the rites of sacrifice. Similar coverings are now commonly worn by Chinese gentlemen, being always compelled to kneel in the presence of the officers of government. This figure is represented as reading aloud a translation of Æsop's Fables. The visiter will observe, in the hand of this philosopher, what he would naturally take for a smelling-bottle, but what is really a receptacle for snuff. Tobacco in all the forms of its preparation is extensively used; transmuted into snuff, it is carried, not in boxes, but in small bottles with stoppers, to which there is attached a little spoon or shovel. With this they take out the pungent dust, and place it upon the back of the left hand, near the lower joint of the thumb, whence it is snuffed up to the olfactories, there to perform its titillating office. Tobacco is said to have been introduced with the Yuen dynasty, A.D. 1300. A part of the furniture of this case consists of a pair of Chinese bookcases made of ebony, the panels and other parts of which are beautifully carved and highly polished. The books are kept in the lower section, where they are protected from dust by doors in front; the upper section is an open cabinet, divided into five unequal compartments, set off by divers ornamental articles. The books are placed in an horizontal position, and the titles are written on the end instead of the back, each work of several volumes being preserved in an envelope or case of blue nankeen or silk. Between the book-cases are suspended on the wall, a pair of silk scrolls bearing the following maxims:-" The Sages taught four things -letters-morality—fidelity-truth," and " The highest pleasure is not equal to the study of letters." The education and literature of the "Celestial Empire," form, beyond comparison, the most interesting and instructive point of view in which the Chinese can be contemplated. We cannot, indeed, praise the kind of education practised in China. The studies are confined to one unvaried routine, and to deviate in the smallest degree from the prescribed track, would be regarded as something worse than mere eccentricity. Science, properly speaking, is not cultivated at all. There is no advancement, no thirsting after fresh achievements of knowledge, no bold and prying investigations into the mysteries of nature. Chemistry, physiology, astronomy, and natural philosophy, are therefore at a low ebb. The instruction given in their schools is almost wholly of a moral and political complexion, being designed solely to teach the subjects of the empire their duties. Within the allotted circle all are educated, all must be educated. According to Mr. Davis, a statute was in existence two thousand years ago, which required that every town and village, down even to a few families, should have a common school; and one work, of a date anterior to the Christian era, speaks of the "ancient system of instruction." There are annual examinations in the provinces, and triennial examinations at Pekin which are resorted to by throngs of ambitious students. At these examinations, all who choose (excepting menial servants, their children, or grandchildren; inferior police officers, called Ya-Yuh; and theatricals) may attend. These persons are also excluded from obtaining any of the above ranks. The prohibition, including menial servants, excludes a large number of persons. If such a person, however, becomes wealthy, the law is often invaded. To superintend the examinations, two persons, called Choo-kaou, are deputed from Pekin. The present dynasty, which takes great pains in training a standing army, has introduced a similar examination, and similar titles amongst the military. The whole empire is a university, a mighty laboratory of scholars. The happy men who pass successfully through the several necessary ordeals are honoured with distinctions. They are feasted at the expense of the nation; their names and victories are published throughout the empire; they are courted and caressed; and they become, ipso facto, eligible to all the offices within the gift of the sovereign. The most learned are appointed to the highest degree of literary rank, the "Han-lin," or membership of the national college. All this means that the Emperor may "pluck out the true talent" of the land, and employ it in the administration of his government. The fourteen thousand civil mandarins are, almost without exception, the beaux esprits-the best scholars of the realm. 66 The highest literary graduate is entitled to wear a white stone brought from India, called " 'Chay hew," on the cap, as a distinguishing mark. The success of a literary examination is by them termed "plucking a branch of the fragrant olive," denoting the attainment of the rank of Keu-jin ;" because that flower is in blossom in autumn, when the examination occurs. Educated talent here enjoys its just consideration. All other titles to respect, all other qualifications for office, are held as naught compared with this. This, undoubtedly, in connexion with the rigid enforcement of the doctrine of responsibility, is the true secret of the greatness and prosperity, the stability and repose of the Celestial Empire. For, as Dr. Milne truly remarks, they are the ambitious who generally overturn governments; but in China there is a road open to the ambitious, without the dreadful alternative of revolutionizing the country. It is merely required of a man that he should give some proof of the possession of superior abilities; certainly not an unreasonable requisition. *The term "Han-lin-yuen" (a college instituted in the time of Tang) signifies "the Forest of Pencils." The Chinese are a reading people, and the number of their published works is very considerable. In the departments of morals, history, biography, the drama, poetry, and romance, there is no lack of writings, "such as they are." The Chinese "Materia Medica," of Le-she-chan, comprises forty octavo volumes. Of statistical works the number is also very large. Their novels are said to be, many of them, excellent pictures of the national manners. The plot is often complex, the incidents natural, and the characters well sustained. China has had, too, her Augustan age of poetry. It is remarkable that this brilliant epoch in Chinese letters was during the eighth century of our era, when almost the whole of Europe was sunk in gross ignorance and barbarism. We subjoin a single specimen of Chinese poetry, in a touching little piece, published in the second volume of the Royal Asiatic Transactions, and written 3000 years ago. Besides the pleasure its intrinsic beauty will afford, it offers a convincing proof of the substantial identity of human feelings in all times and countries. The piece bemoans the fate of a maiden, betrothed to an humbler rival, but compelled to become the bride of a rich and powerful suitor : 1. The nest yon winged artist builds, Some robber bird shall tear away; 2. The fluttering bird prepares a home, 3. Mourn for the tiny architect, A stronger bird hath ta'en its nest; Mourn for the hapless, stolen bride, How vain the pomp to soothe her breast! :- In education, the Chinese glory is the inculcation of social and political duties. Their teaching is chiefly by authority. Hence the great use made of maxims. These are suspended upon the walls of every apartment, where they are constantly seen and read from early childhood to decrepit age. They say, "Good sayings are like pearls strung together: inscribe them on the walls of your dwelling, and regard them night and day as wholesome admonitions." The fourth principal figure in this case, is a mandarin of the fourth class, seated on a portable chair, called by the natives "Ma cha." The costume of this mandarin is far inferior to those of the two principal figures in Case No. 1; his long silk petticoat is fastened round the waist by means of a belt, which is united in front by a clasp. The visiter will notice a variety of accoutrements attached to this belt, rather military in their appearance, but not at all so in reality. In fact, a Chinese never goes armed, as the jealousy of the government has denied the privilege of wearing arms to all except the soldiers on parade. The appendages referred to are, therefore, altogether peaceful, such as a silk fan-sheath, embroidered tobacco-pouches, &c. The cap is cone-shaped, but not turned up at the edge; having crimson silk, pendant from the crowning ball. This is a summer cap. This officer is attentively listening to the fable, and is apparently in the full enjoyment of that calm and tranquil state of mind, which the almost universal custom of smoking tobacco is thought to produce. The servant is standing behind his superior, and presenting to him a redcovered official document. He is attired in a gown and spencer of dark nankeen, the common material of the dresses of the lower orders. CHINESE TABLE, HANDSOMELY CARVED, GILT, AND PAINTED. LANTERNS SUSPENDED FROM THE CEILING. We The fourth case introduces us to a group of Chinese beauties. have here three ladies of rank, in full costume. Their hair, which is turned up on the back of the head in bunches, and fastened with two bodkins crosswise, is gaily adorned with wreaths of flowers. There is considerable variety in their dresses, but they are all of the richest materials, and magnificently embroidered. They are exceedingly modest and becoming, concealing entirely the contour of the person. The exposure which fashion allows to European and American ladies, would be regarded by the Chinese women as a flagrant offence against true C modesty. The "Golden water lilies,"- "" Kin-leen," as the small feet are called, figure, we cannot say "largely," but interestingly, in these fair ones. Their hands are very delicate; their eyebrows gracefully arched; their features regular and oval; their noses too flat for beauty; but the whole countenance, though rather pretty, and certainly not unamiable, is deficient in strength of expression. Their occupations are characteristic, one of them is fingering a guitar, another is smoking, while the third is amusing herself with a fan. From the waist depends the never absent tobacco-pouch, elegant in material, form, and workmanship. Each has three plain rings in either ear. The footstools upon which their "golden lilies" rest, are covered with embroidered silk. This case also contains two female domestics, Nos. 19 & 20, with feet of the natural size. One of them is bringing tea to her mistress, in a cup with a saucer-like cover, having just entered through a doorway, from the lintel of which hangs a superbly embroidered silk screen reaching down to the threshold, which is common in China. The usual mode of making tea in China, is to place a few leaves in each cup, and pour boiling water upon them. The cups are always provided with tops, to preserve the delicate aroma of the tea, and the infusion is drank without admixture of any kind. The lanterns suspended from the ceiling of this and the adjoining case (No. 5) are of a different character from those displayed in any other part of the saloon. They are constructed of a light frame-work of wire, and are covered with a thin gauze, glazed with the tenacious jelly or glue, made from the Gigartina tenax, a marine fucus, brought to China from the Indian Archipelago. These whimsical devices are gaily painted, and represent fishes, birds, &c. Never The women of China, as in all other countries not blessed with Christianity, occupy a rank in society far inferior to that of the men. theless, their place on the social scale is higher, their influence greater, and their treatment better than can be affirmed of the sex in any other Asiatic nation. Of school education the mass receive none, though there are occasionally shining exceptions; but Gutzlaff ascribes to them the possession of a large share of common sense, and says that they make devoted wives and tender mothers. In the education of females, the first object of attention is their virtue; the second is their language; the third is their deportment; and the fourth, their appropriate employment. The generality of Chinese ladies cannot boast of great beauty. They make a free use of rouge, and this article is always among the presents to a bride on the occasion of her nuptials. The distinguishing marks of personal attractions among the Chinese, in a gentleman are a large person, inclining to corpulency, a full glossy face, and large pendant ears; |