Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/92

, because they too received and obeyed the word of God. in China, among that part of the community now in question, there is, judging from all we have seen and can learn, very little that is truly noble or honorable. Worthy exceptions there may be, and doubtless are; but they are only exceptions. The evil, which causes such an universal degradation of character, is twofold; there is an almost entire want of the means and opportunities of education; and then, where these are enjoyed, the instruction given always consists of the fallible, and often very bad, maxims of men, and not of the pure precepts of Infinite Wisdom.

With a view to remove both of these evils, the little book we here notice, has been written and published. In its form and style, the work is on the model of the far-famed Chinese San-tsze-king; but, in its doctrine, it is, in essential points, very different from that work. The one, no child, "unless he is born a sage," can comprehend; the other, is so plain and easy, that any child may understand it; and though the first may be superior in point of style, the last is infinitely the better book, and inculcates what the other does not; it teaches, in addition to love and obedience to parents, the commandments of God; that little children, as well as grown people, must love and fear God, believe in Jesus Christ and pray to him, and depart from all wicked ways.

JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES.

Till within three or four days, nothing of great interest concerning the highland rebels, has transpired. Governor Le, who left Canton early in the present month, reached Leenchow on the 11th.

During the last two or three weeks, we have heard it confiidently rumoured, that his Majesty's government would try to divide and conquer the rebels, by offers of peace and place. A native of the highlands, in the service of the Emperor, was called away from a situation on the coast, to go and try to talk over his fellow-clansmen. And quite recent accounts from the hills state, that a rebel was "topped" by an Imperial knob of considerable rank, and so sent to persuade Chaou, the 'Golden Dragon,' to surrender. The traitor carried an order, with which he was to admonish the chief rebel to submit, and so give himself up to certain death. And, still further, it is rumoured, that the traitor had 2000 followers, to enforce his exhortation to submission. But the 'Golden Dragon,' who was the Lion couchant on the hills, put the envoy and his 2,000 all to death.

But since the 27th, these rumours have given place to credible and serious intelligence. It is now pretty evident, that there has been some hard fighting. The enemy, which at first seemed to retire before Governor Le and his forces, showed themselves, in small numbers, on the 20th, and the fighting began. It continued for five successive days; when the rebel army appeared 30,000 strong, and 2,000 of the Imperial troops, including a large number of officers, were dead on the field.

, though they prove false, still tend to show the character of a people. Chinese rumours often respect the degradation or death of their