He examined it with much interest and curiosity, and said, that the conduct of those mandarines was truly unworthy, who could desire to harass the English with further vexations and impositions, after they had come to this country from so great a distance, and encountered such perils and dangers by the way. The viceroy added, that as his curiosity was gratified by the picture, he thought it might prove interesting even to the emperor, to whom he should accordingly take an opportunity of sending it.

"Next to the viceroy, the mandarine, in whose character the Europeans are most interested, is the hoppo, or chief revenue officer, under whose direction the duties and imposts are assessed upon the English commerce. The person who at present fills that situation is not much esteemed for his probity or good manners, but as he is at the same time deficient in talents, his rapacity and extortion are less apprehended.

"From motives of curiosity, as well as to guard in some measure against the impositions of persons of this description, I have lately bespoke from Nankin an edition of the Chinese Code of Laws, which, in length at least, will vie, if not surpass, our publications of the same kind in Europe, as it consists of upwards of one hundred and fifty volumes in octavo.*-In a nation, whose ideas and manners are totally different from ours, such an immense compilation must inevitably contain a great deal of new and curious matter for an European.

66 During our residence at Canton last winter, some differences which arose between the English supercargoes and the Chinese government, induced

*It is proper to observe, that the Chinese volumes are in general much less than those of Europe.

the former to request a copy of the Laws of the Empire, to which their submission had been desired; the viceroy accordingly sent them a few extracts from the printed laws, which, though not very remarkable for their equity or precision, are a curiosity of their kind; I have therefore enclosed you a copy of the original, with a literal translation, which I made at the time.

TRANSLATION OF EXTRACTS FROM THE CHINESE CRIMINAL CODE OF LAWS.

"1. A man who kills another on the suspicion of theft shall be strangled, according to the laws of homicide committed in an affray.

2. A man who fires at another with a musket, and kills him thereby, shall be beheaded, as in cases of wilful murder; if the sufferer is wounded (but not mortally) the offender shall be ent into exile.

"3. A man who puts to death a criminal, who had been apprehended and made no resistance, shall be、 strangled, according to the law against homicide committed in an affray.

"4. A man who falsely accuses an innocent person of theft (in cases of greatest criminality) is guilty of a capital offence; in all other cases the offenders, whether principals or accessaries, shall be sent into exile.

"5. A man who wounds another unintentionally shall be tried according to the law respecting blows given in an affray, and the punishment rendered more or less severe according to the degree of injury sustained.

"6. A man who, intoxicated with liquor, commits outrages against the laws, shall be exiled to a desert country, there to remain in a state of servitude."

HE

No. VI.

THE DOMESTIC COCK.

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Tdomestication, domestication, differs so widely from his wild original, as to render it a difficult matter to trace him back to his primitive stock; however, it is generally agreed that he is to be found in a state of nature in the forests of India, and in most of the islands of the Indian seas. The varieties of this species are endless; every country, and almost every district of each country, producing a different kind. From Asia, where they are supposed to have ori. ginated, they have been diffused over every part of the inhabited world. America was the last to receive them. It has been said that they were first introduced into Brazil by the Spaniards; they are now as common in all the inhabited parts of that vast continent as with us. Of those which have been selected for domestic purposes in this country, the principal are,

1. THE CRESTED COCK,

Of which there are several varieties, such as the white-crested black ones; the black-crested white ones; the gold and silver ones, &c.

2. THE HAMBURGH COCK, NAMED ALSO
VELVET BREECHES,

Because its thighs and belly are of a soft black.* This is a very large kind, and much used for the table.

3. THE BANTAM, OR DWARF COCK. A diminutive but very spirited breed: its legs are furnished with long feathers, which reach to the ground behind; it is very courageous, and will fight with one much stronger than itself.

4. THE FRIZZLED COCK.

The feathers in this are so curled up that they seem reversed, and to stand in opposite directions: they are originally from the southern parts of Asia, and when young are extremely sensible of cold: they have a disordered and unpleasant appearance, but are in much esteem for the table.

We shall finish our list with the English game cock, which stands unrivalled by those of any other nation for its invincible courage, and on that account is made use of as the instrument of the cruel sport of cock-fighting. To trace this custom to its origin we must look back into barbarous times, and lament that it still continues the disgrace of an enlightened and philosophic age. The Athenians allotted one day in the year to cock-fighting; the Romans are said to have learned it from them; and by that warlike people it was first introduced into this island. Henry VIII. was so attached to the sport that he caused a commodious house to be erected for that purpose, which, though it is now

* Buffon.

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applied to a very different use, still retains the name of the Cock-pit, The Chinese, and many of the nations of India, are so extravagantly fond of this unmanly sport, that, during the paroxysms of their phrenzy, they will sometimes risk not only the whole of their property, but their wives and children, on the issue of a battle.

The appearance of the game-cock, when in his full plumage and not mutilated for the purpose of fighting, is strikingly beautiful and animated: his head, which is small, is adorned with a beautiful red comb and wattles; his eyes sparkle with fire, and his whole demeanour bespeaks boldness and freedom; the feathers on his neck are long, and fall gracefully down upon his body, which is thick, firm, and compact; his tail is long, and forms a beautiful arch behind, which give a grace to all his motions: his legs are strong,band are armed with sharp spurs, with which be defends himself and attacks his adversary. When surrounded by his females, his whole aspect is full of animation; he allows of no competitor, but, on the approach of a rival, he rushes forward to instant combat, and either drives him from the field, or perishes in the attempt. The cock is very attentive to his females, hardly ever losing sight of them; he leads, defends, and cherishes them, collects them toge ther when they straggle, and seems to eat unwillingly till he sees them feeding around him; when he loses them he utters his griefs, and from the different inflexions of his voice, and the various significant gestures which he makes, one would be led to conclude that it is a species of language which serves to communicate his sentiments. The fecundity of the hen is great; she lays generally two eggs in three days, and continues to lay through the greatest part of the year, except the time of moulting, which last about two months. After