Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-18
Mr.. Fletcher Webster's First Lecture on
China.

A large and intelligent audience in the Taber-
nacle, Wednesday evening, listened with great
interest and high qualification to Mr. Webster's
lecture, which depicted in vivid colors the scenes,
customs, manners and government OF China, and
impaired in perspcuous style and unaffected
manner, that kind Of information in regard to this
ancient, peculiar and remarkable people which we
are most DESTROYS to learn. We are so remote, as
not perhaps duly to consider the vast extent ofthe
Chinese empire. The United States, with Ore
gon, Canada and Texas, TO the EXTREMIST boun-
dairy, would be less than China, which if Chinese
Tartary be included, embraces the great body Of
Asia and contains, 5,000,000 Of square miles, or
more than one-tenth Of the surface OF the globe.
This vast circumference has been well nigh i'm
penetrable to foreigners and even now, beyond the
five Ports, the Empire is carefully guarded against
any intrusion. The three religious systems pre-
valent are those of Confucius, of Fo, and Boodh;
the first being mostly for the learned and the last
by its idol worship and various rites and supersti-
tous ceremonies gathering the rude and Ignorant
masses in its train. There is no State Religion.
The disposition Of the Chinese is for federation.
There is strong resemblance in the temples oil
Boodh and many of the rites and ceremonies and
peculiar dress Of their priesthood, to those of the
Chinese Catholics. Originally the Jesuit mission
but controversies among them, and the interference
of the Pope, regarded as an intermeddling with
State affairs produced, as did similar causes in ia
pan, their expulsion. BY the 18th article Of our
late Treaty, leave is granted to erect chapels and
churches. The lecturer paid worthy tribute to
our distinguished missionary, Dr. Parker, who
he observed, enjoys in an extraordinary degree
the respect and confidence Of the Chinese. The
Boodhist, instructed in his faith, believes in
heaven and hell, but the knowledge ofthe com
mon people is well nigh confined TO the rites OF
their idoatrous worship. The Lecturer on one
occasion conversed with man Of the common
class, and found him totally ignorant Of future
state. He was informed Of the true doctrine on
this subject, and exhibited the greatest surprise.
On one occasion il was announced that four
Chinese officers Of rank would visit the American
Ambassador They were preceded by two exc
cutioners, one armed with whip, the other with
an axe, next by several poorly clad soldiers, then
by two equesrians, on wreched ponies, who knew
nothing Of the brush or the cuTycomb, immediate
" following which in their sedans, were the great
persOnages themselves. They were large, good
looking men, in rich silk robes, adorned with pre-
cious stones, and the tail OF a peacock hanging
from each of their caps, which are not removed
when introduced; il being civil with them to re-
tndlu cOfeIeus luSy NcIC fSl( SaiOiui w oD9Si W
the movements Of the foreigners, and TO take their
seats at exactly the same time with them. Their
first inquiry was the health of those they visited
and next for the age of each one present. Then
conversation was very loud, so that they might
readily be heard in the street. AT the lunch, i
being polite to leave nothing in the glass when
drinking with others, the excitement of the cham
paigne, &c., increased the vvacity and loudness
of their conversation. AS part of their civilty
at table, they seized their food with their choT
sticks, while the Americans must needs open thelI
mouths and suffer il to be thrust into them. The
only reliefwas to retalate as far as possible AT
ter this meal they examined every article of the
dress of the strangers, and civil return expect
ed all the articles Of their own dress to be exam
ined
The lecturer described in a very particular
manner bis voyage from Macao to Canton; the
Notifications at the mouth of the river (where the
banks are high, and separated by not more thar
cannon shot distance) which were taken by tht
English, who landed not far from them, and march
ing to the top of the hill found these ionifcation
below them, and those within, entirely exposed L