The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

A CHINESE REVIEW.

First came half-a-dozen old six-pounders, mounted on
clumsy carriages, which made a frightful clatter as they rolled
over the rough pavement. They were followed by porters
bearing chests of ammunition, slung from bamboo poles ; then
a company of soldiers in dark blue dresses, with a circular
coat-of-arms on the breast and back, armed with long spears ;
another company, with ginjalls,a long, heavy stock, mounted on
a tripod when it is fired, and carrying a ball about the size of a
grape-shot; afterwards, more spearsmen, alternating with
companies of matchlocks, and followed by more lumbering
six-pounders, chests of ammunition, gongs, yellow banners
covered with hieroglyphics and other curious and fantastic
objects—the procession rushing along without order or
organization, shouting and laughing, or brandishing their
arms in the most uncouth and barbaric style. Such a display
never was witnessed in Shanghai before. There were about
four hundred regular soldiers, some of whom were exceedingly
well-formed, lusty men, and clothed in an appropriate cos-
tume—a short tunic girdled around the waist, full trowsers
gathered at the knees, and tight leggings—but the greater
portion were evidently porters and peasants, hired for the
occasion, to swell the ranks of the soldiery, and produce an
impression of the Imperial power. There were in the pro-
cession some very curious weapons, which I do not suppose
any other army in the world can exhibit. In addition to pikes
for sticking the enemy, poles for punching them, clubs for beat-
ingthem,and flails for threshing their heads, Isaw some wooden
beams about five feet long, with handles at each end, the use
of which is—to push them out of the way ! When part of
the procession was retarded at any point, the companies be-
hind them made up the loss by rushing down the street at
full speed, leaping in the air as they went, charging with their
lances, swinging their flails and shaking their clubs, with
cries which were meant to be terrific, but which were ludicrous
in the extreme.

Such a military spectacle must, without doubt, have
produced a severe tax upon the risible faculties; yet
they are but little more calculated to excite a smile
than are some of the exaggerations by which the
Celestials are inclined to believe they may impose upon
the barbarians of the outer world. Of these, Mr.
Taylor furnishes many amusing illustrations, which
we had marked as worthy of quotation, but which
want of space compels us to omit. Among others, he
tells us that, over the entrances to some of the tea
warehouses, there are inscriptions intimating that
customers may be supplied "heavenly-prepared
leaves." Adventurers are wooed to take passages in
ships bound for California, as being freighted to de-
part "to the Golden Mountains." The Chinese gin-
palace-keepers, if we may credit Mr. Taylor, are in-
clined to push their trade by means of arguments
not—openly, at all events—adduced by the British
representatives of the same class of traders. At least
one dealer in " rice whiskey," Mr. Taylor informs us,
has inscribed over his door a cabalistic inscription,
intimating that " the joys of Paradise are nothing but
a state of perpetual intoxication."
It is, however, time to stop in reference to Mr.
Taylor and his book, and we take leave of both by
saying that much information and amusement will be
gleaned from it 'pages ; and that we have been much
gratified in thus having made the acquaintance of its
author.

The Sabbath and the Sanctuary. By the Rev.
Robert Wilson, B.A. Liverpool : Joshua Walmsley.
This is a sermon which was preached at the open-
ing of the. new Chapel of the Liverpool Workhouse,

and, as might be supposed, it is eminently practical in
its'bearing and objects. In opening his discourse, the
reverend gentleman said that, although it was not
strictly enjoined upon parties holding such appoint-
ments as that in which he now ministered, to make a
formal declaration of adherence in every particular to
all that is contained in the Book of Common Prayer,
he considered it to be his duty, as it was his pleasure,
to acknowledge his unfaltering faith in the doctrines
of the Prayer-Book, taken in their literal and general
sense—his motto being that of the good old. American
bishop, " Evangelical truth and Apostolical order."
In expounding his text, which he took from Leviti•
cus xxvi., 2, " Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence
my sanctuary :.I am the Lord," lie proceeded to
consider the divine origin and objects of the Sabbath,
as these are pointed out in the holy Scriptures. In
its venerable antiquity, coeval with that of the
world, he said the Sabbath was the most enduring as
it was the most ancient of monuments, sanctified by
God for himself, and commanded to be kept holy
through all time. After alluding to the sublimity of
the commemorations associated with the Sabbath, as
connected with the creation and the redemption of
man, he proceeded to consider

THE SABBATH AS A DAY OF BODILY BEST AND OF SPIRITUAL