Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 178

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A Chinese Chrestomathy

MARCH,

the present principal, we hope to see the college soon flourishing and Chinese learning revived. Whether there be any other Europeans at Malacca, besides Dr. Legge, engaged in the study of Chinese, we do not know; nor have we the least acquaintance with, or knowledge of, any of the students who have left the college-excepting that one, who, on his return to China, was appointed many years ago to be in- terpreter at the court of Peking. This man, who reads Latin and English equally bad-being barely able to gain the general import of what is plain and easy--has been on a visit at Canton during the last four years; but the recent disturbances northward have o sioned his recall. He left Canton sometime during the last 1. .A. It was said that he would probably be retained by Yiking, the im- perial commissioner in Chekiảng. Shaute, (for this is the name by which the man of whom we have been writing is best known to foreigners,) when at Peking, used to be employed in carrying on communication with the Russians resident there; and it is not im- probable that his services inay now be required for the same purpose. At Singapore, a seminary of learning was projected by sir Stamford Raffles, soon after that place became a British settlement; and the cultivation of Chinese literature was to be one of its principal objects. It was not, however, until within a very few years that the "Singa- pore Institution Free School," came into operation. It has published, we believe, seven annual reports the last being that for the year 1840-41. These reports, most of which are noticed in our pages, show that the school is flourishing and doing good; on the score of Chi- nese learning, however, it seems not to have accomplished very much; and in this respect we wish there might be a change in the institu- tion, and the teaching of the Chinese language made more promi- nent. Not long since, his excellency sir Henry Pottinger sent to the British resident at Singapore for interpreters, to join the expedition in China. We fear the number of eligible candidates, at Singapore, Malacca, Penang, and Calcutta-and at all of those places inquiries are to be made-will not be large; nor do we expect that any who may be obtained will possess very distinguished qualifications for their office. As Christian missionaries, a large number of foreigners have studied the Chinese language at Singapore; but the number at present there is small, the Rev. Messrs. Tracy, Wood and Orr being now in America, and the Rev. Messrs. Ball and McBryde in Macao, leaving, so far as we know, only the Rev. J. Stronach and Dr. burn now there, engaged in this study.

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