"What comes to her from the poor wreck of the Lilias property, is half ours, by right?"

"I will restrict myself, father, I will economize in the business and in my household expenses as much as possible. I will be in the highest degree active and prudent."

"Good; but all this you will in the end ask, and I must ask, for whom? for a woman who is none of the youngest, and of whose beauty there will, perhaps, be no trace after a few years

"Is it, then, her beauty, which attracts me? God is my witness I have compared her with no one else. What has touched me, and gained my heart for ever, are the virtues which she has displayed in so many sad, so many trying situations, and of which, for months, I was happily a near witness.'

The old man again paced the room, and was silent. dren," he again began.

"She has chil

"They increase my love to her; they are two little angels."

"But angels who have wants. If the little they inherit from their father should by chance be lost, these children have called you father, and you are pledged to take a fatherly care of them."

"That I shall certainly do, and do it joyfully."

Joyfully? What you spend for them is lost to your own children. On a race of strangers you will expend what might benefit your own. I pray you, how could you have such a thought? how entertain it for

a moment?

The son knew his father too well, not to be extremely surprised at this. "You do not speak from your own soul, my father; impossible!

"What do you mean? from what can a man think, but from his own feelings?"

"You are creating a strange, narrow-contracted soul, which you are attributing to me as my own. From this you are taking arguments to confuse or convince me. I see I have for ever lost your regard. I must take my own course. I will do so. My only wish before God is," and he clasped his hands firmly, "that you may live long, long, and yet see with your own eyes, how much you have been mistaken in me, how much injustice you have done me." He turned from his father toward the window, with a heart full of emotion, and torn by contradictory feelings.

His father could not ask for any further proof of his sentiments, and the entire change of his character. After a deep, solemn silence, in which he left his son time to collect himself, he called him gently by his christian name, "Charles?"

At the tender, tremulous tone in which that word was spoken, the son involuntarily turned round. What were his emotions, when he saw the good, the venerable old man standing, his eyes filled with tears, and his arms spread open to receive him. "Charles," repeated he, "why have you kept yourself so long concealed from me?" and now the son, overpowered by his sensations, though he was still un

certain what to expect, seized the hand of his father in both his own, and covered it with kisses.

"Will you," said the old man," in this delightful hour, this hour certainly never to be forgotten by either of us, - will you swear to me, sacredly swear, as you have now declared your feelings, that you never even in the deepest recesses of your heart will reproach the good Madam Lilias or her children with their want of fortune; that you depend on her love and virtue more than on any wealth; and that you will always care for her children as if they were your own

99 ?

The son was not only affected, he was overpowered. "I will, I will," stammered he, and could not utter another word.

"I accept your emotion as an oath;" and then he placed his hand on his shoulder, drew him toward him, and kissed him again and again with the greatest tenderness. "With regard to the manner in which I establish you, depend upon me. I am not an illiberal father; therefore take my house and business to yourself, and, moreover, my most tender blessing for your love."

Such sudden and varied changes of feeling were more than the heart of the son could bear. Instead of thanking his father, he sunk backwards to reach a chair, on which he threw himself, almost breathless. A sudden flow of tears relieved him, while the old man, who seated himself near him, and helped to dry his tears, said to him, "Command yourself; be a man, do not weep, dearest Charles. We must go to your mother, and let her share our pleasure. Who knows how long and impatiently she has been awaiting us? And if I am not entirely mistaken, we shall find there two others, who are looking for our appearance with anxiety."

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE Doctor and Madam Harvest had in fact been some time with Madam Stark, that they might be able to learn as soon as possible the result of the conversation. How anxious was their suspense, may be judged from the interest they had heretofore taken in their brother, and the various exertions they had made on his account. They thought they had satisfactory reasons for hoping the best result, and yet they could not help, from the very depth of their sympathy, sharing the fear and anxiety of their mother, who, because her interest was still deeper and more earnest, had none but sad forebodings.

So much the more delightful to them all was the surprise of seeing the father come in accompanied by the son, and betraying his satisfaction by his smiles, as well as his emotion by his moist, red eyes. He held the hand of his son, whose face was still covered by his handkerchief, and led him to his mother, saying, "Here, dear mother, I bring you a good, worthy son, who has a kind consideration for your age, and will relieve you from the cares of housekeeping, which have long borne heavily upon you. He will bring you a young, pleasant wife,

whom he begs you to accept for a daughter, and desires you to pronounce your maternal blessing on his love. You never will guess his choice, and you certainly will not," added he, turning to his daughter, and laughing at the two, but at the same time threatening them with his finger.

The son could not immediately dry his eyes while receiving the good wishes of his mother, and the congratulations of his sister and brother-in-law. All at last joined in thanking the father, and caressing him, who kissed them all, but did not recover his usual jocular humor for the rest of the evening. The feelings which the conversation with his son had excited in him were of too serious a nature to allow him immediately to return to the little jests, with which he was accustomed to season his conversation.

He took upon himself the next day to be the mediator of his son's marriage. Whether Madam Lilias was agreeably or disagreeably surprised by this visit, whether she gave an affirmative or a negative answer, no one wished to be the first to ask. The marriage was one of the happiest in the city. All the members of the family were united by the most tender affection. Mr. Stark rejoiced during a long protracted life in the prosperity and perfect harmony of his family; and enjoyed the sweet, and at one time almost unhoped-for happiness, of pressing grandchildren to his bosom, who were not only of his blood, but also bore his name.

MILITARY ORGANIZATION OF CHINA.

THE authentic sources of information relative to the political and military organization of China are so few, that all details concerning it, coming from an independent and authentic source, are deserving of attention. The following communication was, not long since, published in the St. Petersburgh Gazette, having been addressed to the imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh, from the Monk Hyacinth, a corresponding member of that Academy at Kiathka, in Siberia, on the frontier of China. Kiathka is situated in the government of Irkutsk, in Eastern Siberia, and opposite to the Chinese city of Maimatchin, 4,300 miles from St. Petersburgh, and 1,000 from Pekin. It is the only point at which the commerce between the two countries, carried on by caravans, meets. This commerce, which is all carried on in the way of barter, is estimated to amount to near two millions of dollars per annum. The Chinese city is better built than the Russian. Both have their citadels and garrisons. At Kiathka, the Russian Missionaries of the Seminary of Pekin have a preparatory house. This information is of particular interest at this time, though it is somewhat obscure, and it can be little relied upon as affording the means to judge of the actual efficiency of the Chinese army. It is,

nevertheless, crude, and it may be found of use in enabling us to understand more fully the history of operations which may be presented to us from China.

"Kiathka, August 24, 1837.

"The population of China increases annually in an unequal proportion. According to the census taken in the different governments of China, in 1812, it was found that there were in all 361,691,000 souls. In this number there were eight military standards, composed of Mandchoux, of Mongols, and Chinese, without counting the foreign tribes, who are dependent on China. They are in general counted in families, of which there are in all 188,123.

On

"Each family or every house receives from the local authorities a tablet, called the door tablet, on which the names of the inhabitants of the house are to be inscribed. This tablet is changed every year. When these tablets are changed, the names of those who are no longer inhabitants of the house are erased, and new comers are added. changing one's residence, he is obliged to give notice of it to the authorities, that he may be furnished with a tablet. Ten houses compose what is called a Pchai, under the inspection of a Pchai-cheu (inspector of ten houses;) ten Pchais form a zsja, over which a zsjatschan presides; ten zsja form a bao, with a chief called baotschan. The Chinese living out of the empire have the same organization.

"These different functionaries are chosen from among the people for a definite time. They must be heads of families, and know how to read and write. It is their duty to watch over the morality of the people of their district; that is, they must see that no one gains his living by unlawful means, and make reports respecting suspected perThese officers have the same duties in the cities and in the vil lages; they are employed every year to prepare a roll of the population. They must enter on this roll all the inhabitants of a place, without distinction, provided they have a fixed residence, whether they be literary men, merchants, artisans, or soldiers.

sons.

"These rolls are in the first place delivered to the government of the circle, who make use of them to form a general roll of the circle, which they forward to the provincial administration, or that of the district. The latter, in turn, after having done his part of the work, transmits it to the Chancery, where it is made use of for the financial department. The registers of the domiciliated soldiers are transmitted to their respective authorities. The department of finan ces, after having made from the different rolls the computation of the population, remits the document, which is written on yellow paper, to the Emperor.

66

According to the rolls of 1812, the cultivated land in all the governments and Mandchourie, amounted to 7,915,251 acres.

"The Mandchoux, and the Mongols, who came with them from Mandchourie, in China, constitute a military body by themselves, divided by banners. Each banner has three divisions, the divisions have several companies, each of which contains 150 men. The Mandchoux

at Pekin form 681 companies, the Mongols 204, and the Chinese 266; the Mandchoux and the Mongols in the government garrisons are composed of 840 companies, who with the Dachures, the Solans, and the Tunguses, in the Obuntschen, and those mentioned above, make a total of 2,088 companies, composed of 343,200 men, from 16 to 60 years.

"At Pekin, there is in each division a chief, two aids, a colonel, and a captain of companies. The Mandchoux and the Mongols form the garrison under the command of the heads of the corps.

"Every two years an inscription is made for military service; all males who have reached the age of sixteen are registered in it. It is usual to make two rolls, one of which remains in the Chancery of the division, and the other is transmitted to the department of finance. "Mongol is divided into parts: the south, north, west, and ChuchoThe Mongols form the aimaks, the aimaks form the banners commanded by the Tschasaks. The banners are divided into regiments, and the regiments into squadrons. A division or principality is called a banner. Some aimaks are divided into several divisions.

nor.

"The Mongols of the south occupy an extent of country the length of the great wall from the frontier of Mandchourie to Ordos. They form 24 aimaks, subdivided into 48 banners.

"The Mongols of the north are called Calchas. They inhabit the extent of the country which is at the north of the great wall, from Arguni, towards the west, to the frontiers of Tschangaru, and form four aimaks, subdivided into 86 banners. The Nomadic Mongols, dispersed from Ordos towards the west, belong to different aimaks, and form 34 banners.

"The Mongols of Chuchonor lead a Nomadic life near the lake Chuchonor, and form three aimaks, subdivided into 29 banners.

"The Mongols, who are immediately subject to China, have no Tschasaks, but are subjected to the military chiefs of China. In this number must be included the Tschachares and the Tumotes, who lead a Nomadic life, behind the Kalgan, between the Ordos and Dolonnor.

"Each regiment has six squadrons, and a squadron contains 150 men, 30 of whom do military duty, but the others have nothing to do. "All the squadrons together are composed of 274,275 men, without counting minors, invalids, and the sick."

"Each banner is commanded by a prince, who has under his orders a lieutenant; each squadron has six under officers; ten tents or families have an inspector. Every three years a census of the population is taken, and all males from the age of 18 to 60 are included in it.

"The Tosolaktschs and the Tschangins are employed in making this census, and transmit the results of their labors to Pekin. The princes and officers are made responsible for persons who conceal themselves to prevent being enrolled. If under officers and inspectors are guilty of these concealments they are punished by whipping.

"The Chinese troops are composed of two parts: one, the Mand