over hills and mountains; the height of one of which was computed by. F. Verbieft at 1236 feet above the level of the fpot where he ftood. According to F. Martini, it begins at the gulf of Lea-tong, and reaches to the mountains near the city of Kin on the yellow river; between which places it meets with no interruption except to the north of the city of Suen in the province of Pecheli, where it is interrupted by a ridge of hideous and inacceffible mountains, to which it is clofely united. It is likewife interrupted by the river Hoang-ho; but for others of an inferior fize, arches have been conftructed, through which the water paffes freely. Mr. Bell informs us, that it is carried acrofs rivers, and over the tops of the highest hills, without the least interruption, keeping nearly along that circular range of barren rocks which inclofes the country; and, after running about 1200 miles, ends in impaffable mountains and fandy deferts. The foundation confifts of large blocks of ftone laid in mortar; but all the reft is of brick. The whole is fo ftrong and well built, that it fcarcely needs any repairs; and, in the dry climate in which it stands, may remain in the fame condition for many ages. When carried over fteep rocks, where no horfe can pafs, it is about fifteen or twenty feet high; but, when running through a valley, or croffing a river, it is about thirty feet high, with fquare towers and embrafures at equal diftances. The top is flat, and paved with cut stone; and, where it rifes over a rock or eminence, there is an afcent made by an easy stone stair. "This wall (our author adds) was begun and completely finished in the fhort space of five years; and it is reported, that the labourers ftood fo close for many miles, that they could hand the materials from one to another. This feems the more probable, as the rugged rocks among which it is built muft have prevented all ufe of carriages; and neither clay for making bricks, nor any kind of cement, are to be found among them." that of the Europeans. Commerce, according to them, is only useful as far as it eases the people of their fuperfiuities, and procures them neceffaries. For this reafon they confider even that which is carried on at Canton as prejudicial to the interest of the empire. "They take from us (fay the Chinefe) our filks, teas, and porcelain: the price of these articles is raised through all the provinces: fuch a trade therefore cannot be beneficial. The money brought us by Europeans, and the high-priced baubles which accompany it, are mere fuperfluities to fuch a ftate as ours. We have no occafion for more bullion than what may be neceffary to anfwer the exigencies of government, and to fupply the relative wants of individuals. It was faid by Kouan-tfe, two thousand years ago, That the money introduced does not enrich a kingdom in any other way than as it is introduced by commerce. No commerce can be advantageous long, but that which confifts in a mutual exchange of things neceffary or ufeful. That trade, whether carried on by barter or money, which has for its object the importing of articles that tend to the gratification of pride, luxury, or curiofity, always fuppofes the existence of luxury: but luxury, which is an abundance of fuperfluities among certain claffes of people, fuppofes the want of neceffaries among a great many others. The more horses the rich put to the carriages, the greater will be the number of those who are obliged to walk on foot; the larger and more magnificent their houfes are, fo much the more confined and wretched must those of the poor be; and the more their tables are covered with a variety of dithes, the more must the number of thofe increase who are under the neceflity of feeding upon plain rice. Men, united by fociety in a large and populous kingdom, can employ their industry, talents, and economy, to no better purpofe than to provide neceffaries for all, and procure conve nience for fonie," The only commerce confidered by the Chinese as advantageous to their empire, is that with Ruffia and Tar◄ tary; by which they are supplied with thofe furs fo neceffary in the northern A 2 provinces. The commerce of China is under the infpection of the tribunal of finances; but on this fubject the Chinese enter tain an opinion quite different from t provinces. The difputes concerning the limits of the respective empires of Ruffia and China feem to have paved the way to this commerce. These difputes were fettled by treaty on the 27th of August 1689, under the reign of Ivan and Peter Alexiowitz. The chief of the embaffy on the part of Ruffia was Golovin governor of Siberia; and two Jesuits were deputed on the part of the emperor of China; and the conferences were held in Latin, with a German in the Ruffian ambaffador's train, who was acquainted with that language. By this treaty the Ruffians obtained a regular and permanent trade with China, which they had long defired; but in return they yielded up a large territory, befides the navigation of the river Amour. The first intercourfe had taken place in the beginning the 17th century; at which time a small quantity of Chinefe merchandize was procured by fome Ruffian merchants from the Kalmuck Tartars. The rapid and profitable fale of these commodities encouraged certain Siberian Wayvodes to attempt a direct and open communication with China. For this purpofe feveral deputations were fent to the emperor; and, though they failed of obtaining the grant of a regular commerce, their attempts were attended with fome confequences of importance. Thus the Ruffian merchants were tempted to fend traders occafionally to Peking; by which means a faint connection was preferved with that metropolis. This commerce, however, was at laft interrupted by the commencement of hoftilities on the river Amour; but, after the conclufion of the treaty in 1689, was resumed with uncommon alacrity on the part of the Ruffians: and the advantages thence arifing were found to be fo confiderable, that a defign of enlarging it was formed by Peter the Great. Ifbrand Ides, a native of the duchy of Holftein, then in the Ruffian fervice, was therefore difpatched to Peking in 1692; by whofe means the liberty of trade, before confined to individuals, was now extended to caravans. In the mean time, private merchants continued to trade as before, not only with the Chinese, but also at the head-quarters of the Mogul Tartars. The camp of thefe roving Tartars, which was generally ftationed near the confluence of the Orhon and Toula rivers between the fouthern frontiers of Siberia and the Mogul defert, thus became the feat of an annual fair. Complaints however, were foon made of the diforderly behaviour of the Ruffians; on which the Chinese monarch threatened to expel them from his dominions entirely, and to allow them neither to trade with the Chinefe nor Moguls. This produced another embaffy to Peking in 1719, when matters were again adjusted to the fatisfaction of both parties. The reconciliation was of no long duration; for the Ruffians having foon renewed their diforderly behaviour, an order for their expulfion was iued in 1722, and all intercourfe between the two nations forbidden. The differences were once more made up in 1727, and a caravan allowed to go to Peking once in three years, provided it consisted of no more than a hundred perfons; and that during their stay their expences fhould not, as formerly, be defrayed by the emperor of China. The Ruffians at the fame time obtained permiffion to build a church within the precincts of the caravanfary; and that four priests were allowed to refide at Peking for the celebration of divine fervice; the fame indulgence being grant. ed to fome Ruffian scholars, for the purpofe of learning the Chinese language, and qualifying themselves for being interpreters between the two nations. This intercourfe continued till the year 1755; fince which time, no more caravans have been fent to China. It was firft interrupted by a mifunderstanding betwixt the two courts; and though that difference was afterwards made up, no caravans have been fent ever fince. The emprefs of Rullia, fenfible that the monopoly of the furtrade (which was entirely confined to the caravans belonging to the crown, and prohibited to individuals) was prejudicial to commerce, gave it up in favour of her fubjects in 1762; and the centre of commerce betwixt the two nations is now at Kiatka. Here the trade is entirely carried on by barter. The Ruffians are prohibited from exporting their own coin; finding it more more advantageous to take goods in exchange than to receive bullion at the Chinese standard. The principal exports from Ruffia are furs of different kinds; the most valuable of which are thofe of fea-otters, beavers, wolves, foxes, martins, fables, and ermines; the greater part of which are brought from Siberia and the newly-difcovered inlands; but, as they cannot fupply the demand, there is a neceffity for import ing foreign furs to Petertburgh, which are afterwards fent to Kiatka. Various kinds of cloth are likewife fent to China, as well as hardware, and live cattle, fuch as horfes, camels, &c. The exports from China are, raw and manufactured filk, cotton, porcelain, rhubarb, mufk, &c. The government of Ruffia likewise reserves to itfelf the exclusive privilege of purchaf ing rhubarb. It is brought to Kiatka by fome Buckharian merchants, who who have entered into a contract to fupply the crown with it in exchange for furs: the exportation of the best rhubarb is forbidden under fevere penalties, but yet is procured in fufficient quantities, fometimes by clandeftinely mixing it with inferior roots, and fometimes by smuggling it directly. It may here be observed, that the Chinese merchants are as difboneft and knavith a race as any that exift. The molt frequented fairs of Europe afford but a faint idea of that immenfe number of buyers and fellers with which the large cities of China are continual ly crowded. We may almoft say, that the one half are employed in overreaching the other. It is, above all, againft ftrangers that the Chinese merchants exercise, without any fenfe of fhame, their infatiable rapacity. Of this F. du Halde gives a striking example, which might be fupported by many others: The captain of an English veffel bargained with a Chi. nefe merchant at Canton for feveral bales of filk, which the latter was to provide against a certain time. When they were ready, the captain went with his interpreter to the house of the Chinefe merchant to examine whether they were found and in good condition. On opening the first bale, he found it according to his with, but all the reft were damaged and good for nothing, The captain on this fell into a great paffion, and reproached the merchant in the feverett terms for his dishonesty. The Chinese, after having heard him for fome time with great coolness, replied, "Blame, Sir, your knave of an interpreter: for he affured me that you would not infpect the bales." The lower clafs of people are, above all, very dexterous in counterfeiting and adulterating every thing they fell. Sometimes you think you have bought a capon, and you receive nothing but fkin; all the reft has been fcooped out, and the place fo ingeniously filled, that the deception cannot be discovered till the moment you begin to eat it. The counterfeit hams of China have been often mentioned. They are made of a piece of wood cut in the form of a ham, and coated over with a certain kind of earth which is covered with hog's fkin. The whole is to curiously painted and prepared, that a knife is neceffary to detect the fraud. Mr. Ofbeck relates, that having one day obferved a blind man carrying about for fale foine of thole trees called by the Chinese Fo-kei, he purchased one, which, to appearance, had fine double red and white flowers; but, on clofer examination, he found that the flowers were taken from another tree, and that one cylax was fo neatly fitted into the other, with nails made of bamboo, that he fhould fcarcely have difcovered the deceit, had not the flowers begun to wither. The tree itself had buds, but not one open flower. The robbers in China fignalize themfelves alfo by their dexterity and ingenuity, which they difplay in their pro. feffion. They feldom have recourfe to acts of violence, but introduce them. lelves into a house either privately-or by forming fome connection with the family. It is as difficult in China to avoid robbery as it is to apprehend the criminal in the fact. If we are defirous of finding among the Chinese open. nefs of temper, benevolence, friend. fhip, and, laftly, virtue, we muft not feek for it in cities, but in the bosom of the country, among that clafs of men who have devoted themselves to labour and agriculture. A Chinefe ruftic often difcovers moral qualities which would add a luftre to the charac ter ier of men of the most exalted rank. It appears that rural life naturally infpires fentiments of benevolence; by continually receiving the gifts of nature, the mind is enlarged, and men are infenfibly accustomed to diffuse them to thofe around them. The internal commerce of China is much greater than that of all Europe; but its foreign trade is by no means equal to that of any of the grand European powers. Its internal commerce is greatly facilitated by the vast number of canals and rivers with which the country is interfected. The Chinese, however, are not at all fitted for maritime commerce: few of their veffels go beyond the traits of Sunda; their longeft voyages to Malacca extended only as far as Acheen, towards the ftraits of Batavia, and northward to Japan. Their commerce with the last-mentioned ifland, considering the articles of exchange which they procure at Cam boya or Siam, produces them cent. per cent. Their trade with the Manillas brings only about fifty per cent. Their profit is more confiderable about Batavia; and the Dutch fpare no pains to invite them to traffic at their fettlements. The Chinese traders go also, though not very frequently, to Acheen, Malacca, Thor, Patan, and Ligor, belonging to Siam and Cochin-china; from whence they bring gold and tin, together with some objects of luxury for the table. A great obftacle to the foreign commerce of the Chinese is their indifference about maritime affairs, and the bad construction of their veffels. This they themselves acknow. ledge; but fay, that any attempt to remove it would be derogating from the laws, and fubverting the conftitution of the empire. (To be continued.) MEMOIRS of LOVE and GALLANTRY. LOVE, in its ufual and more appropriate fignification, may be defined," that affection which, being compounded of animal desire, esteem, and benevolence; becomes the bond of attachment and union between individuals of the different fexes; and makes them feel in the fociety of each other a fpecies of happiness which they experience no where elfe." We call it an affection rather than a paffion, because it involves a defire of the happinefs of its object: and that its conftituent parts are thofe which have been just enumerated, we shall first endeavour to prove, and then proceed to trace its rife and progress from a selfish appetite to a generous fentiment. Animal defire is the actual energy of the fenfual appetite: and that it is an effential part of the complex affection, which is properly called love, is apparent from this confideration, that though a man may have fentiments of efteem and benevolence towards women who are both old and ugly, he never fuppofes himfelf to be in love with any woman to whom he feels not the fenfual appetite to have a ftronger tendency than to other individuals of her fex. On the other hand, that animal defire alone cannot be called the affection of love is evident; because he who gratifies fuch a defire without esteeming its object, and wishing to communicate at the fame time that he receives enjoyment, loves not the woman, but himfelf. Mere animal defire has nothing in view but the fpecies and the fex of its object; and, before it make a felection, it must be combined with fentiments very different from itself. The firft fentiment with which it is combined, and by which a man is induced to prefer one woman to another, feems to be that by which we are delighted with gracefulness of perfon, regularity of features, and beauty of complexion. It is not indeed to be denied that there is fomething irresistible in female beauty. The moft fe vere will not pretend, that they do not feel an immediate prepoffeffion in fayour of a handfome woman; but this prepoffeffion, even when combined with animal defire, does not conftitute the whole of that affection which is called love. Savages feel the influence of the fenfual appetite, and it is extremely probable that they have fome ideas of beauty; but among favages the affection of love is feldom felt. Even among the lower orders in civil fociety it feems to be a very grofs paffion, and to have in it more of the felfishness of appetite than of the generofity of esteem. To thefe obfervations many exceptions will no doubt be found: but we fpeak of favages in general, and of the great body of the labouring poor, who in the choice of their mates do not ftudy-who indeed are incapable of ftudying, that rectitude of mind and thofe delicacies of fentiment, without which neither man nor woman can deserve to be esteemed. In the favage ftate, and even in the first stages of refinement, the bond of union between the fexes feems to confift of nothing more than mere animal defire and inftinctive tenderness for their infant progeny. The former impels them to unite for the propagation of the fpecies; and the latter preserves the union till the children, who are the fruit of it, be able to provide for their own fubfiftence. That in fuch unions, whether cafual or permanent, there is no mutual esteem and benevolence, is apparent from the ftate of fubjection in which women are held in rude and uncultivated nations, as well as from the manner in which marriages are in fuch nations contracted. Sweetness of temper, a capital article with us in the female character, difplays itself externally in mild looks and gentle manners, and is the first and perhaps the most powerful induce ment to love in a cultivated mind. But fuch graces (fays an ingenious writer) are scarce difcernible in a female favage; and even in the most polished woman would not be perceived by a male favage. Among favages, ftrength and boldness are the only valuable qualities. In thefe, females are miferably deficient; for which reafon they are contemned by the males as beings of an inferior order. The North American tribes glory in idleness: the drudgery of labour degrades a man in their opinion, and is proper for women only. To join young perfons in marriage is accordingly the bufinefs of the parents; and it would be unpardonable meannefs in the bridegroom to fhew any fondness for the bride. In Guiana a woman never eats with her husband, but, after every meal, at tends him with water for washing; and, in the Caribbeè islands, she is not permitted to eat in the presence of her hus band. Dampier obferves in general, that among all the wild nations with which he was acquainted, the women carry the burdens, while the men walk before and carry nothing but their arms; and that women even of the highest rank are not better treated. In Siberia, and even in Ruffia, the capital excepted, men till very lately treated their wives in every refpect like Alaves. It might indeed be thought, that animal defire, were there nothing elfe, fhould have raised women to fome degree of eftimation among men; but male favages, utter ftrangers to decency and refinement, gratify animal defire with as little ceremony as they do hunger or thirst. In the Hence it was that in the early ages of fociety a man purchased a woman to be his wife as one purchases an ox or a fheep to be food; and valued her only as the contributed to his fenfual gratification. Inftances innumerable might be collected from every nation of which we are acquainted with the early hiftory, but we fhall content ourfelves with mentioning a few. Abraham bought Rebecca, and gave her to his fon Ifaac for a wife. Jacob, having nothing elfe to give, served Laban fourteen years for two wives. To David, demanding Saul's daughter in marriage, it was faid, "The king defireth not any dowry, but an hundred forefkins of the Philistines." Iliad, Agamemnon offers his daughter to Achilles for a wife; and fays, that he would not demand for her any price. By the laws of Ethelbert king of England, a man who committed adultery with his neighbour's wife was obliged to pay the hufband a fine, and to buy him another wife. But it is needlefs to multiply inftances; the prac tice has prevailed univerfally among nations emerging from the favage ftate, or in the rudest stage of society; and wherever it prevailed, men could not poffibly have for the fair sex any of that tender regard and effeem which conftitute fo effential a part of the complex affection of love. Accordingly we find the magnanimous Achilles an abfolute stranger to that |