"The first object that presents itself, is a omit of con siderable extent. In it are three rows of trees, whieli lead to an open vestibule, to which the ascent is by a few steps, n. From this first vestibule, we pass to a second, c, wherein are four colossal figures in sweet); they aro seated, and hold in their hands divers emblems. This vestibule opens into another large court, D. surrounded by colonnades, F., and cells for the bonus. F. Four e, are placed in it, on socles. These pavilions are the temples; the two stories, of which they are composed, are tilled with idols, and the bonzes perform their religious service in them. At the four corners of the court are four other pavilions, n, where the superior have their apartments ; and under these columns, between the cells, are four halls, I. occupied by idols.
" On each side of this great court are two ether small einirts, >;. surrounded with buildings. One is for the kit chen. L. and for the refectories, NI; the other serves for the hospitals. N. of N% With we shall speak.
" I do not give the elevation of the great court, because it could not have the suitable dimensions, without ing :It least three plates. The pavilions are of different forms; but they all present a very similar appearance. and the pro le)! thins between the eolonnades and the pa\ iliens are also nearly the saute. The boxes or cells of the bonzes are of stone, they ate very small. and admit no light but by the door. The !Belies of the paaions are built of the saute material. and the columns which surround them. as well as the colonnades, are or wood, having bases of marble. All the build ngs :.re covered with tiles. made of a coarse kind of porcelain. painted green, and varnished.
I` The edifices that the Chinese make use of for religions purposes, are not, like those oft he anoients. of any appropriate form ; the particular kind that they call tiny, or A'onq, enters indifferently into all kinds of edifices, they are seen in almost all temples, in all palaces, above the gates of towns, and, in short, in all buildings where they wish to show magnificence.
" I have seen. in several quarters of Canton, four different kinds of tugs. The three first are found in temples, and the fourth in many gardens.
"The most etnnt»on form in these temples is seen in Plate I., (see Chambers' work.) It is a pretty exact copy of the ling of the Nagada of Cochin-china, in the eastern suburb. I have measured many buildings of this kind ; hut have found so touch dilference in their proportions, that 1 am inclined to think the architects, in that particular, follow no exact rule, but that every one varies the proportion according to his thn•y.
In the drawing that I have given, the edifice is, as they all are. raised on a base ; the ascent to it is by three steps. It is a square, surrounded by a colonnade of twenty columns, which support a roof surmounted by a wooden balustrade, which contains a gallery, or passage, surrounding the whole second story.
" The second story has the same figure and the same dimensions as the first. It is covered with a roof, of a con struction peculiar to the Chinese ; the angles are enriched with ornament: of sculpture. representing dragons.
"The breadth of the edifice, measuring it from the exte rior surface of the columns, is equal to the height ; and the diameter of the body of the building takes two-thirds of the breadth. The height of the order makes two-thirds of the diameter of the body, and the height of the second story is equal to two-thirds of the height of the first. The columns have in height nine of their diameters, the bases two, and the beams and brackets, which hold the place of capitals, only one. That is also the elevation of the entrelases, which make the turn of the colonnade under the first roof, and which forms a kind of frieze.
"The second kind of ling differs so little from that which I have just described, that it has not a!)peareal to me n•ees nary to give a drawing of it. The first story is the same, and all the dillie.enve of the second, is, that it is neither sir rounded with a gallery nor with a balustrade, and that the roof which covers the CI Ilonnada comes close to the wail.
"The third kind is represented, Plate 1., Figure 3. This drawing has fie•n taken from or this kind ; and particularly feen one of the pavilions the pagoda of The first story differs little from that of the first tin!, ; buts the wound has Muffins on two of its sides. w hieh stand out and form cot ered galleries. I have seen, in some of these bui dings. a continued colonnade all round the second story ; but the form was not so agreeable to the sight as that which I have represented.