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144 beautify the scene. Behind this garden, is a library of immense extent, vieing with that of Alexandria, in ancient, or of Paris, in modern times; and, further on, stands the gate of the flower-garden, which constitutes the northern outlet to the forbidden city.

The above comprises the buildings in a direct line between the northern and southern gates. To the east are the council chamber, and a number of princely palaces; with a temple, designed to enshrine the parental tablets of the present imperial family. To the west of the principal line of buildings, stand the hall of pictures, his majesty's printing-office, the principal magazines of the crown, and the female apartments; which fill up this division of the enclosure, and render the whole, one compact and extensive establishment. This magnificent residence, though described in a page or two, is about two miles in circumference, surrounded by walls, thirty feet high, and twelve wide; built of polished red brick, and surrounded by a moat, lined with hewn stone; the whole ornamented with gates and towers, and laid out in a diversified and elaborate manner.

The city, surrounding the imperial residence, is four miles long, and two and a half wide, encircled by walls, and entered by nine gates; which have given to it, the appellation of the "City of Nine Gates." This was the original capital; but since the occupancy of it, by the present dynasty, it has been increased by the addition of another city, larger than the former, and covering an area of fifteen square miles. These two cities are severally called the inner and outer, or the Tartar and Chinese city. In the former of these, directly to the north of the imperial palace, is an