Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-07-09

| DEAR G---; You say truly that there
are thousand every day occurrences and sights
in a foreign land, which, if described in a ia
miar manner, would give you at home, more
correct idea of ones manner of living and the
customs of the place, than you could possibly
g!ean--rcferring to China-irom any works up
on the subject. The long and dry dissertations
we 50 often meet with in books OF travels, tend
ing to elucidate some abstruse point-perhaps
in the civil or religious history of the country de-
scrbed, or endeavoring to unravcl the hidden
meaning of embema, cal characters, are very
tircsome to me, and think must be so to any
but the historian or antiquarv. | frequently
find myself exclaiming over such dry-porsels--
'what in the name Of sense is the man driving
at, and of what possible interest can it be to me,
or the general reader, the settlement, even if
satisfactory of the point in question"
Generally speaking--in this country, the au-
thor makes flying visit. lie finds everything
here peculiar, and so different from what he has
met with before, that his senses are in whir of
excitement. He is confused with wonder, and
can only describe such things, as are most
prominent from their size and strangeness.-
These consequently force their impressions upon
his mind, to the exclusion Of much that is APP
parently insignificant, but which would prove
more interesting to folks at home, than dcscrip-
ton of things. with which they are probably ia =
miar. AS for residents they become after
short time, accustomed to these things ;-ob.
jects lose their strangencss, and suppose, if
they think oftllem at all, they think that what
is SO common to themselves will prove the same
to distant friends, or else is not worthy of des-
scripton. These, | take to be some ofthe rea-
sons why in notices of foreign places, there are
so little of the insignificant nothings, which so
add to the interest of book. and which would
form such an agreeable set-oif to the important
something's, with which people nowadays
think it necessary to fill them in order to give
them character.
There have been but few modern works of
merit written concerning China. Some of those
which have appeared within the last few years
have been-l do not hesitate to say--impositions
upon credulous public. Their chief and al
most only excellence, consists Of Undressing ex.
tracts and quotations from the work of the Jc.
suits, and in latter days, from such as Staun-
toms Embassy" and Daviss China" Even
this excellence is in many cases undeserv-
ed as no acknowl Judgements are made of the
sources from whence such information is deriv-
ed ] recollect one instance where the writer
huddled together his first ideas and impressions,
and without waiting to ascertain their correct
ness, committed them to paper. Several Of the
young gentry of Canton, taking advantage of his
creduiitv, favored him with considerable infor-
nation, and as You may fancy. imposed upon
him most cgrcgously. a knowledge of many
expressions in his book would convince its au-
thor of their misappcatuss. and could lac bot
know the ridicule to which they have exposed
him, would cause him no inconsiderable amount
of shame
4 hope YOU do not think that | contemplate
such an undertaking as a work upon China
assure you never entertained the most distant
idea of such a thing though to cay truth, if
were not so modest and dfdent of my own abil.
ity, | should like nothing better, for am con-
WINGED that could say nothing sufficiently pre-
posterous for" Brother jonathan to dsbelicve,
especially if had had the honor to be attached
to an Embassy, or clothed my remarks in the
wild extravaganza OF flnaticisn. How hollow
insnccrc and unjust is the world W hen buiioons
and hypocrites obtain credence, and are follow
ed, and patronizcl by crowds, to the neglect Of
real merit.
sat down with the intention of giving YOU
some little notion of every day appearance here
but have wandered into this DEPRESSION which,
has been drawn forth, partly on account Of some
questions and remarks in your letters, so | shall
make no excuse for its length. You wish me
to tell you OF the IIongs, viii try to enlightei
you on this subject, though doubt if ! succeed
TO your Satisfaction. Olc who looks upon Chi.
nese pictures of the Hongs and adjacent enclo.
sures, cannot obtain a very correct idea of them
owing to the absence OF perspective. The build
ings are situated in the suburbs, short distance
ina westerly direction from the city walls
Wat are generally called the American Hongs
have u small frontage of some three or toul
hundred feet and face the river from which
they are distant perhaps two hundred yards
+, They occupy, with the square, an oblone
shaped area bounded on the sides and rear BY
: Chinese streets, while the river flows along its
, front and bears upon its rapid waters such al
inconcevable number of craft, that, frequently
looking from our windows we are not able tc
. see any water in front of Us. Above and below
however, where the view is more extended, We
catch occasional glimpses oft
do not pretend to any accuracy in my dis
, tances indeed they are all guess work, and
= beg you will bear in mind throughout, that
D speak of things as they appear to me, and do no
aim at statistical correctness. On one side is
"old China street. and on tt,sOher Hog Lane
Directly before the Factories IS a narrow ave
: nue. which extends along their whole front, am
: communicates with the above named streets b.
: a gate at either end. Excepting gate or tw'
in the rear of the buildings, these are the onl
Il means by which foreigners obtain access to TIN
Chinese streets. allude to communication b.
5 land This avenue also serves as a thorough
> fare to the Chinamen, being snort cut, ~ thong
| heeVcTs are 1T tdCl tuu loI tilc pun
=, pose Of refusing admttance to idle characters
1t there is generally sufficient number congrcga
e ted before the houses-watehtng the movement
!. of the Fau-gnies Ito afford very satisfactor
II illustration Of their pryn. dispositions and dir
ty habits.
Separated from this passage by brick wal
s is the Square" the entrances to which ar
n several gates, mostly opposite the entrances t
70 the Factories. The Square is enclosed b
"a high and substantial brick walls extending fror
y. the buildings to the water, at which place ther
!, are one or two landings for boats. On the Eas
~ and separated from the American llongs b
ar Hog Lane" are the English Factories, inclu
n ding the Consulate. This is the ground former
70 ly tenaned by the Hon, 4. !. Company, an
~ the new buildings which now cover it are tn
20 finest foreign residences ever erected in Can
~ ton, aud may say in China, il except fe,
erectons in Hong Kong, Among the most nc
ted of the latter is the magnificent and princel
, =. residence of II. +. Sir John Davis, the Cove
a. nor OF Hong Kong. There he presdes in a styl
h. of Gubernatorial munifcence and profusol
of which, while it marks and dgnilies his exate
nd station, partakes somewhat of the character az
I'M peculiarities of the wealthy proprietor In b
es entertainments. perhaps the animal is made tc
l. subservient to the intellectual to suit the gene