to reside here for life. There is something so seducing in that spot in which we first had existence, that nothing but it canplease; whatever vicissitudes we experience in life, however we toil, or wheresoever we wander, our fatigued wishes still recur to home for tranquillity, we long to die in that spot which gave us birth, and in that pleasing expectation opiate every calamity.

You now therefore perceive that I have some intentions of leaving this country; and yet my designed departure fills me with reluctance and regret. Though the friendships of travellers are generally more transient than vernal snows, still I feel an uneasiness at breaking the connexions I have formed since my arrival; particularly I shall have no small pain in leaving my usual companion, guide, and instructor.

I shall wait for the arrival of my son before I set out. He shall be my companion in every intended journey for the future; in his company I can support the fatigues of the way with redoubled ardour, pleased at once with conveying instruction, and exacting obedience. Adieu.

LETTER CIII.

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

OUR scholars in China have a most profound veneration for forms. A first-rate beauty never studied the decorums of dress with more assiduity; they may properly enough be said to be cloathed with wisdom from head to foot; they have their philosophical caps

and

and philosophical whiskers, their philosophical slippers and philosophical fans; there is even a philosophical standard for measuring the nails; and yet with all this seeming wisdom, they are often found to be mere empty pretenders.

A philosophical beau is not so frequent in Europe; yet I am told that such characters are found here. I mean such as punctually support all the decorums of learning, without being really very profound, or naturally possessed of a fine understanding; who labour hard to obtain the titular honours attending literary merit, who flatter others, in order to be flattered in turn; and only study to be thought students.

A character of this kind generally receives company in his study, in all the pensive formality of slippers, night-gown, and easy chair. The table is covered with a large book, which is always kept open, and never read; his solitary hours being dedicated to dozing, mending pens, feeling his pulse, peeping through the microscope, and sometimes reading amusing books, which he condemns in company. His library is preserved with the most religious neatness; and is generally a repository of scarce books, which bear an high price, because too dull or useless to become common by the ordinary methods of publication.

Such men are generally candidates for admittance into literary clubs, academies, and institutions where they regularly meet to give and receive a little instruction and a great deal of praise. In conversation they never betray ignorance, because they never seem to receive information. Offeranew observation, they have heard it before; pinch them in an argument, and they reply with a sneer.

Yet how trifling soever these little arts may appear, they answer one valuable purpose, of gaining the practisers the esteem they wish for. The bounds

of

of a man's knowledge are easily concealed, if he has but prudence; but all can readily see and admire a gilt library, a set of long nails, a silver standish, or a well-combed whisker, who are incapable of distinguishing a dunce.

When Father Matthew, the first European missioner, entered China, the court was informed that he possessed great skill in astronomy; he was therefore sent for, and examined. The established astronomers of state undertook this task; and made their report to the emperor that his skill was but very superficial, and no way comparable to their own. The missioner, however appealed from their judge ment to experience, and challenged them to calculate an eclipse of the moon that was to happen a few nights following. What," said some, "shall a "Barbarian without nails pretend to vie with men "in astronomy, who have made it the study of their "lives, with men who know half the knowable cha"racters of words, who wear scientifical caps and slippers, and who have gone through every lite

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rary degree with applause ?" They accepted the challenge confident of success. The eclipse began; the Chinese produced a most splendid apparatus, and were fifteen minutes wrong; the missioner with a single instrument was exact to a second. This was convincing; but the court astronomers were not to be convinced; instead of acknowledging their error, they assured the emperor that their calculations were certainly exact, but that the stranger without nails had actually bewitched the moon. Well then, cries the good emperor smiling at their ignorance, you shall still continue to be servants of the moon; but I constitute this man her controller,

China is thus replete with men, whose only pretensions to knowledge arise from external circumstances; and in Europe every country abeunds with

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them

them in proportion to its ignorance. Spain and Flanders, who are behind the rest of Europe in learning at least three centuries, have twenty literary titles and marks of distinction unknown in France or England: they have their Clarissimi and Preclarissimi, their Accuratissimi and Minutissimi; a round cap entitles one student to argue, and a square cap permits another to teach; while a cap with a tassel almost sanctifies the head it happens to cover. But where true knowledge is cultivated, these formalities begin to disappear; the ermined cowl, the solemn beard, and sweeping train are laid aside; philosophers dress and talk and think like other men; and lamb-skin dressers, and capmakers, and tail-carriers now deplore a literary

age.

For my own part, my friend, I have seen enough of presuming ignorance, never to venerate wisdom but where it actually appears. I have received literary titles and distinctions myself: and, by the quantity of my own wisdom, know how very little wisdom they can confer. Adieu.

LETTER CIV.

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

THE time for the young King's coronation approaches the great and the little world look forward with impatience. A knight from the country who has brought up his family to see and be seen on this occasion, has taken all the lower part of the house where I lodge. His wife is laying in a large

large quantity of silks, which the mercer tells her are to be fashionable next season; and Miss, her daughter, has actually had her ears bored previously to the ceremony. In all this bustle of preparation I am considered as mere lumber, and have been shoved up two stories higher to make room for others my landlady seems perfectly convinced are my betters; but whom before me she is contented with only calling very good company.

The little beau, who has now forced himself into my intimacy, was yesterday giving me a minute detail of the intended procession. All men are eloquent upon their favourite topic; and this seemed peculiarly adapted to the size and turn of his understanding. His whole mind was blazoned over with a variety of glittering images; coronets, escutcheons, lace, fringe, tassels, stones, bugles, and spun glass. "Here," cried he, " Garter is to walk; and there Rouge Dragon marches with the escutcheons, "on his back. Here Clarencieux moves for"ward; and there Blue Mantle disdains to be left "behind. Here the aldermen march two and two; "and there the undaunted champion of England, "no way terrified at the very numerous appearance "of gentlemen and ladies, rides forward in complete armour, and with an intrepid air throws "down his glove. Ah," continued he, "should

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"ness.

any be so hardy as to take up that fatal glove, "and so accept the challenge, we should see fine "sport; the champion would shew him no mercy; "he would soon teach him all his passes with a witHowever, I am afraid we shall have none willing to try it with him upon the approaching "occasion for two reasons; first because his an"tagonist would stand a chance of being killed in "the single combat; and secondly, because if he escapes the champion's arm, he would certainly Dd 2

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be