of the Chinese Empire. 359 
lightened by a long hierarchy of authorities, circulates equally 
among all ranks*. It is there that the citizens of all classes, 
chained to the chief of the state by an immutable order of things, 
obey him implicitly as children do their father. Thousands of 
centuries have elapsed, and the national character has experiencd 
no sensible alteration. Its constancy is that of the climate. 
This beautiful feature, which embraces~all institutions and all 
interests, commands so much the more admiration and respect, 
that the most ferocious conqueror has always bowed his head, 
and lowered his spear, when he contemplated it. 
The Chinese government recompenses useful labours and vir- 
tuous actions by the highest dignities. This noble and rare jus- 
tice is the principle of reciprocal confidence between the prince 
and his subjects, and consequently one of the causes of the du- 
ration of the empire and the government. 
Some philosophers have deplored the lot of the Chinese, go- 
verned by a despotic power; but these critics do not see that the 
real despot is the climate. They do not see that this despotism 
is justified by a constant and paternal beneficence ; that nature 
prescribes to it at the same time duties and limits ; and that the 
history of the empire, written from day to day under the eyes of 
the prince by incorruptible magistrates, incessantly presents the 
faithful picture of his life and the judgement of posterity. 
The Chinese are also reproached with the vilest cruelty, and 
the barbarous custom of arresting by infanticide the too rapid 
progress of population. 
In condemning such usages let me be permitted to observe, that 
the severity of punishments in China is a necessary consequence 
of despotism, as despotism is in its turn a consequence of the in- 
fluence of the climate; and that is moderated perhaps too much 
by the power of getting rid of it, by paying contributions gra- 
duated according to the magnitude of the crime and the wealth 
of the criminal. 
As to the exposure of new-born infants, it has been tolerated 
only under circumstances which compromised the safety of the 
state: it has never been expressly permitted: it would be even 
punished, if the fathers, whose extreme poverty dictates such bar- 
barous sacrifices, did not elude the vigilance of the magistrates. 
Let us not judge the Chinese according to our learned opi- 
nions and refined abstractions: the former keep within bounds, 
they cid not fall into error from going too far; but we, audacious 
reasoners, sometimes leave truth behind to run after brilliant 
theories. 
* Such at least is the spirit of the institutions and regime of China. 
Z4 In 
