PARENTAL AUTHORITY.

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Chinese, ignorant as they must be of the science of political economy, and destitute as they are of the knowledge of Christian ethics,-manage to keep such a mass of people in order, and preserve their empire free from encroachment and diminution? In attempting to solve this difficulty, we can not but assign to the Chinese an intimate acquaintance with human nature, and an unusual skill in the application of well-defined principles to the business of life. The secret of their success in political matters is the establishment of the patriarchal system of government, grounded on the basis of filial obligation. The first principle in their moral code, is the duty of children to submit to their parents, and the right of parents to dispose of their children. Having been the instruments of bringing them into the world, and providing for their support and education, parents are considered as entitled to the unreserved respect and submission of their children; while disobedience to parental authority is punished with the severest rigour. From the dependency and inferiority of the infantile state, when this authority is naturally recognised and easily enforced, to the more advanced stages of life, the idea of an almost divine superiority is cherished, and no circumstances can arise in which the child is absolved from unqualified and undisputing obedience to the parent.

This principle forms the basis of their political code also. For though the emperor stands in no natural relation to his people, and is rather cherished by them than contributes to their support, yet he has induced the belief that he is their parent and protector, and as such possessed of unquestionable authority over them. In order to strengthen this assumption, the idea of

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divine right is superadded to that of earthly supremacy. Heaven and earth are considered the parents of all mankind, and the emperor, as the Son of Heaven, is of course next in authority, and reverenced accordingly. Whosoever, therefore, obtains the decree of Heaven, to ascend" the dragon throne," has a sort of mysterious dignity thrown around him; and it is in their opinion as wicked to dispute the authority of the supreme on earth as the supreme in heaven. Both parents and rulers are by the Chinese infinitely exalted above children and subjects, and receive not only homage but adoration. Moral feeling, therefore, carried to an excess, and strengthened by superstitious awe, lead the Chinese without questioning to yield to authority; and this submissive, unresisting spirit is the source of that peace and good order which prevail throughout the empire. Thus to establish, and thus to sanction the most absolute despotism, and to render it subservient to the pacification of a great country, certainly argues a degree of penetration and discernment which does not comport with a barbarous state of society.

We are not here defending the justness of the principle, or maintaining the doctrine, that, because a ruler chooses to call himself the parent of a nation, therefore all his subjects are children, and to be treated as if they were in their nonage; but if it be an object to secure the submission of the populace to a few rulers, we say, that a more convenient and effectual plan could not have been adopted. Grounding the authority on the most readily acknowledged title, that of the parental prerogative; and demanding obedience on the most powerfully constraining principle, that of filial affection; it is not strange, that subjection is attained,