"Object Lessons" now form an important part of a child's education; and there can be little doubt that the eye is a medium through which we can more ensily and rapidly taught, than the ear. Many books have been written about China and the Chinese, and yet thexe volumes have not perhaps afforded a tenth part of the information that was derived from a glance at the old Chinese Collection. It is now many years ago, since the Chinese world in miniature was exhibited "on a piece of ground contiguous to the White Horse Tavern, Kuightsbridge." Since that day, we have had Crystal Palaces, Exhibitions of Art "Treasures, Muse-uns of ancient relics, and' modern collections of indus products and fo ithas come about, that Dunn's Chinexe collection is nimest forgotten; but it nevertheless did good survive in its time, and not only opened the eyes of people at home to the character of Chinese art, bat gave them an insight into the manners and customs of the various orders of the population. We recollect, well, our sensation of pleasure on visiting this amazing gathering of miscellaneous articles remember the two flights of steps, the long gallery leading from the hall of entrance, the large model of the Honan Joss House, with the three monstrous, idols, and the life size models of Buddhist and Taoist priests, gentlemen, coolies, soldiers, archers and men of letters. We passed three delightful hours in wandering about the capacious museum, and we learned an "object lesson" that we never forgot. The services of China, the japanned cabinets, the vases, lamps, images, painting materials, mirrors, pipes, models of sampans and junks prodaced a very marvellous general effect, and taught us much concerning the domestic habits of the small-eyed nation, Now, it is matter of wonder, that an attempt has never been made to get up some similar exhibition in China, with a view to give. the natives an idea of foreign manufactures, arts, and sciences. Of course, it may be said that, in one sense, the Foreign Settlements are exhibitions of western manners and customs, set up in the midst of the Flowery Land for the children of Han to copy; but there are many things at home which have no counterparts out here, and models of these wonld—not "astonish," for nil admirari," is the motto of Orien-but certainly would enlighten the natives. First and foremost we might exhibit working models of locomotives, hydraulic presses, steam hammers, and the like. We should not do amiss either, if copies of the great bridges of Europe were exhibited, as at present the only idea that a Chinaman has of a foreign built bridge is the monstrous wooden stractare that spans the Soochow creek. Further, English art should be represented. As long as the Chinese find foreigners spending extravagant sums in the purchase of tasteless curios, they will believe that our own "Art mauufactares," as Mr. Cole C. B. used to call them, are inferior to theirs; but, if they were shown European ornaments, they might, in time, be stimulated to approve, and then after a time they might be led to copy; and if there be any trath in the doctrines of our day, a nation is elevated intellectually and even morally, by the development of its ssthetic tastes. We do not imagine that the people. would: ensily overcome their prejudices favour of the time-honoured fashions of their own land, but we rebel to believe that, here and there, we should not find a open to conviction and capable of adopting improvement. Tarkey seemed, for centuries, impenetrable to the ministers of western civilization, but it is now eagerly adopting our fashions. There is no reason why China should not follow along the road that Turkey is travelling. But the people must be allowed to see with their own eyes, the good fruits of our system. Hitherto, they have been told that we are semisavages, whose sole object is plunder, and whose sole superiority consists in a larger acquaintance with the sciences that have, for their object, the destraction of life. If they were shown illustrations of the many processes by which Inbour. is lessened, time saved, and comfort increased, they could not fail to be impressed by it. We believe that a Polytechnic in Shanghai would exercise a very beneficial effect on the natives, and asa speculation woald, at first, pay its expenses, nnd ultimately tend to facilitate the peaceful opening up of the country. The self-centred barbarian is proud of having few wants-the civilized man exalts in the belief has scarcely a reasonable desire that intelligent labour will not at last enable him to gratify. Our mission in this country is to create wants, of re-exports; and this large trade is not likely to fall off. On the contrary, a mo-may be looked for. is strictly foreign trade, the local or coast trade, carried on almost exclusively by the natives of China, should be taken into account by the shareholders of a telephic line. It is difficult to state with confidence the yearly value of this trade, but it is said to exceed in value yearly the sum of 50 millions of pounds sterling, and the estimate isa credible one; therefore the yearly value of the foreign and coast trade of Uhinabetween the southern port of Canton and the northern ports of Tientsin and Newchwang, and the ports intermediate, may be considered as of 170 millions of pounds sterling. This estimate of the value of the imports and exports does not follow the Chinese trade into its numerous ramifications and maltiplications, and may be taken as a moderate statement, rather below than above the reality. Some American merchants of high standing, who carefally examined the matter three years ago, stated that, in their opinion, the yearly value of the trade refered to is about 900 million of dollars, or 202,500,000 sterling.
The yearly value of the foreign trade with Japan amounts to about 6 million of pounds sterling. There is also n largo native trade between the ports of Osaka, Yokohama and Nagasaki, the amount of which can at the present time be stated as very considerable, but there are no means of obtaining reliable esti-mari The trade of Chinaand Japan, which woald contribute to the support of telecommunication with Europe, a, India nnd the United Statev, may be sifely estimated as of the vane of 180 millions of pounds sterling. For the suke of comparison, the figures uuder mentioned are appended, taken from. the statistical reports of H.B.M, Board of Trade for the year 1866.
The import and export trade of China for the year 1866 the treaty ports amounted to 91,795,056 Treasure 8,086,752
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.