Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-11-20
anterior to the history Of Europe, except the

language, aud is Of Portuguese origin. Mr.
Gushing here gave the three names by
which the Chinese designate their country.
and slso the English translation of them,
which, he said, were quite fauhy Two of
them are translated, one the "Centra Land"
the other the Central Flowery Land"-the
thlrIi escaped our ear. The Chinese Empire
consists Of two great classes of people-the
Chinese, who iDbabu eighteen provinces of
China proper, and the Tsrtars, divided into
the Maochou, Mongol Turtars, &c. IL has
been estimated that China contains q popula.
tlon Of 350, 900 900 sous-by many this estl-
mate is doubted, but hose who doubt con
cede a population Of $50 600 600, deducl'ng
ad hbifum from the census taken by the
Chinese themselves. A slight analysis Cf
the facts in The case will put an end Ia al
speculsiion. Ono will see 10 Cbina q vast
multitude Of human beings. all active and in.
dusirious. A comparison OF the territory o.
China, its climate, its laws, customs and
habits OF The people, with those Of other ma
tons, will soOu convince one that The empire
IL the seat ofa vast population. A porlion
OF China lies on the tropics where two crop-
are easily produced every season. No bs asts
of burden are TO be seen IN southern China
All transportation - carried on on the canals.
or on the backs OF men. The boats on the
canals are tracked by men-no horses are
IN be seen, except what are in use tor the
Tartar cavalry. ana but few buffaloes, which
are used Tor plonghlng some peculiar Soils
These iucis prove that The country Is capable
oi supporting a dense population. II il not
the ruse ~ China, as IA this country--they
have not To produce IN one crop sufficient to
support them the year round, or 10 sustain
beasts of burden, that Consume as much
men, the agricultural products ot the coun-
try. The lapd ls one entire cultivated gar.
den, cxc< the large grounds left for the
burial OF the dead. These facts would leave
nothing to deduc. from the estimation osihe
Chinese as to their own population. But
there are others. The abslemlousness of
the Chinese Is one. They also eat cats,
rats, dogs, &c. There Is an immense erni-
grafton constantly going forth. In southern
China there are more productIble articles OF
fruit than in almost any Other section OF the
globe. 1--WE understood Mr.. Gushing to say
that The banana produces as i;8 tu Of our
wheat, aud A to of our pulato)
TO recall to mind the population Of Europe,
will serve to dlspel any doubts one may en-
terrain as to the correctness of The estimate
OF The population oi China China covers as
largea space as Europe. and why not CON
tain az large population ?-If the nomadIc
regions Of the north are scarce IN population,
The tropical regions of the south make up for
the dehclency-lt Europe is capable oi sus-
taining $50, 100000 OF people, why not China
IA larger population, Possessed Of superior
advantages To Europe? To a European, ac-
cust"mrd to look at Europe divided into 90
distinct governments, with u population of
bnt $50 000000, the idea Of country under
one government, with population Of $50.
OS0,00O, Is perfectly astounding. .. .
When we CONSIDER the facts Of the i'm
m-u>e population OF China, that It's govern
meht and laws have endured tor centuries,
we co:ne to ask, wha, Is the form of It's gov.
rritneni, and what the principle Of It's social
urganlzation The exterior form Is a herrdl.
t"ry monarchy. The relgning sovereign
brars u particular name, not his own name,
but The name OF his reign, as 1t Is deemed
sacrilegIons to pronounce the name ot the
sovereign after he ascends the Throne. The
pronnnC and u may be said, almost the
ony principle of government Is the paternal
relaiioB-the emperor is called the father oi
his people. ind the idea of the paternal rels.
imn runs through all the habits, laws, and
customs of the people. II 10 o fiction not
with h-tuuding. bat-a hs~~,,t"' uur.
, The radical idea in the social organization
of the Chlnese, IL vcneratiou OF parGuls.-
Annual offerings are made at The graves Of
tnrir ancestors, aud children are most relent-
lrssIy punished by ihcIr parents Tor any dis.
respect shown 10 them.
The guveruin Ut CONSISTS Of the Severe IGN
"a Cabinet Council-Cuunci OF the Army,
the great general Cuunci,-six supreme
boards of Revenue, Rights, &c, Council of
the Tarars-Couuc,l tI the ssm,ersl lnspec
'lon of Ofhcers-:he high Court Of Appeals
C,nncils Tor examination OF Candidates for
public oihccs-Councilo Of The Governors, 81 c..
of provinces and The Army.
There 10 one curious fact in this organiZa-
iIon, aud that il. The expedlent adopted 10
secure the full submlss"n OF China to the
Tarars. The chB'se were permitted To re-
main j'Ist AS iliev were previous Ia the III
vssion, but a Tartar was appointed for every
Chinese IN the government, and this secured
The Tartar power
The sovereign power il uf religious as
well as q political character. When pre-.
scnled to the Emperor. the individual must
prUsiraie himself three times To the ground,
rising each time. and touching the ground
each time he prnstrates himself. This may
be seen golng on every day among The com
mon people IN the streets, who are constant
ly bowiEg at their nIlars, idols, &c. The
ccremony carries with II the idea Of total
submission, mingled, may be-, wuh religious
devotion.
The offices Of government are bestowed
upon merit, intellectual and mural-thry are
not hereditary. There are bu, few ti,uar
families, aud they are among the Tarturs -
they, however, enjoy no special privileges.
Scholars constitute the first rank in the
Empire. After passing the examinations
which arc most strict, The most mcrtorIous
are appointed TO the inferior offices Of gov.
ernment employ, destined through good be-
havlor 10 rlso the highest III the gilt of the
government. In China an official Is punish
ed by degrading him from his rank. H. this
country, in our navy for instance, the case is
different. fan officer behaves badly he is
suspended with or without pay, &C., but an
officer IL never degraded, as for instance,
from Captain 10 MIdshipman. IN Chns
tins ~ the mode of punlshnr 1t il the
unIv"rsal tenure OF office. And a man has
in commence anew, eligible again 10 the
hiuhr.t iii i'rs, If he conducts well.
Public npInIon IS as much regarded IN
CHINA IA ~ G,cai BIialn or the United
S'at-s. N"~~p,prrs abound, aud are read
a. much dS ~ lhis country. The Chinese
have their r.'d hu,k ~ we have our blue 7
hr,k Pamphhls. nb red Arguments, are
InihI,shcd "A. Nth a.. tnd lu further ANALOGY