head, then bringing it lower down than the table, and at laft putting it to his mouth they all drink together, and very flowly, taking three or four draughts. While they are drinking, the dishes on each of the tables are removed, and others brought in. Each of the guests has twenty-four fet before him in fucceffion; all of them fat, and in the form of ragouts. They never ufe knives in their repafts; and two Imall pointed sticks, ornamented with ivory or filver, ferve them inftead of forks. They never begin to eat, however, until they are invited by the maitre d'hotel; and the fame ceremony muft be gone through every time they are going to take a cup of wine, or begin to a new dish. Towards the middle of the entertainment the foup is brought in, accompanied with fmall loaves or meat-pies. These they take up with their fmall fticks, fteep them in the foup, and eat them without waiting for any fignal, or being obliged to keep time with the reft of the guests. The entertainment, however, continues in other refpects with the utmost formality until tea is brought in; after which they retire from table and amuse themfelves in another hall, or in the garden, for a fhort time, until the defert be brought in.. This, like the entertainment itself, confifts of twenty-four dishes, which are made up of fweatmeats, fruits differently prepared, hams and falted ducks which have been baked or dried in the fun, with fhell and other -kinds of fifh. The fame ceremonies which preceded the repaft are now renewed, and every one fits down at the fame place he occupied before. Larger cups are then brought in, and the mafter invites the guests to drink more freely.

These entertainments begin towards evening, and never end till midnight. A fmall fum of money is given to the domeftics; when every one of the guests goes home in a chair preceded by feveral fervants, who carry large lanthorns of oiled paper, on which are inscribed the quality, and sometimes the name, of the mafter. Without fuch an attendance they would be taken up by the guard; and the day following they never fail to return a card of thanks to the officer.

Their method of drinking tea is not like that of other nations. A fmall quantity of bohea, fufficient to tinge the water and render it palatable (for they drink no green), is taken in the morning, and thrown into a veffel adapted to the number in family. This ftands till milk warm; in which state it is kept the whole day, and a cup drunk now and then without fugar or milk, in order to exhilerate the spirits when exhaufted by fatigue; and if a stranger call by accident, or a vifitor by appointment, the first thing presented, after the ufual ceremonies of meeting, is a very fmall pipe filled with tobacco of their own growth, and a cup of the tea already mentioned, or of fome fresh made of better quality, together with sweetmeats, &c. Tea is the daily beverage in China, and is drunk by all ranks of people.

Some change has been made in the ceremonial of the Chinese by the Tartar conqueft, and fome new dishes alfo in troduced by the fame means; and here M. Grofier observes, that the Tartars are much better cooks than the Chinese. All their difhes are highly feafoned; and, by a variation in the proportions of their fpiceries, they are able to form a variety of dishes out of the fame materials. None of their viands, however, are more esteemed than flags finews, and the nefts of a particular fpecies of birds, which have the property of giving a most agreeable relish to whatever is mixed with thern. Other dishes are introduced at these repafts, which would be accounted very disagreeable with us; fuch as the flesh of wild horses, the paws of a bear, and the feet of feveral wild animals. The greater part of these provifions are brought preserved in falt from Siam, Camboya, and Tartary.

The wines of China have no refemblance to ours either in taste or quality, being procured from rice, and not from the vine. A particular kind of rice is employed for making them, and the grain is fteeped for twenty or thirty days in water, into which ingredients of a different nature are fucceffively thrown: they afterwards boil it; and, as soon as it becomes diffolved by the heat, it im mediately ferments, and throws up a vaporous fcum not unlike new wine. A very pure liquor is found under this

fcum,

fcum, which is drawn off and put into veffels well glazed. From the remain. ing lyes, an inflammable spirit is made, little inferior, and fometimes even fuperior, to the European. Another kind of wine is ufed by the Chinefe, or rather Tartars, called lamb wine. It is very strong, and has a difagreeable fmell; and the fame may be believed of a kind of spirit diftilled from the flesh of fheep; though this last is fometimes ufed by the emperors.

These entertainments exceed the bounds of ordinary repafts; the Chinefe being naturally fober, and thofe in eafy circumftances living chiefly on pork, for which reason a great number of hogs are bred in the country. Their flesh is much easier of digeftion, and more agreeable to the taste, than thofe of Europe. The Chinese hams are in high eftimation. The common people live very poorly; being fatisfied, in time of fcarcity, with the flesh of dogs, horfes, cats, and rats, which last are fold publicly in the streets.

There are feveral public feftivals annually celebrated in China. One is that already mentioned, in which the emperor tills the ground with his own hands. This is alfo celebrated on the fame day throughout the empire. In the morning the governor of every city comes forth from his palace crowned with flowers, and enters his chair amidft the noife of different inftruments which precede it; a great number of people attending, as is ufual on all fuch occafions. The chair is furrounded by litters covered with filk carpets, on which are represented either fome illuftrious perfons who have fupported and encouraged agriculture, or fome hiftorical painting on the fame fubject. The ftreets are hung with carpets, triumphal arches are erected at certain distances, lanthorns every where difplayed, and all the houses illuminated. During the ceremony, a figure refembling a cow, made of baked earth, with gilt horns, is carried in proceffion, and of fuch enormous magnitude that forty men are fcarcely fufficient to fupport it. A child follows with one foot naked and the other fhod, who is called the fpirit of labour and diligence, and keeps continually beating the image with a rod to make it advance. Labourers with

their implements of husbandry, march behind; and the proceffion is closed by a number of comedians and people in mafks. The governor advances towards the eastern gate, and returns in the fame manner. The cow is then ftripped of its ornaments, a prodigious number of earthen calves taken from its belly and diftributed among the people; after which the large figure is broken in pieces and diftributed in the fame manner. The ceremony is ended by an oration in praise of agriculture, in which the governor endeavours to excite his hearers to the practice of that useful art.

Two other feftivals are celebrated in China with ftill more magnificence than that above defcribed. One of them is at the commencement of the year; the other is called the feaft of lanthorns. During the celebration of the former, all bulinefs, whether private or public, is fufpended, the tribunals are shut, the posts flopped, prefents are given and received, and vifits paid. All the family affemble in the evening, and partake of a feast to which no ftranger is admitted; though they become a little more fociable on the following day.

The feaft of lanthorns ought to take place on the 15th day of the first month, but ufually commences on the evening of the 13th, and does not end till that of the 16th. At that time every city and village, the fhores of the fea, and the banks of all the rivers, are hung with lanthorns of various fhapes and fizes; fome of them being feen in the courts and windows of the poorest houfes. No expence is fpared on this occafion; and fome of the rich people will lay out eight or nine pounds fterling on one lanthorn. Some of thefe are very large, compofed of fix wooden frames either neatly painted or gilt, and filled up with pieces of fine tranfparent filk, upon which are painted flowers, animals, and human figures; others are blue, and made of a transparent kind of horn. Several lamps, and a great number of wax candles, are placed in the infide: to the corners of each are fixed ftreamers of filk and fatin of different colours, with a curious piece of carved work on the top. They are likewife acquainted with our magic lanthorn, which they fometimes introduce

in this festival. Befides this, they have the art of forming a fnake 60 or 80 feet in length, filled with lights from one end to the other; which they cause to twift itfelf into different forms, and move about as if it was a real ferpent. During the fame feftival all the varieties of the Chinese fire-works, so justly admired, and which, fome time ago at leaft, furpaffed every thing of the kind that could be done in Europe, are exhibited.

Every public ceremony in China is carefully rendered as ftriking as poffible. A viceroy never quits his palace but with a royal train, dreffed in his robes of ceremony, and carried in a chair elegantly gilt, which is borne upon the houlders of eight domeftics; two drummers marching before the guards, and beating upon copper basons to give notice of his approach. Eight other attendants carry ftandards of wood, varnifhed, upon which are infcribed in large characters all his titles of honour. After thefe come fourteen flags with the fymbols of his office; fuch as the dragon, tyger, phoenix, flying tortoife, &c. Six officers follow, each bearing a piece of board, in fhape like a large fhovel, on which are written in large golden characters the qualities of the mandarin himfelf: two others carry, the one a large umbrella of yellow filk, and the other the cover in which the umbrella is kept. The firft guards are preceded by two archers on horfeback; the latter are followed by others armed with a kind of weapons compofed of hooked blades, fixed perpendicularly to long poles ornamented with four tufts of filk, placed at a fmall diftance above one another. Behind these are two other files of foldiers, fome of whom carry large maces with long handles; others iron maces in the fhape of a fnake; others are armed with huge hammers; while thofe behind them carry long bat. tle-axes in the form of a crefcent; others follow, who have battle-axes of another kind; and behind thefe are fome with the hooked weapons already defcribed. Behind thefe come foldiers armed with triple pointed fpears, arrows, or battle-axes; having in front two men who carry a kind of box containing the viceroy's feal. Then come two other drummers to give notice of his approach,

Two officers follow, having on their heads felt hats, adorned with plumes of feathers, and each armed with a cane to recommend regularity and good order to the furroundingmultitude. Two others bear maces in the form of gilt dragons. These again are followed by a number of magiftrates and officers of juftice; fome of whom carry whips or flat flicks, while others have chains, hangers, and filk scarfs. Two ftandardbearers and a captain command this company, which immediately precedes the governor. His chair is furrounded by pages and footinen, and an officer attends him who carries a large fan in form of a screen; he is followed by feveral guards differently armed, toge ther with enfigns and other officers, who are alfo followed by a great number of domeftics all on horfeback, carrying various neceffaries for the ufe of the mandarin. If he marches in the night-time, inftead of flambeaux, as are customary in Europe, large lanthorns, exceedingly pretty, are carried before him; on the tranfparent part of which are written, in very confpicuous characters, his quality, titles, and rank, as mandarin. Thefe are alfo intended to give notice to the paffengers to stop, and to thofe who are fitting to rife up with respect; for whoever neglects either the one or the other is fure to receive a fevere baftinading.

The emperor marches with ftill more magnificence, in proportion to his fuperior quality. The trumpets used in his procethion are about three feet long, eight inches in diameter at the lower extremity, and pretty much resembling a bell in fhape: their found is peculiarly adapted to that of the drums. His cavalcade is clofed by two thousand mandarins of letters, and as many of arms. Sometimes the great mandarins, as well as the emperor, travel in barks. Their attendance is then fomewhat different, but the magnificence almoft the fame. The honours paid to a viceroy who has governed a province with equity are exceedingly great on his departure from it. He has fcarcely left the capital of the province, when he finds on the highway, for the fpace of two or three leagues, tables ranged at certain diftances, each of which is furrounded with a long piece of filk that

bangs

with peculiar felicity, were commemorated by the most signal monuments of immortal fame." And is the happinefs of a king, then," faid Crofus, fo little regarded, O Grecian ftranger! that you prefer to it the mean condition of an Athenian or Argive citizen?" The reply of Solon fufficiently juftified his reputation for wifdom: "The life of man,” said he, “ confifts of 70 years, which make 25,550 days; an immenfe number: yet, in the longeft life, the events of any one day will not be found exactly alike to those of another. The affairs of men are liable to perpetual viciffitudes: the Divinity who prefides over our fate is envious of too mich profperity; and all human life, if not condemned to calamity, is at leaft liable to accident. Whoever has uninterruptedly enjoyed a profperous tide of fuccefs may be juftly called fortunate: but he cannot before his death be intitled to the epithet of happy."

The events which foon followed this converfation prove how little fatisfaction is derived from the possession of a throne. Victorious in war, unrivalled in wealth, fupreme in power, Craefus felt and acknowledged his unhappiness. The warmest affections of his foul centered in his fon Atys, a youth of the most promifing hopes, who had often fought and conquered by his fide. The ftrength of his attachment was accompanied with an excefs of paternal care, and the anxiety of his waking hours difturbed the tranquillity of his rett. He dreamed that his beloved fon was flain by a dart; and the folicitude with which he watched his fafety, preventing the youth from his ufual occupations and amusements, and thereby rendering him too eager to enjoy them, moft probably expofed him to the much-dreaded misfortune. Reluctantly permitted to engage in a party of hunting, the juvenile ardour of Atys, increased by the impatience of long reftraint, made him neglect the precautions neceffary in that manly amufement. He was flain by a dart aimed at a wild boar of monstrous fize, which had long spread terror over the country of the Myfians. The weapon came from the hand of Adraftus, a Phrygian prince and fugitive, whom Crolus had purified from the involuntary-guilt of a brother's blood, and long

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diftinguished by peculiar marks of boun ty. To the grateful protection of the Phrygian, Cræfus recommended, at parting, the fafety of his beloved fon. A mournful proceffion of Lydians brought to Sardis the dead body of Atys. The ill-fated murderer followed behind. When they approached the royal prefence, Adraftus stepped forward, and intreated Crœfus to put him to death; thinking life no longer to be endured after killing, firft his own brother, and then the fon of his benefactor. But the Lydian king, notwithstanding the excess of his affliction, acknowledged the innocence of Adraftus, and the pow er of fate : (c Stranger, your action is blameless, being committed without defign. I know that my fon was deftined to a premature death." Adraftus, though pardoned by Crofus, could not pardon himself. When the mourners were removed, he privately returned, and perished by his own hand on the tomb of Atys.

Two years Crofus remained difconfolate for the loss of his fon; and might have continued to indulge his unavailing affliction during the remainder of life, had not the growing greatness of Perfia, which threatened the fafety of his dominions, roufed him from his dream of misery. He marched against Cyrus with a great army, but was defeated; and, retreating to his capital Sardis, was there befieged. The city was taken by affault; and, as a Perfian foldier was going to kill Crœfus, that prince's only furviving fon, who had hitherto been dumb, terrified at his danger, cried, Stop, foldier, and touch not Crofus. But, though delivered by this extraordinary accident from the blind rage of the foldier, he seemed to be reserved for a harder fate. Dragged into the prefence of his conqueror, he was loaded with irons; and the ftern unrelenting Cyrus, of whose humane temper of mind we have fo beautiful, but fo flattering, a picture, in the philofophical romance of Xenophon, ordered him, with the melancholy train of his Lydian attendants, to be committed to the flames. An immense pile of wood and other combuftibles was erected in the moft fpacious part of the city. The miferable victims, bound hand and foot, were placed on the top

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