Tus very exhaustive and interesting Report of the Chinese Polytechuio and Reading-room, drawn up by Mr. Fryer, leaves us but little to say upon the subject. It will, no doubt, have been widely read, and we venture to say will have given rise to feelings of mingled -gratification and surprise, The exertions of Sir Walter Medhurst, Mr. Fryer, Mr. Tong: King-sing and Mr, H-li Hsueh-tsun have all contributed to bringing about the present encouraging state of affairs; and while foreigners generally, perhaps, had almost forgotten the very existence of the Institution, its supporters lave been energetically promoting its interests and paving the way to make it a centre of scientific and technical struction. The funds of the Polywks to the able financing in a very promising and it is to be hoped that pal Connell will recognise the expediency of relieving it from the very heavy burden of taxation which has resulted from the high assessment of the property. Lhe mere fact that a namber of enlightened Chinese Lave voluntarily come forward, and in different ways base evinced the very strong interest they take in the objects of the Iustitntion, should influenco'all representative foreign bodies to give the enterprise whatever assistance lies in their power. There may be many differences of opinion with regard to doctrinal propaganda, but there can be but one opinion respecting the efforts now being made to instruct the Chinese in arts and sciences, and all educated persons must view with profound satisfaction the response which these efforts have, so far, elicited from the Chinese. In. deed it is only necessary to know a little about the depths of ignorance and superstition which reign in: China, to accord the heartiest sympathy to the Polytechnic, Want of knowledge in this country is not confined to the poorer classes; it exists among the highest in the land, and may be even seen in the pages of the Peking Gazette. Anything, therefore, that enn be done to lift this dark cloud off the minds of the Chinese people deserves our henri approbation and support, It is only fair, we think, that the public should clearly understand the part that is being borne in this good work by missionaries, The scientific books translated into Chinese by members of the different missionary bodies, the scientific training that is afforded in the numerous rapidly increasing schools, and the excellence of the scientific lectures that are delivered before the classes, would astonish those who imagine that missionaries devote themselves entirely to evangelistic teaching. And we believe the seed to be sown in good ground. The Chinese have, among other qualities, a marvellous aptitude for mathematics, and prove themsel most intelligent students of scientific subjects generally. The Polytechnic Institution on whose behalf we are now writing is rapidly becoming the headquarters of scientific education in China, and in the course of years may we hope rival the best institu. tions of the class in the ueighbouring Empire. The opening of mines in different directions and the impending iutcodaction of railways will provide an impetus for the carrying ov of the work which cannot but provoke the encouragement and support of the authorities, and, while Une old feng-shui and such-like superstitions disappear before the advancing light, the material prosperity of the country will be proportioutely increased.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.