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chief of the literati of China. After having passed through three public examinations with honour, a select few are again tried, in order to their admission into this college. All matters which respect literature, and many which regard politics, are referred to this board, while the principal officers of state are chosen from among its members. Every individual in the empire is eligible to this distinction, and every scholar looks forward to it, as the consummation of all his wishes.

The laws of China are numerous, minute, and circumstantial, and give the best idea of the character of the people, and their advance in civilization, which could possibly be furnished. The present dynasty have published three works on law. The first contains the general laws of the empire, an elegant translation of which has been furnished by Sir G. Staunton. The next contains the bye laws, or particular regulations for each department of government; and the third is the work already alluded to, viz. "a collection of statutes for the present dynasty." As the general laws of China are best known, it may be well just to allude to them, as illustrative of the genius of the people from whom they emanate. The following testimony in their favour is by a writer in the " Edinburgh Review."

"When," says he, "we turn from the ravings of the Zend Avesta, or the Puranas, to the tone of sense and business of the Chinese collection, we seem to be passing from darkness to light; from the drivellings of dotage, to the exercise of an improved understanding; and redundant and minute as these laws are, in many particulars, we scarcely know any eastern code, that is at once so copious and so consistent, or that is nearly so free from intricacy, bigotry, and fiction. In every thing relating to political freedom, or individual independence, it is indeed wholly defective; but for the repression of

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