THE
CHINESE REPOSITORY.
VOL. XI.-MARCH, 1842.-— No. 3.
ART. I. Retrospection, or a Review of public occurrences in China during the last ten years, from January 1st, 1832, to December 31st, 1841. (Continued from page 81.)
SOME of the best informed politicians in India-not to speak of those in Europe and the far west--have been led to see, by the occur- rences of the last year, "that the resources of China, whether for warlike or peaceful undertakings, are far greater than they had anti- cipated;" at the same time they admit, "that the desirableness of bringing this magnificent country within the pale of civilized rela- tions, and of introducing the largest mass of men in the world to the European family, has been inade more evident the more we have been enabled to lift up the veil which has hitherto concealed it from our view. How the expedition is to bring about the result, which we know it is destined to accomplish, cannot be foreseen." The conduct of the shrewd dame of Padua and her suitor (if great things may be compared with small) was not altogether unlike what has been ex- hibited in China.
If she be cursed, it is for policy;
For she 's not froward, but modest as a dove.
Many used to affirm, and some still maintain, that the Chinese go- vernment is just and mild, though weak and timid. At a mere sho of force, it was supposed, that these three hundred and sixty millions would cower, and at once yield everything. The measures pursued by the E. I. Company's supercargoes in China, were varied in cha- racter almost as much as were those of the Gentleman of Verona. Sometimes they frowned; sometimes they flattered; "French and German liqueurs," says Mr. Davis in his new book. "were among
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