Volume 1

The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes].

  • Du Halde, J.-B. (Jean-Baptiste), 1674-1743.
Date:
1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Y vang, the Ninth Emperor, reigned 16 Tears. THE Irregularities of this Prince’s ConduCt, and his want of Judgment, rendered him contemptible to all his Subjects ; he was fo timorous, that he could neither make any anfwer to his Minifters when they came to him for Orders, nor give Audience to foreign Ambafiadors, nor receive in publick the Homages of tributary Princes. Pie died the nineteenth Year of the Cycle, and was fucceeded by his Son Li vang. Lia vang, the Tenth Emperor ^ reigned 51 Tears. THIS Pri nee was proud, felf conceited, prodi¬ gal and cruel ; the Wealth of his Subjects, which he drew from them through Exactions, could fcarcely fatisfy his Paffion for Riches, which he fpent Lovi(li¬ ly and without Judgment : The Mifery of his Sub¬ jects was extreme, and nothing was heard but Com¬ plaints and Murmurs. Thefe Clamours and Repinings of an opprefs’d People only increafed his Fury, and he punifh’d, with the utmoft Severity, thofe whom he fufpedted to be at the Plead of the Malecontents. As he was confcious how odious he had made himfelf to his Subjects, he fufpeCIed that all their Difcourfe was on his ill ConduCt, and therefore he forbid them on Pain of Death to converfe together, or even whifper to one another, fo that you might fee all the Inhabitants walking the Streets with Eyes caft down, in mournful Silence, and fhunning each other. Tcha kong, one of his molt faithful Minifters, fre¬ quently advis’d him to deftft from thefe arbitrary Pro¬ ceedings, telling him that the forced Silence of his Subjects feem’d to forebode fomething more dangerous, than if they had the open Liberty to complain. The Prediction of this wife Minifter prov’d but too true; the fifty fécond Year of the Cycle the de- fpairing People all revolted, and rufhed into the Im¬ perial Paiace? in order to aftafiinate the Tyrant ; but not 3r9