Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-20
Letter fro1nlPeEin

|
Letter from Pelin.
The correspondent of the N. Y. Journal
Of Commerce, who is writing such graphic
descriptions of his visit to the celestiaIs.
,snys in his third letter from Pekim
Pekin is situated in the middle of vast
low and sandy plain. The tide, which
never exceeds nine feet at the mouth ofthe
Pieho, is felt more than hundred miles
above; nothing like hill was to be seen.
and rarely gentle swell, which was per-
ceptible only upon close observation. while
occasionally ridges of sand, formed by the
wind, were no unfrequcnt occurrence. and
were iii the midst of the most luxuriant
crops of corn and millet In many places
wHterls IS stagnant in pools, and in others
the surface is so miry as TO be impossible.
On the East and South this immense plain
spread out like the ocean, sweeps away
beyond the reach of tile eye, while on the
East and North, hills begin to rise above
the plain only n few miles beyond the
walls: and still further at large distance
arc seen the mountains which separate
Aanchurla from the Province of Chilli ris-
ing in dark and solemn majesty. but still
most agreeable and aspiring, on which the
soul poised itself, and at once. the White
Catskill are before inc.
So level is the surrounding country. so
thick the trees and shrubbcry, and so
crowded the temples, monasterics and ccm-
eterIes, with suburbs all about the CITY, as
densely built and pcOplcd as inside of the
walls, that nothing is seen of the walls,
and towers, and high structures of several
stores above the gateway, till all burst
upon the eye like an enchantment. only
when the visitor is close to or entering the
city Of 100000 of inhabitants. The lofty
walls and towers make an imposing ap-
Foearancc, springing up as if by magic, and
are not unworthy of the capital of so great
an empire. But when the stranger has
once entered the great gotcways and sent
his eyes into the depth of the CITY. the illu
sion is broken, and admiration gives place
TO disappointment and vcxation. The
street VIC entered is almost as wide as a
farmers field, if that can he ascertaincd,
and as Judged twice the width of pcnnSyl-
Iania Avenue in Washington CITY. Butt
| is unpuvcd, us are all the other streets
have visited, and wheels and horses feet
sink deep into the sand if it is dry weather
and into the mud when it is wet. The
streets are generally of good width, and
cross at right angles, but nothing struck
nay eye with pleasure rs ! crossed the
threshold of this Babel, and moved slowly
along this immense street, so wide, and 50
long, flour or five miles, and so crowded
with stores, and houses, and people, except
the iunuIncrable trees, tall and widespread
branchcs-which gave to the city the air
/ of icrcst-and nm artificial hill or mount,
built up in the Emperors gardens, which
! is conlcal i'll its form and almost pyramidi-
| cal. whose sumitS and sides are covered
with trees, amid which and under which
are seen peering out the EmpcrOrs sum-
mer houses, while little ponds are spread
around the base. All this was picturesque
and charming as can well be conceived,
and made all the beauty which came under
the eye.
The Chinese wall is in the most perfect
Icondition. not Il rent or crack, IL break or
displaced brick to he seen the whole dis
tNnce around the ethyl
The Pckin officials persstcntIy affirmed
that the population of the city is fully
:i,OOO,OO0, and some put it above that
hgnre. From what saw of the crowds
outside of the gates and in the streets, |
am prepared to admit any number short of
the infinite. Obviously conjecture amounts
to nothing, and only an actual census is
entitled to confidence. Had Mslthus seen
the crowds, he would have been supplied
WIN new arguments on the evils of an en-
cess otpopulation ot and divincs could have
found materials for vindicating the divine
government in the existence of DEATH
On one occasion l took stroll into the
central part of the Tartar city, accOmpani-
cd only by a marine, and both of us armed.
GrowdS gathered around and pressed upon
us gazing: chatterimg and wondering, but
always civil and pleasant Some soldiers
ana policemen also showed themselves but
! n nj