was written in the Tartar, Chinefe, and Latin languages, from
the laft o f which, as rendered by the miffionaries, the following
is a literal tranflation. T he contents were addreffed to the
Council o f India, but on the outfide wrapper, “ To-the King o f
« Holland.” It may ferve at the fame time as a fpecimen o f
Chinefe compofition.
“ I have received from heaven the fceptre o f this vaft empire.
« I have reigned for iixty years with glory and happinefs ; and
“ have eftabliihed the moft profound peace upon the four
‘ ‘ feas* o f the faid empire, to the benefit o f the nations bor-
“ dering upon them. The fame o f my majefty and proofs o f
11 my magnificence have found their way into every part o f the
« world, and they conftitute the pride and the pleafure o f my
“ vaft domains.
“ I confider my own happy empire, and other kingdoms,
« as one and the fame family ; the princes and the people are,
« in my eye, the fame men. I condefcend to ihed my bleifings
« over all, ftrangers as well as natives ; and there is no country,
“ however diftant, that has not received inftances o f my bene-
“ yolence. Thus, all nations fend to do me homage, and to
ti congratulate me inceffantly. New and fucceflive. Embailadors
« arrive, fome drawn in chariots over land, and others traverfe,
« in their iliips, the imipenfity o f the feas. In fact, I attend
* This expreffion alludes to the ancient opinion that China was fin-rounded by the fea,
and that the reft'of the wotld was made up of ¡Hands. Yet though they- now poflefs a
tolerable notion of geography, fuchis their inveterate adherence to ancient opinion, that
they prefer retaining the moft abfard error«, rather than change one fijigle fentiment or
expreffion that Confucius has written.
« to
« to nothing but the good adminiftration o f my empire. I feel
« a lively jo y in obferving the anxiety with which they flock
“ together from every quarter to contemplate and admire the
« wife adminiftration o f my government. I experience the
“ moft agreeable fatisfadlion in participating my happinefs
« with foreign ftates. I applaud therefore yqur government,
“ which, although feparated from mine by an immenfe ocean,
« has not failed to fend me congratulatory letters, accompanied
« with tributary offerings.
« Having perufed your letters, B obferve that they contain
h nothing but what I confider as authentic teftimonies o f your
« great veneration for me, from whence I conclude that you
“ admire my mode o f governing. In fa<3:, you have great
“ reafon to applaud me. Since you have carried on
“ your trade at Canton, (and it is now many years,) ftrangers
« have always been well treated in my empire; and they have
“ individually been the obje&s o f my love and affeition. I
« might call to witnefs the Portuguefe, the Italians, the Engliih,
“ and others o f the fame fort o f nations, who are all equally
« efteemed by me, and have all prefented me with pre-
« cious gifts. A ll have been treated, on my part, after tha
“ fame manner, and without any partiality. I give abundantly
“ even when thofe things I received from them are o f no
« value. M y manner o f doing thefe things is undoubtedly
« known in your country.
« Concerning your Embaffador, he is not, properly fpeaking,
« fent by his K in g ; but you, who are a company o f merchants*
« have