Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-11-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
LECTURES ON CHINA,
Delivered in NJ Y. City by Fletcher Webster, Esq.
FIRST LECTURE.
[Trom the New York Cou Ter and Enquircr.l


Expressing at the outset the extreme difficulty
of rendering an hours discourse upon so vast and
lnitess theme at all interesting, he proceeded to
say. in presenting narrative of the Legation Of
the United States with which he was connected,
that they landed on the Odd of February, 1874, at
Macao town upon the rocky promontory about
a mile in width, which stretches into the bay which
receives the Keang river seventy miles south of
Canton resembling i'll situation Naant, contain
INC 10000 inhabitants, and bearing to the empire
of China about the same proportion that small
town on Cape Sable, at the southern extremity Of
Florida, would bear to the U. States. lie said the
town was an ancient Portuguese settlement the
Portuguese hiring It, at settled ground rent from
the Chinese having three forts and an army of 400
men; each nation has custom house, and each
exercises municipal authority over his own people.
The principal street is very pleasant: the others
are about eight feet wide, exceedingly dirty and
dsagreeable.
Next to Russia, China is the greatest Empire in
the world. Extending from the 18th to the SD par
ael oflati,ude, and from the l43rd to the 10th me
rldlan of longitude, It's boundaries are those of ma
ture only having on the north a frontier of 1000
miles, and on the Pacific of 1000, and stretch
ing to the north and west beyond Persia, and to a
limit as yet unknown. 1t seemed not at all i'm
probable in Mr.. Webster's judgment, that all the
smaller states even to the Caspian sea- are in some
respect, part and parcel of the Chinese Empire =
the case of England, Ireland and Scotland, such
identity is not essential even in the same empire.
But a similarity Of customs, laws, &c. make ii
probable at least that these states are for certain
purposes subject to the government of China
The empire covers the whole centre of Asia. Ii
has a superficial extent of over five millions Of
square mes--more territory than would belong tC
the United Stltes, should they stretch trom % t.
54 degrees of latitude, embracing Texas, Oregon
and great portion Of Mexico aud Canada anC
from the Atlantic to the Pacific in breadth. There
is one tenth Of the land surface Of the globe unde
the sway of single power. And yet the Chinese
are not unambnious Of conquest; for more than
hundred years ago, one of her generals boaste
that but for the rgour Of the season he would hay
carried his arms to Rome
And the whole Of this vast region, except in
single spot, the town Of Mamatchin, on the Rus
sian border is imponetrable to foreigners for eve
the five open ports on the Pacific are only rest
ing places for those who trade in that region, an
all entrance to foreigners beyond is strictly pre-
hibited.
At the north end of Macao is The cave wher
the Portuguese poet CAMoENs, is said to hay
composed his poem called the LuSiad 1t is a re
mantle spot formed by down fallen rocks, and NJ
on it with eXecrable taste, the Chinese have cree
ed a wooden cupoa, and leaden bust. At III
South end is a Chinese temple, situated in IL sp
equally romantic, but built and adorned with
classic and exquisite TASTE Here we saw ii
Moon Cute, as 1t is called circular gateway OPP
ming from one enclosure to another. Here, TO
are granite dragons, each with large loose ball
stone in his mouth, which must have been carve
from the solid mass, it could not have been i
troduced from without In this temple, were
tars, idols, metal pans, on which incense was bur
ed, flowers of gold and silver leaf and gre
variety Of ornaments, all left open to our inspe
ton, and even to plumber, had we chosen to abu
the hospitality extended 10 us. All the idols we
female, as the temple was dedicated to the Godde
o. the Sea.
There are in China three chief systems of re
glon, that OF Coniucius, Louisa and Boodha. r.
former Is far the most learned of the Chinese,
being IN fact rather moral code and n most a
mirable one too, than a religious creed. The Sc
ond differs from this but little and the Boodh
religion is for the lowest and least educated elias
es. There is no state religion in the Empire IT
Emperor is a Boodhist, or Follower of Fo: bur
he Is also follower OF Confucius, China is tolera
OF all religions; and it was only in consequence
the quarres and bad conduct of its professors, tt
Christianity was ever forbidden. The early Cat
ole priests were extremely well received; tn
learning and science were highly esteemed tn
teachings were allowed members even ofthe re
al family were converted to their doctrines; a
there was good prospect that the empire wol
become converted to Christianity.
But the priests divided into two parties one f
bidding, and the other allowing the Chinese to D