expected to make any material addition, under the preſent difficulties, to the ſtock of uſeful and valuable information which Europe has already derived from the ſame quarter.
The literary labours of the Miſſionaries, conſiſting of original deſcriptions and of tranſlations, are, however, already numerous and extenſive. Their works ſeem, at firſt ſight, to have been penned with ſuch diligence, and formed upon plans ſo comprehenſive, as to promiſe ſatisfaction on every ſubject connected with the Chineſe empire, in which European curioſity can be intereſted. But, on a cloſer examination, we find reaſon to lament that their attention had not been more directed to the objects that were principally deſirable, and we begin to ſuſpect that their ſituation, or ſome other circumſtances, muſt have had a tendency to diſqualift them form repreſenting thoſe objects with all the accuracy and fidelity of diſintereſted and impartial obſervers. At the ſame time, it is impoſſible to conceive any ſet of perſons more advantagrouſly place for the purpoſe of collecting and communicating the information that was moſt required. Having devoted themſelves to a reſidence for life among the people of that empire, it was naturally one of their firſt objects to acquire a knowledge of their manners, habits, and language. The active duties of their profeſſion neceſſarily led them to cultivate the favour of the rich, to conciliate the affections of the poor, and to aſſociate generally with every claſs of the inhabitants. As they appeared excluſively in the character either of artiſts of jealouſy to any rank, or to any party; they had generally a free communication with every department of the court and of the government, and at times were admitted to a familiar intercourſe even with the ſovereign himſelf.
It is, however, to be recollected, on the other hand, that, with the Miſſionaries, ſcience and literature were objects only of a ſecondary conſideration, infinitely inferior in their eſtimation that ſacred
