The national Republican., 1861-02-05

LECTURE AT THE SMrrHsoSrAN.-L. Wells
Williams, Esq, last night delivered the first
lecture of his course on China and japan, in
the presence Of large audience. The partic.
ular theme was the Literature and Govern.
ment of China"
The speaker remarked, in commencing, that
the literature and Government of the Chinese
Empire had depended very much upon the lit
erature of ancient times. In ipstituting COM
parison between the Chinese nation and our
own, it was only fair to make allowance for the
fact that one was a Christian nation, with all
the advantages of cosmopolitan principle,
whilst the other was u heather nation, remain.
ing isolated from the rest of mankind.
In the sixth century, China was, probably,
the first nation of the earth. Unlike the ear
liest records Of most other nations, they have
no supernatural history to look back upon.
They had regular graduation of mouarchs and
rulers of as much respect as any other nation.
One of the things calculated to affect their
prosperity was their geographical position.
Their isolation from the rest Of mankind, and
their consequent inability to receive the bene'
fits of a general interchange, were well calcu-
lated to increase their conceit
Their language and government were both
very peculiar. The people have slavish rev.
erence for their great writers. The entire num-
ber of characters representing the language
was varously estimated. Some put it as high
as 100000. The dictionary now most in use
puts it at 44,400 but Of these over $4,000 are
either obsolete or duplicates. In common use
there were not more than $4,000. No ordinary
scholar uses more than that number; and out
of this latter number, there were only seven
or eight hundred distinct sounds. Their books
show that only very few different characters
are really required.
One of the defects of this kind of Ian.
guage was, that they were unable to learn any
other by it. 1t also tended to weaken the judg-
ment.
In morality, the books of the Chinese com.
pare favorably with those of our own country.
China has escaped the evils of hereditary
priesthood. Its officers are chosen directly
from the people, and know their will. The
small towns had councils, whose duty it was TO
communicate any grievances, or make any
recommendations to the higher officers. Those
who do not rule according to the will of the
people, are instantly removed.
The Emperor was regarded as possessing
divine functions. He held exactly the same
position to the Chinese as the Pope does to the
Church of Rome - the vicegerent Of God on
earth. Up to the present time, China has had
two hundred and forty.three sovereigns and
has now its twenty sixth dynasty. Its history
processes to date back 1863 years-makng an
average of about nineteen aud a half years.
The two remaining lectures of this course
will. be delivered on Wednesday and Friday
evenings.
TAKING FORMAL LEAVE. - Ex.Secretary
Thompson took formal leave of the clerks in
the Interior Department on Saturday. He
left the city on Sunday morning. in company
with his family, for his home in Mississippi
The NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS IN THEIR New
QUARTERS OVER RAINEY's sSTABLE.-They hdrt
a small RoW to ra,y tile Poceedings.-Tha'
Hostler friend Of Ours still on their Track
Our friend the hostler, who has kept closely Oh
the track of this secession organization, fur
nishes us full report of their proceedings las,
night but, owing to the press of matter on
onr columns to-day, we are compelled to omit
O portion Of it.
The meeting was called to order at eight
o'clock BY the President, DR.. Cornelius Boyle
when there were just fortyeight members pres
ent.
Nominations for membership being in order
Messrs. G. w. Havenner, +. G. Miller, Breck
hart James McHenry, and George S. Wilkins
we're proposed. All were elected except tn,
latter, whose nomination, on motion, was laid
over for one week.
Mr.. Martin Latruite offered a resolution tina
they should apply to Gen. Scott for artillery, a
he thought they could do more service thar
those who were now in possession Of those al
t cle,. The motion was not recognised by tht
Chair.
At this stage Of the proceedings, Mr.. Jos
Craiger approached two gentlemen who wer
in the room, and accused them of not ben
members of the National Volunteers, and re
auested them to leave, accompanying the re
quest with the threat, that, if they did not, h
would put them out This request they politel
refused to acquiesce in when general fgh
ensued, in which Mr.. Jos. Craiger, Douglas
Cleary, and others, participated.
Order being finally restored in the stable
Mr.. Craiger arose and offered an apology to tn
association for his conduct He was unde
the impression that the two gentlemen ALLUDED
to were deadly opposed to the Democrati
party.
Mr.. Douglas Cleary also desired to make
personal explanation. He hoped the assoca
ton would accept his apology for his conduct
as he had the misfortune to have his coat tori
in the melee.
: A voice. I" You know you hit me when 20
J had no right to do So"
A resolution was offered, accepting the apo
ogy of the gentlemen alluded to, aud unan
lnously carried.
And, after several of the members ha
relieved themselves, by letting off dsunio
: harangues, the National Volunteers adjourned
without having that drill for which they ha
been called together.
The "hostler," who had good place fo
taking his observations, reports to us that tn
Volunteers looked decidedly" blue " last nigh
result, perhaps, of the Virginia election.
CIRCUIT CoURT.-Yesterday the jury in tn
case of W. j. Sibley and B. F. Guy rs. Clemen
Woodward, rendered verdict for the plaintiff
for $5l469.
W. J. Sibley and B. F. Guy ps John Wi
Nams Indictment for the plaintiffs for S5S. 30.