Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-01-13

PExIx is the capital Of the whole Chinese
empire, and the ordinary residence of its SOW
reigns IL is situated in fertile plain. at
distance OF tweEy-six miles from the Great
wan. II IS IN the form oil a long parallels-
gram, and is divided into two cities; the Tar
tar Or mere properly the Mantchoeriau city.
contains the imperial palace. aud forms, a
long with the other or Chinese city, an ir-
regular whole. seventeen miles in circunics
ence.--Ihe walls Of Pekin are iifly cahits N
height, and conceal The buildings FROM the
view; gates are not embsliished with statues
or with sculpture, but their prodisous height
gives them at 4 certain distance an air Of
grandeur The arcades OF the gates are of
marble, aud the remainder of broad bricks
cemented with excellent mortar. The great
er part Of the streets are in straight lines:
the largest are TAO feetwide, and nearly three
miles IN length, well aired, clean and cheer
4uls The whole street is generally occupied
With shops, in which the silks and wares of
China are sold. The fronts Of the houses,
which are very low, have nothing gloomy IN
their appearance--i'he msgsiiicence Of The
imperial palace does cot consist 50 nuch in
the imposing elegance Of its architecture. as
IN The multitude Of its buildings, its courts
aud ITS gardens. The walls Of the palac c
comprehend a little town, inhabited by the
great officers of the court, and great guam
uty Of mechanics, all in the emperors service.
Father krtier, French jesuit who ohtained
permission to visit the palace. says. that it is
Ia league IN circumference, that It's front is
cmbc!Ished with paintings, gliding and var
nished work, and that the furniture and or
naments of The interior comprise every thing
that is most rare aud valued in emma, india
and Eurspe The gardens of the palace
form vast park, in which, at proper dist
ances, mountains rise twenty or sixty feet
i'm height, separated irom one another by
little valleys; which are watered with canals;
these waters unite TO form lakes and broad
ponds, which are navigated by magnificent
pleasure beats, and their banks are adorned
with a series of buildings OF whisA NO two
are alike.
Each valley contains snamer house or
villa, sufficiently spacious TO accommodate
one e the first noblemen Of Europe. with all
bis attendants. The cedar Of which these
houses are built is not found within iess
distance than 400 miles from Pekin. IN
the midst Of lake which ia d uile and b 4
broad, there is a rocky island, crowned with
a saFerhpalace containing tnore thans hund
red apartments, 1 he meunt2ins aad bills
arc cuFGFcu win trees ana Inc aromatic
flowers; the canals skirted with rocks so art
fully arranged as 10 be perfect imitation Of
nature in her widest and most iesolate forms.
The whole has an air Of enchantment On
the SUBMITS ef the highest mountains tall
trees. enciFcle pavilions and kiosks consecrat-
ed % retirement ani pleasure.
The temples oiIekin are net equal 70 the
|palaces. The religion Of the Enperer is
comparatively new ID China. and its ccreuio-
nies are celebrated WITH less pomp that
country ;han in TanaIy The naudarins
and literat, from whom The Magistrates who
rule the empire arc selected, rather respect
than worship Ceofucius. and assemble to
henor ais memory in sispls, neat, and
Clearly buildings
The En8lish make the number ef inhatit-
ants amoart TO three n.illion, an estimate ri
diculously cxiravagaat The city Of Pekin
does net afford sufficient space for three mil
Ion Of men 10 stand on. With these ac-
ceunts we may contrast the testimony OF the
Russians who have visited Pe5in, who tell us
that it scarcely doubles Moscow IN exteut:
that larce portion of il Is occNpit by the
palace and lis gardens, aud that The houses
ere not closer together than those Of Mos
COW. Now we know tsat Moscow, though
larger than paris, does not contain more
than 100000 inhabitants, According TO
these date, pekin viii eniy costain COO goo,
or, at most, 200, 900 inhabitants.
Mate Bruno