New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-24

EXTRACTS FROM An INrEREs ING LETTER FROM Az
AMERICAN PROFESSOR AT PERING-A PROGRESS
sIVE SPIRIT IN THE EMPIRE.

EXTRACTS FROM An INTERESTING Letter ih'i 49,
AMERICAN PROFESSOR AT rERING-A PROGRESS
sIVE SPIRIT IN THE EMPIRE.
uY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
WAsufSGroN. Dec. pa letter written by DR..
w. A. T. Martini president Of the Tung Wen kwan,
or Impcrial College at PekinC, China, to our
Minister Mr. George !. Seward and by the latter
forwarded to the state Department, presents
very promising outlook for the cause Of education IN
the East 1t will be read with pleasure 10y those
who feel an interest in the progress of the people OF
that quarter of the world toward higher ciyiliza-
ton.
DR.. Martin Is an American Of high literary and
scientific attanments. Most Of his life has been
passed in China, and he has acquired knowledge oil
the language. literature. laws aud customs OF that
nation which is probably not surpassed ny any Other
foreigner The institution over which hc pIcs'deS
has been in existence about fourteen years In ITS
first days it was the object of bitter opposition
from the old Conservatives who, in memoriasto the
throne predictcda sorts OF dire National c1lamaties
as the result of tins innovation. II is maintained
entirely at the expense Of the Imperial Government
The students are selected by competitive eXanna-
ton. and receive monthly allowance, varying
from 70 20 $40 with board, which is furnished by
the college during their attendance. D.. Martin
was appointed 10 lie presidency by Prince hung IN
1850.
I'm forwarding hi, letter. Minister Seward says;
ILaye every reason % believe tho ne mos! lniuan-
taI men of Tie Government are G,cpy interested IN iHc
COLLEGE, and iuat tu'y appreciate Hc efforts "i D. A1liH
aud is associates more pei,yc'y ,t! o,rr ] ~ Us
Icocauiz. the fact that this country t"r 9.Hnd joe
gpulre, since he war Of $500, more particularly jig
;1r'rs TtCy thought az FIRST mat it would BE
enough or them 10 for,-n appliances, either tho,a
rur.aSad abroad on those constructor mere 81 t'i l'I-E
models; bui thew age gradually learning tlat ihrr. cq
hr go satisfactory dcyc'upmca, which iS moi icuHeI
upou education aud the diffusion of kno"itdGe 30 we
have Their first poor beginnings the Educational Mi,ioh
10 The United STATES important cnou. 10 it-ti}ci toe
htt for great Empire ~ n. conajinn OF I 5,s one an"
tine hic-,choo OF WAcd aia wiring }Nt tHcl aIt
.!aiir.~ and there is tha in the toscS ol cNZtt"u
Which viii realize them ana make them lhe beginning
Of q time.
The following is from the letter of Dr.. Martin:
Tine operations of this institution are res.itc,e -
LI location gives it importance, and its Influence is
,,1,l an Inc increase. We have on our rolls lGl
/ ti'i.ty-ci-it; in the cnch school, twenty
titif. in the German school scycutc Il; in the
HG.a9 on 4So or these fN are IN thc ~ -o
tI- dtpatueut, and diyIdcd tween the classes OF
most Of tcu making ne Of text books n foreign Ian
ua..s Tie standing 81 tie,o last ~ Chinese scholar
tan twenty of tE1u have been admitted To- comrcc ior
tlc higher degrees I'D NC A!"h"''A' 10. tAr aI-
wee. and That rcc of thcm have Tou to second degree
aud one las taken the ho"os OF The tbd or highest OF
NJ hayc Ten professors Of whom six foreigners
and four Chinese and when oar corps Of instruction
completed, bv the AIluG o chf no" vacant, We sha
have even TO these are To he added three gular tutors
sIc The giving and receiving Of instruction which
naturally constitutes tie Chief work OF school, Ouf pro-
are largely employed M me preparation q Dooks
IN which tLcy are aiitd by cur moe ""Nctd slue''
Works ON physics, chemistry and diplomacy, translated
mostly from foreign texts. thu prepared nave heeii pub
usgri under tbs auscc of the College; and the French
Code universal history Mooscy' international Law"
ANA other books ar no" iap'c translation. NchaVe
within cur grounds rrniin5 ciiee winch goes hy the
name o! the COLLEGE Pres" with fonts OF type, h1tn
Chinese and Roman aud six hand presses. While d0ng
Official Wotk uhdcl'"c uI.c'i"h Oh t'o IoiCSu CHc',
This establishment is designed pa part iOg the printing or
transactions mad, by our professors and students. BE
side the books above mentioned d has recently issued
reprint 81 oiG work on NdtAcnatic, and D. DOW
gi-d u printing auto-ralmc poems OF tIe Emp"lois ot
Our students aIe M REGARDED in preparation for The
Government scri go aid are supported 90 the expense OF
the Government, somewhat as the cadets i'm American
military schools. II Is only lately, however, that they
Oae OF ihc,u has been scut 10 the Province Hunln
eNam.n,r Tor mathematics, The opening of sucu exam
! facl. Two of them lave gone rs Interpreters win the
Embassy 10 England Two have been named Tor Amer
ion: and Others will be connected with the Consular r-
vice orattached t. the legations TO bc csab-hed
in tic various European capitals. The cstablsnm,p Of
! thrsD two services opens 10 young men an honorable,
career of winch until recently they had prospect and
onr youug institution accordingly feels the influence Of
! ibs new movement as "a garden feels the breath Of
! Spring
OF recent changes for the purpose of extending
! the usefulness Of the college, DR.. Martin says:
sters have been taken to I'LL our vacant chair OF as
tronomv 10y the appointment Of Professor Mark arung
ton o Michigan University The number Of our students
il 1 lac increased by the drawing OF regular cves from
! the Government schools at shanghai aud Canton A
curriculum OF studies extending over eight years, has
| hCcu tolbIi bcd hy authority OF the Tsung Ii Yamcu
In conclusion resist tine conviction that the
Tmg Wen College after an infancy OF seven years, fol
Lowe, by seven years struggle for existence. is now IN
ie1ng on an era Of comparative prosperity. The high
authorities Of the imperial Government take an iHcTcas
me int rest i'm It. ucctss and the fiEa examinations of
The Chinese wear were attended for three days in
cession by Cabinet Ministers and heads Of departments
! WHO constitute the Council for Foreign AhaHs.