The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-07 00:00:00

The Chinese and their Rebellions. By J. T,

Meadows. 1 vol. Smith and Elder.

The author of this work filled the important office
of interpreter in the Canton consulate for many
years. He has given the result of his experience,
and taken a review of the Chinese, their philosophy,
ethics, legislation, and administration, in a volume
commensurate with the celestial empire. He de-
voted some time to the study of the Chinese lan-
guagein Germany, with the intention of seeking a
place under our Government in China. Having
been successful in his endeavours, he reached that
country in time to see the copies of the treaty of
peace exchanged at Hong Kong. This treaty, as
is well known, was signed in August, 1842, after
two years of active warfare, and by it the island of
Hong Kong was ceded to the British, and the five
ports of Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, Shanghai, and
Foochow opened to foreign trade. Among other
points was one of great urgency, that the corres-
pondence between the two Governments should be
conducted on terms of perfect equality, as the
Chinese had previously refused to regard the Bri-
tish as equals ; indeed the present writer remarks
that the misapplication of the one word, barbarian,
would in time have been sufficient to tend to hosti-
lities. The Chinese, having never met a people
equal to themselves in civilisation, have always
bee* remarkable for their exaggerated ideas of self-
importance, and have 13? en in the habit of styling
all other nations barbarians. Thus, when the dis-
putes arose, the Imperial officers refused to com-
municate personally with the " barbarian head-
men," or to speak of them except as inferiors ; in
fact, they adopted the policy they usually followed
with savages. It was arranged in the treaty that
British consuls were to reside at the five ports, and
watch over its due observance, and form courts
for criminal and civil cases. The consulate con-
sicon-
sistedof five permanent members, a consul, a
vice-consul, an interpreter and two assist-
ants ; besides these there were many na-
tive employes. The chief business of the in-
terpreter was to conduct transactions between
the consul and the Chinese authorities, which re.
lated to a great variety of subjects. Besides filling
this important post at Canton and Shanghae for
upwards of ten years the author was occasionally
sent on special missions, in which he obtained his
most interesting experience; and in one of these he
visited the Loochoo Islands. It will, therefore, be
seen that from the length of time he stayed in the
country, and from the important post he occupied,
Mr. Meadows had ample opportunities of becoming
thoroughly conversant with the people, their insti-
tutions, and characteristics. His authority, there-
fore, on minor points connected with Chinese life
and manners is not to be questioned ; and as re-
gards dates and historical information, he informs
us that he has been most careful in the selection
of his authorities. This, as indeed must always bo
the case in any work which pretends to accuracy,
has been the chief labour of the work. Of course,
from his long residence in the country, the recent
events of Chinese history were quite familiar to
him ; but so great was his desire to verify all his
statements ou original works of acknowledged
authority, that he brought home 300 volumes for
that. purpose. It is to be regretted that the ar-
rangements at the Custom-house necessitate the
payment of a large sum by the importers of foreign
books of this kind ; whereas in China at every cus-
tom-house they are exempt from duty. The most
interesting portion of the work to many will be
that relating to the rebels, or Tao Pings, as they
are called, who for the last five years have been
contending with the Manchoos, or Imperialists.
It is not perhaps generally known that the first
cause of the outbreak was of British origin. It is
remarked that we have been the instruments of
ruin to the Manchoo dynasty, for that even our
!fforts to assist it have proved baneful. A British
quadron destroyed, in the autumn of 1849, no
less than fifty-eight vessels of a pirate fleet in one
day ; but their crews, escaping on shore, joined

themselves with the bandit rebels or followers of
Hung-sew-tseuen, the chief of the Tae Pings. The
junction of two thousand of these pirates with
the religious rebels increased their number to a
formidable extent. About a year after the de-
struction of the pirate fleet the rebellion commenced,
which has been struggling ever since to subvert
the Manchoo dynasty, and establish that of Tae
Ping, or Universal Peace. As regards the question
of ultimate success, the writer does not feel capa-
ble of uttering a decided opinion. He has enu-
merated the chief elements of success on either side
—their respective adherents and opponents, but
he considers, no doubt justly, that the best-informed
cannot form a reliable conclusion from the present
state of things, but that the struggle will certainly
be a hard one ; and more, he does not believe that
either party feels assured of ultimate success, however
confident may bo their language. He draws a com-
parison between Hung-sew-tseuen and Mahomed,
and also between the Tae Pings and the Puritans.
There are, however, important points of difference
in both these cases; indeed the author himself does
not carry the analogy further than one or two spe-
cial points. In the first instance, Hung-sew-tseuen
has adopted the Christian Scriptures and code of
morality, though with some peculiarities, which at
once places him far above the Prophet of Mecca ;
and the Puritans, as the author himself remarks,
only fought for liberty of conscience, whereas Hung-
sew-tseuen endeavours to make converts, and to
exterminate the reigning dynasty. The account of
their rise, and a full description of their proceed-
ings, military and political, from the first outbreak
of the rebellion up to the present time, is given
for the benefit of the curious. It is, perhaps, the
first distinct history of the Tao Pings and their
Heavenly Prince, as he is called by them, that has
appeared in a work of this character. The chief
part of the details respecting the origin and early
movements of this party was obtained from a book
compiled by the late Protestant missionary at
Hone- Kong, who procured the information from

Hung Jin, a relative of the founder of the sect. It
furnishes an interesting narrative of an event of
groat political importance. On this subject we
may remark that the writer devotes some pages to
the consideration of the danger of a Russian ag-
gression in China. If allowed to conquer it, he
says, she will be Mistress of the World, as the sub-
jugation of America may speedily follow. One of
the chief features of the work is a very interesting
and useful outline of the philosophy, morality, and
polity of the Chinese, and the religion of the go-
verning class. This chapter occupies a large por-
tion of the volume, and the author himself in-
forms us that he considers it as the most valuable
part.

At the close of the volume i 3 an essay on

civilisation, in which the writer enters at some
length into a consideration of the definition of
civilisation, and its relation to religion, science,

. .
and art, with miscellaneous illustrations from
Christian and Confucian civilisations. This essay
will be less interesting to the general reader than
the other portions of the work, though to the
lovers of political economy and the students of the
principles of g wernrnent it may afford subjects for
reflection. We must not omit to mention one
point in this volume which is worthy of the atten-
tive consideration of Administrative Reformers.
It is the conclusion of the preface or introduction,
in which the author advances his opinions on the
subject of competitive examinations for Civil Ser-
vice. It is remarkable that the experiment has
really been made by him when at Canton.
Having discovered three of the permanent clerks
engaged in nefarious practices, be obtained permis-
sion of the Consul, and posted an official notice
through Canton, inviting educated men acquainted
with public native business to appear as competi-
tors for the vacant posts. Forty or fifty candidates
appeared. The first test to which he put them
was to place before them an imperial preface to one
of the sacred books, which he desired them to ex-
plain sentence by sentence. As these prefaces, it
appears, touch historically and descriptively on
the books themselves, the ignorant and presump-
tuous competitors were soon displayed—they had
not anticipated so severe a test. After selecting
the best, he subjected them to two or three more
examinations, and finally appointed three total
strangers to the vacant situations. We are happy
to add that this daring and unusual proceeding
met with perfect success. The author appends a
distinct and carefully-prepared plan for the exami-
tion of candidates for Government appointments.
Whether practically available for the purposes in-
tended, or the best calculated for proposed im-
provements or not, it has high claims on the con-
sideration of all those interested in this important
movement, as the production of one who has had
ample opportunity of observing the conduct of
officials, and has been one of the fortunate few who
possess the experience of a practical experiment.
At some future time he promises, if his health
allows him, to give the public another work on this
subject, to which he has devoted much time and
thought. The writer's opinion of the Chinese
' nation is on the whole a favourable one ; be de-
nounces in strong terms the impolicy as well as in-
justice of those writers who, without care or expe-
rience, publish statements derogatory to the whole
character of a nation, and denounce the inhabitants
in general terms, when perhaps their grounds of
censure are untenable on a severe examination.
Such conduct is unjustifiable. A book on the
character of a foreign nation should he written
in the same spirit of impartial criticism as
a history, where personal feeling should never be
permitted to enter, or hasty judgments formed.
It will be perceived that the present volume is a
work of a standard character. It is not intended
as a mere record of the author's personal experi-
ence during a long residence in a foreign country,
nor as a description of the present state of affairs
by an eye-witness. It is rather a supplement to
the histories of China that have been hitherto pub-
lished, comprising, at the same time, a complete
outline of their religion and philosophy from the
time of Confucius to the Tae Pings. The recent
agitations in Europe have been sufficient to distract
the minds of the public from the struggle in the
Celestial Empire, but it is no doubt a subject of
much importance, and the full and detailed history
here given of the founder of the sect and his fol-
lowers is not the least attractive feature it the
book. It certainly possesses the merit of taking a
complete view of an empire and a people
of which little is known by the general reader,
who, perhaps, is not aware that the Chinese are said
to have invented paper 170 years 8.C., thus proving
that their claims to respect are not altogether un-
founded. To all anxious to become thoroughly
acquainted with institutions of the Chinese, and
with those doctrines and beliefs upon which their
Government is founded, as well as to acquire a
knowledge of the events of the last five years, we
commend this volume for the completeness of its
details and the amount of its information.

The _Heirs of Blackridge Manor. By Diana
Butler. 3 vols. Chapman and Hall.

It must be admitted that this novel is striking
and uncommon in its plot, its style, and its cha-
racters. We cannot, however, afford it further
commendation. In the first place the chief feature
in the story, the point upon which the plot turns,
is one quite unfitted for the foundation of an ordi-
nary novel. It is more calculated to form the
subject of those gloomy romances so popular on the
continent, where love and hate, crime and revenge
figure in admired confusion. We must not do it
the injustice to say that it partakes. of their false
and sentimental views of duty and principle ; it is
rather a fearful warning, a stern lesson that teaches
the misery resulting to many from the sins of one,
and the sufferings of the innocent for the guilty.
It shows the evil of vice rather than the lovelines
of virtue, and though such lessons may sometimes
be salutary, though it may be necessary to warn
from the precipice as well as show the safe road,
still such truths are better taught elsewhere. Nor
can we imagine that the author set before her only
the object of moral instruction. The rest of the
work pa4takea too much of this tone and manner.
There is scarcely one well-conducted person in the
book, if we except one or two elderly ladies, living
in country retirement, with curious ways and
opinions. The most extraordinary thing in the
hook is the sight of a lady's name on the title-me,.
How any lady can have penned such a work.'
we are at a loss to imagine. Setting aside
the main point of the story, which, to si y th
least of it, is hardly one that an autiicress
would be supposed to choose, there are countless
words and phrases in the book that would render
such an idea preposterous were it not for the name
of Diana Butler on the title-page. Without sup-
posing that a lady writer must restrict herself to
the use of domestic phrases, or that she can por-
tray the varied scenes and actors of the busy world
without any allusion to their crimes and follies, we
should advise the authoress, when publishing a
similar work, to do so anonymously. She need
not fear to render her style tame and insipid by
refining it. No such accusation can be brought
against the works of Mrs. Marsh, Miss Mulock,
Mrs. Gaskell, and many others who have yet por-
trayed some of the darkest features of social exist-
ence—who have shown us sin and suffering, re-
venge and wrong, while their scenes of pathos and
sentiment are as far superior to hers in interest as
their style in purity of thought and delicacy of
expression. Many will, no doubt, like the story,
and be amused by the social pictures of the dissi-
pated old lord, of the grim owner of Biackridg,
Manor, of the retired scholar, of the vulgar old
heiress, of the brilliant politician and his blighted
existence, of the Stern Calvinisi io maiden aunt, uf
the gentle Annora Lewis, of the vel'ement and
passionate Dorothy. All these changing charac-
ters may draw and attract the reader, wearied of

con-rentional commonplaces, of the usual routine o
ineotanze at ball-rooms, and disappointments in
love. But if Diana Butler should give us another
romance, let her, if she would have us accept her
tale as a solemn warning to those trembling on the
verge of crimes, tell us the story with its proper
characters of sadness and melancholy; not giving
us a gloomy masquerade of a tragedy, showing a.
bitter and blighted life, wrongs, mistakes, remorse,
with all the lightness befitting a description of so-
cial frivolity, or a general caricature. It jars upon
the reader as though one were trying a dance to
the sound of a dirge. We have not spoken of
minor faults, but one of the most prominent is a
want of connection. The characters aro so nume-
rous, the names so similar, and the relationships
so entangled, that the reader becomes quite per-
plexed, at intervals, as to their kindreds and idio-
syncrasies. None of these faults are irremediable,
however, and as it bears the impress of a first
wozk, we must hope for better things from the
authoress of " Blackridge Manor."

The Naval and Military Interpreter, With Dia-
logues and Vocabulary. By Thomas Bryon.

Had this admirably-compiled little volume ap-
peared during the progress of- the -recent war It
would have been found in every .officer's tent in
,the Crimea. As it is, it deserves to .be largely
patronised by the military and naval professions, as
affording a large amount of elementary knowledge
in connection with those localities, and the lan-
guage of their inhabitants, Where the 'national at-
tention was so strongly fixed during the late strug-
gle on the coasts of the Euxine Sea. From its
pages knowledge may be acquired of the Russian,
Turkish, Arabic, and Tartar alphabets, and dia-
logues and vocabulary in those languages, as well
as in Persian and Circassian, are furnished for the
English and French student. There is also a con-
siderable quantity of topographical information on
the Crimea given. As a useful and interesting
summary, comprehending, within little more than
a hundred pages, the rudiments of much valuable
information, Mr. Bryon's compilation may safely
be commended to the notice of both military and
civil members of the community.

TRADE WITS RIISSIA.—The railings from Liverpool
yesterday included a considerable number of vesse's
for the Russian ports and the Danubian Principalities.
The shipments of gold on account of the Turkish Loan
are stilt understood to be at the rate of 200,000/. a-week,
but they will probably cease in the course of about a
fortnight. There will then he an improved prospect of
the long-expected amelioration in the state of the money
market.

OPEN AIR PREACHING.—The Rev. W. E. Hill, in-
cuinbent of St. Andrew's, Birmingham, commenced a
course of open-air sermons in one of the most densely•
populated districts of his parish on Sunday last, and,
notwithstanding the unseasonable severity of the wea-
ther, the preacher was listened to by rather a large
assazbly of the working classes, and with marked at-
tention.

Tne weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotter-
dam produce-markets state that, although business was
not active, prices were fairly supported. The operations
in coffee were moderate, but in some cases there was a
slight tendency to improvement. There was a greater
demand for refired sugar, and holders required higher
terms. The letters from Rouen speak of less activity
in the market for manufactures, but quotations had not
experienced material alteration.
Mr. Fletcher Wilson, the Danish Consul-General in
London, has been authorised by his Government to exe-
cute, on behalf of the Russian Government (until Russian
consulate agents are regularly installed), all acts required
fur the proper clearance of vessels bound to and from
the ports of Russia, according to the forms usually fol-
lowed by the consular agents of that country. An ex'
caption to these acts is the affixing of the " plombs'' to
goods intended for the ports of the Black Sea, respecting
which further instructions are expected.
A large meeting of the leading factors and merchants
was held on Wednesday last, at the Coal Exchange, for
the purpose of presenting a memorial of their respect to
John Hill, Esq., one of principal factors, on his re-
tirement from business. The testimonial consisted of a
very magnificent silver vase, cover, and pedestal, weigh"
ing 320 ounces. Mr. Hill appeared highly gratified by
receiving such a mark of esteem from a large con3rnercial
body, with whom he had been closely connected for the
last 35 years, during which period the inscription on the,.
vase testifies to his having invariably conducted birussli
as an upright and honourable man of business.
LAYING TIE FOUNDATION STOKE OF ONSLOW csArot
BROMPTON.—Yesterday the foundation stone of Onslov,
Chapel, Queen's Elms, Brompton, was laid by the go'
A. Kinnaird, M.P., in the presence of a large assemblage
of ladies and gentlemen. The edifice (which is erected
by tte Baptists) will be in the Gothic style, frema
design by Mr. W. Murnford, architect, of 21, Lincoln'sinn-tields, and constructed by Mr. Thos. Rudkie, the
builder, of Little Torrington-s'reet, Torrington-Square.
It will aff• .rd accommodation for nearly SOO, and schools
for 200, at a cost of about 2,500/. Of this amount not

more than half has been subscribed.
ACCIDENT AT WOOLWICIL—A sad accident occurred
yesterJay evening at 8 o'clock in one of the corrugated
iron sheds in Woolwich Arsenal, by which 12 men and
boys were severely injured, three of whom it is feared
are in a hopeless condition. In preparing the.tourbil-
lon rocket a kind of lathe or wheel is used for drilling a
hole to adjust the fuse. The metal became overheated
under the process, and occasioned the ignition of the
matter and bursting of the rocket. The sufferers were
promptly attended by the medical gentlemen on the
spot, and subsequently conveyed to the Ordnance infix'

mary.
THE SCOTCI FISHERIES BOARD.—A. Treasury minute,
was issued on the 25th ult. in regard to the Board 0!
Fisheries in Scotland. After considering the proposal
abolition of the board, and the arguments adduced
against such a step, my Lnrds came to the conclusion
to propose to Parliament to continue the grant for
other year, and to appoint a commissioner to visit Stet,:
land for the purpose of examining on the spot into a"
the questions relating to the grant, and reporting
thereon, in order that their lordships, before another
year, may be able to determine, what fee would be fair
for the Government brand (if the system should be con-
tinued), and in what manner the other duties of the
board shall be discharged.
THE LATH NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN.—Yesterday
appeared an official copy of correspondence relating to
the late negotiations with the Court of Japan, It is'
eludes letters between the Admiralty, Mr. Hammond,
of the Foreign-office, and Sir James Stirling, extending
from the 19th of December, 1854, to the 21st of Jan.,
1856. It will be remembered that a Convention rela-
tive to the opening of certain ports in Japan Was
arranged by Sir James Stirling ; and it appears that the
tact and judgment displayed by that gallant officer in,
this matter have been pronounced very satisfactory,
and deserving of the entire approbation of the Govern'
ment. An official communication of this agreeable fact
has been duly made to Sir James Stirling, to whom the
success of the negotiations with Japan may be, and Or
considered mainly due.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN CLEMENT'S-INN-PASSAGE.-"'
Yesterday afternoon three men, named Uriah Parsons,
Henry Redden, and Wm. Roberts, who had been repair-
ing the roof of the premises belonging to Mr. Green,
butcher, of No. 13, Clement 's-inn-passage, were descend,
ing by a ladder, when the ladder broke. Wm. Roberts
in falling, was caught in the. thigh by the butcher S
hooks, where he hung until he was extricated by Mr'
Phillips, the late street-keeper, and others. The poor
fallow was forthwith removed to King's College Ilospi"
tall where he at present remains in a state of great sof'
fering. The other two men were also severely injured,
and were at once removed to the hospital.
DEATH OF Ma. MAYNARD, THE BARRISTER,—yes-
terday afternoon considerable regret was occasioned
amongst the members of the bar, and the profession
generally, in Westminster-hall and the Temple, on its
being stated that Mr. James Alleyne Maynard, of the
Western Circuit, had that day expired, about about ball'
past 12 o'clock, at his chambers in Mitre-court-buildingsr
Inner Temple, after a short illness. It appears that,
about 3 weeks ago, the deceased called to one of the
constables of the inn, and requested him to fetch his
servant and send for medical advice, as be felt very ill.
His wishes were promptly complied with, and Dr. Farr
and another medical gentleman attended, and found him
labquring under disease of the liver. The learned gen-
tleman rallied for some time, but gradually got worse,
and expired, as stated, yesterday, at half-past 12 in the
afternoon .
Ma. WHITWORTFI'S ARTILLERY.—The new brass can-
non, with hexagonal bore, invented by Mr. Whitworth,
of Manchester, was tried on the north shore, Liverpool,
yesterday, under the superintendence of Cal. Griffins
commander of the Royal Artillery Militia throughout
the northern and midland districts. Several shots were
fired ranging from 24 to 48' pounders.
,Tbe first shot
'Wei Withh-a 241 b. ball, with Ilb. of powder, and the ex-
treme distance obtained' was 2,800 yards, the elevation
of the cannon being-eight degrees. The experiments
were not carried to a test of the maximum, capacity of the
gun, owing to the rapid rising of the tide.. The average
• distance to which a 4816: shot Was fired was 3,000 yards
but a much greater distance is expected to be obtained.
Further experiments are to be made on a future day
with hemispherical, round, and oblong shot, the latter
being pointed at both ends.
THE CELEBRATION OF PEAClL—Preparatiknis for the
display of fireworks on the 29th inst., to commemorate
the treaty of peace having been carried on at Woolwich
with great energy, although on a scale of unprecedented
magnitude, are nearly brought to a close. Upwards of
3 000 men and boys have been engaged in the worker
night and day, and about 90 carpenters from the car-
riage factory hay e been employed in getting up the fram
work and arranging the waggons necessary for conveying
the materials to London. Twenty-five ambulance wag-
gons have been covered in, and about 80 pairs of cart
horses hired for the purpose. A number of novel designs
have been brought out, and tested satisfactorily, some o ,
which are of unusual dimensions, and consecitently require
a peculiar kind of transport. Some representations of
Roman fountains, of 100 feet in height, will probably be
considered the most attractive. Two of these are in-
tended to be erected in each of the Parks, and one on
Primrose-hill. There will be likewise some huge designs
of revolving stars, 28 feet across-or 14 feet each way
from the centre, besides the newly-invented Boer star
shells of various. celours, together with innuinerable
wheels and myriads' f improved rockets, &c. As it is
xpected that some considerable quantity of the pre..
pared materials will remain unused in London, the rem-
nant will be reserved for a second display on iiroolWiCh!
Common.