Canton all other respects. The Chinese characters are, in fact,
sketches or abridged figures; and a seiftehce w ofi«n i
string o f metaphoffis. The different relations of life are
nottmainkedaby arbitrary sounds/vsimply conveying the
idea jof: such connection, but the^^nalitfes naturaily M*
peeted to arise out of such relations become-frequently
the name b y which theyare »respectively known. Kindred,
for example, of every degtee, is thus distinguished,
with a minuteness mnknovrak in .oflier languages. That
of China has distinct characters for every modification,
known b y them,.of dbjectS'in the physical and intellectual
world . AhstoHctaierais are no ot-heiwiseexpiressed byfh’«'
Chinese, than b y applying .to .pach the name of the most
prominent objects ito .which it might be applied, which
is likewise, indeed, generally rthenase o f other languages'
Among the Latins the abstract idea o f virtue, -for «sample/
was expressed under the-uame of valourp or
fvirtusj, being the quality most esteemed amongst them,
as filial piety is considered to )be in China. The words
of an alphabetic language, being formed of different combinations
.of letters, or elemental parts, each with a distinct
sound and name, whoever knows and combines
these.together, may read the words without the least
knowledge of their meaning ; not so hieroglyphic language,
;in which each character has, indeed, a sound
annexed to it, but which bears no certain relation to the
unnamed lines or strokes, of which it is composed. Such
character is'.studied and Obest learned.1 b y be coming ^acquainted
with thé* iideaattaohed) toiitf; and a dictionary
ofifefearógly^fimsais léssi»vocibul^fyi ofitbeateöia8{öj|ö«e
languagéj with theicM-rdspomdents fermsaihléasother, than
an^eiacyclG^edi^ ^öóntaihifigrtexplahajtions of ithe .ideas
them®èldas,:ifdpr@»8ed byMcKMfe^pgiliyiphics. I-msueh
sèéise iOnfip'ckn the) acquisition; of Chinese words be justly
skid-to» engross most of the timeof men1 of learning artiong
thfem^ Therikiwwlidgeqof Jtbè sciences of tbêtCtóftese,
however. imperfdctv and o f their-mast: extensive ditera^
tuaè^ ist oertaifily sufficient to Occupy the lilesiof uxant
of,-t|i^ latiguageds imperèèptóblytgrór
quiitsd ;hy every natHepand may,' withndilig^ncèTbe
^qp^èdAyffbreii|n^!&,Jrtoffië offifef?
äiidifpiniier dmpiqèeffientóstopst rfqpendi ©sit ciipadty and
opportunity.
nd obstruction
.should be. given on >the:pait of government to
nequiéj^ion idfethe^ChinepMlangiikgejfiy! < finnigners..
He was, indeed, confirmed; in his' good disposition to
prdtect the English pby the late dispatches from the Emperor,
in whieh i käs Imperial | Majesty expressed how
welcome thé IretucnioB/änf JEpglishiMinister to his court
mf.dia^elysgiYfn*tohim>®F A e Ministerlvprriiv^tjat'Cati'*'
ton,,- to; which; plane -hiai should send proper persons «t»h-
receive andnonduct him to Pekin. TheypeiojoaddidjiÄ'
vor. ix. 4-A