EXPENDITURE OF THE EMPIRE. 411 Public Expenditure. Pay to the Civilians, Police, and Military Army and Navy (one-fourth consists in Officers of the supreme government at Post establishment and relays for public Taels. 7,087,198 4,505,512 668,377 fund, to meet any emergency Stipends to scholars, expenditure at the examinations, &c. 293,806 For benevolent purposes, such as donations to the aged and Gratuities to distinguished men, pensions, For sundry grants to priests and national poor Rice and other articles in kind. 4,864,800 Allowances made to children, the aged, infirm, and poor, amongst the Mantchoos For religious establishments at the Llama temples, the sacri 401,669 991,845 fices at the Imperial tombs,&c. 344,574 Imperial manufactures to pro vide the court with articles of luxury Taels. 27,044,150 201,809 12,000,000 Paid into the imperial treasury for the sovereign's private use, about (This sum is not specified, but is merely estimated.) Total Taels 57,908,648 [Equal to about £16,826,000 sterling.] DEFICIT IN REVENUE FOR 1847. 418 Deficit in the Revenue during 1847. In land-tax In duties. In the gabelle In sundries In kind, 1,173,068 shih, equivalent to Total revenue of Ho-nan expended to suc- Taels. 662,181 476,898 889,712 299,790 2,346,136 3,209,708 500,000 While going through the press, and after the first volume was printed, we obtained the return of the revenue of the colony of Hong-Kong, for the year 1848, which, although this is not the place where it ought to have been inserted, we think may not inaptly be introduced here, and accordingly it is subjoined for the information of our readers. Total revenue of the colony of Hong Kong, for the year 1848. Expenditure for the same period, exclusive of public works, roads, bridges, and the purchase of a court-house Which leaves a deficiency of £25,091 As there is no prospect of any immediate increase of revenue, and as there does not appear to be any available means, of extracting additional income from the already over-taxed inhabitants, we presume a considerable reduction of expenditure will become indispensably necessary. ESTIMATED POPULATION. 415 CHAPTER XV. Population of China-Canton-National virtue-Maxims inculcating the practice of filial duty-National character and vices-Fatalism of the Chinesc-Anecdote-National character displayed during the War— Diseases prevalent in China among the natives. THERE are considerable differences of opinion relative to the population of China, the estimated number of souls, varying from three hundred to three hundred and sixty-five millions; and Mr. Montgomery Martin giving four hundred millions, as the probable number of the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire; it is quite certain, that be the correct number which it may, there is no portion of the globe so densely populated, as this part of the world. The population of Canton alone, is computed by some at eighty-four thousand, by others at one million two hundred and thirty-six thousand; and when we take into consideration the vast multitude, who reside upon the river at Canton, the numbers who dwell in each boat, and the dense manner in which these floating domiciles are congregated on the water, the immense population resident within the city walls, and its environs; one abode amongst the lower and poorer classes being frequently inhabited by three and four |