Some nations pay particular attention to the memory of their ancestors.  The Quojas, a people of Africa, offer sacrifices of rice and wine to their ancestors, before they undertake any considerable action; and the anniversaries of their death are always kept by their families with great solemnity; the king invokes the souls of his father and mother to make trade flourish and the chase succeed.  But the Chinese have distinguished themselves above all other nations, by the veneration in which they hold their ancestors.  Part of the duty, according to the laws of Confucius, which children owe their parents, consists in worshipping them when dead.  They have a solemn and an ordinary worship for this purpose, the former of which is held twice a year with great pomp, and is described as follows by an eye witness:—­The sacrifices were made in a chapel, well adorned, where there were six altars, furnished with censers, tapers, and flowers.  There were three ministers, and behind them two young acolites:  he that officiated was an aged man, and a new Christian.  The three former went with a profound silence, and made frequent genuflexions towards the five altars, pouring out wine; afterwards they drew near to the sixth, and when they came to the foot of the altar, half bowed down, they said their prayers with a low voice.  That being finished, the three ministers went to the altar; the priest took up a vessel full of wine, and drank; then he lifted up the head of a deer, or goat; after which, taking fire from the altar, they lighted a bit of paper, and the minister of ceremonies turning towards the people, said, with a high voice, that he gave them thanks in the name of their ancestors, for having so well honoured them; and in recompense he promised them, on their part, a plentiful harvest, a fruitful issue, good health and long life, and all those advantages which are most pleasing to men.

The Chinese have also in their houses a niche, or hollow place, in which they put the names of their deceased fathers, to which they make prayers and offerings of perfumes and spices at certain periods.

A.V.

* * * * *

THE SELECTOR; AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

HISTORY OF POLAND.

This volume, a goodly octavo, will be peculiarly acceptable at the present season.  It presents a lucid view of Polish history, from the earliest period to the present eventful moment; and, as a passage of immediate interest, we quote the following character of the President of the National Government of Poland: