Buch has been written about the refusal of the Chinese authorities at Peking to receive the Duke of Edinburgh in proper spirit, and much well merited obloquy has been thrown on the native Government for their action in this matter. A reason which, however unsatisfactory, w6 bo-lieve to be partly founded on truth, has been suggested for the action of the Chinese, and that is that they are really ashamed to let the eyes of a foreigner behold the miserable atate of poverty and wretchedness to which the dynasty has sunk, and which cannot afford to keep the Reticos, in even decent repair, nor produce a troop of sol-liers or retainers to welcomoa royal visitor. It is said that the reports brought buck from Europe by the two exditions sent there in the persons of Pin and Mr, Bure jingame and his associated envoys have at least had the effect of rendering the Chinese thoroughly ashamed of the state of their Imperial palaces, and the paltry attempts at splendour which surround the slecaying Court of Peking. If this be true the expeditions have at least effected one success, for the first necessary before inducing a-man to advance is evidently the persuading him that he is in a position behind his neighbours, and in this view, if it be true that the notion of shame has at all entered' into the heads of the advisers of the throne, we may "take credit for having done much to upset the worst feature of the Chinese character, namely its hopeless p ride. We however fear that this'is too much to expect from.a nation rendered wilful by long continued isolation from alli improving influences.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.