LINTON, Wn,u2tm JAMES, b. London, 1812; apprenticed to Mr. G. W. Bonner in 1828; was partner in 1842 of Mr. Orrin Smith, the distinguished wood-engraver, and with him was engaged in the first works published in the Illustrated London NeWS. In his younger days he was a zealous chartist, intimate with the Italian, French, and Polish refugees, in whose meetings he took an active part; was deputed by the British workmen to carry to the French provisional government their first congratulatory address; was in 1851 one of the founders of the newspaper, the Leader; became in 1855 the editor and manager of Pen and Pencil; and for several years was a regular contributor to the Nation. He contributed papers to the Westminster 1?eview, Examiner, and Spe,ctator. As an engraver on wood he holds the first rank. He prepared and illustrated The History Wood Engraving; Ihe TVorks of Deceased British Artists; several volumes of The English, Republic. He published also Claribel mut other Poems; Life of Thomas Paine. In 1867 he came to the United States, resided several years in New York, executed many superior works, and removed to New Haven, where he has a large engraving establish ment.
Chinese inaperial commissioner, was b. in 1785 at Hing-hwa, in the province of Fuh-keen, and his Chinese biographers have not failed to find that his birth was attended with supernatural indications of future eminence. Till he reached his 17th year, he assisted his father in his trade of making artificial flowers, and spent his evening,s in studying to qualify himself for the village competitive examinations, at which he succeeded in obtaining successively the degrees analogous to bachelor of arts and master of arts. His ambitious mind, not satisfied with these triumphs, pointed to Pekin as the fitting sphere of his talents, but poverty barred the way. IIappily, how ever, a wealthy friend, who was filled with admiration for Lin-tseh-su's merits and vir tues, invited him to become his son-in-law, and he was now in a position to push his fortune at the capital. He became a doctor of laws and a member of the Haulin college, which latter honor qualified him for the highest official posts. When 30 years of age, he received his first official appointment as censor; and by displaying the same zeal and industry, combined with irreproachable probity, which he had shown'in private life, he gradually rose into the favor of the emperor and his ministers. He was sent to super intend the repairing of the banks of the Yellow river; and on the termination of his mission, two years after, was highly complimented by his sovereign for his diligence and energy, and, as an evidence of imperial favor, was appointed to the post of finan cial commissioner for Kiang-nan, in which province a famine was at that time decimat ing the population. Lin-tseh-su exhausted all his private resources and emoluments in
providing food for the sufferers, and by careful management succeeded in restoring the prosperity of the province. lie was next appointed viceroy of the two provinces of Shen-se and Kan-su, where, as in Kiang-nan he soon gained the affections of the people and the commendations of the emperor. On his reception by the emperor after his return, new titles were showered upon him, and he obtained the signal honor of entering the imperial precincts on horseback. But now his brilliant progress was to be checked. He had long urged upon his sovereign the adoption of stringent measures towards the importers, dealers, and consumers of opium, the bane and scourge of his native land; and on the commencement of difficulties with Great Britain, he was appointed to deal with the growing evil, and, if possible, put a stop to the obnoxious traffic. He arrived at Canton, invested with unlimited authority; but his unwise though well-meant meas ures excited a war with Britain, and brought down upon himself the vengeance of his incensed sovereign. He was banished to the region of Ele, where he employed himself in improving the agriculture of the country, by introducing more scientific methods of cultivation. He was soon recalled, and restored to more than his former honors, and did good service by crushing a rebellion inYun-nan. His health now began to fail, and he obtained permission to retire to his native province; but shortly afterwards, while on his way to attack the Tai-pings, he died, Jan., 1850. His death was the signal for general mourning throughout China, and the emperor ordered a sacrificial prayer to be composed, recording the illustrious deeds of the departed; a signal favor, only conferred upon persons of extraordinary merit and virtue.
Lin.tseh-su, besides thoroughly mastering the statistics and politics of China, devoted much of his time to studying the geography and history of foreign countries, and to private literary study. He is ranked as one of the chief among Chinese poets; and the style, literary merit, and logical order of his public documents form a strange contrast to the usual diffuse, rambling, and incoherent style of Chinese state-papers.