Of the tea plants it would be in vain to speak, unless, like the Chinese botanists, we had an unlimited number of volumes to command, in which the two hundred different species might be described. "It is called 'Cha* by the natives: it grows on the most sterile ground, on the sunny ridges of hills, principally between 25° and 30° of latitude, in the provinces of Fo-kein, Che-keang, and Keang-soo. The quality of the leaves depends much on the soil; the tender leaf plucked in spring has a superior flavour to the old leaves. The shrub is carefully pruned; the leaves gathered when it is about three years old; but shrubs beyond seven or eight years old are good for nothing. There are three gatherings of the leaves, the first early in spring, the second at the end, the third at the commencement of summer; from the first, the imperial tea is made. New tea is seldom used, on account of its narcotic qualities; it gains in flavour and value by transportation. To render it more fragrant, the Chinese mix occasionally the blossoms of other fra grant flowers as well as its own. To the Tatars the Chinese sell the coarsest leaves, which are beaten into cakes, and go under the name of Kaul-cha, or brick tea; the trade in this latter commodity extends all over Central Asia. The tea sent to Birmah is formed of the quintessence made into lozenges, pulverised, and thrown into hot water. The poorer people either use the larger leaves or substitute other herbs. The extent of the soil that produces the best bohea tea is not more than forty le, or about twelve miles in circumference. The Dutch have introduced the plant into Java, where it thrives luxuriantly; it succeeds also in Brazil. The Bengal government have planted the shrub on the Himalayan range, since it was discovered to grow wild on the western parts of Assam. Tea grows luxuriantly in Japan, but, not being exported, it is not known among foreigners. The teas growing in Cochin-China differ materially from the Chinese. Of the different varieties of tea in China, we appear to be acquainted with but few kinds in England; the qualities of the plant are less owing to the soil than to the time of plucking, the preparation, and assortment. It is stated, not without probability, that the Chinese use Prussian blue in order to increase the colour and render the article saleable; much depends on taste. Some teas, which among the Chinese fetch a high price and are much valued, are found by foreigners utterly tasteless; whilst other kinds, rejected by the natives, are most sought for by strangers. The adulterations are manifold: the Chinese being extremely cunning and ingenious in making them. "Before reaching the port of Canton, the black tea has to make a circuitous route of at least 730 miles, and the green tea 1000 miles: the mere transport duties amount to 150,000l. The government strictly forbids the exportation of teas by sea, excepting those destined for Formosa. It is not unusual for one per cent. to be spoiled during the voyage to England, either from wet or other goods being stowed close to them and destroying the flavour. The use of tea among the Chinese is very ancient. In 1600 Texeira, a Spaniard, saw dried tea leaves at Malacca a proof that tea had been introduced into southern Asia by the Chinese long before the arrival of the Europeans in those seas. Straskaw, the Russian ambassador at the court of the Mongol (Khan) Show Attgu, partook of tea, and at his departure was offered a parcel for the Czar, which he refused, not knowing of what use it would be in Russia." The first authentic notice of tea in England is an act of Parliament in 1660, by which a duty of eightpence a gallon was laid on all tea made and sold in coffee-houses. In 1666 Lords Arlington and Ossory brought a quantity of tea from Holland: its price in England was then sixty shillings a pound! In 1668 the Court of Directors ordered their factory at Bantam in Java to send home a hundred pounds weight of the best tea they could get, and the first invoice received amounted to two canisters of 143lbs. Such was the commencement of the trade which, by judicious 'Cha' is pronounced T'a by the Japan people, from which our word tea has been derived; formerly Tea was pronounced Ta. v. Pope's Rape of the Lock. "And thou, great Anna, whom three realms obey, management and public patronage, has risen to 30,000,000lbs. annually, and is still increasing. Since the commencement of the present century, there has been paid into the British Exchequer, as duty, without any cost or trouble in collecting, the enormous sum of 104,856,8587. sterling. So much do national tastes vary, that the estimated consumption of tea in France amounts annually only to the trifling quantity of 230,000lbs. Russia is a great consumer, but she receives her teas over land by way of Maimatchin and Kiatcha ;* and it is acknowledged by all our travellers at Petersburg, that the delicacy of the perfume is less injured by land-carriage than by our method of transportation. There are several other subjects of great interest discussed in these volumes, throwing a light on the national character and attainments; and the arts and sciences cultivated by the Chinese are noticed with fulness and accuracy. The account of the state of medical knowledge is highly entertaining; but for this, and on the very curious and important subject of the introduction of a pure religion amongst this benighted people, we must refer to the able view of the subject given in our author's pages. "The Chinese are all idolaters; and the religion of the state is a pantheism, which has no influence on the minds of the people. A man who would shew himself sincere, would be regarded as an idiot; they consider it sufficient to respect the government, pay the taxes, and honour their parents, and profess religion only so far as it is subservient to these points: of course the most perfect toleration exists, and every man and sect chooses its own idol. The Taouists are the recluse and contemplative, resembling the Essenes and Pythagoreans of old. The religious code of Budha is, however, the prevailing one; yet, with all its influence, it is despised; its temples are used as theatres, and its priests looked on as impostors. The number of native Christians was never greater than now: their peace has not been disturbed during the whole reign of the present Emperor till lately. A furious edict has lately been issued, commanding all native Christians, on pain of death, to renounce their faith, and allowing them six months for repentance. No measures, however, for putting the edict into execution, have yet been taken. And now we will not close our extracts from these important and interesting volumes, without expressing our cordial assent to the wishes there expressed for spreading, with increased energy, the bright doctrines of Christian truth over this benighted empire. "As God has conferred upon the inhabitants of Europe and North America such very great benefits, both religious and mental, it is anxiously hoped that they will no longer treat this country with neglect. To teach the Chinese better things, and raise them from a state of moral and mental degradation, would be an achievement more glorious than the conquest of Hindostan. If one hundredth part of the treasure spent in war and bloodshed, had been employed in the improvement of the human race, China, with all its myriads, would not rank so low as it does. The spirit of the Chinese is too much borne down to lead them to expect, from their own efforts, an impulse for a renovation. They must, therefore, look to the nations who are enlightened with the rays of the glorious Gospel, and have a heart to feel for the wants of their fellow men. Oh! that they might not look in vain for help, and again pass centuries in their ignorance and pride, without a ray of celestial light. If it were practicable to organize societies, both in America and Europe, for the express purpose of communicating every useful art and science to China, one great step towards the improvement of the country would be made. This measure we should urge most The Russians exchange furs for tea: there is said to be a balance of 4,000,000 of roubles now against them. The caravan is three summers on its route, but a rail. road is projected from Moscow to Kiakta! GENT. MAG. VOL. XI. 30 CHELSEA BUNHOUSE. CHELSEA has very long been famous for its Buns. There was more than one shop in which they were made, but the "Old Chelsea Bunhouse," the special original, has just fallen a sacrifice to improvement. It was situate on the high road from Pimlico to Chelsea, near the spot where once stood the more celebrated temple of fashion Ranelagh." The Bunhouse, however, was antecedent to Ranelagh, which was not established until about 1730. In 1711 Dean Swift, then resident at Chelsea, thus notices the buns: "Pray, are not the fine buns sold here in our town? was it not R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rrare Chelsea buns? I bought one today in my walk; it cost me a penny; it was stale, and I did not like it, as the man said, [R-r-r-r-rare] &c." * It is not to be wondered at, that the witty Dean did not relish his stale bun; for, to be good, it should be made with a good deal of butter, be very light, and eat hot. Chelsea Buns formed a frequent cry in the streets of London during the last century, and were as popular as the Bath Buns of the present time. The cry (or rather song) was "Chelsea Buns, hot Chelsea Buns, rare Chelsea Buns!" Good Friday was the day in all the year when they were most in request; and the crowds that frequented the Bunhouse on that day, is almost past belief. * Journal to Stella. May 2, 1711. The building was fifty-two feet long, by twenty-one feet wide. The colonnade extended over the foot pavement into the street, and afforded a tempting shelter and resting-place to the passenger to stop and refresh himself. Latterly the floor of the colonnade was level with the road, which has probably been considerably raised; as in the old print it is represented as a platform with steps at the three doors for company to alight from their carriages. The premises requiring to be rebuilt, the opportunity will be taken to set them back, and render the street suitable to the more extended improvements contemplated in this neighbourhood. The property was long in the possession of the Hand family. King George the Second and his Queen are said to have frequented the Bunhouse; as well as George the Third and Queen Charlotte, when their children were young. The latter Queen presented Mrs. Hand with a large silver mug, with five guineas in it, as a mark of her approval of the attentions shewn to her, which mug was long preserved by the family. After the death of Mrs. Hand the business was carried on by her son, an eccentric character, who dealt also largely in butter, which he carried round to his customers in a basket on his head. Upon his death his elder brother came into possession; he had been an officer in the Stafford Militia, was one of the Poor Knights of Windsor, and not much less eccentric than his brother. It is not known that he left any relations, and his property it is said reverted to the Crown. The inside of the Bunhouse was fitted up as a museum. It might have contained some very curious articles, but the most valuable had long since disappeared. The materials of the building, with the relics of the museum, were sold by auction April 18, 1839, and the whole was immediately cleared away. The following were the most curious lots Two leaden figures of Grenadiers, about three feet high, in the dress of 1745, presenting arms, 41. 10s. An equestrian plaster figure of William Duke of Cumberland, with other plaster casts, 21. 2s. A whole length painting said to represent “ Aurengzebe Emperor of Persia," 41. 48. A large old painting, an interior, with the King and Queen seated, and perhaps the baker, &c. in attendance, but torn and almost wholly obscured by dirt, 27. 10s. A model of the Bunhouse, with painted masquerade figures on two circles, turned round by a bird whilst on its perch in a cage at the back of the model, 198. A large model in cut paper, called St. Mary Ratcliff Church, but scarcely resembling that structure, except perhaps in its general proportions, was sold with its glazed case for 21. 28. Most of the other articles were of a trumpery description, and only interesting whilst forming part of the ornaments of a room which had remained exactly in the same state far beyond the memory of any person living. A framed picture. worked by a string, recalled the exploits of the famous Bottle Conjuror. Good representations both of the exterior and interior of the Bunhouse, in their recent state, have been given lately in the Mirror, with an account by the Historian of Chelsea. The woodcut here given is copied from a folio print engraved in the reign of George II.; under it, "A perspective view of David Loudon's* Bunn House at Chelsey, who has the honour to serve the Royal Family. 52 by 21 ft.” Over the print, in the centre, is the Royal Arms. On each side stands a grenadier, in the costume before spoken of. Also three figures of freemasons, with masonic emblems; and on the left hand is a coat of arms : Quarterly 1. Sa. a chevron between three leopard's heads Ar. (Wentworth?) 2. and 3. Ar. on a chevron Az. three escallops, and on a chief of the second a lion passant. 4. Ar. on a chief Gu. three halberds. Impaling, Or, on a fess between three crosses patée Gu. three Bezants. Crest, a lion rampant Sable. These arms are reversed, as if copied on the copper immediately from a piece of silver plate, Below them is a motto (not reversed), " For God, my King, and Country.' It is not impos. sible that these were the arms of some respectable family, whose servant David Loudon had been; though it is to be remarked that they appear more recently engraved that the rest of the plate. The owner of the Bun-house, probably before Hand. THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY.† MR. CORNEY begins his objections to the received accounts of the antiquity of the Bayeux Tapestry at the fountain head, and cites the first record of its existence in 1476, which occurs in an inventory of the jewels, ornaments, cloths, books, and other goods belonging at that period to the church of our Lady at Bayeux, and which is silent in ascribing the "' tente du conquest d'Angleterre" to the needle of the Conqueror's queen Matilda, "dear as the memory of those illustrious personages must have beee to the church and people of Normandy.n On the other hand, it must be allowe❞ that this is little more than a negativd auxiliary to Mr. Corney's doubts, however particular the inventory may be in describing the articles to which it Researches and Conjectures on the Bayeux Tapestry, by Bolton Corney, Esq. F.S.A. 12mo. 1838. refers. He next proceeds to show that the first mention of the Bayeux Tapestry in modern times is by Montfauçon about the year 1730, who states that the current opinion at Bayeux was that Matilda, the wife of William the Conqueror, had caused it to be made, and adds that this opinion, which passes for a tradition in the country, has nothing but probability for its support. Mr. Lancelot, a contemporary antiquary, says that the tradition which had given to this monument the appellation of the Conqueror's toilette," "toilette du Duc Guillaume," will also have it that Matilda or Maud of Flanders, Queen of England, and Duchess of Normandy, wife of that prince, had worked it herself with her ladies. A story never loses in its transmission. Sir Joseph Ayloffe, in 1770, consolidates the above accounts, and gives them the air of authentic history. The conquest of England by William the Norman was by command of Queen Matilda represented in painting and afterwards by her own hands, and the assistance of the ladies of her court, worked in arras, and presented to the Cathedral at Bayeux, where it is still preserved. Mr. Corney, we allow, has fully succeeded in shewing that on tradition alone rests the appropriation of the embroidery of the Tapestry to Queen Matilda and her ladies; indeed the coarse and grotesque character of some of the subjects which adorn the border of the work have always made us doubtful of the literal truth of the assertion; but, although the personal operation of Queen Matilda and her court ladies in embroidering this important relic be given up, we can by no means hastily follow Mr. Corney to the conclusion that it might not be her gift to the church, and above all that it is not of the age contemporary with William the Conqueror. Mr. Corney thus proceeds :— nial of the antiquity of the Tapestry, and we may therefore advert to the question of its internal evidence. Mr. Lancelot pronounced it to be coeval with the con quest, before he was aware of the tradition : Habits, armes, caractères de lettres, ornemens, gout dans les figures representeés, tout,' says that experienced antiquary, 'sent le siècle de Guillaume le Conquerant ou celui de ses enfans.' "Mr. Hudson Gurney, Mr. Stothard, and M. Delauney, have expressed similar opinions. This point requires consideration; propriety of costume is not always decisive of the coeval execution of a monument." We pause at this axiom of Mr. Corney's, nor suffer ourselves to be influenced by the comprehensive and decisive terms in which it is expressed, because we cannot but be conscious of the fact, that the sculptors, painters, illuminators, embroiderers. enchasers, and all other artists of the chivalric age, adopted throughout their works the habits of the times in which they themselves flourished; following, in short, the practice of our players at a much later date, who dressed Cato in a full bottomed wig and flowered gown, and placed him in a large arm chair; Macbeth wore a cocked hat, scarlet coat, waistcoat and bag wig; and King John figured in a full court suit of green velvet and gold. Just so with the old illuminators: had they to represent Alexander overcoming Da. rius, David playing on his harp, or the shepherds keeping watch on the eve of the Nativity; the characters all assumed the costume in common use at the time the delineations were executed. The same rule applies to all the adjuncts of such representations, as architecture, furniture, weapons, armour, decorative ornaments, &c. and these data are so certainly indicative of the period of any particular work of art in the middle age, that we think we safely challenge Mr. Corney to produce a single exception to the This appellation must be taken in the contrary. Singular indeed would it sense of a diminutive of toile, a cloth or be if that exception should be found hanging, toilette, a little cloth, &c. the in a monument so early as the Bayeux Bayeux Tapestry being a very narrow strip of drapery; its length is 227 feet, Tapestry. Now let any one examine but its breadth only 20 inches. See it the conical helmets with nasal pieces, described in Mrs. Bray's Tour in Nor--the half Roman costume of the mandy, Brittany, &c. p. 192. figures, the lingettes or bandages "The rejection of the tradition is no de |