Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-11-07
From he NeW York Express.
MIR. +. WEBSrERS LECTURE ON CHI

would deliver a Lecture o. tn coIntry. the
customs, AMI til, pccuii ritics of the Chinese.
As Secretary To tn, Commission. of which
the Hon, MIR. Cushing WAS the head, for On,
formation o' d commercial treaty with that
nation, hd wa, understood tn have Ina. the
best opportunity OF Informing himself ON all
these topics, and the New York L,c,um "
together with several gentlemen of the city.
besides, invited him u oliver his lectures ON
the subject. Asserting, h. las, night, gave
the first, and on Friday evening, will give the
second of the course, before that institu-
ton.
Announcement being male, to this effect.
by one ut the ofi ,ers ot IN Lycsum. Mr..
Webster took the desk. at the appointed hour
and proceeded to the performance of his
task.
Macao, he said, was a rocky promontory A.
bout a mile in width, which stretches out into
the sea, ON the south side of the great bay
mo winch the Pcklau, or Canton, emptics.
III II about 40 miles nearly south of Canton.
Is connected by a narrow sandy beach with
the great island of Honan, the northern end
oil winch lies opposite To Canton. For its
general relations and appearances il must re-
semblc the ~promontory OF Nahont, the well
known summer resort near Boston. This
point, 80 often spoken OF, is said by Mr.. Web
ster To hold the same reference To the whole
OF China that u small town on the extremity
OF Cape Sable in Florida would have TO the
United States.
Next to Russia, whose vast domains occu-
Ply the whole Northern circumference OF the
earth, i'll one almost entire circle, China is the
largest empire OF the world. 1t ex,ends from
the 18th 10 the 52d parallel OF north latitude,
thlrty-iour degrees. Ii reaches from the ll3d
To The 10Th meridian OF longitude from Green
wlch, 20 degrees Its boundaries seem pro-
scribed by nature alone. On the North, the
great mountain ranges of Altai aud the Cab
lonnoi separate II from Siberia, along a line
oil three thousand miles; the Pacific washes its
eastern coast Tor more than two thousand.-
The stupendous Himmelays, the Hindo Coast
and the Bclon mountains Coniinc it OH the
South and West, and divides il from India
and ,Aitghanistan; and streatches towards the
Ardl and Caspian seas an unascertained extent.
occupying the limits stated. The Chinese
empire covers the whole centre of Asia. IL
Is not with reference 10 that continent, am in
appropriate designation which the Chinese
give themselves of the Central Flowcry Ma
ton" The superficial extent of China is
more than five millions of square miles. To
iorm an Idea OF what d surface this is, let us
consider that were the territories of the Uni
ted States TO extend north and south from
Their extreme Northern points, from % TO
oil North, including Oregon, Texas, 81 large
portion oil Canada and stretch between parallel
lines from ocean 10 ocean, they would not e.
quail IN size the empire of China. Great as |
have described the physical dimensions of Chi
ma, this vast circumference Is impcnetTable
10 foreigners. At one point only, on its
Doudless frontiers, can IT be entered; at the
city oil Mamatchin, on the Russian border,
where the caravans annually pass with tea.
There are three chief systems of religion in
Clhna. Those of ConfuCius of Lao Use and
Budhas. The former is the religion of the
most learned Chinese. Lao Use differs not
so much from the sage Coniucius as TO make
any difficulty in uniting both creeds. Bud
hism is the religion of the uncduca ted classes
throughout the empire. There is no state re-
igion III China, properly speaking. The En-
peror Is q hereditary buddhist, a follower of the
Lama, but he is also a follower OF Confucius.
China Is tolerant of religions, and it is only
from the effects OF the unwise course of pro
lessons that the christian religion has ever
been prohibited.
Mr.. Webster then went on to speak Of the
DNN"ioN i'iiSiOh vi ilt ulltunCGkcO CluSSpS.
The Buddhist temples, he said, much resemble
those of the Catholics, at least those of that
iaith in Macao. They had images; they wor-
ship the Virgin Mother" they burn incense;
they oiier prayers for the dead; they have nuns
ana monks: and indeed so general is the re-
seInblance as 10 have caused much ANNOYANCE,
IT Is said, 10 the early missionaries. The
Chinese Budhists, however, petition their
gods for every thing, even in all the ordinary
matters of lie. Beside the door of every shop
Is a little temple with AN image i'm il. In the
houses are paintings OF the god OF Longevity,
who receives devoted worship, and others al
so, Tor their Pantheon is large. AT one tenn
pie at Macao are the elilgies OF sixty dcitics.-
Mr.. Webster said that on one occasion he fell
INTO conversation with an ordinary Chinese
ON the subject of religion. AS he pulled by
the Joss house" dedicated to the goddess of
the sea, he told him lie had been there that
morning to ''chin chin joss meaning, TO nav
his devotions.-Mr. w. Intercepted him i'm
order TO learn how much of the faith and doc
trlnes OF Buddhism he really knew. The Bud
hIsts believe in a Heaven and He'll. and their
books describe with great particularly the
condition of both.-Mr. w. supposed that
the person with whom he convcrsed of course
was advanced so far at least, but to his sur
prise, he felt a shock il would be impossible
W NN|N'ioN III hiuihb HlHIS'il iOI TIE INST
time IN the presence oi a human being who
had never heard OF a future state of existence.
Although not Il missionary, Mr.. w. could
not refrain from giving him an idea Of what
his priests and all others had omitted to in
struct him in. He described to him a future
condition, when for good conduct in this
world, as far as le knew, he should be forever
freed from the suficrings and trials he suffered
IN the life here. That then he should feel no
want OF food or clothing, no need Of daily
toll, and expense, no cold. nor heat, nor thirst.
nor fatigue; 10 Ladronos TO rob him. no petty
MandaranS to Cypress him, 10 stormy winds
aud raging waves;
"No midnight shade no cloudcd sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon"
lie painted Tor hnn rather an Indian Heaven
Admitted 10 that equal sky,
His faithful dog shall bear him company"
lie listened to this all with a plist,ni,,