Europeans who have been here between Twenty and Thirty Years, without being able ever to fet their Feet on any Spot of this delightful Ground. There is but one Man here, and that's the Emperor. All Pleasures are made for him alone. This charming Place is scarce ever seen by any body but himself, his Women, and his Eunuchs. The Princes, and other chief Men of the Country, are rarely admitted any further than the Audience-Chambers. Of all the Europeans that are here, none ever entered this Inclosure, except the Clock-makers and Painters, whofe Employments make it neceffary that they should be admitted every where. The Place usually affigned us to paint in, is in one of thofe little Palaces above mentioned; where the Emperor comes to fee' us work almost every Day; fo that we can never be absent. We don't go out of the Bounds of this Palace, unless what we are to paint cannot be brought to us; and in fuch Cafes they conduct us to the Place under a large Guard of Eunuchs. We are obliged to go quick, and without any Noife; and huddle and fteal along foftly, as if we were going upon some Piece of Mischief. 'Tis in this Manner that I have gone through, and feen, all this beautiful Garden; and entered into the Apartments. The Emperor ufually refides here Ten Months in each Year. We are about Ten Miles from Pekin. All the Day we are in the Garden; and have a Table furnished for us by the Emperor For the Nights, we have bought us a House near the Entrance to the Gardens. When the Emperor returns to Pekin, we attend him ; are lodged

there within his Palace; and go every Evening to the French Church [k].

I think it is high Time both for you and me, that I should put an End to this Letter; which has carried me on to a greater Length than I at first intened. I wish it may give you any Pleasure; and should be very glad if it was in my Power to do any thing more confiderable, to fhew you the perfect Efteem I have for you. I fhall always remember you in my Prayers; and beg you would fometimes remember me in yours. I am, with the greatest Regard,

SIR,

Your most obedient

Humble Servant,

ATTIRET.

[] Here follows Fourteen or Fifteen Pages in the Original, which treat only of the Author's private Affairs or of the Affairs of the Miffion, without any thing relating to the Emperor's Garden ; and are therefore omitted by the Translator,

DEFOR

ADVERTISEMENT.

T

O promote the Sale of this Piece, Mr.

DODSLEY was for dedicating it to fome reigning Toaft; but it was thought more for his Interest to fend it into the World, with the Motto infcribed on the Golden Apple adjudged to Venus; for then a Thousand Goddeffes might feize it as their own,

DEDI