riianage, than tho'fe which bring man to oppofe h im fe lfin
clofe conteft with man.
Although the Tartars have found it expedient to continue
the Chinefe army on the old footing, it may naturally be fup-
pofed they would endeavour to fecure themfelves by all poflible
means in the poffeffion o f this vaft empire, and that they would
ufe every exertion to recruit the army with their own countrymen,
in preference to the Chinefe. Every Tartar male
child is accordingly enrolled. This precaution was neceflary,
as their whole army, at the time o f the conquefl, is faid not to
have exceeded eighty thoufand men. A t this time, in fa£t, a
weak adminiftration had fuffered the empire to be torn afunder
by convulfions. Every department, both civil and military,
was under the control o f eunuchs. Six thoufand o f thefe creatures
are faid to have been turned adrift by the Tartars on
taking pofleffion o f the palace in Pekin.
T he condudt o f the Mantchoo Tartars, whofe race is now
on the throne, was a mafter-piece o f policy little to be expected
in a tribe o f people that had been confidered but as half
civilized. T h e y entered the Chinefe dominions as auxiliaries
againft two rebel chiefs, but foon perceived they might become
the principals. Having placed their leader on the vacant
throne, inftead o f fetting up for conquerors, they melted at
once into the mafs o f the conquered. T h e y adopted the drefs,
the manners, and the opinions o f the people. .In all. the civil
departments o f the ftate they appointed the ableft Chinefe,
and all vacancies were filled with Chinefe in preference to
Tartars.
Tartars. The y learned the Chinefe language ; married iW,0
Chinefe families; encouraged Chinefe fu p e r ft it io n s a n d * ,in
ihort, omitted no ftep that could tend to incorporate them
as one nation. Their great objeCt was to ftrengthen the army
with their own countrymen, whilft the Chinefe were fo fatis-
fied with the change, that they almoft doubted whether a change
had really taken place. '
The uninterrupted fucceffion o f four Emperors, all o f whofn
were endowed with excellent underftandings, uncommon vigour
o f mind, and decifion o f character, has hitherto obviated the
danger o f fuch an enormous difproportion between the governors
and the governed. T he wifdom, prudence, and energy
o f thefe Emperors have not only maintained thé family on
the throne, the fifth o f which now fills it, but have enlarged
the dominions to an extent o f which hiftory furnifhes no parallel.
Thé prefent Emperor, Kia-king, is faid to poifefs the
learning and prudence o f his father, and the fitmnefs o f Kaung-
Sbee ; but it is probable he will have a more difficult tafk in
governing the empire than either o f his predeceffors. In proportion
as the Tartar power has increafed, they have become
lefs folicitous to conciliate the Chinefe. A ll the beads o f departments
are now Tartars. The minifters are all Tartars ; and
moft o f the offices of high truft and power are filled b y Tartars.
And although the ancient language o f the country is ftillpre-
ferved as the court language, yet it is more than probable that
Tartar pride, encreafing with its growing power, will ere long
be induced to adopt its own.
The