of many of the most influential, scientific, and learned persons of the British metropolis and kingdom. He naturally feels a deep anxiety for the favourable verdict of the intelligent and discerning upon his labours. 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 endeavoured 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, that 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 civilisation, 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. Yaou, 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 tsëen above alluded to, was introduced, a description of which will be found in the following pages. A.D. 1246, Marco Polo, a Venetian, visited China, and shortly after, his brother joined him. They were received with favour 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 Mwan-chow 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.

Note. The visiter 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.

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 visiter 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-coloured 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.

B

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 eastern flowers. The whole view is redolent of the spirit and beauty of spring. The drawings and colouring of the flowers are admirable, and shew 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 fret-work of exquisite beauty and design.

CHINESE TEMPLE AND COLOSSAL IDOLS.

The three colossal figures in this section of a religious temple are the triad of Buddha San Paou Fuh-"The Three precious Buddhas,”"past, present, and to come." At the right hand is seated, Me-lihFuh 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 "Joss-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,

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

ten incarnations. The Buddhists do not believe in a First Cause; they think matter eternal; that every portion of animated existence has its own rise, tendency, and destiny, in itself; that the condition of creatures on earth is regulated by works of merit and demerit; that works of merit raise us to happiness and the world to prosperity; while those of vice and demerit degenerate the world, until the universe itself is dissolved. They suppose a superior deity, raised to that rank by his merit; but he is not governor of the world. To the present period they assign five deities, four of whom have already appeared, the last being Gandama or Boodh, whose pre-eminence continues 5000 years, 2384 of which are gone by. At the end of his 5000 years, another saint will obtain the supremacy. Six hundred millions of human souls are said to be canonized with each Deity, but Boodh took only 24,000 of his company to heaven with him. The lowest estate is hell-the next, souls in the form of brutes; and both these are states of punishment. The state above is probationary-that of MAN; and still above degrees of honour and happiness, up to deities and demi-gods, to which man, if found worthy, ascends; or, on the contrary, goes into the lower states of punishment. The Buddhists believe there are four superior heavens; below these, twelve other heavens, with six other inferior heavens. After these comes the earth; then the world of snakes; then thirty-two chief hells, and one hundred and twenty hells of lesser torment. The Buddhists believe that persons who obtain a knowledge of things past, present, and to come, have the power of rendering themselves invisible, and are ABSORBED into the Deity. Those who perform works of merit become great among men, and are received into some of the heavens, in all of which the enjoyments are sensual. hell proportioned to their crimes.

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But those who do evil go into a They believe that at the end of a Kulpu," a length of time too great for human calculation-the universe will be destroyed. Five commands are delivered to common Buddhists, not to destroy animal life; to avoid theft, adultery, falsehood, and the use of spirituous liquors. Other commands, restraining dress, luxury, &c., are given to the higher classes. They all consider their adoration as paid to a being or beings of exalted merit—not to a Creator. Priests worship daily in the temples, and are forbidden to marry. Many of the Chinese consider the Grand Lama, as the highest priest on earth. This pontifex maximus resides in Thibet, and the Tartar population of China pay him homage.

Buddhism, though sometimes patronised by the Emperor of China, and supported by large and numerous monasteries, is nevertheless but little esteemed by men of letters.

The God "Fuh," so much revered in China, as the founder of a religion introduced from India into the empire, in the first century of the