224 ON CHINESE HOROLOGY, ETC. 



Chinese hour will have expired when the former hand will have reached 

 the first large character to the right, and the latter be directed to the 

 zenith, the clock striking two. 



After this perhaps unnecessarily minute description of what is 

 wa t3d in the machinery, a few words remain to be added respecting 

 the instrument as a whole. In the first place, it should be well made. 

 A few worthless ones would damage the business irreparably. They 

 should be of brass, and placed in frames of wood, which will not be 

 easily affected by atmospheric changes. Common pine wood, veneered 

 with mahogany, have answered well. Spring clocks will not succeed. 

 Some of this description, sent from New York, cannot be kept in repair ; 

 whilst a quantity of clocks moved by weights, manufactured chiefly in 

 Connecticut, imported into China about seven years ago, have proved 

 good time-pieces, and give no trouble. 



With regard to the external appearance, on which so much depends, 

 I would advise that, in every case, there be as much of the works ex- 

 posed as possible through an opening in the dial plate. A Chinaman 

 not only wishes to see what he is buying, but what is going on in his 

 instruments when bought ; and, as his countrymen have the merit of 

 being extreme utilitarians, mirrors in the lower part of the door will be 

 generally preferred to any other ornament. Some, however, should be 

 ornamented at this point for the sake of variety ; and perhaps nothing 

 would please more than such a grouping of objects by the artist as would 

 represent a river, bringing into view a steamboat and a sloop, and on 

 the banks a railroad, locomotive, and cars ; a steepled church, or a 

 many storied hotel, in the distance ; and a stage coach also. Or another 

 interesting device would be afforded by a representation of the solar 

 system ; but this would need to be accompanied with several Chinese 

 characters. 



It is of primary importance that a particular description of the 

 manner of using the clock, the mode of putting it up, setting it off, 

 winding up, and regulating, should be given. These directions, which 

 should be more minute than if designed for English readers, can be 

 tianslated and printed very easily in the country. But there would be 

 no difficulty in printing the directions by means of wooden blocks in 

 the manufactory at home. In copying the characters for the dial ex- 

 treme care is requisite that every stroke and each line should be repre- 

 sented exactly as given in the diagram. Astronomical characters or 

 descriptions of any kind which may be needed by individuals trying 

 the experiment of clock-making for China, I shall furnish most cheer- 

 fully, for the privilege of increasing the utility of the instrument by 

 introducing with them a few passages of sacred Scripture. 



It may be asked, why, if such a clock be needed by the Chinese, 

 they have never constructed one for themselves ? It is certainly mar- 

 vellous that they should manufacture clocks, including dial-plates, 

 and always employ Roman figures, and follow the reckonings of 



