CAPTAIN CUNYNGHAME'S RECOLLECTIONS OF SERVICE.

CAPTAIN CUNYNGHAME sailed as Aide-de-camp to Lord SAL- TOUN, with the additional forces sent from England against the Chinese at the latter end of 1841. After a voyage of more than seven months, in which the vessel touched at Rio Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, Java, and Sincapore, the reinforcements arrived in the Yellow River in time to allow the Aide-de-camp to assist in the closing operations which compelled the Emperor to grant our demands. When the little fighting and long talks were over, and the first instalment of the money paid, which Sir HENRY POTTINGER received as proofs of sincerity, Captain CUNYNGIIAME, in company with the Admiral and Lord SALTOUN, visited the Spanish possession of Manilla ; where they were feted in no ordi- nary degree, and made various excursions through the island. Leaving the hospitable Spaniards, they reached Calcutta ; whence Captain CUNYNGHAME came home by steam, of course rid Egypt. In regard to the war itself no novelty was to be expected, nor does Captain CUNYNGHAME aim at furnishing any ; which, con- sidering his limited opportunities of observing it, is judicious. He merely professes to record what fell within his own observation, and struck him as worthy of noting from the impression it made upon his own mind. This unambitious plan, however, has enabled him to present additional traits of the results of war ; which indicate its hardening process, the manner in which it tends to destroy all delicate principle, and the oppression that will be exercised and the miseries that must be inflicted upon the peaceful inhabitants, let the intentions of the belligerents and the orders of the superior officers be what they may. Captain CUNINGHAME, too, we think, brings a different description of mind to observe the Chinese com- pared with even the best of his predecessors. He has not the varied accomplishments or acquirements of Captain Lour, at least he does not display them. Neither has he the engineering and military science by which Lieutenant OUCIITERLONY was enabled to impart precision, and something like principles, to his descrip- tions of war. But the Aide-de-camp possesses a more economical or cultivator's eye to examine the country, and a somewhat higher tone of opinion to consider the results of war upon non-belligerents, though without at all considering them too curiously. China, or its war, however, is by no means the sole subject of An Aide- de-camp's Recollections. The Philippine Islands have been so rarely visited, especially by a voyager with Captain CUNYNGHAME'S opportunities, that the ground is almost new ; and the social and other sketches at Manilla have sonic of the freshness possessed by a fresh subject, in the hospitality of every one, the liberal virtues of the rather lax Padres, the Governor and other friends of Esran- TER° anxious for their places, (now, alas! gone,) and the natural wonders of the country.

But the attraction of the volumes mainly consists in the indivi- dual character of the writer; which enables him to impart an in- terest to common things, and to vary his pages by anecdotes and stories, that differently told would be flat or forced. As he ap- pears in his book, he is what is called a " pleasant companion." The Aide-de-camp has the straightforward frankness of a soldier, and the allowance for habits different from our own, which the "here and everywhere" nature of military service inspires, toge- ther with touches of the "good-fellow" spirit, and the lively manner that accompanies these qualities. They are all tempered, however, in the case of Captain CUNYNGHAME, by a gentlemanly feeling, which prevents any display of the free-and-easy style that taints many naval and military writers. He has also, as we have intimated, a more thoughtful and considerate mode of viewing pro- fessional doings, which in itself argues some native independence of mind, or study and reflection enough to emancipate one from the influence of daily habit.

It will be seen from the account of the Recollections, that they embrace a sailing-voyage to and a steam-voyage from the East, a visit to the Indian Archipelago, with notices of China and Manilla. Each of these sections has its points, but we shall limit our extracts to China and Manilla. The following, if not the only, is the best description we have met with of a

CHINESE JUNK.

This huge box (I cannot bring myself to call it by any other name) was far the most extraordinary thing of the kind I had ever seen. Although, after being constantly accustomed to see them, the novelty soon nears off, yet the first impression cannot fail to be that of wonder how any people could dream of navigating the trackless ocean in this huge coffin. She must have far exceeded 500 tons burden, according to a rough calculation which by eyesight alone we made of her. The upper part of her poop was at least as high as that of a seventy-four, with curious staircases and passages communicating to the diffe- rent portions of the, ship, more after the fashion of a house; her mast was a magnificent spar elever. feet in circumference, and of piodigious height ; her cables, composed of coir, made from the outer covering of the cocoa-nut, for durability and lightness unequalled ; and her wooden anchors, although primitive in their construction, would, I doubt not, have answered perfectly well in any but a rocky bottom, which is scarcely ever to be met with on the coasts or har- bours they are accustomed to anchor in. Ber sides were painted with a rude imitation of ports; and, what with her numberless flags and streamers, her huge unwieldy mat-sails, her gigantic rudder, and antediluvian-looking crew, she presented a novel and striking sight ; but certainly she could in no way merit the term of "walking the waters like a thing of life."

CHINESE CULTIVATION AND IMPLEMENTS.

We passed the batteries which had so recently been the scene of such dread- ful slaughter, and, stemming a strong current, proceeded rapidly up the river. The country through which it wound its way was a perfect fiat as far as the eye could reach, and in as high a state of cultivation as the market.gardens around London; small farm-houses stood in every direction, neatly encircled with flower-gardens, the whole presenting a perfect picture of wealth, fertility, industry, and comfort: and when we were informed—a cir- cumstance we had every reason to believe perfectly true—that the same state of things existed not only throughout the whole ot this but of all the neigh- bouring provinces, any one of which, as regards extent, would make a hand- some kingdom for an European potentate, some slight idea may be formed of the endless internal agricultural wealth of the Chinese empire, and the little concern the Emperor of this mighty country has been accustomed to bestow on foreign nations, their commerce, trade, or anything else concerning them. Nu- merous implements of agriculture, which we supposed only to be known to the most scientific and bighly.instructed European nations, were discovered in great numbers, and in constant use among them, from the plough and common harrow to the winnow and thrashing-machine, with which scarcely any farm- house, however small, was unprorided. Added to which, for the purpose of irri- gation, scarcely any considerable field that did not possess its chain-pump, for the purpose of irrigating their crops by drawing water from the lower levels, with comparatively small labour to themselves; from which models I have not the least doubt those at present in use in our navy or merchantmen were taken..

LEVYING BLACK MAIL.

Great lenity was invariably shown towards the inhabitants of the different towns which we occupied ; strict orders being given by the heads of departments, not to molest or interfere with the people in any way, and by no means to de- spoil them of anything they had in their possession. Some of the soldiers were, however, far better financiers than their chiefs imagined ; and being placed as

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sentries at the different gates of the towns, politely requested—and, t is need- less to add, were seldom refused—a sum of money from every Chinese who passed through. In times of alarm, this species of black mail amounted to a considerable sum, it being almost impossible, when discovered, to make the people themselves understand that this tax was not levied by authority. Upon one occasion, an officer of very high rank was stepping through the gate as this impost was being levied, and in the hurry and confusion of presenting arms, the sentry let his whole bag fall to the ground. An inquiry was immediately made into the circumstance ; and, upon examination of his purse, it was dis- covered that, although the man had only been at this post half-an-hour, no less a sum than forty dollars was found in it : clearly showing what a good harvest he had reaped from the financial speculation which he had undertaken.

THE PUZZLE OF TRUTH.

Truth is by no means so highly looked up to on this side of the globe as it is on the other. For instance, when it was reported to the Emperor that her Bri- tannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary had publicly stated his intention of proceed- ing to the North with the army, his Imperial Majesty set it down as positively certain that we were all about to decamp home ; remarking, sagely enough as he thought, that the very act of our making no secret of our intention of proceeding to the North, was a sure sign we intended to take the opposite

course.

The civilized adornment of the wig has often created surprise and alarm among the unenlightened; but the following is about the best story of the kind, from the professional character of the artist, and his certainty of the previous condition of the head.

THE MIRACLE OF THE WIG.

In some instances they looked upon us as gods, in some as devils, in all as a very extraordinary race. As an instance of this, I will hers relate a most absurd story which was told me by an officer at Nankin, and which will go far to show the fear with which we were looked upon by this superstitious race. After my friend had visited the Porcelain Tower, being somewhat fatigued, he stepped into a barber's shop, and, by way of employing his time, he desired the barber to shave his head. This gentleman wore a wig, but which, for the sake of coolness, he had placed in his pocket : this operation of shaving, so common in China, was speedily and quickly executed, the barber seeming to be de- lighted with the honour of shaving one of the illustrious strangers. Previously to his leaving the shop, and while the man's attention was called in some other direction, my friend replaced his wig upon his head, little thinking of the result. of this simple process : no sooner, -however, had the barber turned round and observed him, whom he had so lately cleared of every vestige of hair, suddenly covered with a most luxuriant growth, than taking one steady gaze at him, to make sure he was not deceived, he let fall the razor, cleared his counter at a bound, and running madly through the crowd which was speedily collected, cried out, that he was Visited by the Devil. No entreaties could induce him to return, until every Fanqui had left the neighbourhood; so palpable a miracle as this being, in his opinion, quite beyond the powers of all the gods or demons in the Bhuddist calendar.

CHINESE CARICATURES.

I must not omit to mention our having accidentally stumbled upon the shop ot a native caricaturist, who had been depicting, for the benefit of his more dis- tant countrymen, various representations of the red-bristled barbarians. Poor fellow, on being discovered he was struck dumb with consternation, expecting at least a sound bambooing for the liberty he had taken witL our figures and habits; when, much to his surprise and that of the bystanders, we not only laughed immoderately at his productions, but retaining possession of his whole stock, paid him handsomely for the same. I am sorry to be obliged to confess that some of them struck home, freely representing both services as no enemies to the bottle.

I had afterwards an opportunity of seeing many very talented caricatures ; for when the artiste found their productions no longer gave offence, they did not scruple to exhibit them. Among the most amusing, and by no means untrue to character, was that of a certain General in the early portion of the expedition, in the act of himself bargaining for a fowl ; his eagerness to obtain the fowl, and, moreover, at his own price being depicted with such spirit and truth as would have done justice to the pencil of the far-famed "1111" himself.

THE CAPTAINS PROOF OF CHINESE CIVILIZATION.

No higher proof, perhaps, may be adduced of the high state of civilization to which they have arrived, than that the military profession, so far from being considered the most honourable, is, with the exception of their priesthood, considered the lowest : the first station in society being given to men of letters, the second to merchants, and the last to the paid military defenders of their country.

COMMERCE AT HONG-KONG.

The harbour at Hong-kong was generally very crowded with Chinese native craft. The gayest and most highly decorated boats which arrived at our port were those which brought from Canton a mercantile commodity very commonly trafficked in by the Chinese. These were young ladies, who were bent upon the speculation of marriage; being brought from the exuberant population of the interior towns to supply this deficiency among the numerous settlers who had come from the continent to our new colony, so many of every trade and occupation having already flocked in vast numbers to the island. These beat, arrived with drums and gongs beating, and colours flying, generally coming to an anchor immediately under my own window : tea-tables were soon arranged ; and the young ladies, from twenty to forty in number, arrayed in their smartest iscl.tets and trousers, might be seen endeavouring to bewitch those visiters who flock to the boats. I was informed that the price, generally speaking, averaged from one hundred to two hundred dollars : the greater portion of which money was transferred to the mother of the young lady, a due proportion being charged for the expenses attendant upon the voyage, together with commission, &c. upon the bargain. I have known instances of some of the natives of India becoming purchasers; but in that case, they would obtain solely the refuse of the community. Upon one occasion, a hitmutgar or table-servant, a native of Bengal, complained to me, and entreated my interference, stating that he had intrusted a friend of his own, who had gone to Macao, with one hundred dol- lar., all his savings., for the purpose of buying him a nice comely wife ; but when she arrived, she by no means answered the description given of her, being too short and too old, and by no means a hundred-dollar wife, but not more than a thirty dollar one ; when, much to his grief as well as surprise, he only got laughed at by me for his pains.

MANILLA WEAVING.

The natives may be reckoned as industrious, perhaps more so, than are gene- rally seen within the Tropics. The manufacture, for which they are so famous, of cigar-cases, and hats of a peculiar grass, has long been known and deservedly prized at Lome. The most intricate tartan plaid they will imitate with a faith- fulness and dexterity truly surprising; and those who have received no instruc- tion whatever in letters will work a name or a figure with these differently-co- loured straws without the smallest deviation from any given pattern. We were, however, unprepared to meet among these rude people, a fabric which as much surpasses in its texture the finest French cambric as the latter does the common- est piece of Manchester cotton-cloth. This latter is called pina, pronounced pinia ; being made from the finest fibres of the pine, beaten out, combed, and wove with a delicacy that it is impossible to rival, possessing at the same time an incredible durability. Its colour is white, slightly tinged with blue. Many months prior to our arrival, the Great Parsee merchant of Bombay, who had lately been ho- noured by knighthood, Sir Jamsetgee Jegetboy, had directed an entire dress to be sent home, in order that he might present her Britannic Majesty with some- thing that might be considered worthy the acceptance of his Queen. We were fortunate enough to see it, just prior to its departure. The order had been for one large dress, and two or three small ones for the Prince and Princess, with an injunction from the munificent donor, that three thousand dollars' worth of labour should be expended upon it. I was assured by the merchant who undertook to execute it, that between thirty and forty women were employed for nine months, working the entire day, upon the tambour : and from the specimen we then saw, as also from having minutely watched their subsequent labour, I arm not inclined the least to doubt the truth of what he told me, however exaggerated it may appear. Moreover, to insure the due attendance of the fair dancellas of the needle, it had been customary to incarcerate a considerable portion of them every even- ing in a species of honourable confinement, being unable to trust to the pro- mises of their returning to such severe labour in the morning. It may not, however, be improbable but that some of toy readers have been, ere this, grati- fied with a sight of the dress itself; in which case, they may have the satis- faction of knowing that they have seen the handsomest as well as the most ex- pensive ever worked in Manilla, perhaps in the world. The handkerchiefs cost sixty dollars each ; a curious circumstance, where, in this cheap country, a whole family can live well for three or four dollars a month.

IMPORTANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

There are few foreign colonies more coveted by our neighbours on the other side the Channel than the Philippine group; not so much from the fertility of the soil or the commercial value of the country, as the ability which they, or any powerful European nation, would thereby have of raising a considerable army, accustomed to a Tropical climate; without which description of force any aggression which might be contemplated either against our possessions in the East, those of the Dutch, or even of the Malays, but more especially any war against the Celestial Empire, must of necessity prove abortive, not so much from the lack of physical force, or from the enormous expense which would be required to fit out an expedition, entirely composed of Europeans, as from the certainty of the dreadful ravages of disease, which those so totally uncli- matized would of necessity fall a sacrifice to. Although we can have no wish to increase our already overgrown colonies, yet it behoves us to keep a watch- ful eye over the Philippines, lest they should glide from the hands of their pre- sent innocuous holders, into those of any of our crafty or powerful neighbours of the Western hemisphere, to whom their possession might engender ideas at variance with the peace of the whole world. I do not hesitate in stating, that should any well-organized country assume the reins of government, with plenty of money to enforce their wishes, an army of 100,000 men might be collected in less than aix months, composed of the flower of the peasantry : and so intel- ligent are these people, that I believe, from what I have already seen of their troops, they might be brought into the field well-disciplined and fit for service *considerably under a year.

It should be observed that Captain CIINTNGHIME wields the pencil as well as the pen ; and his illustrations often give life and distinctness to the text, where pictured representation is required to present the reality.