Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1840-10-03


down on the table the pamphlet he had been read
ing, and looking up over tho Fireplace at the grca.
picture of Cscaon painted by his elder brother
when he was male Of an Eas lndaman.--My aunt
was seated beside my uncle, with her cotton-bvx,
playing at working and cousin Tom working
al playing, in corner AS for my father and my
SELF we had dropped in as usual after walk, to
take tea, which, through on old connection with
Ca.hy, certain 10 be first rate at tho cottage
"Why on earth," continued my uncle, "why on
earth we should go to war about the Opium busl-
ness quite passes my comprehension"
"And mine ioo," chimed in my aunt, whose bent
was to put in word and put out on argument, as
often as she had opportunity; "I always though,
Opium was ulllng, soothing sort Of thing. moro
likely to compose peoples passions than TO stir
them up"
My uncle looked OF the speaker with much the
same expression as that of the gr,a, girl in Wilkes
picture, who lie at once frowning and smiling at the
boys gro,esque mockery of the Blind Fiddler-for
my auns allusion 70 the seda,ive qualities of OPP
um was amusing in ITSELF but provoking, as inter
rupting the discourse.
"Fhe Sulphur question:" she continued, "is quite
different thing. That's oil about birthstone and
combus.ibles; and it would only bc Of q piece If
we were TO send our men Of war; and frigates, and
hre-ships, to bombard Mount Vesuvius"
81 should like to see IL !" said my fnsher, in his
quctest tone and with his graves, face, for he was
laughing iuwardy at the proposed Grand Display
Of Pyrotechnics
"To go back" resumed my uncle, "to the very
beginning of tho business first, we have Captain
Elliot who wishes to give the Chinese admiral q
chop
"And very civil thing of him too" remarked
my aunt.
"Eh! what," exploded my uncle, as snappishly
as Waterloo cracker.
"1o be sure" said my aunt, 10 depreca,ing
tone, "it might bo Friday and fast day, as to
meat"-
GAS to what"
GAS to meat" repeated my aunt. rcsolu,ely. Il
have always understood tha, the Catholic priests
and the Jesues were the frs, 70 go converting the
Chinese"
chop is document"
swell, it's not my fault" retored my aunt, nj
things abroad are called by their wrong names
What is a chop, then, in Chinese-I mean pork
or mutton one-is it called document :"
My uncle gave q look upward, worthy Of Jol
himself. He was sorely tempted. but he translated
the rising English oath into French shrug and
grimace. My father tried to mend matters as usu.
al. "Afer all, brother" he said, "my sisters mis-
take was natural, and womsny-esPecially in d
mistress of house, who has to think occasionally
of chops and steaks. Besides she has hal greater
blunderers to keep her in coun,enance-you re-
member the needless resentment, there was abou
the Barbarian Eye"
"To be sure he does," said my aunt, "and why
should be expected to know Chinese, any NOR.
than Lord Melbourne, or Lord Palmcrston, or Lort
Knows-Who! especially when it's su'e difficult
language beside, and single lete, stands for
whole chapter, like the Egyptian hieroglyphes."
"But what says the pamphletcerl" !" said my ia
iher, deliberately putting on his spectacrs, and ia
king up tho brochure from the table.
"Why he says" replied my uncle that opium
is q baneful drug, thut i, produces the most demo
moralizing effects on the consumers; and that VIZ
have no right to 60 to war Ia force noxious article
down the ,hroats Of our fellow creatures"
"No, nor wholesome one NEITHER" returned my
father, "as the judge said to the woman when she
killed her child for not taking its physic. But wha
have we hcre-a return Of our exports to the &c
lestial Empire,"
"The author means to imply" said my uncle
that if The Chinese did no: chew and smoke so muct
opium, they would have more money to lay DOT OIL
our Birmingham and Manchester manufactures"
"Pretty nonsense, indeed!" exclaimed my aun,
"As if the Chinese could smoke printed coitons an
lery, like the ostriches!" !"
"For aught we know" said my unel', iii may "
alegory--apd have often fancied that the paint
ings on their vessels were scenes from their tales o
poems. In the mean time we may gather SON
hints of the character Of Inc people from their POI
oslain-lhst they are literary and muical, and frpr
the frequent occurrences Of figures Of children, 'hs
they are Of affectionste and domestic habits. An,
above ALL that they emineniiy unwaIlke, an
inclined only TO peaceful and pastoral pursuits
do not recollect ever seeing an armed figure we
pons, or any allusion 10 war, and i,s attributes,
any of their enamels."
$50 mnch the worse for them," sail my fa,he
for they threatened with something worse ,h-
q tempest In a teapot II will be like the CHR