Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 154

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Nater of the Works of Su Tungpo.

Marci.

but in our times every body exercises these functions. The number of magistrates is too large; there are three candidates for one ap- pointment, and all must be maintained from the public treasury. Another error was not equalizing the land tax, so that a deficit in the revenue ensued. In ancient times one tenth of the produce was raised; in Sú's time the regular impost did not amount to so much, and even this was felt a great hardship, because the collectors took so much for their own share. In ancient times trained bands were al- ways maintained, and the people were accustomed to the sound of the bugle and the roll of the gong; but under the present administra- tion the soldiers were disbanded, and the defenses of the country became of no avail. When bands of robbers traversed the land, the few soldiers that were collected in a hurry, ran away without fight- ing. After having dwelt upon the administration in detail, he sums up the whole in a spirited address to his sovereign, (Híving, about 1080,) in which he urges him to strive towards perfection, and to model all his actions according to the bright pattern of the ancients. These essays are perhaps the best in the whole work, and though not free from the charge of pedantic reasoning, still there is very much in them, which is really applicable to all ages.

A collection of prefaces, which Sú wrote at the request of friends, scarcely deserve remark, but it is worthy of notice, that Chinese au- thors endeavor to show their greatest talents in such lucubrations, and to be as unintelligible as the subject will admit.

After the prc- faces comes a volume of descriptive pieces, upon man, manners, temples, idols, rivers, &c.; some would bear translating as specimens of Chinese literature, and we shall perhaps quote a few of them on a future occasion.

Sú's funeral eulogies hold a high place in our estimation. With great facility he collects all the meritorious deeds of his heroes, and places them in a very strong light; he then makes some allusion to the ages long gone by, and traces their resemblance to celebrated personages, concluding with his own panegyrics. These eloquent pieces were not only printed, but also engraven on solid stone, and placed near the tombs of the illustrious dead, that every one might become acquainted with their exploits. Our literary minister more- over composed a great number of inscriptions, for no object was be- neath his notice; and when realities were wanting, he had recourse to poetry, and never failed to clothe his thoughts in beautiful lan- His works contain many sounets in praise of the numerous objects, that struck the statesman's fancy, and as his fame increased

guage.