The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-11-08

10000 characters IN lneIE dictionary, Nuu Nl7
II may bo inferred what an immense labor it Is to
learn their language, md what it is which converts
China into great school Oral language differs IN
different provinces, but the written language IL tho
same throughout China. The written language bears
The relation to the oral languages Of tho provn
ces as the Arabic numerals do to the various lnngua-
Ecs OF Enrope. When persons from different provn-
ces cannot comprehend each other, they resort 10
writing making figures in the air. This language
giving unity to the people, laws, Sc, has done every
thing for the stability Of tho government
The manners of the Chinese emnenlly
teous. Ladies do not minge in their public assem-
blios. The lecturer would no, pronounce their NOR
ais ola higher or lower standard than those Of Europe
lie did not believe il the province Of transient WIS.,
or 20 to do. The Chinese estimate the morals Of
the Europeans at low rate,-they have learned
them from English sniors and soldiers within the past
five years. When the Missionaries demonstrate with
the Chinese upon sin, they significantly point to the
morals OF foreigners The Chinese arc emReny in
tellectun The country obounds in books public Ii
brarles and shops for the snlo of books. catalogue
0r one of their libraries comprises 10 volumes. In
cry dwelling house books are necessary article Of
furniture.
Great injustice has been done 10 tho Chinese and
their writings by translatons Mr. Cushing had
formed n high estimate Of their intellectual powers
from his intercourse with them. Indeed, officials
could not fail to exhibit intellectually, as scholars
take first rank in the empire The literary chmacier
OF the Chinese has degensnted 10 extent The
stability Of their government is evience TO certain
extent Of their intellectual ard moral character. The
prevalent religion is worship Of ancestors, though spe-
cfic religions, such as roodhism, Lamaisn, Mahom-
ednnism, &c, are tolerated. All important events
by the Chinese celebrated by proslrAlinns, burn
ing Of incense, beating Of gongs, md burning fire
works.
The staple food Of the Chneso,s rice. Ia the dec
oraons of their tables aud furniture OF their houses,
traces Of high civilization may he found. The lux
ures Of the table consist Of biche de n.er, sharks
fms, and edible birds nests, the latter the high
est cost article Of food in China. The food Of tho
TRrIar,is game which is roasted and served mp whole
while the Chinese is served in small dishes Their
drinks are tea, and spirit distilled from rico. Many
pr the drinking vessels in use in the U. s. are
copied from the Chinese.
Commercially speaking, Chin, is complete in her.
self She has tea silks materials for utensils Of IRON
and wood coal precious metals, SC Her commerce
was changed by the Of the opium trade, which
Ia very prejudcial to China 1t would soon however,
nave oeen ny INC INTRODUCTION y; cotton,
large quantities OF which, of the kind, she i'm
ports from the United States. She also imports the
manufactured article from the United States add from
Great britain. The use Of machinery is prohibited
IN China. The trade whether it goes direct from this
country from Great Britain, greatly benefits US,
perhaps 7hs of British manufactured goods consist
CT American cotton
We now come TO consider the question Of what will
he the ultimate effects ur this change Of commerce,
on the Chinese themselves. Two hundred and fifty
millions of people, up to this time, have manurhc-
tured their own articeS-now ours wil take the pla-
ces Of their own fabrics, and Of consequence large
numbers Of men will be thrown out Of employ In
China as in the United Statesthey have Yves,
to retire to, no immense fields of agricultural occupn-
,ions 10 employ them when their means oC livelihood
fail them These things being 80, must produce
want, misery, and perhaps political agitation, through.
ont the Empire Mr. Gushing was repeatedly told by
the Imperial Commissioner, that China did desire
trade with foreigners, but that il forced upon her
We only look TO the benefits nccruing 10 the
United States, through the supply to China Of raw
cotton, and successful competition in the manufac-
Iured article, but also TO the supply Of ginseng and
lead. Mr. Gushing knew OF no other question con-
necled with this subject except the drain Of the spe
Gle from China, to pay balances of lrnde against her
lie said no fears need be entertained FOR the present
the balance is against the United States--besides
there are stores Of metals in the country, and the
immediate effect of flow Of specie fom China is TO
change the relative value OF commodities in that
land.
Mr. Gushing said although this vast empire was o.
per to commerce, literature and religion, too san
guine expectations must not be entertained the pro-
gress Of the Chinese slow, and vast mult,udes are
to be affected.
IT the effects of,he change Of commerce pacific
the benefits to tho world will be grentf not so, and
civil commissions ensue the spirit of nggrandisement
will again take hold of the Chinese, aud foreign in
vasion will be the consequence The Tartars have
several mes overrun Asia, and carried their con-
quests even to Europe The present Emperor Of
China is a neal descendant Of Tartar Emperor who
once sat upon the throne Of Morocco We are sec
ond only to the English in point Of commercial inter-
course with the Chinese, and second only 10 the
French in missionary and intellectual intercourse
We snon shall surpass both nations in inter-