the capital city of the empire of China, in Asia, where the emperor generally resides. It is situated in a very fertile plain, 20 leagues distant from the great wall. This name, which signifies the northern court, is given to it, to distinguish it from another considerable city called Nanking, or the southern court. The emperor formerly resided in the latter; but the Tartars, a restless and warlike people, obliged this prince to remove his court to the northern provinces, that he might more effectually repel the incursions of those barbarians, by exposing to them a numerous militia which he generally keeps around his person. It is an exact square, and divided into two parts; namely, that which contains the emperor's palace, which is in the new city, or, as it is called, the Tartar's city, because it is inhabited by Tartars ever since they conquered this empire; the other, called the Old City, is inhabited by the Chinese. The circuit of both these together is 52 Chinese li, each of which contains 240 geometrical paces; being, without the suburbs, full six leagues in circumference, according to the most accurate measurement made by order of the emperor.

Those who have paid attention to the population of this place, reckon the number of inhabitants at 2,000,000, though there are others that double that number.

Grotius tells us, "that the height and enormous thickness of the walls of the Tartar city excite admiration; twelve horsemen might easily ride abreast upon them; they have spacious towers raised at intervals, a bow-shot distant from one another, and large enough to contain bodies of reserve in case of necessity. The city has nine gates, which are lofty and well arched. Over them are large pavilion-roofed towers divided into nine stories, each having several apertures or port-holes: the lower story forms a large hall for the use of the soldiers and officers who quit guard, and those appointed to relieve them. Before each gate a space is left of more than 360 feet: this is a kind of place of arms, inclosed by a semicircular wall equal in height and thickness to that surrounding the city. The great road, which ends here, is commanded by a pavilion-roofed tower like the first, in such manner, that, as the cannon of the former can batter the houses of the city, those of the latter can sweep the adjacent country. The streets of Pekin are straight, about 120 feet wide, a full league in length, and bordered with shops. It is astonishing to see the immense concourse of people that continually fills them, and the confusion caused by the prodigious number of horses, camels, mules, and carriages, which cross or meet each other. Besides this inconvenience, one is every now and then stopped by crowds, who stand listening to fortune tellers, jugglers, ballad-singers, and a thousand other mountebanks and buffoons, who read and relate stories calculated to promote mirth and laughter, or distribute medicines, the wonderful effects of which they explain with all the eloquence peculiar to them.

"People of distinction oblige all their dependents to follow them. A mandarin of the first rank is always accompanied in his walks by his whole tribunal; and, to augment his equipage, each of the inferior mandarins in his suit is generally attended by several domestics. The nobility of the court, and princes of the blood, never appear in public without being surrounded by a large body of cavalry; and, as their presence is required at the palace every day, their train alone would be sufficient to create confusion in the city. It is very singular, that in all this prodigious concourse no women are ever seen: hence we may judge how great the population of China must be, since the number of females in this country, as well as everywhere else, is superior to that of the other sex.

"As there is a continual influx of the riches and merchandize of the whole empire into this city, the number of strangers that resort hither is immense. They are carried in chairs, or ride on horseback; the latter is more common; but they are always attended by a guide, acquainted with the streets, and who Pekin knows the houses of the nobility and principal people of the city. They are also provided with a book containing an account of the different quarters, squares, remarkable places, and of the residence of those in public offices. In summer there are to be seen small temporary shops, where people are served with water cooled by means of ice; and one finds everywhere eating-houses, with refreshments of tea and fruits. Each kind of provision has a certain day and place appointed for its being exposed to sale.

"The governor of Pekin, who is a Manchew Tartar, is styled Governor of the Nine Gates. His jurisdiction extends not only over the soldiers, but also over the people in every thing that concerns the police. No police can be more active; and it is surprising to see, among an infinite number of Tartars and Chinese mixed together, the greatest tranquillity prevail. It is rare, in a number of years, to hear of houses being robbed, or people assassinated. All the principal streets have guard-rooms, and soldiers patrol night and day, each having a sabre hanging from his girdle, and a whip in his hand, to correct, without distinction, those who excite quarrels or cause disorder. The lanes are guarded in the same manner; and have latticed gates, which do not prevent those from being seen who walk in them: they are always kept shut during the night, and seldom opened even to those who are known; if they are, the person to whom this indulgence is granted must carry a lanthorn, and give a sufficient reason for his going out. In the evening, as soon as the soldiers are warned to their quarters by beat of drum, two centinels go and come from one guard-room to another, making a continual noise with a kind of casket, to show that they are not asleep. They permit no one to walk abroad in the night-time. They even examine those whom the emperor dispatches on business; and if their reply gives the least cause of suspicion, they have a right to convey them to the guard-room. The soldiers in each of the guard-rooms are obliged to answer every time the centinels on duty call out.

"It is by these wise regulations, observed with the greatest strictness, that peace, silence, and safety reign throughout the whole city. The governor is also obliged to go the round; and the officers stationed on the walls, and in the towers over the gates (in which are kept large kettle-drums that are beat every time the guard is relieved), are continually dispatching subalterns to examine the quarters belonging to the gates where they are posted. The least neglect is punished next morning, and the officer who was on guard is cashiered. This police, which prevents nocturnal assemblies, would appear no doubt extraordinary in Europe, and in all probability would not be much relished by our young men of fortune and ladies of quality. But the Chinese think justly: they consider it to be the duty of the magistrates of a city to prefer good order and public tranquillity to vain amusements, which generally occasion many attempts against the lives and property of the citizens. It is true, the support of this police costs the emperor a great deal; for part of the soldiers we have mentioned are maintained for this purpose only. They are all infantry, and their pay is generally very high. Their employment consists not only in watching for those who may occasion disturbance in the daytime, or walk abroad during the night; they must also take care that the streets are kept clean and swept every day; that they are watered morning and evening in time of dry weather; and that every nuisance is removed. They have orders also to assist in this labour themselves; and to clear the kennels, that the water may have a free course."

The walls of the emperor's palace, including that and the gardens, are about two miles in length.

"Although (says Groffier) the Chinese architecture has no resemblance to that of Europe, the imperial palace of Pekin does not fail to strike beholders by its extent, grandeur, and the regular disposition of its apartments, and by the singular structure of its pavilion-roofs, ornamented at each corner with a carved plinth, the lower extremity of which is turned upwards. These roofs are covered with varnished tiles of so beautiful a yellow colour, that, at a distance, they make as splendid an appearance as if they were gilted. Below the upper roof there is another of equal brilliancy, which hangs sloping from the wall, supported by a great number of beams, daubed over with green varnish, and interspersed with gilt figures. This second roof, with the projection of the first, forms a kind of crown to the whole edifice. The palace is a small distance from the south gate of the Tartar city. The entrance to it is through a spacious court, to which there is a descent by a marble staircase, ornamented with two large copper lions, and a balustrade of white marble. This balustrade runs in the form of a horseshoe, along the banks of a rivulet, that winds across the palace with a serpentine course, the bridges over which are of marble. At the bottom of this first court arises a façade with three doors: that in the middle is for the emperor only; the mandarins and nobles pass through those on each side. These doors conduct to a second court, which is the largest of the palace: it is about 300 feet in length, and 50 in breadth. An immense gallery runs round it, in which are magazines, containing rich effects, which belong to the emperor as his private property; for the public treasure is entrusted to a sovereign tribunal called Houpon. The first of these magazines is filled with plate and vessels of different metals; the second contains the finest kinds of furs; the third, dresses lined with sable, ermine, miniver, and foxes skins, which the emperor sometimes gives in presents to his officers; the fourth is the depository of jewels, pieces of curious marble, and pearls fished up in Tartary; the fifth, consisting of two stories, is full of war-trophies and trunks, which contain the silk stuffs used by the emperor and his family; the rest are filled with bows, arrows, and other pieces of armour taken from the enemy or presented by different princes.

"The royal hall, called Tai-hoien, or the Hall of the Grand Union, is in this second court. It is built upon a terrace about 18 feet in height, incrustated with white marble, and ornamented with balustrades of excellent workmanship. Before this hall all the mandarins range themselves, when they go, on certain days, to renew their homage, and perform those ceremonies that are appointed by the laws of the empire. This hall is almost square, and about 130 feet in length. The ceiling is carved, varnished green, and loaded with gilt dragons. The pillars which support the roof within are six feet in circumference towards the base, and are coated with a kind of mastich varnished red; the floor is partly covered with coarse carpets, after the Turkish manner; but the walls have no kind of ornament, neither tapestry, lustres, nor paintings.

"The throne, which is in the middle of the hall, consists of a pretty high alcove, exceedingly neat. It has no inscription but the character ching, which the authors of this relation have interpreted by the word holy: but it has not always this signification; for it answers better sometimes to the Latin word eximius, or the English words excellent, perfect, most wise. Upon the platform opposite to this hall stand large vessels of bronze, in which incense is burnt when any ceremony is performing. There are also chandeliers shaped like birds and painted different colours, as well as the wax-candles that are lighted up in them. This platform is extended towards the north, and has on it two lesser halls; one of them is a rotunda that glitters with varnish, and is lighted by a number of windows. It is here that the emperor changes his dress before or after any ceremony. The other is a saloon, the door of which opens to the north: through this door the emperor must pass, when he goes from his apartment to receive on his throne the homage of the nobility; he is then carried in a chair, by officers dressed in long red robes bordered with silk, and caps ornamented with plumes of feathers. It would be difficult to give an exact description of the interior apartments which properly form the palace of the emperor, and are set apart for the use of his family. Few are permitted to enter them but women and eunuchs."

The temples and the towers of this city are so numerous, that it is difficult to count them. Provisions of all kinds are exceeding plentiful, they being, as well as the merchandises, brought from other parts by means of canals cut from the rivers, and always crowded with vessels of different sizes, as well as from the adjacent country. An earthquake which happened here in 1731 buried above 100,000 persons in the ruins of the houses which were thrown down. E. Long. 116. 41. N. Lat. 39. 54.

We have already, under the article Observatory, mentioned the famous observatory in this city, of which we shall give this further account from the Universal History. "The Chinese had thought nothing in the universe could equal in magnificence this famous place; and one of the most celebrated mathematicians of the royal academy of Paris hath made no scruple to represent it as one of the greatest prodigies of art and ingenuity, of beauty and magnificence; and yet, when this celebrated structure came to be viewed by more proper and unbiased judges, it appears to have been of little worth as to its ancient machines, and less as to its situation; and that all that is now valuable in it is owing to the improvements made by Father Verbicet."