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A

DIS SERTATION

BY

STWILLIAM c HAMBERSfi: Comptroller General of his Afaje/hl? Works.

L O N D O N:

Printed by W. GrIFFEST, Printer to the RoTAL ACADEMT.fold by Him in Ca&ermr/hzet: and hy T.DaVTES, Bookfeller to the ROYAIi ACADEMY, m Jiu/jfc/ yereet. Coeen? Gardens alfo try J .DODSLET, A//Jfe/// WILSON and NlCOLL, Sbwtd; J. WALTER, (Tfc/r'^fhfi; and P. ELMSLEY, Jiimnd. 177a.

V

DISSERTATION

O N

ORIENTAL GJRD ENING-,

b y

SR WILLIAM CHAMBERS,

Comptroller-General of his Majesty's Works, &c»

the SECOND EDITION, with ADDITIONS.

1, . i H ' ■ ■ .....-■■■■ ,,M |

TO WHICH IS ANNEXED,

AN EXPLANATORY DISCOURSE,

B Y

Tan Chet-q.ua, of Qjjang-che w-fu, Gent.

LONDON:

Printed by W. Griffin, Printer to the Royal Academy; fold by Him in Cathariw-Jlreet ; and by T. Davies, Bookfeller to the Royal Academy, in RuJJel-Jlreet, Covenl-Gartlen : alfo by J. Dodsley, Pall-Mall; Wilson and Nicoll, Strand; J. Walter, Chai'mg-Ctofs; and P. Elm$ley, Strand. J773.

T O

THE KING.

I HUMBLY heg leave to lay at Y>ur Majesty's feet the following DiiTertatioii upon an Art of which Tfou are the firft Judge , as well as the moft munificent Encourager .

A Sketch of the prefent little Performance was graabufly received by "fi)ur Majesty many years ago, and found a kind reception in the world, under the Influence of Tiour Patronage. This is more ample, I wifh it may be more perfect than the original; that it may have a jufter title to Tour Indulgence , and better pretentions to the favor of the Publick . I am ,

May it pleafe Yirar Maj e s t y ,

Your Maj e sty's dutiful fervant and faithful fubjecx ,

"WILLIAM CHAMBERS.

P R E F A G E.

XJLMONGST the decorative arts, there is none of which the influence is fo extenfive as that of Gardening. The productions of other arts have their feparate clafTes of admirers, who alone relifh or fet any great value upon them: to the reft of the world they are indifferent; fome- times difgufting. A building affords no pleafure to the generality of men, but what refults from the grandeur of the object, or the value of its materials : nor doth a pi&ure affect them, but by its refemblance to life : a thoufand other beauties, of a higher kind, are loft upon them: for, in Architecture, in Painting, and indeed in moft other arts, men muft learn before they can admire; their pleafure keeps pace with their judgment : and it is only by knowing much, that they can be highly

delighted.

Eut

•it PREFACE.

But Gardening is of a different nature : its dominion is general ; its effects upon the human mind certain and invariable: without any previous information, without being taught, all men are delighted with the gay lux- uriant fcenery of fummer, and depreffed at the difmal afpect of autumnal profpects: the charms of cultivation are equally fenfible to the ignorant and the learned; and they are equally difgufted at the rudenefs of neglected nature : lawns, woods, fhrubberies, rivers and mountains,, affect them both in the fame manner: and every com- bination of thefe, will excite fimilar fenfations in the minds of both.

Nor are the productions of this Art lefs permanent than general in their effects : pictures, ftatues, buildings, foon glut the fight, and grow indifferent to the fpectator : but in gardens there is a continual ftate of fluctuation, that leaves no room for fatiety ; the progrefs of vegetation,, the vicifTitudes of feafons, the changes of the weather, the different directions of the fun, the paffage of clouds3 the agitation and founds produced by winds, together

with

PREFACE. iii

with the accidental intervention of living or moving objects, vary the appearances fo often, and fo conii- derably, that it is almoft impoflible to be cloyed, even with the fame profpects.

Is it not lingular then, that an Art with which a confiderable part of our enjoyments is fo univerfally connected, mould have no regular profeflbrs in our quarter of the world ? Upon the continent it is a col- lateral branch of the Architect's employment ; who, immerfed in the fludy and avocations of his own pro- feflion, finds no leifure for other difquffitions : and, in this illandj it is abandoned to kitchen gardeners, well /killed in the culture of fallads, but little acquainted with the principles of Ornamental Gardening. It cannot be expelled that men, uneducated, and doomed by their condition to wafle the vigor of life in hard labour, mould ever go far in fo refined, fo difficult a purfuit.

To this unaccountable want of regular mailers may, in a great meafure, be afcribed the fcarcity of perfect

A 2 gardens

V?

R E F A C E,

gardens. There are indeed very few in our part of the globe, wherein nature has been improved to the beffc advantage, or art employed with the foundeft judgment. The gardens of Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and of all the other countries where the antient ftyle ftill prevails, are in general mere cities of verdure ; their walks, like ftreets, all conducted in ftrait lines, diverge from dif- ferent large open fpaces, refembling public fquares j and the hedges with which they are bordered, rife in imi- tation of walls, adorned with pilafters, niches, windows and doors; or they are cut into colonades, arcades and porticos: all the detached trees are fhaped like obelifks, pyramids and vafes ; and all the recefles in the thickets bear the names and forms of theatres, amphitheatres, temples, banqueting-halls, ball-rooms, cabinets and faloons. The ftreets and fquares are well manned with ftatues of marble or lead, ranged in regular lines, like foldiers at a proceflion; which, to make them more natural, are fometimes painted in proper colours, and finely gilt. The lakes and rivers, confined by quais of hewn ftone, are taught to flow in geometrick order ;

and

PREFACE. r

and the cafcades glide from the heights by many a fucceflion of marble fteps : not a twig is fuffered to grow as nature directs ; nor is a form admitted but what is fcientific, and determinable by the rule or compafs.

In England, where this antient ftyle is held in detefiation, and where, in opposition to the reft of the world, a new manner is univerfally adopted, in which no appearance of art is tolerated, our gardens differ very little from common fields, fo clofely is vulgar nature copied in mod of them; there is generally fo little variety, and fo much want of judgment, in the choice of the objects, fuch a poverty of imagination in the contrivance, and of art in the arrangement, that thefe compofitions rather appear the offspring of chance than defign ; and a ftranger is often at a lofs to know whether he be walking in a common meadow, or in a pleafure ground, made and kept at a very confiderable expence : he finds nothing either to delight or to amufe him ; nothing to keep up his attention, or excite his curiofity ; little to flatter the fenfes, and lefs to touch the paffions, or gratify

the

VI

R E F A C E.

the underftanding. At his firft entrance, he fees a large green field, fcattered over with a few ftraggling trees, and verged with aconfufed border of little flirubs and flowers; on farther infpection, he finds a little ferpentine path, twining in regular effes amonQ-ft the flirubs of the border, upon which he is to go round, to look on one fide at what he has already feen, the large green field; and on the other fide at the boundary, which is never more than a few yards from him, and always obtruding upon his fight. From time to time he perceives a little feat or temple ftuck up againft the wall: happy in the dif- covery, he fits down to reft his wearied limbs, and then reels on again, curfing the line of beauty ; till, fpent with fatigue, half roafted by the fun, for there is never any fhade, and dying for want of entertainment, he refolves to fee no more : vain refolution! there is but one path ; he muft either drag on to the end, or return by the tedious way he came.

Such is the favourite plan of all our fmaller gardens: and our larger works are only a repetition of the fmall

ones :

PREFACE. vii

ones : more green fields, more fhrubberies, more Terpentine walks, and more temples ; like the honeft batchelor's feaft, which confifted in nothing but a multiplication of his own dinner; three legs of mutton and turneps, three roafled geefe, and three buttered apple-pies.

Sometimes, indeed, by way of regale, where fuch dainties are attainable, you are treated with a ferpentine river ; that is, a {tripe of ftagnant water, waving, in femicircles, as far as it will reach, and finifhing in a pretty little orderly ftep cafcade, that never runs but when it rains. The banks of thefe curious rivers are every where uniform, parallel, level, fmooth and green, as a billiard- table ; and the whole compofition bears a great refem- blance to the barge-canals of Holland: the only difference being, that the Dutch ditches are regularly ftraight, whilft ours are regularly crooked. Of the two, ours are certainly the moil formal and affecled: they are by no means the mod picturefque.

It

Vlll

R E F A C E.

It is I think obvious, that neither the artful nor the iimple ftyle of Gardening here mentioned, is right: the one being too much refined, and too extravagant a •deviation from nature; the other, like a Dutch picture, an affected adherence to her, without choice or judg- ment. One manner is abfurd ; the other is infipid and vulgar :- a judicious mixture of art and nature, an extract of what is good in both manners, would certainly be more perfect than either.

Yet how this union can be effected, is difficult to fay. The men of art, and the friends of nature, are equally violent in defence of their favourite fyftem; and, like all other partizans, loth to give up any thing, however un-reafonable.

Such a coalition is therefore now not to be expected : whoever mould be bold enough to attempt it, would probably incur the cenfure of both fides, without reforming either ; and confequently prejudice himfeif without doing fervice to the Art.

But

PREFACE. ix

But though it might be impertinent as well as ufelefs to ftart a new fyftem of one's own, it cannot be improper, nor totally unferviceable, to publim that of others: efpecially of a people whofe" (kill in Gardening has often been the fubject of praife; and whofe manner has been fet up amongft us as the ftandard of imitation, without ever having been properly defined. It is a common faying, That from the worft things fome good may be extracted; and even if what I have to relate fhould be inferior to what is already known, yet furely fome ufeful hints may be collected from it.

I may therefore, without danger to myfelf, and it is hoped without offence to others, offer the following account of the Chinefe manner of Gardening ; which is collected from my own obfervations in China, from converfations with their Artifts, and remarks tranfmitted to me at different times by travellers. A fketch of what I have now attempted to finifh, was publifhed fome years ago; and the favourable reception granted to that little performance, induced me to colled: materials for this.

B

£'

4%

X

R E F A C E.

Whether the Chinefe manner of Gardening be better or worfe than thofe now in ufe amongfl the Europeans, I will not determine: companion is the fureft as well as the eafiefl: tefl of truth: it is in every man's power to compare and to judge for himfelf. — Should the prefent publication contain any thing ufeful, my purpofe will be fully anfwered ; if not, it may perhaps afford fome little entertainment, or ferve at worfl to kill an idle, hour.

I muft not enter upon my fubjecl:, without apologizing • for the liberties here taken with our Englifh Gardens- There are, indeed, feveral that do not come within the compafs of my defcription 5 fome of which were laid out by their owners, who are as eminently fkilled in Garden- ing, as in many other branches of polite knowledge ; the reft owe moft of their excellence to nature ; and are, upon the whole, very little improved by the interposition of art ; which, though it may have heightened fome of their beauties, has totally robbed them of many others.

It

PREFACE. xt

It would be tedious to enumerate all the errors of a falfe tafte : but the havock it has made in our old plan- tations, mufl ever be remembered with indignation. The ax has often, in one day, laid wafte the growth of feveral ages; and thoufands of venerable plants, whole woods of them, have been fwept away, to make room for a little grafs, and a few American weeds. Our vir- tuofi have fcarcely left an acre of fhade, nor three trees growing in a line, from the Land's-end to the Tweed : and if their humour for devaluation continues to rage much longer, there will not be a foreft-tree left (landing in the whole kingdom.

DISSERTATION.

XJlMONGST the Chinefe, Gardening is held in much higher efteem, than it is in Europe : they rank a perfect work in that Art, with the great productions of the human underftanding ; and fay, that its efficacy in moving, the paffions, yields to that of few other arts whatever. Their Gardeners are not only Botanifts, but alfo Painters and Philofophers ; having a thorough knowledge of the human mind, and of the arts by which its ftrongeft feelings are excited. It is not in China, as in Italy and' France, where every petty Architect is a Gardener ;. neither is it as in another famous country,, where peafants emerge from the melon grounds to take the periwig, and turn profeffors ; as Sganarelle, the faggot- maker j, quitted: his hatchety and commenced physician* In- China,. Gardening is a diftinct profeflionj requiring an extenfise: ftudy; to the perfection of which, few arrive. The

Gardenerss

( '4 )

Gardeners there, far from being either ignorant or illiterate, are men of high abilities, who join to good natural parts, moft ornaments that ftudy, travelling, and long experience can fupply them with : it is in confider- ation of thefe accomplifhments only that they are per- mitted to exercife their profeflion : for with the Chinefe the tafte of Ornamental Gardening is an object of legif- lative attention ; it being fuppofed to have an influence upon the general culture, and confequently upon the beauty of the whole country. They obferve, that miftakes committed in this Art, are .too important to be tolerated; being much expofed to view, and in a great meafure irreparable : as it often requires the fpace of a century, to redrefs the blunders of an hour.

The Chinefe Gardeners take nature for their pattern; and their aim is to imitate all her beautiful irregularities. Their firft confideration is the nature of the ground they are to work upon : whether it be flat or Hoping ; hilly or mountainous ; fmall or of considerable extent ; abounding with fprings and rivers, or labouring under a

fcarcity

(■ «1 )

fcarcity of water ; whether woody or bare, rough or even, barren or rich ; and whether the tranfitions be- fudden, and the character grand, wild or tremendous 'y or whether they be gradual, and the general bent placid, gloomy or chearful. To all which circumftances they carefully attend ; choofing fuch difpofitions as humour tshe ground, hide its defects, improve or fet off its advantages, and can be executed with expedition,, at a- moderate expence.-

They are alfo attentive to the wealth or indigence of- the patron by whom they are employed; to his age, his- infirmities, temper, amufements, connections, bufinefs and manner of living; as likewife to the feafon of the year in which the Garden is likely to be mod frequented by him: fuiting themfelves in their composition, to his circumftances ; and providing for his wants and recre- ations. Their jfkill confifts in ftruggling, with the im- perfections and defects of nature ; and- with every other impediment : and in producing, in fpite of every obitacle> works that are uncommon, and perfect in their kind.

Though

( 16 )

Though the Chinefe artifts have nature for their ge- neral model, yet are they not fo attached to her as to exclude all appearance of art: on the contrary, they think it, on many occasions, neceffary to make an oftentatious fhew of their labour. Nature, fay they, affords us but few materials to work with : plants, ground and water, are her only productions : and though both the forms and arrangements of thefe may be varied to an incredible degree, yet have they but few ftriking varieties; the reft being of the nature of changes rung upon bells, which, though in reality different, ftill produce the fame uniform kind of jingling ; the variation being too minute to be eaiily perceived.

Art muft therefore fupply the fcantinefs of nature ; and not only be employed to produce variety, but alfo novelty and effect : for the iimple arrangements of nature are met with in every common field, to a certain degree of perfection; and are therefore too familiar to excite any ftrong fenfations in the mind of the beholder, or to produce any uncommon degree of pleafure.

It

( 17 )

It is indeed true, that novelty and variety may both be attained, by tranfplanting the peculiarities of one country to another ; by introducing rocks, cataracts, impending woods, and other parts of romantic fituations, in flat places; by employing much water where it is rare, and cultivated plains, amidft the rude irregularities of mountains : but even this refource is eafily exhaufted, and can feldom be put in practice, without a very great expence.

The Chinefe are therefore no enemies to ftrait lines ; becaufe they are, generally fpeaking, productive of grandeur, which often cannot be attained without them: nor have they any averfion to regular geometrical figures, which they fay are beautiful in themfelves, and well fuited to fmall compofitions, where the luxuriant irre- gularities of nature would fill up and embarrafs the parts they fhould adorn. They likewife think them propereft for flower-gardens, and all other compofitions, where much art is apparent in the culture ; and where it fhould therefore not be omitted in the forms.

C Their

( *8 )

Their regular buildings they generally furround with artificial terrafTes, Hopes, and many flights of fteps; the angles of which are adorned with groups of fculpture and vafes, intermixed with all forts of artificial water- works, which, connecting with the architecture, fpread the compofition, ferve to give it confequence, and add to the gaiety, fplendor, and buftle of the fcenery.

Round the main habitation, and near all their decorated ftau&ures, the grounds are laid out with great regularity,, and kept with great care : no plants are admitted that intercept the view of the buildings ; nor any lines but fuch as accompany the architecture properly, and con.- tribute to the general fymmetry and good effect of the whole compofition :. for they hold it abfurd to furround an elegant fabric with diforderly rude vegetation ; faying, that it looks like a diamond fet in lead ; and always conveys the idea, of an unfiniihed work. When the buildings are rufiic, the fcenery which: furrounds them is wild; when, they are grand, , it is gloomy; when gay, it is luxuriant : in fiiort, the Chinefe are fcrupuloufly

nice

( 19 )

nice in preferving the fame character through every part of the composition ; which is one great caufe of that furprifing variety with which their works abound.

They are fond of introducing ftatues, bufts, bas-reliefs, and every production of the chifel, as well in other parts of their Gardens, as round their buildings ; obferving, that they are not only ornamental, but, that by com- memorating paft events, and celebrated perfonages, they awaken the mind to pleafing contemplation; hurryincr our reflections up into the remoteft ages of antiquity: and thcy^ never fail to fcatter antient infcriptions, verfes, and moral fentences, about their grounds; which are placed upon the backs of coloffal tortoife and elephants ; on large ruinated ftones, and columns of marble; or engraved on trees and rocks: fuch Situations being always choien for them, as correfpond with the fenfe of the infcriptions ; which thereby acquire additional force in themfelves, and likewife give a llronger expreflion to the Icene.

C 2 They

( 20 )

They fay, that all thefe decorations are necefTary, to characterize and diftinguifh the different fcenes of their compofitions ; among which, without fuch ailiftance, there would unavoidably be a tirefome fimilarity.

And whenever it is objected to them, that many of thefe things are unnatural, and ought therefore not to be fuffered, they anfwer, that moft improvements are unnatural ; yet they are allowed to be improvements, and not only tolerated, but admired. Our veftments? fay they, are neither of leather, nor like our fkins, but formed of rich filks and embroidery; our houfes and palaces bear no refemblauce to caverns in the rocks, which are the only natural habitations ; nor is our mulic either like thunder, or the whittling of the northern wind, the harmony of nature. Nature produces nothing either boiled, roailed or ftewed ; and yet we do not eat raw meat : nor doth fhe fupply us with any other tools for all our purpofes, but teeth and hands ; yet we have faws, hammers, axes, and a thoufand other implements : in fhort, there is fcarcely any thing in which art is not

apparent j

( *« )

apparent; and why mould its appearance be excluded from Gardening only ? Poets and painters foar above the pitch of nature, when they would give energy to their compofitions. The fame privilege, therefore, fhould be allowed to Gardeners : inanimate, fimple nature, is too infipid for our purpofes : much is expected from us ; and therefore, we have occafion for every aid that either art or nature can furnifh. The fcenery of a Garden mould differ as much from common nature, as an heroic poem doth from a profe relation ; and Gardeners, like poets, fhould give a loofe to their imagination ; and even fly beyond the bounds of truth, whenever it is neceffary to elevate, to embellifh, to enliven, or to add novelty to thtir fubjecl.

The ufual method of distributing Gardens in China, is to contrive a great variety of fcenes, to be hen from certain points of view j at which are placed feats or buildings, adapted to the different purpofes of mental or fenfual enjoyments, The perfection of their Gardens confifts in the number and diverilty of thefe fcenes; and

in

( 22 )

in the artful combination of their parts ; which they endeavour to difpofe in fuch a manner, as not only Separately to appear to the beft advantage, but alfo to unite in forming an elegant and finking whole.

Where the ground is extenfive, and many fcenes can be introduced, they generally adapt each to one fingle point of viewi but where it is confined, and affords no room for variety, they difpofe their objects fo, that being viewed from different points, they produce different reprefentations 5 and often fuch as bear no refemblance to each other. They likewife endeavour to place the feparate fcenes of their compositions in fuch directions as to unite, and be feen all together, from one or more particular points of view ; whence the eye may be delighted with an extenfive, rich and variegated profpecl. They take all poflible advantage of exterior objects; hiding carefully the boundaries of their own grounds ; and endeavouring to make an apparent union between them and the diftant woods, fields and rivers : and where towns, caftles, towers, or any other confiderable objects

are

( 23 )

are in fight, they artfully contrive to have them feen from as many points, and in as many directions as pofiible. The fame they do with regard to navigable rivers, high roads, foot-paths, mills, and all other moving objects, which animate and add variety to the landfcape.

Befides the ufual European methods of concealing boundaries by ha-has, and funk fences, they have others, ftill more effectual. On flats, where they have naturally no profpects of exterior objects, they enclofe their plan- tations with artificial terraffes, in the form of walks, to which you afcend by infenfible Hopes: thefe they border on the infide with thickets of lofty trees and underwood; and on the outfide, with low fhrubberies; over which the pafifenger fees the whole fcenery of the adjacent country, in appearance forming a continuation of the Garden, as its fence is carefully concealed amongft the fhrubs that cover the outfide declivity of die. terrafs.

And where the Garden, happens to ftand on higher ground, than the adjacent country, they carry artificial

rivers

( 24 )

fivers round the outskirts, under the oppoftte banks of which, the boundaries are concealed, amongft trees and fhrubs. Sometimes too they make ufe of ftrong wire fences, painted green, fattened to the trees and fhrubs that border the plantations, and carried round in many irregular directions, which are fcarcely feen till you come very near them : and wherever ha-has, or funk fences are ufed, they always fill the trenches with briars, and other thorny plants, to ftrengthen the fence, and to conceal the walls, which otherwife would have an ugly .appearance from without.

In their large Gardens they contrive different fcenes

for the different times of the day; difponng at the points

of view, buildings, which from their ufe point out the

proper hour for enjoying the view in its perfections :

and in their fmall ones, where, as has been obferved,

.one arrangement produces many reprefentations, they

make ufe of the fame artifice. They have befide,

ibenes for every feafon of the year : fome for winter,

generally expofed to the fouthern fun, and compofed

of

( 25 )

of pines*, firs, cedars, evergreen oak's, phillyreas, hollies, yews, junipers, and many other evergreens; being enriched with laurels of various forts, laurefrinus, arbutus, and fuch other plants and vegetables as grow or flourifh in cold weather : and to give variety and gaiety to thefe gloomy productions, they plant amongft them, in regular forms, divided by walks, all the rare fhrubs, flowers and trees of the torrid zone ; which they cover, during the winter, with frames of glafs, difpofed in the forms of temples, or other elegant buildings. Thefe they call confervatiories : they are warmed by fubterraneous fires, and afford a comfortable and agreeable retreat, when the weather is too cold to walk in the open air. All forts of beautiful

* Thofe who are acquainted with the natural hiftory of China, know, that it produces almoft all the plants and vegetables cultivated in Europe ; with many others, that are not to be found even in our bed hot-houfes: amongft which are feveral evergreens ; as theTfe-fong, of which the leaves refemble both the juniper and cyprefs, mixed in a very beautiful manner; the Mo-lyen, producing large flowers, like lillies, fome yellow, fome red, and fome white, which open in December, and flourifh during the greater part of the winter; the La-mew, a kind of bay, producing fine yellow flowers, that appear in winter ; with many others, which, as they cannot here be obtained, it is fuperfluous to enumerate.

D melodious

( 26 )

melodious birds are let loofe in them : and they keep there, in large porcelain citterns, placed on artificial rocks, gold and filver fifhes ; with various kinds of the lyen-wha*, and other aquatic plants and flowers : they alfo raife in them ftrawberries, cherries, figs, bananas, li-chis f , grapes, apricots and peaches, which cover the wood-work of their glafs frames, and ferve for ornament as well as ufe.

Their fcenes of fpring like wife abound with evergreens, intermixed with lilacks of all forts, laburnums, limes,

* The Lyen-wha is a water lilly, much efteemed in China. In the province of Kiang-fi, whole lakes are covered with it, in a very beautiful manner;, and it is cultivated, by all the great -lords, in ponds and cifterns, for the decoration of their courts and gardens. The flower refembles a tulip, and is either yellow, white, violet, crimfon, or ftreaked with various colours : its l'mell is very pleafing ; and the fruit, which produces a white kernel, being accounted a great reftorative and ftrengthener, is given, in China, as a medicine, after fevere fits of illnefs : the leaves are large, of a circular form, and brilliant green colour •, they float upon the furface of the water.

■f The fruit of the Li-chi refembles the berry of the arbutus, in every thing but fize ; it being as large as a pigeon's egg, and full of a juicy pulp, thiam- in flavor, far furpafTes any other fruit whatever.

larixes.

( 27 )

larixes, double bloflbmed thorn, almond and peach-trees; with fweet-hryar, early rofes, and honey-fuckles. The ground, and verges of the thickets and mrubberies, are adorned with wild hyacinths, wall-flowers, daffodils, violets, primrofes, polianthes's, crocus's, dairies, fnow- drops, and various fpecies of the iris ; with fuch other flowers as appear in the months of March and April : and as thefe fcenes are alfo fcanty in their natural productions, they interfperfe amongft their plantations, menageries for all forts of tame or ferocious animals, and birds of prey ; aviaries and groves, with proper contrivances for breeding domeftic fowls ; decorated dairies ; and buildings for the exercifes of wreftling, boxing, quail-fighting, and other games known in China. They alfo contrive in the woods large open recefTes for military fports ; as riding, vaulting, fencing, mooting with the bow, and running.

Their fummer fcenes compofe the richeft and mod iludied parts of their Gardens. They abound with lakes rivers, and water-works or every contrivance ; and with

D 2 veffels

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vefTels of every conftruction, calculated for the ufes of failing, rowing, fifhing, fowling, and fighting. The woods confift of oak, beech, Indian chefnut, elm, am, plane, u-ton~fhu * and common fycamore, maple, abele and feveral other fpecies of the poplar ; with many other trees, peculiar to China. The thickets are compofed of every fair deciduous plant that grows in that climate, and every flower or fhrub that flourifhes during the fummer months; all uniting to form the fineft verdure, the moft brilliant, harmonious colouring imaginable. The buildings are fpacious, fplendid and numerous ; every fcene being marked by one or more : fome of them contrived for banquets, balls, concerts, learned difpu- tations, plays, rope-dancing, and feats of activity; others again for bathing, fwimming,. reading, fleeping, or meditation.

In the center of thefe fummer plantations, there is generally a large tract of ground fet afide for more fecret and voluptuous enjoyments; which is laid out in a great

* A beautiful fpecies of the fycamore, peculiar to China.

number

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number of clofe walks, colonades and paffages, turned with many intricate windings, fo as to confufe and lead the pafTenger aftray : being fometimes divided by thickets of underwood, intermixed with ftraggling large trees; and at other times by higher plantations, or by clump3 of the tfe-tan *, common rofe-trees, and other lofty flowering fhrubs. The whole is a wildernefs of fweets,1 adorned with all forts of fragrant and gaudy productions; Gold and filver pheafants, pea-fowls, partridges, bantam? and golden hens, quails, and game of every kind, fwarm in the woods ; doves* nightingales, and a thoufand melodious birds^ perch upon the branches; deer, ante^ lopes, mufk goats -f-, fpotted buffaloes, ihen-fi ilieep t7 and Tartarean horfes, frifk upon the plains. Every walki

* A very large fpecies of the rofe- tree; die wood of which is- uncommonly, beautiful, and ufed by the Chinele workmen for tables, cabinets, &c.

■j- A fort of roe-bucks, called by the Chinefe hyang-chang-tfe, found in the mountains, weft of Peking, where they feed on the flefli of ferpents, who, ftupified by the fcent of the mufk, are eafily killed by the animals ; though iome of them are of an enormous fize, very ftrong, and naturally very fier-ce.

X. A fort of ilieep with very large, tails, which trail upon the ground.

leach

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leads to fome delightful object: to groves of orano-e and myrtle ; to rivulets, whofe banks are clad with rofes, woodbine and jefTamine ; to murmuring fountains, with ftatues of Sleeping nymphs, and water-gods ; to cabinets of verdure, with beds of aromatic herbs and flowers ; to grottos cut in rocks, adorned with incruftations of coral fhells, ores, gems and cryftallizations, refreshed with rills of fweet-fcented water, and cooled by fragrant, artificial breezes.

Amongft the thickets which divide the walks, are many fecret receffes ; in each of which there is an elegant pavilion, conflfting of one ftate apartment, with out- houfes, and proper conveniences for eunuchs and vvomen- fervants. Thefe are inhabited, during the fummer, by their faired and moft accomplifhed concubines; each of them, with her attendants, occupying a feparate pavilion.

The principal apartment of thefe buildings, confifts of one or more large faloons, two cabinet or dreffing-

rooms,

( 3* )

rooms, a library, a couple of bed-chambers and waiting- rooms, a bath, and feveral private clofets ; all which are magnificently furnifhed, and provided with entertaining books, amorous paintings, mufical inftruments, imple- ments for gaming, writing, drawing, painting and embroidering; with beds, couches, and chairs, of various conftrudlions, for the ufes of fitting and lying in different poftures..

The faloons generally open to little enclofed courts, fet round with beautiful flower-pots, of different forms, made of. porcelain, marble or copper, filled with the rareft flowers of the feafon : at the end of the court there is generally an aviary ; an artificial rock with a fountain and bafon for gold fifh, or blue fifties of Hay-Nang*; a cafcade; an arbor of bamboo or vine interwoven with flowering fhrubs; or fome other elegant contrivance, of the like nature.

* A little beautiful blue fifh, caught near the ifland of Hay-Nang, of which the Chinefe ladies are very fond.

Befid

iaes

I 3^ )

Befides thefe feparate habitations, in which the ladies are privately vifited by the patron, as often as he is difpofed to fee them, and be particular, there are, in other larger receffes of the thickets, more fplendid and fpacious buildings, v/here the women all meet at certain hours of the day, either to eat at the public tables, to drink their tea, to converfe, bathe, fwim, work, romp, or to play at the mora, and other games known in China; or elfe to divert the patron with mufic, finging, lafcivious pofture-dancing, and -acting plays or pantomimes: at all which they generally are very expert.

Some of thefe flruclures are entirely open; the roof being fupported on columns of rofe-wood, or cedar, with bafes of Corean jafper, and cryftal of Chang-chew-fu; or upon wooden pillars, made in imitation of bamboo, and plantane-trees, furrounded with garlands of fruit and flowers, artfully carved, being painted and varnilhed in proper colours. Others are enclofed ; and confift fcmetimes only of one fpacious hall, and fometimes of many different flzed rooms, of various forms ; as triangles,

fquares,

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fquares, hexagons, octagons, circles, ovals, and irregular whimfical fhapes ; all of them elegantly finifhed with incruftations of marble, inlaid precious woods, ivory, filver, gold, and mother of pearl ; with a profufion of antient porcelain, mirrors, carving, gilding, painting and lacquering of all colours.

The doors of entrance to thefe apartments, are circular and polygonal, as well as rectangular : and the windows by which they are lighted, are made in the fhapes of fans, birds, animals, fifties, infects, leaves and flowers ; being filled with painted glafs, or different coloured gaufe, to tinge the light, and give a glow to the objects in the apartment.

All thefe buildings are furnifhed at a very great expence, not only with the necelTary moveables, but with pictures, fculptures, embroideries, trinkets, and pieces of clock-work of great value ; being fome of them very large, compofed of many ingenious movements, and enriched with ornaments of gold, intermixed with pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and other gems.

E

( 34- )

Befides the different flructures already mentioned, they have fome built in large trees, and difpofed amongfr. the branches like nefts of birds, being finifhed on the infide with many beautiful ornaments and pictures, compofed of feathers ; fome they have likewife made in the form of Perfian tents j others built of roots and pollards, put together with great tafte; and others, which are called Miau Ting, or Halls of the Moon, being of a prodigious fize, and compofed each of one Jingle vaulted room, made in the fhape of a hemifphere; the concave of which is artfully painted, in imitation of a nocturnal fky, and pierced with an infinite number of little windows, made to reprefent the moon and ftars, being filled with tinged giafs, that admits the light in the quantities neceffary to fpread over the whole interior fabric the pleafing gloom of a fine fummer's night.

The pavements of thefe rooms are fometimes laid out in parterres of flowers ; amongft which are placed many rural feats, made of fine formed branches, varnifhed red to reprefent coral : but ofteneft their bottom is full of a

clear

( 35 )

clear running water, which falls in rills from the fides of a rock in the center : many little iflands float -upon its furface, and move around as the current directs ; fome of them covered with tables for the banquet; others with feats for muficians; and others with arbors, containing beds of repofe, with fophas, feats, and other furniture, for various ufes.

To thefe Halls of the Moon the Chinefe princes retire, with their favourite women, whenever the heat and intenfe light of the fummer's day becomes difagreeable to them; and here they feaft, and give a loofe to every fort of voluptuous pleafure.

No nation ever equalled the Chinefe in the fplendor and number of their Garden ftauctures. We are told, by Father Attiret, that, in one of the Imperial Gardens near Pekin, called Yven Ming Yven, there are, befides the palace, which is of itfelf a city, four hundred pavilions; all fo different in their architecture, that each feems the production of a different country. He

E 2 mentions

( 36 )

mentions one of them, that coft upwards oF two hundred thoufand pounds, exclufive of the furniture; another, confifting of a hundred rooms : and fays, that moft of them are fufficiently capacious to lodge the greateft European lord, and his whole retinue. There is likewife, in the fame garden, a fortified town, with its port, flreets, public fquares, temples, markets, fhops, and tribunals of juftice : in fhort, with every thing that is at Pekin ; only upon a fmaller fcale.

In this town the emperors of China, who are too much the Haves of their greatnefs to appear in public, and their women, who are excluded from it by cuftom, are frequently diverted with the hurry and buftle of the capital ; which is there reprefented, feveral times in the year, by the eunuchs of the palace : fome of them, perfonating merchants, others artifts, artificers, officers, foldiers, fhopkeepers, porters, and even thieves and pickpockets. On the appointed day, each puts on the habit of his profeflion •, the mips arrive at the port, the mops are opened, and the goods are offered to fale : tea-

Houfes,

( 37 )

houfes, taverns, and inns, are ready for the reception or company ; fruits, and all forts of refreshments, are cried about the ftreets: the fhop-keepers teize the pafTengers to purchafe their merchandize 5 and every liberty is permitted : there is no diftindtion of perfons : even the emperor is confounded in the crowd : quarrels happen — battles enfue — the watch feizes upon the combatants —