Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-11-27

degrees in this celebrated College,
distinguished by the number and color
of the buttons and peacock feathers on
the cap. The least snowy are.
often the most important persona
ges.
The general affairs of the govern
ment are controlled by several Boards
Of Directors, somewhat like The depart
ments of our government. Over all
these Boards the Emperor has estab-
lished Board of Censors, who see
that every duty is rightly performed.
Before the Emperor's palace is sus-
pended great gong, on which any
subject who has business Of grie-
vance, which he wishes to lay be-
fore the Emperor alone, is at liberty to
strike; and he can always obtain hear
ing.
The government being founded upon
the principle of tilial love, respect and
veneration is the strongest principle
of Chinaman's conduct. Unlike us,
they reward the parent for the virtues
of his children; naturally concluding
that none but good parents and worthy
citizens could bring up children in the
paths of virtue. The veneration of
the son for the father is SO strong, that
they are often known to entreat that
any punishment the father may have
incurred, be inflicted upon them in his
stead. Like the matrimonial tie with
US, death is the only separator; and a
Chinaman, sas Eneas from the flames
of Troy did old Anchises bear will
save the life of a father, though his
wife and children perish. Even when
dead their ancestors are the objects Of
deep veneration. Their tombs are
generally in the side ola steep hill,
and the phrase gone into the hills
signifies death and burial. To those
tombs the living often come to worship,
offering sacrifices of paper to represent
clothing, food, and drink, which they
believe acceptable to their deceased
ancestors. On leaving, they erect
little flags of colored paper, which hut-
tering in the wind all over the hill side,
present remarkable and pleasing
appearance. However ridiculous all
this may appear to US, we should re-
member that it is founded upon that
sacred command, delivered amid the
thunders of Sinai, Honor thy father
and mother
Mr.. w. described at some length
the visit of high officer to our Min
lister. When 1900 miles distant, he
sent word that he would be in Canton
in five minutes! At the end Of twenty
days (the five minutes ofhis Excellen-
Cyl the great man appeared, and
took up his abode in temple just out
of town, sending his visiting card to
Mr.. Cushing. All our modern refine
ment of cards, notes, letters, and circu-
lars, were in use by the Chinese, while
other nations were rudely scattering
their ideas on bark. This card, how
ever, was somewhat larger than ours,
being about the size Of a sheet Of paper.
An officers rank may be known from
the height at which he begins his name
in his billets; and the illustrious visitor
to Mr.. Gushing always took especial
pains to put the first letter of his name
precisely as high on the sheet as did
Mr.. c.. The Chinese begin at the right
hand corner of asheet and write down
ward, each letter being directly under
its predecessor. The size of the let
tiers in name also denotes dignity,
and sometimes a card is decorated
with letters large enough for guide
board.
One of our visitors was the Lieu
tenant Governor of the Quang Provin-
ces; a fine looking man, graduate Of
the State College, and in every respect
as well bred and polished gentleman
as would be met in any of the Courts
of Europe. Another visiter was just
the reverse, and would have been a
very fair representative of the NEGRO
mancer in Hudibras. He was, how
ever, widely celebrated far great talent
and erudition. On the last day of this
the Embassy partook Of a
formal dinner, which, like every thing
else in China, begun at the end and left
off at the commencement. The Treaty
having been concluded, and sealed with
the great State seal, (Which is of the
dimensions Of hat crown), and eight
copies in English and Chinese having
been properly made and verified, the
whole party sat down at dinner.
First came the wine, liquor made
from rice, somewhat resembling whls-
key. Their mode of drinking is to
seize the cup in both hands, rise about
half way up, look at their guest, drain
10 ,nn .+ . c;nr]e drauoh.. and turn the