269 
But all these pleasing qualities are eclipsed by his great 
self-love, pride, and distrust, which unfortunately have even 
increased since the British Government has kept up an inter- 
course with him. He has little gratitude for friendship shown 
him, because he looks upon it as his rightful due; heis some- 
times generous, and even capable of giving largely and 
granting unexpected favours, but at other times his avarice is 
most sordid and degrading; he is incapable of appreciating 
and rewarding merit, and pretends to be surprised at nothing; 
—a quality that he has in common with all his subjects... In 
spite of all this, Europeans may always reckon on receiving 
support from him, both in the way of commerce and protec-. 
tion: he gives them much encouragement, and never sends 
them dissatisfied away. 
He is beloved, or, rather, beld i in respect Md awe by his 
people, who seek to please him even in their smallest actions; 
they will sacrifice every thing to obtain his favour, and a per- 
son who is graciously looked upon by the sovereign is sure 
to be equally so by his own countrymen. The greatest crimes 
do not exclude such a man from the society of others, who 
all court his friendship and seek his company: while, on the 
other hand, the unhappy being who has fallen under the 
royal displeasure, is forsaken by those who seemed most 
devoted to him, and only those who are similarly situated will 
venture toapproach him; even his own family nolonger regard- 
"ing him as heretofore. Thus the flatterers of the monarch will 
even destroy their own children if they have offended him or 
transgressed his laws; and children have been known to ask to 
be the executioners of their own parents for the most trifling 
actions, which they only pretend to view as criminal with 
the hope to please the King, by enia their zeal for bis 
service, 
The King is the icis master of every. sdb it. inte 
who judges, commands, and gives sentence; he makes war, 
and regulates all the affairs of state; his ministers only are 
authorised to settle minor affairs; the code of laws is in the 
King’s own mind, and his word on Me extends 
to the life and death of his subjects. ^ gd 
