Vantous theories have been broached, from time to time, with regard to the civilization of the Chinese; and" the numerous subsidiary questions connect ed with this vast and complicated, theme have occupied the attetition of all those who have addressed theniselves to the consideration of Chinese topics. Itisa subject which constants 1; are we dealing with copie, or with a Barbaroa peop! fe find the rales and principles that might come into play if we were treating with Germans, or F'rench-men, or Russians, utterly inappli any "situation" where the Chinese are concerned. Now why is this? We may read Guizot, or Thomas Taylor Meadows and, after many laborious attempts to get the subject into definite shape, we yet perceive the question recurring. We, some time ago, endea-youred to find a definition of tion which should aid the sol the perplexing question; but at pres
ciple which is, perhaps, more satisfactory wre propose to dwell on a general prin-than a definition, h comprehensive, which, by the exigencies of the case, is thrown into an epigrammatic form. Throwing aside then the technical question of civilization or barbarism, we come to the conclusion that Chinese defects and failures are all to be referred to want of knowledge. If they knew more, they would deal with us as reasonable beings; as it is, there is scarcely a subject upon which they are not ly and conspicuously wrong from Jack of information. ce the root and basis of the Chinaman's argument. It is the immeasurable superiority of China to all the other nat f the world. Now we know that, in. intelli.
.ce, in arms, and in atte, the Middle
scale, and indeed hardly enters into kingdom comes very low down in the the calculation of those powers who bear the world in hand. Therefore this egregious folly, at the root of the whole system, makes everything that can be grafted on it, weak and barren. We call this Oriental pretension, and exag-ration, and fanfarona bat thi The mo: very little indeed about the true position of European States. If, by a magical process, we could delve down into the. depths of the mind of the most cultivated and thoroughly advanced. Chinese, we should probably find impressions as to the condition and relative importance of the Christian States, that would compare unfavourably with the information of a schoolboy in an English Charity School. And if we apply the same test in other quar-tera, we shall find thatit is sufficient for our needs. Look at the progress in science made by the dark-haired uation. They have gone round and round, in the old wearisome and dreary circle, and are now less enlightened than the schoolman of the dark ages. In medicine, their blunders are 80 gross thatwehavsonly to glance atthepractice of their doctors, to assure ourselves of their ridiculous inferiority to the least educated western practitioners. In Theology, they are perpetually referring to dogmas laid down in past ages; and though the creed (if creed it can be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.