Russian Mission In China.
The Times, 1824-01-17T00:00:00

(XXT3iAV,T OF'A UxTTER FROM sr. PETERSBURGH, bATZrr DECE1IME:i 12.) None of the European Powers have more regularor more uninterrupted Telations with Chipa than Russia.' These rel2tions have subsisted on the same footing since 1728, or since the conclusion of the first commercial ticaty betweez- the two em4pires. By this treaty the Russian Government has the right of maintaining at 1'ekin a hotel, two churches, an archmandrite, with four ecclesiasties, and as- many.young men destined to acquire the Chinese and Mandehou lan. gutges, for the purpose of serving, on their return, as in. terpreters 'on the frontier or in the offices of the Mfilnister for Foreign Affairs. By the stipulations of the original treaty all these peraons should reside at Fekix only for ten years, but generally the ecclesiastical suite ant the pupils of' language remain for thirteen years. Till lately little attention was paid Io the kind of persons select- ed for the Chiniese mission. They were frequently, indi. viduals of mean talents and limited education. A few only of the Russian hiterpreters brought ulp in Thina have hitherto rendered .real services to their country and to literature, such'as Leontiev and Vladikine. O' the last miWRon, which has just returned, I must speak.idifferently. TheArchmnandrite Hyacinthe, who was at the head of it, carried to Pekin more natural talents than any of 'his pro. decessors, and has, gained higher claims to distinction by his indefatigable study of the Chinese, and his extensive knowledgeof otherlanguagesof theinteriorofAsia. Thirteen years spent in the capital of China, and employed in stub. born literary labours, 'oave enabledhim to accomplish works which will surprise those best acquainted with the Chinese language, literature, and history. I shall merely enume- rate a few of those works, which would appear from their nunber and importance to be rathertheunited tranisactions of a learned society than tbe productions of a singtl indi. viduaL The chief of them is a History of China: from ilte year 2357 before Christ, to the year 1633 of our era, which is comprised in nine folio volumes. Another is a' geographical and statistical description of the -Chinese empire, accompanied with ana extensive inap in the five principal dialects spoken in Chiaa. he next in importance is a translation of the works of Confu. cius into Russian, with an ample commentary and learned notes. Besides these, be has coiuposed s dictionary o? the Chinese and Russian languages, in two vol mesmur works on the.Geography and History of Thibet and L Ittle. Buebaria; a History of the Mlongolian tribes; and a trao' lation of the Code of laws given by the China Government to the Mongolian hordes under its dominion; a detailed Description of the city of Pekinr; and an Account of the Hy. draulic works executed on the banks of the Yellow River and the great Canal of China. In addition to these labours, the Archmandrite Hyacinthe has enriched the literature of his country with several treatises on the manners, the customs, the arts, and sciences of the 'Chinese. It is said by his friends, that this learned person possesses exten- sive literary treasures, of which nis present pbsition is little calculated to forward thepublication. Whether from the freedom of his political opinions, or from the want of that- legitimate superstition which is now so much in de-, mand in the Russian church, he has been orderedlto leave the capital, and to reside in a convent near ArchangeL It is hoped that he will be recalled by the<Emaperor, after ex- piating his liberalsentimentsor conduct byaproper penance. RUSSLN MISSroN IrcXCINA.