HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
counted by them of high value. 
It was upwards of a foot in length, 
and curiously carved into a form 
intended to resemble a sceptre, 
such as is always placed upon the 
Imperial throne, and is considered 
as emblematic of prosperity and 
peace. During the repast, he sent 
them several dishes from his own 
table; and when it was over he 
sent for them, and with his own 
hands presented to them a goblet of 
warm Chinese wine, not unlike 
Madeira of an inferior quality. 
He asked the Ambassador the age 
of his own sovereign; of which 
being informed, he immediately 
replied, that he heartily wished 
him to equal himself in years, 
which had already amounted to 
eighty-three, and with as perfect 
health. He was indeed yet so 
hale and vigorous, that he scarcely 
appeared to have existed as many 
years (fifty-seven) as, in fact, he had 
governed the empire. When the 
festival was entirely over, and he 
descended from his throne, he 
marched firm and erect, and with- 
out the least symptom of infirmity, 
to the open chair that was waiting 
for him. 
Soon after the Ambassador’s re- 
turn home, he received from the 
Emperor presents of silks, porce- 
Jain, and tea for himself and all 
the gent'emen of his suite. Pre- 
sents were repeatedly sent to the 
Ambassadorand all his suite. Some 
small tokens of his Imperial Ma- 
jesty were given to the meanest 
servant of the embassy, and even 
to the common men, as well as 
officers, of the ships which had 
brought it to China. 
The Ambassador and his suite 
were invited on the day after his 
presentation, to the celebration of 
the anniversary of his Imperial Ma- 
[187 
jesty’s birth-day: a festivity which 
was continued for several success- 
ive days; during which, various 
entertainments were exhibited to 
advantage on the lawn, in the open 
air, before his Imperial Majesty’s 
great tent. 
After the festivities were over; 
the Tartar princes began to pre- 
pare for their return home; and 
soon after, the Ambassador, pre- 
ceded by the Emperor, returned to 
Pekin. 
On the whole, the embassy was 
conducted with the greatest pru- 
dence and propriety, decorum and 
dignity, by Lord Macartney ; nor 
did he neglect any means, by con- 
ferences with the prime minister, 
and otherwise, to effect his object: 
and it was received with all the 
politeness, pomp, and munificent 
hospitality that were to be expect- 
ed from a sovereign prince, whose 
character deservedly holds a high 
place in the long list of the Em- 
perors of China. But the end 
corresponded not with the means 
by which it was sought, nor yet 
with the flattering appeara:ices that 
seemed to promise its accomplish- 
ment. The inveterate jealousy of 
foreigners was heightened by re- 
cent reports. Ina war in 1791, 
in which the Emperor of China 
took part with the Lama, in oppo- 
‘sition to the Rajah of Napaul, it 
was represented at the court of 
Pekin, by the General who had 
commanded the forces in Thibet, 
and his officers, that the Chinese 
army had met with more resistance, 
and suffered greater losses than 
could have been foreseen from 
such an enemy as was expected to 
be encountered. ‘They had per- 
ceived hats, they said, as well as 
turbans, among their enemies; Eu- 
ropean troops and European disci- 
pline ; 
