Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-11-28
CHINA AND THE CHINESE.

The following excellent abstract Of a lee
tlre on this subject is taken from the New
huryport Herald:
THE introductory lecture before the Ly. |
ceum, on Friday evening, by Hon. Caleb |
Gushing, was Of an exceedingly interesting |
character, well worth the price of ticket |
for the whole course of lectures, to every |
nearer. Mr.. c. has much better opinion |
of the intelligence and capacity OF the |
Chinese, than those who have had no oppor.
tuni'y Of intercourse with that people have
been wont TO entertain. A large class Of
the people are learned as a nation they
arc industrious and ingenious beyond others,
the whole country is like a bee .hve.--
Learning has the first place in public es,i.
nation, and books are as numerous as in
Europe. a catalogue which Mr. Gushing
had in his possess ion Of a single library,
debated by the populace as much as in the
United States, and public opinion has as
much influence in China IN the govern.
ment as with us. The fatal error of the
Chinese has been in giving too epicurean
character to their habits and their govern
ment One illustration Of this cited, was
lllp ldCl Illdt DIT lilc NiOsC VI an w WV
another, the written salutalion is, Il wish
you tranquility and promotion They lack
only military skill and discipline to make
them powerful nation, capable OF repelling
invasion, or of overrunning contiguous coun.
tries; for no men are Drawer, or die more
fearlessly in the ranks. From the tone OF
Mr. Cushng's remarks, We should infer that
he supposed they would ultimately attain
I Iii NJ.
remarked, that the fate Of the Chinese should
be a warning to those u,opan dreamers
among US, who would devote all intellectual
and physical effort to the arts of peace, to
/ the extinction Of that martial spirit with
on, which Independence can never be main
tanned.
.Chine does not need any foreign trade
Within her own territory she produces ev-
cry thing requisite for the wants Of her pop
ula,ion. The imperial commissioner repeat
edly assured Mr. e. that this commerce from
the outset had been literally forced upor
them by the English AMI Am erlcans, ad
yeye'y to the interests aud the wishes o
, the Chinese government and people.
Newspapers, as well as books, abount
and circulate freely among the Chinese ant
The pekiu Gazette, particularly, penetrate'
70 every u ,rt of the empire. They annual!
nublish a Red Book, similar to our Blu,
Book, giving the names and emouments o
all public officers.
.In regard to the population OF China
Mr. G.. seems 10 be of opinion that the CHI
nese census DIES not ovcrrate the number
{ and that the three hundred and fifty millions
which they claim. is not far from the tru'
number. The Ia nd and the water OF
country, as large as Europe, teens wit
swarmne masses, liv ing alike in boats o.
the rivers and in hous.s. In the southern
"a ri of the country, two crops year ar
nro,luced, and the poorer ella Sses suossl o
lit,le rice, and the flesh G { dogs, cats rats
&c. 10 the cities and towns, thcrc arc u
carriage ways; the streets are only marrow
foot. paths, and no horses or one! oeas's
. burden are kept 10 require lars ranges
n.sturape. The population is crowded I'M
Inc narrowest limits, by long ccess'o
of ages of peace and industry. Inc cor
pensa,ion asked by the servants, VIII 'ch NJ
G.. in his character ,1f American ambas 'ado
EMPLOYED, was only ,fre dollars month an
: out OF this they found their own FOOD AL
0 c'ohing.
t THE Chinese have long been acqualnte
WIFI all inc linp'oNchIc' ~
= which Europeans pride themselves as IN
o inventors, with the exception only OF ID
e steam engine. Machinery has not oeen u
troduced among them, because OF the eiiec'
re it would produce among such crowde
ID population, by throwing immense hu'noe
y Of handicraftsmen out Of employment
l. Hence the success with which English az
;. American manufactures are sold there, no
r. outstanding the cheapness oiChlnese iaoe
Mr. c. intimated the possibility that inc
m troduc ton OF these foreign manufactures
ke the country, might, at some future Gay, pr
he duce The sa,ae change in China which =
n introduction OF machinery would and,
u, throwing out of employment great numoe
~ of workmen, cause a revolution IN the coa
ad try. lie expresses be'le'' however ~
M our commerce with China as suseep.a'
ry Of much increase that there was COW
icy great maratimc power engaged IN na''ga.
.ess The Pacific but that the United Sta
a. a. were destined to have an immense CO..
'k- mercs upon that vast ocean, ana 10 oc
mt great con; rolling power upon II. y, coa!'
u, we sunoose. he looks rot only for the
ne nexation' Of Oregon, but o. CalliornIa, !, a
by the whole: western coast OF Mes,co' ''''
By the consummaton Of this prediction.
w The wrong Impressions when nave
e., tanned IN regard 10 The Chinese cnasac.
s ed Lave been causeJ by the s1wsys o'"cu