The grammatical structure of this language is very simple. It is not trammeled with the forms and accidents of etymology; and the number, case, mood, tense, &c, are expressed by particles without any change in the noun or verb. And recourse is not had even to this method in many cases where the genius of western languages requires it, but the grammatical distinctions or relations are indicated solely by the position of the several parts of the sentence or paragraph. This sometimes renders the meaning of a passage or phrase vague and obscure. To a native who is accustomed to express his thoughts in this and in no other way, few difficulties occur from this method: to a foreigner, however, it is otherwise; and unless he has made considerable proficiency in his knowledge of the language; or has a learned native at hand to aid him in his investigations, he is liable frequently to mistake the meaning of his author. The syntax of the language is very peculiar, and unlike that of the alphabetic languages of the west. The facility with which a-character may be changed in its meaning from a noun to a verb, or to an adverb, &c., often occasions the foreigner much difficulty in ascertaining the meaning of the text. The Chinese writing, being thus destitute of these prominent features which in other cases have given rise to systems of rules for the agreement and government of words, has occasioned some writers to designate it an asyntactic language.

In almost all Chinese composition measured periods, not unlike blank verse, abound, and are esteemed by the Chinese as a capital beauty of their language. No author can lay claim to excellence in writing who cannot produce these periods, fill his pages with antitheses, and so round his sentences that they shall correspond with each other in the number of characters of which they are composed. Books which are written in the conversational style have usually fewer of these ornaments than those of a higher order, such as government proclamations and those essays which are produced at the literary examinations. Still, more or less of this characteristic is retained in every kind of composition, and constitutes an essential feature of the Chinese language. It is very evident that where so much attention is paid to the form in which ideas are expressed, the free flow of thought must be greatly checked. Often indeed, ideas form the secondary object of consideration, while the mode in which they are to be expressed claims the first attention in Chinese composition. There is yet another distinguishing mark of this language, which is rarely to be met with in that of any other nation. Set phrases, not unlike our law terms, which are often repeated and always in the same sense, abound in the writings of the Chinese. In fact, their books are filled with apothegms, which are wrought into composition according to the pleasure of the writer. Thought is stereotyped, and all the ideas which the Chinese wish to cherish or inculcate are contained in those records which have come down to them from the venerable sages of antiquity. Excellence in composition therefore consists in arranging anew those orthodox, phrases which are to be found only in their ancient classics. This is true of all kinds of their liter

ature.

Even poetry, which delights in freedom and glories in invention, is bound down by these iron rules. Wo to the poet, or the writer of any description, who should dare to deviate from the beaten track which is pointed out to him by the worthies of antiquity! Such an one would be looked on as a heretic, and would be denounced as an unfilial and rebellious subject!

Having now adverted to the principal defects of the Chinese language, we ought in justice to speak also of its prominent excellences. Though less full and sonorous than most of the Indochinese languages, yet when its measured periods and its tones are carefully observed, it is grateful to the ear. There is sometimes, on account of the choice and position of the characters which form a sentence, a degree of power and beauty in the style of the language which defies translation; and very often there is a pith and terseness in the expressions which are rarely equalled in any language. We ought not perhaps to expect to find in the writings of this singular people, the same beauties of style as those which have been produced by the most eminent scholars of Greece and Rome or modern Europe; nevertheless, the Chinese have their own claim to excellence, a claim which should not and by the impartial judge, will not be rejected. Chinese books abound in ingenious expressions, striking illustrations, eurious comparisons, and bold metaphors.

The literature of this nation is exceedingly multifarious, and in some departments it is rich. Few of the old Greek and Roman writers have produced such copious and extensive works as the Chinese. The number and variety of authors which have appeared since the days of Confucius are very great. But in the present degenerate age, new productions are rare, and those which are put forth are light and trivial, calculated to afford very little instruction or real entertainment. The Chinese need a new literature, rich in thought, correct in sentiment, and pure and elegant in style. But it is a difficult task so to imitate their idiom as to make new thoughts and sentiments interesting and instructive to readers who have always been accustomed to the formalities of this language. Much study and a thorough knowledge of their standard works will be necessary, therefore, to enable the foreigner to write in such a style as to please and benefit the Chinese. It should be always kept in mind, that before a stranger can exercise any control over their taste and sentiments, he must be able to couch his thoughts in such language as may not only be clearly and easily understood, but as shall gain for him a patient and an attentive hearing. This will appear very difficult, especially when we consider their national pride, and their contempt of foreigners. We may rest assured, however, that treatises which do not conform to their idioms will find very few readers. But if new and interesting thoughts, pure and elevated sentiments, and above all the sublime truths of divine revelation are rightly exhibited in a native costume, then they may have a charm and a power which will rouse the mind, sway the passions, correct the judgment, and eventually work a mental and moral revolution throughout the empire.

The Chinese need strong excitements to induce them to read the works of foreigners; and great care will be requisite in order to adapt new treatises to their capacities and wants. Their language differs so widely from all others, that mere translations, except of the sacred Scriptures, cannot be recommended. But this language is rich in the variety of its characters and phrases, and capable of conveying to the minds of men a great diversity of ideas and facts on subjects of every description.

These considerations, which are the result of long observation and that not of a single individual, will serve to show the value which we ought to place on a knowledge of the Chinese language. Without this knowledge, the wall which has so long separated this people and their country from the other nations of the earth, cannot be effectually removed. Such a knowledge will be indispensable to foreigners, and one of their best auxiliaries, in maintaining an extensive intercourse with this nation. True, this language, if well understood, will be deemed valuable to the historian and philosopher on account of the facts which it brings to their notice concerning the history of a large portion of our race; but it is only when we view it as a medium of communication, by which an honorable intercourse can be maintained, and facilities thereby afforded for a wide diffusion of useful knowledge, that it appears in its proper importance. It is not in morals alone that the Chinese are evidently in a lower state now, than they were in former times; they have gone backward also in arts and sciences; and there is perhaps even less enterprise in the nation than there was a thousand years ago. Nor is it strange, considering the policy of the government, that such should be the fact; for it has not only not presented motives to excite and stimulate inventive genius, but even those which have arisen from natural and incidental causes it has sedulously counteracted. With all due deference we would render honor to whom honor is due, nor on any account detract from the just merits of any oue; but we are constrained to believe that it is the crooked and unnatural policy of government which has caused so wide a difference between this people and the nations of the west. Once the Chinese had a far more extensive foreign commerce than at present, and that commerce might have increased up to the present period. Their manufactures, which were once so far in advance of those of most if not all other nations, are utterly unable to compete with those which are now produced in such abundance by the giant power of steam. And so it is in most other respects. The inhabitants of this land will never be effectually waked up from their long,. deep slumbers, until a new æra is formed in their literature, and they are excited to think for themselves, and to exchange their galling tyranny and their abominable idolatry for just notions of individual and national rights and the holy religion of the living God.

We see no prospect, and indeed have no expectation, that China will ever occupy that rank which it ought to hold in the scale of nations, until it feels the influence of some foreign agency. What agency shall that be? Had that master spirit which a few years ago

threw all Europe into consternation, held on a little longer in his career of conquest, the exclusive system which is now so frequently and justly complained of, might long since have been swept away. Another such reformer we would never see. We deprecate the idea of foreign invasion. What agency then shall be employed to rescue this nation. from its thraldom? Just such an agency as roused Europe from the slumbers of the dark ages. The circumstances of the two cases are not very dissimilar: an emperor' and a 'pope ;' 'bands of monks' and hosts of mandarins' are different in name, but alike in their power and influence.. A great majority of the Chinese are by no means aware of their real condition; for being almost wholly ignorant of all that is most valuable in other parts of the world, they are incapable of making a comparison between themselves and others, and hence incompetent to judge of their relative rank, to estimate their own wants, or to see the occasion there is for improvement. Kanghe, the most enlightened and the most liberal of all the monarchs of the reigning dynasty, received very much of his knowledge from the foreigners who were about his court; and had it not been for the rival interests and overreaching of the Europeans who were allowed to reside. and. travel in every part of the empire, the advances then made in establishing a free intercourse most surely would have been maintained and improved: but had those men succeeded in their main point, an emperor's authority there is reason to suppose would have been exchanged for that of the pope; and other corresponding changes would have followed in the train, and a despotism more cruel than had ever before existed in China would have been the final result. We argue thus from what we have seen of papal authority in various other parts of the world as well as here: Many of the persons who engaged in those scenes, and who had influence with the monarch and his ministers, were well versed in the language of this country; but there were very few of those men who were active in the diffusion of useful knowledge. They attracted the gaze of the multitude by the splendor of their ceremonials, but did not touch the heart and the conscience, by the force of divine truth; hence when reverses came and they were driven from the country, there was left behind, them no seed of the word, no germ of the tree of life. In a moment the whole structure they had raised, was brought down to the dust; and there is reason to believe that the condition of this people is now worse, and the difficulties of gaining access to the country greater, than would have been had the Jesuits never entered China.

But be this as it may, if we mistake not the signs of the times, a crisis is rapidly approaching in the affairs of this nation, a revolu tion, though it may be long delayed, seems inevitable; and it must be effected by a military force or by means of the press. A military power would not improve the condition, of society, though it might indeed by its desolating course open a way for the introduction of improvements on the other hand, à diffusion of knowledge, which shall effectually reach the morals and the religion of the nation; and

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purify the sources of authority, check the outbreakings of rebellion, and prevent the infliction of unlawful punishments, would save an empire from destruction, and place it in its proper rank among the nations. This diffusion of knowledge must be effected by a foreign agency and at no inconsiderable expense. A military conquest would cause the destruction of thousands of human lives and millions of property; but a conquest of principles, the triumph of right reason, the victory of truth, will cost a far less expenditure of men and means, will be glorious into its results, and carry the blessings of peace, and the bright hopes of immortality to the multitudes of this nation.

The fact that but little has been achieved affords no occasion for discouragement; for hitherto very little has been attempted. The study of the language, the very first step to be taken in the great enterprise, has hitherto engaged the attention of very few individuals in Christendom. It will enable us to see more distinctly what is required in this respect, if we notice what has been done, and some of the helps that have been prepared, to aid in the study of the Chinese language.

The French have taken the lead. Many of the early Romish mis`sionaries to China were from France; several of them, under the patronage of Louis XIV, 'the true founder of Chinese literature in Eurepe, became distinguished for their knowledge of the Chinese language. The disputes which arose between the Jesuits and the Dominicans concerning certain words, phrases, and ceremonies, drew into this study a number of able men, among whom were Bouvet, Gerbillon, Couplet, Gaubil, and Prémare. The successors of Louis have been liberal in their benefactions in aid of Chinese literature; witness the Grammatica Sinica, l' Histoire des Huns, l'Histoire de la Chine, les Mémoirs sur les Chinois, les Lettres édifiantes et curieuses, &c. &c. De Guignes, the last of Fourmont's disciples; died near the close of the 18th century, and left behind him no successor. And notwithstanding all that had been done, the Chinese and their language and literature sunk fast in the esteem of the French; for the intercourse between the two nations was interrupted and almost entirely neglected. Thus the tide of public opinion was setting strong against the study of Chinese literature, when in 1815 the accomplished M. Abel Rémusat entered on his course as royal professor in the French college at Paris. Others have followed, and joined in the labors of that eminent and lamented sinologue. M. Stanislas Julien has been appointed his successor as royal professor. In 1815, the Chinese library at Paris contained more than 5000 volumes: additions have doubtless been made to it since that time.

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Spain, notwithstanding her possessions in Luçonia have brought her almost within hearing of the Chinese, has done very little and is doing nothing towards cultivating this language and literature. At present Spain participates but slightly in the concerns of the celestial empire. The Portuguese, on account of their situation in Macao, have done much more than the Spaniards. From their first approach to China, more than three centuries ago, they have had excellent