termine whether in reality the missionaries were privy or not to the designs of the bonzes: M. de Saint Martm, of course, denies all participation and knowledge of them; but, considering the terms upon which he lived with his Chinese converts, and the influence he possessed over their minds, his testimony is scarcely credible. the standard of independence at the same moment; and that, according to the most positive and well-fouuded calculations, the revolution would be completed, the Tartars subdued and expelled, and the new emperor fully established in his authority, in the space of three years. By these means the number of the conspirators quickly became formidable, and several However, arms were fabricated, soldiers Christians, deluded, like the rest of their enlisted, standards made, and othcers to countrymen, by the brilliaut promises of command the troops selected. The genethe bonzes, threw off their allegiance to ralissimo, a magistrate of some eminence, their sovereign, and muited with the re- who had formerly been a butcher, was bels. The Bishop of Caradra, in narrat- closely connected with the Christians, pering the events of this rebellion, is anxious haps a convert. At least two of his to have it believed that, although many of daughters, and more than half of his fahis fluck were evidently implicated in the mily, professed the Catholic faith. Newguilt of the bonzes, they were by no means year's eve, when the Chinese usually inactuated, like their pagan neighbours, by dulge in all manner of debauchery, was the desire of distinction or wealth, but in fixed upon for the execution of the plottheir conferences with the chiefs of the on that night, the Tartars, and the chief insurgenis merely stipulated for the free mandarins of the capital, were to be masexercise of their religion. But this inter- sacred. Already a great number of rufpretation of the matter is not supported fians, who were to perpetrate this prelimiby the general tenour of his own relation. nary crime, had been introduced into the The first Christian that entered the ranks city, where they now were prowling was, he informs us, an unsuccessful gam- about, mixing with the crowd, elbowing bler, who, having lost the whole of his their victims, making themselves acquaintproperty, without, at the same time, ac- ed with the features they were to mutilate, quiring a philosophical contempt for and with the heads they were to scatter wealth, was impelled by his cupidity and about in the dust. To avoid all possibiambition to try the event of a revolution. lity of discovery, these assassins wore no This individual belonged to a very rich arms for the present. Their weapons were and distinguished family, most of the concealed in coffins, and buried in differmembers of which had been previously ent parts of the environs of the city. To deluded by the chief of the bouzes, who make all the members of this vast conusually resided in their house; and, by spiracy, which amounted to no less than their example and arguments, he was also fifty thousand men, acquainted with the induced to become the host of the bonze, designs of the leaders, a place of general who rewarded him for his hospitality with rendezvous was appointed in a lofty and the promise of a rich mandarinship. Be solitary range of mountains, distant about ing himself indigent, he applied to his a day and a half's journey from the caChristian friends, and by the aid of his pital. Thither, at stated periods, the asbrother, who had been ten years a Chris- sassins repaired from their various haunts tian, he not only raised the sums of which he in the proviuce; and it is said that a body stood in need, but moreover contrived to of twenty thousand men continually rebring about an interview between his co-mained united, and in arms, upon the religionists and the bonze, in which the parties appear to have come to a perfeet understanding. When, however, the Christians proceeded to attempt the conversion of the bonze, the wily or dissolute pagan professed the greatest indifference respecting religious matters, the regulation of which be appeared extremely willing to relinquish to them, acknowledging frankly that he was a priest only in dress and appearance, and for the purpose of humouring the prejudices of the people. With this bold hypocrite, the Christians nevertheless united, after expressing a desire to consult the missionaries upon the subject, which was over-ruled by the gambler. As we are not in possession of the Chinese account of this transaction, we cannot de spot. As the numbers and confidence of the couspirators increased, their prudence diminished, and they no longer concealed their designs. In the bazaars, and other public places, nothing was spoken of but the approaching revolution; and the soldiers, being themselves initiated in the mysteries of rebellion, suffered the people freely to express their feelings and opinions. The government, ignorant of the working of the popular mind, remained tranquil on the mouth, as it were, of the opening volcano. And until within five days of the moment fixed upon for the execution of the plot, M. de Saint Martin also remained, he says, unacquainted with the designs of the rebels, and the move ments of his converts. At that time two Christians from a neighbouring district, where the agitation of the public mind was still greater than in his own vicinity, came to disclose to their bishop the fact that a revolt was to take place, but without con fessing that they themselves were to take an active part in it. It afterwards appeared, however, that their chief motive for visiting the place was to collect contributions from their brethren, they themselves having already contributed. The bishop, it seems, suspecting that they were guilty, sharply rebuked them; but they denied the fact, and shifted off the accusation upon the gambler already mentioned, and his brother. The bishop was never theless convinced of their being implicated in the plot, and,' enlarging on the wickedness and enormity of rebellion, counselled them to atone for one crime by committing one still greater, viz. betraying their associates by discovering the conspiracy to the government. His advice came too late; they had been anticipated by the pagans, who had already disclosed the fatal secret to the government, and in all probability accused them of being among the guilty. The plot was first discovered to the government by a tailor, who had been · employed to make the imperial garments. Other pagans, terrified by preparations for a human sacrifice, which, it was rumoured, the conspirators were about to offer up to their colours, also denounced the rebels, indicated their place of rendezvous, and procured soldiers to be sent to verify their accusation. Arms, standards, and thirty of the conspirators were taken; and these, being put to the torture, discovered the names of their accomplices. The intended emperor, who was next day arrested, had, moreover, a list of the principal conspirators about his person. It is curious to observe the effect which the mere anticipation of sovereign power, and the transitory homage of a rebel camp, produced upon the character of this man: when conducted into the presence of the mandarins, before whom it is customary for accused persons to kneel, this incipient king disdainfully refused to submit to the degrading practice; and observed, in a fierce, intimidating tone—“ An emperor bends not his knees before his subjects; in a few days I will teach you to respect me!" This boldness, whether genuine or feigned for the purpose; had the desired effect. The dwarf-minded Mandarius, accustomed to tremble before the very shadow of royalty, were awed by this menace, and, without inflicting the usual torture, dismissed the rebel to his prison. In the meanwhile, troops were despatched in all directions, in search of the fugitive conspirators; and a rumour was widely and industriously circulated, that the Christians had revolted. Amidst the terror and uncertainty of such moments, the most improbable reports gain credit ; but through the benevolent interference of the chief Mandarin of the province, it was determined that, although the Christians might be examined secretly respecting the revolt, they should not be molested on account of their religion. The missionaries, however, accustomed to be persecuted on the slightest pretexts, and ignorant of the merciful disposition of the government were thrown into a state of the greatest alarm; and the aspect of things around them perfectly justified their fears. The multitude, at once timid and cruel, were now excited by indefinite apprehensions to a state of frenzy, and discovering murder and rebellion in the mere entertaining of heterodox opinions, roamed abont, like a troop of hungry and howling jackals, cursing the Christians, tearing down the symbols of their worship, and replacing them by the objects of their own stupid superstition. To these outrages the greater number snbmitted with patience; but some, irritated by the insults of the pagans, and burning to evince their religious zeal, resisted their enemie», ` and even proceeded so far as to cast down the emblems of idolatry, and set up those of Christianity in their stead. Being ignorant 'that many of their brethren were in reality among the conspirators, they reproached the Pagans with rebellion; at the same time defying them to point out a single Christian among the prisoners; while the number of the bonzes" `apprehended and in chains was so 'great' that their very convents were deserted. Their confidence, however, soon vanished. The camp of the rebels was attacked and carried; and the Mandarin who commanded on the occasion, from the same motive which induced Pompey to destroy unread the papers of Sertorious, delivered up the camp, the provisions, the arms, and papers of the conspirators to the flames. The government, in fact, dreaded to discover the names and number of the guilty. It was satisfied with apprehending and cutting off the leaders. Among the persons arrested, it was quickly discovered that a great number were Christians and from this circùmstance it was clearly foreseen hy both parties that the church was about to be assailed by a new tempest. One of the prisoners, expecting to be executed, and anxious to receive baptism before his death, had entreated and gained permission to visit the bishop, confess his crime, anil obtain the consolations of religion. He entered the house. The bishop baptised and comforted him. He then departed. When the poor man was gone, the missionary, fully aware of the danger into which he had been precipitated, naturally felt a desire to escape from the place; but it was midnight, the streets and roads were covered with soldiers rendered vigilant and active by rage against the Christians, and the hope of reward. Besides, tlie inmates of the house were persuaded that there was no danger. They were quickly undeceived; for day had no sooner dawned than the house was surrounded by soldiers, with orders to apprehend and put in irons, all those found within, excepting the women and old men, under which latter denomination the bishop was spared. All the other Christians of the family were led off in chains to the tribunal. The barbarous methods by which the laws of China attempt to arrive at the truth, were now resorted to, with abundant success, to criminate the Christians. As, wherever torture is employed, men's lives depend upon the power of a certain individual to endure physical pain, the number of the accused is exactly propor tioned to the fortitude or pusillanimity of the tortured person. On the present occasion pain produced its usual results. Accusations, apprehensions, imprisonments rapidly succeeded each other. Terror and anxiety augmented. Without knowing whither to fly, or where to hide themselves, the native Christians were actuated by a vague desire to escape from death. The hopes and fears which looked for their accomplishment in the shadowy regions beyond the grave yielding to the dread of immediate suffering, many began to regard the missionaries as impostors, who, under the pretext of religion, had deinded them into rebellion. The same instinct which impels the flock to shun the stricken deer, inspires in men the desire to escape from such as are infected by the touch of misfortune, and a feeling of anger against them for having once excited their compassion, or crept illicitly into their favour. The missionaries, who but a little while before, had been regarded as messengers from heaven, sent to snatch the ignorant and sinful from everlasting perdition, were now transformed by fear into suspicious characters, whom it was dangerous to befriend, or conceal from the fangs of justice. Some lingering remains of humanity prevented their converts from denouncing them before the tribunals; but we can discover from the obscure and reluctant testimony of the good fathers themselves, that the neophytes did all but accuse them, turn ing them out of their houses, and exposing them at noon-day to be apprehended and dragged away to execution by the soldiery.† The result of the Roman Catholic mission in China has been niore important than could have been anticipated, considering the difficulties with which the missionaries have had to contend. In the year 1801, the number of converts in the province of Setchuren alone amounted to upwards of forty thousand, which had increased to fifty-two thousand in 1809. Until 1814, when the last persecution against the Christians broke out, the number continued to increase; and so eminent has been the success of the Gospel in the country, that notwithstanding the disastrons events of that period, the number of Christians in the whole empire is still supposed to be about two hundred thousand, The history of the Protestant mission in China may be soon told. The Missionary Society, formed in Loudon in 1795, for the purpose of spreading a knowledge of the Gospel among the Heathens, sent out Mr. (now Dr.) Morrison to Canton, in 1807. He reached his point of destination the same year, and on his arrival is said to have had to contend against the opposition of the Catholic clergy, as well as against that of the natives. His object, however, was not so much to preach as to translate into Chinese, and distribute among the people, copies of the Holy Scriptures and other religious works, of which one hundred and forty thousand two hundred and forty-nine copies had been circulated in 1818, when Dr. Milne's "Retrospect," &c. was written. It being in China a crime against the state to listen to instruction from a foreigner, Dr. Morrison and the other Protestant missionaries have seldom attempted to preach, except to an individual or two, with fear and trembling, in an inner apartment. The result of this system of operations is not yet known; but we suspect that in order to produce the effect desired, the distribution of books must be accompanied by preaching. THE CROOKED STICK.† BY MRS. S. C. HALL. "And took the crooked stick at last?' I HAVE rarely known any one, of either sex, who deliberated upon the matrimonial question until their hair silvered, and their eye dimmed, and then became numbered among the "newly wed," who did not, according to the old story, "take the crooked stick at last." All, doubtless will remember the tale, how the maiden was sent into a green and beautifal lane, garnished on either side by tall and well-formed trees, and directed to choose, cnt, and carry off, the most straight and seemly branch she could find. She might if she pleased, wander on to the end, but her choice must be made there, if not made before-the power of retracing her steps, without the stick, being forbidden. Straight and fair to look upon were the charming boughs of the lofty trees-fit scions of such noble ancestry! and each would have felt honoured by her preference; but the silly maid went on, and on, and on, and thought within herself, that at the termination of her journey she could find as perfect a stick as any of those which then courted her acceptance. By and by, the aspect of things changed; and the branches she now encountered were cramped and scragged-disfigured with blurs and unseemly warts. And when she arrived at the termination of her journey, behold! one miserable, blighted wand, the most deformed she had ever beheld, was all that remained within ber reach. Bitter was the punishment of her indecision and caprice. She was obliged to take the crooked stick, and return with her hateful choice, amid the taunts and the sneers of the straight tall trees, who, according to the fashion of the good old fairy times, were endowed not only with feeling and reason, but with speech! Many, I fear me, are the crooked sticks which the ancient of days," by a strange infatuation, compel themselves to adopt. And much might be gravely and properly said upon this subject, for the edification of young and old; but the following will be better than grave discussion, and more to the tastes of those who value scenes from real life: you, the short chin, and that unfortunate nose; it is absolutely retroussé." "It may be a little opposed to the line of beauty calculated to overset it, perhaps; but did you ever see such a glori ous brow?" "Mountainous!" "Such expressive eyes?" "Volcanoes !" “Psba!—Such grace ?" "Harry,” replied the young nobleman, smiling according to the most approved Chesterfield principle, removing his eyeglass, and looking at his friend with much composure," you had better, I think, marry Lady Frances yourself." "You are a strange being, my good lord," replied his friend, after a pause. "I would wager a good round sum, that, notwithstanding your rank, fortune, and personal advantages, you will die-or, at all events, not marry until you are-a veritable old bachelor. I pray thee, tell me, what do you require?—A Venus ?—A Diana?-A Juno ?-A 66 " Simply, a woman, my dear fellow; not indeed one of those beings arrayed in drapery, whom you see moving along our streets, with Chinese features, smokedried skins, and limbs that might_rival: those of a Hercules; nor yet one of your be-scented, spider-waisted priminies, who lisp and amble-assume a delicacy which they never felt, and grace which they never possessed. My ideas of woman's perfections, of the perfections in fact, which I desire, and-I may say". (Lord Charles Villiers was certainly a very handsome and a very fashionable man, and yet his modesty, I suppose, made him hesitate in pronouncing the latter word)—" I may-I-think-saydeserve," gaining courage as he proceeded, are not as extravagant as those required by your favourite, Henri Quatre. He insisted on seven perfections. I should feel blessed, if the lady of my love were pos sessed of six." "Moderate and modest," observed his friend, laughing. "I pray you, tell me what they are?" "Noble birth, beauty, prudence, wit, gentleness, and fidelity." Sir Ilarry Bean clerc drew forth his tablets, and on the corner of the curiously-wrought memorials engraved the qualities Lord Charles had enumerated, not with fragile lead, but with the sharp point of his penknife. Shall I add," he inquired, "that these requisites are indispensable?" "Most undoubtedly," replied his lordship. "Adieu, then, Charles-Lady Frances's carriage is returning, and as you declare fairly off, I truly tell you that I will try to make an impression on her gentle heart; you certainly were first in the field, but as you are insensible to such merit, I cannot think you either deserve to win or wear it. Adieu! au revoir !" And with a deeper and more prolonged salute than the present courtesies of life are supposed to require, the two young fashionables separated-one lounging listlessly towards the then narrow and old-fashioned gate which led from Hyde Park in Piccadilly, troll. ing snatches of the last caritina, which the singing of a Mara or a Billington had rendered fashionable, the other proceeding, with the firm and animated step that tells plainly of a fixed purpose, to meet the respectable family carriage, graced by the really charming Frances, only daughter of the Earl of Heaptown. To look forward for a period of five and twenty years blanches many a fair cheek, and excites the glow of hope and enthu siasm in those of vigorous and determined character; while the beauty trembles for her empire the statesman for his place the monarch even for his throne-those who have nothing to lose, and every thing to gain, regard the future as an undefinable something pregnant with light and life; to such, diamond-like are the sands that sparkle in the hour-glass of Time, while the withered hand which holds the mystic vessel is unheeded or unseen. So be it-so, doubtless, it is best. One of the choicest blessings bestowed by the Creator on the creature, is a hopeful spirit! Five and twenty summers had passed over the brow of Lord Charles Villiers since Sir Harry Beauclerc noted on his tablet the six indispensable qualities the young nobleman would require in his wife. The lord still remained an unmarried, and admired man, seeking to find some lady worthy his affections. It is too true that some of the young creatures, just come out, on whose cheek the blush of innocence and modesty still glowed, and whose untutored eyes prated most earnestly of what passed in the sacred citadel, called heartsuch creatures, I say, did discover, to the sad annoyance of their speculating mothers, and sensible-(Heaven bless the word!)-sensible chaperons, that Lord Charles's once beautiful hair was now in debted to "Tyrian dye" for its gloss and hue; and that, moreover, a most ingenious scalp mixed its artificial ringlets with his once exquisite curls, that the belles (whom a few years had rendered staid mammas, and even grand -I cannot finish the horrid word) used to call, in playful poetry, "Cupid's bowstrings!" Then his figure VOL. VI, 2 G had grown rotund; he sat long after dinner, prided himself upon securing a cook fully equal to Ude-(I write with all possible respect)-equal to Eustache Ude in his best days; descanted upon the superiority of pheasant dressed en galantine, to that served in aspic jelly; and gained immortal honour at a committee of taste, by adding a most piquant and delightful ingredient to Mr. Dolby's "Sauce à l'Aurore." These gastronomical propensities are sure symptoms of increasing years and changing constitution; but there were other characteristics of "old boyishness" about Lord Charles, which noted him as a delightful gentleman "of a certain age." A rich silk handkerchief was always care. fully folded, and placed within the bosom of his exquisitely made Stultz, ready to wrap round his throat when he quitted the delightful crush room of the delightful opera, to ascend his carriage; then an occasional twinge reminded him of the existence of gout-a most unpleasant remi niscence in the galopade, which he was hardy-I had almost said fool-hardyenough to attempt. Had he not been so perfectly well bred, he would have been considered touchy and testy; the excellent discipline of the old school fortunately preserved him from those bachelorlike crimes, at all events in ladies' society; and whatever spleen he had, he wisely only vented on those who could not return it; namely, his poor relations, his servants, and occasionally, but not often (for he was a member of the society for prevent ing cruelty to animals), on his dogs and horses. However, his figure was as erect, if not as graceful, as ever; and many a fair lady sighed at the bare idea of his enduring to the end in single misery. Sir Harry Beauclerc never visited London, except during the sitting of parliament; and it was universally allowed that he discharged his duties as M. P. for his native country with zeal and independence. Wonderful to say, he neither ratted nor sneaked; and yet Whigs, Tories, and Radicals, treated him with deference and respect. He had long been the husband of her, who, when our sketch was commenced, was known as Lady Frances Hazlitt; and it would be rare to behold a more charming assembly of handsome and happy faces than their fire-side circle presented at the celebration of merry Christ |