Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-03

''''" 'he Wv toh Empress
Mr.. +. wEBsTER's LECTURE ON CHINA.


Broadway Tabernacle, by the announcement that Fletcher
Webster. Esq would deliver Lecture the country, the
customs anj the peculiartes Of the Chinese As Secrc
the Commission. 81 which the Hon. Mr. Gushing
the head, foT the formation Of commercial treaty with
that nson he was understood have had the best op
pornniy Ut informing himself all these topics. and the
"New York Lyceum," together with several gentlemen
Of the eiIy besides invited him deliver his lectures
the subject Asserting, he last night gave the first, and
Friday evening" will give tho second OF the course be.
fore that institution.
Announcement being made. this effect, by OF the
oicers OF the Lyceum, Mr. Webster took the desk
appointed hour, and proceeded the performance of
| task.
Macao he said, rocky promonio,y about mile in
width, which stretches the sea- the south side cf
the grea, bay into which the Pekan. Canton, empes
It's about ~ miles nearly south OF Canton, connected
by sandy beach with the great island of Honan
the northern end OF which lies opposite Canton For
general relations and appearances resemble the pro
montory OF Nahsnt, the well known resort
Boston This point, often spoken OF, is said by Mr.
Webster TO hold the reference the whole q. China
that small town the extremity OF Cape Sable in Florida
would have 10 tue United States.
Next To Russia, whose domlins occupy the whole
Northern circumference of the earth. almost entire
eirc China is the largest empire OF the world 1t extend.
from the 18th to the SD parallel OF north latitude. thirty
four degrees. IL reaches from the lI3l the 10Th
meridian Of longitude from Greenwich, IS degrees
Its boundaries seem prescribed by nature aluno.-
Ga the North, the great mountain OF Altar aud the
Gablonno separate from SIbers, along line OF three
thousand miles; the Pacific washes its eastern coast for
more than two thousand. The s;upendous Hmmelaya,
the Hndoo Coast and the Belou mountains couae it on
the South and West and divides from India and Al
ghanisian; and stretches towards the Aral and Caspian
seas an unascertaned extent, occupying the limits stated
The Chiness empire the whole Asia. 1t
is not with reference To that continent
designation which the Chinese give themselves OF the
Central tlowery Nation" The superficial OF Chi
than five millions of square miles. To form
idca Of what surface this IT, let consider that the
territories ct the United States extend north and south
tFOFn fh4t-a
Guiding Oregon Texas aud large portion OF Canada and
stretch between parallel lines from ocean, they
would not equal in size the empire OF China. Great
hNe described the phys dimensions OF China, this vast
circumference is foreigners. At point
only, its bonniess frontiers, IL be cnteed the
city OF Mamatchn, the Russian border, where the
rayans annually pass with tea.
There three chief systems OF religion in China
Those of Confucus Of Lao Tse and Budhas The former
IS the regiorIf the learned Chinese. Lao Use diff
fers not so much from the great Conucus make
any difficulty in uniting both crceds Buddhism the el
gon OF the uneducated classes throughout TIE empire
There IS no state religion in China properly speaking
The Emperor is hereditary Buddhist, follower o: the
Llama, but he is also follower OF Conueus. China is
tolerant of all religions, and only from the effects of
the unwso OF professors that the Christian religion
has ever been prohibited.
Mr.. Webster then on speak OF tho Buddhist re-
ision OF the uneducated classes The Buddhist temples
he sad, uch resemble those OF the Catholics least those
OF that faith IN Macao. They have images they worship
the Virgin Mother" they burn incense they offer pray.
ers Tor ;he dead they have and monks and indeed
SO general Is the resemblance as TO have caused much
noyance, II said, the early missionaries The Chinese
budhs however petition their gods TOT every thing
IN all the ordinary of life Beside the door OF every
shop little temple with image in it. In the houses
are paintings OF the god Of Longevity who de-
voted worship and others also for their Pantheon - large
AT one temple al Macao the eiges of siAy deities-
MI Webster said that he fel. into
saiion with ordinary Chinese the subject OF religion
As he pulled by the Joss house dedicated the god
dcss " the he told MIN he had been there that
ing 10 casa can! IssS meaning, Fay his deyoons-
Nh '" nielFesasd lin 10 order 10 learn how much OF
The iaiih aud doctrines OF Buddhism he really knew. The
DGShsis believe In Heaven ana Hell, and their books
describe with great particularly the condition VI BOTH
M '" supposed that the person with whom I've conversod
OF course advanced least but his surprise
he ie shook u would We impossible describe, find
ing himself ioF the first time in the presence OF human
oeing VINO had never heard Of future OF existence
giving n an des Of Wa rs, eoee NJ. l'!ian ofi
omitted to Instruct him IN. lie described to him future
condition, when for good conduct in this world far
he knew hu should be forever freed from the sIengs aud
trials he suffered the e here Thatthen he should feel
no want Of food Or clothing, need OF daily toll and
pensc, no cold, nor heat thirst, fatigue Lad
rob him. petty Mandarins to oppress him. no
stormy winds and raging waves:
mo midnsh shade, no eIolded sun,
Bat sacred, high, eternal noon"
lie panied Tor lin rather an Indian Heaven
Admitted TO that equal sky
His iai,hiu. dog shall bear him company"
only Remained: W all this for Chinamen for Amer
leans "a fear Mr. W. was easily able to remove.
Mr.. Webster proceeded 10 describe the PARTICULARS
OF an interview between the American Minister and
high Chinese functonares. An imperial edci announced
their coming. After while, dscordant noise,
panied By loud cries at intervals, heard, and the Amer
uuctOnares looked from the blinds Of the verandah
the approach OF the vsers. Two Unlocking Eel.
lows, with wrs caps their hca5s, Of them with
WHIP aud The other with in s hand led the pro-
These men the execuuoners who always
a al
dressed and very dirty soldiers, with speara ard shields
and nabeFis. Then man or two on wretched ponies,
whose hair stood out in all directions, and whose
and tails ignorant of brush and curry comb then
band Of music and then ibe sedan chairs OF the great
themselves. They four IN number oil large and
fine looking persons dressed in ghLcoloed Grape gowns
seneG round Iheir by blue grdes and buckles
precious stones. The Amecans stood receive them
VIII hats on, for il - Chinese etiquette to be covered
marx Of respect They entered with their caps on dis.
playing sS! red and blue buttons and peacock athors
The button fastened the top ct the cap and the
Their hangs down behind. Tboy approached shook their
own hands at US, and the chief among them presented the
the letter the Minister Ca receiving H. he motOned
them be seated aud take oil their caps which, obser.
wing carefully the movement Of the Americans and keep
ing exact time with them they did One Of the Iniorpro
tiers now reed The eer and alter short interval OF silence,
such sort OF conversation cn be carried by ntsrpe-
ters and looks and signs, took Place. The G;s cigiy
was on their part asking our Names this Information being
given and rCcprCc1ed they proceeded TO shock
tons Of good breeding by asking our ages. They re.
turned these c'yiliies IN like form. luncheon
came next; the guests being seated the left which,
IN China, il The place q honor. Chop sticks had
teen provided for a and the rst pertinent Of the Amt-
means with them delighted their guests that they could
not refrain from laughter. They showed little inclination
TO cot, but decided for the Bosionian liquors. cham
pagne and cherry bounce. very red.fnced gentleman
ManicnoO Tartar, Disposed Of half dozen iuDbcrs Of
bounce IN many minutes 1t s customary empty the
glass when drinking with friend, and they each drank
with al the Americans they became gradually elevated
their voices which, conversation Mr.. Webster raid
ct the highest pitch. One unavoidable ciylity, Mr..
w. said, n TIC Americans would have gladly dispensed
with 1t - the fashion fOf 0,cGy help himself with
his cnop sticks from any dish the table which no
fo1ch and whch he feels dosrOus Of offering ios
mona Of particular regard well respect, he reaches
and 5e4eg something with his chop stick and mo-
honng 70 the individual iOG whom be designs the ayOF to
open his mouth, put tho morsel, whasyef ~ -. between
his teeth. Is they not peculiarly nice 10 IIer elung
and their teeth are by peay this part Of the CO.
remOny would have been gladly dispensed with IL was
however, not 70 be escaped oil that left was fetaa
Ton, which they immediately praeused. After an hour OF
isbe Of shouting conversation their part nGd of nods
and bccks and wreathed smiles tho other, lhey all
"a lao Iah ho