Portrait of the Tae Ho-shang, or High Priest of the temple at Honan Representation of an inundation of Rice Grounds.-Description of the Chinese Deluge.. 129 View of Chinese Pleasure Grounds.-Four views of a Funeral Procession, with the rites View of Honan.-View of the landing and entrance to the Fa-tee flower gardens.— Portrait of Newkooluh, late consort of Taou Kwang, Emperor of China Portrait of Tingqua Ponkeiqua, a Hong merchant-Entrance to the city of Pekin on the Portraits of a celebrated Chinese beauty, and of a well known money-broker in Canton .. View of the Imperial Hall of Audience at Pekin.-Annual military review INTRODUCTION. Ar no period in the history of the world, has the attention of civilised nations been so fully directed towards China, its early history, and modern position, as at the present moment. The single fact, that that nation comprises within its limits, a population of three hundred and sixty millions of human beings, and that a struggle has ensued between Great Britain and the Celestial Empire, which may involve the mightiest results, both as regards commerce and Christianity, is of itself sufficient to awaken the deepest degree of interest in the mind, as well of the philanthropist, as the philosopher. These "latter days," as they are sometimes called, are, in the prophetic view of many, destined to be marked by events of most momentous importance: events calculated no little to facilitate the onward and upward march of civilisation, to penetrate with the light of knowledge and science the darkest portions of the earth, to soften the roughness of the savage, and subdue, into something like Christianity, the millions and tens of millions of human beings, who have yet to experience the benificent influences of a religion that has for its handmaidens, Faith, Hope, and Charity. With these views, and the long train of eagle imaginings that are likely to be kindled in the sanguine and far-seeing mind by anticipations of what may be, prompted in some sense by what has already taken place, the aspect and destinies of China are calculated to excite the most attentive and profound consideration. It is a wonder, indeed, that a people so multitudinous, and an empire so vast, should-for many ages, and amid the numerous vicissitudes and conflicts that have prostrated thrones, revolutionised nations, and trodden, as it were, kingdoms into the dust-have experienced but little change, comparatively speaking, and existed from century to century, with scarcely a phasis observable upon its general and national characteristics and surface. But, we think we hear some devoted missionary to the great cause of religious liberty and human happiness exclaim, that the doors of a new empire are about to be opened! A living light is about to flash among the benighted millions, and the symbols and banners of the only true God, are about to be planted in a soil and among a people who are, in many respects, prepared for the reception of the sublime truths of the gospel. A new morning seems to break upon the religious world-a new triumph is about to be hymned among the cherubim and seraphim in the brighter region above us-another victory is to be achieved by the cross of Calvary-an empire, vast and wonderful, and hitherto barred from the general diffusion of missionary knowledge, is about to be thrown open to all who are willing to take the Bible in their hands, and engage in the delightful work of winning their fellowcreatures to the true source of both temporal and eternal happiness. These to some may appear wild expectations. But all, ay, all, may be fully and speedily realised. In any event, however, the people of China, their government, morals, manners, habits, customs, tastes, and characteristics, are, at the present moment, worthy of especial study. Hitherto, these have been measurably covered as with a veil; the inner traits of the nation, the minute peculiarities, the fashionable boudoir, the literary coterie, and the domestic temples of this numerous people, have been hidden from the eyes of European and American curiosity and scrutiny. True, we have had valuable books from such pens as the Abbé du Halde, Lord Macartney, the editor of Lord Amherst's Embassy, Davis, Morrison, Bridgman, Gutzlaff, and many other writers. To these the literary and inquiring world are much indebted. But the authors referred to, have for the most part given the grand features of the empire, the lofty objects, the leading traits; while it remained for an American gentleman, Mr. Nathan Dunn, of Philadelphia, to enter more minutely into the costume, the manners, habits, science, arts, trades, agriculture, and genius, of this wonderful people. The author of this hasty introduction, speaks from many years personal knowledge of Mr. Dunn, in China, and in the United States. He was intimately acquainted with him in both countries, as an extensive and successful merchant, and knew that while he resided in China, for a period of twelve years, his opportunities for collecting every information 12. were indeed extraordinary, and that they were abundantly improved by patient research, indefatigable industry, tact, courtesy, and a degree of popularity amongst the Chinese, never surpassed in the history of any foreigner. He was assisted, moreover, in his commendable labours, by Howqua, Tingqua, and other Hong merchants of considerable note; and who, in this particular, seemed to rise above the prejudices of their countrymen, and to take delight in imparting correct information. The design at first, was merely to collect a few rare specimens for his own gratification; but the appetite grew with what it fed upon, and thus we may, without exaggeration, describe the result as the "Chinese World in Miniature." We feel satisfied that the expectations of those who may feel a desire to examine this Collection, to investigate its wonders, and thus in some sense, analyse the mental and moral qualities of the Chinese; to gather some knowledge of their idols, their temples, their pagodas, their bridges, their arts, their sciences, their manufactures, their tastes, their fancies, their parlours, their drawing-rooms, their clothes, their finery, their ornaments, their weapons of war, their vessels, their dwellings, and the thousand et ceteras which make up their moving and living world, will not be disappointed. One, indeed, is astonished at the vast materials, the thousands of objects, which by years of patient labour and unwearied effort, the enterprising proprietor of this Exhibition has collected. The mere catalogue, as will be seen by the extent of this volume, forms quite a study of itself. And yet, to those who really love to ponder on the results of ages of ingenuity and habit, especially among an exclusive people like the Chinese, this brief outline will afford but an imperfect idea of the mass of materials, 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 visiter 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 inquiry, 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 Collection is invaluable. It teaches by things rather than words. The images are visible and tangible, and, therefore, cannot be easily misunderstood. What immense labour, 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 |