The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-13

CHARLES LAMB once confessed to an almost femi-
nine Partially for old China; not indeed. for the
populous empire of that name, but for that delicate
semi-transparent ware, in the manufacture of which
for many centuries, JOHN CHINAMAN had no rival
The quaint English humorst declared he had no
repugnance to those lawess azure-tnctured gro
tesques, that under the notion of men and women
float about, uncircumscribed by any element. in
that world before perspective-a China tea-cup.
lie loved, he said, to pore over the picturesque
anomalies deneated upon China saucer-''the
''men with women's faces, and the women, if
possible, with still more womanish expression.
Here, young and courtly Mandarin handing
tea from salver to lady-two miles off Here
the same lady, or another-for distance is iden-
''hty on tea cups-is stepping into "A little fairy
'boat, with dainty mincing foot, which, in a
fright angle of incidence-as angles 90 in our
"world-must infallibly land her in howery
'mead-a furlong off the other side of the
''same stream. Further on-if far or near can be
'predicated of their word-see horses trees,
'pagodaS, dancing the hays. Here a COW and
"rabbt couchant, and co-extensive-so objects
'show, through the lucid atmosphere
'of fine Cathay." Now, there is, in this
description of the world of Chna-ware. much
that is applicable to the Flowery Kingdom
itself. The manners and customs of the people
are as opposite TO our own as it is possible to
conceive. They are antipodal to us in more
senses than one. Their ways are certainly not as
our ways nor are their thoughts as our thoughts:
yet they reverence old age, are keen traders, DOS
sess the mimetic faculty to perfection, and in the
arts and sciences have made many important dis
coveres. Notwithstanding these points of resem-
blance, Cathay is paradox-a singular compound
of barbarism and refinement of courtesy and tiger
like ferocity; of learning and ignorance of pride
and self-abasement-a all of which are found
strangely jumbled together like the '1itle awless
azure tinctured grotesques' which CHARLES LAMB
delighted to contemplate on the surface of a China
tea cup. What can be done with a people who
are a law unto themselves; whose number is lepion
and whose supreme head is supposed to be so far
elevated above common mortals, as to render it
impertinent in any one to expect that he should
descend from the contemplation of his own perfec-
ton to take an interest in mundane affairs? Why
should he trouble himself further with civil
war in the provinces, than to issue an imperiaJ
decree condemning the rebels to death? Beyond
this it is the business of the Mandarns; not that of
the "brother of the sun and moon' Let them
look to it, and, above ALL let them ''hear tremble
and obey" But if the rebels won't submit to be
flayed alive; to be tortured with red hot irons.
sashed to pieces with knives; or even consent to
be expeditously decapitated, and if the Tartar
buttons, and blue buttons, agree by common con-
sent, that prudence is the better part of yaloru
what remains for their Imperial Master but to ac
knowledge the truth of the axiom: commend tbe
wisdom that reduced it to practice hurl another
volley of anathemas at the pig tails of the NAL
contents, and then-relapse into sublime indiffer-
ence? Now it may be all very well in that quarter
of Eastern Asia TO carry on Il civil war in a civil
sort of a way-to march great army with ban
ners against another great army with ban
ners, and, hating them at a respectful distance
from each other strive o fright the souls of fearful
adversaries by unurling pictorial representations
of horrible dragons, and by raising horrible din
and canor, ending, finally, in a rush on one side
and run on the other; but when quarrel arises
with outsde barbarians such tactics do not avail
much. Yet it is marvellous with what stoicism
they witness their junks blown into the air,
and their forts knocked about their ears They swim
ashore from the former, and run across the paddy
fields from the latter, and they find them
selves safe from shot and SHE'LL they resume their
old swagger and bravado just as if they had made
glorious defence and were entitled to exult over
their victory Of course the Emperor at Pekin is
kept, as far as possible, in happy ignorance of the
disasters that beial his generals. If the s'barba-
rians'' become so troublesome that it is absolutely
impossible to conceal from the Imperial perception
the knowledge of their presence, and the fruits of
their handiwork, the damage they have done is
CLOSED over; the losses they have sustained are
magnifed, and the nature of their demands toned
down until they adapt themselves to the exquisite
sensitiveness of the royal ear. When matters f.
nally reach this point, an edct from Pekin, ever
million" all over, admonishes the foreign devils
to cease their acts of mpertnence under penalty of
determination, and if they still obstnately persist
IN knocking things about, in spite of the Imperial
injunction to the contrary, Commissioner is APP
pointed TO treat with them who procrastnates ne
go'anohs as long as it is possible TO do so, and in
lie e'lu makes such concession as he cannot avoid
Sucn heretofore has been the cred tapen policy of
the Ceestais; whether it will be submitted to anv
longer YET remains TO be seen. After MANY DELAYS
before Canton, the allied fleets have salad north
ward, have crossed the bar of tho po; 10 -.
@l1nf n,f. at, 80, =