Iris the custom to speak of Confucius and Mencius, as the most influential powers in swaying the Chinese mind. hey are quoted and referred to over and over again, as the men who have fashioned the nation by their precepts,. and disposed and turned the heart of the people in the direction they' are most addicted to follow. In ethics, and. political economy, and the science of government itself, these men are believed to have exercised masterful and enduring sway. The colour that an idea takes at this day, in passing through a Chinaman's mind, is the colour that tinged the same thought, when it travelled through the brain of the Throneless King and his great rival.
Bat there is a certain document not 80 often referred to, and less generally known than the works of the sages, which must be admitted to have had considerable sway in this country. We refer to the Sacred Edict of Kang-hi. It is not easy to imagine the veneration which this precious pro: duction inspires, It is regarded with
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.