The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-09-22 00:00:00

THE LITERATURE OF THE CHINESE.

The literature of this' nation is exeeedingiv Mutlifit-
rious, and in some departments it is rich. I.'"e•Cv of the
Old Greek and Ildnian writers have produced such cOpi-
()lA' and extensive works as the Chinese. The number
and variety of authors which have appeared since the
days of Confucius are very great. But in the present
degenerate age new productions are' rare, and those
winch are put forth are light and trivial, calculated to
afford very little instruction or real entertainment. The
Chinese need a new literature, rich in, thought, correct
in sentiment, and pure and elegant in style. But it is a
difficult task so to imitate their idiOM as to make new
thoughts and sentiments interesting and instructive to
reader's who hive always beeri'accirstorned.to the forma-
lities of this' language. Much study and a thorough
knowledge of their statidatd works Will be necessary,.
therefore,' to enable the foreigner. tO **rite id such a
style, as'tb eftse rind benefit the Chinese. It should be
always kept in mind, that before astranger can exercise
any control over their taste and sentiments, he'must be
able to couch his thoughts in' such language-as may not
only be clearly and easily understood, but as shall gain for
him a patient and. an attentive hearing. This will ap-
pear very difficult, especially when we consider their
natural pride, and their contempt of foreigners. We
may rest assured, howeier, that treatises which do not
conform tn'their idioms will find very few readers. But
if new and interesting thoughts, pure and,elevated sen-
timents, and aboire.alr the divine truths orsUblime reVe-
lation, are rightly exhibited' in a native costume, then
they may have a charm and. a power which will rouse
:the mind, sway the passions;' correct the judgment, 'and
eventually work.a mental and moral revolution through-
out the empire. The Chinese need strong excitements
to induce them to read the works of foreigners; and
great care will be requisite in order to adapt new trea-
tises to their capacities and wants. Their language dif-
fers so widely from all others, that mere translations,
except of the sacred scriptures, cannot be recommended.
But this language is rich in the variety ,of its characters
and phrases, and capable of conveying to the. minds of
men a great diversity of ideas and facts on subjects of
every description. •
These considerations, which are the result of long
observation, and that not of a single individual, will
serve to shoW the value which we ought to place on a
knowledge of the Chinese language. Without this
knowledge, the wall which has so long separated this
people 'and their country from the.other nations of the
earth cannot be effectually removed. Such a knowledge
will be indispensable to foreigners, and one of their best
auxiliaries in maintaining an extensive intercourse with
this -nation. True, this language, if well understood,
will be deemed valuable to the historian and philosopher
on account of the facts which it brings to their notice
concerning the history of a large portion of our race;
hilt it is only when we view it as a medium of cOminti-
nica:tion, by which an honourable intercourse can be
maintained, and facilities thereby afforded for a wide
diffusion of useful knowledge, that it appears in its pro-
per importance. It is not in morals alone that the
Chinese are evidently in a lower state now than they
were in former times • they have gone backward also in
arts and science; and there is perhaps even less enter-
prise in the minion than there was a thou-and years
ago. Nor is it strange, considering the policy of the
government, that such should be the fact; for it has not
only not presented motives to excite and stimulatekin-
ientive genius, but even those which have arisen from
natural and incidental causes it has sedulously counter-
acted. With all due deference we would render honour
to whom honour is due, nor on any account detract from
the just merits of any one; but we are constrained to
belieVe that it is the crooked and unnatural policy of the
government which has caused so wide a difference be-
tween this people and the nations of the west. Once
the Chinese had a far more extensive foreign commerce
than at present, and that commerce might have in-
creased up to the present period. Their manufactures,
,which were once so far in advance of those-of most, if
not of all. other nations, are utterly unable to compete
with those. Which are now produced in such abundance
by the giant power ,of steam. And so it is in most
other respects. The inhabitants of this land will never
be effectually waked up from their long, deep slumber,
until a new wra is formed in their literature, and they
are excited to think for themselves, and to exchange
their galling tyranny and their abominable idolatry for
Just notions of individual and national rights, and the
holy religion of the living God.—Chinese Repository.

BURNING OF THE SIR WALTER SCOTT.

(From the United States Gazet;e.)

Captain Clarke, of the Sir Walter Scott, arrived in
this city on Saturday last, and proceeded yesterday morn-
ing to Boston. From his own lips we have received a
full account of the burning of this gallant ship, an acci-
dent of a-more extraordinary kind than has happened
in the American seas for a long time past.

The Sir Walter Scott sailed from New Orleans on the
21st May, with a cargo of 1,794 bales of cotton, eighteen
seamen and three passengers, one of them a lady, Mrs.
Hamilton, in a state of domestic solicitude. The ship
was owned in Boston, was only
.two years old, and was
valued at twenty-two thousand dollars. Her destination
was Liverpool.
In coming down the Gulf Steam, this vessel encoun-
. tared a heavy gale from the south-west. The seas were
running mountains high. On the morning of the 21st
June, about eight o'clock, in latitude 31. 24, longitude
75. 43: when under double •reefed topsails, and bearing
upon die wind, opposite, or nearly so, to Charleston,
South Carolina, a heavy peal of thunder broke over the
ship. It seemed as if the heavens had beedrent asunder.
The captain and his three passengers were in their ca-
bins. The lady started up in a fright, and the captain
jumped on deck in so much haste as to be without his
shoes. The electric fluid had struck the foremast, ran
into the forecastle, where the seamen were at breakfast,
dashed everything into pieces, sent the men sprawling
in all directions, and completely raked the vessel fore
and aft, and between decks, and in the hold. The sud-
denness and force of the.terrible blow made the vessel
hang in suspense for a moment on the top of a billow.
Every person was astonished, but no one yet knew the
extent of the injut Y.

In a few minutes the cry of "Fire! fire! fire!" was
raised, and the terror of that cry may be imagined—far
at sea, surrounded with storms, and at the mercy of the
enraged eleinent. The seamen were almost struck sense-
less by the electric shock. This cry awakened them to a
.new sense of danger. The passengers almost lost their
senses, and the lady, Mrs. H., was the only one whose
courage rose up to meet the danger with promptitude
and energy. " The long boat, the long boat," was
shouted. It was now six or eight minutes since the
lightning had struck, and every part of the cargo, fore
and aft, was already on fire. The long boat was full
of various at ticks, and could not be got out at the mo-
ment. Tile captain now ran below, seized a cutlass and
a pistol, carne on deck, and nerved himself to the occa-
sion. "Men," said he, "yoU never deserted me in dan-
ger—rouse yourselves now—l'll shoot the first man that
does not at once do his duty. Clear out the long boat—
'down with the gig—stir, stir, or in ten minutes we shall
see eternity." The lady jumped also, on deck, with her
hair in disorder, stood by the captain, and appeared to
be a very spirit of heaven animating the frailer mortals
to their task;

The thunderstruck meh, headed by the mate, hurried
as well as they could, cleared out the long boat,
launched the gig, and then swung down the. boat_in the
bo►liing ocean below. "Pot the lady in the boat,"
shouted the captain. The ship wa at this moment roll-
ing tremendously—the flames bursting forth irt-all direc-
tions—her masts tottering.to the gale. The lady reached
the boat in safety. "Thank God," said the captain.
The disabled seamen were placed near her—six others
put in the gig. The captain and his mate were the last
to leave the deck of the burning ship.

All were now in-the boats. "Cut adrift—cast off,"
shouted the captain. They cut adrift from the burning
ship, and pusi:ed out of her wake. " All is lost," said
the captain, "but- our lives are yet left us. We have
another chance to live out the gale." The moment 'the
long boat and the gig left the burning vessel, her masts
fell by the board, the flames burst forth in greater mag-
nificence than ever, the• thunder rolled, the lightning
still flashed, the sea was roaring around, and the two
small boats floated over the billows before the wind, and
entirely at its mercy.
At last, in about fifty minutes from the first stroke,
one long sheet of flame covered the wreck, and the Whole
gallant fabric of the Sir Walter Scott sunk down into the,
water, and was seen no more. " It's all over with the
gallant Sir Walter," said the lady.
The captain, crew, and passengers now sailed for the
coast. They had little provisions, everything had been
lost, and their prospect was gloomy enough. The two
boats kept each other's company all .the day and the suc-,
ceeding night. It was still blowing hard. At the .peep
of dawn next day, the captain espied a sail -to the lee
ward. It was immediately determined toSend the gig
to the vessel in sight, and endeavour to get aboard if
possible. Accoidingly, a sail was rigged out of an old
sack, a mast was raised, and this sail spread before the
wind. "Mate," said the captain, " von must go alone
to that vessel, and' get on board the best way you can.".
"-Av, ay, Sir," said the mate.
AWay started the gig on the swelling billows before
the gale, with the mate at the helm. " What a cheer 7
inn sight it was," said the captain ; "she treaded, sir,
over the billows like the forked lightning itself down the
masts .of the Sir Walter, tuiw under, now above the
waves."

In a short time the gig reached her destination. The
vessel rroved to be the Saladin, Humphries. She backed
her yards, In another brief space the long boat ap-
peared; all were taken on board, not forgetting the lady,

who in the greateSt clingier hid anidated. the men to
their task.

Captain Clarke, his crew, and-passengers were landed
at Norfolk. The captain himself had lost everything on
boald. He had- fifteen-thousand dollaisiti• English coin,
but it went all to the bottom: " When the people of Nor-
folk knew their situation offerS' were-diade to raise a gab-
qcription, but he refused any aid.of that, kind. He sold
his two boats, and with some private aid, paid all his own
expenses, and those of his men, and- when he reached
New York had just ten dollar's- in his pocket. This he
presented to Mrs. Hamilton.

Captain Clarke, throughout the whole of these harri,-
ble scenes, exhibited the highest gallantry and presence
Of mind. Such a Man can provide against all ordinary
accidents, but when the lightning. Of heaven itself strikes
a ship to the bottom, we must all submit in silence.

GREAT IftJkiIICANE IN ANTIGUA.

(From the Glaggodi COftrier.)

Aclvices from Antigua have been received in this city,
per the brig Harmony, which arrived on Monday night
in the Clyde, giving an accotint'of a. dreadful hurricane
which visited that island on the 12th ultimo, and occa-
sioned a lamentable loss of life and property. The ad-
vices are dated the 13th, 14th, and 15th August :

I wrote yoU by Yesterday, fully ekPecting she would
have been off. It is, however, a mercy she did not go, as she
flever would have been heard of. The afternoon of yesterday
looked very stormy, and from six to near seven o'clock the glass
went round so much as to alarm us considerably. It commenced
about half-past five to blew in gusts every five minutes, and I
immediately set to work to endeavour to make both our houses
as well prepared as possible. It Was fortunate I did, so, for the
wind continued to increase till seven, when it became a com-
plete hurricane, sweeping every thing befOre it, houses, trees,
and even the boats hauled up on the beach. ,The hurricane
continued with great fury till nearly twelve. For an account of
this terrific gale; I cannot do better than refer you to M'D—, as
he was up and about town with us all night. Every house bears
Melaticholy proofs of the violence of the. hurricane; .and the
tittle wooden homes are either entirely' blown away or laid in
the streets. I went to see the \Vests a little-before seven. They
were all safe; but a large boat, high and dry, at their front door.
Boats arc high up in every street, as you may imagine, for the
water was up to our waists at the steps of Mackie's dwelling-
house when we first went, down. A friend has just come in,
and inforais me the barracks at the Ridge are fiat:L-the coin=
miSsary's and other departments the same. Some soldiers killed,
and the report to the governor up to this hour (one o'clock,)
fifteen deaths iri town, and more expected to be found out.
I have asked a friend to collect and note dovvit the injury
done in town as far as he can ascertain it, and I will enclose it
herein. It is as follows:

Part of the north roof of the chnrehlS blown away.
Messrs. M'Kie's store ( not their house) is completely deQtroy-
ed ; part of their goods, and all their books and papers have
been saved.

Mr. S. Darrel's house is very materially damaged.
Mr. James Darrel's corn loft is completely destroyed.
Mr. Nelson's store is very considerably damaged; ene wing
is completely blown away.
The house opposite to Mr. Sariacount the tailor, has been
blown to atoms.

Part of rkil,ssrs. Coltart and Borwal's house has been de-
stroyed; all the small houses near to' them are very much in-
jured.
A great many of the houses on Church-hill are very much da-
maged.
Hon. R. N. Nanton's store is completely destroyed ; also, all
the Customhouse/rail, &c.

Ail the houses in. Spriug-gardens have suffered very severely.
Mr. Wm. Siruirson's house is very much damaged.
Mr. Grotia Hart's house has been very considerably damaged.
A small house, close to Mr. H.'s, was blown to the opposite side
of the street.

Miss Doig's house is a total wreck.
Captain Julian's new house is completely destroyed; like-
wise. two or three houses immediately adjoining to his.
Iu St. John's-street there are only three or four houses that
have escaped; indeed, the greater part of the houses in that di-
rection are materially damaged.
One pretty large house in Spring-gardens has been blown
from the place it occupied, and is now in the centre of the street.
A very large house immediately above tire house James Ar-
mour and Co. used tO reside in, is completely destroyed.
Mr. Hoggard's house has been damaged.
The jail has suffered materially.
A large house opposite to Mr. /Cell completly deitroyed.
The greater part of the wharfs destroyed.
Messrs. Hosiers' store is completely destroyed.
Honourable Paul Hosford's house is much dainaged.
Mr. Brown's house do. do.

The dock-yard and ridge have suffered very considerably.
Five men (so report says) of the tbirty-.:xth regiment are killed.
All the estates in the country have suffered more or less—
some of them very considerably. There have been a great many
lives lost; report says about fifteen, but cannot exactly state, as
we have not heard from the Country.
Mr. Richard Nanton States, that not one of his negio houses
is tenantable.

On Martin Bvam's estate there is net a single hotise but the
great one standing.
On Date-hill estate there is scatcely a negro honse left stand-
ing—the greater part of them were new.
On Sir William Young's estate there is scarcely a tenement
standing—part of the stock are killed.
The wharfs are swept clean. Several large buildings at Bal-
ston's down. On the beach, past the Great Hunket, fie ob-
served several schooners high end dry, and a great many boats
in the canepiece. The place where we bathe is tilled with wreck,
and a tine schooner lying on the rocks. A little further down
the Paragon is fast aground. Next the Maria on the beach on
her side. "l'is unfortunate for Mr. Hyndman : everything is
destroyed at his country residence, Yapton. No vestige of his
store remains, for the rum is cleared away ; then there's his ves-
sel (Maria) aground, and must be unloaded before she can be
got off. The Maria and Paragon were to have gone to sea the
day the hurricane came on. Further down, towards Goathill, is
the Grace, like a hulk on the water—everything clear with her
decks. The master was onshore—she drove over the bar—struck
thrice, and carried away her rudder. The mate cut away her
masts as the only means of saving.
In the midst of the storm some villains broke into the secre-
tary's office and carried off the iron chest, and took it out on the
road as you go to Friar's-hill, close to the corner of Gamble's
Canepieee, by the road going down by Rectory. They took all
the papers out--among the rest the commission of the Lieute-
nant-Governor of Dotninica—and were so cunning as to take
the paper off the rolls of money, and leave them for fear of de-
tection. No clue has yet been found to lead to the detection of
the perpetrators.
15th August.—Nineteen vessels were reported ashore last
night in this harbour. The Codrin'ton rode it out at Maiden
Island with 200 fathoms of cable out; in getting up her anchor
it broke, leaving 100 fathoms with the anchor in the water.
Mr. Turner, Mr. Bennet, and some others, inform me that
next year's crop will not repair the damage doue.
The following proclamation has been issued by the governor:
Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to visit this island with
a most awful and disastrous hurricane, whereby the houses and
buildings, plantations and estates, the provision grounds, and
almost every species of property of all classes of his Majesty's
subjects, have in many cases been totally destroyed, and in all
materially and ruinously injured; and in order to avert as much
as possible the evils of famine and distress, and enable the in-
habitants to erect anew and repair their houses; buildings and
works, conformable to the advice of his Majesty's privy council
of Antigua, I do hereby, by virtue of the power in me vested,
permit and authorise the importation into this island, in vessels
of all nations, duty and tonnage free, of the following articles,
the grawth, produce, and manufacture of any British or foreign
possessions—namely, flour, corn, and pulse of every desefiption,
corn, meal, salted, 'dried, and pickled hsh, salted pork, beef, mill
timber of all kinds, staves, shingles, and wood hoops, such free
importation to continue for the period of six months from the
date hereof.

Given under my hand and seal, at Government House, the
Ilth day of August.
(Signed) EVAN JOHN APGREGOR.

MAXIMS FOR A DINNER.

Ilow is a meal to be regulated, i'n order to unite'all things 're-
quisite to the highest pleasures of the table ? I proceed to an-
swer this question.
I. Let not the number of the company exceed twelve that the
conversation may be 'constantly general.
2. Let them be so selected that their occupations shall be
varied, their tastes analogous, and with such points of contact
there shall be no necessity for the odious formality of presen-
tations.

3. Let the eating-room be luxuriously lighted, the cloth re-
markably clean (! !), and the atmosphere at the temperature of
from thirteen to sixteen degrees of Reaumur.
4. Let the men be spirituels I,ithout pretension—the women
pleasant without too much coquetry.*
5. Let the dishes be exceeding choice, but limited in number,
and the wines of the first quality, each in its degree.
Let the order of progression be, for the first- (the dishes)
from the most substantial to the lightest; and for the second
(the wines), from the simplest to the most perfumed.
7. Let the act of consumption be deliberate, the dinner being
the last business of the day; and let the guests consider theta-
selves as travellers who are to active together at the same place
of destination.
8. Let the coffee he hot, and the liqueurs chosen by the master.
9. Let the saloon be large enough, to admit of a game at colds
for those who cannot do without it, and so that there may not-
withstanding remain space enough for post meridian colloquy.
lti. Let the party be detained by the charms of society and
animated by the hope that the evening will not pass without
some ulterior enjoyment.
11. Let the tea be not too strong : let the toast be scientifi-
cally buttered and the punch carefully prepared.
12. Let not the retreat commence before eleven, but let every
body be in bed by twelve.
It any one has been present at a party uniting the twelve re-
quisites, he may boast of having been present at his own apo-
theosis.
* "I write," says the author in a ❑ote, "between the Pulais
Royal and the Chaussee d'Antin."—Mirror.

LORDS PRAYER IN VERSE.