Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-11-12

ven threatened to poison himself to get rid Of his
anxiety. Two others, however, were soon OBJ
tained, who remained.
Mr.. Webster gave an account OF a visit to the
country seat of q gentleman which he visited, n
bout two miles above Canton. 1t contained scve-
raj houses, connected by wooden bridges, and all
built upon piles in low marshy spot. The
buildings werc of,wo stories, and had handsome
apartments, very neatly furnished. the tho
rear was theatre and between the two fish
pond. On nights of performance the place
is lighted by lanterns upon long poles stuck
into the mud at the bottom of the pond
An aviary, some deer, monkey &C., were KEEP.
upon the premises, but there were no
ga rdens or grounds About fifty women
with small feet, came to the strange visitors.
They oil dressed in silks, with vests and trou-
sers like the Turks. They manifested as much
surprise at the small waists of our ladies' as we
did at their small feet and inquired with equal
anxiety if they wcre not thus compressed with
great pain.
The Chinese have the art Of dwarfng trees,
and will cultivate pear apple tree, perfect IN
all its parts, and yet not exceeding foot in
heights and what is still more strange, they will
raise from them at pleasure, fruit either of tho
usual size, Of n size Eroportioned to the dim
inished growth of the tree.
! At Canton there arc display ed elegant articles
of luxury and beauty in the greatest profusion.
A pa sser through tho streets IS constantly IN dan.
ger of losing an eye. or being knocked down, BY
tho bamboos on which Coolies carry their burdens
for no beast Of burden, except tho buffalocs
plough tho rice fields, is known in Southern China,
the population being too dense to supply Thorn food
Every thing is done by human labor. There are
no wheelod vehicles, except wagons driven by
sails in the northern part Of tho Empire; and the
Chinese no milk.
! The beggars of China very wretched and
very humorous though less SO than would be sup
posed.-Chlna has no asy uns, and Of course I'll
paupers who obtain relief do it by begging. They
go about tho streets, with gong some other
discorGant instrument, or at least with harsh
and unpleasant voice. They enter a shop, and
without leaving off, Hamlet recommends their
''damnable faces," :hey commence noiso which
forthwith drives all customers from the premises.
This is allowed by law and custom and is contnu-
cd until il produces some gratu;ty. If tho shop
keeper be blessed with forttude, the bcggar beats
his gong till he is tired, lies down by the counter
and sleeps awhile. and then resumes his beating.
e *. ksfes il ' he h sgng has trial
Of patience;-thc strives annoy and the
other TO endure; and it continues till Of the
! two gives up.
Tho government Of China is pa,ria rchaI-a
pure, unnIloyed dcspotism. The Car of Russia
is less absolute than tho Chinese Emperor. The
soil of all China is his: the lives, property and
honor of the people in this hands: he is to
them the Sun Of Heaven-the source of law and
religion, and is invested with every attribute Of
power and sovereignty. The Empire is divided
into prov inces; each province into districts, and
the districts into towns, villages and hundreds.
Each officer Of each division is responsible to his
immediate superior. Crimes accidents
punished, not only upon those by whom they
committed, but those also by whom thoy should
havo been prevented. In any serious disturbance
i'm a town. tho authorities of the district and tho
province in which it is situated punished in
va rious degrees. Families arc hold responsible
for the behaviour Of each member Of them. 1t
seems to us cruel to punish family for the offence
of one, or to ravage district for crime OF some
of its inhabitants. But the theory is that all the
members of tho empire are bound to preserve or
der and peace. and responsible for its infrac-
ton; in England and this country, where towns
are held able for property destroyed by mobs.
And in China this theory IS mover allowed to be-
como a dead letter. and harsh rs 1t may seem, it
cannot be denied that experience has approved it
of wonderful efficacy in the preservation Of quiet
and tranquility.
Mr.. Webster related ono incident to illustrate
its operation. In passing through dense crowd,
in the night Anne rican was robbed Of his watch.
Of course it was impossible TO identify tho oen-
dor, but he made his complaint 10 tho Mandarin.
who told hin, that in three days his watch should
DO ro.urned-That very day all the police officers
Of Canton ono or two hundred in number, were
arrested; and one of them was brought before the
Mandarin and told that all tho rest would be kept
in close confinement unit. tho watch should be
.v.u."ou. r.ucn tnese officers had family
dependant upon him for support. Each had nu-
rous friends interested in his welfare; and each
of these had other friends whom they could east
ly enlis, in his behalf. The whole population of
Canton was thus converted into police force.
Every man, woman and child, bocamo a thief
taker, and tho result that the third day the
watch found in obscure hut. twenty miles
from Canton. and forthwith restored to its owner.
In another instance where silver coin had been
stolen in household. all the servants seized
and bamboocd until confessed the theft.
With these references to the actual working of
tho government slaves of China, Mr.. Webster
closed his lecture, of which we have given very
imperfec and inndcnuate but We hope in;elllcible