on his travels through the Thebais. There M. Frediani, parting from his companions, proceeded towards the Pyramids, where he found M. Belzoni attempting to penetrate into the pyramid of Cephren, that had not till then been entered. M. Frediani became a partner in his labours; and, at the end of six days, they were fortunate enough to discover the entrance to that enormous mass. They made good an entrance, but nothing appeared particularly interesting. M. Frediani went and passed the night on the point of the greatest pyramid. At length he parted from M. Belzoni, and set forward alone for Alexandria; whence he proceeded for Cairo; and, crossing Idumæa, and the deserts of Ur and Etham, in Arabia-Petræa, he arrived in the fine country of the Philistines. Thence passing over the mountains of the tribes of Simeon and Benjamin, he came to Jerusalem at the very instant when the Greeks, in one of their solemn ceremonies, were expecting the sacred fire to come down from Heaven. He was an eye-witness to the tragical contentions that broke out soon after between the schismatic Greeks and the fathers of the Holy Land,in the chapel of the Invention of the Holy Cross. Onr traveller afterwards directed his course towards Jordan and the Red Sea: he visited Jericho, crossed the hills of Engaddi, and halted in the valley of Mamre and Hebron. Returning by Jerusalem, he came again to Jaffa, and thence went onward to the cities of Ascalon, Azoth, Gath, and Accaron. Then turning aside for Samaria, and ex ploring the great Gerizim, Mount Ebal, mans. After crossing again the region of Galilee and the Trachonitis, and making an excursion to Nazareth, he set out on a journey to Phenicia. His first object was Cesarea of Palestine, whence, proceeding on his route, he had opportunities of exploring Mount Carmel, Porphyria, St. Jean d'Acre, Tyre, Seide, and Bavut. Thence plunging into the deep valleys of Libanus and Antilibanus, the only trees he could find there were the wild pine: he could trace no vestiges of the ancient cedars. The climate was most agreeable and salubrious, as well on the mountains as in the valleys. The temper and disposition of the inhabitants were accommodating and inviting; so that his residence there afforded him a delicious treat. Passing over those mountains, be came to Damascus; then he went on to examine the wonderful ruins of Balbec; and, arriving on the coast of Syria, passed through the cities of Tripoli, Tortosa, Gabala, Laodicæa or Latakieh, Seleucia, and Antioch: from which last city he repaired to Aleppo, and thence to the banks of the Euphrates, the last stage of his oriental tour. M. Frediani has thus accomplished a laborious journey of more than two thousand leagues, for the most part alone, and always attired as an European. VOL. 6.] Recent Chinese Anecdotes. proportions to the starving suppliants. Having shortly after the benevolent edict, reflected, that, owing to the immense size of the capital,* the stations of distribution might be too remote for the old and infirm, or females, who would be thus prevented from sharing in his intended bounty, he caused five more points to be established, at which none of those who really wanted bread could well be prevented from attending, as they were fixed in such situations as to divide the city into so many equal divisions. This proof of real charity continued to be exercised during the whole winter. Notwithstanding all his precautions, several poor people, who bad come from other provinces, unable to find shelter in any house, were obliged to pass their nights in the streets.— The emperor, who secretly informed himself of all that happened, heard of the circumstance, sent for the mandarins charged with the police and good order of the capital, and charged them as follows:-"It is to your care that the police of the five charitable quarters has been confided; you should therefore be constantly on the alert. You are aware of the extreme severity of the present winter; and I understand that numbers of the poor who have come to seek relief, are unprovided with lodgings at night; that several suffer greatly from the cold, and that some have even perished. The knowledge of these facts has affected me most sensibly, and my heart bleeds for the helpless sufferers thus exposed. What! can it be possible, that in so opulent and populous a city as Peking,there was nobody found possessed of sufficient charity, to afford them an asylum? I cannot believe it. I am convinced, on the trary, that many of my subjects are anxious to do good, but they fear giving shelter to the poor, lest you should accuse them of violating the police regulations, by which a most necessary exertion of benevolence is obstructed. I therefore command you to be more indulgent in future, and allow a greater latitude on this subject. Surely good con *The Present population of Pekin exceeds 2,000,000. 347 order may be preserved, without impeding acts of charity? Maintain the peace of my capital, but let me not hear of another poor man being forced to remain in the street all night. There are no doubt many who will gladly receive them; do not, therefore, oppose their good intentions. Another moon will bring better weather; while this continues, it is our duty to succour the afflicted, who have no other resource except in the liberality of their prince, and the active benevolence of their more favored fellow-subjects. Once for all, i warn you that should any of these unfortunate beings perish, either from cold or want, the fault will be yours, and punishment will follow."* After the Empress had been solemnly re cognized, according to custom, he conferred an act of general benevolence on all the women of the empire, who had passed the age of seventy years. This was preceded by an express or der from the Emperor addressed to the viceroy of each province, and from these intimated to the governors of every town and village in the empire. The mode of arrangement was as follows: The objects of her atujesty's beneficence were divided into three classes. The first class embracing those between 70 and 80; the second those between 80 and 90; and the third, bevaries according to the different ages of the tween 90 and 100, or upwards. The bounty parties, and consists of several pieces of cotton cloth, and bushels of rice the number and dates. When the mandarin of the district requantity increasing with the age of the candiceives thro' the viceroy the order from court, it is pasted up in all the cross-ways and principal streets after which, the coiton and rice are distributed to women of every description who come within the age expressed in the ordonnance, whether they appear in person or send their friends with a written testimony from the superintendant of their parish, or a few rereached such an age, &c. If the party have spectable neighbours, stating that they have already received the bounty, it is unnecessary to provide a certificate of identity, as the officers have only to refer to the registers in which the names of all the previous candidates are duly noted. The whole is defrayed at the Emperor's expense, and the money drawn from the public which this act of benevolence is performed, pretreasury. The governor of each city or town in pares an exact list, containing the ages and names of all those who may have participated in the bounty of her Majesty: he also notes down the number of pieces, quantity of rice,and sum of money employed for their purchase: when completed, these lists will be forwarded to the viceroy and from him to the sovereign court of aids, at Peking, in order that the said accounts may be duly examined, and all frauds prevented The gazette had noticed the list and account received from the province of Chang-Tong, Reserving some acts of equal merit on the part of the Chinese sovereigns, for a future communication, I shall add another extract from the Gazette, to prove that virtue is not confined to the palace in China, but is also found to inhabit the cottage of the peasant. road, which passes near the mountain of Song-Kia, he accidentally dropped the purse, and continued his journey. On the following morning, a poor labourer, named Chi-Yeou, employed in tilling some ground close to the spot, found the money. So far from wishing to appropriate the treasure to his own use, he determined at once to restore it, and with this view, he remained working Tsing Tai, a merchant of Chen-Si, going to Mong-Tsing, for the purpose of purchasing cotton, carried with him a purse containing a hundred and sev-in sight of where the purse was found, enty ounces in silver. While on the accompanied by a memorial to the Emperor, from both of which it appears, that the number of women who had passed their seventieth year, amount to NINETY-EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO: those who have past their eightieth, lo FORTY THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE and those above ninety, to THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THREE. That such a multitude of women arrived at the foregoing advanced period of life, should be found in a single province, will doubtless astonish the people of Europe; but what will they say when I add, that there is still a great number of the same ages in the above named province, who have not partaken in the proffered bounty, either on account of their rank, or of their belonging to families, the heads of which are employed under government; a circumstance that not only induces them to keep up appearances with friends, but naturally made them ashamed of participating in a charity originally destined for the poor alone. But the numbers which I have cited would appear by no means surprising to any one who had traversed China in the way I have Those who are at all conversant on the subject, know that each province in this country is equal to a small European kingdom, that China is more thickly peopled than any other part of the globe, and that owing to the extreme frugality of the inhabitants, they live to a much greater age than the less temperate people of Europe. But if the number of aged females seems extraordinary, what ought we to think of the immense sum distributed by the Emperor on this occasion? For, in confining ourselves to the single province of Chan-Tong, and estimating the sum or value given to those who had attained their seventieth year at two French crowns, those of eighty at three, and the reminder at four, which would be considerably under the real amount, for the last class is said to receive the value of four ounces of silver; to this sum advanced in Chan-Tong let that expended in each of the other thirteen provinces, many of which are much larger, be added, and it will, I have no doubt, be acknowledged that this act of liberality is truly imperial. Such is the memorable act of grace that has marked the coronation of the Chinese Empress. That of the Emperor was followed by a similar one towards the three corresponding classes of old men. It is thus that these two erowned heads inspire their subjects with love and admiration for themselves, as well as a proper degree of respect for old age! till late at night, in the hope of seeing the owner return to reclaim his property. No one appearing, Chi-Yeou went home, and on displaying the prize to his wife, she immediately exclaimed, "Oh! my dear husband, we must not think of keeping this money, for it does not belong to us; I would rather live in poverty, than take the substance of others. Endeavour, therefore, to find the right owner to-morrow, and give up his money." Tsing Tai on arriving at the inn, was not a little astonished at the dreadful loss he had sustained; but totally ignorant where the purse could have fallen, and persuaded, that any search on his part would be useless, he caused an advertisement to be posted up in various quarters of the town, describing the particulars, and promising to divide the whole sum with him who should bring back the purse. Chi-Yeou soon heard of the public-notice, and repaired without a moment's loss of time, to the superintending mandarin :-"I have found the purse," said he to the latter, "send for the merchant of Chen-Si,and by asking him a few questions, I can easily find out whether he is the right owner or not." Tsing-Tai was accordingly summoned, and having answered a variety of interrogatories, as to the form of the purse, and quantity of money it contained, there could be no doubt of his claim; he therefore had the inexpressible satisfaction of seeing it returned in the same state in which it fell from his mule. Transported with joy at this most agreeable surprize, Tsing-Tai opened the purse, and turning to the finder, ohserved: "I declared in my notice, that I should divide the money with whoever VOL. 6.] Chinese Manners—Machinery, 349 instantly sent a present of fifty ounces in silver to the honest labourer and his wife, as a recompense for their virtue. He gave them at the same time a picture, representing the generous contention that took place before Chi-Yeou's door, with this motto inscribed underneath: restored it, I now wish to keep my word."- -“No,” replied the labourer, "I have no right to any part of the purse. It is all your own; and I will not receive a single ounce.' The refusal of Chi-Yeou had no effect on the grateful merchant, who counted out eighty-five of the pieces, insisting on the "A husband and wife, distinguished by former's accepting them, but to no pur- their disinterestedness and generosity." pose; all this passed at the door of Not content with these proofs of apChi-Yeou, and many of his neighbours probation, the viceroy ordered the treawere witnesses of the admirable con- surer-general of the province to register tention. the fact, and circulate it in every direction, in order that the people might profit by so praiseworthy an action. The governor of Mong-Sing was also directed to erect a monument opposite ChiYeou's house: and finally, considered the whole case as worthy of being communicated to the emperor. At length Tsing-Tai, seeing that ChiYeou positively refused the proffered reward, and anxious to prove his gratitude, adopted another plan; he placed a hundred and seven ounces on one side, and taking up the remaining sixty-three, said, "I will not conceal from you, that the portion of this money which I have just put into the purse, was borrowed, but as to that in my hand, it is really my own: I request therefore you will not hesitate to accept it."-"No," replied Chi-Yeou; "I have no more right to one part than the other; both are your property,and you must keep them." All those present were so charmed with this proof of disinterestedness, that they immediately went to the chief mandarin, and related what had just happened. The latter, equally struck by the circumstance, and desirous that it should be made known to government, called the parties before him, enquired into all the particulars, and concluded by making a special report of the facts, to the viceroy of Ho-Nan, the province in which they occurred. This officer Mr. Editor, I The sovereign, not less pleased with the story than the viceroy, and determined to profit by so fair an opportunity, to promote a reformation amongst those of his subjects who might feel less inclined to perform similar acts of virtue, wrote a mandate with his own hand, a copy of which was sent into the respective provinces, accompanied by a transcript of the viceroy's memorial, ordaining that the labourer Chi-Yeou, was to be henceforth regarded as an honorary mandarin of the seventh class ; that he should have the privilege of wearing the robe and cap allotted to that rank; in addition to all which, a hundred ounces were given to him for the purpose of exciting others to imitate his example. E. B. Hastings, Sept. 5, 1819. MACHINERY. Extracted from the New Monthly Magazine, Nov. 1819, OBSERVE, that amidst the cries for a reform in Parliament, liberty of conscience, and freedom from taxation, a set of modern reformers are employed in making people believe that the distresses of the lower orders are chiefly produced by the use of machinery, to which the country owes so much of its wealth and greatness. This is a very dangerous doctrine, and cannot be too speedily overturned. Mr. Owen of Lanark, a man of an excellent character and good intentions, a man who himself employs machinery, has advanced the most absurd opinions on this head, and stated as facts things that are impossible. At a meeting to obtain a subscription for his pastoral manufactories, or villages of 1000 persons, he is made by the daily journals to say : "The cotton spun in one year at this time in this country, would require, without machinery, 60 millions of hands with single wheels: and the quantity of manufactured work of all sorts done by the aid of machinery in this nation, would require, without that aid, at least the labour of 400 millions of manufacturers."* I respect Mr. Owen for his philanthropy and good intentions, but I must not, therefore, let so dangerous, I shall even say, so absurd and extravagant an error, pass for truth. I first of all must ask what is meant by machinery? A single wheel, though less complicated, is as completely a machine as the largest and finest cotton mill in England; therefore his expressions are very incorrect. The grand complaint against machinery is, that it abbreviates labour; now all sorts of tools and implements do the same, and there is no drawing a line of distinction between the spade and the hoe, the knife and the scissars on one hand, and the most complicated piece of machinery. Perhaps a saw is the tool that abbreviates labour more than any other; at any rate, in making deals, two men with a saw will do more than two thousand without one; it is therefore, according to the moderns, a most mischievous invention, though the ancients almost deified the inventor; but the fact is, the reformers only mean machines invented within the last thirty or forty years. With respect to 400,000,000 of manufacturers, supposing each to earn 6d. a day, which is the lowest that can be estimated, their labour would amount to ten millions a day, which is 3,130,000,000l. a year! Now if this calculation were right,it follows that the value of the manufactured goods would be much greater, as this is only for labour without materials; but all who know any thing of the subject know that the whole value of manufactured goods made in England, does not See Ath. vol. 6, page 48. amouut to one-twentieth part of that enormous sum. Even let it be supposed, that Mr. Owen was right in his calculation, what a farce it must be to complain of heavy taxation and poor-rates, for ten days profits derived from machinery would do more than pay all taxes and public expenses for a whole year. A cart is a machine, and all sorts of tools are in respect to abbreviation of labour, similar in effect to the most complicated machinery. It is true that 400 millions of men, situated like Robinson Crusoe, would not manufacture much in a day, but 400 millions of persons supplied with such tools and machinery as were in use about fifty years ago, when there were no complaints, would at the present value of money certainly earn more than 6d. a day each. Mr. Owen, therefore, made one of the greatest errors in calculation that ever was made by a sensible man who could make use of figures. If we had none of the improved machinery, against which the absurd and ignorant outcry is raised, we should not be able to manufacture for exportation; besides, if employment for great numbers of persons in manufacturing is the object in view, we shall find that there are three times as many employed as in the time of Edward III., who brought over weavers from Flanders, and twice as many as in the golden age of Queen Elizabeth. It is possible that too many people have left agriculture, and too many gone to follow manufactures; but be the cause what it may, why manufac turers want work, resorting to the old and tedious methods of working will not remedy the evil. If we were to resort to knitting and spinning in the manner formerly done, as other nations have adopted as far as they can the improved machinery, they would supply us cheaper than we could supply ourselves. After breaking our machinery, we should sit idle-give all our money to foreigners, so that in place of being better, we should be much worse off than we now are. Theorists are very dangerous guides, |