The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

SIX MONTHS WITH Tag CHINESE
EXPEDITION.
Murray, London, 1841.
For this interesting little volume we are in-
debted to the pen of Lord Jocelyn, who, as lie
observes in his preface, " was obliged, from
severe illness, to leave the Chinese expedition to
which he was attached," and wrote the present
work while on his voyage from Canton to Bom-
bay, from hints "entirely gathered from private
notes, and recollections of conversations held at
different times with residents in the country, or
with men interested in its affairs." As the first
book that has been published on the subject of
the late expedition, the one before us will, no
doubt, be read with eagerness ; and it will not
disappoint expectation, for it is written in a
simple, perspicuous style, and relates events, ap-
parently, without prejudice or exaggeration. His
Llrdship commences with some observations on
the subject of the course of policy pursued by
the Chinese authorities, observing,—
"To flatter the national vanity of the people, and to sink
the outside nations,' or ' barbarians' in their eyes, is the great
object of all Chinese policy ; to effect which they hold a lan-
guage of bombast in all communications with Foreign Powers,
and represent in their public chops, or decrees, our trade as of
but minor importance to their country. As long as the pres-
sure of the Government finds a compensation in their minds
in the indulgence of their national vanity, so long may the
present system continue; but should the trade be entirely
closed, and thus millions be thrown out of employment,
_th,:nie,
while want and starvation stalk gauntly through the
question will arise of Why ? and that word once uttered, will
be the signal of the overthrow of the present dynasty'
uyees
In reference to the long agitated oytuqb:
tion, Lord Jocelyn tells us—wil
as
by
the
this nox-
was pretty well known before—thatious drug is only disposed
silver, it is a dread of the
Pau Chinese statesmen
elf
tv of this precious
iu exchange for
metal that has struck the
iuni traffic, this, we are
As for stopping tlTbleop.
more than the harm it has inflicted on the people.
assured, , no measures, however
severe, can
to risk their lives to procure the drum and there
preolsysisucceed ; thousands are ready
are
thousandsiseillinti who, from long habit, would, if
deprived of it, prefer to be in their graves,
.
Here is a striking account of a Chinese opium
smoking-house : •
't One of the objects that I had the curiosity to visit, was
the opium-smoker in his heaven ; and certainly it is a most
fearful sight, although perhaps not so degrAUng to the eye as
the drunkard from spirits, lowered to theWel of the brute,
and wallowing in his filth.. The idiot smile and death-like
stupor, however, of the opium debauchee has something far
more awful to the gaze than the bestiality of the latter.
baandonPity
watch the;
if possible, takes the place of other feelings, as we
faded cheek and haggard look of the being e
;hile
levelleddsgust is uppermost
to beast by
se s
atto the
ee
sight of
otfhethheur,diriig
creature an
intoxication. The rooms where the Chin and smokee are
surrounded by wooden couches, with
placese for the head to
rest upon, and generally a side-room is .devoted to gambling.
The pipe is a reed of about au inch in diameter, and the aper-