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136 the barbarians, they might preserve at once their dignity and territory; but if they once let them in, their fair dominions would fall a rapid and an easy prey to the encroaching strangers, and their majesty remain the mere shadow of a shade. And can we blame them? and can we say, that they had no reason for their conduct? Their policy is for them the wisest that could have been pursued; and if China is closed against us, we may thank ourselves for it. They might by admiting our commerce and our manufactures, still confer a mutual benefit on both countries; but if, by permitting the introduction of these, they lay themselves open to the infection of our intoxicating drugs, and afford an opportunity for the establishment of our colonizing system; they may have to regret, when they see their population diminishing, and their lands passing into other hands, that they did not adhere to the exclusive system, with which they commenced.

The criminal laws are particularly severe in the matter of high treason, which is either against the established government, or against the person of the sovereign. All persons convicted of having been principals or accessaries, in this heinous offence, are to be put to death by a disgraceful and lingering execution. Besides which, all the male relations of the offender, above the age of sixteen, shall be indiscriminately beheaded; while the female relatives and the children shall be sold into slavery and the property of the family, of every description, confiscated. In order to lead to the speedy discovery of the offence, any person who shall be the means of convicting another of high treason, shall be immediately employed under government, besides being entitled to the whole of the criminal's