cular occasions.

solved to outdo her in unkindness; they use white their assemblies; and thousands might be found powder, blue powder, and black powder, for their ready to offer up their lives for the sound, though hair, and a red powder for the face on some parti- perhaps not one of all the number understands its meaning. The lowest mechanic, however, looks They like to have the face of various colours, as upon it as his duty to be a watchful guardian of among the Tartars of Koreki, frequently sticking his country's freedom, and often uses a language on, with spittle, little black patches on every part that might seem haughty, even in the mouth of the of it, except on the tip of the nose, which I have great emperor, who traces his ancestry to the never seen with a patch. You'll have a better idea moon. of their manner of placing these spots, when I have A few days ago, passing by one of their prisons, finished the map of an English face patched up to I could not avoid stopping, in order to listen to a the fashion, which shall shortly be sent to increase dialogue which I thought might afford me some your curious collection of paintings, medals, and entertainment. The conversation was carried on between a debtor through the grate of his prison, a

monsters.

But what surprises more than all the rest is what porter, who had stopped to rest his burden, and a I have just now been credibly informed by one of soldier at the window. The subject was upon a this country. "Most ladies here," says he, "have threatened invasion from France, and each seemed two faces; one face to sleep in, and another to show extremely anxious to rescue his country from the in company: the first is generally reserved for the impending danger. "For my part," cries the husband and family at home; the other put on to prisoner, "the greatest of my apprehensions is for please strangers abroad: the family face is often in- our freedom; if the French should conquer, what different enough, but the out-door one looks some-would become of English liberty? My dear thing better; this is always made at the toilet, friends, Liberty is the Englishman's prerogawhere the looking-glass and toad-eater sit in coun- tive; we must preserve that at the expense of our cil, and settle the complexion of the day." lives; of that the French shall never deprive us ; I can't ascertain the truth of this remark; how-it is not to be expected that men who are slaves ever, it is actually certain, that they wear more themselves would preserve our freedom should clothes within doors than without; and I have seen they happen to conquer."-" Ay, slaves," cries the a lady, who seemed to shudder at a breeze in her porter, "they are all slaves, fit only to carry burdens, own apartment, appear half naked in the streets. every one of them. Before I would stoop to slaveFarewell. ry, may this be my poison (and he held the goblet in his hand), may this be my poison-but I would sooner list for a soldier."

LETTER IV.

To the same.

The soldier, taking the goblet from his friend, with much awe fervently cried out, "It is not so much our liberties as our religion, that would sufTHE English seem as silent as the Japanese, yet fer by such a change: ay, our religion, my lads. vainer than the inhabitants of Siam. Upon my May the devil sink me into flames (such was the arrival, I attributed that reserve to modesty, which solemnity of his adjuration), if the French should I now find has its origin in pride. Condescend to come over, but our religion would be utterly unaddress them first, and you are sure of their ac-done." So saying, instead of a libation, he applied quaintance; stoop to flattery, and you conciliate the goblet to his lips, and confirmed his sentiments their friendship and esteem. They bear hunger, with a ceremony of the most persevering devocold, fatigue, and all the miseries of life without tion. shrinking; danger only calls forth their fortitude; they even exult in calamity; but contempt is what they can not bear. An Englishman fears contempt more than death; he often flies to death as a refuge from its pressure; and dies when he fancies the world has ceased to esteem him.

In short, every man here pretends to be a politician; even the fair sex are sometimes found to mix the severity of national altercation with the blandishments of love, and often become conquerors, by more weapons of destruction than their eyes.

This universal passion for politics, is gratified by Pride seems the source not only of their nation- daily gazettes, as with us at China. But as in ours al vices, but of their national virtues also. An the emperor endeavours to instruct his people, in Englishman is taught to love his king as his friend, theirs, the people endeavour to instruct the adminbut to acknowledge no other master than the laws istration. You must not, however, imagine, that which himself has contributed to enact. He de- they who compile these papers have any actual spises those nations, who, that one may be free, knowledge of the politics, or the government of a are all content to be slaves; who first lift a tyrant state; they only collect their materials from the into terror, and then shrink under his power as if oracle of some coffee-house; which oracle has himdelegated from Heaven. Liberty is echoed in all self gathered them the night before from a beau at

a gaming-table, who has pillaged his knowledge perity, the contending powers of Europe properly from a great man's porter, who has had his infor- balanced, desires also to know the precise value of mation from the great man's gentleman, who has every weight in either scale. To gratify this curiinvented the whole story for his own amusement osity, a leaf of political instruction is served up the night preceding. every morning with tea: when our politician has

The English, in general, seem fonder of gaining feasted upon this, he repairs to a coffee-house, in the esteem than the love of those they converse order to ruminate upon what he has read, and inwith. This gives a formality to their amusements; crease his collection; from thence he proceeds to their gayest conversations have something too wise the ordinary, inquires what news, and, treasuring for innocent relaxation: though in company you up every acquisition there, hunts about all the are seldom disgusted with the absurdity of a fool, evening in quest of more, and carefully adds it to you are seldom lifted into rapture by those strokes the rest. Thus at night he retires home, full of of vivacity, which give instant, though not perma- the important advices of the day: when lo! awaking nent pleasure. next morning, he finds the instructions of yeterday What they want, however, in gaiety, they make a collection of absurdity or palpable falsehood. up in politeness. You smile at hearing me praise This one would think a mortifying repulse in the the English for their politeness; you who have pursuit of wisdom; yet our politician, no way disheard very different accounts from the missionaries couraged, hunts on, in order to collect fresh maat Pekin, who have seen such a different behaviour terials, and in order to be again disappointed. in their merchants and seamen at home. But I I have often admired the commercial spirit which must still repeat it, the English seem more polite prevails over Europe; have been surprised to see than any of their neighbours: their great art in this them carry on a traffic with productions that an respect lies in endeavouring, while they oblige, to Asiatic stranger would deem entirely useless. It lessen the force of the favour. Other countries are is a proverb in China, that a European suffers not fond of obliging a stranger; but seem desirous that even his spittle to be lost; the maxim, however, is he should be sensible of the obligation. The Eng- not sufficiently strong, since they sell even their lish confer their kindness with an appearance of lies to great advantage. Every nation drives a indifference, and give away benefits with an air as considerable trade in this commodity with their if they despised them. neighbours.

and stars

Walking a few days ago between an English An English dealer in this way, for instance, has and a Frenchman into the suburbs of the city, we only to ascend to his workhouse, and manufacture were overtaken by a heavy shower of rain. I was a turbulent speech, averred to be spoken in the unprepared; but they had each large coats, which senate; or a report supposed to be dropped at court; defended them from what seemed to be a perfect a piece of scandal that strikes at a popular mandainundation. The Englishman, seeing me shrink rine; or a secret treaty between two neighbouring from the weather, accosted me thus: "Psha, man, powers. When finished, these goods are baled up, what dost shrink at? here, take this coat; I don't and consigned to a factor abroad, who sends in rewant it; I find it no way useful to me; I had as turn too battles, three sieges, and a shrewd letter lief be without it." The Frenchman began to filled with dashes blanks show his politeness in turn. "My dear friend," **** of great importance. cries he, "why won't you oblige me by making use Thus you perceive, that a single gazette is the of my coat? you see how well it defends me from joint manufacture of Europe; and he who would the rain; I should not choose to part with it to peruse it with a philosophical eye, might perceive others, but to such a friend as you I could even in every paragraph something characteristic of the part with my skin to do him service." nation to which it belongs. A map does not exFrom such minute instances as these, most reve- hibit a more distinct view of the boundaries and rend Fum Hoam, I am sensible your sagacity will situation of every country, than its news does a collect instruction. The volume of nature is the picture of the genius and the morals of its inhabibook of knowledge; and he becomes most wise, tants. The superstition and erroneous delicacy of who makes the most judicious selection. Fare- Italy, the formality of Spain, the cruelty of Portuwell.

LETTER V.

To the same.

gal, the fears of Austria, the confidence of Prussia, the levity of France, the avarice of Holland, the pride of England, the absurdity of Ireland, and the national partiality of Scotland, are all conspicuous in every page.

But, perhaps, you may find more satisfaction in I HAVE already informed you of the singular a real newspaper, than in my description of one; I passion of this nation for politics. An English- therefore send a specimen, which may serve to ex man not satisfied with finding, by his own pros- hibit the manner of their being written, and dis

tinguish the characters of the various nations which attempt deserved to extirminate half the nation, yet are united in its composition. he has been graciously pleased to spare the lives

NAPLES.-We have lately dug up here a curious of his subjects, and not above five hundred have Etruscan monument, broke in two in the raising. been broke upon the wheel, or otherwise executed, The characters are scarce visible; but Lugosi, the upon this horrid occasion. learned antiquary, supposes it to have been erected | VIENNA. We have received certain advices that in honour of Picus, a Latin King, as one of the a party of twenty thousand Austrians, having atlines may be plainly distinguished to begin with a tacked a much superior body of Prussians, put them P. It is hoped this discovery will produce some-all to flight, and took the rest prisoners of war. thing valuable, as the literati of our twelve acade- BERLIN.-We have received certain advices that mies are deeply engaged in the disquisition. a party of twenty thousand Prussians, having atPISA. Since Father Fudgi, prior of St. Gil- tacked a much superior body of Austrians, put bert's, has gone to reside at Rome, no miracles have them to flight, and took a great number of prisoners, been performed at the shrine of St. Gilbert: the with their military chest, cannon, and baggage. devout begin to grow uneasy, and some begin actually to fear that St. Gilbert has forsaken them with the reverend father.

Though we have not succeeded this campaign to our wishes, yet, when we think of him who commands us, we rest in security: while we sleep, our

LUCCA. The administrators of our serene re-king is watchful for our safety. public have frequent conferences upon the part they shall take in the present commotions of Europe. Some are for sending a body of their troops, consisting of one company of foot and six horsemen, to make a diversion in favour of the empressqueen; others are as strenuous assertors of the Prussian interest: what turn these debates may take, time only can discover. However, certain it s, we shall be able to bring into the field, at the opening of the next campaign, seventy-five armed men, a commander-in-chief, and two drummers of great experience.

PARIS.-We shall soon strike a signal blow. We have seventeen flat-bottomed boats at Havre. The people are in excellent spirits, and our ministers make no difficulty in raising the supplies.

We are all undone; the people are discontented to the last degree; the ministers are obliged to have recourse to the most rigorous methods to raise the expenses of the war.

Our distresses are great; but Madame Pompadour continues to supply our king, who is now growing old, with a fresh lady every night. His health, thank Heaven, is still pretty well; nor is he SPAIN. Yesterday the new king showed him- in the least unfit, as was reported, for any kind of self to his subjects, and, after having staid half an royal exercitation. He was so frightened at the hour in his balcony, retired to the royal apartment. affair of Damien, that his physicians were appreThe night concluded on this extraordinary occasion hensive lest his reason should suffer; but that with illuminations, and other demonstrations of joy. wretch's tortures soon composed the kingly terThe queen is more beautiful than the rising sun, rors of his breast. and reckoned one of the first wits in Europe; she had a glorious opportunity of displaying the readiness of her invention and her skill in repartee, lately at court. The Duke of Lerma coming up to her with a low bow and a smile, and presenting subscription on foot among the nobility and gentry a nosegay set with diamonds, Madam, cries he, I of this kingdom, who are great patrons of merit, in am your most obedient humble servant. Oh, sir, order to assist Black and All Black in his contest replies the queen, without any prompter, or the with the Padderen mare. least hesitation, I'm very proud of the very great honour you do me. Upon which she made a low courtesy, and all the courtiers fell a-laughing at the readiness and the smartness of her reply.

ENGLAND.-Wanted an usher to an academy. N. B. He must be able to read, dress hair, and must have had the small-pox.

DUBLIN. We hear that there is a benevolent

We hear from Germany that Prince Ferdinand has gained a complete victory, and taken twelve kettle-drums, five standards, and four wagons of ammunition, prisoners of war.

LISBON.-Yesterday we had an auto da fe, at which were burned three young women, accused of heresy, one of them of exquisite beauty; two Jews, and an old woman, convicted of being a Carrickfergus. Farewell.

EDINBURGH.-We are positive when we say that Saunders M'Gregor, who was lately executed for horse-stealing, is not a Scotchman, but born in

witch: one of the friars, who attended this last, re

ports, that he saw the devil fly out of her at the

LETTER VI.

stake in the shape of a flame of fire. The popu-Fum Hoam, First President of the Ceremonial Academny at lace behaved on this occasion with great good humour, joy, and sincere devotion.

Our merciful Sovereign has been for some time past recovered of his fright: though, so atrocios an

Pekin, to Lien Chi Altangi, the Discontented Wanderer; by the way of Moscow.

WHETHER sporting on the flowery banks of the river Irtis, or scaling the steepy mountains of

Douchenour; whether traversing the black deserts surrounding friends, and your master's esteem, it of Kobi, or giving lessons of politeness to the savage has reduced thee to want, persecution, and, still inhabitants of Europe; in whatever country, what- worse, to our mighty monarch's displeasure. Want ever climate, and whatever circumstances, all hail! of prudence is too frequently the want of virtue; May Tien, the Universal Soul, take you under his protection, and inspire you with a superior portion of himself!

How long, my friend, shall an enthusiasm for knowledge continue to obstruct your happiness, and tear you from all the connexions that make life pleasing? How long will you continue to rove from climate to climate, circled by thousands, and yet without a friend, feeling all the inconveniencies of a crowd, and all the anxiety of being alone?

nor is there on earth a more powerful advocate for vice than poverty. As I shall endeavour to guard thee from the one, so guard thyself from the other; and still think of me with affection and esteem. Farewell.

LETTER VII.

From Lien Chi Altangi to Fum Hoam, first President of the
Ceremonial Academy at Pekin, in China.*

I know you reply, that the refined pleasure of growing every day wiser, is a sufficient recompense A WIFE, a daughter, carried into captivity to exfor every inconvenience. I know you will talk of piate my offence; a son, scarce yet arrived at mathe vulgar satisfaction of soliciting happiness from turity, resolving to encounter every danger in the sensual enjoyment only; and probably enlarge up-pious pursuit of one who has undone him—these on the exquisite raptures of sentimental bliss. Yet, indeed are circumstances of distress: though my believe me, friend, you are deceived; all our pleas- tears were more precious than the gem of Golconures, though seemingly never so remote from sense, da, yet would they fall upon such an occasion. derive their origin from some one of the senses. But I submit to the stroke of Heaven: I hold the The most exquisite demonstration in mathematics, volume of Confucius in my hand, and, as I read, or the most pleasing disquisition in metaphysics, if it does not ultimately tend to increase some sensual feel sorrow, says he, but not sink under its oppres grow humble, and patient, and wise. We should satisfaction, is delightful only to fools, or to mension. The heart of a wise man should resemble a who have by long habit contracted a false idea of mirror, which reflects every object without being pleasure; and he who separates sensual and senti sullied by any. The wheel of fortune turns inmental enjoyments, seeking happiness from mind cessantly round; and who can say within himself, alone, is in fact as wretched as the naked inhabitant I shall to-day be uppermost? We should hold the of the forest, who places all happiness in the first, immutable mean that lies between insensibility and regardless of the latter. There are two extremes anguish; our attempts should not be to extinguish in this respect: the savage, who swallows down the nature, but to repress it; not to stand unmoved at draught of pleasure without staying to reflect on distress, but endeavour to turn every disaster to our his happiness; and the sage, who passeth the cup own advantage. Our greatest glory is, not in never while he reflects on the conveniencies of drink- falling, but in rising every time we fall. ing.

I fancy myself at present, O thou reverend disIt is with a heart full of sorrow, my dear Altan- ciple of Tao, more than a match for all that can gi, that I must inform you, that what the world happen. The chief business of my life has been calls happiness must now be yours no longer. Our to procure wisdom, and the chief object of that great emperor's displeasure at your leaving China, wisdom was to be happy. My attendance on your contrary to the rules of our government, and the lectures, my conferences with the missionaries of immemorial custom of the empire, has produced the Europe, and all my subsequent adventures upon most terrible effects. Your wife, daughter, and the rest of your family, have been seized by his quitting China, were calculated to increase the sphere of my happiness, not my curiosity. Let order, and appropriated to his use; all, except European travellers cross seas and deserts merely your son, are now the peculiar property of him who to measure the height of a mountain, to describe possesses all: him I have hidden from the officers the cataract of a river, or tell the commodities which employed for this purpose; and even at the hazard every country may produce; merchants or geograof my life I have concealed him. The youth seems phers, perhaps, may find profit by such discoveries; obstinately bent on finding you out, wherever you but what advantage can accrue to a philosopher are; he is determined to face every danger that op- from such accounts, who is desirous of understandposes his pursuit. Though yet but fifteen, all his ing the human heart, who seeks to know the men father's virtues and obstinacy sparkle in his eyes, and mark him as one destined to no mediocrity of fortune.

You see my dearest friend, what imprudence has brought thee to: from opulence, a tender family,

⚫ The editor thinks proper to acquaint the reader, that the greatest part of the following letter seems to him to be little more than a rhapsody of sentences borrowed from Confucius, the Chinese philosopher.

of every country, who desires to discover those dif- time I shall find them more opulent, more chari ferences which result from climate, religion, edu- table, and more hospitable, than I at first imagined. cation, prejudice, and partiality? I begin to learn somewhat of their manners and

men;

I should think my time very ill bestowed, were customs, and to see reasons for several deviations the only fruits of any adventures to consist in being which they make from us, from whom all other able to tell, that a tradesman of London lives in a nations derive their politeness, as well as their house three times as high as that of our great Em-original. peror; that the ladies wear longer clothes than the In spite of taste, in spite of prejudice, I now be that the priests are dressed in colours which gin to think their women tolerable. I can now we are taught to detest; and that their soldiers look on a languishing blue eye without disgust, and wear scarlet, which is with us the symbol of peace pardon a set of teeth, even though whiter than and innocence. How many travellers are there ivory. I now begin to fancy there is no universal who confine their relations to such minute and use-standard for beauty. The truth is, the manners less particulars! For one who enters into the ge- of the ladies in this city are so very open, and so nius of those nations with whom he has conversed; vastly engaging, that I am inclined to pass over the who discloses their morals, their opinions, the ideas more glaring defects of their persons, since comwhich they entertain of religious worship, the in- pensated by the more solid, yet latent beauties of trigues of their ministers, and their skill in sciences; the mind. What though they want black teeth, there are twenty who only mention some idle par- or are deprived of the allurements of feet no bigger ticulars, which can be of no real use to a true phi-than their thumbs, yet still they have souls, my losopher. All their remarks tend neither to make friend; such souls, so free, so pressing, so hospithemselves nor others more happy; they no way table, and so engaging. I have received more incontribute to control their passions, to bear adver- vitations in the streets of London from the sex in sity, to inspire true virtue, or raise a detestation of one night, than I have met with at Pekin in twelve vice. revolutions of the moon.

Men may be very learned, and yet very miser- Every evening, as I return home from my usual able; it is easy to be a deep geometrician, or a sub- solitary excursions, I am met by several of those lime astronomer, but very difficult to be a good well-disposed daughters of hospitality, at different man. I esteem, therefore, the traveller who in- times, and in different streets, richly dressed, and structs the heart, but despise him who only indul- with minds not less noble than their appearance. ges the imagination. A man who leaves home to You know that nature has indulged me with a mend himself and others, is a philosopher; but he person by no means agreeable; yet are they too who goes from country to country, guided by the generous to object to my homely appearance; they blind impulse of curiosity, is only a vagabond. feel no repugnance at my broad face and flat nose; From Zerdusht down to him of Tyanea, I honour they perceive me to be a stranger, and that alone all those great names who endeavour to unite the is a sufficient recommendation. They even seem world by their travels: such men grew wiser as to think it their duty to do the honours of the counwell as better, the farther they departed from home, try by every act of complaisance in their power. and seemed like rivers, whose streams are not only One takes me under the arm, and in a manner increased, but refined, as they travel from their forces me along; another catches me round the

source.

For my own part, my greatest glory is, that travelling has not more steeled my constitution against all the vicissitudes of climate, and all the depressions of fatigue, than it has my mind against the accidents of fortune, or the access of despair. Farewell.

LETTER VIII.

|neck, and desires to partake in this office of hospitality; while a third, kinder still, invites me to refresh my spirits with wine. Wine is in England reserved only for the rich: yet here even wine is given away to the stranger!

A few nights ago, one of these generous creatures, dressed all in white, and flaunting like a meteor by my side, forcibly attended me home to my own apartment. She seemed charmed with the elegance of the furniture, and the convenience of my situation: and well indeed she might, for I have hired an apartment for not less than two shilHow insupportable, O thou possessor of heaven-lings of their money every week. But her civility ly wisdom, would be this separation, this immeasur- did not rest here; for at parting, being desirous to able distance from my friend, were I not able thus know the hour, and perceiving my watch out of to delineate my heart upon paper, and to send thee order, she kindly took it to be repaired by a rela daily a map of my mind! tion of her own, which you may imagine will save

To the same.

I am every day better reconciled to the people some expense; and she assures me, that it will cost among whom I reside, and begin to fancy, that in her nothing. I shall have it back in a few days,