1842.
Notice of the Works of Su Tungpo.
139
There are also a number of his private letters, divested of much of the peculiar slang with which these productions in Chinese begin and end, containing much solid information upon the state of affairs dur- ing his administration. An address to the inspector of salt is really worthy of perusal, and proves how stationary China has remained for the last seven centuries. If the minister should rise again at the present moment, and re-pen his letters to the same department, his remarks would be as applicable now as they were then. What changes has not the West undergone since the eleventh century, and how rapid and irresistible have they been, whilst generation upon generation has passed away in the Central empire, and one horde of foreigners after the other have obtained sovereign sway over the realm, but still it has for the most part remained what it was. Sú Tungpo however apprehended changes, and therefore adhered closely to the old regime. Though possessing great foresight, he was mis- taken in this particular, for though the victories of the barbarians brought a large portion of the empire under their sway, they never succeeded in changing the customs, but were on the contrary obliged to adopt them, in order to conciliate the goodwill of the conquered. The reason is found in the rudeness of the 'Tartars, who had to learn the arts of civilized life, and had nothing of their own to benefit the conquered. Hence the facility with which they yielded to their su- periors in every useful science, and amalgamated with thein after a few generations.
On turning to the essays, the first which attracts attention is one on musical bands. Now the ancients had an idea, that the fiercer passions of man, which remained after his civilization, could only be subdued by ceremonies and music. This latter art therefore held a high rank in the estimation of government, and was carefully promot- ed. But like many things in this world, it has not always answered the purpose for which it was invented, and its sweet harmony has in vain reechoed in the ears of the hearers. They have still remained rude, and up to the present day the shrill notes of the tabret and fise, with the peals of the gong, soften few hearts and seldom restrain the boisterous passions
Sú Tungpo is the only Chinese author we have yet met, who uses fables to convey instruction. His best essay in this species of writ- ing, is the piece entitled the Raven, in which there is considerable wit and humor, but the comparisons are rather farfetched. Our au- thor has likewise attempted to write the life of Sz'má Tsien the histo- rian, and what he says respecting his style and his other qualities is