lantern seem wedded together, and the former is rarely found without the latter. They are placed in the streets, temples, boats, &c., and are always to be seen in the hands of the pedestrians after dark. The same writer relates the following amusing anecdote, as affording a striking and original exemplification of both the power of habit and the national peculiarity above referred to. When Captain Maxwell passed the Bogue in the Alceste frigate, as he came up with the battery of Annahoy, the fort appeared well lighted, and a brisk cannonade was commenced upon the ship. However, after the first broadside had been fired upon the fortress, and when the vessel was scarcely a half musket-shot from it, the whole place was deserted, and the embrasures were quickly as dark as before. The Chinese were thoroughly frightened, and ran off with a most edifying precipitation. At the same time, instead of concealing their flight in the darkness of the night, each man seized his lantern, as he had done a hundred times before, and clambered with it up the steep side of the hill immediately behind the fort. The sight of so many bald-pated soldiers, with their long pig-tails dangling at their back, each with a great painted balloon in his hand, was extremely ludicrous, and took away any slight inclination the marines might have had to get a shot with their muskets at such excellent marks. The lamp oil in common use is extracted from the ground-nut, so abundant among us, which grows luxuriantly in China. The same kind is used for culinary purposes, and supplies almost entirely the place of butter. It is said to be of a very good quality, burning freely, and with but little smoke. V. The Screen-work at the entrance. Let us now retrace our steps to the entrance, and make the circuit of the hall in order. In the partition which separates the vestibule from the grand saloon, we have an admirable specimen of Chinese screen-work. By many persons this will be pronounced the most beautiful object in the whole Collection, and may, without exaggeration, be said to be of itself well worth the price of admission. It is richly and tastefully gilded; the portion of the wood work not covered with gold is painted of a 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. At each end of this screen-partition there is a superb China vase, about six feet high, including the base. These are of a size and beauty such as we rarely meet with in this country. They are covered with a profusion of characteristic figures, among which the imperial dragon holds a distinguished place. VI. Picture of Canton. We will commence our peregrination round the saloon at the north-west corner, that is, on the left side as you enter. The first object to which we call the attention of the visiter here is a picture of Canton, nine feet by five, painted by a native artist. A glance at this production will correct a prevalent error respecting the inability of Chinese painters to produce perspective. Though light and shade are certainly a good deal neglected here, and the perspective is not perfect, yet the picture is by no means deficient in this regard; and the drawings of individual objects are extremely accurate. The point from which the view has been taken is the bank of the river opposite Canton, directly in front of the foreign factories, which occupy about one half the canvass. The scene, particularly upon the surface of the intervening river, is altogether novel to American eyes, and highly characteristic. The national boats, of which there is a very great variety, have, all, their representatives here, from the gaudy flower barge, in which large parties are borne gaily over the waters, to the tiny sanpau, whose contracted dimensions will admit only a single navigator. This part of the view is peculiarly animated and interesting. The foreign factories occupy the central part of the picture, and the French, English and American ensigns float gaily above them. On each side of these, we have a view of a small portion of Canton bordering upon the river; but as the city is built upon low and flat ground, almost the whole of it is invisible from our present point of observation. In connexion with this description of the picture, we offer a few general remarks upon the southern capital, which will not, we trust, be without their interest to the reader. Canton stands upon the north bank of the Chookeang or Pearl river, about sixty miles inland from the great sea." It is one of the oldest cities in the southern provinces, and second in importance to no other in the Empire, except Peking, where the Emperor holds his court. It is the great commercial emporium of China, and the only port where foreign trade is permitted. It is not very large in extent, the whole circuit of the walls not exceeding probably six miles; but it is densely peopled, and the suburbs, including the river population, contain as many inhabitants as the city proper. Mr. The streets of Canton are very numerous, being over six hundred. Their names sound oddly to us, and have rather an ambitious air. "Dragon street," "Flying-dragon street," "Martial-dragon street," "Flower street," "Golden street," "Golden-flower street," &c. are highsounding enough; but some of them, it is said, have names which would hardly bear to be translated for "ears polite." The Rev. Mr. Bridgman states that they vary in width from two to sixteen feet, and gives it as his opinion that the general average is from six to eight feet. Dunn thinks this an over-estimate by one or two feet. They are all paved with large flag stones, chiefly granite. Wheel carriages are never used. Those who can afford to ride are borne in sedan chairs on the shoulders of coolies, and all heavy burdens are carried by porters. The streets are generally crowded, and present a busy, bustling, animated appearance. They all have gates at each end, which are closed at night, and guarded by a sentinel. The houses are but one story high. A few of them are of wood or stone; many, belonging to the poorer classes, of mud, and with but a single apartment; but the largest portion, of bricks. The dwellings of those in easy cir cumstances contain various well-furnished apartments, the walls of which are generally ornamented with carving, pictures, and various scrolls, inscribed with moral maxims from Confucius and other sages. The houses of the wealthy are often furnished in a style of great magnificence, and the occupants indulge in the most luxurious habits. Official personages, however, for the most part set a commendable example of simplicity and economy in their manner of living. The doors have no plates to tell who the occupant of the mansion is, but cylindrical lanterns are hung up by the sides of the gates of all houses of consequence, with the names and titles of the owners inscribed, so as to be read either by day, or at night, when the lanterns are lighted. Canton is a large manufacturing as well as commercial town. Mr. Bridgman informs us that there are no less than 17,000 persons engaged in weaving silk, and 50,000 in manufacturing cloth of all kinds; that there are 4,200 shoemakers; and, what will startle and astound every one, that there is an army of barbers amounting to 7,300! The important office of tonsor can be held only by license of government. Why the number is so great, will be explained subsequently. The manufacture of books is extensively carried on in this city, but we are not in possession of the exact statistics. "Those likewise," says Bridgman, "who work in wood, brass, iron, stone, and various other materials, are numerous; and they who engage in each of these respective occupations, form, to a certain degree, a separate community, and have each their own laws and rules for the regulation of their busi ness." Both operatives and tradesmen are very much in the habit of herding together. the same kind of business. Entire streets are devoted to |