LITERATURE IN ENGLAND. 401 China; and that on the continent of Europe, at the French and German universities, this branch of oriental learning has been cultivated much longer and under more favourable auspices than in England; since facilities for disposing of translations and original essays through the medium of the press, and for securing literary patronage, have always been far superior on the continent, where there has been but little direct communication with China, than in England, which has for centuries had more extensive intercourse with the Chinese than any other nation. Without minute specification of the causes that have obstructed the free culture of the oriental languages in England, the chief one is the absorbing influence of commercial enterprize; and still it is surprising that while the East India Company have long directly promoted the study of Indian languages in England, they should not have pursued a similar course with respect to the Chinese during their administration of the affairs of British commerce in China. The sphere of influence there, compared with that of India, it is true, was extremely limited; but as gentlemen who studied Chinese for their own pleasure, after their arrival in the country, found such acquisitions attended with great advantage in their official character, it may be fairly inferred, that the public service would have been promoted by a similar institution, though on a smaller scale, to that of Haileybury College. But as the trade of China has been transferred to the British people, under the immediate direction of the government, they have now a positive interest in promoting mutual esteem, and laying the basis of amicable intercourse between the two countries, by encouraging the cultivation of their language, and thus giving an opportunity to those who 402 CULTIVATION OF CHINESE are to be the future representatives of the British nation in China, not only to acquaint themselves with its general laws and customs, but to acquire the ability of communicating with its subjects in their own tongue. There can be no doubt that this object would be greatly promoted if the government were to make it a condition, on the appointment of their servants to China, that they should acquire the language to an extent sufficient to render future progress both easy and attractive, and to encourage, by its patronage, the general cultivation of Chinese literature; as the entire trade is now thrown open to the public, the small pecuniary aid required would be amply repaid by the benefits derivable to themselves from the freer communication such measures would be likely to establish between China and England. Still, I confess, I would much rather that the liberality, the learning, and the benevolent aid, of the British people, were called forth for the avowed purpose of encouraging the study of an important branch of general philology, and of oriental philosophy, than for the mere object of subserving the growth of political power and commercial influence. It is difficult for individuals, who before success can crown their efforts have to create a taste for an unpopular subject, to be sustained from private resources with sufficient energy in the prosecution of their incipient labours, until they have achieved the desired success. But if once the aid of the British government were afforded, there is much to animate the student of the languages of the further East, which extend over an immense field but little cultivated; and, according to the indications of Divine Providence, are soon to be still more widely opened to European researches. In this sphere, also, the object to be aimed at by the LITERATURE IN ENGLAND. 403 scholar should be two-fold: that of acquiring oriental knowledge, in order effectually to communicate in the native languages the superior systems of the west; all which, to be eminently successful in a moral point of view, must be founded on the grand principles of Divine Revelation. THE END. |