shung, or 'symbols expressive of sounds,' and is the nearest approach to the phonetic or syllabic systems of writing in the language. These signs represent such sounds as are supposed to resemble the noises made by the things they represent. Upon this principle our own word whiz' was formed, from the supposed resemblance of the sound made by an arrow or bullet while cleaving the air; buzz,' too, is very like the noise made by a bee. In this way the Chinese character representing water is pronounced 'shway,' which bears no very distant resemblance to the splashing of water. The sixth class, or kea-tseay, comprises about 598 different characters, and are figurative, like the word 'govern,' from slap and bamboo, the signs for 'pride,' 'comfort,' &c. before explained.

The next difficulty-one common indeed to the rudiments of all foreign languages-is that presented by the different consecutive order in which words are placed to express the same fact or idea. Thus, to say I saw him in the city,' a Frenchman would alter that arrangement of the words thus-I him saw in the city' (Je lui voyais dans la cité); while to render the sentence into good Latin, it would stand, Him in the city I saw' (Illum in urbe vidi). Fortunately, the difficulty thus created is not greater in Chinese than in any of the above instances. The words in the sentence, 'Only three vessels of war are arrived,' fall, in Chinese, in this order, Military vessel three only come are.' This phrase put into Latin, does not in the least differ from the Chinese version, standing Militares naves tres singulæ advectæ sunt. When a Chinaman wishes to writeThis is better than that,' he would use signs which, when literally translated, would read, 'This, compared with that, is the more good;' of which no one would hesitate to conjecture the true signification; for though the words do not occur in the same consecutive order as in English, yet in most instances the sense is so directly and plainly expressed, that it can seldom be mistaken, even by the novice.

In drawing this very faint outline of the origin, construction, and nature of the Chinese language, we have had no other design than to direct general attention to its study. With such inadequate means of development as lie within the limits of an article in a popular journal, it would be impossible to communicate any well-grounded elementary knowledge. We regret that no treatise on the rudiments of the Chinese language has yet been published in such a form as to come within the reach of general readers. Those, however, in whom we may have awakened a desire to acquire a knowledge of this most ancient and philosophical system of symbols, we beg to refer to the Clavis Sinica of Dr Marshman, the Chinese Grammar and Dictionary of Dr Morrison, and the published Lectures of Professor Kidd-provided they are able to obtain access to those expensive works. It is necessary to describe, in conclusion, the implements used by the Chinese for writing; upon a uniform and elegant execution of which they lay great stress as a point of education. The apparatus consists, first, of a cake of what is largely imported into this country under the name of Indian ink; and although, from the perfect impalpability of the compound, and the exquisite jet of the black, various elaborate receipts have been conjectured for its manufacture, is composed of nothing but lamp-black and gluten, with a little musk to give it an agreeable odour. The sticks or cakes are ornamented, in gold and various colours-generally, as our readers may have seen, with the figure of a dragon, having on its back an octangular tablet. The Chinese words usually stamped above are Loung ma fou, thou-that is to say The horse-dragon carrying on his back the table.' This refers to a tradition which gave rise to the figure of a dragon being always expressive of royalty; and when the tablet or seal is added to this sign, it means (or should mean) that the article was made by the emperor's manufacturer, who resides at Koong-me, near Nankin, where the best ink is made. The mark is, however, simulated so

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extensively by less celebrated makers, that nine cakes of ink out of ten are adorned with it.-The second article for the writing-table is a smooth slab of slate or schistus, with a depression at each end to hold water. Upon this slab the ink is rubbed precisely as water-colour artists prepare their colours for use. The third implement is a pencil made of rabbits' hair, inserted into a reed handle, and used exactly in the same manner as we use camel-hair brushes. This accounts for the shapes of the lines engraved above, which result from the use of the small brush instead of a pen, and vary of course, writer. The main outline and direction of the characas all handwriting does, with the skill and fancy of the ters are, however, all traceable to the six elementary is nearly transparent, being much thinner and more strokes. The fourth article is, of course, paper. This porous than that which we use; and, as it is made of the delicate inner bark of the bamboo, is not white, but of a straw-coloured tint. Some idea of the fineness which is used by printsellers for their India proofs,' of this paper may be formed by comparison with that which is the common paper manufactured by the Chinese for wrapping up parcels, and makes its way into this country around packages of silk.

ments;' and it is a part of the education of a young These implements are called 'the four precious eleChinese to keep them in neat and efficient order.

RUSH-BEARING.

Many precious rites

And customs of our rural ancestry

ONE of the old country festivals still surviving in some retired nooks and corners of our island is the rushbearing, a ceremony interesting enough as a mere spectacle of gay dresses and happy faces, but still more as perceptible in the remoteness of antiquity. As we have the vestige of a rite, the origin of which is scarcely seen it celebrated in the north of England, it is simply this:-The young maidens of the village, on the eve of some particular Sunday in the height of summer, fall into procession, and walk to church, each carrying a wreath of flowers, with a few rushes here and there interspersed. The garlands are distributed over the interior of the building, and permitted to remain until the afternoon of the succeeding day, when each girl resumes the 'virgin crants' she had previously borne. Many conjectures have been formed as to the institution of this observance. tained is, that it sprung out of the recommendation of Pope Gregory IV. to the early priesthood, that on the The opinion most generally enteranniversary of the foundation of their churches, they should construct huts of green branches near the sacred edifices, and solemnise the day with sober festivity. Anciently, the rushes were taken in greater quantity, and spread over the floor, where they remained until the progress of decay rendered a fresh supply necessary. Not only was this done at the annual rush-bearing, but also throughout the year, by way of protection against the humidity of the ground. It is easy to cite instances of this comfortless proceeding. In the churchwarden's accounts for the parish of St Margaret, Westminster, for 1544, there is the following item :- Paid for rushes against the dedicationday, which is always the first Sunday in October, 1s. 5d. ;' and in a similar set of accounts for the church of St Mary at Hill, London, for 1504, there is this entry:- Paid for two berden rysshes for the strewying the newe pewes, 3d.' If the ceremony of rush-bearing was originally established as a religious rite, that purpose seems in process of time to have become entirely changed, and scenes of rustic merriment attendant upon a village wake took the place of solemn observances. Rush-bearing was then classed with morris - dances, revels, and the like. A passage in a satirical work of the seventeenth century proves this statement. The

Are gone, or stealing from us.-Wordsworth.

young poets as the enemies rather than the friends of aspiring genius. But the booksellers are in the right, if their trade is to be conducted on ordinary principles, and the only error is in literary aspirants not calculating costs before they rush into print.-Ed.]

THE PROOF-HOUSE AT BIRMINGHAM.

prompt to encourage and recommend. Some returned no answer; some expressed a desire to read it, and requested to borrow it; some volunteered to dispose of some copies, from whom I never obtained either books or money. Some, on being told the price, wished to know if I could not take less; and others, who evinced no intention of patronising the book I had already written, pronounced it very excellent, and thoughtlessly inquired when I intended to publish another. Some seemed to expect that they should be presented with a copy in virtue of relationship or friendship, and appeared quite incapable of understanding the expense and hazard of publishing, as though the cost were nothing, and the profit certain. Though I sold, therefore, in my own little circle full as many copies as I had expected, yet the units subtracted but very slowly from the aggregate printed, and the shillings I received went but a little way towards liquidating the heavy expenses I had in-hole,' where they are discharged. This is managed in the curred.

On calling at my publisher's, I found that he was highly pleased with the appearance and contents of the book, and that he had sent it round the trade, according to custom; but that, with the exception of one bookseller (to whom some friends had recommended my volume), not one copy had been subscribed for. This was indeed a discouraging beginning: but the publisher assured me that he had no fear that the work would eventually sell, though from its nature it would probably make its way but slowly at the outset; and he strenuously advised me, as the opinions of the press had been so favourable, to advertise liberally. Again, therefore, I had to change my bank-notes; my sovereigns were rapidly transmuted into a pocketful of worthless receipts, though very slowly did the copies disappear from the publisher's shop.

There are

All muskets manufactured at Birmingham must be submitted to a test imposed by government, which takes place in what is called the proof-house.' Muskets that have stood this test are stamped. I went to see this interesting filled with a charge five times as powerful as that which proof-house. I was told that every musket was there it was expected to carry when in ordinary use. rooms in which the proofing cartridges are prepared, others in which the muskets are loaded, and a place called 'the following manner: the loaded muskets, 100 or 120 at a time, are placed side by side upon a low scaffolding, upon which it is possible to fasten them completely. Their mouths are turned towards the inner wall of the room, The walls of where the bullets fly into a heap of sand. doors and windows are strongly barricaded with iron. A the room are of great strength and thickness, and the train of powder is then laid, running over the touch-hole of each piece to a small opening, where it is fired. On the occasion of my visit, 120 muskets, intended for the navy, were tried. These are of larger calibre than those in use in the army. After the discharge had taken place, a little time was allowed for the smoke to clear away before we entered the proof-room, where we found that seven barrels had burst, but that 113 had stood the test. The superintendent of the establishinent told me that sometimes as

many as twenty out of a hundred would burst, but very often also fewer than seven. If we take five or six per

workmanship of English gun-makers. We were told that, not long ago, a workman, who had been detected in some little peculation, found means to secrete himself in the proof-room, where he placed his body immediately in front of the battery. He was found quite dead, and pierced by six bullets.-Kohl's England.

CURE OF IDIOTS BY INTELLECTUAL MEANS.

In reply to my inquiries subsequently at the pub-cent. as the average, it gives us a high idea of the excellent lisher's, I was invariably exhorted to advertise, and told that I was not doing so sufficiently. I had already, however, expended far more than the sale of the whole impression could produce, and I felt it prudent to pause; for although a work can scarcely be expected to sell if not advertised, yet undoubtedly there is a limit beyond which it would be rashness to advance. I was sowing sovereigns to reap shillings; and however advantageous it might be to the publisher to advertise unsparingly, I found that the advertisements affected the sale so feebly, that to me it would be ruinous to persevere. The sale, too, after a time, gradually decreased; attractive novelties were every month appearing; and at length, after three years of anxiety, the sale having almost entirely ceased, I was compelled to close accounts with the pub-cessfully employed in improving the intellectual powers of lisher, and sell off at any price the remaining copies. The publisher, after deducting his per centage, handed me a few pounds, and the remainder of the copies fetched a price which barely paid for the binding. On balancing my profit and loss, I found that, besides my literary labour, and the worry and inconvenience of publication, I was minus about thirty pounds. Thus ended the history of my first work, and, if my present resolution fail not, my last one.

[The above recital we believe to be a faithful picture, not of one, but of many cases. In the ordinary world, when a novice produces a few poems or prose essays of apparent merit, nothing seems more proper than that they should be published, the merit being expected to secure that attention which will make the publication a profitable one. Those who reason in this manner, never take into account the vast competition there is at all times for the ear and eye of the public, rendering it quite possible for very considerable merit to be entirely overlooked. They never dream that even to give a new book a chance of gaining attention, large sums must be spent in advertising, so that it may be something like an impossibility to publish a small book, however decided its merit, lucratively. All these things are known to the booksellers, most of whom have experienced losses by very promising ventures, and it is not therefore surprising that this class of men appear to ardent-minded

In reference to an article on the improved method resorted to in France for the amelioration and cure of idiocy, which appeared in our last volume (page 338), we are happy to observe that the system there described has been quite successful in Prussia. It will be remembered that we specially referred to Dr Voisin, chief physician to the Bicêtre hospital near Paris, who has long been sucidiots, by bringing into exercise those faculties which appear to be in the most healthy condition. For total idiots, of course nothing can be done; but their proportion to partial idiots is very small; and of the latter, while most of the faculties are deficient, there are generally others that do not fall much, if at all, short of the common condition. To such faculties this treatment is pointedly directed, and the result is, that all the others become gradually im proved. The system has been adopted at the Deaf and Dumb Institution, situated No. 83 Lines Street, Berlin, into "The instruction of which insane patients are admitted. from which we derive our information, has succeeded. idiots by intellectual means,' says the German newspaper The problem, theoretically and practically, has been solved by the director, M. Saegert, in conjunction with M. Sachs, first teacher of the establishment; and this solution has been scientifically proved and acknowledged by our eminent physicians Dr Bary and Dr Joseph Müller." So fully assured is the Prussian government of the complete efficacy of the system, that a portion of the Berlin Deaf and Dumb Institution is to be permanently set aside as an hospital for idiots, in which to test more fully the efficacy of the educative mode of treating them. It would give us great pleasure could we announce that the plan, so ably advocated by Dr Voisin, and so effectually carried out by him at the Bicêtre in Paris, and by the teachers of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Berlin, had found its way into Great Britain. But we have not heard of any attempt to form an hospital for idiots, although no such institution exists here at present.

DR ARNOTT'S FOUR NECESSARIES FOR HEALTH.

DR NEIL ARNOTT, author of the Elements of Physics, and inventor of the Water Bed and Stove which pass by his name, has prepared a table exhibiting the four necessaries for sustaining health, and the effects of their deficiency and excess; as also the noxious influences to which we are subject. This table is here subjoined. We would suggest that young persons in schools and private dwellings should be set to copy it on a large sheet, and that these copies should be hung up in all places where they are likely to be read by a considerable number of persons :—

Animal, Mineral, Vegetable.

Certain of these, such as alcohol in its various forms, opium, tobacco, &c. which in large quantities kill instantly, when they are taken in very moderate quantity can be borne with apparent impunity, and are sometimes classed as articles of sustenance, or they may be medicinal; but, if taken beyond such moderation, they become, to the majority of men, destructive slow poisons. Contagious-as of plague, small-pox, and measles. Malaria of marshes, thickets, and filth.

The note on the wines of Palestine in No. 34, has, we find, given rise to some remarks in the publications of the professors of Total Abstinence. We have been induced in consequence to review the subject, and the following is the sum of what occurs to us with reference to it :-Professor Hitchcock appears to have somewhat overstated the opinions of the author of Anti-Bacchus, in representScripture were not alcoholic. Anti-Bacchus endeavours, it is true, to take away as much as possible from the grounds for supposing that the scriptural wines were alcoholic, and in some passages he makes such large demands to this effect, that a cursory reader might suppose him denying altogether that these wines contained any alcohol. In other passages, however, the alcohol of some of the wines of Scripture is explicitly allowed, and this we find to be a general admission amongst the professors of abstinence. Of course, in as far as we have been misled by the professor's paper to overstate the conclusions of Anti-Bacchus, we feel regret, and now offer our best apologies. We must at the same time remark, that what we have latterly read in that work and others with regard to the dis

Though natural history long ago declared that these sounds proceed from a little harmless insect, hundreds of believers still exist who refuse to be persuaded that the noise is not prophetic of the charnel-house. Even those who have been brought to credit the fact of the ticking being made by an insect, are reluctant all at once to abandon a gloomy notion, and therefore affirm that the sounding him as endeavouring to establish that the wines alluded to in is still significant of death; for, say they, it comes from a spider in the act of dying, and when the ticks cease, the creature is dead. Many intelligent persons are aware that this latter opinion is equally erroneous with the former; but as others may lack such correct information, it might not be altogether superfluous to state that the insect in question is not a spider, but the pediculus of old wood, a species of vermes belonging to the order aptera in the Linnæan system.' It is very diminutive. There are two kinds of death-watches. One is very different in appearance from the other. The former only beats seven or eight quick strokes at a time: the latter will beat some hours together more deliberately, and without ceasing. This ticking, instead of having anything to do with death, is a joyous sound, and as harmless as the cooing of a dove. It is to be regretted that science, to which we owe so many blessings-so much of health, both bodily and mental-should have made an inconsiderate compromise with superstition, by naming this lively and harmless little creature mortisaga-that is, the death-presager.'—Ainsworth's Magazine.

OTHER MEN'S ACTIONS.

There is no word or action but may be taken with two hands; either with the right hand of charitable construction, or the sinister interpretation of malice and suspicion; and all things so succeed as they are taken. To construct an evil action well, is but a pleasing and profitable deceit to myself; but to misconstrue a good thing, is a treble wrong-to myself, the action, and the author.Bishop Hall

tinction of the character of ancient wines, appears to us over

strained and unsatisfactory, more particularly when we find that
the present wines of Palestine are all of them largely alcoholic. We
therefore mainly hold to our former position, that the advantages
other grounds.
of abstinence from intoxicating drinks ought to be argued for on

With reference to a paper on Suretiship in No. 37, it may be proper, for preventing misconception, to state that the idea of the Guarantee Society, which substitutes the insurance principle for private security, originated in 1839 with a gentleman belonging to the Bank of England, although first explained to the public in the manner stated by us.

Printed by William Bradbury, of No. 6, York Place, and Frederick Mullett Evans, of No. 7, Church Row, both of Stoke Newington, in the county of Middlesex, printers, at their office, Lombard Street, in the precinct of Whitefriars, and city of London'; and Published (with permission of the Proprietor, W. and R. CHAMBERS,) by WILLIAM SOMERVILLE ORR. Publisher, of 3, Amen Corner, st No. 2, AMEN CORNER, both in the parish of Christchurch, and in the city of London-Saturday, October 19, 1844.

JOURNAL

CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, EDITORS OF 'CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE,''CHAMBERS'S EDUCATIONAL COURSE,' &c.

No. 43. NEW SERIES.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1844.

THE NEGLECTED CHILD.

BY CAMILLA TOULMIN.

SEE what beautiful flowers Mrs Woodley has given us!' exclaimed, almost at the same moment, Augusta and Caroline Shelton, as they entered their mother's drawing-room after a morning's walk; but we wish to give them to you, mamma, if you will accept them,' continued the children in set phrase, and with an air of affectation, that would have been anything but pleasing to a more discreet mother.

PRICE 14d.

and why cannot you call people by their names, instead of using that vulgar phrase, "send for a doctor." But I suppose they are Morris's own words; you pick up everything from the servants.'

The rebuked child stooped down to fondle the dog, and hide the tears which she had failed to drive back, while her sisters exchanged glances that seemed to say, She does not bring mamma a nosegay.'

Mrs Shelton read the glance, and had before observed the flowers, which, loosely twined round the dog's collar, were now dropping about the floor.

'My darlings,' replied Mrs Shelton, rising languidly from the sofa, and drawing the children towards her; 'my sweet girls never forget dear mamma, do they? And what did Mrs Woodley say to you, my dears?' 'She did not say much,' returned Augusta, a priming her their flowers to dressing up a dog with them.' womanly Miss of fourteen years old, and the eldest of the family; but she told us to gather some flowers if we liked, and asked us to have a ride on the pony; but of course we did not mount, because we thought it might crease these clean frocks, and that would have displeased you. Margaret, however, rode him round and round the paddock.'

'Come, clear away this litter,' she exclaimed, addressing Margaret; 'you and Rover and Morris are only fit company for each other I think. Your sisters, indeed, thought of their mother first, and preferred bring

'Of course; she has no thought.'

'But Margaret had not a clean frock on, mamma,' said Caroline, who was a degree more child-like than the other, and sometimes, though not often, put in a kind word for her neglected sister.

'Never mind, my love; you and Augusta shall go out with me this afternoon; that will be much better than pony-riding.'

Another rush of tears from poor Margaret was the rejoinder, as she sobbed out-Last-last-timemamma-you would not have my flow-flowers.'

'I cannot bear this noise; go away,' said Mrs Shelton, with a wave of her hand; and Margaret, picking up the flowers which she ventured to leave on the table, hastened to obey. The dog followed her, and in a few minutes the neglected child' was sitting upon the old nurse's bed, where Rover had mounted also, as if for the purpose of licking the hand of his weeping mistress, and offering her his mute consolations.

Mrs Shelton was considered in society 'fascinating,' and a 'beauty;' but, in truth, she was vain, selfish, and capricious. Her husband was a shrewd worldlyminded man, with a much smaller proportion of the At this moment a loud sobbing was heard at the door, ballast of principle than needs belong even to such and the next instant Margaret Shelton, the youngest a character. A pair of this kind were not likely to daughter, entered the room, accompanied by her con-regulate their household very admirably; and the adstant companion, Rover, a large spaniel, whose collar was now ornamented with fresh flowers, very similar to those the favoured children had just presented to their mother. Margaret was about eleven years old; and though her complexion was less delicate, and her features less regular, than those of her sisters, intelligence beamed brightly and surely from her dark eyes; and feeling, sentiment, and suffering had already imprinted their characters on her countenance.

vent of poor little Margaret had been most unpropitious. In the first place, a boy had been ardently desired, for whom doubtless had been reserved a share of that sort of affection which capricious people can only bestow, and which had been lavished, already in due proportion on the elder girls. But this formed no inheritance for the unwelcome little girl, on whom fell the additional calamity of receiving a baptismal name unpleasing to the ears of an influential elder of the

'What is the matter now-crying again?' said Mrs family, who, with a consistency, it would seem, inherent Shelton in no very gentle tone.

in the race, took a dislike to the poor infant forthwith, 'Morris, Nurse Morris is so very ill,' sobbed the and was heard to declare that no one of that name (he poor child.

had been jilted by a Margaret in his youth) should ever touch a farthing of his money. Brothers, however, in due time appeared, and they finally jostled poor Margaret from any slight hold she might have had on the parental tenderness. From babyhood she had been as it were a shuttlecock in the house, tossed to and fro by every gale of temper; blamed, scolded, punished often; but caressed and petted seldom or never, except Mr Simmonds is too busy to come before to-morrow; by her constant friend Nurse Morris, to whose affec

And will your crying make her better?' 'Oh, mamma, do send for a doctor,' said Margaret, endeavouring to stifle her tears; for she felt instinctively that a storm was gathering, and that she should be reproached as the cause of innumerable calamities, if her grief disturbed the delicate 'nerves,' or rather temper, of her capricious parent.