1807.] 
passing; asthe Chinese coitrive to en- 
trap a sutiicient number of them, without 
resorting tu any noisy means, which might 
frighten. or render them shy. 
From Tiger island until we got as far 
as the second bar, nothing particular pre- 
sented itseif to our view. 
Opposite this sand, which runs across 
the river, there is a "stupendous pagoda 
buitt on the wes ern bank; it is eight or 
ten stortés high, somewhat pyramidical, 
and full of apertures im each square, 
seemingly much decorated. We did not, 
however, stop to examine it. 
Here the scenery begins to assume an 
jateresting appearance. In the back 
ground, hikh and fantastically shaped 
“mountains raise their summits among 
the clouds; while all round Gwith very 
little ex <ception,) to the feet of these 
mountains, the ground seems a level ver- 
dant plain, intersected (as before men- 
tioned,) with innamerabic branches of 
the river, and artilicial canals... It is 
this last. circumstance that renders the 
scenery so truly picturesque; for,a per- 
son can only see that particular branch 
on which he is sailing: but he beholds 
with amazement a variety of ships, junks, 
and vessels of every description, gliding 
as if by the effects of mavic, through 
fields and villages, winding among castles, 
pavodas, and mowasteries, sometimes on 
one side of thein, sometimes on the other, 
sailing in an infinite variety of directions, 
and forming the most whimsical, novel, 
and entertaining prospect I ever remem- 
ber to have seen! As we approached 
Wampoa, “the ae eontinued to 
thicken,” and we could do little else than 
gaze with a mixture of pleasure and asto- 
nishinent, at the interesting scenes that 
surrounded us: scarcely a word being 
spoken li the boat for several miles, so 
completely ae each individual’s atten- 
tion arfested by the passing objects. 
Wampoa 1 is an anchorage abreast of 
Dane’s island, and distant from Canton 
about ten.or tweive miles. Above -this 
_place no Eurepean vessel is. permitted to 
proceed, on any account whatever: 1n- 
deed ships of any great draught eould 
not go niuch further up, on account of 
the shallowness of the water. At this 
anchorage may be seen ships from every 
great maritime power on the globe, ex- 
cept France, there bemg none at this 
tune from that country. 
In viewing the various vatiaael flags 
fiying on board their respective ships at 
een, it is, is Bighly gratifying to Eng- 
Critival Survey of Lessing’s IVorks. 
493 
lishmen’s feelings, to observe the British, 
superior in number to all the others col- 
lectively : while each individual ship, hke 
a colossat emblem of the Butish coim- 
merce, appears to look down with con- 
tempt on tke pigmy representatives of 
the nations that surround her! 
~ There is littie to be observed of Dane’s 
island, more than that there 1s a littie vil- 
lage on it faciugthe roads; while a nuin- 
ber of villas, pagodas, and mandarins’ 
seats are seen scattered about on the sur- 
rounding isles; especially near the banks 
of theriv er, where there are hoppo houses, 
where hoats are overhauled, and chops 
or permits given by the officers of the 
customs: they so far respected our pen- 
dant, however, that we were suffered to 
proceed without thesmallest molestation. 
I had almost forgotten to mention, that 
itis at Dane’s island that affairs of ho- 
nour are usually settled between European - 
gentlemen. At Canton, therefore, to 
“ threw down the eauntlet, ” itis oaty 
necessary to say, “ Dane’s island, sir ies 
—( Lo be continued. J 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
CRITICAL SURVEY Of LESSING’S WORKS. 
[ For Particulars of his plate fe Vol. 19, 
p. 569, and Vol. 23, p. 38.] 
N ranaing over the lift of books which 
Mr. Gebauer has confulted or quoted 
in his work, [ miffed by chance a trifling 
ene, which I wiih, however, he had 
known. 
You recolleét what troubles in Portugal 
fuceeeded to the death of Sebattian. 
‘Cardinal EHenry was too old, and too 
fuperttitious, and too {hort a time in 
power, to provide*fagainit the dangers of 
a difputable . fucceilion. Amone. thofe 
who advanced pretenfions to the vacant 
throne was Don Antonio, the only ene 
who made an active reliftance to the 
uferpation of the fing of Spain. This 
prince is not reckoned by .our author 
among fhe Kings of Pertugal, as is done 
by French and, Englith ile as: but 
fats are carefully collected to make the 
ilu{irious unfortunate known, as he de- 
ferves to be, by pofierity. 
Among others, Madame ‘Gillot de 
Saintonge wrote the liteof Don Antonios 
and her biography is the book which ; 
wonder not to brie among the authoritie 
of Mr. Gebauer. The fecond cok 
which lies before me, appeared at Am- 
ficrdam in 1696; and the original Paris 
edition ah 1 {uipect, uot much anterior, 
- 1 know 
