New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-10-30


~ We embellished an hour yesiereven IN the
Chinese fashion-embroidering many fantastic orna
men, upon the dus,-colored back ground Of cur usual
dull routine. The Address Of Mr. WEssTKs WAS Of much
more than the usua! interest because j; wa. so more
than Usually accessible and TO the purpose There was
not lie Of pedAn,ry or Alteration in the whole Of Il
and the very ful and enlightened audience evi.
IDENTIFY in the most excellent hrmor with the speaker
The Address consisted principally Of facts and incidents
which fell under Mr.. Websiers personal observation
while on his recent oa visit 10 the Celestial Empire.
Mr. " began his address By few words relative - the
mission 10 China from our Goverumeni--ts purposes
history. Effects &c. &cand then passed 70 notice q
the Island Of Macao the fret place which the wanderer
20 China falls in with Macao . small, rocky proon
tory abou, 20 miles South Of Canton and connected with
he low sandy Island Of Honan. Macao somewhat re-
sembes Nahan; It Il ansien. PoFtlyue settlement
and contains about - 600 inhabitants Portuguese and
Chinese The former have three forts on the Island
and or the Northern end in wLca I. said that
Csmoens the great Portuguese poet Ero,e hs grand E
ic The Lusiad. wooden monument and esden image
Disgrace the spot On the South end several Chinese
temples ianiastcay built and hled with idols affairs
and other emb.ems Of their relgion-eTery thing the
idols particularly very pleasantly ornamea'ed with god
leaf and iinse In China there are three soFis OF rel
gion-ihai Of Confucus for the LEI ned and liberal
classes the religion Of Landsa. didn't eaten ms
name very distinctly and haven 70 test the correct
ness Of our speng) 0r the middle class and Buddhism
for the poor. The Emperor is an hereditary Baddh't
but il sls0 fol-. wer Of Confgcus There is proh
ton Of religion IL CHINA, any established state rc'
eion Not even the Christian religion would have been
prescribed had it no, been for the quarres among the
early missionaries themselves who after much pickering
had called in tac authority Of the Pope 10 settle the mat
ter THIS interference Of foreign poieniae in the al
fairs Of his KINGDOM aroused the Deepest indignation #
the Emperor sud its immediate result was the pronioi
ton of the Christian religion, under pain OF death,
throughout his empire. Mr. w then proceeded 70
institute a comparison between the Catholic religion and
the Buddhism Of the lower orders Of the Chinese Both
had the idols, images worship and prayer to saints
gifts e.. both burn incense; the priests shave their
heads SC. &c. The Chinese, however, are constantly
asking their gods and saints for the trivial things
and do pretend to perform any act Of the les't i'm
porancc without invoking their aid and protection In
every house is image of the God OF Longevity and
he is faithfully and de vouty worhped The Chinese
Pantheon is pretty extensive. Mr. w counted in sin
gle temple the images Of 60 doities The Chinese are
dcporaby ignorant on religious subjects, and Mr. w.
related having converted with one Of the lower
Z
such thing as future state of existence
The personal appearance Of the Chinese is Just
such as We see them pictured and when siran.
ger them Tor the hrsi time sirutting and "acdng
about with their long tail or queue dangling rom me
OF their shining polls his nrs and almost rfess
ibe impulse is catch hold OF these tails and pull their
owners over Mr.. W. gave very amusing account OF
an interview between his party and four Chinese den
taries who brought letter from the Emperor 10 the Em
bas.y The ceremonies were peculiar. flrst, the par
Ties with heir hats ths being the sign OF honor
Thee then the Chinese shook their hands AZ their
friends which another distinguished mark 81 polite
ness. Then the guests who were seated according 10
Chinese etiquette the In Of their hosts ~ishingtO be
profoundly complimentary selected choice utbis which
they pat with their own greasy chopshcks INTO our
FIRE d. mouths They were obliged 10 submit WIN
good grace this touching mark OF clyty and mad no
thing but retaliation IN kind and this they faithfully
practised Bat the GROWING ciyiiy was the close ana
minute scrutiny which their ustrous guests made OF our
friends cloihng-hats boots coats vests saspenders,
shirbosoms &c. This in China is regarded az the high
est honor which can be paid 20 scquantance-eN
cept to ask his age which was performed IN due
course this occasion. The Chinese didn't seem
/ % eat much-but they manifested a decided hiking
for barbarian Champagne and Cherry Bounce The Chi
nose al converse IN very loud voice ana, toward M
close Of the interview they seemed themselves 10 Dc
pretty nearly as elevated their voices After about
hours spent in such intellectual interchange OF ci
Whites. the august bearers OF the Imperial Letter TOOK
their leave-hsyin- served 10 fix ndel5ly the impress
sion that the Chinese are the very reverse OF US in eve
ryihinc, and that the Intellectual moral political and
civil obstacles 70 a closer union between the two people
are abOu, eQusl-The voyage from Macao 10 Canton
described being very pleasant and aluslon was
made the Floating City containing yOUOO inhabitants
all of whom i've continually on the water, and thou
sands Of whom never step foot on land rom birth to
death WhampOd very beautiful place, "a nine mics
below Canton and three below the barrier built across
the river keep oil the English The Guy OF Canton is
built on low ground with lofty hills on the East and
prominence in rear crowned with Tartar military sta
ton The population Of the City proper estimated at
between 100000 and 1000 ONbut 'he suburbs contain
probably as many Ia regard to the population of
the whole Empire Mr. W il disposed 20 receive the
statements of the Chinese themselves with more favor
than has generally been allowed them. He made com
parative calculation and estimate by which he proved
the capacity of China proper to subsist 2iOOOOOW-
while Chinese Tar,ary had probably population OF
20 900 OOO-thus overrunning the Chinese estimate,
which is 3o0OoOOO for the whole-ln regard
. TO the subject Of small feet, Mr.. Webster said
that the Chinese manifested much establishment
Al H. small Of the American women as these in
their small ee-wanted to know II such waists were not
very painful and dstressing.-They have a good many
beggars in Canton but not more in proportion than IN
European countries. The Government pursues rigid
course of nonntercrence in the affairs OF this favored
class. They entitled by law 10 visit any man house
n shop they please and make all the noise they can with
her neiaOus instruments Of music, until they get two
,dsh of him If he is obstinate they are patient II
he is all endurance they all perseverance, ana II
becomes a most ludicrous contest between tne most
active and persevcring annoyance the side and
appearance N least OF the most stsd indifference on
the other The Government OF China is patrarchal-a
U
not exercise powers extensive or so complete as
the Emperor Of the Chinese He i no, only the owner
Of all the soil and wealth in the Empire-he absolute
ar5cr Of the lives and fortunes Of his subJecis-the
originator and embodiment OF all law and Iustce-but
the mediator between Earth and Heaventhe direct in
ierpTeter Of God himself The Empire is divided into
Provinces. each of which has Governor appointed
by the Emperor and directly responsible 10 him
for The good order tranquility and virtue Of his Pro-
vince These Provinces suodiyided into DIS
cts, Towns and Hundreds each of which manaredb by
subordinate officer But the great characteristic 9th
Chinese Government and which peryades al lie rarf-
csons i that each department each member OF every
family, every individual smsie directly responsb bic for
the good conduct Of every else. II crime Is com
nitied. the whole town. district province Is held sc-
countsblc and the magistrates and officers especial
objects punishment Ii one member OF family com
.ts tneit the whole familysther mother, sons and
daughlers-are bambo0ed until the guilty coniesses
The Emperor acts the principle that, inasnueh as he
main aims the Government and exercises all the func
lions OF legislation and execution, the people whom he
thus contesccnd 10 honor ought 20 make any sacrifice
in order 70 aid him II the authorities visan and
impartial no crimes take place-ii parents do their
duty faithfully children Will be yirtuous this Is the i'm
pers dogma ana which Is very literally scted upon
t.-.. 81.