the variety of specimens, the beauty, rarity, novelty, and extreme singularity, that are combined in this vast magazine of curiosities and wonders. A single article will illustrate whole pages of written description. The visitor appears to have the living Chinese in the images before him, and with a little imagination, to be moving and living among them. An hour passed with such curiosities, will afford even to the youthful and careless of enquiry, a more definite and permanent idea of these Tartar governed millions, than volumes of ordinary details. The eye and the mind are both enlightened at one and the same moment; and thus, as it frequently happens, an individual to whom it would be impossible to convey a notion of a certain machine or piece of fancy work, by a written description, has a full and perfect impression of the entire object at a single glance. As a means of education, this enterprize is invaluable. It teaches by things rather than words. The images are visible and tangible, and, therefore, cannot be easily misunderstood. What immense labor for example, and what intricate details would be necessary to give an individual who had never seen such an invention, a correct idea of a ship in full sail. Yet, present the object to the eye, and a look would at once suffice to elicit admiration, and impart a more complete general knowledge, than page upon page of the most minute and elaborate composition. So with this collection. Here, we have not one object, but thousands; not a single production, but an empire with all its variety of light and shade, its experience, its mind, and the results of both, for four thousand years. Writers of the highest character have been consulted, in preparing this volume. It is designed as a sort of mute guide; and as the observer passes from scene to scene, the interest may be varied from the eye to the mind, by turning from the object before him, to the history or description of that object. A studious effort has been made to narrate nothing but facts, and thus to impart correct information. All fiction and romance have been carefully avoided; and what is stated, has in no instance been committed to these pages, unless on competent authority. At Philadelphia, the collection was visited by hundreds of thousands, and in every instance, it is believed, with entire satisfaction.

Many persons passed hours, nay, whole days in the room, and those who visited the collection most frequently, seemed more delighted with every new return. The proprietor has been induced to transport it to England, at the suggestion of many of the most influential, scientific, and learned persons of the British metropolis and kingdom. He naturally feels a deep anxiety for the favorable verdict of the intelligent and discerning upon his labors. And although by no means solicitous for notoriety, or that noisy fame which so frequently accompanies mere excitement and clamour, he would be false to himself and to human nature, should he prove indifferent to the kindly expressions of that valuable portion of society, who seek to make their fellow-creatures better, wiser, and happier. He has devoted the flower of his life to this collection, and has never hesitated at expense. His effort in England has been, to render, not only the collection, but the saloon in which it is exhibited, worthy of the visits of the respectable of all classes. For this purpose, he has built a spacious edifice, and endeavored to make it as suitable and commodious as possible. But we must draw our hasty preface to a close. The details which follow, enumerate and furnish outlines of the leading objects of curiosity, taste and skill in the Chinese world. As we remarked at the commencement. this wonderful people have latterly excited more attention, especially among European nations, than at any other period of their national existence. It may be, that a new and a nobler destiny awaits them; that light, knowledge, and christian civilization, and a more liberal communion with the families of man in other portions of the earth, are about to form an epoch in their career. If so, who may foretel the result? Who may predict what another century will accomplish? The imagination pauses at the thought and while we contemplate the wonders of steam, and the many other improvements, discoveries, and appliances of modern science, we are almost tempted to doubt the impossibility of any change in the progress of nations. But to the details of the collection. We conclude this introduction with a few remarks on Chinese history, as an appropriate preliminary to a study of "matters and things" in the Celestial Empire.

The Chinese claim a national existence, coeval with the most remote antiquity. Much that is recorded in their annals, however, is admitted even by their own historians, to be doubtful; while the authors of every other nation who have written upon the subject, pronounce the earliest so-called history of China, as absolutely fabulous. Good authorities name Fuh-he, who flourished about 2247 years before Christ, as the first Emperor. Ya-o, a virtuous sovereign, some centuries after, reigned 102 years. The empire then floated down the stream of time without any extraordinary event or national convulsion, while the morals of the people were greatly improved, by the precepts and writings of their great philosopher, Confucius, who was born 550 years B.C. In the twelfth century of the christian era, the Chinese used a paper currency, founded on Government security, being the earliest record we have of paper money. It has, however, been long discontinued, and its place supplied by the present metal coin, previously to which the shell of the tortoise and pearl oyster were used as a circulating medium in exchange for commodities, till about 200 years B.C., when the tseen above alluded to, was introduced, a description of which will be found in the following Kilian pages. A.D. 1246, Marco Polo, a Portuguese, visited China, and shortly 75. after, his brother joined him. They were received with favor by the Imperial

Sovereigns. Catholic, and particularly Jesuit missionaries, were afterwards permitted to reside in China for several ages; but were at length expelled, on the pretext, real or assumed, that they interfered with the Government. In the thirteenth century, China was invaded by Ghengis Khan, who put millions to the sword; and the nation finally submitted to the Mongul Tartar sovereigns, A.D. 1280. In 1368, however, the Tartars were driven out, and a native dynasty continued until 1644. In that year, the Manchoo Tartars invaded the empire, and placed their chief upon the throne, and the present monarch, Taou Kwang, is descended from that successful warrior. The Portuguese were the first European traders to China; and they were soon followed by the British, French, American and other nations.

DESCRIPTIVE

CATALOGUE OF THE COLLECTION.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF THE SALOON.

The Chinese Collection is situated in St. George's Place, Hyde Park Corner. The exterior of the entrance to the building is in the style of Chinese Architecture, taken from a model of a summer house now in the collection.

The apartment occupied by the collection is 225 feet in length by 50 in width, with lofty ceilings, supported by numerous pillars. On passing through the vestibule, the visitor finds himself, as it were, transported to a new world. It is China in miniature. The view is imposing in the highest degree. The rich screen-work, elaborately carved and gilt, at either end of the saloon, the many-shaped and varied-colored lanterns suspended throughout the entire ceiling; the native paintings which cover the walls; the Chinese maxims adorning the columns and entablatures; the embroidered silks, gay with a hundred colours, and tastefully displayed above the cases containing the figures, and the multitude of smaller cases crowded with rare and interesting objects, form a tout ensemble, possessing a beauty entirely its own, and which must be seen before it can be realised.

Note. The visitor is requested to commence with the screen at the entrance, and then take the large wall cases on the right hand in the order in which they are numbered, commencing with the temple. The paintings will be subsequently noticed by themselves.

SUPERB CHINESE SCREEN AT THE UPPER END OF THE SALOON.

This part of the saloon is almost entirely occupied with a rare and admirable specimen of Chinese screen-work. It is of ample dimensions, and is richly and tastefully gilded; the portion of the wood-work not covered with gold is painted of delicate green; and the silk inserted in the panels is as gay as it can be rendered by a profusion of exquisitely executed paintings of the most delicate and magnificent of eastern flowers. The whole view is redolent of the spirit and beauty of spring. The drawings and colouring of the flowers are admirable, and show the perfection which has been attained in these branches of their art by Chinese painters. Besides the floral delineation, there is also a row of silk panels, if we may be allowed the expression, exhibiting views of naval architecture, both curious and instructive. The whole is surmounted by a richly carved and gilt fretwork of exquisite beauty and design.

CHINESE TEMPLE AND IDOLS.

The three colossal figures in this section of a religious temple are the triad of Buddha-San, Paou, Fůh,— "The three precious Buddhas,""past, present, and to come." At the right hand is seated, Me-lih Fuh-the first of the triad, whose reign is already past. In the centre is Heen-tsae-Fuh-that person of Buddha, who now reigns over the world; and at the left hand, We-lae-Fuh, whose reign is not yet come.

These figures are eleven feet in height, and are representations of the divinities in the celebrated Honan "Jos-house."*

The attributes of Buddha are infinite, and he is worshipped in many persons; being sometimes male and sometimes female.

The principal religion of China is Buddhism or Boodhism, which also prevails over Birmah, Siam, Ceylon, Japan, and Cochin-China. It is stated by Ward that Boodh, the founder of this religion, is described in Burmese books to have been a son of the king of Benares, that he flourished about 600 years B. C., and that he had, in various ages, ten incarnations. The Boodhists do not believe in a First Cause; they

* Jos is a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese word "Deos," and is by many persons supposed to be a Chinese word for "God or Spirit."