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Canton, in 1820, while in office, pub- all that is known or that is to be known; lished a volume of his deceased daugh- that there is no room for further discoter's poetry; and the literary men are veries, their ancient sages having exusually desirous of having their daugh- hausted every subject. Hence the staters accomplished in music, poetry, tionary character of Chinese civilization. composition, and classic lore. Such an The scientific and philosophical works education is considered befitting their of the Chinese are those of Confucius station, and reflecting credit on the and the "ten philosophers," or his disfamily. One of the most celebrated fe- ciples and commentators. Chinese limale writers in China is Pan Hwuipan, terature has been, through ignorance of who flourished about A. D. 80. She it, very unjustly depreciated. Klaproth, wrote a work entitled female precepts, in his Memoires, vol. iii., p. 267, contrawhich has formed the basis of many dicts the statement that has so often succeeding works in Chinese on female been made, that the Chinese believed education. The aim of her writings China to occupy the centre of the world, was to elevate female character and and that it is surrounded with a few inmake it virtuous. Other Chinese author- significant and petty territories, all its esses treat on various subjects, but mostly tributaries. He says:-Je n'ai pas on morals and domestic economy. Chi- besoin de refuter ici l'idée absurde de nese literary ladies are held in general ceux qui prétendent que les Chinois respect, and more of the females of croient que leur pays est situé au milieu China can read and write their own lan- du monde. Un molelat, ou un couli du guage than is generally supposed. The Chinese do not, as has been represented, make slaves of their wives, and Chinese females are in a far better condition than those of other pagan or unevangelized countries, or even than the females of the ancient Greeks and Romans.*

Canton peut, à la vérité, donner une pareille explication, mais c'est à l'intelligence de celui qui questionne de l'adopter ou de la rejeter.'"

Some idea further than that afforded by Remusat, may be gained of the extent of Chinese literature, from the fact, as stated by Mr. Williams, that the Sz The literature of the Chinese is very Fu Tsiuen Shu Tsung-muh, or Catalogue extensive. "It would not be hazarding of all the Books in the Four Libraries, too much to say," says Mr. Medhurst, consists, of itself alone, of one hundred "that in China there are more books, and twelve octavo volumes of 300 pages and more people to read them,than in any each, and giving the titles, and a brief other country in the world. Among the synopsis of the contents of upwards of 360,000,000 of Chinamen, at least 2,000,- 20,000 works, and these not all, but only 000 are literati." There is not, how- the best works in the language. The ever, much that is original in their catalogue arranges the books into four books, the belief of the Chinese being divisions, viz., classical, historical, progeneral that their books already contain fessional writings, and belles-lettres.

* Williams's China, vol. i,p. 456, also the whole of the chapter.

+ China Opened, vol. i, p. 417. M. Abel Remusat, speaking of Chinese literature, also observes: "L'histoire littéraire, la critique des textes, et la biographie, sont le sujet d'une foule d'ouvrages remarquable par l'ordre et la régularité qui y sont ob

serves.

On possède beaucoup des traductions des livres Sanscrits sur la religion et la metaphysique. Les lettres cultivent la poesie, qui est assujetie chez eux au double joug de la mesure et de la rime; ils ont des poemes lyriques et narratifs, et surtout des poëmes descriptifs, des pièces de theatre, des romans des mœurs, des romans où les merveilleux est mis en usage. On a composé en outre un très grand nombre des recueils speciaux et généraux, des bibliothèques et des encyclopédies, et dans le dernier siècle on avait commencé l'impression d'une collection des ouvrages choisies en 180,000 volumes! Les Chinois ont d'excellents dictionnaires où tous les

signes de leur écriture, et tous les mots de leur langue sont expliqués, avec le plus grand soin, et dans un ordre tres regulier. Enfin il n'y a pas en Europe, de nation chez laquelle on

meme

trouve tant des livres, ni des livres si bien fait, si commodes à consulter, et à si bas prix."

M. Remusat, Staunton, the two Morrisons, and others best acquainted with the language and literature of the Chinese, speak in the highest terms of the polite literature of the Chinese. Many of their works on history, biography, statistics, etc., are very valuable and interesting. Their biographies are both of men and women, in which latter is exhibited their high consideration for literary women. These biographies, as also many other works, are very voluminous. They have a biographical dictionary in 120 volumes. They have also a work very popular among the Chinese, entitled Memoirs of Distinguished Ladies, written by Lin Hiang, 124 B. C. They have also a very valuable work, entitled Complete Antiquarian Researches of Ma Twantin, who

Voluminous Literature-Opinions of Morrison, Remusat, &c. 373

lived A. D. 1275. It is a very extensive opinion of a nation whose literature can and profound work, containing research- boast of a work like this." es upon every matter relating to government, and extending through a series of dynasties which held the throne nearly 40 centuries. Remusat says of it: "This excellent work is a library by itself, and if Chinese literature possessed no other, the language would be worth learning for the sake of reading this alone." Mr. Williams says of it: "It elevates our future number.

We are compelled, very unwillingly, to close here this paper on China, for the want of space. There are a great number of subjects which we are obliged to pass over without even naming them; and yet it would be an exceedingly interesting task to discuss them. We may, however, resume the subject in some

ART. V.-THE BALTIMORE SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL

CONVENTION.

Resolved, That the Atlantic cities and states of the South are on the great natural highways of commerce-the gulfstream-and these states should improve the facilities offered by nature by resorting to all the aids of science and art.

We have received the proceedings of and states of the South, West, and Souththe Southern Commercial Convention, west. held in Baltimore, and regret that we were unable to accept an invitation to be present. The temporary officers were J. C. Brune and J. F. Pickrell. The Committee on Resolutions were, Hon. J. D. Freeman, Mississippi; Hon. J. C. Jones, Tennessee; Hon. J. R. Under- Resolved, That among these facilities wood, Kentucky; Hon. T. L. Clingman, we hail the speedy completion of the North Carolina; Hon. J. L. Orr, South Baltimore and Ohio Rail-road with great Carolina; Lieut. M. F. Maury, Virginia; satisfaction, and look to it as opening a C. G. Baylor, Esq., District Columbia; new channel of trade greatly beneficial P. H. Sullivan, Esq., Maryland; Hon. to the interior states of the Union, and J. L. Robinson, Indiana; Hon. John especially those bordering the Ohio river. Moore, Louisiana; Hon. T. M. Taylor, Missouri; Hon. Richard Apperson, Kentucky; Hon. R. I. Bowie, Maryland; Hon. Alex. White, Alabama.

The Hon. Wm. C. Dawson, of Georgia, was elected president of the convention. The following resolutions were adopted, together with one that the convention meet again on the first Monday of June next at Memphis.

Resolved, That we highly approve the admirable address by which we have been welcomed to Baltimore, and that we sympathize with the noble efforts which the city of Baltimore has made, and is yet making, to secure the trade and commerce of the states to the South, and in the valley of the South.

Resolved, That the prosperity and permanency of the Union will be greatly promoted by the multiplication of the means of commercial and social intercourse in the several states, and that this convention recommends that every effort should be made, consistent with our obligations to the whole, to increase the intercommunication between the cities

Resolved, That the question of a great commercial centre of commerce for national exchanges will necessarily depend upon the cheapness of transportation, and that it is of great importance to the West and South, and Southwest, to ascertain the prices of freight and transportation to Baltimore, and from Baltimore to Liverpool, and other important points of Europe.

Resolved, That a committee of be appointed by the chairman to ascertain and publish, after the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-road to Wheeling, the rates of transportation on that road of all important articles of commerce.

Resolved, That it is recommended to the merchants of Baltimore, as a means of securing the trade of the West, Southwest, and South, to establish a line or lines of steamers between Baltimore and Liverpool, and other important parts of Europe and South America.

Resolved, That while we disdain the slightest prejudice or hostility to the welfare and prosperity of any particular

Resolved, That true policy requires the United States to foster steamboat communication between the South and the Amazon, and to build up commerce with the Atlantic slope of South America.

On the part of the Board of Trade of Baltimore, Brantz Mayer, Esq., opened the convention with the following address to the people of the South and West:

section or city, North or South, we would And is not this true? It will be alpromote, as we think we reasonably lowed by every one who recalls the might, consistent with the laws of trade, history of colonial and revolutionary its great central position, the commer- times, and remembers that Baltimorecial interests and prosperity of Balti- Town, in those days, was the spot more, as being well calculated to excite whence the adventurer and the soldier set a wholesome and beneficial competition forth, wending their way westward by with more northern Atlantic cities, which Fort Cumberland, until they penetrated could not fail to be peculiarly advanta- that wilderness which has been subdued geous to the whole South, Southwest, and civilized by the courageous enterand West, and, in fact, to the nation at prise of your hardy ancestors. It was large. from Baltimore-Town, then already a place of significance at the head of the finest inland navigation in the world, that the pioneer and trader sallied forth with trains of pack-horses, to bear their luxuries and necessaries into the wilderness, in order to exchange them for the peltries which were, at that time, almost the only "circulating medium" of the region. Maryland, lying like a wedge between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and having in its centre another wedge, in its magnificent bay and river, whose affluents penetrated its northwesternmost comer, afforded the easiest levels as a channel of trade for passing the mountains and reaching the navigable waters of the Ohio; and thus our state became the chief line of American travel, and our city the chief depot between the shores of the Atlantic and the valleys beyond the Alleghany range. Baltimore, therefore, is fairly to be regarded as the natural and earliest historical friend and commercial ally of the West. It was so in the days when Washington and Braddock pursued the line of travel I have indicated; and in periods when the common interests and common sense of men pointed out a trail for trade, independently of all extraneous influences.

We have invited you to meet us, in the city of Baltimore, in order to consider questions of interest to the sections of country whence you come, as well as to ourselves. It is our duty as well as our pleasure to seize the earliest moment to thank you for the alacrity and good-will with which you have so cordially responded to our call.

Gentlemen, we have summoned you here to-day to lay, with proper services, and to cement with hearty feeling, the corner-stone of a great National Exchange. Many circumstances have lately combined to direct public notice towards the city of Baltimore as the most suitable mart for the productions in which your parts of the Union are so deeply concerned. When the census of 1850 was first published, and it was seen that the population of Baltimore But, gentlemen, it is not to be denied had augmented in a larger proportion that although Baltimore, very soon after within the preceding ten years than the adoption of the Constitution of the that of any other Atlantic city, men United States, was acknowledged to be asked themselves the question, why the great flour and tobacco mart of the this had occurred, and found no solution country, as well as. perhaps, the best save in the facts that there was a zeal market for provisions-she still, in time, ous stir of enterprising activity among found that her commerce diminished, our people, fostered by the hopeful pros- while that of other sections, which appect of future progress,-that our inter- parently were not entitled to such adnal improvements were tending to de- vantages, became proportionably envelop a region fraught with wealth, not larged. This may be attributed to three only to our state but to other sections, causes :-the opening of the navigation and that Baltimore, in truth, was the of the Mississippi, which gave its mouth original and natural terminus of our great as a vent for internal commerce;-the internal trade, indicated by nature herself introduction of steam on that river and in the geography of our country. its tributaries as the motive power for

Baltimore the Natural Terminus of Internal Trade.

375

opinion of the channel of trade was correct-and that we labored not in vain for the friendship of those sections to which nature had originally allied us, and to which art has once more happily restored us after so many years of unnatural estrangement!

trade and travel;-and the construction low-citizens of the South and West, that of the Erie Canal, backed by the mas- we ask you to come hither and tell us terly system of internal improvements that our judgment was right-that our of New-York, which has tapped the lakes and western waters, developed its own immense interior resources, and poured the wealth of the northwest into the lap of its thriving metropolis. Thus, the old trade, which, in earlier days concentrated at Pittsburgh or Wheeling, and pursued its slow journey over the mountains in the "Conestoga wagons," -which were the successors of "packhorse caravans "-was gradually absorbed and taken away by the ingenuity of an opulent rival.

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But, gentlemen, while, in Baltimore, we have been striving to make this work, by the expenditure of private and public means, other cities have not hesitated to attempt outgeneraling us in our efforts to regain your favor. But you are aware, gentlemen, that ton, New-York, Philadelphia, have all Baltimore was no laggard in seizing the striven to grasp the whole, or, at least, means of reasserting her natural supre- to gain a considerable part, of the macy in the internal commerce of North wealth that your industry produces. America. We perceived the cause, and Yet, in this instance, all their art-all we endeavored to apply the remedy. their ingenuity-could not effect two We saw that art, skill, and capital, had striven to overcome nature and distance, and we resolved to make the same elements of success restore nature to her original rights.

Accordingly, about a quarter of a century ago, many of our opulent and enterprising citizens determined to make that gigantic internal improvement which, on the first day of January, 1853, is to signalize the opening of a new year by wedding the Ohio and the Chesapeake, and securing an uninterrupted intercourse, which shall place the Western citizen and his valuable produce on the Atlantic coast within fifteen hours!

results, without which their attempts must be unavailing. They could not destroy the geographical facts that Baltimore was not only the natural channel of trade, but that it was, also, the central point of the sea-board union, in instantaneous intercourse with the national capital and that its rail-way is the shortest, most direct, and economical communication between the Ohio and the sea.

In order to illustrate our position, let me ask you to look, when you have time, at any skeleton map of the United States, on which the great lines of rail-way are laid down. You will instantly observe, that, while Boston, New-York and PhiThis great work has been long delay- ladelphia stretch out their iron arms ed. There were many reasons. It was with longing towards the West, every the pioneer railway of the Union, as grasp they make drags your produce Baltimore had been the pioneer port in over a longer road, and, of course, at a Western intercourse. The art of con- higher cost, than we shall, after the struction had risen from mere specula- first of January, 1853. Nor is this all. tion to a science during the period of its Whilst seeking to communicate with building; and besides we had to encoun- the Ohio, we have not been unmindful ter manifold impediments and financial that there were northern streams and difficulties, all of which it would be idle lakes which might contribute to Baltito recount. Nevertheless, so confident more's prosperity, and afford many arwere we of the worth of our enterprise, ticles of value to our southern friends. that we have not suffered ourselves to And, accordingly, we have hastened be daunted by any obstacles. We have to thread the valley of the Susquehanna mined our way through mountains, and with a road approaching completion, we have taxed ourselves heavily, both which, uniting with the Erie Railway as Baltimoreans and Marylanders, until, in the State of New-York, will place with the true labor of resolved faith, we the lake. at Dunkirk, thirty-nine miles have succeeded in completing the nearer to Baltimore than to New-York enormous task. city by the present channel of interIt is under such circumstances, fel- course. Nay, you will observe some

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thing more, by the inspection of such a sagacity to detect this fact, and came map. You will find that, geography hither to establish commercial agencies. having made Baltimore the great, na- Nay-with all the energy of Bostontural, central entrepot of the Union, on Boston is beginning to emigrate to Newtide water the great receptacle of in- York. Her thrifty people, keen to appreternal produce and foreign distribution, ciate and swift to seize compulsory deswe have gradually completed or pro- tiny, no longer content themselves by jected a connected system of railways, diminishing their profits in the loss of steam communication, canals, and ves- commissions, but abandon their opulent sels, diverging northeastwardly to Phi- agents, and establish, in that metropolis, ladelphia, New-York, Boston and the commercial houses directly and origi New-England States generally; norther- nally concerned in manufactures. Graly, through the valley of the Susque- dually, their progress will be further hanna into the hearts of Pennsylvania southward, until, reaching our city, as and New-York; westwardly, by the the true centre of national commerce, they Patapsco and Potomac valleys, through will find that Baltimore is the best marVirginia, to the Ohio, in the direction of ket in which the varied products of the St. Louis; southwestwardly, to Win- plantation, the farm, and the factory, can chester, Washington and Richmond; meet for profitable interchange. southwardly, by steamers and rail to Portsmouth, Weldon, Wilmington, and, shortly, to Charleston; southwardly, again by steamer direct to the lastnamed port; and, finally, eastward, to the ocean, by lines of ships communicating with England, Germany, Holland, France, the West Indies, the These inducements of geographical Spanish Main, New-Orleans, Savannah, position, ease of communication, and Mobile, the British Northern Posses- rapid centralization of future trade, might sions, New-England, both coasts of be sufficient to turn your kind attention South America, and the golden shores to Baltimore as a home market, but of California.

This map will show you, then, that all these various lines of trade, domestic and foreign, converge at Baltimore, like the spokes of a wheel, making our city the great central axle of a trade, whose circumference should touch and gather the produce of every section.

Securing, therefore, our natural and geographical right to a large share of the produce of those valleys which drain the western slopes of Virginia and Pennsylvania, the States of Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana; holding, moreover, a close intercourse with the broad lakes and their fruitful borders, through the valley of the Susquehanna; may we not justly say to you, gentlemen, that our central position and facilities of transportation, make us, obviously, a national entrepot, and will force the North to regard Baltimore as the best exchange for the disposal of its manufactures, and its best market for you?

The answer, we think, is ready, in the collossal fortunes already realized from Southern purchasers by enterprising Eastern and Northern men who had the

Baltimore is nearest the North, nearest the South, nearest the West; so central, in fact, as to be nearest all. It is nearest the manufacturer of the North-the producer of the South and West-the specu lator of Europe, and purchasers everywhere.

there are other views and interests we must not neglect to touch on briefly.

Our city, gentlemen, is already one of the largest commercial ports of the Union. Our state is a small one, but its people are industrious, thrifty and ener getic. We are blessed by a genial, healthful climate, and, while our laws are just in their operation among ourselves, they are not unfavorable to the personal welfare of the stranger who may sojourn among us. I have already noticed the surprising decennial augmentation of our numbers. Maryland, accordingly, possesses within herself the material elements of wealth, adequate to build up a great capital, and assure the commercial safety and supply of all who deal with her.

The manufactures of Maryland in every branch of industry must thrive, increase and prevail. The geological features of our section are peculiarly favor able to factories. The tide water of the Chesapeake washes the eastern base of that formation which runs parallel with the Atlantic coast, while abundant streams from that elevated ridge precipitate themselves in a succession of falls

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