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Halde says, that in some provinces they are in every city,and even in every considerable village. The most remarkableof these edifices are the famous porcelain tower of Nang-kingand that of Tong-chang-fou. They are both very magnificent.

“ The form of these taas is pretty uniform : they areoctagons, divided into seven, eight, and sometimes ten stories,which diminish gradually both in height and breadth, fromthe base to the top. Every story has a kind of cornice,which supports a roof, at the corners of which are hungcopper bells, and is surrounded with a narrow gallery bor-dered with a balustrade. These edifices have commonlya long pole at the top, surrounded by several circles of iron,supported by eight chains, tied by one end to the top of thepole, and by the other to the angles of the roof of the higheststory.”

The origin and objects of these towers have been the causeof much discussion amongst European antiquaries, nor hasthe question been as yet satisfactorily settled, some consideringthem as merely commemorative, some as campaniles or belfries,some as landmarks and beacons, while others assert that theyare sepulchral, and produce as a confirmation of their opinionthe discovery of a stone coffin fitted in the pedestal of thetower of Ardmore. Vallency affirms that they were fire-towers erected to Baal , while others no less learned identifythem with the round towers of Ireland . This last idea mayappear extravagant at first sight, yet upon further examina-tion it will be found equally as reasonable as any of thepreceding. The Irish towers are generally believed to be ofCeltic origin, erected by the same hands as the structuresof Stonehenge , and others similar to them scattered over theBritish Isles ; now, strange to say, we have the same class oferections in China , in the province of Keang-nan, and in alocality famed not more for its romantic scenery than itsancient legends : here we find not only the monolithon, orsingle upright column, the counterpart of those alreadydescribed under Celtic Architecture; but even the most per-fect form of Druidieal structures, the circle, and several of theintermediate erections, proving without doubt the connectionbetween them, and the remains of Celtic erection in the remotewest. Add to this, that towers are found in close proximitywith such structures, and it must be allowed that their supposedidentity with those of Ireland is not indulged without somereason.

Plate III. Figure 1, “ represents one of these towers, whichare found on the banks of the Ta-ho, between Canton andHoang-pou. It is approached by three steps, and consists ofseven stories. The first story is pierced with four archedgates, and contains an octagonal chamber, in the middle ofwhich is a staircase conducting to the second story. Thestairs of the other stories are placed in a similar manner.The cornices over the several stories are all alike, consistingof a fillet and large cavetto, enriched with representations ofshell-fish ; an ornament as common in the edifices of China ,as in those of the ancients. The roofs are turned up at thecorners, and, with the exception of the lowest, are ornamentedwith leaves and bells. The pole on the top is surmounted witha globe, from which descend chains, that are fixed to the anglesof the highest story, and around them are nine iron hoops.I have not set down the stairs of the different stories in thedrawing, to prevent confusion.”

The porcelain tower of Nan-king is octagonal in plan, fortyfeet in diameter, and consists of nine stories, diminishing insize as the structure rises, and surmounted with a cupola andgilded ball. From this ball a rod of iron rises, and from itshighest extremity eight chains descend, from which seventy-two bells are suspended. Each story is covered by a projectingroof of coloured tiles, and the total height of the building is.

variously estimated at three hundred and forty-six, two hdred and fifty-eight, and two hundred and thirty-six feet.

“ The inner part or body of the walls,” says Mr. '' rI °“is brick, but the inside lining and the facing without,beautiful white glazed porcelain slabs, fixed in the maS< ^| lBby means of deep keys, cut like a half T in the brick. ^projecting roof of each story consists of green and 7 el . aporcelain tiles in alternate perpendicular rows ; and rl J, nl ftU dup each angle, is a moulding of larger tiles glazedcoloured red and green alternately. From each story

jects a balcony, enclosed by

light

balustrade

porcelain, upon which open four doorways, setcardinal points, their arches being elegantly turned

glazed tiles, cast in all imaginable fancies of design ‘^ svariation of colour, representing deities, demons, and Dlon ® 0 s’of all descriptions.” Bells are suspended from dra.-mouths at the angles of every story, making withattached to the chains of the cupola, a total numberhundred and fifty-two. ^ f e

“ Several other forms of buildings used in China. —*■given descriptions of three kinds of tings, that I sa j, 0 fdifferent temples at Canton. It remains for me to spe|*a fourth kind, which is found in gardens. Theseare in general composed only of twelve columns, rais e

those

, 0 f on 8

edifie^- oV

a socle, which serve to support the roof.

“ The building that served me for a model, was P .in the middle of a small lake, in a garden in China ,singularity made me give it the preference. ,-ado

“ The base that supports it is pretty high. A bal uSsurrounds it. The bases of the twelve columns 0 ^epavilion have a profile very similar to that of a Tuscan j 3of Palladio. The roof, which rests on these coin 01crowned with a lantern. The idea of this ornament is ,from those which surmount the towers. The tops r tshafts of the columns are pierced by beams that s tj . tt jethe roof, having their extremities ornamented wn ^ jOgrotesque heads and bells. A frieze ornamented ' vl v , e ei>entrelas, goes all round, under the roof, in the spaces othe columns.” T , ; 3 tk 15

Sir William describes another pavilion thus : ‘ * „ t \ o®" ‘ ‘ ‘ but the ele , o0 ort

which supP fl( l

same with that of a temple with one wing,is different. It is composed of ten columns, wiucn --* ' a jia roof and a lantern, covered in the form of a c °terminated by a ball. l0 p i®

“ The paylous, or triumphal arches, are very coW n j j l9 v®China. There are many in Canton j but none, th atseen, have any beauty. . j l0 uS e9

“ Houses of the Chinese .—The distribution of th eir ^ e v el1is perfectly uniform ; and it would be improper, a ^ lJl0 d e 'dangerous, for an individual to depart from the g en ff‘ jio us6Le Compte tells us of a mandarin, who having bull ‘higher and more beautiful than those of his neighh°

nseq ue

: tic e >

accused before the Emperor, and, fearing the com giihe pulled down his house, without waiting for the s° vdecision. < T ro |,IlU

“The Chinese lay out more than half of f tl> o3eoccupied for their houses in courts and narrow wal ’of the merchants of Canton, which are close by - lX th®are narrow and very long; but there is no differ 611 __ --edisposition of their interior. The level

ground

in its length by a broad walk, passing through^ d 16 ^

and stretching from the street to the river. - . a v .are the apartments, consisting of a saloon for receiviBopgfora bed-chamber, and sometimes a study, or c ^°® et j' 0 nd,each set of apartments is a court, having a a S incistern, at its extremity, containing an artificial Jr ki® 113 °middle, whereon grow bamboos and several othe