imulation, and dishonesty of the Chinese, may, in some
sort, be owing to the composure and external decency so universally
prevailing in that empire.

Thus much for the general disposition of the people: But I cannot
dismiss this subject without adding a few words about the Chinese
government, that too having been the subject of boundless panegyric.
And on this head I must observe, that the favourable accounts often
given of their prudent regulations for the administration of their
domestic affairs, are sufficiently confuted by their transactions with
Mr Anson: For we have seen that their magistrates are corrupt, their
people thievish, and their tribunals crafty and venal. Nor is the
constitution of the empire, or the general orders of the state, less
liable to exception: Since that form of government, which does not
in the first place provide for the security of the public against
the enterprises of foreign powers, is certainly a most defective
institution: And yet this populous, this rich, and extensive country,
so pompously celebrated for its refined wisdom and policy, was
conquered about an age since by an handful of Tartars; and even now,
by the cowardice of the inhabitants, and the want of proper military
regulations, it continues exposed not only to the attempts of any
potent state, but to the ravages of every petty invader. I have
already observed, on occasion of the commodore's disputes with the
Chinese, that the Centurion alone was an overmatch for all the
naval power of that empire: This perhaps may appear an extraordinary
position; but to render it unquestionable, one may refer to vessels
made use of by the Chinese.[2] The first of these is a junk of about
a hundred and twenty tons burden, and was what the Centurion hove down
by; these are most used in the great rivers, though they sometimes
serve for small coasting voyages: The other junk is about two hundred
and eighty tons burden, and is of the same form with those in which
they trade to Cochinchina, Manilla, Batavia, and Japan, though some of
their trading vessels are of a much larger size; its head is perfectly
flat; and when the vessel is deep laden, the second or third plank
of this flat surface is oft-times under water. The masts, sails, and
rigging of these vessels are ruder than their built; for their masts
are made of trees, no otherwise fashioned than by barking them, and
lopping off their branches. Each mast has only two shrouds made of
twisted