Pu letter of our Peking correspondent, which'we publish to-day, will be read with great satisfaction by all foreigners.
revised and enlarged edition of Dr. W. A. P. Martin's work on Natural Philosophy is to be brought out, and for the Emperor a special edition de lure will be pre evAnd Dr. Bdkins, having com Foted his sixteen volumes of science primers, the translation of which he undertook at the instance of Sir Robert Hart, the Inspector-General of Customs, copies of them have been presented to His Majesty Kui Hei,' Further, the Emperor has ask for Dr. Martin's work on International Law. It may be said that these are merely idle compliments paid by some officials to learned foreigners, and that, Hike other monarchs the young BER, even now of their existence.
never open @ of
But even if it be so, which no one has any right to assume, as certainly no foreigner has any knowledge of what manner of man the Emperor is, or what are his abilities or inclination, still even supposing that it is merely 'a complimentary act on the part of some one high in the Palace, it is a remarkable one. We hope it is of wider and better significance, and that the young Emperor inherits with their throne the learned and scientific tastes of some of the earlier monarchs of his dynasty. It may well be so, judging from the triorism and enlightenment of the igh mages who have had charge of affairs of State in late years and of his education. The Empress has taken her place among the great rulers of the world, and in her conduct of the Kingdom has shown high qualities of statesmanship and administration; and not the least of her merits has been that she has known how to attach statesmen of approved service and ability to the bronc. All this gives us hope that the education of the Emperor has been desirous of studying foreign works, suc of such a nature that he may be realy as those our correspondent tells us have been ordered for him or sent to him.
The requisition of these scientific and legal books by the Emperor cannot fail, as our correspondent points out, to give them, and all books of the same class, a more'rapid introduction to Chinese in every part of the Hpite than they would otherwise have In China, as in all other parts of the world, the favour of a monarch can bring reputation to books, We may therefore confidently that the wise provision of Sir Robert-Hart and the labours of Doctors Martin and Edkins will reap their re—ward earlier than could have otherwise To Sir Robert Hart China owes much in other ways, but the assistance he has given to the diffusion of that knowledge of which China stands so much in need will have more lasting. effects than his administra tion of the Customs. There is no while a mtich greater number. hold need for us to say that he had the best official positions' at home. The full assistance to carry on his work and course, literary and scientific, the Ca~ we are sure it has been done in the best lender informs us, extends, over eight possible way. We may now look for an years; the first three being devoted increased demand for all translations of exclusively to foreign lan; and foreign works on subjects interesting to the remainder to the acquisition of the Chinese, and the quiet labours of scientific and general knowledge through those who for some years past have the medium of these-lan And been furnishing such books are certain that students may not lose touch of to be well repaid. The recently issued their own language they are required catalogue of the Society for the Diffuto keep up the knowledge of it "by sion of Christian and General Know-suitable exercises," while the younger ledge shews that a great variety of students must devote one halt of each books on religious, scientific, legal and day to the study of Chinese. The historical subjects are on sale at the object of the College is to train men Depository here. Among them we no-for special service; the number of tice Dr. Martin's International Law, students is limited to the requirements Jurisprudence and Mathematical papers, of the services; and, with a few excep-many handbooks on scientific subjects tions those who are admitted to its by Mr. Fryer, works by Dr. Williamson, privileges are in receipt of a Govern-and the Rey. E. Faber's Civilisation, ment stipend, This is during the first which is in itself a compendium of the year, when the student is on probation, knowledge which the Chinese are seek-limited to food and lodging; at the ing—besides many more books. And end of this term he receives T's. 3 per we have no doubt that Mr. Fryer's own month which is doubled in two or three depot of translations is flourishing and years, if the student does well. Those doing good work in his absence. of them who may, after leaving College are indebted to the courtesy of be sent abroad, receive Ts, 100 a Dr. Martin for a copy of the Triennial month which is raised to Ts. 150 if which he presides. Phis excellent in-Calendar of the Tungwén College over they are placed on the footing of student, interpreters, after which further promostitution is under the superintendence tion may be secured. The President of H.LH. Prince Ch'eng and the Minis-and Professors have prepared a number ters for Foreign Affairs with Sir Robert of books for the diffusion of scienti-Hart as Inspector ex officio. Besides the fic and general knowledge, some of President, Dr. Martin, there are profes-which have been ' refer to above, sors of Chemistry and Natural History, while among the others are Dr. Dud-Mathematics, Medicine and Physiology, Astronomy and Meteorology, En, tick, grows Human Anatomy and Professor Fawcett's Political Economy, The French, German and Russian, and Phy-Calendar contains an extract from a sics. There are also three professors of joint memorial from the 'I'sung-li Ya-Chinese and several Tutors. There were men, the Board of Civil Office and the at the last examination 42 students in Board of Rites on the introduction of the English department, 30 in the Science into examinations for the Civil French, 17 in the Russian and 16 in Service. The two first sentences of the the German. In Astronomy there were Memorial explain its tenor 5 students, in Mathematical physics 4, We venture to request that a decree in Mathematics 20, in International be isted, enjoining on the provincial law 9, in Chemistry 20 and in Medicine Chancellors, at each annual examina~ 9. Once in three years a Great Extion for the first degree, to admit can-amination is held, after which the sucdidates to a competition in Mathemacessful competitors are rewarded by tics. marks of official distinction. Conspi-"'The papers. produced shall be for-cuons merit, the Calendar tells us, warded to the 'I'sung-li Yamen, and, if entitles its possessors to the first ste in the nine degrees of official pied approved, their authors will be called to the Tsungli Yamen to undergo a special and advancing a step further they are examination in Physics, Applied Ma-appointed to the discharge of official functions in connection with some one and Military Tactics, Gunnery, Torpedo thematics, Practical Mechanics, Naval of the Six Boards, or leading departments in the Imperial Government, Practice; or, instead of these, national Law, Treaty Relations, Political and as these duties are only nominal History, etc." at first and do not occupy much of The study of foreign: affairs con-their time, they are required to conducted in the mode laid down in the tinue their studies at the College as Memorial, "will not" it says " be an Resident Graduates. They are also empty pretence." The Tung-wen College expected to discharge the duties of has done excellent work and on. the interpreters to the Tsung-li Yamen, demands of the Civil Service for trained to translate, or aid in the transla-aid increasing we hope that its means of tion of useful books, and to hold them-ting these demands will be liberally selves in readiness to go abroad and fill provided. posts in the newly organised diplomatic and consular services of their country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.