The Chinese

COMMITTEE.

Chairman.-The Right Hon, LORD BROUGHAM, F.R.S., Member of the National Institute of France.

Vice-Chairman.-JOHN WOOD, Esq.

Treasurer.-WILLIAM TOOKE, Esq., M.P., F.R.S.

W. Allen, Esq., F.R. and R.A.S.

Capt. F. Beaufort, R.N., F.R. and R.A.S., flydrographer to the Admiralty.

G. Burrows, M.D.

Peter Stafford Carey, Esq.
William Coulson, Esq.

R. D. Craig, Esq.

William Crawford, Esq.

J. Frederick Daniell, Esq., F.R.S.

J. F. Davis, Esq., F.R.S.

H. T. Dela Beche, Esq., F.R.S. &c.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Denman.

The Right Rev. the Bishop of Durham, D.D.
The Rt. Hon. Vise. Ebrington, M.P.

Sir Henry Ellis, F.R.S., Prin. Lib. Brit. Mus.
T. F. Ellis, Esq., A.M., F.R.A.S.
John Elliotson, M.D., F.R.S.
Thomas Falconer, Esq.

1. L. Goldsmid, Esq., F.R., and R.A.S.
B. Gompertz, Esq., F.R., and It.A.S.
G. B. Greenough, Esq., F.R., and L.S.
H. Hallam, Esq., F.R.S., A.M.

M. D. Hill, Esq.

Rowland Hill, Esq., F.R.A.S.
Edwin Hill, Esq.

The Rt. Hon. Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Bart., M.P.
David Jardine, Esq., A.M.

Henry B. Ker, Esq.

The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Kerry.
Thos. Hewitt Key, Esq., M.A.
J. T. Leader, Esq, M.P.
George C. Lewis, Esq., M.A.
Thomas Henry Lister, Esq.

James Loch, Esq., M.P., F.G.S.

George Long, Esq., M.A.

J. W. Lubbock, Esq., F.R., R.A., and L.S.S.

H. Malden, Esq., M.A.

A. T. Malkin, Esq., M.A.

James Manning, Esq.

J. Herman Merivale, Esq., M.A., F.A.S.
James Mill, Esq.

The Right Hon. Lord Nugent.
W. H. Ord, Esq., M.P.

The Right Hon, Sir H. Parnell, Bart., M.P.
Dr. Roget, Sec. R.S., F.R.A.S.
Edw. Romilly, Esq.,

Right Hon. Lord J. Russell, M.P.
Sir M. A. Shee, P.R.A., F.R.S.
John Abel Smith, Esq., M.P.
The Right Hon. Earl Spencer.
John Taylor, Esq., F.R.S.
Dr. A. T. Thompson, F.L.S.
H. Waymouth, Esq.

J. Whishaw, Esq, M.A., F.R.S.
John Wrottesley, Es,, M.A., F.R.A.S.]

THOMAS COATES, Esq., Secretary, No. 50, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

THE CHINESE:

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

THE EMPIRE OF CHINA

AND

ITS INHABITANTS.

By JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS, Esq., F.R.S., &c.

LATE HIS MAJESTY'S CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT IN CHINA.

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI.

CITIES NANKING AND CANTON.

Larger portion of area within the ancient walls of Nanking depopulated-Occurrence in the last Embassy-View within the Wall-General similarity of all Chinese Cities-Streets and Shops at Canton-Mercantile Associations-Charitable Institutions-Clans and Fraternities-Temples-Inundation of European Factories-Contracted Limits of these-Chinastreet and Hog-lane-Population of Canton over-rated-River Population-Female Infanticide- Kidnapping ChildrenPeople of the Coast-Military of Canton-Forts at the River's mouth-Passed by frigates

CHAPTER XII.

RELIGION-CONFUCIANS.

Page

. 1

Confucius-Character of his Ethics-Four Books-Five Canonical Works-Book of Songs-Shooking, a Fragment of Ancient History-Book of Rites-Historical Work by Confucius-Yeking, a mystical Work-Resembles the Occult Numbers of Pythagoras―Theory of Creation—Objects of State-Worship -Sacrifices-A Supreme Being recognized by the Emperor 41

CHAPTER XIII.

RELIGION-BUDHISM.

Three systems of Religion, or Philosophy-History of Budhism
-Resemblance to Popery-Temple and Monastery near
Canton-Nine-storied Pagodas-Chinese Objections to Bud-
hism-Debtor and Creditor account in Religion-Pagan and
Romish Practices-Divinity of the Virgin-Budhists and
Papists-Paradise and Hell of Fo-Doctrines of Budhism-
Worship of Fo in China .

CHAPTER XIV.

RELIGION-TAOU SECT.

Laou-keun, the Chinese Epicurus-His Sect called Doctors of Reason-Degenerated into Magicians and Alchymists-Fragment of old Romance-Illustrative Tale-The Philosopher and his Wife—Origin of the Tale of Zadig—Miscellaneous Su