Dalai Lama of Thana was nominally his superior. It is now, it appears, time for the Tashu Lama to receive his re-incarnation, and the Indian Government, as the representative of Warren Hastings, has sent Mr. Macaulay to enquire about the re-appearance of Warren Hastings' old friend. Mr. Macaulay's mission has been very successful both because the Thibetans are gratified by this natural anxiety on the part of the governor of Bengal; and further because, it appears, they generally believe, that our Queen Victoria is the incarnation of Tasa, the Goddess of Wisdom, who is the tutelary deity of the Lamas, and they are therefore pleased that she should want to know all about one of her protégés. Thus by a supposed acquiescence in the superstitions of the heathen, we hope to open a new and valuable outlet for our Manchester goods." THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE POPE. It would seem from an article in The Spectator; that Mgr. Freppel's motive for supporting the French Government, is to afford protection to Roman Catholic converts in Indo-China, "who are now murdered every ten years four or five thousand at a time." "It appears," says the London and China Express, "that the Holy Father has not been at all pleased with the patriotic escapade of Monsignor Freppel in the discussion on the Tong King Credits, the vivacious prelate declaring, as he did, that in the question between France and China party feelings ought to be laid aside, and all Frenchmen should have but one object in view-viz., the glory of France-forgetting that in his quality of a prelate of the Church of Rome his duty was to preach peace and not war. It appears that the Archbishop of Paris has been requested by the Vatican to recommend to Monsignor Freppel not to forget that there is such a thing as Christian charity." Dur Book Table. The China Review for November | talists should provide the funds for and December, is a bulky pamph- a railway from Peking to Canton, let of 112 pages. The principal for 'the railway must be the knife articles are "The Ningpo Dialect" to open this Chinese oyster.' The by E. H. Parker, and "A Sketch question whether John Bull will of Formosa" by A. R. Colquhoun be allowed by his crowned and and J. H. Stewart Lockhart. Mr. titled compeers, to open, suck, and Parker's paper is a very elaborate swallow this Chinese oyster without comparison of the sounds used in interference, is not alluded to either Ningpo with those used in other by Mr. Louttit or Mr. Colquhoun, Dialects. His philological deduc- nor do they trouble themselves tions are yet to come, but he is much to consider whether the oyster endeavoring to supply facts for the will approve of, or benefit by, the final determination of China's true operation. The whole purport of place in philology. There are com- the book is intensely practical, and paratively few who can follow him the spirit which it breathes is in testing his facts, and in generaliz- strictly commercial. ** Seeing how ing from them; but what is needed intensely practical Mr. Louttit is, is facts, and we are glad that our one would hardly expect any cant contemporary has the courage to from him. But when he talks of the give the space for their publication. 'reciprocal' relations of commerce The article on Formosa is a very with a third of the human race long and valuable summary regard- being worthy of the efforts of statesing that little known island, and it men, of 'the hopes of the extension is not inappropriately supplemented of commerce and the blessings of by a second article on the "Life peace in China,' and of 'victories in of Koxinga." The notice of Mr. the interests of peace,' whilst the Colquhoun's letter on "The Open- whole world is only his oyster, and ing of China" mentioned in our last whilst he knows perfectly well that number is the spiciest page of the the opening of China will cost number. Referring to the Introduc- streams of blood before it is effected, tion, it says: "Mr Louttit plainly and that the consequent influx of will expose states that, when he interests him- foreign civilization self in the opening of China, in its China to the risk of internal demopresent condition and future pros- ralization and political disintegrapects, he simply looks upon China tion, he ought to know, that he is as an oyster specially provided by simply talking cant." Such writing a kind providence for John Bull's is refreshing, and it could be wished delectation. At present, however, that we might have more such the oyster is not opened. Mr. exposures of the intense selfishness Louttit and Mr. Colquhoun are cer- of much which is daily appearing tain about it, and the main point on these shores, in the interests of of the book and the raison d'etre of 'trade' or 'commerce,' and which Mr. Louttit's chaperonship is, to is totally oblivious to higher inurge that English traders should terests, and to the rights of others open China,' and that English capi- beside the foreign trader. Editorial Notes and Missionary News. Editorial. The tone of much that finds expression in our newspapers these days, regarding the Franco-Chinese war, is certainly not of the most elevated or disinterested character. We need not make quotations, but almost any day's reading will supply them. The increasing peril to foreign commercial interests must be recognized with unfeigned solicitude; but no amount of such disaster makes it proper to ignore the moral questions involved, or justifies the wish that, right or wrong, France may triumph, and so end the difficulties. Such selfish oblivion to the deeper questions involved, can only result in final injury to those exercising it. We are sorry to see even our Temperance Weekly, in one short paragraph (inadvertently we must hope) casting a fling at believers in the Second Advent of our Lord, and expressing the hope that the French will hasten the war to an end, lest the interest of foreign trade be ruined! China may not be wholly right, nor is she entirely wrong, and whatever the supposed interests of western commerce, nothing but mischief, even to commerce, will be the outcome of any essential injustice done to China. These things cannot be too frequently repeated in the face of tendencies to feeling that material interests alone are at stake, and that it matters little how immorally material prosperity may be secured. However much we may fear that China would misuse any permanent success in this struggle, let us hope that nothing but the strictest justice will be meted out to her. This will be far less dangerous to the ultimate interests of commerce, or of any western enterprise in China, than the temporary triumph of the least injustice towards her. MISSIONS AND SCIENCE. are or The Church Missionary Intelligencer and Record for December, 1884, has a leading article of great value, from the celebrated linguist Robert Cust, on 'Missions and Science." Coming as it does from a layman, his high estimate of the contributions made by missionaries to scientific information, is peculiarly noteworthy. His statements calm and critical, as well as appreciative. He deprecates the "spread-eagleism" which detracts rather than enhances some statements made regarding missionary usefulness in contributing to Geographical Science; while he puts a high value on what they have done in this department, from Livingstone down. Missionary contributions to the Science of Geology he pronounces not numerous important. While, in Meteorology, he thinks missionary assistance might be much more secured than it is. Mr. Cust does not rate high the contributions of missionaries on Natural History, lacking, as it generally does, "that accurate knowledge and detail which are now requisite." He expresses surprise that some American Missionaries are zealous ornithologists, naturalists, and conchologists, and says: "I begin to doubt whether it is wise to yield to the fascination of inquiries so wholly alien from the work of teaching the Gospel. For twenty-five years I had to roll up one or two particular talents in a napkin, and I should recommend faithful missionaries, who have a single eye to their blessed vocation, to place away such talents, if they have them. I should not think highly of them, if I came upon them in the act of stuffing birds, or transfixing butterflies." While we are glad to receive this warning from so good a friend, we shrewdly suspect that among the talents he himself laid away, was not a turn for Natural History! In Archæology he acknowledges that missionaries have done much, especially in the discovery of the Nestorian Monument of Singan-fu, the Moabite Stone, and the Hittite Inscriptions. But it is in Philology that he recognizes "the imposing results of the work of the missionary in its own legitimate field." "So great a subject can only be handled collectively, treating the missionaries of all societies as one body. When this is done, it can safely be stated that no Government, no secular association, and no University, have done one tithe towards extending our knowledge of the living languages of the world, that Christian missionaries have done, without hope of profit or distinction or personal advantage, but simply in the legitimate and simple-minded desire to render possible the work of evangelization. Scientific bodies, and scholars in their studies, must be dead to all sense of feeling, if they do not rise from their chairs, and gratefully thank the missionary, the Society, and that wonderful missionary feeling which is the life of all living Churches, as each wonderful grammar and vocabulary finds its way to their library." In General Literature, the work of the missionaries is so voluminous, that anything like a catalogue is out of the question. "In many cases, they have first reduced the vehicle of thought to literary fitness, and then illustrated the newlydeveloped power by a copious, useful, and popular literature, which indeed is one of the marvels of the age. **It has been well said that, in measuring the extent and power of the agencies at work, it is not sufficient to count the missionaries and the schools; the prolific outcome of the missionpresses, scattering broadcast portions of the Scriptures, and a miscellaneous religious, semi-religious, and healthy, secular literature, is a factor in the great world-revival." In matters relating to Religious Beliefs, Mr. Cust thinks the statements of missionaries" err on the side of intolerance, from the absence of philosophic impartiality." In General Philanthropy, "missionaries have not been found wanting to resist their white brethren in their attempts to injure morally or physically the people committed to their charge." He concludes by saying: "An all-round study of Mission Work does indeed make us free-thinkers, but in the best and highest sense of that often misapplied phrase. We know that the word and the work of the great Creator must be in harmony, though we cannot always, through the weakness of our intelligence, reconcile them. ** True Science is the hand-maid of true Religion, and will never raise her hand against her mistress, if each keeps itself in its proper sphere, and revolves in its own orbit. They are not antagonistic, but co-ordinate powers, illustrating, and illustrated by each other." The Evangelical Alliance of Shanghai, some weeks since, sent a letter to the Protestant Missionaries at Canton, expressive of sympathy, and have received a response, saying, that pecuniary aid is not at present needed for native Christians, but suggesting that representations be made by others, similar to those they themselves have made, through their respective Consuls, to the Ministers at Peking, regarding the Persecutions of Christians-a hint that will no doubt be acted upon by missionaries in various parts of China. One of our Consular friends, who has much difficulty with letters falling into his hand for missionaries in the interior, intimates that it would be a great help if the letters bore upon them intimations as to the Consular District to which they should go, that is, in general, the Treaty Port from which they should be sent on their interior destination. Missionaries might be notified, he suggests, in the Recorder, that it would be a kindness, not only to themselves, but to the Post Office, if they would direct their correspondents to address their letters in this way, giving not only the final destination of the letter, but the Treaty Port to which it should first be sent. We learn from a member of The China Inland Mission, recently arrived, that the seventy new laborers which that Society began to pray for about two years ago, having been secured, they are now praying for seven hundred more, and already there are over one hundred names on the list as candidates. The Rev. J. A. B. Cook, of The English Presbyterian Church, Singapore, desires to draw the attention of those "who would be glad to help us in our efforts to help those who are helping themselves.' The objects are two-fold, as we quote from his circular: Objects-1. The erection at Johor Bahru of a Chapel, or suitable building for preaching, and Native Catechist's house, on the site kindly granted by H. H. the Maharajah of Johor and Muar. There are some 100,000 Chinese in Johor territory, and no Mission at work among them except the Roman Catholic. "2. The purchase of a site on the Serangoon Road, on which to erect a Native Chapel, for the use of the Pongul Congregation, which has been entirely self-supporting during the two years of its separate existence. The Native brethren are prepared, according to their ability, to contribute towards a building, and already have a small sum on hand for this purpose; but, they must look to us to help them in their laudable efforts, as they are yet but few in number, and all of them poor, small gardeners or coolies. The properties are all to be vested in the Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church of England." The Rev. C. R. Mills, D.D., writes from Tungchow, February 9, 1885: "Last Friday evening two men of scholarship and approved Christian character, graduated from the College here. They each made addresses, which were alike creditable to their heads and hearts. One of them made a very neat and appropriate valedictory address. Dr. Mateer presented to the young men the beautiful silk scroll, which takes the place of the diploma in our Western Colleges; at the same time giving the young men a noble charge. They are both expecting to enter on Christian work in teaching, one in Chefoo and one in connexion with the American Board's Mission in Toong Chü. They both purpose entering the ministry eventually. An interesting feature of the evening, was an address to the students from one of the earliest graduates of the Institution, Mr. Tso Li Wěn. "He charged his young friends to set before themselves the same high standard which the College proposes, reminded them of the pressing need for men of knowledge and character, in the transition period to a better civilization, which surely will come, and may come soon in this land; most of all he charged them as Christian men to gladly devote themselves to the advancement of Christ's cause in China. It was really a most excellent practical address. On the following day the winter term of the College closed. The whole week had been occupied with examinations. These examinations covered the work of the year. They included most of the sciences taught in Western Colleges, the Chinese Classics, and a number of Christian books. At the examination in Natural Philosophy two of the sons of General Li, the chief |