the Crown lands, the has fet an example which, it is to be hoped, many of the Ruffian gentlemen will foon follow. A few of them have already been in part her imitators in this refpect; and, as the good effects of this liberal poli cy become apparent, it is not to be doubted but that it will be more generally adopted. Although therefore much remains to be done, in order that the Government of this country may be established on liberal and equal principles, yet confi derable approaches have been made to this object. The adminiftration of Catharine is as different from that of fome of her predeceffors, as it is from that of our own Government under George the Third. fill amply fupplied, confift almoft en- In the emancipation of the peasants on tirely of the refufe of the people, who have been condemned by the ordinary courfe of law, and whofe fate Court intrigues could not have influenced. That fpecies of offenders whom the jealoufy of former Sovereigns would have punished with the utmost rigour, I mean thofe who were fufpected to be difaffected to the intereft of the ruling party at Court, have not generally met with a feverer punishment than that of being permitted to travel into foreign countries, during a certain terms of years, for their improvement. Elizabeth, to gratify the spleen of her favourites for the time, banifhed to Siberia Leftoc, whofe talents and activity had been the principal means of raifing her to the throne, and that after fhe had given him the ftrongeft affurances, confirmed by a folemn oath, that the would never liften to the infinuations of his enemies againft him. Catharine the Second, after her elevation to the throne, allowed the Countess Elizabeth Vorontzoff to live unmolefted, although this woman had been the favourite miftrefs of Peter the Third, on whofe account he had formed thofe refolutions againft his wife, which brought on the revolution in 1762. With equal magnanimity, and in equal oppofition to the maxims of Ruffian revolutions, the continued Count Munich in all his offices and appointments, although he had been the moft zealous of Peter's adherents, and had been prevented only by his mafter's pu fillanimity from precipitating her from the throne to which the was railed. The fame fpirit of moderation has diftinguifhed the courfe of her reign. Under former Sovereigns, the difmiffal of a favourite or minifter from his office was generally the prelude to fending him to Siberia. The prefent Empress has feldom changed her fervants; and thofe of them who have been difmiffed have been allowed to retire honourably, and to live in peace. Although her plan of forming a new code of laws has not been carried into effect, fhe has eftablished many particular ftatutes, and adopted many regulations, favour able to an equal distribution of justice. I am fenfible that, in attempting to beftow praise on the Emprefs of Ruffia, I have to encounter opinions which have long been established in your mind. Like moft of our countrymen, you have formed your idea of her character from a few detached facts, which, as generally happens to fuch reports, have been embellished, in proportion to the diftance from which they have come, with many imaginary circum ftances, fashioned to the theories of those who have imported and rehearsed them. 1 am fure however you will do me the juftice to believe that I would not willingly miflead you, especially on a fubject where I can have no intereft in mifreprefentation. I had, when I came into this country, fimilar impreffions of this auguft perfonage with you; and when I first heard her virtues extolled, an emotion of difguft involuntarily mixed itfelf with my incredulity. But a longer refidence has convinced me, that it is not without reason the natives confider the revolution to be one of the moft fortunate events that ever happened to the empire, Without entering into the difcuffion of the par ticular facts on which the prejudice against the Emprefs of Ruffia is founded, I only beg leave to fubmit it to yourself, whether the Sovereign can be fuppofed to poffefs small merit, who, coming by a very equivocal title to the throne of a nation accustomed to facti hands paffed over their clothes along their bodies and thighs; but fometimes even thofe parts of perfons of the lower clafs are explored which decency fhould protect. As to flaves, the hair on their heads is likewife examined. The beds are frequently ripped open, and the feathers turned over; iron fpikes are thruft into the butter-tubs, and jars of fweatments. In the cheese a fquare hole is cut, and a thick pointed wire forced into it towards every fide. THE parts of this narrative by which the public curiofity will be moft No letters must be fent to or from the eminently excited and gratified, will be fhips fealed; for they will be read by found in the third and fourth volumes, the interpreters as well as other manuwhich relate chiefly to our traveller's fcripts. The interpreters themfelves adventures during a twelvemonth's re- must be all Japanese; and therefore fidence at Japan. Every thing becomes they are not very eafily induced to coninterefting which relates to a country nive at fraud. feparated from every other portion of the globe, not more by the genius of the government than by the ftern and irrefiftible behefts of nature. : It appears that the navigation to Japan is the most dangerous in the Indian Seas during eight or nine months in the year the coaft is confidered as inacceffible; and for the fhort season in which it is lefs dangerous for mariners to approach it, the Dutch, who, excepting the Chinese, are the only ftrangers admitted there, compute that one out of every five fhips freighted thither, is doomed to inevitable deftruction. That this calculation is not ftretched by fear or avarice beyond the truth, appears from a lift of loffes ftated minutely by Dr. Thunberg ever fince the year 1642, from which this conclufion is demonstrated by the experience of more than a century to be exact. Of the vigilance exercifed by the Government of Japan, both with refpect to the property and perfons of foreigners, many curious inftances are narrated. All perfons that arrive, as well as merchandizes, are fo ftrictly fearched, that the hundred eyes of Argus may be faid to be employed on this occafion, when any European goes afbore. He is first fearched on board, and afterwards as foon as he has land, ed. Both these fearches are very ftrict; fo that not only travellers pockets are turned infide out, and the officers Religious books, efpecially if adorned with cuts, it is very dangerous to import; for fince the extirpation of Chrif tianity, originally introduced there by the Portuguese, extraordinary pains have been taken, as we fhall have occafion to remark more particularly prefently, to prevent its re-establishment. The Dutch themfelves have been in a great meafure the occafion of all this caution and circumfpection; having practifed, as it appears, all the above devices, which the most rigorous examination is barely fufficient to reftrain. Of the Jufpicious difpofition of the Japanese our author gives another remarkable inftance with respect to himfelf. By means of the interpreters, and of the officers on the ifland, he tried to obtain permiffion to botanize in the plain that encircles the town of Nagafaki, where the Dutch fhip was ftationed; a liberty not ufually granted to any European. In this attempt he feemed in the beginning to be tolerably fuccefsful, and actually obtained the governor's permiffion for this purpose; which, however, thortly after was revoked. The motive for this was ridi culous enough, and was as follows: The Japanele Journals, which had been fearched for an example of the privilege petitioned for by Dr. Thunberg, fupplied apparently a cafe in point; but on a clofer examination it appeared that the perfon to whom the Hhha indulgenee indulgence had formerly been given, was only a furgeon's mate; and therefore could not from that inftance be extended to our author, who was principal furgeon. This advantage denied at that juncture, Dr. T. had the good fortune afterwards to obtain, not lefs to the emolument of his hofts, than to his own and the public gratification. That the Chinese, who are their near neighbours, and who have from time immemorial traded thither, fhould refemble them in many particulars, the reader will naturally fuppofe: the following circumfiances are enumerated in which they differ. The Chinese wear frocks or wide jackets, and large trow Jers; the Japanese always make ufe of nightgowns. The Chinese wear boots made of linen, and Shoes with upperleathers: the Japanese go bare legged with focks and fandals. Each of thefe nations has a diftinét and separate language, and entirely different religious tenets. On the other hand, they are alike in colour and look, write after the fame manner, and have feveral religious fects and cuftoms in common.. Many years ago emigrations were very frequent from China to Japan, efpecially to its fouthern iflands, which are fubject to Japan, but make annual predents to the Emperor of China. Our author might have added another inftance of refemblance, their extraordinary apprehenfion and jealousy of foreigners; which, though it has fometimes been accounted as a proof of profound wisdom and policy, we are more inclined to attribute to the pride of ignorance; and the consciousness of inferior energy, when contending with Europeans. It is the cuftom of the Japanese on New Year's day, to practile the horrid ceremony of trampling on fuch images as reprefent the Crucifixion, and the Virgin Mary with the Child. The figures are made of caft copper, and about twelve inches in length. The purpofe of this practice is to imprint on every individual an abhorrence of the Chrif tian doctrines, and of the Portuguese who attempted to propagate it; and at the fame time to difcover whether any remains of it be yet left in the Japan efe. The trampling is performed in fuch places as were formerly moft frequented by the Chriftians. In the town of Nagafaki it continues for four days, after which period, the images are conveyed to the adjacent places, and are then laid by till the following year. Every one, excepting the governor and his train, even the youngest child, is compelled to be prefent at this ceremony; but that the Dutch, as fome have afferted, are required to perform this profane ceremony, has no foundation in truth. At every place overfeers are prefent, who affemble the people by rotation in certain houfes, calling over every one by his name, and feeing that each particular be exactly complied with. Adults walk over the images from one fide to the other, and children in arms are put with their feet on them. Though both reafon and religion unite in reprobating this abominable rite, which Dr. T. thus diftinctly defcribes, yet to the eye of philofophy fome fymptoms appear in this ftudied hatred not wholly unfavourable to the Chriflian caufe. Had its name and nature been entirely paffed over in filence, time might gradually have obliterated every trace of it; efpecially while foreigners were kept by the jealous character of the government at fuch an awful diftance: but a practice repeated annually with fuch malignant industry, contributes to keep alive an idea which their policy ought on the contrary to try to extinguifh, can hardly fail to ftimulate curiofity, and in time may generate fympathy and kindness. On the 4th of March 1776, the Ambaffador fet out on his journey to the Court at Jedo. The 15th or 16th of the firft month of the Japanese year is always fixed upon for commencing this journey. There were only three Europeans who took this journey, Mr. Feith, the Ambaffador, as chief in the commercial department, Dr. T. as phyfician to the Embaffy, and the fecretary Mr. Koehler. The reft of the retinue, which confified of about 200 men, were merely Japanefe placemen, interpreters, fervants, and valets. The Ambaffador, as well as his phy fician and fecretary, travelled in large handsome and lacquered norimons. In Kæmpfer's time, the two latter gentlemen were obliged to perform the journey on horfeback, expofed to cold, rain, and all the inclemency of the weather. Thefe norimons, or fedan-chairs, are made of thin boards and bamboo canes, in the form of an oblong square, with windows before, and on each fide. The fide windows are faftened to the doors, through which one may get in and out of the carriage on both fides. Over the roof runs a long edged pole, by which the vehicle is carried on the bearers fhoulders. It is fo large, that one may fit in it with eafe, and even lie down, though not without, in fome meafure, drawing up one's legs. It is not only adorned on the infide, but likewife covered on the outfide in the most elegant manner, with the most coftly filks and velvets; at the bottom lies a mattrafs covered with cut velvet, and it has a flight covering over it, either of the fame materials, or of fome coftly filk; and behind the back, and on each fide hang oblong cushions, alfo covered with velvet; in the place where the feat fhould be, a round cufhion is laid with a hole in the middle. In the front there is a fhelf or two for an inkftand, books, and other fmall articles. The windows at the fides may be let down when fresh air is wanted, and they may be closed both by filk curtains, and by rolling curtains made of bamboos, when the perfon in the carriage withes not to be feen. Sitting long in this commodious vehicle feldom proves tirefome. The porters that bear it on their fhoulders are in number according to the rank of the person they carry, from fix to twelve and more, and when there are more, fome of them walk by the fides for the purpofe of relieving the others during the journey. While they are bearing the norimon, they fing fome air together, which makes them keep up a brisk and even pace. Befides the articles which had been fent from Nagasaki by water, there were carried partly on horseback, and partly by porters, on foot, fmall chefts of clothes, lanthorns to use in the dark, a flock of wine, ale, and other liquors for daily confumption, and a Japanese apparatus for tea, in which water might be boiled on the road. The Europeans however feldom ufe this great relaxer of the flomach, preferring a glass of red wine or Dutch ale; and therefore a bottle of each of thefe was provided, and put into the fore part of the norimons, at the feet of each traveller; as alfo a fmall oblong lacquered box, with a doubled flice of bread and butter, of the fame form. Every one that travels in this country, muft carry his bed with. him. It was neceffary for our travellers to make a great fhow in this refpect, in order to fupport the dignity of the Dutch Eaft India Company, and ac. cordingly the bedding confifted of co-. verlids, pillows, and mattraffes, covered with the richest open-worked velvets. and filks. Their Japanese companions, who went either on horfeback or on foot, were provided with a hat in the form of a cone, and tied under the chin; a fan or umbrella, and fometimes a very wide coat made of oiled paper, to keep out the rain; this coat is as light as a feather. In this manner they travelled, excepting during that part of their journey which was to be made by fea, till they arrived at Jedo, the metropolis of Japan; which was more than 300 leagues diftant from the place of their departure. After a refidence of more than twenty days in this city, the day of audience was appointed; to which however only the Ambaffador himself was admitted. The whole of it confifted merely in this, that as foon as the Am baffador entered the room, in the most interior part of which the Emperor ftood, with the Hereditary Prince at his right hand, he fell on his knees, laying his hand on the mat, and howing his head down to it, in the fame manner as the Japanese themselves are used to teflify their fubjection and respect. The Ambaffador then rofe, and was conducted back to the drawing room., by the fame way that he went to it. With refpect to the Government of Japan, Dr. T. informs us, that Kubo,: or the fecular Emperor, to whom the Dutch Ambaffador was prefented, is; Lord Lord of the whole country, and under him rules a Prince or Governor in each province. If any of thefe is guilty of mifdemeanors, he is amenable to the Emperor, who has a right to difmifs him; to banish him to fome island; or even to inflict capital punishment upon him. It is farther incumbent upon all thefe Princes to perform a journey once every year to the Imperial Court, to refide there fix months, and to keep their whole family there conftantly, as hostages for their allegiance. Befides this monarch, there is a fpiritual, or celeftial Emperor, whofe power at prefent is totally confined to the concerns of religion and the church eftablishment; although this fpiritual Regent or Pope derives bis defcent in a direct and uninterrupted line from the antient rulers of this country for upwards of 2000 years back. The veneration which is entertained for Dairi, for that is the title by which he is diftinguished, falls little thort of the divine honours that are paid to the gods themselves. He feldom goes out of his palace, his perfon being confidered as too facred to be expofed to the view of any human creature. If he has abfolute occafion to go abroad, he is carried upon men's fhoulders, that he may not come into contact with the earth. He is brought into the world, lives and dies within the precincts of his court, the boundaries of which he never once exceeds during his whole life. His hair, nails, and beard, are accounted fo-facred, that they are never fuffered to be clean fed or cut by daylight, but this, whenever it happened, must be done by ftealth, during the night, and whilt he is alleep. His Holinefs never eats twice off the fame plate, nor uses any veffel for his meals a fecond time; they being for the moft part broken to pieces immediately after they have been used, to prevent their falling into unhallowed hands. For this reafon the furniture of his table confifts of a cheap and inferior fort of porcelaine. His clothes are diftributed among those who refide at his Court. Scarcely any one befides knows his name till long after his death. He has twelve wives, one of whom is Empress. The pomp of his Court is confiderable, though it has been lately much retrenched by the fecular Emperor. Befides the allowance he now receiva from Kubo's treasury, he acquires im menfe fums by the conferring of tiles The right of beftowing thefe remain to this day vefted in him alone. Even Kubo himself and the Hereditary Prince receive titles at his hand, as do likewife, at Kubo's recommendation, the higheft Officers of State at his Court. Paganism is the eftablished religion throughout the whole empire of Japan; but their fects are numerous and very oppofite in their tenets, though they all live together in the utmoft harmony and concord. The Dairi, like the Pope, is the head of the Church, and appoints the principal pricefls. The number of their fictitious deities is fuch, that almait every trade has its own tutelary divinity; like the Dii majorum and mi, norum gentium of the Greeks and Romans. The Japanese are not indeed entirely ignorant of the existence of an eternal or omnipotent Being, but their knowledge is much obfcured by fable and fuperftition. He is reprefented in one of the temples of this country by a wooden image of fuch an amazingmagnitude, that fix men can fit cross legged in the Japanese fashion upon its wrift; and it measures ten yards in breadth across the shoulders. In another temple the infinite power of the Deity is represented by a multitude of inferi or deities, who ftand round him on every fide, to the number of 33,333 The priests are numerous, although they have little or no employment, but to keep their temples clean, to light the fires and the lamps, and to prefent fuch flowers as are confecrated to the idol and which they believe to be most agreeable to him. No fermons are preached, or bymns fung in the temple, but they are left open all day for the accommodation of fuch as wish to offer up their prayers, or to leave their offerings. Nor are firangers denied admittance there; even the Dutch were accommo, dated with lodgings in them in their journey towards Jedo, when the inns in the fmaller villages were full. (To be continued.) A Treatise |