A
514
in the inland districts
of
the vast Empire, where few or no Europeans have
penetrated, - are still said
to cherish the old belief that
the Chinese
are superior
A Chinese gentleman,
who was educated in England,
in answer to a question of
mine, remarked that
the Chinese generally know
that there was a person, some
two thousand years ago, who
was known to all the
reach
of
the world,
and that the Nations
of their ancestors
had a Civil
system of polity; had
instituted a
and rebellious tributaries
to their Emperor, "the Son and
Vicar of Heaven". A short
time ago,
I chanced to have
a conversation on this
recondite system of jurisprudence
and philosophy; had built Cities; had founded
a great and extensive trade; and had
made considerable progress
with a very intelligent
Chinese