Canton without the permission of the state to whom it belonged; and although we are quite sure that if a Chinese junk were to attempt a forcible entry into the port of London, it would be sent to the bottom without any ceremony; yet, it is very evident that the Chinese have received a severe but salutary lesson which they are not likely speedily to forget. But one more piece of ceremonial intercourse now remained to be adjusted, and as Mr. Ellis is exceedingly brief in his account of it, we shall have recourse to Mr. M'Leod for some additional particulars. A letter had been drawn up by the Chinese ministry, addressed, in the name of the Emperor, to the Prince Regent; and a speech, of a very insulting kind had been for some time in rehearsal, which was to have been delivered by the Viceroy, at the public transfer of the Imperial epistle to Lord Amherst. As the contents of this offensive speech were universally known, the Ambassador had ample time for preparation; an intimation was therefore made to the Viceroy, that every attempt at impertinence would be steadily repelled.

At the time appointed this meeting of ceremony took place, and was accompanied by the appearance of guards, music, and other attendants, there being much state observed on each side.

"The Emperor's letter, contained in a bamboo case, covered with yellow silk, was now taken from this throne, and presented to the Ambassador, who transferred it to his secretary; and the persons on either side, who were (by previous regulation) allowed chairs, having taken their seats, and the usual unvarying number of complimentary questions having been gone through, such as "What age are ye?" and some others of the same high importance, the viceroy began to state, through the medium of Mr. Morrison, who interpreted, "By the favour of the Emperor you have traded to this country for more than a hundred years, very much to your advantage." "Tell him," said Lord Amherst, "the advantage is mutual." This being done, the viceroy replied, "No, the advantage is very much on your side." "Repeat to him," said his lordship, "that the advantage is strictly mutual." From the dignified and independent manner in which this was spoken, (a manner which, of course, from his peculiar situation, and the different style of those he had to deal with he could have no conception of,) and perceiving, also, a determination to repulse every thing bordering on impertinence, he seemed to be quite awed and disconcerted; the thread of his discourse was broken, and he got no far. ther on with this mighty specimen of altiloquence, than to say something about the subject being a disagreeable one;" when the Ambassador, considering the public business ended by the presentation of the Emperor's letter, rose up, and wishing him a very good morning, retired in the same state as on coming to this hall of audience.' p. 167.

The Ambassador's residence was in a temple, from which a lumbering idol or two had been dislodged to make room for his Lordship. In that part of the building which was not occupied

by the Embassy, the ceremonies of their religion were daily performed by the priest.

I must confess that parts of the ceremonial did not seem to want solemnity and decorum; and if the countenance of the priests did not display devout attention, they had an expression of abstract nihility, worthy of the speculative absorption of the human, into the divine existence inculcated by Hindoo theology. The priests in attendance are numerous, and their chief is of high ecclesiastical dignity.

The ready appropriation of so celebrated a place of worship, accompanied as it has been by the dislodgement of so many idols, and such great changes in the distribution of the compartments, is the last and perhaps not the least proof of the indifference of the Chinese to religious decencies: it is also worth remarking that during our stay in the temple I never observed any individual but the priests engaged in acts of devotion; the Chinese looked on with less curiosity indeed, but with as much indifference as ourselves.

'I must not forget to mention the sacred pigs, of remarkable size and age, who are kept in a paved sty near the temple, there to wallow in the filth and stench of years.' p. 420.

The remaining adventures of the Embassy, were adverted to in our last Number; and for the particulars of the homeward voyage, therefore, we refer our readers to our Review of Mr. M'Leod's book. Mr. Ellis's brief summary of the impressions made upon his mind by his limited communication with Chinese manners and customs, is far from uninteresting. He had in one important respect, a great advantage over his companions: while their experience had been limited to European scenes and habits, he had travelled over a large portion of the East, and was consequently enabled to make his observations and comparisons on a more just and extended scale. Guided by this previous knowledge, he was disposed to fix the point of Chinese civilization, though immeasurably below European refinement, yet 'above the < level of other countries of Asia, in the arts of government, and the general aspect of society.' He does not affirm that the great principles of justice and morality, are better understood in China, than in Turkey, or in Persia, but he appeals to the more uniform character and execution of the laws. The great chain of subordination, the different tribunals, and the tedious but precise system of appeals, all operate as checks upon the caprice of the inferior magistrate. The Emperor himself is not wholly independent of public opinion, but in his edicts, manifests much anxiety upon this point.

The best criterion of the general diffusion of national prosperity will probably be found in the proportion which the middling order bears to the other classes of the community, and the number of persons in all large villages and cities, who, from their dress and appearance, we might fairly say belonged to this description, is certainly considerable throughout those parts of China visited by the embassy,

the northern being in all these respects inferior to the middle and southern provinces.

Instances of poverty and of extreme wretchedness doubtless occurred in our progress. On me, however, who always compared China with Turkey, Persia, and parts of India, and not with England or even with continental Europe, an impression was produced highly favourable to the comparative situation of the lower orders; and of that degree of distress which might drive parents to infanticide there was no appearance, nor did any fact of the description come to my knowledge.' p. 431.

Mr. Ellis expresses his opinion, that the general estimate of excessive population in China, is erroneous, and that it falls short of two hundred millions. The finances are in a deranged state, and Mr. E. does not venture to assign even their probable amount. The government is weak, and were a representative of the Ming dynasty to find aid from without, it is probable that the present line might be dethroned. The external relations of China are of common notoriety, and we shall notice them no farther than by adverting to the suggestion, that it might be advisable to negotiate for the future with the Chinese government, not from Europe, but from Bengal. The lower classes in China are generally cheerful and hospitable, and our countrymen in their rainbles through the country, sometimes met with treatment that reminded them of English heartiness. The higher classes were seen only through the medium of official intercourse, and Mr. Ellis, in consequence, declines giving any opinion respecting their moral and intellectual qualities. Their manners, like those of Asiatics in general, are rather ceremonious than polished; and their mode of conducting public business was remarkable only for great caution, indefatigable lying, and a strict adherence to the instructions of their superiors. We extract Mr. Ellis's resumé of his sentiments.

I have now exhausted my recollections respecting China and its inhabitants; and have only to ask myself, whether, omitting considerations of official employment, my anticipations have been borne out by what I have experienced? The question is readily answered in the affirmative: curiosity was soon satiated and destroyed by the moral, political, and even local uniformity; for whether plains or mountains, the scene in China retains the same aspect for such an extent, that the eye is perhaps as much wearied with the continuance of sublimity as of levelness. Were it not therefore for the trifling gratification arising from being one of the few Europeans who have visited the interior of China, I should consider the time that has elapsed as wholly without return. I have neither experienced the refinement and comforts of civilized life, nor the wild interest of most semi-barbarous countries, but have found my own mind and spirit influenced by the surrounding atmosphere of dulness and constraint.' p. 440.

Respecting Chinese literature, Mr. Ellis has not put it within our power to say much; but as we expect shortly to travel over this ground, we are the less tempted to refer at present to any other source of information. The great defect of the present work, is one which Mr. Ellis had no means of supplying: it does not admit us into the interior of Chinese society, and it is generally understood that the attempts which have been made to acquire this knowledge of the domestic and social character, have been unsuccessful. We should, however, apprehend that means might be found to come near to the truth in this respect; though for the present, personal access and experience are de nied.

The decorations of the work are not very splendid; one or two of the plates are interesting; the map seems rather got up for the occasion, than scientifically constructed. Mr. Abbott's sketch of that part of the Yang-tse-kiang which the Embassy navigated, is, we think, though creditable to his talents, susceptible of improvement from the narrative of Mr. Ellis, which is laudably minute in describing the great features of nature, as they presented themselves on the route.

Art. III. The Agency of Divine Providence, manifested in the principal Transactions, Religious and Political, connected with the History of Great Britain, from the Reformation to the Revolution in 1688. By Samuel O'Sullivan. 8vo. pp. 221. Dublin. 1816. THERE is a class of literary adventurers, who, with the

very best intentions, launch forth upon a voyage of discovery across a trackless ocean, with as much ease as any veteran, who had been thrice round the world, would feel in crossing the straits of Dover. Because there is, as Harrington says, a greater light than the Sun,' they never think of darkness; because they have a pious object in view, they dismiss all fear of rocks or seas of ice, in which they may be as fairly inclosed, as if they were in the grave. There is seldom much accomplished by such rash adventures; the cause of real knowledge is not advanced a single step, nor is any new light thrown upon admitted theories. We are disposed sometimes to regret, that so much real talent and enterprising spirit, should bave been expended on projects so ill-concerted and so fruitless; and that the sum of all that the industrious and ingenious designers of them, have to shew, is only tanquam tabula naufragii.' So far, however, as such projects originate in the best feelings of the heart, and are intended to subserve the cause of revealed truth, we feel inclined to treat the originators of them with respect, and their productions with more than common lenity.

The design announced in the title of the work which stands

at the head of this Article, is one of no common importance; it would seem to require, not merely a most comprehensive acquaintance with the political and secret history of the period of which it proposes to treat, a sound and well-informed judgement, and a thorough knowledge of the principles of moral science: the qualifications of even the philosophic historiographer, connected with the most pure and ardent piety, are not sufficient to ensure success in such an enterprise. The mind must be capable of abstraction, must be capacious and discriminating, in a greater than ordinary degree, which can hope for a moderate share of success in developing ever so short and contracted a portion of the Divine moral government. How far Mr. O'Sullivan has been successful we shall speedily notice; in regard to his pretensions, he may be allowed to speak for himself.

The subject is very important and interesting, and the design may be considered new. For though many writers have incidentally alluded to the happy arrangement of affairs which facilitated the Reformation, and observed the assistance which society received at its different stages, from many singular causes, which they have piously ascribed to Providence, yet none have given the subject that enlarged and ample consideration, which its importance demands, or furnished proofs of a regular and systematic plan of moral government, sufficiently full and satisfactory. It is in the hope that a strict and exclusive attention to this subject may have enabled me to treat of it more clearly than more able writers, who have only glanced at it in a cursory way, that this book is offered to the public. The reader must not expect to find any sufficiently detailed account of British or Foreign politics during the period in which we are engaged. I have merely related such events as were immediately subservient to the plan of moral government which I have attempted to explain; and such others as may enable the reader, without relying solely on his own previous information, to perceive the progress of a complete and regular system.' Preface, pp. 7, 8.

A strictly philosophical survey of the agency of Divine Providence, either in the history of nations, involving a general view of the well-being of the whole species, or an abridged and hasty sketch of any inferior section, including so many distinct, and, to as this life, often opposing interests; has always appeared to us to be one of the most difficult achievements of the human mind. No doubt, it is one of the appropriate exercises of true piety, to trace through all the intricate combinations of second causes, the felicitous accomplishment of those portions of the Divine plan, which relate to ourselves, and which, so far, seem to have their issues with us. The mind which has been familiarized to the recognition of the Divine benevolence, in the scenes through which it has passed, may