第69章

We perceive a great attempt to organize a society, animated by the principles of love and affection, regulated by those of virtue.The form indeed exists, but under it there is little substance.Hence is generated a mass of apparent contradictions; viewed in one light, we see a great family, wisely and beneficently governed; in the other, a servile herd, crouching beneath the sharp lash of selfish despotism.On the one hand is presented to us a people, among whom doctrines of a very pure morality, of universal benevolence, of devotion to the public good, are inculcated both by reward and precept;among whom learning is held in such esteem as to be the sure, and, in theory at least, almost the only road to honor and authority; among whom the freedom of the press may be said to have been established a thousand years; (38) among whom outward decency and decorum prevail, and security and order are strictly maintained, not by military authority, but by their own good sense quietly submitting to the rule of the civil magistrate.On the other hand we see this same people, in private, abandoned to gross sensuality, to drunkenness and degrading licentiousness; in public, in affairs of trade and traffic, in the business and diplomacy of the state, making their individual advantage their sole practical rule of right and wrong.

Such being the character of this singular people, our principles would give to them a less strength of the effective desire of accumulation than the generality of European nations, but a greater than that of other Asiatics.

This desire is lessened by a propensity to sensual gratifications and selfish feelings, and by a state of society where there is any tiling to endanger the security of future possession.All these produce a tendency to seek the enjoyments of to-day, at the risk of leaving the wants of to-morrow unprovided for.As compared with other than European nations, however, we might expect them to possess no inconsiderable portion of the virtues of prudence and of self-control.The general diffusion of a tincture of learning, and perception of something of the beauty and obligations of moral rectitude, the consequent subjection at all events of the more violent passions, and the great desire to provide for the wants of their families, which the strength of the connexion thus subsisting between parent and child engenders, raise them, in these respects, much above Asiatics in general, We should, therefore, a priori, suppose, that the instruments formed by them must be of orders of quicker return, and embracing a less compass of materials, than those constructed by European nations; but of slower return, and embracing a greater compass of materials, than those to which the strength of the accumulative principle carries the other nations of Asia.All who have written concerning this great empire agree in the statement, that the necessary cost of subsistence is there small, and the wages of labor low.To these two circumstances, determining their state, is to be added a third.The inventive faculty would appear to have been once very active among them; their knowledge of the arts suited to their country is very extended.

Durability is one of the chief qualities, marking a high degree of the effective strength of accumulation.The testimony of travellers ascribes to the instruments formed by the Chinese, a very inferior durability to similar instruments, constructed by Europeans.The houses, we are told, unless of the higher ranks, are in general of unburnt bricks, of clay, or of hurdles plastered with earth; the roofs, of reeds fastened to laths.

We can scarcely conceive more unsubstantial, or temporary fabrics.(39) Their partitions are of paper, requiring to be renewed every year.

A similar observation may be made, concerning their implements of husbandry, and other utensils.They are almost entirely of wood, the metals entering but very sparingly into their construction; consequently they soon wear out, and require frequent renewals.A greater degree of strength in the effective desire of accumulation, would cause them to be constructed of materials requiring a greater present expenditure, but being far more durable.