But to portray faithfully the character of all these-delineate accurately the form and features, the actions and mental acquisitions of tribes thoroughly savage or only half-civilized; to gain complete command of many and very difficult dialects; to trace out and elucidate historical facts which transpired in times long gone by; to describe the geographical boundaries of states and empires, with all their varieries of climate, soil, and products-hic labor, hoc opus est. The Prince of Wales' Island gazette is, we believe, the first periodical in the English language, which the traveler eastward finds after passing the Ganges. We have been very anxious to obtain complete files of this paper; but have succeeded in getting only of volume third, Nos. 27 to 52, from July 4th to December 26th, 1835. It is a large quarto of four pages, with three columns on each; and is "printed and published by William Cox, Beach street," Penang. From one of the numbers before us, and from the Singapore Free Press, it appears that a newspaper, called the "Prince of Wales' Island Gazette," was first published in that settlement in 1805, and continued till August 1827, a period of twenty-two years; when the government, 'from displeasure at some remarks relative to the Siainese treaty,' withdrew its accustomed patronage, and the proprietor, thinking he could not conduct the paper without that support, discontinued it. On the 22d of August, in the same year, appeared the first number of the "Penang Register and Miscellany. This was a weekly paper; and, according to the Singapore Free Press, "was conducted with considerable ability and industry. It entertained liberal views, and espoused popular interests; although the editor appears to have, in some measure, advocated the wisdom of imposing those restrictions to which the Indian Press was then subjected. It was doomed, however, to an ephemeral existence; and in the month of September 1828 expired under the frowns and threatened penalties of authority, the editor having been bold enough to publish, on a separate slip, certain paragraphs of his paper which the censor had des tined to oblivion, being thus brought to feel, and perhaps to acknow. ledge, the evil effects of a system which he had done something to encourage.' On the 25th of October 1828, came out the first number of a new weekly publication, called the "Government Gazette, Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore and Malacca." It arose under the immediate patronage of the government, and closed its short career on the 3d of July, 1830, "when the government, which had brought it into life, was abolished." On the 20th of July 1833, the first number of a second "Prince of Wales' Island Gazette," the one now before us, made its appearance.

Among the topics of local interest in those numbers of the Gazette which have reached us, piracies and temperance societies are conspi. cuous. In the number for December 26th, there is a prospectus of a society to be called "the Penang anti-mendicity and friend-in-need Society," wherein it is proposed, that a committee be appointed to inquire into every case, and to relieve, in such a way as may seem best, those who are truly needy, and thereby break up the mendicant

monopoly and give a right direction to the charities of the benevolent. The number for December 19th, contains "A general Report of the Roman Catholic missionary labors at Prince of Wales' Island, from 1823 to 1835." It appears that within the last ten years, there have been no less than seven hundred and fifty-nine Chinese converted to the Romish faith, in Penang; and, since June 1830 about eighty more at Battú Kawan, a district in Province Wellesley. It appears also that a female Asylum and a Chinese college have been estab. lished, and some efforts made to send a mission to Pulo Nias. These measures are sanctioned and sustained by the court of Rome and by a Society in France. The Report makes honorable mention of "his excellency, the late Lord Bishop of Siam," who paid Penang a pas. toral visit so far back as 1818; and of the Rev. Messrs. Bouche and Bohet: "the later gentleman is a great acquisition to the Society from his knowledge of the Chinese language, having been a laborer in the Lord's vineyard in China for about five years. His arrival in Penang was a fortunate circumstance, as it was very recently after the departure of the Rev. Mr. Chestan in May 1833, to join his brother laborer the bishop of Corea, who left Penang on his mission to that country in 1832.'

The Malacca Observer and Chinese Chronicle commenced its career in September 1826, and closed it in October 1829. "This was very probably the first newspaper ever published in that vene. rable colony." It was issued once a fortnight at the press attached to the Anglo-Chinese college: the same press from which was published the Indo-Chinese Gleaner. See our second volume, page 186. The conductors of the Observer took a very lively interest in the education of the Chinese. In the number for April 10th, 1827, page 10th, we find the following pertinent remarks:

"The mode of communicating instruction amongst the Chinese is certainly liable to very serious objections. When a boy enters school he must learn to repeat accurately a book called the classic of three characters, so named because every three characters form a complete sentence. After he is sufficiently acquainted with the sound and forms of these characters, he proceeds to the Four Books which are compilations of the sayings of Confucius and Mencius. It is of so much importance in the system that the sounds and forms should be well remembered before any attention is paid to the sense, that learners are compelled to repeat a book three or four times through, before they are taught its meaning. Some allowance ought to be made to this mode of proceeding, since there is nothing in the form of the character to indicate its sound, and it must be learnt entirely from the lips of another; but still there is a great deal too much time sacrificed to sound. Even where the understanding and the judgment are allowed to operate, it is very problematical whether any advantage results from so laborious an exercise of memory ; but if the memory be encouraged to the prejudice of the understanding, consequences the most ruinous to correct education must unavoidably ensue. The comparatively little regard which the Chinese pay to the sense of the authors they profess to teach, in the first instance, is a capital defect in their system. They are not so anxious to fill the mind with ideas as to load the memory with sounds and crowd the imagination with symbols. It is somewhat singular, since the Chinese are reputed for their sagacity in conducting pecuniary

matters, that no provision whatever is made in their schools for teaching the science of numbers; even their swan pwan is not taught the boys, their education comprising writing and reading only. Abstract science of any descriction has little or nothing to do with their education. Is is not that their writings are devoid of abstruse subjects or that their language is incapable of expressing metaphysical ideas, but that they deem it more important to pay attention to things of a practical nature."

Not only

The Observer was ably conducted on liberal principles. the cause of education, and the diffusion of useful knowledge, but the freedom of the press, and the abolition of slavery, were advocated in strong but temperate terms. The strenuous and unshrinking zeal with which the editor exposed the system of slavery-still prevailing in that settlement-" roused the particular resentment of government, which, to effect the suppression of the Observer, had recourse to a system of intimidation and other acts of petty tyranny as utterly contemptible as they were finally effective." The remarks on slavery created some dissatisfaction also among the inhabi a ts of the settle. ment, who were personally interested in the case. Until the establishment of the Canton Register, Dr. Morrison was a constant contributor to the pages of the Observer. His communications consisted chiefly of notices of local occurrences and of extracts from the Peking Gazette. In the number for February 12th, 1828, there are some curious notices of "Chinese students," which we quote.

"In modern times, there have been several in Europe; firstly, Dr. Hager, who perished, we believe, in most unsuccessful efforts to acquire patronage in England and France some twenty years ago. Secondly, Dr. Montucci, a most persevering veteran in Chinese literature, who, after fighting hard with Hager, retired to Prussia, spent his time and property on Chinese types, and projected a Chinese dictionary, till the grave opened to invite him into it; then he abondoned his Chinese enterprise, renounced the dictionary, and sent to England all his materials for sale. Thirdly, M. Rémusat, M. D. of Paris, a scholar and a gentleman, who has edited beautifully some old translations of Chinese classics, new modelled; and has the merit of procuring in Paris a royal chair for a professor of Chinese. Rémusat has half a dozen pupils, whose names we do not know; one of them, S. Julien, has edited, under the patronage of the English banker, H. Drummond, esq. (a most benevolent man, and we hope a devout Christian), the works of Mencius. Fourthly, in Russia, the baron Schilling, patronised by his imperial majesty. Fifthly, the German Klaproth, a devoted literature-monger, who knows the titles and the contents of a great many books, and tries to live by his craft. Sixthly, Morrison, the Chinese lexicographer, a plodding genius, who professes to study utility in his several works. Seventhly, Marshman, the Indo-Chinese gleaner, whose Clavis Sinica and “Lun-ngee" exhibit volubility and copiousness. Eighthly, Davis, of China, known by a nuiscellaneous volume, containing specimens of the Chinese novel, drama, and proverb, neatly printed by Murray, Albemarle street. From this quarter we expect something good, erelong, on Chinese poetry.

"We have omitted some names which ought to have taken precedence, because we apprehend they have abandoned the good cause. We mean sir G. T. Staunton, bart., well known in this department by his translation of the Penal Code of China. Next, Mr. Manning many years resident in China, and a constant student of the Chinese language; but whose lucubrations still remain, it is said, (unwritten) in his own cranium; Chinese would say in his

"belly," where they, very queerly to most people, place the seat of thought There is another name now gone by, the late Dr. Milne, whose works were. miscellaneous. The historial books of Holy Scripture were translated by him, and he wrote very luminously and impressively on moral and religious subjects in Chinese. His tracts remain to substantiate this remark. The late Mr. Ince at Penang, was a very fair Chinese scholar, and Mr. Medhurst in Java is a capital Fuhkeen linguist. In China, we hear, they have some students, whose works have not yet appeared, and therefore we suppress their names. Two or three English are good Chinese scholars. Two Americans have made considerable progress, and one Dutchman is beginning to learn. In Malacca, there are Messrs. Collie and Kidd well versed in Chinese. Mr. Thoms, the printer of Morrison's dictionary, translated a Chinese novel into English; the back of which he labelled "Thoms' Courtship."

The prospectus of an "intended work," to be called the IndoChinese Repository, and to be printed and published by subscription, quarterly, at the Anglo-Chinese college, appeared in the Malacca Observer of November 29th, 1827. The following is the Prospectus.

"Publications of this nature are numerous and possessed of varied interest; it, therefore, seems reasonable to expect when a new one is announced, that it should possess some claims to originality or novelty, if its projectors would secure the approbation and patronage of an intelligent public. Every one who issues the prospectus of a new work doubtless has reasons which satisfy himself, as to the probability of its meeting with a favorable reception, although he may not be able to persuade others to view them exactly in the same light as he does. In choosing subjects for the amusement or instruction of the public, erroneous notions are frequently formed respecting its taste; hence in this as well as other undertakings experiment is the best criterion of merit.

"It is not without feelings of diffidence, accompanied by the conviction of such a work being highly desirable, that proposals are now made for establishing a periodical to be denominated the "Indo-Chinese Repository." The comparatively little information that has yet been obtained respecting the Chinese, notwithstanding the length of time during which Europeans have had intercourse with them, seems in some measure to justify any attempt to increase our acquaintance with that singular and ancient people. It is moreover an avowed object of the college to afford all possible information on the subject of Ultra-Gangetic literature. The Repository will comprise original essays on the language, philosophy, manners, custoins, and general literature of the Indo-Chinese nations, together with such local information as may be deemed new and interesting. It is particularly wished to develope the mind of China, and discover as much as possible the causes of that uniform mode of thinking and acting which the Chinese have adopted from time immemorial, and to which they still pertinaciously adhere in spite of changes and improvements around them. Information of political nature, and of the present system of internal regulations in China, it is hoped, will be from time to time procured, and give additional interest to the work. As this people are possessed of a considerable portion of ancient literature, translations will be given of such pieces of native compostion as appear calculated to interest and gratify the curious, and to assist in investigating the causes of those revolutions which have taken place in the government, and the changes which may in other respects have been experienced.

"It is desirable to ascertain how far their system of political economy is deducible from the mental thraldom in which the mass of the people have been so long enslaved; and what peculiar causes have contributed to that ascendency over the minds of their subjects, which the government at present

possess. The rites and ceremonies of the Chinese, whether civil or religious, public or private, will claim our attentive consideration.

"The projectors of this work will deem it their duty to use all possible means for acquiring information illustrative of the manners, customs, &c., of other countries. The plan embraces the natural and moral phenomena of the kingdoms of Siam, Cochinchina, Japan, &c. It is also wished to investigate the history of the Malays, and collect whatever is interesting or curious respecting them. There is danger indeed of proposing more than may he actually realized; but the prospect of enlarging the establishment under the auspices of which the present periodical is to published, warrant the hope that persons may erelong be employed, who will turn their sole attention to the languages of the countries around us. In the mean time, the utmost endeavors shall be used to oblain assistance from those gentlemen whose situations or opportunities afford them the means of imparting the requisite knowledge. Communications will be thankfully received in any department of oriental literature. Government having evinced a laudable desire to promote inquiry into the intellectual and moral state of neighboring nations, it is hoped a publication of this nature will meet with their encouragement.

"The Repository will contain occasional notices and reviews of such works as seem to bear upon its peculiar object. It will comprise sixty octavo pages closely printed on English paper, price one Spanish dollar. The profits, if any, after the expenses of printing, paper, &c., are defrayed, will be given to the funds of the Anglo-Chinese college. It is intended to commence the periodical as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers is obtained; and to issue the numbers on the first week of January, April, July, and October, respectively. Application may be made to the superintendents of the college, and to the Editor of the Observer, who will furnish subscribers with copies according to their directions, until agents for that purpose be procured."

The intended work never appeared. However, we are induced to hope that the original design of the Indo-Chinese Repository, which was quite like that of the Indo-Chinese Gleaner, will at length be carried into effect. This we are led to expect from the prospectus of a Magazine, to be called the Periodical Miscellany and Juvenile Instructor, which has recently come to hand, and in which we find the first part of that issued in 1827, copied verbatim. The new prospectus is dated Malacca, April 18th, 1836; and, after repeating the first paragraph of the former one, quoted above, thus proceeds:

"It may be affirmed with truth, that there never was an age when so much was doing for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, and for the general good of mankind, as the present: so extensive is the effort to diffuse abroad the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and so various are the plans fraught with benevolence to man, that none, who bears the name of Christian, should remain an uninterested spectator; much less should any one be ignorant of what is doing. And yet there is no little danger of being both uninterested with, and ignorant of, what is doing, unless the mind be frequently brought in contact with the varied objects of importance, which engage the attention of the Christian world. In order to accomplish this purpose, as well as to supply a source of profitable reading and interesting instruction to our little community, proposals are now made for establishing a Magazine to be denominated the Periodical Miscellany and Juvenile Instructor; to contain, among other matter, subjects of the following

nature.