LESSONS FOll THE LITERATI. 559 



Perhaps there is no country in the world about which we know 

 less than of China, and what we do know is much disfigured by error. 

 It is almost universally believed in England that the Chinese have the 

 greatest abhorrence of Europe, its customs and produce ; whereas, in- 

 stead of shunning commercial intercourse with foreigners, they are 

 most anxious to engage in it, though restrained to a certain extent by 

 their rulers. A mercantile spirit pervades the whole nation ; no coun- 

 try in Asia carries on so large a traffic, or can boast of half so great a 

 number of merchant craft. It would be futile to say to what an ex- 

 tent trade must be benefitted by throwing open its ports to the un- 

 shakled industry of British enterprise. The absurd laws of restric- 

 tion in China counteract their own mischief, because opposed to the 

 evident good of the many, and, as trade continues to increase, must 

 daily become less and less potent j perhaps no one act could confer a 

 greater boon on English commerce than the opening of the India 

 trade. A very few years will, we trust, exemplify the truth of this ; 

 but in the mean time it behoves all interested in it to acquire the 

 most authentic information respecting the people who, with ourselves, 

 are we hope about to participate in the advantages of unlimited na- 

 tional intercourse. 



LESSONS FOR THE LITERATI. 



FROM THE S PARISH OF YBIARTE. 



THE SWAN AND THE LINNET. 



PIQUED at the linnet's song, one day, 

 The swan exclaimed, " Leave oif, I say ! 

 Be still, you little noisy thing ; 

 What dare you challenge me to sing, 

 When there's no voice, however fine, 

 Can match the melody of mine ?" 



(The linnet warbled on.) " D'ye hear ? 

 This impudence may cost you dear. 

 I could, with one harmonious note, 

 For ever stop your squeaking throat; 

 And, if I do not choose to try, 

 Respect my magnanimity !" 



" I wish," at length, the linnet said 

 " I wish to Heaven, the proof were made ! 

 You can't imagine, how I long 

 To hear that sweet and flowing song, 

 Which, though so rich by fame averr'd, 

 I know not who has ever heard." 



The swan essay'd to sing, but whew ! 

 She screech' d and squall'd a note or two, 

 Until the linnet, it appears, 

 Took to her wings to save her ears. 



'Tis strange, when some of learned fame, 

 Will prove their title to the name, 

 How oft the ill-placed praise they mar, 

 And shew the world what fools they are ! 



