building was on fire;-the state of the atmosphere at the time being such that the smoke could not ascend, but driven by a light breeze from the north-west, it enveloped the whole eastern part of the town. It was not long, however, before the flames, bursting through the roofs, left no doubt as to the point from whence they issued. All the apartments which constituted the left wing of the church, and which were formerly occupied by priests, but recently by the Portuguese troops, were soon on fire. For a while, some hope was entertained that the main part of the church, the chapel, might be saved. But before eight o'clock, the fire reached the highest part of the building and also the vestry in the rear of the great altar. Dense smoke mixed with flames soon burst from the windows on all sides, and then rising through the roof presented a sight awfully grand. The flames rose very high, and the whole town and inner harbor were illuminated. Just at that moment the clock, (which was presented to the church by Louis XIV.,) struck eight and a quarter. Hitherto, efforts had been made to check the progress of the flames; but now, when it was quite evident that they would not extend beyond the buildings of the church, every one seemed willing to stop and gaze at the scene. Judging from all that we witnessed on the occasion, Macao is but poorly prepared to resist such an invasion; and if fires continue to be as frequent there as they have been during the few last months, some new arrangements will certainly be required for the better security of persons and property. Only three days previous to the burning of St. Paul's church, a house was consumed with one of its inmates, who was, however, supposed to have been intoxicated, and while in that state to have set the house on fire. As early as 1565 the Jesuits had erected a church in Macao, near the site of the late one. The former was burnt by accident; and the latter was built in its stead. This was named S. Paulo, and has remained to the present time, one of the most: noble and magnificent buildings in the east. On the corner stone was the following inscription: VIRGINI MAGnæ Matri CIVITAS MACAENSIS LIBENS, " The site of the church was well chosen, and the whole edifice was form→ ed of the best and most durable material, and in beautiful style. You approached the building by a broad and lofty flight of stone steps. The front of it consisted entirely of granite, "where the ingenious artist has contrived to enliven Grecian architecture by devotional objects. In the middle of ten pillars of the Ionian order, are three doors leading into the temple. Above them range ten pillars of the Corinthian order, and constitute five separate niches. In the middle one, directly above the principal door, there is a female figure trampling on a globe, the emblem of human habitation, and underneath it is written Mater Dei. On each side of the queen of heaven are statues of saints. In a superior division, St. Paul is represented; and above him there is a dove, the emblem of the Holy Ghost." On various parts of the front there were inscriptions, some in Latin, others in Chinese. The interior of the building was every way equal to its exterior.. The whole is now a pile of ruins. Feb. 8th. New empress. In the second volume of the Repository, (pages 142 and 212) we noticed the death of her late majesty, the empress of China, which occurred on the 16th of June, 1833. His majesty Taoukwang has made choice of a new consort, who was raised to the imperial rank on the 18th of November last. This event has just been announced in Can ton, by a special messenger from the capital. The ceremonies, &c., of the occasion will be reported in due time, and we shall endeavor in our next number to give our readers some account of them.-The seventieth anniversary of the emperor's mother occurs this year, and will, it is said, be celebrated throughout the empire. February 14th. Capture of smugglers, and orders against the importation of opium. Three or four months ago, a number of smugglers were captured off Lintin; and both they and their drug, "several tens of chests," were delivered over to the chief authorities in Canton. This capture was made by an officer of Heängshan; and the reason assigned for it was, that the smugglers did not conform to the regulations of the trade. Another seizure has just now been made; and, if report be true, for the same reason as before. If these statements are correct, it would seem that the smuggling trade is becoming a monopoly of the government. The following case has recently come to our knowledge: A severe edict was issued, which restricted, by the heaviest penalties the exportation of a given article: however, application was soon made to the usual persons to transport a certain amount of this commodity; they declined, fearing that they should fall into the hands of the people on board the cruisers; application was next made to those people themselves, and the commodity in question was speedily, safely, and cheaply, conveyed outside' and delivered in due form on board one of the foreign ships at Lintin. The boat employed in this case belonged to the very officer who had issued the edict. The following imperial order was published by the local authorities on the 3d of last November. "Loo and his colleagues have made a report of the existing circumstances of foreign vessels selling opium and of the measures taken for inquiring and acting with regard thereto. The barbarian vessels (which clandestinely bring opium to Canton, chiefly dispose of it in the outer seas; having a race of native banditti hooked together with them, to afford them supplies, and remove (their cargoes). Loo and his colleagues have given strict commands to the war vessels, from time to time, to urge and compel the barbarian vessels to get under weigh, and to prohibit the native vessels and tanka boat people from holding intercourse with the barbarian vessels; also with severity to seize the smuggling native vagabonds, "But when all the vessels are crowded together on the face of the sea, 'it is difficult to separate the worthless stones and gems;' it only remains, after the merchant vessels of every nation have sailed away, to examine thoroughly, and if there be on the sea any warehousing, smuggling ships, immediately to send forth the naval force, and with a great display of lofty dignity, strictly to drive them out. Orders should further be given to the officers to appoint two cruisers to anchor at sea, among the barbarian vessels, in order to make search, and to prevent all native vessels and tanka boats from approaching the barbarian vessels to hold clandestine dealings with them, that thus the supply of provisions may be cut off. If any native vagabonds go in fast boats to the barbarian vessels, to land the opium for sale, or clandestinely to purchase goods, let them be immediately sought after, seized, and brought to trial, and punished with severity. The military commandants and the district magistrates on the inner rivers, must also be held responsible for appointing cruising vessels at the maritime ports, to be stationed severally in previously arranged positions, so as to occupy all the inlets communicating with the sea, and there to cruise about in rotation, through the night, for the purpose of making seizures. If any people, taking (opium) to sell, steal through, either inward or outward, let them be immediately seized and committed. Let the custom-houses, one and all, search strictly and with real earnestness. And whenever a seizure has been made of men or vessels smuggling what is contraband, or evading the duties, let application be immediately made, according to rule, and the parties be severally rewarded and encouraged. If any officers are negligent in keeping up guard, or if soldiers or police-men take fees to connive, let the soldiers or police-men be punished according to`law, and let the said commanding officers be reported against with severity. Let the local officers be commanded also to inquire after and seize native vagabonds who open 'opium furnaces,' making diligent search for them, and punishing severely. If any do not act with fidelity, they must, whenever convicted, be severely reported against. Let the hong merchants likewise be commanded to enjoin commands on the English barbarian merchants, that they are mutually to examine and inquire, and that if one vessel smuggle and evade the duties, all the vessels shall be immediately prohibited trading; that thus they may themselves be caused severally to investigate, aud adopt preventive measures, which will be a plan more sure and perfect. 64 Loo and his colleagues, when they meet with any of these cases and circumstances, must punish offenders; they are not permitted to extend mercy towards them. Still more, must they not, in lapse of time, become careless and indolent, regarding this as a mere prepared paper.' There is further a postscript to the report, "stating that by nature the barbarians have no other object but gain, and their clandestine trade having existed long, they certainly will not contentedly relinquish it. Either, after the government force has dispersed they will come again, or else they will creep, rat-like, into other provinces. The said governor and his colleagues are imperatively required to keep them under very strict control, maintaining outside, a cruising squadron of government vessels, and within, a strict guard at the maritime port; so that they may neither dispose of (goods), nor yet be suffered to escape into other provinces. To sum up, they are expected to form plans, and to conduct the matter securely, strictly prohibiting, till they eradicate offenses. Then will they not fail of fulfilling the duties of their offices. Respect this." Monday, 23d. Burning of opium. It is often utterly impossible for foreigners to ascertain the truth from the Chinese. On many subjects it seems to be the prevailing usage not to tell the truth,—the idea being entertained, that if a man speaks falsehood it can do him no harm, but should he utter the truth it may involve him in difficulty. Since the seizure of the drug, noticed above, was made, several reports have been current respecting the disposition that would be made of it. It is now officially announced that, "their excellencies, the governor and fooyuen (this day) deputed the Kwangchow foo and the cheheens of Nanhae and Pwanyu to convey it to the military parade ground on the east of the city, and there burn it." That some part of the drug contained in the several tens of chests' has been thus publicly destroyed is very probable; but notwithstanding this parade, no one supposes that the whole, or even the largest part of it, was burnt. Friday, 27th. Literary examinations, during the last few days, have been in progress in the provincial city. The number of students assembled has been between five and six thousand. Inundations. It is rumored here that Canton will be visited by an inundation during the fourth moon of the current year. Predictions of this kind are frequent in China; but they are not often fulfilled. The government is expending large sums of money to repair the breaches made in the embankments last year and the year before that. It is also raising new embankments, and widening some of the narrow channels in the river westward from Canton. It is said that the hong and salt merchants will be invited' to subscribe liberally to defray these expenses, and that some of the outside merchants who have been seized, will be liberated on condition of paying largely for the same object. Hoppo's domestics. One of the principal secretaries of the hoppo has carried his extortions to such an extent, that the governor has seen fit to deliver him over to the Kwangchow foo, who having secured for him a suitable flogging, has lodged him in the prison of the Nanhae. This was one of the hoppo men who for several years has been employed in overseeing and regulating foreign commerce; and it is, we believe, from the duties on this trade that he has made these extortions. THE CHINESE REPOSITORY. VOL. III.—MARCH, 1835.-No. 11. ART. I. The Chinese peasant Hoo Loo: his removal to England; operation performed on him at Guy's hospital; remarks on the operation by Mr. W. Simpson, and by J. M. Titley, M. D. In the account of the Ophthalmic Hospital, which was published in our number for last December, we promised to lay before our readers further particulars concerning the interesting case of Hoo Loo. Attracted by the reports of the success of the infirmary, this poor man came to Macao, and desired to be admitted into it. While there, witnessing the operations performed on others, he requested that an attempt might be made to remove the tumor with which he was afflicted. Accordingly, arrangements were soon made for his pas sage to England, where, under the care of sir Astley Cooper, bart., the desired operation was undertaken. "Hoo Loo's principal motive for going to England was the hope, that his disease being there removed, he might prove a comfort to his aged mother instead of being, as he was, a burden to her. The poor old woman since his death has subsisted upon a pittance, the interest derived from a small sum which was appropriated to her use by Mr. Colledge, out of money given by a few charitable individuals who took an interest in the poor man's welfare." We have before us a paper with her 'sign manual,' by which it appears that she is still living in Singan, about a hundred miles from Canton. This year, not being able to go to Macao to receive her annuity, she sent the above named paper, that the money might be paid to its bearer. The writing is on a large sheet and was executed by some friend; it consists of only two lines, on each side of which there is an impression of her right hand. The whole is done with red ink, and in a style which cannot easily be counterfeited. 'Sign manuals' executed in this manner, are employed in China chiefly by those who are unable to write, which is the case, 63 CH: REP: VOL. III. . it would appear, with the mother of IIoo Loo.-The remarks and statements which we subjoin are from the Lancet. The following paragraph, by the editor of that work, is under date of London, Saturday, April 16th, 1831. "The account of the operation performed upon the unfortunate Chinese, on Saturday last at Guy's hospital; will be read with deep and painful anxiety. Without calling in question the manual skill of the operator, we are of opinion that in this proceeding, some very serious errors were committed: First, it was injudicious, nay, particularly unphilosophical, to perform an operation of such vast importance upon a native of the climate of China, so quickly after his arrival in this country, to the atmosphere of which his constitution could in no degree be familiarized; and, secondly, nothing could be more injudicious than to perform such an operation upon a man who had been exposed during several months to the pure and peculiarly invigorating breezes of the ocean, in a theatre, or rather a well, the atmosphere of which must have been rendered unfit for the purposes of respiration by the crowd. These errors when considered in connection with the length of time which poor Hoo Loo was under the tortures of the knife, furnish more than sufficient grounds for the removal of any astonishment which may at first have been entertained as to the unsuccessful issue of the operation. True the ventilation was open, and the crowd around the patient frequently stood aloof, in order that the purest atmosphere which the place could afford should come in contact with him. But notwithstanding these occasional precautions, the depressing influence of the obnoxious atmosphere may in some degree be conjectured, when it is stated that many of the spectators were covered with perspiration, were pale as death, and closely approaching a state of fainting. What then must have been the condition of Hoo Loo, who with bound limbs was compelleds to breathe in such a place for a period of two hours, during one hour and forty-four minutes of which he was under the infliction of the knife? It is admitted, generally, that Mr. Key performed the operation with extreme care; and it is said that on the night previous, a considerable time was spent in examining and measuring the parts, in order that the flaps of the integument might neatly ap proximate after the tumor was removed. But it may be doubted if it were wise to discontinue the use of the knife, while the patient was in a state of syncope; for whether the fainting arose from the loss of blood, or from the shock to the nervous system, the propriety of desisting during those intervals may fairly be questioned. The · vital energy is unable to contend against the long continuance of such unusually severe pain. Had the operation of Mr. B. Cooper on Stephen Pollard been less protracted, the result might have been otherwise; and had Mr. Henry Early, when he removed the bones from poor Brady's ear, in St. Bartholomew's hospital, instead of the nail for which he was seeking, desisted from his attempts at the expiration of ten or fifteen minutes, the unfortunate child might now have been alive and well. Such protracted operations cannot be too strongly |