Travels in China Author:John Barrow Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Chap. in. JOURNEY THROUGH THE CAPITAL TO A COUNTRY VILLA OF THE EMPEROR.—RETURN TO PEKIN.—THE IMPERIAL PALACE AND GARDENS OF YUEN-MIN-YUEN, AND THE PARKS OF G... more »EHOL. Order of Procession from Tong-tchoo to the Capital.—Crowd assethbled on the Occasion.—Appearance of Pekin without and within the Walls.—Some Account of this City.—Proceed to a country Villa of the Emperor.—Inconveniences of.—Return to Pekin.—Embassador proceed to Tartary.—Author sent to the Palace of Yuen-min-yuen.—Miserable Lodgings of.—Visit of the President and Members of the Mathematical Tribunal.—Of the Bishop of Pekin, nd others.—Gill's Sword-blades.—Hatchett's Carriages.—Scorpion found in a Cask packed at Birmingham.—Portraits of English Nobility.—Effects of Accounts from Tartary on the Officers of State in Pekin.—Emperor's Return to the Capital.—Inspects the Presents.—Application of the Embassador for Leave to depart.—Short Account of the Palace and Gardens of Yuen-min-Yuen.— Lord Macartney's Description of the Eastern and Western Parks of Gehol.— And his general Remarks on Chinese Landscape Gardening. THE presents for the emperor and our private baggage being all landed, the packages repaired, and every article minutely noted down by the officers of government, the porters were directed to fix their bamboo bearing-poles to each package, that no impediment might prevent our setting out at an early hour in the morning. In doing this, as well as landing the articles from the vessels, the Chinese porters shewed such expedition, strength, and activity, as could not, I believe, be paralleled or procured in so short a time, in any other country. Ever)r thing here, in fact, seems to be at the instant command of the state; and the most laborious tasks are undertaken and executed with a readiness, and even a che...« less