Avwriter in the Pall Mall Gazette remarke that the (Scumenical Council would de us asorvice, if they would propound and an-ower this question, Why in it that Chria-us the manners of gentlemen." And the basis of the accusation on which the remark is founded, is the conduct of the Englishmen present at the opening of the Suez Canal. It seems that; according to that incarnation of veracity the Times' corres= pondent, the Arabs outshone the Britishers im propriety of behaviour, altogether. To quote the Pall Mall:—\ We'read thatthe show our own immeasurable superiority to our neighbours. The Bible has been misread, in order to represent one nation as the favourite of Omnipotence; and the great lesson of equality with which Christianity® was weighted, has been culpably neglected and overlooked. It would not be difficult to find many popular volumes, in which it is gravely asserted that the preference of the most High has been transferred from the Hebrew to the Briton Of course, persons who are nurtured in such reed assume overweening arrogancy. "The heirs of -all the ages" object to see Persons with'less magnificent pretensions, in the bout bed room of am hotel; and imof the. islands. prevents their cut into two empires; it remained which has been preserved in a ro-for fyeyta te devise S dual system by markable way for two Ffondred and Gfty years."
The chapter. entitled the History of the Empire to the death of Nobunanga, will appear to the reader who desires entertainment, little more than a barren list of names; but here and there are to be found Prragraphs of importance'and value. Dr. Dickson is of opinion-thet, in some of the libraries of Japan and the Corea, there m: be found works of great interest to the student of eatly Budhist history in Chine and India, ness and courtesy, never atate, of affect the if-bred_easo or indulge in the vulgar chaff tings of far better dressed mobs.in lands lege of living amongst orientals for some time, and we are prone to "discount" the otatements' made' as to their polish, and refineitidht j but there is a rési-drum of thith in' the charge. The three great Eastern toachers—-Confucius, Mosca and Mahommed laid considotable attes on outward observatices. The first has left, oven to' this' day, legible igh of his teaching which may be read-in the manners' and customs of the "Chiness:' Ceremony' ig the guiding' idea" which' permeates" his' system. On thio contrary, Christian nations have been instructed "from: earliest years to despise' forms auid'empty' affdctathana of an" unfelt intoteat; aid'*Engliah: nion "especially have" been" tairght to be" ostentatiously, bluff and boisterous: Our ré- céntfraternization with Franice; perhaps; has ténght ud -a eéttain: superficial' pblish, bat i€ Would be gros Hlattoryto call the mid-dio class Englishman of the 19th century polite being, in the senso in which this term may be applied tothe Chinese or the Arab, Wo have all' reid the account of the pageant at Said, and the marvellous gathering of Kings, and Princes, "Ambassd~ dors, Lords, and Cocktiéys that graced the meeting of the waters';"" "aiid while hive read the glowing descriptions that have filled 20 many columns of type, we have unconsciously recalled ' the" interview between Richard sind Saladin' in' Scott's iilmitable novel, the Talimhati j and have' been astonished to find the characteristics of East and West closely resembling what they were when the calm and digni od Soldan complimented; in' self-abasing' phrases, the powers of the Mélek Ric, and when the burly Northern Baron blush tared out his rude conviction of his mas-tor's superiority.
Tt is very painful to come to this after all, for we should much profer to believe with Coleridge, that "Christisnity cam alone gentilize." But those: things are tricomfortable facts, arid itis humiliating to have ani Origiital surpassing us in courtesy, just an it ix to have'hiin overmatching ws- on: tho~ great chessboard of Politics,'-and: dividuals whose legitimate sphere of action is that magnificent but hazy position known to posts as" the foremost files of Time," not unnaturally murmur when compelled to put up with inferior berths in a steanter. In fact, on alleged rudeness is to be referred to our very bad educations. Ignorance of other countries which seems unpardonable in these days, precludes. even the higher dais of tourists from becoming acquainted with the modes of thought, and requirements of other nations; and hence complaints arise like those we have just received from Suéx. There is, we tea, much truth in the satire which "is wrapped up in the sentence which concludes' the: paragraph in the Pall Mall, "If, in return for the missions the faithful sond in such numbers to the infidel, the latter would send us " few Missionaries to teach us good' manners, we should be under an obligation to them." People who believe..in the Fasting Girls," and regulate: their'actions by: the " Planctiotte," f¥° are'nearly as'woak as those who fear Fengshuey.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.