278 CGCHINCHINA. 
the cold bath. At seven he has his levee of Mandarins : all 
the letters are read which have been received in the course of 
the preceding day, on which his orders are minuted by the 
respective secretaries. He then proceeds to the naval ar- 
senal, examines tlie works that have been performed in his 
absence, rows in his barge round the harbour, inspecting his 
ships of war. He pays particular attention to the ordnance 
department ; and in the foundery, which is erected within the 
arsenal, cannon are cast of all dimensions. 
About twelve or one he takes his breakfast in the dock- 
yard, which consists of a little boiled rice and dried fish. At 
two he retires to his apartment and sleeps till five, when he 
again rises ; gives audience to the naval and military officers, 
the heads of tribunals or public departments, and approves, 
rejects, or amends whatever they may have to propose. 
These affairs of state generally employ his attention till mid- 
night, after which he retires to his private apartments, to 
make such notes and memorandums as the occurrences of the 
day may have suggested. He then takes a light supper, 
passes an hour with his family, and between two and three 
in the morning retires to his bed ; taking, in this manner, at 
two intervals, about six hours of rest in the four-and- 
twenty. 
He neither makes use of Chinese wine, nor any kind of 
spirituous liquors, and contents himself with a very small 
portion of animal food. A little fish, rice, vegetables and 
fruit, with tea and light pastry, constitute the chief articles of 
his diet. Like a true Chinese descended, as he boasts to be. 
