to the Asiatic Society at its meeting on interesting paper was, communicated Friday evening, by the Rev. E. G. Moule of Hangchau, which elicited a lively discussion on two subjects of great importance, viz., Chinese education and Chinese repub-Yicanism, Mr. Moule's communication was on the late provincial examination of eleven thousand graduates of the adjacent rovinee of C) held at the capital, langchau. Besides giving an account of the details of the competitive examination of the graduates who were aspirants for the second degree, Mr. Moule gave a translation of the essay of the scholar who carried off the highest honor. The text on which it was founded is derived from the Lungu, a work which does for Confucius what Boswell did for the English lexicograher. The words are "If it may not be in the way of duty (the good man) does not shun poverty and mean estate; if he forsake virtue what right has he to its name." Mr. Syle, whoreed the paper, made a running commentary on it, pointing out the discordance between the high pretentious Chinese scholars to virtue, and their usual practice. Mr. Long made some remarks on the faulty nature of the Chinese system of education; as did also the president of the Society, Mr. Goodwin. Dr. F. Porter Smith made some statements Fegarding the provincial examination lately held at Wuchang, where practical as well aa moral questions were discussed by the scholars.
Dr. Macgowan lauded the system of competitive examinations for their democratic character, giving to that system the merit of having'averted from China the in-
laters, which the most advanced nations of gubus of hereditary magistrates and legis. Europe are now impatient to throw off. Chinese superiority to Japan he attributed tothe absence of hereditary caste in the former, while the latter had been intellect tually fettered by its domination.
Mr. Kingsmill combated Dr. Macgowan's views, on the ground that China had pros-red most under hereditary rulers. Mr.
ybertson and Mr. Dick regarded the Chinese qualifications for office as eminently republic and beneficial to the empire, but Mr. Goodwin, on summing up, revindicated the hereditary system of government, and expatiated on the comparative failure, in China, of the self-government which she is found to possess,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.