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"Whilst we were at Ning-po, we received a list of the ships which had formerly been at this port. They seemed to be very numerous; but at the present time no traces of the foreign trade are to be seen, though the old people retain still a faint remembrance of the foreigners. Here the celebrated Jesuits from France, near the end of the seventeenth century, landed, and obtained permission to settle at Peking. Two of them became the constant attendants of the emperor, Kang-he, in all his travels, and were the partners of his dangers in the Tartarian war. What great results might one have expected from such an opportunity both to benefit the highest personages in the empire, and to impart to the people the blessings of Christianity? In these hopes we have been greatly disappointed. Instead of introducing the reign of truth, they created intrigue; in lieu of pure religion, they spread popery. Though possessing the greatest talents, they never devoted them simply to the glory of their Saviour; they never employed them in giving to the benighted heathen, in their own language, the blessed gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is truly lamentable; that they should bestow such labors, encounter such sacrifices, and defend their tenets with such heroism, to found an earthly religion, which confers few blessings in this life, and leads to a doubtful eternity. In offering these sentiments, there is no design to depreciate their talents, or to vilify their religious zeal; but it is the language of deep regret to see the salvation of the soul neglected amidst the best opportunities of securing it; and the most trifling ceremonies predominate over the eternal welfare of men, which should have been the prime object in all their operations."

"July 17. A stiff breeze brought us in sight of Corea. A merciful Providence has brought us through many dangers, along the coast of China, and oh that we were truly grateful!"

"We came to anchor at Chwang-shan, an island north of Basil's Bays. The silence of the desert seemed to reign every where. We ventured towards the shore, and the first thing we met was a fishing-boat, miserably constructed, with two natives in it, clothed in rags. Though we could not communicate with them orally, yet we could use the Chinese character in writing. We gave the old man a few books, and lion buttons, which highly delighted him. As soon as we had landed on a small island, several natives came down from a hill, wearing conical caps of horse-hair, with jackets and trowsers similar to the Chinese, but wider and without buttons. Nothing could exceed the gravity of their look and demeanor. An elderly man who held a staff, bade us sit down by repeating several times 'tshoa.' After complying with his request, he made a long harangue, of which we understood not a syllable, but in which he seemed very earnest. From his unequivocal gestures, and from a young man whom we had the happiness to find, who understood a few

Chinese words, we afterwards learned that he was pointing out to us the regulations of his country, and the duties of strangers on their arrival."

“August 22. Yesterday, we passed Sulphur island, from which great quantities of smoke were rising. This island seems to be entirely volcanic, and destitute of vegetation. We wished much to go ashore; but the wind blew too hard, and the sea was too high to permit us to land. After experiencing sudden gusts of wind, we arrived, to-day, safely at Napa-keang, the principal anchorage of Great Loo-choo. This island has been repeatedly visited by Europeans, and has engaged the attention of the ablest writers.

"Soon after anchoring, we set out to go ashore, at the temple of Lin-hae. We saw several Japanese vessels in the harbor, and observed the junk returned which we had seen at Fuh-chow."

"August 24. Anjah, with Tche, and an elderly mandarin, to-day made us a visit on board, the first which we have yet received."

"To-day, we visited the Japanese junk. The substantial canvas of the sails, the broad structure of the vessel, the immense rudder, and main-mast, which is quite disproportionate, the spacious accommodations, were all objects of curiosity for strangers. Most of the sailors were naked they were very friendly, and received our Christian books gratefully; and we should have gained much information from them, but for the interference of the Loo-choo mandarins, who were much displeased with the visit, and endeavored by every means to get us away from the junk. They painted off the treachery of the Japanese, and the danger of our lives in becoming too intimate with them. Yet we protracted our visit as much as possible, and viewed every part of the junk.”

"To-day we dined in the Po-tsang temple. The most savory dishes were placed with much order and taste, upon japanned tables, and presented to us in regular succession. The liquor with which they treated us, was very clear, and of excellent flaWe admired the good order and propriety exhibited in the feast, among a great crowd of spectators. Good manners seem to be natural to the Loo-chooans.

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"After dinner we took a long walk among the hills and groves of this delightful island. We saw several women working very hard in the field; and the peasantry appeared to be poorly clad and in poor condition; yet, they were as polite as the most accomplished mandarins. Sweet potatoes occupied the greater part of the ground, and seem to constitute the principal food of the inhabitants."

Sufficient evidence will be found in the foregoing quotations, of the interesting nature of the volume. There is a sweet simplicity and frankness in Mr. Gutzlaff's delineations

of events and of human character. He has none of that studied reserve, which is sometimes the fault of English journalists, nor of that volubility, of which the French are accused. We are inclined to think that the Germans, when pervaded by the spirit of the gospel, will furnish excellent missionaries. They give their whole heart to the work. They pour out their feelings without reserve. The cold maxims of worldly prudence are entirely disregarded. The seminary at Bâle has sent forth several fine spirits into the great harvest.

It was remarked by a recent eloquent writer, that the conversion of the Chinese constitutes the great problem of Christianity. Late events indicate that this problem may soon be solved. The spirit of exclusionism does not extend to the great mass of the people. The advantages of foreign commerce are readily seen by them, and would be eagerly embraced, were not the fear of the mandarins before their eyes. Mr. Gutzlaff found that the inhabitants of the northern provinces are much more friendly to strangers than those of Canton, and other southern districts. China is not by any means so powerful as has been frequently supposed. Rebellions are not of rare occurrence, which put at defiance the utmost power of the emperor. The lapse of a few years will, in our opinion, reveal great changes in the administration of this singular government, which now extends its comparatively feeble sway over one third of the human race. more enlightened and liberal emperor will ascend the throne, or China will be broken into a great number of independent sovereignties, or the grasping ambition of Russia will pass over the wall,' or British India will find the Birman mountains but a feeble barrier to her eastern progress.

A

In the mean time, success to the efforts of the largehearted Christian philanthropists, who, at Macao, and Canton, and Malacca, are unlocking the treasures of European learning and of the divine word to the followers of Confucius. They deserve the gratitude of the whole world. Morrison and Milne have done a work, which shall last longer than the pyramids of Egypt. Success to their younger brethren, who are now sending over their appeals to American philanthropy. May a full response from these shores, of means and of personal service, greet their hearts.

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ARTICLE XI.

CRITICAL NOTICES.

1.-Poems and Prose Writings. By Richard H. Dana. Boston Russell, Odiorne & Co. 1833. pp. 450.

As we propose, in our next number, to give an extended notice of this production, we now make only the single remark, that, in our opinion, no volume of poetry has ever been issued from the American press, so deserving to be read and studied as this. We say volume of poetry, for much of the prose is poetry of the highest order. We quote one of the shortest pieces.

THE HUSBAND'S AND WIFE'S GRAVE.

"Husband and wife! No converse now ye hold,
As once ye did in your young day of love,
On its alarms, its anxious hours, delays,
Its silent meditations, its glad hopes,
Its fears, impatience, quiet sympathies;

Nor do ye speak of joy assured, and bliss
Full, certain, and possessed. Domestic cares
Call you not now together. Earnest talk

On what your children may be, moves you not.
Ye lie in silence, and an awful silence;

'Tis not like that in which ye rested once

Most happy-silence eloquent, when heart

With heart held speech, and your mysterious frames,
Harmonious, sensitive, at every beat

Touched the soft notes of love.

A stillness deep,

Insensible, unheeding, folds you round;

And darkness, as a stone, has sealed you in.
Away from all the living, here ye rest:
In all the nearness of the narrow tomb,
Yet feel ye not each other's presence now.
Dread fellowship!-together, yet alone.

Is this thy prison-house, thy grave, then, Love?
And doth death cancel the great bond that holds

Commingling spirits? Are thoughts that know no bounds,
But self-inspired, rise upward, searching out
The eternal Mind-the Father of all thought-
Are they become mere tenants of a tomb?-
Dwellers in darkness, who the illuminate realms
Of uncreated light have visited and lived?-
Lived in the dreadful splendor of that throne,
Which One, with gentle hand the veil of flesh
Lifting, that hung twixt man and it, revealed
In glory?-throne, before which even now

Our souls, moved by prophetic power, bow down
Rejoicing, yet at their own natures awed?—
Souls that Thee know by a mysterious sense,
Thou awful, unseen Presence-are they quenched,
Or burn they on, hid from our mortal eyes
By that bright day which ends not; as the sun
His robe of light flings round the glittering stars?

And do our loves all perish with our frames?
Do those that took their root and put forth buds,
And their soft leaves unfolded in the warmth
Of mutual hearts, grow up and live in beauty,
Then fade and fall, like fair, unconscious flowers?

Are thoughts and passions that to the tongue give speech,
And make it send forth winning harmonies,-
That to the cheek do give its living glow,

And vision in the eye the soul intense
With that for which there is no utterance-
Are these the body's accidents ?-no more?-
To live in it, and when that dies, go out
Like the burnt taper's flame?

O, listen, man!

A voice within us speaks the startling word,
'Man, thou shalt never die!' Celestial voices
Hymn it around our souls: according harps,
By angel fingers touched when the mild stars
Of morning sang together, sound forth still
The song of our great immortality:

Thick clustering orbs, and this our fair domain,
The tall, dark mountains, and the deep-toned seas,
Join in this solemn, universal song.

-O, listen, ye, our spirits; drink it in

From all the air! 'Tis in the gentle moonlight;

"Tis floating in day's setting glories; Night,

Wrapt in her sable robe, with silent step

Comes to our bed and breathes it in our ears:

Night, and the dawn, bright day, and thoughtful eve, All time, all bounds, the limitless expanse,

As one vast mystic instrument, are touched

By an unseen, living Hand, and conscious chords

Quiver with joy, in this great jubilee :

-The dying hear it; and as sounds of earth

Grow dull and distant, wake their passing souls
To mingle in this heavenly harmony.

Why is it that I linger round this tomb?

What holds it? Dust that cumbered those I mourn.
They shook it off, and laid aside earth's robes,
And put on those of light. They 're gone to dwell
In love-their God's and angels'. Mutual love
That bound them here, no longer needs a speech
For full communion; nor sensations strong,
Within the breast, their prison, strive in vain
To be set free, and meet their kind in joy.
Changed to celestials, thoughts that rise in each,
By natures new, impart themselves though silent.
Each quickening sense, each throb of holy love,
Affections sanctified, and the full glow
Of being, which expand and gladden one,

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