698 
learned men, is a period comparatively 
modern! Qur author, however, asserts, 
that in respect to his materials, they are 
scanty and deficient, the whole reign of 
a king including ne more than his name, 
and a few of his sayings. According to 
some, even of her own historians, after 
the appearance of great kingdoms in 
other portions of the globe, China pre- 
sented only a few scattered tribes, bar- 
barous in their manners, and roving 
about like savages, in search of food. 
If we are to give credit to probabilities, 
“ this empire, so far from existing, as 
has been pretended, 3000 years before 
the birth of Jesus Christ, has not ac- 
quited strength and solidity above the 
term of 529 years. “In attaching the 
idea of antiquity claimed by certain 
authors in favour of the Chinese, I do 
not seek to establish a new hypothesis,” 
says he; “ itis not myself that speaks: T 
simply detail the facts arising out of the 
discourses inserted in- the Chou-King, 
and I thence deduce consequences in 
support of my own opinions.” 
The third dynasty, or that of Teheon, 
ascended the Chinese throne, 1122 years, 
according to some, before our xra. Ven- 
vang and his son, the two first monarchs 
of it, occupied but a small portion of ter- 
ritory; Tehing Van, who succeeded, re- 
moved the seat of the monarchy to 
Tong, and Teheon-Kong, after consult- 
ing the oracles, declared that this spot 
was the centre of the world! It was si- 
tuate-on the river Lo, -and according to 
tradition, had been erected in five days. 
At this period, out of fifteen provinces 
of China, twelve were occupied by bar- 
barians, and five others had within their 
limits, a number of wandering tribes, so 
that there were only a few villages, and 
scattered habitations, which have been 
since termed kingdoms. In short, not- 
withstanding Voltaire has assigned a 
period of 4000 years for the duration of 
the Chinese “empire, and some of the 
native historians even speak of millions of 
years, the doubts of the President Goguet, 
n-his learned work entitled, ‘‘ Origines 
des Loix des Arts, des Sciences, et de 
leur progres chez les Anciens Peuples,” 
published in 3 vols. 4to. about the 
year 1750, and the researches of M. 
De Guignes on the spot, alike teach 
us to ponder, to enquire, and to remain 
in. suspense, until more decisive autho- 
rities shall have confirmed or negatived 
their positions. 
‘The rest of: the work is occupied with 
the journal of the: expedition to the 
¢ 
Retrospect of French Literature==Miscellanéous. 
Chinese capital, and the occurrences 1 — 
the way back, which was by a different 
road. Ahaccount of the manners, cus~- 
toms, religion, language, ‘government, 
&c. fills also a considerable space, and 
from these’ miscellaneous remarks we de- 
rive much interesting information. Their 
government, like that of other eastern 
nations, consists of a despotism, unalle- 
viated by any political check, control, 
or mitigation. The power is wholly 
lodged’ in the hands-of the monarch, 
whois secluded from all aecess, while 
his agents, descending gradually from 
the highest to the lowest rank, administer 
the public affairs, under him, and are 
only to be removed, checked, or con- » 
trouled by bis authority. ‘The situation © 
of the country, is -accordingly corre- 
spondent with the public admiistration, 
so that the populace are oppressed and 
plundered, by base, mercenary, and ra- 
pacious agents. The general character 
of the natives participating m the con- 
duct of their superiors, consists of what- 
ever is mean, untrue and contemp- 
tible. , . 
“ Certain authors,” observes M. De 
Guignes, “ have considered the governs 
ment of China to be perfect, but I who 
have lived for many years there, and 
traversed the whole empire from one 
end to another, have constantly beheld the 
strong oppress the weak, and every man 
in authority exerting that very authority 
to the detriment and destruction of the 
people. The madarms of the cities, en- 
deavoured to seize on a portion of the 
salary due to our bearers and domestics, 
and they struck them when they yen- 
tured to complain. One’ of the little 
mandarins did not blush to pocket the 
sum of. twenty thousand livres, which 
ought to have been distributed among 
our Chinese servants.” " 
The emperor indeed, wishing to Te- 
medy these disorders, is accustomed to — 
send certain of his courtiers occasionally 
into the provinces, to enquire into the 
conduct of the mandarins; but this is 
not productive of any good whatever. 
No sooner have they arrived at the place 
of destination, thah they are overwhelm- 
ed with presents, which, according to ' 
the custom of the country, are never re-— 
fused, even by his Imperial Majesty him- 
self. This mercenary disposition “US ex~ 
hibited on all occasions, and the change 
of: a governor, : frequently costs from 
twenty to thirty thousand crowns. The 
fee or fine paid by a viceroy, amounts 
from sixty to> two hundred thousand 
franks, 
p F 
