Miscellanea. The second part in four essays / by Sir William Temple ...

SECT. II.

THE Great and Ancient King∣dom of China is bounded to the East and South by the Ocean, to the North by a Stone Wall of twelve Hun∣dred Miles long, raised against the In∣vasion of the Tartars; and to the West, by vast and unpassible Mountains or Desarts, which the Labour or Curiosity of no mortal Man has been ever yet known to have pierced thro or given any account of. When Alexander would have passed the River Ganges, He was told by the Indians, that nothing be∣yond it was inhabited, and that all was either impassible Marishes, lying be∣tween great Rivers, or sandy Desarts, or steep Mountains, full only of Wild Beasts, but wholly destitute of Mankind. So as Ganges was esteemed by Ancients the Bound of the Eastern World: Since the use of the Compass, and extent of Navigation, it is found that there are several populous Kingdoms lie between

Ganges and the Desarts or Mountains that divide them from China, as Pegu, Siam, Cirote, and others, lie in this space, coasting along the Borders of Great Rivers Northwards, which are said to run about the length of Indus and Gan∣ges, and all of them to rise from one mighty Lake in the Mountains of Tar∣tary. But from none of these Kingdoms is known any other way of Passage or Commerce into China, than by Sea.

From Indostan or the Mogul's Coun∣try, there is none other usual; and such as travel from thence by Land, are for∣ced to go many Degrees Northward be∣fore they turn to the East, to pass many Savage Kingdoms or Countries of the Tartars, to travel through vast sandy Desarts, and other prodigious high and steep Mountains, where no Carriage or Beast is able to pass, but only Men on foot, and over one Mountain particular∣ly, esteemed the highest in the World, where the Air is so thin, that Men can∣not travel over it without danger of their Lives, and never in Summer with∣out being poysoned by the Scent of cer∣tain Herbs that grow upon it, which is mortal when they are in Flower. After eight or nine Months Journey from the

Mogul's Court, several Persons have travelled this Way, till they came to the Wall that defends or divides China from Tartary, and so to the Imperial City of Peking, situate in the Northern parts of this mighty Region, which the Chinese call a World by it self, and e∣steem themselves the only reasonable and civilized People, having no Neigh∣bours on three sides, and to the North only the Tartars, whom they esteem but another sort of wild or bruitish Men; and therefore they say in common Pro∣verb, That the Chineses only see with two Eyes, and all other Men but with one.

By this Situation, and by a Custom or Law very ancient among them, of suffering no Stranger to come into their Country, or if they do, not permitting Him to go out, or return any more to His own, this vast Continent continued very long and wholly unknown to the rest of the World, and for as much as I can find, was first discovered to us by Paulus Venetus, who about four hundred years ago made a Voyage from Venice, thro' Armenia, Persia, and several parts of Tartary, to that which He names the Kingdom of Cataya, and to the famous City of Cambalu, (as he calls them) and

after seventeen years residence of His Father and Himself, in that Court of the great Cham, returned to Venice, and left the World a large Account of this Voyage.

Since His time, and within two or three hundred years several Missionary Friers and Jesuits have upon Devotion or Command of their Superiors, pierced with infinite pains and dangers thro' these vast and savage Regions, some from the Mogul's Country, some thro' Armenia and Persia, and arrived at Pe∣king, which I make no question, (by comparing all their several Accounts and Relations) is the same famous City that is called Cambalu by Paulus Venetus, seated in the Northern Provinces of China, which is by Him called Cataya. The reason of this difference in Names, was that when Paulus Venetus was there, the Cham of East Tartary, called Cataya, had possessed Himself by Conquest, of several Northern Provinces of China, as well as that of Peking, where He made His Residence, and which was like the rest of His Empire, called Ca∣taya, and the chief City Cambalu, by a Tartar Name. After some time all these Provinces were again recovered by the

Chineses from the Tartars, and returned to their old Chinese Appellations; and the King of China, who then expelled the Tartars, fixed the Seat of His Em∣pire at Peking, (which had been for∣merly at Nanking and at Quinsay) that the Force of His Armies lying therea∣bouts, might be ready to defend that Frontier against the furious Invasions of the Tartars, whereof they had several times felt the rage and danger.

After this recovery, China continued in Peace, and prosperous, under their own Emperors, till about the year 1616, when the Tartars again invaded them, and after a long and bloody War, of above thirty years, in the end made themselves absolute Masters of the whole Kingdom, and so it has ever since continued.

This Region, commonly known by the name of China, extends about eigh∣teen hundred Miles, or thirty Degrees of Northern and Southern Latitude. It is not esteemed so much of Longitude, but this is more uncertain, the Journey thro' the whole Country from East to West having not, that I find, been ever performed by any European; and the accounts taken only from report of

the Natives. Nor is it easily agreed, where, the habitable parts of China de∣termine Westward, since some Authors say, they end in Mountains, stored on∣ly with wild Beasts and wild Men, that have neither Laws nor Language, nor other commerce with the Chineses, than by descents sometimes made upon them, for Rapines or for Rapes; And other Authors say, There are such inaccessible Mountains even in the midst of China, so as the first accounts, may have left out great Countries beyond these Moun∣tains, which they took for the utmost Border of this Kingdom.

Whatever length it has, which by none is esteemed less, than twelve or thirteen hundred miles; It must be al∣lowed, to be the greatest, richest and most populous Kingdom, now known in the World, and will perhaps be found to owe its Riches, Force, Civility and Felicity, to the admirable constitution of it's Government more than any o∣ther.

This Empire consists of fifteen seve∣ral Kingdoms, which at least have been so of old, tho now governed as Pro∣vinces, by their several Vice-roys, who yet live in Greatness, Splendor, and

Riches, equal to great and Sovereign Kings. In the whole Kingdom, are one hundred and forty five capital Cities, of mighty extent and magnificent Buil∣ding, and one thousand three hundred twenty and one lesser Cities, but all walled round; The number of Villages is infinite, and no Country in the known World so full of Inhabitants, nor so im∣proved by Agriculture, by infinite growth of numerous Commodities, by Canals of incredible length, conjuncti∣ons of Rivers, convenience of Ways, for the transportation of all sorts of Goods and Commodities from one Pro∣vince to another, so as no Country has so great trade, tho till very lately, they never had any but among themselves, and what there is now foreign among them, is not driven by the Chineses go∣ing out of their Country to manage it, but only by their permission of the Por∣tugueses and Dutch, to come and trade in some skirts of their Southern Pro∣vinces.

For Testimonies of their Greatness, I shall only add what is agreed of their famous Wall, and of their City Peking. The Stone-wall which divides the Nor∣thern parts of China from Tartary, is

reckoned by some, twelve, by others, nine hundred miles long, running over Rocks and Hills, through Marishes and Deserts, and making way for Rivers by mighty Arches; It is forty five foot high, and twenty foot thick at the bottom, divided at certain spaces by great Towers. It was built above two thousand years ago, but with such ad∣mirable Architecture, that where some Gaps have not been broken down by the Tartars upon their Irruptions, the rest is still as intire, as when it was first built. The King that raised this Wall, appointed a Million of Soldiers, who were listed and paid, for the defence of it against the Tartars, and took their turns by certain numbers, at certain times, for the guard of this Frontier.

The Imperial City of Peking is no∣thing so large as several other Cities of China (whereof Nanking is esteemed the greatest) but is a regular Four-Square; the Wall of each side is six Miles in length. In each of these sides are three Gates, and on each side of each Gate are great Palaces or Forts for the Guards belonging to them, which are a thousand Men to each Gate. The Streets run quite cross, with a

thro View and Passage from each Gate to that which is over against it in the opposite side, and these Streets are ranged full of stately Houses.

The Palace of the Emperor is three Miles in Compass, consisting of three Courts, one within the other, whereof the last (where the Emperor lodges) is four hundred paces square. The o∣ther two are filled with His Domesticks, Officers and Guards, to the number of sixteen thousand Persons. Without these Courts, are large and delicious Gardens, many artificial Rocks and Hills, Streams of Rivers drawn into se∣veral Canals faced with square Stone, and the whole atchieved with such ad∣mirable Invention, Cost and Workman∣ship, that nothing ancient or modern seems to come near it; and all served with such Magnificence, order and Splendour, that the Audience of a Fo∣reign Ambassadour at Peking, seems a sight as Great and Noble, as one of the Triumphs at Rome.

As other Nations are usually distin∣guished into Noble and Plebeian, so that of China may be distinguish'd into Learned and Illiterate. The last makes up the Body or Mass of the People who

are govern'd; the first comprehends all the Magistrates that govern, and those who may in time or course suc∣ceed them in the Magistracy; for no other than the Learned are ever em∣ployed in the Government, nor any in the greatest Charges, that are not of those Ranks or Degrees of Learning, that make them termed Sages, or Phi∣losophers, or Doctors among them.

But to comprehend what this Go∣vernment of China is, and what the Per∣sons employed in it, there will be a ne∣cessity of knowing what their Learning is, and how it makes them fit for Go∣vernment, very contrary to what ours in Europe is observed to do, and the reason of such different effects from the same Cause.

The two great Heroes of the Chinese Nation were Fohu and Confuchu, whose Memories have always continued a∣mong them Sacred and Adored. Fohu lived about four thousand years ago, and was the first Founder of their Kingdom, the progress whereof has ever since continued upon their Re∣cords so clear, that they are esteemed by the Missionary Jesuits unquestionable and infallible. For after the Death of

every King, the Successor appoints cer∣tain Persons to write the Memorable Actions of His Predecessors Reign, and of these, an Epitome is afterwards drawn, and entred into their Registers. Fohu first reduced them from the com∣mon Original Lives of Mankind, intro∣duced Agriculture, Wedlock, distin∣ction of Sexes by different Habits, Laws and Orders of Government; He invented Characters, and left several short Tables or Writings of Astrono∣my, or Observations of the Heavens, of Morality, of Physick, and Political Government. The Characters He used seem to have been parly strait Lines of different Lengths, and distinguish'd by different points; and partly Hierogly∣phicks, and these in time were follow∣ed by Characters, of which each ex∣pressed one word.

In these several ways, were for many Centuries, composed many Books, a∣mong the Chineses, in many sorts of Learning, especially Natural and Moral Philosophy, Astronomy, Astrology, Physick and Agriculture.

Something above two thousand years ago, lived Confuchu, the most learned, wise and vertuous of all the Chineses, and for

whom, both the King and Magistrates, in His own age, and all of them, in the Ages since, seem to have had the greatest De∣ference, that has any where been rendred to any Mortal Man. He writ many Tracts, and in them digested all the Learning of the Ancients even from the first Writing or Tables of Fohu, at least, all that He thought necessary or useful to Mankind, in their personal, civil or political Capa∣cities, which were then received and since prosecuted, with so great Esteem and Veneration, that none has questioned whatever He writ, but admitted it, as the truest and best Rules of Opinion and Life, so that 'tis enough in all Argu∣ment, That Confuchu has said it.

Some time after, lived a King, who to raise a new Period of Time, from His own Name and Reign, endeavoured to abolish the Memory of all that had passed before Him, and caused all Books to be burnt, except those of Physick and Agriculture. Out of this ruin to Learning, escaped, either by chance, or some private Industry, the Epitomes or Registers of the several suc∣cessions of their Kings since Fohu, and the works of Confuchu, or at least a part of them, which have lately in France,

been printed in the Latin Tongue, with a learned Preface, by some of the Mis∣sionary Jesuits, under the Title of the Works of Confutius.

After the death of this Tyrannous and Ambitious King, These Writings came abroad, and being the only Re∣mainders of the Ancient Chinese Learn∣ing, were received with general Ap∣plause, or rather Veneration; Four Learned Men having long addicted themselves to the Study of these Books, writ four several Tracts or Comments upon them; and one of the succeeding Kings made a Law, that no other Learn∣ing should be taught, studied or exer∣cised but what was extracted out of these five Books; and so Learning has ever since continued in China, wholly confined to the Writings of these five Men, or rather to those of their Prince of Philosophers, the great and renowned Confutius.

The Sum of His Writings, seems to be a Body or Digestion of Ethicks, that is, of all Moral Vertues, either Per∣sonal, Oeconomical, Civil or Political, and framed for the Institution and Con∣duct of Mens Lives, their Families, and their Governments, but chiefly of the

last; the bent of His thoughts and rea∣sonings, running up and down this Scale, that no People can be happy but under good Governments, and no Govern∣ments happy but over good Men; and that for the Felicity of Mankind, all Men in a Nation, from the Prince to the meanest Peasant, should endea∣vour to be good and wise and vertu∣ous as far as His own Thoughts, the Precepts of others, or the Laws of His Country, can instruct Him.

The chief Principle He seems to lay down for a Foundation, and builds up∣on, is, That every Man ought to study and endeavour the improving and per∣fecting of His own Natural Reason, to the greatest height He is capable, so as He may never (or as seldom as can be) err and swerve from the Law of Na∣ture, in the course and conduct of His Life: That this being not to be done, without much thought, enquiry and dilgence, makes Study and Philosophy necessary, which teaches Men what is good, and what is bad, either in its own Nature or for theirs, and conse∣quently what is to be done and what to be avoided, by every Man is His several Station or Capacity. That in

this perfection of Natural Reason, con∣sists the perfection of Body and Mind, and the utmost or supream Happiness of Mankind. That the means and rules to attain this perfection, are chiefly not to will or desire any thing but what is consonant to this Natural Reason, nor any thing that is not agreeable to the good and happiness of other men, as well as our own. To this end is pre∣scribed, the constant course and practice of the several Vertues, known and a∣greed so generally in the World, among which, Courtesy or Civility, and Gra∣titude, are Cardinal with them. In short, the whole scope of all Confutius has writ, seems aimed only, at teach∣ing Men to live well, and to govern well, how Parents, Masters and Ma∣gistrates should rule, and how Children, Servants and Subjects should obey.

All this, with the many particular Rules and Instructions, for either per∣sonal, oeconomical, or political Wisdom and Vertue is discoursed by Him, with great Compass of Knowledge, Excel∣lence of Sense, Reach of Wit, and il∣lustrated with Elegance of Stile, and Aptness of Similitudes and Examples, as may be easily conceived by any, that

can allow for the lameness and shortness of Translations out of Language and Manners of writing, infinitely differing from ours So as the Man appears to have been of a very extraordinary Genius, of mighty Learning, admirable Vertue, excellent Nature, a true Patriot of His Country, and Lover of Mankind.

This is the Learning of the Chineses, and all other sorts are either disused or ignoble among them; all that which we call Scholastick or Polemick, is un∣known or unpractised, and serves, I fear, among us, for little more, than to raise Doubts and Disputes, Heats and Feuds, Animosities and Factions, in all Controversies of Religion or Govern∣ment. Even Astrology and Physick and Chymistry, are but ignoble Studies, tho there are many among them that excel in all these; and the Astrologers are much in vogue among the Vulgar, as well as their Predictions; The Chymists, apply themselves chiefly, to the search of the universal Medicine, for health and length of Life, pretending to make Men Im∣mortal, if they can find it out: The Phy∣sicians excel, in the knowledge of the pulse, and of all simple Medicines, and go little further, but in the first, are so

skilful, as they pretend not only to tell by it, how many hours or days a sick Man can last, but how many years, a Man in perfect seeming health may live, in case of no accident or violence. And by Sim∣ples, they pretend to relieve all Disea∣ses that Nature will allow to be cured. They never let blood, but say, if the Pot boils too fast, there is no need of lading out any of the water, but only of taking away the fire from under it, and so they allay all heats of the blood, by abstinence, diet and cooling herbs.

But all this Learning is ignoble and Mechanical among them, and the Con∣futian only essential and incorporate to their Government, into which none enters, without having first passed thro the several Degrees. To attain it, is first necessary the knowledg of their Letters or Characters, and to this must be applied at least ten or twelve years study and diligence, and twenty, for great perfection in it: For by all I can gather out of so many Authors, as have written of China, they have no Letters at all, but only so many Characters, expressing so many Words: These, are said by some, to be sixty, by others eighty, and by others sixscore thousand;

and upon the whole, their writing seems to me to be like that of Short-hand a∣mong us, in case, there were a different Character invented, for every word in our Language; Their Writing, is nei∣ther from the left hand to right like the European, nor from right to left like the Asiatick Languages, but from top to bottom of the paper in one strait line, and then beginning again at the top till the side be full.

The Learning of China therefore con∣sists first in the Knowledge of their Language, and next, in the Learning, Study and Practice of the Writings of Confutius, and His four great Disciples; and as every Man grows more perfect in both these, so He is more esteemed and advanced; nor is it enough to have read Confutius, unless it be discovered by retaining the principal parts of Him in their memories, and the practice of Him in their lives.

The Learned among them are pro∣moted by three Degrees; The first may resemble that of Sophisters in our Col∣leges after two or three years stand∣ing, and this Degree is conferred by publick Examiners appointed for that purpose, who go thro the chief Cities

of each Province once a year, and up∣on scrutiny, admit such of the Candi∣dates as they approve, to this Degree, register their Names, and give them a Badge belonging to this first form of the Learned.

The second Degree, is promoted with more form, and performed once in three years, in a great College built for that purpose in the chief City of each Kingdom; By several Examiners appointed by the King, and strict en∣quiries and questions both of Language and Learning, and much Critick upon the several Writings, produced by the several Pretenders, and submitted to the Examiners. This Degree, may re∣semble that of Masters of Arts in our Colleges, and is conferred with a new Badge belonging to it.

The third Degree may be compared to that of Doctors among us in any of our Sciences, and is never conferred, but in the Imperial City of Peking with great Forms and Solemnities, after much examining, and deliberation of the Persons appointed for that purpose, and of this Degree there are never to be above three hundred at a time in the whole Empire, besides such as are actu∣ally

in the Magistracy or Government; Who are all chosen out of the Persons that have commenced or attained this degree of Learning. Upon the taking each Degree, they repair to a Temple of Confutius, which is erected in each City, and adjoyns to the Colleges; and there they perform the Worship and Ceremonies appointed in honour of His Memory, as the great Prince or Hero of the Learned.

Of these Persons, all their Councils and all their Magistracies are compo∣sed; out of these are chosen all their Chief Officers and Mandarines, both Civil and Military. With these the Emperors and Viceroys of Provinces and Generals of Armies advise, upon all great occasions; and their Learning and Virtue make them esteemed more able for the execution and discharge of all publick Employments, than the longest Practice and Experience in o∣ther Countries; and when they come into Armies, they are found braver and more generous, in exposing their Lives upon all great occasions, than the bold∣est Soldiers of their Troops.

Now for the Government, it is ab∣solute Monarchy, there being no other

Laws in China but the King's Orders and Commands; and it is likewise He∣reditary, still descending to the next of Blood.

But all Orders and Commands of the King proceed thro' His Counsels, and are made upon the Recommendation or Petition of the Council proper and appointed for that Affair; so that all matters are debated, determined, and concluded by the several Councils; and then upon their Advices or Requests made to the King, they are ratify'd and signed by Him, and so pass into Laws.

All great Offices of State are like∣wise conferred by the King, upon the same Recommendations or Petitions of His several Councils; so that none are preferred by the Humour of the Prince Himself, nor by favour of any Minister, by Flattery or Corruption, but by force or appearance of Merit, of Learn∣ing, and of Vertue, which observed by the several Councils, gain their Recom∣mendations or Petitions to the King.

The chief Officers are either those of State residing constantly at Court, and by whom, the whole Empire is govern∣ed; Or the Provincial Officers, Vice∣roys, and Magistrates or Mandarines;

For the first, there are in the Imperial City at Peking six several Councils, or as some Authors affirm, one great Council, that divides it self into six smaller but distinct Branches. Some dif∣ference is also made by Writers, con∣cerning the nature or the business, of these Councils. But that which seems most generally agreed, is, That the first of these six is a Council of State, by whom all Officers through the whole Kingdom are chosen according to their Learning and Merit. The Second is, the Council of Treasury, which has in∣spection into the whole Revenue, and the Receits and Payments that are made in or out of it. The third takes care of the Temples, Offerings, Feasts and Ceremonies belonging to them, as like∣wise of Learning, and the Schools or Colleges designed for it. The Fourth is the Council of War, which disposes of all Military Offices and Honours, and all matters of War and Peace, that is, by the King's Command issued upon their representations. The fifth takes care of all the Royal or Publick Buildings, and of their Fleets. And the sixth is a Coun∣cil or Court of Justice or Judicature, in all Causes both Civil and Criminal.

Each of these Councils has a Presi∣dent and two Assistants or chief Secre∣taries, whereof one sits at His Right, and the other on his Left Hand, who digest and register the Debates and Orders of the Council. And besides these, there are in each Council Ten Counsellors.

By these Councils the whole Empire of China is govern'd thro all the several Kingdoms that compose it; and they have in each Province particular Offi∣cers, Intendants and Notaries, from whom they receive constant Accounts, and to whom they send constant In∣structions concerning all Passages or Af∣fairs of moment in any of the several Provinces of the Kingdom.

There are, besides these six, several smaller Councils, as one for the Affairs of the King's Women, for his Houshold, and His Domestique Chancery or Ju∣stice. But above all, is the Council of the Colaos or chief Ministers, who are seldom above five or six in number, but Persons of the most consummate Prudence and Experience, who after having passed, with great Applause, thro' the other Councils or Govern∣ments of Provinces, are at last advanced

to this supream Dignity, and serve as a Privy Council, or rather a Junto, sit∣ting with the Emperor Himself, which is allowed to none of the others. To these are presented, all the Results or Requests of the other Councils, and being by their advice approved, they are, by the Emperor signed and ratified, and so dispatched.

These are always attended, by some of the chiefest and most renowned Phi∣losophers or Sages of the Kingdom, who attend the Emperor, and serve Him in receiving all Petitions, and give their opinions upon them to the Em∣peror or the Colaos, as also upon any matters of great moment and difficulty, when they are consulted: And these are chosen out of two Assemblies re∣siding at Peking, and consisting of sixty Men each, but all choice Persons, whose Wisdom and Vertue, are generally known and applauded. They are im∣ployed in all matters of Learning, and giving necessary Orders therein, keep∣ing all the publick Writings and order∣ing and digesting them, registring all Laws and Orders of State, and out of these are appointed, by each succeed∣ing King, some persons to relate and

register the Times and Actions of His Predecessor. They are, at their leisure much given to Poetry, in which, they compile the Praises of Vertuous Men and Actions, Satyrs against Vice, In∣scriptions for Monuments and triumphal Arches, and such like Compositions. And lastly out of these (as they grow in Esteem and Fame of Wisdom and Vertue) are chosen and advanced by Degrees, the Officers of State, and Counsellors in the several Councils, and none ever arrives to be a Colao, that has not been of one of these two As∣semblies.

Each particular Kingdom of the Em∣pire, has the same Councils, or some very like them for the Government of that particular Province; but there is besides in each, a Surintendant, sent more immediately from Court, to in∣spect the course of Affairs; A Censor of Justice and Manners, without whose ap∣proval, no capital Sentences are to be executed; And a third Officer, im∣ployed by the Empress, in the nature of an Almoner, whose business is only that of Charity, and Relief of the Poor and distressed, and setting free Prisoners upon small Debts or Offences; There

is besides, in each Province, a parti∣cular Council, to take care of Learn∣ing, and to appoint Rules and Exami∣ners for the several Degrees thereof.

It were endless to enumerate, all the excellent Orders of this State, which seem contrived by a reach of Sense and Wisdom, beyond what we meet with, in any other Government of the World; but by some few the rest may be judged.

Each Prince of the Royal Blood has a Revenue assigned Him, and a City where he is bound to reside, and never to stir out of it, without the Emperor's leave. All Degrees of People are di∣stinguisht by their Habit, and the seve∣ral Officers by several Badges upon them; And the Colour worn by the Emperor, which is Yellow, is never used by any other person whatsoever. Every House has a Board over the Door, wherein is written, the Number, Sex and Quality of the Persons living in it, and to a certain number of Houses, one is appointed to inspect the rest, and take care that this be exactly done. None is admitted to bear Office in any Province, where He was born, unless it be Military, which is grounded, up∣on

the belief, that in matters of Justice Men will be partial to their Friends, but in those of War, Men will fight best for their own Country. None ever con∣tinues in any Office above three years, unless upon a new Election; and none put out for miscarriage in His Office, is again admitted to any Imployment. The two great hinges of all Govern∣ments, Reward and Punishment, are no where turned with greater care, nor exercised with more Bounty and Seve∣rity. Their Justice is rigorous upon all Offences against the Law, but none more exemplary, than upon corruption in Judges. Besides this, Inquisition is made into their ignorance and weak∣ness, and even into carelesness and rashness in their Sentences; and as the first is punished with Death, so these are, with Dismission and Disgrace. The Rewards of Honor (besides those of advancement) are conferred, by Pa∣tents from the Emperor, expressing Merits and granting Priviledges, by Pillars of Marble with elegant and ho∣norary Inscriptions: And to merit ex∣traordinary towards the Prince and Country, even by erecting Temples, offering Incense, and appointing Priests,

for the service of them. Agriculture is encouraged by so many special privi∣ledges from the Crown, and the Com∣mon Laws or Customs of the Country, that whatever Wars happen, the Til∣lers of the Ground are untouched, as if they were sacred, like Priests in o∣ther places; so as no Country in the World, was ever known to be so culti∣vated, as the whole Kingdom of China. Honor and Respect, is no where paid to Nobility or Riches so much, as it is here to Vertue and Learning, which are equally regarded, both by the Prince and the People: And the ad∣vancement to Office of persons only for excelling in those Qualities, prevents the Cankers of Envy and Faction, that corrupt and destroy so many other Go∣vernments. Every one seeking Pre∣ferment here only by Merit, attributes to it that of other Men. Tho the King be the most absolute in the World, since there are no other Laws in China but what He makes; yet all Matters, being first digested and represented by His Councils, the Humors and Passions of the Prince, enter not into the forms or conduct of the Government, but His personal favours to Men or Women, are

distributed in the Preferments of His Houshold, or out of the vast Revenue that is particularly applyed to it, for support of the greatest Expence and Magnificence, that appears in any Pa∣lace of the World. So that it may truly be said, that no King is better served and obeyed, more honoured or rather adored; and no People better govern'd, nor with greater Ease and Felicity.

Upon these Foundations and Institu∣tions, by such Methods and Orders, the Kingdom of China seems to be framed and policed with the utmost Force and Reach of Human Wisdom, Reason and Contrivance, and in Practice, to excel the very Speculations of other Men, and all those imaginary Scheams of the European Wits, the Institutions of Xe∣nophon, the Republick of Plato, the Utopias or Oceanas of our Modern Writers. And this will perhaps be al∣lowed by any that considers the Vast∣ness, the Opulence, the Populousness of this Region, with the Ease and Facility wherewith 'tis govern'd, and the length of time this Government has run. The last, is three times longer than that of the Assyrian Monarchy, which was thir∣teen

hundred years, and the longest Period of any Government, we meet with in Story. The numbers of Peo∣ple and of their Forces, the Treasures and Revenues of the Crown, as well as Wealth and Plenty of the Subjects, the Magnificence of their publick Buil∣dings and Works, would be incredible, if they were not confirmed by the con∣curring Testimonies of Paulus Venetus, Martinius Kercherus, with several other relations, in Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, either by Missionary Friers, or Persons imploy'd thither upon Trade or Em∣bassies upon that occasion; Yet the whole Government is represented, as a thing managed with as much Facility, Order and Quiet, as a common Family, tho some Writers affirm the number of People in China, before the last Tartar Wars, to have been above two hundred Millions. Indeed the Canals cut thro the Country, or made by Conjunctions of Rivers, are so infinite, and of such lengths, and so perpetually filled with Boats and Vessels of all kinds, that one Writer believes, there are near as many People in these, and the Ships wherewith their Havens are filled, who live upon the Water, as those upon the Land.

'Tis true, that as Physicians say, the highest Degree of Health in a Body, subjects it to the greatest danger and violence of some Disease; so the per∣fection of this Government or Constitu∣tion, has had the same Effect, joyned with the accident of their Situation, upon such a Neighbour as the Tartars. For these, by the hardness and pover∣ty of their Country and their Lives, are the boldest and the fiercest People in the World, and the most enterprising, On t'other side, the Excellence of the Chinese Wit and Government, renders them, by great Ease, Plenty and Luxury, in time effeminate, and thereby exposes them to frequent Attempts and Invasi∣ons of their savage Neighbours. Three several times, upon their Records, the Tartars have conquered great parts of the Kingdom of China, and after long establishments there, have been expelled. Till (as we said before) about the year 1650. they atchieved the com∣pleat and entire Conquest of the whole Empire after a bloody War of above thirty years. But the Force of this Constitution and Government, appears in no circumstance or light, so great as in this, that it has waded safe thro so

great Tempests and Inundations, as six changes of Race among their Kings by Civil Wars, and four Conquests by fo∣reign and barbarous Forces. For under the present Tartar Kings, the Govern∣ment continues still the same, and in the Hands of the Chinese learned; and all the change that appears to have been made, by such a Storm or Revolution has been only, that a Tartar Race sits in the Throne instead of a Chinese; and the Cities and strong places are garri∣son'd by Tartar Souldiers, who fall by degrees, into the Manners, Customs and Language of the Chineses. So great a Respect or rather Veneration is paid to this wise and admirable Constitution, even by its Enemies and Invaders, that both Civil Usurpers and Foreign Con∣querors, vie with Emulation, who shall make greatest Court, and give most support to it, finding no other means, to secure their own Safety and Ease, by the Obedience of the People, than the Establishment and Preservation of their ancient Constitutions and Govern∣ment.

The great Idea, which may be con∣ceived, of the Chinese Wisdom and Knowledge, as well as their Wit, In∣genuity

and Civility, by all we either read or see of them, is apt to be lessen∣ed, by their gross and sottish Idola∣try; but this it self, is only among the vulgar or illiterate, who worship after their manner, whatever Idols belong to each City, or Village or Family, and the Temples and Priests belonging to them, are in usual request among the common People and the Women. But the Learned adore the Spirit of the World, which they hold to be Eternal, and this without Temples, Idols or Priests. And the Emperor only is al∣lowed to sacrifice at certain times, by Himself or His Officers, at two Temples in the two Imperial Cities of Peking and Nanking, one dedicated to Heaven and t'other to the Earth.

This I mention to shew, how the fur∣thest East and West, may be found to agree in Notions of Divinity, as well as in Excellence of Civil or Politick Constitutions, by passing at one leap from these of China to those of Peru.