Ir we look back over the pages of Chinese history we find that the present dynasty has reached the ordinary or average period of holding dominion, The number of dynasties, excluding of course the mythological line of sovereigns, which have occupied the throne of China, is twenty-seven, extending over a period of about four thousand seven hundred years, and showing. a list of two hundred and forty-seven monarchs. This gives to each Emperor, as the average duration of authority, a period of nearly twenty years, and to each dynasty a fraction less than ove hundred and seventy-tive years, Now of course there were Emperors who reigned more than twenty years, and dynasties that lasted more, than one hundred and seventy-five years, but the average duration of individual and of dynastic rule is as we have stated above. This ciramstance will probably. have its weight with the know that there is no figares, but to the native mind, with its peculiar organization and its belief doctrine that events proceed spaces of time in 8 regu.
mecession, repeating themselves ated intervals,.a violation. of rul seems portentous,, and.a dynasty that very much overlasts the average dura: tion of dynasties is viewed with snspicion.
Foreigners in Chinn are used to talk of the effete and tottering-system of the Empire very fluently, and perhaps they, often speak without calculating what The question is Feally to be resolved is implied in the phrases they employ.
into n simple enquiry. Is the existing Government of China menaced by such dangers as point to an early subversion of the reigning family? We are not sare that this point is established on reliable evidence. here is unquestion-. ably mach malversation and corruption. The officials buy and sell places and. pardons, with a shameless contempt of the obligations of public duty and the restraints of private honour that we habitually associate with the Spain of the time of Gil Blas. A whole province has revolted from its allegiance, and refuses to submit to tribute or to™ receive officers nominated by the Im-"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.