Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-01-23
lrRou THE wayne COUNTY RECORD.
THE EMPIRE OF CHINA.

tlliiIes with England, we have CLEANED the io!-
loving outline of her history, structure OF gov
ernment, revenue, &c, which we present to our
readers.
china is vast country Of Asia. bounded on
the North by Chinese Tartary, from which the
famous Chinese wall separates IT, Ga the East
by the Eastern sea; on the South b. the Chinese
sea- and on the West by an extensive sandy des
ert, and long ridges oi mountains. which diFIde
1t from Western Tartnry and Ihibct. China
ProDer is divided into eighteen Provinces, with 4
population Of near tSo hundred millions OF inha-
biiants, which scattered over surface OF
about five millions two hundred and fifty thousand
square miles. Ii contains one hundred and eigh-
tv-fye capitals. and as many cities Of the second
order. The three principal cities are Pekin,
Nankn. and Canton. The first IS the Capitol OF
the Empire, aud IS situate on a icGulo and level
plain, about fifty miles from the great wall. 1t IS
tho most populous cry IN the world; beng four
teen miles IN circumference aud Is SURROUNDED by
wall of thirty feet high.
Nankin was formerly the capitol, and was the
most commercial, as well as the largest CITY III
China. Ia 1918, it was taken by the Tnrtars,
since which time IT has gone much I" decay; It's
principal ornament now beng the celebrated por-
celain tower two hundred and fourteen feet high.
IL is vet however. considerably noted for the
manufacturing Of Silks, Grapes, Nankin, and Por-
Ceain Ware.
Canton is now the principal commercial city IN
China, and the only Chinese seaport open 10
on the Canton rIvor, and has population Of
about one million of inhabitants. The houses Of
the MandarIhs and wealthy are extremely magnl-
iicent; the streets well paved and often inter
sec,ed by triupphaI arches. But the principal
beauty of the city is lis pleasure gardens. which
are studded with fsh pools The kran ku and
Hoangho the principal rivers in China: the
former of which is about two Thousand five hun
dred miles long. The soil is generally very fer
tile, and well cultivated; aud its principal pro
ducts Rice, Barley and other gram. The Tea
plant is extensively cultivated and is Of the
great sources ol Chinese wealth. The commerce
of China IS very extensive and the principal ar
ticles Of her exports, Tea, Silk. NankIn, Por
celain ADD the valuable vegetable productions Of
the East. The great wall aud imperial canal, are
the most prominent monuments OF Chinese skill
and industry. The latter is fifteen hundred miles
in length and built two hundred and forty
four years Il. G., for the purpose of preventing
the inroads Of the Northern Iartars. The wall
is from twenty to thirty feet high, aud about Is
feet wide at the top, and in its course crosses
deep valleys, large rivers, and lofty mcun-
tains 1t is built with brick and connected with
cement, and though 1t has been standing near
two thousand years, 1t IS comparatively, yet.
but little diapidated
fae Religion of China IS Buddishsm, or the
Religion of 70, by which the people laugh,
10 reverence the Supreme Being, and TO contem-
plate the Emperor as both King and FontltI; and
whose exclusive right II is TO prescribe ceremo-
MES, decide on doctrines and stated times oi
the year TO offer up sacrifices for the nation
Tho ana..n,~ IL Oh T~,'ttat It>eti.
md very difficult to be understood. itconSis:s OF
n variety of characters, yarIousiy combined, ant
these characters, according To their different com
blnations, represent things or ideas. These cha
racters forty thousand III number.
Polygamv is permitted, and from 1t will be rea-
div inferred that society is not elevated; nor the
condition Of the females envablc. Poor parents
are allowed TO destroy their female children and
this is often done without renaorse. In general.
the Chinese well educated, but their prevail
ing character is revengefal, tinId, vain and wiu-
The Government of China IS Patriarchal, and
is, on the whole, by far the best Asiatc govern
meut of Asia.
The absence of a powerful and influential
Priesthood and an hereditary Aristocracy, may be
stated of the leading causes of the pros
pcrty of the Chinese Empire.
The Emperor has bestowed upon HIMSELF very
high sounding title, being no less than, Holy
Son Of Heaven, sole Governor of the Earth, and
great Father of his People"
In China the rod is almost the sole instrument
OF government. Sometimes. IN extreme cases.
capital punishment Is Inflicted; this, however, Is
but seldom. The grand panacea is the rod, and
this Is laid on with no sparinG hand. The grand
Patriarch canes his Prime Ministers, the Minis
ter bis Secretary of State; the Secretary q
State the Lord of the Treasury-and thus down
ward in the dcsce nding scale of civil stations In
like manner the Generals their Field OH
GERS, and they in turn the Captains and Subai-
terms. The husband has right To whip his wife,
md the wife her children, and a matter of
course, the common soldiers and people Of the /
Celestial Empire have the glorious privilege Of
being logged by any body in the grade nb3yc
them. 1t the people of Cana are not good, j, IS
not from want of flogging.
The foundation of the Chinese Empire is of
very high antiquity, and if their own Chronoo-
gy be credited, il would date their existence ma
ny years before the Mosaical account of the del .
uge. The most sianda authors. however, place /
the of the Empire At about 300 years B. c.. +
which would make i. thousand wears before /
the birth of Moses. From the above date to The +
present time twenty different dynasiics have held
possession Of the Imperial Throne.
Through long succession of wars. both inter
nal and external. the people OF China were able .