possess a complete knowledge of the art of Glass-making, the manufacture of useful articles of Glass appears to be wholly neglected by them. It is even asserted, that they will not use the ordinary description of Glass, some of which they import from Europe; and, when broken, they re-melt, and convert it into such articles as they require; they also import broken flint Glass from Europe, for re-manufacture. The Emperor has a royal Glass manufactory in Pekin, which is carried on as much for amusement as for utility.

A most singular art of forming pictures of coloured Glass was practised by the ancients. It consisted in laying together fibres of Glass of various colours, fitted to each other with the utmost exactness, so that a section across the fibres represented the object to be painted; and was then cemented by fusion into a homogeneous, solid mass. In some specimens of this art which were discovered about the middle of the last century, the picture has on both sides a granular appearance, and seems to have been formed in the manner of Mosaic work; but the pieces have been so accurately united by intense heat, that, not even by means of a powerful magnifying Glass can the junctures be discovered. One small fragment, in the possession of Mr. Doubleday, at the British Museum, exhibits an arabesque border of various colours, the outlines of which are well decided, and sharp, and the colours pure and vivid; whilst, a brilliant effect has been obtained in another piece by the artist, employing in contrast, opaque and transparent Glasses. The pictures appear to be continued throughout the whole thickness of the specimen, as the reverses correspond in the minutest points to the face; so that, were the Glass to be cut transversely, the same arabesque border would be found