asked the old man why he now prepared his coffin. He said he felt his bealth decline, and he wished to have a place ready in which to rest after death. An opportunity did not offer to ascertain his views of a future state of existence. When asked if the sight of his coffin. did not excite mournful ideas, he replied “ No. А mandarin with me remarked, “ His mouth says No, but it is not the " language of his heart." ,

At Woo-chiog-Cbin, on the left bank of the Tanho, is • a very spacious and elegant temple, dedicated to a man whose name was Heu Chin Keun, who is deified, and is called, “The Happy Lord: of Keang-se." His temple was by some emperor denominated Wan, show Kung, which is the name by which it is now known. The front is decorated with various devices on porcelain, and with handsome masonry. A large court is formed in front, and a fine building raised on the opposite side for the public performance of plays.'

At Nau-chang Foo, the capital of Keang-se, is a temple called Hwa Wang Meaou,' the temple of the king of flowers, in which the figures of the idol and the twelve Months of the Year, by whom he is surrounded, appeared quite new, and were painted in the most lively colours. This temple, an exception to the general appearance of these edifices, * was supported by the salt-merchants in the neighbourhood, who, in an adjoining hall, had placed an idol denominated Tsae-shin, “ the god of wealth.” Before him was a stage for theatrical exhibitions, which are blended with the service of all the temples.'

Thus, in China, the imagined and desired alliance betweenwe may not say the pulpit and the stage, but--the stage and the altar, seeins actually realised.

While the Embassy remained at Nan-chang Foo, an alarmaing fire broke out in the suburbs on the banks of the river.

fire-engines,' says Dr. M., were offered to the Legate, who, with

many professions of thanks, declined accepting them, as it was « the duty of the local officers to see the fire extinguished, not « his. In about the space of two hours, they succeeded.' This might be brutal nonchalance; but, possibly, it was conformable to the requisitions of Chinese etiquette : which etiquette would doubtless bave forbidden at all events the extinguishing of a Chinese fire by an English engine. We bave another illustration of the national sung froid, in the remark made by General Wang, in the course of conversation with our Author,

the wars wbich preceded and accompanied the reigning fa• mily, thinned the population so much, that the earth produced

great abundance for the wants of the people; but, since that period, there has been a vast increase of population, the consequences of which are scarcity and poverty. In the General's opinion,' adds Dr. Morrison, another war to die

<tbat

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minish the population, would be a good thing.' One would think General Wang had been reading Malthus. A very sound political economist this General Wang!

As in other countries, so, in the celestial empire, there is quackery of various kinds. In the suburbs of Nan-kin, there are hotbaths for poor people, admittance one penny, the price of a clean shave in this country; and the sign of one of these baths holds forth in large characters the flattering promise, Heang shmuy yu Tang, the bath of fragrant water.' Just as in London, we have the Peerless Pool, or the Wellington chop house. The baths are in a small room, which continues filled with steam ; and here all the bathers are together. They come out to dry themselves and dress in a public rooi, in which are cupboards numbered to contain the separate clothes of each bather. Some of the gentlemen of the Embassy put their heads into the bath, and found the effluvia any thing but fragrant.

Fortune-telling is a good trade in some of the towns. The professors of the art keep regular shops. Dr. M. met with one of these gentry sitting at the gate of a temple, with his apparatus about bim-be does not say what apparatus ; but the gifted adept ' could not tell to whom the temple was dedicated.'

Mahommedans were found in every part of the country which was traversed by the Embassy. At Nang-chang Foo they have three mosques. In Keang-nan, they are said to have thirtysix. The prayers are not translated from the Arabic, and there are no books in Chinese containing their service or doctrines. They call the Deity Choo, · Lord;' not Shin,' a god or spi• rit;' because, they say, the Shin are included in things created, and Chuo made all things. The Jews appear to be known under the name of the sinew-plucking sect:' but our Author did not meet with one of that dispersed nation, and the informa. tion he could gain, was but doubtful and scanty.

ART. XIII. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the Press, will oblige the Conductors of the Eclectic Review, by sending information (post paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works ; which they may depend upon being communicated to the public, if consistent with its plan.

Ao interesting volume of Travels the British Poets, respectfully informs will appear shortly, by W. J. Burchell, the Subscribers to that work, that, in Esq. whose researcbes in the joterior of consequence of the lamented death of Southern Africa, during a five years' Mr. Thurston, the publication of Part residence in that country, comprise a XI. is unavoidably postponed, from the variety of discoveries and observations first of November to tbe first of January, which have never yet been laid before To prevent, however, ang delay in the . the public. Numerous engravings from completion of the work, two Parts will the Author's own drawings, with an en. be published together on that day.. tirely new map, will illustrate the work. Dr. Watkins, Author of the General

Mr. Charles Mills, Author of the Biographical Dictionary, will shortly History of the Crusades, will shortly publish, an interesting work, consisting Jay before the public, the First Part of Memoirs of self-educated persons, (comprising Italy) of the Travels of who, by their own exertions, bave risen Theodore Ducas, in various countries of to eminence in literature and science. Europe, at the revival of Letters and Art. Miss Benger is busily employed on

The Memoirs of the Court of King Memoirs of the Life of Mary, Queen of James 1. by Lucy Aikin, in % vols, Scots, which will be published in the Bro. is nearly ready.

course of the winter. Preparing for publication, Two Voy, A work entitled, The present State of ages to New South Wales and Van Europe, will shortly appear. Dieman's Land; including a description A new edition of Systematic Educaof the present condition of that interest- tjon, or Elementary Instruction in the ing colony; with facts and observations various departments of Literature and relative to the state and management of Science, with practical rules for studying convicts of both sexes, under sentence each branch of useful knowledge. By of Transportation. Also, reflections on the Rev. W. Shepherd, the Rev. J. Joyce, Seduction, and its general consequences, and the Rey. Laut Carpenter, LL. D. is By Thomas Reid, Member of the Royal in the press, with considerable additions. College of Surgeons in London, and The Rev, W. Thorn, of Penrith, has Surgeon in the Royal Navy.

in the press, a new and enlarged edition A new edition (being the 7th) of Con. of his Lectures on the Christian Sabbath. yersations on Chemistry, is preparing Preparing for publication, The Preafor the press, with considerable additious, cher, in 6 yols. 12mo., or Sketches of

The Speeches of the late Right Hon. Original Sermons, from the MSS. of two Henry Grattan, edited by bis Son, will erninent divines of the last century, appear shortly in 4 rols. Gyo.

With a familiar Essay on Pulpit ComMr. A. T, Thomson, P.L.S, &c. &c. position. Principally intended for Young has in the press, Lectures on the Ele- Ministers and Lay Preachers. Yol. I. meots of Botany, Part 1.-Containing 5s. the Anatomy and Physiology of those lu the press, a new metrical Version organs on which the growth and preser- of the Psalms of David, with an apvation of the plant depend : with expla- pendix of select Psalms and Hymns nations of the Terminology connected adapted to the service of the United with these parts. 8vo. illustrated by Church of England and Ireland for marginal cuts, and copper-plaies. every Sunday in the year, festival days,

The Rev. Samuel Burder, A.M. is saints' days, &c. By the Rev. Basil preparing a new edition of his Oriental Wood, A.M. of Trinity College, Oxford, Customs, or an Illustration of the Sa. and Rector of Drayton Beauchamp, cred Scriptures, by an explanatory ap. Bucks. plication of the Customs and Manners In the press, Sketches of (50) Sero of the Eastern Nations, and especially mons. Vol. II. 12mo. the Jers, therein alluded to. This edition Jo the press, and in a few days will be will be cousiderably enlarged.

published, the following discourses by Vol. III. of the Dublin Hospital Re. S. Sleigh, of Salisbury. Jayful Anti.' ports and Communications in Medicine cipations: a Sermon occasioned by the and Surgery, will be published in De: death of Mrs. Sloper, Infant Hosądcompler,

pas : a Sermon, containing many parThe Sixth Part of Dr. Wbittaker's ticulars in the life and death of a child Geacral History of the County of York, belonging to the Scots Lane Sunday is just ready.

School. The Proprietar of the Portraits of Mr. Morison, Minister of Trevor Ches

ART. XIV. LIST OF WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED. uc 2. DIOGRAPHY.