Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-11-08
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
CHINA REVEALED.

Esq, late Secretary oil the Legation from the UneI
States TO the Empire OF China:
DEAR Sin We address you TO solicit the qualification Of
Lecture upon China before the Iyceum of city. You
official relation the late Embassy has afforded You
opportunity avail yourself in information respecting that
aorinary As Secretary of the Legation you have
had to and places unapproachabe by other travel
ers and happy learn that you have accumulated
facts the publication of which would both interest and
community We hope you will accept our invitation and
should be agreeable, give lectures at you
earliest convenience, believing that's large audience woul
avail themselves Of favorable opportunity receive popu
lar instruction.
And we are, with much respect, your friends &c.
Luther BrGdish, Philip Hone,
Hoses II. GrinneH RosiceH S. Coll,
Theo. FreHnghuySen, Wickhdm Huffman,
Theo. Sedgtcick Thos Adds Emmett
Edtuari Curtis, Robt III. Morris,
Henry w. Bei!oDS, Spetord, TStesfon q Co.
Thomas DeioiH, James Watson Webb,
John Grisuoid, Ogden Hoffman,
W. r. -HaremeyT, James Harper,
EAhu Ioaoasead, Wn. III. ASpin,caH,
ID. W. ELEPHANT, james IaALnadge.
To this letter Mr.. WEBSTER replied that he fe
himself honored las well he might by such an il
vitaton from so distinguished source, and, wha
ever dfidence he might feel in his own ability t
interest and instruct, he felt bound to accept it.
Being on visit last week to the city of New
York he did accordingly deliver two Lectures Of
the subject of his late residence in China, OF thu
substance of whichreports are given IN several
the New York papers. Believing that our readers
viii take the same interest in the subject that we
do we insert below report of these two Lectures
IRON THE NEW YORK COURIER ENQUIRER OCTOBER 80.
Mr. FLETCHER WEBSTER lectured last evening dense
w crowded audience the Tabernacle upon the country
people and institutions of China Expressing at the outset
the extreme difficulty Of rendering hours discourse upon
and limitess theme at all interesting ne
to saw in presenting narrative Of the Legation OF the Uni
ted States with which he connected that they landed on
the ed of February, 1874 Macao town upon the rocky
promontoy, about mile IN witf which stretces in'o Tue
bay which receives the Keang seventy miles south OF
Canton resembling in Nahan, containing 20, 600
inhabitants and bearing the Empire OF China about the
same sroporon that small town Cape Sable, at the
southern extremity OF Florida, would bear to the United
States He said the town ancient Portuguese settle
Inent the Portuguese hiring at settled groundrent from
the Chinese having three forts and OF four hundred
Each nation has custom house and each exercises nu
ncpal authority its people The principal street
very pleasant the others about eight feet wde exceed
ingly dirty and disagreeabe.
Next to Russia China is the greatest empire the world
Extending from the eighteenth the ysecond parallel OF
latitude and from the hundred and forty third to the
SEVENTEEN meridian of longitude, its boundaries those Of
Nature only. having the north frontier of three thousand
miles, the Pacific of thousand and stretching to
the north and beyond Persia, and 10 limit yet
known II seemed all improbable, in Mr.. WEBsrrRs
Judgment that all the smaller States TO the Caspian
respect part and parcel OF the Chinese Empire
not that their laws IDENTICAL for, in the
a even in the same empire. But similarity Of customs
laws &c make probable al least that these States are for
purposes subject to the Government of China. The
pire the whole centre of Asia. II has superficial
tent Of five millions Of square miles, territory than
would belong the United States should they stretch from
twenty five fifty degrees Of Texas
Oregon and great portion of Mexico and Canada, and from
the Atlantic the Pacific in breadth. Thus ID onefe OF
the land surface globe under the sway of single Power
And yet the Chinese not unambous of conquest for
than hundd years ago OF her generals boosted
that but for the o OF the season he would have carried hs
To Rome.
And the whole this region except in single spot
the Of Mamachn, the Russian border, is impene
able foreigners-for the five open seapors the
Pacific aa>ony resting places for those who trade that
gion and all entrance foreigners beyond strictly prohibited
At the north end of Macao the where the Portuguese
poet CAAoEss said have composed his poem called the
Lusiad romantic spot formed by down-alen rocks
and upon IT, with execrab TASTE the Portuguese have erected
wooden cupola and leaden bust. Al the south end is
Chinese temple situated in a spot equally romantic but built
and adorned with classic and exquisite TASTE Here
the Moon Gate is called, circular gateway opening
from one enclosure another Here, too granite da
CONS each with large loose ball Of in his mouth,
which must have been carved from the solid mass could
pt have been introduced from without In this temple
affairs idols metal pans, which incense burned flowers
Of geld and silver leaf and great variety ornaments all
left open inspection, and to plumber, bad
chosen thus abuse the hospitality extended All the
idols female, the temple adedcaed TO the Goddess
OF the Sea-
There are in China three chief systems Of religion that Of
Confcciur Louisa and Boodhn The former is for the more
learned Of the Chnesebeng in fact rather moral CODE
and most admirable too, than religious creed The
second differs from this but little and the Boodhs religion
is for the lowest and educated classes There Is no state
religion in the empire The Emperor is Boodhs or fol-
lower Of Fo but he is also follower Of Concius China
Is tolerant Of all religions and ii only consequence Of
the quaels and bad conduct Of its professors that Christianity
was ever forbidden The early Catholic priests were ex-
tremey well received their learning and science highly
esteemed their teachings allowed members Of the
royal family were converted to their doctrines and there
good prospect that the empire would become converted 4
Christianity But the priests divided into two parties on
forddng and the other allowing the Chinese to pay WORSHIP
20 their ancestors the Pope issued his bull and decided III
bitter controversy and the Emperor, indignant at this pre-
SUMPTION forbid 10 all his subjects the profession of Christi
any under penalty Of death Hisanger did not subsde nc
effects removed until the conclusion OF treaties by II
Americans and the French BY the 18th article of the treat
with this country, are allowed build hospitals, ceme
res and churches in each Of the five free ports And witt
out breach Of con6dence may and justice TO Whd
with whom negotiation this point carried on
should be stated that be consented this stipulation with
utmost readiness and out Of respect Dr. Parker with who
aid the negotiation carried forward, and who Is high
and very Justly esteemed by the Chinese
The Boodhist is the religion Of the lowest cassa ella
which requires something strike the senses, which is n
capable Of rising abstract notions of the Divinity but wh'
have visible and tangible objects Of worship. The
temples like the Catholic churches in Macao, have decor
tons, PICTURES DC. They worship the Virgin Mother, NAL
prayers for the dead have and monks and petition
every thing from dsyerance Of their friends from purgato
10 handsome wife or a rich and worthy husband Besc
every shop an idol Of the god Of wealth, and every hou
has god q longevity, which derou and daily prayers
onered Most Of them utterly ignorant OF the exsen,
even o. future state but they receive instruction gladly
In the streets the Chinese appear just they depicte
they wax WIN 'wagger and their long tails present