same as the Shin of the Chinese, which according to this vocabulary, means spirit. Thus "Than, spiritus; Thanh than, sanctus spiritus; Qui than, dæmon. Thay vi, sedes spiritus tutelaris." This is elsewhere expressed by "Than vi than chu, sedes animæ ; tabella superstitiosa." and is doubtless the Shin choo, or parental tablet of the Chinese. Via is said to be "spiritus animalis; spiratio." In this we see another proof, from an independent source, that Than or Shin means spirit, because it is synonymous with vi or via, the Chinese ek'he, which means spiritus animalis; and in this as well as in the Thanh than, Holy Spirit, we perceive a striking resemblance to the Entouri Entouringue of the Manchow Dictionary.

Kitto, in commenting on the word Spirit, says, It is one of the most generic terms in either the English, Hebrew, or Greek languages. Its leading significations in Scripture may be classed under the following heads. 1. The primary sense of the term is wind. 2. Breath, as of the mouth. 3. The vital principle which resides in and animates the body. In close connection with this use of the word is another, 4. In which it has the sense of apparition; spectre. 5. The soul; the rational, immortal principle, by which man is distinguished from the brute creation. 6. The race of superhuman created intelligences; such beings are denominated spiritua! beings, because they have no bod es like ours. To both the holy and sinning angels the term is applied. In their original constitution their natures were alike pure spirits. The apostacy occasioned no change in the nature of the fallen angels, as spiritual beings. 7. The term is applied to the Deity, as the sole, absolute, and uncreated spirit; as "God is a spirit." This, as a predicate, belongs to the Divine nature, irrespective of the distinction of persons in that nature; but its characteristic application is to the third person in the Divinity, who is called the Holy Spirit, because of his essential holiness, and the Spirit, by way of eminence." We know of no term in Chinese which more exactly suits the above definitions, with the exception of the two first, than Shin; and if its correlative K'he, with which it is often used interchangeably, and by which it is explained, be taken into the account, then all the definitions of spirit given by Kitto, may be included within the range over which the Chinese terms used to represent spirit extended. So also with regard to the 21 definitions of spirit given by Webster, the word Shin in Chinese will agree with almost the whole of them, shewing that those have not mistaken its meaning who have represented it by that term. Indeed there is no other term in western languages that will suit the various shades of meaning

attached to Shin in Chinese, and certainly in no language with which Europeans are familiar can the word God be shown to be of so extensive a signification as Shin. Seeing than that Shin cannot be rendered by God in a vast number of instances, and may in almost every case be expressed by spirit, we conclude that Spirit and not God is the proper meaning of the term.

ART. II. Translations of official documents, relating to the late consular proceedings of Mr. Alcock, H. B. M.'s consul at Shanghái, with notes thereon, &c.

MENTION was made, in a previous number, of the deputation, from the British consul at Shanghái, to the governor-general at the Old Southern capital, Nanking. We now subjoin a translation of a document from the governor-general, to whom that deputation was sent. No. 1.

"Li grand guardian of the heir apparent of the Great Pure Dynasty, president of the Board of War, and governor-general of the Two Kiáng, hereby gives this communication.

"On the 27th day of the 2d nonth (March 31st) Mr. Vice-consul Robertson and Mr. Interpreter Parkes arrived at the provincial city; and I the governor-general immediately received them, with due formalities, to an interview; at which they delivered into my hands a dispatch, informing me that in consequence of Dr. Medhurst and others having been beaten and wounded by sailors at Tsing pú, and after a long time the offenders not having been arrested and brought to trial, that therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaties, this dispatch was sent, setting forth the particulars, &c. &c.

"On examination of this case, I find that, when the táutái (Hienling) made his report to this office regarding this matter, I immediately, in conjunction with Luh the governor of Kiángsú, appointed and deputed 1', the acting commissioner of justice, and Wú an intendant in waiting, to proceed in great haste and lead on and direct the magistrate of Tsing pú, and other officers to take the principal and secondary criminals, many of them already arrested, and deliver them over to the authorities at Shanghai to be faithfully examined and punished according to law. By this time they will have completed their commission. But whether the said tautai, in managing this affair, has erred and failed in his duty or not, I have dispatched Fu the commissioner of finance of Kiangning, and Chun a tautai in waiting, and directed them to proceed by land to Shanghai, and there, in concert with the aforesaid officers I and Wu, to make an investigation, and arrange and settle the affair; and thus show our purpose to afford security and protec. tion to the foreigners.

By managing in this way, the duties on the foreign shipping will be duly paid as heretofore, the grain junks will quietly move out to sea, and the extent of territory for the excursion of the English will be secured to them in conformity with the limits originally fixed. Thus both nations, by their respective observance of the Regulations, will maintain the provisions of the Treaty of perpetual peace.

"Thus, as it behooves me, I forward this dispatch for your information, hoping it may reach you accordingly."

(Taukwáng 28th year, 2d month, 29th day) Nanking, April 2d, 1848.

The above dispatch was, we presume, addressed to the British consul at Shanghái; and was probably brought down by the viceconsul on his return from Nanking.

The next document we have to give is a joint communication from the governor-general and governor, and was issued for the purpose of removing from the táutáiship, or office of intendant, one incumbent and placing therein another to act in his stead.

No. 2.

La grand guardian of the heir apparent president of the board of War, and governor-general, &c. &c. and “Luh, vice-president of the Board of War and governor of the province of Kiangsu, hereby jointly make this communication for the purpose of appointing temporarily an intendant (tautai) for the management of public business.

"WHEREAS Hienling, the intendant of the departments of Súchau, Sungkiáng, and Táitsang, has erred and failed in the performance of his duties, therefore he is to leave the same. Thus the office is left without an in

cumbent.

"Now we have ascertained that the intendant Wu, who is waiting for an appointment, is worthy of being temporarily entrusted with the management of the duties of the said office. It is right for us, therefore, with dispatch to appoint him to the said office, which we accordingly hereby do.

"When this communication reaches the said intendant Wu, let him at once obey and take the temporary management of the duties of the office. Let him also after having entered thereon at once make due report to us thereof for our examination. Oppose not a special communication.

"To Wu, by imperial appointment an intendant in waiting, and clothed with the title of salt inspector.”

This dispatch, as it has fallen into our hands, is without date, but we presume that our copy has been made from the original. The next document we know is authentic, at least the translation was made from a paper bearing the impress of the seals of the táutái. It will be seen that the duties of his office are of a mixed nature.

No. 3.

“ Wú, military intendant of the departments of Suchau, Sungkiáng, and Taitsing in the province of Kiangsu, and Superintendent of the customs, hereby &c., &c., the date of his receiving this office.

announces to the

"WHEREAS I have been appointed by the governor-general, &c. &c., to act in the office of military intendant in the departments of Súchau, Sungkiáng and Taitsáng, and also to superintend the (foreign) intercourse and maritine customs; I accordingly on the 4th day of the 3d month (April 7th) of this year-the former intendant (Hienling) having on said day delivered over to me by the hands of a deputy the seals of office-did on that very day receive the same and enter on the duties of the office.

"And accordingly it is right and my bounden duty to have this communicated to you,that hereafter you may transact your

official business with me."

These three are the only documents we have seen relating to the change of the incumbent in the táutái's office. There have been, for several days, various rumors: that the Tartar general of Nánking has sent up a remonstrance against the governor-general Lí, for receiving the English deputation with so much honor; that the governor-general and the governor have both been degraded; and that the imperial commissioner, Kiying, would visit Shánghái. This he has not done, and probably will not do. Early in the month Hienling and the magistrate of Tsingpú were summoned to proceed, "with fire dispatch," to Nanking, which they did. And it has been reported in Shanghái, ou good authority, that his majesty the emperor has sent down his reply, to the memorial from Nanking reporting for approbation the temporary appointment of Wu to act as tautai, &c. We subjoin, as No. 4., in this series of documents, the emperor's reply.

No. 4.

知道

"WE KNOW IT."

This brief edict will very soon, in the ordinary course of cabinet business be followed by another, giving further directions regard. ing this matter. In the mean time, Wú, alias "Mr. Samqua," is doing his best to fulfill satisfactorily the duties of his new post. The two chief sources of solicitude with him must be first to secure protection to the foreign residents, and then to extend this same protection to the native sea-going craft. During the first month he was in office, only four cases of piracy were reported to him, whereas— during the twelve immediately preceding months, there had been reported more than two hundred.

From all that we have heard and seen, we think there is reason for believing, without hesitation, that the late consular proceedings are being followed by most salutary results-that their effect has been to inspire in the minds of both the officers and the people a

wholesome respect" for British rule-and that, in consequence thereof, greater security and more freedom are now enjoyed by the foreign residents than at any other time since the opening of the port in 1842. It is said, at the time we write this-May 15ththat one half of the foreign residents of Shanghai are in the country-some gone in one direction and some in another--to the hills, to the green tea country, to the banks of the Yangtsz kiang, &c., & c. Among those who have been out, or are now absent, are mentioned the names of at least three of the foreign consuls. The enjoyment of this security and freedom is as it ought to be. In this season of the year, when many of the residents have abundance of leisure, free exercise in the open country-beyond the nuisances of the city, is not only a most rational recreation, but it is highly essential and necessary for the preservation of health. Such restrictions as have, almost from time immemorial, been submitted to in Canton, are alike unnatural and unwholesomne, and withal wholly incompatible with the spirit of the age. It is strange, and much to be regretted, we think, that Sir Henry Pottinger and the other plenipotentiaries in China, when negotiating treaties of peace with the Chinese government, ever condescended to recognize such restrictions. As they have now, alas! the sanction of the treaties, they must be tolerated-but we hope only until there may be opportunity to renew those treaties.

ART. III. Colonial Surgeon's Report for 1847. From the China Mail, May 25th, 1848.

TABLE NO. 1-An abstract of Sickness and Death among the Police, their Wives and Children, and Prisoners, in the Island of Hongkong, during the year

year

Total No. of Police and Prisoners who Died during the year,