lowing problem: "A country-woman having gone to market to sell her chickens, met with a cook, who bought the half of what she had, and the half of one more, without killing any of them; she then sold to a second cook that half of those remaining, and half a chicken more, also without killing any; afterwards the half of the remainder and half a chicken more to a third cook, still without killing any. By these means the country-woman sold all her chickens: how many had she?
(To be concluded in our next.)
CHINESE IMPERIAL EDICT.
It is well known that the Romans seldom employed generals who had been once unfortunate, and the Carthaginians usually punished them without enquiring whether the misfortunes which happened to them arose from ignorance, misconduct or cowardice. Undoubtedly, the public opinion has completely settled the degree of estimation in which some of our generals concerned in a recent event ought to be held, but we think that "those to whom it belongs" may receive a lesson of no slight importance from the conduct of the Chinese government, upon an occasion which might also justify our saying—"Mutato nomine de te fabula naratur." We shall therefore make no apology for laying before our readers an extract from the Pekin gazette, 5th and 6th of the 14th moon, or 28th and 29th of April, 1800.
IMPERIAL EDICT.
Whereas in the preceding year, Quay-lung, when at court, and in our presence, very earnestly requested that a command might be given him to fight against the rebels, as (having formerly been employed in the province of Se-chuen) he possessed much local knowledge and experience in that part of the country, and boasted very much of his capacity of overcoming and subduing the rebellion.
Though we placed little confidence in these extravagant assurances, yet as we were at that time in want of an officer properly qualifed to fill the vacant vice-royalty of Se-chuen, we granted to him the temporary possesion of that office. At first he discharged the duties of his office with some show of ability; and latterly, if he had found himself really imcompetent to the task of carrying on the war, he ought to have given up the command of the army to the general Ge-le-teng-pa-o, or have given us timely notice to appoint some other officer to that service. On the contrary, after intimitation had been received of the passage of the rebels across the boundaries of Se-chuan and Kanloo, he remained eight days with the army in inaction at the city of Kia-lin-kiang, and committed considerable damage. Quay-lung then ordered a detachment to proceed against them under the command of an inferior officer, and did not himself take the field, but remained with the rest of the army at Tachew. The detachment not being followed up or supported by
