406 REMARKS ON THE PRESENT POSITION AND 



free-trade system) shows the power our government has destroyed 

 by not renewing the Company's charter under some new modifica- 

 tion. To prevent any further speculations on the subject, ought 

 not the Leadenhall-slreet Tea Dealers, as they have been desig- 

 nated (or some other corporate body) to be again required to renew 

 their charter, that bloodshed may be prevented, and that affairs may 

 go on smoothly ? 



At page 59, Mr. M. calls upon us to 



"Listen to the marvellous language adopted by the Viceroy (27th October, 

 1830), in addressing our Committee. 



" ' The celestial Empire benevolently nourishes, righteously rectifies, and 

 gloriously magnifies a vast forbearance. How is it possible that for driblets 

 of men in a petty — petty barbarian factory, troops should be moved to exter- 

 minate! ! [«ic.]' But the said Chief, and others, could not explain this in- 

 tention (in the Hong Merchants' threat); they stupidly listen to the teaching 

 of traitorous persons, and forthwith presumed, in opposition to inhibitions, 

 to order guns and arms to be brought up, and arrayed them at the door of 

 their factory. This is still more wild and erroneous. Only try to think — 

 if indeed the said foreigners had among them an illegality of a very important 

 nature — I, the Governor, would instantly fly to report to the Emperor, and the 

 Government troops would gather together like clouds, exterminate them, and 

 leave a perfect vacuum ! ! How could their guns and arms they have brought, 

 presume to oppose such a force?' Is this the sort of fulmination at which 

 Britain must turn pale?" 



W e believe that Mr. Matheson makes no pretensions to be a Chinese 

 scliolar, although he has resided in China many years, or we might be 

 disposed to question him on the rendering of " benevolently nou- 

 rishes," " righteously rectifies," and " gloriously magnifies a vast for- 

 bearance." The latter part is mere oriental vei'biage, and means no- 

 thing, andsurelyChing-kung should not have been rendered "a perfect 

 vacuum!" What, it may be asked, do the Chinese, a haughty, covetous, 

 imbecile people, designate theirempire the CelestialEmpire ? Yesthey 

 do. If a reason be asked them for so doing, the reply would be, that 

 their ancient sovereigns, Fuh-e,Shin-nung,andWhang-te, governing by 

 principles that they received from Heaven, or which were considered 

 to accord with the ivill of Heaven, this mild and paternal government 

 was called celestial. Hence, transferring the word celestial to the 

 kingdom, it is spoken of as the Celestial Kingdom or empire. 

 We speak of our own country in a somewhat similar manner when 

 we call it a Christian country, as the disciples or followers of Christ. 

 No arrogance is meant by either one country or the other. Why 

 then take ofience '? 



The writer does not feel disposed to follow Mr. Matheson through 

 the other parts of his interesting pamphlet, having restricted himself 

 to that portion of it which treats of the general conduct of the Chinese. 

 His object in taking up his pen has been to remove those erroneous 

 impressions which a slight Imowledge of the Chinese language is sure 

 to produce, that those who are called to legislate may see the subject 

 fairly before them, and that so momentous a question as the continuance 

 of tlie Ciiinese trade may liave that calm, unhidssed deliberation that 

 shall tend to put the matters in dispute on a permanent fooling. The 



