and fertile in expedients, when difficulties are to he surmounted.
His conceptions are generally ju s t; his conduct
firm; he is neither discouraged by difficulties, nor turned1
aside by obstacles. Cautious in- deciding, when once resolved,
lie is prompt and vigorous to execute. In battle he
is always eminently distinguishable-. At the head of his army
he is cheerful and good humoured; polite and attentive to
all the officers under his command, he studiously avoids to
mark out any individual as a favourite beyond the rest.. His
memory is so correct, that he is said to know by name the
greater part of his army. He takes uncommon pleasure in
conversing with his soldiers, and in talking over their adventures
and exploits; he makes particular inquiries after their
wives and children ; if the latter go regularly to school; how
they mean to dispose of them when grown u p ; and, in short,
enters with a degree of interest into a minute detail of their
domestic concerns.
His Conduct to foreigners is affable o . and condescending©.
"To the French officers in his service he pays the-most marked
attention, and te a ts them with th e greatest politeness, familiarity,
and good humour. On all his hunting excursions,
and other parties of pleasure, one of these officers is always
invited to attend. He openly declares hasgreat -veneration for
the doctrines of Christianity, and tolerates this religion and
indeed all others in his dominions. Fie observes a most scrupulous
regard to the rihaxirns of filial piety, as laid down in
the works of Confuciusy and humbles himself in the presence
of his mother ( who is still living) as a > child befeae its master,
,:With the works of the most eminent Chinese authors be is
% r - X '
well acquainted; and, through the translations into the
Chinese character of the Encyclopédie by the Bishop Adran,
he has acquired no inconsiderable knowledge of European
arts and sciences, a m o n g which he is most attached to such
as relate to navigation and ship-building. I t is stated, on
what appears tp be good authority, that, in order to obtain
a thorough knowledge of the practice as well as theorj of
European naval architecture, he purchased a Portuguese
vessel, for the sole purpose of taking in pieces, plank by
plank, with his own hands, fitting in a new piece, of similar
shape'and dimensions as the old one he removed, till every
beam, timber, knee and plank had been replaced by new
ones of his own construction, and the ship thus completely
renovated.
The energy of his mind is not less vigorous than the activity
of his corporeal faculties. He is represented, in fact, as the
main spring 'of every movement that takes place in his extensive
and flourishing kingdom. Intendant of the .ports and
arsenals, master shipwright o f the .dock-yard, and chief engineer
of all the works, nothing is attempted to be undertaken
without his advice and instructions. In the former,
not a nail is driven without first consulting him ; nor a gun
mounted on the latter but by his orders. Fie not only enters
into the most minute detail in drawing up instructions, but
actually sees t h e n ? executed himself.
To enable him the better -to-attend to the concerns of his
government, his mode of life is regulated by a fixed plan.
M six in the morning he rises from his .couch, and goes tnto