We recollect to have read in Du Halde, that the Chinese had not the canine found of the letter R in their language; to which our prefent Writer adds, nor thofe of B, D, X, Z: notwithftanding, he obferves, that in the Chinese word I-tfe, both the d and z feem to be pronounced, as they found it, I-dze. It must be ftrange then to us, that they cannot pronounce da; de, za, ze, &c. which he informs us is the cafe. Europa, in their pronunciation, becomes Yeu-lo-pa; America, Ya-me-li-kya. When a Chinese Catholic Prieft confecrates the Hoft in Latin, inftead of hoc eft corpus meum, he is reduced to fay, bo-ke ngefutu co-ul-pu-fu me-vung. This, to a Chinese Auditor, conveys three ftrange diverfities of Chinese words, which, having no sense, nor meaning, as they are joined, our Author does not attempt a conftruction of the Latin words to which they correfpond, nor even arrange them in any mode or rules of fyntax.-The first of them, however, is-Fluvius poffe occiput res adfequi quifque tu non fervus pulfus Dominus.-The other two are almost entirely different from this jargon, and from each other, being all equally abfurd, or unmeaning.-We were pleased to see rather a modeft Hactenus than Finis at the bottom of this fmall tract; as it gives us fome hope, that this curious and difcerning Writer may, at his leifure, favour the public with the refult of his further refearches into this peculiar fubject of the language and writing of the Chinefe: which makes that people appear fo different from our felves, that a fanciful brain might be apt to fuggeft, they had a nearer refemblance to the inhabitants of fome other planet.

K.

The other tracts published in this collection, are chiefly taken from the Lettres Edifiantes & Curieufes, publifhed by the Jefuits; and from Du Halde's Defcription of China. In the first volume there are, beside the original differtation of which we have now given an account, 1. "Rules of Conduct," by a Chinese Author; tranflated from the French of P. Parrenim, Jefuit. It ferves to confirm an obfervation we have often had occafion to make, that good fenfe and goud manners are nearly the fame, all the world over,

The next tract is, the famous Chinese tragedy, entitled, the Orphan of the Houfe of Chao; of which feveral tranflations have been made, both in the French and English languagest. The

*This muft greatly depend on that confiderable difference in fome of the organs of articulation between the Chinese and ourfelves, which our Author mentions, p. 22.

+ Voltaire's Orphelin de la Chine is founded on this performance: fee Review, vol. XIII. page 493, and vol. XIV. page 64. Alfo Mr. Murphy's Orphan of China, altered from Voltaire, vol. XX. page 575.

prefent

prefent Editor has given a closer verfion of it than any of the former, with a view of retaining more exactly the peculiarities of the Chinese original: for which, however, he has been, after all, obliged to depend on the French verfion published by Du Halde.

The fourth and laft piece contained in this volume, is a Criticifm on the Chinese Drama, from Mr. Hurd's Difcourfe on poetical Imitation, printed at the end of the first edition of his Commentary on Horace's Epiftle to Auguftus, 8vo. 1751. This piece of criticifm has been fuppreffed by its ingenious Author, in the later editions of the Commentary: but our Editor hath taken the liberty to reclaim it, in the name of the public.

In the fecond volume we have, first, Authentic Memoirs of the Chriftian Church in China; from the German of J. L. de Mofheim. This was firft tranflated and publifhed as a pamphlet, in 1750; and was mentioned in the fecond volume of our Review, page 52.-Need we mention what fort of Christianity the Jefuits have introduced into China, as well as elsewhere?

The fecond Paper is, The Art of laying out Gardens among the Chinefe; extracted from Mr. Chambers's Chinese Architecture, publifhed in 1757. This ingenious account is followed by Frere Attiret's Defcription of the Emperor of China's Gardens and Pleasure-houfes near Pe-king; of which a translation was publifhed in 1752, by a learned Gentleman, who has fometimes affumed the name of Sir Harry Beaumont: See Review, vol, VII. page 421.

The last article is, An Account of the Solemnities obferved at Pe-king, in honour of the Emperor's Mother. In a Letter from P. Amyot, a Jefuit-Miffionary in China. It is an ancient cuftom among the Chinese, to celebrate with great pomp the day when the Emperor's mother enters the fixtieth year of her age. The festival here described, was held in January 1752. It was extremely pompous and expenfive: the Author estimates it at more than three hundred millions of livres. But what will moft gratify the curiofity of many Readers, is the idea here given of the footing on which the Jefuits continue at prefent in China; this account being the latest that hath been published concerning the affairs of the expiring Society of Jefus (as they prefumptuously ftyle themselves) in that part of the world: it was printed in the Lettres Edifiantes, &c. Paris, 1758.

A Propofal for Selling Part of the Foreft Lands and Chaces, and difpofing of the Produce towards the Discharge of that Part of the National Debt due to the Bank of England: And for the Eftablishment of a National Bank; by which there would be a Saving to the Public of One per Cent. on fo much of the national Debt as is immediately redeemable by Parliament. Which, with the Produce of the Sinking Fund, would, it is imagined, be fufficient to pay off the National Debt in a reafenable Time. And alfa to defray the extraordinary Expences of any War the Nation should hereafter engage in, without borrowing. 4to. 1s. Payne.

A

MIDST the general corruption and venality of the times, the flagrant inftances of want of probity in men of búfinefs, and the thoughtlefs diffipation of men of pleasure, it must afford a fatisfactory reflection to every Lover of his Coun try to obferve, that there are not wanting among us, others of a very different character; men of honeft minds, and thoughtful difpofitions, equally untainted with the low and treacherous arts of the Defigning, as with the high and extravagant follies of the Inconfiderate; men whofe talents are laudably employed in difinterested purfuits, to the honour of themselves, and the benefit of the community.

It is to the public-fpirited endeavours of fuch valuable members of fociety, that particular States have, in all ages, been indebted for their original profperity, as well as for their many timely efcapes from impending ruin. With regard to this nation, and at the prefent juncture, it is juftly to be prefumed, that notwithstanding the flattering circumftances of peace, the prefent enormous fum of our national debt, fo greatly increafed by the war, cannot fail of making a very difagreeable impreffion on the mind of every thinking and fenfible Patriot. It is true, we have been fo long accuftomed to the falfe alarms of national bankruptcy, that we are grown almoft infenfible of its approach; as if by the large ftrides which public credit hath lately taken, little or no advance hath been made towards the goal of its diffolution. But it fhould be confidered, that people familiarized to the ruinous prospect of a tottering pile, may defpife their danger moft, when, haftening to the crifis of its fall, it is on the point of involving them in its ruins. A man may, indeed, if too fhort-fighted to fee his danger, walk fafely, for fome time, on the edge of a precipice; but, if his caution be not equal to the peril of his fituation, if he should grow inattentive to his fteps, or any finifter accident fhould overtake him, his deftruction would be as fwift as inevitable. Is it wifdom, therefore, to fport on the brink of ruin, because we have hitherto approached

approached it in apparent fecurity? or is it not rather the height of infatuation, not to retire, while there is a profpect of making good our retreat? Should the ground begin once to give way, we are loft for ever. Nay, fuppofing it uncertain that our danger is fo imminent and immediate, where is the man who can aflure us, it is far diftant? or that it is not high time, at leaft, to look about us, left we fuffer for our negligence before we are aware? Our political Prophets, it must be owned, have been hitherto mistaken in their time wherein their predictions were to be accomplished :. but, if matters are fuffered to go on as they have done for half a century past, we may very fafely fay of fuch Prognofticators, as Henry the fourth of France did of the Aftrologers that were daily foretelling his death, that, "how often foever they might be mistaken, they would certainly be right at laft."

!

Public Credit, as well as man, is mortal; but, however fpecioufly Mr. Hume, and other very refined Politicians, may have reafoned on the confequences of fuch an event, there is, in our opinion, little ground to hope, if once the circulation of its vital blood fhould ftagnate, that either we or our pofterity shall live to fee its joyful refurrection. We cannot help thinking the public, therefore, highly indebted to all men of abilities who, rifking, with a noble fortitude, the contempt of being ranked with idle Enthufiafts, and vifionary Projectors, employ their thoughts on expedients to remove the danger, or even to put off the evil day, of fo dreadful a catastrophe.

Of all the projects we remember to have feen, for paying off the National Debt, the propofal before us feems the best calcu lated (we wish we could fay the most likely) to be put in execution. But we fear that the mercenary phalanx of Directors of Companies, Jobbers, Monopolizers, Undertakers for Loans, &c. may have more influence than our Author feems to imagine, in preventing the execution of a plan, that, however advantageous to the public, clafhes fo violently with their particular intereft. His main fcheme is this:

"That a Bank be eftablished by Parliament, under the title of the National Bank of England; and that the Sinking Fund, fubject to the feveral fecurities already charged on it, be appointed as a fecurity for fuch fums of money as shall at any time be depofited in it.

"That this Bank fhall iffue notes, payable to bearer or order on demand, for any fum that fhall be paid into it, not less than 1001.

"That

"That all notes for 100l. and upwards for every 501. over and above 100l. fhall entitle the bearer to receive the fame, with intereft at the rate of 21. per cent. and the fame rate of intereft for every fix months, that such note shall remain unpaid, over and above one year from the date. But that no intereft fhall be allowed for any note, for any time lefs than one fraction of time lefs than fix months afteryear, nor for any wards, nor for any fraction of money less than 501. over and above 100l.

"That the money arifing from the public revenue be paid from time to time into this bank, as at prefent into the Exchequer; and that all the Officers of the Revenue be obliged to receive these notes, as cafh in all payments.

"That the Lords Commiffioners of his Majefty's Treasury hall have power to draw, or iffue orders to this Bank for the payment of money to the fame amount, and for the fame purpoles they now do to the Exchequer; with a further power alfo of drawing for any fum not exceeding 500,000l. more than the receipt on account of the public revenue may have brought into the Bank at the time.

"That the present Officers of the Exchequer, whofe offices fhall ceafe by the establishment of this Bank, be employed in fuch offices in it, as may be deemed proper, with falaries equal to what they enjoy at prefent, and all the other profits of their employments; and that fuch other Officers as fhall be affected in the profits of their employments, be allowed additional falaries, equal to the full amount of what they may lofe by this eftablishment. But that all future Officers of the Bank be appointed by the Directors, at fuch falaries as they shall think proper.

"That the current business of the Bank be under the direction of thirty fix Gentlemen of estates of inheritance in land; each to the amount of 1000l. per annum, at the least, in poffeffion. That twenty-four of these be appointed the first by lot, and twelve of these twenty-four appointed in the fame manner the next year; to whom the twelve not first appointed are to be added; and that every year after twelve Directors be changed by rotation, fo that the number be conftantly twentyfour in the direction; and each of thefe twenty-four be allowed a falary of 1. proportioned in fome measure to the confancy of his attendance, with a proper draw-back for non-attendance, otherwife the office may foon become a fine cure to many.