-28822

3 Z 28 FRI

75

* * 26 **O

18R8

ZEER

88

62E

2288

78

328

79 80 77

79

81

77 79

84

84

100 93 81

87

79 79

85 80

80

88 87 84 81 90 79 75 72 72 72 75

81 73 76

78

28383 1588*2

E* **** 58680*

126 125 93

2 8 XX 228

2 8 82 862

75 4.1 ins]

88238328JRAZZOZZZZA AZZ22 283

po

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Calm, 0) bcv; hcv; Easterly 3 bcv; 3

NNE. 1 c; Wtly. 2 c; Ely 2 or; W. or; 2 or. Calm, 0 bv; N. easterly 2 bv ;

S. Easterly 5 bev;

S. Easterly 4 c; S. Easterly 5 be;

S. E. 4 bcv;

S. Easterly 5 bcv;

108

101

109 103

100 75 106 102 94 76

3.9

4.6

96 93 92 89 96

96 71

92

29 90 94 78

91

94

92

94 78 3.2

89 93 92 89 92

93

78

90

94 75

| 2.6

Easterly 2 bv;

101

82

8 22

92

88

96 94

94

2.25

94 102

75

| 2.125

| Easterly 3 bcv;

81 94

98

74

2.5

98

97

96 92 93

76

2.

83

83

77

77 76 94

74 | 1.875

75

84

98

94

91 B6

78

70

100 100

83

68

1.9

1.875

85

70

77

92

71

79

66

90

82 80

77

104 104

94

188.5

78 75

69

71 68

103 99

103

102 103

88 83 76

72

110 105

103 95

89

83 75

71

103 95

83 82

79 79 77 76

8ཙྪ8

*2**

94 92 86

96

94 91

94 88 96 89 89

89 8186.5 82 71

102

99

104 95

88:8 *

81

89

70

2.

103

95

1.8

70

91

72

88

76

73

92

73

73

72 72

73

71 71 69

70

71

88

75

71

1.33

77

69

2.04

83

66 2.04

51

69 67

66

66

I RIF 8

£82-28 E

65 | 2.25

Easterly 3 bev;

S. Easterly 1 bv; 4 bv; 4 bc; 4 c;

N. Westerly 4 c; 4 c; 4 cr; 4 cr; 4 cr; 4 cr; N. Westerly 4 bc;

| N. Westerly 3 bc;

E. 5 r; S. E., S. E 5 po; S. 5 rm; N. W. 7rq. North 4 pqm; 0 bc;

Northerly 1 bcm; 2 bcm, Easterly 2 bom; Cal.n 0`0; W. 3 bem; N. E. 3 bc; E.S.E. 4bc. N. Easterly 3 bcm; 4 bem; 3 bcm; N. Easterly 4 bcv;

Easterly 4 c; 4.

Easterly 2 c; 2c.

Easterly 10;

E. by N. 00; N. E. by E. 3; E. N. E. 4 0; N. E. 10; N. E. by E. 3;

N. E. 30; N. E. by E. 3 orm.

N. E. 2 up; N. E. by E. 2 or; S. W. 0.

355

Meteorological Observations at Chusau.

JULY,

October.

BAROMETER.

6 A. M.

m. Baro. | Th.

1| 30,068 229,992||||| 67

940

1926

30,026

120

1061

122

200

368888៩

9 A. M.

Baro: ❘ Th.

30,108) 74

Noon.

3 r. M.

6 P. M.

9 P. M.

6 A. M.

Baro. Th.

Baro. Th.

Baro.

Th.

Baro.

T.

Air. | Wet.

9 A. M.

Air. | Wet.

106

71

104

104 74

120

144]

1090

100

090]

170]

KERERERRR-INF88822

30,078 77

30,040

30.050

29,976

79 29,984 81

974

30,114

74.5 30,076

08

050

83

030

80,5

054

82

124

83

120

70.

71

71

76

*=28-883-SPR

30,076

140

3873378666

184

050

332 54

88 82823

R BREEN

2 KROONNN=8%

74

048

29,982

KANN NE PRR8F8658

88888-66 RR

* 226 227 2

30,038

8278

060

82 2287

28

188

88

130

36829682%

68898852282238

61.5

73

THERMOMETER.

99

Noon.

Air. | Wet.

76

69

70

77.5

74.5

82.5]

70.5

70.5

265822877878888

84

68.5

67

568RFESH8J57

150

116

214

342

300

204

192

130

157

110

986

70

132488 8

8855288E%

86FRAKKE8

69

883

68

*58868

288

71

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

357

THERMOMETER.

3 F. M.

6 P. M.

9 P. M.

A. M.

RADIATION.

Noon.

3 P. M.

RANGE.

A. M.

RAIN

[Air. | Wet.[Air. ↑ Wet.'Air. | Wet.JBlk. | Com. Blk. | Com. Blk. | Com Max. | Min.iGUAGE.

1985

82

70

64

78

67 77.5

73

78 72

69 70

68

80 71

80

74

8888

71 66 68

64.51

68 67 63

APPO×8822 88 2388

FROZBARISAN

72

64 2.42ins

76

64

2.29

83

68

2.08

84

67

1.88

74

67

1.5

75

63

1.4

95 90

83

68

1.35

66.5

102 100

95

90

92

64

1.3

73

72

BR

60

1.2

78

73

72.5 72

71

95 90

90

85

82

83 | 70

95

90

86

85

.80

66

63

62

62

62

88

68

.45

88

75

73 72 71

95 89 98

90

85

69

67.5

63

63

85 81 87 81

72

68 63

64

61

84

80

.56

71

61

72

67.5

60 58.5

63 66.5

56

83

80

70

58

65

94 86

75

.25

85

59

84

65

70.5 68 63.5

74.5

DARRE FOR OF

829 99888

278880808 82

258878863

8988786ŽI888

28

885

2868328CE

22 87 88

** ** 8*

888888

***8 88 9

2 * 20%

RAZSZAZR**¤%¤NZPIL

***2288282288998;

.95

3.6

3.38

64

59 104 99 85

90 104 93

75

79

65

61

89

80

83 78 76

70 67 65

60

58

84

3.2

57

55

54 54

53

74

3.2

58

59

64

2.9

75 67 66

65

70

55

68.5

68.5

80

*64

85

71 64

74

63

69 63

71.5 71 70.5 68 66

69

72 71

67

PRIZJA8***8|

8-02-165888

2.85

.67

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Direction, Force, &c.

N. 2 bc; N. 2 bc; N. N. E. 1 be; 1 bc; 0 bc; N. E. 3 bc; 3 bc; 3;

N. E. 0 bc; N. 1; N1 bc; N. 1 be; N. 1 bc ; N. 3 bc; N. W. 4 be; N. E. 4 bc; N. 4 bc; N. 2 bev; N.2; N.2;

N. 1 c.n; cg; 2 c; N. E. 2 bc; 1c;

N. E. 1 c; 2 bc; S. S. E. 3 bcv; N.ly 3 crn; N.ly 1 bc; 3 bev; 3; N. E.ly 3 bev; NE. 1 bcv;| N. Ely 0 0; N. by E. 10; N. Ely 4 cg; 3 c; 2c; N. E.ly 2c;3 bcm; 4 bem; 3 bcv; 2 bcv; 2 bev; N. E.ly 3 bc; 3; E.ly 3 bev; S.Ely 3 bcv; 3. S. W.ly 2 bcm; 40; N. W.ly 4.5 oq; 5 odq; S. E.ly 2 bcv; 2; 3; 3; 2; 1;

N. E.ly 4.5 bcq; N. N. W. 4.5 cq; 4 bev; 3; N. W.ly 2 bcv: 3 bcm; 4 c; 4 bc; 3 o; 30; N.ly 2 bcv; 2 bev; N. N. W 4 bcv; 4 bc; 2; N. E.ly 2 c; 8. E.ly 2 bev; N. E.ly 2 c; 2 o N. E.ly 0 0; N. E.ly 0 0 ;

N. W.ly 4 opq; 4 eq; 4 cq; 2 boy; N. N. W. 2 bc; N.ly 2 bev; N. W.ly 3 bev; N. by E. 0 bcv; S. E.ly 3 bev; 3; 3; bcv; S. E.ly 2 bcv; N. N. W. 3 op; 4 op; 4.5 opq; N. W.ly 4 oq; 4 oq; 2 o;

N.ly 10; N. N. E. 3o; 30; q; N. E.ly 4.5 oq; N. E.ly 0 bc; 0 c; N. E.ly 4.5 oq; N. E.ly 4 c; 0 od; o or; 0 op; N. W.ly 1 op; N. N. W 1 op; 0 or; N. E.ly 3 or; N. E.ly 2 c; N. W.ly 2 o; c; N. E.ly r bev; 1 c; N.ly N. E.ly 1 bc; bcv; N.ly 1 cp; N.W. 1 op; 1 cp; S.W.ly 2.Į 0 cr; N. N. W. 2 cr: N. W. 3 c; N. N. W 3.4}

VOL. X. NO. VIL, 45*

*

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

November.

BAROMETER.

D.

6 A. M.

9 A. M.

Noon.

3 A. M.

m. Baro. | Th. | Baro. | Th.

Baro. Th. Baro. Th.

Gr. M.

Baro. | Th.

9 r. M.

GA.M.

Baro. | Th.

Air. Wot.

9 A. M.

Air. | Wet.

| 1) 29,950

71

29,950

72

29,950| 74.5

30,030

2 30,174

64

30,290

62

30,290

61

448

52

478

52

500

54

424

442

424

59

300

312

60

300 60

224

238

66

244

67

188

226 70

246

228 60

264

62

248

274 62

200

090

63

118 62

084

63

038

63

078

63.5

100 65

[12] 092

59.5

090

62

100

13 29,978 60

038

62

024

14 30,044 59

094 60

106

15 158 58

212

59

230

152

58

152

58

100

17

042 52

048 53

064 53

181

022

47

036

47

050

19

028 47

028

48

048

84988882R283 28812

30,290

58

430

5-1

424

61

273

200

190

248

190

074

090

63

30,000

080

192

62

050 $2

47

040

50

29,942

3328288 88 230 248

390

57

454 54

380

272

226

69

200

63

246

63

190 63

63

074 69

120 63

036

60

65

148 63

61

200 59

036

47

044 47

52

201

024

52

050

53

020 52

050 56

P5333333338 688 8583

76

30,126)

74

70

885

71.5

70

THERMOMETER,

Noon.

Air. | Wet.

74

444

61

09

454

53

50,5

50.5

380

59

64

51.5 56

272

07

56

54

60

60

52.5 69

56

66

224

85

63

292

* 44

66.5

266

63

60

190 63

085

03

60

168 61

61

080 63

112 62

60

158 82

685

228

61

054

66 66

090

53 49

080

קא

46

0140 52 47

078 56 51

[21]

060

55

080

55

214 47 54

29

216 44

292

43

272 44

321 42

332 43

360

47

24Q 42

246

41

212

120 48

124 57

174 53

200

180

110

60

114.

62

134

156 57

256 50

248 59

252

300

57

254

301

176

43

204 45.5

200

20838 222

350

43 43

30,332

48

42

54

146

56

146

59

42

65

180 64

67

69

108

66

60

61

220 60

51

200

53

56

59

176 56

# $8889

40

200 50

42

212 64 48 47

148

60

828=6888899828 7235=

64.5

70

60

60

57

04

60

60

60

56

.

49

40

45

47

53

63

53

63.5.

53

43

43

43

40

40

36

43

43

61

62

61

230

50

56

67

50

48

204

58

43 42

45

43

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 =28=8182÷÷*88*9**3=899

43

57.5

00

50

46

48

54

04

50

47

86882 263

* * * â € £ £ 22822 83228:

222 22228088 8ESZEZ!

C4

64

63

50

444

50

43

44

50

19

49 48

55 53

83322 32÷

04

57

JCLF.

...

THERMOMETER.

3 r. M.

6 P. M.

9 A.

RADIATION.

3 P.

RANGE.

6 A. M.

RAIN

Wet. Blk. ↑ Com. Bik.Com. Blk. | Com Max. | Min. GAUGE.

|Air. | Wet.[Air. | Wet./ATM P. M.

57

54.5

60

62

74

58.5 59

62

F5885888887 88₫ 2506

62

62 61.

35: 227 28

2*3 313 23

878**fa

8381983

60

46.5

63

78

57

72

72

52

52.

58

64

**** *82 288888ARISAJ

bau-akes

2-PRF8823868J

A TA AUGU82333222R63

3 8 2 2 3 3 J188858 89

3.2

3.65

3.82

73

69

60

53

61

51

54.5

50.5

60

53

68

56

69

65

59

60

60

62

58

64 58

3.82

64 53 4.1

61

56 5.0

59

52 6.1

59

47

6.4

46

47 6.4

51

47 6.4

55

54

55

48

40 8.3

57

41 8.0

62

42 8.0

65

42 8.3

69

42 8.3

58 50

56

73

63 9.3

47

45

47

49.5 51

47 44

56 50

52

46

43

50

62 62

55

63

61

62

68 61 65

59

9858 83

$89 78*

2 388398

*300

285

61. 60

58 57

52 48 50 48

57 56 56

52 7.1

43 7.8

41 8.4

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Direction, Force, &c.

N. N. E. 1 o; S. S. E. 2 c; N. N. E. 2 be N. N. W. 3.4 orq; 4 orq; 4 or; N. W.ly 3 or N. W.ly 3 op; N. W.ly 3 c; 4 c; 3 c; N.N.W.] N.ly 2 bev; 2 bev; 2 bev; 2 bev; 2 bcv; 2 bcv;} 0 bem; 0 md; 0 cm; c; c; bcv;

S. S. W. 2 cm; cm; 0; bcv;

N. N. E. 2 bcv; bev; N. W.ly 2 cm; N.N.W.{ N. W. 2 cm; g; 2 g; N. W.ly 2.3 cp; 2 or 0 cmp; 0 cmp; 2 cm; cm; cm: 3 or; N. N. W. 2 or; 2 or; N. N. W. 2 cmp; N. N. W. 1 cm; W. S. W. 2 cmd; 2 cmd; N. W. 2 cm; 2 cm; 2; 1 cmd; 1 cmd; N. N. W. 2 emd; 2 cm; 2 cmd; 2 bev N.ly 1 bev; 2 bcv; 4 bev; N. 3 bev; bev; bcp: W. 3 cp; cmd; 3 cmr; cmd; cmd; cm;

0 cm; cm; 3 c ; r ; 4 qr; 4 opq;

N. N. W. 5.6 cq; 6.7 cq; 4.5 bcq; 4 bc; 4; N. W. 4.5 cq; 5; 5; 4; Wly 4; 4;

N. N. W. 2 c ; 2 c ; 2 ;

0 cmp; cm;

N. N. W. 2 cmd; cmd; cmr; 4; 5.6 cmdg; W.ly 5.6 crhq; 4 cmpq; N. N. W. 3 bev ; N.ly 4 bcv;

N.ly 3 bev; be; northerly; N.ly 2 bev ; 2 lev;

0 bmp; 0; bcv; bev;

3 bcmp; bcm; bem; 4; 4;

W.ly 3 bed; cmd; c; 4 cmr; 4 c; W.ly 3 be; be; 2 bcv; 2 bcv;

0 bcv; S.ly 2 bev; bev; bev; S. E.ly 2 bev;

i

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

359

360

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

JULY,

December.

BAROMETER.

ID.

6 A. M.

m. Baro.

9 A. M. Th. Baro. Th.

Noon.

3 P. M.

6 P. M.

Baro. Th. Baro.

Th.

Baro.

Th.

9 P. M.

Baro.

6 A. M.

9 A. M.

Th.

Air. Wet,

Air. | Wet.

11 30.2001

-50

30,258 63

*30,282

30,2681

64

206 59

176

152

348

376

*SHIBAGE***28688

240

392

282

1890

310

391

466]

500

468

500

392]

456

430

430

174

216-

160

150

154

152

300]

348

IMAGEAHZAYNIA

6698888886 888 88 8444553

112

29886628 28*38

132

62

30

56

390

170

360,

458]

508

52

55

53

55

68

gagg StA8X32

* 93 * * ****

h8 ུང 3。

55

55

54

51

មមមម និងវ

98399188499488579995885888599

44

THERMOMETER.

Noon.

Air. Wet.

62

51

42

CHICKENCHONUSESSES

18

60

88845810997 Jag fåre

one o ca* - - 28988==========

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

361

THERMOMETER,

*** *3 P. M.

Air.

Wet. Air.

63 59 60

56

98226688 89828

56

gageega 82888

P. M.

9 P. M. 9 A. M. Wet. Air. | Wet. Blk.

52 49 49

49 47 48 47

88 4* *******8878 0 72782 8B5G

45

egna egeD8 4 ☺gagzatastes 86 89;

********☺

CUDACA ggg täàâ¤88AR

**858* * *

48

**

80

2008

RADIATION.

Noon.

RANGE.

6 A. M.

RAIN

Com. Blk. | Com.[Blk. | Com]Max. | Min.{GUAGE.

1990

5 888

13

83

67 63

70 63

268 822

2*3 282

3 P. M.

86

76

72

45 0.0

77

43 0.0

60

52

33333

33

* 88

97 87

346339688669925823;

1.9

1.9

1.9

2.05

2.05

57

95 1 85

60 59

60 59

55 54

47 44

45 45

53

50 | 86 61

66

65

58

56 59 58

57

81

75

56 55

53 52 53

52 | 88

78 87 77 84

70

67

53

44

57

48 47

47 46 48

44

50

48

47

46 63 57

67

60

2.05

46

48

68 60

67

60

50

2.05

60

56

53

70

55

67

53

87

81

93

87

60

2.05

65 65

90

83

89

70

2.05

51 50

49

63

61

73

2.05

55

53 51

50

49

2.05

54 53

45

57

2.05

40

38 37

42

3.9

33 30

55 45 51 46

41

3.95

39 34 34 29

29

44

52 47

46 40

36

28

3.95

55

48 51

46

41

3.95

47

44

39

37

44

3 95

40 37 35 39

30

47 67

56

54

33

3.95

42 41

68 61 70

42

29

3.95

44

62

53 60 55

46

3.95

50

38

78 67

73 65

49

27

3.95

60 57 55

46

53

73

66

65 39

56 155 57 56

53

60

43 4.8

48 47

46

45

43

43

41 34 42

**9887 ☺ ☺ 88 8

46

50

*888** 5 = 59 °

48

***** A*=*=*4

183345

888

89*2* *

FRE DRO

***3 **

58 47 14.

50 41 14.2

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Direction, Force, &c.

Calm, u bev; 3. S. W. I bcv; calm, N. N. E. Calm, 0f; Wly 1 fd; calm; 0 cm; 0 cm W.ly N. N. W. 1 cm: W.ly 2 bem; calm 0 cm; N. N. W. 4 cq; 4 bevq; N. W. 3 bcv; 3.4 bevq; Calm, 0 bc; N. E. 4 bevq; E. S. E. 4.5 oqd; Calm, 0 cm; N. W.ly 3 bc; 4 bc; N. N.'W. N. N. W. 1 bev; N.ly 1 bcv; 1 bev; 2 bev; N. W.ly 2 od; 1 cm; N. N. W. 3 e; bc; 2 be N. N. W. 2 bc; cmd; 2 cmp; cmp; cp; bev; N. W.ly 2 bcv; 2 bcv; 3 bev; bev; 2 bev; N. N. W. 2 bov; 2 bev; e; bev; 2 e; N. W. 4 bev; 4 bev; 4 ber: &; bev; N.ly 2 bev; bcv; 2 bev; 2 bev; bev; bev; N. W.ly 4 bev; 4 bev; N.ly 2 bev; bev; bev Calm, 0 hev: 0 bev; bev; bev;

N.ly 2 bcv; cm; N. N. W. 3 bc; N.ly 3 bc; N.ly 2 c; cm; c; c; c: c;

N.ly 1 cm; 0 cm; cm, N.ly 2 om; 5 op; 5 oqp; N. W.ly 6 cq; 5 cq; 4.5 cq; 4 cm; N. N W. 5 bcvq; N. W.ly 6 bevq; N. W.ly 4 bev; 4.5 bcvq; 3 bev; W. N. Wly 4 bev; bev; emq;

N. W.ly 3 bev; 3 bev; 3 bev; bev; be; bev; N. W ly 4.5 bevq; 3 bev; 3 bcv; 3 bev; 2 bev;| Calm, bev; W. N. W. z bcv; 3 bcv; bcv; Calm, bev; N. W.ly 2 bev; N. W.ły 3.4 bev; Calm, 0 bcm;

Calm, cm; N. N. E. 1 cm; 0 cr; calm, 0 bc Calm, 0 cm; 0 cmr; 0 sp; fr; fr; 0 crq; N. W.ly 4.5 foq; 3.5 frq; 4.5 fq; 4 bc; 40; N. W.Jy 3 cm; 3 om: bc; bem; 0 0;

BAROMETER.

THERMOMETER.

632

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

6 A. M.

9 A. M.

Noon.

3 A. M.

6 P. M.

Baró.

30,272

256

390

504

Th.

Baro.

Th.

Baro. Th.

Baro. Th.

Baro. Th.

9 P. M.

Baro. Th.

6 A. M.

Air. | Wet.

9 A. M.

Air. | Wet.

Air.

46

30,316] 48

30,290

50

30,268

30,2681

52

30,320

R

47

47

240 48

172

268

53

326

48

558

530

RESTREREN

*****2889887 99888

450 42

5241

558

544

10]

11

12|

13||

14]

42

60

46

47

5%

*28** 8*888* 5*9*3*8***

440

41

444 39

474

40

500

523

456

229

283

263

*28656 69 68

512

524

31

526

556

410

33

41

885

420 43

590 31.5

546

38

0581

'380

4081

350

376

380

44

3961

372

528

544

482

474

400

420

58888

88888

514 34

548

576

33

576

460'

38

460

59

55

57

5 #94 898 ********

2*39884 28**82*

3525*3478488 CR88

#48389 3799888 28

8832

WA WACANAPENSUP**

a ==== 8583849444989****

Noon.

Wet.

47.5

ឆដ្ឋវ

în în

40 39

31.5 20

36 34

January.

JULY,

R4.

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

34. 36

8066*

THERMOMETER.

3 P. M.

✪ P. M.

RADIATION.

9 A. M.

Wet. Air. Wet.lAir. Wet.|BIK. ↑ Com. Bik.

9 F. M.

Air. [

51

48 48 47 49

49

51 50

48

47

44 43

38

35

32

34

31

Noon.

3 P. M.

6 A. M.

Com. Blk. Com

52

51

43

52

33 30 32 30 33 29

41

30

32 32

48

47

49

59

63

53

54

43

44

44

45

43

49

50

40

*************98=

44

34 33 68 57

44

71

50 45

43

49

2866666688886

42

52

48

40

220*2

40

50

46

53 55 52 42 39 41

43

48

38 37

35

*** ***

42 41 40

44

43

43 42

37

39

41 40

38

35

31 35

35

35

34

31

32 30

31

35

34

**********8963

3 8998 200 e 85389832

48 46

53

52

54

50 46

72

232

42 35 72 63 85

50

85

73

238 238

65

87

73

64

8X3 -8

62 51 48

34

28

84

75

71 62 51

73 60

71 73

65

80 79 72 53

78

74

62

8 32832

49

31

30

49

32

51

31

34

60

42

41

52

61

41

40

51

45

1.65

40

39

44 43 46.5

45

46

39

1.95

36 66

56 56

50

47

38

43

46

38 2.2

43

42

46

40

3.0

50

49

44

42 3.9

45

61

43

4.95

be

50

42

6.30

34

34

48 41

66

61

46

38

31 0.8

32 7.5

38 37

44

32

37 38 37 63

58

33

34 34 34

40 40 38 37 44

42

61

56

30 28 27 50 44

31 30

35

31

RANGE.

RAIN

Min. GAUGE.

43 14.2

40 0.05

43 33 8.8

Can we then the thin the theme that the

35 8.1

44

44

30

38

34

40

38

33

28

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Direction, Force, &c.

Calm, 0 cm; 0 cm; N. N. W. 1 cm; 2 cm; Calm, 0 cm; cm; cm; S. Wly I cin; N.WI; N. W.ly 5.6 cq; 5 boq; N. W. 5 cq; 6.7 cq; N. W.ly 5 cq; 4 beq; N. W.ly 4 c; 4 os; 4 cq N. W.ly 5 bc; 4 bc; W. N. W. 5 bc; 4; 4 c; N. N. W. 2 b; b; W. 3 bc; N. W. 2 bc; 0 bc; Calm; 0 bc; N. W. 3 be; N. W. 2 bc;

N. W.ly 2 bin; bm; W. N. W. 3 b; be; N. W.ly 2 bc; 3; 3 bc; 3;

N.ly 1 bev; S. E.ly 3 bev; S. E.ly 3 bev; 3 bev; Calm. 0 bcm; S. Ely 1 bem; N. W.ly 3;

0 m; 0 m; N. W.ly 3 m; m; m; cm; N.ly 3 cm; S. Ely 1 cm; 3 cm ; 3 cm; or; N. W.ly 5.6 cq; 5 oq; 4.5 oq; N.ly 5 oq; 4 oq;

N. W. 3 c; 3 e ; 3 c ; e ;

N. W.ly 3 c; 3 bev; 3 be; 3 c; bc;

Calm, 0 cm; 0 cm; 0 cmd; 0 er; o; NW.ly N. Wly 4 cd; 4 cr; Nly 4 cmd; cmdq; N.lv 4 cmd; 4 cmr; 3 cm; or; or; or; S. W.ly 1 fr; fr; W.ly 3 f; 3 f; 4 oq; 4 odq; N. Wly 5.6 mrq; 5 mq; or; orq; 40; N. W.ly 3 boy; 0;

N. W. 1 c; 0 cm; cm; cm; cmr; or; N.ly 4 cmr; N. Wly; N. Wly 4 or; 3 c; N. Wly 3 hem; Wily 4 hev; bcm; 3 bcm; N. Wly 2 bov; N. W.ly 5 bcm; 5 bemq; bev N. W. 3 hem; bem; 4 cm; bov;

N. Wly 3 bem; S. Wly 3 bev; N. Wly 4 beni; N. W. 4 bev; 4 cmq; 4 cmqs; 5 oq; Ñ. W.ly N. W. 4 cs; N. N. W. 4 es; 4 cs; cm; 4 e W. N. W. 3 e; N.N.E. 4 cs; cs; cs; c; Wly

363

364

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

JULY,

February,

BAROMETER.

D. 6 A. M.

9 A. M.

Noon.

3 P. M.

6 P. M.

9 P. M.

m. Baro. | Th.

Baro. Th.

Baro. Th.

Baro. | Th.

Baro.

Th. Baro. Th.

6 A. M.

Air. Wet.

9 A. M.

Air. | Wet.

130,346| 38 | 30,324

30,272

42

30,200 43

30,256

41

30,269

424

38

422 38

448

456

458

412

332

***

16

-KHBHBA583 2 2

42

46

QUA AAW ****ew

394

38

388

408

362

362

282

282

48

356

47.5

588

36

334

3 365

41

420

420

48

408

49

406

48

23 8 8 8 26 9 256 9

488

888 4 2 2 2 24

36

3སྒྱུ སྒྱུ ྂསྒྱུ

52

44

CHANCERA3 8 2

454 895

SEEKE

THERMOMETER.

3333999

Noon.

Air. | Wet.

35

54.5

t

*** *** * **68

27

47

45

39

43

46

35

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

363

RANGE.

69984845 5887988889 84

BAIN

] Min. GAUGE.

33 8.6

37 1.4

FEARGARE KRZENNAXBX 99

33 1.6

WINDS AND WEATHER.

Direction, Force, &c.

Calm, 0 cmd; N. N. W. 3 cmr; N. 3 cmr; N.ly 4 cm; 4 cm; N. W.ly 4 cmq; N. N. W. N.ly 8 cm; N. W.ly cm; N. W.ly 3 cm. Nly. N.ly 2 bc; 2 bcv; 3; bcv; bov;

Calm, bem; be; N. 3 bc; N. N. E. 3 bc ;

N. 3 bcv; N. N. E. 3 cm ; N. E. 4 cm; cm; Calm. 0 bcv; 0 bc; N. E, 3 cm; N. N. E. 3; Calm, bev; N.ly 4 bc; N. E. 5 cqe; N. E. 4 be; N. W. 4 bev;

Calm, & bc; bev; W. S. W. bcv; Calm, 0 bem; bc; N.ly 3 bc; 2 bv;

Calm, bev; Nly 2 bev; N. W.ly 2 bcv ; 4.5 bcq. Calm, 0 bc; N. W.ly 3 bev

Calm, bem; S. E.ly 1 bev; bev; bev; Calm, 0 bcm; S.ly 2 bom;

Calm, 0 bcm; N. Ely 2 bcm; S. E.ly 3 bem Calm, cmd; N. W.ly 3 bcm; 5; 6 bem; N. W.ly 5 bcq; 5 bcq; 5.6; 3 bcv; 2 by; Calm, 0 bem; S. E.ly 4 bcm;

S. E.ly 4 bcm; 2 be;

W. N. W. 3 omd; 4.5 cmq; 3 cm; N.ly 3 cmr; N.ly 4 cm;

THERMOMETER.

RÁDIATION.

3 P. M. Air. Wet.

6 r. M.

P. M.

9 A. M.

Noon.

3 r. M.

Air.

88895458332 38 8 ?

38

34

42

8 g de t6P6886882

32

36❘

33

44

44

42

35

42

40

54❘ 57

55

63

54

57

43 | 43

$83 911 8 93 5 3 5 78

Wet.

Air.

Wet. Blk.Com. Blk. | Com. Blk.

Com

m Max.

32

.32

41

43

40 38 37 33 34

*2 * 1 * 26 8 222 881

37

32

| 33

48

44 |

40

35 29

35

46 | 40

51 50 48 47

43 41 40

Lama 38 * * FA8%

Laca se 8 3 798* * **

37

32

40

32 32 56 49

72

43

44

51

26245

38 41

62

68

3=85

43 41

40

56

2938

40 40

40

69

77 67 55 54 43 40

##

40

39 38

3

44

52

47

38

28

33

70

62

76

39 38 67 53 52 85

892832

54

59

$83282

75 100 93 | 95

* 8 * 823

R = 8 888

50

60 | 58

54 58

288 8

70 85 74 63 47 35

71 61

853 25

54 37 25

48 25

56 50 31

41

80

27

43 27

92 79

53 27

90 50 30

65

38

76

69

40 28

60 40

40 1.6

40*

366

DA. M.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

9 A. M.

JULY

METEOROLOGICAL ABSTRActs Deduced FROM:

-BAROMETER.-

Noon.

3 P. M.

6 P. M.

Month of

9 P. M. 6 A. M.

Baro. Th. Baro. | Th. Baro. | Th.|Baro. | Th.|Baro. | Th.| Baro. | Th.|Air | Wet 29.917|75.5-29.952179.4/29.963182.7129.914179. 129.906|77.7120.937:77.6 73.71 73.2

   The month generally fine, only four rainy days for short periods ;. 1.8 in. of rain fell. The barometer generally standing below 30 inches; falling in strong southeasterly winds, and rising with nor-

Month of

30.126 66. 30.155 71. 30.147 69.4 30.113 77.8 30.116 69.6 30.134 68. 64. 61.7

The first 10 days fine, the remainder of the month overcast; wea- ther squally, much rain during the last week. Except the four first days of this month, the barometer never was below 30 inches, and rose as high as 30.335 in., and rising with fresh breezes from the northwest. The winds variable, changing frequently several times

Month of

30.156 55.5 30.184 56.6 30.190 59. 30.173 59. 30.173:60. 30.199 58. 51. 50.

   This month generally overcast with rain, the barometer in easterly winds fell below 30 inches. Winds were northeast 2 days, N. N. W:

Month of

30.303 52. 30.350 48. 30,326 52. 30.311 53. 30.314 52. 30.335 47. 43. 40.9 Weather finer that last month; the barometer kept very high, being 30.588 inches on the 10th; winds light from the northwest; it gene- rally rose as the winds freshened from that quarter, and during calms-

Month of

30.332 39.7 30.447 42. 30.377 45.5 30.304 45. 30.354-44. 30.347 42. 35. 33

Misty weather with a good deal of rain; barometer ranging from 30.606 to 30.084 in., falling previously to southeasterly winds. Snow the last two days; winds fresh, with squalls. From the northwest

Month of

30.366 36.7 30.403 39. 30.389 44.8 30.368 45.3 30.367

Month generally fine; winds northwest 5

45.8 30.387 41. 34.8 33.

days, north 24 days,

The climate of Chusan is subject to a range of temperature similar to that in the same latitude upon the coast of North America: the thermometer in the shade standing at 103° in the month of Septem- ber, and at 25° in the month of February. The following is the range of tmperature during the months that the island was occupied.

September from 103° to 65°. October 92° to 51°.

184 h.

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

THE PRECEDING Monthly. RegisterS.

September.

-THERMOMETER.

367

9 A. M.

Noon. 3 P. M.

6 P. M.

BAROM.

THERMOMETER.

9 P. M.

Max.

Min.

66

Air | Wet Air | Wet Air | Wet Air | Wet Air Wet Mean. 79.9 78.3185.4i 80185.91 81.3178. 85.3175.71 74.71 29,987|

103

therly breezes; height of the cistern above the sea 72 ft. 7 in. Very strong breezes were not experienced during this month. Winds Ely 10 days, S.Ely 6 days, N.Ely 8 days, and from north to west 6 days.

October.

71. 70.7 74.3 73.2 74.4 68.8 67. 66. 65,6 65. 30.148

92

51

during the 24 hours; they were from the north 6 days, northeast 12 days, northwest 9 days, and 4 days from southeast to southwest. On the 29th, the meteorological instruments were removed to the suburbs, where the height of the cistern of the barometer above mean tide level, was 24 feet.

November.

56. 55. 61. 57. 66.6 56. 59. 58. 59. 57. 30.179

73

42

8 days, northwest 4 days, northerly 4 days, westerly 4 days, S. S. W. 2 days, and calm 4 days.

December.

46.

43.4 52. 49.2 51. 48.5 48. 46.6 41. 43.4 30.323

fell to 30.02 inches. Winds southwesterly

northwesterly 15 days, northeasterly

77

2**

a day, westerly 2 days,

a day, northerly 51 days,

easterly 1 day, and calm 6 days; much rain during the last week.

January.

42. 42. 45. 43. 46. 43.3 40. 39. 39. 38. 30.360

62

28

201 days, west 2 days, southwest 1 day, southeast 1 day, north 2 days, southeast 1 day, and calm 22 days.

February.

39.7 39. 45.8 43.8 44.2 42.2 41.9 40.9 37.8 36. 30.380

southwest 1 day, southeast 24 days, calın 5 days.

65

25

December, 77° to 27°. February 60° to 25°.

November, from 74° to 40°. January, from 60° to 28°. The greatest range of temperature during 24 hours was 28°. Dur- ing the month of January, the barometer was at the height of 30.606 inches, and generally speaking fell in light or easterly winds. A few days, southeasterly winds occurred in the month of September,

368

Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

JULY,

but the northerly monsoon could not be said to have commenced until the beginning of October. The following are the number of rainy days in each month. September 4 days, October 3 days, November 12 days, December 7 days, January 11 days, February 3 days.

0 Calm

Figures to denote the force of the wind.

   1 Light air, 2 Light breeze,

3 Gentle breeze,

4 Moderate breeze, 5 Fresh breeze, 6 Strong breeze, 7 Moderate gale,

8 Fresh gale,

9 Strong gale,

10 Whole gale,

11 Storm,

12 Hurricane, -

1 to 2 knots.

Or just sufficient to give steerage way. Or that in which a well condi- tioned man-of-war, with all sail set, and clean full, would go in smooth water, from

Or that to which she could just carry in chace, full and by

-

3 to 4 knots.

5 to 6 knots.

Royals, &c. Single-reefed topsail and

top-gallant sails. Double-reefed topsails

jib, &c.

Triple-reeed topsail, &c. Close-reefed topsails and

courses.

Or that with which she could scarcely bear close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail. Or that which would reduce her to storm stay-sails-

Or that which no canvas could withstand.

If the above mode were adopted, the state of the wind might be regularly marked, in a narrow column, on the log-board every hour. Letters to denote the state of the weather.

b Blue sky; whether clear or hazy atmosphere.

c Clouds; detached passing clouds.

d Drizzling rain.

g Gloomy dark weather.

1 Lightning.

o Overcast; or the whole sky p Passing temporary showers.

r

Rain; continued rain. Thunder.

v Visible clear atmosphere.

V

f Foggy; f Thick fog.

h Hail.

m Misty hazy atmosphere. covered with thick clouds.

q Squally.

s Snow.

u Ugly threatening appearance. w Wet dew.

Under any letter indicates an extraordinary degree.

   By the combination of these letters, all the ordinary phenomena of the weather may be expressed with facility and brevity. Examples: Bcm, Blue sky, with passing clouds, and a hazy atmosphere. Go, Gloomy dark weather, but distant objects remarkably visible. Qpdlt, Very hard squalls, with passing showers of drizzle, and accompanied by lightning with very heavy thunder.

1841

1841.

Meteorological Observations at Chusun.

369

Hourly Register

Of the BAROMETER, THERMOMETER, RADIATION, and WEATHER,-Taken on the 21st of the Month.

SEPTEMBER.

AUGUST.

ime.

A. M.

BARO.

1 Baro. | Thr. Air. Wet. Bik. [ Com. 6h.5m., 29,950, 77 75 75 6.57 964 78 77

THER. I RADIATION.

WEATHER. Direction, Force, &c.

'ime. BARO.

THER. RADIATION.

A. M. Baro. | Thr. Air. | Wet. Blk. | Com

Calm, 0 bcm;

16h.5m.

29,950, 72 69

7.56

974 80

80.5

9.4

30,022) 84

88.5

10.3

11.0

1.15

1.58 | 30,008| 89 88.5

008 89 95.5 82.5 116| 132 29,986 89 | 97.5 83 120 115 996 89 91.5 82 cloudy 81 96 92

2.57 | 29,992) 90

3.58

996 91

89

5.5

30,008| 87

86.5

6.0

29,992 83

62

6.59

30,006) 81 78.5 76

7.59

012 81 78.5

8.59

040 80 78

10.28

022) 81 77.5

12

012) 80 78.5

1.12

002 80 78.

2.2

29,988 79 77.5

3.0

994 80 77.5

4.4

› 992) 80 77 76

4.56

30,006) 78

75

5.59

30,002 78 76 76

L☎ I ZIJDI☎82REEFØERRRRR

83

83

Calm, 0 cm;

7.0

978 72

71.5

78

89 89

Calm, V ci

8.0

30,000 75

74.5

82

111 108

N. E. by E. 3 bc;

*9.0

026 77

77.5

Calm, 2 bc; cumulus.

9.58

024 82

83

1.2

30.000 82

$2.5

E. N. E. be;

11.57 | 29,994| 83

85

E. by N. 3 e;

1.0

986 85

88

94.583.5 125| 113

Calm, bem;

2.1

976 86

87

111

102

N. E. by E. 4 bcqm :

2.58

990 86

28.5

80 107

99.5

N. E. 4 cm;

4.1

978_B4

85

79 overcast.

N. by E. 3 cm;

4.55

978 83

84

Calm, 0 bcm ;

61

992 79

75

77

Calm, 0:

7.4

30,000 76

72

.77

N. E. 1;

8.5

30,000 74

72

Calm, 0 bm;

9.3

022 73 71

76.5

Calm, 0 bm;

10.4

022 73

71

Calm, 0 om;

10.56 | 30,000, 73

71

76

Calm, 0 bcm;

11.58

29,988 74

72

76

N. 1 bcm;

1.1

30,002 74

72.5

Calm, 0 om:

2.5

29,973 74 72

75

Calm, 0 rom;

3.2

968 73 73

Calmal pom:

4.0%

(960 73 72

5.6

952 73 71

22722ZHEPCAL888883R08182

23

103

99

75

102 97

74 cloudy

76

103

102

77

105

99

102

99

103

75

94

76

90

**2883 283

WEATHER. Direction, Force,

Calm, 00: N. W.ly 20; W.Jy.3 bcm; N. Ě. 3 bc;

N. E. 4 hcm;

N. E. 4 be;

N. E. 4 b;

N. E. 4 br

96

E. N. E. b;

N. E.

85

N. E.

69

68

68

69

68

68

69

N. N. E. 4 b.

N. N. E. 3 b;

N. Ely.

N. E.ly.

N. E.

N. E. 2 b;

N. E. bc; N. N. 0 0; N. N. E. 10;

69.5

N. E. 20;

69

69

N. E. 00:

N. E. 0 0;

vol X. NO.

VIT.

17

370

Hourly Register

Of the BAROMEter, Thermometer, Radiation, and WEATHER,-Taken on the 21st of the Month

Meteorological Observations at Chuzan

OCTOBER.

DECEMBER

Time.

BARO.

THER. RADIATION.

WEATHER.

Time.

A. M.

Baro. | Thr. Air. | Wet. Blk. | Com.

Direction, Force, &c.

A. M.

BARO. Baro. Thr. Aic. | Wet 1

THER

RADIATION Blk. Com

WEATHER Direction, Force, &

64.

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1841.

Coast of Chiva and Curea.

Hourly Register

Of the BAROMETER, &c.,-Taken on the 21st of the Month.

BARO,

JANUARY.

THER. RADIATION.

Baro. Thr. Air. | Wet. | Blk. | Com.

N.

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N. Wly, 6 mqr; N. Wly, 6 mqr;

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371

      Errata.-On page 358, for A. Roger of H. M. S. Blenheim, read A. Royer of H. M. S. Wellesley.

ART. II. Coast of China, &c.: sailing directions derived from nautical observations made by H. B. M.'s squadron in 1840. HEI SHAN, or Black Islands. H. M. ship Wellesley, being in lat. 28° 40′ north, and lon. 121° 57′ east, hauled in to make the Black Islands, steering north, and having a depth of 12 fathoms. A point of land, supposed to be one of the Black islands, bore N. W. by W. † W.; shortly afterwards, islands were seen to the northeast, and the ship was kept to the eastward, to pass without them. They were found to consist of a group of 4 or 5 small islands, with several high detached rocks. The northeasternmost of the group, apparently about a mile detached from the others, is a small round rock, shaped like a haycock, with a rock not much above water some distance to the northeast. This group is called the Heishan islands by Dalrymple,

372

Coast of Ching and Corea.

JULY,

   but is entirely omitted both in Horsburgh's chart of the east coast of China, and in the new Admiralty chart, which give the name of Hih shan or Black islands, to another larger group, which bears about W. S. W., 6 or 7 leagues from the first. Returning to Canton in company with the Melville, Blenheim and Modeste, we all passed within these groups, having a depth of 15 and 16 fathoms, 6 or 7 miles to the westward of the outer group; the southeastern islet of which is in lat. 28° 55′ north, and long. 122° 17′ 9′′ E., or 8' east of the Pagoda hill near the suburbs in Chusan. Wellesley.

Black islands. These islands have a black appearance, correctly resembling the description given in Horsburgh of the Heishan is- Jands. They are distant from the main 6 or 7 miles. Good obser- vations were obtained, which place them in latitude 28° 25′ north, and longitude 121° 55′ east. They are not laid down in the Admi- ralty chart.

Hihskan islands. H. M. ship Blonde anchored in the neighbor- hood of the Hihshan islands, in 7 fathoms water near the northwest part of the group. These islands are laid down as four in number in the Admiralty chart, but there are at least twelve; the latitude was ascertained to be 28° 52′ N., and long. 122° 5′ E. Blonde.

     On the 9th July, at noon, Patahecock, one of the Kewshan islands, bore by observation N. 12° W., distant 65 miles; soon afterwards, steering N. by W., land was reported ahead, distant eight leagues. 'These proved to be the Heishan or Black islands, whose position in all the charts, except Dalrymple's, is incorrectly laid down. Our reckoning from noon places them in lat. 28° 50′ N., and long. 122° 18′ E. Pylades.

From Chusan to Shantung promontory. On the 31st of July H. M. ship Wellesley left the Kewshan group for the gulf of Cheihle. Tungcha shan. On the following morning, several small islets of the Chusan group were seen, the northeastern of which were two small rocky islets, which were supposed to be Tangcha shan. These islets, 'by their bearing would be in lat. 30° 15′ N., and long. 123° E., or 524′ to the eastward of the Pagoda Hill, Chusan. The ship passed 6 miles to the eastward, and had no bottom with 25 fathoms. The whole space between these islets and Chusan appears to be filled up with islands. On the ship's return in September, we observed a great many that were not laid down in the charts.

W. :

On the 31st of July, H. M. ship Pylades sailed from the Kewshan islands in company with the squadron. On the following day passed the islands of Tsinshan and Teching. The latter is laid down cor-

1841.

Coast of China and Corea.

873

rectly in the Admiralty chart. The former is in lat. 30° 29′ N, and long. 123° 6′ E. Off the southwest end of Teching, we observed a heavy break extending more than a cable's length from the shore,

Shantung Promontory. From our leaving the Kewshan islands, until the 4th of August, being then in lat. 35° 12′ N., and long. 123° 35′ E., the wind was from the southeast with misty weather. It then drew round to the S. S. W., still contiuuing hazy. On the morning of the 5th of August, we observed the promontory of Shun- tung. This is a high bold point, with a rugged termination towards the sea, and it has a small pagoda near its end.

Alceste island is small bụt high, and appears surrounded by reefs. A rock, high above water off its northeast point, bore S. S. E. when on with the north point of Shantung. There is a small island about 5 miles to the westward of Alceste island. The promontory north- west of Shantung is high and rugged, having a small barren island near it; opposite to the island is a bay with a sandy beach upon which several boats were hauled up.

Kungtung 崆峒 (Kungkung tao) and 芝罘 Chefone. The north rock of the Kungtung group is high and square. Chefow cape is high, and at a distance from the eastward, appears like an island; to the southwestward is a remarkable hill with a top resembling a chimney.

northern rock of Kungtung W., Great Chuhshan was W., about II leagues dis-

      Chuhshan. At 6 P. M., with the bearing S. by W. W., and Chefow S. W. plainly visible from the poop, N. W. by W. tant. The ship anchored for the night in 111⁄2 fathoms, with the Great Chuhshan N. W. by W. W., cape Chefow S. S. W. † W., north rock of Kungtung S. by E. easterly. Very little tide or current was found at this anchorage. Weighed the next morning at daybreak, and carried regular soundings of 12 to 10 fathoms towards the Great Chuhsan, which is higher than the islands in its vicinity, and although of a very barren appearance has a small village on its southeastern side, and cattle were observed on the sides of the hills. Little - Chuh- shan bears N. 85° 40′ E., from Great Chuhshan, distant about 3 miles.

:

:

. 1

Shamo. A small island, named Shamo, lies N. 579 W. from Great Chuhshan, and N. 15° W., about 3 miles from Little Chuhshan. Toki lies about 7 miles to the northwestward of Shamo; the Wellesley subsequently visited the island twice: it is mode- rately high and has a high peak near the centre, and is nearly the

374

Coast of China and Corea.

JULY,

form of a right angled triangle, the shortest sides being those upon the south and west. There are four villages upon the southern side, and one or two on the side facing the northeast. This island is well cultivated. Fresh provisions, vegetables, and water may be procured. On the ship's first visit, 34 bullocks were procured, which, though small, were in good condition; a quantity of poultry, eggs, and vege. tables, and from the wells at the villages upon the south side of the island, 30 tons of water, were obtained in a day. On the second visit 15 bullocks were procured. The Wellesley was anchored in 10 fathoms inuddy bottom, with Machang shi, a small bút high isfet off the southwest end of Toki, bearing N. 78° E., and Toki from N. 64′ W., to N. 56° E. A rock high above water off the southeastern end of Toki bore N. 78° E.; Great Chahshan 8. 45° E. The ship was 910 yards S. 11° 20′ W. from the southeastern point of a little bay, at the head of which is a small village. This point is in lat. 38° 9′ 20′′ N., and long. 120° 52′ 17′′ W. E., ot 1° 16′ 30′′ west of the Pagoda hill on Chusan. Variation 1° 20′ W.

The whole of this part appears perfectly clear with regular sound- ings; the little rock at the southeastern end of Toki, and the small island of Machang shi at the southwestern end may be passed within a cable's length. The whole of the channels between these islands are said to be clear, with the exception of the channel between Toki, and the islands north of it, nearly in the centre of which there is said to be a small sunken rock, with about 5 feet water on it, and deep water all round. The information respecting this rock was derived from the people at Toki.

    Quoin or Kiaoushan. The Wellesley passed twice between Toki and the Quoin, and twice between the Quoin and the island south of it, called, in the charts, Se Keusan, carrying in each case regular soundings 10 to 14 fathoms. There is also a very good passage, with the same depth between the Hikshan or Miaotao islands and Keu- san. In a strong wind from the north we anchored under the Quoin in 12 fathomes, with that island bearing from N. to N. 26° E., about one mile distant; Chuhshan bearing S. 68° E., and Toki from N. 47° E. to N. 72° E. In the Admiralty charts, a rock is laid down to the southward of the Quoin, but we found it perfectly clear in that direction.

Houki,. The island to the southward of it, called Hou- ki (on the charts written Keusan), has a reef running some little distance from its northern end, and another off its eastern end.

1841

Coast of China and Lorett,

875

      From the Quoin, H. M. ship Wellesley sailed from Toki on the 18th of September at 6 A. M., with the tide running to the westward, carrying a depth of 10 and 101 fathoms water from the anchorage, until passing the southeast end of Houke, where it deepened to 13 and 14 fathome, then shoaled again to 10 and 9 fathoms.

Heshan, or Miaotas group. When passing the west point of the Heshan islands, to which we gave a berth of 3 miles to avoid a reef that extends from the west point in a southwest direction 14 to 2 miles, and which broke when we passed it, after having rounded the southwestern point of the Hesban island, we hauled up gradually to the eastward, carrying a depth of 7 fathoms. The first anchorage was in 62. fathoms, good holding ground, with the western Heishan island bearing from north 38° west to north 15° west; and Long is- land or Chang shan, the easternmost of the group, from N. 53° 40′ E to S. 78° E.

      The next day, we weighed, and ran further to the E. N. E., and anchored in 6 fathoms mud, with a rocky islet off the west, Heshan, bearing north 62° 40′ west, the southwestern point of Long Island or Changshan being N. 3° E., distant of a mile.

Bluff point

with a fort on it at the west side of the entrance to Tangchow foo, S. 15° 20′ E., and the pagoda on the hill over Tăngchow foo, S. 6° 20′ E. Variation, 1° 32′ W.

There is an extensive and good anchorage under these islands. The holding ground is good and soundings regular from 6 to 7 fa- thoms water, and sheltered from all winds, except the westward, and even with a strong wind from this quarter the land is sufficiently near to prevent any sea from rising; and should it blow so hard from the westward as to prevent a vessel riding in safety, she might weigh or slip and run out through the eastern passage. We could discover no danger to the southward of these islands, except the shoal running off the southwestern point of the Heshan islands, and a spit extending 11⁄2 mile or more from the southwest end of Changshan. This spit has irregular soundings, 44 and 2 fathoms, and the latter depth near to its southern extreme. A small, round hill, with a heap of stones on it, forming the extreme of the land to the northeastward of a vil- lage on the central island, kept open of the southwest point of Long island N. 30° W., will lead without the shoal in 5 fathoms, The southwest point of Long island is a low bluff, and of a reddish color, The hill which forms the mark is low; ́ and to the northeast of the village is another hill higher than this, having also a heap of stones on its summit.

870

Coast of China and Coreù.

JULY.

    Aurother mid-chanuel mark is to bring two distant points on the main land in one line with each other, bearing S. 78° E. When the whole of Toki comes open of Long island, N. ↑ W., you will be to the eastward of the shoal, and may haul out to the northward.

As a stranger may have some difficulty in distinguishing the lead- ing marks, he had better keep nearly as possible in mid-channel be- tween Tángchoo foo and Long island, not coming too near the main to avoid a reef of rocks which extends 2 or 3 miles to the northward from the east part of Tángehow foo with deep water near it.

    The south side of Long island, to the westward of the spit, is clear, with 6 and 7 fathoins within à a mile of the beach. There is also the same depth near the south side of Middle island; between these two islands a deep bay is formed, with a depth of 3 fathoms, where small vessels might be well sheltered. The southwest point of Long island is in lat. 37° 54′ N., and 120° 48′ 30′′ E., or 1° 20′ 15′′ W. of Pagoda hill in Chusan.

    'I'ne Miaotao group is composed of 4 principal islands, and some rocks or islets. To the west are the greater and lesser Heshan (or Black islands), the small middle islands is Mioatao (or Temple is land), and Changshan (or Long island) considerably the largest, is the easterninost. The harbor for Chinese junks (which is the port of Tangchow foo), is the bay formed between Miaotao and Chang- shan.

    From Toki towards the mouth of the Pei ko. From the Quoin, the Wellesley steered a W. N. W. course towards the Pei ho, carrying regular soundings 12 and 14 fathoms water until in latitude 38° 41′ N., and longitude 118° 15′ E., when it shoaled to 94 fathoms, and then decreased gradually to 6, in which depth the ship was anchored in lat. 38° 55' N., and long. 118° 4′ E. From this anchorage the land (which is very low near the entrance of the Pei ho), could scarcely be distinguished in clear weather. By the Chinese, Pei ho is called i. e. "White river."

白河

    At another anchorage in 6 fathoms, in lat. 38° 58′ N., and long. 118° 7′ E., a fort at the entrance of the Pei ho, seen from the mast head, bore N. 87° W. by compass.

    About 7 miles to the eastward of this anchorage is the southwest point of an extensive shoal, composed of coarse sand and rocks, to avoid which, when running in for the anchorage off the Pei ho, ships should keep 2 or 3 miles to the southward of 38° 59′ N. until the water shoals to 8 or 7 fathoms, when they may keep to the north- ward, anchoring so as to be sheltered from the sea which sets in dur- ing strong northeasterly winds.

1841:

Coast of China and Corea.

377

The Shaluyteën islands are low and apparently barren. The Chi- nese name, which signifies 'field of sand,' very well describes them. The southernmost of these islands has a small temple upon it, which, standing alone and upon an elevated spot, is conspicuous. We pass- ed on two occasions about 8 or 9 miles to the southward of the is- land, carrying 12 to 14 fathoms, but the Volage had 20 fathoms within a mile of the island. The temple is in latitude 38° 55′ N., and long, 118° 37′ E., by good observations taken both times in passing. W. From the Quoin, the anchorage off the Pei ho is W. N. W., and the distance 46 leagues, with regular soundings of 12 and 14 fathoms. After a strong southeast wind, we were set considerably to the north- ward; therefore, in running to the westward, care must be taken to avoid the dangerous shoal off the Shaluytéën islands. The latitude of the southern island is 38° 53′ N., and longitude 118° 45′ E.; from this, the shoal extends about W. N. W. The northwest end bore from the anchorage off the Pei ho, which was in latitude 38° 58′ N., and longitude 118° 8′ E., N. 87° E., 9 miles. The southern part of the west end is very steep; in three casts we shoaled the water from where we lay at anchor with the shoal bearing N. W., in 10 fa- thoms, to 8, 6, and 3. This part is composed of rocks and shingle, leaving a channel for junks between it, and a line of sand extending to the eastward. The depths of water over the bank are 1, 1⁄2, and 11 fathoms; some places are dry at low water, with numerous fishing stakes, and affording shelter for junks. From the west end, the shoal trends to the northward and N. N. E., about 4 miles, and then east- ward, making a channel for trading junks between it and the shoal that extends from the main.

Good anchorage and smooth water were found in lat. 39° 1′, and 39° 24′, in 6 fathoms, particularly during northeasterly gales, at which time vessels off the Pei ho ride heavily.

In running for the anchorage, having sighted the southern Shaluy- teën, which is low and has deep water on the south side (17 fathoms 1 mile distant), steer due west, and do not come to the northward of 38° 54′. You will soon shoal your water to 9, then 10, and 12 fathoms. The latter depth you will carry until the west end of the shoal is north of you. The soundings then will decrease, gradually towards the Pei ho, to 8 and 7 fathoms, when you may either haul up for the anchorage off the latter place, or more to the northward under the lee of the west side of the shoal.

High water at 10h. 45m.; rise and fall 10 feet; at the anchorage off the Pei ho the flood tide sets to the northwest, and ebb to the south-

VOL. X. NO. VII.

48

378

Coast of China and Corea.

July,

   east. Along the south side of the shoal, the flood follows the direc- tion of it W. N. W., at the rate of 41 knots per hour at spring tides; and the ebb to the southeast at the rate of 3 knots; on the west side it sets to the northward, but not with so much velocity. P.

H. M. ship Blonde anchored off the mouth of the Pei ho in latitude 38° 56′ N., and longitude 118° 9′ E., in 7 fathoms water. The rise and fall of the tide was 7 feet.

    On the 16th of August, the Blonde weighed for the watering place at Tungtsze kow, in Chinese Tartary. The delineation of the coast-line in this neighborhood in the Admiralty charts appeared

correct.

Bay of Tungtsze kow. On the 18th of Aug., we were in lat. 39° 45′ N., and long. 120° 3′ E., in 8 fathoms water, when the towers on the Great Wall were distinctly seen, bearing from N. by W. to north, distant 5 leagues. Thence the ship steered to the eastward, having regular soundings in 11 to 16 fathoms, when, in lat. 39° 12′ N. and long. 120° 24′ E., the water suddenly shoaled to 10 fathoms ; for a short period after which we had 16 fathoms, until approaching the anchorage which is in 8 fathoms; the north point bearing N. N. W. 4 W.; village E. N.; remarkable hill E. † S.; watering place E. by N. Į N.; south point 8. W. The latitude was 39° 30′ N., and longitude by chronometer 121° 20′ E., and by lunar obser- vations 121° 16′. Variation 2° 50′ W. High water at 2h. 30m. Direction of tide W. N. W.; rise and fall 9 feet.

    On a nearer approach to this bay, the north point appears abrupt, and is of a reddish color, sloping towards the north, and perpendicu- lar towards the sea; it cannot well be mistaken for any other part of the coast. The bay is extensive, being 7 or 8 miles wide, and affords ample room for any number of ships; but within 2 or 3 miles, within the point where the watering bay is, there is only 34 fathoms at low water, and it is prudent not to approach nearer. This is on

the south side of the bay (EL) Changhing opposite to (復州)

Fuhchow on the main.

    Coast of Corea and Leaoutung. On the 17th of September, at 10 o'clock A. M., the south head of Leaoutung bearing N. W. by W. 4 miles, discolored water was seen, but it was occasioned either by meeting of the tides or muddy bottom, as not less than 31 fathoms were found. At noon, the latitude was 38° 58′ N., and longitude 121° 18′ E. Blonde.

The south head of Leaoutung is in latitude 38° 40′ N., and longi- tude 121° 12′ E. The head is a bold high promontory. With it

1841.

Coast of China and Corea.

379

bearing E. N. E. 15 miles, we anchored in 15 fathoms mud; and the ebb tide setting strong to the southeast. Steering from thence to the Head, the water deepened to 20, 25, and 30 fathoms. The coast-line from the Head trends to the northeast, and is high and bold, with deep sand bays, affording shelter to junks from the prevailing winds from the northward. We anchored in a bay with the Head bearing N. 70° W., 16 miles. The latitude of the anchorage was 38° 48° N., and longitude 121° 34′ E. It is well sheltered from northeast to easterly winds, but exposed to southward and southwest. From the anchorage, the west point of a rocky island, which forms the bay, bore S. 71° E.; centre of a town N. 56° E.; off shore, one mile, in 16 fathoms. The depth of water is irregular, but the holding ground is good. Wood appeared to be scarce, and cattle were seen in consi- derable numbers. P.

     Seaou Ping taou to Victoria bay. The first anchorage on this coast was in 20 fathoms, in a small bight called in the chart Seaou Ping taou, exposed to the southwest winds. The soundings from noon to the anchorage, were 38, 33, 32, 27, 25, and 20 fathoms, with hard ground at the distance of 17 miles from the cape, bearing S. 66° W.; a high steep rocky cliff, N. 62° E.; centre of a town N. 42° E. Lati- tude 38° 46′ N., longitude 121° 37′ E. Three islands lie off the end of this bay. Two of them are connected by a spit of sand.

On the 18th, the Blonde weighed, ran down between the Cap island and Quoin rock to the anchorage in Victoria bay, the sound- ings being 20, 17 and 20 fathoms, and anchored in the latter depth, with the following bearings: Cap island, S. W. by W. † W.; white rugged point, W. by S. S.; Sanpan shan tow east. Latitude of anchorage 38° 52′ N., longitude 121° 53′ E. The outer part of this bay affords shelter to winds from westward and northerly to east. During our stay here we obtained some cattle from the large island of Sanshan taou. B.

Easterly from the bay in which H. M. ship Pylades anchored upon the 17th of September, and distant about 5 miles, is a small island, which on this bearing appears round and much like the Cap in the straits of Sunda, but on the opposite direction, it appears like a quoin; a rock lies off it to the southward. We passed between it and the coast, running along the land to the eastward, having no bot- tom with 25 fathoms. Running from the Cap to the E. N. E., at the distance of 6 miles, we passed close to two other islands, one ap- pearing like a ship under sail. These islands appeared steep to; no bottom with 25 fathoms was obtained a mile from the shore, S. W

380

/

Coast of China and Corea.

JULY,

by W., 5 or 6 leagues from the Cap. We anchored in a small bay to examine the coast. This anchorage is protected from N. W. to S. W. winds, but otherwise exposed. The bay is formed by an island upon the south side, and high bold land to the north. fresh water may be had. The inhabitants were civil.

Here

   Victoria gulf. From this place, the coast trended away to the northward and westward, into a deep bay or gulf, with good shelter and excellent anchorages. The distance across, at the entrance, is about 13 miles, with two islands nearly in the centre. They are high, and appear as three, one having a neck of sand which is covered at high water. The gulf may be easily known by these islands and a very high black looking hill on the main. The depth of water at the entrance is 21 and 20 fathoms. On running in, the water soon shoaled to 10, 9, 8, and 7 fathoms. We ran in direct for the hill, and carried the latter depth to the entrance of a fine haven, where we anchored 0.8 of a mile off shore.

Plenty of cattle were seen on the hills, but the natives appeared hostile, coming down in hundreds armed with matchlocks and spears. The entrance is in latitude 38° 56′ N., and longitude 121° 50′ E. The northwestern side, or head of the gulf, was examined, and good anchorages found (protected from all winds), in 5 and 54 fathoms, stiff mud.

E. N. E. from the islands, at the entrance of the gulf, and about 5 leagues distant, is a dangerous reef, which lies some distance off the coast. 11 appeared about 1 mile in extent, and level with the water's edge; we passed two miles to the southward, having 35 fa- thoms. From this we steered E. by S. for the south extreme of a num. ber of islands, and found good shelter on the east side of an island, in latitude 39° 2′ N., and longitude 122° 49′ E. This anchorage northerly winds.

is in 17 fathoms, and well protected from all but There are two islands 4 miles to the eastward of this, lying N. and S., which form a channel with deep water. Stock of every de- scription and vegetables were abundant; but water was scarce. The high water, on full and change days, iş at 6h., and the rise and fall 6 feet. Variation of the compass 2° 30′ W.

There is a remarkable rock, bearing S. S. W. from the south point of the island, distant 6 miles, appearing like a junk under sail. It is high, and may be seen 4 or 5 leagues. We passed inside of it, and had no bottom with 30 fathoms. P.

   Coast of Corea. H. M. ship Blonde weighed from Victoria gulf, on the 21st of September, and ran between the north island and the

1841.

Coast of China and Corea.

381

main, in 18 to 20 fathoms. There is a dangerous reef of rocks some distance from the land.

At 8 A. M.,

                    the latitude being 38° 56′ N., and longitude 122° 15′ E., it bore north, being 1 or 2 miles distant. Squally weather with rain prevented any observations at noon, and deprived us of a further view of the land which appeared to trend northerly. The depth of water varied from 18 to 20 fathoms.

We then altered our course for the north extreme of an island, passing between it and some remarkable rocks resembling junks under sail, and anchored to the eastward of the largest and westernmost of a group of 5 islands in 204 fathoms, half a mile from the shore, and well sheltered from westerly winds. The bearings were, the east passage E. N. E. to N. N. E.; village S. W. by S.; rocks to the north, N. W. by N.

The Blonde weighed from this anchorage at 9 o'clock a. M. on the 20th, taking the northernmost passage, and at noon was off south part of an extensive group of islands, being in latitute 39° 8′ N., and longitude 122° 57′ E.; the soundings being 20, 23, and 24 fathoms. We then hauled to the northward, for a deep bay in which were numerous islands, on the eastern side of which our soundings gradu- ally decreased to 18, 12, 10, and 9 fathoms. We then hauled out, giving the island, which has numerous remarkable rocks off its south- ern end, a good berth, carrying 18 and 17 fathoms, and anchored on the eastern side. The latitude by account being 39° 20′ N., and longitude 123° 12′ E., about 2 miles off shore in 12 fathoms - mud. This island affords good shelter from northwest winds. B.

      The Pylades weighed from her anchorage in lat. 39° 2′ N., and long. 122° 49′ E., at 8 o'clock a. M., steering N. N. E., and at noon was in lat. 39° 10′ N., and long. 122° 54′ E., in 22 fathoms, the east- ern point of a group of islands bearing N. † W., 3 or 4 miles. Steer- ing from this to the northward, we entered an inlet formed by the above group and others to the eastward. The high land of Corea was distant about 12 miles. Shoaling our water from 15 to 9 fathoms, we hauled to the eastward and anchored under the last mentioned islands.

      The southernmost islands of the group are barren, with sharp pointed rocks appearing much like the Needles. We saw something resembling a fort, or walled town, on the main, at the distance of 5 leagues. The line of coast appeared to trend to the northeast. The flood tide set to the northward, at the rate of 34 knots, and the ebb to the eastward: high water at 8h. 30m.

322

Coast of China and Corea.

JULY,

The next day at noon, being in latitude 39° 2′ N., and longitude 124° 39′ E., lost sight of the main land, a group of low islands being in sight, bearing N. by W. distant 10 miles; and the east extreme of a number of high islands S. E. by E., 16 to 18 miles. This position on the Admiralty chart places us 17 miles within the coast-line.

Dangerous reef. From noon, steering S. by E., running at the rate of 7 knots, at Oh. 50m., we suddenly shoaled from 15 to 7 fathoms, rocky bottom; hauled off W. S. W., and soon deepened the water again to 20 and 22 fathoms. Altered our course again to S. by E., and after running a short time shoaled again suddenly, passing from 17 into 10, 7, 6, and 4 fathoms. From the appearance of the broken water and birds, there appeared to be much less water on the shoal. The latitude of the 4 fathom cast was 38° 56′ N., and lon- gitude 124° 37′ E. P.

Tides in the gulf of Cheihle. At the anchorage off the Pei bo, about 16 miles from the land, it was high water on fall and change days at 4 o'clock P. M. Flood tide set to the northwestward, and ebb to the southeast. Its velocity was 1 knot per hour, during spring tides; rise and fall about 7 feet. At Toki and the Heshan group, the tides are very irregular. While at anchor off Toki, the stream ran 22 hours to the westward, while the water rose and fell by the shore. High water on full and change days about 8h. 30m.

During the Wellesley's stay in the gulf of Cheihle, from the 5th of Aug. until the 21st of September, the weather generally speaking was fine, with the wind from every quarter, but rarely blowing stronger than 4, or a moderate breeze. On her passage from the gulf to Chu- san, between the 21st and 26th of September, light and moderate breezes were experienced, and from every point of the compass. When in latitude 34° 3′ N., and longitude 124° 8′ E., an island, apparently high, was in sight from the deck, bearing E. N. If this (as was supposed at the time) was Alceste island, it would appear to be laid down too far to the eastward in the chart.

   Chusan to Canton in November. Returning to Canton river, from Chusan in the middle of November, the winds varied from N. W. to E. N. E., generally fresh breezes with overcast thick weather. The current was not so strong as we expected; between Patahecock and Chapel island it set the ship S. 40° E., 17 miles in 48 hours; and from thence to the Lema channel 8. 41° W., 15 miles in 48 hours.

W.

1841.

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keang.

383

ART. III. Yangtsze Keäng: sailing directions for it derived from

      nautical surveys made by H. B. M. ship Conway in 1840. ARRIVING in the bay of Ningpo from the eastward, care must be taken to avoid a tide rock, which lies a short half mile to the north- ward of the Deadman. The bearings from the rock, by compass, are as follows: left extreme Square island, N. 68° W., or W. N. W.; left extreme of the islet north of Kintang, N. 5° E,, or N. † E.; right extreme of Dumb island, S. 52° W. or S. W. § W. Passage islet shut in by the south extreme of the Triangles, or the Beacon hill on with the fort (Chaou paou), clears the rock. There is a patch, with 24 fathoms, S. E. by S. from Square island, distant one half mile; the Beacon hill on with the fort also clears the patcli. The Conway lay in a good berth, having Passage islet south, and Square island E. N. E. This anchorage during the summer is safe; during the autumn and winter, strong northerly breezes prevail, and shelter must be sought over on the Kintang shore, or off 'Just-in-the-way,' (called by the Chinese Hwangnew seaou) bringing it to bear northwest about one mile. The steam vessel Madagascar anchored under Passage islet during a blow, but was glad to get out to Just-in. the-way.

     Running to the northward, pass on either side of Square island, and then keep over towards Kintang, so as to bring Square island to bear south as soon as possible; do not bring it to the eastward of this bearing, as the western part of the bay is supposed to be shallow, a patch of 3 fathoms having been passed over lying N. by W., 3 miles from Square island.

     Proceeding to the northward, you pass the North islands to port, the largest and easternmost being about 220 feet high, with an islet north of it. To starboard is a small island, named East island, with 3 or 4 islets or rocks north of it; and to the northward of this lies Middle group,

           the largest of which has a conical hill on its north end. Another of the group, west of the largest, is also high and conical; several islets and rocks lie west of this group, all above water.

     Vessels may pass to the northward between Kintang and Black- wall. The water is deep in the Steward passage; but when through, anchorage is found in 8 or 9 fathoms. Then keep to the northwest, leaving East island to starboard.

A vessel can pass to the eastward

384

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keäng.

JULY,

   of East island and of the Middle group; but east of the latter, there is a bank, which has not been sufficiently examined. The Conway passed over it in 3 fathoms.

    Steering still to the northward, you make, on the port bow, the Seshan islands. On the starboard bow is a more numerous group, called Rugged islands. Bottom was found at 6 fathoms throughout. Over the Seshan islands, a solitary hill on the main will probably be seen, which is supposed to be in the neighborhood of Chapo. (Of Chapo more will be said in the sequel.)

Hauling to the eastward, round the Rugged islands, a small islet, the Hen and Chickens, will be seen; and also, beyond this, to the N. E., Gutzlaff's island of the Amherst; it appears in this direction as a cone, and is about 250 feet in height. Gutzlaff's island is sup- posed to be what the Chinese call Ma tseih, or 'Horse Rocks. This however needs verifying.

    To the eastward lies a large group of islands, up to which you carry 6 fathoms; to the northward of these, at a distance of 8 or 10 leagues, lies Saddle island of the Amherst's voyage, making in this direction one conical hill. To port the low land of the main will probably be seen. There is anchorage throughout in from 6 to 8

fathoms.

To proceed still to the northward, steer N. N. E. for the Dange- fous rocks. These are not at all dangerous, being 10 or 12 feet above water; passing these close, steer, if required, to the N. W. for

Shawei shan 沙衛山

   To enter the Yangtsze keäng (or 'Child of the ocean') with a large ship, it probably would be necessary to station a couple of small vessels, one on the edge of the outer bank, the other on the spit higher up. She might anchor 4 or 5 leagues off Gutzlaff's island, while they were being placed. Attention to the following directions ought to carry in 20 feet.

    Leaving Gutzlaff's island, keep it on a S. S. E. bearing; and having fun-7 or 8 leagues, Shawei shar will bear N. E. by N. From this point the break or ripple on the bank should be seen, and you may steer N. W. When you have got hold of the bank, steer W. N, W. The low land to port should be visible from aloft; and a tree suffi- ciently remarkable will be distinguished. Keep this tree two points on the port bow. It must be passed at a distance of at least two miles, as the bank extends far out from it. When the tree bears S. E., close the port shore to 1 or 2 of a mile, steering N. W. by

1841.

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keäng.

W. for a large clump of trees. increase to 9 or 10 fathoms.

385

The soundings will now gradually

The outer extreme of the fortifications at Woosung will be seen at 7 or 8 miles distance, abreast a clump called the 'Treble trees:' run on, keeping from ₫ to 1 mile off shore, and anchor with the eastern fort S. by W., and the extreme of the wall N. W. by W.; or you may select any other berth you prefer from the chart. Bush island will be seen, the Bush bearing about north. A bar extends some dis- tance from the mouth of the river, with 2 and 4 fathoms, deepening suddenly to 10 and 12 fathoms. Bush island must not be approach-

ed nearer than 24 miles.

      Being in mid-channel betwixt Woosung and Bush ista se about N. W. by W., keeping 1 or 2 miles off shore, and you wil shoal gradually from 8 to 44 fathoms: this point is about 2 miles of shore, abreast of the deepest bight: proceeding, you deepen to 14 fathoms, until abreast a grove or clump of trees, 17 or 18 miles from Woosung. When the west end of the trees on Mason island begins to open of the west point of Tsungming (point Harvey), steer to the northward, opening them gradually, and pass point Harvey at a mile distance: it is quite steep.

     From point Harvey, steer N. W. W., on for 3 distant hills and a pagoda, approaching no nearer to Mason island, than 2 miles. When past it steer west, keeping about mid-channel. The trees on Mason island must not be brought to the southward of east, to avoid a shoal running out from the north shore, one third of the distance across. When the Pagoda hill bears N. W., and a large bush on the south shore S. W., you are abreast the shoalest part, and must steer N. W. by W. W., for Round-tree point, distant four miles. The soundings about this point are deep and irregular. When past it, and abreast of a creek and mud fort, the bank is very steep, shoaling from 20 to 2 fathoms, and then to 4 feet. This you avoid by keeping the large bush in sight S. E. by E. † E.; and a course W. by N. 8 miles leads abreast of a small circular fort and other buildings, the highest point reached by the Conway. The whole south shore appears very shoal to or 1 mile off. The channel from this point runs probably about N. N. W., but it requires examination. Running in from sea- ward, the most eligible land to make is Saddle island. No land was seen north of Saddle island from the summit of Shawei shan.

     Winds, tides, &c. Off the Seshan islands, the time of high water, at full and change, is 11h. 45m; rise, 12 feet. The flood sets W. N. W.; the ebb E. S. E. Generally off the mouth of the river, it is high

VOL. X. NO. YIL

49

386

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keäng.

JULY,

water on full and change days at about noon, or half an hour after. The rise at spring is 13 feet; at neaps, 10 feet; once 18 feet were noted, but this was probably caused by the ship having swung, so as to change her depth. The stream of the flood comes from the eastward, drawing to the southward about its last quarter, passing round to the ebb from the westward, and so on round by north. The greatest velocity measured was 4 knots, off the northern entrances; but the usual velocity at springs is about 3 knots.

    In the river off Woosung, high water at full and change occurs about 1h. 30m. The rise is uncertain, but ranges from 15 to 5 feet. The stream of flood comes from S. E. passing round by east to northward; the ebb comes from N. W., passing round by south.

    At the farthest point reached, high water, at full and change, oc- cured about 4h. 30m. The rise was 14 feet; the ebb running 8 hours. The flood at the neaps was nearly obliterated.

    In July, the barometer stood at 29.74; and the thermometer at 78°. The prevailing winds were southeast, freshening about the change of the moon.

    In August, the barometer stood at 29.78; and the thermometer at 81°. The prevailing winds were southeast, easterly, and northerly. For a day or two there was blowing weather, with a little rain, at the change of the moon.

In September, the barometer stood at 29.90; and the thermometer The winds variable, but drawing roand from southeast to north. Blows with rain occurred at full and change. Mornings were much colder than the average temperature.

    The temperature, having been taken on the main deck, is not probably very correct. The periodical breezes appeared to increase in intensity at full and change. The barometer rose with the north- erly winds, and fell with westerly and southerly. One hard blow occurred with the barometer at 30.10.

Supplies, &c. The island of Tsungming is highly cultivated, par- ticularly on its northern side. There are a plenty of cattle, used for agricultural purposes; and almost all the islands outside excepting Shawei shan and Gutzlaff's, produce vegetables.

Chapo is situated on the north side of a bay on the north- ern side of the great bay of Hangchow. The land on the right and left of it is high, and appears like islands, the coast of the bay being generally low. The points of the entrance are 5 or 6 miles apart. Rather towards the north entrance lie North and South' islands,

1841.

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keáng,

387

about 1 mile from the shore, and of a mile apart: they are not easily distinguished from the high land in the rear. On the top of the high conical hill, forming the starboard entrance, are one or two buildings; and rather more than halfway down is a fort, having 4 guns. These are conspicuous objects. The town is situated to the left of the hill, in a small nook; it is defended by a battery and breastwork. The soundings decrease regularly from 10 to 34 fa- thoms close in to the town, and the Algerine anchored, distant from the town battery about 500 yards in 34 fathoms mud, with the follow- ing bearings; fort on the bill N. E. by E. † E.; South island E. by S. ↑ S.; remarkable pagoda, W. by S. & S.

A group of small islands, east of Chapo, distant about 8 miles, is likely to mislead, as it is not laid down on the old charts. (Query, Seshan islands?)

Running for the anchorage, round South island, at 2 cables' dis- tance, and haul up for the junks at anchor, when the fort on the hill bears N. E. by E. about 1 mile, you will find from 7 to 9 fathoms steep ground, and sheltered from all winds but S. E. to E. S. E. No dangers were visible.

TABLE of the Latitude and Longitude of the places mentioned in the preceding surveys, with their Chinese names.

388

Surveys in the Yungtsze Keung.

JULY,

Chinese

Names.

characters.

Sounds in

Fuhkeën.

Particular spot.

Latitude.

Longitude.

Authorities.

Heishan

黑山

Hek san

28° 25′ N.

121° 55'

Blonde.

Hihshan

Do.

Do.

S. E. islet

28° 55'

122° 17′

Wellesley.

Do.

Do.

Do.

N. W. part

28° 52'

122°: 5′

Blonde.

Do.

Do.

Do.

28° 50 ́

122° 18′

Pylades.

Tungcha shan

東霍山 Tonghok san

30° 14'

123 1

Wellesley.

Tsin shan

Chin san

30° 29'

122. 6.

Pylades.

Square island

Se shan

30° 0

121° 46′

Conway.

W. island

30° 357

121° 31 ́

>>

Hen & Chickens

30° 42′

122° 34

Gutzlaff's island

馬磧?

30° 48'

122° 11′

>>

Má chek

Saddle island

Centre

30° 50 ́

122° 41'

""

31° 10'

Rocks

122° 231^

Shawei shan

31° 25'

122° 15′

>>

-

Woosung 吳淞

Shantung prom.

Say-öey san

Golsetng

31° 23′

121° 30′

377° 24'

122° 47'

Blonde.

anny pata

1841.

Surveys in the Yangtsze Keung.

Names.

Toki

Miaotao

Pei ho anchorage

E

砣廟白

Chinese

characters.

Sounds in

Fuhkeën.

Tôke

Particular spot.

Latitude.

S.E. part of bay

38° 9′

120° 52'

廟島

Beãoutó

S. W. point

37° 54°

Longitude.

Wellesley.

Authorities.

120° 48′

""

Pék hô

38° 58'

118° *7^

38° 58'

118° 8*

Do.

Pylades.

38° 56'

118° 9′

Do.

Shaluy teën

沙壘田| Sayláy těên

Temple

38° 55'

118° 371

Blonde.

Wellesley.

Do.

Do.

Shoal

38° 59'

118° 7

Pylades.

Tungtsze kow

Leaoutung

Seaou Ping I.

Do.

Victoria bay

MK

Tôngchoó koe | Anchorage

39° 30'

121° 20'

"

Leâou tong

S. Head

38° 40'

121° 12'

Em | Seáou Pêng tó

Seáou Pêng tó | Anchorage

38° 46'

121° 37′

Blonde.

Do.

Do.

Do.

38° 48'

121° 34'

Pylades.

Anchorage

38° 52′

121° 53'

Blonde.

Do.

Do.

Dangerous reef

Do.

38° 56'

121° 50'

Pylades.

3d anchorage

39° 2′

122° 49′

"

4 fathoms

38° 56'

124° 37'

389

3H)

Capture of the Heights above L'anion.

JULY,

ART. IV. A brief account of the assault and capture of the heights and forts above the city of Canton, &c., &c. By an eye-witness.

On the 18th of May, the transports, &c., all got under weigh, for the third time since December last, for the Canton river. With the exception of the sick of the different regiments, and a portion of the 37th regiment Madras native infantry, left to protect the island of Hongkong, and as a guard over the stores there, the remainder of our available force proceeded up the river. Nothing of any importance occurred during the passage up, save a ship occasionally running against a sunken junk, which however caused no further annoyance than the delay, until either a breach had been formed in the side of the rotten junk, or the flood tide had floated the ship off. It was an extraordinary sight to see the Blenheim, 74, towed by a steamer, proceeding leisurely up the back channel-a passage, through which nothing beyond Chinese junks was previously known to have pass- ed. This channel had been, within the last few days, surveyed by captain Belcher of the Sulphur. In fact, the Chinese never would allow foreign ships to proceed up this channel, and it was at all times so blocked up with fishing-stakes as to offer but little temptation to their preferring it to the old and better known passage by Whampoa The Blenheim proceeded to within nine miles of Canton. The smaller ships anchored within from three to five miles of the city, while some of the 18 and 20 gun ships took up a position opposite to and above the factories.

Early on the morning of the 24th, copies of the following General Orders were sent to the officers commanding the different corps, detachments, &c.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1.

Head quarters, Marion, Canton river, May 24th. 1. The period has now arrived, so long looked for by the military portion at large of the China expedition, when it may have an opportunity, in cooperation with our gallant associates of the royal navy, of proving what can be effected by discipline and bravery.

    2. Major-general Gough feels a confident assurance that every man will do his duty, that he will have the gratifying task, not only of recording and bringing to notice acts of gallantry, but (what is of infinitely more consequence in the pre- sent instance, and will afford stronger proof of devotedness to our country's honor and our professional character,) of unshaken discipline and undeviating attention to the orders issued by the officers in the command of columns of attack.

!

1841.

Capture of the Heights above Canton.

391

       3. The nature of the position to be carried, and the probable necessity of sub- dividing the force into separate columns of attack, which may be led through the town and suburbs, make it the more necessary to enforce the most rigid discipline, and to guard against any man leaving the ranks upon any pretence whatever. The man who does so will most probably be cut off; but even should he escape, his name should be branded as a disgrace to his corps.

       4. The Chinese system is not one to which the British soldier is accustomed, but if the Chinese have not bravery and discipline, they have cunning and artifice. They have had ample time to prepare, and we may be well assured that their system of stratagem will be called into full play on the present occasion. But, though such a system may be effectual against a mob, which every broken body is, it must fail before the steady advance of disciplined soldiers. The major-general will only add, that Britain has gained as much of fame by her mercy and forbear- ance, as by the gallantry of her troops. An enemy in arms is always a legiti. mate foe, but the unarmed, or the supplicant for mercy, u: whatever country or whatever color, a true British soldier will always spare.

      5. The troops will be prepared, with cooked provisions for two days, to land this day at 12 o'clock, in two columns.

(Signed)

ARMINE S. H. Mountain, Lt.-colonel, D. A. G. At the time appointed, boats were in readiness for the conveyance of the troops to the landing-place. The officers of the expedition are much indebted to the commodore, sir Le Fleming Senhoase, for his great exertions in procuring these boats, the construction of which was admirably adapted for protecting the troops from the sun, each capable of carrying from 50 to 200 men, according to their respec- tive sizes. The boats were towed up by the Nemesis, to a place about two miles above Canton, where they arrived about 7 o'clock P. M. A more extraordinary sight, perhaps, never was witnessed, than this fleet of boats, conveying upwards of 2600 fighting men, besides followers, guns, stores, &c., yet no accident happened. Had the enemy been on the alert, they might have committed dreadful havoc amongst us. The guns and artillery were landed during the night, but the remainder of the force did not debark till morning. A false alarm roused us about midnight; but nothing occurred till our landing at daylight on the 26th.

     The general was the first on shore; and so soon as the 37th were disembarked, they received orders to accompany him as an escort. The detachment of Bengal Volunteers also accompanied him. The general advanced in a southwesterly direction about a mile from the landing-place to a rising ground, from whence a general survey of the line of country we were to pass over could be taken. From here we could see the enemy's picquets at their posts for miles on every side. They made use of every gesture to encourage us to advance. A portion of the escort was ordered forward to reconnoitre, and to

1

392

Capture of the Heights above Canton.

JULY,

ascertain as soon as possible the force of the enemy in this position. A few of the latter, beating their shields, shouting and brandishing their swords and spears, appeared to have all the wish to exterminate our small party; but they did not come within musket range of us.

When the general had ascertained all he wanted, his escort was directed to join the 1st brigade in the right column. This brigade was formed of the 49th and 37th regiments, with a detachment of Bengal Volunteers. The 2d brigade was formed of the Royal and Madras artillery, and sappers and miners. The corps of seamen, 460 in number, formed the 3d brigade in the right column. The ordnance attached to this column consisted of four 127b. howitzers, four 91b. field guns, four 51⁄2 inch mortars, fifty-two 3216. rockets, and two light 6 pounders; it was commanded by lieutenant-colonel Morris. The left column, which was commanded by major-general Burrell, consisted of the Royal Marines (reserve), the 18th Royal Irish, the 26th Cameronians, a detachment of Madras artillery, and engineers and sappers. The ordnance attached to it was one light 6 pounder, and one 5 inch mortar.

The ground we had to pass over was chiefly paddy-fields and bury- ing-grounds; consequently there was great difficulty and delay in transporting the guns. The headless trunk of a camp follower, who had gone a few yards beyond the landing-place during the night, was found; his body was untouched, but his murderer had no doubt carried away the head of his victim to claim the promised reward.

Long before our guns could be brought to bear upon the forts, the enemy had opened a brisk fire on our advanced columns. Their shot, however, fell short. About 9 o'clock A. M., we returned the fire, simultaneously from the guns, mortars, and rockets. Though the enemy's shot fell close around our men, in every direction, yet no accident happened. In about an hour from the time our guns commenced firing, the Chinese were observed to collect in great numbers outside their forts, evidently deliberating upon the best plan of

escape. Our troops were now ordered to advance. The positions we were to attack, namely, the heights and forts above Canton, were barely removed 100 yards from the city wall, and appeared strongly defended. There were four forts, each mounting from eight to ten guns, besides numberless ginjals, which poured forth volley after volley of grape.

A simultaneous attack was made on all the forts; the weather was excessively hot, and the ground of the worst possible description for troops to march over. The 1st and 2d brigades were directed to dis-

1811

Capture of the Heights above Canton.

393'

lodge the enemy from the two forts to the south; and the 3d bri- gade (the gallant jacks) those to the west of the city. In the 1st brigade, the 49th took the lead at starting, the 37th M. N. I. and Bengal Volunteers following close on their heels. The 37th were, I believe, the first to reach the summit.

1

Little opposition was offered

to their advance. The enemy had all evacuated the forts, and were', seen running down the hills in every direction, letting off myriads of barbed rockets, which did no further injury, than most effectually to prevent the course of their flight being observed.

      In one of the two forts to the west, the sailors had hard work of it, the enemy not leaving their stronghold, till, by means of escalad- ing ladders, dur fellows effected an entrance, and there hand to hand cut them to pieces. In effecting this, our men were much cut up; chiefly, however, by the flanking fire from the wall of the city.

:

      The reserve was now directed to take possession of an entrenched camp, where the enemy had rallied. This encampment was well covered by the guns from the city wall, and removed more than a mile from the forts now occupied by the first brigade. The enemy' was evidently in great force there; and as usual, till our men came too close to be pleasant, waved their banners and encouraged us to come on. Their officers were seen riding on poneys 'in front of the ranks. Well did the Royal Irish do their work that day, advancing all the way at double quick step, regardless both of the shot from the city walls, and of the showers of grape from the entrenched camp; in a few brief moments, everything was in their possession, and after setting fire to all that could be laid hold of, they took their departure. In this advance there were four officers and several men wounded. The rockets worked splendidly, astonishing poor foke not a little.

}

A fire was kept up from the city wall nearly all night. During the afternoon, the general had a narrow escape, having been at one time completely covered with dust from a shot that struck the ground close by his side. The total amount of our killed and wounded this day was about 70; on the side of the enemy, the actual loss was never ascertained.

The troops bivouacked as they best could during the night. Our worthy chief was the first on the move in the morning of the 26th, when we all eagerly looked forward to a little escalading practice. In this however we were disappointed; sufficient materials had not yet come up for effecting the object contemplated, viz., setting fire to the city. About noon, the ammunition, &c., arrived; but, unfortu

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nately, by this tinte it rained in such torrents as to put a stop to all operations. The inhabitants appeared to be deserting the city in great numbers. On the ramparts, which poured forth such volleya yesterday, not a soul was to be seen, and from the heights. crowds could be observed bearing their property on their shoulders, pouring out of the gates farthest removed from the forts in our possession. Te- wards afternoon, a flag of truce (for the overbearing Chinese have at length to their cost come to know the use of the white flag) was seen to wave from the most conspicuous part of the ramparts; and a red buttoned officer, advancing to one of the embrasures nearest to qur position, and also waving the white flag in his hand, seemed ta implore an interview. The general, commodore sir Le Fleming Sea- house, and Mr. Thom the interpreter, advanced forward. But on as- certaining that the rank of the Chinese officer was not equal to that of qur's, the latter retired; and major-general Burrell, and captain Gough A. D. C. to the general, were directed to ascertain what the enemy wanted. This proved to be the offer of certain terms to spare the city. The Chinese were told, that it was not in major-general Bur- rell's power to listen to any terms proposed; and that if they wished for an interview with our general, it could not take place from the walls of the city; but that tents should be pitched half-way be- tween our position and the city, and that there our general and com- modore should meet only those of like rank from the enemy. This was after some time agreed to on all sides, and the Chinese declared that their deputation should be at the appointed place in exactly one hour and a half. Hour after hour, however, passed, and, as might have been expected from the previous too well-known character of the Chinese, no deputation arrived, and unfortunately the rain which now fell in torrents, not only prevented the resumption of hostilities, but thoroughly soaked the ground which formed alike the bed for the general and common soldier. Yet no complaint was heard, and the tropps, in their wet clothes, with little food and less drink, went to the respective duties allotted them for the night, without a murmur.

    Up to this date, with the exception of the wounded, there was not a sick man in the force. All eagerly looked forward to the morrów. During this night, the artillery was hard' at work-guns, mortars, rocket tubes, &c., with all their appendages, were brought into position: The infantry was placed so as to prevent the enemy from working their guns. The esçalading parties were also detailed, which con sisted of a portion of the 18th Royal Irish and 37th M. N. I. The portion of the wall to be escaladed was between 40 and 50 feet high,

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and this the artillery expected to reduce to 25 or 30 feet. From its old and ruined appearance, it was believed this could easily be effected. Early on the morning of the 27th, everything was arranged. The guns were loaded and primed. The port fires were lit, and the ge- neral and the commodore were taking a last look, previous to giving the signal to commence firing. The enemy too appeared on the alert, numbers of them were seen running backwards and forwards on the ramparts. A few minutes more, and the work would have commenced, had not an unlooked-for messenger arrived with dis- patches from the plenipotentiary to the general and commodore. How anxiously did we all watch the features of those two brave and determined¡men, as they each perused their documents. Sir Flem- ing was the first to speak, and those nearest to him heard him say, 'I protest against the terms of the treaty in toto.' The news soon spread. Captain Elliot, as usual, acting on the spur of the moment, had, without even paying those who are so far superior to him in every way the compliment of asking their advice, concluded a peace with the Chinese, and ransomed the city of Canton for six millions of dollars. I leave the reader to judge of the disappointment felt by the troops on learning this intelligence.

On this day, the following General Orders were issued.

GENERAL Orders. No. 2.

Head Quarters, Fort Yungkang, Canton, May 27th, 1841. Major-general sir Hugh Gough from his heart congratulates the troops of every arm, composing the force, upon their steadiness under fire, and their brilliant con duct, on the attack of the heights, and the capture of the several forts above Can- ton, and of the intrenched camp under cover of the city wall, on the 25th inst. 2. This expression of the major-general's best thanks was as fully merited, and is as sincerely accorded, to the naval battalion, and the royal marines, who have nobly upheld the high character of their profession.

: 3. Where all were emalous to maintain the honor of British sailors and soldiers, it would be impossible to particularize. To all, the major-general's best thanks are due; to all, those thanks are heartily offered.

4. Officers commanding corps and brigades and heads of departments, in ac- cepting the major-general's thanks for themselves, will be pleased to communicate them to their officers and men.

By order. (Signed) ́ Arming S. H. Mountain, Lt.Colonel, D. A. G. As the force was to remain in its present position till the money was paid, the most comfortable quarters that could be procured were given to the troops. The suburbs of the city, and the villages in the immediate neighborhood were completely deserted; not a Chinese was to be seen, except a few old and diseased of both sexes,

                                       who were unable to move.

t

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Our loss in killed and wounded, up to this date, amounted to about 70. That on the side of the enemy must have been far more, though at first but few bodies were found. A foraging party, when a few miles from our camp, discovered between 60 and 70 dead and dying Tartars in one house, who evidently had been carried there to give us a false idea of the number killed.

One part of captain Elliot's treaty was, that the Tartar troops, from thirty to forty thousand in number, should evacuate the city, lay down their arms, aud proceed to a distance of sixty miles from Can- ton. Since the arrival of our force opposite the walls, the Tartar and Chinese troops had been carrying on a civil war within the city, the loss on both sides being very great. Besides this, our shipping and land force had so effectually blockaded and besieged the city, that few or no supplies could enter. Consequently, the inhabitants were now driven to that state, that they would agree to any terms we chose to dictate. How unfortunate that captain Elliot's tempera- ment should be so conciliating! As it is, however, if the sum receiv- ed for the ransom of the city is to go to the navy and military as prize-money, it will amply recompense them for the toils and trou- bles they have endured. This sum being quite unconnected with the original claims on the Chinese, it would be rather unfair that those who succeeded in procuring the same should derive no benefit therefrom.

The 29th of May was a day of rest, and our officers and men were to be seen in every direction walking through the deserted suburbs and villages in the neighborhood of Canton. Some very extraordinary tombs, and places of worship or joss-houses were seen.

One very extensive line of buildings, close under the city wall, was solely de- voted to the reception of the dead. They were in strong substantial coffins, elevated on pillars with perfumed incense-sticks burning on every side. The coffins were generally placed two in one vault; and, with the exception of a close damp smell, there was no un- pleasant sensation perceptible. Outside of the vaults, evergreens and creepers were tastefully arranged, and over the doors of some of them beehives were fixed. The coffins were of enormous thickness and strength. The contents of a few of those that were opened present- ed an appearance almost natural. The bodies were all embalmed. They were buried in their, clothes, the cap and button denoting in death, as in life, the rank of the wearer. The body, in some of the coffins opened, must have been from all pearance an inhabitant of its narrow bed for upwards of half a century. The features present-

1

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ed a dried and shriveled appearance, and there was a strong pun- gen, aromatic smell perceptible on raising the lid. In the right hand of each was a fan, and in the left of many a piece of paper having Chinese characters written on it. To an antiquarian, there were many things in this village which would have excited much interest. Two thirds of the money was this day paid, and shipped on board H. M. ship Modeste; and as one million more was to be paid imme- diately, and security taken for the remainder, the troops expected to return to their ships on the 31st. Some of the Tartar troops had al- ready left the city, and others were to leave the following day. Every- thing looked pacific. There were certainly some rumors, that rein- forcements were expected for the protection of Canton, and that this delay, on the part of the authorities, to pay up the money demanded, was merely an excuse to gain time to enable the new troops to arrive. But as the plenipotentiary gave no credence to these reports, of course no one else did. However, on the morning of the 30th, and before we had finished that most agreeable of all medicines in a tro- pical climate, namely, a cheroot after breakfast, the sound of the bugle was heard in the direction of the general's quarters! The sound could not be mistaken. It was taken up on all sides.

14

Orders now arrived for the 26th Cameronians and 37th M. N. I, to proceed and drive off a large body of the enemy, which was seen approaching our encampment. The enemy was at this time at a distance of nearly two miles from our position, and covered a space of ground upwards of a mile in length. They were certainly between ten and fifteen thousand strong, while our small body did not amount to much more than five hundred. Captain Knowles, of the Royal artillery, with a few rockets, soon checked the impe- tuous, ardor of the enemy. The 37th, who had been directed to pro- ceed towards the left, came upon a party of their advanced guard by surprise, while they were quietly sitting under a tree sipping tea, but who no sooner saw us advancing, than they took to their heels in every direction, leaving their spears, their cups, and their buckets of tea for their pursuers, who found it a very pleasant beverage too, the day being very hot. It was about this time that the quarter-master general of the force dropped down dead from a coup de soleil. The enemy had now retreated about a couple of miles and taken up a po sition, on a rising ground, and as usual were waving their banners and shields, and encouraging us to come forward. Our rockets continued to plough line after line though their ranks; still they did not appear intimidated. The rain unfortunately began to threaten. A storm

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Capture of the Height above Canton.

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   was evidently approaching. The atmosphere was close and dense. The roll of distant thunder was beard, and the rays of the sun during the day had so heated the air that on its being inhaled, a sensation was left in the lungs similar to that felt when the vapor bath has been raised to too high a temperature.

It was evident that the enemy must be driven from their present position, otherwise they might advance upon our camp during the night. The threatening aspect of the weather rendered it necessary, 400, that no time should be lost in doing this. It was 1 o'clock P. M., when the general directed the 37th and 26th to advance, and drive the enemy from the heights; the third company of the 37th was detached to the left, the head quarters of the regiment proceeding to the right; and the 26th (Cameronians) also going towards a large vil. Jage to the left. As usual with the Chinese, the nearer we approached the farther they retired. We pursued them about three miles, when

it was judged prudent to return.

    The rain now fell in torrents, and prevented our seeing an object even at a few yards distance. No enemy was in sight, except a few solitary individuals on the tops of the highest hills. The 3d company of the 37th, and the 26th regiment, were seen almost in a line with and not far removed from the head-quarters of the 37th just before the rain commenced, and no one for a moment feared for the safety of the detached company. In fact we had not proceeded many paces be- fore the men said that the 'teem we company' was close on our rear.

It would be difficult to give a description of this retrograde move- ment. The rain had completely obliterated every trace of a footpath. There was nothing but one sea of water before us. The thunder and lightning were awful. The Chinese, I have no doubt, looked upon the storm as a judgment inflicted by their gods upon the bar- barians. About 4 P. M., the 37th arrived at the position they had started from. There the worthy general still stood; though drenched with rain, he would not move, till he saw us all safe back. And how gratified must every man present have been to see him so satisfied with what had been done. With his head uncovered, he shook hands with and thanked the native officers for their exertions. The 26th was seen approaching. The third company of the 37th was supposed to be coming up in the rear of that corps. On the arrival of the Jatter, however, what was the surprise of all to hear that they had seen nothing of the missing company. It was now about 5 o'clock p. m., and that portion of the force that had been employed all day was fatigued, and the rain had rendered their muskets unserviceable,

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so that it would have been useless to have sent them in search of our missing men; an express was therefore dispatched for two com- panies of the Royal Marines armed with percussion muskets. The rear of the 26th, while retiring, had been much annoyed by the ene my. Taking advantage of the almost helpless state of our men-one of whose muskets would go off, and their bayonets becoming all but useless weapons when opposed to long spears, so that little resis- tance beyond self-protection could be offered-the enemy contrived to pull over some of our men, with an instrument resembling a shep- herd's crook attached to a long bamboo, and afterwards rush on their unfortunate victims with their swords.

Great anxiety was now entertained for the fate of the missing com- pany. The food of the sepoys had just been cooked, when the order arrived to fall in; and such was the anxiety of the men to close with the soors who had been the means of bringing them from their own country (an expression the sepoys were often heard to make), that they preferred leaving everything untouched, saying they would have a better appetite on their return; consequently none of them had taken' any food since the previous day at noon. They had been exposed too, for the whole day to very harassing duty, at one time under a broil ing sup, and at another under drenching rain. It was therefore very natural to suppose that by this time they were considerably fatigued.

      In a small force like ours-at least small compared to the numbers opposed to us-----|

-the loss of even one company of sixty men' would be severely felt. But Providence had destined it otherwise. An oc< casional musket shot was heard by the marines in' search; and on advancing towards the spot whence it proceeded, a distinct 'hur- rah' was heard to follow each report. The marines also fired a few shot, and returned the 'hurrah,' and before the men' were aware of it (for at this time it was quite dark and continued to rain), came suddenly upon a large body of Chinese, who scampered off as soon as they saw our men approaching, and exposed to view the lost party, drawn up in form of a square. A feu de joie was fired by the marines in the direction of the flying cowardly enemy, after which the whole party turned homewards, the marines carrying such as were wounded. It was about 9 o'clock P. M., when the men reached the lines, where many hearty congratulations passed on all sides.

It now appeared that this company commenced retiring about the same time with the rest of the force composing the advance; and' that after they had proceeded a few hundred yards, their rear was

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assailed in the same manner as the rear of the 26th; and that before assistance could reach them, one of the rear rank was pulled over and cut to pieces. Young Berkeley, with half a dozen men, rushed forward to try and save this poor fellow. But it was too late: though he struggled hard for his life, and even when surrounded by numbers, and deprived of his musket, made good use of his bayonet, till covered with wounds he could resist no longer. The musket was picked up by one of the enemy, who, fixing his eyes on the officer (for he had by this time returned to his place in the square, which at the moment had been suddenly formed,) and, stepping behind a bush, deliberate- ly rested the musket on a branch, and coolly turning over the wet powder in the pan, apparently not at all understanding the use of the flint and steel, applied his own slow match to the powder, which, on exploding, lodged the ball in Mr. Berkeley's right arm. At this time not a musket would go off, and little resistance could be offered with the bayonet against the enemy's long spears. The men, after remain. ing in this position for a short time, were enabled to advance to a more defensible one, where too they were soon surrounded by thou- sands of the enemy, who had they possessed the slightest determination could have at once annihilated them. The rain ceasing to fall for a time, enabled the men to discharge a few of their muskets. The enemy was not removed above 15 yards, and every shot told as a mat- ter of course. Many of the sepoys, after extracting the wet cartridge, very deliberately tore their pocket handkerchiefs or lining from their turbans (the only dry thing about them), and baling water with their hands into the barrel of their pieces, washed and dried them. They were then enabled to fire few volleys in succession, and as each shot told with great effect in the crowd, the enemy was forced to retire; our small party were then enabled to proceed a considerable way homewards, followed however, though at a respectful 'distance, by the enemy. The rain again returning, encouraged the Chinese to advance; nothing therefore was left for our men, but a third time to form a square, in which position they made up their minds to remain till morning. But they had not been there more than two hours when the marines came up.

During the whole of the period this small party was so much ha- rassed, no body of men could possibly have been steadier, or behaved with greater coolness and bravery. The eagerness with which they obeyed the orders of their officers, their agility in warding off every blow, and resisting the sudden rushes on the square, their deter- mination in saving the lives of their comrades, who more than once

1841.

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401

all but fell into the hands of the enemy, and their steady conduct throughout, reflect not only credit on themselves, but also on the army they belong to; and deserve to be recorded in the annals of British India, as a proof of what can be effected by discipline and bravery.' The loss this company sustained was one private killed, one officer and 14 men severely wounded. It was commanded by lieutenant Hadfield, an old and experienced officer.

     The party had hardly quitted their position, when the enemy open- ed a fire upon them from a small gun, which they had mounted on a neighboring rising ground, but the shot fell short.

The next day, sir Hugh issued the following General Orders referring to this affair.

GENERAL ORDERS. No. 3.

Head Quarters, Fort Yungkung, 31st May, 1841. To the wing of the 26th (Cameronians), the company of Royal Marines, three companies of the 37th Madras N. Infantry, and detachment of Bengal Volun- teers, who were engaged yesterday in repelling the advance of a large body of the enemy, major-general sir Hugh Gough offers his best thanks for their steady and spirited conduct, which was as satisfactory to the major-general, as it was creditable to them.

By order. (Signed)

ARMINE S. H. MOUNTAIN, Lt.-colonel, D. A. G.

      On the 31st, the enemy again appeared collecting in large num bers, and the troops were again under arms. But from yesterday's expe- rience, we knew it would be labor lost to pursue them. The general, meantime, suspecting that this assemblage of troops was a preconcert- ed arrangement of the Chinese authorities in the city, intimated to the latter, that, unless all hostile show on their part was removed, he should immediately storm and take possession of the city. Such was now the alarm of the Kwangchow foo, and Yang, "the rebel- quelling general," that they advanced, with an escort, and held an interview with the officer commanding the Chinese troops outside, and they dispersed on the following day.

      Five millions of dollars having been received, and security procur- ed for the remainder, the force left the heights above Canton, and returned to their ships, leaving this great city a second time a record of British magnanimity and forbearance.'

VOL. X. NO. VII.

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Memorial to the Emperor.

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ART. V. Memorial from Yihshan and his colleagues to the em- peror concerning the capture of the forts and heights above Canton. (From the Canton Press.)

THIS day, the 14th day of the 4th moon (3d June, 1841), we, the great rebel. quelling general Yihshan, and the lieutenant-generals Lungwan and Yangfang, respectfully take all the facts relating to the English foreigners making an attack on the provincial city with their ships, and that we exerted ourselves to the utmost, leading on our soldiers to defend the same, which happily has escaped without (much) damage;-and after considering the whole state of affairs, how that we have adopted certain temporary measures suited to the exigencies of the case, and having for their object our being able in future to (maintain the place): all these facts we now respectfully embody in the present memorial, looking up wards, and hoping that it will obtain a sacred glance. Your slaves already, on the 6th day of the present moon (26th May, 1841), took all the details of what had occurred up to that date, and duly forwarded them as is recorded.

The city of Canton stands at the foot of a hill called Kwanyin shan, while its front extends to the banks of the great river. To the northwest, is the depart- ment of Shaouking foo, and to the north are the lesser districts of Nanheung chow, Leênchow, &c., &c., all of whose merchants and travelers come to the provin. cial city by several branches of the river, which passes by Fatee, and afterward mingle their waters with the great ocean.

      From the time that the foreign ships forced their way into the provincial river, they stationed a great many vessels (at the most important points), and thus grasped the very throat and wind-pipe of our communication. The eastern branch by Leeteïh (neighborhood of Howqua's Folly), and the western branch by Ta Hwang kaou (Macao passage), both communicate with Whampoa, and tbence to the Bocca Tigris; there are many arms of the sea flowing in different directions; the creeks, inlets, and outlets are most multifarious; during the floods the whole country is under water, and there is no important pass where a garrison might be placed for defence. Moreover, the fields are cramped and narrow, it is not easy to find a place to pitch a camp,-the hills on the north command the city, so that one may look down and see everything going on within; and the foreigners were constantly in the habit of prying and spying, for sooth it was no easy matter to prevent them.

Having previously prepared our means of attack by fire at Neishing, fifteen le from the city, in which we used rafts of wood floated down from Kwangse, and quantities of paddy-straw brought from Kinshan and other places in the lesser district of Sanshwuy, we dispatched several special messengers in order to have them bound, and properly placed (to drift on the foreign ships). But these said foreigners, having found out for the second time that our fire-rafts were about ready, drew the sword and commenced the war from the 1st of the moon. The rebels sent their ship's boats secretly to sound and get information, but they were beaten back by the officers and soldiers of the garrison, who opened upon them a fire of great guns and matchlocks. So it was until the fifth day (Tuesday, 25th May), when thirty-eight sail of foreign ships rushed up in a body and at- tacked the city; and at the same time (another body of the rebels) proceeded in steamboats to Neishing, and opened their fire upon it: A number of native traitors dressed like sailors in the confusion got into our ships, which were filled with paddy-straw, and set fire to them right and left, and burned the greater part of the fuel in the rear of our troops. These native traitors then swam on shore, and proceeded by land to our rear, and thus Neishing, being attacked simulta- neously on three points could hold out no longer.

At this time the river being blocked up (by the enemy), there were no means of forwarding any communication; those who hurried onwards to work the guns had no way of getting there, and those who had previously gone to hasten the arrival (of other guns) had no way of getting them transported to the city. As regards

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stores for the soldiers, though we had abundance of corn heaped up in our gran- aries, which we could have ground at any time, yet the food and rice of the com- mon people is all brought from the country round about; thus in making a struf defence of the city, the merchant could never dispose of his wares; and what would be worse, the people could not without. difficulty procure their daily food. Add to this, that the roar of the cannon was unceasing, the people of the new city (south side), one following the example of the other, all moved into the old city (north side), and there they had a struggle. Such a state of things could not last long before the supply would become exhausted, and then the anger of the multitude would be quite irrepressible! We humbly think that the important post of the provincial city concerns the whole province; should it be lost by any remissness, then the thieves and vagabonds of every district would avail themselves of the opportunity, and rise in swarms like so many wasps! Moreover, an organized army (though disbanded) may be reassembled; in march ing troops through the country, numerous opportunities present themselves for selecting important passes, and engaging the enemy at advantage, but there is no principle by which we may abandon the provincial city to its fate; if the city hold out, or if it be lost, the awful responsibility rests with us your slaves, and for the city to be lost and for us to perish along with it, does not appear to be the plan best suited to the welfare of the country! We your slaves nave again and again reflected on all the circumstances of the case, and are compelled to con- fess that we found ourselves at our wits' end!

       Having previously examined the site of the city, and found that the forts on the north were small and cramped in their construction; and could not contain many soldiers, we could only select our best troops and station them on the northern quarter, placing some guns there that they might make a stout defense. Thus they waited until the foreigners, having landed from their ships at Neishing, were pushing straight forward to the north side of the city, when our men open- ed a thundering fire and killed more than ten of the foreign rebels, and upwards of a hundred of the native traitors! The said foreigners upon this retired to the heights above the town, and the forts remained in their possession ; it being now dark, we drew off our troops within the city.

Thus matters went on till the 7th day of the moon (Thursday, 27th May), when the whole of the inhabitants of the city came rushing in crowds and presented petitions, begging and praying that we would take measures to save their lives, and at the same time the soldiers on duty at the embrasures reported that they had seen the foreigners beckoning with their hands towards the city as if they had something to communicate. We thereupon immediately ordered the brigadier Heung Suyshing to mount the city wall and look. He saw several barbarian eyes* pointing to heaven and earth, but could not make out what they said. He forth- with called a linguist to inquire what they wanted, when it appears they said, that "they begged the great general to come out, as they had some hardships to complain of to him." Upon this, the commanding officer (or tsungping) Twan Yungfuh said to them in an angry tone-"how can the great general of the celestial dynasty come out to see such as you? he has come here by command of the great emperor, and he knows nothing more about you than to fight with you!" Upon this the said barbarians took off their hats and made a bow; then they sent away the people who were about them, and casting their weapons on the ground, performed an obeisance towards the city wall. Twan Yungfuh. -having previously got permission from us your slaves to do so, then asked them what grievances they had to complain of, which had caused them to resist the forces of the Central land, and conduct themselves so madly and rebelliously on many occasions. They in course replied, that they the English, could not carry on their trade, that their goods were not being consumed, that their capital was wasting away, and that their debts were not being repaid them; and that as both parties were firing off their great guns on the side of the new city, they had no means of making a communication there, and therefore they had come to this side to beg the chief general that he would implore the great emperor in their behalf, that be would have mercy upon them, and cause their debts to be repaid them, and graciously permit them to carry on their commerce, when they would immediately withdraw their ships from the Bocca Tigris, and deliver up all the

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forts they had taken, and never dare again to raise any disturbance:" and other words to that effect. And at the same time all the bong-merchants handed in a petition stating, that the whole body of the foreign merchants had authorized them to say for them that they only wanted to carry on trade as before, and to have the debts cleared off which have been owing to them for many years, when they would immediately take all their ships of war, and withdraw them beyond the Booca Tigris," &c., &c.

     Your slaves, having taken an enlarged view of the question, and duly weighed and deliberated thereanent, came to the conclusion, that the defences of the Bocca Tigris being already lost, those within and those without had alike no place of strength to depend upon, and it would be better to grant their terms and thus save the city from its perilous situation, and reanimate the drooping spirits of its inhabitants, rather than continue a struggle which was jeopardizing the many millions of lives of the whole province, and which might not have a suc. cessful result after all. On summing up the pecuniary resources of the single province of Canton, we find that its custom-house duties and land-taxes do not yield less than three millions of taels annually, and if we could only get these foreign claims cleared off, in the course of a few years the province would reco- ver itself: whereas if we sit idly waiting for a long time, perhaps some unlooked- `for calamity may overtake us, when not only will it be impossible for the pro- vince to recover itself, but it will be involved in vast expense, thrown into utter confusion, and the common people of the land, who are the very essence of the land itself, should they meet the poisonous influence (of a foreign war?), the consequences might be very grave indeed. Therefore it was that after maturely deliberating together, we dispatched the Kwangchow foo, Yu Paoushun, to do the best he could, and in accordance with the request of the merchants to grant for the time being the favor of carrying on commercial relations to all countries on the same footing-thus viewing the recovery of the people from their state of destitution as the object of primary importance.

Commerce is to these said foreigners the very artery of life. Let us wait quietly till the foreign ships of war have retired, and the native traitors are dis- persed, when, beginning with the river in front of the city, and continuing the work down to the Bocca Tigris itself, at every important pass we shall block up the course of the river with piles of stones, and there erect forts and place guns'; and thus, baving secured the door of entrance, we shall have ample means to op. pose their progress, and maintain our defences. And finally, having thus our gripe on their thrapple, should they ever dare again to give rein to their out- rageous conduct, we can in a moment stop their commerce-this then is a mode of governing them which is always in our own hands.

These facts relating to the late attack on this city, and the temporary expe- dients which we have adopted in the exigencies of the case, we now respectfully unite with the other memorials which we have sent up successively, and humbly hope that a holy glance may be cast upon thein, and the sacred will in course manifested.

Supplementary memorial to the preceding.

Further, your slaves Yihshan, Lungwan, and Yangfang, received your sacred majesty's special commands to lend a body of troops to Canton to attack and ex- terminate the English rebels; and your slaves Ahtsingah (the Tartar general of the garrison), Ke Kung (the viceroy), Eleäng (the lieutenant-governor), and Yusuy (the too tung, or Tartar lieutenant-general), had alike with us a share of the responsibility of holding out the provincial city-there was not a day that we did not consider how we might massacre utterly this hateful brood, thereby manifesting the majesty of heaven (i. e. China), and gladdening the hearts of men. How then should we dare to act (apparently) in opposition to such sentiments, and bring forward plans for temporary expedients? Alas! this arose 'wholly from the necessity of our position; we could not possibly help it. And we cannot do otherwise than lay before the holy lord the feelings of bitterness that now swell our bosoms.

There are eight serious difficulties in the way of defending the city of Canton from attack, which your slave Yangfang, on a previous occasion, laid before

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your majesty in a secret memorial; and when we, your slaves Yihshan and Langwan arrived afterwards in Kwangtung, we found that on the right side and on the left, the throats of our communication were already in the hands of the enemy.

On going up the stream of time, we find that Canton has carried on commercial intercourse with all foreign countries for about 200 years. The natives of Canton most thoroughly know the dispositions of the foreigners and their likings; the peo. ple who dwell on the coast, such as the fishermen, and the boat people, those who constantly come and go with the tide through our military stations, are all in league with them, and understand their language; these are greedy after gain and fond of strife. Love of country (of the natale solum) hangs loosely about them; there. fore it is that the foreigners do not grudge expense to get them into their ent- ployment, and consequently their hearts are turned towards their masters, while they are dead to us; they obey their foreign masters in all things, they convey the most secret intelligence, and there is nothing in short that they may not be induced to do! Although we have already caught several, and immediately execut ed them, yet the traces of the others being obliterated in a great commercial vortex like this, there is really no way of distinguishing them. A still worse feature is that there are those who falsely make soldier's dresses, and imitate the badges, and enter our ranks as if they were going to battle. These perhaps run away at the first onset (to spread a panic among our men), or they attack and wound our officers and soldiers! Their villanies are quite innumerable; so much so that many of them are positive spies in our very camp! In this late affair we secretly caught several, and after decapitating them we exposed their heads to the people by way of warning.

       On a previous occasion, your majesty's slave Eleäng during the second moon (i. e. after the fall of the Bogue), had proclamations cut out and printed in which he assured them that what was past and gone would be pardoned, and promised them wealth and honors if they would reform and exert themselves. Your slaves also again and a third time issued proclamations exhorting them to renovate themselves, and promising most handsome rewards, and yet those of them whq returned to their allegiance were few indeed.

       Again, our great guns by sea and land being already lost, and we having no others to replace them, our vessels of war being without sailors to man them, our land troops whenever they approached the bank of the river to repel the enemy, being met by the fire of the foreigners, which was fierce in the extreme, those defences which we depended upon, such as mounds of earth, sand-bags, cotton waste, and cowhides, though built up more than a chang (three yards) thick, being shot through, our soldiers had not a spot left them where they could set their font. Now although the 17,000 and odd troops of the imperial army who have been ap pointed to defend this post, possess officers who have had long experience in the army, and though both they and the common men most nobly risked their lives, yet alas, the ground in the neighborhood of Canton is not fitted for giving battle; it is difficult there to pitch so much as a camp, and what between the heat and the moisture, if (troops) remain long there, they are sure to have a deal of sickness; putting out of view those we left in garrison at Fuhshan and Shih- mun, of the rest we could only use some seven or eight out of every ten. upon this occasion, when the foreign ships advanced in a long unbroken line, and attacked the city, our officers and people, though they exerted themselves most valiantly, and quite regardless of their personal safety, struggled hard with them for several days and nights; yet, alas! the native traitors fanning and inflaming the minds of people on one hand, while on the other the foreign banditti having effected a landing on the southern side, and having in their possession all the roads and heights north of the city, whence they looked down upon us, the whole provincial city was before their eyes, and the danger was indeed most imminent !

And

      We, your slaves, having been fed and reared by the bounty of your majesty, and having further received your majesty's commands to proceed hither for the defence of the frontier, what need is there for the slightest commiseration should our single lives be lost (in the discharge of our duty); but remembering that within

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this city are several millions of lives,-what evil have they done that they should be exposed to this poisonous influence (i, e. the horrors of war)? Moreover a pro vincial city is a most important position! In it are all the granaries, treasuries, and state-prisons (of the whole province), and these are of the utmost consequence to us! Should such an important position once be lost through remissness, difficult would it be to recover it; in the meantime, our native banditti would avail them- selves of the opportunity, and start up in every direction, and the entire province would be thrown into commotion; a contingency which one cannot bear to con- template.

To sum up the whole, it being impossible to all appearances that we could have held out the city much longer, and the consternation of the people increasing every day, the inhabitants came one on the heels of another, and with much weeping and wailing begged that we would take measures to save their lives. We, your slaves, thought over the subject a third and a fourth time, and we came to the conclusion, that, if we did not make some temporary arrangement, matters were likely to get ten times worse than they were, and so in like proportion should we find it difficult to exculpate ourselves from our increase of crime. If, however, before making these arrangements, we have not laid a statement before your majesty, and waited the imperial pleasure before presuming to act, we beg to assure your majesty that it was owing to the extreme urgency of the case which would not admit of any delay. We humbly confess that we have erred and blundered in every particular, so that had we a hundred mouths, we could not plead exemption from the consequences of our grievous crimes. We there fore beg an imperial decree that we be handed over to the Board of Punishments to be most severely dealt with.

J

Second supplementary memorial to the preceding.

    And further, Canton has held commercial intercourse with all foreign coun- tries for about 200 years, and our hong-merchants, having had dealings with the foreign merchants for such a length of time, the debts which the former owe to the latter have in consequence become very large On various occasions the foreigners have petitioned that these might be repaid, and the different hoppos have always at the time deprived those hong-merchants who were most deeply in debted, of their office, and cast them into prison, apportioning the claims to be paid back by the other hong-merchants in instalments, as is duly recorded;-such has hitherto been the mode of procedure.

Now, however, the original hong-merchants Woo Pingkeën (old Howqua) and others have petitioned setting forth, that "formerly, when the English carried on trade, we (the hong-merchants) owed them accumulated sums; and although it had been fully understood and agreed upon that we were to pay them by in- stalments in a certain number of years, yet the English trade having been stop- ped since the year 1839 up to the present moment, we have never been able to clear off the debt. Now having received your excellency's commands to ex- amine how we may most speedily clear off these accounts. how dare we under such circumstances procrastinate in the slightest, or make vain excuses! Besides our own ways and means when strained to the very uttermost, we are still in arrear 2,800,000 taels; and as matters are very urgent, and the different tea and silk merchants have all gone away for a time, we have really no way of borrowing the money. We can only beg that your excellencies will be graciously pleased to lend us the said sum of 2,800,000 taels out of the monies in the public treasury, with which we shall clear off these foreign claims; and we, the hong-merchants, shall lay aside the conson fund arising from our respective shares of foreign trade. and pay the same back by instalments in the course of four years;" and words to that effect.

    Your slaves deliberated upon the matter a third and a fourth time, and it ap peared to us, that, though this is merely a debt of the hong merchants, yet at the present moment, it is intimately bound up with the question at issue with the foreigners; and should we make the slightest mistake (in refusing the request), it might lead to the most fatal consequences; so we judged it best to acquiesce and lend the hong merchants the sum required, to be repaid by instalments within the time agreed upon, and we conceive that we have good security for the

**

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ultimate recovery of the same. Therefore, without making further excuses for our folly and rashness, we now beg to acquaint your majesty with the circum- stance, having previously paid over the said sum to the hong merchants. Those claims being now liquidated, surely the said foreigners can have no further ex- cuse to raise disturbances.

       Besides having duly advised the Board of Revenue, your slaves now humbly band up this supplement for imperial inspection. A duly prepared memorial.

ART. VI.

       Narrative of the loss of H. B. M.'s cutter Louisa in a tyfoon, July 21st, 1841. By W. M.

JULY 20th. Went on board the Louisa, with the commodore and captain Elliot, for the purpose of proceeding to Hongkong to rejoin the Wellesley. The wind being light, and the ebb tide making strong, we were compelled to anchor about 2 o'clock p. m., to wait for the flood, which made about 5; and a good breeze then springing up, we stood along through the Lantao pas- ange, though rather too far to the southward, having been drifted down by the tide. The wind gradually freshened to about a double-reefed topsail breeze, and at 10 o'clock, finding we were going to leeward, we anchored close under the island of Laff-sam-ee; wind north.

شو

July 21st. At about half past 12 o'clock at night weighed again, and endeavored to weather the island of Ichow, but could not and the cutter being close to the shore, and having missed stays twice, we were compelled to go to leeward of it. Wind north, a little westerly: course to Hongkong, northeast. Attempted to work to windward, but could do nothing; cutter again missed stays, and in wearing, when the mainsail was jibed, the main- boom snapped in halves. We double reefed the sail, got a sheet aft, and tried her under that sail, with the mizzen, fore-staysail, and jib, but she was 'lag- ging away to leeward so fast, that, the wind too having increased consider ably, we were forced to anchor about half way between Ichow and Chichow, with a reef of rocks astern of us; as we anchored, the mizzen bumkin went before the sail could be taken in,

      As day broke, the prospect was anything but cheering; it was blowing a gale from N. W. to N. N. W., and evidently increasing in violence every moment: a heavy sea was running, which the little cutter rode out beautifully, only now and then shipping a sea; every hatch was now bat- tened down, and the increasing sea frequently broke over us; our anchors and cables being good, we held on well. About 8 o'clock a. M., it was mani- fest that we must slip, but it was determined to hold on until we could do so no longer; about 9 o'clock a. M., the heavy pitching carried away the jib-boom; and, the gaff-topsail being still aloft, after much difficulty it was got down, and the head of the topmast twisted off, but the spar could not be

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Loss of the Cutter Louisa.

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got on deck; it was accordingly lashed, and we stood by to slip. About a quarter past 10 o'clock, the land was seen through the haze, close under our lee, and the cutter was driving down upon it: 'we immediately slipped, cut away the mizzen-mast, and put the vessel before it, shipping some very heavy seas in the attempt. The fore-staysail was hoisted, but instantly blown out of the bolt-rope; the peak of the mainsail was then ordered to be swayed up above the gunwale, in order that we might have her under coinmand ;-the men clapped on the throat-halyards, and the peak fell down and was jam. med in the larboard gangway abaft; we were by this time within 60 yards of the shore, upon which the surf was breaking terrifically. Mr. Owen, the second master, incautiously went before the gangway, and attempted to - lift the peak out clear, the men swaying on the halyards at the same time ; it suddenly flew out, and jerked Mr. Owen into the sea, swung round, and was brought up by the fore rigging; the gaff went in two, and the sail, with part of the gaff, went forward, and was jammed before the rigging,-the foot of the sail towing overboard, thus leaving us an excellent little sail to scud under; it was instantly lashed and made secure. A tuinbling sea, which broke over us, washed everything off the deck, that was not lashed, and amongst other things a hen-coop, which poor Owen got hold of, after having taken off his pea-jacket in the water. Another heavy sea broke on board, washed away the man at the tiller, and unshipped it; we were within 20 yards of the surf, and our situation truly awful. Owen's fate now seemed but the precursor of our's, and our moments, we thought, were numbered; but the hand of the Providence was stretched forth to save us, Lord Ame- lius Beauclerk caught hold of the tiller, and endeavored to ship it, but a heavy lurch sent him to leeward; I picked it up, and, with the assistance of the men, it was shipped, put hard a-port, and we passed clear of the end of the island, with the surf nearly breaking on board of us.

We could do nothing but run before the gale, keeping a good look-out ahead, and thus we passed about an hour of anxiety and uncertainty, lest there should be other land to leeward. Our doubts on this matter were soon over, for the cry of breakers right ahead' seemed again to warn us, that our lives were but of short duration; the land appeared towering many hundred feet above us, and the roar of the breakers, as they dashed against a precipi- tous wall of granite, was heard above the fearful violence of the tempest.

    •Hard_a-port !'-and~' hard a-starboard !'-were shouted out in quick suc- cession by captain Elliot, who was standing forward, holding on by the fore rigging: as the little vessel obeyed her helm, a blast, which seemed a con. centration of all the winds, threw her nearly on her broadside, but she gallantly stood up again under it, and we passed within a few yards of a smooth granite precipice, on which the sea first broke, and to have touched which would have shivered the cutter into a thousand fragments. We ran along this frightful coast, the wind nearly abeam, for not less than 300 yards, expecting every moment to be our last; but God, in his infinite mercy, was pleased to have us in his special keeping, and we rounded the end of this

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land, with the feelings of men who had been delivered from a frightful, and as we deemed, an inevitable, death, with not a chance (from the nature of the coast) of one of our lives being saved.

        We now had evidently (from the long following seas) got out of the im- mediate vicinity of the islands, and the wind abated a little; the sail was scarcely sufficient to steady the vessel, and to keep her before the seas, which frequently broke over us. We passed through a space of about two and a half or three miles, which was covered with floating fraginents of wrecks of Chi- nese and foreign vessels, affording a melancholy proof of what devastation of property and loss of life must have been caused, and that, our lives being spared, we had much to be thankful for.

It was now about 3 o'clock P. M., and the wind had gradually veered round to E. and S. E., and continued shifting between those points, so that our course was from W. to N. W., but nearer the former than the latter. We concluded that we had passed to the southward of the Ladrones, and, if so, that we must, by steering that course, be running directly for the shore about Montanha. The water now became very much discolored, so much so as to leave a sediment on the decks and on our clothes, as the sea broke over us: two hand leads were lashed together, and we got soundings in 7 fathoms. The gale was blowing with redoubled fury, and it was plain that, this time, as we were running on towards the main, (or rather, the western inlands,) there was only one chance of safety for us, and that was to get into one of the many creeks or channels for boats which are rather numerous about that part of the coast; and, failing this, to run her into shoaler water, let go the anchor, and put our trust in that all-seeing Providence, who had already twice preserved us. "High land right ahead!" again put to flight all our specula. tions; and we were once more to find ourselves saved from imminent peril. The wind literally howled and screamed through the rigging, and our little sail began to show symptoms of being no longer able to withstand the fearful conflict. Again the land towered above us, and a surf broke close on our larboard beam, about 150 yards from the shore; we cleared this danger, and ran along the land. Suddenly, through the mist, a gap was seen in the out- line, and high land trending away beyond on both sides, which captain Elliot instantly declared to be a creek; our hopes were fixed on rounding the point, where we should be, comparatively speaking, in shelter; but the thing seemed impossible. The wind and waves, as if determined not to be again robbed of their prey, raged with inconceivable fury; and the surf, breaking to a height of 150 feet, gave us too sure intimation of what would be our fate should we but touch the iron-bound coast. We steered as high for clearing the point as possible; we gradually neared it; each surf broke closer,-v could only hold our course; we seemed bearing down upon the breakers; it was an awful moment !-we were looking for and expecting the shock, beyond which all would be oblivion; a surf broke almost on board, and the cutter was hid in the spray-a terrific blast split our sail to shreds; 'hard a port !'--

VUL. X. NO. VII.

52

-we

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IS

amoment of breathless suspense,-and, thanks be to Almighty God, we pass- ed clear! We felt directly that we were partially sheltered, and stood by the anchor, for we were drifting right upon the shore; it was accordingly let go, and held, checking her way for a moment, and nearly taking her under water. A heavy sea broke over us, and I fancied we were lifted over a rock, for I was quite sensible of a shock, which a person who has once been aground cannot easily mistake; the cable flew out of the hawse, and the anchor again brought us on our beam-ends; the water was up to the combings of the hatchways, but she rose very slowly; we were within 30 yards of the rocks, and em- bayed; the cable had checked her considerably, and we slowly drifted toward the shore, captain Elliot conning her. The cable running out, she struck about 15 or 20 yards from the precipitous coast, the next sea lifted her so that she bilged, and filled instantly, with her starboard bow touching a detached rock, and receding with the sea. Several people jumped overboard, others got on the rocks on the starboard bow, and threw themselves down to prevent being washed off by the surf, which now swept the vessel, and threatened her with almost instant annihilation. Great danger was apprehended from the fall of the mast, which would have come upon those who were on the rock. One of the boys swain over, and a rope being thrown him, he made it fast to the shore, and it was passed round a portion of our rock of refuge, by which means all hands got safely on shore. Captain Elliot and two of the men were washed off the rock, but fortunately succeeded in reaching the land, though much exhausted.

     There we stood,-out of all danger from the violence of the tempest,-and saw the gradual destruction of the gallant little vessel which had borne us along so well, through a storm hardly to be surpassed in violence, and through perils which men doubtless sometimes witness but seldom live to recount; aud I do not believe there was a man amongst our number, 23 in all, who (thoughtless though sailors be) did not offer up a fervent prayer of thanksgiving to God, who had so signally vouchsafed to stretch forth his hand and save us.

     Two or three of the men now went up the hill to look at the surrounding country, but nothing was seen of any human habitation; they returned and reported accordingly. About half past five, the tide had fallen so that we went down to the wreck to endeavor to save a small quantity of provisions, and to get some blankets and cloth clothing to shelter ourselves against the inclemency of the weather. We succeeded in procuring both, but not in such quantities as we could have wished; and, as the vessel was going to pieces, it was not safe to make a very long stay on board. We got, besides a sail, or part of one, a tarpaulin, and 8 bottles of gin, a small portion of which was instantly served out to all handa, upon which with a small piece of raw beef or pork, we made our first meal after nearly 24 hours' fasting.

As many as could get them, put on cloth under thin trowsers, and those who had flannel waistcoats were fortunate. We then began to make

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arrangements for passing the night. Having found a fissure in the side of a precipice, open at the top with a small space outside, we placed stones so as to cover a small mountain stream, that ran through the centre of our com- fortless abode, and strapped the tarpaulin up across the entrance, where it was exposed to the unabated fury of the typhoon. Having taken off our clothes and wrung thein and put them on again, the commodore, captain Elliot, lord A. Beauclerk, myself, the commodore and capt. Elliot's servants, and a little Portuguese boy, sat down in a circle, with our backs to the sides of the cavern and the tarpaulin, and had a large blanket thrown over all. As there was no room for more inside, a wet sail was spread outside over the rocks. Mr. Fowler and Lena (2d mate), and the men rolled themselves up in blan- kets, and laid down exposed to the wind and rain. The latter descended in tor- rents all night, pouring down upon us in little cascades from all parts of the rock above, making a channel amongst the people on the sail; in fact it was very like lying down to sleep in a running stream. Of course few were for- tunate enough to close their eyes in slumber, and the gradual breaking up of the little cutter continually called forth an exclamation from some of us, as crash after crash was heard above the noise of the wind and breakers. We who were within the cleft, remained in a sitting posture all night, for there was no room to recline.

       At length morning of the 22d dawned, and we saw all that held together of the Louisa; her taffrail jammed between two rocks, and a few of the deck planks adhering, but all the rest was scattered along the coast in fragments. We stripped, wrung our clothes, and put them on again, and having served out a small quantity of spirits, several exploring parties went out to endeavor to find some Chinese.

      We were not very far from a sandy bay, on which were cast up many articles of wreck; along this bay a party was sent, whilst others went up the hills; some descended to our own wreck, and a few remained in or near the cavern. We had not been down long before we discovered under planks and timbers the bodies of three Chinese frightfully lacerated by the rocks; their vessel must have been driven on shore during the night. Sud- denly I heard myself hailed, and looking up saw two Chinese, each of them appropriating a blanket. All hands were instantly recalled, and we began to talk to them; one of them had a most benevolent countenance, and to him was the conversation principally addressed. This man gave captain Elliot a paper which was folded and quite saturated with water, but after some time we got two of the folds clear, and were delighted to see capt. Elliot's signa- ture, and some of the cutter's men said they recognized our friend as one of the boat people at Macao. He was instantly offered 1000 dollars if he would give us a fishing boat to take us thither; this he undertook to do very readily, and beckoned us to follow him, which we did, having first shouldered the beef and pork and gin, and put as many clothes on as we could get. On the top of the hill, we were joined by the party which went round the sandy bay; they said they had found the bodies of eleven Chinese, and the wreck of

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a large junk, and one of them had picked up the box containing the com- modore's decorations, which we distributed amongst ourselves and put in our pockets. We were very badly off for shoes; I had only one, and the conse- quence was my feet were much cut; we walked along over two hills in single file, and as we topped the third, saw an extensive valley with a long sandy beach on which the sea was breaking heavily. A creek ran up on the left side by a considerable village or hamlet, and the place seemed full of people. Scarcely had we appeared over the hill when we were seen by the Chinese; the women and children ran away screaming Fanqui! Fanqui I and the men, armed with bill-hooks rushed up the path in hundreds, railing at and menac- ing us. However, our benevolent guide explained matters to them, and about 60 passed us to go and plunder the wreck. At length one of them stop- ped captain Elliot, and commenced rifling his pockets; I was walking behind captain Elliot, and the same fellow thrust his hand into my pockets, in which was the star of the Hanoverian Guelphic order: I squeezed my arm to my side to prevent his taking it, when he shook his bill-book in my face, and another fellow jumped upon a large stope, and flourished his weapon over my head; still I held on, when the first man struck me a severe blow on the arm with the back of the bill-hook. Captain Elliot looked round just then, and said it was no use resisting, and that I had better give up every- thing to them, they being twenty to one, and we wholly unarmed, and in their power. I accordingly resisted no longer, and repeated captain Elliot's advice to those behind me. Having taken the contents of our pockets, and eased the bearers of the beef, pork, and gin of their loads, they returned and stripped us of clothing, just allowing a regard for common decency, after which they molested us no further. The only two amongst us who were struck were the cominodore (who was knocked down) and myself.

On our arrival before a little shed, one of the outermost houses of the vil- lage, our friend commenced preparing it for our reception, a proceeding we did not by any means admire, as we had understood that a boat would at once take us to Macao; but he said the wind was too high, which in truth it was, and we were therefore compelled to enter and wait the result. Our man, who was named Mingfong, made a fire, and give us a breakfast of rice and salt fish, which we were too happy to get; having satisfied our appetites, we en- deavored to dry our clothes and make ourselves as comfortable as men in our situation could do. We presently ascertained with great satisfaction that there were no officers in the place, so that if we could manage properly there was every probability of our escaping a trip to Peking. Captain Elliot in- creased the sum originally offered to 2000 dollars, if they would take us to Macao as soon as the wind moderated, and after some difficulty it was agreed to.

We had the satisfaction of seeing the people passing and repassing with different articles of our property in their possession, many of which they brought to us to inquire the uses of. The bodies of the three Chinese had been discovered almost on the spot where the Louisa was wrecked; and as they

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bore some frightful marks caused by dashing against the rocks, it was sup- posed we had murdered them. This was a very awkward affair; but we could only deny it strenuously, with every expression of horror that such a crime should be imputed to us, who had so providentially been saved from the same fate as these poor men. However, they would not be persuaded to the con- trary, or they did not understand our explanation, until Lena, by gestures, showed them that in all probability the junk people had lashed themselves to spars, and in endeavoring to reach the land on them, had been dashed against the rocks, which accounted for their lacerated appearance, and the ropes found round their bodies. They went away apparently satisfied, but occa- sionally two or three would return and revive the matter, making demon- stration of sharpening knives and cutting throats. When they found the cutter's arms, they were also very angry, and stormed and railed against us most violently.

      All the women and children in the place crowded round to look at us (particularly when eating), and many were the inquiries made as to the sex of old Joe, the commodore's black Gentoo servant, who wearing ear-rings and having his hair turned back and twisted in a knot behind, did bear some slight resemblance to a female; but on closer inspection, his thick beard, whiskers, and mustaches might have satisfied the most sceptical amongst them; they had however taken away his ear-rings, and one savage attempted to cut off his ear.

We had another mess of rice towards evening, and that night slept around the fire, though not very soundly, for we were apprehensive the Chinese had some design upon us, but I believe no harm was intended; people were walking about all night which kept us on the que vive, The wind having moderated very considerably, capt. Elliot proposed to them to go that night; but they were afraid of the ladrones, and though tempted by an additional 1000 dollars they refused; their wives appeared to object to the proceeding, or I think they would have been induced to go. During the night, capt. Elliot made a final arrangement, by which we were to start at daylight on the morning of the 23d, in two boats; in each boat there were to be but two people, the remainder to be sent for on our arrival at Macao, for which ser- vice they were to receive 3000 dollars, and 100 for each of the boats.

At daylight on the 23d we were prepared to start, but the Chinese tantą, lized us by making thole-pins, mending sails, &c.; at last we had the satis- faction of seeing two boats come down the creek, and anchor abreast of our dwelling. The people to whom the boats belonged now refused to let them go unless 150 dollars were given for each, and this after some demur was agreed to, as every moment's delay increased the probability of our falling into the hands of the officers; but no sooner had the blackguards been promis- ed the 150 dollars than they increased their demand to 200, Here our friend Mingfong took our part and abused his countrymen for their rapacity, and de- clared we should not be so imposed upon, he would sooner take but one boat. All was at length settled. We had chowchow (amongst which they gave us

414

Loss of the Cutter Louisa.

JULY,

   part of our own pork), and having bid good bye to those who were to remain behind, at about & A. M. the commodore and captain Elliot got into one boat, and myself and captain Elliot's servant (who was sick) went in the other; they made us lay on our backs at the bottom of the boat and covered us with mats. We got through the surf and out to sea without any mishap, as the weather was fine; further than that I knew nothing until about 2 p. x., when they uncovered us and gave us some rice. We had just finished our light re- past, when the man sitting above hit me a pretty hard blow on the head, and made signs for me to lie down again; this I did, and was covered with the mat; a few winutes after I heard a rush as if some large boat were passing us, which was the case. They said nothing to us, but the other boat was hailed, and asked what was the news, and whether many vessels had been wrecked on their part of the coast; to which suitable replies were given, and we passed on this was a mandarin boat! They little thought what a prize was within their grasp the two plenipotentiaries. Doubtless we were through- out these three days of udventure and peril, in the special keeping of Pro- vidence. In about two hours, I again ventured to look up, and to my great joy discovered two ships anchored at a considerable distance. I could not recognize the land, and was quite mystified as to our situation; at last, I determined that it must be the Typa, and I was right: we passed to the left of Monkey island, and Macao opened to our view; glad indeed were we, and thankful for our deliverance. We saw a vessel not far behind working up for Macao, which capt. Elliot made out to bé a lorcha, and we could no longer remain under cover, but throwing off the mats, stood upon the thwarts and waved our hats to attract their attention, at the same time telling the Chi- nese to give way, which they did most lustily. My boat was a faster one than the other, and consequently got alongside first, when I met with an unexpected reception: all the Portuguese and lascars were drawn up with swords, muskets, and pistols, so that I had nearly been shot at the moment of deliverance. However, captain Elliot's servant explained who were in the other boat, and we went alongside instantly; they had mistaken us for la- drones, hence the muskets, swords, and pistols. The commodore and captain Elliot were on board within a few minutes after us, and we were regaled with soft tack and pine-apple by the people on board, who seemed overjoyed at seeing us.

    We soon came to in the Inner Harbor, and were all landed safely at the Bar fort; the commodore was in a blue worsted sailor's frock, a light pair of trowsers of four days wear, shoes and a low crowned hat; captain Elliot, in a Manila hat, a jacket, no shirt, a pair of striped trowsers and shoes; I had shirt and trowsers, no hat, and a pair of red slippers, borrowed of a Parsee on board the lorcha. The commandant of the fort was most amiable, and particularly anxious to turn out the guard for the commodore, who certainly did not look in a fit mood to appreciate such a mark of respect, his appear. ance bearing a close resemblance to a highly respectable quarter-master, who had been dissipating; consequently, the turning out of the guard was strongly

1841

Outrages on Americans in Canton.

415

    deprecated, and the idea abandoned by the gallant Portuguese. Steps were instantly taken to procure the liberation of those still left in the hands of the Chinese. A boat was dispatched to the island, accompanied by Mr. Thom, and all the crew brought to Macao on the 25th inst.

I hardly need add, that on our arrival at our quarters, we instantly cleaned ourselves, and fully enjoyed the comforts of a good meal and an uninterrupted night's rest, after what had been our lot to undergo, and which with God's help, we bad

so fortunately escaped-peril by water, peril by land, and

peril of a captivity in the hands of the Chinese.

ART. VII.

       Notices of outrages committed, May 22d, on the crew' of a boat belonging to the ship Morrison, and on others who were resident in Canton.

WANT of space in our last number compelled us to postpone these notices. On the morning of the 22d of May, a boat's crew from the ship Morrison, captain Benson, consigned to Messrs. Olyphant & Co., was fired on, and the officer and three passengers with all the crew, excepting one who was lost, were taken prisoners. Mr. Coolidge, of the house of Augustine Heard & Co., was soon after seized near his own factory by the Chinese, and carried a prisoner into the city. To understand correctly the bearings of these outrages, we inust keep in mind the circumstances under which they were committed.

     The high officers from the court of Peking, Yihshan and his col- leagues, becoming aware of captain Elliot's design to withdraw the resident merchants from the provincial city, had endeavored to prevent this by declaring in the most unequivocal and solemn manner that all were, and would be, safe in their factories. Warned, however, by` the constantly decreasing number of boats on the river, and by the daily departure of people from their homes and shops, foreigners' made their best efforts to complete their business, and retire from the city. Captain Elliot's circular (see page 294) came out on the morning of the 21st, recommending a departure before sunset. This same day the hong-merchants came to the foreigners with a message, received the preceding evening from the lieut.-governor, declaring, 'that the Chinese did not intend to disturb the peace; that business should proceed as usual; that all the foreigners had better remain; and that the authorities would not commence hostilities;' &c. Copies of

416

Outrage on Americans in Canton.

JULY,

the prefect's edict, confirmatory of all this, and bearing date 20th May, were sent to several merchants, English and American. Yihshan and his colleagues, also by proclamation, declared that no hostile purposes were entertained towards the foreigners in Canton. In the teeth of these declarations, the Chinese hastened on their secret preparations, and during the afternoon of the 21st, soldiers and arms were brought into the warehouses of the hong merchants, not far from the factories where foreigners were weighing teas!

Referring to the edicts of the prefect and high commissioner, and to the state of affairs at Canton on the 21st, Mr. Morss (partner in the house of Olyphant & Co.) thus wrote to a friend in Macao.

44

      The general inference was, that the Chinese authorities, expecting an attack by the English for which they were unprepared, issued these edicts to foreigners with a design to throw upon capt. Elliot all the responsibility of a renewal of hostilities. From advices received on the morning of the 21st of the progress of the force up the river, it was evident it would not reach this before the 23d or 24th. I considered it prudent, however, after captain Elliot's circular had appeared, recommending foreigners to retire from Can- ton before sunset, to be prepared to leave for Whampoa on the 22d, and arranged with captain Benson to return with two of his boats on Friday eve- Ming, Mr. Coolidge engaging to keep me company. With every assurance of protection from the Chinese authorities and of their peaceful intentions, we conceived ourselves perfectly secure in passing the night in our factories; although all the other foreigners had removed. At nine in the evening, the boats arrived from Whampoa. The linguist had that moment left me, and reported all quiet. Having made preparations for an early move in the morning, I continued writing until 10 o'clock, when the alarm of fire was heard, and the report of cannon. From the terrace we saw the burning junks moving towards the vessels at Shameen; but the shot were flying so near, that we were soon obliged to descend. At an early hour on Saturday morn- ing, the comprador urged that we should leave before the Chinese soldiers assembled in front of the factories. Accordingly at 6 o'clock, one of the Boats with the second officer of the Morrison, and Messrs. Millar, Taylor, and Gutierres, started for Whampoa. To guard against accident, in case of ex- amination, the boat was provided with a chop, in Chinese, stating to what ship she belonged. Mr. Coolidge then parted with me, to go to his factory, saying he would soon return; having waited for him nearly two hours, a noise in front of the house attracted my attention, when I found, to my surprise, that the factories east of Hog-lane, were in possession of the mob, who were busily removing all their contents. At this moment Mr. Coolidge's servants came to tell me that he had been carried into the city. After looking upon this scene of plunder for a little time, and fearing it had already gone too far to be checked by the authorities, and that all the factories would share the same fate, i procured, but with some difficulty, the assistance of a police-man with his attendants, and under their protection (after the payment of sixty dollars), our second boat was carried from the hong to the river, the rabble being too intent upon plunder to give us more than a passing look. Once afloat, with a strong flood tide, we soon reached the Nemesis."

We now revert to the case of Mr. Coolidge, who had intended to go on board the schooner Paradox in the afternoon of the 21st; but

1811.

Outrages on Americans in Canton.

417

finding that many others were going in her, and that Mr. Morss would wait for the Morrison's boats, he concluded to remain, and go down to Whampoa with him on the morning of the 22d. From a letter detailing the particulars of his seizure, and of the imprison- ment of himself and others, Mr. Coolidge has allowed us to make the following extracts.

"At this time [6 o'clock A. M.] all was quiet in the neighborhood of the factories. I went back, therefore, to my own house to see what was doing there, but found the doors closed, and the compradore and coolies gone. Returning to Mr. Morss, I was met at the head of Hog-lane by a body of soldiers, who rushed upon me with drawn swords, and would have cut me down, but for some of the factory coolies, who happened to be near and cried out that I was an American. At this moment, an officer with a red button came up, followed by about fifty men with spears and matchlocks, and took me pri- soner. I was led away to the city in despite of remonstranceB. The streets were full of soldiers, and coolies carrying cannon to the square in front of the factories. After a long march, we found ourselves in an open space quite near to the city wall, on the east. Here were Yihshan's head-quarters, and everything indicated the presence of a high functionary. There was a great crowd and movement, officers in any number, and of all degrees; with coolies, grooms, executioners, and guards; soldiers in uncouth dresses, evi- dently not of this province, and full of the worst spirit towards foreigners. In the streets I had been struck with a general air of unconcern, which I could hardly comprehend, considering how near the British forces were; but, here, it was the reverse; all was hurry and bustle, and messengers on horseback constantly went and came.

"We were approaching the place where Yihshan was, when an officer stopped us; and after a delay of many hours, during which I was exposed to the curiosity and savage abuse of the crowd, I was placed in a chair, and sent to the anchǎsze, or criminal judge. There, to my grief and surprise, 1 found upon their knees, in chains, bloody, and almost without covering, my clerk Mr. Gutierres, with the officer and part of the boat's crew of the Morrison. The poor fellows had been fired on immediately after leaving the shore; some had been lost or killed, and the rest wounded; the boat plunder- ed, and the men put in irons and brought into the city. They were tell- ing me these things, when the judge fiercely bade them to be silent, and ordered me to sit down at his feet. He then interrogated me, asking how many of these men were English, and bidding me tell the truth that he might out off their heads! I answered, that they belonged to an American ship, which had been but two days at Whampoa. He said that all the English- men they took pretended to be Americans; and that we ought to speak a different language, and wear a different dress that he might know us apart! At this time, the sailors, exhausted from their wounds and exposure to the sun, fell down, not being able to remain upright, on the stone floor, any long- er; and this man, one of the highest officers of the province, ordered his coolies to make them get on their knees again! They did so, with tears and groans, beseeching him for a little water, which was given to them on iny saying they were innocent men.

"After much cruel and contemptuous treatment, we were taken to the common prison, where Mr. Gutierres and myself were lodged with the jailor, and the officer and seainen put into a cell; here, charged with no offense, in addition to the irons they already wore, they were chained two and two by In an adjoining cell was a man from Heängshan who had com-

the neck.

VOL. X. NO. VIL

53

418

Outrages on Americans in Canton.

JULY,

mitted four murders, and he was less heavily ironed than they. Opposite were the Malays who belonged to the Scaleby Castle, pinioned so closely as scarcely to be able to move hand or foot.

"At 5 P. M. the doors were opened, and Mr. Millar was brought in. He was lying on a board, apparently insensible. His wounds had been so clum. sily bandaged that he had fainted more than once from loss of blood; and in this way he had been brought through the streets. Next came Mr. Tay- lor; and shortly after a seamen, who had a deep cut in his head, and a wound in the side: from him we learned that nothing had been seen of the boy Sherry, after the boat was taken: he must have been killed or driven overboard and lost.

"We had remained for thirty hours without a word from any quarter, when two of the junior hong-merchants came, with some of the linguists, and proposed to me to go somewhere, and explain a chop which Mr. Delano, the vice-consul, had sent in. This I declined to do; and they left us, but re- turned shortly after to say that I might leave the prison, but made no refer- ence to the men, nor gave any apology for the ill treatment we had all re- ceived Of course, I refused to go under these circumstances. The next day, the Kwangchow foo came, and Howqua, and strongly urged me to go, saying, "it was all a mistake," &c. Their pressing the matter so earnestly made us suppose that the American men-of-war had arrived, and that they were anxious to get rid of us for fear of trouble with the commodore: on this account I was disposed to stay; but Mr. Millar was anxious to get away, and the men too, naturally enough; and I therefore agreed to go, Howqua promising for the Kwangchow foo that we should be honorably taken home, and that full compensation should be made to me for loss of property by the pillage of the factories. Accordingly we were put into chairs at the prison door, but the blinds of the sedans were taken away that we might be seen with insulted as we were carried through the streets.

We had not gone far, when we met Yihshan, surrounded by officers on horseback and in chairs, and a tumultuous throng of soldiers and attendants; these no sooner saw us than they thrust our chairs aside, knocked off the tops with their swords, and howled and hooted at us as they passed. When they had gone, we were taken to the factories, and there left, among the ruins, without protection or shelter. I then went to Howqua and remonstrated; and he gave orders that we should be taken to the consoo house, and promised also that a chop for Whampoa should be procured from the Kwangchow foo; but at the con- soo house, we were told the city gates were shut, and that no chop could be obtained. We were left therefore to speculate on the chances of the night. At last, word came that the English had landed in front of the fac tories; and our great anxiety now was to let them know of our situation; but no one would venture out-the coolies from fear of the English, and the sailors of the Chinese, After a time, some one volunteered, and had gone as far as the outer gate, when there was a cry that soldiers were coming; they proved to be the Cameronians, who, quickly forcing in the doors with their muskets, entered, with major Pratt at their head; capt. Elliot and Mr. Mor- rison were with him; and I cannot tell you with what feelings of good-will we looked on every one of those red coats.

"The soldiers made a litter for Mr. Millar and carried him to the facto- ries, where his wounds were properly dressed for the first time since they had been received, now 60 hours! The sailors too were taken care of; and we were all soon sent off in the boats of H. B. M.'s fleet, the seamen and Messrs. Taylor and Gutierres to the Modeste, and Mr. Millar and myself to Mr. Dent's schooner, the Aurora, where we were most kindly received.

"Perhaps it may be supposed that, after all, the wounds received were

1841.

Outrages on Americans in Canton.

419

slight, and that I have exaggerated the sufferings of Mr. Millar and the others. It is not so. Two of the seamen had bullets in them, and a third had a deep gash in the head; Mr. Millar was most severely wounded; and Mr Gutierres has been ever since confined to his bed from the effect of in- juries received that day. I cannot better close this statement than in the words of H. B. M. plenipotentiary, who in his proclamation of 17th June, to the people of Canton, says: It is well known that on the morning of 22d ultimo a disgraceful rabble, headed by the troops, burst into the factories, searching for merchants and innocent people, living there under the solemn protection of the government. And Elliot is well aware that the Chinese officers took a conspicuous part in this scene of outrage and plunder. Then let the treatment of some unfortunate Americans, seized by the officers on that occasion, be considered. Already severely wounded, they were heavily chained and mercilessly beat by the soldiers with their arms. These wretch- ed people were then taken before the provincial judge, and this unworthy dignitary, forgetting all the principles of humanity and justice, treated them as if they had been felons, instead of being victims of the injustice of the high commissioners. Some of them were killed; and is it to be believed that a great nation will suffer this perfidy and outrage without vindica- tion?" "

      To the foregoing extracts, little heed be added. The reasons which have been adduced by Mr. Morss for remaining in Canton, during the night of the 21st, are ample enough. Fuller assurances, and from higher authorities, could not be had. Personal security was promised, with complete indemnity in case of any loss.

      The excuse, that it was all a mistake, is as unworthy as it is false. The firing on the boat was not a mistake. It was wanton barbarity. The soldiers knew the boat belonged to an American ship, for they were assured of this by a shopman who was with them. Knowing the men to be Americans, and that they must be recognized as such when brought before the authorities, what did these base men do? They gravely proposed to decapitate their prisoners, and go with their heads (which could tell no tales) and claim the rewards, offered by the high officers for the heads of Englishmen! It was these same soldiers, who, on a subsequent day, denounced certain natives as trai- tors, and then took their heads in order to claim a reward.

And,

if the truth should ever be disclosed in this world, it may yet appear that the head of the poor sailor-boy was taken for this same wicked purpose. Young Sherry was the son of the harbor-master of New York. When the Morrison was on the eve of sailing, his mother came to the wharf, and begged the captain and the mate of the ship to be kind to him, and careful of his welfare. One of the sailors saw him struck and taken hold of, as they ran the boat in, near the shore, alongside of larger craft lying there.

                            From that moment, nothing more do we hear of the boy Sherry. The story of his logs will be a melancholy one to his afflicted parents.

420

Journal of Occurrences.

JULY,

Had a Chinese lost his life under similar circumstances, and by foreign hands, what would have been the conduct of the provincial government? Life for life would have been the demand; and fail- ing to apprehend the guilty, the innocent would have been made to suffer. In the present instance, the high officers promised security, and reparation should any loss be sustained. What reparation have they made? What can they make? Can they indemnify Mr. Mil- lar, Mr. Gutierres, and the wounded seamen, for the injury they re- ceived? It would be cruel mockery to talk of reparation to the bereaved parents of the unfortunate Sherry. But will a great nation pass these things by unnoticed, and allow the guilty to go unpunish- ed? Shall no investigation be made? Shall no remonstrance be lodged against the faith-breaking and treacherous officers of the celes- tial court? We have been told that when these innocent men were lying with chains about their necks in prison, the address of the vice-consul, sent up from Whampoa demanding their release, was not only sent back to him, but was returned unopened! Conduct such as this needs no comment. If it may go unrebuked, then farewell to all national honor, to all personal safety. We hear that Mr. Morss intends, on the arrival here of commodore Kearney, to submit to hiện the case of these outrages. We do not indeed know what instruc- tions the commodore may bear; but surely if such wrongs are to be passed by unnoticed, it will only induce contempt and lead on to the repetition of these outrages. Whenever he arrives, he will, we trust, do his duty, and honorably maintain the dignity and rights of his country.

ART. VIII. Journal of Occurrences; meteorological observations; nautical surveys; capture of forts above Canton; Yihshan's me· morials; tyfoons and losses thereby; reopening of British trade; transportation of the ex-governors Lin and Tăng; im perial commissioners; indemnity from the Chinese; British ex, pedition; prospects of the war; sickness and deaths; Mrs. No- ble's departure for England.

For the meteorological observations, nautical surveys, account of the capture of the heights above the city of Canton, narrative of the loss of the cutter Louisa, &c., we present our best thanks to those gentlemen who have enriched our present number with their very

A

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

421

      valuable and interesting papers. Always such communications for the pages of the Repository will be acceptable.

In the meteorological tables, the careful reader may detect a few errors, most of which, however, are of such a nature that they can be easily corrected.

In the nautical surveys, whenever practicable, the introduction of Chinese characters, for the names of places, will tend to remove any embarrassment resulting from the use of different European systems of orthography. The Chinese names, in their own character, should always be inserted, if it be possible to obtain them. It would be well, if each surveyor on the coast could be accompanied by a native assistant.

The narrative of the capture of the forts above Canton, we hoped to have been able to illustrate by subjoining to it a plan of the city and of the heights, &c. This we shall endeavor to give in a subse- quent number. The only Tartar troops in Canton are those in the city, under the command of the commandant. All those who have been called to Canton from the other provices are Chinese, not Tar- tars. The numbers appointed by the emperor, given us by a native friend, are thus: 10,000 from Szechuen; 5,000 from Kweichow; 5,000 from Hoopih; 5,000 from Hoonan, 5,000 from Kwangse; 10,000 from Keängse; -on the rolls presenting a grand total of fifty thou- sand fighting men. Probably the actual number did not exceed 35,000; and of these we doubt if more than 20,000 were in or near the city. Putting it at 20,000, and adding an equal number for the pro- vincial troops, will give Yihshan and his compatriots 40,000 soldiers for the defense of the provincial city, against less than 3000 British troops and a few small ships of war. The troops seen on the hills, on the 30th, were villagers, who had banded themselves as e ping, or *soldiers of righteousness,' headed by leaders chosen by themselves, each village having its own standard and chief, numbering in all per- hape twenty-five thousand. It was well for these fellows that they dispersed themselves when they did; for dreadful indeed would have been the havoc, within and without the city, had they spurned the orders of the prefect and magistrate who bade them (or rather coaxed them to) retire.

Yihshan's memorial, with all its errors, contains some unwelcome truths for the imperial ear. It is said that many innocent men- soldiers and others, natives of Canton-were denounced as traitors by the troops from the other provinces: hence the civil war in their own camp within the walls of the city. Yihshan has given a false coloring to this part of his report; and at it the people of Canton are highly indignant. A second report, and of a later date, is in circula- tion. It is full of falsehood and deceit, but givves some important information touching the course of policy to be pursued towards fo- reigners. There can be no doubt that the provincial government and imperial commissioners will proceed to active measures of defense as soon as it may be done with impunity.

Tyfoons, and losses occasioned by them, on the 21st and 26th

422

Journal of Occurrences.

JULY,

instant have occasioned great distress. The state of the atmos- phere in Macao is indicated by the following notices furnished by Mr. Beale.

Wednesday the 21st.

8 A. M. 29.42 N. W. showery fresh.

29.32 N. W. fresh wind.

9.30

10

11

Monday the 26th.

7.30 A. M. 29.17 N. W. rain.

28.94 N. W. heavy rain. 28.94 W.

9

29.25 N.

rainy..

10

high wind.

29.15 N.

rainy, squally.

10.40

29.00 S. W. rain, high wind.

29.03 N. E.

strong wind.

29.08 S. W.

do.

1 p. m. 28.96 N. E. hard gusts.

28.92 E. N. E. harder gusts.

0.25 r. M. 29.25 S. W.

do.

29.33 S. S. W. moderating.

2

2

3

28.94 E.

29.37 S.

gusty.

3.30

29.04 E.

29.40 S.

less wind.

4

29.10 E.

misty.

29.44 S.

heavy rain.

29.21 S. E.

rain, gusty.

29.49 S.

do.

29.27 S.

hard puffs.

29.53 S.

do, from wind.

29.34 S.

rain, moderating.

29.58 S.

high breeze.

8

29.38 S.

rain, moderating.

R

29.58 S.

rain.

9

29.45 S.

rain, high breeze.

9

29.64 S.

rain.

10

29.53 S.

rain, strong breeze | 10

29.68 S.

rain.

11

29.54 S.

rain.

11

29.70 S.

fresh breeze.

12

29.54 S.

fresh breeze.

12

29.70 S.

fresh breeze.

The wind from the north in the first tyfoon was remarkable for its strength and duration. The effect upon vegetation in Macao was very destructive, everything appearing as if it had been scorch- ed; the air was filled with salt spray. Fortunately, the greater part of the rice crop in this vicinity had been harvested.

    The above table shows that the wind on the 2d day veered from N. round to W. and S. W; but at Whampoa and Hongkong, we have been told, it veered from N. round to E., S. E., and S. W.; this would indicate, according to the theory of Redfield, that the vortex was between Macao and Hongkong.

We regret that our information respecting these tyfoons is so limit- ed, and shall feel particularly obliged by any additional information that may be communicated for our next number. Native craft of every kind has suffered severely. One instance is thus described in a letter to the editor of the Canton Register, written July 24th, by

He says- captain W. Fraser of the Good Success.

    "On Thursday, the 22d instant, at daylight, blowing strong from the S. to S.E., we passed a quantity of wreck, chairs, &c.; at noon moderate with a heavy sea; observed a man on a piece of wreck close to the ship; shorten- ed sail and instantly hove the ship to; lowered the quarter boat, and for- tunately picked the poor fellow up, in the last state of exhaustion. From his account he had been three days adrift, on the piece of plank from which we took him; he is a native of Portugal, and had been a seacunnie on board the schooner Rose,' from the east coast, bound to Macao; which vessel appears to have foundered during the dreadful tyfoon of the 21st instant, when the unfortunate commander and crew met a watery grave.

"At noon, the Grand Ladrone bearing N. † E. distant 29 miles, after se- curing the boat and making sail, observed a junk off the weather bow, with loss of mizzen mast, making signals of distress; hauled up, and passed close to windward of her; she appeared to be a total wreck and sinking; the whole of her sails, bulwarks, and rudder were gone, and the sea was making a continual breach over her; she had a numerous crew on board, who were

1841.

Journal of Occurrences

4:23

     making most carnest intreaties on their knees for assistance; hove the ship to, lowered both quarter boats, and fortunately succeeded in taking off the whole of the crew, 46 in number; the poor fellows, when safe on board, knew not now to express their thankfulness for their narrow escape from the awful death to which they were so imminently exposed; the junk was evidently settling down fast in the water, and no doubt in a few hours more would have sunk.-I feel thankful to Providence that made me the humble means of saving so many human beings from a watery grave; at the same time I assure you I feel thankful for my escape from the late severe weather; for although we had not a tyfoon, being well to the southward, still we en- countered a heavy gale from the S. W., with a tremendous sea, which en- dangered the ship in running before it, and forced me to lie to for nearly 18 hours under a close-reefed main-topsail."

How different this treatment from that shown to those who were on board the unfortunate cutter Louisa. Our readers cannot fail to be interested in the narrative, given in preceding pages, of the loss of that vessel. She was brought out from Eugland, and formerly belong- ed to the factory of E. I. Co. in China; on the arrival of the king's commission she was taken into royal service, and ever since has been a conspicuous object; repeatedly under fire, from the Chinese forts and men-of-war, she always escaped unharmed. But she could not withstand the dreadful fury of the tyfoon. She started from Macao on the morning of the 20th in company with, or a little before, the Young Hebe-both bound to Hongkong. The Young Hebe returned to Macao dismasted in the forenoon of the 23d, having narrowly escaped shipwreck, near Chungchow off the southwest extreme of Lantao. The Louisa was reported to have been last seen by the people in the Hebe three or four miles ahead of them, in the Lan- tao passage, rather far to leeward. Of her fate, however, nothing was reported in Macao, either by boats or by the steamers that came in during the 23d, and the morning of the 24th, and great anxiety began to be felt for the safety of those who were in her. From I- chow, she seems to have been driven on towards Chook-chow, round the Great Ladrone southward, and thence almost due west to the place where she struck this was south of Santchou, on an island north of Ty-loo. The proper name of island we do not know; its

鐵爐

south point is called Tee-loo, and its northwestern

Kaoulan; and

Fei-sha tseun is believed to be the village

near which the cutter was lost.

Totally lost. H. B. M.'s cutter Louisa; ships James Laing and Prince George; schooner Rose; Snarleyyow; and Black Joke.

Wrecked or on shore; transports Framjee Cowasjee and Nazareth Shah; brig Jane; schooner Sylph.

Dismasted or otherwise injured; H. B. M. ship Sulphur, schooner Young Hebe; and brig Algerine; ships Penang; Royalist (late Mary Gordon); Isabella Robertson; Austin; Fatima; Urgent; Pestonjee Bomanjee; Sulimany; Helen; Beulah; America; City of Palaces; Arun; Mermaid; John Barry; Agnes; John Tomkinsou; Betsy and Sarah; City of Derry.

424

Journal of Decurrentes

The Dutch ship Middelburg, bound from Batavia to Japan, en- countered the tyfoon on the 25th, and came into Macao Roads on the 31st for repairs.

    British trade at the port of Canton has been reopened by a procla mation, issued on the Itish instant, in obedience to the imperial will, by the three commissioners Yihshan, Yang Fang, Tseshin, and the governor and it.-governor of Canton, Ke Kung and Eleäng.

Ex-governors Lin and Tăng have been ordered to be transported to Ele, in disgrace: and there they are to try to make atonement for their crimes committed against the state. The order for Tăng came during the first tyfoon, on the 21st, requiring his departure instan- A similar order was sent for Lin in Chékeäng. It is generally supposed that Keshen is again in the ascendant.

ter.

留存

"The three commissioners now in Canton, it is said, will shortly pro- ceed to Peking, and the troops from the other provinces return in triumph to their homes! The death of Lungwán occurred near the close of the last month; from some superstitions notions, the demise of this commissioner was for a time concealed from the public.

     Indemnity from the Chinese has been obtained for the Bilbaino, the Black Joke, and in part for the property lost by the destruction of the factories in Canton : the whole, we suppose, will soon be forth- coming. N. B. In the items of ransom money, given on page 349, in our last, the sum of $2×0,000 should have been $380,000.

The British expedition is still at Hongkong, and its future move- ments are uncertain. Some reinforcements have arrived during the month; among them is the H. Co.'s armed steamer Phlegethon, in construction, armament, &c., quite like the Nemesis.

    The prospects of the war at present are much clouded. Has the emperor changed his purpose ! Is the decree for extermination revoked! Is the hostile attitude all at once to be exchanged for peace! Are the demands of the British crown about to be granted? But will foreign merchants, or foreign diplomatists, put any more faith in the promises of this perfidious government! Apparently there is a change in the councils of the government, and there are signs of a disposition to yield. Their reality will soon be tested.

Sickness and death have prevailed much among the military and naval forces, since the capture of the heights; the sickness has abat- ed, and the deaths are becoming less frequent. The Chinese troops also have suffered. Nor have the foreign residents escaped without admonition. One of our oldest residents, James Innes esquire, died on the 1st instant, aged 55 years.

There have been some other

deaths during the month.

    Mrs. Noble, widow of captain Noble, of the Kite, sailed for Eng- land on the 15th, in the Appolline, captain Deane. Subscriptions in China for Mrs. Noble, made by her countrymen and other foreigners, have been raised to near ten thousand dollars. Donations are also being made in India on her behalf.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-AUGUST, 1841.- No. 8.

ART. I. Notices of Chusan: its geological formation; climate; productions; agriculture; commerce and capabilities; people, &c. In continuation of the article on Chusan in the June number, a few remarks on the geology of the island and coast, extracted from the Calcutta Journal of Natural History, may not be uninteresting. The article in that Journal was written by lieutenant Ouchterlony, Madras engineers.

     "The prevailing rock of the island belongs to the ancient volcanic class, and comprises many varieties, but principally clay-stone, clay- stone porphyry, felspar, compact and porphyritic, and trachyte.

      'In portions of the cliffs on the south and north coasts, the rocks are observed to assume a columnar structure, and dykes and masses of greenstone burst through the beds of clay-stone on various points, in- durating and altering them to a considerable extent, On the west coast, the clay-stone porphyry assumes a slaty or laminated structure, and appears to be quarried extensively both for use on the island and for exportation to the main land, affording excellent slabs for paving and for floors, and good blocks for common building purposes. A coarse conglomerate is also to be seen, intervening between beds of the claystone, imbedding angular fragments of many descriptions of igneous rocks, and passing into a compact and workable porphyry, which is also quarried and made use of for pillars, blocks for corn mills, basement slabs, &c., &c. The very best materials for road- making and repairing are readily procurable in most parts of the island; and for buildings of any descriptions in the sea-port town of Tinghae, such as barracks, warehouses, docks &c., stone could be

VOL. X. NO. VIII.

54

426

Notices of Chusan.

AUG.

quarried to almost any extent from the neighborhood of Sin-kong, on the western coast, and delivered in Chusan bay by water convey- ance at an economical rate. No limestone is of course procurable on the island, and the small quantity of lime which is used by the natives is obtained from shells of the Ostrea tribe, which it is probable abound among the islands of the archipelago. Sand also is not procurable on any of the coasts, * but a supply may be obtained from several of the islands, which are exposed to the direct wash of the sea; it is however scarce, and generally speaking not well adapted for making mortar: The clay formed by the decomposition of the trap ranges, and washed down by the numerous streams, makes ex- cellent bricks."-The following observations of lieut. Ouchterlony refer to a few points along the coasts of China and Leaoutung.*

"Commencing with the southern province, called Kwangtung, the capital of which is Canton, we may observe in the promontory and head-lands of Macao, the extremity of a range of granitic hills, which appears to run to the north-eastward, being there connected with higher and more important chains at the distance of about 70 miles in- land. Extending from the boundary of this province, and forming the seacoast as far as Namoh, there appears to be a continuous but rugged range of igneous rocks, much dislocated and broken up in various parts, but preserving the same general characters throughout. Fur- ther north as at Amoy, these rocks assume a trappean appearance, and the provinces of Chekeäng and Keängsoo, as far north as the estuary of the Yangtsze keäng, seem to be traversed by lofty but ir- regular ranges of hills and mountains of an igneous or perhaps vol- canic nature, having a direction nearly due north and south. -The group of islands forming the Chusan Archipelago, has already been described, as composed of ancient volcanic rocks. Our infor- mation now becomes imperfect as far as Shantung province, but from analogy it is reasonable to suppose that the same system of rocks continues along the coast, as far as the northeastern extremity of that province, which forms the southern arm of the bay of Cheĭhle. The continuity of the same rocks seems evident from the geological character of the Ta-koa and other scattered islands in the narrow gorge at the entrance of the bay, indicating a connexion with the high ridges in the opposite district of Leaoutung in Tartary.

The great alluvial plains of Cheihle next require notice: they are bounded by the trap ranges of Tangchow foo to the southeast, and * Subsequent observations show that sand may be procured in several of the small bays, &c., in different parts of the island.

1841.

Notices of Chusan.

427

to the eastward by the bay, and by lofty Alpine ranges seen in N. latitude 40, beyond the line of the Great Wall, and trending away to the northwestward. It is in Foochow that a most interesting disco- very-that of coal has been made, which will presently be noticed, "On the subject of ores and minerals, but little information could be expected from a hasty examination of a line of sea-coast, nor are deposits of this kind likely to exist in the volcanic hills, and alluvial, plains, which prevail throughout the tract of country visited by the expedition. As regards organic remains, and for nearly similar rea- sons, I have little to communicate. There are however raised beaches near Canton, which contain bivalve shells of the genus Ostrea, pre- senting a remarkable feature of resemblance with those elevations, of lines of coast prevailing so generally in Europe, and recognized also, in America. These raised beaches have probably been produced by the latest upheavings or expansions of igneous rocks before, noticed, as existing on this part of the coast.

J

      "The existence of coal in - China, and its being worked by the inhabitants has long been known, and two localities of this mineral have come under my notice-one near Canton, and the other in Chi, nese Tartary. The former of these carboniferous deposits is situated to the northwest, of Canton, where a chain of hills running east and west separate the province from the low lands of central China.

"

'One of the most interesting geological facts elicited during the progress of the expedition to the northward, was the existence of a second of these carboniferous deposits. The locality of the mineral, though not actually visited, was pretty accurately ascertained, being about latitude 39° 10′ north, and longitude 121° 25′ east, and situated within a mile of the seacoast. Some junks were found laden with this coal, of which it is rather difficult to form a correct opinion from the small quantity brought away: I should however pronounce it anthra cite. of inferior quality. Some specimens of the rocks prevailing on the coast were brought away by the parties who visited, this district, and prove that igneous rocks prevail there also. A slaty rock of the nature of shale was said to have been found in the water courses, but unfortunately no specimens were preserved. The mere existence of the rock would however imply the occurrence of a regular coal series, in which more of better quality may be found.

...

"No metallic ores of any description were seen in any spot visited by the expedition, during the past year (1840), nor does the general appearance of the country to the eastward convey an impression of

See Chinese Repository, vol. IX.,

page 366.

428

Notices of Chusan.

AUG.

their existence, excepting that iron might perhaps be met with in the mountains. The gold and silver produced in China, are obtained, ex- clusively it would seem, from the western provinces bordering on Ti- bet; but upon this point no information as to the precise locality of the mines has been obtained. Veins of the metallic ores are however very unlikely to be found among the igneous rocks of the eastern coast, so far at least as they came under my observation."

Climate. During the southerly monsoon, the weather was hot, and sometimes very oppressive; the range of the thermometer, with the maximum and minimum for each month, can be seen by turning to the tables inserted on pages 353-376. During the northerly mon- soon, generally speaking, the weather was very cold, with fine clear days. During the cold season of January and February, there was much ice on all the ponds, though the duration of this low tempera- ture was never long enough to freeze the canals completely over. Little snow fell during the winteṛ 1840-41, and never in sufficient quantity to cover the plain; the hills around the city were once only capped with snow, which lay three or four days. The natives of the island said that the winters were frequently much more severe, that the ice was very thick, and snow lay in the vallies. It was subse- quently ascertained that the winter at Canton and vicinity had also been mild.

    Effects of climate on health. It may be asked, seeing the favora- ble position of the island, and the comparative mildness of the cli- mate, what was the apparent cause of the unhealthiness of the troops there? To this it may be answered, that there were several circum- stances which produced disease. The expedition reached Chusan at the hottest season of the year; and after the occupation of Tinghae, the soldiers had unavoidably to submit to severe laborious duty, and that at a time when it was impossible to procure fresh provisions for them. The men were also much exposed to the heat of the sun by day, and to the unusually heavy dews by night; indeed so damp was the air at night, that the clothes of those who were exposed to it were speedily saturated with moisture. The strength of the mer was in this way exhausted; and, while thus weakened they were also exposed to the malaria of the district which arose from the extensivé paddy cultivation over the whole valley,a vast sheet of flat muddy ground-opened to the rays of the summer sun; it was then that in- termittent fever seized upon them, followed by severe dysentery, which proved fatal to a most fearful extent. To so great a degree did

1841.

Notices of Chusan.

429

fever prevail, that of the whole force very few individuals escaped without suffering from attacks more or less severe.

Some parts of the city, being very low and damp, were extremely unhealthy of these the office of the cheheën, or magistrate, was a striking example; for of the whole number of British officers, civil and military, who lived there, not one escaped severe attacks of fever or dysentery. The place had to be evacuated, and another chosen for the magistracy. Several intelligent Chinese, when ques- tioned on the subject of the prevalence of fever, said that it was very common over the whole island, especially in the vallies, where the fields were kept constantly flooded; but that during the past year disease had prevailed to a very much greater extent than was gene- rally the case, and not only in the island itself, but also at Ningpo, Chinhae, Hangchow foo (the provincial capital), and other places. Indeed, the number of Chinese who were seen to be laboring under fever was very great, and proves that intermittent fever was very com- mon among them. All the low lands and plains in Chěkeäng and Keängsoo are said to be unhealthy in summer, and especially to for reigners.

[

      It is a question of considerable interest, whether the unhealthiness of Chusan is inherent to the place itself, or rather dependant on ac- cidental circumstances. To form a careful judgment on this point, would require a much longer residence on the island than was af- forded last year; but there can be little doubt, that the mode of irri- gating the vallies is the chief source of disease, especially where it is carried to so great an extent, as it was in the two vallies of Yung- tung and Yentsang. It was said, by those best able to form an opi- nion on the subject, that the surface of the valley in which Tinghae is situated could be effectually drained, it being above high water mark. If Chusan, or any other place where the land is devoted to rice crops, should in future be occupied by foreigners, it would be à subject well worthy of attention, whether, if the land should be drain- ed and other grains cultivated, the salubrity of the place would not be increased.

Commerce. The island did not appear to have been a place of much trade. Large quantities of distilled spirits were produced and exported, and also paddy and salt-fish; these were the chief exports, and many junks were employed in these branches of trade. No silk was produced, and but little of a coarse kind of tea, which was chiefly grown in small patches for domestic use, the chief supply of the city coming from the main land. Salt was made from sea-water, at all

430

Notices of Chusan.

AUG.

points on the beach, where it was practicable, but not in large quantities. Ice was imported from the northern ports, and stored in large houses having thick mud walls and well thatched roofs, and was used for the preservation of fish. In the suburbs, were several large timber-yards, well stocked with good spars and blocks of wood. These yards belonged to persons of wealth, who however deserted all on the first arrival of the troops, but eventually returned, and begged to have their property restored, which was done. This wood does not grow on the island, but comes over in rafts from the main. Great numbers of fishing-boats, of various sizes, belonged to persons at Tinghae, but the chief place for their resort, as also of junks from Fuhkeen, was Shinkeä mun (Sinkamong) the southeastern point of the island, where there was always a considerable degree of bustle and activity.

Bricks were made in large quantities at several places, as also tiles, earthern jars, and water pipes: these were well burnt, with charcoal, in a kind of kiln; the clay is of a blue color; and the bricks were hard and durable, and emitted a strong metallic sound when struck. The bricks of which the parapet of the city wall was built, were of large size, and each had the date of its manufacture stamped upon it. Lime was made from oyster and other shells, and burnt with charcoal in an open hearth, having a large blowing ap paratus or air bellows, of simple construction, attached to it.

    Great numbers of tallow trees were grown in the island, which yielded abundance of vegetable tallow ; and several large candle ma- nufactories were seen in full operation, where candles of all sizes and colors were manufactured.

    Cotton is also grown, but not to any very great extent; the seeds are removed by the small mill in common use in the east, with horizontal cylinders, and a rough kind of fly wheel. Carding, spinning, weav- ing and dyeing, were also frequently seen in the various villages. Indigo was also produced in good quantity, and many large jars of this article, in process of making, were seen in some of the houses. Var- nish trees were common; and the transparent varnish, of which the Chinese are so fond, was also produced, but not to any large amount.

    Numerous grains, vegetable productions, &c., were produced in the island, as wheat, buckwheat, rice, millet, Indian corn (or maize), barley, sugar-cane, sweet potatoe, spinach, beans, brinjal, onions, carrots, yams, lettuce, turnips, ginger, thubarb, tobacco, and perhaps even some more that were not noticed. ' Of fruits, there were pears, peaches, plums, oranges, limes, loquats, and a kind of cherry. In

1

1841.

Notices of Chusan.

431

      some situations, the rice was sown at different periods, so that while one part of the crop was ready for the sickle, another was yet in the blade. Whether by this means the ground was made to yield more abundantly could not be clearly ascertained, but that was the impres- sion obtained by conversation with the natives.

Agricultural implements were few and simple: a hoe with a long blade, a rake and fork, a plough and a rough kind of harrow, were used. The plough was substantially made; and just within the south- ern gate of the city was a foundry for casting the shares. For the irrigation of the fields, a very good chain pump was used, made wholly of wood, and the chain was formed of short pieces carefully jointed together; sometimes in place of this, a coarsely made rope was used; when the water had to be elevated only a short distance, and the pump was worked actively either by men or oxen according to its size, a large body of water was speedily raised. All the larger farmhouses had one or more of these pumps.*

After the rice is cut, it is tied up in bundles, and the heads beaten violently on a strong wooden grating, by which means the grain is separated; this is husked or cleaned, sometimes by being pounded in a large mortar with a stone headed beater, but at others by means of a large stone wheel, drawn by a bullock, and made to traverse in a stone gutter or channel in which the grain is placed. The fanning- mill is of good construction, and similar to those now used in Europe, which are doubtless copied from a Chinese original: The mill consists of two granite stones; the nether millstone is fixed and has a deep groove round it, with a spout for the exit of the flour; the up- per stone is somewhat smaller, with a handle by which to turn it, and a bole near the centre for the entrance of the grain; the flour is cleaned by means of a sieve.

The Chinese are remarkably fond of a kind of bean paste, which is made by boiling beans in a large caldron for several hours; they are then passed through the mill, and a kind of'souring' added to the semifluid mass, which is allowed to stand for some hours, and afterwards put into small wooden frames, covered with cloth; these are submitted to the action of a strong press, to remove the water; after which the paste is exposed for sale, sometimes in mass, or made up like very thin pulse cakes, and occasionally taken and formed into a solid brown cake.

     Capabilities of the island. There can be little doubt from the mildness of the climate, and the great variety of land, in the vallies,

* See Chinese Repository, vol. V.,

page 485.

432

Notices of Chusan

AUG.

   the table-lands, and the ridges of the lower hills, that, with care and judicious management, most of the grains, vegetables, fruits, &c., commonly grown by Europeans, might be successfully cultivated in Chusan, and thus the unhealthiness arising from the extensive paddy fields be in a great measure avoided.

    Wheel carriages are not used on the island, and the only instances in which the wheel was found were in some old gun-carriages, with spoked wheels, seen in one of the arsenals, and some fire-engines con- structed after European models. These engines were well made of lead, with double pumps and air-vessel, the pipes had also revolving joints of good construction, and the whole apparatus was placed in a large wooden tub, on low wheels: most of these engines had but a single pump; but besides these, one very good double pump was seen in the arsenal, which was almost new, and great pains had apparently been taken with it.

Detachments of soldiers, composed of frora 20 to 100 men, were frequently sent, under command of an officer, to various parts of the island for one or two days; captain Caine, as chief magistrate, also went repeatedly, with a small body of men, to the neighboring vallies and towns, for the purpose of issuing proclamations, attending to any complaints that might arise, and of convincing the people that the soldiers were orderly and well behaved. These expeditions were always well conducted, everything that was procured for the use of the soldiers was paid for, and at the places where refreshment was taken, generally one of the large temples or the principal house in the village was used for this purpose; the people helped the soldiers to get everything in readiness, and when they saw no harm was in- tended or happened to them, by the presence of the strangers, they readily brought provisions, &c., for sale.

    At the time when provisions were scarce, some encounters took place between the villages at different places and the parties sent out, doubtless in part owing to the fault of the foreigners; but in several instances, the attack was began by the natives, because they either did not wish to sell their stock, or feared that they should not be paid for it; also some disturbances arose from the natives, who seeing the parties were small, sometimes called out all the neighbors and attack- ed them, for the purpose of beating them and stealing their money. Complaints were also made, occasionally, by the country people, that their provisions were taken from them near the gates, and pay- ment not always rendered; but the men were ir absolute want of fresh provisions, and it is said that hunger will break through

1841.

Notices of Chusan.

433

stone walls. After a time, when the people of the island saw that they could dispose of their bullocks, goats, and poultry, profitably, and that the proper price was freely given, abundance of provisions came to market, and all these irregularities ceased. For the last three months of residence at Chiusan, there was a good display of all table requisites constantly brought, not only from the island itself, but from the neighboring islands, Ningpo, and other parts of the main; Shantang cabbages, Nanking pears (of very good quality), Kéängse walnuts, Fuhkeën oranges, with all the vegetable products of the islands; as well as bullocks, milch goats, geese, wild and tame ducks, fowls, and abundance of fish; occasionally deer, pheasants, par tridges, and snipe, were offered for sale at very moderate prices; on two or three occasions woodcocks were shot by some of the sports-

men, in their rambles over the hills.

      The people. At first great difficulty was experienced in obtaining cookies to perform the various duties required of them, and it often took a morning's hard work, to collect a few men together; but after a while, finding that they were well and regularly paid, they flocked in great numbers to the city, so that any amount of able-bodied strong men could at once be procured.

On the whole it may be remarked, that the soldiers behaved with great propriety at Chusan, complete order and regularity being main- tained over them by their officers; some of the respectable Chinese householders expressed their surprise, that they had so little annoy- ance from the English soldiers, who, as they often said,' were so well bebaved, and so very different from those of their own army, whò never let at an opportunity slip of enriching themselves at the ex- pense of those in whose city they dwelt. On one or two occasions, when there were rumors of an attack, being made on the city, by Chinese soldiers to be sent from Ningpo, some of the friendly Chi nese were warned not on any account to allow the officers or soldiers of their own nation to secrete themselves on their premises, lest theỳ should bring themselves into trouble; when they all said, that, far from wishing to harbor any of the soldiers, they would as soon take in the same number of the most arrant thieves, and that they knew their own interest far too well to do anything of that kind. Of those householders who remained in their own dwellings, after the occupa- tion of the city, very few if any were at all molested, but retained their houses and property to the last; and if their buildings were wanted for barracks or hospitals, rent was paid for them according to valua- tion. Had the shopkeepers, &c., taken care of their goods at first

VOL. X. NO. VIL

55

1

434

Collections made by Dr. Cantor at Chusan. AUG.

and not left their shops, little of the injury to property that did occur would have taken place; but almost all, both rich and poor, fled away, leaving their houses entirely unprotected, a portion of whose contents were taken by various people of the expedition for their own immediate use, but by far the greatest part, indeed almost the whole, by Chinese thieves from the villages, who ransacked the deserted

houses.

    For some time, three of the regiments were quartered in the centre of the city. Chinese shops were instantly opened near, and even among the quarters of the men; and the sellers, seeing that the sol- diers had plenty of money, used every effort to obtain their custom. It was amusing to see the mode of bargaining carried on; it was done partly by signs, showing the amount of money asked and offer- ed for various goods, and partly by words-for the foreigners soon acquired a knowledge of a few of the most common Chinese words, and the Chinese picked up a few English and Hindustanee terms, as also the numerals and names of coin, from which a curious com- pound or mixed language arose, which however answered the pur- pose to the satisfaction of all parties.

ART. H. Conspectus of collections made by Dr. Cantor, assistant surgeon, during his employment with H. M. 26th regiment. on the expedition to China, 1840.

    [This article first published in the Calcutta Journal of Natural History, No. 5, has been kindly forwarded to us, with a few corrections, by Dr. Can- tor. It will form a valuable addition to previous articles on Chusan.]

Penang.-Fishes, Shells, Zoophytes, Insects, Plants.

Singapore.-Fishes, Shells, Zoöphytes, Crustacea, Plants China Sea-Fishes, Molluscs, Zoöphytes, Animalcula. Lantao I. (Canton Prov.)-Fishes, Shells, Crustacea, Plants, Geo.

logical specimens.

Chusan.-Mammalia, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Shells, Crustacea, Annulata, Arachnidæ, Insects, Plants, Seeds, Geological specimens.

Conspectus of Animals observed and collected at Chusan. (Rough

draft.)

1841.

Collections made by Dr. Cantor at Chusa

1. MAMMALIA.

Noctilio?

Canis Sinensis.

Felis catus ?

Felis ? (wild cat.)

Equus caballus.

----- asinus.

435

Bos taurus (allied to the Brahmuny

bull).

Manis (the Indian species.)

Capra.

Sus.

None of the larger wild beasts occur, most likely in consequence of a thick population. Of domesticated animals, the pig, affording the most favorite animal food, is prodigiously numerous. horses and oxen, the latter used exclusively for the plough. Goats

numerous.

2. AVES.

Few

geese, ducks,

Few wild birds, (in consequence of the absence of forests,) chiefly gralla- tores, crows, sparrows, swallows. Of domesticated fowl - and fowl, plentiful, and of large size and excellent quality. 3. REPTILIA.

Emys,

Hemidactylus,

Trionyx, Naja,

Lycodon,

Tropidonotus,

Bufo.

Seps, Python,

Rana,

Agama,

Coluber,

Hyla,

      Southern and central China is crowded with reptiles beyond description. In Chusan, Naja appears to be the only venomous ter- restrial serpent.

None of the larger saurians. All the forms of rep- tiles are tropical, except Rana esculenta.

4. PISCES. A. Fresh-water.

Anguilla,

Synbranchus,

Ophicephalus, Anabas,

Cyprinus,

Silurus.

Eleotris,

Cobitis,

Gobius,

Colisa,

      All tropical forms, with the exception perhaps of Anguilla, which resembles the European species.

B. Sea and Estuaries.

Carcharias,

Platax,

Solea,

Trygon, Macropodus, Lates.

Hemiramphus,

Stromateus,

Trichiuris,

Nebris,

Little can be said of the pelagic fishes, as unfortunately the fisher- men followed the example of most of the other inhabitants, and de- serted the vicinity of the English.

5. MOLLUSCA. A. Terrestrial, Fresh-water, aud Estuaries.

      Limax, Lymnea,

Paludina,

Succinium,

Pupa,

Helix,

Achatina,

Bulimus,

Cyrena,

Mytilus.

Cerithium,

Melania,

Ampullaria, Clausilia,

Bulla (Bullæa,) Vitrina,

Planorbis,

Anodonta,

436

Collections made by Dr. Cantor at Chusan.

AUG.

Considering the limited extent of the locality, the number of genera is remarkable.

The Lymnea bears a strong resemblance to

L. rivalis, Sowerby ; but appears to be the only European form.

B. Pelagic (inhabiting the Chinese Sea, from the Southern extremity up to Chusan).

Terebella,

Auricula,

Bulla, Strombus,

Pterocera,

Serpula,

Spirorbis,

Vermilia,

Balanus,

Lepas,

Anatifera,

Pollicipes,

Aspergillum,

Gastrochæna,

Solen,

Mya,

Erycine,

Amphidesma,

Cytherea,

Venus,

Isocardia,

Cucullæn,

Arca,

Hyria,

Modiola,

Mytilus,

Malleus,

Meleagrina,

Ostrea,

Placuna,

Gryphæa,

Spondylus,

Pileopsis,

Bullæa,

Neritina,

Nerita,

Natica,

Ianthina,

Sigaretus,

Stomatella,

Haliotis,

Pyramidella,

$

Scalaria,

Delphinula,

Solarium,

Trochus,

Monodonta,

Turbo,

Planaxis,

Phasianella,

Turritella,

Cerithium,

Pleurotoma,

Turbinella,

Canularia,

Fasciolaria,

Fusus,

Pyrula,

Struthiolaria,

Ranella,

Murex,

Triton,

Rostellaria,

Cassidaria,

Cassis,

Ricinula,

Harpa,

Dolium,

Buccinum,

l'erebra,

Columbella,

Mitra,

Voluta,

Ovula,

Cyprea,

Ancillaria,

Oliva,

Conus,

Nautilus,

Argonauta,

Pholas,

Tellina,

Cardium,

Donax,

Spondylus,

Chama,

Pinna,

Strombus,

#

6. ANNULATA.

Hirudo officinalis.

Hirudo? (Head in the shape of a hammer. Also

found by Mr. Griffith in the Naga'hills in 1836.)

7. CRUSTACEA.

8. ARACHNIDÆ.

Pagurus,

Crangon.

Lycosa,

Aranea,

+

Thomisus, Phalanginum.

Limulue.

Oxypes,

Dictyna,

Remarkable for their specific and numerical strength.

9. INSECTA.

- Dytiscus, Apodens,

Hydrous,

Lamiaj

Gytinus,

Acrocinus,

Cyclous,

›Cassidi,

Elater,

Eumolpus,

Silpha,

Chrysomela,

Ateuchus,

Coccionella,

Ontophagus,

Histor,

Phaneus,

Helops,

Macraspis,

Coriarus,

Cetonia,

Gryllotalpa,

Gymnetis,

Lucanus,

Forficule,

Mantis,

Gryllus, Blatta,

Spectrum,

Vespa,

Acrydium,

Cimex,

Bombus,

Helops,

A pis, Xylocopa,

1841.

Collections made by Dr. Cantor at Chusan.

9. INSECTA. (Continued.)

Nepa,

Trigona,

Notonecta,

Corixa,

Polistes,

Cicada,

Melipoma, Papilio,

Bocydium,

Libellula,

Sphinx,

Æshna,

Phaleena,

Agrion,

Culex,

Panorpa,

Tabanus,

Myrmelion,

Oestrus,

Phryganea,

Conops,

Sphex,

Musca.

437

The greater number not identified. Tropical forms prevalent; strong resemblance to the insects of Assam and Sylhet, collected by Messrs. M'Clelland and Griffith, in 1835-6; Nepa, and a few but- terflies, apparently European.

10. ANIMALCULA.

Not identified, several forms found all over the earth, in the ocean, as well as in fresh water.

PLANTS flowering in Chusan in July, August, and September.*

Ranunculaceœ.

Araliacea,

F

Brassica,

:

Sinapis arvensis.

Resedacea,

ß. Dryadeæ,

Reseda luteola ?

Geum rivale,

Oxalidea,

Rubus idæus,

Ranunculus,

Celastrineæ,

flex.

Hedera helix.

R.

aquatica,

Papilionacea,

Umbelliferæ,

Nymphaeacea,

Many species.

Carum carui,

Crucifera,

a. Amygdaleæ.

Nymphæa nelumbo. Rosacea.

Thlaspi bursa-pastoris? Amygdala persica,

;

(Apricot,). Prunus,

Daucus Carota. Caprifoliacea,

Sambucus Japonica. Curcubitaceæ,

Cucumis Melo,

(Water-melon and se- veral other species,).

Momordica balsamina.

Oxalis stricta.

R. Chamæmorus,

Compositæ,

Hypericineæ,

Fragaria.

Gnaphalium,

Hypericum montanum, y. Roseæ,

Inula,

H. perforatum.

Rosa Sinica,

Ampelideæ,

♪ Pomacea,

Vitis vinifera.

Pomum,

Aurantiaceæ,

Pyrus,

Senecio,

Chrysanthemum,

'Artemisia Sinensis, and

2 or 3 more species.

Citrus (3 to 4 species)

P. Cydonia.

Labiata,

Camellia,

Thea viridis,

Granateæ,

Rosmarinus officin.

Punica granatum.

?

Camellia.

Myrtacea,

Mentha

Malvacea,

Myrtus.

Origanumn

?

Gossypium,

Portulacace,

Hibiscus.

Acerinæ,

Acer.

Portulaoca.

Crassulacea,

Sempervivum,

Sedum acre.

Boragineæ,

Symphytum ? Verbenacea,

Verbena.

* The greater number, in Dr. Cantor's Herbarium have not yet been identified.

4

Nicotiana tabacum,

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Edicts Relating to Military Operations..

PLANTS (Continued).

Solanec,

Juglander,

Juglans regia,

AUG.

Alismacea,

Datura metel,

Amentaceæ,

Alisma plantago? Liliacea,

Solanum nigrum,

a. Cupuliferæ,

Lilium

?

S. dulcamara,

Quercus .?

Asphodeleœ,

Capsicum.

B. Salicineæ,

Allium (several sp.)

Convolvulacea,

Salix-

_?

Iridea,

Convolvulus batatus,

S. babylonica.

Iris

C ----?

Coniferæ,

Gramineœ,

Polygoneœ,

Pinus-

?

Polygonum (several sp.) Juniperus

?

Rumex acetosa,

Scitamineæ,

Triticum, Oryza,

Zea mays,

Rheum.

Zingiber officinalis.

Milium panicum.

Chenopodece,

Palma,

Filices,

C. bonus-henricus.

́attain a small Musci,

Atrocarpa,

Borassus,

size, produce Fungi.

Morus nigra,

no ripe fruit,

Musa,

M. alba,

and are all

Urticeæ,

Betel,

found in gar-

Cannabis

?

dens.

Humulus lupulus.

European forms much more frequent in the botanical, than in the animal, kingdom. Plants characteristic of this part of China are the tea shrub; Stillingia sebifera (tallow-tree); Dryandra cordata (varnish tree); Humulus lupulus (hops). The tropical forms attain but a small size, their fruits do not ripen, and the brilliancy of the flowers is strikingly inferior to that of the Indian Flora. In the month of August, the thermometer rises to 115°, in December it sinks to 22°.

    The geological features of Chusan are primary rocks (the highest about 1800 feet), and vallies with alluvial soil. The whole line of coast from Macao to Chusan appears to be primary formation.

ART. III. Memorials and edicts relating to the military opera- tions on the coast, during the visit of the first English expedition.

No. 1.

THE slave Yukeën, an imperially appointed high commissioner, and lieu- tenant-governor of the province of Keängsoo, kneeling presents this me- morial, on which he prays that a sacred glance may be cast.

1841.

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

430

Your slave has just received a communication from the Board of War to the following effect.

"We have received an imperial edict stating that the foo-tootung (or Tartar lieut.-general) Haeling has memorialized us, praying, that, ' the whole of the ports and harbors along the sea-coast be secretly and suddenly closed, so that neither a single individual nor a single ship be permitted to go out or in; by which means the grain and rice of the Central land shall not be fur- tively conveyed to the outer seas for the support of the foreigners, and by which means we shall be able at once to pounce upon all the native traitors, and thus get good information as to the positition and intentions of the fo- reigners, &c., &c.' The said memorial refers to Tinghae, which has just been recovered; command, therefore, that the high commissioner presiding in that quarter examine carefully into the actual circumstances of the case; and let him with his whole heart and soul ponder and deliberate if the proposal may be put in force or not, and duly report the same in course to us; and at the same time let the original proposition of Haeling be fairly copied out and sent on for his careful inspection, &c., &c. Respect this!" Your slave, in respectful compliance, has made due examination, and found that along the whole line of sea-coast, salt is produced (naturally) in large quantities; the people have no constant means of employment (on shore), and their disposition is to follow a sea life. Those who possess some little capital, trade to the north and south of the empire; they bring foreign goods and produce into general consumption, and thus give employment and sup- port to multitudes of the poorer classes; those who possess no capital make their vessels their homes, while the wide ocean is their estate; these sink and rise amid the tempestuous billows, aud when their fishing is successful they exchange their commodities for an humble measure of rice and common food! Thus, if we number those who live chiefly by the sea in the two provinces of Keängsoo and Chěkeäng alone, they cannot be under several tens of thousands of individuals; while those who réap benefit from the commerce carried on through them, are absolutely innumerable! In reference to the two provinces of Canton and Fuhkeën, their saline productions are still greater, and their commerce is still more extensive; and as the people who are employed in it are more numerous, so in proportion is their power of working evil!

                                          Were we at once to shut all the ports as has been proposed-granting that those who have capital might invest it in some other form and engage in another line of business (as some in anticipation have already been petitioning me about), -yet those who possess no capital, being thus suddenly deprived of their means of support, must fall into the stream of evil, and become robbers and pirates!

Moreover, on looking back to what took place last year, after Tinghae was jost, the fishermen, because that their means of livelihood were cut off, cherished in their hearts a strong thirst of revenge, The tungche of Shě- poo, Shoo Kungshow, chief magistrate of Tinghae was at that time chief magistrate of Kinheën, (a minor district of Ningpo foo), and at a single wave

440

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AUG.

of his hand several hundreds of these fishing-vessels flocked to him, all burn- ing with desire to re-conquer the place; but as the regulations of the army would not allow it, they were compelled, in a short time, one and all of them to disperse ;-this however shows that they (the fishermen) had no share in supplying the foreigners with necessaries.

After the 6th moon of last year, the foreigners made a practice of getting into their ship's boats, and sailing along the whole line of coast of the eastern part of the province of Chèkeäng, trying to purchase bullocks and looking for fresh water. Now, although our poor people might desire to make a profit by them, yet they did not dare to hold any intercourse with them; but after- wards, seeing the officers bestow cattle and sheep, and eatables (alludes to Elepoo's presents to the admiral), they publicly gave themselves up to the business of supplying the foreigners without the slightest dread about the matter, for the magistrates having put on no prohibition, the people thought that they were doing no wrong! And thus affairs went on till the arrival of the new fooynen, Lew Yunko, who strictly forbade such inter- course, and then they gradually began to retrace their steps.

Thus then they were the stupid poor people, dwelling along the sea-coast, who supplied the English rebels with necessaries, and even they had an exam- ple shown them to do so ;-the merchant ships and fishing-vessels had really nothing whatever to do in the matter. Moreover, the owners of these mer. chant vessels are people of solidity, and have some property at stake; some of these vessels with their cargoes are worth several thousands of taels, and many more are worth several tens of thousands of taels of silver. The district officers give them a stamped chop or pass; when they arrive at any place, it is therein stated; when they sail, they have an appointed port to go to; the mandarins, soldiers, and police-runners along the coast all have their ears and eyes about them, they are ever on the qui vive; if these vessels were carrying necessaries to the foreigners, impossible would it be to conceal it from or deceive them! This would cause the officers and their fol- lowers to squeeze and extort as the price of their connivance, and the profit they obtained from one party would not pay the bribes required by the other party; therefore the most of them have the good sense to keep well while they are well.

1

14

    Aand touching the fishing-vessels, though the owners of these may be poor 'people, yet they leave in the morning and return at night, by regulation; they have a specific point which they set out from and which they come back to. There is a petty officer duly appointed to search and examine them, and as they are but small craft, it can be seen at a single glance if they have anything on board prohibited or not. And further, last year it was the native merchant ships that assisted the imperial troops to beat back the foreign ships of war from Chapo. It was the merchant ships of the two pro- vinces of Keängsoo and Chekeäng that carried over the troops intended to slaughter the English rebels. It was the fishing-boats that spied for us, and brought all information about the affairs of the foreigners and rescued the

1841.

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

441

       unfortunate natives of Tinghae. It was the fishing-boats that aided us to prepare all manner of combustibles, whereby to attack the foreign ships by fire; and it is at this moment the fishing-boats that regularly carry the grain and the pay for the imperial troops now in garrison at Tinghae;-thus then the trading junks and the fishing-boats are what we must of necessity em- ploy, and there is no principle of reason by which their egress may be stop- ped, or their means of livelihood cut off.

But granting that there are trading junks which, setting the laws at de- fiance, still hold illegal communication with foreigners, and continue to sup- ply them with provisions,-these must anchor off the small uninhabited is- lands, or out-of-the-way nooks and corners, where the footsteps of the authorities never reach; they cannot possibly enter the regularly appointed trading-places and harbors before the eyes of all men. Now, if the pro. posal to close our ports suddenly were to be put into effect, we should only be throwing obstacles in the way of the fair trading merchantmen and the well disposed fishermen, while we should be as far as ever from finding a clue by which to put a stop to the illegality of supplying the foreigners with provisions.

I find that our fishermen devote themselves exclusively to their occupation of taking fish and mending their nets; they are most actively employed during the whole year, and even then they can hardly get food to put in their mouths with all their exertions; and there are many among them who in their whole life-time never see such a thing as a silver dollar; if these people were to carry provisions to the foreign banditti, it could only be with the prospect of making a large profit by doing so, and what they would really gain by such transactions would be small indeed. If we, therefore, by promis- ing them handsome rewards, could awaken their cupidity, we might thus turn them to very good account; for they would most certainly never throw away the chance of obtaining inexhaustible riches, for the paltry sums to be scraped up by clandestinely supplying the foreigners with necessaries. Acting upon this principle, your slave, after his arrival at Chèkeäng, pub. lished a proclamation offering certain rewards for capturing alive, or killing the foreign robbers-and instigating every class of people from the highest to the lowest to join heart and hand in the good work,-if there were any who clandestinely supplied the foreign banditti with necessaries, then were they immediately to be beheaded for holding such traitorous intercourse ;- and at the same time, I sought out Paou Hingtse and the others who last year captured the false foreign mandarins Anstruther and Douglas, and had them handsomely rewarded ou the spot ;-thus for the last month and more the disposition of the Tinghae people has been exceedingly favorable, their spirits are up, and they are overflowing with a desire to show their valor.

In fine, I have collected from all parts a great many runners, whom I have stationed at out-of-the-way places and little islands off the coast; these are instructed to go on board the foreign ships, either under the pretence that they have got fish to sell, or that they want to buy opium, and they are to spy out the best plan by which they may get the foreigners ensnared and

VOL. X. NO. VII.

56

442

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

Ato.

captured. By this system of extending the rewards to all classes, the impe- rial troops will feel ashamed to be outdone in courage and activity, they will therefore fight with the keenest animosity; and in fine, this being the time when we must of necessity make use of all our vessels and all our people. the proposals of the gallant foo tootung to close the ports is quite imprac- ticable, and needs not further to be discussed.

Regarding the subject of "native traitors," those who, properly speaking, belong to the two provinces of Keängsoo and Chẽkeäng are very few indeed. And those that are from Canton and Fuhkeen, are yet born the children of your sacred majesty. Perhaps through desire of gain, perhaps pressed by want, they have entered the service of the rebels. But both these supposi- tions admit of palliation, and the door of repentance may still be left open to them; if they can indeed assist in killing the robbers let them be praised, and rewarded on the same footing as your majesty's well-behaved subjects. Those who are sensible of their crime, who fear the punishment, and who voluntarily give themselves up, let them only be required to give some proofs of their sincerity, and get some person or persons to become security for them, when they should be let freely go and absolved from all further con- sequences on account of their previous conduct. But those who know well what they are about, and contentedly follow the rebels, plans must be laid, and money must be paid to have them seized and brought to trial, when their heads will be struck off and exposed on the sea-beach in terrorem ; their pro- perty will be confiscated and their crime laid at the door of their families and relations, in order to reform men's hearts, and strikingly manifest the laws of the land. If, however, we proceed on one broad principle of seizing in. stanter, the whole of the native traitors, not only would this be blocking up the road of self-renovation to them, but we should thereby confirm them in their intention to follow the fortunes of the rebels; and not only would the search (in the maner proposed) be like pursuing fish through the ocean, but I fear that it would likewise give vent to a great deal of malignity; mutual recriminations, and false accusations would be the consequence, whereby numbers of innocent people would be involved, which is by no means proper. Your slave in one word takes this stupid view of the question :-the sup. plies to foreigners must be interdicted, but the ports must on no account be closed; native traitors must be searched after and apprehended, but there must be method and discrimination in setting about it. I have communicated with the fooyuen Lew Yunko upon the subject, and finding that he takes much the same view of matters as myself, right it is that I obey the im. perial decree in memorializing your majesty on the subject. Moreover, at the present moment Tingbae in Chekeäng has been recovered, and the foreign ships have all fled away, therefore the circumstances of the case now, are widely different to what they were previously. Your slave dares not in the slighest degree to procrastinate or throw obstacles in the way of public business, but as in duty bound submits his real opinious to your ma- jesty in the foregoing statement. A most respectful memorial.

$

1841.

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

No. 2.

443

      An imperial edict to the following effect has just been received. Tang Tingching, viceroy of Fuhkeën and Chokeäng has handed up to us, a me- morial, stating how that at Heämun (or Amoy) they had beat off an Eng- lish ship, &c., &c., of which the following is an extract :

       "Upon this occasion (6th moon, 5th day, i. e. 3d July, 1840), an English ship of war sailed into the harbor of Amoy, under the pretence, as they said, that they wished for peace! At that time both civil and military of ficers went forward to impede their landing, and gave them a hearty scold- ing; they did not permit them to come on shore. Whereupon these rebel.. lious foreigners had the hardihood to change their flag and fire off their guns ; and a principal person of the ship, dressed in foreign clothes, but speaking the Flowery speech, came right before our fort, and alternately made use of the most bland and the most abusive language. Just then Chin Seenfuh, acting as major (or show pei) of the central division of the admiral's troops, let fly an arrow and hit him right in the hollow of the breast, when he fell dead, and our soldiers in succession firing off their matchlocks shot two of the foreigners who fell into the sea. Chin Shingyuen, acting as a tsan. tseäng (or colonel), who was commanding on the occasion, seized a long spear, with which he run a white foreigner through the body and killed him ; and the people of our war ships afloat, and our mandarins and soldiers from the shore, firing off volley after volley of great guns and matchlocks, hit and wounded an immense number of the foreigners, &c. &c. &c."

       By this it would appear that they have managed the business remarkably well. Let all the civil magistrates who have exerted themselves in the affair-such as Tsae Kinlung, acting sub-prefect of Amoy, Koo Keängchung, ci-devant sub-prefect of Amoy, Hoo Kwöyung, acting magistrate of the Tung-gan district, and Kin Kwangyaou, head of the cruizing-station of Yungshih,-be recommnened to the Board of Appointments, that they be promoted and rewarded on an extra-liberal footing. Let the officer who commanded on the occasion,-Chin Shingyuen, acting as a tsantseäng (or colonel) of the admiral's troops for the defence of Haetan, but actually a showpei [or major] of the right division,-be promoted to the rank of a toosze (or lieutenant-colonel], and immediately employed as such, having first changed his button for a higher grade. Let Chin Seënfuh, acting as showpei (or major] of the central division of the admiral's troops, but actually a tseëntsung (or captain] of the right division, be promoted to the rank of toosze [or lieutenant-colonel], and employed immediately as such, having first changed his button for a higher grade;-and let each of these officers have a peacock's feather bestowed upon him as a mark of our favor. At the same time let the following military officers who signalized themselves in attacking and beating off the eneiny, viz., Lin Keënyew, Loo Szejin, and Ho Yewshe, and Hing Kwei, a weiyuen [or special deputy] of the haekwan (hoppo or collector of customs) of the Fuhkeën seas, be all promoted as vacancies may occur, and have honorable employment in

4.14'

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

AUG.

the meantime. And let a special communication be made to the Board of War, that those who were wounded, and the relations of those soldiers who fell in battle, may have compassion shown them according to the established regulations. Respect this!

No. 3.

On the 12th day of the 8th moon (10th September 1840), the following im- perial edict was received. Tăng Tingching, viceroy of Fuhkeën and Chekeäng, has handed up to us a memorial, stating how that the English ships of war came to Amoy, raising disturbances, and how that our officers and soldiers with united effort attacked and beat them back. The following is an extract: "Two English ships have been at Amoy in the province of Puhkeën, rais- ing disturbances. On the 25th day of the 7th moon [23d August), they hung out their red flags and entering by Tsingkeen, they rushed right up to the admiral's reviewing ground. At that instant the said tetŭh (or ad- miral] Chin Keaeping, leading on his marine cruizers, civilians, military officers, &c., &c., opened his great guns and attacked them in rapid succes- sion, and hit one of the ships on the stern, and knocked her boat to pieces. Next day the said foreign ships again approached the fort, which covers the admiral's review ground, and commenced firing, whereupon the foo- tacang (or brigadier] in command, Hingtih fired off all his great guns at one time, and thus hulled the foreign ships twice, which caused them im- mediately to desist from fighting, and to haul off. The said foreigners having lowered a boat from the ship's stern, the people in it were trying to over- fake the large ship, when the yew-keen [or colonel] Seay Kwŏpeaou and others gave them chase and drove them into a small creek at the back of the Tsingkeen island; they then fired off their guns and hit five foreigners who tumbled head over heels in their boat. Immediately after this they hauled off again; and now having got up their anchors and stood far out to sea, there is no trace of them, &c., &c."

     On this occasion having beat back the foreign ships with the thunder of our cannon, and every mandarin engaged in the affair having exerted his strength, let the said admiral make a memorandum of those officers who have been eminently conspicuous for their good services in the affair, and hand up their names to us, that we may make a manifestation of imperial goodness in their behalf. We cannot permit however any false substitution or exaggeration. As regards the yew-hee Ting Kingyew, who was wounded just as he was going into action and has since died-his case is indeed very much to be pitied. Let a special communication be made to the Board of War that imperial compassion be shown to his relatives. And as for those of our imperial troops who fell in action, let it be clearly ascertained who and what they were, and let our compassion be shown to their relatives accord. ingly. Respect this !

No. 4.

    On the 21st year, 3d moon, and 9th day of Taoukwang [31st March 1841), the following imperial edict was received.

1841.

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

445

"Woo Wanyung, lieutenant-governor of Fuhkeën has handed up to us a memorial, regarding those mandarins who particularly distinguished them- selves in attacking and beating back the English ships.

      "Last year the rebellious English foreigners went in their ships of war to Amoy, in the province of Fuhkeën, and there raised disturbances; when our magistrates and military with united effort attacked them and beat them back. Under these circumstances it appears to us right and proper that we should make a proportionate manifestation of our goodness, and forasinuch we now decree the following:

"Lew Yaouchun, a taoutae [or intendant] of the circuits of Hing, Yuen, and Yung; Lingtih and Ye Changchun, both brigadiers,-let these three be recommended to the Board of Appointments for promotion as may appear. "Sze Muh waiting to fill a district magistrate-ship, let him after he has filled said office for a time, be promoted, passing through the regular grades, as vacancies occur.

*Sun Chepung, acting as yewkŭh in the rear-division of the admiral's troops, let him now be promoted to the rank of a tsantseäng, and let him be presented with a peacock's feather.

Seny Kwŏpeaou, a yewkeih in the left division of the admiral's troops; Chang Jeu, a toosze of the Mingan encampment; and Too Szejin, acting as a showpei in front division of the admiral's troops,-let these three be advanced in their respective grades as vacancies occur.

"Woo Kwŏyung, acting magistrate of Tung-gan district and ci-devant magistrate of Tihgan district, let him be advanced.

"The chief magistrate of Tung-gan district, having petitioned for leave of absence on account of illness, let him proceed to Szechuen, and be there be employed among his own kindred.

"Chin Yungshe, a cheheën or magistrate of a district, let him be prefer- red to a vacancy as soon as he arrives at the provincial city. Respect this!" No. 5.

An imperial edict has been received to the following effect. Yukeën has handed up to us a memorial regarding the capture of certain of the Eng- lish banditti, accompanied with a list of the officers and common people who distinguished themselves on the occasion. The English banditti in the course of last year having invaded the lesser districts of Tszeke, Yuyaou and other places on the coast of Chěkeang, at that time our civil and mili- tary mandarins dispatched a number of weiyuen (special messengers) who took alive several of their party; and having laid a deep plan by which they inveigled one of their ships among the quicksands where she was wrecked, the said rebels did not dare to come prying and spying any more about the coast of our central land. And we have further heard, that from the 6th- moon of last year until now, the mandarins and common people of those places, as well as the weiyuen, and shoolee (clerks or secretaries) have all assisted in keeping off the foreign robbers; it is right therefore that those who have thereby acquired a small degree of merit, as well as those who have

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Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

Aro.

    strenuously exerted thems Ives should have a small measure of imperial goodness awarded them in proportion to their services, that we may thereby inspirit them and stimulate (others to follow the good example).

Tang Tingtsae, the chief magistrate of Ningpo district, has hereby a peacock's feather bestowed upon him which he may wear.

Hwang Meën, assistant magistrate of Soochow foo in the province of Keängsoo, now waiting to fill a chief'magistrate's place, has hereby a pea- cock's feather bestowed upon him which he may wear; and let him be ap. pointed to fill the first vacancy of chief magistrate that occurs in Keǎngsoo. Shoo Kungshow, acting magistrate of Tinghae has hereby a peacock's fea- ther, and let him have rapid promotion passing through the regular grades.

Ye Kwan, chief magistrate of Chinhae, to be promoted to fill the office of a sub-prefect.

     Kung Fayuh, formerly acting as assisant to the chief magistrate of Chin- hae now waiting to till the office of a choo poo (or confidential secretary) to be advanced to the first vacancy.

     Wang Chungyang, formerly acting chief magistrate of Yuyaou district, now waiting to fill an assistant magistrateship, let him have a plain blue fea- ther bestowed upon him, and let him be at once promoted to a chief magis- trate's office without requiring him to be an assistant.

     Sun Yingchaou assistant to the magistrate of Yuyaou, let him be promoted as a vacancy occurs.

     Chaou Tingchaou, head police officer of Sinkong in the district of Ting- hae, let him have a plain blue feather bestowed upon him, and let him be employed as a magistrate's assistant.

Wang Tingpang, serjeant of Sinkong military station, let him have a plain blue feather, and be advanced to a lieutenancy.

     Sun Ning, assistant to the magistrate of Keäting district in the province of Keängsoo, let him have a plain blue feather and be promoted to the office of tungpwan in Keängsoo.

     Sun Fungyaou, an officer serving on the southern bank of the Yellow river, Leang Tsochung, waiting to fill a chief magistrateship in Keängsoo, and Kae Kingwen, acting as tungpwan in Keängsoo, let all these be advanced to the sub-prefecture. Woo Tingpaou, waiting to fill a clerkship in the court of the criminal judge of Keängsoo, and now acting as a lewan (con- fidential clerk) in the court of the treasurer of the province, let him be em- ployed immediately as a chief magistrate.

    Fung Seihyung, chief magistrate of Taeping district, Wang Shetseng chief magistrate of Tungyang district, and Yin Tihfoo chief magistrate of Tae- huen district, let these three be advanced to be rulers of districts of the second magnitude.

     Heu Gaechang, now waiting to fill a chief magistrateship, let him have the first vacancy.

Seay Taooleäng waiting to fill a clerkship to a prefecture in Keängsoo, let him have an appointment the moment a vacancy occurs.

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Chin Cheyung, a choo poo of Changchow district in the province of Keängsoo, let him be promoted to the first vacancy.

Soo Joofun, waiting to fill the office of an officer of the 9th secondary rank, let him immediately have a place and employment.

       Yen Chingche, assistant to the magistrate of the Ganhe district, let him be promoted as a vacancy occurs.

Fang Keih, waiting to fill a clerkship in the salt-department; Sun Eteaou, waiting to fill an assistant magistrateship, Seay Yungkwang of the same office, and Wang Hepeih, waiting to fill a we-juh-lew-ship, let all these be employed and promoted at the first opportunity. Kew Kingtsing, a bachelor of arts by purchase of Tinghae district, and Paou Hingtsae one of the com- mon people, let both of those have a button of the 6th rank (white stone) bestowed upon them.

       Hoo Yotwan, and She Keae, let both of these be promoted to the we-juh- lew-ship 9th rank secondary, and their names returned to the Board of Ap- pointments, that they may be afterwards employed, in order to stimulate others to do likewise.

       As for those other civil and military officers and soldiers who exerted themselves in the defence of the coast, let the high officers consult regarding them, and report their names and wait till we see it convenient to make a display of imperial goodness in their case, let there be no false substituting of names or exaggeration of services. Cause also that what are agreed upon to be reported to us be also handed over to the Board of Appointments for their information. The list of names is returned herewith. Respect this!

(Supposed to be issued some time in the month of April.)

No. 6.

      On the 25th day of the 4th moon (14th June), the following imperial edict was received.

$4

      Elepoo having now arrived at Peking, cause that our blood relations, prince Juy, prince Chwang, prince Hwuy, the princes of the different prin- cipalities, the members of the cabinet, the members of the General Council, and the presidents of the six Boards, consult together with the Tribunal of Punishments, and examine into the merits of his case. Let his confidential attendant Changheě be handed over to the Tribunal of Punishments, and let a statement of his trial (or confession) be returned to us for further ex-

amination !"

Notes. All the foregoing edicts, &c., Nos. 1 to 6, we have ex- tracted from the Canton Press. Yukeën, on the disgrace and re- moval of Elepoo, was appointed his successor, at which post he now remains, and will soon have work enough on his hands. It was under his administration, and by some of his minions not unlikely, that captain Stead of the Pestonjee Bomanjee was murdered.

The man who was shot by an arrow from Chin Seënfuh's quiver, was Mr. Thom, by whose hand the edict was translated, twelve

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(See vol. IX. pp. 222,

    mouths after the dreadful accident occurred. &c.) For some particulars of the affair alluded to in No. 3. above, see also vol. IX. page

327.

The vessel and parties alluded to in No. 5, are the Kite, Mrs. Noble, and others, who were imprisoned at Ningpo. See present volume p. 191.

ART. IV. Minutes of a general meeting of the Medical Missionary Society in China, held 1st July, 1841, with its second annual report.

   THE Second Annual Meeting of the members and friends of the So- ciety was held at the residence of A. Anderson, esq, at Macao, on Thursday, the 1st July, 1841. At 2 P. M., the Rev. E. C. Bridgman, vice-president, took the chair. There were present, the Rev. Messrs. Bridgman, Boone, Ball, and Roberts, and A. Anderson, W. Bell, W. Leslie, W. Blenkin, P. Young, J. Holliday, B. Hobson, W. Lock- hart, S. W. Williams, John Slade, J. R. Morrison, esquires.

    Mr. Bridgman opened the meeting, by ob erving, that the friends of the Society had now been called together with the view of inform- ing the public of the proceedings of the Society, and of affording to the members an opportunity of electing new office-bearers.

    The report of the committee was then read, detailing the proceed- ing of the Society's agents since the last general meeting, on the 20th November, 1838; the continuance of Dr. Parker at Canton until the close of June, 1840, when he proceeded on a long purposed visit to the United States; the consecutive arrivals of Mr. Lockhart and Mr. Hobson from England, and of Mr. Diver from the United States; and the return of the latter gentleman to America, owing to continued ill health.-The treasurer's account showed a balance in the hands of the treasurer, on the 30th of June, of 1561 dollars, car- ried to the credit of the Society,-after an expenditure, since the 30th of November, 1838, of little more than 1700 dollars.

The medical reports of Messrs. Hobson and Lockhart, of the hos- pital at Macao, since August 1st, 1839, and at Chusan between September 1840, and February 1841, were also read. It was then moved by MR. BELL, seconded by MR. BLENKIN, and resolved,

";

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449

"That the several reports which have just been read be accepted and approved.'

17

Moved by MR. Blenkin, seconded by MR. WILLIAMS, and re- solved,

"That the best thanks of the meeting be returned to Messrs. Lockhart and Hobson, for their very able services, and interesting reports."

Mr. Hobson returned acknowledgments both for himself and Mr. Lockhart.

The meeting then proceeded to ballot for the election of office- bearers. The result of the ballot was:

President. T. R. COLLEDGE, Esq.

Rev. P. PARKER, M. D.

W. Jardine, Esq.

R. INGLIS, Esq.

A. ANDERSON, Esq.

G. T. LAY, Esq.

?

Vice-Presidents.

REV. E. C. BRIDGMAN.

LANCELOT Dent, Esq.

WILLIAM BELL, ESQ. JAMES MATHESON, Esq. W. BLENKIN, Esq.

Recording Secretary. J. R. MORRISON, Esq. Corresponding Secretary. REV. S. R. Brown. Treasurer. W. DELANO, JR. Esq.

Auditor of Accounts. W. LESLIE, ESQ.

      Ou the motion of MR. HOBSON, seconded by MR. BOONE, the thanks of the meeting were returned to the committee for their past services.

      On the motion of Mr. Leslie, seconded by the other members of the committee, the thanks of the Society were returned to MR. MOR- RISON, for his services as secretary.

      On the motion of MR. ANDERSON, seconded by MR. LOCKHART, the committee were instructed to 'collect the annual subscriptions due, and to endeavor to improve the funds of the Society, by obtain- ing donations in its behalf.

The meeting then adjourned.

E. C. BRIDGMAN, Chairman.

SECOND REPORT.

      THE disturbed state of affairs in China for two years past, and the frequent dispersion of the community incident upon that condition of things, have hitherto prevented the committee of management from calling together a general meeting of the Society since the time that its first stated meeting was held, in the month of November, 1838. The objects of the Society have in the meanwhile, however,

VOL. X. NO. VIII.

57

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   by no means been neglected: and, although its operations were for a time hampered by the state of public affairs just alluded to, yet have the institutions maintained by the Society yielded, upon the whole, not less of happy results than in days of greater freedom from dis- turbing influences.

    It is a year since the committee, in publishing the hospital reports thought it their duty to give to the public some particulars of their proceedings during the time that had intervened since the friends of the Society had met together. But as there may be those now pre- sent who have not had opportunities of perusing that statement, it will be not inappropriate here briefly to recapitulate the particulars of what was then published.

When the whole English community had been compelled by the proceedings of the Chinese government to leave Cauton, Dr. Parker was enabled, as an American citizen, to remain there. The house which had hitherto been always occupied by him as the Ophthalmic Hospital had been shut up, during all the time that the foreign com- munity was held in confinement, from March to May, 1839; and to repeated requests afterwards made that it might be reöpened, the senior hong-merchant invariably returned a decided refusal. Dr. Parker was so fortunate, however, as to find a convenient place for receiving applicants (very few in-door patients being admitted), in the dispensary of Messrs. Cox and Anderson, both then at Macao. The report of his proceedings there during the year 1839, as also a previous report for the last quarter of 1838, have been already pub- lished by the committee. Dr. Parker remained at Canton till the month of June, 1840; when, upon the establishment of a blockade of the port, he closed the hospital; and, with the full approbation of the committee, took that occasion to pay a long-purposed visit to his native land. He went with the expectation of returning to resume his labors here after an absence of a year or two.

:

    At the time of the Society's last meeting, the 20th of November, 1838, the hopes entertained of the arrival of a physician from Eng- land or America, to extend the Society's operations had not yet been realized and after the hospital at Macao had been kept open by Dr. Parker, during the months of July, August, and September, it had become necessary to close it on the return of that gentleman to his usual field of labor at Canton in October. In the following January, however, the expectations of the Society were gratified by the arrival from England of William Lockhart, esq., M. R. C. s.; a gentleman of whose high professional talents and character most of the members

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present have long since become acquainted. He came out in con- nection with the London Missionary Society; and having immediate- ly offered his services to the committee, they were not less imme- diately accepted. On the 28th of February, 1839, the hospital at Macao was accordingly placed under his charge. The study of the language engaged all his attention at the first, and the hospital was not therefore formally opened (though some few patients were received) until the 1st of July. Unfortunately, it had not been long open, when the measures of the Chinese government against all bear- ing the name of Englishmen, compelled Mr. Lockhart, on the 13th of August, again to close it.

Seeing little to be done at that time, Mr. Lockhart, with the ap- probation of those members of the committee whom he was able to consult, resolved on spending some months at Batavia, with the view of further studying the Chinese language under the tuition of Mr. Med- hurst, and of gaining an acquaintance with the Chinese in those parts. He left China in September, 1839, and did not return till towards the close of June, 1840.

In the interim, two other medical missionaries, Wm. Beck Diver, M. D., from the United States, and Benjamin Hobson, M. B., M. R. Č. S., from England, the former in connection with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the latter in connection with the London Missionary Society,-had arrived in China, and notified to your committee their desire of offering to the Society their ser- vices. This offer was made, and their services accepted on the 1st of July, last year; and Mr. Lockhart having, August 1st, reöpened the Macao hospital, these gentlemen gave him their assistance until his removal to Chusan at the end of that month, when the hospital was placed, for the future, under their joint care. In December, however, Mr. Diver's health failing, he was compelled to take a voyage for its recovery; and finding little benefit from a short trip, taken in the first instance, to the straits of Malacca, he was induced to proceed from Singapore to the United States. Mr. Hobson has continued in charge of the hospital till now, receiving assistance from Mr. Lock- hart, since that gentleman's return from Chusan in March last. Mr. Hobson's report is in the hands of the secretary, and will be read to the meeting.

     During the time that Canton was thrown open to merchants of England, by the occupation of the river by the British forces, in April last, Mr. Hobson made a renewed attempt to reöpen the hos- pital at Canton; but the senior hong-merchant continued to refuse

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permission for the old house to be reoccupied. It was in contempla- tion to engage another house; but, looking at the uncertain posture of affairs, and the probability of having soon again to close it, that. step was not taken.

     Allusion has been made to the removal of Mr. Lockhart from Macao, in August last year, to Chasan, and the meeting will have pleasure in hearing the interesting report of his operations there. He opened his house, in the town of Chusan, or Tinghae, on the 13th of September; and it was constantly crowded with applicants for me- dical relief from that time till the day of his embarkation, the 22d of February, when the removal of all the British forces from thence of course rendered his longer stay there impracticable. While wait- ing to be guided by the progress of events in the choice of a new station, Mr. Lockhart continues to improve himself in a knowledge of the language, and to afford assistance to Mr. Hobson in the care of the hospital at Macao.

    The number of patients that were admitted into the hospital at Canton during the year 1839, was about 800, making an aggregate, since the commencement of the Institution in November, 1835, of about 7000. For the six months of 1840, that it remained open, Dr. Parker has left no report; but the eagerness for medical aid, and the number of patients, were never greater than at the time he left Can- ton, on the 17th of June. The number of patients admitted to the hospital at Macao, during one month and a half of 1839, and eleven months (from August 1st to June 30th) of 1840-41, was: 1457,- making, with those admitted during three months of 1838, a total of 2150. At Chusan, during of a period of little more than: five months, amid much greater opportunities of free access to the people, the number of patients attended to was 3502.

     The treasurer's accounts are submitted to the examination of the meeting. In those exhibited at the first annual meeting in Novem- ber, 1838, after an expenditure, during three quarters, of 81741.85, a balance was shown of $780.71. The expenditures since that date has been $1631.07, and the receipts $2411.98, leaving a balance in the bands of the treasurer, at this date, of $1561.62. -

    It remains to be observed, that, owing to the departure from China of several office-bearers of the Society, the committee have found it necessary to make some provisional appointments, which they hope will meet the approbation of the meeting. Mr. Wetmore had become treasurer on Mr. Archer's departure from China, when he and Mr. Green, the auditor of accounts, both notified their return

1841

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453

home. Mr. Snow and Mr. Leslie were then requested to fill their re- spective places. But Mr. Snow being also called away, it became necessary to fill up anew the office of treasurer: Mr. Delano accepted it, at the request of the committee. Mr. King having also left China, Mr. Brown of the Morrison Education Society has undertaken the duties of corresponding secretary. Though the president, and all but two vice-presidents are at present absent from China, yet as these officers have no specific duties to perform, it has not appeared neces- sary to supply their places.

2

      In conclusion, the committee have to hope, that the Society will feel satisfaction with the proceedings of its agents; and with this hope they now resign their offices into the hards of the meeting.. They cannot refrain from expressing gratitude to Him whose creatures we all are, for opportunities afforded them of benefiting their fellow- men, while they look forward, with confident expectation to continual, ly enlarging fields of usefulness, and increasing opportunities of cop veying to the minds of their patients the healing influences of moral care, and especially of the hopes that the Gospel alone offers.

:.

ART. V. Report of the Medical Missionary Society's operations

at Chusan in 1840-41. By W. Lockhart,

E

THE island of Chusan having been brought under British influence, it was judged desirable, by the committee, of the Medical Missionary Society, to send one of its agents to Tinghae, the chief town of that district, with the view of establishing a Hospital there, for the relief of the natives, and for carrying on the objects of the Society, as far as possible, and thus, in a new station to test the advantages of this means for obtaining a beneficial influence over the minds of the peo- ple.

1

Accordingly, the operations of the M. M. S. were commenced at Chusan, September 13th, 1840, and terminated February 22d, 1841; during this period, as will be seen by the list of cases, 3502 patients

were attended to.

     At the first establishment of the hospital, the inhabitants did not understand its object; but by attention being paid to some of the sick, who were met in the streets, and by explaining to others that me-

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Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

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dicine would be given for the relief of their ailments, if they applied for it, some few were induced to attend; and shortly afterwards great numbers came daily at all hours, desiring that medicines might be given to them. At some times as many as 200 old and new cases presented themselves in one day, but this large number was unusual; from 80 to 120 being the common amount on fine days during the latter weeks the hospital was open.

     Besides attendance on such persons as resorted to the hospital, several were attended at their own homes; by which an opportunity was given to observe the management of families in that part of the country, and freer intercourse maintained with the people, than might otherwise have been practicable. Occasionally, when parties were sent to various parts of the island, visits were made to distant villages, and medicines afforded to many afflicted with disease; and where the cases could not, for various reasons, be attended to at the moment, cards of direction were given, to enable them to come to the city, where they could receive the required aid.-Papers stating the nature of the hospital were also sent to the villages, in various vallies; and in a short time patients came from all parts of the island, seeking relief; also from Ningpo, Hangchow foo, (the capital of the pro- vince), and other neighboring towns on the main, as well as from Pooto, Lowang, and other islands: many Fuhkeën men from the trading junks at Sing-keä-mun (a large seaport town at the S. E. point of the island) were applicants. Indeed, the number of patients from the city itself was very small, compared with those who came from a distance. During the last six weeks of residence, the number of individuals who came from Lowang, a large island about 30 miles south of Chusan, was sometimes 40 or 50 in one day. Of these, some, who required frequent attention, remained in the city; others came and went as their medicine was expended, or according to the time prescribed to them.

1

יד

    In respect to the climate, it may be observed that during the south monsoon, the weather was hot, and sometimes very oppressive-the thermometer in the shade frequently standing at 90° during the day: the average for the night being about 72°. During the north mon- soon, the weather was generally very cold, with fine clear days. Towards the latter end of December, 1840, and during the whole of January and February, 1841, the thermometer was as low as 25° or 26 during the night; and occasionally, when the wind was high, it stood at 28° during the day. Of course, at this time, there was much ice on all the ponds, though the duration of this low temperature was

4.

vem

SPIR

and

ar

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

never long enough to cause the canals to be frozen over.

455

Little

     snow fell during the winter, and never in sufficient quantity to cover the plain. The hills round the city were once only capped with snow for three or four days. The natives of the island said that the cold of winter was frequently much more severe, that ice was very thick, and that much snow lay in the vallies.

It may be asked,-seeing the favorable position of the island (in lat. 30° N., and long. 122° 5' E.), and the comparative mildness of the climate, does much disease exist among the natives themselves, or was it from particular causes alone that the British troops suffered so severely while located there?

      Several intelligent Chinese, when questioned on the subject of the prevalence of fever, said, that it was very common over the whole island, but especially so in the vallies where the fields were kept con- stantly under water, and that during last year disease prevailed to a very much greater degree than is generally the case, and this not only on the island of Chusan, but about Ningpo, Chinhae, Hang- chow foo, and other places. Indeed the number of Chinese, who were seen to be suffering under fever or its consequences, was very great. Some parts of the city, being very low and damp, were ex- tremely unhealthy; of this the cheheën, or magistrate's office, was a striking example, for of the whole number of British officers, civil and military, who lived there, not one escaped severe attacks, either of fever or dysentery, and the place had to be evacuated, and other quarters chosen for the magistracy. There can be no doubt that the malaria exists to a powerful degree, in nearly the whole of the val- lies, arising from the excessive moisture in which the surface of the ground is kept by the banking up of the streams from the hills, and during wet weather the canals and dikes overflow, and the country is flooded with water. During the summer months, the days are very hot; and at night the dews are exceedingly heavy, so that if any one be exposed at this time, their clothes soon become saturated with

moisture.

As to the reasons to be assigned for the degree of sickness that prevailed among the troops while at Chusan, this is not the place to speak fully of them, and doubtless the medical gentlemen connected with the force will publish portions of their own reports. But a few of the causes may be hinted at, of which the most prominent were- the laborious but unavoidable duties which the men had to perform- their exposure to the sun by day and to the heavy dews by night, united to which was the want of fresh provisions, which could not at

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first be at all procured.→When the strength of the men was worn down, being exposed to the malaria of the locality in which they were, fever seized upon them, followed by severe and almost incura- ble dysentery, which proved fatal to a most fearful extent.

                                        To so great a degree did these diseases prevail, that of the whole force very few of the men escaped more or less severe attacks.

    It is by no means clear, whether the island of Chusan would be at all more unhealthy than any other place of the same latitude, were it not for the mode adopted in the cultivation of rice by means of stagnant water. If a good system of draining the fields were esta- blished, or even the flood-gates removed from the streams, whereby the water is dammed up, it is very probable that the land would in a few months become dry, and the excess of malaria would subside, its cause being in a great measure removed. It is impossible to say whether the ground could be thoroughly dried, and whether this would effect the desired change or not; it is at least probable that it would do so, and if the island be ever again in `British hands it might be tried.

The mode of irrigation is well shown in the extensive valley of Yungtung, in which Tinghae is situated. Sluices are placed in all the streams and the whole valley is one swamp, indeed so wet, that it is impossible to walk across the valley, except on raised flagged path-

ways.

In all the other vallies where a stream is available, the same mode is adopted, and by much the greater portion. Yentsung, the next valley to the above, is a pool of shallow water. And that mala- ria should be rife in such districts, when during the hot summer months so large a surface of mud is exposed to the rays of the sun, cannot be wondered at.

    • In illustration of the report of cases, it may be well to make a few general observations on those diseases which most prominently pre- sented themselves.

Intermittent Fever. This disease prevails to a very great extent among the people; and from all that could be ascertained, regarding its prevalence in various districts, by repeated inquiries of respectable Chinese and native medical men; it is very general.

Of the cases which presented, those in which quinine was ex- hibited soon recovered: but this remedy was only given to patients who came regularly; to others general remedies were given, which appeared in some cases to be beneficial. Several Chinese physicians also applied for relief from this disease, and finding that the quinine was of service to them, would sometimes bring friends for the medi-

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457

cine. They themselves used tiger's bones, ginseng, and other things ; · but acknowledged that their remedies were not very effectual. Some were pressing in their intreaties for a supply of quinine, which could not be given, as the quantity on hand was very inadequate to the large demands for it.

The two cases of paralysis of the arms from torture, occurred in respectable men. One of these was in the country, endeavoring to buy provisions and other things for sale in the city, when some Chi- nese soldiers seized him, and having beaten him severely, tied his

arms behind him round a tree for a length of time, until he had lost all power of motion. The other man had some property, of which he was robbed by a party of thieves, who then tied his arms behind him in the same manner. Both these cases were benefited by medical

treatment.

++

Opium smoking. It was said, by one or two householders, that this was a very common practice among the respectable people, who usually lived in Tinghae, even affecting one third, some said one half, of these persons. But few of them, however, presented them- selves at the hospital, desiring medicine to cure them of the habit. Occasionally, persons were seen in private houses using the opium pipe, but no considerable data were afforded, whereby to judge re- garding this subject.

Elephantiasis prevails to a great extent throughout the island, and many cases were seen in which fearful ravages had been committed by this disease. It presented itself much more frequently in Chusan than it does at Canton, but from what cause is not apparent. Some of the incipient cases were slightly benefited by frequent purgatives, repeated bathing of the limbs with warm water, followed by the use of stimulating liniments. But the period during which the cases were attended to was not sufficient to show whether the benefit: would be permanent or not.

     Psora, and other cutaneous diseases, existed among the people in much the same degree as in other parts of China.

In the case of opening into the trachea, the disease commenced nine years ago, when a small abscess appeared in front of the trachea : this increased in size and probably a large slough came away, and ulceration went on till in course of a short time, an opening was made into the trachea just below the cricoid cartilage, and this en- larged until it attained its present size-three quarters of an inch in diameter, and comprising the. whole breadth of the trachea, and is now stationary; the edges have not cicatrized, but secrete a small

58

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quantity of pus. While the wound is open, the man cannot of course speak at all, and breathing is painful to him, as the instant admission of cold air into the lungs produces severe cough; but to obviate this inconvenience, he uses a solid flat plug of paper of proper size, and by carefully adjusting it to the opening, he is able to breathe freely through the mouth, and to speak distinctly though with a rough and hoarse voice. The man had no pain, and enjoyed tolerable health, though he had an emaciated appearance, and was subject to cough, and occasionally to asthmatic attacks.

The case of mortification of both feet occurred in a beggar, who was found lying on some straw in one of the Chinese public offices. He had been much exposed to the severe cold, while poorly clad, and not having had sufficient food, numbness came on in both feet. When he was first seen they were both cold and black; there was also a black gangrenous spot on the tip of the nose. The use of wine and of nourishing diet was of much service at first; a line of separation formed, the man began to rally and was stronger; but suddenly a change took place, great prostration came on, inability to open the jaws supervened, and he shortly died.

J

The man having disease of the os calcis came from Lowang; large abscesses had formed round the heel for some months, and when he came to the hospital, the posterior half of the os calcis was found to be black and loose, and was easily removed. Considerable hemor- rhage took place on the removal of the bone, but soon ceased; heal- thy granulations sprung up from the surface of the sound bone, and the wound gradually contracted and closed, and shortly afterwards the man was able to walk about with ease.

    The compound fracture of the humerus was in a boy 14 years old, and resulted from a gunshot wound received during an affray be- tween a foraging party and some villagers in the valley of Chacho. A party of sipahis, accompanied by one of their own officers, were buying provisions for the regiment, and had purchased a quantity of fowls and vegetables, when some of the Chinese knocked the money out of the officer's hand, while others ran off with a musket belong. ing to one of the men; the rest of the party fired at the thieves, and this little boy, who was standing by, received a wound. The ball passed through the left arm a little above the elbow; great hemor rhage had followed, as was evident from the boy's clothes having been saturated with blood; to stop this a small cord had been tightly bound round the arm. When he was brought to the hospital, some days after the accident, the cord was almost buried in the flesh, and

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

459

the limb was much swollen; at first, it was thought that the ball had traversed the elbow-joint, but this was found not to be the case, and that the humerus only had been fractured. He remained two months in the hospital, during which time the wound on the inner side heal- ed, and on the outer side 2 or 3 sinuses only remained, at the bottom of which were felt some small portions of loose bone. The fractured bone became consolidated, and the elbow could be moved without pain; and the case promised to terminate favorably in every respect when it was last seen.

The case of compound fracture of the os frontis was in a boy of 16 years, and occurred in a quarrel which took place between some foreign sailors and villagers regarding the sale of a bullock, for which the price had been paid: but a misunderstanding arose, and the owners, wishing to get back the bullock, attacked the sailors, who, in self-defense, drew their cutlases on their opponents, and this boy received a wound in the head. Much blood flowed from one of the large branches of the temporal artery, which was wounded. The external wound was three-inches long, the os frontis was cut through about one inch, and a portion of loose bone lay at the bottom of the wound, which being removed, left the dura mater exposed for the space of a circle, half an inch in diameter. The bleeding gradually ceased, the wound was dressed with simple ointment and wet lint, and a bandage rolled tightly round the head. No symptoms of dis. turbance of the functions of the brain took place, but profuse sup- puration of the whole surface of the wound ensued; this, however, gradually diminished, and the wound closed completely, and the boy left the hospital, having merely a slight pain in the neighborhood of the wound with occasional feelings of uneasiness over the scalp. This case, as well as the former, required watching at the time the island was evacuated, and the hospital necessarily closed; however, it is to be hoped that they will both do well.

It is an interesting subject of inquiry as to what may be the pro- bable cause of the large amount of disease of the eye, which exists among the people of this country. From the delicacy of the organ, and its exposure to irritating agents of various kinds, it is in all coun- tries subject to many diseases, to which this people are liable in com- mon with others; but as will be seen from the subjoined list of cases, trichiasis, entropium, granular lids, catarrhal ophthalmia, pterygium, contraction of the tarsi, and opacity of the cornea, prevail to a very great extent, much greater than is the usual proportion in other parts of the world. It is evident that this cannot arise from the formation

460

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

Arg

of the cye itself, for though the eyes of the Chinese are small, and the eyelids drawn inwards and downwards, in many cases, so as to make a distinct fold at the inner angle, as is especially seen in many of the females, still this is the natural condition of the eye throughout the whole nation, and it is difficult to understand how the natural state of any organ can make it liable to disease. It is true that some individuals are born with such a conformation of body, that they are more prone than others to disease, but this is altogether an abnormal condition: whereas the form of the eye in this people is, as before mentioned, perfectly natural. And how can it be supposed that al- snost one third of the human race should be thus predisposed to a diseased condition of so important an organ! It would appear, as the result of observation, that the more frequent occurrence of the above named diseases, arises in a great measure from two causes.

    Ist. The severe inflammation of the organ, which comes on at the commencement of the northerly and northeasterly winds in October; November, and December: this being permitted to run its course without relief being obtained, leaves as its consequences, various changes in the tissues, of a more or less injurious nature according to the intensity of the primary inflammation of the eye and its append- ages, and the healthy or unhealthy condition of the sufferer.

    2d. The injurious effects of a practice which is commonly followed by the Chinese barbers of everting the lower lid, and rubbing its in- ner surface gently with an ivory or bamboo instrument, shaped like a small scoop, which they also pass under the lid and deep into the inner and outer canthi; this they call washing the eye,' and the declared intention is the removal of any portion of mucus that may be lodging on its surface. This is a very common habit and may be seen daily in the barber's shops, where, after the head has been shaved, the man sits composed as if enjoying exquisite delight, while the barber is thus operating on his eyes. If the person's eyes be examined after this process, they will be found to be very red and in a state of consi- derable irritation, and in process of time chronic conjunctivitis supervenes, and this being considered as the result of the eye not being sufficiently cleansed, the practice is persisted in, and the con- junctiva of the lid becomes covered with granulations. In other cases, the conjunctiva becomes indurated like thin parchment, the tarsal cartilages contract and induce entropium. Other diseases also result in process of time, variously modified according to circum- stances; as for instance, exposure to the cold wind inducing an attack of acute inflammation of the organ.

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

461

       The cases of entropium were operated upon in the usual mode of removing a fold of skin from the upper lid and dividing the tarsal cartilage. This was, generally speaking, completely successful, and the state of the eye much improved in most of the cases; in others the cornea had become so opaque from the long continuance of the disease that, although the constant pain and irritation caused by the inverted lids were removed, the power of vision was little increased.

The Chinese surgeons adopt a plan of operating for this disease, which is common in Canton as well as in Chusan. The object is to inclose a fold of the upper lid, between two narrow strips of bamboo, which are then bound tightly together at their ends by thread; the fold of skin sloughs and falls off, and the contraction that occurs dur- ing the healing of the wound everts the edge of lid. But this is objectionable; in the first place, on account of the pain caused during the separation of the slough, and still more so, from the circumstance that when the disease is thus treated, considerable transverse com- traction of the lids takes place, which induces a shortening of the tarsal cartilage, and if this condition of the lid exists to any extent, it is almost as prejudicial to the eye as the original disease, and if it have continued for a length of time, is not remediable by a surgical operation.

During the northerly monsoon, and especially at its commence- ment, several cases of severe catarrhal ophthalmia presented them- selves; in some of these the disease had existed for several days, extensive destruction of the cornea had taken place, and in a few cases, one or both eyes were lost; but when the disease was recent, al- though very severe, it was in most cases speedily relieved. The plan of treatment adopted was that which is now generally followed ; namely using the strong solution of nitrate of silver (10 grains to an ounce of water). This was dropped into the eye, blisters were ap- plied to the temples, and active purgatives administered. The strong solution was applied daily for three or four days, and then changed for one of 5 grains, and occasionally fresh blisters were applied after the first had healed. The success of this practice was on the whole very gratifying; and in no case that can be remembered, did loss of the eye, or deep ulceration of the cornea ensae, when the case had come early under treatment. And it would appear, as the result of thẹ cases met with at Chusau, that the use of the nitrate of silver was much more beneficial in removing the disease, than depletion would have been under the same circumstances. Granular lids prevail to a great extent, and are the result of long continued irritation of the

462

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

AUG.

This state of granulation of the

conjunctiva as above mentioned. palpebral conjunctiva induces in course of time entropium, which has already been spoken of: but still more frequently, more or less dense opacity of the cornea itself comes on. It does not appear that persons afflicted with granular lids often become completely blind, but constant pain and lachrymation are produced, and the sight mate- rially injured by the degree of opacity of the cornea which almost constantly accompanies this affection. The application of sulphate of copper, solution of nitrate of silver, and other remedies, were useful in relieving the irritation of the organ, and removing more or less of the opacity of the cornea.

    It may not be out of place to mention here, that of all the females who came to the hospital (and they were not few), and of others seen in various parts of the island, not one among thein had feet of the natural size. Some were not so much compressed as others, but the practice of confining the feet, during its growth, is universal at Chusan, while at Canton and Macao many women have their feet completely free, and of natural size. Though several females came to the hos- pital affected with various diseases, and with ulcers of the leg, only in one or two instances was there seen any ulcer or other disease apparently caused by the compression of the foot, and the forced dis tortion of its bones. It cannot be said with any degree of certainty how far this practice is injurious to health; but it would appear, from the observation of numerous instances, among different classes of society, both in children and adults, that it does not cause so much misery as might be expected from the severe treatment to which the feet are subjected in infancy. Very frequently when walking in the open country, strong healthy women, though having their feet very much compressed, were seen walking about with readiness, and not apparently suffering from any pain in the feet whatever: others also have walked several miles to the hospital, and have had to return home the same day, so that locomotion is by no means prevented.

1

It is ever interesting to observe the effects on health, which are caused by the habits and customs of a people, and this is one not undeserving of some attention as more intimate acquaintance with the Chinese is obtained. And torturing as this treatment of the feet would appear to be, and unsightly as are its consequences, it is perhaps on the whole not more injurious to health and comfort, than are the practices inflicted by fashion on the female sex in western uations. The accompanying list of diseases is not entirely without interest in its relation to vital statistics. It shows that intermittent fever

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Chusan.

463

prevails to a cousiderable extent among the natives of Chusan and the neighboring districts, also that some of the diseases of the eye are very frequently met with; but it is at the same time evident, that the hospital was not open to the admission of patients for a sufficient length of time, to afford any certain data, on which fully to rely; neither is the amount of the population in these districts, so accurately ascertained, as to show the relative amount in that and other localities in China. However, as other openings occur, and fresh stations of the Society are established, some interesting facts regarding the exact state of health among this people may be arrived at, especially if longer residence at any place be afforded than was the case at Tinghae. And, though the trial of the Society's operations at Chusan, was short and imperfect, there can be little doubt that the step which was taken, in sending one of its agents there, was well advised, and shows the advantage of at once occupying every new station that may be practicable; since by endeavoring to administer to their relief, and to remove the diseases to which they are exposed, much can be done among the people for their individual benefit, a better insight obtained into their manners and customs, and a beneficial influence obtained over their minds.

Register of cases from September 23d, 1840, to February 20th,

1841.

General and constitutional diseases.

Intermittent fever

Anasaroa after fever

Ascites

Enlargement of spleen

Dysentery

Icterus

Dyspepsia

Gastrodysia

Constipation Hæmatemesis

Chronic hepatitis Hæmoptysis Tussis

Asthma

Bronchitis

Chronic laryngitis

Cynanche tonsillaris

Headache

Rheumatism Nodosity of joints

76

2

2

of face

1

423 Partial paralysis of arms

25

99

3

6

7

"

Paralysis of arms caused by tor.

ture inflicted by Chinese officers

10 Prostration from starvation; (1

62

died, 1 recovered)

5 Erysipelas of face and limbs

3 Salacia

2 Opium smoking

2

Cutaneous diseases.

2 Elephantiasis of one leg. 61 Elephantiasis of both legs

2 Elephantiasis of both legs, with 4 deep sloughs upon leg. 1 Elephantiasis of both legs, loss

of toes, protrusion of meta- tarsal bones

6

13

3 Elephantiasis of both legs, with

Toothache

Disordered bowels in children

71

deep ulcers

2

2415

27

16

1

3

461

Report of MM S Hospital at Chuzan.

Psoriasis inveterata of whole

body

Psoriasis of leg

Peoriasis of nates

Psoriasis of ham

Psoriasis of face

Pra

Para inveterata

Lepra of body and limbe

Tinea capitis

Tinea scutulata

Eethymna

Purpura hæmorrhagica

Gener il surgical affections.

Abscesses of various parts

Contusion of various joints

* Syphilis, chaneres.

16 Gonorrhea and bubo

4 Stricture of urethra

ACG.

16

2 Mortification of both feet, and sloughing of part of the nose from cold

140

43 Sloughs on both feet

12, Large slough on the larynx

6 Large slough on nates with great induration of cellular

2

2

1

115

tissue

442

1

Large slough on face in children 2 Anchylosis of wrist with carious

bone

5 Caries of tibia

2

Thecal abscess of fingers

1

Sinus of thigh

1 Necrosis of tibia

I

Inflammation of knee joint

Sloughing of tendon of index

by exfoliation

finger

1

Accidental amputation of finger Inflammation of submaxillary

1

1 | Removal of half of the os calcis

Caries of ulna, great bony depo

sition from periostitis

1

1

·

Necrosis of humerus

I

glands

1 Caries of alveoli of

*

supra-max-

Inflamed mamma

3

illary bone

3

Irritable ulceration round the

Caries of ilium

1

nipple

4

Caries of one of the phalanges

Carbuncle

1

of the middle finger

1

Tumor of neck

1

on back of neck

1

secondary syphilis

2

a gun-shot wound

1

1

1

Large tumor of face

"

""

Indurated swelling of leg Enlarged glands of neck Polypus nasi (both removed) Ulcers of various parts Large opening into trachea

below the cricoid cartilage Paraphymosis

Varicose veins of leg

Excrescences round the anus Fistula in' ano

Fistula in ano, very extensive,

traversing the whole of the nates

·

1 Caries of glenoid cavity of the

1

scapula

1 Perforation of bony palate,

2 Compound fracture of humerus,

679 Compound fracture of os frontis,

1

1

·

from blow of a cutlas Old dislocation of the head of

the radius

6 Contraction of elbow

4

1

4 Dorsum of hand thrown back on forearm, from burn Distortion of foot, sole looking

upwards and backwards, so that the man walked on his

1

1

instep

   Severe bite on the leg by a pig Severe burns on leg

1Contraction of supinator radii

2

.

Lupus of nose and face Wounds of head and limbs Contusion on thorax

4

longus, with inability to move the wrist joint

1

10 Dislocation of lower jaw both

10

sides

1

Large bleeding hæmorrhoids

1

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Macao.

.1841.

Retraction of foot inwards

Scrotal hernia

1 | Ulceration of cornea, severe 1 Opacity of cornea 1Opacity of cornea, very dense

465

51 311

Inguinal hernia

Umbilical hernia

1 Staphyloma

12

Diseases of the ear.

Abscesses of eyelids and scalp,

Surditas from excess of cerumen

6

1

Abscess on eyelid

3

Surditas from caries of tem-

poral bone.

·

Surditas from disease of mastoid

cells, large external opening

*

behind the ear

Diseases of the

eye

its appendages.

and

cornea

1 Loss of vision in one eye from

"

Loss of vision in both eyes from

entropium

causing great contraction of eyelids, and loss of vision Loss of vision in both eyes from dense vascular opacity of

1

2

entropium

16

8

+

Hordeolum

3

Small tumor of lid

1

Ulcer of lids

1

Inflammation of Meibonian

glands

1

144

70

Trichiosis

Entropium (operated on 22) Ectropium

Contraction of tarsi

Loss of vision in both eyes from

opacity of cornea

*

Loss of vision in one eye, slough.

ing cornea from catarrhal ophthalmia

35 Loss of vision in both eyes,

sloughing cornea from ca- tarrhal ophthalmia

Loss of vision in one eye from

opacity of cornea

18

10

16

40

Contraction of tarsi (after na-

tive operation for entropium)

24

Lippitudo

95

Conjunctivitis

20

Hernia tridis of one eye. Hernia tridis of both eyes Closure of pupil by lymph

8621

Catarrhal ophthalmia, severe

134

Contraction of both pupils to

Chronic ophthalmia

8 a point

1

220

Synechia anterior

Granular lids slight opacity Granular lids with much opa-

city

Pterygium (operated on 6) Contraction of puncto lacry-

malia

Ulceration of cornea, slight

Synechia posterior. 30 Cataract lenticular 146 Cataract capsular

Amaurosis

1

80

5

Total 3502

By Benjamin Hobson,

ART. VI. Report of the Medical Missionary Society's operations

at Macao in 1840-41. IN July, 1838, the Society's hospital in Macao, as mentioned in a former report, was first opened for the reception of patients. It was closed on the 5th of Oct. following, in consequence of the absence of any other medical officer to take charge of the establishment.

VOL. X. NO. VIII.

59

+

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Report of M. M. §. Hospital at Macão.

AUG.

    On the first of July, 1839, it was reopened; but owing to the ex- traordinary events of that year, it was found necessary to suspend its operations on the 15th of the subsequent month. During that short space, 167 persons applied for medical relief. Although medicines were administered for some months afterwards to occasional appli- cants, the doors of the hospital were not again thrown open to receive either in or out-patients until August, 1840.

From that time up to the present (June 39th, 1841), with the ex- ception of occasional interruptions from the unsettled state of affairs, there has been a portion of each day devoted to this department of the Society's operations.

    The capabilities of this institution have not as yet been fully test ed, both from its recent origin, and the fear and disquietude which per- vaded the native community a few months since, as well as from a reluctance to allow its medical duties to encroach upon the time that was necessary to devote for acquiring some attainments in the lan- guage: all of which have induced a less extensive opening of the hospital than otherwise would have been desirable. But now, judg- ing from the increase of attendance for the last few months, from this city, and the numerous and populous towns and hamlets in this vici- nity, it is reasonably anticipated that its influence and usefulness will rapidly advance.

The cases that have come under treatment have been varied, but as will be seen from the subjoined list are chiefly surgical. A few of the more important ones were adinitted into the house, and if their circumstances required it, a sinall allowance of money was grant- ed to buy rice and fuel. Many more would have gladly availed them- selves of the convenience which the wards afforded, had it been con- sidered expedient at the time to receive them. While speaking upon this subject it may not be out of place to observe, that when the hospitals are not under the surveillance or jurisdiction of Chinese officers, as they have been at Chusan and Macao, there are most pleasing facilities afforded for distributing religious books, and hold- ing free intercourse with the people.

    If we may judge from the experience of the past, both here and at Chusan, there appears no want of readiness on the part of the natives to acknowledge the superiority of foreign medical skill, nor any indis- position to avail themselves of the gratuitous aid proffered to them. But until full confidence is experienced, there is a strong and natu ral aversion to subunit to operations, or patience sufficiently great to continue for any length of time, the use of the remedies prescribed

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Macao.

467

     The treatment of chronic diseases is as usual less satisfactory than the acute, as the patient not being wholly disabled by the former is less anxious about recovery, and more unwilling to persevere in the mode of treatment recommended. But although there is often im- patience manifested in not receiving immediate cure, and great dread of enduring pain, yet when the patient has decided to submit to. the operation proposed he generally bears it with fortitude. In minor operations, it is found better at once to perform them without con- sulting the patient, as they are completed before there is time for the fears to be excited. A few generat remarks upon the tabular list of cases will close the present report.

      Of the diseases of the eye which form such an essential and im-. portant class of the maladies of this people, catarrhal and chronic ophthalinia, acute conjunctivitis, granular lids, entropium, pterygium, and trichiasis, seem to be the most general. These ophthalmia, which the native physicians appear never to attempt to remedy, from neglect or irritation, usually excite a varicose state of the vessels of the con- juuctiva, and a thickened vascular condition of the cornea and tarsi, terminating in opacity, leucoma, and final loss of vision.

In the ca- tarrhal and acute ophthalmia, although the practice of employing local stimulants is not recommended by some high authorities in ophthal- inic surgery, yet the use of nitrate of silver from 5 to 10 grains to an ounce of distilled water, has been found very successful, con- joined with aperients in their treatment. Strong solutions also of sub-acetate of lead, and sulphates of copper and zinc, have proved of* the greatest service in the chronic ophthalmia with granulations and opacity.

The natives of this province, especially aged persons, appear very liable to cataract, and it is hoped that the next report will contain data of some value, regarding their general character and treatment.

      Cutaneous diseases also form a principal part of the diseases of the Chinese. Pustular scabies affects the lower orders to a great extent, and although often formidable in its appearance, is rapidly cured by the union of sulphur with some oxide of mercury. .A similar kind of treatment has been very successful in curing psori- asis annulata.

The ulcers enumerated include ulcerations succeeding wounds, injuries, and other causes, affecting different parts of the body, but chiefly the lower extremities. They are very numerous among the working classes, arising probably from the heavy weights borne, a poor vegetable diet, or want of cleanliness. From neglect and in-

468

Report of M. M. S. Hospital ut Mucao.

Arg.

appropriate applications they often become large and indolent, but by means of ablution and dressings of warm water, escharotic solu- tions, or stimulating ointments, they speedily assume a healthy ap-

pearance.

As linen is difficult to obtain, and oiled silk expensive, a kind of paper manufactured by the Chinese, which is soft, flexible, not easily rent, and peculiarly well adapted to spread ointments upon, has been in a great measure substituted for the former; and for the latter, oiled paper of a superior quality, also prepared by the natives; the same brushed over with a thin coating of gum ara- bic forms an efficient sticking plaster for small wounds.

In September, a boy aged 16, from the country, was admitted as a patient with three large sloughing ulcers of the leg. His health was impaired, and his pulse quick and feeble; some medicines were administered, and the ulcers at first poulticed, and afterwards dressed with solutions of nitrate of silver, sulphate of copper, and the ordinary stimulating ointments, but no benefit followed their use; on the contrary the ulcers assumed a phagedenic character, and attended with irritative fever; other remedies also equally fail- ed in checking the progress of the ulceration. Opium, dissolved in nitric acid slightly diluted, was now applied, which happily produc- ed an immediate change, the deep sloughs of muscle, nerves, and vessels were thrown off, and all the sores presented a healthy gra- nulating appearance. The warm water dressing, with the occasion- al use of sulphate of copper in solution, now speedily healed them. The abscesses usually met with are large and chronic. Those of the scalp are frequent. Carbunclés, which are so common in hot climates, often come under treatment.

Acute rheumatisin has not yet been observed, but on the contrary, chronic rheumatic pains of the joints and muscles, are daily seen, arising probably from the usual causes of cold and damp in winter.

Wounds and contusions have been numerous, some have been severe from attacks by pirates. The chief character has been lacerated and superficial. A few have been punctured and gun-shot wounds.

    In April, a patient aged 24 was admitted with a gun shot wound of the leg; he stated that he received the shot from a Portuguese sol- dier, who suspected him unjustly to be a thief; it was followed by considerable hemorrhage and pain. A native friend, seeing the ball near the outlet of the wound, forthwith by a gash cut it out. About two days afterwards he came to the hospital. The ball had entered posteriorly by the side of the tendo achilles, two inches above the inferior extremity of the fibula, leaving a round ragged wound; and

1841.

Report of M. M. S. Hospital at Macao.

469

comminuting that bone, remained flattened and uneven at the sur- face of the wound in front. The incision which had been made to extract it was three inches in length, parallel and close to the anterior tibial artery. Several loose portions of bone were removed, warm water dressing applied, the leg rolled, and its position fixed.

     The wound quickly granulated and healed, with the exception of a sinus anteriorly, which was kept open by portions of loose bone still felt deeply in the wound. These gradually becoming more superfi- cial, were taken out with little injury to the soft parts; in a month the patient was dismissed, the leg being straight and strong.

dark, of strong am- The next day it was

     In September, a man aged 40, from the island of Honam near Can- ton, entered the hospital suffering excruciating pain from retention of urine. On examining the patient, it was discovered that he was fre- quently subject to these seizures, but they were of short duration compared with the present, which was three days. The bladder was readily recognized, distended with fluid rising up to the umbilicus, the pulse quick, and countenance anxious. The urine was imme- diately drawn off by a silver catheter; it was moniacal odor, and exceeded two quarts. again necessary to renew the operation, and for many days after - wards, changing the size. The prostate was five times its natural size, and the urine deposited large quantities of thick white sedi- ment, which on examination was found to be chiefly the magnesio- phosphates. Active purging, with the daily use of the catheter, in three weeks restored him to his usual health; he returned subsequent- ly to offer thanks, and had continued well. As future attacks might reasonably be expected, a silver catheter was made for him at liis own expense, which he learned how to use. Other cases of reten- tion from stricture, or enlarged prostate, have been similarly treated, with the warmest thanks for the relief imparted.

      Two cases of dislocation, one of the humerus into the axilla, and the other of the first phalanx of the thumb upon the anterior surface of the metacarpal bone may just be noticed. Both had been dislocated for more than six weeks when they applied for admission. The first was occasioned by a fall from the mast to the deck of a ship, and the other from a blow. In the one case, extensive and counter-exten- tion was steadily maintained for two hours and a half, by means of ropes and pullies; and the other for a considerable length of time and repeatedly, by a small cord fixed with a clove hitch; but neither of them could be reduced, although the system was nauseated by tartarized antimony. Farther efforts could not be employed.

472

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

Are.

ART. VII. Illustrations of men and things in China: angling for frogs; trials of strength; economy of Chinese workmen; quad- rating cash. From a private Journal.

   ANGLING for frogs. I observed a lad one evening, with a fish-pole and line, walking about in the grass, along the banks of the rice- fields, and on making up to him found that he was catching frogs, or 'field hens,' as he called them. He bobbed the pole up and down in the tall sedge a few times, and presently pulled up a lusty croaker, which was straight conveyed to the basket hanging by his side to join a dozen more already in it. There was no hook attached to the line; the bait, a live young frog, was only tied around its body, and at this time apparently writhing with pain from the bite of the frog just caught. This strange kind of bait-strange to me because it seemed to prove the whole race of frogs guilty of downright cannibalism- was employed by several other lads, companions of my new acquain- tance, who were angling for their dinners out of the paddy-fields. Frogs are constantly seen in market, sold as articles of food, and I am informed that they are usually caught in this manner; but per- haps the charge of devouring their species can be explained away by supposing that the bobbing and kicking of the bait at the end of the line attracts their attention, and they jump at it.

Trials of strength. The Chinese have a mode of testing the bodily strength of persons by causing them to lift stones of different weights. These stones are placed like wheels at each end of an axle about four feet long, and weigh from 15 to 50 catties each. Light ones are made of wood for young persons to practice. They are lifted with one or both hands, either over the head or at arm's length while standing erect or akimbo-indeed in all possible ways to ex- hibit their muscular prowess. This was the mode of testing the candidates for military renown at Canton, as is described on page 167 of the last volume. A note, explanatory of the 3d verse of Ze- chariah, chap. XII, in the Pictoral Bible says, when speaking of a burdensome stone, 'that according to Jerome, large and heavy round stones were kept in the towns and villages of Judea, and the youth, exercised themselves in trying who should lift it highest.' In the piratical Barbary states, it is said that European captives, when dis- posed of as slaves, were compelled by their captors or intended pur- chasers to afford evidence of strength by lifting large stones, provided for the purpose.

+

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

473

Economy of Chinese workmen. The number of itinerant work- men of one kind or another, which line the sides of the streets, or occupy the areas before public buildings in Chinese towns, is a re- markable feature. Fruiterers, pastry-men, cook-stalls, venders of gimcracks, and wayside shopkeepers, are found in other countries as well as in China; but to see a traveling blacksmith or tinker, an itinerant glass-mender, a peripatetic umbrella-mender, a locomotive seal-cutter, an ambulatory barber, a migratory banker, a peregrinatory apothecary, or a walking shoemaker and cobbler, one must travel hitherwards. These movable establishments, together with fortune- tellers, herbsellers, chiromancers, &c., pretty well fill up the space, so that one often sees both sides of the street in Canton literally lined with the stalls or tools of persons selling or making something to eat or to wear. The money-changer has simply a small table, with a few drawers, behind which he sits; the cutter of seals has a similar stand on which he works. The barber has the chest of drawers hold- ing his apparatus contrived like a seat, and if he has not a furnace of his own he heats his water at the blacksmith's, or the cook's fire near by, perhaps shaving his friend gratis by way of recompense. The herbseller or apothecary chooses an open place, where he will not be trampled upon, and there displays his simples and his boluses, with his gay signs and promises to all around. The book-pedler, fortune- teller, and chooser of lucky days, arrange themselves on either side, with their tables and array of sticks, pencils, boards and pictures, all trying to "catch a little pidgeon." The spectacle-mender, the cutter of rings, the razor-grinder, the maker of clay puppets, and the cob- bler, are not far off, all plying their trades as busily as if they were in their own shops. Then besides the hundreds of stalls for selling articles of food, dress, or ornament, there are innumerable pedlers going to and fro with baskets slung on their shoulders, each bawling his own peculiar cry, which, with coolies transporting burdens, chair- bearers carrying sedans, and passengers following one another like a stream, so fill up the streets, hardly six feet wide anywhere, that it is no easy matter to navigate among them. Notwithstanding all these obstructions, it is worthy of note, and highly praiseworthy in the Chinese, that these crowds pass and repass with the greatest rapidity, without altercation or disturbance, each one giving in a little, and passing by his neighbor with the utmost quietness.

      Among all the street workmen, hardly one of them excels the black- smith for the portability of his establishment. The construction of his bellows has already been explained (Vol. IV. page 38), but that is only

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ACG.

a part of his economy. I saw one a few days since, mending a pan, and the arrangement of his tools was very unique. The fire was held in an iron basin, not unlike a coal-scuttle in shape, and the mouth-piece of the bellows entered on the back corner. The anvil was a smail square mass of iron placed on a block, and a partition basket close by held the coal and his tools, with the old iron and other rubbish he carried. The water to temper the iron was contain- ed in an eartheu pot, which just at this time was most usefully employed in boiling his dinner over the forge fire. After he had done the job, he took off his dinner, threw the water on the fire, picked out the coals and put them back into the basket, threw the ashes away, set the anvil astride of the bellows, and, laying the fire-pan ou the basket, slung the bellows on one end of his pole, and the bas- ket on the other, and walked off.

· Quadrating cash is a term which may be applied to a very cominou game among the Chinese, and which consists in throwing down a handful or an unknown number of cash, and counting them out by fours; the issue of the game, depends on the remainder. This game is called cha tan, and in this part of the country, is one of the most popular; even beggars, who have hardly a cash, and people in the streets, who are waiting for employment, are often seen playing it, and in the gambling-houses, it is one of the most common games. Small stones, bits of crockery, and buttons, are sometimes used as well as cash. There are three modes of betting. In one case, suppose the bettor simply says one odd, and stakes 30 cash on his bet, be 'sweeps up-90 cash, if that proves to be the case, but only loses his

stakes if the remainder is 0, 2, or 3. This is called fan tan,

and goes on the principle, that as there are three chances to one that the bettor will lose, so if he wins, in fairness, he trebles his wager. A second variety, called tae ming, goes by opposites. To do this, a square is drawn, or supposed to be drawn, having the side nearest the holder marked 1, his right hand side 2, his left hand 4, and the opposite side 3. If the bettor says one odd, he doubles his stakes if that remainder turns up, but loses them if there be three left. Should 2 or 0 be left, neither party loses or wius. In a third sort, called neem, the wagerer says he will buy I remainder to get 2, (or 3, or 4 as he pleases). Then, if on quadrating the pile, one cash be left, he doubles his stakes, but loses it if there be 3 or 0 left; while each party keeps his own if there be 2 left. One reason of the popularity of the game is perhaps owing to the ease of playing it, the difficulty of deception, and the number of persons who can play it at once-all of

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them the same variety, or each taking a different one. Ten, twenty, and more men, are often seen around a table, different members of the group exhibiting all the passions of the gambler-fear, hope, success or disappointment, as they win or lose alternately. A clerk on the in- side of the table holds the stakes, and keeps the accounts, remunerat- ing himself and his master from the winners by a small percentage. The petty officers of government also receive a sum from these esta- blishments for connivance, the amount of which depends altogether upon the arrangement the parties can make, since the laws strictly interdict all gambling.

ART. VIII. Journal of Occurrences & new plenipotentiary and ad- miral; their rapid traveling; their line of policy; British forces in China; second expedition northward; manner of con- ducting the war; Hongkong; H. Rustomjee's donation for sea- men; departure of capt. Elliot and commodore Bremer from China; visit of the prefect of Canton; affairs at Canton; Yihshan and his colleagues.

THE new plenipotentiary and admiral. During the night of Tuesday the 10th, the H. E. I. Co.'s steam frigate Sesostris arrived in Ma- cao Roads, having left Bombay on the 17th ultimo,-bringing as passengers-their excellencies sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, &c., &c., her Britannic majesty's SOLE PLENIPOTENTIARY AND MINISTER EXTRAORDINARY to the court of Peking, charged also with the duties of the chief superintendent's office-sir William Parker, K. C. B., rear-admiral, and commander-in-chief of the British naval forces in the East Indies;-major G. A. Malcolm, 3d It. dragoons (a regiment now in India), secretary of legation to the special mission-Mr. assistant-surgeon W. Woosnam, medical attendant to sir Henry ;- B. Chimmo, esq., naval secretary to the rear-admiral, and C. E. Tennant his flag-lieutenant.

Wednesday morning, at daylight, the Nemesis went out to the Sesostris, and by 8 o'clock sir Henry Pottinger and sir William Par- ker had landed,-which they did under a salute from the battery on the Praya Grande. They immediately met the major-general, sir Hugh Gough, commander-in-chief of the land forces of the expedi- tion (who happened to be for a few days in Macao): after which, ac- companied by captain Elliot and Mr. Johnston, who had gone off in the Nemesis to receive them, they proceeded to wait upon his excel- lency the governor of Macao.

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After a conference between sir Henry Pottinger and capt. Elliot, and another between sir Henry and the rear-admiral and the major- general, sir William Parker reëmbarked in the Sesostris and pro- ceeded, soon after noon, to Hongkong to assume command of the squadron.

His excellency, sir Henry Pottinger, took up his residence at the office of the chief superintendent, in Macao.

    2. The rapidity of their traveling is notable, we believe exceeding that of any who ever came from Europe to China. The June mail came on with them. They left London on the 5th of June, and on the 7th of July reached Bombay, which they left on the 17th, arriv- ing in China in 67 days after they left England.

3. The line of policy which has been marked out for and by these high officers may easily be conjectured from their public acts- prompt, vigorous, warlike.

    On Thursday the 12th, sir William having returned in the Queen from Hongkong, a second conference took place between sir Henry Pottinger and the two commanders-in-chief. The governor of Ma- cao returned the visit of their excellencies, the plenipotentiary and the rear-admiral. In course of the day, sir Henry Pottinger inspect- ed the steamer Queen, and engaged (so we understand) a passage in her for himself and suite to proceed northward up the coast.

The following notices, &c., are from the Hongkong Gazette extra.

NOTIFICATION.

The annexed extract of a letter addressed on the 15th of May last, by H. M.s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs to sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, and likewise a transcript of one the commissions therein referred to, are published for the general information and guidance of H. M.'s subjects in China.

Macao, 10th August, 1841.

14

By order.

G. A. MALCOLM, Secretary to H. M.'s special mission to China.

EXTRACT.

Foreign office, May 15th, 1841.

     The queen having been graciously pleased to select you to be H. M.'s pleni- potentiary on a special mission to the government of China, and also to act as chief superintendent of the trade of H. M.'s subjects with that country, I herewith transmit to you, in your former character, a full power authorizing and empower. ing you to negotiate and conclude with the minister or ministers vested with similar power and authority on the part of the emperor of China, any treaty or agreement for the arrangement of differences now subsisting between Great Britain and China: and also a commission, under the royal signet and sign-manual, con- stituting and appointing you H. M.'s chief superintendent of trade in China.

     These two instruments invest you with all the power and authority requisite for enabling you to discharge the duties which are confided to you.

44

(Signed) True extract.

IT

PALMERSTON."

G. A. MALCOLM, Secretary to H. M.'s special mission to China.

L. S. VICToria R. VICTORIA, by the grace of God, queen of the United Kingdom of Great Bri- tain and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., &c., &c.

To all and singular to whom these presents shall come, greeting! Whereas, by a certain act of parliament made and passed in the session of parliament hold- en in the third and fourth years of the reign of our late royal predecessor, king William the fourth, intituled An act to regulate the trade lo China and India."

C

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it is amongst other things enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for Us, by any commission or commissions, warrant or warrants, under our royal sign-manual to appoint not exceeding three of our subjects to be superintendents of the trade of our subjects to and from the dominions of the emperor of China, for the purpose of protecting and promoting such trade, and by any such commission or warrant as aforesaid, to settle such gradation and subordination among the said superin- tendents (one of whom shall be styled the chief superintendent), and to appoint such officers to assist them in the execution of their duties, and to grant such sa- laries to such superintendents and officers, as we shall from time to time deein expedient. And whereas, by a commission or warrant bearing Note the tenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, our said late royal predecessor, king William the fourth did, in the exercise of the powers conferred by the said act of parliament, appoint William-John, Jord Napier, William Hen- ry Chicheley Plowden, esquire, and John Francis Davis, esquire, to be such superintendents as aforesaid :-and whereas, in consequence of the death of the said William-John, lord Napier, who by the said commission or warrant was appointed the chief superintendent, and of the resignation or removal of the other persons, who have from time to time been provisionally appointed to fill the office of chief superintendent, a vacancy has arisen in the said office.-Now know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the loyalty, integri- ty, and skill of our trusty and well-beloved sir Henry Pottinger, a baronet of our United Kingdom, and a colonel in the service of the East India Company, do by these presents, in pursuance and exercise of the authority in us vested by the said act of parliament, appoint him the said sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, to be chief superintendent of the trade of our subjects to and from the dominions of the em- peror of China, for the purpose of protecting and promoting such trade. And we do declare and direct, that the office of him, the said sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, as such chief superintendent aforesaid, shall be holden during the plea- sure of Us, our heirs, and successors:-and we do hereby strictly charge and require him, the said sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, in the execution of this our commission, to conform to and observe all such rules and regulations, as are or shall be given to him for his guidance, either under our royal sign-manual, or in such instructions as shall from time to time be given to him in our privy council, or by us through one of our principal secretaries of state.

Given at our court at Buckingham palace, the fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, in the fourth year of our reign.

(Signed)

By her majesty's command. Sir Henry Pottinger, baronet, commission.

True copy.

PALMERSTON.

G. A. MALCOLM.

Secretary to her majesty's special mission to China.

NOTIFICATION.

In taking charge of the offices of her majesty's sole plenipotentiary, minister extraordinary, and chief superintendent of British trade in China, sir Henry Pot- tinger deems it requisite and proper to publicly notify, that he enters on his im- portant functions, with the most anxious desire to consult the wishes, and to promote the prosperity and well-being, as well as to provide for and secure the safety, of all her majesty's subjects, and other foreigners (so far as the concerns of the latter can be affected by his proceedings), at this moment residing in any part of the dominions of the emperor of China; and that he will be ready and happy, at all times and under all circumstances, to give his best attention to any questions that may be submitted to him. At the same time, it becomes his first duty to distinctly intimate, for general and individual information, that it is his intention to devote his undivided energies and thoughts to the primary object of securing a speedy and satisfactory close of the war, and that he therefore can allow no consideration connected with mercantile pursuits, and other interests. tó interfere with the strong measures which he may find it necessary to authorize and adopt, towards the government and subjects of China, with a view to com, pelling an honorable and lasting peace.

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     Sir Henry Pottinger is conscious, that among the persons to whom this notifi- cation is addressed, there are few individuals who are not as well qualified as himself, to form a correct estimate of the reliance to be placed on the agreement and promises of the provincial government of Canton. He has intimated to that government, that he is willing for the present to respect the existing truce, but that the slightest infraction of its terms will lead to an instant renewal of active hostilities in this province; and it is accordingly to be borne in mind that such an event is not only highly probable, from the well understood perfidy and bad faith of the provincial officers themselves, but also because they may be com. pelled, at any moment, by orders from the imperial cabinet, to set aside and disavow their own acts: with these views and sentiments, it only remains for sir Henry Pottinger to warn her majesty's subjects, and all other foreigners, against putting themselves or their property in the power of the Chinese authorities, dur- ing the present anomalous and unsettled state of our relations with the emperor; and to declare, that, if they do so, it must be clearly understood to be at their own risk and peril.

     Sir Henry Pottinger avails himself of this opportunity to announce, that the arrangements which have been made by his predecessor, connected with the is- land of Hongkong, will remain in force until the pleasure of her majesty regard. ing that island, and those arrangements, shall be received; and on this point, sir Henry Pottinger further desires to call the attention of all concerned to the public notice issued by her majesty's plenipotentiary on the 10th of June last.

Dated at Macao on the 12th day of August, 1841.

(Signed)

HENRY POTTINGER, Her majesty's plenipotentiary.

On Friday the 13th, further conferences having been held between these high officers, the two commanders-in-chief, sir William Parker and sir Hugh Gough, repaired on board the Queen, which moved off immediately for Hongkong.

    Major Malcolm, accompanied by Mr. Thom, joint-interpreter, pro- ceeded in the Nemesis to Canton, bearing letters to the provincial government-the tenor whereof may be conjectured from the notifi- cation given above. We understand the authorities in Canton have been duly notified of sir Henry's appointment as plenipotentiary, and of his assumption of the office of chief superintendent.

The arrival of major Malcolm in Canton on the morning of the 14th, produced no small excitement among the Chinese.

    4. The British forces, now in China, are partly on the coast of Fuhkeën, and partly off Canton. Those in this neighborhood, under command of captain Nias, senior officer, are the Herald, Alligator, Sulphur, Starling, Royalist, Young Пlebe, and one steamer-and some hundreds of troops at Hongkong-in all quite enough to repel any aggression the Chinese may be disposed to make.

    5. The second expedition northward, moved from Hongkong on the 21st instant, and was to proceed up the coast in three divisions, with the ships of war cleared for working their guns. Amoy seems to have been fixed on for the first point of attack, and its fall will proba- bly be announced by the first arrival from the north.

    6. The manner of conducting the war will, we apprehend, be left to the wisdom and skill of the two commanders-in-chief, sir Hugh Gough and sir William Parker, and be waged in right good earnest, until such time as the Chinese may deem it proper to sue for peace on honorable terms.

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      7. Hongkong-at least the Chinese part of the new settlement- was desolated by a fire on the night of the 12th, from which it has rapidly recovered; the number of inhabitants is again increasing. Lt. William Pedder, R. N. has been appointed harbor-master and ma- rine magistrate; Mr. Alexander Lena, assistant; and Mr. Joseph R. Bird, clerk of the public works. Mr. Samuel Fearon, interpreter and clerk of the court, has been appointed notary-public and coroner. Henry Holgate, esq., has been appointed acting colonial surgeon.

      8. Heerjeebhoy Rustomjer's donation in behalf of foreign seamen in China, is thus announced in the Hongkong Gazette.

       My dear sir,The large number of foreign seamen at all times adrift in China, and their entire dependence upon the charity of the foreign hospital in Macao, for the comfort they require when suffering from diseases, has frequently at- tracted my attention. Being aware that this institution is kept up by your person- al exertions and gratuitous attendance, and that the funds received for the main- tenance of patients sent from on board ship, by which alone it is supported, have been at all times insufficient to meet the expenses of the hospital, I deem it highly desirable that some provision should be made for the support of a useful institu- tion, and to prevent pecuniary losses being entailed on those devoting a large portion of their time to the relief of their suffering fellow-men.

It will afford me much satisfaction to promote this subject, by such means as are in my power, and I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that I propose to de- vote the sum of twelve thousand dollars for that purpose. This amount shall be placed in the hands of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co.; the interest to be de- voted to the maintenance of those patients now dependent upon the hospital; and to meet such expenses as are necessary for the support and efficiency of the institution.

      For the management of the funds, I have appointed James Matheson, esq., J. Robt. Morrison, esq., and yourself, granting you conjointly the power of appro- priating the whole amount to the founding of a hospital for foreign seamen at Hongkong, or any other British settlement on the coast of China, should such a step he afterwards deemed advisable, and this be considered the most useful way of applying the funds to the object in view.

Hoping that such an institution will continue to prosper, that by it many may be benefited; and that it will receive from government the support and assis- tance which are necessary to its efficiency,

Believe me, my dear sir, your's faithfully,

(Signed)

HEERJEEBHOY Rustomjee. To Alexander Anderson, esq., acting surgeon to H. M. superintendents.

9. Capt. Elliot with his lady and family, commodore sir J .J. G. Bremner, and Alexander Anderson, esq., embarked on the 24th in the Atalanta. Captain Elliot, upon his embarkation, was saluted with 13 guns, from one of the Portuguese forts. The French corvette, Danaide,'-recently arrived-saluted sir Gordon Bremer's broad pennant. The Atalanta proceeded to sea the same evening.

10. Affairs in Canton continue quiet, though a great deal of an- xiety exists among the Chinese in certain quarters. This is caused mainly by the movement of the expedition northward.

11. The prefect of Canton, who has acted so prominent a part in negotiations at the provincial city, came post-haste to Macao to seek an interview with sir Henry Pottinger; he saw major Malcolm, and then went back again to his superiors.

     12. Yihshan and his colleagues still remain at the provincial city ; and doubtless continue to deceive their master with their false state-

480

Journal of Occurrences.

   ments-of which a goodly number may be seen in the accompanying memorial-which we copy from the Canton Press.

The imperial appointed great rebel quelling general Yihshan, and his colleagues Lungwan and Yang Fang most respectfully present this memorial before the throne of the great emperor, detailing how that the ships of the English foreigners have left the provincial river; how that they (the English) bave given us back the forts: how that our militia and volunteers have slaughtered a great many native traitors and foreign robbers who were raising disturbances: and how that we have restored tranquillity to the provincial city,-

‚-ou all of which, looking upwards, we pray that a sacred glance may be cast.

Your slaves, after having sent off their memorial to your majesty, on the 15th day of the 4th month (i. e. Friday, 4th June), detailing the temporary expedients they had had recourse to in the exigencies of the case for the placing of affairs on a perfectly secure basis,--at one and the same time took the greatest precautions for the defense of the city and its tranquilization, and commanded that the English ships should forthwith get up their anchors and depart. The said fo reigners immediately got more than ten sail of their ships under weigh and left the river, when one of their commanders, Warren, petitioned us saying, that "the real truth of the matter was the foreign merchants of every nation were very hard pushed for money, and worrying him for payment of their debts, and there- fore it was that he and they (captain Warren and the English) had no resource but to beg that they might be cleared off;--that they had no intention whatever to offend or commit any act of agression upon the heavenly dynasty;-and foras- much he implored us, the great general and colleagues and all the high officers of the province, that we would supplicate the great emperor to show them mercy, and pardon their offenses."

Your slave finds, that the foreign ships having on this occasion bolted into the river by violence, was all caused by the native traitors showing them the way; which in fine led to the rude people of the islands and the foreign robbers avail. ing themselves of the state of things to work evil; they robbed and plundered the villages so that we could not but take strenuous measures to extirpate them root and branch. But the traces of these native traitors are exceedingly secret, and cunningly concealed; there are some who put on the clothes of foreigners; there are others who dress like (our) soldiers and militia; their ramifications extend everywhere, so that we must send detachments to scour the whole coun- try to catch them. If we send our regular troops after them in so many direc- tions, it is to be feared that they might not discriminate clearly before slaying, and thus calamity would be entailed on the peaceably disposed people, which might lead to some very shocking catastrophe. It therefore appeared to us the best plan that the country people of the different villages should form themselves into armed associations for mutual defense. The headman (of one of these armed associations) Leäng Tsaeying and others, divided themselves into several bodies, and going in different directions, they succeeded in capturing upwards of two hundred native traitors and foreign robbers, black and white; among which last were two chief persons. Your slave thereupon sent orders to the militia, gentry and others, that as they took them. so should they behead them at Namoan! In reference to one of these chief persons, the said gentry and others reported to us by petition, that "he was in reality Bremer, and that they (the English) were willing to pay a hundred dollars to ransom the body, which they (the said gen- try and others) had stowed away in a secluded house ;"---but whether this really be the case or not, we shall first investigate clearly and afterwards duly memo- rialize your majesty thereupon.

    Their excellencies proceed to state that they have already sent troops to occupy the forts, issued proclamations to quiet the people, and will immediately commence the work of repairs, &c. After hav- ing suffered what they have, we think they will be very slow in pro- ceeding with any work of defence or aggression that will be likely to lead to a renewal of hostilities. Yihshan and his colleagues have earned for themselves a bad reputation among the people of Canton.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-SEPTEMBER, 1841.- No. 9.

ART. 1.

      Reminiscences of Chusan, during its occupation by the British in 1840-41. From a Correspondent.

THE hearts of all the people in the fleet beat high, when the ships had assembled at Buffaloe's Nose. This island is remarkable for a per- forated rock, which forms an extensive cavern that shows to great advantage when one is coming in from sea. The spot itself is hilly, and produces only a few vegetables, with a little rice sufficient for its poor inhabitants. For the benefit of mariners it may be remarked, that there is a mountain streamlet containing abundance of water, clear as crystal, where any quantity may be obtained at the lowest ebb, by merely damming up the rill. There is another watering place, though not available at low tides, on the side which fronts the main. As there are few natives living on the island, water may al- ways be procured here with the greatest ease, and without fear of molestation.

## 0.

Several communications pow took place between the commanders of the squadron, and slow was our movement towards the place, of our destination. We came across a fisherman, a poor ignorant man, who however understood very well the depth of the water, and could also point out various dangers; but there his knowledge ended. When he first came on board the Wellesley, he was quite bewilder- ed, and really imagined that his life would fall a sacrifice to the ruth- less barbarians. But by degrees he became more composed. The visions of dreadful revenge, on the part of the Chinese officers, now started up before him, and he began to quake. Once he even point-

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Ser.

ed out a smack, which he said was manned by soldiers. A boat being dispatched to take her, the prize was brought alongside, and proved to be a leaky concern with only one old fisherman in it. This was the commencement of our heroic deeds.

To obtain a knowledge of the passage to Chusan harbor, which not one individual amongst all our sailors had yet done, the Atalanta was sent ahead to reconnoitre. On entering the harbor, several war- junks were discovered close in shore. The Chinese had no warning of our arrival; but as soon as it was ascertained, that the fleet had anchored near Chusan harbor, a furious edict was issued by the dis- trict magistrate Yaou, who, by a carte blanche from the It.-governor, had been enabled to promulgate such orders in cases of emergency. This paper, however, only mentioned the sale of opium, and never once alluded to any hostile intentions on the part of the barbarians; though it made considerable demands on the good citizens of Chu- san. To insure obedience to his orders, the worthy Yaou had made the principal firms, both in the suburbs and the city, responsible for any acts of aggression on the part of the foreigners, and actually took hostages from the people, to insure the good behavior of the invaders!

    The sudden appearance of the first steamboat caused a great sen- sation amongst the inhabitants, who came in thousands to the beach in order to behold the strange vessel. To do this they had leisure enough, for she had grounded on a sand-bank, and could not get off before the water had risen to a considerable extent. No native boats came near, though there was a great stir amongst the musketoe fleet in the harbor. The master of the Wellesley, on approaching Pagoda Hill, in order to take the soundings along shore, was beckoned off by a fierce officer with a fan. But this rude barbarian actually believed, that he inight have taken the place with his boat's crew,

                                     which was by no means one of the strongest. Having ascertained that the largest vessel could approach close to the shore, the fact was communicated to the commanders. They would have done well if they had imme- diately proceeded with the favorable breeze then blowing. As it was, however, the progress of the expedition was deferred a whole day, several vessels grounded, and the transports got in with consi- derable difficulty."

    The Wellesley had, on Saturday the 4th July, taken up her posi- tion close to the suburbs. The merchaut junks in the meanwhile had left, and now commenced an enrigration, which very soon empti- ed the harbor of a large number of native craft. This lasted

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     throughout the night, and on the morning we discovered nothing but war-junks, with a few of their boats.

      The Wellesley having taken up her position, and no official person. having made his appearance, it was considered high time to summon the island with its dependencies and citadel to surrender. Lord J. accompanied the mission, which proceeded on board a very sorry, look ing junk. Here the British officers had not long to wait, before the vice-admiral, with his aid-de-camp and flag-captain, made his ap- pearance. He was a decrepit, ill-favored, elderly man, without bad- ges of rank, so that he might have been taken for a commen citizen. He told the party, that he had only recently arrived from Euhning foo in: Fuhkeën, to enter upon the duties of this station; he behaved in a very friendly manner, while his flag-captain grinned, and his aid-de-camp frowned. The summons being handed to him, he gave them to the latter, ou the plea that he could not read, a thing not uncomnion amongst Chinese naval officers. The brow of this gal- lant son of Neptune contracted, sadly as he perused the summons, whilst the old admiral listened with a vacant smile. It was now pro- posed, that they should adjourn, and go on board the Wellesley, lord J. most generously offering to remain behind as a hostage. This proposition all the three Chinese rejected with the utmost indigna- tion, saying, ' we put too much faith in your word, to doubt our safety on board of one of your vessels.' They came, therefore, with great glee over the gangway. The district magistrate Yaou, in the mean- while had made his visit, and for a little time proudly paced the Wellesley's deck, without taking notice of anything around him. As soon, however, as he saw the old admiral coming on board, he ran away, without giving any reason for so doing.

      The three worthies were now seated in the large cabin, next to the commodore, and whilst sipping their tea, the captain proposed to show them the vessel. They however refused to enjoy this treat, and with serious countenances deliberated about the surrender. To this they finally appeared inclined, but observed at the conclusion, that they were too weak to offer any resistance, and that therefore all the loss of human life would be on their heads, if any conflict commenc- ed. With this declaration they left the vessel, promising to give a decisive answer within a very short time. The old admiral continu- ed to laugh, appearing not to be at all aware of any impending danger.

On Sunday morning we perceived great activity on shore, and a messenger had been dispatched to Ningpo for additional assistance.

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This puny host, therefore, from sheer ignorance, was determined to defend itself, and for this purpose the soldiers had put a number of miserable cannon between paddy bags, in order to repel the bar- barians by celestial fire.

'Towards the afternoon the soldiers had all embarked in boats, and it was an animating sight to see the whole harbor covered with red coats. The music played as they passed the flag-ship, and all. ap- peared one joyous scene. There was at that time scarcely one sick man among them.

    A shot from the Wellesley, fired over the heads of the Chinese forces, was intended to induce them to surrender. But they were too årdent in hope to meditate such a thing. Off went their cannòn like crackers, the balls struck the Alligator in several places,-one actual- ly took away some paint, another carried away a halliard, a third (strange to say) lodged in a gun carriage. Such was the damage done to the British fleet. The ships now opened a tremendous fire, and the Pagoda Hill was instantly cleared of its crowded military occupants, and the suburbs were forsaken. The British forces land- ed instantly, and took possession of the heights on Temple Hill. They might have pushed on without any obstacle, for the enemy was panic struck, but the attack on the city was deferred till Monday.

The junks nearest the men-of-war were very much riddled, and à humane surgeon shortly afterwards went to see whether he could do anything for the wounded. The first indication of slaughter, ob- served on board the admiral's junk, was a raven ominously perch- ed on the mast, looking down with his bright eyes into the cabin. The party, sent to afford relief, shuddered when they saw the bird of prey over a heap of corpses. Several balls had passed through the junk, and the frightened sailors had either crowded into the cabin for protection, or had huddled their dying comrades together there, with the hope of carrying off their bodies, which they indeed essayed to do, during the hottest fire from our guns. And here we must bear testimony to their bravery. The Chinese will venture everything; face the cannon's mouth, in order to carry a disabled or dead com- rade from the field.' One poor fellow was seen climbing up the shore with great difficulty, having lost a limb, but still trying to save him- self, undaunted by the loss of blood.

    In the admiral's cabin, orders for attacking the barbarians were found, and also a part of a Chinese Bible! He himself was badly wounded in the side, and his flag captain fell at the first discharge. The worthy Yaou had embarked with all his effects and retinue, and

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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was paddling down the canal into the open sea, when one of his clerks inquired whether his was the behavior of a faithful servant. This sarcasm went to the heart of the highminded magistrate, and he jumped overboard, never to rise again, whilst the head of the police followed his mad example.

*

      The worthy Samaritan, above alluded to, took one of the wounded men on board the flag-ship, for his leg had been smashed and it re quired amputation. This he willingly underwent, and when the operation had been performed, he asked for a pipe and a cup of tea with the utmost indifference. He was indeed a philosopher, and, fortunate man, has lived to receive a pension from the great emperor,

      The suburb was now nearly abandoned, and some of the Indian sailors made very free with their neighbors' property, having absolute- ly forgotten. the distinction between meum and tuum. ́ It proved to be a very filthy place, with only very few good and spacious houses, There was an immense quantity of ardent spirits stored in the ware houses; the streets were redolent with the fragrancy of salt-fish ;,

and stores of wheat and pulse were found in some of the houses of the merchants. When our officers set to work to dash in pieces the pots of liquor, it literally, flowed through the streets, and the air was in- fected with the noxious smell.

Proclamations, issued by the commander-in-chief, were stuck up promising security of persons and property to the Chinese. Officers were seen standing in the streets, threatening to punish every sol- dier who dared to lay hands on plunder. But you might as well have preached against the entrance of musketoes; for scarcely was the eye turned to watch, one depredator, when ten might be seen coming forward from various quarters with their booty,

Two solitary Fuhkeen men were seen unconcernedly smoking their pipes, near the body of an unfortunate man, who had been struck by a ball, and was gaping his last breath. On being made acquainted with the peaceful intentions of the British, they remarked, that such benevolence wanted no more striking proofs than that be- fore them, and if their designs were so kind, why then did they come at all to Tinghae. They were however anxious to avail of the prof- fered protection for their own benefit, and if they did not share in the booty, they certainly amassed enough in one day to support them- selves for a whole year.

Thousands were now seen leaving Tinghae, through the northern, eastern, and western gates, and a general flight from the city seemed to be determined upon.

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Reminiscences of Chusan.

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The Chinese troops were still firing from the walls near the south- ern gate, and threw one ball very near our outpost, when the British artillery came up, and with shells quieted these brave fellows. The commandant was killed by the first shot, and the whole host of at- tendants, when they saw him a lifeless corpse, immediately dispersed.

    The night passed away tranquilly, but on the next morning a ge- neral storming of the city was to take place, and besides the three regiments and Volunteers, a party of blue jackets was to assist in this affair. But alas! the city was mute, and only the suburbs show- ed that some miscreants had been at work. A fire raged amongst the dense hovels, formerly the seat of filth and vice, and were in a very short time reduced to ashes. By the exertions of the English, however, the fire was soon extinguished.

When the stillness of death reigned throughout the city, the staff approached closely. Happily a ladder had been left, perhaps on pur- pose to scale the walls; and a few planks from the adjacent houses served as a bridge over the ditch; and thus the invaders got directly into the city. At first not a living being was to be seen; after long waiting, there crawled forth a poor frightened creature, begging hard for his life; and when others ascertained that no harm was done him, they gradually ventured out. In a short time a small number had assembled and read the proclamation, whilst one individual offered his services to post up the remaining copies throughout the town; these were read with great eagerness, but were soon torn down, pro- bably by some myrmidons of government. Before the doors of several houses a large inscription, "spare the lives of intelligent creatures," was stuck up. Upon the walls of the southern gate was found a tablet, evidently placed there by the officers, intreating the enemy to spare their children, the people. Banners, bows and arrows, powder, shot, &c., were found thrown about in extraordinary confusion, thus showing that their owners had fled in the utmost trepidation. What most attracted attention, were the guns with immense touch- holes, loaded with stones and grape to the very muzzle.

"At length the poor inhabitants gained courage, and to show their confidence they boiled large quantities of tea, which they served out to all who passed by, they themselves first tasting it, to show that it contained nothing poisonous.

    The admiral's house was found in great confusion, the silks strew- ed about in confusion; two very valuable caps were placed on a shelf, and many curious articles covered the ground. It was unfortunate, indeed, that the soldiers first discovered the library of this veteran,

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

407

      which contained a number of very valuable works, principally statis.. tical, and mostly unknown to the sinologues of the west. With Van- dalic destruction this valuable collection was soon thinned; and only when it was too late, the loss of such a treasure was discovered by its few remaining fragments. The collection of official papers was ¡mmense, and literally filled one considerable building. They were huddled together without any order, and the worms had indeed done their best. Still there were picked out of the mass, some edicts issued as early as Shunche's reign. The office itself was in a miserable condition. How the old gentleman could spend a winter in such a hovel is quite inexplicable.

The civil magistrate's office was still worse than that of the admi- ral's, and the smell in the rooms as bad as that arising from moulder- ing graves. Even the ladies' apartments, which had only a few hours previously been abandoned, were so uncleanly that a Chinese coolie actually fainted on entering them. There were numerous rooms for clerks and officers of every description, but it is difficult to under- stand how people could live in such damp and infected places, unless they possessed something of the amphibious nature of the toad. There was also a public treasury, labeled with large letters, and sealed in the Chinese fashion, to prevent the barbarians from forcing the deposit. The latter, however, might have spared themselves the trouble, for when our commissioners went to ascertain what the place contained, they found only four dollars, a quantity of small and useless cash, with rusty guns in abundance and a few old nets, and a good deal of rubbish. Here also, in the office of the civil magistrate, were the Luh Poo, or Six Boards, in miniature; and each of the buildings, dedicated to their use, contained the necessary papers. None other however was so well stored as that appropriated to the Board of Punishments, for there were lawsuits literally ten yards long, with sundry remarks of the magistrates. In any museum they would be a great curiosity. To rummage them, however, could not be done with impunity, for they had been heaped up for many generations, and at the least touch they would fly about as if they had gotten wings, occa- sioning such a disagreeable smell, that one person got severely ill for having ventured to examine them. Order seems to have been en- tirely forgotten, and there was an utter want of arrangement in all the archives.

+

These papers had been abandoned, even by the soldiers, when all at once some emissaries sent by the officers of Ningpo began to steal them. And then it was that one of them lost his tail for his temerity,

·

Reminiscences of Chusán.

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were

   and that the admiral's records, like the Alexandrian library, doomed to the flames, not to heat the public baths, for there was no such thing in Tinghae, but to make bonfires. And a hard work the police had of it, for the edicts refused to burn, as if they had been made of asbestus. When this work of destruction was going for- ward, an officer of the engineers, attracted by curiosity, picked out a chart from among them, and a doctor discovered some papers, on which the emperor had written with his vermilion pencil. But with the exception of these two individuals, nobody else was moved by this rude conflagration, at which the Chinese were most indignant.

The most valuable parts of this establishment were the granaries, in which the paddy was laid up in good order, each building being labeled with the year, when the grain was deposited. When rice was becoming scarce, the stock on hand was offered for sale at a very re- duced rate, but none of the inhabitants dared to buy for fear of future punishment. So the whole remained, except what the fowls and ducks consumed, and of these there was at first a very small quantity in possession of the foreigners. All the side courts were overgrown with rank grass; the artificial tanks were full of stagnant water; but there was no garden to please the eye or to perfume the air with its flowers or fruit. Chairs and tables there were enough, with basins sufficient to have served a battalion. The worthy magistrate also had laid up a stock of spirits, and had a large quantity of furs scattered about in the house. But so rapid had been his flight, that the very supper was left on his table, and not a single article, not even the indispensable opium pipe, had been removed. Whilst beholding all these things, there stole in a number of Chinese and quickly, walked off with a load of furs. And not even satisfied with this booty, they took away the chair, that had served them to get over the wall..

Some writer has compared Tinghae with Venice, and if that com- parison › holds good, Mongha near Macao certainly resembles Ver- sailles, and its straw hovels are comparable to the Thuilleries, for both tare the habitations of men. Tinghae has a few tolerable streets with, good shops and many hovels. There are all together in the city :3000 dwellings, and reckoning ten inhabitants for each, there will be -30,000 citizens. Some calculators would only allow five individuals for each house, but we request them to show us a single habitation containing only five inmates. There is, generally, the man and his wife, with four, five or six, or more children, and also some relative, friend, or domestic. In the larger abodes there are often found

1

from forty to sixty individuals. This is not mere conjecture, but has

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Reminiscences of Chusan.

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been ascertained on the spot. Now by giving an average of ten in- habitants to each dwelling we do not overstep the mark. The whole island counts about 47,000 houses, including every hamlet, accord- ing to a census taken by the magistrate; Chusan, therefore, must have a population of 470,000.

      The wall of Tinghae is very old, and in some places tumbling down. It was repaired in the times of Kanghe, when the Mantchous had obtained firm possession of the island, and remains in the state in which the ancestors of the present race left it. The principal buildings have towards the street a mere bare wall, and consist of a row of houses, the wood of which is beautifully varnished, superior to anything we have ever seen in the southern parts of the empire. The walls of the houses are composed of a kind of gypsum. What at- tracted most attention, were the numerous beautiful carvings of land- scapes, diversified with bamboos, birds, &c. The handsome red lackered bedsteads, with very elegant designs cut in wood, and splendidly gilded, could not easily be exceeded.

Two temples, one dedicated to ancestors, the other to the god of cities, contained many specimens of native art. The colossal figures at the entrance are larger, perhaps, than those at Honam, and the Budha that sits upon the lotus flower might well pass for a giant. Nothing, however, is so remarkable as the Goddess of Mercy, riding on a dolphin in a troubled sea, and exhibiting her power to save. Had such a piece of workmanship been found at Athens, it would kave passed for the greatest work of ancient genius ever known; but unfortunately it was in Chusan. There were also to be seen in these temples, images of the disciples of Budha, exhibiting in their coun- tenances the human passions, very exquisitely executed.

+

     The pantheon, or too skin meaou, is another very large temple, without a single idol; having in it a kind of pagoda, and a very large' bell. There was a foundling hospital, a great part of whose walfs the barbarians demolished, and moreover, another one for the old and decrepit. Besides these two, there were three buildings used as arsenals, full of flags, balls, guns, arrows, bows, uniforms, &c., of all of which the foreigners took possession. The cannon were almost useless. The plaited soldiers' jackets, so inlaid with iron as to be ball proof, served as excellent winter clothing for the lascars,' whơ looked very: grotesque, when stalking about the city in this dress. The arrow rockets were curiously constructed, but in such a manner, as to render them entirely Irármless. All the military stores were very well arranged. Some of these articles were sold at auction,

VOL. X. NO. ix.

62

+

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Reminiscences of Chusan.

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others were destroyed, and a few sent home as trophies. There were arms enough to equip 1300 men, the amount of the-naval and land forces of the Chusan group.

Tingbae has two colleges, one of which is a very extensive build- ing. In the smaller one were stuck up all the themes which the students were working out, when the assault took place. Judging from the many books found in these colleges, the inhabitants must be a reading race. By far the greater part of the works were poetical. Orders were sent out, that they should all be brought to the magis. trate's office, but, alas, the greater part had already perished. There were also the books of a tract society, established in order to circulate religious works gratis. Of these there were a good number in the houses of the poor. The situation of a temple dedicated to Confucius was romantic enough, though rather worse for its age. Close to it was another building of a different nature, a pawn- broker's shop, the most extensive house in the city. The stores found in this place were large. It is extraordinary that this building should have been completely full, for so large a collection rather betokens a very low state of morals. The owner was again and again cited to take possession of his property, but he never made his appearance. A great quantity of the clothes were stolen, others were sold at auc- tion, and the remainder were still on hand when the place was eva- cuated, and were then seized upon by pilfering natives.

Beyond the wall, there was a temple in a very romantic glen, filled with trees, and planted in the rear with bamboos. There were also two powder mills, but only one had powder in its stores; and this was condemned and thrown into the water.

On the day of capture, the city presented a very curious scene. As soon as the rabble had ascertained that they were not to be kill- ed outright, they got up a system of plundering, which was carried on with a great deal of boldness. It was very apparent that the most respectable class of people had left the place, and that only desperate characters, who had nothing to lose, remained. The cri- ninals in the prisons had probably been set at liberty, before the officers finally abandoned the city. One of them was seen dragging along his chain. A humane officer knocked off his fetters, and the first use the fellow made of his freedom was to commence robbing.

When matters became very bad, a representation was made to the commander to put a stop to such deeds of villany, by not allowing the least article to pass out of the gates. He however replied, that this would interfere with the liberty of the subject, and that the in-

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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provided

     habitants themselves ought to look after their own affairs, there was free egress of every article. This answer was most satis- factory to the light fingered gentry. There were, however, some fel- lows who reasoned in this manner: if we retain the most valuable articles of the citizens, they will certainly come back; but if they are allowed to carry away everything, they will no longer trouble themselves about Tinghae. This proved in the end to be true.

The 7th was a very rainy day, and the native marauders were busy in clearing the suburbs of salt-fish. In this laudable effort, they were charitably assisted by the soldiers on duty, who helped them to carry the bags down to the beach to their boats, being no doubt thank- ful, that some of the causes of the abominable odor were removed. There were also found a great number of paper dollars, well execut- ed, which served as a currency in hades; for being once burnt, they are supposed to pass for good coin amongst the shades. But it seems that no Ferdinands are there current, those found being all Carolus- es. The robbers were also very eager after cash, a commodity which the military at first viewed with the utmost contempt. They afterwards learnt the use of this heavy circulating medium, and deep- ly regretted that they had cast away whole bags of this coin.

In the city no shops were yet open, and the removal of property went on at such a rate, that within a week it might be expected the whole city would be empty. All fear was at length banished, and the good citizens began to draw up papers full of complaints, which if verified, would have made many an applicant a rich man...

1

Tenders were now issued for coolies, but if any were to be had, they must be caught by main force, and even then they would ruu away, as soon as they could do it with safety. Two clerks happened to be taken into the magistrate's office. They stole the very ink and pencils that were given them to write with, and then, taking as much clothing as they could get hold of, walked away. There were also two clamorous cooks, who walked off with the kitchen uten- sils, as complacently as if they had been their own. It was therefore no wonder that the houses very soon became empty, and that the peaceful owners became clamorous for protection.

Orders were finally issued, to stop these robbers at the gates, and not allow them to climb over the walls. This regulation gave rise to still greater evils. The thieves, if they could not force the gates, which they very often attempted, left their booty there and ran away; if it happened that an honest man went the same way, he also was forced to deliver up his load. An immense quantity of goods of every

492

Reminiscences of Chusan.

and

Ser.

description was thus collected at the guard-house. Complainants then rushed in crowds to the magistrate's office to claim their own, if their petition was granted, they helped themselves indeed very li- berally, indemnifying themselves for their previous losses. Mistakes took place without number, and the most clamorous of the whole set were often the greatest rogues. Now and then the true owner receiv- ed his own. Once, a musician, with a great quantity of instruments, had left the gate, and was stopped by a field officer. As soon as the latter wanted to seize him, the former hoping to act the part of Orpheus, and anxious to clear himself from malicious intent, began to play a very lively air on one of his pipes. But the harmony did not affect the veteran's ears, and the poor musician was marched off to the office, for feloniously abstracting musical instruments.

means abashed, however, the delinquent put his arms a-kimbo; and thus began his speech : "When I listen to the regimental music, the sound of my instruments appears to be harsh and grating, how could 1, then, longer enter into competition with its strains? Moreover it appears to me, that you have quite music enough; and, as the voice of mirth will be heard no more in this city, of what use is my abode amidst the afflicted? I can carry on my profession only amongst joyous parties." For this speech, the blythe musician was liberated, and received a passport to depart in peace.

In one instance, a coffin having been allowed to pass, the applica- tions for permission to carry out old fathers and mothers became very numerous, until the sentries opened these receptacles, and instead of corpses they generally found silks. This no longer succeeding, other stratagems, and some not very reputable, were had recourse to. Some carried their plunder over the walls. One man was going to The latter beckoned

pass a recruit who stood sentry on the walls. him to leave off his illicit business, yet was not heeded. But in- stead of obeying, the man came with a whole load, and being repell- ed, he attempted to force his way. The soldier then fired, and the' robber sell dead.

An elderly rogue had stationed himself below the city wall, and was in the habit of taking care of the stolen articles, in order to carry them over the ditch. By some means he was overloaded, and sunk in the water to rise no more. In some instances, the venge- ance of the people overtook these marauders, and they administered Lynch law. For instance, a man was found bound hand and foot in a ditch, who had attempted to empty a house of its contents. Ano- ther was seen tied to a post near the market place, with such force

1

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

493

that the eyes started out of their sockets, and the blood from his hands and body. Had the cords not been immediately loosened, he would have died within less than an hour. A third was brought to the office bound in the most frightful manner. The agony the fellow had endured had robbed him of speech, and it was two hours before he could give an account of himself. His captor, a literary graduate, was surprised at being upbraided for his cruelty, but merely remark- ed in self-vindication, that what he had done was simply an act of common justice. He could not or would not bring a witness, and though the prisoner had not the appearance of a gentleman, he was dismissed for want of evidence.

     After a few days had elapsed, several shops were opened, poultry became very plentiful, and it was of the best description. But the pork was very inferior, and repulsive even to a hungry stomach. Beef was likewise brought into the market. All this, however, was only of short duration. As soon as the shopkeepers had sold off their stock they removed from the city, and the supplies failed entirely, for some emissaries had been sent to threaten the inhabitants with death, if they dared to supply the English with provisions. Such interfer- ence ought never to have been suffered, and its tragical conse- quences should serve as a warning example in future. As soon as the authorities at Chinhae ascertained that this probibition was borne patiently, they seized the comprador that used to supply the com- missariat. The people of the island got the credit for having com- mitted this misdeed, and several respectable persons were imprisoned for six weeks, though the Ningpo government subsequently declared, they had kidnapped the man-an enterprize worthy of such dignita- ries. This was done again to try how far the patience of the English would stretch. As they were not forced to give up this man, which they certainly would have done, had they been obliged to do so by strength of arms, they grew more bold, first carried off servants, then took captain Anstruther, and next murdered an artillery-man.

The authorities at Ningpo were thunderstruck by the occupation of Chusan. They could collect only a few hundred men to attempt a reoccupation. In this emergency a large subscription was got up by a patriotic graduate, who enlisted a body of militia, to guard Chinhae, a place which had been left without defense. If, when the provocation was given, a force had been sent to Ningpo, the moral effect would have been lasting, provisions would have come in abun- dance, death, which made such havoc amongst the troops, would have been prevented, and the terms obtained at the Pej ho would haye

494

been honorable.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

SEP.

But the men who never could be our friends were

spared, and our own people were sacrificed.

Tăng Tingching was then the governor of Fuhkeën and Chě- keäng. We saw his severe proclamations against opium stuck up at every corner, threatening death and destruction to every smoker, for Tinghae was full of people made wretched by this drug. His name, however, was little known in this part of his jurisdiction, for he had never yet made a tour through Chékeäng. Still he was charged with the loss of Chusan, and summoned to appear at a court of inquiry. In great haste he sent his general, a Chinese by birth, but a Tartar in heart, to protect Ningpo. This man, a hero of the first order, would fight at all hazards, and determined upon annihi- lating the barbarians. His agents were constantly lingering about Tinghae, but so betrayed their master, that all his plans were speedily made known to us.

Next after Tăng was Lew, the previous lieut.-governor, a Man- tchou, who was called to Peking to answer for his misdeeds in losing Chusan. He, likewise, was a hero, fierce as a lion in his edicts, and cruel to our prisoners; but a lamb in the execution of his military exploits.

When the emperor heard of the fall of Tinghae, he dispatched Elepoo to Chinhae, as his special commissioner. This heavy headed statesman held the office of governor of Keängnan and Keängse. He was in the confidence of his sovereign, and therefore considered as the most suitable personage to execute his behests. It was indeed an occasion for displaying his power, but being an infirm man, he was fond of ease and peace, and on no account would engage in hos tilities. For this he was very much abused, and lost his influence, so that the war party, though by no means the most numerous, got the upper hand at Peking.

    As soon as the people of Chusan perceived that the English did not rescue the comprador, they lost all confidence, and withdrew to the interior or to Ningpo. When hardly pressed for an answer for so doing, they answered, "there is no security for life and property; we may be seized by the agents of our government, and lose our life for traitorous intercourse." A very decent man, at that time employ- ed by a foreigner, incautiously went out of the gate one day, and was seized and delivered over to the Ningpo authorities. This cir- cumstance struck great terror into the people, and the city was soon entirely deserted. Even the rabble was seized with fear, and unless engaged in plundering the houses, did not make their appearance, so

1811.

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that a Chinese became quite a rarity. When the inhabitants were invited to come back in order to receive protective papers for their houses and furniture, only a few availed themselves of the offer. In virtue of this notification, the untenanted dwellings were subsequently occupied by our soldiers.

It was a most melancholy task to walk through the city, now as much abandoned as if it had been visited by the plague. Even the sew vegetables that used to be brought to the market ceased to come in; there was literally nothing to be obtained for either love or money. When some stragglers were angling in the canals, it often happened, that a number of servants were standing around to buy the first fish or eel that was caught. For many miles around the city, not a single hen was to be seen, and if a stray cock unfortunate- ly happened to approach the redoubtable place, his life was forfeited, and he was in the pot before he could even have time to crow! If any poor peasant, in hopes of making a good profit on his produce ven- tured to direct his course to the gates, some straggling parties, in search of provisions were sure to intercept him. To get a single duck safe and sound to one's house required a convoy, and then even the poor bird might not reach its destination. Very ridiculous scenes and many curious accidents thus occured, and though most stringent orders were promulgated against seizing any provisions, still the sol- diers, urged on by hungry stomachs, proved the most refractory peo- ple in the world. Nobody will starve without a struggle; so long as there is still a morsel of food to be gotten, it will be sought for by some means, whether right or wrong.

.

     Nothing gave rise to so many troubles at Chusan, as the visits of the military to the villages. In one instance, some stout peasants seized an officer, and one of them was shot with a pistol. A party of sipahis was likewise attacked, several Chinese were killed, and one of the detachment received a wound with a bill-hook, of which he died. In most instances there was as much wrong on the part of the foreigners, as on that of the Chinese, but the want of fresh

                                           pro- visions was the main cause of all these mischiefs. Private individuals, in the neighboring villages, stuck up papers on the gates urging the people to defend and preserve their cattle for ploughing. This had a great effect, and the consequence was, that in a very short time, not a single ox or cow was to be had, unless taken by force; it was so, that the people in the villages, on perceiving the approach of an English party, gave a signal, and drove away all their cattle.

There were, moreover, always some invisible agents at work, to enforce the man-

496

Reminiscences of Chuson.**

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dates of the Chinese authorities. They wrote down names of indi- viduals who showed the least kindness to the strangers, and so fright- oned the possessors of stock, that they preferred to have their cattle carried off by main force, rather than sell them in a fair manner. There was another inconvenience quite unexpected. The natives had seen very little silver money, and at first would receive nothing but copper cash. We have often seen them taking one hundred Chinese copper coin in preference to a half dollar; indeed they had an utter abhorrence of all but Caroluses, and even these they would receive only at a discount. However, talah (dollar), loopea (rupee), &c., ere many weeks had passed, were constantly in the mouths of the populace. The imperial currency lost all value, and there was a thirst after her majesty's coin, such as we have not yet seen any where else in all this world.

    From time to time we heard rumors of landing of forces from Ningpo, yet only a few stragglers ever came to the neighborhood of the city. For awhile no hostile excursions were attempted into the country. But all at once the war cry resounded. A large force, it was stated had landed, at Tsinkong, the western extremity of the is. land. A large detachment of the 49th was immediately ordered out. Though no enemy was found, this enterprize effected one good ob- ject, it made the English acquainted with the splendid harbor of that place, and they also discovered an excellent location for the troops, who had already suffered much from sickness. Had the 26th been dis- patched there at that time, hundreds of lives might have been saved. Subsequently another alarm was given, on the appearance of some war-boats along the eastern part of the island. This roused the active sir Fleming Senhouse, who soon afterwards went around the whole island. This was the most extensive excursion made during the occupation, and its importance was greatly enhanced by au able pa- per he subsequently wrote upon the subject. In most places the people were sullen and refractory, but finding they had to deal with a staunch votersu, they changed their tone, and become submissive. Had these tours been more frequently taken, the island would, in all probability have submitted entirely to our control.

It may be in place to speak a few words here about this much decried island. When a man is attacked by a fever aud dysente- ry, he certainly has not much desire to prate about the romantic spot which has been the immediate cause of his sickness; he is far more likely to complain of his situation and the badness of the climate. After having gone through the silent city, and beheld the pillaged

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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houses, with nothing but devastation and misery on every side, Chu- san was sadly lowered in one's estimation, and was looked upon as the most iniserable place in all this wide world. But when a man in health and spirits, ascended the mountaius and crossed the vallies teeming with abundance, he soon changed his opinion. With the exception of the northwestern part of the island, the whole is very fertile, producing rice, wheat, cotton, indigo, &c., in great abun- dance. Every one of these articles is of good quality; the vegeta- bles are in the highest state of perfection. Many flowers grow wild. One romantic scene follows the other, and the traveler seems to be on enchanted ground. These charming groves of bamboo, the stately trees, the murmuring rivalets, and the perfumes that refresh the senses, have an indescribable effect, and are in strong contrast with what one observes when landing at Tinghae. How often have the hearts of tourists bounded with joy and adoration on perceiving such beauties, all the handy works of the great Creator!

a

     Chusan has great resources in itself, and, were proper duties le- vied on merchandizé, could easily support à government. Its valleys, teeming with plenty, are cultivated by a stout industrious race of laborers. The only beggars seen were a few cripples. The disad- vantages of this unfortunate island, so much talked of, were mostly of our own making. An impartial writer would find few causes for complaint, either in its situation, soil, climate, or productions. The capital, Tinghae, is indeed placed in the poorest valley, so far at least as salubrity of situation is concerned. The many instances of ele- phantiasis we saw, and the raging of the fever subsequently amongst the native population, sufficiently attest the unhealthiness of the place. It is indeed worse than Batavia throughout the whole sum- mer and Autumu; and this we learned to our cost. Many ́ ́were sick under their tents, and the majority not in the most enviable situa- tion. We flattered ourselves, however, that as soon as the poor suf ferers could be properly located in the city and regularly attended to, there would be some abatement of their diseases. In this we weré' greatly deceived. The foundation of a destructive evil had been al- ready laid, all the strength of the sick men was gone, and in rapid succession they sank into the arms of death. The large pawnbroker's' shop was the hospital of the 26th, and there were at one time more' than 400 patients crowding its spacious rooms. It was heart-rending to see so many young men stretched out on the floor, pale and ema-' ciated, and past recovery. On many a morning, from three to seven' were carried out to be buried on the hill, where they had previously'

YOL X, NO. IX.

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Reminiscences of Chusan.

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encamped. On that melancholy spot were the remains of several hundreds laid, to moulder until the last great day.

    The hospitals of the 49th Irish were in several houses in the city, and the loss of life was proportionately as great as in the other regi- ments. The poor fellows sunk under exhaustion, without even a groan. The fever had a most disastrous effect in dampening the spirits, and in taking away even the love of life. It would shake the sufferer for six or eight hours, and leave him in a state of dreadful inertia. When the disease did not yield to remedies, the patient was soon a dead man, and he died as if he had fallen asleep from weari- ness. But a far more virulent enemy was the dysentery, which with malignant intent seldom gave up its victim. It raged with fearful fury. The Bengal Volunteers suffered dreadfully from this scourge. Their hospital being in the Pantheon, one of the lowest parts of the city, it gave the death stroke to numbers of the strongest men.

    When the wretchedness was at its height, captain Elliot exerted himself with laudable zeaf, to alleviate the sufferings which he could not remove. He went into the hospitals, visited the sick, and pro- cured them all kinds of refreshment, without the slightest reference to expense. The admiral subsequently did the same, and the most hu- mane attentions and rich supplies were provided. But the epidemic had already singled out its victims, and the provisions came now too late!

    Of the officers few suffered from the scourge, and there were only one or two instances, of any of them dying in consequence of the climate. They had generally healthy nourishment and exposed them- selves less to the enervating heat of the sun. Nobody however stood it better than the sappers, and mîners, who had to do the hardest work, and were most exposed, yet scarcely lost a single man. The 18th too suffered comparatively less, being from the first quartered near the beach in the suburbs. In the fleet the cases of sickness were few, and though, there were many patients among the soldiers when the vessels were at the mouth of the Pei ho, yet they recovered rapid- ly on their return to Chusan:

{

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In the meanwhile little progress was made with the internal go- vernment of our island: An attempt to create constables throughout the city proved abortive, the candidates for these high honor's proving themselves to be great rogues, and utterly unconscious of the com- pliment paid them in being called to serve her gracious majesty, queen Victoria. In several of the valleys also some respectable na- tives were nominated to fill the same office; they quietly received

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan,

499

their lithographed commission, but naught did they care about it. The silent influence of the Chinese authorities was everywhere felt, but their agents were never seized and brought to account. In the fort near Sinkeä mun, the very cooking utensils were found, when it was captured, and their owners must have abandoned the place only a few hours before our troops arrived to seize them.

·

Chinhae was still blockaded, and several vessels were detained. · But as there was no intention of closing the harbor, they were soon set at liberty. On a certain day, the rumor spread, that a junk from Japan, richly laden with copper and other valuable articles, had been stopped. This attracted great attention, and the matter was imme- diately investigated. But the rich prize, to the great astonishment of every body, proved to be a Siamese junk, laden with sapan wood, black sugar, and other cheap articles. At another time; more than thirty vessels were brought into the Chusan harbor. Most of them were from Chaougan in Fuhkeën, and had brought sugar. The truce having been at last agreed upon, they were all set at liberty', with the hope of thus recovering the English prisoners at Ningpo. The Chinese officers, however, taking good care not to pay any atten tion to this act of clemency, continued to retain our unfortunate countrymen.

+

The announcement of the friendly intentions of the authorities at Chinhae was made by a large present of bullocks. Commissioner Elepoo did this, in imitation of similar grants made in the gulf of Cheihle. But he was not aware that the great emperor would visit, with severe displeasure, this act of giving away sacrificial animals to clamorous barbarians. The edict to this effect did not arrive, until after the admiral had left for Canton; it was, however, 'as some rightly thought, an indication that a different line of policy had been adopted towards foreigners. And it must be remarked, that the threats towards the English were hurled with greater force, in the same ratio as our concessions and kindness were increased towards the Chinese authorities. This ought to be remembered as a matter of fact, and as a beacon in all future negotiations.

The steps in the transition were wonderful. Elepoo, who had been all politeness, gradually relaxed in his kind regards, and began to listen to those martial men, who constituted his cotery. These were a galaxy of heroes, such as the world has seldom seen, ready to swallow down the Britons, that daringly kept possession of Chusan. A strange order now came from Peking, ordering the commissioner to build some line-of-battle ships forthwith. The old man had heard

}

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Reminiscences of Chusan.

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of the British seventy-four's, but had never yet seen them. As his master wanted to have exact imitations of these vessels, he gave his directions to the naval inspector at Ningpo to construct them ac2 cordingly. This good mau considered the matter maturely, and knowing that the command was peremptory, and the task such as he could not accomplish, at once despaired of success, and committed suicide. His son was so exasperated by this, that he brought in an accusation against commissioner Elepoo for harsh and cruel treatment. This charge was carried before the high authorities at Peking, and caused great disasters to Elepoo. Unable to manufacture large ships, the Chinese set to work to cast immeuse guns, such as might de- stroy a whole fleet at a single discharge. The founder was express- ly ordered up from Wănchoo, and the workmen went to work in real earnest. Towards the end of 1840, it was announced that all the peices for the newly erected batteries were ready, and a trial thereof was ordered. The first piece, on being fired, killed a corporal and two privates; and nobody could be prevailed upon to make a further experiment. But, strange to say, Elepoo now resolved upon casting guns on a still larger scale. New junks likewise were to be built in the south, for a protection to the harbor. New fortifications went on with a good will, and in a short time, the whole of Chinhae was encased in armor like a tortoise. So far matters went on well, but the soldiers, of whom it was said 5000 had been collected, began to be clamorous for their pay, and the good citizens of Ningpo had to contribute considerable sums to satisfy their demands. The local authorities, moreover, had promised every body, that would fly from the contaminated city of Tinghae, a pittance of thirty cash per day; these, on account of the great numbers, made rather a heavy draft upon their resources. Still the money was, as we were told, actually paid. It is said too that the supreme government placed a sum of 10 millions at the disposal of the generals at Ningpo for military operations!

As soon as the truce was concluded, and the admiral had left, an edict was published by Elepoo, declaring that he would henceforth catch no more foreigners. This totally changed the state of affairs in Tinghae. Thousands of people flocked into the city; shops were opened in every direction; and the provisions of the best description, became so abundant that they exceeded the consumption. The im- provement of the recently deserted city became every day more vi- sible. Such a sudden transformation perhaps has been very rarely witnessed. Hams, fowls, ducks, geese, pheasants, bullocks, pigs,

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/

1

1844.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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     and the most delicious fish, with a variety of vegetables and fruits, were crowded into the market; the prices too were moderate and the buyers were in high spirits. The magic words tolah and loopee, made every Chinese heart rejoice; it was the general watchword, that sounded in every street and shop. Many pedlars made use of these favorable circumstances, and brought over a very great quantity of curiosities, knicknacks, silks, porcelain and sundries, which al- ways found ready purchasers.

Since the

A remarkable circumstance must here be recorded. population had become very numerous, and our soldiers were living much amongst the people, being quartered in their houses, crimes materially decreased. Cases of violence had been committed, be- cause there were no provisions; but now as the necessaries of life might be obtained, few cases of aggression occurred. The military cannot be praised enough for the good discipline they maintained from the moment they were quartered in town. At first, the good citizens permitted themselves to steal largely from the soldiers; but as this was usually punished with the loss of their cues and hard blows, and one robber in the attempt of breaking into a house, was nearly shot, the gentry ceased their illegal efforts; and during Janua- xy, 1841, there were scarcely thirty cases brought before the magis- trate; and most of these culprits were punished for selling ardent spirits a prohibited article.

     -Such immense stores of this liquor had been amassed in the city, that it took several hundred coolies many weeks to carry it out of the gates, when the owners were ordered to do so, on penalty of seeing the pots smashed in case of refusal. Many hundred porters did no- thing else, but carry out furniture, and this did not cease throughout the winter. When, however, the stock was a little diminished, they began to pull down the uninhabited houses, and carried away the rafters, doors, and window-frames. In this an example had been set by our people. In November, the weather beginning to become cold, and fuel being rather dear and scarce, many houses disappeared very quickly. Yea, even the previous existence of some streets might have been doubted, if they had not been seen before, so leveling was the system to which cold winter gave rise.

     Many representations were made to put a stop to this proceeding, and orders were actually issued forbidding the use of houses and furniture for fire-wood; but Jack-frost had become commander-in- chief, and his stern commands alone became the rule of action. How the sipahis and camp followers would enjoy themselves at a

5472

Reminiscences of Chusan.

Sep.

rousing fire, and forget all troubles when they could but warm them- selves, need not be told. Under these circumstances, Elepoo made a grand proposal, through an emissary, to permit us the pleasure of warming ourselves on a large scale, and once for all :-he proposed setting fire to the great city, and so deprive us of our homes. When the emissary delivered the message, on a cold winter's evening, the barbarian to whom these comfortable words were delivered, turned around, and said in reply: "As his excellency shows such conside- ration for our welfare, tell him, that we are equally intérested for his, and to return the compliment, hoth Hangchow and Ningpo shall be burnt down in the sight of all the grandees 'now assembled at Chin- hae, as soon as Tinghae is reduced to ashes." The emissary took a memorandum of this reply, and carried it' back to his master,"and there was nothing more heard about firing the town.

4

+

:

    Whilst negotiations were going où very comfortably at Canton, the imperial cabinet entertained quite different designs, founded upon the clemency hitherto experienced. We may here remark, that ́all the important state-papers, regarding the poor barbarians, were care- fully communicated to them, but by whom we must not tell. And so exact were these gentlemen in the information they gave to us, that on comparing it afterwards with various documents obtained at Canton, there was found to be not the least decrepancy. No change in measures or men, no manifestoes, no speeches, no letters in the secret department were exchanged, of which copies were not pro- cured. So it is believed.

The most curious perhaps is Keshen's correspondence with com- missioner Elepoo and the court. If you wish to prove the sincerity of this statesinan, you have merely to read his advice to his fellow. officers. In December, he told Elepoo to get possession of Chu- san by fair or foul means, no matter how, for hostilities must very soon commence, since the barbarians were unbending in their de mands. He went even so far as to address a circular to all the mari- time authorities, strongly urging them to complete their fortifications, and not to delay their hostile preparations. To the emperor he said, "We must fight for our rights; there can be no peace granted by us; the barbarians must be humbled." The correspondence Was doubt- less genuine, for it bore all the marks of Keshen's plain and un- adorned style. In consequence of these exhortations, and the more savage decrees of the great emperor, Elepoo goaded on by Yu and Lew resolved upori annihilating the English at once. The old man was, however, very much against it at heart, and so at first tried what

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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He therefore seut an

words would do to accomplish his purpose. emissary, who described in very strong colors the impending fate of the whole English army, and declared the readiness of the commis- sioner to spare their lives, if they would only quietly evacuate the island... As no decisive answer was given to this humane proposal, Elepoo was forced to side with the war party. But before he had declared his determination of exterminating the whole brood, he was accused of being too peacefully inclined towards the barbarians. Consequently he was deprived of his military seals, and the new lieut.-governor Lew, was appointed to lead on the attack. He was a very heroic man, and had lately came from Széchuen after having fought with the barbarians there; still he thought it prudent to defer the assault to the 12th or 14th of the first month. That day arrived, and most 'unfortunately it was then discovered, that, in order to attack an island, there must be transports for the troops, and men-of- war to protect them. Yu, general and guardian of the prince, im- mediately laid an embargo upon all the Fuhkeën junks then in the river, but the crews ran away, refusing to serve his imperial ma- jesty, for they would not come in contact with the barbarian ships. What was to be done under such circumstances? Lew wrote a very excellent epistle to the emperor, stating that one must wait heaven's time before venturing upon a hostile expedition, wind and weather not being at the disposal of poor mortals, and that on this account the expedition was to be deferred until everything was favorable. The emperor, well knowing that Lew was a fierce and valiant man, told him to wait bis time, and thus the matter rested.

      The common people, however, were so much frightened at the impending attack, that they again left the city in crowds. In fact, they doubted whether the English prowess could really withstand the authorities at Ningpo, and protect them. To entertain such doubts was very befitting, for with the exception of the taking of Tinghae, a mere matter of moonshine; they had never seen an instance of their valor. When, however, they perceived that the authorities delayed to strike the death-blow, they again gathered courage, and brought in fresh supplies as usual. "

     At Tinghae was a very wonderful phenomena, for the convenience of both parties, the creation of a new language, so unique in its kind that it deserves notice. When our naval folks went into the country' to buy bullocks, they held their two forefingers to the forehead, and exclaimed boo! boo! There was no mistaking the meaning of this boo, and the oxen were immediately brought for sale. Hence by

:

504

Reminiscences of Chusan.

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general agreement, a cow was boo. When the camp-followers went to buy a fowl, they called out cackle! cackle! and cocks and hems went henceforth under the name of kake; a goose for the same rea- son was called wak; and a duck, kwak; and so on, with all articles in common use; There were moreover many Hindostanee and En- glish words, so much abridged, that they would have puzzled even Adelung; but still they were intelligible to all concerned. Behold then a lingua franca, springing up of its own accord, curious in its structure, wonderful in its grammatical bearing, and still highly use. ful to both parties. Any new comer, who at first heard the parlance of the market, laughed outright, especially when he was addressed by the title of foke, which had become the general appellation of all strangers, but when he perceived how easily business might be tran- sacted in this new dialect, which claimed affinity with the lan- guages of both Asia and Europe, and was neither polysyllabic nor monosyllabic, he very soon put on a serious face, and thought it al- most as euphonic as Greek or Italian.

Whilst our soldiers rapidly recovered during the cold weather, confidence between the strangers and the natives was daily gaining ground. The Chinese now discovered, that it was their interest to abide by their new masters, for they had tolah and loopee, while the foreigners were only too glad to keep them in good humor, lest pro- visions might fail. But for fear of the Chinese authorities, who kept the people from bringing teas and raw silk, Tinghae would have far- uished these goods to our shipping; but as it was, none but pedlars made their appearance, though some very respectable houses at Ningpo sent over agents to test the market.

./

    A few words here respecting our magistracy. At first difficulties were experienced in regard to penal punishments, for according to the manifesto promulgated, the Chinese law ought to have prevailed; but had this been strictly followed up to the letter, many poor fellows must have lost their lives. As matters were, however, the culprits were generally urged to repentance by blows and imprisonment, and by the loss of their tails if they were felons.

During autumn and winter the legal and magisterial authorities made more frequent visits into the country, and a kind of government was thus established. The jarring : olements: would very soon have been reduced to order, and already good effects began to appear in various parts of the island. Order began to prevail in the valleys'; the disaffected had in a few instances been severely punished; and there was no wish for new scenes of riot. Chusan in a little time would

1811.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

505

have been completely under our influence, had the proper measures been adopted. The news of the evacuation came like a thunder- clap, and just at the moment when we had received the authentic do- cuments of the emperor's resolution to carry on an exterminating war against us at all risks. Orders must be obeyed; accordingly the announcement was made to Elepoo, that the place would be surren- dered back into his hands.

At this the native population was deeply grieved, and the inhabi- tants left the city with greater speed, than when at first the English mandarins came into it. There was the fear of their rulers, who would certainly plunder them of every dollar, and accuse them as traitorous natives. The city, therefore, again became more deserted than ever before, and consternation was depicted in every coun- tenance.

Our prisoners arrived from Ningpo on the 23d of February, when the troops had already embarked except a city guard. Then came the imperial commissioners, Chang the slave and confidential ser- vant of Elepoo, two sergeants, styling themselves captains, and one corporal. They went with the British officers to the city; and when our guards were released, they having brought no Chinese soldiers to replace them, the mob rushed into the temple of Confucius, and clear- ed the building of the pawnbroker's articles there deposited. When the city was restored to his imperial majesty, a few of the people as- sembled at the southern gate, and the soldiers having all marched out, and one foreigner remaining, they fell down upon their faces, and would have done him reverence in order to show the high veneration in which they held the British rule. The flag was then hauled down, and the guard embarked.

     Thus did Elepoo recover Chusan. But his master was indignant at his having gotten possession of the place in a peaceful manner. He wanted him to display the terrors of the celestial empire, for which the old man had neither strength nor courage. From being governor of three provinces, he had now become a supplicant and a culprit, and may yet be transported in his old age, if he is not already on his way to banishment.

     By this surrender the English lost the key of China, a splendid emporium, and a market which would in a short time have rivaleď any other in Asia: This might be proved to nearly a mathematical certainty, but Chusan has at present a bad name; it is the Walcheren of these regions. With better management and caution, no such distressing sickness would have occurred; but living in swamps in

VOL. X. NO. IX

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any part of the world must be productive of fevers and dysentery. Curtail the wholesome subsistence of a regiment, and place them under similar on a marsh circumstances in summer, and the con- sequences will be just the same as they were at Tinghae.

Aar. II. Capture of captain' Anstruther at Tinghae, with notices of the conduct of the Chinese, and native drawing of the cage in which lt. Douglas was confined.

   LORD Jocelyn, in his interesting little book, alluding to captain An- struther, says:

          "This officer was a particular favorite with the whole force, and in his frequent walks into the country around Tinghae, when performing his military duties, had apparently made himself a great friend with the country people, for whose amusement he used to sketch likenesses much to their astonishment. The night but one previous to his capture, the artillery camp was aroused by screams proceeding from his tent, and when some of his brother-officers trac- ed the sound to his quarters, he was found asleep, but upon being awoke, said that he had been dreaming that the Chinese were carry- ing him off, tied arms and legs to a pole, and gagged, within sight of the camp. This is curious, as from what we were able afterwards to discover, through the means of a paid agent, it was nearly the case, and he was borne within half a mile of the very tents."

p. 122.

    The few particulars which we have now to lay before our readers, are derived from an authentic source, and present a striking picture, on the one hand of patient and cheerful endurance of sufferings, and on the other of dastard cruelty, which draws the Chinese into very unfavorable contrast with those whom they love to stigmatize as 'barbarians.'

nese.

On Wednesday, the 16th September, 1840, captain P. Anstruther, of the Madras artillery, was seized and carried off by a party of Chi- He left the camp at 10 o'clock A. m., and passed out from the northern gate of Tinghae, about 1000 or 1200 yards, to a point, on the left of the great northern road, where there are several houses and gardens, and from whence a road branches off to the westward. Pro- ceeding along this road, he ascended the pass between the hills, and then turning to the left he gained the top of a knoll, where he pitch- ed a small flag, and took sundry bearings, in order to facilitate the

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Capture of Captain Anstruther at Tinghae.

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     survey in which he was engaged. To the westward lay a long and pretty valley leading to the level ground, northwest of the camp

at Tinghae.

From the knoll, captain A. went down the western side of the pass, and in a very short time was sensible that he had gone too far. His path led by a joss-house, or temple, on the right, and on both sides was so overhung with thick trees as to make it quite dark. The temple stands in a walled garden, full of large trees. He determined, as soon as he could get through this dark and dangerous looking place, to return to the camp. But on reaching the end of the grove, he found that he and his attendant, an old Lascar, were followed by a crowd. He took no notice of this, but turned to the left, meaning to ascend the hill again. He had hardly turned, when a Chinese soldier, rushing out from the crowd with a hoe in his hand, struck furiously at the old Lascar, who, to avoid the blow, and in great alarm, ran up his master, and the captain, taking from him the iron spade, which he had used to pitch the flag-staff, met the soldier and drove him back: but a number of others, armed with double pronged spears, renewed the charge, and the poor old man and his master both had to run. Captain A. now bade the Lascar to make the best of his way up the hill, thinking the Chinese would only follow him (An- struther), and so allow the old man to make good his retreat. But he refused to leave his master. Moreover, the armed people kept on the hill-side so as to cut off, if possible, all chance of escape in that direction; the captain therefore determined to attempt to force his way through a long valley.

"

#

'I am," says he, " but a bad runner, and my poor old servant was worse, so I went slowly along the valley, turning round now and 'then to keep the Chinese at bay. Meantime, the whole population of the valley gathered with loud shouts in our front, and it was evi- dently a hopeless job. I could not get my old man to leave mé and try to escape unnoticed, so we went on together, and at a thrn in the path, which had now crossed to the southern side of the long valley (which lies east and west), I was opposed by a few scoundrels with sticks and stones. I charged them, and they got all round me, and then my poor old man ran back about eighty yards, where he was met by the crowd following us, and struck down. I have an inex- pressible reluctance to write what follows-but must. I attempted to force my way towards him, but could not, and I saw the inhuman villains pounding his head with large stones, as he lay with his face downwards. I cannot doubt that he died."

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Capture of Captain Anstruther at Tinghae.

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    The reader will be pleased to learn that the two sons of this unfor- tunate old Lascar are the pensioners of captain A., and are now at school. He says again :

I now saw that attempt at flight was useless, and expecting a fate similar to that of my Lascar, I set to work to make the rascals pay for it, and fought my best. Numbers of course prevailed, and I was sent down. Instead of dashing out my brains they set to work, bound my hands behind me, and my ankles together, and tied a large gag in my mouth. Then quietly taking a large bamboo, they ham- mered my knees, just over the knee-cap, to prevent the possibility of escape. I was then put into a palanquin, which was evidently kept ready for some such contingency, and hurried off to the northwest, and thence by a circuitous course round to the southwest angle of the island of Chusan, to a village about ten miles west of Sapper's Point. Here we waited till night-fall, my conductors comforting me by re- peating the word Ningpo, and by drawing their hands across their throats."

    After many turnings and windings, with barbarous treatment added to the wounds and bruises already received, the prisoner arrived at his new quarters in Ningpo next day, about 3 o'clock, P. M. There he was immediately brought before the magistrate of the district, and examined as to the number of ships, men, &c., at Chusan, a compra- dor, who had been seized about a fortnight after their landing at Tinghae, acting as interpreter. He was then fed and sent to a pri- son, which was prepared for him by the removal of four officers who had been confined by the emperor's orders for allowing the English to land at Chusan. He ascertained also that by the first broadside of the Wellesley the naval officer of the station was mortally wound- ed, and the chief officer of the island killed by the first shell fired on shore. These two deaths struck great terror into the officers every- where, as they believed the English aimed at them.

    In the jail, the prisoner was forced to get into a cage with wooden bars, one yard long, one yard high, and two feet wide outside the bars! An iron ring was put round his neck, his hands put into hand- cuffs locked to a stick about one foot long which was fastened to the ring on his neck. Very heavy leg irons had been put on him when at the magistrate's. These irons, he supposed, weighed 18lbs., and were worn for four weeks. In the cage, a chain was locked to his leg irons, and by night the jailor, with a light, slept close by him. Next day he went again to the office of the magistrate, who inquired about the steamers. The prisoner offered to draw one, which he did

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Capture of Captain Anstruther at Tinghae.

509

510

Six Months with the China Expedition.

Ser.

with the magistrate's permission; the sketch pleased his honor much, so that he became civil and friendly, and gave both the captain and the comprador a dinner. After this he got some hot water and washed off the blood and dirt which had accumulated during the struggle: "I found my head handsomely laid open to the bone, my legs and arms covered with bruises, but no wounds of any conse- quence."

On the 22d of September, he met lieutenant Douglas, R. N., who was also in a small cage-a picture of which, given on the preceding page, has been executed by a Chinese artist in a style so exceedingly barbarous as to render it quite comparable with the savage treatment endured by its occupant. Mrs. Noble was brought to the prison the next day; and several others, who were wrecked in the Kite, had also arrived these were all, not excepting Mrs. N., chained and confined in cages. Captain Anstruther, at this time, by his skill in drawing, had so far gained the good-will of the magistrate, that he was furnished with a new cage, 3 feet 6 inches, by 2 feet \ inch.

                                       "This was comparative comfort." A narrative of the captivity of Mrs. N., and of the liberation of the whole party in February, was published in our number for April. Referring the reader to that narrative, we here conclude this brief notice, only remarking that the treatment of captain Anstruther, It. Douglas, and the other gentleman and sai- lors, was much more cruel than that, savage as it was, endured by Mrs. Noble.

ART. III. Six Months with the China Expedition; or leaves from a soldier's note-book. By lord Jocelyn, late military secretary to the China mission. London: John Murray, 1841. Doude- cimo, pp. 155.

FROM this little book, we are able to glean a few incidents, which will be new and interesting to most of our readers. 'Six Months with the English Expedition to China,' would have been a better phrase- than Chinese expedition, for a Chinese expedition it was not. The leaves of the soldier's note-book, which we expected to find fresh and untouched, appear in several instances mutilated with long erasures. Many things, which must have occurred under his lordship's own eye, and which a military secretary would be very apt to put in his

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    note-book, are wanting. "Reasons of state," perhaps, caused these omissions. The words China and mandarin, used as adjectives, never sound well in our ears; indeed, we thoroughly dislike the word 'mandarin,' for it is neither English nor Chinese, and is often so used as to convey an erroneous idea of its meaning. To talk of man- darin guns, mandarin swords, mandarin boats, mandarin chopsticks, mandarin wine, &c., is both ridiculous and nonsensical. For "Chi- na mission," authority may be had by citing such phrases as Burmah mission, Canada mission, &c.; and then we might go on, and write America mission, Holland mission, England mission. Thus too we may have all manner of China things-China tea, China rhu- barb, China opium, China pride, China language, China religion,

China mandarin, and such like.

China emperor,

In turning over the leaves of lord Jocelyn's book, we have observ- ed some things, given as facts and opinions, which we think are

erroneous.

    Thus, he says, "when a Chinaman leaves the flowery land to wander in countries beyond the sea, he rarely, if ever, is permitted to return to his native land;" and adds, in a note, this is "an expres- sion taken from the Chinese, a liberty which it will be seen the au- thor often avails himself of in other parts of his narrative." (p. 2.) Now the truth is, the Chinese, who go abroad, are never forbidden to return, and they generally do return. This erroneous statement he cites to substantiate another, which we also consider as unfound- ed; viz., 'the Tartar rulers deem it necessary to their system to keep their subjects as blind as possible to the movements and feelings of all foreign nations.' Now so far as we can discern, they entertain no such opinion or purpose; and 'systematic darkness' is no more inculcated by the rulers than it is by the people. Instead of taking this opinion second-hand, and endorsing it, lord J. ought to have exploded it, as he has done another, which is akin to it, viz., that, 'the Chinese people are hostile to their Tartar rulers.'

     On page 4th, he says the military power rests in the hands of the Tartars (Mantchous), while the civil appointments and magistracy rest with the people. Here again he is in error; there is no such division of power.

On the same page he says, "the police have strict orders never to interfere [with mobs], as they conceive that difficulties are far more likely to arise from meddling with, than benefits to accrue from sup- pressing, them." The case he cites in confirmation of this, is inap- posite. The police very often interfere to suppress mobs; and some

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   of our readers may remember an instance of this, which happened on the 12th of December, 1838, at Canton, when a mob of some ten thousand of the black-haired race had driven the fankwei into their factories, and would have soon driven them out again, but for the timely interference of the police. In the case cited by lord Jocelyn, the people took a stand against the government, and refused to let its agents enter their houses to search for opium, until the people them. selves had first searched the said agents. And we remember many similar instances, in which the people en masse have resisted success- fully the will of their rulers. As for Taoukwang's life, it is in no more jeopardy from his people, than is that of the king of the French, or that of queen Victoria, from their "loving subjects."

Again, when his lordship tells his readers that thé opium-trade did not occupy the attention of government until 1820, he is out of his reckoning by at least twenty years. All he says about the injurious effects of the drug is quite true. When at Singapore,

    "I had the curiosity to visit the opium-smoker in his heaven; and certainly it is a most fearful sight, although perhaps not so de- grading to the eye as the drunkard from spirits, lowered to the level of the brute, and wallowing in his filth. The idiotic smile and death- like stupor, however, of the opium debauchee has something far more awful to the gaze than the bestiality of the latter. Pity, if possible, takes the place of other feelings, as we watch the faded cheek and haggard look of the being abandoned to the power of the drug; whilst disgust is uppermost at the sight of the human creature leveled to the beast by intoxication.

    "One of the streets in the centre of the town is wholly devoted to the shops for the sale of this poison; and here in the evening may be seen, after the labors of the day are over, crowds of Chinese, who seek these places to satisfy their depraved appetites. *

·

"Some entering half distracted to feed the craving appetite they had been obliged to subdue during the day; others laughing and talking wildly under the effects of a first pipe; whilst the couches around are filled with their different occupants, who lie languid with an idiotic smile upon their countenance, too much under the influence of the drug to care for passing events, and fast merging to the wished- for consummation: The last scene in this tragic play is generally a room in the rear of the building, a species of death-house, where lie stretched those who have passed into the state of bliss the opium- smoker madly seeks-an emblem of the long sleep to which he is blindly hurrying."

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Lord Jocelyn thinks-nay he affirms, positively-that 'some part' of the twenty thousand chests of opium surrendered to Lin was ac- tually destroyed, and this "no doubt was so," in order "to keep the face of the commissioner clean." (p. 15.) He supposes that very much of it was not destroyed, and proves this by a curious train of reasoning, thus: "the present sale, being one chest of Patna and Benares to two of Malwa, (it having, previously to the surrender of the opium, been generally the reverse,) gives the merchants of Ma- cao the idea that the market is already overstocked with their own article, privately sold by the mandarins-a view of the subject that seems more than probable." That Lin and Tăng, or their agents, did not abstract one half of the twenty thousand chests, canuot in- deed be disproved by direct evidence. That Tang had a disposition bad enough to do such an act, no one can doubt, who knew that man. But that Lin did, or would, aid or abet, or connive at, such conduct, no one who knows him will believe. The opinion, that the whole was faithfully destroyed, which was at the time expressed in our pages,-an opinion advanced after having seen the extensive preparations made under Lin's own eye for its complete destruction at Chinhow we have never seen cause to reverse or question.

      After the British government had determined to send an armed expedition to China, one of the first objects sought for was the pos- session of an island as a depôt for the troops and commissariat, which might at some future day answer as an establishment for trade. The Indian government proposed, that immediately upon the arrival of the expedition in China, the forts at the Bogue should be razed to the ground, and the island of Lantao occupied as a point d'appui; 'but as the authorities où the spot took a different view of the case, the expedition proceeded northward passing by Canton. This was done in accordance with instructions from the government at home-so lord Jocelyn tells us, and so we long ago supposed. And he adds, that it was a sad disappointment to all the combined force," and those who had been rejoicing in the expectation of new laurels to be gathered on the battlements of the Bogue, now walked the decks listlessly, un- willing and unable to conceal their disappointment."

There is something like inconsistency between the course of con- duct here and that at Chusan: the forts at the Bogue were spared, because it was the great wish of the government at home to save the effusion of blood, until all pacific negotiations had failed;' at Chusan, "However, it happened otherwise; and the morning of the 5th of July, 1840, was the day fated for her majesty's flag to wave over the

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most beautiful island appertaining to the Central empire, the first European bauner that has floated as conqueror over the 'Flowery Land.' The dawn of day brought much the same spectacle as the preceding, excepting that a few guns were mounted on the joss-house hill, and the mandarins were seen actively employed running about along the wharf. Soon afterwards they were remarked to take their different stands with the troops, one among them with his party in the martello sower being particularly conspicuous. The war-junks were drawn up and crowded with men. The British men-of-war were lying in line with their larboard broadsides towards the town, at a distance of two hundred yards from the wharf and foot of the hill. They consisted of the Wellesley, 74; Conway and Alligator, 28; Cruizer and Algerine, 18; and ten gun-brigs. At eight o'clock, the signal was hoisted to prepare for action; still, however, time was given by the commodore, hoping to the last they would repent, and it was not until two o'clock that the troops left the transports in the boats of the squadron, and took up their position in two lines in rear of the men-of-war, to land under cover of the fire. At half-past two the Wellesley fired a gun at the martello tower : this was immediately returned by the whole line of junks, and the guns on the causeway and the hill; then the shipping opened their broadsides upon the town, and the crashing of timber, falling houses, and groans of men resounded from the shore. The firing lasted on our side for nine mi- nutes, but even after it had ceased a few shots were still beard from the unscathed juuks. When the smoke cleared away a mass of ruin presented itself to the eye, and on the place lately alive with men, none but a few wounded were to be seen; but crowds were visible in the distance flying în all directions." Page 54.

Lord Jocelyn, in laboring to justify the conduct of the leaders of the expedition in attacking the Chinese, blames "these infatuated people;" yet he adds, "they most justly observed, it seemed hard that they should be made to suffer for the sins of the Canton govern- ment." It certainly was so. Those officers, we think, behaved manfully. They knew well their position. To have yielded without a struggle, would in them have been mean and traitorous. Far bet- ter would it have been to have taken some uninhabited spot for a place of rendezvous, and thus have "saved the effusion of blood, until all negotiations had failed." The first attack should have been inade, if made anywhere, at Peking, or on the obstructions to the capital for to that point the expedition ought to have moved at once and directly, with all its combined forces, provided all just and pro per demands were not met at Teëntsin.

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     In the several engagements which have taken place. between the British and Chinese forces, there have been instances of brave con- duct, which would do honor to the people of any country. Speaking of an affair of the Blonde at Ningpo, our author says, "the Chinese are described by those engaged here to have shown no want of personal courage; nor did it appear that any imputation could be cast upon them at Chusan, where our force was so infinitely superior and their defenses so utterly puerile." So at Chapoo, a mandarin ou the ramparts made himself particularly conspicuous, vauntingly parading his person and directing his soldiers, whilst the shot from the Alge- rine was falling around him in all directious." The Chinese lack discipline more than courage. Let them be trained and well found with European implements and, munitions of war, and depend on it they will prove themselves no contemptible foe.

     The following is lord Jocelyn's account of the fire which occurred in the suburbs on the night of the 5th of July.

"Before sunrise that morning a fire had broken out in the suburbs where some of the regiments were quartered, and where the guns from the squadron on the previous day had done their chief havoc, At the hour it was first perceived the boats of the men-of-war were collecting with their seamen, to act as a reinforcement in the attack on the town. They were immediately countermanded, aud directed to land with fire-buckets to assist in extinguishing the flames. It was still dark; and the large warehouses on the beach were stored with samshu, a composition something like whiskey, and extracted from rice. The ammunition of the dismounted ordnance was scattered on the ground; and amidst the fallen ruins of the place the killed and wounded Chinese still lay stretched. The fire burst out in a sudden flame; it sʊon communicated with some of the tubs of aminu- nition, which went off in loud explosions. The flames were then seen to leap along the tops of the houses containing the samshu; and these, blazing out in volumes of light, communicated with one ano- ther, until all the shipping in the harbor was illuminated with the blaze, the glare from the spirits shedding its sickly light over the sol- diery and seamen. Every endeavor had been made by the officers the previous evening to destroy the samshu, but it afterwards appear- ed the whole place was a manufactory, and flooded with the spirit. Some people imagine that the fire was occasioned by the Chinese, but it seems far more probable that it arose from the carelessness of the soldiery themselves." Page 61.

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The attack made ou some piratical craft in the Chusan Archipe- lago, when the ships were proceeding thence to the north, is thus described:

During our passage, the Pylades corvette, captain Anson, fell in with three pirate junks, and not being aware of their character, sent two of her boats to board one. As soon as they ranged alongside, upwards of one hundred men started up, who had hitherto kept themselves concealed, and commenced firing and hurling spears and stinkpots upon the crews of the boats. Our men immediately shoved off a short distance, and pouring in some well-directed volleys killed more than half of the number, and the remainder jumped overboard and made for the shore, which many were destined never to reach in their wounded state. The junk was then burut and set adrift, but the Pylades was unable to came up with the remaining two, with whom she had no chance while they were running before the wind. However, in this affair she had two men killed and five others wound- ed. These junks, and the men-of-war, carry nets along the quarter, to throw over small boats that niạy come alongside in a mélée, which, if done effectually, renders them an easy prey." Page 100.

    The particulars of the wreck on the Lewchew islands is more cir- cumstantially detailed by lord J. than by any other writer that has yet fallen in our our way.

.

    "One of the transports, called the Indian Oak, had been sent from Chusan in the month of July, or beginning of August, with the let- ters of the expedition, and was unfortunately wrecked on the coast of Great Lewchew, which island captain Basil Hall describes in one of his books. Luckily for the wrecked mariners they fell into the hands of good Samaritans, for the kindness of the natives exceeded all that has hitherto been known. They stood on the beach ready to receive them with open arms, changed their dripping clothes for their own, brought them into their houses and fed them, and, not contented with this, wandered along the coast, endeavoring to pick up the articles washed from the vessel, returning them to the right owners, who all declared that they do not believe that a single nail of the vessel that was driven on shore was appropriated by a native without permission. Their greatest anxiety was to send home the remains to queen Victoria, and at length they decided upon building a junk out of her relics to send to England, as they said to her ma- jesty. She came to Chusan in the beginning of October, and seemed rather a pretty vessel, although the sailors had painted upon the stern the Folly." Page 129.

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The 30th of August was fixed upon as the day for an interview with Keshen. On that morning captain Elliot, accompanied by the gentlemen attached to the mission and three or four naval officers, pushed off from the steamer before daylight, and proceeded towards the shore in a number of boats, manned and privately armed. Au encampment had been thrown up on shore for the reception of the mission.

"A blue screen was placed at the entrance, so as to hide the in- terior from the gaze of the public, and here we were met by many more mandarins, and marshaled into the presence of Keshen; he rose at our entrance, and received the mission with great courtesy and civility. Indeed, the manners of these high maudarins would have done honor to any courtier in the most polished court in Eu- rope. He begged us to remain covered, and was introduced to each person separately, and expressed his hopes that the supplies had been received by the squadron. He made some excuse for the reception in the tents, but intimated that Takoo was some distance from the landing-place. Judging from appearance, he might have been a man of forty, and looked, what he is said to be by his countrymen, a per- son of great ability: his tail, the Chinese appendage to men of all ranks except priests, was remarkable from its length, and the care that was evidently bestowed upon it. He was dressed in a blue silk robe, with a worked girdle; on his legs were the white satin boots common to all the higher orders; his head was covered with a man- darin summer cap, made of a fine straw; in it was placed the deep red coral button, denoting the rank of the wearer, and the peacock's feather drooping between the shoulders. On the whole, his dress was plain; but the mandarins when in full costume, judging from specimens taken at Chusan, must have gorgeous appearance. The encampment was surrounded with a high canvass wall, resembling that which encircles the private apartments of great men and native rajahs when traveling through India. Inside this screen were eight small tents, in each of which a table and forms were placed. These formed an oval; and in the centre was erected a canvass. cottage, of rather an ingenious description; whilst at the upper end, concealed by another screen, stood the tent of conference. This was lined with yellow silk (the royal color), and worked with the arms of the empire at the back. The interpreters and captain Elliot remained with the commission, whilst the rest of the officers and gentlemen sought the different tents around, in which the lower orders of man- darins were busy preparing a breakfast for the party; for it was an

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extraordinary thing in this visit, that everything was apparently done by mandarins-none of their servants being admitted. The meal consisted of numerous little plates, piled one upon the other, contain- ing birds'-nest soup, sea-slugs, sharks' fins, hard-boiled eggs, whose interiors were far advanced to chickenhood, and dressed fish; these were the greatest delicacies. This is but a small portion of the supply; for at the table where I had the honor to partake of the good fare, there were no less than_thirty of these little saucers. These break- fasts were spread in the different tents, and each was intended to stay the ravenous appetites of five barbarians. So afraid were the mandarins of our seeing their weakness, that they had not only plac- ed the before-inentioned screen around their encampment, but had thrown up a mud embankment, which, however, failed in its inten- tion; for, although we were soon brought back by the watchful guards, we managed to get a glance of the forbidden land. The forts had been repaired since our last visit, and were now crowded with soldiers; a few outworks had been thrown up, but they were ex- tremely paltry, and indeed the whole thing, as a military position, was quite ludicrous. With two six-pounders and a couple of hun- dred marines, they might have been ours at any moment. We were, nevertheless, much struck at the immense bodily strength and power of these northeru Chinese, particularly of the men who were employ- ed tracking the boats upon the river; who, although seemingly a wretched class, more like beasts of burden than human beings, are possessed of such physical powers, that six or eight of them will drag against the stream, and with apparent ease, a boat of considerable tonnage. In the course of the day some of the Tartar body-guards went through the sword exercise and other mauœuvres for our amuse- ment. These, consisting rather in grotesque antics and ludicrous faces than in the use of the weapon itself, are supposed to be as ef- fective in frightening an antagonist, whilst, for the same reason, many of the troops we saw farther to the south at Chusan and Ning- po, wore a tiger uniform, a dress cut and painted to resemble that animal. These Tartars were dressed in a white cotton garb and black cap, and their weapons were swords and matchlocks, or bows and arrows. They were considered the élite of the Chinese troops belonging to the emperor's body-guard, and believed to descend from the same tribe as the sovereign himself. After a conference of six hours, during which period the loud voices of the plenipotentiaries in high argument had often struck upon our ears, the British plenipo- tentiary came forth, and the rest of the party having performed thej'

1

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Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

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salaams to the Chinese commissioner, we departed for the Wellesley; greatly, I believe, to the relief and satisfaction of the mandarins."

One more extract is all that we have space for at present. It, together with a sketch that accompanys the book, affords a good view of the termination of the Great Wall--and probably more ac- curate than any hitherto published.

"Our line lay along the shore of Tartary, where the Chinese Wall meets the sea, not at the point generally supposed, but at a large town, apparently a place a great trade. This great work is seen scaling the precipices aud topping the craggy hills of the country, which have along this coast a most desolate appearance. Some of the party who went in-shore in the steamer to within two miles' dis- tance, made the discovery that the opinion hitherto received from lord Macartney's works, that the wall comes down abruptly into the sea, was erroneous, as it traverses a low flat for some miles from the foot of the mountains before entering the town, which stands upon the water's edge. Here, although only in the month of September, the air became cold and cutting, and the change of temperature was felt severely by the officers and men who had been for the last four years wanderers in the Indian seas. But the different climates of this immense empire are not more varied than the interests, lan- guage, and dress of the provinces; and although an honorable mem- ber of the House of Commons has represented them as joined by a bond of unity, he would in reality be surprised to find the slight con- nection or similarity that exists between them in any one of these points." Page 117,

ART. IV.

Illustrations of men and things in China: picture of the battle in the rear of Canton, and drawing of a steamer and ship of war.

21

SINCE the late attack on Canton, some Chinese have been trying to turn a penny by selling pictures of the steamers and ships of war, and also of the Ta pei kwei tsze too, or 'Sketch of the great rout of the devils,' both of them explained by annexed descriptions in verse. The picture of the rout does not vary more from true proportion as a work of art, than the design does from the truth as a matter of his~

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tory; but we must not look for truth-telling pictures any more than veracious edicts; no Chinese would run the risk of selling a picture of the defeat of the emperor's heroes. In this design, the village of Neishing is placed on the right, a steamer and sloop of war close by, with a gig shot in two going down head foremost in the foreground. In range with Neishing are two villages, and in the back-gound three others; troops are sallying out in all directions, some armed with shields and a sword in each hand, others carrying flags with the oharacter yung, or 'the brave,' upon them. About a dozen foreign soldiers, distinguished by square hats, are scattered here and there; one lies beheaded, four or five are unresistingly meeting their fate, some' are trying to resist, and the rest are looking on. No one Chi- nese has fallen, but one fellow looks as if he had just been wounded. The description runs somewhat thus.

The rebellious barbarians are indeed detestable,

They 've turned topsy-turvy people, dwellings, land : Heaven sent down red rain upon them,

And the villagers were all exasperated.

Rousing their valor they cut them off without number, Happy to be able so soon to exterminate them. From henceforth general peace will pervade,

And a glorious life will itself have sway.

    The sheet containing drawings of the ships of war and the steam- ers has a longer account of the attack than the preceding, and also a description of the steamer. These pictures are tolerable representa- fions' of the vessels, and as they are eagerly purchased, will, by being scattered over the country, serve to give the people a géneral idea of them. It is headed, 'drawing of a steamer and man-of-war;' the former is thus described:

She's more than 300 cubits long, And thirty odd in height and breadth; Iron is used to bind her stiff and stout, And she 's painted black all round about; Like a weaver's shuttle is her shape; On both sides carriage wheels are fixed; And, using fossil coal to make a fire, They whirl round as a race horse flies. Of white cloth all the sails are made. In winds both fair and foul she goes; On her bow is the god of the waves. At stem and stern is a revolving gun; Her form is truly ́terrrific to men.

The god of the North displaying his sanctity,

1841.

Mlustrations of Men and Things in China.

The sunken rocks then shoaled the steamer (Atalanta); - All who saw it witnessed to the justice of heaven. None of the plans of the foreigners took effect,

Which greatly delighted the hearts of men.

521

      The lines annexed to the picture describing the battle are as follows:

*

The English barbarians excited commotion, Outrageously opposing all principles divine. On the third day of the last fourth month, They seditiously attacked the city of Rams. The god of the North displaying his sanctity,* The sunken rocks straight shoaled a vessel. Moreover, going into Neishing,

Their men-of-war grounded on the sands, And the devilish soldiers were completely routed. On the sixth of the month (May 26), The rockets were fired into the city, One gun gave even three reports. Heaven rained down red rain,

And the fire of the guns was extinguished.

The villagers on the north of the city,

Their valor roused, drove them before them;

From the White Cloud hills,

The lord of beaven sent down rain,

And several hundred devilish barbarians,``

Were by it quite destroyed.

The head of one was caged in terrorem,

His name was called Bremer.

Their courage and heart failing,

Routed, they threw off their clothes and run. Our people rousing their martial courage, From all parts cut off their retreat,

And the whole crew was clean swept away. The barbarian ships all retired,

.Going out far beyond the Tiger's Gate. It is hard to endure heavenly justice ;- At this time the climate was pestilential, And they died of grievous diseases. Caused by the incensed deities. Henceforth there will be general peace, Every one enjoying an honorable life,

And the people hereabouts will be very happy.

       One of the shot from the English ships hit an image of this deity in a temple near the southern wall, and broke its arm; the Atalanta soon after got on the rocks near the Dutch Folly, which the people ascribed to the wrath of the god.

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    There is also a third drawing of the steamer alone, having ap- pended to it part of the same description that is on the other sheet. In this picture, the men, dressed in red jackets and green breeches, are represented half as high as the masts, while one man perched on the foretop, spy-glass in hand, is looking out; his glass is inade full as large as the yard near him. A yellow cannon, three times the diameter of the mast, shows conspicuously at either end. The wheels are particolored, and drawn above water; perhaps this is to show that they are round. As a specimen of skill in design it is much inferior to the others.

t

ART. V. Progress of H. B. M.'s second expedition, from Canton to Amoy, with particulars of the capture of Amoy on the 26th of August.

   THE progress of the expedition we are now able to bring down to the 1st instant; but we have intelligence-to the 23d from Amoy, where provisions were abundant and all was quiet,-and to the 11th from Pihkwan, where the Wellesley was at that date. Pihkwan is above latitude 27°, north of the boundary line between Fuhkeën and Chěkeäng.

    The arrival in China, on the 10th of August, of H. B. M.'s sole plenipotentiary and minister extraordinary to the court of Peking, was noticed in our last number, and some particulars of his proceed- ings given down to the 14th.

    On the 15th, major Malcolm returned from Canton, having de- livered his dispatches, and held a conference with the prefect. This interview, coupled with the arrival of sir Henry Pottinger, had evi- dently some influence on the minds of the provincial officers, induc- ing a desire to maintain a pacific course; but the commissioner Yih- shan, it was said, still continued to indulge his warlike predilections.

    On the 18th, the prefect, having come down to Macao from Can- ton, requested an interview with the plenipotentiary, which was denied he paid a farewell visit to captain Elliot, who was about sailing for England, and was afterwards received by major Malcolm, at the office of the superintendents.

By this interview and that at Canton, the Chinese authorities must

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have been convinced, we think, that they were now having to deal with one of elevated rank, with whom they could not enter on any half-and-half negotiations. By this time, too, they must have been fully aware of the intention to proceed and carry on hostilities north- ward.

         And erelong the emperor must understand-if he does not already-that open war or honorable peace are his only alternatives.

      We have been told that the prefect, when he came down from Canton, brought a dispatch from the governor Ke Kung, in reply to sir Henry's, but of its tenor we are wholly uninformed. It was said, by the Chinese in Canton, that the authorities there received from sir Henry a dispatch for the emperor: whether they did or not, we have not been able to ascertain; they must, however, have reported his ar- rival, with circumstances calculated to raise suspicion respecting their previous report-known to have been sent-" that all difficul- ties with the barbarians were settled."

      On the 19th, the Nemesis, having arrived in Macao Roads during the previous night, received on board all who were to join the naval and military portions of the expedition,-including Mr. Thom attach- ed as interpreter to the major-general, and Mr. Gutzlaff attached to the admiral, and proceeded to Hongkong..

     Friday, the 20th. The steamer Queen arrived from Hongkong, bringing intelligence that the expedition was ready to start north- ward. In the evening, sir Henry embarked with his suite,-con- sisting of major Malcolm, secretary of legation; Mr. R. Woosnain, surgeon attached to the mission; Mr. Morrison, Chinese secretary, and acting secretary and treasurer to the superintendents; with Messrs. A. W. Elinslie and W. H. Medhurst, jr., clerks. The steamer did not leave Macao Roads till next morning.

     The 21st. The fleet began moving out of the bay of Hongkong this morning; and ere the Queen arrived, the admiral had anchored outside. Sir Henry, however, being desirous of visiting the island, proceeded into the bay, and landed in the evening and also the next morning, in order to see the officers of the government there, and to observe the progress of the public works. He is said to have been much pleased with the situation and prospects of the rising town.

The 22d. Sir Henry, after having arranged with major-general Burrell and Mr. Johnston all matters for the defense, &c., of Hong- kong, proceeded on soon after noon, and at 4 o'clock, joined company with the squadron under sail on the southern side of the island; dis- patches having been put on board the Atalanta, she returned to Ma- cao, and the squadron moved northward.

DRUID, wing ship.

524

Capture of Amay.

SEP.

    The 23d. The headmost ships quite out of the Lamma channel. The following was the

Order of sailing.

Bentinck, surveying vessel.

QUEEN.

PHLEGETHON. COLUMBINE.

MARION.

WELLESLEY,

SESOSTRIS.

BLENHEIM.

NEMESIS.

MODĖSTE.

7 Transports, bearing a detach- ment of the 49th, and the whole of

the 18th regiment

transports.

6 Provision

8 Transports, bearing a detach- ment of the 26th, the 55th entirė, with Engineers and Artillery.

BLONDE, wing skip.

PYLADES.

CRUIZER.

ALGERINE.

    25th. At noon a little to the westward of Breaker Point, the ships making good progress.

    25th. At noon about 70 miles from Chapel Island, and the order of sailing pretty well preserved by the whole squadron. During the afternoon, the wind increased considerably from the southeastward; at dark, with a strong breeze, the ships ran into Amoy. The whole squadron, however, was not anchored till rather a late hour, in a fine moonlight evening. In taking up her auchorage, the Columbine ran foul of the Wellesley, not without some serious damage, Mr. William Maitland having been struck with great violence, and others narrowly escaping. Some guns were fired from Quemoy, as the squadron passed.

Thursday, the 26th,-just two years since the English were driven from Macao,-was signalized by operations, thus announced by

CIRCULAR.

To her Britannic Majesty's subjects in China.

Her majesty's plenipotentiary, &c., has the highest degree of satisfaction in announcing to H. M. subjects, and others who feel an interest in the question, that the city of Amoy, with its very extensive and formidable line of batteries and fleet of gun-boats and war-junks (the whole mounting upwards to five bun- dred pieces of cannon), was taken possession of on the 26th instant, after a short but animated defense on the part of the Chinese, by H. M.'s naval and land forces, under the command of their excellencies, rear-admiral sir William Parker, K. C. B., and major-general sir Hugh Gough, K. C. B. This brilliant achievement has been happily accomplished with a very trifling loss; and, in addition to the works, all of which have been dismantled and destroyed, and the guns spiked and broken, immense magazines full of munitions of war have been either remov- ed, or rendered useless.

Arrangements are now in progress for leaving a detachment of troops on the small island of Koolangsu (which is separated from the town of Amoy by a chan nel of deep water), and some of H. M's ships will likewise remain at this poit, whilst the great body of the expedition advances to the northward, so that British

1841.

Capture of Amoy.

525

     or other ships that may touch here during the ensuing season, will find ample protection, and be secure from any risk of molestation.

      Her majesty's plenipotentiary deems it quite superfluous to say one word as to the manner in which this important service has been performed. The facts require no eulogium. The Chinese government vainly imagined they had rendered Amoy impregnable, but were undeceived, in presence of the viceroy of the pro- vinces of Chekeäng and Fuhkeën, (who, with a number of high officers, witness ed the attack from the heights above the town,) in the short space of four hours from the firing of the first gun; and, had the opposition been a hundred times greater than it was, the spirit and bearing of all employed showed that the result must have been the same. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

Dated this 31st of Aug., 1841, on board H. M. S. Blenheim, in Amoy harbor.

HENRY POTTINger, H. M.'s plenipotentiary.

     Omitting to attempt to give, for the present, any description of the city of Amoy, we will detail such facts as have come to our know- ledge respecting its defenses and their fall, as above noticed.

On the south side of the island, upon which the city stands, and south from it, was a heavy battery, about 1100 yards long, aud its wall about 14 feet at the base, mounting 90 guns; over against this, in a southwesterly direction, on Red Point, was another battery of 42 guns: nearly between these, but further westward, on the island of Koolangsu, were several other batteries.

     Early in the morning, which was hot and calm, the admiral, ge- neral, and plenipotentiary, (the staff of each accompanying them,) embarked on board the Phlegethon to reconnoitre. They proceeded within range of the long line of guns to the right on Amoy, and of the works to the left on Red Point, taking such positions in their course as to enable them to observe the defenses on either hand, as well as those on Koolangsu, where the men were seen engaged add- ing to their sand batteries.

A Chinese merchant was sent off, in course of the morning, with a flag of truce, to the squadron, to ask what might be its object. A demand of surrender was returned by his hands. A junk. with a white flag, found afterwards to be owned by Siamese, came in while the vessels were advancing to engage, and stood on for some time after the action had commenced, seemingly in perfect confidence of being let alone.

      At 1 o'clock, the Queen and Sesostris stood in for the east end of the long battery, and the Blonde with the Druid and Modeste for Koolangsu. The Sesostris first fired. It was returned. The Queen then commenced. The batteries on all sides soon opened. The Bentinck gave the soundings for the Wellesley and Blenheim, in frout of the long battery, distant 400 yards. "The Chinese did en- dure the fire right manfully," standing to their guns till they were shot down by musketry in their rear. The batteries were never com-

526

Capture of Amoy,

SEP.

-one,

pletely silenced by the ships' guns, and, it is believed, they never would have been. It was not till the troops landed, that the majority of the men fled. Some were bayoneted where they stood at their guns; and two or three chief officers destroyed themselves------ strange to say, by walking coolly into the water. The troops landed at several points, and drove all before them. The batteries on Red Point were almost entirely disregarded. By six o'clock the Modeste, and some of the other vessels, were at anchor in the Inner Harbor. The troops, having passed through the southern suburbs, mounted the heights between them and the chief town, where they bivouack- ed for the night, and entered the citadel next morning. Thus fell the boasted strength of Amoy.

    The wall of the long battery was found to be a masterly piece of work. When looked at from the sea, it had appeared as a town wall, with sand batterics in front; but instead of this, it was a strong and thick wall, of good height, with only small low gun-ports, and a de- fense between one gun-port and another of a thick earth battery of equal height with the wall: over each gun-port, too, mud was laid, so as to prevent the striking off of splinters from the stone.

About 100 sizeable junks were found in the Inner Harbor, which is spacious, well-protected, and having good anchorage.

The 27th, Friday, was occupied by sir Hugh Gough in possessing himself of the citadel and town. Late in the day, the plenipotentiary and admiral landed, and visited the town.

    Yen Pihtow, the governor of Fuhkeën and Chèkeäng, having been for some little time past residing at Arnoy, must have been spectator of the fight; but no certain information could be obtained, regarding either him or of adıniral Tow Chinpew, commander-in-chief of the naval forces of the province. The admiral, it was said, had gone out on a cruise.

Yen and Tow are both natives of Canton.

In course of this day, the body of the officer who had walked into the water, was found lying on the beach. If he was actually the per- son he was stated to be-the tsung ping-he was the chief in com" mand at the time, having left his usual station at Quemoy to take the place of the absent admiral.

    On the 28th, early in the morning, the plenipotentiary and admiral landed, and went up to sir Hugh's quarter in the city. Sir Henry visited several of the large buildings in the citadel; and in course of the day, removed with his suite, on board the Blenheim.

Here we must close these details for the present, only remarking that, the Druid 42, Pylades 18, and the Algerine 10, with three

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

527

transports, and 100 men (being one wing of the 18th, and the entire detachment, 120 or 150 meu of the 26th Cameronians) were to re- mained on Koolangsu, Amoy being evacuated, and the squadron under orders for the northward, destined it was supposed for Ning- po, Chinhae, and Chusan.

ART. VI.

Journal of Occurrences : treachery of the Chinese; arms supplied to the Chinese by foreigners; bad feeling among the people; prefect of Canton and the literary graduates; fisher- men and pirates; loss of the schooner Maria; affairs at Hong- kong; Yihshan's policy; rumors of Keshen; an imperial edict. TREACHERY of the Chinese, officers and people, need not now surprise any one. Contrary to the stipulations made for the ransom of Canton, obstruc- tions have been thrown into the river, fortifications rebuilt, munitions of war collected, &c.; and it is said, there are foreigners now in the city of Canton manufacturing powder. In the beginning of August, it was found that attempts had been made to stake the river; but the Chinese government made many excuses for this, and many promises that such doings should stop. However, in the early part of this month, captain Nias-seeing that they did not desist-destroyed the defenses on Wangtong, and proceeded further up the river, destroying a number of boats, and declaring to the people, by proclamation, that he would destroy whatever else was undertaken contrary to the previous stipulations.

      2. Arms being supplied to the Chinese by foreigners is a topic on which, for the present, we shall say but little. Many particulars, of things done in this line of business, might be told, and some erroneous statements that have gone abroad might be corrected;-of these latter, we believe the reports respect- ing Mr. Coolidge to be utterly unfounded, having been assured that he has had nothing to do, directly or indirectly, in this matter. How far what has been done is to be regarded as improper, we do not feel ourselves prepared to say. The character of any given act must be determined mainly by its at- tendant circumstances.

3. Much bad feeling among the people in Canton and vicinity exists: this, however, seems to be directed against certain local officers, and against fo- reign belligerents, but not against foreign merchants. The conduct of the literati towards the old prefect of Canton is a case in point; and some tran- slations, to appear in our next number, will show the popular feeling towards the belligerents. The people know they have been wronged. Their number is legion; and if the war is to be carried on against them, while they are armed with European weapons, the havoc will be dreadful, and perhaps not all one side.

[

4. Row between the prefect of Canton and the literary graduates. On the 16th instant, his honor Yu Paoushun, the prefect of Canton, decked with his 'new feather,' proceeded in the due course of duty to the great Hall of Ex- amination, where the literary candidates had assembled for their annual exercises. On his entering, some of these high spirited gentry seemed res- tive, showed symptoms of discontent, and began to ridicule. For this they

528

Journal of Occurrences,

were called to order, and sharply reprimanded; whereupon the public voice broke forth. The gentry became clamorous, began to hiss, called his honor a traitor, and hurled their inkstones at his head! Unable to withstand such missiles, the old gentleman determined to withdraw; but on leaving the Hall, one of the most daring of the malcontents attempted to break his chair. A row ensued. The Nanhae heen-the magistrate of the district of Nanhae, who is second in authority to the prefect-then came forward, soothed these excited literati, and begged them to come again next day for examination, when the commissioner of justice would come to the Hall. On the 18th, the prefect had resolved to resign his office immediately. This he has done.

    5. The fishermen and pirates have come in hostile collision; and it is said, that, within a period of three months, more than a hundred of the latter have been seized by the former, and handed over to the local authorities of Heängshan, who have sanctioned, and aided in, the operations of the fisher- inen, many of whose boats are well armed.

    6. The schooner Maria was lost on the night of the 23d instant, near Chuenpe, where she was aground, with her crew disabled. We have been told she had nothing on board but stores, when she was boarded by a party of Chinese, supposed to be villagers, dismantled and broken up, and her crew, fourteen in number and a Parsee, natives of India, all carried off. Eight of the 15 have come back.

7. Affairs at Hongkong seem gradually progressing: captain J. F. My- lius has been appointed land officer on the island; T. G. Fitz Gibbon, clerk in charge of the post-office; and Mr. C. Fearon, at present resident at Ma- cao, has been sworn to perform the duties of a British notary public. Mail packets, by ships arriving at Hongkong, are to be immediately delivered to the harbor-master or to the clerk in charge of the post-office there; or at the superintendents' office in Macao, on their arrival in the Macao Roads. A jail has been built; and a piece of land, to the east of Cantonment hill, has been allotted for the burial of the dead. Unauthorized burial elsewhere will be treated as a trespass.

    8. Yihshan's policy is becoming more and more tortuous, and this pacifi- eator of barbarians, if not careful, will yet get entangled in the meshes of his own web. At the first of the month, he was basking in the bright sunshine of imperial favor-gained by his false reports to the emperor. Recently, however, he has been disturbed by the reports from Amoy; and will be dis- turbed still more, when the emperor shall have heard of the fall of Ningpo and Chinhae, by the same barbarians which were so recently subdued and pacified by his brave and worthy general. It is said, Yihshan is now playing his cards to become the people's man-by enlisting and paying villagers, the soldiers of righteousness, by buying arms and ammunition for them, &c. But, we fear, he and they both may yet pay dear for their temerity and treachery.

9. The rumors about Keshen have been very contradictory during the month: at one time he was reported as bound in prison, and the famous com- prador was said to have been cut into ten thousand pieces. More recent reports seem to indicate, that he is rising again to influence. But we have no direct information of him, or of his affairs at court, since the British ex- pedition moved northward.

10. An imperial edict is in Canton, said to have been written after a dis- patch from sir. Henry reached Peking, and, though not made public, is be- lieved to be peaceable in its tenor, hinting that money and greater privileges of trade than existed formerly, might be granted to bring about an amicable adjustment of existing difficulties, but declaring that no territory can be ced- ed, and severely blaming the provincial authorities for their late false reports.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-OCTOBER, 1841.- No. 10.

ART. I. Two papers relating to the present position of affairs between the English and Chinese. Written by Chinese, and tran- lated by J. L. S.

     BEFORE introducing the translation of these two papers, a few words must be said explanatory of the state of affairs both when they were written and at present. The Chinese, like the people of other countries, are apt to boast of great things; and their boastings are usually proportionate to their ignorance. A few years ago the ships of the imperial navy were, by very respectable men, declared to be invincible; the Imogene and Andromache did something to correct this opinion; and by subsequent events, it has been quite exploded. "Meet the imperial troops on shore, and though there be ten barbarians against one son of Han, the celestial forces must conquer; nay (said old governor Loo) even the very rocks must melt before the terri- fic splendor of our arms, at the dreadful thunder of our artillery." Yet on trial, the land forces have proved themselves to be no better than the naval. They have both failed utterly, always, everywhere. Since the fall of Amoy, on the 26th of August, an opinion has become prevalent, among the best informed Chinese in Canton, that it is vain to expect the naval and military forces of the emperor can match the English either by sea or on land. The odds--not in strength nor in courage, but in implements and in discipline- are too great to warrant any hope of success on the part of the Chinese. Prior to the fall of Amoy, the destruction of the forts at the Bogue, and the move on Canton, the Chinese to a man believed that their strongest fortifi- cations were impregnable. Such was the opinion current, when the following papers were written, which two are fair specimens of the many that have been circulated.

Another baseless opinion is becoming prevalent in this neighborhood: it is that the people armed will prove themselves invincible. In captain Elliot's policy, it was a principle, that the people should be left unmolested and un- harmed, and their good-will secured by every practicable means. They be- lieved, so far as we know, that both their persons and their homes (the homes of the living and the dead) were inviolable. In this belief they have found that they were deceived. All along it had been maintained, that the war was being waged, and was to be carried ou,-only against the government.

VOL. X. NO. X.

67

+

530

Affairs between the English and Chinese.

Oct.

   Every care had been taken to make it so; and so it had been in a great de- gree. During the operations at Canton however-notwithstanding the pre- cautions adopted by the leaders of the expedition-outrages were committed, by camp-followers, and boats' crews, if not by any others. These outrages- molesting the bodies of dead laid up in coffins, and other doings of which it is a shame even to speak-are the more to be deprecated, especially by British officers, because they have caused so much and such strong hostility among the people. It was bad feeling, produced in this way, that excited and drew out those 'soldiers of righteousness' who appeared in such great numbers, and so much annoyed the British troops, on the heights above Canton. The fury of the armed populace, on the second day of their ap pearance there, was checked by the local government, at the requisition of sir Hugh Gough. This, and the immediate withdrawal of his forces, con- spired to produce in the minds of the people the opinion, above expressed, that being armed they are invincible. Ever since that time, this baseless opinion has been gaining strength and extending. Yihshan, having found that the troops from the other provinces were useless, has advised their re- turn, and is now taking advantage of the bad feeling among the people, with a view evidently of arraying thein against the foreign belligerents. This hos- tility on the part of the people, and this purpose of Yihshan to avail himself of it, were both seen in what was done a few weeks ago, when captain Nias proceeded up the river to Tae Sheih, or near to that village, where several boats loaded with stone were destroyed. The boats, it was supposed, were intended for blocking up the river, contrary to the stipulations made between the English and Chinese authorities, when the latter paid six millions and the former withdrew from Canton. Of course, it was only right that they should be destroyed. But in doing this, the Chinese say, some innocent people were lost, with their boats loaded with ballast intended for the ship- ping at Whampoa. By the inhabitants of Tae Sheih and the neighboring villages, these proceedings were looked upon as new outrages; and accord- ingly they sent away their wives and children and resolved to fight.

                                      "Why," said they, "did the authorities of Canton give six millions to Elliot? Why did they not give it to us, and we would have destroyed all the barbarians?" They feel that they have been wronged; and they know they are nume- rous, a hundred to one, or a thousand to one, against the foreigners; and they believe that their cause is just. "Let government enroll us and pay us, soldiers of righteousness, and we will guard the empire." What is to be the issue of all this, it is impossible to conjecture. Yihshan is evidently desirous of carrying on hostile operations; and if he finds that the people are ready to meet his wishes, another collision, we fear, must take place. To avoid an issue, so niuch to be deprecated, will require much wisdom and prudence on the part of the British authorities. Yihshan will be anxious to do what he has promised his master he intended to accomplish; but if he does this, a renewal of hostilities will be the sure consequence.

    A single occurrence will illustrate the conduct of the camp-followers. A dozen or more of them having gone off on a ramble in a village, only six or seven returned.

           These endeavored to excite sympathy for their lost com- panions, and begged the officer in coinmand to send out armed men to take vengeance on the villagers. But they were soon hushed and humbled by an order for their own flogging.

    The taking off of a dead lady's little foot, to a barbarian might seem to be no very heinous act; but in the sight of a Chinese it is an unpardonable offense; and if the maimed lady chance to have living relatives of influence, its utmost will be exerted to avenge the insult.

No animosity exists among the Chinese more deadly than that caused by

1841.

Affairs between the English and Chinese.

531

      such acts; and the preceding allusions have been made with the hope of pre- venting the like occurrences in future. We could have adduced other in- stances; but these are enough. We have endeavored to place the subject in its true light, and here we leave it without further comment.

No. I.

TANG SHUN, a graduated scholar, and others of the chief district, memorialize the provincial authorities, in relation to the loose and disorderly proceedings of the English barbarians. All our people cherish feelings of like enmity towards them, and unite in earnestly beseeching, that rigorous measures be adopted for their extermina- tion, in order to accord with the general state of feeling, and to tran- quilize the affairs of the maritime regions. Opinions respecting the advantageous and injurious state of things in these regions, the vil lage gentry unitedly lay before their superiors, and when the just origin of important affairs are by the people thus brought to the notice of the said superiors, they will not refuse at once to attend to their reasonings. Now the English barbarians have precipitated re- bellion, in order to effect their purposes, and this cannot be borne with upon any principle of reason; and our generals and troops hav- ing been wounded by them, is what really excites the indignation of both gods and men. They have brought their opium too, and for a long time have been poisoning and injuring our people; and still further, following the bent of their wolfish covetousness, they have forthwith taken forcible possession of our island (Hongkong).

      Although formerly, in the time of the Ming dynasty, Macao was indeed loaned to the Portuguese barbarians, yet this was nothing more than receiving rent for houses which were just about sufficient for snails to live together in; and we have not yet heard that they have seized upon the land by deceiving the people, as hares are enticed into the cages which are constructed for them!

                                         But ye stupid and rebellious barbarians, publicly issue proclamations, and talk largely of attending to the litigations of the people, incoherently hoping for fees! You endeavor to conceal your injurious designs, but your wickedness is made palpably manifest. Having formerly exhibited, as in a mirror, your iniquities at Tinghae, it therefore be- comes necessary that Hongkong should be defended against such results in future. The population of the whole seaboard being register- ed in the census, and the people occupying their own homes, it will be found as difficult to eject them, as it was at Choogei.*

*

If per-

Choogai is a district near Cochinchina, from which one of the emperors of the Han dynasty attempted to expel all the inhabitants for their uncontrolable sedition, but could not effect his purpose. The writer is under the impression

532

Affairs between the English and Chinese.

OCT.

   chance the English were to assemble together in their musquito-den (at Hongkong), thus spying about so near to the Bocca Tigris, they would by land and water employ both their curtains and nets; and how then would the people of this province be able to rest upon their beds? And truly for your lives may you cherish apprehension, for this is a correct view of the state of things, and is laid before you through upright intentions.

We, Shun and others, have long been read in the classics, and we thoroughly understand the great principles of right; and, cherishing for our villages the sincerest attachment, we do not loosen our hold upon them. All classes contemplate opposition and vengeance, and desire to devour the heads of the enemy, and with combined in- tentions of enmity wish to break the legs of these invaders.

We respectfully look up to their excellencies, the high imperial commissioner and the viceroy, to stand by the country in the deve- lopment of her plans, and to afford their aid to the people in putting an end to calamities. We wait in hopes that the forces may be sum- moned together, and for the manifestation of the brilliant majesty of celestial vengeance, repressing rebellion, putting an end to violence, and yielding to the general wish of attacking and subjugating the enemy. Then shall we behold their power melt away like the snow, the affair will be as easly arranged as the catching of glow-worms, the cause of the righteous indignation of the literati and the people will be triumphant, and the maritime domains will possess the joy of widely extended peace. It is on these accounts that we are induced to appear

before your excellencies.

Reply of the commandant to the preceding.

It appears that the village gentry, Tang Shun and others, have memorialized in relation to the English barbarians giving loose rein to disturbance, and have combined in earnest entreaty that the mat- ter may be settled by rigorously proceeding to extermination. We perceive that you cherish the principles of reason and justice, and regard your families and your country as one interest; and that, by decided wrath and combined enmity, both literati and people exhibit the great principles of right. These rebel barbarians are indeed outlaws, and reports of their proceedings having gone up to the ce- lestial ears, immense forces have now been summoned from several provinces, that with combined energies they may make thorough. extermination. Only wait until the grand forces, like clouds assem

that the English will attempt to expel all the natives from their homes on Hong, kong. Tr.

1841.

Affairs between the English and Chinese.

533

ble together, and then it will not be difficult to capture the chiefs of these rebel barbarians, in order to demonstrate the celestial ven- geance, and soothe the feelings of the people. Wait, therefore, until their excellencies the governor and lieutenant-governor issue their declaration.

The lieut.-governor's reply.

I, the lieut.-governor, have also seen the representation of the said graduate and others, who with upright feelings sincerely desire to mount the war-chariot, and with righteous courage to put the wheels in motion, so that with hearts of combined and deep-rooted enmity and wrath they may increase the determination for pure and per- fect peace.

If their disposition be thus, their praise is worthy of the highest commendation. The English rebels in every matter have been outrageously ambitious; and it is their advancing in their pal- pable rebellions, at which both gods and men unite in indignation, and which heaven and earth cannot bear. We respectfully look up for the clear illumination of his sacred majesty, who has delivered his imperial commands to Yihshan, the rebel-quelling general, and the assistant commissioners and high ministers, to proceed to Canton to arrange affairs. Upon the day that the grand army, like clouds shall assemble, the insignificant and disgraceful force of the enemy will be mowed down and exterminated; for, by making a thorough charge and an extended line of attack, we may with rigorous ven- geance make an entire end of them. Then may we behold the mari- time regions enjoying peace and quietness.

I, the lieut.-governor, desire with the said graduated gentlemen to unite in listening to the songs of victory.

No. 2.

Now, of the wealthiest nations beneath the heavens, there are none comparable to the Central Land; and, of the most eminent of men, there are none like our own literati; and if we speak of the manners of the outside barbarians, they are not to be compared to us. But the detested English rebels, during a year past, have by their troops been entailing troubles upon our country, and every man throughout the empire cannot but gnash his teeth with vengeance, and heartily desire, entirely to exterminate the said horde. Then will cease their just indignation. There are, hovever, certain parties, who, void of understanding, and scheming after heavy gains, disregard father, mother, wife and children, and aid the vicious to do wickedly. These should be regarded with extreme pity, and at the same time with intensest indignation; even birds and beasts are divided into their kinds, and why still more may it not be so with men?

534

Affairs between the English and Chinese.

Oct.

Really the virtue of our sacred lord pervades every realm, and reaches all their inhabitants, who unitedly look up to him; but now, for once, there are those who reject and separate themselves from their prince and relations, and personally follow the rebel insurgents. Verily these do not differ from the brute creation. And, moreover, the English are developing innumerable vicious schemes, seducing and leading astray in every direction, falsely calling for men to pro- ceed on board their ships, to be hired in discharging cargo; but really with no other desire than to use our flowery people in aiding them in their hostility-thus joining mutual friends in enmity. For- merly, there were many who coveted their (the English) wealth, and under mistaken ideas entered their ships, when their snare was made plainly manifest. At present, this is still carried on to a limited ex- tent, and it is decidedly necessary for you to attend to the purposes, for which you are required to be sent. Perhaps they may wish to instruct you in the use of musketry, down in the holds of their ships of war; or they may cut off your tails, and make you their soldiers; perhaps they may wish you to change your dress and become trai- torous spies for them, or perhaps, they may brand you on the face with their mark. Or, perhaps, they may dress you up in barbarian clothes, in order to make slaves of you, and now and then you will become remiss, when forthwith they will inflict upou you the punish- ment of the lash, and your distress and difficulties will be unspeaka- bly intense.

    On a former occasion, I myself was taken in by their false preten- tions; but, becoming aware of their vicious practices, I after several days absconded by water and returned, fortunately escaping with my life. I perceived that many have been seduced into their ships, and my heart cannot really bear this, and I therefore specially issue this my fragment of a speech, in order to warn all good people. Let those who have at present entered the said ships, as workmen, become deeply sensible of their situation and return. If there are those, who, aware of their poverty, covet English wealth, and with ardent hearts desire to go, why do you not change your intentions and enter our army, in order to requite your country; and then, becoming victo- rious, you can reflect glory upon your ancestors; and should you perish, then would your fame be handed down to posterity. Would not this be praiseworthy! Ye gentle people of our most houorable and exhalted nation, how can ye be thus stupid! If you adhere to your blind pertinacity, repentance will ereloug be too late! My re- presentation of the state of affairs is destitute of falsehood, and stu-

1841.

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cerely concerned for the welfare of all you good people, do I now

lay the matter before you.

Note. No. 1, it will perceived, is a petition. It is in private circulation, and the original is remarkable for the high classic style in which it is written. No. 2, is a well written paper, though in style is much less classic than No. 1. It is posted on the walls as a kind of public admonitory declaration, a custom by no means unusual among the Chinese,

Tr.

ART. II. Bengal governmental notifications, being extracts of dis- patches to the right honorable the earl of Auckland, G. c. B., governor general, &c., &c., from sir Hugh Gough, and sir Le Fleming Senhouse, respecting operation before Canton.

To the right honorable the earl of Auckland, G. c. B., governor-general, &c.

       Head quarters, ship Marrion, Canton river, proceeding to Hongkong, June 3d, 1841. My Lord-

1. My letter of the 18th from Hongkong will have made your lordship aware of temporary abandonment of the inovement on Amoy, in order to resume active ope- rations against Canton, consequent upon the constant arrival and concentration of large forces from the several provinces, and other demonstrations indicative of an interruption to our friendly intercourse with the provincial government.

      2. From the judicious and unwearied exertions of sir Le Fleming Senhouse, the senior naval officer, the fleet of men-of-war and transports was prepared to sail on the 18th, but in consequence of light and variable winds, the whole did not get under weigh until the 19th. H. M. S. Blenheim took up her position within six miles of Canton in the Macao passagè on the 21st ult., but the whole of the force was not assembled until the morning of the 23d, when I proceeded with sir La Fleming Senhouse to the vicinity of the suburbs of the city, for the double object of meeting H. M. plenipotentiary and ascertaining as far as possible the extent of the enemy's preparations.

      3. It being the anxious wish both of sir Le Fleming Senhouse and myself to commence active operations on so auspicious an epoch as the anniversary of the birth of our sovereign, every exertion was made, and the troops were placed by 2 P. M. on that day in various craft, procured during the previous day and night by the great exertions of her royal navy.

      4. From all the sources, from which I had been enabled to collect information, or rather from the conjectures of persons who have long resided in China, (for no European had been permited to see the country above the factories, and the Chinese would give no information), I was induced to decide on making my principal point. of debarkation to the northwest of the city, while another column was to take pos. session of the factories, drawing the attention of the enemy to that quarter, and at the same time to co-operate with the naval force which was to attack the river defenses, in order to silence numerous new works recently crected by the Chinese

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Bengal Governmental Notifications.

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along the whole southern face of the city. A most spirited and judicious recon. noissance made by captain Belcher, of H. M. S. Sulphur, the previous evening, established the practicability of effecting a landing at the point I had selected. 5. Every arrangement having been completed by two o'clock, and the boats and other carft placed in tow of the steamers, the force moved to the point of attack, as follows:

294

Right column, to attack and hold the factories, in tow of the Atalanta, consist- Officers, other ranks. ing of her majesty's 26th regiment, as per margin, an officer and 20 rank and file of the Madras artillery, with 54 inch mortar and 30 sappers, with an officer of engi.

of H. M. 26th.

15

   one 6 pounder and one ncers, under mojor Pratt,

Left column-towed by

4th, (left) brigade, under lieut..colonel Morris, 49th regiment.

the Nemesis, in four brigades, to move left in front.

(H. M. 49th, commanded by Officers, other ranks

major Stephens, 37th Madras N. L., capt. Duff, One company Bengal Volun

teers, captain Mee,.

28

273

11

219

1

114

3d, (artillery) brigade, un

der captain Knowles?

Royal artillery, lieut. Spencer,

33

Madras artillery including gun

Lascars, captain Anstruther,

10

231

Sappers and miners, capt. Cotton, 4

137

Two 6

R. A.

    Ordnance. Four 12 pounder howitzers. Four 9 pounder field guns. pounder field guns. Three 5

2d naval brigade, under

captain Bourchier, II.- M. ship Blonde.

1st (right) brigade, reserve, under major-general Burrell.

mortars. Fifteen- two 32 pounder rockets. 1st naval battalion, captain Mait.

land, H. H. ship Wellesley 2d naval battolion, commander Barlow, H. M. Ship Nimrod, ( Royal marines capt. Ellis

18th Royal Irish, It..colonel

Adams

11

172

16

231

9

372

25

494

    6. The right column reached its point of attack before 5 r. M., and took pos. session of the factories, when major Pratt made the necessary arrangements for strengthening his post, holding his men ready for offensive or defensive operations.

    7. The left column, towed by the Nemesis, from the difficulties of the passage with such a fleet of craft as she had in tow, did not reach the Sulphur until durk, which vessel captain Belcher had judiciously anchored close to the village of Tsing-hae, the point of debarkation, about five miles by the river line above the factories. I could therefore only land the 49th regiment, with which corps I made a reconnoissance to some distance, meeting a few straggling parties of the enemy. After placing the picquets, the corps fell back on the village of Tsinghae to protect and cover the landing of the guns, which was effected during the night, by the zealous efforts of the artillery. The following morning the remainder of the column landed, and the whole proceeded soon after daylight.

8. The heights to the north of Canton, crowned by four strong forts, and the city walls which run over the southern extremity of these heights, including one elevated point, appeared to be about three miles and a half distant; the inter mediate ground, undulating much, and intersected by hollows under wet paddy cultivation, enabled me to take up successive positions, until we approached with- in range of the forts on the heights and the northern face of the city walls. I had to wait here some time, placing the men under cover, to bring up the rocket bat. tery and artillery.

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      9. I have already informed your lordship, that I was totally unacquainted with the country which I had to pass over, the amount of the enemy's force, or the dif ficulties that might present themselves at every step; but I had the proud con- ciousness of feeling that your lordship had placed under me a band, whom no dis. parity of numbers could dishearten, and no difficulty could check. They nobly realized, by their steadiness under fire, their disciplined advance, and their animated rush, my warmest anticipations.

10. Having at 8 o'clock got up the rocket battery, with two 54 inch mortars, two 12 pounder howitzers and two 9 pounder guns, a well directed fire was kept up on the two western forts, which had much annoyed us by a heavy fire, I now made the disposition for attack in echelon of columns from the left, and directed the 49th regiment to carry a hill on the left of the nearest eastern fort, supported by the 37th Madras native infantry and Bengal Volunteers, under lieut.-colonel Morris of the 49th regiment. The 18th Royal Irish, supported by the royal marines, under major-general Burrell, I directed to carry a hill to their front, which was strongly occupied and flanked the approach to the fort just mentioned. This movement was to cut off the communication between the eastern forts, and cover the advance of the 19th in their attack and storm of the nearest. Major-general Burrell had directions to push on and take the principal square fort, when the 49th made their rush. Simultaneous with these attacks, the brigade of seamen was to carry the two western forts, covered by a concentrated fire from the whole of the guns and rockets.

11. During the whole of the advance, my right had been threatened by a large body of the enemy which debouched from the western suburbs, and just as I was about to commence the attack a report was made, that heavy columns were advanc. ing on the right, I was therefore compelled to detach the marines under captain Ellis, to support the brigade of seamen, and to cover my right and rear.

12. At about past 9 o'clock, the advance was sounded, and it has seldom fallen to my lot to witness a more soldier-like and steady advance, or a more animated at- tack. Every individual, native as well as European, steadily and gallantly did his duty. The 18th and 49th were emulous which should first reach their appointed goals; but, under the impulse of this fecling they did not lose sight of that disci. pline which could alone insure success. The advance of the 37th M. N. I., and Bengal Volunteers in support, was equally praiseworthy.

       13. The result of this combined movement was, that the two ferts were captured with comparatively small loss, and that, in little more than half an hour after the order to advance was given, the British troops looked down on Canton within 100 paces of its walls.

14. The well directed fire of the artillery in the centre was highly creditable, and did great execution.

       15. In cooperation with these attacks, I witnessed with no ordinary gratifica- tion the noble rush of the brigade of seamen under their gallant leader, captain Bourchier, exposed to a heavy fire from the whole of the northwestern rampart. This right attack was equally successful, and here also the British standard proudly waved on the two western forts, while the British tars looked down upon the northwestern face of the city and its suburb.

      16. During the great part of the day, a very spirited fire from heavy pieces of ord. nance, ginjals and matchlocks, was kept up on the different columns, occupying the heights and forts.

VOL. X. NO. X.

68

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Bengal Governmental Notifications.

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     17. A strongly entrenched camp of considerable extent, occupied apparently by about four thousand men, lay to the northeast of the city upon rising ground se- parated by a tract of paddy land from the base of the heights. Frequent attacks were made upon my left by bodies sent from this encampment, but were as fre- quently repulsed by the 49th. This, however, exposed the men to a heavy fire from the walls of the city,

    18. About 2 o'clock, perceiving that officers of consequence were joining this force from the city, and had occupied a village in rear of my left, I directed the 49th to dislodge them. This was instantly effected in the same spirited man- ner that had marked every movement of this gallant corps. About 3 o'clock, it was evident that some officer of high rank had reached the encampment, (I have since understood that it was, Yang, the Tartar general) and that prepara- tions were making for a fresh attack. I ordered down the 18th, therefore, with one company of the royal marines to reinforce the 49th, and directed manjor- general Burrell to assume the command, to repel the projected attack and instant- ly to follow up the enemy across a narrow causeway, the only approach, and take and destroy the encampment. This duty was well and gallantly performed, but I regret to say with rather severe loss from the difficulty of approach, exposed to a heavy fire from the guns and ginjale on the northeast face of the city wall. The enemy were driven at all points and fled across the country; the encampment was burnt, the magazines, of which there were several, blown up, and the permanent buildings of considerable extent set on fire. I had as much pleasure in witness- ing, as I have in recording, my approval of the spirited conduct of captain Grat- tan, who commanded the two leading companies of the 18th, across the causeway. These companies were closely followed by the 49th, the remainder of the 18th and company of royal marines, who passed along a bank of the paddy field to their left. The enemy not appearing inclined to move out of the town to support this point, I directed the force to return to the heights.

    19. Having reconnoitred the walls and gates, I decided on taking the city by assault, or rather upon taking a strong fortified height of considerable extent within the city wall, before the panic ceased, but the hill in our rear being peculiarly rugged, and its base difficult of approach on account of the narrowness of the path between the wet paddy fields, I had only been enabled to get up a very few of the lightest pieces of ordnance, and a small proportion of ammuni tion. I therefore deemed right to await the arrival of this necessary arm to make the assault.

    20. The following morning, the 26th, at 10 o'clock, a flag of truce was hoist- ed on the walls, when I deputed Mr. Thom (whom captain Elliot had sent to me as interpreter,) to ascertain the cause. An officer stated that they wished for peace. I had it explained that, as general commanding the British, I would treat with none but the general commanding the Chinese troops-that we came before Canton much against the wishes of the British nation, but that repeated insults and breaches of faith had compelled us to make the present movement, and that I would cease from hostilities for two hours to enable their general to meet me and sir Le Fleming Shenhouse, who kindly accompanied me throughout the whole operations, and to whose judicious arrangements and unceasing exertions for the furtherance of the united services (and I am proud to say they are united in hand and heart. I cannot too strongly express my sense of obligation. I fur.

1841.

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ther explained, that captain Elliot, H. M. plenipotentiary, was with the advanced squadron to the south of the city, and that if I did not receive a communication from him, or had not a sarisfactory interview with the general, I should, at the termination of the two hours, order the white flag to be struck.

      21. As the general did not make his appearance, althongh numerous messages were received between this time (about noon) and 4 P. M., I hauled down the white flag. The enemy however did not, which was rather convenient, as it enabled me to get up my guns and ammunition, without exposing my men to fire.

       22. During the night of the 26th, everything was prepared on our side, with the exception of one 12 pounder howitzer, the carriage of which had been disabled, the guns, by the indefatigable exertion of the officers and men of the royal artillery and Madras artillery and sappers, were placed in position. All was ready, and the necessary orders were given for opening the batteries at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 27th, and for the assault at 8, in 4 columns.

      23. The right column, composed of the royal marines under captain Ellis, had directions to pass through a deserted village to the right of the north gate, to blow the gate open with powder bags if possible, and if not, to escalade a circular work thrown up as a second defense to that gate.

       24. The second column on the right, consisting of the brigade of seamen, under captain Bourchier, was directed to make the assault by escalade on the opposite side of the circular defense, where the wall appeared comparatively low, covered by a heavy fire of musketry from the hill within pistol shot of the walls. This column would have been exposed only to the fire of a few flanking guns, which I calculated would have been kept under by the fire of the covering party.

      25. The 18th Royal Irish, under lieutenant-colonel, Adams, were ordered to advance from the rear of a hill close to the five storied pagoda, and to escalade the walls behind this pagoda, (which was not flanked except by one gun) although they were high, from 28 to 30 feet, but I hoped by the concentrated fire of the guns to have reduced an exceedingly high and apparently slight parapet. The escalade of this corps was to be covered by the Bengal Volunteers and a company of the 37th M. N. I.

      26. The left assault was to be made by the 49th, under lieut.-colonel Morris. This corps was directed to escalade by a bastion directly in front of and com. manded by the principal fort in our possession, called by the Chinese Yung-Kang- tai, the fire of musketry from which would have prevented the enemy from making use of their guns. To strengthen this attack, two companies of the 37th M. N. I. were to occupy the heights and keep up a rapid fire upon the wall.

27. The ground was peculiarly favorable for these several attacks, and for the effective fire of the covering parties, without a chance of injuring the assailants. The heights which we occupied are from 90 to 250 paces from the city wall, with a precipitous glen intervening. On making a lodgement on the walls, each column was to communicate with and support that on its inner flank, and when united, to make a rush for the fortified hill within the walls, on which the artillery was directed to paly from the moment the advance was sounded. I directed captain Knowles to ascertain, as far as practicable, by the fire of heavy rockets and shells, whether it was minded, which alone I apprehended-the Chinese, usu. ally forming their mines so as to make them liable to explosion by such means.

28. The flags of truce still appeared upon the walls at daylight on the 27th,

539

Bengal Governmental Notifications.

Oct.

and at a quarter past six o'clock I was on the point of sending the interpreter to explain, that I could not respect such a display, after my flag had been taken down, and should at once resume hostiliies. At this moment, an officer of the royal navy, who had been traveling all night, having missed his way, handed me the accompanying letter from H. M.'s plenipotentiary. Whatever might be my sen- timents, my duty was to acquiesce-the attack, which was to have commenced in 45 minutes, was countermanded, and the feelings of the Chinese were spared. Of the policy of the measures, I do not consider myself a competent judge: but I say feelings, as I would have been responsible that Canton should be equally spared, with exception of its defenses, and that not a soldier should have entered the town further than the fortified heights within its walls.

    29. At 10 o'clock, Yang, the Tartar general, requested a conference, when air Le Fleming Senhouse accompanied me, and a long and uninteresting parley ensu ed, in which I explained that H. M. plenipotentiary, having resumed negotiations with the local authorities, I should await a further communication from him. At 12 o'clock, capt. Elliot arrived in camp, and all further active opeartions ceased.

    30. The following day at 12 o'clock, in a conference with the Kwangchow foo, under the walls, every arrangement was made for the evacuation of the city, by as large a portion of the Tartar troops as could be got ready, and I permitted an officer of rank of pass through my lines to procure quarters for them. I was now given to understand that the force amounted at 45,000 men from other pro- vinces, exclusive of the troops belonging to the Kwangtung province. ́At the request of captain Elliot, I acquiesed in the former passing out of the northeast gate to the left of my position, and permitted them to carry away their arms and baggage, on condition that no banner should be displayed or music sounded.

31. About 12 o'clock, the following day, I perceived numbers of men, appa. rently irregulars, and armed for the most part with long spears, shields and swords, collecting upon the heights three or four miles to my rear. As they continued rapidly to increase, detaching bodies to their front, I directed general Burrell to take charge of our position, and hold every man ready in case a sortie or other act of treachery under cover of a flag of truce should be intended; and I advanced with a wing of the 26th, which corps I had withdrawn two days previously from the factories (three companies of the 49th, the 37th Madras N. I., and the com- pany of Bengal Volunteers, supported by the royal marines. The two large corps kept in reserve, ready to return and act on the flank, should an attack be made on our position from the town. When I descended the heights about 4000 men appeared in my front. I directed the wing of the 26th, under major Pratt, sup- ported by the 37th Madras N. I. to advance and drive them from rather a strong position they had taken up behind an embankment, along the bed of a stream. This duty the 26th and 37th performed most creditably, and as the Chinese made a rally at what appeared to be a military post in my front, I directed that it should be destroyed, which was instantly effected by the 26th, and a magazine, unexpectedly found in the village, blown up. These duties having been perform- ed without the loss of a man, the Chinese throwing away their spears and flying the moment a fire was open upon them, I directed the 49th, royal marines, and Bengal Volunteers to fall back on our position, and remain with the wing of the 26th and 37th Madras N. L., (about 280 men) to watch the movement of the Chinese, who had retreated to a range of heights in my front, having no banners,

1841.

Bengal Governmental Notifications.

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      and apparently but few matchlocks amongst them. Within two hours, however, from 7000 to 8000 men had collected and displayed numerous banners. When I first moved, I had ordered captain Knowles, of the royal artilliery, to bring out a few rockets, but our advance was so rapid that he did not get them up, until the repulse of the first body.

32. At this moment, the heat of the sun was hardly supportable, and both officers and men were greatly exhausted. I must here state, and with sincere sorrow, that major Becher, deputy quarter master general, a most estimable and willing officer, whose service throughout the previous operations were as credita. ble to him, as they were satisfactory to me, fell by my side from over-exertion, and expired within a few minutes. My aid-de-camp captain Gough, was also alarmingly unwell from the same cause, and I ordered him back to camp, when the enemy were repulsed, but hearing that the Chinese were again assembling, he returned, and meeting the Bengal Volunteers, very judiciously brought them back. 33. The Chinese having advanced in great force, some rockets were fired at them, but although thrown with great precision, appeared to have little effect, and as the approach of a thunder storm was evident, I became anxious, before it broke, to disperse this assemblage, whose approach bespoke more determination than I had previously witnessed. I ordered major Pratt to attack a large body who were advancing through the paddy fields on his left, and to clear the hills to his front. Capt. Duff, with the 37th Madras N. I. supported by the Bengal Vo- lunteers under captain Mee, I ordered to advance direct to his front and dislodge a body, which had reoccupied the post, that we had previously burned, and then push forward and clear the hills to his front. I witnessed with much satisfaction the spirited manner in which these officers executed my orders, and the enemy were driven in at all points. The right of the 37th being threatened by a military post at the foot of the hills to our right, the Bengal Volunteers dispersed the oc- cupants. This however separated them from the 37th Madras N. I., and perceiv. ing that this latter corps was advancing further than I intended, I ordered captain Ommaney, (of the 3d Madras light cavalry, who with lieutenant Mackenzie of ́H. M. 90th regiment, accompanied me as amateurs,-and both were most zealous and useful in conveying my orders) to direct the Bengal Volunteers to move up to its support. Captain Duff meanwhile, to open his communication with the 26th on his left, had detached a company under lieut. Hadfield for that purpose.

      34. The thunder storm was now most awful, and finding that as our men ad- vanced, the Chinese retired, I considered that it would be injudicious to follow them further, and directed the whole to fall back. The rain continued to fall in torrents, and most of the fire locks had got wet, at one time the 26th had been unable to fire a single musket, this emboldened the Chinese, who, in many in- stances, attacked our men hand to hand, and the 26th had frequently to charge bodies that advanced close to them.

      35. As the Chinese, even in this mode of warfare, could make no impression, they retreated, and the 26th and 37th Madras N. I. and Bengal Volunteers fell back. Understanding from captain Duff that his detached company was with the 26th I directed the whole, after a short halt, to return to our position, and was exceedingly annoyed on the force concentrating, to find the detached company, under lieut. Hadfield, had never joined the 26th, I immediately ordered two com- panies of marines with the percussion locks to return with captain Duff to the

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Bengal Governmental Notifications.

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   scene of this day's contest. It gives me no ordinary gratification to say that a little after dark, they found heut. Hadfield with his gallant company in square surrounded by some thousand Chinese, who, as the 37th's firelocks would not go off, had approached close to them. The sepoys, I am proud to say, in this critical situation, nobly upheld the high character of the native army, by unshrinking dis cipline and cheerful obedience, and I feel that the expression of my best thanks is due to lieut. Hadfield and to lieut. Deverenx, and ensign Barkeley, who zealously supported him during this trying scene. The last named officer, I regret to say, was severely wounded. The marines, with captain Duff, fired a couple of vollies into this crowd, which instantly dispersed them with great loss.

    36. At daylight the next morning I felt myself called, upon to send into the city and inform the Kwangchow foo, that if, under existing circumstances, a si. milar insult was offered or any demonstration made, indicative of hostile interrup. tion to the negotiations pending under a flag of truce for the evacuation of the city by the Chinese troops and a ransom of its deliverance, I would at once haul down the white flag and resume hostilities. At 12 o'clock, captain Elliot joined me, and a communication was received that the Kwangchow foo would meet us under the walls. Previous to his arrival, vast numbers of Chinese appeared on the hills, which during the early part of the morning had been clear. Guns and ginjalls were fired in all directions, various banners displayed, and large parties thrown out in advance. About 7500 Tartar troops had marched out of the city that morning, and were still moving, with their arms, but, as stipulated, without music or banners. I felt some doubt whether treachery was not contemplated, and I therefore made such a disposition of our troops, as to ensure its defeat. By 2 o'clock from 12,000 to 15,000 men, evidently the same description of force, that we had met the preceding day, had assembled on the same heights.

37. The Kwangchow foo now arrived, and it became evident, and he was perfectly in my power, that no combination existed between the troops in the town or these marching out, and the assemblage in my rear. I therefore ordered the wing of the 26th, the other wing had been left at Tsinghae, to keep up the communication with the rear, and a wing of the 49th with the 37th M. N. I. and the royal marines to be prepared to disperse the assailants. On joining the Kwang- chow foo, and explaining my determination to put my threat in force if the enemy advanced, he assured me that this hostile movement was without the knowledge, and against the wishes, of the Chinese authorities; that there were no officers with this militia in our rear, that it had assembled to protect the villages in the plain, and that he would instantly send off a officer of rank (his own assistant) with orders for its immediate dispersion, if I would depute an officer to accompany

him.

    38. Capt. Moore, of the 34th Bengal N. I. deputy-judge advocate general, volun- teered this hazardous duty. This afficer had accompanied me as one of my per- sonal staff throughout all the operations, and he and major Wilson, pay master to the expedition, who kindly volunteered to act in the same capacity, had by their zealous service been most useful to me in a country, where all my orders were to be conveyed by officers on foot through an intricate line of communication. Capt. Moore was quite successful, as the whole body instantly retreated and entirely dispersed as soon as he and the Chinese officer had made known to the leaders the object of their coming.

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39. Finding that five millions of dollars had been paid and that H. M. plēni. potentiary was perfectly satisfied with the security for payment of the remaining million for the ransom of Canton, that upwards of 14,500 Tartar troops had march- ed out of the town under the terms of the treaty without colors or banners flying, or music beating, that 3,000 had gone by water, and that the remainder were prepared to follow, when carriage was provided, I acceded to the wish of H. M. plenipotentiary to embark the troops, the Chinese furnishing me with 800 coolies to convey my guns and ammunition. These coolies being furnished soon after daylight on the 1st instant, I sent all the guns and stores to the rear covered by the 26th, royal marines, 37th M. N. I. and Bengal Volunteers, and at 12 o'clock the British flag was lowered in the four forts, and the troops and brigade of seamen marched out and returned to Tsinghae.

       40. By the excellent arrangements and under the active superintendence of capt. Bourchier of H. M. ship Bonde, and captain Maitland of H. M. ship Welles- ley, the whole were reembarked by 3 o'clock, without leaving a man of the army or navy or a camp-follower behind, and under tow of the Nemesis, reached their respective transports that night.

41. I have now, my lord, detailed, I fear at too great length, the occurrences of eight days before Canton. I might have been very brief, perfect success at- tending every operation-but by a mere statement of the leading facts, I should not have done justice to the discipline of the small but gallant band, whom it was my good fortune to command, and whose devotedness was worthy of a better foe. 42. I have not touched upon the brilliant conduct of the royal navy in their at- tacks and various operations to the south of the city, as these will be detailed by their own chief, to whom, as I have said, I cannot too strongly express my obliga.

tions.

       43. In a body, where all have done their duty nobly and zealously, it would be invidious to particularize: I will however entreat your lordship's favorable notice of the commanding officers of brigades and corps, from whom I have received the most able assistance, and to whom my best thanks are due. To major-general Burrell commanding the right brigade, who was zealously supported by lieut. colonel Adams, commanding 18th Royal Irish, and capt. Ellis, commanding the marine battalion, to capt. Bourchier of H. M. ship Blonde, commanding the brigade of seamen, supported most ably by capt. Maitland of H. M. ship Wel- lesley, and capt. Barlow H. M ship Nimrod, to lieut.-col. Morris, commanding the left brigade, whose good fortune it was first to carry the heights and place the colors of the 49th in the first fort taken, gallantly seconded by major Stephens, who commanded the 49th in the first operation, and major Blyth, who commanded that corps during the latter part of the day-capt. Duff commanding 37th M. N. I. and capt. Mee, commanding the Bengal Volunteers.

To major Pratt, commanding H. M. 26th regiment. This corps, though not at first much engaged from the nature of its position at the factories, proved on the 30th, by its spirited and steady conduct, which nothing` could exceed, how valua- ble its services would have been throughout.

To capt. Knowles of the royal artillery, senior officer of that arm, my best thanks are due for his valuable services. Lieut. the honble. R. C. Spenser, with the detachment of royal artillery well supported the high character of that dis- tinguished corps. The zcal of capt. Anstruther, commanding the Madras artik

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lery, was indefatigable, as were 'the efforts of every individual of that valuable body in bringing up the guns and ammuniton.

    To captain Cotton, field engineer, I feel under the greatest obligations, and I experienced the most ready support from every officer under him. Of one of them, lieut. Rundall, I regret to say, that I shall probably lose the services for some time, in consequence of a severe wound. The useful labors of the sappers called for my best thanks; they were cheerfully prepared to place the ladders for the escalade.

    I feel greatly obliged to all the general staff-all accompanied me on shore, and to their indefatigable attention in conveying orders on foot, at times to a considera- ble distance, I was much indebted. To lieut. col. Mountain, deputy adjutant, my best thanks are duc for his unwearied exertions and valuable services not only upon the present, but upon every occasion. The exertions of major Hawkins, deputy commissary general, were unceasing, and by his judicious arrangements (and those of his assistant,) the troops were amply supplied. The excellent arrangements by Dr. Grant, the officiating superintending surgeon, and medical staff of corps, call also for my acknowledgment. I beg to bring to your lordohip's particular notice my aid-de-camp, captain Grugh, of the 3d light dragoons, from whom I have upon this, as upon every occasion, received the most active and unremitting

assistance.

    44. Having now conveyed my approval of the conduct of the commanding of- ficers of brigades and corps, and the heads of departments, permit me to draw your lordship's special attention to the praiseworthy conduct of the sailors under my command, which in my mind does them the highest credit. During the eight days this force was on shore, (and many of the corps were unavoidably placed in situations where samshu was abundant,) but two instances of drunkenness oc- curred: and I deem it but justice here to mention a strong fact. The soldiers of the 49th, finding a quantity of samshu in the village they had so gallantly taken, without order or previous knowledge of their officer, brought the jars containing this pernicious liquor, and broke them in front of their corps, without the occur. rence of a single case of intoxication.

    45. This dispatch will be presented by captain Grattan, whose conduct I have already mentioned to your lordship, and whom I have selected for this duty alone on account of that conduct. He is a most intelligent officer, and will be able to give your lordship any further information. I have the honor to be, &c.

HUGH GOUGH, major-general, commanding expeditionary force. P. S. It is with deep regret that I have to mention the loss of lieutenant Fox, of H. M. S. Nimrod, a most promissing young officer attached to captain Barlow's battalion of seamen, who fell at the storm of the western forts. Mr. Walter Kendall, mate of the same ship, a very deserving officer, lost his leg, I am sorry to add, at the same time.

I have the honor to forward a return of the killed and wounded, and a list of ordnance captured. Of the killed and wouned on the enemy's side, it is difficult to form a correct estimate; but the Kwangchow foo acknowledged to me that of the Tartar troops, 500 had been killed, and 1,500 wounded on the 25th May-and I conceive that the killed and wounded on the Chinese side, upon the 30th, and in the different attacks made upon my flanks and line of communication, must have been double those numbers.

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Extracts from the dispatches of sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, &c., &c., dated

June 2d 1841, and addressed to commodore, sir J. J. Gordon Bremer、

I closed my former letter with the details of our proceedings up to the moment the expedition was about to leave Hongkong for Canton. I have now the grati- fication to enter upon the details of a succession of operations, highly honorable I trust to her majesty's arms, and by which the large and populous city of Canton has been laid in complete submission at the feet of the queen's forces.

No overt act of hostility had taken place up to the 21st May, except remount- ing the guns in the Shameën battery, but the Chinese appear to have been per- fectly ready for attack. All remained quiet in the river until about 11 o'clock r. *., when an attempt was made with fire rafts to burn the advanced vessels. This attack not only totally failed, but was followed up by a gallant attack on the Sha- meën battery, and the silencing of it by the vessels of the squadron, under the im mediate supperintendence of captain Herbert of the Calliope, and the destruction of large flotilla of fire vessels, which the Chinese had been preparing, and had brought out of the branch of the river which leads north of the town. About the same time, though later in the night, the Alligator was attacked off Howqua's fort; and to show how necessary it was to have been always on our guard, the fire junks came up with the flood tide in a direction with the merchant vessels at Whampoa, where all seemed to sleep in security. Captain Kuper's account of his prompt and decisive conduct in repelling the attack, I have also No. 1.

the honor to forward.

Opinions were uncertain as to the feasibility of entering the northward branch of the river, and of floating at low water. To determine this I availed myself once more of the zeal and great ability of commander Belcher, who most hand- somely volunteered to explore it with his own boats, assisted with three others from the Pylades, and Modeste, and Algerine, all placed under the command of that gallant and judicious officer lieutenant Goldsmith of the Druid, who was attached to the Blenheim, in that ship's launch, and who had orders to protect commander Belcher in his surveying operations.

:

The major-general and myself went to Canton to make a reconnoisance and a personal inspection on the same day, the 23d. In our progress we observed i Bring and explosions in the direction of captain Belcher's party; and commander Belcher's letter, a copy of which I enclose, gives the detail of a gallant No. 2.

          and spirited affair which took place in the creek. At 11 at night, commander Belcher returned with the gratifying intelligence that he had dis- covered an excellent landing place on a pier, with water enough for the Sulphur close to it at low water. The ground directly around it rose in low hills, and a line of hills appeared to continue to the height near the city, although there might be swampy ground in the small vallies dividing them."

Our united force consisting of the ships and vessels named in the margin, com- prising in their crews, officers, seamen, and marines inclusive, about 3200 men; Forming the Macao fort division. out of which about 1000 officers, seamen, and Blenheim, Blonde, Sulphur, marines were landed to serve with the army. Hyacinth, Nimrod, Modeste, The military force under that gallant, distin+ Pylades, Cruiser, Columbine, guished, and experienced officer major-general Algerine, Starling. Steamers, sir Hugh Gough, comprised her majesty's 49th Atalanta and Nemesis.

                      regiment, 311 in number, 37th Madras natives Forming the Whampoa division. infantry 240, Bengal Voluntee s 79, royal artil-

69

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Calliope, Conway, Herald, Alligator.

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lery 38, Madras artillery 232, sappers and mi- ners 171, her majesty's 18th Royal Irish 535, and her majesty's 26th Cameronians 317, mak- ing about 2223.

The Wellesley, al Wangtong sent up her marines and 160 seamen. Captain Herbert was stationed at Whampoa with the Calliope, Conway, Her- ald and Alligator, and was directed on the 24th to take the command of the force, afforded by the four vessels under his orders, and pushing up with the flood-tide with such vessels as could proceed, or with the boats of the ships, endeavor to take possession of and secure the arsenal. I informed him that the ships near the factory would drop down and secure the Dutch fort, and to keep up an enfilading fire on the face of the works thrown up in frout of the city where I understood many guns where mounted. I left it to his own judgment to act ac- cording to circumstances, in endeavoring to drive the enemy from the French fort and to endeavor to open the communication with the ships of war to the westward and with the commanding officer of the left column stationed at the

factories. I beg to enclose a letter I have received from captain No. 3, Herbert, detailing the part he took in the affair that followed, where the usual gallantry and zeal were displayed by her majesty's seamen and royal marines. Commander Warren, with his gig's crew, first placed his colors on the walls of the French fort. Commander Warren was also ordered, with the ships under his command, to take up his anchorage in line along the town from the western fort as far as the factory, and to connonade the exterior to prevent the enemy from firing on the right column as it passed. After the enemy's fire had been silenced he was to leave the Nimrod and another vessel to keep the enemy in check at that quarter, and to detach the rest of his force to secure the Dutch fort, and to place them with the Atalanta so as to enfilade the line of bat- teries in front of the city, but he was not to expose his ships to the front fire of the heavy guns, said to be placed there, until the enemy were shaken in their position. The landing of the left column was placed under his particular charge, and it was not to land until he had made the signal.

So affectually and vigorously did commander Warren execute these instruc- tions, that when the right column passed his station, every things bad been com- pleted and all was still; the detail of this gallant affair is aunexed in No. 4.

a copy of bis letter, where I regret to observe the loss of men was more than had been ordinary.

and

A return of the killed and wounded is here added, and although it may appear strange to see the wounded of the army in the naval report, yet the two No. 5. corps had been so entirely mingled together, their services so blend- ed, and such intimate harmony has existed, that it would be difficult to make any separation between the acts of either or the circumstances that concerned them. The two officers who had fallen, major Becher of the Indian army, deputy quarter master general, a very old officer who had served ably in the Burmese war, lieut. Fox, first of the Nimrod, have united the regret of all by their characters and services. The same shot took off the legs of lieut. Fox and of Mr. Kendal his shipmate, the gunnery mate of the Nimrod, the former fell a victim to his wound, the latter has survived amputation. I thought it would gratify Mr. Kendal to give him an acting commission as lieut. of the Nimrod in lieut. Fox's vacancy. on the field of battle until your pleasure is known--though his wound will disable him from doing his duty perhaps for some time; and may oblige him to go home.

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I have the honor to inclose lists of the officers who have been engaged in the operations on shore and afloat in boats, but it must be remarked that the duties and the fatigues of commander Pritchard of the Blenheim, and of those who remained on board their respective ships, were increased in the same ratio as their numbers were diminished, and that the ultimate success is the attainment of the whole body, each working in his praticular sphere. The names of many will be seen who have already distinguished themselves at Chuenpee, Anunghoy, Wang- tong and the many affairs in the Cauton river, and no doubt have already, like their brother officers at Acre, been so fortune as to secure their country's notices Never was there a superior set of zealous able commanders. Commander. Belcher and Warren have only continued in that path of able and judicious ser- vice on which they have so long traveled-their own services will always attract attention,-of the lieutenants, It. Joseph Pearce, It. Goldsmith, It. Watson, sir Frederick Nicholson, It. Morshead, first of their respective vessels, may, perhaps, be named without injury to all others who well played their parts,-to It. Kellett, of the Starling, I am much obliged; and It. Mason, of the Algerine, has won his promotion by a long series of gallant and brave services. I beg to acknowledge the zeal and the assistance I have had from every captain and offi-

cer of the squadron whom I have had the happiness to command.

No 1.

To captain T. HERBERT, Commanding the advanced squadron.

Her majesty's ship Alligator, off Howqua's folly, May 22d, 1841. Sir, I have the honor to acquaint you that last night, shortly after 12 o'clock an attack was made by the Chinese upon her majesty's ship Alligator, under my command, by fire rafts. They were chained in pairs, and brought down in a direct line for the ships on a flood tide: owing to the confined position I was in, and the sunken junks and line of stakes astern, I could not ship, but by steering ship, and the activity of It. Stewart, first of this ship, and Messrs. Woolcombe and Baker, mates, in command of the boats, they were towed clear, althongh they passed within ten yards of the bows: as I had reason to believe that a con- siderable force was assembled in the vicinity, to take advantage of any accident that might occur,

                   I fired several shots on both sides to clear the banks. No damage has been sustained.

I have the honor to be, &c.,

(Signed)

AUGUSTUS L. KUPER, captain (acting).

No. 2.

Capt. sir H. LE Fleming SenhOUSE, KT., K. C. н, senior officer, &c., &c.

Her majesty's ship Sulphur, off Canton, May 23d, 1841. Sir,-In pursuance of your directions I proceeded up the creek on the western side of Canton in order to examine the nature of the country, our force consisting of the Druid's launch, lieutenant Goldsmith (1st lieutenant of the ship) Sulphur's pinnace, and two cutters, Modeste, Pylades, and Algerine's cutters, Starling's cutter, and my gig, the two first-named boats carrying guns.

On approaching Neishing, where the boats of the squadron were yesterday engaged, I observed the fast-boats of the enemy collected in great numbers, part retreated by a creek to the left, but shortly after returned and manifested a dispo- sition to impede our progress, by firing guns and drawing up across the creek. Our advance, and notice of our determination by a round from each of the boats

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   carrying guns, put them to flight, and in a very short period 13 fast-boats, 5 war junks and small craft collected, amounting to 28 in all, were in flames. Fire rafts were in readiness, on the banks of the creek, but too well secured by chains, and therefore beyond our ability to destroy during our short stay.

The whole force behaved with their usual gallantry, and the commander of the division under my direction (lieutenant Goldsmith) afforded me that steady determined support, which so particularly distinguishes him, and which caused me to ask you for his cooperation.

The enemy being posted in force on a hill above us, prevented me, in obedi- ence to your orders, from exposing my small party by an attempt to dislodge them. But I fully succeeded in effecting my reconnoître by being hoisted to the mast head of the largest junk from whence I was able to survey the whole sur- rounding country.

From that examination I am happy to acquaint you that landing on solid ground is perfectly practicable. That the advance to the batteries situated on the hills north of Canton is apparently easy, and I have every reason to believe that our artillery will not meet with any extraordinary difficulty.

    On my return I landed at the temple at Tsangpoo, where I found sand bags, and five small guns which were spiked and thrown into the sea. This temple, with other large commodious buildings, will afford ample quarters for the troops which may first be landed.

    No casualties whatever occurred. I brought out with me one large fast-boat of sixty oars, the boat from which the officer escaped; and in pursuance of your separate orders collected vessels for the conveyance of 2000 soldiers.

I have the honor to enclose a list of boats and officers engaged, and am sir,

(Signed) Your most obedient servant, ED. BELCHER, commander.

No. 3.

To capt. sir H. Le Fleming SenHOUSE, kt, K. C. H. &c., &c., Canton river.

    Sir, I received your orders of the 24th instant, a little before noon on that day, and immediately proceeded with the boats and marines of the Calliope and Con- way to the Alligator off Howqua's fort, making the signal to the Herald to close and send her boats.

I ordered captain Kuper to move the Alligator up the right bank of the river past Napier's fort, where he anchored her in her own draught, and the boats were pushed up as far as possible without exposing them to the enemy's fire. A little before sunset I observed the Algerine moving down past the Dutch fort, and she shrotly anchored and engaged a battery on the Canton side which she silenced; anxious to cooperate with her I went ahead with captain Bethune to reconnoitre, but was stopped by a shot through my boat from the French fort.

    I remained under cover of the point until dark, when I sent captain Bethune with a division of boats to support her, and a concerted signal having been made, I joined her with the whe le force at 2 A. M.

The arsenal being secured, I reconnoitred the line of defense, and perceived that it could not be attacked with advantage without having heavier guns in posi tion than those of the Algerine. I therefore lost no time in ordering the other sloops down, and at the same time put myself in communication with major Pratt, commanding H. M. 26th in the factory.

Finding that the Modeste was the only vessel likely to be got across the bar,

-

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and there appearing even some doubt of her accomplishing the passage, I fitted shell guns in three of the captured war junks.

       Captain Eyres having succeeded by great exertion in getting his vessel over the bar, I this morning moved her, Algerine, and the gun juaks on the French fort, the enemy deserted the upper defense, and about 9 a. м. opened the fire from the fort, which was speedily silenced; I then cleared the beach by a few well directed broadsides, and made the signal to advance. Captain Bethune immedia- tely landed on shore with the storming party and the fort was carried in the most gallant style; the whole line of defense extended about two miles from the factory, which, with the exception of the French fort, had been lately constructed in the strongest manner, has been destroyed, and communication is opened with the ships of Napier's fort. The guns destroyed are 64 in number, including four 104 inch calibre-the Dutch fort was not armed.

       To that excellent and able officer captain Bethune, I fell particularly indebted, and my best thanks are also due to commanders Warren and Gifford, who assisted in the attack. This is the sixth time I have had occasion to mention the gallant conduct of commander Eyres; lieutenant Mason, commanding the Algerine, acquitted himself entirely to my satisfaction ; and both captain Eyres and himself speak in the highest terms of the assistance they received from lieutenant Shute, and Mr. Dolling, mate, their seconds in command, and all the other officers and

men.

       Lieutenants Haskell and Hay, senior of Cruizer, and Pylades, directed the guns in the junk with the greatest ability-captain Bethune speaks in the highest terms of lieutenants Watson, Coryton, Colinson, Morshead, Hayes, Hamilton, and Mr. Brown, master, as also lieutenant Hayes of the Bombay marines, and of all the other officers and men employed more immediately under his orders, & list of whom is annexed. The party of marines was commanded by lieutenant Urquhart, assisted by lieutenant Marriott, lieutenant Somerville, agent of trans- ports, aided with some boats of the transports. Lieutenant Gabbott, of the Madras artillery, threw shells with great effect from one of the junks, and major Pratt offered in the handsomest manner to cooperate in the attack, if required.

T. HERBERT.

(Signed)

Capt. of H. H. ship. Calliope, and senior officer present.

No. 4.

To captain sir HUMPHREY LE FLEMING SenHouse, kt, K. C. H., &c.

Her majesty's sloop Hyacinth, off Canton, May 26th, 1841. Sir, I have the honor to acquaint you that immediately on the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant, I weighed with the advanced squadron and ordered her majesty's sloop Nimrod to attack the Shameën fort, on the west end of the sub- urbs, supported by her majesty's sloop Pylades. Her majesty's sloop under my command being placed abreast of the English factory to silence and dislodge any troops that might be there, and also with a view of covering the landing of her majesty's 26th regiment. Her majesty's sloops Modeste, Cruizer, and Columbine, taking up a position to attack ́the Dutch folly fort, and to enfilade the line of bat- teries, lately thrown up in front of the city to the eastward of that fort. On the ships taking up their position three fire vessels were sent adrift, and although the tide was running very strong by timely dispatch of boats they were enabled to clear the ships and tow three on shore and set fire to the suburbs.

450

Poo Nang Che tsăng sin.

Oct.

In the performance of this service they opened their fire on the boats and ship- ping. In half an hour the enemy were completely silenced to the eastward of the Dutch folly fort. After reconnoitring the factory and finding it quite desert- ed, I immediately ordered the preconcerted signal for her majesty brig Algerine and steamer Atalanta to approach with her majesty's 26th regiment, when they landed and took possession of the factory without the slighest casualty. This service being completed, I ordered lieut. Mason, commanding her majesty's brig Algerine, to proceed to attack a fort to the eastward, which I feel much pleasure in reporting to you was done in a particularly spirited and gallant style by that officer, but perceiving the firing to be so heavy from the forts, I ordered the boats of her majesty's ships to her support. Her majesty's sloop Hyacinth's under lieut. Stewart, and Mr. Peter Barcley, mate; Modeste's Mr. Fitzgerald, mate; Crui- zer's, lieut. Haskoll, and Mr. Thomas J. Darke, mate; Pylade's, lieut. Hay, and Columbine's lieuts. Hamilton, Helpman, and Mr. Miller, mate. It is gratifying to me to inform you, by half past seven the fort of eleven guns were silenced and the guns spiked, under a heavy fire of ginjalls and musketry from houses ; at the same time I regret to add, it was not done without considerable loss. It would be impossible to particularize upon an occasion where every officer and man engaged against an enemy defending themselves with much vigor at all points, but in addition to my best thanks and acknowledgments to commanders Barlow, Eyres, Giffard, Anson, and Clarke, and lieutenant Mason, I hope you will give me leave to recommend to your particular notice my own 1st lieutenant W. H. Morshead, who was wounded in the hand in a personal engagement with an officer. Lieut. Mason of the Algerine speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Mr. Dolling, mate, and Mr. Higgs, second master of that vessel. I cannot con- clude without expressions of approbation of the steadiness of commander Rogers, of the India Navy, in conducting the Atalanta to her station.

I beg leave to attach a statement of the killed and wounded, and damage sustained by the ships engaged. I have the honor to be, &c.

(Signed)

William Warren, commander.

Note. The whole number of killed was 15, of wounded 112, making a total of 127 in the military and naval forces.

ART. III. Poo Nang Che tsăng sin; A supplementary Sack of

Wisdom, new and improved edition, in 10 vols. small octavo. By Scholasticus..

   CHINESE literature is exceedingly rich, and its stores almost inex- haustible. Having patiently perused classics, poets, historians and romances, and imagining himself to have obtained a comprehensive knowledge of all the writings of this people, one is surprised to stum- ble upon other works, which require a new study to unravel their

1841.

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meaning. In fact, it may be considered a hopeless task for any one man to master the written language in all its branches; and probably there is not one in the national college, who can at first sight ex- plain every book-so various are these works in their style.

      Compare Chinese book-making with this art amongst other na- tions, and you will soon perceive, that it widely differs from that of any other people ancient or modern.

As for ancient learning in the west, we have to decipher old and defective manuscripts, requiring much toil and great critical judg- ment; for they are in foreign languages, which are imperfectly under- stood, since the people who spoke them have either ceased to exist; or have totally changed their idioms. And when, after much labor, the parchment is put into the printer's hands, it contains either the deeds of heroic nations of which the very traces are lost, or alludes to manners, usages, and religion to which the readers are stangers and can feel no attachment. The most stirring orations of a Demos- thenes and Cicero have lost much of their intrinsic value, since there exists no longer a Philip or Cataline to rouse every passion and feel- ing of patriotism. Sentiment, style, grandeur of conception, contain- ed in their classical writings, can never fail deeply to interest the tasteful reader; yet those who now identify themselves with the an- cients, and are so hurried on by enthusiasm as to become Greeks and Romans for a season, seem ridiculous in the eyes of many. Even the imitators of the noble patterns of eloquence and poetry are dis- regarded, and the only thing that remains for the attentive student of Grecian and Roman classics, is to embody their spirit in his works and to exhibit all their natural beauties in modern language, adapted to existing circumstances.

With the Chinese, however, it is quite different. When they first felt the want of a written medium, they engraved their characters on bamboo; and, though it be no easy work to read a book cut out on such a hard substance, yet it better resists the gnawing tooth of time, than our present flimsy paper, which the slightest touch or the most gentle attack of a worm reduces to tatters. It is not easy to divine how that prince of literature, Confucius, managed with his innume- rable blocks, when he composed the Shoo King. Without telling us whence he got all his bamboos, he makes up stories and repeats speeches which were uttered more than a thousand years before his day, just as if he had been present and taken them down in short hand, and every Chinese looks upon his writing as genuine history. He was a most fortunate author, for his authority has never been

452

Poo Naug Che tsăng sin.

Oct.

questioned, except by some sceptical barbarians, and if there are even galring contradictions in his compilations, Che hwangte gets all the credit of them, he having burnt all the books of the literati, so that not a single volume escaped. He indeed must have made bonfires of all the bamboo slips and like the caliph Omar heated a good many ovens, for otherwise how could he have obliterated every trace of lite- rature amongst a great nation? Moreover he must have been a very partial mam, since he left all other authors unscathed, and only pun- ished poor Confucius for his herisies, waging war not so much against the philosopher's own works, as against his compilations, the thoughts of ancient sages. Imagine Taoukwang giving orders to all the school- boys of the empire to deliver up their classics to be burnt, and con- template the scene in anticipation, and you would behold a more sublime spectacle than even Lin's destroying the opium, or Yih- shan's burning the vessels of the aliens.

    This stubborn belief in their authenticity, however, has given a peculiar character to the whole literature of this country. It has taught all succeeding writers to quote the assertions of their prede- cessors as axioms, and to avoid the trouble either of thinking upon a subject or of reasoning about the justness of a remark. Moreover the propensities of the sons of Han for talking and writing being of a superior order, there is naturally no end to books. The ancient authors, in imitation of Confucius, boldly assumed the high ground of dictation, and wrote whatever come into their minds. If the reas der will take the trouble of looking into the celebrated writings of the Shih Tsze, or ten philosophers, (Greece had only seven,) he will soon convince himself, that these men, in many instances, put sound- sense and logic at defiance, mix fable and truth, talk direct nonsense and practical wisdom in the same breath, and leave the reader to doubt, whether, when writing, they had been sober or not. Even Confucius, much admired as he is and justly too, is not free from this fault. Now it would have been pardonable, in these lawgivers, to talk thus for their own amusement, or to raise a laugh at their expense in future; but it is rather too bad, that they should have taught the whole race of authors after them, to repeat, parrot-like, sense and nonsense, and to fill thousands of volumes with the same odd verbiage. The great mischief is, that this literature is so very void of realities, and so loves to sore in undefined and fairy regions, leaving men and things as they are to take care of themselves. In poesy we must make due allowance, for if rhymesters and verse-makers were not allowed to wander through the air, there would be an end to the whole profes-

..

i

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      sion. Philosophers, too, must have their due allowance of threading through metaphysical labyrinths with light steps, and be indulged sub- lime flights, amusing themselves with nomentities and building ether real castles, speaking in riddles and beguiling buman reason. But when we find geographers, historians, &c., talking the same absur- dities, and writing and quoting poetry where they ought to use only sober prose, we cannot but be displeased. We have had the misfor tune of opening hundreds of volumes either descriptive or narrative, and we have found little information. Take a topographical work, for instance, and you will find that, besides names and dates, which are tolerably correct, there is such a collection of gallimatia, that fifty volumes might be condensed into one. There are indeed honorable exceptions, but they are few. Their very statistics do not always, escape this bane, and many an edict is as poetical as Le Taepih's effusions. This taste has prevailed throughout all ages, even when knight errantry and romance were entirely out of vogue. If any man shonld abandon the beaten track and write useful books for some good to the purpose, he would be denounced as a literary heretic. Still the nation at large is remarkable for the practical tendency of, its genius and sound sense, though occasionally disturbed by cunning, so that its literature forms a direct contrast to the current principles of action.

Under such circumstances one would have thought, that useful. knowledge, conveyed in the prize essays at the public examinations, would win the day; but it is not so. All the successful candidates, whose treatises are printed and subjected to the judgment of the. public, excel in rodomontade and quotations from authors as spicy and jucoherent as some of our own Latin Collectanea. It is, however, a most extraordinary thing that these glaring defects in literature are. made up by work of fiction, which take the very opposite road, and; instead of dwelling upon names, intrigues, foolish stories, rites and ceremonies, like all grave historians, give a lively description of the age, countries and people. There is a historical work called San Kwo Che, in many large octavo volumes; and, when you have forced yourself to read the dry and uninteresting detail of its pages, you have scarcely any conception of the extraordinary events that filled China with war and devastation for a long period; but after, having read the little book of fiction of the same name, you seem to live in those remote ages, and see the heroes and heroines actually flitting before you, as if the author, were, using, a magic lantern. There are hundreds and thousands of volumes of this kind, which, with all their

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defects convey ideas of the existing state of things, such as you might in vain look for in the most 'celebrated authors, that pretended to ac- taal 'delineation of facts. Andtlier instance of distorted genius we havé in the case of Sỏo Tungpóo, "who has often had the 'honor of passing for a poet, though he is in fact a mere essayist.' 'He has' col- lected edicts, epigrams, poems, ditties, discourses, remonstrances,' and we do not know what besides, and has gained every high renown ́ with his countrymen. But, when you have perused all, you' find that' your knowledge about the times in which he lived' is by no means expanded, and that the historical novel of the Sung dynasty, is, so far as information goes, far more valuable. A spell has come over the host of Chinese authors, a magical narrowmindedness, communicat- ed by the book-making fraternity at Peking, the highest doctors and literary characters of the empire. "They never write sober prose,' or detail simple matters of fact; consequently the servile crowd of imitators, throughout the provinces, dare not deviate from the esta blished 'rále.

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Such a state of things has more than one disagreeable conse- quence. The worst perhaps is, that foreigners, and even natives of common education, can understand only a small part of these works. Wherever there are quotations', ́ taken at random from some quaintTM authors, without regard to the context, even Chinese literati äre at a' stand. The great bulk of books, therefore, must first be attentively studied, before they can be intelligible to the common reader. One can not take up a work and read on, without constantly meeting with hard passages, which may perhaps be explained by repeatedly perusing the whole context. Few then, however, have either leisure or patience to do so, and hence it happens, that by far the greater part of the written language, remanis sealed up in libraries. We have seen extensive collections of books in Chinese houses, scarcely one of which, if not a novel, had ever been touched since it came out of the hands of the binder,"-12 Al na hin 9:1

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   But, notwithstanding all these faults, the 'Chinese' highly' esteem and admire their national literature. It is their darling object of pur- suit. Whether good or bad, book's will alway's fifid a publisher, and be reprinted in endless succession. All that they have of their own productions, however ancient, are written in a living language which is spoken at this day, with few variations. Their numerous characters have rendered the imprint of their thoughts lasifing; the men who first civilized their country are of their own flesh and blood; and their errors and excellencies are perpetuated amongst their posterity.

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With such endearing remembrances, it is scarcely possible that the Chinese ever could despise their grandsires or their immortal works. And, reasoning consistently that the experience of many centuries will stamp maxims with greater veracity, than the suggestions of the new-fangled freak of a moment howsoever specious, they naturally stand by all that, the ancients have said, and will not go a step far- thet,

      and whether right or wrong, they staunchly maintain their writ- ings and multiply, numberless editions. The Board of Rites, even refused to change the system of geography, though the missionaries gave ocular, proofs that there existed a great number of other coun- tries, besides those entered on the list bequeathed by the ancients.

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What would Rome have been, if Cæsar, had, understood the art of xylography, and had printed his commentaries, with a good sized newspaper, to convince the world, that he was solely living, and act ing for the benefit of the commonwealth There would have been no end of books, if the versatile Greeks could have availed them- selves of this art, and, transmitted their thoughts, at their hearts' de- sire, to the most remote ages. Such however was the good fortune of the Chinese. When the original writers had carefully consigned their sentiments to slips of bamboo, their ingenious countrymen pro- cured paper, and ink, and printing with blocks, struck off innumerable copies. Thus it happened that, during the middle ages, books were reprodured with immeuse facility, and nothing of ancient lore was lost to the world. We have therefore treatises upon every subject, within the compass of human comprehension, and when our western nations glory in some new invention, let them remember, that some obscure Chinese author, had perhaps a crude idea of the same matter many centuries ago, and has written long essays upon the subject. We really despair of adducing anything, of which the Chinese have not some notion, expressed either in curious prose or long winding rhymes. We have seen treatises on hollow shot, rockets, and bombs, as they were used in the ninth century; we have inet with essays on metallic currency, and the banking system; we have even seen notices about the power of steam, and its practical application to useful purposes; and a great many other things, which are at first sight really sur- prizing. But they are mere infant notions, incipient thoughts, which if properly followed up would lead to great results. Nor are they brought to light by the present, generation, but are the conceptions of writers who lived centuries ago; but it is enough to have all these things in books, and to prove that China once possessed profound and inventive thinkers.

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Pardon us, gentle reader, for taking this very roundabout way to offer our criticism upon the work before us. It belongs to a nondes- cript genus, is neither fiction nor truth, but a collection of anecdotes for the valuable purpose of teaching people wisdom. Hence it has received the honorable appellation of a 'sack,' which we shall endea- vor to empty at random, to show in some measure its contents.

    In the preface, we are given to understand, that this is a prime collection, made by Păng Manglung on purpose to enlighten man- kind, and has undergone many improvements, until it attained its pre- ́sent size. In examining the index, we perceive that the compiler divides the subject into superior wisdom, clear wisdom, searching wisdom, wisdom of bravery, artful wisdom, ready wisdom, wisdom in speaking and military affairs, wisdom of the harem and miscella- neous wisdom; each of these species is illustrated by thé èxample of the most celebrated personages, that ever lived in China, including ladies and gentlemen. The writer naturally begins with Confucius, the minor of wisdom. He was a courtier, saw much of high life, was `occasionally reduced to great straits, and frequently obliged to deny his own principles. The questi has often been put, whether a ́statesman can, under all circumstances in which he is placed by ́his office, adhere to rectitude or not; if this is applied to the Chinese 'we give an answer unhesitatingly in the negative. The philosopher himself felt this frequently. On being charged with the murder of a man, likely in his way, he makes out a case of moral turpitude, which though extremely offensive to the wellbeing of human socie- ty, was not deserving of capital punishment by the laws of the land, and this is quoted as an instance of his superior wisdom. And then there follows the moral of the thing, that an intelligent prince might take away the life of servants, in whom he discovered the latent pro- pensities of future mischief. This is indeed a very convenient doc- trine. At another time the sage had his horse arrested by the pea- santry on account of a trespass upon a corn-field. Confucius, how- ever, talked them out of this presumption and got his steed back.

A general was falsely accused, by an unworthy sycophant to his prince of having acted deceitfully. The sovereign summoned the ac- cuser before him, at once saw through the falsehood, and sent him back to the warrior to receive punishment for his crime. The gene- ral looked upon the miserable man, and, showing him his death war- rant signed, then asked whether he would atone for his wickedness by fighting the enemy; but mark, he added, if you lose the battle you must die. The culprit went away and conquered the foe.

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      Another prince observed a soldier, on duty, steadfastly fixing his eyes on a favorite, a very beautiful lady; and, upon being asked what he was about, gave no answer; but, being sent against the enemy with the prospect of making the dansel his wife in case of success, he manfully fought the battle, and obtained the hand of the fair one. This was a man of wisdom. "

      An emperor sent a eunuch to the western sea to purchase some extraordinary jewels. On his return they were hid, and even the record of the transaction was kept a secret. A minister asked the reason of this strange proceeding, and was told, that the undertaking had entailed so much misery upon the soldiers as well as on the peu- ple, that the wisest thing to be done was to obliterate all remem brance of the affair. This was wisdom.

Kwang Woo of the Han dynasty killed an officer, and then one of the underlings collected several thousand papers to slander him, and passed them over to the emperor. The latter handed them over 10 the lictors, and giving orders to burn them, requested to let the mad rest in peace. This is another sample of wisdom.

Some individuals seem to be gifted with this valuable attribute, which we might have been translated foresight. The book before us gives a number of instances, such as the suggestions of Chekwo, a statesman, who, by suitable advice and deep observation of the state of things, saved the life of his prince, and prevented a total defeat of his forces. But this was not his only prudent act, he always found out ways and means, and had he lived in our times, he ought to have been made a minister of finance to pay off national debt. Another worthy courtier, whenever he saw any approaching danger, would on no account give himself up to joyous festivity, to which he was much addicted, but would remain sober and quiet, until the critical mo- ment was passed.

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     A very enterprizing scholar having arrived at the capital, and there proved himself very inquisitive, gave evidence of considerable accomplishments, so as to attract the notice of a censor.

On nearer acquaintance, he was discovered to possess talents and abilities that fitted him to undertake the government of the whole country. The prudent sovereign having fully convinced himself, that this aspiring genius would prove troublesome, had him instantly killed.

One of the petty princes murdered a man, and wanted to employ his son in a high office, because he was of an unbending character and never swerved from the principles of rectitude. His minister however remonstrated, and proved that he would never forgive the

Poo Nang Che stũng sin.

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prince, for having beheaded his parent.

Yet the monarch doubted

the result until he found the son in open rebellion, and was obliged

to sentence him to death.

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A general was accused of misdeeds in the most severe manner, so that the prince was obliged to call him to court, in order to give an account of his proceedings. One of the presidents. having himself denounced him as a traitor, there was very little chance of escaping the doom. But the general, ou entering the imperial appartments, did not show the least symptom of fear, but with a noble, front met his master. The latter cast a searching look upon the hard features of the warrior, and perceiving nothing suspicions, immediately de- clared him innocent, and. put the false accuser to death. :.

Thousands of superstitious people thronged around.a living Budha, who was stopping in one of the temples, and pasted the surrounding images with gold, in order to show due respect towards the moving adol. Suddenly there came a hail-storm, that did great damage, and he crops of the people were uearly annihilated, yet still it did not cease. Thereupon an influen-ial man lighted a fire, burnt the images, got the gold which had melted into a lump, and then had it distributed. The hail than immediately ceased.

    An officer who had to administer justice in several districts, made it the business of his life to inquire accurately into the state of the people under his charge, and when, by reiterated interrogatories, he had fully ascertained a man's circumstances he put it carefully.down in a book.. On a certain day, he comamnded all to appear in order to raise an income tax, according to the valuation of property... He gave at the same time to each a paper requesting thim to write down whạt he might be able to pay. When they appeared before him, they were surprised to find an accurate account.drawn up of their goods and chattles, with a fair valuation already made.

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Aararsh in Keängsoo prevented communication between two thickly inhabited districts. An ingenious native, therefore planted rushes, encircled the waters, and; completely drained, a part of them into a ditch dug on purpose. But, enough of this, wisdom..........

    We are now come to searching wisdom, and quote only a few in- stances. - A man had written an essay, part of which was obliterated by a villain, and other characters were put in the blanks. The writer lost thereby his promotion, and bitterly complained about the injus- tice done to him.......But being anxious to discover the trick, which had been played upon him, he held the paper towards the light, and there discovered the original characters, which,, when subsequently

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immerged in water, appeared all legible; and the author of the deceit was severly punished.

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l ̈Â ̈murder had been committed, but the real author of it could not be found out. Though there were a number of criminals in the prison', upon whom suspicion fell, the horrible deed could be brought 'home' to nobody. In this emergency the offices invited all the prisoners to a repast, and had their fetters knocked off." When'all had risen from their meal, they returned to their dungeons and only one man was kept back. He;' with a frightened countenance asked for the reason of not being allowed to go with his fellows, and was told, that he was the murderer. On inquiring farther for the proof of this assertion, he was informed, that he had taken the chopsticks in his left hand, and the murdered man having been wounded in his right side, he therefore must be the assassin. Though, in our humble opinion, this is a non-sequitur, the culprit was actually convicted on the proof thus adduced by the wary officer; wood soft daw londong on

17

      Of the wisdom of bravery we have an instance in a general, who was sent against the Huns. After having inveigled them into securi ty, he suddenly attacked them with fire and sword and cut off the heads off more than one hundred individuals. By this surprise and an act of treachery, he so frightened the enemy, that they willingly surrendered. Of this wisdom both Yang Fung and Yihshan, have given proofs, but they did not succeed so fully, and therefore deserve no place in this book.

From the chapter of artful wisdom (a term that might also be trau slated low cunning), a great deal might be quoted, because it is babi- tual to all sons of the Han. Proofs of this propensity, however, being of daily recurrence, we refrain quoting instances from ancient lore. Of ready wisdom there are sundry examples. The heir to the im- perial crown was approaching a first rate archer, and would certainly have been killed, if he had not attended to the exclamation of a mi- mister to throw himself down instantly: The promptness, with which the adinonition was obeyed, saved his life," Another courtier having ascertained, that a minister had some treasonable designs against his sovereign, saw himself powerless in his hand, without, being able

render any assistance to his master.

He therefore managed

to have all the bridges destroyed, by which the soldiers would ad- vance, and thus procured time for his prince to advance upon the capital.

An emperor asked his minister what books he was accustomed read at home: "The statesman was liiglily surprised at this question,

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and remarked: "Your majesty ; asks about the books I read, and never inquires about the state of the country over which you rule." ... Another emperor asked one of his servants, how he succeeded with the field, about which there had been a lawsuit, and was told, that his sphere was with superior men who did not design to converse about, such trifles,

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    These may suffice as specimens from the Sack of Wisdom. May the reader be as much benefited thereby, as the kind-hearted compil- er of this work intended. The language is very terse, in imitation of the style of the classics. Had we spokes about the wisdom of speech, or rather repartees, we might have brought forward many a good answer to an impertinent question. The perusal of the whole leaves the impression of dallness, that, in heightened by the reader's ignorance of the personages, that are the actors in these stories. One, who, wishes to read the work with zest, must previously have become. acquainted with the heroes and heroines, and be their admirer, and their several anecdotes may then be found amusing, but otherwise it will be a very sorry task.

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ART. IV. The wanton use of native words by foreign writers,

reprobated by the Colonial Magazine and Friend of India. WHEN occasionally we have hinted our dislike of the practice of using native words, and others that are not English, we have only uttered the sentiments of many competent judges in literary matters. We have no dislike to Chinese or Japanese, to Arabic or Mantchou, Malay, Bugis, Siamese, Pali, Sanscrit, or the modern dialects of India; though we profer plain English to any of these languages. It has become very common, however, among a certain class of writers, and chiefly such as wish to make a great show of a little knowledge, to bespangle their pages with native words-words foreign to the lan guage in which they write: we say chiefly, because some have fallen into this habit, without any such intention, and who are far enough from wishing to make a display of learning which they do not possess. Though our own pages may not always be free from the fault in question, yet we do not hesitate to join with the Colonial

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    Gazette and Friend of India in reprobating it. The better to show at what we are aiming, we will here enumerate some of the local. words, which may, and ought to be, we think, disused:-chinchin, chop, consoo, cumsha, fankwei, foke, hong, joss-house, junk, mandarin, muske, muster, samshew, &c.

      The writer in the Colonial Gazette, who subscribes himself' Plain English,' argues the case like a lawyer. Addressing the editor of that journal as judge, he says:-

1

       The parties I would cite to your bar are many, of various pro- fessions, and of either sex-Mrs. Postaus, sir William Lloyd, Mr. Vigne, captain Osborne, captain Havelock, in short, almost all who have lately written on the affairs of India; and the offense to be laid to their charge is that of introducing into their narratives oriental, and therefore unintelligible words, wantonly, without necessity, and from affectation, to the exclusion of the English equivalents, which would have embodied the meaning with equal significance to the mind of the author, and with the trifling advantage to the reader of being understood. This strange unnatural mode of concealing, rather than expressing, what is meant to be said, is so fréquent with these writers (for in this respect they are all alike), that one is led to speculate on what can be the common cause that has infected so many otherwise sensible and agreeable people with such an epidemic of bad taste. *** Whatever may be the cause that has seduced these writers into this unfortunate habit, it is high time that it were ! corrected; it is high time that they should be admonished of the intolera- ble weariness which gradually steals over the mind of the reader from the constant occurrence of words, the meaning of which is only to be guessed at by the context. Let them consider how seriously the use of this piebald jargon must prevent their works from becoming po- pular; how much it must retard that consummation, so devoutly to be wished, when the public mind of England shall make itself fa- miliarly and in earnest acquainted with the condition and the pros- pects, the rights and the wrongs, of our Indian possessions. * * *

      "To introduce a better order of things, to awaken interest where there is indifference, and to substitute knowledge for ignorance, should be the object and ambition of all writers upon India; but to succeed in instructing, they must condescend to please. At any rate, it is in their power to cease to offend by calling common things by uncommon names. The lively and entertaining Mrs. Postans, who describes the domestic life of the natives so well, must, if she wishes for readers in London, as well as at Bombay, be content

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to describe her next visit to the court of a Mohammedan chief without calling it, a durbar-must fill it with courtiers and attendants, instead of chelaks and chubdars-pay her respects to his wives, instead of his bebees-find their eyelids tinged with antimony, instead of soormay, and be entertained with dancing girls, instead of natches. Surely the names of the people and places she encounters might be quf- ficient to gratify her taste for dissonant and barbarous sounds, with- out inflicting upon us the native appellations of ordinary things. Does she not meet with Syud Azim-oo-deen, Jemsetjee Jeejeebhoy, and Janjerjee Nasserwanjee; and does she not travel to Parabuthee, Mahabuleshwar, and Pertabghur, and might she not be content? Nabobs and rajahs, and even maha-rajahs, we shall always be glad to hear about from so amusing and graphic a writer; but we must take the liberty of informing her, that many of the articles she deals in are unquestionably contraband, and that the next time she pre- sents herself with her luggage to be overhauled-and we hope it will not be long before she makes the experiment-neither chattraks; nor bhuprahs, nor howdahs, nor bunders, nor bobajees, will be permitted to pass, muster at the critical custoin-house."

In popular works, instead of giving the names of weights and mea- sures, &c., in native terms, their equivalents ought in most if not in all cases to be introduced. For the names of officers, corresponding titles 'may generally be obtained. But for persons and places native names must be used, with few exceptions. Thus we must write Yunnan and not 'the Cloudy, South,' Szechuen and not 'the Four Streams.' However, Yellow river, North river, and some other names, are, we think, preferable to the native terms Hwang ho, Pih ho, &c. If writers desire to have their books and essays read extensively, they must divest them of all unnecessary encumbrances. The Friend of India reasons well on this point, and we gladly quote from his excellent paper the following pertinent remarks made in support of the Co- lonial Gazette, in behalf of Plain English.

"However it may serve to give an oriental character to their com- positions, and possibly to impress the English reader with a feeling of respect for their learning, its natural and inevitable tendency is to abridge the number of their readers, and to disgust those who muster courage to go through their productions. Indian subjects are still comparatively unwelcome in England, and, until of late, were all but proscribed in what was esteemed good society. It is a happy cir- cumstance that this feeling of aversion has been in some measure removed, and that a more lively interest is now taken in everything

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that relates to this country. This favorable disposition ought to be fostered by all those who have information to communicate; whereas the course, which is now pursued, is calculated in too many instances to revive and increase the prejudice against everything Indian. We are fully aware that it is impossible, on all occasions, to avoid the adoption of native words, more especially in cases in which corres- ponding or suitable words cannot be found in English for things which do not exist in England; then an explanation of the foreign and barbarous terin should invariably be given. But in some of the works, to which the writer alludes, numerous instances may be found of so unnecessary a use of native terms, that it can be traced only to the love of display or to mere wantonness. There is too great a dispo- sition manifested to introduce them on every possible occasion. Any writer, however, who is persuaded that to be understood is a higher object than to be admired for the use of foreign and learned words, will seek to reduce the occasions in which they are introduced, and to regulate the adoption of them by the rules of a rigid necessity. If our cotemporaries will not take amiss the advice of one who feels deeply interested in the growing influence ard power of the Indian press, we would ask them to bear in mind, that they are no longer writing for an Indian audience only; that it is from their columns that the community in England and on the continent is gradually forming its estimate of the British institutions of India, and of their influence on the well-being of its population. They must remember that nearly eighty thousand copies of newspapers, published in India, find their way during the year to England, and that they are writing for the meridians of London, Paris, and Vienna, as well as for that of Calcutta. They cannot therefore be too careful how they allow their pages to be disfigured with words almost unintelligible 'in Europe,' and for which corresponding terms might easily, or with a little care, be found in our own tongue."

No one of the words, which we have given above, is without its equivalent in English; and a full equivalent: thus for chinchin, you may have thanks or beg, as the case may chance to be: for chop, you may have edict, passport, &c.; for consoo, public hall: to say the consoo in Canton, is quite as definite as to say the public hall, or the hotel in London; for the consoo in Canton are probably as numerous as the public halls in London; almost all the commercial companies in Canton, and all the different trades, have their respective consoo (Akung so, or public places), each one its own; thus the com- 公所

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pany of merchants licensed to trade with foreigners has its consoo, where its public business, that which its members have in common, is transacted.

ART. V. The Third Annual Report of the Morrison Education

Society: read September 29th, 1841.

THE third annual meeting of the Morrison EducaTION SOCIETY was held at the residence of Rev. S. R. Brown, in Macao, on Wednesday the 29th September, 1841. The following gentlemen were present, Messrs. L. Dent, J. Matheson, W. Bell, E. Moller, S. W. Williams, W. A. Lawrence, B. Hobson, and the Rev. Messrs. E. C. Bridgman, W. J. Boone, W. C. Milne, D. Ball, J. L. Shuck, and S. R. Brown. In the absence of the recording secretary, Mr. Brown was requested to act in his place pro tem.

    The President, Mr. Dent, having taken the chair, addressed the meeting to the following effect:

    "Looking to the long period that has elapsed since our last meeting, I consider it necessary to offer a few preliminary observations before our report is submitted to the meeting, and I regret to perceive it is so small, arising from the dispatch of several vessels this day, and other local occurrences, which I know have prevented the attendance of many friends of the Society. The peculiar circumstances that have caused the irregularity in our meetings are too well known to require explanation. Indeed, it is a matter of surprise that the Society has been able to struggle through the difficulties it has had to contend with, during the last three years; and our present position is greatly owing to the exertions and good management of the Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, to whom were necessarily intrusted the interests of the Society, and the other trustees have had little further to do, than to express satisfaction and sanction their acts. The trus tees have heretofore been unable to encourage the friends of the Society by exhibiting any very flattering results, but have had to bespeak their patience until the slow but (they felt) sure course they were adopting had time to develop itself. I have now, however, the pleasure to an. nounce the commencement of active operations. Our valued corres. pondents in America, professors Silliman, Goodrich, and Gibbs, of

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Yale College, who, from its first establishment, have taken a serions interest in the Morrison Education Society, and exerted themselves to promote our views, at length succeeded in procuring a teacher, the Rev. Mr. Brown, who brought such testimonials as any man might be proud of. His talents and attainments are of a high order, and with these are combined presevering industry, habits of teaching, and well directed zeal.

"Mr. Brown came out accompanied by his lady, and although I ap. proach this subject as one almost too delicate to be discussed at a public meeting; yet I feel it & duty to express my opinion of the very great advantage received from Mrs. Brown's presence. She is equally with her husband devoted to the good cause, aud coöperates with him in every way to insure its success; but this I almost con- sider secondary in importance to the example the pupils have daily before their eyes of domestic virtues and happiness, which cannot but exert a most salutary influence on their own social habits. Il health rendered a visit to the Straits desirable, which, while it has hap- pily been of advantage in the principal object, has not been unproduc- tive to the Society, as Mr. Brown had thereby an opportunity of per. sonally inspecting the Chinese schools and mode of teaching in other places. Nor was any detriment experienced here, his place having been most efficiently supplied by the gratuitous services of the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Boone, and the Rev. Mr. Milne; and although I am well aware that to them the satisfaction of having done so much good is a sufficient reward, yet not the less are the grateful acknow. ledgments of this Society due.

"All particulars connected with the present state of the school and the progress of the boys, which are most satisfactory, are detailed in the report.

          The number of pupils has been small, but the object was to teach a few well, and not to make a display of numbers; nor has it been from want of applications, but they were necessarily refused, so that those admitted begin to consider it a privilege. One of the most advanced and intelligent boys, formerly under the care of this Society, was, I may call it, inveigled away by commissioner Lin to act in the capacity of interpreter, and it may be presumed of adviser as to the cus toms and opinions of foreigners; and he remained with Lin during the whole period of his holding office, and was fully employed in translating English papers and books, and well treated. This is a very good proof as well of the proficiency of the boy, as of the soundness of the system of education, that combines western with Chinese learning. This is the second or third instance in which boys known to be edu.

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cated by the outside barbarians, have been officially employed, and we shall gradually by such means dispel the prejudices of this people against foreigners.

    "The trustees have been obliged for the present to discontinue pecu. niary assistance to other schools, it being necessary to devote their limited means to the main object; but this state of things will, I trust, be only temporary and that we shall soon be enabled to afford deserv. ing fellow-laborers a helping hand. I am thus brought to consider the state of our funds, which is the last topic I shall trouble you with, generally a disagreeable one. By the treasurer's account we have little more than sufficient for one year's expenditure, even on our present limited scale. But I am in noways discouraged at this. We have refrained from any appeal to the public until we could show ourselves deserving of support-feeling fully satisfied that when the time came, we should not have to apply in vain, to the liberality of this commu. nity and the friends of education generally for the furtherance of such a useful object. Funds must be raised, not only for carrying on and extending our present school, but for establishing one more at least elsewhere, for which events now in progress in China offer a most cheering prospect, and they will not, I am sure, be found wanting.

    "I will not detain you from the Report further than merely to draw your attention to the substitutions the committee have been obliged to make, for the members of their body that have left the country, which acts will require your sanction, no provision for the same being made in the constitution. There was, three years since, a notice of a notion to rectify the omission, but subsequent events prevented the regular forms being complied with for that purpose."

    The President concluded his remarks by inviting attention to the report, which was then read.

REPORT.

DURING the three years elapsed since the members of this Society were last assembled, in general meeting, its operations have been constantly but silently advancing; and the results, which are now to be reported, are such, both in character and amount, that they cannot fail to give equal satisfaction and pleasure to all who are in- terested in the intellectual and moral improvement of their fellow- men. Enough has been done, we trust, notwithstanding the unfavo rable circumstances of the times, to secure full approbation for the past, with strong encouragements for the future. While, therefore, it behoves us to persevere with increased zeal in the good cause of

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education, let us here record our grateful acknowledgments for the success vouchsafed to this Society through Divine Providence.

      Since its organization in 1836, only two annual meetings have been held-one in September 1837, and the other in October 1838. 'The reports which were read at those meetings, with a paper pre- viously published containing the particulars of the formation of the Institution, give a full account both of its design and of its proceed- ings to the date of the second report.

      On the day for the annual meeting in 1839, the whole of the Brit- ish community, having left Canton and Macao, was afloat on board their ships, at Hongkong or in this vicinity. In 1840, such was the disturbed state of public affairs, that it was still deemed inexpedient to attempt to convene a general meeting of its members.

The trustees, from time to time, have held meetings, and as fre- quently as business and circumstances required or allowed; and they have now to submit a succinct account of what has been done in furtherance of the object of the Morrison Education Society, since its members and friends were last assembled, October 3d, 1838.

     In the second report, which was then read, hope was expressed of the speedy arrival in China of a tutor to engage in the Society's ope- rations. This hope was well founded. On or near the day of our last meeting, the Society's committee in New Haven, in accordance with a request from the trustees, made choice of the Rev. Samuel R. Brown to become the pioneer in carrying on the education of those here placed under its auspices.

On the 17th of October, Mr. Brown, with his lady, embarked in the ship Morrison-the owners of that vessel having generously of- fered them a free passage to China,-and arrived here February 23d, 1839. The next day they landed at Macao. Mr. Brown, hav- ing made the necessary arrangements for a home, proceeded at once to Canton, where the trustees, and many of the other members of the Society, had the pleasure of welcoming him, and of making his acquaintance..

!

     Of the many honorable testimonials, with which Mr. and Mrs. Brown were furnished by their friends in America, one will be am- ply sufficient to show in what estimation the bearer of it was held by those who knew him best. The paper is from Dr. Day, the vene- rable president of Yale College, at which place it is dated October 12th, 1838, and is here given entire. He writes thus:

14

Having · been informed that Samuel R. Brown, A. M. a graduate of this college, has been selected as a proper person to be employed as an instructor

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in the service of the Morrison Education Society, I take pleasure in making the following statement respecting his qualifications for this office.

"Mr. Brown passed through the regular course of four years study in this institution, and received the degree of A. B. in the year 1832. During his residence here, he was distinguished for the activity of his intellect, the ver- satility of his talents, and the elegance of his taste. In every department of sciences pursued in this college, he maintained a distinguished rank. He was generally beloved for his amiable deportment, and respected for the spirituality of his mind, and the consistency of his life as a professed Christian.

     "At the close of his collegiate course, he was selected, in concurrence with my own views, as one eminently qualified to fill the station of teacher in the Institution for the deaf and dumb in the city of New York. Of the manner in which he discharged the duties of that office, I can speak only from the information I have received from those who were associated with him there in the duties of instruction. From then I learn, that he distinguished himself, at an early period, for the accuracy and extent of his acquaintance with the language of signs, and that his whole course of instruction, during a num- ber of years while he was connected with the Institution, was marked by un- common zeal, energy, and perseverance.

     "I feel authorized, therefore, to express the hope and belief, that Mr. Brown will be found peculiarly well qualified for the important station to which be is now called; and I would cordially commend him to the Christian courtesy and friendly patronage of all who are interested in the cause of learning and true religion." (Signed) "Jeremiah Day, president of Yale College."

    Having passed a few days in Canton, and become acquainted with the views and plans of the trustees, regarding the course they desired him to pursue, Mr. Brown returned to Macao and entered upon it iminediately. On the 29th of April, 1840, he laid before the trus tees a brief statement respecting his labors up to that date, and from it some extracts are here introduced.

"It is now a little more than fourteen months since my arrival in China. My destination to this country was entirely unlooked for till twelve days before I left America. Indeed, I had, for a twelvemonth previous to that period, been accustomed to think of an early and in- timate friend as the chosen agent of this Society. But a singular in- terference of Providence, detained him at home, and sent me hither in his stead. I came in haste, but with an eager desire to be employ- ed in promoting the cause of education among this people, under your auspices.

    "At first, the political and commercial troubles in China cast a shade over my prospects; but, finding that the president and mem- bers of the Society, notwithstanding circumstances so unfavorable to deliberation upon any subject not connected with politics and trade,

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    deliberation upon any subject not connected with politics and trade, retained their ardor in this cause, it ill became me to be discouraged. The fears therefore, which had at first arisen, subsided, and I endeavored to apply myself with all diligence to the study of the Chi- nese language, as a preparatory qualification for future labor in teaching Chinese youths.

     "At this study solely, I spent the first six months after my arrival, residing with S. W. Williams esq., by whom we were hospitably receiv ed on our arrival. Mrs. Brown also devoted her time as far as pos- sible to the same employment.

     "On the 26th of August, 1839, we removed to the house of E. B. Squire esq., who with other British residents was obliged to flee from this place, in order to protect his wife and children from threatened violence. While there our studies were considerably interrupted.

     "On the first of November we removed to the house procured for the use of the Society, and opened a school on the 4th of the same month, with six pupils, who had applied for admission in the summer previous. The object of the Society being, not to give a little in- struction to many, but a thorough education to all its beneficiaries, and for other obvious reasons, it was deemed best to commence with half a dozen pupils. These boys fortunately, with one exception, came from the country, and were thus placed more completely with- in our control. The eldest, a boy of fifteen, by a few months' pre- vious study had acquired so much knowledge of the English tongue, as to place him in advance of the rest, and has acted as a monitor in the school to a good deal of advantage. The others began de nove. With this class I have labored to attach them to the school, to lay the foundation of a long course of instruction, and make it a model for future classes. The objects proposed in the constitution of the Morrison Education Society, have been before me in every arrange-

ment.

It is not merely a teaching, but an education society, which aims at the training of the entire man, physical, intellectual, and moral. "With these ends in view, I have assigned half of each day to Chinese, and half to English studies, beginning at 6 in the morning and closing at 9 o'clock `r. m. Thus eight hours are given to books, and from three to four to exercise and recreation in the open air. My own study is the school-room; and the pupils are therefore con- stantly under supervision; out of school they are not permitted to leave the premises, where there is ample room for their sports. They have never manifested any displeasure at this degree of restraint, while it excludes from them many influences abroad which would injure

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their manners and morals. As to rewards, they receive none but the approbation of those placed over them, and that of a good conscience, which 1 endeavor to persuade them, not without success I trust, is better than every other. Punishments are seldom required, for there are fow rules to be broken, those only which their own convenience and happiness obviously demand. True I have had occasion to rebuke that gentile sin of lying, but, except in one instance, have had no occasion to resort to corporal punishment. An appeal to the con- science, or an intimation that they may be sent home, is ordinarily quite sufficient to prevent the repetition of an offense.

    "They mingle in the family, and we try to treat them as sons, and encourage familiar confidence in us as their best friends. They are present with us at our morning and evening devotions of their own choice; and in short, we seek to make them feel that they are at home, and to give them the education of a Christian home. About four weeks ago, another class of five boys was received, which is taught by Mrs. Brown, and the Rev. W. C. Milne, who has kindly offer- ed his services for an hour each day. Of this class, one proved to be unworthy of patronage, and was accordingly dismissed, as was one of the first class, who, after an experiment of two months, was found to be unable to keep pace with the rest. At present, therefore, there are nine pupils in the school, all of whom appear to be promising lads.

"Of these four are supported at the expense of the Society, i. e. their board and tuition are given them. The other five are maintain- ed by private individuals. The first class have now been studying English five months, half of the time, averaging 24 months constant study. They spent about a month at home, during the newyear holidays.

    "Of methods of instruction this is not the time to speak. If in- quiries are made as to their progress, some of the trustees can best answer them; and on this head I only remark, that I have ever pre- ferred that they should begin with learning a less amount thoroughly, rather than more superficially."

    At the last meeting of the trustees, held on the 27th instant, a second report was submitted to them by Mr. Brown, in which the account of his labors is brought down to that date, and from which further extracts are here introduced.

    "Now that it becomes my duty to lay before the trustees a state- ment of my doings for sometime past, I may be allowed to forewarn them not to expect too much. The labors of a student are noiseless,

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and little apt to attract the attention of men at large, and it is only` when he can exhibit the accumulated results of long application, that he receives the meed of praise. Still farther removed from the cog- nizance of most men, are the humbler labors of the school-master, and it would be too sanguine, for me to expect to present to you, at this early day, facts for the public that will rival in interest those that are reported from other quarters around you. Nevertheless I would fain hope that the report now submitted to your inspection, may meet with so much approbation as to give fresh encouragement to the com- mittee of trustees, and strengthen their confidence in the practica bility and the excellence of what they have undertaken.

"The same general principles and plans, that were alluded to in my first report of April 1840, have been followed since then in the conduct of the school. The same division of time, between English and Chinese studies, exists as before, half of each day bring allotted to either. Thus the morning is devoted to Chinese, and the afternoon and evening to English lessons. A respectable elderly Chinese man is employed as teacher, whose habits and manners are becoming and exemplary, and who is very faithful in teaching after the Chinese mode. Being myself obliged to spend the same hours in Chinese study, I have not as yet been able to introduce any essential im- provements upon the common method of teaching pursued in this country; consequently the pupils have spent this portion of time in committing to memory the Chinese classics, and in learning to write Chinese. In the meantime, their ability to understand the native books has increased. The subjects of those books which they read at school, as well as the style, are the main hindrances to a more intimate acquaintance with what they read. We should rarely look for or find young persons like them, even in England or A- merica, who could discourse on moral or political economy, and these are the topics which fill entire volumes of the books which are put into the hands of tyros in China. There is also another difficulty in the way of a Chinese boy, when he commences to read the books of his own country, that which in the nature of the case cannot be experienced in an alphabetic or syllabic language. The English child has only to learn the powers of 26 letters, and then he is master of most of the phonetic elements that compose all words. Not so with the Chinese youth; he has no such royal road to the art of reading, for instead of having to learn little more than 26 letters, must commit to memory the names and meanings of at least as many characters as there are words to be read. After all, I suspect that it will

he

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be found that this is enough to task the mind of a child with at once, and that there is more philosophy than absurdity in the method of instruction pursued in the schools of China. With a thorough know- ledge of the Chinese classics, a European teacher might undoubtedly make improvements upon the native mode of teaching; but experi. ence teaches me, (and that of others confirms the remark,) that to suggest a new method of instruction to a Chinese master, more con- sonant with our own views, is at once to diminish his interest in his employment, because he cannot appreciate what goes against all pre- cedent in his own mind; and if persisted in, will utterly destroy it.

    "While, therefore, the pupils of this school have pursued the usual course of Chinese study in their own way, I have myself devot- ed the same portion of time to the study of Chinese, apart from them, in order to qualify myself as soon as possible to interfere with this part of their education. With what success, it is not for me to say. Allow me, however, to express an opinion respecting the importance of this study, to him who would do good by means of education among this people. If it is necessary for a teacher among his own countrymen to understand the minds of those whom he instructs, how much more imperative is the necessity, in order to insure suc- cess among a strange people in a foreign land. Now language is the portrait of the mind in action, and he who would be familiarly ac- quainted with it, must become qualified to judge of its picture with the skill of an artist. It is because this attainment is so rare that there is so much misconception and ignorance respecting the peculiar feelings, prejudices, habits, and history of the Chinese. We meet them day after day, but our interviews respect the most. palpable and common-place things, while in other points, our minds and theirs are widely removed from mutual contact. There is little or no play of sympathies between us. Our intercourse `is much like that of two untaught mutes, that meet with ideas circumscribed by the limits of what their eyes have seen, and picture to each other in pantomime, the mere outlines of the few thoughts they have in com- mon, and then part again in utter ignorance of each other's spirit- ual being.

    "Every one who has endeavored to acquaint himself with the Chi nese people through the medium of their language, has felt this, yet it is an acknowledged and remarkable fact, that some of the first links of the chain that would unite us to them are still wanting. For instance, some of the simplest questions in grammar, which would have been solved long ago in respect to any western language, that

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had been so long studied, are to this day unasked and unanswered in any work on Chinese philology in the English language. The ques- tions are simple, but the answers none has given. They meet the student at the outset of his course, and are ever and anon recurring, till the philosophic mind is tired of leaping chasms in its way.

"The existence of these terræ incognitæ in the Chinese language renders it incumbent on those that are now engaged in the study of it, and especially one who undertakes to carry out the enlarged views of the Morrison Education Society, to devote immediate and unre- mitted attention to subjects that have so long remained uninvestigat- ed, until he has done all in his power to place them before the world in their true light. From these remarks, the committee can judge of the expediency and wisdom of their early recommendation, that their educational agent should devote much of his first years to study. I have followed it with the earnest wish to prepare myself to be as useful as possible in the cause of the Society.

"In English studies the boys have made creditable advances since they were visited by the trustees on the 4th of March.

                                     Two of them have nearly gone through a vol. of 274 pages on geography, besides a smaller work previously, and the other four have pursued the small work abovementioned, and about half of Parley's Geography. In the science of numbers, they have first studied a work on mental arith- metic, and have since proceeded in Gordon's book, through the fun- damental processes of written arithmetic, to reduction, and compound. addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Twice a week. they have spent a portion of the day in learning to write with the pen. As in every other school, there are diversities of talent here, and different degrees of natural adaptation to the various branches of learning. Still, as a whole, I am persuaded that their progress will. be gratifying to the friends of the Society. In reading, there has been a marked improvement, as also in speaking English, and in: composition during the last five months. The Rev. Mr. Milne and the lady of the Rev. Mr. Boone deserve much for the talent and faithfulness they have exhibited in their training, during the period of my ab- sence at Singapore and Malacca. The moral character of the boys, struck me at once as being decidedly improved. There is more truthfulness, regularity of habits, conscientiousness, and gra- titude for the benefits they receive, than I have ever seen before among them.

These things, too, are not by any means the minor objects of their education. All that adds to the formation of excel- lence in character is most highly to be prized. I am afraid to be

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positive on the point, (being warned by past experience,) but I should think there is little danger that the pupils now here would ever leave us of their own accord, without permission. The school is known to a considerable extent among the Chinese, in this vicinity, and a good many applications have been made for admission to it. It is well known by all these persons, that the highest recommendation an ap- plicant can bring, is, ceteris paribus, an engagement to remain under instruction for an indefinite period of time, to be limited only by the discretion of the Society. So many applications have been declined, that those now here can but feel that they are privileged above others, their fellows.

     "Much more might have been done in the form of instruction, had the school been properly supplied with books. But though every desire has been manifested by the trustees to meet this deficiency, it still remains. There are many difficulties in the way of furnishing a school here, which are unknown in more favored situations. We need books made expressly for the use of schools in which Eng- lish is not the vernacular tongue. This desideratum can only be supplied gradually, and by the united efforts of those who best know what is wanted, and how to furnish it. As the cause of education advances in the eastern world, the production of such works will doubtless keep pace with it. In India, where, by the enlightened policy of the English government, the subject of education for all classes of men is receiving more and more attention, this fact is one of the signs of the increased interest with which popular education is regarded. In justice to our pupils, it ought to be said that they have labored under great difficulties for the want of books enough. For example, in geography, all could not learn the same lesson, for they had but two books, so that four boys, but partially acquainted with the language, have been obliged to read together in one book, and two in the other. In the study of arithmetic the difficulty was still greater, because they had but one book for all the six, and therefore were compelled to depend almost wholly on oral instruction, which of course adds as much to the labor of the instructor, as to the in- convenience of the learner. I trust this evil will soon be removed, since books have been repeatedly sent for, and if the wishes of all concerned here are obtained, will not be long in coming. One of the former officers of the Society has kindly offered to procure a sup- ply for the school on his return to England, whither he has gone. I am also happy to state to the trustees, that I was successful, to some extent, in procuring books in the Straits; and that, while at

J

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Malacca, during the last summer, the Rev. J. Legge, principal of the Anglo-Chinese College, prepared with me a volume for the press, which I believe will very much facilitate the acquisition of the Eng- lish language by pupils here and in Chinese schools elsewhere.

"I beg to express my thanks to the trustees for the very consi- derate kindness with which they assented to and approved of my absence the last summer. I hope it has not been without advantage to the cause in which I am engaged, while the expenses of the Society have been not very materially increased by the measure, which the health of my family required. In the meantime I had an opportunity of observing what is done for the education of the Chinese in the Straits. The college at Malacca, where I was hospitably enter- tained by the Rev. Mr. Legge, I found in as flourishing a condition as could be expected, at this early stage of its progress under the present incumbent. The school has been filled up anew since Mr. Legge took charge of it, on the death of the Rev. Mr. Evans. It had in July about 35 boys, who had been at school only a few months. They were, however, making rapid advances in learning to read. Should the college continue to be under the same superintendance as at present, it will, I doubt not, satisfy all the just expectations of its friends.

"In Singapore there are three schools for Chinese boys, taught by English and American masters. The largest of these, when I was there, was that supported by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The next was in the Singapore Institution, and the other under the care of the missionaries of the American Pres- byterian Board. The last, though`small, is a good beginning. The Institution school had not flourished of late in its Chinese depart- ment, Messrs. Moor and Dickinson informed me, partly because of an epidemic among the native population, and partly because the European instructors are too much occupied in the other depart- ments to allow them to devote much personal attention to it. conducted by native masters in their own way. A few Chinese boys are found in the English department, and I noticed a very intelli- gent lad who had risen to the first class, and was reciting a lesson in algebra. Perhaps this branch of the school may be revived to bet- ter advantage when the number of European masters is increased, or by the training of Chinese teachers to take chage of it.

J

It is

     "The first mentioned school, that of the American Board, being of some years standing, and having had the exclusive attention of the gentlemen charged with it, offers at the present time, the most

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pleasing results to the observer. It contains not far from 50 scholars, all of whom with one or two exceptions, are Chinese, and all are boarding, not day-scholars. If any one doubtful of the expediency of teaching English to the Chinese were to visit this school, he could hardly fail to have his doubts removed. Honorable mention has fre- quently been made of it, and its success certainly deserves it. It is now under the care of Mr. A. North, who exhibits much skill and enthusiasm in his employment.

41

In reviewing all that I have seen of schools for the Chinese dur- ing my absence, I am more than ever convinced of the fitness of the spot chosen by the founders of this Society for their operations. Schools in the colonies will benefit their people, but they will I am constrained to think, exert little influence upon the mother-country. Many reasons might be adduced for this opinion, but I cannot en- large. This view is not confined to myself, but has been expressed by all with whom I have conversed upon the subject abroad.

"In conclusion, then, may I not hope that the foregoing statements will serve to strengthen the determination of the committee to extend the benefits of education, as far as possible, to the multitudes of Chi- na. The invisible hand of Providence is even now at work pre- paring to break up new avenues into the midst of the darkness you would disperse. All things around us conspire to say, a change is at hand. A magnificent train of events seems to be coming up in the future. May we be prepared to meet it, bearing to those on whom it is to come, the proffer of a still better boon, the pure and peaceful culture of the mind."

Of those youth who wore under the patronage of the Society pre- vious to Mr. Brown's arrival, only a few words need be said. The interruption of friendly intercourse between the Chinese and fo- reigners in March 1839, drove them all from their studies, excepting the one at Singapore, who has of late received his whole support there, from those under whose tuition he is being educated. After a short absence, the three, who had been with Dr. Parker, came back and continued with him, till he embarked for the United States of America in July 1840. Probably some or all of them will resume their studies with him, on his return to China. Of the others, none have since engaged in their studies as formerly. One of them, having been sought out while residing in Macao, in the sping of 1839, was by the strongest persuasions and promises induced to enter the service of his im- perial majesty's high commissioner, who employed him as English interpreter and translator, and through him obtained translations of

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many extracts from the newspapers of the day, from Murray's Cyclo- pædia of Geography, and other foreign works, some of them relating to China. The efforts made to secure the services of this youth, while yet his education was but half completed, are good evidences that the Chinese, even in the highest stations, appreciate the value of an acquaintance with foreign languages and literature. The youth was kindly treated by the commissioner, well remunerated, and en- joyed good opportunities for improving his knowledge of his own language. He was kept thus employed till Lin's removal from office, and has since, in accordance with his recommendation, been engaged in the study of the historical and classical writings of his own coun- trymen. His English studies, however, have not been at any time, and still are not, entirely neglected. Many items of information obtained through this medium, were sent up to the imperial court; and it was the intention of the commissioner, to publish to his own countrymen the results of his inquiries concerning foreign nations. He is understood to have taken all his papers with him, on leaving Canton, and he may perhaps, erelong, arrange and prepare his materials for publication.

From the inquiries made, in obedience to a resolution passed at the last annual meeting, respecting Chinese schools beyond the boundaries of the empire, very few returns have been made, and but little information gained.

School-books are still a great desiderata. The Chinese Chrestoma- thy, containing a series of easy lessons on reading, writing, geography, mathematics, architecture, the liberal arts, natural history, domestic aud commercial affairs, etc., will, it is hoped, be found useful as a school-book for those who have made some progress in learning English. Another, and a smaller work, comprising a large variety of common conversational phrases, in the composition of which Mr. Brown was engaged a part of the time during his visit to the Straits, will doubtless be found equally useful. It is now passing through the press at Malacca and some of the sheets, forming the first part of the book, are already in the hands of the boys under his tuition.

     'The state of the funds of the Society will be seen by the treasurer's report, accompanying this. Since the organization of the Society, no special efforts have been made to increase its funds. The sums originally subscribed were thought to be sufficient for making a fair beginning; and, further, strong confidence was entertained that, on a teacher being procured, scholars collected, and the business of edu- cation fairly commenced, it would not be any very difficult matter, in

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a community of such well-known liberality as that formed by the foreign residents in China, to raise the means requisite for carrying on this good work. The time has now come, then, when the trustees feel they are in duty bound to make known to all the friends of this Society its wants, and to urge on them its claims.

In the absence from China of the vice-president and auditors, their places have been temporarily filled by other members of the Society, nominated by the trustees; and in these arrangements it is hoped the Society will concur.

    Hitherto the number of pupils has been small; but it may now be doubled, or even trebled, and with very little increase of expendi- ture. That this result, however, may be attained with its fullest advantages, the desirableness, already felt, of having at least one more teacher, is forced upon the attention of the trustees. This want has been most amply supplied by the gratuitous services of Mrs. Boone and the Rev. Mr. Milne, who, with the Rev. Mr. Boone, have had entire charge of the school and library during Mr. Brown's absence from Macao, from April 1st to Sept. 10th of this year. For these time- ly and valuable services the warmest thanks of the Society are especial- ly due. The desirableness of early procuring the permanent assistance of another teacher, already alluded to, must be apparent to every one; and the trustees confidently hope that the present meeting will au- thorize those, who may be intrusted with the management of the So- ciety's affairs for the coming year, to adopt the necessary measures to attain an object so essential.

I

In closing this report, the trustees would encourage themselves, and all the friends of the Society, by renewed reference to the grand and noble object to which it aims. It is impossible, by any language, adequately to express the high importance of training young Chinese in the manner proposed by this institution. It should be borne in mind, also, that a new era has here begun in the course of events, and, under these new and improved prospects opening before us, it is time the work of training the intellectual man be urged on upon a broader scale and with augmented force.

After the reading of the report, it was moved by Mr. MOLLER, seconded by Mr. WILLIAMS, and unanimously resolved -

"That the report now read be accepted and approved, and printed under the direction of the committee of trustees."

It was next, on motion of Mr. MATHESON, seconded by Mr. BOONE, unanimously resolved :-

"That the especial thanks of the Society be conveyed to professors

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Gibbs, Silliman, and Goodrich, of Yale College, for their promptness in ac- ceding to the request of the trustees to select a tutor, and to promote generally the interests of the Society, and for the admirable selection they have made in the Rev. Mr. Brown.'

"

      On motion of Mr. BELL, seconded by Mr. HOBSON, it was re- solved :-

"That the thanks of the Society be given to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Boone, and the Rev. Mr. Milne, for their valuable services in teaching the school, and taking charge of the library during the late visit of Mr. Brown to the Straits, and for their generosity in doing so, without entailing ex- pense of any kind on the Society.'

      In reply to this resolution, Mr. Boone briefly remarked, that the services he had rendered to the Society were entirely unworthy of thanks; that it had been a pleasure to him to do even that little, and if an opportunity should occur again, it would give him equal plea- sure to repeat it, and as much more as lay in his power. Mr. Milne responded on his part, that in his own view, if there was any obliga- tion, it was mutual, for he had esteemed it a privilege, to further in any measure the objects of the Society, and he still regarded it in that light. It had given him great satisfaction to see in this school those germs of good to China, which had been planted by the instru- mentality of the Morrison Education Society, and would there, he trusted, be nourished into growth and maturity. He was happy to testify that the difference between the present and former intellectual conditions of those to whom their patronage had been extended, af- forded striking evidence that a mental stimulus of no ordinary kind, in this country, had been at work in those minds, while the moral results of this first experiment were no less delightful to one who had been in a situation to make the comparison. He concluded by saying that he could not doubt that the friends of the Society would hence- forth be encouraged to sustain it liberally.

1

Mr. Bridgman then rose, and asking liberty to bring to the notice of the Society the labor of conducting the school now under its direction, spoke as follows:-Since the opening of the school in this house, I have visited it once or oftener every week. These informal visits have afforded good opportunities of observing the whole routine of tuition and discipline. From one of the trustees, thus situated, something more than an approving voice is due. To those who see only the report which has been submitted to the meeting this morn- ing, the labors connected with the management of such a school, cannot appear in their full magnitude, nor is it possible for me to set

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them before you in their just proportions. You must go into the school-room, and daily watch the scene there, in order fully to estimate either the amount of labor or its results. Besides giving instruction, and listening to recitations at fixed hours each day, a watchful care must be maintained both night and day over the pupils, whether they be in or out of the school-room. The weight of the burden imposed by these duties, none can learn except by experience-at least I had never known it, unless I had learned it in this way. Where the instructors are deeply interested in the welfare of their pupils, (as I know they are in this case,) they are often insensible to the burden, and sometimes sink under it before they are aware to what an extent they are tasking their energies. In this school the burden has been heavy enough-heavier, I think, than our friends themselves imagine; and the results of their efforts for the benefit of their pupils, greater of this, at least I am certain, that but for personal observation, made as already stated, I should not have estimated either so highly, by one half, as I do now. Some may regret that the number of pupils has been so small; I do not.

Mr. Brown required

much time for the study of the Chinese language, and it is well that he has had so much. In the school, a good beginning has been made, better in my judgment, than otherwise could have been; and now if our means will admit, the number of pupils may be increased. I will not, Mr. President, dwell longer upon this subject, but I am unwilling to sit down, without uttering one word of encouragement. In the toilsome hours of study and teaching, it must be a consolation to know that one has the approbation, the sympathy, the countenance, and the support, of those who are around him. Thanks, because they cost little, are not the less due. Better encouragement than thanks will be given: still these, poor as they are, should not be withheld; and I am sure, sir, that you, and every one present, wil wish to have entered on the records of this meeting, the resolution which I now beg leave to submit to it:

"Resolved, That the thanks of this Society, be given to the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Brown for the care, assiduity, and zeal, which they have so con- stantly exhibited in carrying into effect its object in educating Chinese youths."

    Mr. Dent followed him, saying, I second this resolution most cor- dially, and I fear I shall only impair the effect of Mr. Bridgman's remarks by adding anything. He speaks from an intimate acquaint. ance with Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and a thorough insight into. alj their arrangements and plans, the result of almost daily intercourse.

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My opportunities have of course been more limited, but in visiting the establishment, and examining the boys, I have been highly grati- fied with their progress and their quiet cheerful demeanor, and the general air of order and comfort around them, so different to what they have been accustomed to. Mr. Brown's services would be valuable at any time, but I consider the Society singularly fortunate in obtaining them at the outset of its course. He is most assiduous in his attention to the boys, prosecuting at the same time his study of the Chinese language, and of their system of education, with the view of improving it, and from his talents, acquirements, and patient spirit of investigation, with an entire devotion to the cause, we may confidently look forward to the realization of some of the more extend- ed objects of the Society at no very distant period. Most sincerely do I trust, both for their own sakes and the interests of the Society, that the health of Mr. and Mrs. Brown will enable them to carry out the system they have so successfully commenced.

The resolution was then put to vote, and unanimously carried. Mr. Brown responded to the resolution in the following terms:

I am not one, Mr. President, who undervalues the good opinion of others, especially when it is expressed by those whom it is my great desire to please, in the discharge of duties they have seen fit to assign to me, but still permit me to say that of thanks I deserve none. If I have done what I could to promote the interests of this Society, it was no more than I ought to do. Less could not have been expected, for "to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." I on the other hand feel greatly obliged to the members of the Society for the liberal means they have furnished me to carry out their plan of operations...

In the reports that I have sent in to the committee of trustees, and from which extracts have been read in your hearing to-day, perhaps all that is necessary has been said respecting my labors in behalf of the Society. You there see what studies have principally engaged my attention, what course has been pursued in the school, and so far as results can be spoken of, what has been effected, how much gain- ed, and how much lost. The last of these reports has likewise given me an opportunity to express my thanks to the trustees for leave of absence during the last summer. While the cause of the necessity to leave home was distressing, an opportunity was thereby afforded me, to make observations upon schools similar to our own in other places, which I should ever have wished to enjoy, as a means of fur- thering the ends of the Morrison Education Society; and I trust it

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   will be found not only that the health of my family has been benefit- ed, but that the facilities for prosecuting the business of education here have been increased. For both those results, I am directly indebted to the gentlemen in whose hands the management of the concerns of the Society is placed.

    The state of the Chinese schools at Singapore and Malacca, has already been concisely laid before you. I will, therefore, only take this opportunity to express my conviction in regard to one matter but slight- ly touched upon before, and no longer interrupt the deliberations of the meeting.

    It is not because it is new that I introduce the subject now, for it was one of the persuasions that led to the formation of this Society. It is this, sir, that the founders of the Morrison Education Society selected the best spot for the sphere of their operations, and that if we would hope to effect any great change in the system of education prevalent in China, it must mainly be done, by efforts made in China itself. I am far from wishing to discourage those benevolent persons who have undertaken to educate the Chinese in their colonies abroad. I have seen too many happy fruits of their labors, to indulge such a thought even if any d priori reasoning of my own had ever suggest- ed it. The schools among the Chinese colonists are of great value to those for whom they were intended: they are exerting a silent steady influence upon those communities, slowly but surely elevating them in the scale of society, and lending their aid to the cause of Christianity. But as means of affecting this country, they ought not in my present judgment, much to be relied on. Many things concur to strengthen this opinion. The very relation of a colony to the mother-country is one of them. Who would think of bringing about any great revolution in England, by measures set on foot in New South Wales or the Canadas? It were opposing one's self to a cur- rent of influence that always sets in the opposite direction. The co- lonies on the other hand, would soon feel the effect of changes wrought at home. The argument is still more applicable to the case in hand. The Chinese who go abroad, by that very act outlaw them- selves. The communities they form in other lands are not reckoned as belonging to the empire, and have as little to do with the Chinese government as if they did not exist. Now, what, humanly speaking, can be expected of them, so perfectly isolated from the mass of their countrymen? Not certainly, that they will do much to improve the

condition of China.

But perhaps it may be said, that many of the colonists will return to

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their own country, and so renew their connection with this people, with all the advantages derived from a residence, and, it may be, an education in more enlightened parts of the world. Could this be ex- pected, it would very much enhance the value of schools among them, as means of indirect benefit to China. But according to the best information I have been able to obtain on the subject, not more than three or four in a hundred of those who emigrate from. this country ever return again, and some say even less. Is it not evident then that the major part of what is done for the education of the Chinese in foreign lands must be confined in its effects to the places where they sojourn, when so few of those whom these efforts can reach, find their way back again to the 'central land?'

      But allowing that more were to return, and with the best inten- tions to do good among their own people, they are marked at once as the men who have been among 'barbarians' to learn wisdom, and who now, most arrogantly and presumptuously in the estimation of the Chinese, would teach them the ethics and philosophy of 'outside' dwellers in darkness. Such, you are well aware, sir, is the regard of this people for those of other lands, and such would be the reception that any innovations from such a source would meet with.

     It may perhaps be thought, that the same difficulty lies in the way of our exertions here. In kind, it is true, but not in degree. In the first place those whom this Society educates, come directly from the country and from the people of China, under our influence, and are not expatriated by doing so. They come with the consent and ap- probation of their nearest friends, who are themselves a part of the nation, and in some measure pledged by this assent, to receive their children kindly when they return. There is therefore much more reason and hope that boys who have been trained in the Society's schools, will be less affected by the prejudices that have been allud- ed to, than those who have resided abroad, during the period of their education. The pupils taught here will also be less divested of their national character, feelings, and tastes, than others who have long intermingled with people of other nations. A careful observer of the Chinese in the Straits is not long in discovering the traces of this effect of mingling with foreigners, which must of course become more distinct in course of time, and may operate as a tie to detain them where they are, or to diminish their influence with their countrymen, should they return home. We, however, are sure that all those whom we educate, will return to their own people, and be associated with them in after life, and while they will be improved (we hope) in many respects, they will still be Chinese.

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    But what most dissociates the Chinese colonists from the great mass of the nation, is the fact that their children in those situations, having foreign mothers, know almost nothing of the language of their fathers. I have seen a group of 30 boys or more, from the age of ten to thirteen or fourteen years, of whom only one could speak a word of Chinese beyond the names of a few of the most familiar objects. In general, this language is as foreign to them as it is to us, and if they ever learn it, they must do it in the same way that we do. It is essential to the success of this Society, sir, that the pupils in its schools should be thoroughly versed in their own literature; otherwise they can never transfuse into it the knowledge which they derive from foreign sources, nor can they be respected among a people, where extensive literary attainments are the only way to eminence and distinction. It seems to me almost impossible, in ordinary circum- stances, that a boy born and brought up in a colony, should rise to a station of commanding influence in China. If he makes tolerable attainments in the dialect of his neighborhood he will do well.

I am sure that the members of this Society concur with me in the sentiment that the post for us is here; that our point of attack, all friendly as it is, should be in China itself and nowhere else.

The benevolent originators of this association were most judicious in determining to approach as near as possible to the Chinese with the blessings of education in their hands, to offer for their reception. Here in the name of the Society would I stand; by all laudable means endeavoring to convince them of the value of these gifts, and in this service, I am ready to toil until I die.

Mr. Dent then rose and said:-I have now to submit the following proposition for the consideration of the meeting, and I should do so with much more confidence and satisfaction if we had a fuller attend-

ance.

"Resolved-That the trustees be requested to take measures for the increase of the annual subscribing members, and the donations to the funds of the Society, and to procure an additional teacher, with reference to the prospect and desirableness of an extension of pupils."

The points embraced in this proposition would appear to fall with- in the province of the trustees, and under ordinary circumstances they certainly would, nor does it arise from any difference of opinion amongst us as to their desirableness, that we have not acted in the niatter. But the gentlemen of the meeting will recollect that the present trustees have retained office for the last two years from the necessity of the case-during that period they have not hesitated to

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incur the responsibility of any arrangements and outlay that were neces- sary for carrying on the operations of the Society; the time, however, has now arrived for extending them, which will involve additional ́ex- pense and new engagements, and they felt it their duty to defer any proceedings thereon until the sense of the members of the Society was declared. I fully expect that you will affirm the proposition, which I bring forward solely in the capacity of a member of the So- ciety, but at the same time I wish you clearly to understand to what we shall all be pledged thereby. It is not merely a question of raising funds to meet our present or an increased expenditure, but the much more important one of inviting hither another teacher. Mr. Brown has permitted me to state that he is well acquainted with a gentle- man, who, he thinks, would be willing to accept our invitation; he was a fellow-teacher with him, and possesses every requisite qualification, (and we want no better testimony,) and the expenses would at first be moderate, since he would require to remain some time in connection with Mr. Brown. This does not materially alter the case. With Mr. Brown we are differently situated; he is already here, and we are mu- tually committed to each other, for weal or wo; but it is a grave consi- deration to increase our responsibility by calling away a person from his friends and home. The alternative would be, that now we have surmounted all preliminary difficulties, and made such satisfactory progress, and that new channels to our exertions are opening to us under much brighter prospects, we shall be compelled to halt in our course of usefulness, without even a person to supply Mr. Brown's place should sickness unfortunately, or other circumstances cause his absence. But I have now, as I ever have had from the first establish- ment of the Society, the most perfect confidence that this community and the friends of education abroad, will liberally respond to the ap- peal which we now at length feel justified in making to thein. While then I have not attempted to disguise the consequences, I still strongly urge the adoption of my proposition.

Mr. Bridgman succeeded Mr. Dent, and spoke to the following

effect on the same resolution:

For the non-appearance, on our list of subscribers, of so many of the names of the foreign residents, some explanation ought to be made. Perhaps the trustees have done wrong in this matter; but the fact is, they have never presented the list to the community for signa- tures since the organization of the Society. I know, however, that there are many, now in China, who are ready to aid this Society,

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74

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for they have expressed their wish to contribute to its funds, and an opportunity will, doubtless, soon be afforded them for so doing.

    One topic more I wish to advert to at this time. A point has now: been gained, at which the annual expenditures may be fixed with a tolerable degree of exactness, since they will vary only according to the extent of operations. To cover a steady outlay, in salaries, rentals, &c., there ought to be an equally steady income. In addi- tion to what is contemplated in the resolution, I wish to repeat a suggestion, which I have heard, respecting the establishment of pro- fessorships in aid of this Society. In our own favored countries these are common. Some also, I believe, have already been established in India. And I trust the time is not far off when we shall see such in in China: by a single act securing to an institution like this the means of supporting an able teacher in perpetuo is doing good on a noble scale, and would be in excellent keeping with that generous spirit which has often been exhibited here in China. A recent instance of this liberality is Mr. Rustomjee's donation for seamen. A professorship founded in this way, so as to secure the constant services of a master of arts and sciences, for the native youth, is a species of munificence, which, while it will carry down the name of its founder in grateful remembrance to future generations, will bear along with it blessings the most permanent and valuable that man can bequeath to posterity.

The question being put it was carried unanimously.

    The members present then proceeded to ballot for officers for the ensuing year; and the following gentlemen were elected.

TRUSTEES.

LANCELOT DENT, Esq. WILLIAM BELL, Esq. JAMES MATHESON, Esq. REV. E. C. BRIDGMAN, J. R. MORRISON, Esq.

PRESIDENT.

VICE-PRESIDENT. TREASURER.

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. Recording Secretary.

AUDITORS.

W. H. MORSS, Esq. ALEX. MATHESON, Esq. After the ballot, the business of the meeting being finished, it was dissolved.

Lancelot Dent, President.

Oct. 29th-Postscript.

    Since the late meeting of the Society, while the report has been passing through the press, twelve new pupils have been received into

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the school, so that the whole number is now eighteen. Of these several have been waiting for a year past to be admitted, and all' came unsought, as soon as it was made known that there was a wil- lingness on the part of the Society to receive more. Were it expedi- ent to take a larger number now, there would be obtaining as many as might be desired.

no difficulty in

      The parents of those lately added to the school, and of some of the more advanced class, have engaged, after a month's trial of the boy's character and capacity, to enter into a written agreement to allow those who are approved to remain a-definite number of years under instruc- tion, and in case of removal before the expiration of that period, to refund the money expended by the Society on account of their sons.

Note. From the treasurer's report, which we have not space for here, it appears that the total amounts of receipts is $9820.75, and the expenditure $7636.25, leaving a balance in the treasurer's hands of $2184.50.

ART. VI. Journal of Occurrences: progress of H. B. M.'s second expedition; losses of the Chinese at Amoy; Keshen's trial; Lin's recall and new appointment on the Yellow river; affairs at Can- ton and Hongkong.

PROGRESS of the second expedition up to the 25th instant has been reported here, with the taking of Chusan on the Ist, Chinhae on the 10th, and Ningpo on the 13th. Adverse winds, usual at this season of the year, prevented its more rapid progress north and kept the ships windbound several days, thus delaying its operations.

     After taking Chusan on the 1st, several days were spent, wait. ing for the winds to moderate, during which time parties were sent out to see that no'military remained upon the island. One party went through the vallies to Singkong, where the Columbine and Nemesis met them, and from whence, many of the soldiers, it was ascertained, had started, and passed into Seaou Sha-aóu. From this last place, the party was informed that the prefect started, carrying off with him his treasure. This party returned over the hills, crossing the head of the Chaeho vally, on its way back. Two other parties went out, each in a different direction. One of these two, on its return, brought in 22 bullocks. At first there was some difficutly in procuring provisions; but the people, being well paid, soon of themselves began to bring in their produce, and there was, at the last dates, an abundance of

Journal of Occurrences.

Oct.

everything at Chosan. Regarding the retaking of Tinghae, our in- formation is as yet so incomplete, that we must refrain from saying more than, that the loss was severe on the side of the Chinese: 1500 men are reported to have fallen; and sir Hugh Gough himself, is said to have led on the attack.

    On the 8th, the weather baving become mild and fair, Chinbae was reconnoitered; the ships moved on towards it the next day, and the place was taken on the 10th. The fire-eating commissioner Yukeen, and general Yu Pooyun, were there during the action. The commissioner, seeing the odds turning against him, tried to kill him- self by drowning, but was taken out of the water by his attendants and carried off; and report says, what is ret doubtful, that he went as far as Yuyaou, and there died of poison, or of swallowing gold. The general, doubtless desiring to fighting another day, prudently retired to Ningpo, but not until he found his stronghold no longer defensible. The troops at Chinhae were numerous, and the works of defense extensive and as strong as the Cuinese could make them.

                                      Here too the destruction of life is supposed to have been great; among the killed were many officers, of whom several are said to have commit- ted suicide.

    Ningpo, a beautiful city, and fully two thirds the size of Canton, was occupied on the 13th. Trusting to Chinhae-from which it is distant only a few miles on the same side of the river-the Chinese had prepared no defenses at Ningpo, except some men with jingalls and matchlocks, who fled as soon as they ascertained that the British forces were advancing. The steamers did not reach the town till near dark, when the officers had moved off, leaving behind them in the public treasury about $60,000. Ningpo is the chief city of a prefec- ture of the same name, and a fine specimen of Chinese cities; its streets are comparatively wide, and the place abounds with arches (pae fang), chiefly of the Ming dynasty, affording some beautiful specimens of ornaments deeply cut in granite. Public agents, for the care of property detained or captured, were appointed, and they had already about $100,000 in specie or goods under their care. The inhabitants had many of thein written over the doors of their houses * submissive people.'

up the

    On the 20th and 21st, the Nemesis and Phlegethon moved river about 40 miles westward to Yuyaou (), without hin- drance or opposition. The scenery all along the river is described, by those who visited it, as being most beautiful. Yuyaou is the chief city of a district of the same name.

    Captain Anstruther had taken up his head quarters in his old resi- dence, the prison of Ningpo, but now surrounded by his artillery, instead of lictors and turnkeys.

There is a great want of interpreters in the expedition, there being but four, excepting some Chinese: Mr. Gutzlaff at Ningpo, Mr. Thom at Chinhae, Mr. Medhurst at Chusan, and Mr. Morrison with the plenipotentiary.

The foregoing are all the particulars, of any interest, that have

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come to our knowledge. It does not appear, from any thing that we have yet seen, what are the intentions of the leaders of the expedition regarding future operations. To move much further north, during the winter, must be nearly or quite impracticable; we can hardly suppose, however, that sir Hugh Gough and sir William Parker will remain inactive, while Hangchow and other large cities may be reached by the steamers. They have commenced a course of action, which, it is natural to suppose, they will deem it expedient to follow up vigorously, until either the Chinese come forward and conclude au honorable peace, or the queen's arms shall rule the country. The iron disposition, which has so long made this empire impenetrable to the foreigner, must soon end. It is not to be tolerated much longer by the spirit of the age; and its downfall both in China and Japan, must, and will, we apprehend, soon be witnessed. It does not appear that any Chinese officer had, up to the 25th, come forward to seek for peace.

            And it remains to be seen, whether the son of heaven can treat on equal terms with the other potentates of the earth-- whether this proud supremacy will bend or break. To save the effu- sion of blood, and the evils of capturing cities, it has always seemed to us desirable that this question should be carried directly to the emperor in person. It may be he does not yet understand correctly the object aimed at, nor fully comprehend how free intercourse may be allowed and his throne retained.

When one neighbor offends another, or commits depredations on his property, or injures the life or limbs of his people, whether the evils are done by the master himself or by his servants, the master is the one who ought to be remonstrated with, and compelled to make reparation and give securities for future good behavior. If the evil deeds were done by a servant or a son, either might be retained till the pleasure of the superior was known. But it would be highly im- proper to commence indiscriminate chastisement, until every means of reaching the master had failed. This supposed case is not perhaps perfectly analogous to the quarrel with the Chinese. Yet we think that direct access to the emperor ought to have been sought-and still ought to be sought. In the supposed case, if the offended neighbor should fall upon the outworks of the other, pull down his defenses, take possession of his barns and store-houses, to the great and irre- coverable loss of innocent persons-persons who were in noways answerable for the injury, and who could by no means influence the will of the master-such conduct would be harsh, and every disin- terested and right-minded person would deprecate such proceedings. Could we have any influence with the directors of the present expe- dition, we would urge them to carry this question directly home to the emperor: we would urge this--as we have from the first urged it, because it seems to us the most proper manner to settle the diffi- culty, and the way too in which it can be done with the least injury` to the offending party, and with the least cost to the offended.

The sufferings and losses sustained already, by casualties and colli- sion on both sides, are neither few nor light. No man can foresee

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where these things will terminate yet every benevolent heart must ardently desire that such expensive and destructive operations may be speedily succeeded by peace and profitable intercourse. The losses of the Chinese are immense; and if long continued must, we think, lead to the overthrow of the ruling dynasty. Irrecoverable ruin has already overtaken thousands, many of whom can have no part or lot in the matter, besides the bitter cup of sorrows that is handed out of them. We do not desire to see the old order of things restored; but on those who broke it up and who are now guiding the course of events here, great responsibilities are devolved; and these men must not, in their zeal to work out good results, be regardless of the ways and the means of accomplishing their end.

    Both officers and men, attached to the expedition must needs be keep well on the alert, scattered as they now are, and garrisoned in five distinct places-namely, Hongkong, Amoy, Chusan, Chiuhae, and Ningpo; their duties too cannot but be sufficiently onerous dur- the months of winter.

Letters have been received here from Amoy to the 29th.

All was then quiet, and the Chinese merchants were beginning to confide in their new masters. Supplies were abundant.

2. The loss of the Chinese at Amoy are detailed to some extent in a memorial to the emperor by Yen Pihtow, governor of Fuhkeën and Chekeäng, who asks for 3,000,000 taels of silver (or about 3.333,000 dollars) for immediate use. Keäng Keyun of Kinmun (or Quemoy), the governor says, fell into the water and died, in endea- voring to drive back the assailants, as they were landing. He was the commander-in-chief of the naval forces, the admiral being to the northward and wind-bound. Four other officers are reported, by the governor, as having fallen in the action; their names are Ling Che, Hwa Kwoking, Yang Shanke, and Le Keming-one a colonel, and the others of the rank of ensign. Wang Shetsin, Natanchoo, and Yang Tingkeäng, were among the wounded; the first a major, the second and third It.-colonels. Among the soldiers, the killed and wounded were very many.

3. Keshen's trial has been reported in the Peking Gazette; a translation of that report of the trial we quote from the Canton Press: it remains to be seen whether this high officer is to be sacrificed.

    The royal prince Wo shih, and the minister Jinseaou and others, respectfully intimate, that having in council assembled come to deliberate decisions, beg leave now to lay their report before the throne.

     On the thirteenth of the seventh month and twenty-first year of Taoukwang, his majesty's commands were received as follows: Yinglung reports that Keshen has been placed under arrest, and brought to the capital, and has been delivered over to the Board of Punishments; and we appoint our princes royal, Juy tsin, Chwang tsin, Tingkeun, and Hwuy tsin, the great literary doctors, the high military officers of the privy council, and the vice presidents of the six Boards to assemble together and constitute a Board of Punishment to sit in judgment upon (Keshen's) affairs. Respect this."

     Whereupon the Kwangchow foo and the adjutant general, Yinglung, having delivered Keshen up to the said Board, we the ministers and others in council as- sembled brought him forth before us, and in regular order examined into each

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particular, to all and each of which he in person replied; and we memorialize and respectfully request the sacred glance to be cast upon the case, praying that tor- ture may be added in the examination. It appears that Keshen, last year was appointed to Kwangtung to examine into the affairs of the barbarians, and in consequence of there being no person who understood the barbarian language, as he passed though Shantung he wrote a letter to To Kwanpoo, the lieut.-go- vernor, that he wished to take with him to Canton Paou chung, who understood the barbarian language, and who was of the same Canton village as the heën magistrate, Chaou Tazeyung. After his arrival at Canton, he first proceeded upon the principles of reason to deliver his lucid commands, after which the said barbarians demanded that a port for trade should be given them, but ere the negotiations were completed, they forthwith attacked the fort of Taekok and also surrounded that of Shakok. In consequence of this, Keshen attempted to rescue (the forts) from the dangerous position, but was destitute of plans, and became willing in behalf of the English to memorialize the emperor to give them the region of Hongkong as a place upon which to dwell. The said barbarians, intently scheming to have the rule of the place, immediately issued their false proclamations there, and spread out their tents.

During the twelfth month the said barbarians wished to deliver up Tinghae, and they sent their barbarian ships to Canton to have an interview, while Ke- shen sent a letter to Elepoo, to go and receive it (Tinghae) back from the barba- rian eye who was detained in Chèkeäng. In the present year, first month and fifteenth day, Keshen repaired to the Bocca Tigris to make examination, and on arriving at the offing of Tsze sze, the barbarian eye Elliot sought an interview in order to deliver back Tinghae, and being desirous of seeking commercial inter- course he presented his statement of regulations, several points of which were to be deliberated upon, many of them being troublesome matters connected with trade. A great many of these points too were so embarrassing that it was neces- sary that their contradictory bearing should be pointed out. At that time the Kwangchow foo, the military officers and the hong merchants, all were in waiting at the said place (Tsze sze), and Paouchung, thoroughly understanding the bar- barian language, was therefore ordered to interpret. On the nineteenth day, Keshen having gone to the Bocca Tigris to inspect the forts, and when he had arrived at Tow wan, Elliot again came to seek an interview. He earnestly be- sought that the whole of Hongkong should be given to him, and also at the same time brought forward several points touching residence and trade, to all of which he requested Keshen to affix his seals.-But Keshen withheld assent.

"On the twenty-eighth the said barbarians, hearing of the coming of our grand army, and supposing that so great a force must certainly be designed for attacking and exterminating them, were about commencing the attack themselves, and Keshen, being anxious for the safety of the Bogue, sent Paouchung to present a document in which it was stated to them that they could proceed to Hongkong to remain there for the time being, and ordering them to keep quiet, as the nego- tiations would be determined after an answer had arrived in reply to the clear memorial which had been made to the court. Paou chung was also ordered that if the barbarians did not manifest obedient tempers, then to take the document and bring it back. Paou chung, having seen the barbarians, and finding their designs to be murderous and wicked withheld, the document.

       On the first day of the second month, the barbarians attacked the fort of Sha. kok, and Keshen called troops to rescue it but could not. We, the ministers have examined (Keshen) on the whole of the foregoing charges, and at the close of the third examination Keshen could only tremble with fear and acknowledge his own unpardonable crimes. At the time he and the barbarian eye held their negotiations, he without delay fully delivered Hongkong over to the English for the time, not daring to deceive them nor persevering to receive the things they had to offer, but his entire policy was decidedly bad, and he now requests that we, the ministers, would on his account memorialize and implore that the celes- tial favor might be manifested in inflicting upon him the heaviest punishment."

Emperor's reply. On the sixteenth of the sixth month the imperial will was received as follows: "Let Keshen be remanded to the original judges of princes,

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magnates, and ministers, that assembled as a Board of Punishment they may determine the sentence for his crimes and report accordingly. Respect this."

Farther report of the council. *In obedience to the above, we proceed to record our decision. Keshen when sent as a high commissioner to Canton to examine into and arrange the affairs of the barbarians should have applied the most atten- tive care and thorough ability and devised plans for the full settlement of every point. When the barbarian English became refractory towards his clear com- mands for arrangement, and manifested their wolfish dispositions, he ought straightway to have memorialized the court, requesting troops to be prepared in order that at an early day they might be exterminated. But he incoherently pre- sented them a place to dwell at, and for the time being gave Hongkong to them, which is the excuse they (the English) give for taking possession of it. In all matters where it was necessary to guard and watch, he made no previous prepa- ratious, and consequently the barbarians have attacked and destroyed the forts in succession, and the very important place (the Bogne) cannot now be guarded. He has throughout been guilty of the greatest political errors, and it is in accordance with the laws that his case should be inquired into and deliberated upon, for it is owing to his not making previous preparations that we have lost our important passes, the city fortifications, and encampments. The law decrees im- prisoment and decapitation, and we hereby sentence him to be beheaded, but to be imprisoned until after autumn and then to be executed.

"Paou chung is a criminal who formerly resided with barbarians, and clandestine- ly acted as a comprador, but there are other and additional charges of lawlessness against him, and accordingly we distinctly sentence him to receive additional punishment.

41

     "All of us, the ministers in council assembled, having adjudged and deliberately settled the whole circumstances of the case, in accordance with the principles of reason, make our record and present it up to the throne that the imperial will may be received and recorded."

    4. Lin has been recalled and ordered on to the Yellow river, which has rebelled and overflowed its banks, producing great des- truction at the capital of Honan, laying it in ruins.

Kaefung foo, the capital, is situated in the midst of an extensive plain, four or five miles south from the river, and quite below its surface.

5. Affairs at Canton have continued undisturbed through the whole month, commercial business proceeding as usual, i. e., as those most interested will have it-' very badly.' The authorities seem au- xious to preserve the peace in this province; they also seem desirous of making a shown of defenses. If left alone they will doubtless

refrain from hostile acts. Nearly all the troops from the other pro vinces have left Canton, and a corps of native militia has been orga- nized in its stead, numbering two or three thousand strong. Many of these, it is said, are robbers and pirates, and of course are no great favorites with the quiet people of the provincial city.

The emperor has appointed a new commissioner, Tih-e-shun-poo, a Mantchou, who has arrived at Canton; he comes, it is supposed, not to make war, but to find out the truth regarding what has been done.

6. Hongkong seems to be gradually rising into notice. The num- ber of Chinese now on the island is said to be no less than 15,000, three times what it was twelve months ago.. A granite jail has been completed, and a court-house is bing erected. Sickness has greatly diminished; "and a carriage and pair with coachman, &c., have just arrived from Manila to show off on the new road."

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-NOVEMBER, 1841.- No. 11.

ART. I. Ta Tsing lubang te Shing Heun, or Sacred Instructions

of the emperors of the Ta Tsing dynasty. By Philosinensis. THE Central Empire has its classics; and if there are any books in the world, which are read and commented upon, these works cer- tainly receive that honor: nor is this attention entirely limited to the Chinese. By way of imitation, the whole list of sinologues is most ardently attached to these works, discussing and praising the merits of the Four Books and Five Classics. Many pages have been filled with their wonderful remarks, and their still more extraordinary deductions. By way of compliment, some modern philosophers have most magnanimously reduced the origin of the creation and conti- nuation of all things to the yin and yang principles, and most learn- edly argued the matter. What would Confucius say, if, rising from his grave, he should hear these disciples of Plato, Aristotle, and Kant, - discussing those absurdities, which he really never meant to inculcate?

Having ourselves once been caught and deceived by the attractive name of classics, we warn the reader not to fall into a similar error when attempting to learn' Chinese. In our acceptation of the word, classic means everything elegant, excellent, and correct in diction. The very quintessence of the language is contained in classical works ; and by mastering them, one has entered into the spirit of the litera- ture of a country. Now as far as thought is concerned, all this ap- plies to the Chinese classics; but whosoever hopes to find the beauties of language in the said books, will be sadly disappointed. Though Mencius is eminent on account of his perspicuity, yet by some he is stigmatized as a babbler, because he is, according to their view, too

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diffuse.

What shall we then say about the terse Shoo King, and the far famed She King, abounding in repetitions? What about the mi- nute Le Ke, the unintelligible Yih King, on the title page of which ought to be written, noli me tangere? Add to these the skeleton of Chun Tsew, the Lun Yu, the Ta Heó, and Chung Yung as classical patterns. We are perfectly aware that these are barbarian notions, and that an outcry will be raised against such sweeping remarks; still they will, on close examination, be found true. Further dis- cussion of this topic, however, would carry us into a different direc- tion than we were going to take, and we shall therefore waive it.

The great emperors of China, are not like other monarchs, who sit quietly on the throne to enjoy themselves, leaving the instruction of their subjects to a host of teachers, and taking no actual share in the same. No, they in turn become schoolmasters and preachers, for the benefit of their children, the people. The Shing Yu, trans- Jated into English by Dr. Milue, inay be considered as a specimen of Kanghe's eloquence; but this work, intended for the nation at large, sinks into insignificance, when compared with the Shing Heun, now before us.

        Here in this great work, you find sermons from all the Manichou einperors, full and lucid upon all subjects; but not being intended for the eyes of the vulgar, the diction is puzzling, and many passages are intelligible only to the Hanlin. From Cæsar down to Frederic the Great, we have never before heard that kings and em. perors systematically schooled their officers, and gave them regular tasks to learn, in order to improve them in the art of governing; but this is actually the case in China-thus evincing its superior claim to civilization. True, the ancient kings did the same; yet their dis- courses were exceedingly short, but think of this work now before us; we ourselves possess seventy volumes, and this is scarcely a third part of the whole. Every year additions are made ;- and could we by chance get a sight of the supplement of 1840, what splendid and touching passages might be found, upon the art of subjecting barba- rians, and ruling with undisputed sway! How should we see the jus- tice and truth and mercy of the celestial empire, lauded to the sky! Despairing, however, of obtaining a sight of this supplement, we must be content with what we have, though we can only glance at the miscellaneous contents of these volumes. If they are in the posses- sion of any other foreigner, we are ignorant of the fact, and should they ever have been mentioned in any learned periodical, we have never seen the passage, and must therefore not be accused of relating old stories.

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We have omitted to tell the reader, that these volumes are very thin, containing on an average only from sixteen to twenty leaves, and are: printed in large elegant characters, so that the oldest officers can read them with ease. The first discourse was pronounced by Teeu- ming, more than two centuries ago. This was the first Mantchou chief that aimed at the possession of China. The preface states that he, Teënming, by the prevailing destiny of heaven, had obtained posi session of the empire (this was exceedingly problematical at that time), and he wished to establish it by the virtues of the sages, ruling over it according to the principles of benevolence, filial piety, wis dom, and keeping possession of it by the sword and his own valor: He found the nation in the most wretched condition, and by rescuing the people from their degraded state, gave peace to the universe. A new code of instructions having become necessary, he set to work in good earnest, and the present collection of sermons was thus com- menced.

4

1. $

on the subject of piety; which is the most

The exordium is as follows:-

2.

      The first oration is important duty of man.

      "A prince is the son of heaven, all the ministers and public func- tionaries are his sons, and the people are again. the children of the former. A prince serves heaven as a father, and, never forgetful, thinks with reverence about rendering his virtues illustrious, and looking up receives the gift, i. e. the investiture of the empire. The mi- nisters ought in their turn to view the emperor as their father, and serve him as such, never be rapacious, or play the traitor, protect the people, observe the laws, and take care that there be no treason growing amongst the nation."

4.

The art of government especially engages his attention, and like Louis Philippe he thinks, that the grand central point, to which all efforts of government should converge, ought to be to establish a lasting peace. The first requisites to effect this, are a wise prince. and a good minister, who must with united strength coöperate; second to these is the blessing of heaven. Let there be the utmost justice in imitation of the righteous arrangements made by heaven and earth, and there will be prosperity and success, and all the em- pire will submit. People will all enjoy lasting peace, and prosperity will prevail throughout the land. Now when the one man-i. e. the sovereign-loses his virtue, calamity spreads to all regions, and the evil is worse than that wrought by demons. This was instanced on occasion of the emperor Wanleih's attacking a friendly empire, when all the troops brought against the Mantchous were killed.

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    Then follows a lecture addressed to kings, in better taste than Napoleon's speeches at Erfurth and Dresden before the crowned heads. Be wise, be just, do not hanker after riches, and your rule will be firmly established. The ministers and authorities in general get some wholesome advice. In this imperial sermon, the orator asserts, with great propriety, that all evil practices proceed from the heart. Keep your heart, he adds in a virtuous state, and all events will prove fortunate, you will be praised and become popular, riches will fall to your share, and your glory will be resplendent. On the other hand, if you harbor vicious purposes, the contrary will take place. You may wipe off a stain and cleanse yourself from defilements, but a froward heart will still remain. So much for Teënming.

    And now we turn our attention to Shunche, a young dabbler in affairs of government. A question may naturally arise here, whether some of these sermons were not written by Adam Schaal, the Jesuit, the emperor's adviser and steady friend? Certainly there is some- thing here and there beyond the range of Chinese ideas, but we shall not decide the question. Six small volumes constitute the whole published under Shunche's administration; we transcribe the table of contents. The lat, contains a sermon on government, on piety, on sacred filial duty, on the study of the sages, on humility, econo- my, and continence: the 2d, a sermon on harmony, instructions for the ministers, on petitions, on receiving reproof, on filling an office: the 3d, a sermon on merits obtained at the examinations, on choosing people to be promoted, on restraining inferiors: the 4th, a sermon on managing riches, on compassionating the people, on giving alms, on enforcing the sacrificial code, on propriety towards the generation past, on praising the patriotic and chaste: the 5th, a sermon on pro- moting literature, exhortations addressed to commanders-in-chief, on summons to surrender, exhortations to Mongols, and a benevolent go- verument, on realizing the interests of the great multitude: and the 6th, a sermon on tranquilizing the people, on avoiding punishments, on repressing greedy parasites, on eschewing evil, and on remitting or forgiving faults.

The subjects handled are certainly diffuse enough, and any com- mon mind would have been afraid to grapple with such variety, but not so the youth Shunche. The sermon on government is a well written piece, and its most prominent feature is the inculcation of our responsibility to heaven. The principle that princes were creat- ed on account of the people, and not the people on account of princes, which is in itself so obvious, has nevertheless been frequent-

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ly contested, and by some governments entirely declared null and void. The Chinese, however, acknowledge it in all its force, though they seldom reflect upon its tendency. Such expressions as the so- vereignty of the people, or giving an account to the nation, are foreign to the language, whilst the claims of the public at large for good go- vernment are fully admitted, and sufficiently commented upon. The prince has only to give an account to heaven, and not to any other power. Heaven, however, keeps on him a searching eye, and detects all his errors. It might appear that similar expressions point to some- thing more than the material heavens; such is not, however the case, and the gross pantheistical idea is in all these edicts prominently and boldly expressed. ·

      But to return to Shunche. This ruler did not only preach from a pulpit, but likewise held very edifying discourses during his plea- sure excursions, thereby improving time and giving an excellent ex- ample to his ministers. Even from the nursery there issued a voice, that of his beloved mother, which furnished matter for a very long sermon, which is of course upon filial duty.

      The transition to the use of riches is very rapid. The good em- peror makes it out, that his predecessors, the Ming princes, had taxed the blackhaired people too much, and though levying duties and imposts constitutes a part of governmental functions, still there must be economy so as to lighten the burdens of the people. Shun- che boldly inveighs against the odious usurpation of many grandees, who seized upon the people's fields to make hunting parks thereof. This speech would find few admirers in old England, and very likely would be hooted at in parliament, still it boldly maintains, that the more you extend pleasure-grounds, the more you narrow the territory for cultivating the necessaries of life.

This truism has found a great

many admirers, and there are, with the exception of the imperial demesnes, no parks where deer are kept, for the pleasure of the gran- dees. In this same speech, the monarch bitterly complains, that the waters were disobedient, and that droughts repeatedly afflicted the land. He therefore graciously remits the taxes, and permits the peo- ple to recover from these various calamities. Hunger, in addition tọ the sword, had devastated the land, and it required an indulgent fa- ther to raise the drooping heads of his numerous children.

                                         At one time he gave 40,000 taels of his own savings, and his queen did the same, which money was put into the hands of a trustworthy minister to be distributed amongst the sufferers.

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With the

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    The oration on ceremonies is one of the most eloquent. Chinese, ceremony is an excellent substitute for sincerity, humility, and sundry other qualifications, which some nations deem necessary to the formation of character and the well-being of society. It is Shunche's wish to inspire his officers with veneration for the long gone by, and to rouse his ministers to worship the manes of the departed sages, including kings and nobles, and even the Mongols who held for a time the sceptre of China. He himself, when cross- ing the frontiers of Mongolia, sent a deputation, to sacrifice at the tombs of their chiefs in order to conciliate the invisible assistance of those ancient heroes. In this sermon it is stated, that the spirits of the departed dwell at the graves, and ought to be carefully watched. The emperor in person once made a pilgrimage to the tombs of the Ming emperors, and finding them in ruins, he straightway ordered them to be repaired. The policy of these barbarians, from the mo- ment they invaded the Chinese empire, was to conciliate the people at large. Having scarcely any definite creed of their own, they mo- deled their religion entirely according to the Chinese tenets, and showed great regard towards the dead. All this amalgamated them with the myriads over whom they became victors by dint of the rapi- dity of their movements. To give a good example, and become the leader of fashion to his nation, Shunche venerated the shades of the Ming emperors, his former foes, and was generous to them, when they could no longer injure him.

state.

The discourse upon the art of tranquilizing the people, may in these times of war and fighting be read to some purpose. Shunche's were perilous times. The shock given to the empire was terrific, heavy rolling were the waves, that, one after the other, swept along with irre sistible fury, and in this troubled sea the monarch stood at the helm of

The Chinese had exhausted themselves in edicts; brother- hoods and conspiracies against the intruders continued to exist, but did not effect their end,-the expulsion of the hateful Mantchous. After so many exertions, which were isolated and ill-directed, the seeming enthusiasm of the people died away. That there is no real patriotism in China, some may believe; but that there are designing persons, who, under the garb of love for their country, will draw mul- titudes after them to serve their own purpose, cannot he denied. Such figured in Shunche's time; and to render them powerless, he wrote this political sermon. He includes in his amnesty the very robbers in the mountains, and endeavors by all means in his power to attach them to his government. That these are mere words we all know;

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     and that the emperor's show of compassion frequently consisted in cutting people to pieces and decapitating them, there is no doubt; yet at the bottom of his heart he was a well-meaning prince. In every piece, the great ruler quotes something of himself, whereby he exemplified the doctrines he recommended; and in many instances, peculiar situations in life gave rise to an oration, something like Massilon's orations funebre.

men.

Kanghe was a thinking man, who had also a great propensity for writing, and hence we find no less than 60 parts filled with his ser- mons. This great man deserved to rank high amongst his country- Though not as practical as Peter the great, nor as warlike as Lewis XIV., with both of them he had all the qualities necessary to sway a great nation, and to act as a reformer.

In this career, however, he stopped short. When versed in European sciences, when intimately acquainted with their immense advantages for promoting civilization, when considering the extraordinary capabilities in the Chinese character to produce first rate men, Kanghe after maturely weighing the cost, turned back from the gigantic enterprise of mak- ing the Chinese a great nation. He was the only learned individual in the Central Kingdom, and he carefully guarded the treasures he had acquired with so much labor, like a miser; he kept them to him- self, and with him died all scientific pursuit.

But we must go on with our review, and can only bestow a glance upon Kanghe's voluminous writings. His funeral sermon on the death of his mother is touching, the style is chaste and elegant, with- out the fulsomeness common with the Chinese on similar occasions. He does not aim at expressions, which are understood only by the Hanlin and court, and perfectly unintelligible to all others. This is indeed a very rare excellence, for scarcely any state papers that are manufactured at the national college, are, in our acceptation of the word, perspicuous; the more they are filled with obsolete phrases and high sounding words, the greater is the admiration paid to them; it is not the sense the reader prizes, but the sounds and the combina- tion of sentences.

      The treatise addressed to the authorities at the capital is excel- lent, full of good sense, denouncing direful punishment to the evil doer, and encouraging unseen merit. Kanghe shows himself an `enemy to dull routine, encourages men of mind to come forward and exert themselves for the benefit of the state, exhorts the ministers to diligence, and most unmercifully treats the prevarications that then existed. Indeed, if one wishes to obtain a view of the court as it ac- tually was, he has only to read this paper. The monarch says:

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I am here early in the morning, you assemble in my presence; let not the time be spent in idle ceremonies, but let business be dis- patched. The land is full of robbers; the people suffer under the hand of the oppressor; you must assiat me in making an end of this miserable state of affairs, and then you will be ministers indeed."

    Then he enters upon the different departments of the state, and gives to each its due meed of praise and censure. When speaking of religion, he plainly shows that he is a freethinker, but withal su- perstitious; for we see the man, whom we have been taught to vene- rate as an astronomer, bringing an accusation against the Astronomi- cal Board, for not having foretold an easterly gale.

Kanghe delighted in sermonizing about military affairs, and this is the topic upon which he dwells most diffusely. He was himself a warrior, who had fought in the deserts of Mongolia. His reign was filled with rebellions and insurrections. He therefore buckled on his arinor, traversed his wide dominions on the north, inspiring his soldiers with valor by his own example. And when seated in his cabinet, he delighted to expatiate on those events, and to review them in writing, commenting upon each campaign. He moreover prided himself upon his generalship, and minutely drew up the plans of attacks and operations, and when his officers succeeded, he got all the credit for the successful termination. A translation of these sermons would throw much light upon the history of the Man- tchou conquest.

The next essays consist of sermons upon compassionating the peo- ple, relieving their wants, directing their industry, strengthening their resolves, repairing the dykes, &c.:-all very proper when put into execution, but very unsatisfactory when ending, as was general- ly the case, in fine words.

When preaching to his officers about their duties, he abstains from all metaphors, and in straightforward language, tells them many things, which could not have been very palatable.

In discussing the nature of the laws, and particularly urging the execution thereof, so that the law should be supreme and rule the land, Kanghe makes many remarks at once shrewd and apposite. Perfectly aware that there existed many prevarications, he erected a stone pillar near one of the gates of his palace, where every one might state his complaints. The consequence was, that a host of pettifogging lawyers were always in attendance to present false ac- cusations, and involve the plainest cases in greater doubt. moreover grieved, that many soldiers of the eight standards, whom

He was

1

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he most particularly patronized, and to whom he allowed large dona- tions, deserted, and found shelter amongst the people. On the other hand numbers of vagabonds, the refuse of society, repaired to the banners, in order to screen themselves against the crimes they had committed. And notwithstanding all the laws which were enacted to put down these abuses, the military continued deaf to his exhortations. Amongst the vices of his times, both people and officers were addicted to gambling, greatly to the detriment of good manners. Parasites swarmed at the court. The very ministers, when engaged in im- portant deliberations, could not keep state secrets, and the people were soon aware of the resolutions that had been taken. All this heterogenous matter, Kanghe embodies in his admonitions, adds there- to his remarks and his threats, earnestly insisting upon a reform. As many parts of the empire had been laid waste during the late war, the emperor published a discourse upon the promotion of agri- culture. 'When I,' he says, marched forward with my army, I forbade the soldiers to trample upon the fields of the people, and pre- served their harvests.' He examined the capabilities of the soil, compared the produce of various fields, and even went so far, as to count the grain in the ear, in order to form a correct idea of their specific fertility. The locusts repeatedly committed great ravages and destroyed the hopes of the husbandman, whilst drought and inundations occasioned equal or greater calamities.

                              He suggests remedies for every one of these evils, but proves himself by no means a good political economist, believing that the price of provisions may be regulated by an imperial ordinance.

1

      These useful admonitions he follows up by an essay on music and rites, the inexhaustible themes of empty heads. Kanghe had heard the music of the west, and was much pleased with its harmony. He kept for a long time a skillful musician from Java, who used to cheer his lonely hours by the soft tones of his flute, and when this Orpheus died he was almost inconsolable. He gave directions that some foreign pieces of music should be introduced, and the whole native system reformed. Whenever he was present, the courtiers paid attention to these mandates, but they detested the innovation, and soon dropped the western airs altogether.

      Kaoghe is the only monarch of the reigning family, that traveled: through the provinces, in order to investigate the state of affairs with his own eyes. He has left us a volume descriptive of the experience he gained, and the views he entertained respecting these excursions. Fearing that his large train of courtiers might oppress the people,

VOL. X. NO. XI.

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and instead of proving a blessing would entail new hardships upon the natives, he took care to make sufficient provision himself, so as not to exact supplies from the neighboring cities, an endeavor in which he never succeeded. ·

. Having studied mathematics, he tried to apply his knowledge to the management of the Yellow river, the imperial caual, and the Hwae ho. To discourse upon this subject was his especial care; but though this may be considered as out of place, yet the reader will find on perusing the two volumes on this subject, that the emperor was well acquainted with hydraulics. All art, however, has been put at defi- ance in restraining the inundations of the Hwang ho, and the famed industry of the Chinese, with the multitudes that have set to work to strengthen the dykes, has been of little avail. Kanghe did not des- pair of ultimate success, and therefore cheered up his officers, and gave them the most minute directions, how they might effect in a scientific manner, what sheer brute strength and the force of numbers could never accomplish.

Like all mortals, Kanghe was occasionally vain, and plumed him- self upon the

great benefits he had conferred upon the country. Above all he taxes his memory with the many instances of having remitted imposts, when by some means or other the people could not pay, or the soldiers had devoured the produce. We forgive him this little variety, for he wished to render his reign popular, and to leave lasting traces of his benevolence. Though these arts of considerate kindness may long ago have been forgotten, they still live in these panegyrics upon himself.

In giving instructions to his generals, he asserts, that national contests ought to be engaged in with the utmost humanity, (we should have thought it far more advisable not to commence them at all,) and to realize this point, he makes suitable suggestions. It would be a happy thing if the celestial soldiers would conform to these rules, but they seem to give the text a meaning the opposite to which it was intended to convey. The same desire which dictated these di- rections to the military, made likewise ample provision for their com- fort. The army is to be stinted in nothing, the arrears are not only to be paid, but the private debts of the soldiers liquidated, and money paid in advance. This was the liberality of an emperor, who, well aware that the spur of the Mantchou hordes had taken possession of China, wished to encourage the conquerors to maintain their ground,,,In two different orations he praises the faithful and brave, who sacrificed themselves for their country, and shed their blood in the emperor's cause.

!

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    Great additions of territory having been made to the Chinese em- pire, Kanghe immediately comes forward to show his knowledge of geography, and in one of his speeches asserts, that there was not a famous river or mountain of which he could not indicate the name.

The emperor wrote about the establishment of posts for conveying dispatches throughout the empire, he rebuilt the graves of the former emperors, put down the large bands of robbers that traversed the country, and in fact directed all matters with a steady hand,-his whole life was a continued series of arduous exertions.

In the speeches addressed to foreign princes, Kanghe is as rude as Taoukwang. He feels extremely exasperated against the king of Cochinchina, who refused to be reverentially obedient, and did not deliver up some prisoners that had taken refuge in his dominions. The Russians, who had encroached upon his territory, he threatened with destruction, if they did not immediately abandon their ill-gotten Jands. All the Mongol princes received distinct directions how to behave under circumstances of peculiar interest, and when the small: pox had broken out in their camp, and brought thousands to the grave, Kanghe actually established a quarantine, and would not allow a tribute-bearer to approach the imperial city:

    Kanghe's style is easy, in many instances elegant, and the sub- jects upon which the imperial author treats are always interesting. The present collection is the best commentary upon his reign, and after deducting the delusions created by system, we cannot but award a fair claim of celebrity, to one of the greatest emperors that ever graced the Chinese throne.

Yungching's was an ephemeral reign, but he also indulged in writing sermons, which are indeed very formal, and the contents shallow. His remarks, upon sacred virtue are unique in their kind. He praises the favorable omens that appeared at the commencement of his government, and speaks very favorably of his own enterprizes. Fond of ceremony, he expatiates upon the literary parties, which were given in his palace, at which the greatest scholars were present. He was a man of form, who delighted in everything that was in strict keeping with the rules of etiquette, and was desirous of im- printing the same character upon the whole court.

    His speech on piety is a valuable document, because it exposes the governmental creed in the clearest manner.

The creation and pre- servation of all things depends upon the five elements, and the con- troling power over the same are the yin and yang, which may like- wise pass under the name of demons and gods,

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    This monarch having been an usurper, and driven his brother from the throne, great dissension reigued on that account amongst his family, and he therefore wrote a very elaborate treatise upon har- mony. Another sermon dwells upon the art of choosing suitable men for the various offices, a third speaks about the rewards due to veterans, and a fourth treats upon the love of the people. The latter contains regulations respecting the support of the aged, and the suc- cor of the needy in times of calamity. Three other volumes contain instructions to ministers; some suggestions for avoiding punishment, and for the encouragement of agriculture contain nothing new. An essay however upon the improvement of manners is on many ac- counts remarkable. It places the solution of this great problem in the hands of the Tribunal of Rites, and in fact makes a reformation of life a mechanical process. There is also much said about the minor virtues, such as economy, in which soldiers are very defective. Kanghe had given in gratuities to the eight standards, more than five millions of taels in cash, in order to enable the warriors to buy a little property, but they spent the whole, and remained as poor as ever, to the great regret of the generous donor. Amongst the dege nerate practices of the age was pugilisın, against which the emperor very gravely inveighs, and exhorts his people to introduce more mauly sports, superior to the amusements of loitering vagabonds.

    Yungching's attention was likewise directed towards the preserva- tion of the canals, and the proper construction of locks. He was frequently obliged to remit the taxes to the people, and takes great credit to himself for having done so. He urges the erection of large granaries and the accumulation of all kind of stores, in order to aid in times of dearth. Being himself of economical habits, he hoarded not only grain, but collected valuables to au enormous amount.

    The monarch is loud in his praises of the true patriots, wao fought for the country's glory. He promises to give them solid proofs of his high consideration of merit. 'Your names,' says he, shall be transmitted to the latest posterity by whole races of noblemen; your sons shall be promoted to the highest offices in the state; you shall be patterns for the whole nation. Such are the prospects he holds out to all patriots and true lovers of their country. And here we close our review, for we do not possess the discourses of the three other emperors who succeeded him.

    In no work that we have read, is the whole theory of the Chinese government so painly laid down, as in these volumes. There is more freedom of speech, a greater expansion of thought, and a more

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interesting mode of treating subjects, than in any other of their state- papers, that we ever perused. Though full of repetitions and quaint phraseology, the whole range of imperial thoughts is fairly submitted to our view, and we hear heaven's son speaking without reserve to our weak comprehension. As a literary production also, these dis- courses rank very high, and contain the essence of Chinese govern- mental papers.

ART. II. An abridgment of the life of father Gabriel Magaillans, of the Society of Jesus, missionary into China, writen by fa- ther Lewis Buglia, his inseparable companion for thirty-six years. From Magaillans' New History of China. London, 1688. Father Gabriel de Magaillans, a native of Portugal, was born in the year 1609. He spent his first years in the house of one of his uncles who was a canon, and who took care to educate him in piety and the fear of God. Afterwards he studied in the schools of the society of Jesus, in the famous university of Coimbre; where, moved by the good example of those fathers, he resolved to forsake the world, and was received into the Society at seventeen years of age. Being as yet but a noviciate, he begged leave that he might be sent to the missions of the East Indies, which would not be granted him how- ever, till he had completed his studies of rhetoric and philosophy. He arrived at Goa in the year 1634, where he was immediately employed to teach rhetoric to the young religious of the house. Two years afterwards he earnestly desired that he might be sent to the mission of Japan, which was with great reluctance at length con- sented to by his superiors, in regard of the great progress which their scholars made under such a master. When he arrived at Macao, the father visiter ordered him to teach philosophy, to which he thereupon began to settle himself: but at the same time there came a Christian mandariu, who discharged him from that employ- ment. And indeed the father visiter was willing to lay hold of the opportunity of such an officer, by his means to get the liberty of sending a person of merit into China, to assist the missionaries there. For at that time there was no person in the whole college who was proper for that country; and this was the reason that father Magaillans, observing so favorable a conjuncture, earnestly begged

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the employment, which was granted him as soon. Thereupon he departed with the mandarin, and arrived at the city of Hangchow, the metropolis of the province of Chěkeäng, where the vice-provincial then resided. At the same time also there came intelligence from the province of Szechuen, that father Lewis Buglio, who was gone to lay the foundations of a mission there, was fallen sick and wanted a companion. Thereupon father Magaillans offered himself and obtain- ed leave to go and assist him; and though it were a journey of above four months from Hangchow to the capital city of Szechuen, nevertheless he fortunately arrived there, and became a great help to father Buglio; and then it was that he applied himself with great industry to the study of the Chinese language and letters, which he learned with an extraordinary ease.

    Two years after, there happened a violent persecution against the preachers of the gospel, raised by the bonzes of that province, who assembling together in great numbers from the neighboring cities, accused the fathers of rebellion in all the Tribunals of that metro- polis. The chief mandarin therefore of the Tribunal of Crimes fearing a revolt, at a time when the kingdom was turmoiled with several insurrections, ordered that the fathers should be well drubbed, and then expelled out of the limits of the province. But they putting their confidence in God's assistauce, and the protection of the man- darins, of which the greatest part were their friends, would not for- sake their station. Thereupon the bonzes every day hung up libels against the fathers, in the principal quarters of the city; as also against the mandarins. But one of the military mandarins, who was a Christian, took care to have them pulled down by the soldiers. On the other side, the fathers writ feveral books, wherein they explained and asserted the truth of their faith, and refelled the impostures of their adversaries. This persecution lasted three months; but then the bonzes, whether it were that they were afraid of the mandarins who protected the fathers, or whether they wanted money to maintain them any longer in the capital city, retired home one after another; and then the governor of the city, who favored the fathers, dis- charged the superior of the bonzes from his employment; which put all the rest to silence, and absolutely stifled that uproar.

    In a short time after, they were exposed to a persecution much more formidable than the former. For the rebel Chang Heënchung, followed by a numerous army, and filling all places where he came with fire and slaughter, advanced toward the capital to make himself master of the place, and there take upon him the title of emperor of

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China, as he really did. Upon this, a great number of people fled for shelter to the mountains, and the fathers among the rest, with a re- solution to expect the issue of these disorders. In the meantime, the rebel took the capital city, where he made a bloody havoc; and three months after, understanding that great numbers of people were fled to the mountains, and among the rest the fathers, he sent several companies of soldiers who brought back a considerable part, of which number were the fathers. But when they came into his presence, he received them with extraordinary honors, and promised them that as soon as he had secured himself in the quiet possession of the em- -pire, he would erect magnificent churches in honor of the God of heaven. In the meantime, he gave them a magnificent house, where the fathers hung up the picture of our Savior, and baptized several persons, and amongst the rest the tyrant's father-in-law. And indeed, during the three years that he usurped the government, for the first year he behaved himself with much justice and liberality. But being provoked by several insurrections in several parts, he resolved to subdue the province of Shense, the inhabitants of which are a war- like sort of people, and before his departure so to secure the province of Szechuen, that it should not be in a condition to revolt. In pur- suance of which cruel resolution, he put to death an infinite number of people by all manner of torments. Some were cut into quarters, others flayed alive, others were cut in pieces by bits, and others were mangled, but not suffered to die. A hundred and forty thousand soldiers, also of the province of Szechuen, he caused to be massacred, so that the province was almost depopulated. Thereupon the fathers, observing these horrid butcheries, and despairing to make any farther progress under the government of so barbarous a tyrant, presented a petition to him, wherein they desired leave to retire till the troubles that harassed the kingdom were appeased. But the tyrant was so euraged at this petition, that about two hours after he sent for the domestic servants belonging to the fathers, and ordered them to be , flayed alive; accusing them that they had instilled those thoughts into their masters' heads. Presently the fathers hastened to save their lives, and told the tyrant, which was no more than the truth, that those poor people had not the least knowledge of their design. How- ever, after some discourse, the barbarian ordered the fathers to be laid hold of, and carried to the place of execution, and there to be cut in pieces: which had then been executed, if his chief general who was his adopted son, had not, while they were leading to the place of torment, by his arguments and his intercession obtained their par-

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don. Thereupon the tyrant sent away with all speed to have them brought back again into his presence, where, after he had loaded them with ill language and reproaches, he committed them to the custody of certain soldiers, with orders to guard them day and night. In this condition they remained for a whole month, at the end of which he sent for them one morning into his presence. They found him then very bloodily employed in giving orders for the putting to death a great number of persons, and verily believed that their last hour had been at hand. But at the same time it was the will of God, that the scouts came in one after another, bringing intelligence that some of the avant couriers of the Tartars' vanguard were at hand. But the tyrant, not giving credit to their intelligence, would needs mount without his arms, and attended only by some of his most faith- ful friends, rode forth to make a farther discovery of the enemy him- self, at which time, being forced to a skirmish, he was at the begin- ning of the fight, shot through the heart with an arrow. Thus the fa- thers, finding themselves at liberty by the death of the tyrant, resolved to retire to their house. But by the way they met a troop of Tartars that shot several arrows at them, insomuch that father Magaillans was shot quite through the arm, and father Buglio into the thigh, where the head of the arrow struck very deep in the flesh: so that although father Magaillans made use of his teeth to pull it out he could not. Till looking about him in that extremity, he spyed at last a pair of pincers lying in a blind place to which they had retired for shelter, by the help of which he drew the arrow out of the wound, not without great loss of blood.

The same evening they were presented to the prince who com- manded the army, who being informed what they were, entertained them with an extraordinary civility, and ordered two lords to take care to furnish them with all things necessary. However, the fathers underwent great hardships, for above a year together that they follow- ed the army, till they came to Peking, more especially for want of victuals, of which there was great scarcity in the army for some time: so that father Magaillans was constrained for three months to live upon a small quantity of rice only boiled in fair water.

                                 But upon their arrival at court, the Tribunal of Ceremonies, which takes care of all strangers, caused them to be lodged in the royal hostery, with a large allowance of provisions for their entertainment. There they resided two years, which being expired, a person of quality was com- manded to take care of their entertainment. During all which time they employed themselves in preaching the gospel, and baptized se-

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veral persons. They continued seven years at court, before they were known to the king. But then the prince, understanding who they were, was extremely joyful at their preservation, and gave them a house, a church, revenues, and money to buy them vestments. Thereupon father Magaillans, in testimony of his gratitude to the king for so many favors, employed' himself day and night in making several curious and ingenious pieces of art to please him; yet not so, but that he was no less diligent in the conversion of souls, as well by preaching as by writing. He also wrote several relations, and tran- slated the book of Thomas Aquinas concerning the resurrection of the body, which was received with great applause.

After a reign of eight years the king died; and because his son, who is the present emperor, was very young, he appointed four pro- tectors to govern the empire during his son's minority. Now at the beginning of their regency, some footmen belonging to a Christian mandarin, to revenge themselves upon their master, against whom they were highly incensed, falsely accused father Magaillans of having given presents in favor of that mandarin, who was put out of his em- ployment; which is a great crime in China. Thereupon the father was carried before the Board of Punishments where he was put to the rack twice, by the squeezing of both his feet in a press, which though it were a hideous pain, yet the father endured it with a con- stant resolution, nor would be brought to confess a thing of which hơ was not guilty. Nevertheless the judges, contrary to all justice, con- demned him to be strangled, and sent their sentence, according to custom, to the four regents. But they, as well for that he was a stranger, as because they were satisfied of his innocency, acquitted him, and restored him to his liberty.

     Three years after, in the persecution which all the fathers suffered for religion, he was apprehended with others, and loaded for four whole months together with nine chains, three about his neck, three about his arms, and three about his legs; he was also condemned to have forty lashes, and to be banished out of Tartary as long as he lived. But a great earthquake that happened at that time at Peking, delivered both him and the rest of his companions. Afterwards for several years together, he made it his business as well to perform the actual functions of the mission, as to please the reigning prince, who had taken possession of the government, with his ingenious in- ventions; laboring like an ordinary mechanic, to the end that the favor of the prince might be a means to maintain' and augnient the faith, which was the father's only aim.

VOL. X. NO. XI.

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Three years before his death, the wounds which he received in his feet, when he was put upon the rack, broke out again, which he en dured with an extraordinary patience. Two mouths before he died, these pains were accompanied with defluxions that stopped his respira- tion, so that he was constrained to sleep sitting up in a chair for fear of being choked; which was the reason that many times he never shut his eyes for several nights together. He wanted for no- thing during his sickness, but no remedies could surmount the force of the distemper, which daily increased; so that upon the sixth of May, in the year 1677, between six and seven o'clock in the evening, as he sat in his chair, and the distemper still urging with more vio- lence, he sent for the fathers who gave him the viaticum and ex- treme unction, after he had some days before made a general confes- sion. And so about eight o'clock, he placidly surrendered his soul to his Creator, in the presence of all the fathers, the servants, the neigh- bors, and the several Christian mandarins, who could not forbear weeping at his departure. The next day father Verbiest, now vice- president of the mission, went betimes in the morning to give notice to the king of the death of the father. The prince bid him return home, whither he in a very short time would send him his own orders what to do. Accordingly within half an hour, he sent three persons the most considerable in his court, with an eulogy in honor of the fa- ther, two hundred taels, or about thirty-three pounds, and ten great pieces of damask for his shroud, with a command to perform all the customary ceremonies before the corpse of the deceased, and to be- wail him after the usual manner, which the two messengers did, shed- ding a great number of tears in the presence of the whole assembly. The eulogy which the king gave the father was in these words: "I understand that Ngan Yuensoo (for by that name they called the father in China) has died of a distemper. I make him this writing, in consideration that while my father lived, who was the first emperor of our family, this same holy person by his ingenious pieces of art delighted the genius and humor of my father; and for that after they were invented he took care to preserve them with an extraordinary industry, and beyond his strength. But more especially for that he came from a region so far distant, and on the other side of the sea to abide several years in China. He was a man truly sincere and of a solid wit, as he made appear during the whole course of his life. I was in good hopes his disease might have been overcome by reme- dies. But contrary to my expectation he is removed for ever from us, For that reason, to the great sorrow and sensible grief of my heart,

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    I make him a present of two hundred taels, and ten large pieces of damask, to show that my design is never to forget our vassals that repair to us from places so remote."

Below were written, the emperor's words.

      The sixteenth year of the emperor Kanghe, the sixth day of the fourth month, which answers to the seventh of May, in the year of Christ, 1677, the next day after the father's death.

      This eulogy was printed, as also an abstract of the life of the fa- ther, and given about to all the princes, great lords, mandarins, to our friends, and all that were Christians. Which was of great con- sequence and mainly contributory to the credit and reputation of our sacred law, when the world should understand the high esteem which the king had of the preachers of the gospel.

Two days after, the king sent again the same three persons to weep before the corpse of the deceased, because he had ordered them to accompany it to the grave, which was an extraordinary honor. However, the fathers had not as yet given notice to their friends of his death, for fear of the disturbance it would be to their minds: and yet there was a great concourse of friends and mandarins, who came with their presents to perform the usual ceremonies; while others sent their eulogies and encomiums upon the father, written upon white

satin.

     Some days before he was buried, the same three persons came to tell us, that it was the king's pleasure, his funeral should be very magnificent. So that the fathers, as well to conform themselves to the will of the prince, as to show their high value of the eulogy which the prince had sent them, made more than ordinary preparations.

Upon the day of the funeral, the saine three persons came in very good time to accompany the corpse, according to the king's command. There came also a great number of mandarins, acquaintances, and other persons to pay the same respects.

And as for the ceremony,

                                                   it was performed after the following manner.

      Ten soldiers marched before with their arms to clear the streets; they were followed by ten ushers of several Tribunals, that carried tablets, whereon was written an order of the mandarins, to give way under pain of punishment. Twenty-four trumpeters and hautboys, with several sorts of other instruments followed them, and preceded the king's eulogy, that was written upon yellow satin, and carried in a litter, surrounded with four and twenty pieces of satin of various colors. This eulogy was attended by several Christian eunuchs, of which there were some that waited upon the king's person. Afterwards

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   appeared three other litters adorned with several pieces of silk. In the first was carried the cross, in the second the picture of the Holy Virgin, and in the third the picture of St. Michael. These litters observed a convenient distance one from the other, and in the spaces between there went a great number of Christians, of which some carried lanterns, some banners, and others censers; others carried wax tapers, sweet odors, and other things. After that in another ban- ner was carried the portraiture of the father, surrounded with pieces of silk, which the king had ordered to be drawn to the life three years before, together with the pictures of all the rest of the fathers, by a famous painter of the palace. This picture was attended by a great multitude of Christians, among which there were above three- score in mourning. The fathers came last, and just before the stately coffin; which was put into an hearse varnished over with gold and ver- milion, under a canopy of a rich piece of red velvet, which was environed with certain pieces of white and blue damask, and was the king's gift. The coffin was carried by seventy men, who had every one a mourning bonnet upon their heads, and the number of those that followed the coffin was so great, that the front was distant from the rear above a mile. When they came to the place of interment, the responses were sung, with other usual prayers and ceremonies of the Christians. To which purpose eight Christian mandarins in sur plices assisted the father that performed the office. The Christians also sung with great devotion, the litanies of the Holy Virgin, and then the body was put into a sepulchre made of brick. So soon as the ceremony was over, you might hear the lamentations and moans of the whole assembly accompanied with tears that showed the reali- ty of their grief; the three persons also sent from the emperor per- formed their parts. And three days after they returned by the king's order, and paid the same funeral respects as upon the burial day.

    Never was seen in this court a funeral so magnificent, whether you consider the multitude of those that were at it, their modesty, their tears, and their sincere sorrow, or the honors done to the party deceased by the king, and the eulogy which he gave him, contrary to the usual custom. So highly had this good father merited all along the marks of esteem that were bestowed upon him, by the mo̟- desty which he showed in all his actions, by his extreme charity for all the world, and particularly toward the poor, by his affability to all sorts of persons, by the hardships which he suffered for the love of God, and his zeal for the advancement of the Christian religion, though at the expense of his life and reputation.

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      The king, understanding by the persons whom he had deputed to be present at the ceremony, the solemnity of the funeral, and with what pomp and decency it had been performed, was extremely satis- fied; so that when the fathers went to return their thanks to his ma- jesty, he made them approach very near his person, entertained them with a particular sweetness and favor, and cheered them for their loss, with expressions full of goodness and sincerity.

ART. III. Illustrations of men and things in China: a Chinese toy-book, the Tung Yuen Tsă-tsze, or Eastern Garden's

Miscellany.

ture.

THIS little book no doubt occupies a niche among Chinese literary productions analogous to the toy and picture books in English litera- But how unlike are the two! It is as much at antipodes to all our notions of a toy-book, calculated to amuse or instruct a child, as is the country whence it came to the land of Tom Thumb or Jack and Gill. However, let us examine it, for it shows how our long-tail- ed' friends would teach the young idea,' and what they suppose ought to interest the youthful mind.

In order immediately to set before the lad the paragon of excel- lence, the unattainable mark which he is ever to keep in view, while approaching as near to it as possible, a picture of Confucius, seated at a table with four disciples standing before it in respectful attitudes, forms the frontispiece. To show what great personage is represented in this picture, the kelin or unicorn is drawn capering in front. Next to this, we have first, plans. of the heavens above, that is, the constel- lations with their names attached, the stars being joined together by lines like eyelet-holes in a lady's neckerchief; and, second, the earth beneath, i. e. China and the four seas surrounding it. If we can once possess ourselves of the idea that any body regards these two pictures as really correct representations of what they profess to deli- neate, we have a clue to many a wrong notion in the minds of the Chinese. It is not difficult for people who have been taught that the other countries of the world are nothing but such contemptible islets as they here see them, no larger than their names, to infer that their inhabitants are as debased, weak and ignorant as they are petty; hay-

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ing no sage among them like their own peerless Confucius. We see from this what reason Teen Kesheili (vol. III., page 304) thought he had for congratulating himself that he had 'clothing and caps, and did not live in a hole.' It is hard for us to believe that people live in this world who imagine that all this may be true, but there are probably millions of such.

    Following these two drawings, there is a picture of Confucius talk- ing with a boy, in illustration of the following story.

*

The name of Confucius was Yew, and his style Chungne; he establish- ed himself as an instructor in the western part of the kingdom of Loo. One day, followed by all his disciples, riding in a carriage, he went out to ram- ble, and on the load, came across several children at their sports; among them was one who did not join in them. Confucius, stopping his carriage, ask- ed him, saying, Why is it that you alone do not play?" The lad replied, "All play is without any profit: one's clothes get torn, and they are not easi ly mended; above me, I disgrace my father and mother; below me, even to the lowest, there is fighting and altercation: so much toil and no reward, how can it be a good business? It is for these reasons, that I do not play." Then dropping his head, he began making a city out of pieces of tile.

    Coufucius, reproving him, said, "Why do you not turn out for the car- riage!" The boy replied, "From ancient times till now, it has always been considered proper for a carriage to turn out for a city, and not for a city to turn out for a carriage." Confucius then stopped his carriage, in order to dis course of reason. He got out of the carriage, and asked him, "You are still young in years, how is it you are so quick?" The boy replied, saying, "A human being, at the age of three years, discriminates between his father and mother; a harc, three days after it is born, runs over the ground and furrows of the fields; fish, three days after birth, wander in rivers and lakes: what heaven thus produces naturally, how can it be called brisk ?"

Confucius added, "In what village and neighborhood do you reside, what is your surname and name, and what your style ?" The boy answered, "I live in a mean village and in a poor land; my surname is Hang, my name is To, and I have yet no style."

do

Confucius rejoined, "I wish to have you come and ramble with me; what you think of it?" The youth replied, "A stern father is at home, whom I am bound to serve; an affectionate inother is there, whom it is my duty to cherish; a worthy elder brother is at home, whom it is proper for me to obey, with a tender younger brother whom I must teach; and at home is an intelligent teacher from whom I am required to learn: when have I any leisure to go a rambling with you?"

Confucius said, "I have in my carriage thirty-two chess-men; what do you say to having a game together?" The lad answered, "If the emperor love gaming, the empire will not be governed; if the nobles love play, the government will be impeded; if scholars love it, learning and investigation will be lost and thrown by; if the lower classes are fond of gambling, they will utterly lose the support for their families; if servants and slaves love to game, they will get a cudgeling; if farmers love it, they will miss the time for ploughing and sowing: for these reasons I shall not play with you."

    Confucius rejoined, "I wish to have you go with me and fully equalize the empire; what do you think of this?" The lad replied, "The empire cannot be equalized: here are high hills; there are lakes and rivers; either there are princes and nobles, or there are slaves and servants. If the high bills be leveled, the birds and beasts will have no resort; if the rivers and lakes be

+

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filled up, the fishes and turtles will have nowhere to go; do away with kings and nobles, and the common people will have much dispute about right and wrong; obliterate slaves and servants, and who will there be to serve the prince? If the empire be so vast and unsettled, how can it be equalized ?" Confucius again asked, "Can you tell, under the whole sky, what fire has no smoke, what water no fish; what hill has no stones, what tree no branch- es; what man has no wife, what woman no husband; what cow has no calf, what mare no colt; what cock has no hen, what hen no cock; what consti- tutes an excellent man, and what an inferior man ; what is that which has not enough, and what that has an overplus; what city is without a market, and who is the man without a style?"

The boy replied, "A glowworm's fire has no smoke, and well-water no fish ; a mound of earth has no stones, and a rotten tree no branches; genii have no wives, and fairies no husbands; earthen cows have no calves, nor wooden mares any colts; lonely cocks have no hens, and widowed hens no cocks; he who is worthy is an excellent man, and a fool is an inferior man ;.a winter'a day is not long enough, and a summer's day is too long; the imperial city has no market, and little folks have no style."

     Confucius inquiring said, "Do you know what are the connecting bonds between heaven and earth, and what is the beginning and ending of the dual powers? What is left, and what is right; what is out, and what in; who is father, and who is mother; who is husband and who is wife? [Do you know] where the wind comes from, and from whence the. rain? From whence the clouds issue, and the dew arises ? And for how many tens of thousands of miles the sky and earth go parallel?"

The youth answering said, "Nine multiplied nine times makes eighty-one, which is the controlling bond of heaven and earth; eight multiplied into nine makes seventy-two, the beginning and end of the dual powers. Heaven is father, and earth is mother; the sun is husband, and the moon wife; east is left, and west is right; without is out, and inside is in; the winds come from Tsang-woo, and the rains proceed from wastes and wilds; the clouds issue from the hills, and the dew rises from the ground. Sky and earth go parallel for ten thousand times ten thousand miles, and the four points of compass have each their stations."

     Confucius asking, said, "Which do you say is the nearest relation, father and mother, or husband and wife?" The boy responded, " One's parents are near; husband and wife are not [so] near.'

Confucius rejoined, "While husband and wife are alive, they sleep under the same coverlet; when they are dead, they lie in the same grave: how then can you say they are not near?" The boy replied, "A man without a wife is like a carriage without a wheel: if there be no wheel, another one is made, for he can doubtless get a new one: so, if one's wife die, he seeks again, for he also can obtain a new one. The daughter of a worthy family must certainly marry an honorable husband: a house having ten rooms always has a plate and a ridge-pole: three windows and six lattices do not give the light of a single door: the whole host of stars with all their sparkling brilliance do not equal the splendor of the solitary moon: the affection of a father and mother-alas, if it be once lost !"

Confucius sighing, said, "How clever! how worthy!" The boy asking the sage said, "You have just now been giving me questions, which I have answered one by one; I now wish to seek instruction; will the teacher in one sentence, afford me some plain instruction? I shall be much gratified, if my request be not rejected." He then said, "Why is it that mal- lards and ducks are able to swim; how is it that wild geese and cranes can sing; and why are firs and pincs green through the winter?" Confucius re-

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   plied, "Mallards and ducks can swim because their feet are broad; wild geese and cranes can sing because they have long necks; firs and pines remain green throughout the winter because they have strong hearts." The youth rejoined, "Not so; fishes and turtles can swim, is it because they all have broad feet? Frogs and toads can sing, is it because their necks are long? The green bamboo keeps fresh in winter, is it on account of its strong heart?"

    Again interrogating, he said, "How many stars are there altogether in the sky" Confucius replied, "At this time inquire about the earth; how can we converse about the sky with certainty ?" The boy said, "Then bow many houses in all are there on the earth?" The sage answered, "Come now, speak about something that's before our eyes; why must you converse about heaven and earth." The lad resumed, "Well, speak about what's before our eyes-how many hairs are there in your eyebrows ?"

    Confucius smiled, but did not answer, and turning to his disciples called them and said, "This boy is to be feared; for it is easy to see that the subse- quent man will not be like the child." He then got into his carriage, and rode off.

The ode says,

Do not despise a youth, a bright intelligent lad;

Whose talents are discursive and great, in wisdom surpassing men; While discoursing about things in general, of affairs without a limit, It is evident that an ancient sage, has manifested himself in the body. The pages of the book are divided into two parts, having no connec- tion with each other. On the lower part, succeeding this story, comes the Hundred Family Names (see vol. IV., page 153), and above it is the Thousand Character Classic (see vol. IV., page 229), both of them as dry as chopped hay' to the juvenile mind. There are also in the upper division, various lists of persons, comprising the disciples of Confucius, famous heroes and scholars, the 24 youths renowned for their filial duty (see vol. VI., page 130), &c.; also short admoni- tions in verse, curious directions how to divine good or bad luck from candlewicks; and lastly, nearly 200 pictures of the most common objects in nature, with their names attached. These pictures indicate a very primitive state of the art of drawing, and are altogether so rude, that if the author had not very discreetly told the lad, 'this is a horse,' he would perhaps have called it a handsaw. If these pictures are those to which Mr. Davis refers, in his work, as being employed by Chi- nese teachers in giving instruction, and we have little doubt but they are, he ought to have given us a better idea of their merits.

In the lower part of the book, succeeding the Thousand Character Classic, the stripling, who may wish to wander farther in this Eastern Garden, is entertained with various multiplication and division tables, and then led to a plat whereon are depicted the sublime calculations of the abacus or swanpan. Then follow a large number of parterres, containing a choice selection of phrases and terms with appropriate definitions and illustrations. They embrace the whole range of sub-

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jects which the aspirant to fame will ever require to learn, couched In the most commendable brevity-from the starry heavens to the grasshopper in the field, nothing is omitted. They occupy more than three fourths of the space surrounded by the garden wall-i. e. the covers of the book, and comprise a good many rare things. Along one of the sides of this garden, the youth is delighted with all kinds of formulas for letter-writing, and taught how to subscribe himself to all grades of people, and to all ranks of his relations;-not by "Your affectionate friend," " Your obedient servant," or " Your dutiful son," as barbarians do; but by, "Your foolish younger brother," "" Your fool- ish nephew," "Your marriage cousin," &c. He is also taught how to comply with the rules of etiquette in the construction of his visiting and invitation cards, in his proposals for matrimony, and in his notes of condolence: truly as the sage says, "nothing is without its ceremo- nies." Next to this bed of delights, which may be called the Dutch end, where all the trees are clipped into the shape of gable roofs with one chimney, young gentlemen and ladies are brought to a plat, where they have specimens of letter-writing, and other documents necessary to the completion of a polite education. Among the best of the former, we select the following letter from a husband to his wife, and her answer.

     Wandering in a distant land of strangers, how quickly has a year passed away! Always remembering my aged parents in their hall, and my little one in the arms, I depend upon my worthy wife to wait upon the one, and to bring up the other; thus, by reason of your constant and uniform conduct, my father and mother never having occasion to regret my want of filial duty towards them, nor my children the loss of my care and instruction, will evince the great affection of my worthy wife. In this foreign land, when I have obtained a little competence according to my wishes, packing up my bag- gage, I will quickly return home. But that you may not be continually an- xious for me, I send you a letter to calm you, together with a certain sum of money to use in the household expenses. Let every one of your apprehen- sions be removed, and fail not to make some allowances for me.

To my worthy wife,

             in her apartment, I her husband wishing peace, send this letter.

Reply.

    Since you left the Hibiscus has twice bloomed. The orders given when you left have all been most diligently kept in my memory, not presuming to oppose them. Those in the high hall I have constantly waited upon, always doing it myself. The delicate girls and tender boys I have myself nourished; all the various duties of the household I have directed. You need have no anxiety upon these points, but while in your distant land, do your business, and, if possible, plan how to procure gain sufficient; then will you quickly return home, to wait upon your parents, and nourish all your little ones, causing all those of your own flesh and blood to rejoice together, filling the house with laughter." Then will not your aged parents lean upon the village gate longing for you, uor your poor handmaid sing the Gray hair ballad.

VOL. X. NO. XI.

78

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While writing I wipe away the tears, nor can I write all I wish, but add the desire that you will do what is right and enjoy yourself.

                                  To the feet of my worthy husband, his dearly attached wife sends a hundred salutations.

    There are besides these, formulas for deeds, leases, taxation re- ceipts, partnership agreements, and among others one for selling chil- dren on account of the poverty of the parents to be brought up. We approach now to the end of this garden, and among other things to lead the youthful mind to wander onward, if he should have become weary, a variety of diagrams are exhibited showing the great number of relatives it is possible for a man to have, with their names and proper precedence. This is no laughing matter to a Chinese, who is taught to make a god of his grandfather, and worship his parents. To this table of pedigrees succeeds a second, in which the boy will take much more interest; it is a table of calculations showing the chances he has of being a rich or a poor man by casting his nativity at so many taels and cash per sign. It is a complicated affair, somewhat like a bramble bush, and not fully understanding it ourselves, we will not venture to lead our readers through it. As if to induce one to penetrate it, however, there are impersonations of the four seasons placed in the midst, in the shape of reverend looking sages bedecked with horary characters: very unlike they are to our representations of the seasons in the guise of flowery spring, joyous summer, mellow, ripe autumn, and shivering, scythe-bearing winter.

Last of all in this garden, sit the emperors, generation after gene- ration, from the Tae Koo, or the Great Ancient who lived when the memory of man ran not to the contrary, down to the present Taou- kwang: "May he live for ever and ever," says the loyal cultivator of this garden, as he bows his visitor out, and so do we.

1'

ART. IV. The expedition to China: narrative of events since the battle above Canton; sickness at Hongkong; tyfoons of 21st and 26th of July; the full of Amoy, Chusan, Chinhae, and Ningpo. By a Correspondent.

AFTER the events detailed in the Repository for July, 1841, p. 390, no moveinent of any importance took place from the period of the re- turn of the force to Hongkong, till the arrival of her majesty's pleni-

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potentiary sir H. Pottinger, and rear-admiral sir W. Parker. Prepa- rations were then immediately made for the expedition to the north.

Sickness had in the meantime prostrated many in the navy and army. Death had numbered some of their best men among its victims, Though inhaling the poisonous miasina during the seven days' so; journ on the heights above the city of Canton, still the men continu- ed free from disease. Excitement and hard work seemed to steel them against it. On the passage down the river they first began to suffer. Our gallant and respected commodore, sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, was the first to sink under the disease. He carried with

him to the grave the regrets of all. From him the military derived, at all times, every possible assistance. To cooperate with them. seemed to afford him pleasure. He was buried at Macao, and a monument erected over his remains by a joint subscription from the army and navy. The health of the troops on board ship soon began to improve. Those on shore, however, continued to suffer much. They consisted of the 37th Madras native infantry, sappers and mi- ners, recruits of the 18th Royal Irish, and the detachment of Bengal Volunteers.

On the increase of sickness, 100 men of the 37th regiment, and the whole of the other troops on shore, were reëmbarked. In them a rapid and decided improvement speedily took place. The head quarters of the 37th regiment, about 500 strong, were left on shore, and unfortunately housed in barracks very ill adapted for this change. able climate. Disease in them rapidly increased to an alarming ex- tent: hospital gangrene made its appearance; and the slightest abrad- ed surface degenerated into a foul malignant ulcer. Sores which had been cicatrized for days and days again broke out. Men, who had been wounded at Chuenpe and elsewhere, and who, poor fel- lows, proud of their wounds, and rendered by them disqualified for further active service, looked forward with pleasure and anxiety to the period of return to their homes in India, where they would be enabled to spend the rest of their days in ease and comfort with their families on the bountiful pension of their honorable masters, were now cut off. Out of 600 men, barely 100 were fit for duty. Two of the officers of the regiment had died, and of the remaining sixteen, one only was off the sick list. The corps was exactly in this state, with a hospital crowded to overflowing, when the tyfoon of the 21st July came on. It was during the surgeon's visit on the morning of that day, that the hospital came down, crushing under its ruins the miserable bed-ridden patients. Though many sustained injuries,

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from which they never recovered, still, surprising to say, only one man was killed, a poor helpless maniac.

    By dint of great exertions on the part of the officers and men, (for no other assistance could be procured,) the sick were extricated from the wreck of the hospital, and placed in one of the other barracks. Alas! merely to have the same scene acted over again. Batrack after barrack was leveled with the ground. The officers' houses fol- lowed. The force of the wind tore the very flooring from the sleep- ers. It was now sauve que peut. There was danger in remaining in the vicinity of the lines. The wind and drenching rain continued unabated, and torrents in the form of cascades poured down the hills, sweeping everything before them.

The sea, at all other times so still and smooth here in the harbor, was now fiercely agitated. It had incroached on the land far be- yond its natural bounds. Ships, drifting from their anchorages, were seen rapidly nearing the shore, while their crews were laboring hard to cut away the masts, their only chance of preservation. Occa- sionally, as the atmosphere cleared across the bay, several ships could be seen clustered in one spot, giving each other a friendly embrace! Ships of seven and eight hundred tons were on shore in water, which on ordinary occasions is barely knee-deep. Innumerable boats were scattered in fragments on the beach, while underneath and around them were many mangled and lacerated corpses of Chinese.

    At 3 P. m., the tyfoon was at its height, the houses were all unroof- ed, and no covering remained to protect from the taging elements. The natives were running wildly about in all directions, vainly be seeching succor from their gods. The last days of Hongkong seem- ed to be approaching. It was a grand but awful sight. It will be easier to conceive, than to describe, the helpless and wretched con- dition in which the inhabitants of this newly colonized island spent this night. The following day, temporary buildings were thrown up for the protection of the men, and a second ship was now procured for 250 of the sick. But deaths still daily occurred amongst them.

    On the night of the 25th, and the greater part of the 26th of July, the island was again visited by a tyfoon, which though not so violent as that already described, swept away everything that escaped the gule of the 21st. It destroyed the temporary buildings, and exposed the wretched inmates a second time to the fury of a tempest of wind and rain, and the consequences were most disastrous. Meantime, the crews of the men-of-war, and also the troops on board ship were rapidly convalescing, and on the 21st of August, the day on which

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the fleet got under weigh for Amoy, but few sick remained. The 26th Cameronians, 37th M. N. 1., the detachment of Bengal Vo- lunteers, and a few artillery and sappers were left behind at Hong- kong.

The capture of Amoy was chiefly a naval operation, and the little that was left for the troops to do was done by the 18th Royal Irish. Scarcely had the fleet, on the 26th August, taken up their position opposite the batteries of Amoy, when a boat, bearing a white flag was seen to approach the Wellesley. An officer of low rank was the bearer of a paper, demanding to know what our ships wanted, and directing us "to make sail for the outer waters, ere the celestial wrath should be kindled against us, and the guns from the batteries annihilate us!" The line of works certainly presented a most formida- ble appearance, and the batteries were admirably constructed. Man- ned by Europeans, no force could have stood before them. For four hours did the ships pepper at them without a moment's cessation. The Wellesley and Blenheim each fired upwards of 12,000 rounds, to say nothing of the frigates, steamers, and small craft. Yet the works were as perfect when they left off as when they began, the ut- most penetration of the shot being 16 inches. The cannonade was certainly a splendid sight. The stream of fire and smoke from the sides of the liners was terrific. It never for a moment appeared to slack. From 20 to 30 people was all that were killed by this enor. mous expenditure of powder and shot.

It was nearly 3 P. M. before the 18th landed, accompanied by sir Hugh Gough and staff. They landed close to a high wall which flanked the main line of batteries, covered by the Queen and Phlege- thon steamers. The flank companies soon got over the wall driving the enemy before them. They opened a gate through which the rest of our men entered, and advancing along the battery quickly cleared it, killing more men in ten minutes, than the men of war did during the whole day; three of our fellows were knocked over, besides others in- jured. One officer cut his throat in the long battery, another walked into the sea and drowned himself in the coolest manner possible. The enemy fled on all sides so soon as our troops landed. We bi- vouacked as best we could during the night, and next morning took possession of the city without hindrance. Much treasure had been carried away, the mob leaving only the boxes which contained it. Im- meuse quantities of military stores were found in the arsenals, and the founderies were in active operation. One two decker, modeled from ours, and carrying 30 guns, was ready for sea, and others were on the

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the

stocks. But few war-janks were stationed here, the Chinese admiral being at this time absent with his fleet. During the engagement the Phlegethon steainer was nearly severely handled. She came suddenly opposite and close to a masked battery, the guns from which, having the exact range, opened upon her. Fortunately for the steamer, water was sufficiently deep to come close into the land. Captain Mc- Cleverty immediately landed his men, advanced directly on the bat- tery, and took possession of it, killing a great portion of the garrison. This was a very spirited affair, and attracted universal admiration.

    After obtaining complete possession of Amoy and all its defenses, sir William Parker and sir Hugh Gough respectively issued the fol- lowing Notices to the force under their command. For the circular of H. M. Plenipotentiary regarding this operation, see page 524.

GENERAL MEMORANDUM.

Wellesley, at Amoy, 31st August, 1841. Rear-admiral sir W. Parker observed, with much satisfaction, the precision with which the ships of the squadron took their stations on the 26th instant; and he begs to convey to the captains, officers, seamen, and royal marines, and also to those of the Indian navy, his approbation and best thanks for the excellent gun practice, gallantry, and good conduct which they exhibited on that occasion.

WILLIAM PARKER, Rear-admiral. To the respective captains, commanders, and commanding officers of H. M. `ships and vessels, and of the Indian navy.

(Signed)

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-quarters, ship Marion, Amoy harbor, September 5th, 1841. Major-general sir Hugh Gough has again derived the highest gratification from the gallant and soldier-like conduct of the troops, at the capture of the batteries, heights, city, and citadel, of Amoy, and of the strongly fortified island of Koo- Jang su, in co-operation with H. M.'s ships.

2. Although the resistance upon them was more feeble than the major-general anticipated, he has the proud conviction, that the noble emulation and eager spirit, with which the several corps (including two detachments of royal ma- rines) proceeded to the attack, together with their patient endurance of fatigue, 'would equally have enabled him to carry all before him, had the enemy made

more active use of the great advantages of his position.

     3. Sir Hugh Gough has no less satisfaction in noticing the conduct of the troops on shore, amid temptations of no ordinary nature,-shops on all sides abounding with liquor, and houses full of valuable property, abandoned in many cases by their owners, and already broken open by the populace.-A few in- stances alone of misconduct called for the major-general's disapprobation, and for the most part sobriety and regularity have been maintained.

    4. It is also highly to the credit of the troops, that, upon a sudden order to re- embark, after eight days on shore, all the regiments paraded in perfect order, and embarked with as much regularity, and as rapidly as the major-general could have expected, had the most ample time been given for preparation, with- out one solitary instance of inebriety, and without leaving even one follower behind.

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      5. The major-general, therefore, feels it but justice thus to record his senti- ments, and to beg commanding officers of corps, and the heads of departments, to accept his thanks, and to convey them to the officers, non-commissioned of- ficers, and soldiers, under their respective commands.

6. Sir Hugh Gough has much pleasure in ́expressing his sense of obligation to captain · Giffard of the royal navy, for his valuable services and judicious ar- rangements at the disembarkation and embarkation of the troops.

By order.

(Signed)

ARMINE S. H. MOUNTAIN, Lieut.-colonel. Dep. Adj.-general, Expeditionary Force. A garrison, of detachments from the 18th and 26th regiments, and the Madras artillery was left at Amoy, with H. M. ships Druid, Py- lades and Algerine. On the 5th, the fleet were steering for Ningpo. After clearing the Formosa channel, the wind chopped round to the north, and dispersed the fleet. They afterwards rendezvoused at the island of Just-in-the-way, in the mouth of the Ningpo passage.

Chusan was the first point of attack, and thither the fleet directed their course. On the 29th, they arrived off the city of Tinghae. The batteries on this island have been very much extended and strength- ened since it was given up. The brass guns were quite new and ad- mirably constructed; though there was no improvement in their car- riages. With the exception of four large 24 prs., which were on tra- versing carriages similar to those in the steamer, all the others were even more rude than those found on the former visit to the island. On the afternoon of the 29th, lieutenants Spencer and Barrow of the artillery landed on Melville island, and a battery was thrown up for the purpose of shelling Pagoda hill, on which strong fortifications had been raised, and which appeared to be well garrisoned. This bat- tery was thrown up under a very heavy and admirably directed, fire from the hill.

     On the 1st of October, the troops landed at Sapper's point; during the landing a very heavy fire was, opened upon us from the long shore battery. The shot fell around the boats on all sides, several from the ginjalls hit the men, but they were too far spent to do mate- rial damage. The Chinese were strongly posted on the heights above us. The landing, was covered by the Columbine and Phlegethon. The 55th, were the first on shore, sir Hugh Gough and staff with them. They found it impossible to await the landing of the other troops, there being no cover from the incessant fire the enemy pour- ed down upon them. The advance was sounded, and away they went up the hill, major Fawcet leading in gallant style. The sight was now very animating, the Chinese coming down to meet them in the most determined way, and firing their matchlocks and ginjalls, till the hill blazed with fire.

J

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The gallantry of some individuals was most conspicuous. One man, in particular, attracted universal attention. Standing on the peak of the hill, while the shot from the Phlegethon and Nemesis plunged every moment within a few feet of him, he waved a flag, and the nearer the shot came to him, the more he waved. At last a shot from the steamer cut him down. Another warrior quickly took his place, and was in like manner disposed of.

    By this time the 55th were close on the Chinese; the latter waited till they were within spear's length and then retreated. The 55th had an officer killed in the advance, ensign Duall, formerly sergeant-major of the regiment. This was the first day he ever acted as an officer, and he died with the regimental colors in his hand. Twenty men of the same corps were put hors du combat before they reached the top of the hill. Assistant-surgeon Hutchinson was struck down by a ginjall ball. It hit him obliquely on the head, first taking off the peak of his

cap.

Meantime captain Anstruther, with two light guns, accom- panied by the 18th, pushed on towards the right, driving in small parties of the enemy. The batteries, in this direction, were quickly cleared. Many of the Chinese, who were retiring along the cause- way, seeing our men advance into the battery, quickly turned, and a very smart affair followed. They assembled in great numbers close to some brass guns, and there fought like Turks; in their haste, however, they fired too high to do much injury, and some of the ad- vance saved their lives by making good use of their pistols. At this place general Keò, the chief naval and military commander, was killed; and all his officers, sticking to him to the last, also fell with him. Their conduct in fact was noble, nothing could have surpass- ed it.

    While this was going on, Pagoda hill, from the continued fire from the Modeste and the party on Melville island, became too warm for the enemy, and they evacuated it. The 55th, now joined by the Madras rifles, pushed on to the heights immediately above the city, attended by the sappers, and lieut. Baker of the artillery with guns and rockets. The artillery opened a fire on the city, while the rifles peppered away at the men on the walls, and one of the light steamers coming close under Pagoda hill threw shells into it, and also the party on Melville island. The walls were at the same time, scaled by the 55th and the sappers. And so fell Chusan for the second time, captain Pears of the sappers being first in the city. The 49th regiment, the marmes, blue jackets, and some artillery forming the reserve, wore not required.

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     The suburbs of the city had been occupied entirely as a military post, the inhabitants evidently not being allowed to enter it. The names on the streets, nay, even those on the doors in chalk, were just as we left them. The beach, however, was so altered by the exten- sive works thrown up, that no one could have possibly recognized it As soon as Tinghae was fully occupied, various parties of troops scoured the island in all directions, and previously to the body of the expedition leaving the island, a military government was formed, and 400 men left as a garrison. Sir Henry Pottinger issued the following circular the day after taking possession of Tinghae, in which he declares his intention respecting the group.

CIRCULAR TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.

      Her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiary in China has the utmost satisfaction in announcing, for general information, that the city of Tinghae, the capital of the Chusan group of islands, was yesterday re-occupied by her majesty's forces.

      During the eight months that have elapsed since this island was evacuated by her majesty's forces in February, 1841, the Chinese government appears to have exerted itself geatly to strengthen the defenses. The whole sea face of the city is now one continued line of fortifications, extending for nearly two miles, and ré- doubts and intrenched camps have been thrown up in every direction.

       The Chinese troops made a better attempt at resistance than they have hitherto done, but nothing could withstand the intrepid valor and discipline of her majesty's combined forces, and in less than two hours, the batteries were cleared, the city escaladed, and the enemy flying in all directions.

      Great quantities of ordnance (amongst which are about forty pieces of brass cannon), with other arms, and military stores of every description, besides magazines of gunpowder, and large granaries of rice, have been found; and from a variety of concurrent circumstances, it is evident that the Chinese authorities had no concep- tion that the place could be taken in such rapid and gallant style.

      Arrangements will be made immediately for establishing a provisional govern- ment, and her majesty's plenipotentiary deems it advisable, after what has already happened, to intimate to her majesty's subjects and all others, that, under no circumstances, will Tinghae and its dependencies be restored to the Chinese government, until the whole of the demands of England are not only complied with, but carried into full effect.

God save the queen.

      Dated on board her majesty's ship Blenheim, in Chusan harbor, this second day. of October, 1841. (Signed) HENRY POTTINGER, II. M. Plenipotentiary.

     A proclamation was also made to the native population of Tinghae a few days afterwards, of which the following translation is extracted from the Hongkong Gazette of Nov. 23d.

PROCLAMATION.

      The city of Tingbae, the capital of the Chusan island and its dependencies, having been again taken possession of by the combined forces of her Britannic majesty, in conformity with the royal commands to that effect which her majesty

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    has been pleased to issue through her majesty's high ministers; it is hereby made known to the inbabitants of the said city of Tinghae and its dependencies, that the British government has resolved to retain the said city and islands and their dependencies, until the demands, which the undersigned plenipotentiary, &c., has been directed to make from the imperial government of China, shall be not only acceded to, but carried into full effect:

+

The inhabitants are therefore given to understand, that years may probably elapse before the said city, &c, will be restored to the emperor's authority. In the meantime, a military government will be formed, to protect the well disposed and quiet, and to punish the ill disposed and refractory. Such regulations as may become necessary from time to time, will be notified to the people by proclamations; and all classes are hereby invited to resume their usual trades and occupations, under the assurance of being fostered and protected, so long as they conduct themselves as orderly and obedient subjects of the govern. ment under which they are living.

That the people may have every facility to obtain redress of any wrongs committed against them, and to convey their representations to the government, captain Dennis, one of the officers of the queen of England's forces, has been appointed a military magistrate.

God save the queen of England.

Given under my hand in Chusan this sixth day of October, 1841.

(Signed)

True copy.

HENRY POTTINGER, H. M. Plenipotentiary.

J. ROBT. MORRISON, Chinese Sec. &c. On the 9th of October, the fleet were advancing on Chinhae in the order indicated by the following General Orders of the commander- in-chief, to the fleet, and of major-general sir Hugh Gough to the troops.

GENERAL MEMORANDUM,

Wellesley, at the anchorage of Just-in-the-way, 9th Oct., 1841. The following positions are to be taken by the ships of the squadron in the attack on Chinhae, and for covering the landing of the troops on the right hand of the river. When the signal No. 470, for anchoring with springs on the cables, is made, the Wellesley will place herself about duc north of the citadel (or Josshouse hill) as close in as she can be carried without risk of her taking ground at low water. The Blenheim to the cast of her, the Blonde to the southward and westward of the Wellesley, and the Modeste to the southward and westward of the Blonde, as near to the Chinese positions as their respective drafts of water will admit of with safety to the ships, and taking care not to obstruct the fire of each other.

The object of this division of the ships will be to drive the Chinese out of the citadel with shells and shot (if well within range of the latter), and to prevent reinforcements being sent up to it from the city of Chinhae, also to open a landing place, if practicable, for the seamen and marines at the foot of the hill on the west side, where a battery has been constructed, and the landing-places staked to this point. For the purpose of driving the Chinese from the walls of the eastern part of the city, the fire of the Blonde and Modeste should be mainly directed.

     The seamen and marines must be held ready to assault the citadel whenever the signal shall be made for disembarking them, which will probably be on the rocks on the north side of the hill, or at the point already referred to.

1841.

Progress of the Expedition to China.

627

The transports are to be anchored to the eastward of the Triangles; the Cruizer, Columbine, and Bentinck to take positions off the creek, inside those islands, for covering the landing of the troops. The Cruizer to be as far advanced to the westward and entrance of the harbor as may be practicable, without being exposed to the fire of the batteries in the harbor.

The Sesostris to anchor off the north side of Passage island to shell the citadel and battery on the eastern end, and if possible to flank the batteries on the right bank of the river.

      The Queen to place herself inside the Triangles, as far advanced as may be practicable for bursting shells in the encampment of the Chinese towards the fortified hill, and to clear the southeast part of the Citadel hill, should the Chinese be driven on that side by the fire of the ships to the northward; also to shell the batteries on the town side which defends the entrance of the harbor. The Phlo- gethon and Nemesis to proceed to support the Queen (on receiving directions to do so from commanders Giffard or Clarke,) as soon as all the troops are landed; and a strict lookout is to be kept for the recall of either of the steamers, and to repeat any signal made by the ship to the northward.

       Whenever the surrender of the citadel, or the advance of the troops, causes the Chinese to give way from their batteries in the harbor, or that they can be ap- proached with advantage, the Cruizer, Columbine, and Bentinck are to proceed in. side, and commander Giffard will take care always to have one vessel in a position to keep up the communication with the general.

      The foregoing outline will be sufficient to apprize the respective captains and officers of the contemplated operations, but the duration of the fire of the ships, and any alterations of their position, must of course be governed by their discré- tion, to meet any change of circumstances.

The following number of seamen and marines are to form the landing party under the command of captain Herbert of the Blenheim, and to take with them one day's provision. From the Wellesley and Blenheim each 150, from the Blonde 50, and the Modeste 20; making in all 370 seamen, with a proper proportion of offi- Marines the same as detailed in my memo, of the 25th of September. The marines from the Cruizer and Columbine are to be sent this evening to the Wel- lesley by one of the small steamers.

cers.

(Signed)

W. PARKER, Rear-admiral.

To the captains, commanders, and commanding officers of the ships and vessels.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-quarters, H. M. S. Wellesley, Oct. 9th, 1841. Attack. The following is the proposed order of the landing for the attack of the citadel and fortified heights of Chinhae. The troops with the seamen's bat- talion and royal marines to land in three columns.

Left column with which major-general sir Hugh Gough will land.

Madras artillery and gun-lascars

7 Officers.

104 Rank and file

Royal artillery

4

Sappers

H. M.'s 55th regiment

H. M.'s 18th regiment

ལམ་

100

18

417

12

280

Rifles

4

110

Total·

46

1015

Ordnance. Four 4 2.5 mountain howitzer, and two 54 inch mortars.

Doolie

bearers and natives to carry shot, 112.

Progress of the Expedition to China.

Nov.

Centre column under lieut.-colonel Morris.

Royal artillery Madras artillery Madras sappers

Officers.

4 Rank and file

50

40

H. M.'s 49th regiment

Total

23

25

346

440

and shot carriers, 40.

Ordnance. Two 12 pounder howitzers; two 9 pounder field guns. Doolie bearers

Royal artillery

Right column under captain Herbert, R. N.

Madras artillery Seamens' battalion

Royal marines

Madras sappers

1 Officers.

1

15

8

1

23 Rank and file.

12

400

276

30

741

:

Total

26

Ordnance. Two 54 inch mortars. Dooly bearers and natives to carry shot, 30. 2. Officers commanding 18th, 49th, and 55th regiments will be pleased to send to head-quarters, as soon as may be practicable after landing, the men of their respective corps whom they were requested to select for the deputy provost marshal's guard in Gencral Order of the 6th inst.

    3. The European troops will land as heretofore in light marching order, and one day's cooked provisions. The native troops will also carry one day's provision.

4. The landing will take place if possible at daylight to-morrow morning. By order. (Signed) ARMINE S. H. MOUNTAIN, It.-col. deputy adj.-general. Early on the morning of the 10th, the ships-of-war were in position, and commenced bombarding the city. The troops, about 2200 strong, landed early in the day. On reconnoitring, the general ob- served a very extensive line of encampinents on the right bank of the river. The city being on the left, he determined to make the first attack on it. To effect this object, his small army was divided into three columns, a right, a left, and centre. Detaching the two former onwards towards the enemy's flanks, he ordered the latter to ad- There were fully 5000 men in this encampment, who, on seeing our small centre column coming up, turned out to give battle, and formed in good order. They did not appear at all sensible of the near approach of the flank columns, and must indeed have thought it presumptious in the extreme, for us to attempt to drive them from their stronghold with the handful of men in the centre column. The position of the enemy here was very strong, and on it the city of Ningpo defended entirely for its preservation.

vance.

    Long before our men had fired a shot, the Chinese had commenc ed a spirited and well directed fire from their ginjalls and field pieces, reserving their small arms till our men approached nearer. 'Their fire was solely directed against the centre column, the remain- ing two being screened from their view by rising ground.

This day will long be remembered on the side of the Chinese by the few who survived it. Boldly and steadily did the centre advance

1841.

Progress of the Expedition to China.

629

   till within good gunshot range of the enemy. The latter too coolly waited to receive them. The word was hardly given them to fire, when almost simultaneously the flank parties poured forth their volleys of musketry on the enemy. The latter were quite bewildered, they knew not which way to turn. Utterly paralizing at the suddenness of the attack, they stood motionless, gazing around, a few match- locks and ginjalls occasionally returned our fire. At length, the living mass moved, broke up, and fled on all sides, leaving the field covered with the dead and dying. Our men pursued; several hand to hand encounters took place, the enemy, in many instances pre- ferring to die rather than yield themselves prisouers. Upwards of 500, however, were soon surrounded, the main body retreating towards the river, vainly expecting (as they did on the 7th of January last at Chuenpe) that the water would protect them from the strong arın of the barbarians. Our inen were fast closing on the fugitives. They bayoneted several. Hundreds took to the water, which in a short time became blackened with their floating corpses. To the last, they would not lay down their arms. Many officers committed suicidę. One man, a Tartar general of high rank, he who declared, when the British were formerly at Chusan, that if permitted by the em- peror "he would catch all the barbarians in a net, give their flesh to the wild beasts, and prepare their skins for the celestial troops to sleep upon," was caught in the act of cutting his throat, but a wound in the arm prevented his accomplishing this purpose with the usual expertness of the Chinese.

     While the fight was raging in the valley, the ships never for a mo- ment ceased bombarding the city. Sir Hugh Gough, on reässembling his men, was advancing in the direction of the city, when, on ascend- ing a height, he perceived the enemy pouring out at the gates on one side, while the marines and sailors were effecting an entrance by means of escalading ladders on the other. Thus terminated the ope- rations of the day.

On

     Our casualties at Tinghae and Chinhae, including one officer kill- ed and one officer wounded, were 17 killed and 36 wounded. the part of the enemy, 1500 must have bit the dust at Chinhae, and about 1000 at Tinghae. The prisoners had their tails cut off, and were then set at liberty. The arrangements on the part of sir Hugh Gough were admirable, and highly applauded by all.

     A garrison of 300 men were left at Chinhae, and on the 13th Oct. the troops and smaller ships proceeded up the river to the city of Ning- po. To the surprise of all, no resistance was offered; for the enemy,

630

Progress of the Expedition to China.

Nor.

   placing the utmost confidence in the defenses of Chinhae, which in their opinion neither celestial nor terrestial power could destroy, had taken no precautions for the preservation of this rich and populous city. Nothing was left, therefore, but to take quiet possession. The far fained Tartar troops were nowhere to be seen, and the few inhabitants who remained, shut themselves up in their houses and marked the words 'submissive people' on their doors.

For some days the streets were deserted, except by the rictors. Gradually, however, the people regained confidence, many of the shops were re- opened, and provisions of every sort were procurable.

    The duties of our troops, as will easily be supposed, were arduous and harassing. With the exception of a few cases of cholera, caus ed by fatigue and exposure, all continued very healthy. This may be attributed to the praiseworthy conduct of the troops, the total ab- sence of every description of intemperance, and the abundant supply of good food.

H. M.'s plenipotentiary announced these various movements in a circular to H. B. M. subjects.

CIRCULAR TO HER MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS IN CHINA.

     Her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiary in China has the renewed extreme gratification of announcing, for general information, the further brilliant and important successes of her majesty's combined naval and land forces in the reduc. tion and occupation, on the 10th and 13:h instants, respectively, of the cities of Chinhae and Ningpo.

     The city of Chinhae is situated at the mouth of the Tahea or Ningpo river, and was covered so strongly by its citadel (a fort built on a lofty headland jutting into the sea), and a number of heavy batteries and outworks on each bank of the estuary, that the imperial commissioner, Yukeën, who had come specially to defend it, and other civil and military Chinese authorities, appear, from their proclamations, to have flattered themselves, even after their past and recent ex. perience of the power of the British arms, that the place could not be taken; but they were, as on all previous occasions, speedily undeceived; and, although the Chinese troops displayed considerable bravery, and in many individual instances would neither retreat nor surrender (though deserted by their officers and comrads), the main bodies were driven from one rallying spot to another, and at length rout- ed and entirely dispersed; whilst the fort and works were demolished, or rendered utterly untenable, by the overwhelming and beautiful practice of the squadron.

    It is reported, that a great many of the Chinese officers of rank have fallen; with a large number of men, but no precise information has yet been obtained on this point. The imperial commissioner is stated to have attempted to drown himself immediately after the battle, and to have since died at a short distance inland, from the effects of that attempt, or some other unexplained cause.

     About one hundred and fifty pieces of brass ordnance, exclusive of iron cannon, many hundred ginjalls and wall-pieces of various calibre, and some thousand

1841:

Progress of the Expedition to China.

631

matchlocks and other warlike weapons, were captured; besides which, several extensive magazines of gunpowder have been blown up or otherwise destroyed. }

       It affords her majesty's plenipotentiary the highest additional satisfaction to add, that this achievement has been happily effected with a much smaller loss on our side than could have been almost hoped for, there being only five killed and about thirty wounded, of all arms of her majesty's forces.

1

       The necessary arrangements having been made, and reconnoisances had, during the 11th and 13th instants, the squadron named in the margin,* carrying the troops, marines and extra seamen from the ships left behind, moved, on the 13th, up the river to Ningpo, which was found undefended, the Chinese soldiers having positively refused to face our troops again, in consequence of which the civil mandarins and all the military officers fled from the city about two hours before the squadron reached it. The city was therefore peaceably occupied by the troops; under his excellency sir Hugh Gough, K. c. B., and the ships moored in the river, within one hundred yards of the walls.

God save the queen.

Dated on board the steam frigate Queen, in the river of Ningpo, this 15th day of October, 1841. (Signed) HENRY POTTINGER, H. M. Plenipotentiary. The commander-in-chief expressed his sense of the conduct of the combined force in the attack on Chinhae, and subsequent movement, in the following

i

GENERAL MEMORANDUM.

                 H. M. S. Modeste, at Ningpo, October 14th, 1841. The commander-in-chief has witnessed, with the highest gratification, the gal. lantry and excellent conduct which has been further manifested by the captains, officers, seamen, and marines of her majesty's squadron and those of the Indian navy under his command, in the capture of the citadel and city of Chinhae, and the occupation of Ningpo on the 10th and 13th instants.

He noticed, with great satisfaction, the admirable precision of the fire from the ships and steam vessels against the citadel, and the ardor with which the party of officers, seamen and royal marines, headed by captains Herbert and Bourchier of the Blenheim and Blonde, disembarked and advanced to the assault over a steep and difficult ascent; he is no less pleased with the regularity and dispatch with which his excellency lieutenant-general sir Hugh Gough and the troops were landed on the right bank of the river; taken under the direction of captain Giffard of the Cruizer, and with the proceedings of the sloops and steam vessels stationed in that direction. And he begs to convey to every individual of the squadron present, his entire approbation of their conduct and exertions.

Lt. Somerville, agent, and the masters of the transports which accompanied the expedition from Chusan, are also entitled to the rear-admiral's approbation and thanks, for the promptitude with which their ships were got under sail when the signal was given, and the attention with which the prescribed positions were taken up at the anchorage off Chinhae, as well as the desire which they have throughout manifested to forward the public service upon all occasions.

j'

Sir W. Parker feels assured, that every person in the squadron must participate

Modeste carrying the flag of his excellency the admiral, Columbine, Cruizer, Bentinck, the steamers Queen, Sesostris, Nemesis, and Phlegethon.`

632

Progress of the Expedition to China.

Nor.

with him in admiration of the gallantry with which the strong positions of the Chinese were all carried by the British troops on shore.

(Signed)

W. Parker, Rear-adeṇiral.

To the captains, commanders, and commanding officers of H. M. ships and vessels, and of the Indian navy, and It. Somerville, agent, and the masters of transports at the capture of Chinhae.

    Captain Anstruther took possession of his old quarters, where he found the identical cage in which he was confined, and which has been sent to India in the Larne. About £20,000 sterling in sycee were also found in this house, and about $70,000 in the treasury. Stores of copper coin to the amount of many lacks are known to be in the city, and the sale of the contents of the granaries, &c., realized on an average $1000 per diem. Quantities of valuable silks and china- ware were discovered, and the granaries were stored with a couple of years supply of grain, &c. Now that war is proclaimed, and prize agents established, the labors of the soldier and sailor may yet be well rewarded.

On the 20th and 21st October, the light steamers proceeded up the river about 40 miles above Ningpo ot Yuyaou. They could have gone much higher, but were here stopped short by a large and well built stone bridge of six arches. There was no show of defense, nor interruption to the progress of the steamers. The scenery on each side of the river is described as being most beautiful, and the country around abounds in cattle and sheep. A ransom has been demanded for Ningpo, and if not granted, the city will be ransacked and burnt to the ground by order of sir Henry Pottinger.

    This will no doubt appear an austere and unnatural proceeding, but the more we become acquainted with the haughty and overbear- ing, the despotic and cruel character of the Chinese, the less harsh and unnatural will it appear. Like all our eastern wars, this one has hitherto been a war of negotiation, till we found the enemy were laughing at us. Henceforth, we must war not only with the govern- ment, but with the people also, ere we attain our object. Two years campaigning has at length convinced us of the utter inutility of ob- taining a direct official intercourse with the emperor through his deceitful and lying officers, who to cloke their own weakness, anp consequently the weakness of the empire, willfully misrepresent the true state of things.

    Alas! in these two years our losses have been fearfully large. The nature of them will for ever excite feelings of grief and remorse in some, sympathy and sorrow in others. Nearly half one regiment in high health and spirits, was swallowed up by the vasty deep, noue

[

!

1841.

our men.

Trial and Condemnation of Elepoo.

633

survived to tell the sad tale, no trace of the wreck remained. But it is disease, not the field of action, that has dug graves for so many of Malaria, capricious in its action, and unsearchable in its nature, in a few brief months almost annihilated our small but intre- pid force. Sound was the advice of governor Lin, when he recom- mended the emperor to use no means to expel the enemy, that if the expense did not ruin, disease would destroy, us. It must now be war to the knife.' By so doing will the emperor, and people too, be convinced that England must and will have her demands. At this advanced period of the season, and with our force so divided, we cannot expect to do much more until reinforcements arrive. It is only surprising that our gallant little band have already done so much. In a few months more, and we shall probably have 10,000 men in the field. To quote the words of the Great Duke, "England never can engage in a little war."

+

ART. V. The trial and condemnation of his excellency, commission-

er Elepoo. Translated from the Peking Gazette by J. L. S. THE hereditary prince Hoshib, and the high minister Jinshow and others, kneeling respectfully lay their report before the throne:

     In obedience to the imperial will, having assembled together to sit in judgment upon the affairs submitted to our deliberations, and having previously received the imperial instructions to institute an investiga- tion in relation to Elepoo, who formerly held the office of governor of the two Keang provinces (Keängnan, i. e. Keängsoo and Ganhwuy and Keängse), in obedience thereto, we have had him brought before us in council assembled, and have ascertained by investigation the clear import of every circumstance; and Elepoo, bowing to the ground and knocking his head, through alarm and fear lost all com- inand of himself. It appears that Elepoo received an imperial com- mission, last year, to examine into and arrange the affairs of the bar- barians in Chěkeäng; and after he had arrived in the province he employed skillful spies, summoned together the bravest of the militia, collected provisions, selected the most able-bodied of the troops, and laid many plans for advancing upon and exterminating the enemy. Afterwards, he earnestly desired to order the said barbarians to repair

VOL. X. NO. XI.

80

634

Trial and Condemnation of Elepoo.

Nov.

to Cauton, there to wait until affairs could be examined into and ar- ranged. To gain renown he concluded to offer them presents, and to order persons to proceed to them and clearly explain his com inands, and at the same time to spy out their real strength. He deemed it proper to dispatch Changke, a person of his household whom he had promoted six degrees, with an official messenger Chin Chekang, over the sea [to Tinghae] to offer bullocks and sheep and various articles as presents, in return for which the said barbarians presented foreign broadcloths and various commodities. Elepoo fear- ed to make an absolute refusal of the whole of the said articles, which would have struck the barbarians with suspicion and dread. But instead of being thus affected, they acted deceptively with regard to the time of their proceeding to Canton, and Elepoo under these cir- cumstances received their presents. In reply to a memorial, touching the above, the imperial will was received, strongly enjoining that the articles be sent back. Elepoo in obedience thereto, forthwith took the various kinds of presents, and ordered Chin Chekang to go and give them back to the barbarians, who would not receive them.

    During the second month of the present year, the barbarians wish- ing to deliver back Chusan, Changke and Chin Chekang were sent to take one barbarian man and one woman to proceed and make known the strict injunctions, that when the city had been given up then all the barbarians should be delivered. The presents which they had previously made were all sent back, and having received them, they set sail for Canton. But Elepoo did not, in obedience to the imperial will, forthwith advance and slaughter, and make an imme- diate and thorough extermination of them. The whole of his proceed- ings being improper and really marked by imbecility, and being un- worthy to bear so high an office, he earnestly besought that his crimes might be visited with heavy punishment. We, the ministers, having taken into consideration from first to last the whole of the evidence which he in person has laid before us, respectfully memorialize that in relation thereto the sacred commands may be recorded.

    Respecting the above case of Elepoo, the imperial commissioner and high minister, his management of the barbarian affairs in Che- keäng, and his not being able at once to recover Tinghae, the impe- rial will was repeatedly transmitted that he should proceed to exter- minate the enemy; but on every occasion he delayed and idly look- ed about him, and through excessive timidity did not. go forward, and thus for every purpose he proved himself weak and useless. We therefore jointly solicit the imperial will, that Elepoo may be forth-

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

635

     with disgraced from the office he formerly held as governor of the two Keäng provinces, and be sent to Ele, that by strenuous exertions he may make amends for his offenses.

      Changke and the official messenger Chin Chekang, who formerly proceeded to the barbarian ships, as we have found by examination, only acted in obedience to Elepoo, and accordingly we acquit them of crime. Let Chin Chekang return to his military station, and let Changke be released.

      That which your majesty's ministers, have adjudged of the cases brought before us in council assembled, we now reverently report to the court, that the imperial will may be received and recorded.

The imperial reply. His majesty's commands have been received as follows:

      "In consequence of Elepoo having unsatisfactorily managed the military affairs of Chèkeäng, our imperial will was delivered to the princes and high ministers to adjudge the crimes of which he was guilty, and it appears that prince Jinchow and others, in council assembled, have now reported upon the above case. Elepoo, holding the office of high imperial commissioner for the arrangement of af- fairs in Chěkeäng, was unable forthwith to recover the captured ter- ritories. The imperial will was repeatedly transmitted to him, that he should advance and slaughter the enemy, yet on every occasion he delayed and idly gazed about, really proving himself to be imbe- cile and worthless. Let him be forthwith disgraced from the office he formerly held as governor of the two Keang provinces, and let him be sent to Ele, that by strenuous exertions he may make amends for his crimes, and be a warning to others. Respect this."

ART. VI.

      Journal of Occurrences: progress of the war, doings at Ningpo, Chinhae, and Chusan; operations of the Nemesis and Phlegethon on the coast; notices of things at Amoy; the governor's first memorial; Hongkong; seizure of a boat at

Canton; imperial cabinet and state of the country.

For the detailed account of the expedition, given in Article Fourth, by a correspondent, (the writer of the article referred to in the Repo- sitory for July last,) our best thanks are due. We shall be much obliged, and our readers will be much gratified, by a continuation of

636

Journal of Occurrences.

Nov.

these notices, from one who is evidently in a situation where he can convey accurate and full accounts of nearly all the proceedings of the expedition. We are not so anxious to get opinions and senti- ments respecting these doings, as we are to present our readers with accurate and full narratives of all that is done-the acts of both the belligerents, with faithful notices of the accompanying circumstances, localities defined, fortifications delineated, positions marked, move- ments described, dates recorded, names given, &c., &c., all in such a manner that every operation may be rightly judged of and appre ciated. This done, the reader can form his own opinions.

    2. From Ningpo, our information is to the Ist instant, furnished by captain Clarke, late of the Columbine, who kindly paid us a visit while in Macao on his way to Europe, in company with several of his fellow officers, returning in consequence of having been promoted. Ningpo is fully two thirds the size of Canton, and equally densely po- pulated; accordingly the number of its inhabitants could not have been less than 600,000. To destroy this city by fire, and render all its inhabitants houseless just at the commencement of winter, would be

■ harsh measure. We are unwilling to believe it was sir Henry's purpose to rase it. It was believed at Ningpo, when captain Clarke left that place, that some overtures were about to be made, on the part of the Chinese, for the ransom of the city or for a settlement of all British claims. It was said, moreover, that one of Keshen's for- mer aid-de-camps (captain White) had arrived at Ningpo. But no- thing had transpired, so far as we know, that could warrant any strong expectation of such overtures being soon made as would be accepted. There are rumors in Canton of an advance having been made on Hangchow-by no means an improbable event-for at that point the invaders reach the grand canal, the principal artery which supplies the capital of the empire with its life blood. There is also a rumor that Keshen has been sent again to negotiate.

3. Regarding Chinhae we can for the present only add, to what our correspondent has given, an extract from a communication written from on board the Nemesis, and published in the Canton Register.

Early on the 10th, busily employed as usual, taking in troops; they were landed by the Phlegethon and us in two separate divisions, 55th and 18th regi- ments by the Phlegethon, and riße corps and artillery by the Sesostris; we landed the 49th in the rear of the enemy, say five miles from the encampment, about 9 s. M.; then passed on to the admiral, who had taken up his position off the joss-house fort, distant one mile, running the gauntlet with the several batteries lining the bank of the river, giving and receiving fire from the enemy's fortifications; several shot passed over us, but, as usual, we passed uninjured; the joss-house fort suffered severely from the shelling of the Wellesley, Blonde, Modeste, and Nemesis, keeping up an incessant fire on the troops as they passed to and from the fort. No shot were fired from this fortification; 10.30 a. M. being close in shore, observed a large body of the enemy drawn out, with their banners flying, in three separate divisions; we gave them a few round shot when they retreated within the walls of the city. At this time the Blenheim came up, and poured a destructive fire into the joss-house fort; about noon the firing ceased, though just previously a man was observed waving a dag in defiance at the joss-house, and whilst observing him a shell from the Wellesley exploded immediately upon it, scattering it to the winds. At 12.30 the marines and blue jackets landed, gained the hill as the

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

637

enemy were deserting it; a few shot were exchanged on their way down the op- posite side to gain the city, which they soon had possession of with little opposi- tion, narrowly escaping, in their impetuosity, an extensive mine, sprung by the enemy, one man only, a drummer of the Blenheim's marines, was killed by the explosion. During this short period, the troops had routed the celestials with great slaughter, the latter fought with a desperation scarcely before witnessed, with the exception of only a few cases; in several instances the pikes of the enemy crossed the British bayonet, with a determined resolution to conquer or die; but desperation could not compete with British courage and discipline; the sons of Han were entirely routed, with immense slaughter; the rifles here and elsewhere did great execution, every ball brought its man down; at this spot they were sur- prised by the 49th, and numbers were picked off as they endeavored to escape into the water; the bank was strewed with the dead and dying, and scores of bodies floated by us. At first little quarter was given, but soon a stop was put to the dreadful carnage. The engineers had surprised one battery, and turned the guns towards the city. That night the larger portion of the troops remained encamped on the seat of their conquest, a small party only crossing to the city for the purpose of supporting the marines.

      "On the 11th at 6 A. M. landed and proceeded to the joss-house fort; it was but an apology for a temple. Images of all descriptions strewed our path; dead bodies were found intermingled with their hideous idols, most horrible to view. The entrance gate, looking towards the ships, was that in which the shell from the Wellesley had exploded; we had an opportunity of witnessing its effects: six men were lying down horribly mutilated, one nearly in halves. At 4 P. M., we again walked on sbore and entered the city; in one house we saw a man and woman lying dead, a man with a shot through his thigh, and a poor woman with her leg shot off, since amputated and doing well; at another place we saw four poor chil- dren lying dead from the effects of our shot; God only knows where the poor mother was; the father was frantic, sometimes embracing his lost dear ones, at another rushing towards a large vase of water, attempting to drown himself, but being restrained by his friends. We retired; it was a scene too distressing to witness-several other scenes are on record-but enough of these miserable mise- ries, necessary, or rather unavoidable, evils of war."

4. Chusan, we understand, was reoccupied previously to the move on Chinhae, in consequence of the impracticability of at once getting the squadron up against the strong winds and current. Our dates from Tinghae are to the 2d of November. There had been some firing on the guards by Chinese secreted in houses, and one man had been caught armed. Besides these doings, everything was going on satisfactorily, though a great many complaints of thefts and robberies were daily brought to the office of the magistrate.

     5. Some operations of the iron steamers, Nemesis and Phlegethon, in addition to what have been noticed already, we here introduce from the same communication before quoted in the Canton Register.

      On the 3d September the ships with the exception of the Druid, Pylades and Algerine and three transports for the protection of the river, weighed and made sail for Buffaloe's nose, the first place of rendezvous; wind foul, and continued so nearly the whole way; it was evident the N.E. monsoon had set in, and it became a question if the transports would be able to beat up; the place of rendezvous was given, and every vessel made the best of her way up. We parted company and ran in shore, anchoring all night out of the heavy sea, taking advantage of the tides, thus we continued to pursue our course pleasantly. At one of our anchora- ges we landed and procured pigs, poultry, and vegetables; during the former part of the day we amused ourselves in strolling about the island; when from the top of the hill we espied several bullocks, we immediately concealed ourselves, returned to the ship, and after dinner landed, and by stratagem procured three fine ones, for which I paid $10, the owner of only one appearing. The following day at

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dawn got under weigh, took a fisherman out of his boat, and made him pilot us to a harbor, in which, from the hill, the captain had perceived a fortification; about 7.30 a. M., we entered an extremely narrow passage, which was commanded by a battery of several guns, but the tide took us in so rapidly that in a few moments ➡we passed their line of fire; we were as much surprised as the enemy, the weather being thick and misty, and in about 5 minutes obtained sight, or rather practical information of the presence of another fort; bang, bang went the guns from the shore, and bang, bang went the ship's barkers; the captain moored her head and stern to the large junks, and then commenced in earnest, and in 10 minutes we drove them out of the fort with our destructive fire of grape and cannister, almost at pistol shot;-about 50 men were then landed, headed by their gallant captain, who planted the British union on the walls of the enemy's fort; three cheers were given, and three times reèchoed from the Goddess of revenge; 4 guns were spiked, two of which were brass, but too heavy to be removed, the men then returned, and commenced searching among the numerous junks for wood of which we procured about 40 tons, which materially assisted us in getting to our place of destination. At 11.30 a. M., unmoored and steamed down the harbor, when we observed arge body of soldiers drawn out to attack us if we landed; the guns wered with grape and cannister, but when within range a panic was evident among them; sauve que peut, and away they went helter skelter, but not before they had received our two doses and third in the shape of a 32 lb. shot. Returned, and burnt three large war-junks, mounting altogether 9 guns; anchored and went to dinner. After dinner weighed and steamed to our friend at the entrance of the harbor; but, after giving him a few shot, which were not returned, landed and took possession, the fort having been just deserted. Here I believe 14 guns were destroyed, beside several tents, and at 5 P. M., we left the harbor of Sheipoo, bending our course to the place of rendezvous, arriving at Buffalo's nose at noon on the 18th Sept., and found only Sesostris at anchor. Ôn the 19th, the Cruizer and Rustomjee Cowasjce arrived; three days after several transports arrived, and we were ordered to go on to Kito point, where we found the Phlegethon, and Ann and Lyra; the Phlegethons, supported by the crew of the two vessels, had been on shore and burnt the village in which poor captain Stead was murdered, and another, where a few days previously the chief mate and one of the crew of the Lyra were murdered while buying stock--several Chinese soldiers were killed. We have heard, per Ariel, which vessel had just arrived from Sheipoo, that the killed among the soldiers were 100, and five officers; a very creditable little affair for one vessel and a few men.

6. A few notices of things at Amoy we here throw together, chiefly collected from reminiscences published in the Canton Press. Among the wounded, on the part of the Chinese, was a corporal, who was brought off by the soldiers and put on board of a man-of-war. He had his arm taken off with stoical apathy,' and beginning to recover, was set at liberty on shore. While a prisoner, he appeared quite indifferent to everything about him, and gave direct and appa- rently faithful answers to all questions that were put to him. Among the defenses, besides the cannon and matchlocks, there were found great quantities of bows and arrows, which with the Chinese seem to be in universal use both on sea and on land. The buildings, at Amoy called 'Haehong,' forming the establishment of the sub-pre- fect, were so spacious as to furnish quarters for the whole 55th regi- ment. In one of the attached building was a quantity of treasure, 'packed up in wooden cylinders that opened like a box, each of which had a lock, and a label over it, signifying from whence the silver had been obtained.' The commandant's office, near the south- ern gate, was occupied by the sappers and miners, and there also was found some treasure, which had been forwarded from Fuhchow

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for the payment of the troops. The admiral's office, in the citadel, a complete labyrinth of houses, was more than sufficient for a regi- ment. Here the 18th and staff took up their quarters, and one of the soldiers found an opium pipe. By accident one of the wings of this building was burnt down, during the second night of occupation. Near by was the residence of the vice-admiral of Formosa,

a titular guardian and duke of the empire.' Outside the citadel was the in- tendant's office, and near it a foundery, where were found some cop- per and treasure. In the town was the residence of the commissioner of customs, and a temporary seat of the governor, from which all the effects had been removed. Large quantities of timber were found in the navy yard. In one of the houses was found a Koran with a Chinese translation.' The place was provided with a foundling hos- pital, yet the writer of these reminiscences tells us that,

near this. very house, is a small tank, covered with duckweed, where a number of newborn babes were found sewed up in mats and drowned." The troops, which landed on the 26th of August, embarked on the 4th of the following month. The people, down to our latest intelligence, only a few days ago, continued quiet, and had even brought back to captain Smith, a sailor who had deserted H. B. M.'s service.

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7. The first memorial from governor Yen, sent up to his master on the 28th of August, gives a somewhat different account of these matters. On the morning of the 26th, his excellency, being at Amoy, sent off a man named Chin, who understood the language of the bar- .barians, to demand the reason of their coming, when their three lea- ders, who falsely styled themselves high officers, returned answer, that, unless the demands made last year at Teëntsin were instantly granted, they should commence hostilities, and occupy Amoy. Then came the tug of war; and his excellency, at the head of his troops undaunted, attacked and sunk one steamer and five ships of war, killing of the rebellious barbarians an innumerable number. But, strange to narrate, the more he killed the more they appeared;' ergo, there was no alternative but to retreat, carrrying with him his seals, but not until the office had been set on fire by the rebels. However, matters were not to be left long in this state. More than 100 villages had combined, and more than 10,000 warriors were mustered, ready to fight. On this, and some subsequent memorials, the governor founded his plea for the 3,000,000 of taels.

8. Hongkong continues steadily to improve, in the number of its inhabitants, and in the progress of its public works. If by and by the pleasure of her majesty be expressed in its favor, the place will probably rise more rapidly.

    9. Seizure of a boat at Canton. As Mr. A. P. Edwards, super- cargo of the American ship Hannibal was, early on the morning of the 18th instant, proceeding in a boat with a crew of four men from Whampoa to Canton, he was arrested by the Chinese at a military sta- tion on the southern side of the island of Honan, where he was com- pelled to land, and the hands of himself and of the crew were bound behind them. Upon the neck of Mr. Edwards, a heavy chain was

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put and secured by a lock, and under a strong guard of soldiers the party was conducted across the island to a boat, in which they were taken to the city of Canton to the residence of the governor of the province. After some delay, the prisoners were brought before the au- thorities for examination, when Mr. Edwards was recognized by the hong-merchant Kingqua, whose intervention procured the immediate release of Mr. Edwards and his boat's crew, who were taken from the city, first to the consoo house, and thence to the foreign factories. Mr. Edwards was detained for about nine hours, and his hands were so tightly bound, that after removing the cords, some time elapsed before circulation was restored and the use of his arms recovered.

    We understand that the place at which Mr. Edwards was arrested, is in a back passage which it has never been customary for foreign boats to take when going to and from Canton and Whampoa; and the seizure appears to have been occasioned by the boat's being out of its usual course, and coming within reach of the ignorant zeal of the soldiers, who were reprimanded by the authorities when it was ascer- tained that the innocent had been made to suffer thereby.

    Though defenses have been raised at and near Canton, yet we cannot learn that there is any disposition, on the part of the Chinese, to interrupt the present order of things.. A watch, taken from Mr. Edwards, was returned to him, and so was his boat; and some gold pieces were refunded. The authorities in Canton are exceedingly annoyed because many of their people have gone into the service of the English ships of war, and these traitors are they suspect em- ployed as informers and spies. Against such they are on the watch. Considering the situation in which the boat was, without any one to explain her object, and considering too the state in which the coun- try is, it is not surprising she was brought to and her people taken into custody: under similar circumstances the same would probably have been done in any other country. The treatment of Mr. Ed- wards, while in custody, was barbarous, and the repetition of the like ought never to be allowed. In the present excited state of the peo- ple, prudence would seem to suggest that deviations from old custom should be as few as possible, especially in all cases where there is nothing to be gained, but much hazarded, by such deviations.

    10. On the imperial cabinet and general state of the empire we intended to have remarked at some length, as at this moment they are topics of great interest. Want of space stops us short: the latest direct expression we have heard from the cabinet is this, there shall be no peace, no treaty with the rebels; while new defenses are being raised from one end of the empire to the other, on the remote frontiers of Tibet, and at Teëntsin and in Mantchouria. However, it remains to be seen what effect the operations at Ningpo, &c., will have on his majesty's councils. The case is a desperate one, and if deter- mined to carry on hostilities, the whole resources of the empire must be put in requisition, and after all they will assuredly be found wanting.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. X.-DECEMBER, 1841.- No. 12.

ART. I. A New History of China, containing a description of the most considerable particulars of that empire. By GABRIEL MA- GAILLANS. London, 1688. pp. 352.

THE author of this work, introduced to the notice of the reader in our last number, traveled over all the principal parts of China, from the year 1640 to 1648, when he was carried to Peking, where he remained nine-and-twenty years, till his death in 1677. He wrote in obedience to an order of his superior, Francis Fierrando, visitor of China and Japan, and was evidently well informed regarding those things of which he gives an account. Magaillans' translator, in order to prepare the way for his new history, like some more modern writers, cats up and gives to the winds whatever had been before published respecting this country, 'so vast, so rich, so fertile, so ex- traordinary.' In its day, the book must have been indeed very vä- luable, and even at this time it affords some information not often -met with in other works. Ferdinand Mendez Pinto, where he does not speak of Portuguese affairs, is stuft with fables.' Gonzalez de Mendoza, sincere and true as to what he says of the travels of Mar- tin de Harrada and Jerome Marin, listened too much to the vaunting relations of the Chinese. Pedro Cubero Sebastian is equally bad. Trigaut, the Annual Letters, Semedo, Martini, Schall, Greston, Rougemont, Couplet, R. P. of Orleance, and some others, "seem the most worthy of credit and esteem ;" but . . . and "but though these -authors are every one worthy to be esteemed and valued, certain it is that we wanted still a very great number of considerable particulars," and, "I make no question but this translation will be grateful to the more exact part of the learned world."

VOL. X. NO. XII

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    The Mantchous, or 'eastern Tartars,' as our author calls them, 'who were formerly so barbarous that they had not any king, nor any word to signify the king,' became masters of China in A. d. 1643- 44, a few years after Magaillans arrived in this country. Their ori- gin is thus described by our author's translator. We quote his words only in part.

It was about ten generations prior to Shunche's time (so that mo- narch often said) that three nymphs,- Augela, Chaugula, and Fœ- cula,-descended from heaven to bathe in a river of Tartary; one of them, Fœcula, having found an herb called alkakengi, having red fruit, under her robes which she left on the shore, devoured it with such a greedy appetite that she became pregnant; and while her two companions returned to the heavens, she remained on the earth till she had given birth to a boy, which she nursed for a time, and then placing him on an island of the river, and telling him that a fisher- man would come and take care of his education, she followed and rejoined the other nymphs, and the fisherman accordingly came. The descendants of this child, who grew to be a man of extraordi- nary valor, ruled the country. But in the fifth generation, the people rebelled, and all of the reigning family were exterminated except one. This prince, closely pursued and despairing of his life, sat himself down upon the ground, and a magpie came and perched upon his head, so that his enemies took him for the stump of a tree. Thus far the story is altogether fabulous. But what follows is certain. The founder of the present family made himself known by the bloody wars, which he carried on to revenge the death of his father, whom the Chinese officers had caused to be murdered, and other outrages com- mitted against the nation. He was lord of the valley of Moncheu, which Martini takes to be a great city. Wanleih, whose reign com- menced 1573, gave him the government of the valley and neighbor- ing regions, on condition that he would defend them against the in- cursions of the oriental Tartars, who were divided into seven small principalities. His grandson was the father of Shunche, who, at the nge of six years, succeeded to the throne of China. Thus it appears that these Mantchou princes have derived their origin from a petty captain of a horde, or chief leader of banditti or wandering Tartars.' See page 21-23.

   Of the names which the Chinese and foreigners have given to this country, Magaillans has written learnedly, correcting Polo and all his other predecessors. Presuming that our readers are as well inform- ed as our author, on most of the points in question, we will only

:

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notice what he says respecting the countries of Catai and Mangi. The western Tartars call the Chinese Hari Kitai, or Black Barba- rians,' which is the name they also give to China. Here he tells. us that Marco Polo should not have written can (kan or khan) for king, but han, which is according to the pronunciation of the west-' ern Tartars. The Mantchous formerly called China Nica Corum,

'the kingdom of barbarians;' but now, that they are its masters, they imitate the Chinese and call it Tulimpa Corum, i, e. the cen- tre kingdom. Here again he informs us, that Polo should have writ- ten Hanpalu, the king's court, and not Cambalu. Mangi is, he says, derived from Mant Zu, (Man-tsze) which signifies barbarians. The southern provinces-those south of the " Yêm cu Kiam (Yangtsze keäng) the river son of the sea,"-were also called Nan Man, or bar. barians of the south.? › After: all this, and much more, our author comes to the conclusion that the northern provinces were called Kitai and the southern Mangi:

2.

      Further, he "also with good reason takes notice of the hyperboles which Marco Polo makes use in describing the city of Kimsai," i..e. Hangchow, where the Venetian traveler found twelve., thousand bridges. To end all disputes concerning the name of this famous city, Magaillans produces the following extract from Chinese chro nicles.

1

.1.

      "In the year of Jesus Christ, 1200, a captain of the oriental Tartars that some years since subdued this empire, made himself master of the pro- vinces of Peking, Shanse, and Shantung, which the: Yellow river separates from the other twelve. Thereupon he caused himself to be crowned king, and named his family. Tai leaou. Some years after, another captain of the eastern Tartars made war upon him, got possession of his kingdom, exter- minated the reigning family, and called his own, and his kingdom Tae- Kin kwo, or the kingdom of Gold, which continued till the year 1260; at what time the other twelve provinces were subdued by an emperor of the family of Sung. Upon this some of his chief ministers advised him to send great presents to the Grand Han, who had a little before subdued the west- ern Tartars, and to desire his assistance for the expulsion of the Taṛtars out of the three provinces which they had usurped. But others of his council. lors laid before him the ill consequence of provoking that terrrible nation of the western Tartars, or molesting the eastern, with whom they had for seve- ral

     years preserved an amicable correspondence; withal, that it was no good policy to expel tigers, and bring more cruel·lions into their room. Never- theless the first counsel, though the worst, was followed: and the Grand Han was called in with his Tartars, already the vanquishers of so many nations, who in a short time exterminated the family of Tae-Kin, and made themselves masters of the three provinces. But so soon as they had finished

[

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   that conquest, they perfidiously turned their arms against the king of China, who kept his court in a city belonging to the province of Honan, bordering upon the Yellow river. This prince, being terrified by the neighborhood of those barbarians, fled in all haste to the city of Hangchow in the province of the Chekeäng, where he settled his court. Of which the han no sooner had intelligence, but he crossed the Yellow river, and after little or no resis- tance inade himself master of the provinces of Honan, Nanking, and Chě- keäng, and consequently of the village of Hangchow, which M. Polo calls Kimsai. Thereupon the king of China fled into the province of Fuhkeen, and from thence into that of Kwangtung, where having embarked himself with a design to seek out foreign shelter, he suffered shipwreck in the gulf of the island of Hainan, and there miserably perished, so that all the rest of China submitted voluntarily to the Grand Han." page 19.

$

The independent mountaineers, in Szechuen, Yunnan, Kweichow and Kwangse, he says, pay no tribute to the emperor, nor yield him any obedience, being governed by absolate princes, whom the Chi- nese call 'local lords,' and 'local officers.' Their towns are, for the most part, so environed with high mountains and steep rocks' as if nature had taken a particular care of their fortification.' Within these mountains lie extensive fields and plains and many towns and villages. Though they speak the Chinese, they have a particular language also, and their manners and customs are likewise somewhat different from those of the sons of Han.' Nevertheless, adds our au thor, 'their complexion and the shape of their bodies are altogether alike; but as to their courage, you would think them to be quite another nation: the Chinese stand in fear of them, so that after se- veral trials, which they have made of their prowess, they have been forced to let them live at their own liberty, and to consent to a free traffic and commerce with them." He gives an account of one of the chiefs, who with an army of forty thousand men, was beguiled and destroyed by a Chinese usurper: of this catastrophe he himself was an eye-witness.

Magaillans also discourses about the nature and merits of the Chi- nese language, notices particularly the tones and aspirates, and says that he who will industriously, and under a good method, apply himself to the study of it, may be able in a year's time to understand and speak it very well;' and that those then employed in the mis- sion were at the end of two years, so perfect in the language that they were able to confess, catechize, preach, and compose, with as much ease as in their own native tongue. He then proceeds to say,

    "That there is no question to be made of this apparent truth, when we consider the great number of books which the fathers have made and translat.

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ed, and daily make and translate into the Chinese language, which are esteemed and admired by the Chinese themselves. Such as are those books which father Matthew Ricci composed upon our sacred law, and upon several other subjects. Of whom the Chinese speak to this day as of a prodigy of knowledge, and all sorts of knowledge: so that there is not any person of quality in the empire that does not know and speak of him with applause. The learned quote him in their writings as one of their most famous doctors; and the handicraft-workmen, to put off their wares, and sell them at a high rate, assure the buyers that they were the inventions of that illustrious person father Matthew Ricci. In short, they esteemed and ho- nored him to that degree, that several believe, that as Confucius was the prince, the saint, the master, and doctor of the Chinese, so father Matthew Ricci was the same among the Europeans: which was the highest praise those idolizers of Confucius could give him. Father Diego Pantoja has also composed several learned treatises of the seven deadly sins, of the seven virtues which are their contraries; upon the Pater Noster, upon the Ave Maria, and the Credo. The fathers Alfonso Vanhone, and Julio Aleni, wrote several tomes upon the Christian religion, upon the life of Christ, of the Holy Virgin, and the Saints, and upon several other subjects. Father Ma- nuel Dias the younger translated all the Gospels, with the commentaries and explanations of the fathers, which makes a work no less large, than pious and learned. Father Francis Furtado published a treatise of rhetoric and logic, with certain other books De Cœlo and De Mundo, as also of the soul of The fathers John Terencio, John Ron, and John Adam, have written a great number of other books upon our holy law, and upon all the parts of the mathematics. Father Lewis Buglio, who was always my chiefeet con- solation and inseparable companion in all my travels, afflictions and impri- sonments, for thirty years together, translated the first part of St. Thomas, which the more learned Chinese esteem and admire to that degree, that I heard one of them who had read the Treatise of God, declare his thoughts in these words, 'certainly this book is a mirror wherein to let us see our own ignorance.' The same father Buglio wrote several other pieces upon several other subjects; among the rest, that eloquent and learned apology, in answer to a book which Yang Kwangseen, that wicked infidel, published both in this court, and over the whole empire, against the Christian religion and the preacher of it; and which he entitled Puħ Tih E, meaning 'Because I could no longer forbear.' Whereupon the father, that he might conform him. self to the style and language of the country, entitled his answer, ⚫ I have answered because I could no longer forbear.' Both titles are very significant in the Chinese language: but the father's was more highly esteemed because it carries two significations. The first, I refute, because I could no longer forbear; the second, I have refuted a book entitled, Because I could no longer forbear. And which was more to be wondered at, the father composed the 、greatest part of these books, in the boats, upon the roads and in the inns, under the power of rebels and barbarians; in prison with three chains upon

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his legs, three about his neck, and six upon his hands; and in a word, in the indst of continual persecutions. I could say much more in praise of that person truly pious, and of great reputation, did I not fear that the share which I had in his sufferings, and the strict friendship that was between us, would render me suspected of too much partiality. Father Ferdinand Verbiest at the same time wrote a learned answer to a book, or rather a satire full of mistakes and doltish ignorance, which the same Yang Kwangseen wrote against the European mathematics. Father Anthony Gouvea composed a catechism. Father John Monteiro wrote two books, the one of the Law of God, and the other of True Adoration. Father Francis Sambiesi wrote four treatises, of the immortality of the soul; of morals; of painting, and sounds, all very short and highly esteemed. I myself wrote a treatise of the resur- rection of Christ; and another of the universal resurrection Nicholas Tri- gaut, Lazaro Cataneo, Gaspar Ferreira, and Alvaro Semedo, all fathers of the society have composed dictionaries very large and very exact, and Gaspar Ferreira has written above twenty treatises upon several subjects. Father Soeiro made an abridgment of the Christian law; and father Nicholas Lon- gobardo, who died but a few years ago in this court, fourscore and sixteen years old, has written several godly treatises, besides a treatise of earth- quakes, highly esteemed by the learned of this empire. In short, there have been a great number of other books written concerning the Christian reli- gion, and of all sciences and subjects which amount in all to above five hun- dred tomes printed, besides manuscripts. There is printed in China a cata- logue of all the fathers that ever traveled into the country to preach the gospel; wherein are also the names set of all the books which they have written. From whence I conclude, that so many books could never have been translated and written in a foreign language, and in so short a time [fourscore and thirteen years], had not the language been very easy: so that it follows that the Chinese language is more easy to learn than any other; and that it is withal very elegant, very copious, and very expressive; since it wants for no terms to explain and unfold the subtleties and mysteries of theology, philosophy, and the rest of the sciences." pages 78-82.

    Our author concludes his chapter on the language, with the first paragraph of the first article of the commentary which he had made upon the works of Confucius; i. e. he gives the original of the text of Confucius, with both a verbal and free translation of the same, adding also a free translation of the commentary. This translation, with Magaillans' remarks, we subjoin.

    "The method for great men to learn, consists in three things. The first is to unfold the rational nature: the second is, to reform mankind; and the third to stop at the sovereign good.

     "As to the first, the rational nature is the heart of man, for the Chinese make no distinction between the understanding and the will; but attribute to the heart whatever we attribute to those faculties. The heart is a substance

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pure and intelligent without any darkness or obscurity: and where man has always ready, all requisite reasonings to answer to all difficulties that present themselves. But because that at the very moment of our birth, this intelli- gent and rational nature is caged up and enclosed within the prison of the body, and for that our inordinate passions keep it bound and chained, it comes to be obscured and troubled For this reason, it is necessary that men should apply themselves to learning and information by putting of questions, to the end the rational heart may be delivered from its bondage and sla- very, that so it may be able to break the chains and fetters of the passions, and return to its primitive beauty, light, and understanding; in the same manner as a tarnished mirror being polished recovers its former lustre.

i

     "The second consists in reforming the people. For example, I who am a king, a magistrate, a father of a family, &c.: if I have already purified my rational nature, it is my duty to extend it to that degree, that she may be able to communicate herself to other men, by causing them to abandon the corruptions and defilements of vice and evil customs, and I ought to deal so by my people, as I do with garments, when they are spotted or besmeared. For if they are well washed and scoured, they become clean and handsome as they were before.

This

When

"The third consists in attaining and stopping at the sovereign good. sovereign good is the sovereign accord of things and of reason. great men enlighten their intelligent nature, and renew the virtue of the people, they do it not by hap-hazard or without design: 'but all their end is to bring their virtue to perfection; to the end there might not be one single person among the people whose virtue was not renewed, or who was not renewed by virtue. When they are arrived at a degree so sublime, and to such an extraordinary excellency, they may be assured they have attained the sovereign good; like those who after a long and tiresome journey at length coming to their own homes, may say they have attained the final end of their traveling. These are the three most necessary and principal things in that book, and as it were the mantle or outward garment that covers the clothes, or as the string that holds a row of beads together.

"These are the expressions of the Chinese commentator. Here by the way we may observe, that possibly there can be nothing more proper than these words of Confucius to explain the functions of a minister of the gospel who is obliged in the first place to perfect himself and next his neighbor, to the end we may arrive at the sovereign good, which is God, the su- preme and utmost end of all things. Nevertheless, the Chinese being pagans and carnally minded people, have accommodated these three points to the government of the kingdom, wherein like politicians they place all their happiness and ultimate end. In the second place we are to observe that the ancient Chinese did understand there was a God. And therefore when I oppose their learned men in dispute, I frequently make use of this dilemma. Either Confucius did understand what he defined, or he did not: if he did understand what he defined, he knew there was a God, who is no other than that sovereign good of which he speaks, and which you also ought to know

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and adore as well as he. If he did not understand that what he defined was God himself, he was very ignorant; since as you yourselves confess, the syllables che and shen signify that sovereign good which contains and com prehends all others: which is an attribute that cannot be given to any crea- ture, what advantages soever he may have, but only to God alone."

Of the wit of the Chinese, and of their principal books, our au- thor writes with much accuracy, and the chapter is worth reading. The work of Mencius comes last, in his review of classical literature: in this work "there appears a wonderful deal of wit, subtlety, and eloquence; the discourses are pertinent, the sentences grave and mo- ral, and the style lively, bold, and persuasive."

    The structure of the government is minutely described, and also the capital and its buildings. The bribery and rapacity of the offi cers were as notorious in Magaillans' time as they are at present. "If we consider the natural inclination and insatiable avarice of the Chinese, there is very little money in China; but if we consider the riches it possesses within itself, there is not any kingdom that may compare with it." He says the covetousness of the Chinese is such, and their laws forbidding the export of specie so rigid, that the money which they have 'rammasked together must needs be immense, and so much the more because whatever once enters, is never carried out again.' He denies the existence of paper money, though he admits that there have been 'certain tickets signed and sealed with the king's seal.'

} With the following extract, which will show what ways and means there are in the empire for steamers, we conclude our notice of this

new history.'

    "The fourth of May, in the year 1642, 1 departed from the city of Hang- chow, capital of the province of Chèkeäng, and the twenty-eighth of August of the same year, I arrived at Chingtoo, the capital of the province of Sze- chuen. During these four months, 1 made four hundred leagues, all the way by water, counting the windings and turnings of the rivers; yet so that for a whole month I sailed upon two different streams, though during all the other three months, I kept the grand river of Keäng, which is called the son of the sea. During this tedious journey by water, I met every day with such vast quantities of timber trees tied one to another of all sorts of wood, which if they were fastened together, would make a bridge of several days' journey. I sailed by some of these that were fastened to the shore, above one hour, and sometimes for half a days swimming with the stream. Now the most wealthy merchants of China are they that trade in salt and wood, there being no other commodities for which they have a more considerable vent. This wood therefore is cut down in mountains of the province of Szechuen, upon the frontier of China, to the west: and after they have caused it to be

:

1841.

The Chinese Long Measure.

649

carried to the bank of the river Keäng, which about these parts falls into this empire, they saw it into boards, and with little expense carry it into most parts of the provinces, where they make a very great profit by the sale of it. The breadth of these trains of timber is about ten feet, and the length either longer or shorter, according to the merchant's stock, but the longest are sometimes about half a league. They rise above the water four or five feet,

and are made after this manner. The people take as much wood as is re- quisite for the height or thickness of four or five feet, and breadth of ten. Then they make holes at the ends of the pieces of wood, through which they put wreaths of reeds or twisted osiers, to which they fasten other pieces of wood, suffering the float to fall down with the stream, till the whole train be as long as they desire. All the parts of the float being thus contrived, move and yield to the water as necessity requires, as pliably as the links of a chain. Only upon the fore-part of the float they set four of five men with oars or poles to guide the float, and make it swim where they please. Upon these floats at such and such distances, they build little wooden cottages, which they sell whole, as they are, at the several places where they stop during their journey. Here the merchants sleep and shelter themselves, as in their houses, dress their meat and eat it, and put their furniture and uten- sils therein. The same merchants also bring from the mountains and fo. rests, where they cut their wood, several sorts of medical herbs, parrots, mon- keys, and other things, which they sell in the cities and other places through which they pass, to other merchants that vend them over all the provinces of the empire. Great quantities of this wood are brought to Peking, though it be distant above seven hundred Portuguese leagues from the mountains where the wood is cut down. And thus a man may easily judge by what I say, that there is no kingdom in the world that can compare with China, for the benefit of going and trading by water." pages 131-133.

ART. II. Inquiries and calculations respecting the Chinese Long

Measure. By

    THE statements that have been published with respect to the length of the Chinese le(), and indeed of all their measures of length, differ so much from one another, that we are at a loss whenever called upon to make any calculations in which it is necessary to use their table of long measure. The writer cannot flatter himself that he shall throw much light upon the subject, but hopes to be able to en gage for it, from Chinese students, the attention it deserves. The matter might be set at rest, by procuring from a Chinese office the

}

VOL. X. NO. XII.

650

The Chinese Long Measure.

Dec.

standard measure, which could easily be compared with our own, and the proportion ascertained; but unhappily we cannot get access to any office in this vicinity. It may not be without use, however, to request of the individuals engaged in the present expedition, to procure a Chinese cheih (R) measure, should it be in their power; which I should think might be done at Amoy, Ningpo, or Chusan. The information contained in the subsequent part of this paper, will suggest the queries necessary to be asked from the officer from whom such a measure may be obtained. I would mention, however, espe- cially the following questions as claiming peculiar attention.

    As there are four different cheih used, inquire the use to which any that may be obtained are applied; or in other words, whether it may be that of the Mathematical Tribunal, or the land-surveyor's, &c. What cheih is used in measuring the le-the mathematical or the land-surveyor's? And next, which of these two may be used in measuring the mow (H) or Chinese acre.

    The difficulty of coming to any conclusion on this subject at pre- sent, arises from the various lengths which are assigned by different writers to the cheik and to the le. In many Chinese works we have the following table of

10

LONG MEASURE.

tsun make a R cheik. 5尺cheih make a步 poo. 360 poo make a 里 le..

    Could any one of these be ascertained, the others could of course be easily calculated; but the statements, as I have said, differ mate- rially, and we are at a loss on which to rely. With respect to the number of le, of the present standard, that make a degree of the me- ridian, we have met with three statements. The Chinese Repository, vol. II, page 446, and Mr. Morrison in his Chinese Calendar, say that the Jesuits divided the degree into 250 le. Milburne says, in his Ori- ental Commerce, vol. II, page 472, that they divided the degree into 200 le. Mr. Gutzlaff says, in a Chinese work, that the degree is 180 le. Besides these, I have met with a statement of P. Prémare in a note to his "Researches on the times anterior to those spoken of in the Shoo King," in which he says "that ten le make very nearly one of our (French) leagues." This, however, I think was said of the le used by the Chinese previons to the alteration introduced by the Jesuits. That le was the 192.5 part of a degree, and equal to 1892 feet, which is a little more than of a French marine league. The

- 1811.

The Chinese Long Measure.

651

Jesuits, I have no doubt, although I cannot find the statement of the fact anywhere, changed it so as to make it correspond exactly with theof their league. Perhaps each of the statements, that the le is the 250th part of a degree, and that it is the 200th part, are derived from this: the first being the of the French astronomical league, which is the of a degree; and the latter the % of the marine league, which is the of a degree. I cannot find any authority for the le, as at present established, being 180 to the degree, except the work of Mr. Gutzlaff above quoted.

We shall be able to form some opinion, as to which of these state- ments may be the most correct, by calculating from each the length of the cheih, and comparing the cheih thus obtained with that given us, by the various writers on this subject. The calculations below show what its length is according to each of these statements.

1st Calculation.

    A degree according to Mr. Baily's tables is 365,110 feet. We have then at the rate of 180 le to the degree:

365,110-180-2028.39 feet = 676.13 yards =2.60 le to 1 mile. 2028.39-360=5.6344 feet = 1 ✈ puu. 5.6344-5-1.1269 feet = IR cheil.

I cheik, then, is equal to 13.5228 inches.

2d Calculation. At 200 le to the degree.

A degree is 365,110÷÷200-1825.55 ft. = 608.52 yds.= 2.89 le to 1 mile.

1825.55-360=5.071 feet 1步1000.

5.071-51.014 feet X 12≈12.168 ins. to a cheih,

3d Calculation. At 250 le to the degree.

A degree is 365,110-2501460.44 feet 486.81 yds.

to 1 mile.

1460.44-360-4.056 feet 4.056-5=0.8112 feet

The authorities for the length of the

with are as follows:

A

1 poo.

= 3.61 le

9.7344 inches to a cheih. ́›

cheih, that have been met

1. Dr. Hutton in the Edinburgh Review. China Mathematical foot, 1.127 English foot.

2. China imperial foot 1.051 feet. Cavallo 1.050 feet. 3. Milburne's Oriental Commerce, vol. II, page 472.

4. Foot of Math. Tribunal, 147.7 French lines, or 13 Eng. inch. 5. Builder's foot, called Kungpoo, 143.1 French lines, or 12, Eng, inch.

052

The Chinese Long Measure.

DEC.

6. Tailors' and tradesmens' foot, 150 French lines, or 18 Eng.

inch.

7. The foot used by engineers, 141.7 French lines, or 12 Eng. inch.

"The le," he says

                 "* contains 180 fathoms of 10 feet each of the last mentioned lengths, which makes the le 1897 English feet, and 192) le measure a mean degree of the meridian nearly; but the European missionaries divided the degree into 200 le, each le measur- ing 1826 Eng. feet."

    Malte Brun, in his Geography, gives the very same table in French lines as Milburne. I subjoin it, as I fancy Milburne has made a mistake in converting French into English measure.

The propor tion, according to which this is calculated, is, that 40,000 French feet, inches, or lines, equal 42,638 English feet, inches, or lines. Malte Brun, vol. I, page 618.*

13.324 English inch.

   Mathematical foot 147.7 French lines=13.120 English inch. Foot of the merchants 150 French lines Ché's or carpenter's 143.1 French lines Land-surveyor's 141.7 French lines = We have then the following results:

12.7114 English inch. 12.5870 English inch.

Malte Brun and Rees' Cyclo.

13.120 in.

12.5870 in.

13.5228 inch Dr. Hutton's Math. foot.

Which nearly agrees with

Hutton. Math. ft. 13.524 in. Land surv.

12.612 in.

Cheih at 180 lɛ to 1°

Milburne. 13.125 in.

Cavallo.

12.65 in.

12.6

Cheih at 200 le to 1o

12.168 inch

9.7344 inch

Which agrees with none but is nearest to the land surveyor's of Malte Brun. Which is less than

any, unquestionably wrong.

and

Cheih at 250 le to 1°

    These calculations, it will be seen, do not verify the length of the cheih given by any of the authorities, but I am disposed to believe, from review of the whole, that at present the le is reckoned at 200 to the degree, and is therefore equal to 1825.55 feet or 608.52 yards. 2.89 & will then be equal to one English mile.

    While on this subject, I will add an estimate of the Chinese mow according to the land-surveyor's cheih, of Malte Brun. The table of land measure is as follows:

*

The table given in Rees' Cyclopædia agrees exactly with that of Malte Bun, as above expressed in English inches and hundredths of inches. It would therefore, only uselessly prolong this article to transcribe it.

!

1841.

Diary and Journal of Parsees.

5 R cheil make

poo:

24步 poo make 1分 frum; 60步 poo make I keŏ;

4角 keò or 240 步 poo make I 畝

12.587 X 5

5.244 X 5.244

27.499536-9

62.935 inches =5.244 ft, or 1 poo.

mow.

27.499636 square feet, or 1 square poo. 3.0555 sqr. yd. X 240

mow; which is 6.6 mow to one English acre.

653

733.32 sqr. yd. to 1

כו

ART. III. Diary and Journal, during tours to England and re- sidence in that country, of one year by Ardaseer Cursetjee; and of two years and half by Jehanjeer Nowrojee and Hirjee- bhoy Merwanjee, all of Bombay.

Is society so harden- Are the nations so pe- unmovable, inactive? world in the darkest

THIS, it is said, 'is an age of bronze.' Is it so? ed that no impression can be made upon it? trified that they are like dead metal, spiritless, Is an apathy like that which covered the times of the Middle Ages, again coming over the whole wide world? Threescore and ten years ago, what was the state of the British em- pire compared with what it now is? What, at that time, was the condition of the British colonies in North America compared with what the United States now are? On the continent of Europe, in India, in New Holland, and on some of the islands of the sea, what has been the progress of affairs? Has there not been one uninter- rupted series of changes, old foundations broken up and new ones laid, old and venerated systems demolished and new ones formed? In arts, in sciences, in morals, in religion, in government, and in almost everything, has there not been an aspiring activity, such as seldom if ever before existed? And does not this activity still con- tinue and increase, so as to baffle conjecture respecting its future achievements? Where, for example, will terminate the inventions resulting from the wonder-working power of steam? Look at the be- nevolent institutions of this age: when were voluntary associations either so numerous or so extensive in their operations as they are

654

Diary and Journal of Parsees

DEC.

at this day? When were the poor, and the sick, and the infirm, and the ignorant so much cared for as they are in our own times ?

That there is in this age much that is hard and unfeeling, we ad- mit, for there are still those who can keep themselves aloof from all the great and good enterprises of the day, and pass by the most wretched sufferers unpitied and unrelieved, without taking any part or But to act thus is interest in the melioration of their fellowmen. not, we think, in accordance either with the fashion or prevailing spirit of the present generation.

    The two works named at the head of this article, are pleasing proof that the spirit of the age is active, and enterprising, and becom- ing more and more free. People of different and distant nations are coming into nearer and better relations with each other; and in these altered circumstances, they see themselves in contrast with others, detect their own defects, see the advantages and improvements of others, and learn to make just comparisons, so as to reject the evil and useless, and to select whatever may seem likely to promote their own and the public good.

The Parsee gentlemen, named above, by visiting England, and by publishing the results of their observations there, have set a noble In a few years, example, which will be followed by many others. we expect to see Chinese publishing the results of their observations in Europe and America, and bringing from thence the most useful modern improvements.

a

The first of the two works before us, Diary of an Overland Journey from Bombay to England, and of one year's residence in Great Britain, by Ardaseer Cursetjee, c. E., F. A. s., chief engineer and inspector of machinery at the honorable E. I. Company's steam- factory and foundery at Bombay," was published in London last year, in a neat pamphlet, comprising 106 pages.

a

46

   The second, Journal of a Residence of two years and a half in Great Britain, by Jehangeer Nowrojee and Hirjeebhoy Merwanjee, of Bombay, native architects," was published early this year in Lon- don, and is a handsome volume of 500 pages.

These gentlemen, all members of the Lowjee family, visited Eng- land chiefly for the purpose of improving their knowledge in naval architecture, in which profession the family has been distinguished for more than a century. It is well known that some of the finest ships in the world have been built in the hon. E. I. Company's dock- yard at Bombay, under the direction of Parsee master-builders. While in England, the three gentlemen of the Lowjee family, appear

1841.

Diary and Journal of Parsees.

655

to have paid the most particular attention to all the improvements in steam navigation; but their observations were not, by any means, limited to what belongs appropriately to their own profession. Both of their works are written in very good style, and are characterised by manly spirit and sound sense. To the Parsees they must be full of interest, and the English reader cannot fail to derive from their

pe- rusal some useful hints and much amusement. For ourselves, at least, we can say, we have read them with a great deal of pleasure; and recommend their perusal to all who are interested in the Par- sees, the direct descendants of the ancient Persians.

Leaving our readers to persue the Diary and Journal at their lei- sure, we will here lay before them a few particulars, which we have learned from the Parsees themselves, during an acquaintance with some of them for more than ten years. Always we have found them kind, affable, generous, and ready to communicate information re- specting their nation.

    After the conquest of Persia, 632 B. C., the despotism of the usur- per, caliph Omar, obliged the followers of Zoroaster, or the ancient Persians, to quit their homes for the sake of their religion. Some fled to the north, others to the west, while most of them went to the bay of Ormus, where, owing to oppression by the Mussulmen, they did not remain longer than 15 years. Thinking that no country could afford them a better place for keeping their religion than Hindostan, they now left the bay Ormus for Dieu. There they stayed about 17 years, and then left for Sanjan, being much oppressed by the Portu- guese government. When they came opposite Sanjan, the rájá of that place, named Jadee Rana, sent a messenger on board one of their vessels to inquire, who they were, and why they had come hither, and demanded that, before landing, four of their men should come on shore, and acquaint the rájá with their designs. Accordingly, next day, four of them landed, and were kindly received by the rájá, who questioned them about their leaving Persia and their motives for it. They answered that it was on account of their religion. Next he wished to know what their religion was, an account of which was accordingly furnished to him in four days, written in Sanscrit and comprised in 16 verses. The rájá, extremely surprised at the purity of their religion, not only gave them a kind reception, but became half inclined to adopt their faith. Before receiving permission to land, they were required to change their dress, to lay down their arms never to be taken again, to adopt the Sanscrit language, and to yield to certain changes in their diet, marriage ceremonies, costumes,

656

Diary and Journal of Parsees.

DEC.

&c., all of which were in no way prejudicial to their religion; and consequently these changes they agreed to adopt. On landing they built an aguiary, or fire-temple, for their worship.

    They had continued there five hundred years, without any moles tation, when Mohammed, surnamed Dagura, after having conquered the greater part of Guzerat, sent a force of 3000 men, under his gene ral Ulaf khan, to take possession of Sanjan. But two hundred years before this event, most of the Parsees had left Sanjan for Cambay, Broach, Surat, Uklasur, Vuriow, Nowsary, seeking for a livelihood. When the ruler of Sanjan, one of the descendants of Jadee Rana, heard of the approach of the army of Mohammed, he requested his Parsee subjects to fight against them, which they refused to do, as it would be acting contrary to the treaty, which they had made with his forefathers. However, after being much urged by the high offi. cers of the state, they consented once more to take arms. The Parsee fighting men amounted to 1400, and, headed by Ardaseer, marched against the Mohammedans and completely routed them. When Mo- hammed heard of the defeat of his troops, and knew that the rájá was aided by Parsee warriors, he sent reinforcements, which, joining the the defeated army, marched a second time and were victorious. Great losses were sustained on both sides. The few remaining Par- sees, being now again under the control of the opponents of their re- ligion, left Sanjan, and joined their friends in other parts of India.

After the British obtained possession of Bombay, many Parsees came to that place, and thence went to Calcutta, Madras, China, &c. There are in Persia at present, it is supposed, about 200,000 followers of Zoroaster, but they are much disturbed in their religious rites by the Mohammedans. The number now in India is probably

about 50,000.

    Almost all the Parsees are merchants, or servants of merchants. There are no tailors, barbers, &c,. among them. The Parsees are dependant upon others for the production of almost all the necessa- ries of life. If reduced to poverty, they either become servants, or are supported by their friends. As with the Greeks, so with the Par- sees, there is a great contrast between those of ancient and those of moderns times. Some of the Parsees are very wealthy and very libe- ral and charitable men.

   The religion of the Parsees is called Muzdyesné, or Yezdaprust, meaning worshiper of God. Muzd and Yezd both signifying God; and yesné and prust, to worship. By foreigners it is contracted, and called Magi, and its followers Magians. Zoroaster, their lawgiver,

1841.

Diary and Journal of Parsees.

657

was born 392 years before the Christian era. He was descended from the well-known family of Feridoon. His father was Porosusp bin, Petarusp bin, Arovundrup (or Arundusp) bin, Hurchudrap (or Hucha- dusp) bin, 'Chuckmos (or Chukhusnos) bin, Petarusp bin, Hudrusné (or Hurdrusné) bin, Hurdar (or Hurdar) bin, Supatum bin, Vedsut bín, Usfunx (or Ujuin) bin, Rujusné bin, Dorasroon bin, Menochehr bin, Eruch bin Feridoon; his mother was Dogdoé, daughter of Furm- rua, also a descended from Feridoon. His birth was in the city of Rea; in Persia, then governed by Gustusp, or Darius Hystaspes. No sooner was he born than he began to laugh, and many were his miracles at an early age, which excited the attention of all. The pagan priests; knowing that he was the prophet expected to come; commenced seeking his ruin. But he was saved from all dangers and perils; once on a day, while a child he was taken and thrown into a heap of burn- ing wood, but the fire became like cold water. At another time he was attacked in a street, and in many other ways wicked men tried to kill him, but could not. When he was about twelve, he was adinit- ted to the company of several wise men, and was there admired bý his jealous countrymen for his deep sense and understanding. He was, as his followers believe, now taken into favor by the Almighty, who made him an object of reverence with the people; and by this assistance of God, during his communication with him, he made out laws for: his country. Being dissatisfied with the ekisting language, or the Pellvi, as it was not a rich one, he invented another more rich,' in› which he wrote the Twenty-one books, or Noosuck, held in 'the' highest respect by the Persians of all ages, and which are as follows, m their Zend and Persian names. in India. 3. Zendur ti edad: Persian. -

:

-ed in c

1 Eutha 2 Huee,

ants of me Veriu," t

The Pre

ost all the

ecome sens

5. So wither Tent and Bar ir and reg

or Par

4 Utha,

Rutos,

16. Assaud.

7 Ched, 8 Huchá, 9 Vungaeos, Duzda,

Il Mannango,

Satroodyest, Satroodgur.

- Vubest Mathre, i 2.14 Muzda,

Zend. 12 Siuthranunam, .. 13 Ungaeos,

-: Persian, 15

Kesut,

Sufund,

Pursut,

1:

15. Ishusthremcha,

Bugaunyest, la

Mirdoom,

17 An,

La

Hoosparéin,"

Husba

18 Eem,

...

}

Duwas Roosed,

Uskurum,

Vundidad,

Dwazdeh Hummaust, 16 Huwora,

2

Bug,

Nadwap, b

Pachem

-:

Rutoostide,

Brus,

Cussroob,

P

Vistasp,"

19 Dragobio,

20 Dudud.

21 Vastarem,

Wadok!.

     These books of the Persians contain moral and natural philosophy, and treatises on the arts, &c.; but the Parsees in India have only a part of them, some having been lost during the last war, when, their king being deposed, they were obliged to flee with whatever they could lay their hands upon. The names of these books'form a short prayer, and are daily repeated not less than 100 times by every ina-

VOL X. NO. XII.

83

653

Diary and Journal of Pursees,

DEC.

   gian, however irreligious, and very much oftener by the religious and devout. They repeat the prayer with amazing rapidity, so that a stranger can scarcely make out anything from it. They are ac- customed to say this prayer from a very early age, about four, and thus it is fixed in their memories, without being understood. ⠀ In each of the last five days of every year, they are required to repeat it. 1200 times, in addition to a great number of repetitions in their long prayer of pages.

A

1

Zoroaster, so called by the Greeks, meaning the living star,' is by the Persians called Zurtoste, Zuratoate, Zuzdoste, Zurdhoste, and Zurthost, all having the meaning of "bright deeds.' The Magians are distinguished by their sudrai, and coasty, the latter is called Ueveogunen in the Zend, and Ueveogaun in the Pehlvi. It is made of seventy-two threads of fine wool, denoting the 72 paragraphs com- tained in the sacred book of Izeshne or Izume.

!

In making it, six pieces are first formed, each of twelve threads, denoting the twelve chapters of the Dwazdeh Hummaus, one of the 21 books, and the six pieces, denoting the six intervals in which God made the universe, are made into one which forms a coosty. This done, the upside is turned round, showing that the dead will rise again in another world, that is in heaven. This coosty is required to be tied and united round the body eight times'in a day, and some- times oftener. In tying it round the body, there are three turnings, denoting Hoomut, Hooukht, and Hoourest, meaning, that he will not think, nor do, nor wish what is sinful! There are four knots, two on the fore and two on the back part of the body: and in tying the first he says there is only one God, who has no partner or relative; in tying the second, he is satisfied with the Muzdyesné, and thinks it the best that exists; in the third, he believes in Zoroaster as the true prophet; and in the fourth, he says, as far as it may be in his power, he will always take the path that leads to virtue. Moreover, the four knots denote the elements. The sudrai is used to protect the coosty from touching the skin, and thereby making it impure; it is a law, there- fore, that every one wear it.

The magians have separate names for every day and month, and when both are of the same name it is a holy day. ⠀

    According to their law, God made the universe in one year, but at six different intervals, with periods of rest following each of them. 'The order of creation was this; first heaven was made;; second, wa- ter; third, earth; fourth, trees; fifth, brutes, &c,; and sixth, man.

Parsees, on account of their religious views, do not allow other

1841.

Diary and Journal of Parsees.

J

659

If any

sects to join them. They are strict in their observances. culinary vessel, be touched by one of another caste, it must be thrice washed to purify it ; and if it chance to be a mineral substance it can never again be considered as pure.

    'Their religion requires them to say their prayers five times a day. The first prayer, that said between sun-rising and midday, is called Havun; the second, that between midday and 3 P. m., is called Ru- peetun; the third, to be said before night, is called the Ogirun; the fourth, to be said before midnight is called Aevasruthrum; and the last, to be said before morning, is called the Hoseen. In saying great their prayers, they turn their faces to the luminous objects, as the most visible signs of the invisible deity. They do not touch the dead of either lower or superior animals, neither do they allow their shadow to fall upon them, and if this happens to be done they must consequently bathe. Ablution is frequently required by their religion.

    Some of the Parsees attend at their temple every day, but most of them only on specially appointed days, which are the 1st, 9th, 17th and 20th of every month. There is no preaching, but every one says his prayers,' some` orally and standing, while others sit and use their books. The priests are numerous; but are neither very learned, nor much respected. If a man does forbidden acts, he and his family are excluded from participating in the sacred ceremonies; but if he makes atonement for his crime, a restoration can then take place.

}

Fire is consecrated and preserved in their temples with great care, and the ceremonies regarding it are made a subject of particular

attention."

The doctrines of Zoroaster werè, for the most part, delivered in pa- rables, designed to civilize and improve the barbarians of his age. His followers have labored to prove that their's is the only sect whose dead are not turned into démons.

:

     Their treatment of the dead is remarkable. The bodies of the deceased are exposed to the vultures, in costly buildings, common to all Parsees: These buildings are of a circular form, about ten feet high, surrounded by walls of the same height. In the centre of these there is a hole, ten feet deep, communicating with secret vaults. There are many` lines of communication, and numerous apartments. There are three receptacles of unequal dimensions, one for children, one for females, and one for inen. The ashes or remains of the dead are left in the centre hole. A cemetery calculated to receive the bodies of 35 men, 35 women, and 35 children,-

                              ‚-a model of which is in possession of the Royal Asiatic Society,-has at the base a cir.

660

Diary and Journal of Parsees..

D&c.

~cumference of 175 feet, and of 170 at top, which is ́open, so that

the bodies of the men, women, and children, are all, in their respec-. tive places, exposed to the sun and rain. The three receptacles for the bodies are in a circular form, one within the other, the partitions: running parallel with the outer wall of the cemetery, The innermost receptacle is for the children, the next for the women, and the other for the men.

+

    It has been asserted by some of the most distinguished orientalists, that the language in which the sacred writings of the Parsees are composed is a fabrication of the Zoroastrian priests, subsequent to their expatriation from Persia, and that their writings are, as far as regards antiquity, entitled to no consideration whatever. Against this assertion, the Parsees advance the following remarks, They affirm, that in various parts of Persia, at the present day, inscriptions are, to be found in a character which they denominatę Cuneiform, exhibit-, ing historical records of the sixth and fifth centuries before Christ, written in three different languages.

!

!

ver,

The inscriptions in the simple and literal cuneiform character ins variably occupy the most distinguished place of the three upon the tablets, and exhibit other points of evidence, to indicate that the lan- guage in which they are, written must have been the native and nacular language of the sovereign by whose orders they were engrave; ed. To the analysis of this character, and to the examination of their, language, a good deal of time has been devoted; and it is asserted that the Persian language of the ages of Cyrus and Darius, is unquestiona-; bly the parent of the tongue now called the Zend, and which has been so successfully elaborated by continental students, and by none with greater, skill and perspicuity than by M, Bournquf in his admi- rable "Commentaire șur le yacno.",

} 1

The Anti-Alexandrian Persian is in fact, to all appearance, an ins termediate formation between the languages of Zend Avesta and some primitive tongue which gave rise to the various cognate derivatives, of Sanscrit, Pali, Pelasgian, Etrusian, and the many branches of the: Indo-Teutonic, family!

!!

The preceding remarks on the language are quoted almost verba- tim from the notes of major Rawlinson, who is writing a memoir to` illustrate, the cuneiform inscriptions of Persia, and to show the close affinity between this Anti-Alexandrian Persian and the Zend, He, considers it as incontrovertible, that the dialect in which are compaq-: ed the Vundidad, Vispered, Izeshne, &c., is merely a modification of the true vernacular, tongue, used in Persia in the ages of Cyrus and.

1841.

}

Diary and Journal of Parsees.¡

,

661

   Darius, about twelve centuries anterior to the period of the Indian emigration of the Parsees; and that there is scarcely a single radical of any importance, in any of the sacred books of the Parsees, which may not be traced, under some modification or other, to a corres- pondent term in some living dialect of Persia; and consequently he has come to the conclusion that these writings of the Parsees were brought from Persia in their present state, and are thus now entitled to the same degree of consideration, among the Parsees in India, as they enjoyed among their ancestors at the period of their expatriation. ......Education among the Parsees of India has been, and is still, great- ly neglected. Females have little, or no knowledge of letters. In sew- ing and embroidery they are expert, and are well accustomed to the duties of the kitchen. They are, it is said, most faithful to their husbands. They are, in their way, more devoted to religiou than are the men, and have the almost entire charge of the, religious educa- tion of the young, who are for this purpose placed under their care usually when about three years old. This branch of education con- sists in learning to recite prayers, which neither teachers nor pupils understand. In the day schools, the boys are first taught arithmetic by a master, who gives oral lessons; writing the same lessons on boards, with chalk, comes next in course. At this stage, cer

                                                  certain cere- monies must be observed by their parents. The alphabet is now to be learnt, and reading follows. The pay, to the masters is very small, never more than six rupees annually, even by the rich. The schools in fact, hardly deserve this designation, and children are often sent to them solely in order that they may be out of the way of their pa- rents at home. However, within a few years some English schools have been opened for their benefit. In 1822, a foundation was laid by Elphinstone, of which Parsees have availed themselves for the edu- cation of their sons. In periodical literature, the Parsees have also become interested, and have already four newspapers and a monthly journal, all published at Bombay.

1

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1

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1.

11

"

"

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14 mait

2001LZ #

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    Notes 1. One of these papers appears thrice a week, another twice, and two once. One is called the Bombay Telescope, another is the Bombay Whip (Bombay Chabook), and the monthly is styled the Ocean of Knowledge: all pub lished in Guzarattee, the common language among the Parsees of India,

2. We here correct an expression in our number for October, where we ought to have said 'Mr. Herjeebhoy's donation, and not "Mr. Rustomjee's donation.' Rustomjee is the pame given to his father at birth, and then Rustomjee's sops must each have their respective given name preceding that of their father, and thus we ought to have 'written Harjeebhoy Rustomjee.

ני

...While on this subject, we may remark, that very few of the names of the Par- sees in India are of Persian origin. In Guzarattee, jee means master, and byce mistress,' and'åre 'similar in use to our Mr. and Mrs' "The names are usually selected by astrologers, who in doing this mark out a horoscope showing the sun's

602

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

DEC.

place in the zodiac at the time the child was born; and each of the signs having letters peculiar to itself, the child is called by a name which begins with one of those letters belonging to that sign in which the sun was at the child's birth.

1

80

71

ART. IV. Illustrations of men and things in China: manufacture of lanterns; aw øde arranged in squares, with some account of its reputed author, Soo Hway; Chinese portable writing apparatus. Manufacture of lanterns.-The making of the transparent lanterns, so universally used by the Chinese, employs many thousands of work- men. The framework of the lantern is made of fine bamboo splints, which are split by the hand with a knife, and woven on a frame of the proper size; this work is done by women and children, and it is said an expert hand can finish six or eight in a day. When brought to the shop, the workmen in the first place cuts off the fag ends, shapes it, and rearranges all the splints, so that the interstices, which are very large, will be nearly of equal size; he then stiffens them with a coat of glue, and lays the skeleton away to dry. When a suitable number are ready, he takes his station near the glue-pot, and laying a piece of thin and coarse bamboo paper called sha che, upon the frame which he holds in his hand, he brushes it down even- ły and smoothly over the splinths with a brush filled with glue. The glue is made from a species of fucus (a Delesseria?) found on the rocky shores of Hainan, and brought to Canton in juuks in a dry state; it is boiled to a proper consistence, and when dried upon the lantern is almost transparent. Two or three coats are laid on, each being well dried, after which the lantern is mounted with a socket for the candle, and a wire for the handle, and hung up for sale. When the customer selects it, a painter, usually one of the workmen, adorns it with flowers, or with his name, his style, the sign of his shop, or any other characters he wishes, fits in a grotesque handle if desired, and charges from five cents to ten or twenty times that, ac- cording to the size and finish.

    Lanterns are used by the Chinese for many purposes unknown to western nations. Officers, when traveling by night, always have large ones carried before them with their titles written upon them; and private persons carry one in their hand with their names upon them. By night, a lantern hung at a shop door serves both for an illuminat- ed sign, and to lighten the street. Besides the kind of lanterns abor

"

I

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

3

663

}

f

described, the Chinese make very elegant ones of colored paper called trow ma tăng, or horse-racing lamps, having two, three or more cylinders one within the other, and very delicately balanced. Wind- Haps are so contrived that the draft of heated air circulating up through the lantern, causes the inner cylinders to turn round; and as they are made of paper figures set in a frame, the effect of so many tiny men, women, children, horses, or other animals, pursuing one another round and round is very beautiful. There are others of still more elaborate workmanship than these made for gandees, de scribed to us as being twenty cubits in diameter, containing many sorts of "lamps placed within, and so artificially and agreeably that the light adds beauty to the painting, and the smoke gives life and spirit to the figures in the lantern, which art has so contrived, that they seem to walk, turn about, ascend and descend. You shall see horses run, draw chariots and till the earth; vessels sailing; kings and princes go in and out with large trains, and great crowds of people both afoot and horseback, armies marching, and a thousand other divertisements and motions represented." These and many other sorts are got up for the feast of lanterns, to the great jollity of ail sorts of people.

,

    · Soo Hway's Ode. Sometime ago, we noticed a ballad, the cha- racters of which were arranged in the shape of a cow. We have here a more elaborate performance, in which the characters are placed so as to form squares, with a large character in the centre of each. It is a sonnet upon a husband's long absence, and is popularly ascribed to Soo Hway of the first Tsin dynasty. In the Tsing Sze, or History of the Passions, is a short account of Soo Hwuy, from which we take a few particulars regarding this lady, and the ode she

wóve.

if

    "Soo Hwuy, (also styled Jeð-lan,) flourished during the Tsin dynasty, B. o. 250; she was the daughter of a military officer, and at the age of six- teen was married to Tow Taou. She had very superior parts, was retiring and modest in her demeanor, as well as beautiful and elegant in her person, nor did she seek to be known abroad; but her temper was rather basty, and she was liable to fits of jealousy. Her husband Tow (slao styled Leënpo) þad been, on account of his spirited conduct and his talents, appointed by Fookeen to a very responsible office, which he filled with great reputation and credit. However, while he was the chief magistrate of Tsinchow, for opposing the emperor he was transported to the frontier at Tun-hwang; but in the insurrection of Fookeen, the city of Seängyang became a very impor- tant place; and being in danger, Tow, on account of his talents, was ap! pointed general to quiet the southern provinces, and in consequence made

664

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

DEC.

his residence at Seängyang in Honan. He had a concubine, called Yangtae, a very skillful actor and singer, unequalled by any in her day, whom he loved very much. He had placed her once in a separate house, which, when his wife Soo heard, she inquired and ascertained where it was, and gave,her a severe beating. Tow was very much disturbed at this conduct, and Yang, tae also telling him all her other misdemeanors, slandering and vilifying her, he wished to take her with him to Seängyang, where he was then going, but Soo would not accompany him. Tow thereupon took Yangtae, and ceased all intercourse with Soo; but she, deeply grieved for, and repentant of, her folly, wove an1hwuy wan, or revolving composition, on silk, in which many different colors were so blended, that it rejoiced the mind, and entranced the eyes.' I was about a foot square, and contained more than eight hun- dred characters; and if read either up or down, crosswise, backwards or for- wards, it made sense; nor was a stroke or a point in it deficient. The talent and ingenuity displayed in it was surpassing, excelling that of the ancients and putting to shame the moderns; she called it the seven-ke picture. Even fearned persons called hardly understand it, upon which Soo laughing, said,

• I who am nothing uncommon have made this piece of anagramatic compo. dition, and now none of you can explain it.' She sent it by a faithful do- mestic to her husband, who narrowly examined' it,' and was so affected by its extraordinary elegance and singularity, that He dismissed Yangtae, and sent a carriage loaded with presents to Soo to bring her to him. (She was therefore exceedingly beloved, and wrote more than five thousand lines, which however were irrecoverably lost during the commotions of the Tsuy dynasty, together with this worked anagram."

1

    From a notice in the Koo Sze Tsin Yuen, or. Deep Researches into Ancient Matters, it would appear that Soo Hway wrote this while her. husband was banished beyond the frontiers, and before he went to Seangyang; it is also there said,,that the emperor compassionated her, and as a reward for her talents and skill in weaving it, recalled Tow Taou. The sonnet is written in heptameters, and contains 280 cha- racters; it commences at the character kwan near the circle in the left upper corner, and reads along the top and down the right side; the lines, there reäscend, forming all the squares on the right șide, and then again go down and up until they end next to the circle at keë, which is the second word of a line, and is connected with the first column of large characters. on the left side. The last four lines are placed somewhat irregularly so as to bring the two characters teen tsze the emperor, in the middle. The

.

:

"

   last character in the piece is hwan to return. The whole, to say the least, is ingenious in its arrangement, and is a good specimen of a kind of literary trifling common among the Chinese one that would: not be misplaced in D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature.

1

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

665

SOO HWUY'S ODE, CALLED

璿璣圖

SEUEN-KE Too.

KHN

A

恩思的

音書

春早春

向誰

HEP

VOL, X, NO. XU.

84

「下碧古乱

666

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

TRANSLATION OF Soo HwuY'S ODE.

DEC.

When you received his majesty's commands to quiet the distant frou-

        tier, Going with you to the river's bridge, we there bade our sad farewell: Restraining my grief and hiding my tears, 1 left with you this word: "O do not forget my love and affection, nor tarry long away.' Who would have guessed that since you left, not a word should I

receive.

""

Have you thought that to your lone wife e'en the spring is bleak and

cold?

At the foot of the gemmeous stairs the greensward is left unmown, And our nuptial chamber with dust and webs is all o'erstrown. Even now, when I speak of our farewell, my soul with dread doth

start,

   And my mind revolves what I would be my lord again to see. One time, to be the deep sea moon, I much desire,

   And then to be the cloud upon the mountain's brow is my heart's wish: For the giddy mountain clouds for aye my husband's face do meet, And the deep sea moon year by year shines down upon the land

abroad.

The first flying here and flying there, reach my beloved's place; And at thousands and ten thousand miles, you see each other's face. Far far along the distant road, the mountain pass while us dividing, Do I bemoan my lord, who now beyond the marches, so long has

absent been.

At the time you left, when we bade good-bye, the leaves of the reeds

were yellow;

Who then would have thought, that the plum would have blossomed

its boughs so oft?

Each kind of flowers, scattering its leaves abroad, has met the early

spring:

The time of genial spring, doth urge men to commune: but to whom

shall I turn?

The pendent willows cover the ground, which for you I oft pull down, The falling flowers bestrew the earth, which none do sweep away : Before the hall, the vernal herbage grows most rich and fragrant. Taking the lute of Tsun in my arms I turn me to the pictured hall, Where for your sake, I try to thrum the ballad of departed friends. Sending my inmost thoughts away, they reach the northern bounds- The northern bounds-how far they are, o'erpassed the hills and

streams.

1

I

1841.

Illustrations of Men and Things in China.

667

Along the dreary distant way, the word of a letter has ceased so long, My silvery dress, upon my pillow, with my tears is deeply dyed, And on my gilded robe and on my satin coat, the flowers are

wholly spoiled.

This spring did the cry of the geese and storks, in their passage

north when heard,

Seem to me, whose friend is far dispart, like tearing my heartstrings

out.

The strings of my lute had not yet broke, but my feelings were all

subdued;

My grief was at its utmost bent, but my song was still unsung. I feel that your present love for me is stable as the hills,

NJ

   And my thoughts from you, my lord, for a moment never stray. When I had woven but half my task, I presented it to his majesty, Wishing him to release my husband, that he may quick return to me

    Portable writing apparatus. The Chinese, and others who write with a hair pencil, have a sort of pocket inkhorn which is very neatly contrived. It is usually carried in a long pouch, which, along with two or three others, containing a pipe, chopsticks, fan, &c., hang pendent from the girdle. It consists of a brass tube as long as the pencil, having a lid at the end to close it up, and a cup or bowl to contain the ink. The cup is frequently dispensed with, and in its stead the cap of the pencil is made of brass, and liquid ink put into it to saturate the pencil. In an inkhorn, now before us, from Lewchew, the brazen tube to hold the pencil is seven inches long, and the cup for the ink holds about a table-spoonful; both tube and cup have a lid, and the four pieces are all connected by a cord running through rings, by which it is carried. Another one, from Japan, is in a single piece; the cup is attached to the tube somewhat as a ladle is joined to its handle, and one lid closes them both; a long cord running through a ring secures it to the girdle. In both of them, the ink is kept from evaporating by a ball of cotton wool. A seal, also from Lewchew, is made of buffalo's horn, and composed of three parts. The lower part is a cup to hold the ink, the upper is the seal, and fits closely into the middle part; the three are kept together by a cord running through them, by which also it is worn. The stamp is very neatly cut in intaglio in the seal character. The custom of wearing seals and inkhorns by the side is referred to in Ezekiel ix, 2, and from Harmer's description of this part of the Persian dress, considerable resemblance to the Chinese is observed.

Biographical Notice of P. Premare

DEC.

A&T. V. Biographical notice of Père Joseph Primare. Tran-

slated from Rémusat's Nouveaux Mélanges Asiatiques, by S. R. Axong the host of learned men whose labors have rendered the mission to China illustrious, there are two who deserve to occupy an eminent rank in the memory of the lovers of learning; one as a grammarian and philologist and the other as a historian and astrono- mer. The first is Prémare-the second is Gaubil. Couplet, Noel, and Parrenin, among the early missionaries, Amiot and Cibot, among those of a more modern period, did not equal Prémare in pro- found knowledge of the Chinese language, and in reading authors who owe their celebrity to their literary merit. Schall, Verbiest, Grimaldi, have not rendered to astronomy greater services than Gau- bil, and his researches into history and antiquity are even above those of Martini, of Visdelou, and Mailla. Unquestionably, these two learned missionaries had acquired the one and the other, an ability in point of Chinese literature, which no one of their order, much less of other Europeans, has ever surpassed, or perhaps ever equalled. It would be difficult to decide which of these two men had the better knowledge of Chinese. Perhaps Premare had more fully acquainted himself with certain niceties of the language, and more deeply pene- trated into its genius; but Gaubil, drawn towards graver objects, threw the light he had acquired upon points the most important. Both were of the number of men of letters, of whom France ought to be proud.

The place and period of the birth of Joseph Henry Prémare are unknown; we only know that he was one of the Jesuits who set out from Rochelle, on the 7th of March, 1698, to go and preach the gos- pel in China. He made the passage in seven months, in the Amphi- trite, in company with PP. Bouvet, Domenge, and Baborier. There were in all on board that vessel, eleven Jesnit missionaries, several of whom have shed great lustre on the mission to China. Premare aṛ- rived on the 6th of October at Sanshan (or St. John's); and on the 17th of February of the following year, he wrote to P. De la Chaise an account* of his passage, with some particulars that he had ga- thered respecting the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia, Acheen, and Ma- lacca. The first year of his residence in China, he was obliged tọ - occupy himself solely in studying the language, so as to put himself in

See Lettres Edifiantes, vol. XVI, page 338.

1841.

- Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

669

a condition to discharge his duties in the provinces. We learn, by a letter* that he addressed to P. le Gobien, the 1st of November, 1700, that he was then at Yuenchow foo in Keängse. One readily per- ceives that he was still under the influence of those impressions from which a traveler finds it so difficult to secure himself at first, and to get rid of afterwards. The weak side of Chinese institutions had up to that time struck him singularly, and the abuses, inevitable in the administration of a vast empire, and of which so many superficial travelers have given descriptions more or less darkened, were all that he had time to observe.

The learned missionary had formed a very favorable opinion of the Chinese, and fully recognized the falsity of his prejudices, when he wrote the letter,† in which he refuted so completely the fables and absurdities with which the Relations, translated from the Arabic by the Abbé Renaudot, are replete, and of which the notes and ad- ditions by the translator, are far from being free. That celebrated book, many passages of which would not disgrace the collection of Arabian tales, has at all times excited the indignation of the mission- aries to China, among whom many have set themselves to correct its inaccuracies; but the refutatiou of P. Prémare is the most com- plete and the most solid. From that time, he devoted himself to the study of the Chinese language and literature, no more, like most of the other missionaries, with the single view of discharging the ordinary duties of preaching, but as a man who wished, after the ex- ample of the most distinguished among them, to put himself in a state to write in Chinese on religious subjects, and to search, for himself, in the national monuments, for weapons to rebut error, and cause the truth to triumph. His success in this new career was so remarkable, that after a few years he was able to compose some books in Chinese which are esteemed for their elegance of style.

    It was while he was occupied in profound researches into Chinese antiquities, that P. Prémare found himself led to undertake a singular project which had misled several of the missionaries of China, and, what is most remarkable, precisely those who had best studied the ancient Chinese authors. The scheme was to search in the King (4), and in the literary monuments of the ages that preceded the burning of the books, for traces of traditions which were supposed to have been transmitted to the authors of those books, by the patri-

*

See Lettres Edifiantes, vol. XVI, page 392.

+ See Lettres Edifiantes, vol. XXI. page 183.-See Chinese Repository, vol. I, pages 6, 42, for an account of Renaudot's work.

670

Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

DEC.

archs, who founded the Chinese empire. The sense of certain passages, sometimes obscure, the various interpretations which had been given at different periods, the allegories contained in the Book of Odes, the enigmas of the Book of Changes (Yih King), and the analysis of certain symbols, were to the missionaries who were prepossessed of these ideas, so many arguments suited to strengthen them in an opi- nion, which they regarded as favorable to the propagation of Chris- tianity. It was certainly with that view, and not to excite a vain curiosity, that they applied themselves to spreading these extraordi- nary notions.

P. Prémare speaking of his works, to which we shall allude here- after, wrote as follows to. Fourmont: "The ulterior, and highest end to which I have devoted this notice, and all my other writings, is to cause, if I can, that all the world may know that the Christian reli- gion is as old as the world, and that the God-man was most cer- tainly known, by that or those men who invented the hieroglyphics of China, and composed the King (). Here you see, my dear friend, the only motive that has sustained and animated me, during more than thirty years in studies, which, without this, had been very tedious."

.

But the perseverance which Prémare and his brethren directed to sustain these opinions, and the strong conclusions which some wished to deduce therefrom, brought upon them much dislike, from those men who did not partake of their views, and who therefore con- nected the inquiry with the great quarrel between the Jesuits and Dominicans, about the meaning of the Chinese rites and ceremonies, and the pretended atheism of their literature. Men who were less passionate did not abstain from disapproving of the opinions of the Jesuits upon Chinese antiquity; and Fourmont, to whom P. Prémare had communicated his ideas on that subject, avowed that they had never appeared probable to him, because, said he, "the ancient Chi- nese were not prophets."

It was very natural to receive so strange a scheme with distrust, and one of which the consequences might be so serious; but it was less just to suspect the intelligence or the good faith of respectable men, who were not less distinguished for their science than for their uprightness. It were better to examine the texts upon which they rested their assertions, and to see if those texts were not susceptible of more natural interpretations than those which they proposed. This is what few persons at that period were able to attempt; and what has been done since, in a manner to clear Prémare and his compa-

1

1841.

Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

671

nions completely of the unjust allegations, of which they had been the object. It is seen, in reading those very books, that they contain numerous vestiges of opinions that had their origin in the west, and must have been carried to China in very remote times.

But one sees too, at the same time, that the opinions and doctrines in which Prémare believed he saw the fragments of sacred traditions or antici- pations of Christianity, appertain to that oriental theology from which Pythagoras, Plato, and the entire school of Neoplatonists, have borrowed so much. Prémare, Bouvet, Fouquet, and many others, there- fore, had as good a right to seek for ideas and dogmas, analogous to those of Christianity, in the Single, the Yih King, the Chung Yung, and in the writings of Chwang tsze, of Laou tsze, and Hwaenan tsze, as had Eusebius, Lactantius and St. Clement of Alexandria, to see prophecies in the books of the false Orpheus or Mercurius Trismegistus. We see that these opinions which have been ascribed to a weakness of mind or whimsicalness, show on the contrary in those who have set them forth, vast erudition and a profound acquaint- ance with the philosophical works of the Chinese. The facts col- lected by Prémare were exact; his manner of explaining them was affected by the influence under which his researches were under- taken. There is room to believe that, after this explanation, we shall road with less disrelish the very interesting fragment from the same author, entitled Recherches sur le temps antérieurs á ceux dont parle le Shoo King, et sur la mythologie Chinoise, and inserted, by De Guignes, at the head of the Shoo King translated by Gaubil, in the form of a preliminary discourse. Amiot has treated this work with great severity; the only one, with the short extracts given by Des- hautesrayes, where persons who do not know Chinese, can find any quotations from the most ancient books on the fabulous traditions of China. He aims especially at the numerous citations by which these researches are sustained. We see, according to him, at a single glance, that two or three by no means voluminous writers could have furnished them all.

    This innocent fraud it is indeed easy to discover by much the same marks, in the memoirs of several missionaries, and particularly in those of Cibot, and of Amiot himself; but Prémare had no occa- sion to resort to it. His extensive reading, and indeed his variety of learning, in the Chinese whether ancient or modern, are well at- tested from other quarters. There is no need of other proof than his Notitia Linguæ Sinicæ, the most remarkable and most important of all his works; the best, without sontradiction, of all those that Eu-

672

Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

DEC.

   ropeans have hitherto composed on the subject.* It is neither a sim- ple grammar, (as the author himself very modestly says,) nor a rheto- ric, as Fourmont has given us to understand. It is a treatise of literature nearly complete, wherein Prémare has put together, not merely all that he had collected upon the usage of particles, and the grammatical rules of the Chinese, but where he has also inserted a great number of observations upon style, phrases peculiar to the an- cient language, and the common idiom, proverbs, and the most usual tropes, the whole being supported by a host of examples cited textually, translated and commented upon when it was necessary.

    Quitting the beaten track of the Latin grammarians whom all his predecessors, Varo, Fortigny, and Castorano, had taken for their models, he has struck out a method entirely new, whereby he has sought rather to render all method superfluous, by substituting for rules, the phrases themselves from which one may deduce them. This single statement comprehends at once an eulogium upon the work of Prémare, and the only well grounded criticism to which it is expos- ed. The author judged others by himself; and he believed that they would consent with him, to acquire the Chinese by practice, instead of studying it theoretically. Perhaps, as it has been said elsewhere, he considered particular cases too much, in the room of combining them in the form of general observations. His book is, in fine, one that furnishes excellent materials for a work, rather than a work really finished.

    This form which Prémare gave to his Notitia, is what hindered it from being printed in China, and what will always be an objection to the European publication, because it contains in three small quarto volumes, little less than twelve thousand examples, and fifty thousand Chinese characters.

    We cannot say that the plan pursued in it, is suited to an elemen- tary book designed for beginners; but when one has already a smat- tering of the language, he can get ideas on the subject from that work, which otherwise he could not obtain, but by a diligent reading of the better Chinese authors, and that for a long time.

    Prémare, who from 1727 maintained with Fourmont a constant correspondence, and who showed in all his letters the greatest eager- ness to afford the academician all the aid that he asked of him, must have believed that he gave him peculiar pleasure, when he announc- ed to him, at the end of 1728, that he had sent him a grammar, by

*

Rémusat subsequently wrote a grammar, founded upon Prémare's, which is better adapted to the purposes of such a book.

E

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Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

673

the aid of which, he could, for the future, make rapid progress in the study of Chinese. Unfortunately, Fourmont had also drawn up a grammar, or to speak more correctly, had translated that of Varo from the Spanish.* The fruits of the labor he had expended, and the merit which he believed he had acquired, all seemed to him anni- hilated in a moment, by the announcement of a book, with which he well knew, his own could not bear a comparison.

    It is worth the while to see with what unaffected grief he tells of that event; for such it really was to him. He hastened to deposit, for himself, in the Royal Library, before the arrival of his friend's work, the manuscript of the Grammatica Sinica, so as to have it quoted and commented upon by the Abbé Bignon; and when Pré- mare's Notitia came to hand, he by these precautions had prepared the way to compose for himself a comparative examination of the two works, and to make it appear that in all important points they agreed, although his own was the better of the two. He then publish- ed the result of this comparison in the preface to his own grammar.

Premare was no longer living, when that book appeared; but be- fore his death, he had been informed of the precautions which Four- mont took, to prevent his Notitia from being much known.

                                              "You say (he writes to him` in 1733) that they have done all they could to get my Notitia from your hands. If it is from envy, and to suppress yours, that is unjust; if it is to see aird become acquainted with it, that is laudable. Only the terms, to get it from your hands, do not please me. When I sent it to you, I knew in whom I confided, and I never dreamed that you would be the only one to read it. I made it in order to render the study of Chinese easy to future mis- sionaries, and to all the savans of Europe, who are, like you, curiou to search into Chinese antiquities."+

+

     But Fourmont survived his friend, and the work of the latter was lost from view, and remained forgotten, until in spite of the keeper, I found; in the cabinet of oriental MSS., the original of the Notitia Linguæ Sinicæ, and brought it to remembrance by publishing my obligations to Prémare. The autograph manuscript, which is in the Royal Library, is in three small volumes in quarto, and not in five as Fourmont said, written on Chinese paper doubled. The Latin part is in many places difficult to read. From that original, a very exact copy has been made and again from that a second, which has pass-

      See the circumstances of that plagiarism, in Rémusat's Elemens de la Grammaire Chinoise, pref. p. 14.

† A letter written to Fourmont, from Macao, Oct. 5th, 1733.

VOL. X. NO. XII.

85

674

Biographical Notice of P. Prémare.

DEC.

ed into England, which it is said, is destined for publication; at least is there not a security from the fear, some might have entertained, that so precious a manuscript might some day or other be lost or destroyed.*

Besides this grammar, Prémare also compiled, in company with P. Hervieu, a Latin-Chinese dictionary. He put into the Chinese part of it nearly all that we find in Danet, without forgetting a single phrase that gives to the words a new sense or usage. This work formed a large quarto volume. We know not that it has ever been sent to Europe.

Prémare also translated from the Chinese a drama entitled, "the Orphan of the House of Chaou." This piece, which furnished to Vol- taire some positions for his Orphelin de la Chine, is in Du Halde; and until the publication of the comedy translated into English by Mr. Davis, was the only specimen, from which one in Europe could judge of the Chinese theatre. We besides owe to Premare the acquisition of a great number of Chinese books, which he sent to Fourmont for the Royal Library, and among which it is proper to notice the collec- tion of a hundred dramatic pieces, composed under the Yuen dynas- ty alone, the thirteen classics, and many romances, and collections of poetry. The correspondence of Prémare was very extensive, and to judge of it by the four entire letters and the various extracts from others, which have been published, it must contain many interesting details. Unfortunately, Fourmont, who was the one to whom he wrote most frequently, has preserved scarcely any of them, or at least only one has been found among his papers.

    We are aware of three works written in Chinese, by Prémare; the life of St. Joseph which he had composed in 1718 or 1719; the Luh Shoo che yih or the True Sense of the six classes of characters,-a work in which the author, upon the origin of the Chinese characters, sets forth those singular hypotheses, of which we have already spok en; and lastly, a small tract upon the attributes of God, which he has inserted in his Notitia Linguæ Sinicæ, as an example of the manner in which one might write upon religious subjects in Chinese. There are still in the Royal Library, some treatises in Latin and French, in all of which the object is to establish, develope and defend the system of explaining Chinese characters and antiquities, embrac ed by Bouvet and Prémare. Several of these tracts are from, the hand of Prémare, and composed by him, in part from materials col- lected by Bouvet. We see there also the originals of many of his

Since published at Malacca in 1831,

*

t

1841

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng.

675

letters addressed to the confessor of Louis XV., and to some others. Three of his letters have been published in the Lettres Edifiantes. A fourth which had remained among Fourmont's papers, has been given by M. Klaproth, in the Annales Encyclopédiques. It contains a judgment upon the grammar of Fourmont, both very severe and very well founded, addressed to Fourmont himself, and expressed with a candor and simplicity worthy of commendation.

{

     Premare had had three attacks of apoplexy in 1731, and it was feared that paralysis would follow. These accidents were attributed to the very great ardor with which he had devoted himself to the study of Chinese. He survived the first attacks of the malady, for a few years, and died in China about 1734 or 1735. It is sad to leave so many chasms in the dates and other circumstances of the life of a missionary so illustrious. The fault belongs to the compilers of the Lettres Edifiantes, who have neglected to render to Premare the homage which they have paid to many of his companions, who have not rendered so important services to letters.

ART. VÍ. A memorial addressed to his imperial majesty, by Lew Yunko the lieutenant-governor of Chekeäng and his colleagues, respecting the fall of Ningpo, and the state of the defences in the province. Dated Oct, 27th 1841, and forwarded by express. Lew Yunko, the lieutenant-governor of Chěkeäng, with Kemingpaou and Hǎngkih the commandant and lieutenant-general of Hangchow, kneeling send up to his majesty their report, respecting the attack made on Ningpo by the rebellious foreigners, the loss of that city, and the imminently dangerous state of affairs both at Shaouhing and Hangchow; and also respecting the provisional appointments of the provincial commissioner of finance, Ching Tsooshin (late of Fuh- keen), with general Le Tingyang, and the intendant Luh Tseihchang, to superintend and direct the forces stationed for the defense of the commanding position at Tsaougo. Respectfully, they lay this report before his majesty, hoping a sacred glance may be cast thereon.

+

The fall of Chinhae, the impossibility of maintaining the defense of Ningpo for a single day, and the consequently disheartened state of all the inhabitants on the west, from the district of Tszeke to Hangchow,

676

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng.

DEC.

the capital of the province, have been duly reported to the throne, by your majesty's minister Lew, in successive dispatches, dated the 12th, 13th, and the 24th of October.

    On the 16th of October, Lúh Tseihchang, the intendant of the departinents of Ningpo and Shaouhing, made a report. The said intendant, on the 10th of October fought at Chinhae; but on account of the fierce bearing of the rebellious foreigners, our soldiers were unable to withstand them and maintain their defenses; and the heights of Kinke and Chaoupaou, with the chief town of the district, were one after another lost. The said intendant, seeing that the case was impracticable, threw himself into the river that he might sacrifice life in the maintenance of duty; while in a state of insensibili- ty, he was taken from the water by the marines (lit. water braves), and in a small boat was sent off to Tszeke, when recuscitation commenc- ed, and he began to revive, although his thighs had been severely wounded by his fall. Having heard that the commander-in-chief (Yu Pooyun) had fallen back for the defense of Ningpo, and that the im- perial commissioner and high minister Yukeën,-having attempting to sacrifice life in the maintenance of duty, but being rescued from the water by the people,-had, after reaching Ningpo, expired on the road while being borne off from thence to the provincial capital; the said intendant, seeing the routed troops come rushing into the city (of Ningpo) in perfect confusion and disorder, now at length took off his wounded self to Shangyu, and there assembled together the scattered soldiers, purposing to return and defend the city of Ningpo.

    On the 15th of October, Shaou Yung, a domestic of Täng Tingtsae the prefect of Ningpo, reported that, on the 12th, a steamer came up to the city and sounded the depth of the water, and that early on the morning of the 13th, eight ships of war coming up near to the city, Tăng Tingtsae, the commander-in-chief Yu Pooyun, and the chief magistrate of the district, went out with their troops for the defense of the place; but on account of the small number of their troops and the constant firing of the enemy, they were unable to maintain the defense; and seven or eight hundred of the foreign soldiers having made a rush into the city, Tăng Tingtsae leaped from the wall over the western gate into the moat. The people belonging to the small boats dragged him out of the water, and bore him away to the city [of 'T'szeke?], in an apparently lifeless condition; but on the applica- tion of ginger gruel, he showed symptoms of life and began to breathe. The other officers, civil and military, the said domestic knew not where they had gone. On passing through the city of Tszeke, he saw it deserted and empty.

i

1841.

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng.

677

The fall of Chinhae, and the state of Ningpo-extremely dangerous like a pile of eggs, we your ministers had already faithfully reported; and now on the 13th Ningpo has suddenly fallen, and thus this pro- vince of Chekeäng has lost one of its eastern defenses, and the two districts of Funghwa and Seängshan (on the south of Ningpo),, are left isolated and exposed in a manner much to be regretted. On the west of Ningpo, although the rivers and channels are rather narrow, so that the large vessels of the rebels may not be able easily to make their way upon them, yet their boats and small craft will be able to go in every direction.

    On the 15th, a dispatch was received from Wang Wootsăng, the magistrate of Tszeke, stating that the inhabitants were flying in great numbers and confusion, and that the danger was so great that it was impossible to afford any security for the defense of the place. The above named domestic, Shaou Yung, has now again reported verbally that when he passed through Tszeke, the place was entirely vacated. That place being thus left without inhabitants, the people of the neighboring districts Yuyaou, Shangyu, Hwuyke, Shanyin, Seaoushan, together with the inhabitants of Hangchow, are day after day removing in great numbers; and the removals are numerous in proportion as the respective places are near to the late scene of action. Perhaps the rebels, hearing of this state of our affairs, may come either in their small craft or on foot, and improve the opportunity to make new attacks. It is feared, therefore, that Tszeke and the other places on the rivers will hardly be able to maintain their defenses against them. And should the rebellious foreigners not presume to enter so far into the country, still there is reason to fear that treacherous natives will seize on this opportunity to rob and to plunder. The number of these outlaws daily increasing, it is further to be feared that they will band themselves into factious bands, and give rise to internal disorders.

    Pondering on this state of things, as we relate them, it is impossi- ble to repress the bitter grief and painful anxiety of our hearts.

We, your majesty's ministers, with the other high provincial au- thorities, having taken into consideration the whole state of affairs, are only able, under existing circumstances, to guard and defend the most important positions, hoping thereby to secure the safety of Shaouhing, and also to cut off from Hangchow the approach of the invaders. In looking at the several positions in the province, the narrows on the river Tsaougo are found to be the most important. From thence, on the one side, Shangyu and Tszeke, and other dis- tricts, may be overlooked; while on the other, defence may be afford-

678

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng.

DEC.

ed to Shaouhing and the provincial capital. There consequently it seems desirable to appoint soldiers for defense; and by this means prevent the sudden incursions of the rebellious foreigners, and, by repressing the depredations of robbers, keep the country in subjec- tion, and gradually restore internal security.

At this moment, not one of the soldiers in the province is available for such service. But the 800 Tartar troops, formerly ordered from Nanking for the reinforcement of Ningpo, having not yet arrived, we have sent an express to their commander to march directly to Tsaougo, and to have the 50 pieces of artillery from Keängsoo brought on also for immediate service.

Taaougo being a position of such great importance, in a military point of view, and its defenses so essential to the safety of the province, it becomes in the highest degree necessary to select a man of great experience and ability to take command at that post. This done, there may be some hope of success.

    By the present turn of our affairs, the people of the province are becoming more and more alarmed, and the danger is very great. Lew and his fellow-officers, your majesty's ministers, are day and night engaged in devising means to quiet the people. But to do this is impossible.

Moreover, the rebellious foreigners, now flushed with success and eager for conquest, it is very much to be feared that they will seek out a new way to attack Chapoo, or by some of the channels ap- proach Tseënshan in the district of Haening, and thus gain access to the provincial capital. Hence the presence of the lieutenant-go- vernor is required at Hangchow, in order to give stability to that im- portant position and prevent disorders there. All the gentry also belonging to the city, have been forbidden to leave the place.

Ching Tsooshin, late commissioner of justice in the province of Fuhkeën, is found to be an able and intelligent man, and your ma- jesty's minister, the lieutenant-governor, has long been acquainted with his talents. On the recommendation of the imperial commis- sioner Yukeën, your majesty had already been pleased to accede to the proposal of his being put in command of troops in this province. But Chinhae had fallen before he could reach that post, so that his assistance there was not availed of for its defense. He has since arriv- ed at this metropolis; and the lieutenant-governor, having pointed out to him the situation and circumstances of Tsaougo, has appoint. ed him temporarily to take command of and defend that position. This officer has not shrunk back from the danger, but willingly and

1841.

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng,

679

boldly undertaken the duties of that station; and accordingly, clothed with proper authority to act, he has repaired thither to take com- mand and give security to the inhabitants, and to seize and severely punish traitorous natives.

    Luh Tseihchang, the intendant of Ningpo and Shaouhing, is at present at Shangyu collecting the scattered soldiers.

Le Tingyang, the commander-in-chief of Keuchow, after having been wounded at Chinhae, retired to Shaouhing, and there rallied and collected his forces; and we have deemed it right to order him to repair to Tsaougo, to join commissioner Ching Tsooshin, and as- sist in the direction of affairs at that station.

    Tseäng Wanking, the provincial commissioner of justice, has been directed to repair to Shaouhing, and to remain there with the troops, to act in concert with Ching Tsooshin.

A commissariat has been established at Shaouhing, in order easily to afford the requisite supplies.

The troops which have been repeatedly asked for from Showchun, Keängse, and Hoopih, have not yet arrived. Those stationed at Tsaougo are few, and having been already defeated, will be again the more easily shaken and moved. That by such a force the enemy will be overcome, we, your majesty's ministers, really cannot give

any assurance.

The soldiers on the lieutenant-governor's own establishment not being distinguished for their valor, your majesty's minister, Lew, has therefore enrolled the brave and patriotic among the people, and put them under discipline. The whole number of these recruits, in and about Hangchow, is about twenty thousand. Their leaders are brought day after day before the lieutenant-governor, who labors to inspire them with a sense of fidelity and justice, and at the same time encouraging them with pecuniary rewards. By this means, these troops have been somewhat emboldened; but those who fought at Tinghae and Chinhae are scattered and disheartened. Thus the regular troops at Hangchow are weak and feeble, while the recruits are wholly unused to war. Under these circumstances of extreme danger, it is impossible to give any security that either will stand to their posts.

   We are overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, our strength of body. and mind is exhausted, and our weakness and inability are extreme. It is not in our power to repay the imperial favor.

We can only beg his majesty to direct. what we ought to do, and cause us to fulfill our duty. Then great will be our gratitude.

680

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeäng.

DEC.

    Postscript. Your majesty's minister Lew, entrusted with an im- port territorial goverument, and having within the current month lost several cities in succession, begs that he may be delivered over to the proper Board for examination and punishment, as a warning to others not to fail in like manner.

    With regard to Luh Tseihchung the intendant of Ningpo and Shaouhing, and Le Tingyang the commander-in-chief of Keuchow, with any who have been rescued from the attempt to sacrifice life in the discharge of duty, or wounded in battle and have retired into the country-his majesty's will is requested; and, in view of the present want of men, it is desired, that their examination may be delayed, and their awards or condemnation postponed, so that we may avail ourselves of any assistance which they are able to afford.

    Furthermore; when we shall have made examination with regard to Tăng Tingtsae, and ascertain whether he be dead or alive, and shall have obtained any information concerning general Yu Pooyun, then a separate memorial shall be addressed to the throne.

    [From Hangchow] this memorial is respectfully sent by an extra express, to travel at the rate of more than six hundred le (about 200 miles) per day. We prostrate beg that the august ruler will cast on it a sacred glance, and grant instruction. A respectful memorial.

    The following translation of a memorial, regarding the death of Yukeën, we borrow from the Canton Register of the 7th instant.

    "Lew, lieutenant-governor of Chěkeäng, respectfully reported on the 15th of October, 1841, the death in the service of his country of the commissioner Yukeën, and that the coffined corpse had already been forwarded to Keängsoo, and looking up prayed for the imperial glance on the subject.

"I humbly beg leave to state that, because yesterday the reports of what had become of the imperial envoy and great minister, were contradictory from all quarters, after I had made a report to your imperial majesty, requesting speedy inquiries should be made, I besides made another report, which is on record ; and after I had dispatched the documents, I forthwith selected the toosze (general) of the province of Keängnan, Choo Lungho, and entrusted him with the official seals of the imperial envoy and great minister, those of the governor of the two Keäng provinces and of the salt commissioner of the Hawe (rivers) to convey to the provincial capital (of Chěkeäng).

44

Moreover, it is authenticated that Kinshing, the domestic servant of the said great minister, petitioned, saying:

     "On the 26th day of the 8th month (Oct. 10th) he received verbal orders from his minister, that, because the barbarian ships were successively and unexpected- ly entering (the river), he ordered him to take his official seals and deliver them to Choo Lungho, to carry back (to the provincial capital); he then forthwith embarked and led the battle from the shin to the yew period-from 8 a. m., to 5

1841.

Memorial from Lew Yunko of Chěkeảng.

681

P. M.; but when the Chaoupaou and Kinke hills and the district town were lost, his master, seeing he could do no more, went to the water's edge, and looking towards the celestial gate, and performing the ceremony of obeisance to the emperor, he immediately plunged into the water, to die with an undeviating adherence to the line of duty.

"But the soldiers, having dragged him out of the water, carried him out of the town, and conveyed him to the public office of Ningpo, and there changed his clothes, and gave him to drink (some medicine), he being scarcely able to breathe; they then pursued with urgent haste their course on foot, and on the next day, about 1 P. M., having passed the city of Yuyaou about 4 or 5 le, Yukeèn expired; and now he had brought the corpse to the provincial capital to be prepared for the grave.

His master left no sons, but had directed that his nephew, Tihchin, the son of his younger uterine brother, the hereditary duke Yuhang-styled Ching- yung--a secretary of the Military Board, should succeed him in his estates; such are the circumstances; after I had read the petition, my tears began to flow, and I could not control my grief.

    "A coffin of thick wood was immediately bought, his official colleagues as- sembled, to attend the shrouding of the body in a proper manner, which was adorned with many costly ornaments and grave-clothes.

    "At the present time, as the province of Chěkeäng is to be defended against the barbarian banditti, the whole province is filled with false rumors, and cir- oumstances are extremely pressing, and it is not convenient to keep the coffin of the said great minister long in the province; therefore Hwangneën, who is wait. ing for the appointment of a chefoo in the province of Keängsoo, and Lan Wei- wan, the magistrate of Chaouwan, and captain Kwantae) of the city of Keäng- ning, have been directed to accompany the domestic (of the deceased) to the governor's office in Keängning (Nanking); to manage the funeral.

A

As the said great minister, from the commencement of the time when the barbarlan rebels began to excite disturbances until now, urged with sharp words their utter extermination, and was earnest in his plans to wianifest the dread ma- jesty of bis country, although the power of the rebels is great, and their will and determination fixed and strong; yet now, because the earnest wishes of his heart have not been fulfilled, his strength failed him, and he died a victim to his duty; a catastrophe' worthy of the deepest commiseration !

Looking up I fervently beg that the celestial favor will graciously bow down and confer abundant 'compassion, in order to stimulate ministers to a like dėvo, tion, and to soothe' the 'faithful spirit (of the deceased), then the ministers and people of the empire will heartily bear (the same fate).

The said great minister left orders that his nephew, Tihchin, should be his Heir. On interrogating his servants, I have learnt that he is yet of tender age, and that he resides in Keängning with his relations, who are all females; he liaving no other relations and no faithful and sincere adherents on whom he can defiend (with him):

Tad | further beg the favor that if he permitted, when the coffin reaches his native place, to allow Yuhang to superintend the funeral rites.

    As to the public papers of reports'of the said great minister when in life, and the replies containing the imperial will, by me they have been reverently opened, and they all relate to the military affairs of the province of Chèkeäng, and I forth.

86

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with respectfully managed accordingly, if there any relating to the affairs of the province of Keängsoo, I will forthwith write and dispatch them to Leãng, the It.- governor of that province, that each separate circumstance may be attended to.

**General Choo Lungku has brought, the official seals of the (late) imperial envoy

and great minister, which I have deposited in the treasury, and when there is a good opportunity I will respectfully transmit them. The official seals of the governor of the two Keäng (provinces), with those of the salt commissioner of the two Hwae, I have directed Yang Chunchaou, who is waiting for the ap- pointment of a lewan in the treasurer's office, to meet and join with the said general and convey and deliver them to Leäng. I further beg that the vacant governor-generalship of the two Keäng provinces be immediately filled up, that the (present) weighty affairs may be superintended and managed. I have res- pectfully written this report, to be hastened on at the rate of 600 le a day, and looking up I pray for the holy glance. A respectful report."

ART. VII. Journal of Occurrences: imperial edict urging on the war of extermination; new measures of the cabinet; Keshen again called into service; affairs in Chekeäng, at Hangchow, Ningpo, Chinhae, and Chusan; defenses at Teëntsin; Amoy; Canton; admiral Kwan's family; captain Grattan; British, forces; prospects of the war; commercial mission from France; death of an envoy from Lewchew.

   THERE evidently is a diversity of opinion, in the Chinese govern- ment, regarding the measures to be pursued towards the rebellious foreigners; Keshen and Elepoo are among the leaders in one party, and Yukeen and Lew Yunko are, or were, prominent in the other, and rival party. Both and all, for aught we know, are equally disposed to consider their own government as supreme, and to look upon the English as vassals, tributary to the court of the son of heaven. But one party, aware of the defenseless state and weakness of the coun- try, and of its inability to contend in war against the superior skill and discipline of the British, has prudently advised his majesty time- ly to yield to the necessities of the case, so as to preserve such de- fenses as they have, and concede only such things as they cannot withhold. Such a line of policy would have preserved the country in peace, and perpetuated the old exclusive policy-for how long a period no one can tell. However, prudence does not always dwell with counselors. The rebellious barbarians-proud, haughty, over- bearing, robbers,-must be caught, caged, beheaded, their skins given to the soldiers to sleep upon, and their carcasses cast out for The beasts and the birds to devour. With this party, Lin linked his destiny, and after reaching Canton, in March, 1839, swore he would not stop midway in the execution of his master's will. Clothed with extraordinary powers, he would listen to no overtures; entire surren-

·

1841.

Journal of Occurrences:

683

der, unconditional submission, trembling obedience, were his only terms. All ideas of equality between the parties, or of rights on the side of the far-traveled foreigners, were spurned. The spirit of re- bellion must be checked, and the proud humbled. The utter imprac- ticability of sustaining this line of policy, in dealing with the lion, was most plainly pointed out to Lin and those around him, during the visits we made at Chunhow in the summer of 1840; and its con- sequences were foretold. Such honest healing was by no means palatable. The die had been cast, and only one course remained to be pursued. To it the imperial government has adhered, and is still adhering if the paper we here introduce can be received as authentic evidence.

On the 15th of November, the Inner Council at Peking received the fol- lowing imperial ediet.

"Ever since the English rebels, last year, rose against legitimate rule, caus- ing disturbances in the three provinces of Canton, Fulkeën, and Chĕkeäng, the dwellers on the coasts have been sorely harassed; some have been plundered and spoiled of all things, while others have been dispersed and driven from their homes. We cherish tender solicitude for all the inha bitants throughout our wide dominions. The frequent perusal of memorials from every quarter, takes from our food and sleep all peace and repose.

   "By our command, Yihking has been appointed majesty-bearing generalissimo, and Tib-e-shun and Wanwei have been made joint-assistant high ministers, to lead and direct the veteran troops from every region, and with promptitude to advance and exterminate. On reaching Chekeäng, at once the grand army assuredly must achieve great honors!

Fearing lest our troops, in their march through the country, not being suf ficiently under restraint, may excite disorder, the said generalissimo and his colleagues have been charged to give strict injunctions to all the command- ing officers, requiring them to instruct all under their authority, carefully to keep the regulations of the law, and not to offend in the smallest degree. If there be offenders, let them be dealt with according to the laws they have broken. If through indulgence or negligence anything be concealed, and subsequently brought to notice, the said generalissimo and his colleagues shall be answerable for the same.

Along the whole coasts, let those who live in the villages and hamlets collect their brave men into bands, and connect them one with another for. mutual aid; and thus in behalf of their country cut off the robbers, while they afford protection for themselves and their estates.

"Those who possess renurkable ability and talents, capable of being em- ployed in defense against the proud rebels, are permitted to repair to the encampments, and there submit themselves to examination; and the said generalissimo and his colleagues, having estimated their talents and deter- mined for what service they are adapted, will at once recommend them to our notice, and wait till We confer appointments.

"Formerly, when the religious vagabonds in the three provinces made insur- rection, many bravely volunteered in the cause of righteousness, and rose to high offices.

         The said generalissimo and his colleagues, must needs use many expedients to arouse and encourage, so that none possessing valor and discretion, in any degree however humble, may be left in retirement.

"Ministers and people! Inhabitants of our dominions! Ye are all the children of our dynasty. For these two centuries, ye have trod our earth, and eaten our food. Whoever among you has heavenly goodness, must needs detest these rebellious and disorderly barbarians, even as ye do your personal

634

foes.

Journal of Occurrences.

DEC.

On no account allow yourselves to be deceived by their wiles, and act or live abroad with them.

"All who have dared to join with those robbers, and have been brought under their influence, if now of their own accord they will return, then their past offenses shall be forgiven; and, allowed to renovate themselves, they shall be permitted to aid in acquiring merit, and shall participate in the happiness of universal peace.

"Let all the governors and lieutenant-governors in the maritime provinces cause this edict to be printed and published on yellow paper, and let it be everywhere distributed, that all may know our earnest desire to save those who are abroad, and to give peace to those who are within our dominions."

Respectfully and carefully published, on yellow paper, by

H. M. minister, the rebel, quelling generalissimo Yihshan, H. M. minister, joint-assistant high minister, Tse Shin,

H. M. minister, governor of the two Kwang, Ke Kung,

    H. M. minister, acting It.-gov, of Kwangtung, Leäng Paoushang. The original of this document reached Macao in an unofficial

form,-

      -a bookseller's handbill-about the 10th of this month; and ere this time, it has, we presume, been published in due course in Canton. It must have been written after the memorials of Lew Yunko and others had been laid before the throne, detailing the losses in Chěkeäng. But it shows no signs of blenching from the con- test. As in this province last year, so now in Chěkeäng, a grand army of veteran troops is to be assembled, "to advance and extermi- nate," and to achieve great honors! Hither, last year, the army came; and we know its results. It was a scourge to the country, The soldiers were like wolves and tigers to the blackhaired people, and in some instances they actually devoured human flesh. Well, therefore, may his majesty feel solicitude regarding the march of the troops through the country.

    Yihking, like Yihshan, is a member of the imperial family, and is high in office and high in favor at Peking; but we have no idea that he can or will exercise any more restraint in Chěkeäng, than Yih- shan has done in this province.-Tiheshun is the same person that was recently in Canton, called in one of our former numbers, Tike- shunpoo. Both he and Wänwei are Tartars.

    The free and full pardon granted to traitors by the emperor, is the most remarkable feature in this 'yellow edict.' Its effect, we appre- hend, will be the reverse of what his majesty designs it to be. Tens of thousands of the blackhaired race are now under British protec- tion; and in the face of this proclamation, these not only will not with- draw from this protection, but, as things are going, they will induce many more to come where they enjoy a security which the Chinese government cannot afford. In Chěkeäng, many villages and towns have declared themselves the obedient subjects of the British,

    2. New measures of the cabinet. The heavy drafts on H. M.'s trea sury, exceeding those of ordinary times by some tens of millions of dollars, per annum,-have induced the cabinet to have recourse to an old expedient, the kae keuen, or the sale of official rank, by which means a person can rise to office without passing through the

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

685

common course of literary examinations. The subject of opening sundry mines has also been mooted.

+

3. Keshen has again been called into the service of his country, but not in an official capacity. He was to accompany the majesty, bearing generalissimo Yihking and the other commissioner on their new mission to Chěkeäng-at which place they had arrived early in this month: at least, so we are informed by letters from Ningpo,

A

4. Affairs in Chěkeäng are, in a very precarious state, so far as the Chinese government is concerned, as may be seen by the memo rial of Lew. Yunko, and others which are in our possession. The defeat of the imperial forces, first at Tinghae on the 1st, and again at Chinhae on the 10th of October, gave a dreadful shock to the war, party. In a memorial written by general Yu Pooyun-one of the heroes of Leenchow, in the war of 1832-we have a most dolorous account of the state of things in and about,Ningpo. The memorial was written after the fall of Chinhae, and before the advance on Ningpo, but the date is not given, The old general labors to throw the responsibility of defending the city upon the prefect Tăng Ting- tsae. The consteruation was universal; and the cries of the people, flying in crowds in all directions, heart-rending.

Tăng Tingtsae is a brother of our late governor Tăng Tingching, now in exile. Of Yu Pooyun we have heard, nothing since he left Ningpo. There is a report that Luh Tseihchang is dead.

   5. Hang chow, according to dates from Ningpo to the 4th instant, had not been attacked; and large bodies of troops were being col- lected. We do not know whether to give credit or not to a rumor of an intention to march on that place; had this been done immedi- ately after the fall of Ningpo, little resistance, would have been made, Unless the Chinese answer the demands made on them, the place we suppose must, during the winter or in the spring, share the same fate that has befallen Ningpo. Lew Yunko's solicitude, for the safety of the provincial capital, was not without cause. . !

6. Ningpo, on the 4th, was remaining very quiet, and good order was preserved among the native inhabitants. No ransom had been paid.

7. Chinhge. Regarding the storming and taking of this place, by the British forces, on the 10th of October, we have collected a few more particulars, which we here introduce. The conduct of the Chinese at the tower on the bill, commanding the town, and under which it was difficult anywhere to land, their steady adherence to their guns, under a heavy and well-directed fire from the two line-of- battle ships, and the Blonde and Modeste, was indeed wonderful. While shot and shells were falling thick about them, making almost a complete ruin of the temple within the tower, and while their tents were burning around them, they were steadily laboring to put out the fire, until they saw it was rapidly approaching the magazine. So long as any hope for them remained they stood; but the soldiers on the opposite side of the river having been dispersed, all the forts on the north side taken, and their commaiuder-in-chief with the imperial commissioner both disappearing, then these brave fellows fled.

E

626

Journal of Occurrences.

DEC.

    On the south side of the river was a large encampment, two or three entrenched heights, and three batteries directed across the river. There the main body of the land forces debarked a little be- low the first tents, and advanced in separate columns, so as to sur- round the Chinese, and cut off their retreat. Officers, who were in the advance, speak highly of their courage, many of them fighting hand to hand. Many were driven into the water, where they were being fired upon-the poor fellows not knowing how to ask for quar- ter, when, Sir Hugh coming up, accompanied by Mr. Thom, two flags were displayed, on which were inscribed, in Chinese, Yield und be saved'-' Resist and perish.' By this meaus, many were brought out of the water, and about 500 were retained for two or three days as prisoners, who, ou the departure of the force for Ningpo, were released, having suffered only the loss of their tails!

    8. Chusan. This year Tinghae and the other parts of the island are presenting a far more favorable appearance than they did last year. At Tinghae all, or nearly all, the people remain; the place is flourishing; and the season healthy. The city is kept clean; good order observed; and supplies are ample. By those now possessing it, it is pronounced 'a flourishing little country town.' With an external commerce, Tinghae may rise, and quite outstrip Hongkong and Ko- langsoo. The engineers were busily employed in making comforta- ble barracks for the troops.

1

    Surveys are being carried on this year again vigorously by captain Collinson. These surveys will prove of great advantage, in future; and we hope they will be extended as far as possible, by sea and land.

9. Defenses at Teëntsin have, very naturally, been a subject of at- tention, with the imperial government, since the visit of the British squadron there last year. At Takoo on the south bank two new forts have been built, and three repaired on the north. New barracks have also been erected, and vast quantities of military stores and many troops had beencollected. A body of water-braves-a class of marines-nore than 10,000 strong, has been collected.

    10. Amoy, by latest accounts, was continuing to enjoy quiet and prosperity, under its new masters. The following particulars, we bor- row from the Canton Register; they are from a document written by Lew Yuuko.

    "I have respectfully inquired as to the affairs of the barbarians in the province of Puhkeễn; and I state them separately for your majesty's glance.

     1.-1 have inquired and found that the governor Yen, formerly directed all bis subordinates to seize all the great and small vessels, &c., and to consult on and plan an attack (on the English ships) by fire. I have now heard that the said rebels, hearing of the rumors, were already prepared; the plans were there- fore stopped in the middle. I heard that he had also devised other different plans, the secrecy of which could not get bruited abroad, and I had no means of mak- ing an inquiry about them. Further, when he heard that the lieut.-governor (of Canton) E, had received the imperial orders to repair to Fuhkeën, all affairs were again stopped, and he determined not to move the troops, waiting for the Arrival of the new imperial envoy to superintend, and then he would again draw the sword; but in all places the water braves and the recruits are still constantly drilled; as to the rest of affairs, there was not the least movement; and I cannot make any inquiries on which to found a report.

*

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

687

   "2,-I have inquired and found, that, as formerly, the barbarian ships at Ko- langsoo are seven in number; and they remain there for the purpose of selling large quantities of opium and other goods. I have heard that one ship, having finished her sales, has sailed; afterwards another ship arrived for the pur- pose of sales: thus, when one has finished another begins; the time of their going and coming is uncertain; they do not presume to carry on their trade at any other place than there; neither do they annoy or vex the natives; nor do they agitate in any other manner. I have heard that the said rebels, knowing that Ainoy is as warm as Canton, said that they intended to remain there a year.

   "3.-I have heard that all ferry boats plying between Amoy and Changchow, the rebellious barbarians have ordered to hoist the English flag; and then they are allowed to pass to and fro; and although the boatmen are unwilling to obey, still they dare not return to Amoy; yesterday I heard that eight sail of the peo- ple's grass boats entered the port, when they were forthwith seized by the rebels and burnt.

   "4.---I have heard that the barbarians have privately ordered five native trai- tors, of the island of Kolangsoo to secrete themselves at Tseunchow, Tungyan, and Amoy; to make secret inquiries after news of the Chinese officers and sol diers; and that they pay them at the rate of $500 a month, for their expenses : therefore the said rebels cannot but know all our movements.

"5.-I have heard that the villagers in the near neighborhood of Kolangsoo, when carrying a bridal chair on the road, have been subjected to the abrupt attack and abduction of the barbarians, who have taken and forcibly detained the newly married bride, paying $100 (to the bridegroom), and ordering him to take another; and when the bride's relations, sorrowing and lamenting, begged her release, they, the English, refused it; and only on appealing to the said na- tion pseudo public officer, (captain Smith), at his place of receiving petitions, was she sent back; and some presents, camlets, &c., were bestowed.

"6.-I have learnt on inquiry that the war-junks which the rebellious foreigners seized, have not yet been burnt, but are anchored off the Haeso hill. In the afternoon of the 19th day, some of the neighboring inhabitants cautiously went to set them adrift, intending to deliver them up to the public officers, and receive the rewards; but they did not think they were watched by the barbarians, who sent their boats in chase, opened fire from their guns, and killed three men, and brought the junks back."

   11. Canton is suffering much by the movements at the north. The Chinese have gone on with the repair of their defenses in and near the city; but we have no evidence that they meditate injury to those engaged in commerce. Fifteen or twenty British ships with a few others, are now at Whampoa, and some of their merchants aré at the provincial city.

   12. Admiral Kwan's family has been brought to the notice of his majesty, by Yakeën, late governor of the two Keäng (Keängse, Keängsoo, and Anhwuy). Kwan Teënpei, who fell last February at the battle of the Bogue, was a descendant of the god of war, Kwan te. The admiral's family resides in Keängning, the metropolis of Keäng soo, the ancient Nanking. The eldest son is dead; and the second, a youth of eighteen, is ordered to repair to court immediately the period of mourning is over, that he may receive imperial favors. His mother, now above 80 years of age, is immediately to receive a peni sion from government.

13. Captain Grattan. We are indebted to a friend at Ningpo for the following

   Extract from General Orders by lieut.-general sir Hugh Gough, K. C. B., dated Ningpo, Nov. 4th, 1841.

}

Lieut.-generäl sir. Hugli Gough is most happy to communicate to the

688

Journal of Occurrences.

forces the highly gratifying approval of the right honorable the governor-ge. neral in India conveyed in a letter, which his excellency has had the honor to receive from his lordship, and of which the following is an extract:

"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, through captain Grattan, of H. M.'s 18th Royal Irish, of your dispatch dated 3d of June last, reporting in detail the successful series of operations in the neighborhood of Canton during the last week in May, which ended in the brilliant triumph of the British arms, over an infinitely superior Chinese force, and the signal humi- liation and submission of the enemy.

      The great successes of the troops under your command, acquired, as they were, by a marked combination of skill, decision, courage and good conduct, and evincing throughout a zealous and cordial co-operation with H. M.'s naval forces, while they so highly redound to your own honor, demand also my sincerest congratulations and my warmest thanks and approbation.

"I have not failed publicly to record the testimony of the feelings with which the government of India has learnt these remarkable achievements, and have the pleasure to refer you to the enclosed copy of the extraordinary Gazette of the 7th of August, for a knowledge of the terms in which it has been expressed.

     *• I would add, that while it has occurred to me that the possible contin- gencies of the military service may require the presence of every available officer with his regiment in China, (and the public utility of captain Grattan's return to head-quarters has been pointed out to me by that officer,) I have at the same time strongly urged on H. M.'s government, that any honors or benefit that might have resulted to captain Grattan had he proceeded to Eng- land with dispatches, may not be withheld from him on account of his speedy return, under the opinion I have expressed to him, to a field of service, where he has been so gallantly employed."

14. British forces in China are being augmented by frequent ar- The rivals from England and India of transports and ships of war. Cornwallis, 74, having come in during the mouth, has proceeded north- ward with other vessels carrying troops, &c. In the course of a few months, the Chinese may expect to have some ten or twelve thousand barbarian troops, with an increased number of ships of war and steamers. Having destroyed all opposition in Chěkeäng and Keäng- man, and advanced well up upou the Yangtsze keäng, so as to hinder communication between the north and the south, her majesty's high officers must then see Peking.

15. The prospects of the war are now seem to indicate that great revolutions must soon take place. The emperor is determined to "Filled with inexpressible indigna- resist unto the very uttermost. tion and wrath," he has sent down his decree to exterminate the "rebellious tribe," and has ordered his ablest ministers and generals to take the field with their bravest, troops.,

16. Colonel A. de Jancigny, in charge of a commercial mission from the French government to Eastern Asia, arrived in Macao on the 8th instant, in the Erigone, French ship of war.

17. The death of an envoy from Lewchew is reported in a late Gazette: it occurred on the 14th of July in Keangsoo, as the embas- sadors (a principal and a secondary) were returning from Peking to one of the ports in Fuhkeën, where they were to reembark: their boat was caught in a storm and upset: the principal embassador was saved, the other was drowned.

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