44* c H 
a great extent of the frontiers of this empire: the fea bor¬ 
ders fix of the provinces ; but it is fo (hallow towards the 
fhore, that large vefiels cannot approach it: inacceflible 
mountains cover it on the weft, and the remaining part 
is defended by the great wall. 
This ftupendous monument of human art and induf- 
try, exceeds every thing that we read of in ancient or 
modern hiftory. The pyramids of Egypt are little, when 
compared with a wall which covers, three large provinces, 
ftreeehes along an extent of fifteen hundred miles, and is 
of fuch an enormous thicknefs, that fix horfemen may 
ride a-breaft upon it. It is flanked with towers, two 
bow-fhots diftant one from the other, which add to its 
ftrength, and render it much eafier to be defended. One- 
third part of the able-bodied men of China were em¬ 
ployed in conftrudiing this wall, and the workmen were 
ordered, under pain of death, to place the materials of 
which it is compofed fo clofely, that the leaft entrance 
might not be left for any inftrument of pointed iron. 
This precaution contributed much to the folidity of the 
work, which is ftill in a great meafure entire, though 
built upwards of two thoufand years ago. This cele¬ 
brated wall is not only carried through the low lands 
and vaileys, but alfo over hills, and up and over the fteep 
brows of the higheft mountains. Sir George Staunton 
allures us, that one of the molt elevated ridges, over 
which the great wall is carried, has been afcertained to 
meafure five thoufand two hundred and twenty-five feet. 
The execution of this work mult have colt immenfe la¬ 
bour, fince it is often neceffary to tranfport the materials 
through a defert country, and to convey them to emi¬ 
nences inacceflible to horfes or carriages. Father Mar¬ 
tini, in his Chinele Atlas, fays that this wall begins at 
the gulf of Leao-tong, and reaches to the mountains 
near the city of Kin, on the-Yellow River; and that, 
between thele two places, it meets with no interruption, 
except to the north of the city of Suen, in the province 
of Pe-tcheli, where it is intercepted by a ridge of craggy 
inacceflible mountains, to which it is clofely united, and 
by the river-Hoang-ho, which partes through it in its 
courfe to the fea. He adds, that for other rivers of in¬ 
ferior fize, arches have been conftruiled, like thole of a 
bridge, through which the waters, and their inland na¬ 
vigations, find a paffage. It has no kind of fupport but 
■what is ufually given to ordinary walls, and it is almoft 
of the lame form, not only where it ftretches acrofs plains, 
which are very rare in that country, but even where it is 
carried over high mountains. An intelligent traveller 
(Mr. Bell,) who, in 1719, accompanied captain Ifmail of 
in his embafi'y to Pekin, tells us, that it is carried acrofs 
rivers, and over the tops of the higheft hills, without the 
leaft interruption, keeping nearly along that circular ridge 
of barren rocks which inclofes the country; and, after 
running about twelve hundred miles, ends in impaflable 
mountains and landy deferts. According to his account, 
the foundation confifts of large blocks of fquare ftones 
laid in mortar; but all the reft is conftru&ed of brick. 
The whole is fo ftrong and well built, that with mode¬ 
rate repairs, in fuch a dry climate, it may remain in 
nearly the fame condition for many ages. When carried 
over fteep rocks where no horfe can pafs, it is about fif¬ 
teen or twenty feet high, and broad in proportion; but, 
when running through a valley, or crofting a river, you 
behold a ftrong wall, about thirty feet high, with fquare 
towers at certain intervals, and embrafures at equal dis¬ 
tances. The top of the wall is flat, and paved with cut 
ftone; and where it riles over a rock or eminence, there 
is an afeent by eafy ftone flairs. He adds, “ This wall 
was begun and completely finilhed in the Ihort (pace of 
five years ; and it is reported the labourers flood fo clofe 
for many miles, that they could hand the materials from 
one to another. This I am the more inclined to believe, 
as the rugged rocks among which it is built mult have 
prevented all ule of carriages; and neither clay for making 
I N A. 
bricks, nor any kind of cement, could be found among 
them." This barrier, however, fince the re-union of the 
Tartars and Chinele, is almoft become ufelefs. Lord 
Macartney, in palling this great wall with the Britilh 
embaffy, on its journey from Pekin to Zhe-hol in Tar¬ 
tary, found it nearly in the ftate of prefervation as de- 
feribed above. 
The Tartars, who have now, perhaps, loft fome of their- 
military ardour, ftill form the ftrongeft and braveft part 
of the Chinefe militia. Every Tartar bom in the ordi¬ 
nary clafs, is enrolled from his cradle; and, when of age 
to carry arms, he muft be ready to take the field on the 
Ihorteft notice. The emperor’s Ions, and every Tartar of 
diftinftion, muft be acquainted with the management of 
a horfe, know how to handle a bow and arrow, and to 
perform, at leaft, the elementary evolutions of the army. 
The following is a lift of the chief military officers of 
China, their number, rank, and falary, as lately given by 
fir George Staunton. 
A Lif of the chief Military Officers of China, their Number^ 
Rank, and Salaries. 
Rank. Tahels. 
Eighteen tou-tous, each - - 4 
Sixty-two zun-pings - - 2 
One hundred and twenty-one fou-ziens ] 
One hundred and fixty-rive tchou-ziens 
Three hundred and feventy-three giou-zis 
Four hundred and twenty-five tou-tzes 
Eight hundred and twenty-five feiou-fous 
One thoufand lix hundred and eighty 
zien-zuns - - 
Three thoufand fix hundred and twen¬ 
ty-two pa-zuns - 
Forty-four commiflaries of corn and pro¬ 
visions of the firft rank, lciou-zun 
Three hundred and thirty commiflaries 
of corn and provifions of the lecond 
rank, zien-zun - - - - 
Tahels. 
A rough Calculation of the tota 
Eftabliiliment of China. 
,000 
= 72,00 0 
,400 
148,800 
,300 
i 57 , 3 oo 
800 
132,000 
600 
223,800 
400 
170,000 
320 
264,000 
160 
268,800 
130 
470,870 
320 
14,080 
160 
52,800 
ary 
1 , 974 , 45 ° 
1,000,000 infantry, at two ounces, 
or tahels of filver each permonth, 
provifions included - - 24,000,000 
800,000 cavalry, at four ounces 
each, provifions included - 38,4.00,000 
If 800,000 horfes coft, at twenty 
ounces each, — 16,000,000 oz. 
the annual wear and tear at ten 
per cent, will be 1,600,000 
Uniforms for 1,800,000 men, once 
a year, at four ounces each - 7,200,000 
Yearly wear and tear of arms, ac¬ 
coutrements, contingencies, &c. 
at one ounce per man, 1,800,000 
men ----- 1,800,000 
- * 1 73,000,000 
y 74 , 974,450 
The civil government of China confifts of a fupfeme 
tribunal, called the emperor’s grand council; of fix fu- 
perior judicial courts, and of three tribunals of equity; 
the heads or prefidents of all which, with the minifters of 
ftate, and fecretaries of the emperor, conftitute the mem¬ 
bers of the fupreme or grand council. This grand coun¬ 
cil is never alfembled but on affairs of the greateft im¬ 
portance; for, in ordinary cafes, the emperor’s private 
council is fubftituted for it: 
The fix other fuperior courts of China are eftablifhed, 
like the preceding, at Pekin, under the general denomi¬ 
nation of leou-pou. The firft is called lii-pou. This tri¬ 
bunal furniihes mandarins for the different provinces. 
watches 
