In the vicinity of Hatien lay the Imperial palace of Yuen-minyuen, which was appointed for the reception of the presents, and where the astronomical and philosophical portion were to be fixed and properly adjusted. Thither Dr. Dinwiddie accompanied Lord Macartney and Sir George Staunton to examine the apartments, and deliberate on the best mode of arrangement. In the great hall, containing the Emperor's throne, they met a high mandarine and two missionary interpreters. The east end of the hall was selected for the planetarium, while the globes had their portion, one on each side of the throne. Appropriate situations were also fixed upon for the orrery, Vulliamy's clocks, lustres, &c. While viewing the great hall the party were not a little surprised to find a musical clock which played “Catherine Ogie,” and a number of other tunes, and having the name of Clarke, Leadenhall-street, on the dial plate.

In this edifice, where never European slept before, Dr. Dinwiddie, Mr. Barrow, and the two mechanics, took up their residence to adjust the presents previous to the arrival of the Emperor, who was then in Tartary. In the mean time, the Ambassador and the rest of the suite removed from Hatien to more spacious apartments in Pekin, from which they set out, September 2nd, to meet his Celestial Majesty at Zehol, in Tartary.

When the Embassy first reached the capital it was deeply regretted that there was only one interpreter, who was too much occupied at head quarters to be of any service to gentlemen in other places.

Natural science is unquestionably one of the grandest subjects of human investigation. The pursuits of literature or the fine arts, however pleasing in themselves, fall short in comparison of the sublime truths unfolded by the material universe. Whether soaring into illimitable space, or descending the scale of nature to view the world of wonders displayed in a single drop of stagnant water, the mind becomes everywhere stored with rich and exalted ideas, and loses those narrow prejudices which but too frequently arise from local habits or a contracted education. The man on whom this study has its due influence receives the clearest insight into the problem of his own existence. He considers himself as a citizen of the world, and looks upon every man, of whatever country, color, or creed, with the most impartial eye; he cannot, in fact, but be a good man.

Curiosity, the principal motive to this study, is more or less in the minds of all men; but it is so implanted in some as to abstract them from every other pursuit, and engage them in intellectual researches by a thirst after knowledge which no discovery can quench—which success inflames the more. When Descartes had taken a survey of all the employments of men, in order to choose a profession, he became persuaded that he could not do better than devote his whole life to investigating the truth.

On the 8th March, the Ambassador and suite got finally aboard the Lion and Hindostan, and at the same time Dr. Dinwiddie took up his berth in the Jackall, the vessel appointed for India. However, they were not yet to sail, and here, for several days, he was left in a position for serious reflection on the events of the last sixteen months. “Thus,” he says, “the Embassy to me is ended. Its object was noble—the extension of commerce, and the improvement of science. With regard to the first, nothing that looks like an improvement has as yet taken place; and as to the other object, little could be done in a country where, while at Pekin, we were prisoners, and on our journey hurried forward with hardly time to look at an object, and without being able to converse with the inhabitants. To travel through a fine country—to see pagodas, canals, and manufacturing towns, without being able to ask a single question, is extremely mortifying. To be conducted to the bottom of the Linho, by a Colao of the Empire—to receive a present from the Emperor at parting, and the Colao's farewell speech, without knowing a word he said, and consequently to fall into numberless blunders in our attempt to reply—what information could we derive respecting the arts and sciences in a country where we could not converse with the inhabitants?

His reputation was at its height when public attention was excited by the preparations for the Embassy to China, under the conduct of Lord Macartney. An appointment as one of the gentlemen of the suite was proffered, and at once accepted by the philosopher. The East seemed not only the field in which to extricate himself from difficulties, but to open up alluring prospects of honor as well as profit. In accomplishing the objects of the Embassy, it was meant to surprise the Chinese with the power, learning, and ingenuity of the British people, for which purpose a splendid assortment of astronomical and philosophical apparatus were among the presents to his Celestial Majesty. Included in these were a planetarium and lenses of gigantic dimensions, on the former of which the labour of thirty years had been bestowed. It was invented by, and made under the direction of, the then late P. M. Hahn, and was allowed to be the most wonderful piece of mechanism ever emanating from human hands. To do justice to this department occasioned the engagement of Mr. Dinwiddie, who was first designated Machinest to the Embassy, but the title not according with his feelings, that of Astronomer was substituted, as conveying to the mind of a Chinese a more adequate idea of his station.

The individual whose life is here attempted to be traced derives his descent from ancestors long settled in the parish of Tinwald, near Dumfries. In this parish the farm of Kirkland had been in the occupation of the family from an early period in the life of his great-grandfather. The name was originally spelt Dinwoody, or Dinwoodie, which the Doctor, when a very young man, modernized as it is written upon the title page. His parents, John Dinwoody and Catharine Riddick, were humble, and cultivated the small farm already mentioned. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, all born on the premises. The subject of the following Memoir, their youngest child, came into the world an orphan on the 8th December, 1746, more than half a year after the father had been consigned to his grave. The eldest son was then but twelve years old, and a heavy burden devolved upon an industrious mother, who was exceedingly interested in the welfare of her youngest child. So soon as he was able the orphan James had to take a share in the duties of the farm, by looking after the cattle, and such other tasks as suited his tender years. A neighboring village supplied the first rudiments of learning, but the system of education pursued at small country schools is seldom calculated to “teach the young idea how to shoot.”

At noon, on the 7th Oct., the gentlemen, emerging from the same gate by which they had entered, shook the dust off their feet, and turned their backs on the imperial city, where they had resided nearly seven weeks without one opportunity of seeing the place beyond the casual glance as the cavalcade moved past. They were now en route for Tonshu, which, short as the distance was, they did not reach till near eight o'clock in the evening. The shops, decorated with much painting and gilding, had then a beautiful appearance, being lighted by lanterns of various forms, made mostly of paper, but sometimes of silk and horn. Counters extended from one end to the other, with a passage in the middle, as is common in England; and goods were neatly piled on the shelves. Their old apartments in the temple were ready to receive them, and as ready were the boats the next day to carry them down the river; but these boats were much inferior in accommodations to those which brought them up with such flattering expectations. Dispatch was the order of the day, and another bustle ensued in getting the luggage on board, which was effected with hard labor. During the night-time the voyage commenced. The water was extremely low and retarded the progress of the boats, which were continually getting on ground.

Immediately on landing Dr. Dinwiddie delivered the despatches, and on the 30th, at the levee, was introduced to Sir John Shore, the Governor-General, who was particularly curious about the Chinese mission. For this purpose the Doctor was invited to dine with His Excellency on the following day; it also afforded an opportunity of talking over the state of business in India. By this time, he had delivered his letters of introduction, and was altogether pleased with his prospects. He was, however, landed in what was considered the most expensive city in the world, and where every exertion he could put forth would be requisite to gain success. His letters proved of great service, and, receiving ample encouragement, he lost no time in preparing, under the patronage of His Excellency, the Governor-General, for a course of lectures in experimental philosophy, which at once established his fame and independence in Bengal. To use his own words:—“My success at Canton enabled me to procure a credit on Calcutta for a small sum sufficient to set matters afloat. I opened a subscription, and in the course of a few weeks had the pleasure of delivering my introductory lecture to a company of one hundred and eighty of the first ladies and gentlemen in the settlement. The subscription was one hundred rupees, which, if remitted to England, at the present rate of exchange, would amount to £2,250. the greatest sum that, probably, ever was received for one course in any part of the world.”

In this commercial metropolis of the far east Doctor Dinwiddie was fully impressed with the idea of delivering a course of lectures; and before their separation, at Hanshu, he waited on Lord Macartney, who kindly granted permission to use any part of the apparatus necessary for that purpose. The disposition of the English residents was found favorable, and the lectures, which did not commence till after the Ambassador's arrival, were well received. They were attended by Europeans, and such of the Chinese as knew a little of English. One of the natives, with a mind better fitted for commercial transactions than the study of philosophy, and fancying all this exhibition was the prelude to a sale, asked the Doctor how much per cent, he intended to make by his goods. The ideas of a Chinaman are often strangely contrasted with those of a European. Dining one day where a Hung merchant was in company, the merchant, although he seemed to have very clear ideas of Doctor of Medicine, could not easily comprehend the meaning of Doctor of Laws. He asked the philosopher what weather it was going to be? Whether, without rising from his seat, he could remove a certain picture from the room?

The Embassy was naturally the subject of much conversation, giving rise to such observations as these:—“Three months’ negotiation was unavoidable to get over the necessity of Lord Macartney travelling all the way from Canton.

The passage for England had been engaged on board the Sir William Pulteney, and on the 15th September, 1806, Calcutta was left for good. In descending the Hoogly, to join the Sir William, which lay a few miles below, and on the point of sailing, he had the mortification to find himself too late—the vessel was gone, all owing to want of attention on the part of the boatmen, who should have started some hours sooner. Among a variety of doubtful reports, it was considered probable to overtake the Sir William, or some other vessel, but the attempt was hazardous should the winds arise, which was not at all unlikely. However, with much anxiety, the boatmen went to work, and rowing hard for two successive days and nights, the Doctor was safety placed in his own cabin, and through the most troublesome part of a voyage homeward-bound. Some agreeable time was spent at Madras and the Cape of Good Hope, beyond which little transpired to vary the monotony of the voyage, which terminated at Blackwall, on the 15th April, 1807.

Home to him who has been long and far away is generally attractive, as it proved to Dr. Dinwiddie, who arrived at a period when the pursuit of knowledge seemed to merit the attention its importance demanded. Institutions for the progress of science, or the improvement of arts and manufactures, were rapidly rising into existence all over the country.