The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-05

Arabic numerical figures convey tho
same idea to divers nations, while
in spoken language they give them
different names. Two Chinese,
therefore, unable to comprehend
each others dialect, resort to the
expedient of making signs with their
hands of the ideas they wish to con-
vey, and are thus enabled to under
stand. | am persuaded that these
and other peculiarities of the ma
chinery of thought, speech, and writ
ten communication in China, giving
them an Interchangeable identity OF
literature, of IDEAS, of mental and
moral constitution, have contributed
more than any other cause to main
tain the stability and long Iteration
of the peculiar civil institutions OF
the Empire. The manners of the
Chinese are eminently courteous
they exhibit not only the substance
of high civilization, but its exterior
also to quite as great degree as is
found in Europe, except, perhaps,
in the single fact that ladies do not
enter into society, whereas laboring
women are abundant in the streets,
The people are fond of theatrical
operations representations and of
music, and means of gratifying their
propensities in this respect are very
frequent. Another frequent element
of their amusement is festival, or a
procession, religious, political or do
nestle. As to their morals, | am
not prepared to say that they are any
higher than in Europe or America,
but they themselves have, at any
rate, a very low idea Of foreign NOR
als-derived from seeing the con-
duct of Europeans, especially En-
glish soldiers and sailors in their
seaports. Missionaries particularly
the French, who have been admitted
into the interior, have often spoken
of this to me as one of the great OBJ
sticles to the making proselytes to
Christianity among the Chinese peo-
pie. AS well as courteous, the Chi
nese are an eminently intellectual
nation. They make vast use of
books, and the country abounds in
public libraries and shops for the
sale of literary works. have
catalogue of the imperial library,
which alone occupies ten consider
able volumes, and in every respec-
table dwelling house books are
found, as necessary article of fur
niture. The people generally rea-
son well, both in their conversation
and in their state papers; but they
have suffered great injustice from
imperfect or erroneous translations,
especially at the hands of the Eng
lish. From the intercourse it was
my fortune to have with them, !
formed high opinion of their ca
pacity, and indeed the organization
and stability of their government is,
to u considerable degree, proof in
itself, of their ability, intellectual
and political. In fact, talent can
scarcely fail to obtain among the
highest classes, since, socially speak,
ing, the scholars constitute the first
order in the empire. After them
come the agriculturalists, and then
the soldiers, artizans and merchants.
Pacific habits of intellectual, litera-
ry and artistic refinement, are in
deed the great characteristics of
the Chinese nation; while one chief
aim of the government is the promo
ton of tranquility. Hence the ia
cility with which handful of Eng
lish troops were enabled to dictate
terms to this great empire. And
this example should be a warning to
us of the United States not to be in
cited by utopian visions of continual
peace, to lose our martial spirit, and
with it, our independence.
The prevalent religion is nothing
but the worship of ancestors--if that
be religion--and Of the saints and
sages of the Empire, the same word,
shing-- signiiying both sage and
saint. Thus the great body of cul-
tivated men in China are destitute
of religion in one sense Of the word,
as implying certain sentiments of
faith and worship, applied to the
Deity. Meanwhile, specific rclig-
ions are tolerated and even protec-
ted by the government, from causes
of state. AS, LIST. Buddhism. There |
are multitudes Of temples of this re-
ligion, scarcely distinguishable in
interior arrangements-in the affairs,
the burning Of candles, the process
sions, the images, &c., from the
churches of the Syriac, Greek and
Roman denomination of christians.
The principal temple near Canton
is an example, and at Macao there
is a temple dedicated 70 the Holy
Mother, wonderfully like the Ro-