an idea, that the Lama, or Budha, or Fo, fo r they are all the
fame perfonage, had condefcended to become incarnate in his
perfon. “ However wild and extravagant” obferves Lord
Macartney, “ fuch a conceit may be regarded, we know from
\ , hiftory how much even the beft underftandings may be perverted
by proiperity, and that hiiman nature, not fatisfied
with the good things o f this world, fometimes wiihes to an-
“ ticipate the condition and felicity o f the next. I f Alexander
“ fcorned to own lefs than Jupiter Ammon for his father, i f
“ many Roman Emperors extorted altars and facrifices in-their
“ lifetime, £ even in the reign o f Queen Elizabeth, an Englilh
nobleman * encouraged the belief o f his defcent from a fwan,
K and was complimented in a dedication upon his. feathered
“ pedigree, a fimilar infatuation may be the lefs inexcufable in
“ Kien-Long, a monarch, the length and happinefs o f whofe
reign, the unlimited obedience o f whofe incalculable number
“ o f fubjeCts, and the health and vigour o f whofe body, have
“ hitherto kept out o f his view mod o f thofe circumftances
“ that are apt to remind other men o f their mifery and mor-
ti tality.” ■
T ill his laft illnefs he continued to rife at three o’clock in
the morning, both in winter and fummer. He ufually took fome
cordial to fortify his ftomach, and then repaired to his private
devotions at one o f his temples. After this he read the dif-
patches o f his great officers, both civil and military, who from
their different Rations were ordered to write to him direCUy,
, * D u ie o f •Buck'ingham. See the notes on this character ia Shafefpeao's Heney
V I I I . A f t i. Scene 2. ■ e ’
and
and not to the tribunals as had ufually been the cafe. About
feven he took his breakfaft o f tea, wines, and confedtionary,
when he tranfa&ed bufihefs with the firft minifter, confulting
with, or directing, him in the weighty matters o f Rate, previous
to their appearing in regular form before the refpe&ive departments
to which they belonged. He had then a kind o f levee,
which was ufually attended by the collaos, or minifters, and
the prefidents o f the departments or public boards. A t eleven
refrefliments were again ferved up and, after bufmefs was over,
he either amufed himfelf in the women’ s apartments, or walked
round his palace or gardens. Between three and four he ufually
dined, after which he retired to his private rooms and employed
himfelf in reading or writing till bed-time, which was always
regulated b y , and feldom later than, the fetting o f the fun.
He was fully perfuaded that his uninterrupted health was chiefly
owing to his early retiring to reft, and early riling ; an obfer-
vation, indeed, that in our country has grown into a maxim, and
maxims are generally grounded on truth. The late Lord Mansfield
made a point for many years o f enquiring from all the
aged perfons, that at any time appeared before him to give evidence,
into, their particular mode o f living, in order that he
might be able to form fome general conclufion with regard to
the caufes o f their longevity. The refult o f his obfervations was,
that he could draw no inference from their intemperance or ab-
ftemioufnefs with regard to diet or drinking, but that they
all agreed in one point, that o f being early rifers.
Tchien