wifdom of the Eaft. But hearing of my adventures, and incited by filial piety, he was refolved to follow my fortunes, and fhare my distress.

He paffed the confines of China in difguife; hired himself as a camel-driver to a caravan that was croffing the defarts of Thibet, and was within one day's journey of the river Laur, which divides that country from India, when a body of wandering Tartars falling unexpectedly upon the caravan, plundered it, and made those who escaped their first fury flaves. By thofe he was led into the extenfive and defolate regions that border on the fhores of the Aral lake.

Here he lived by hunting; and was obliged to fupply every day a certain proportion of the spoil to regale his favage masters; his learning, his virtues, and even his beauty, were qualifications that no way served to recommend him; they knew no merit but that of providing large quantities of milk and raw flesh; and were fenfible of no happiness but that of rioting on the undreffed meal.

Some merchants from Mefched, how ever, coming to trade with the Tartars for flaves, he was fold among the number, and led into the kingdom of Perfia, where he is now detained. He is there obliged to watch the looks of a voluptuous and cruel mafter, a man fond of pleasure, yet incapable of refinement, whom many years fervice in war has taught pride, but not bravery.

That treasure which I ftill keep within my bofom, my child, my all that was left to me, is now a flave*. Good heavens! why was this? Why have I been introduced into this mortal apartment, to be a spectator of my own miffortunes, and the misfortunes of my fellow-creatures! Wherever I turn, what a labyrinth of doubt, error, and difappointment appears! Why was I brought into being; for what purposes made; from whence have I come; whither

It

ftrayed; or to what regions am I hastening?-Reafon cannot refolve. lends a ray to fhew the horrors of my prifon, but not a light to guide me to efcape them. Ye boafted revelations of the earth, how little do you aid the enquiry!

How am I furprised at the inconfiftency of the magi! their two principles of good and evil affright me. The Indian who bathes his vifage in urine, and calls it piety, ftrikes me with astonishment. The Christian who believes in three gods is highly abfurd. The Jews who pretend that deity is pleafed with the effufion of blood, are not lefs difpleafing. I am equally furprized that rational beings can come from the extremities of the earth, in order to kiss a ftone, or scatter pebbles. How contrary to reafon are those! and yet all pretend to teach me to be happy.

Surely all men are blind and ignorant of truth. Mankind wanders, unknowing his way, from morning till the evening. Where fhall we turn after happinefs; or is it wifeft to defift from the purfuit? Like reptiles in a corner of fome ftupendous palace, we peep from our holes, look about us, wonder at all we fee, but are ignorant of the great Architect's defign. O for a revelation of himself, for a plan of his univerfal fyftem! O for the reafons of our creation; or why we were created to be thus unhappy! If we are to experience no other felicity but what this life affords, then are we miferable indeed. If we are born only to look about us, repine, and die; then has Heaven been guilty of injuftice. If this life terminates my existence, I defpife the bleffings of Providence, and the wifdom of the Giver. If this life be my all, let the following epitaph be written on the tomb of AItangi. By my father's crimes I received this. By my own crimes I bequeath it to pofterity!'

LETTER

YET

ET, while I fometimes lament the cafe of humanity, and the depravity of human nature, there now and then appear gleams of greatnefs that ferve to relieve the eye oppreffed with the hideous profpect, and resemble those cultivated fpots that are fometimes found in the midst of an Afiatic wildness. I fee many fuperior excellencies among the English, which it is not in the power of all their follies to hide: I fee virtues, which in other countries are known only to a few, practifed here by every rank of people.

I know not whether it proceeds from their fuperior opulence that the English are more charitable than the rest of man

kind; whether, by being poffelfed of all the conveniencies of life themfelves, they have more leifure to perceive the uncafy fituation of the diftrefled; whatever be the motive, they are not only the moft charitable of any other nation, but most judicious in diftinguishing the propereft objects of compaffion.

In other countries the giver is generally influenced by the immediate impulfe of pity; his generofity is exerted as much to relieve his own uneafy fenfations, as to comfort the object in diftrefs: in England benefactions are of a more general nature; fome men of fortune and univerfal benevolence propofe the proper objects; the wants and the merits of the petitioners are canvaffed by the people; neither paffion nor pity find a place in the cool difcuffion; and charity is then only exerted when it has received the approbation of reafon.

A late instance of this finely directed benevolence forces itself #trongly on my imagination, that it in a manner reconciles me to pleafure, and once more makes ine the univerfal friend of man.

The English and French have not only political reafons to induce them to mutual hatred, but often the more prevailing motive of private intereft to widen the breach; a war between other countries is carried on collectively, army fights against army, and a man's own private refentment is loft in that of the community; but in England and France

the individuals of each country plunder each other at fea without redrefs, and confequently feel that animofity against each other which paffengers do at a robber. They have for fome time carried on an expenfive war; and several captives have been taken on both fides. Thofe made prifoners by the French have been used with cruelty, and guarded with unneceffary caution.. Those taken by the English, being much more numerous, were confined in the ordinary manner; and, not being releafed by their countrymen, began to feel all thofe inconveniencies which arife from want of covering and long confinement.

Their countrymen were informed of their deplorable fituation; but they, more intent on annoying their enemies than relieving their friends, refused the leaft affiftance. The English now faw thousands of their fellow-creatures itarying in every prison, forsaken by those whofe duty it was to protect them, labouring with difeafe, and without cloaths to keep off the feverity of the feafon. National benevolence prevailed over national animofity: their prifoners were indeed enemies, but they were enemies in diftrefs; they ceafed to be hateful, when they no longer continued to be formidable: forgetting, therefore, their national hatred, the men who were brave enough to conquer, were generous enough to forgive: and they, whom all the world feemed to have difclaimed, at laft found pity and redress from those they attempted to fubdue. A fubfcription was opened, ample charities collected, proper neceffaries procured, and the poor gay fons of a merry nation were once more taught to refume their former gaiety.

When I caft my eye over the lift of thofe who contributed on this occafion, I find the names almost entirely English; fcarce one foreigner appears among the number. It was for Englishmen alone to be capable of fuch exalted virtue. É own, I cannot look over this catalogue of good men and philofophers, without thinking better of myself, because it makes me entertain a more favourable

opinion

opinion of mankind. I am particularly ftruck with one who writes these words upon the paper that enclofed his benefaction: The mite of an Englishman, a citizen of the world, to Frenchmen, prifoners of war, and naked.' I only with that he may find as much pleafure from his virtues, as I have done in reflecting upon them; that alone will amply reward him. Such a one, my friend, is an honour to human nature; he makes no private diftinctions of party; all that are ftamped with the divine image of their Creator are friends to him; he is a native of the world;' and the Emperor of China may be proud that he has Tuch a countryman.

To rejoice at the deftruction of our enemies, is a foible grafted upon human nature, and we must be permitted to indulge it: the true way of atoning for fuch an ill-founded pleafure, is thus to turn our triumph into an act of benevolence, and to teftify our own joy by endeavouring to banish anxiety from others.

Hamti, the best and wifeft emperor that ever filled the throne, after having gained three fignal victories over the Tartars, who had invaded his dominions, returned to Nankin in order to enjoy the glory of his conquest. After he had refted for fome days, the people, who are naturally fond of proceflions, impatiently expected the triumphant entry, which emperors upon fuch occafions

HATEVER

were accustomed to make. Their murmurs came to the emperor's ear. He loved his people, and was willing to do all in his power to fatisfy their juft defires. He therefore affured them, that he intended, upon the next feast of the Lauthorns, to exhibit one of the most glorious triumphs that had ever been feen in China.

The people were in raptures at his condefcenfion; and, on the appointed day, affembled at the gates of the palace with the most eager expectations. Here they waited for fome time without feeing any of thofe preparations which ufually precede a pageant. The lanthorn, with ten thousand tapers, was not yet brought forth; the fire-works, which ufually covered the city walls, were not yet lighted; the people once more began to murmur at this delay; when, in the midst of their impatience, the palace gates flew open, and the emperor himfelf appeared, not in fplendour or magnificence, but in an ordinary habit, followed by the blind, the maimed, and the ftrangers of the city, all in new cloaths, and each carrying in his hand money enough to fupply his neceffities for the year. The people were at first amazed, but foon perceived the wisdom of their king, who taught them, that to make one man happy, was more truly great than having ten thousand captives groaning at the wheels of his chariot. Adieu.

may

be the me

ledge of a bedfellow, or hindrance of

When I confider the affiduity of this profeffion, their benevolence amazes me. They not only in general give their medicines for half value, but use the most perfuafive remontrances to induce the fick to come and be cured. Sure there must be something ftrangely obftinate in an English patient, who refufes to niuch health upon fuch eafy terms. Does he take a pride in being bloated with a dropfy? Does he find pleasure in the alternations of an intermittent fever? Or feel as much fatisfaction in nurfing up his gout, as he found pleafure in acquiring it? He muft, otherwife he would never

reject

reject fuch repeated affurances of inftant relief. What can be more convincing than the manner in which the fick are invited to be well? The doctor firft begs the most earnest attention of the public to what he is going to propofe; he solemnly affirms the pill was never found to want fuccefs; he produces a lift of thofe who have been refcued from the grave by taking it. Yet, notwithstanding all this, there are many here who now and then think proper to be fick; only fick, did I fay? There are some who even think proper to die! Yes, by the head of Confucius, they die; though they might have purchafed the healthreftoring fpecific for half a crown at every corner.

I am amazed, my dear Fum Hoam, that these doctors, who know what an obftinate set of people they have to deal with, have never thought of attempting to revive the dead. When the living are found to reject their prefcriptions, they ought in confcience to apply to the dead, from whom they can expect no fuch mortifying repulfes; they would find in the dead the most complying patients imaginable; and what gratitude might they not expect from the patient's fon, now no longer an heir; and his wife, now no longer a widow?

Think not, my friend, that there is any thing chimerical in such an attempt; they already perform cures equally Atrange: What can be more truly aftonishing than to fee old age reftored to youth, and vigour to the most feeble conftitutions? Yet this is performed

I

here every day; a fimple electuary ef fects these wonders, even without the bungling ceremonies of having the patient boiled up in a kettle, or ground down in a mill.

Few phyficians here go through the ordinary courfes of education, but receive all their knowledge of medicine by immediate infpiration from Heaven. Some are thus infpired even in the womb; and, what is very remarkable, underftand their profeffion as well at three years old as at threefcore. Others have spent a great part of their lives unconfcious of any latent excellence, till a bankruptcy, or a refidence in gaol, have called their miraculous powers into exertion. And others ftill there are, indebted to their fuperlative ignorance alone for fuccefs. The more ignorant the practitioner, the lefs capable is he thought of deceiving. The people here judge, as they do in the East; whit is thought abfolutely requifite nat a man should be an ideot before he pretend to be either a conjuror or a doctor.

When a physician by infpiration is fent for, he never perplexes the patient by previous examination; he afks very few questions, and those only for form fake. He adminifters the pill or drop for every distemper; nor is more inquifitive than the farrier when he drenches an horfe. If the patient lives, then has he one more to add to his furviving list; if he dies, then it may be justly faid of the patient's diforder, that as it was not cured, the disorder was incurable,"

Was fome days ago in company with a politician, who very pathetically declaimed upon the miferable fituation of his country: he affured me, that the whole political machine was moving in a wrong track, and that fcarce even abilities like his own could ever fet it right again. What have we,' faid he, to do with the wars on the Continent? we are a commercial nation; we have only to cultivate commerce like our neighbours the Dutch; it is our bufinefs to encrease ⚫ trade by settling new colonies: riches

are the ftrength of a nation; and for the reft, our fhips, our hips alone, will protect us.' I found it vain to oppofe my feeble arguments to thofe of a man who thought himself wife enough to direct even the miniftry; I fancied, however, that I saw with more certainty, because I reasoned without prejudice: I therefore begged leave, instead of argument, to relate a fhort hiftory. He gave me a fimile at once of condefcenfion and contempt, and I proceeded as follows to defcribe, THE RISE AND DECLENSION OF THE KINGDOM OF LAO.

NORTH,

N ORTHWARD of China, and in one of the doublings of the great wall, the fruitful province of Lao enjoyed it's liberty, and a peculiar government of it's own. As the inhabitants were on all fides furrounded by the wall, they fear ed no fudden invafion from the Tartars; and being each poffeffed of property, they were zealous in it's defence.

:

The natural confequences of fecurity, and affluence in any country, is a love of pleasure; when the wants of nature are fupplied, we feek after the conveniencies; when poffeffed of thefe, we defire the luxuries of life; and when every luxury is provided, it is then ambition takes up the man, and leaves him ftill fomething to with for the inhabitants of the country, from primitive fimplicity, foon began to aim at elegance, and from elegance proceeded to refinement. It was now found abfolutely requifite, for the good of the ftate, that the people fhould be divided: formerly the fame hand that was employed in tilling the ground, or in dreffing up the manufactures, was alfo, in time of need, a foldier; but the custom was now changed; for it was perceived, that a man bred up from childhood to the arts either of peace or war, became more eminent by this means in his refpective profeffion. The inhabitants were there fore now diftinguished into artizans and foldiers; and while thofe improved the luxuries of life, thefe watched for the fecurity of the people.

A country poffeffed of freedom has always two forts of enemies to fear: foreign foes, who attack it's existence from without; and internal miscreants, who betray it's liberties within. The inhabitants of Lao were to guard against both. A country of artizans were most likely to preferve internal liberty; and a nation of foldiers were fittest to repel a foreign invasion. Hence naturally arofe a divifion of opinion between the artizans and foldiers of the kingdom. The artizans ever complaining, that freedom was threatened by an armed internal force, were for difbanding the foldiers, and infifted that their walls, their walls alone, were fufficient to repel the most formidable invafion: the warriors, on the contrary, reprefented the power of the neighbouring kings, the combinations formed againft their ftate, and the weakness of the wall which every earthquake might overturn. While

this altercation continued, the kingdom might be justly faid to enjoy it's greatest fhare of vigour every order in the state, by being watchful over each other, contributed to diffufe happiness equally, and balanced the ftate. The arts of peace flourished, nor were thofe of war neglected; the neighbouring powers, who had nothing to apprehend from the ambition of men whom they only faw folicitous not for riches but freedom, were contented to traffic with them: they fent their goods to be manufactured in Lao, and paid a large price for them upon their return.

By thefe means this people at length became moderately rich, and their opulence naturally invited the invader; a Tartar prince led an immenfe army against them, and they as bravely stood up in their own defence; they were still infpired with a love of their country; they fought the barbarous enemy with fortitude, and gained a compleat victory.

From this moment, which they regarded as the completion of their glory, hiftorians date their downfall. They had rifen in ftrength by a love of their country, and fell by indulging ambition. The country poffefssed by the invading Tartars, feemed to them a prize that would not only render them more formidable for the future, but which would encrease their opulence for the prefent; it was unanimously refolved, therefore, both by foldiers and artizans, that thofe defolate regions fhould be peopled by colonies from Lao. When a trading nation begins to act the conqueror, it is then perfectly undone: it fubfifts in fome measure by the support of it's neighbours; while they continue to regard it without envy or apprehenfion, trade may flourish; but when once it prefumes to affert as it's right what is only enjoyed as a favour, each country reclaims that part of commerce which it has power to take back, and turns it into fome other channel more honourable, though perhaps lefs convenient.

Every neighbour now began to regard with jealous eyes this ambitious com monwealth, and forbade their fubjects any future interccurfe with them. The inhabitants of Lao, however, still purfued the fame ambitious maxims; it was from their colonies alone they expected riches; and riches,' faid they, are ftrength, and ftrength is fecurity." F Numberless