Establishments.-Chinese Army, its Numbers and Appointments. CHAP. VIII. CONJECTURES ON THE ORIGIN OF THE CHINESE.—-THEIR Embassy departs from Pekin, and is lodged in a Temple.-Colony PAGE 281 CHAP. IX. JOURNEY FROM TONG-CHOO-FOO, TO THE PROVINCE OF -POPULATION. Attentions paid to the Embassy.-Observations on the Climate and of the Yachts.-Entrance of the Grand Canal.- The Fishing Cor- CHAP. X. PAGE 330 JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROVINCE OF CANTON.- -SITU- Visible Change in the Character of the People.-Rugged Moun- PAGE 401 ADVERTISEMENT. THE sentiments advanced in the present Work, and the point of view in TRAVELS IN CHINA. CHAP. I. PRELIMINARY MATTER. Introduction.-General View of what Travellers are likely to meet with in China.-Mistaken Notions entertained with regard to the British Embassycorrected by the Reception and Treatment of the subsequent Dutch Embassy-Supposed Points of Failure in the former, as stated by a French Missionary from Pekin, refuted.-Kien Long's Letter to the King of Holland.-Difference of Treatment experienced by the two Embassies explained.—Intrigues of Missionaries in foreign Countries.-Pride and Self-Importance of the Chinese Court.-List of European Embassies, and the Time of their Abode in Pekin. Conclusion of Preliminary Subject. IT is hardly necessary to observe that, after the able and interesting account of the proceedings and result of the British embassy to the court of China, by the late Sir George Staunton (who was no less amiable for liberality of sentiment, than remarkable for vigour of intellect), it would be an idle, and indeed, a superfluous undertaking, in any other person who accompanied the embassy, to dwell on those subjects which have been treated by him in so masterly a manner; or to recapitulate those incidents and transactions, which he has detailed with equal elegance and accuracy. But, as it will readily occur to every one, there are still many interesting subjects, on which Sir George, from the nature of his work, could only barely touch, and others that did not come within his plan (one great object of which was to unfold the views of the embassy, and to shew that every thing, which could be done, was done, for promoting the interests of the British nation, and supporting the dignity of the British character), the author of the present work has ventured, though with extreme diffidence, and with the consciousness of the disadvantage under which he must appear after that “Ac"count of the Embassy," to lay before the public the point of view in which he saw the Chinese empire, and the Chinese A character. In doing this, the same facts will sometimes necessarily occur, that have already been published, for reasons that it would be needless to mention; but whenever that happens to be the case, they will briefly be repeated, for the purpose of illustrating some position, or for deducing some general inference. Thus, for instance, the document given to the embassador of the population of China will be noticed, not however under the colour of its being an unquestionably accurate statement, but, on the contrary, to shew that it neither is, nor can be, correct; yet, at the same time to endeavour to prove, by facts and analogy, that, contrary to the received opinion, the country is capable of supporting not only three hundred and thirty-three millions of people, but that it might actually afford the means of subsistence to twice that number. The confirmation, indeed, of new and important facts, though very different conclusions be drawn from them, cannot be entirely unacceptable to the reader; for as different persons will generally see the same things in different points of view, so, per- . haps, by combining and comparing the different descriptions and colouring that may be given of the same objects, the public is enabled to obtain the most correct notions of such matters as can be learned only from the report of travellers. With regard to China, if we except the work of Sir George Staunton, and the limited account of Mr. Bell of Antermony, which was not written by himself, it may be considered as unbeaten ground by Britons. We have heard a great deal of Chinese knavery practised at Canton, but, except in the two works abovementioned, we have not yet heard the sentiments of an Englishman at all acquainted with the manners, customs, and character of the Chinese nation. The voluminous communications of the missionaries are by no means satisfactory; and some of their defects will be noticed and accounted for in the course of this work; the chief aim of which will be to shew this extraordinary people in their proper colours, not as their own moral maxims would represent them, but as they really are-to divest the court of the tinsel and the tawdry varnish with which, like the palaces of the Emperor, the missionaries have found it expedient to cover it in their writings; and to endeavour to draw such a sketch of the manners, the state of society, the language, literature and fine arts, the sciences and civil institutions, the religious worship and opinions, the population and progress may of agriculture, the civil and moral character of the people, as enable the reader to settle, in his own mind, the point of rank which China may be considered to hold in the scale of civilized nations. The stability of the Chinese government; the few changes that have been made in its civil institutions for such a number of ages; the vast extent of empire and immense population, forming one society, guided by the same laws, and governed by the will of a single individual, offer, as Sir George Staunton has observed," the grandest collective object that can be presented for human contemplation or research." The customs, habits and manners, the wants and resources, the language, sentiments and religious notions, of" the most ancient society and the most populous empire existing amongst men," are, without doubt, most interesting subjects for the investigation of the philosopher, and not unworthy the attention of the statesman. But the expectations of the man of science, the artist, or the naturalist, might perhaps be rather disappointed, than their curiosity be gratified, in travelling through this extensive country. It can boast of few works of art, few remains of ancient grandeur. The great wall, that for a time defended its peaceable inhabitants against the attacks of the roving Tartars, the walls of its numerous cities, with their square towers and lofty gates, and here and there an old pagoda, are its only architectural antiquities; and, when these are excepted, there is not perhaps a single building in the whole extent of China that has withstood the action of three centuries. There are no ancient palaces, nor other public edifices, no paintings nor pieces of sculpture, to arrest the attention of the traveller, unless it might be from the novelty of their appearance. In travelling over the continent of Europe, and more especially on the classic ground of Italy and Greece, every city, mountain, river, and ruin, are rendered interesting by something on record which concerns them; the theme of some poet, the seat of some philosopher or lawgiver, the scene of some memorable action, they all inspire us with the liveliest sensations, by reviving in the mind those pleasures which the study of their history afforded in early life. To Europeans the history of China has hitherto furnished no materials for such recurrence, and the country itself is therefore incapable of communicating such impressions. In vain should we here look for the massy and stupen |