[ 56 ] 



his two fbns to fupport him, inflead of a Queen, the game, 

 in other refpedls, is like ours ; as will appear in the plan of 

 the board and pieces I have the honour to enclofe, together 

 with direcflions to place the men and play the game. 



As the young man who had difcovered this to me was of 

 a. communicative and obliging difpofition, and was at this time 

 purfuing his ftudies in the college of Canton, I requefted the 

 favour of him to confult fuch ancient books as might give 

 fome infight into the period of the introdu<R;ion of Chefs into 

 China ; to confirm, if poflible, the idea that ftruck me of its 

 having originated here. The acknowledged antiquity of this 

 empire, the unchangeable ftate of her cuftoms and manners, 

 beyond that of any other nation in the world ; and more 

 efpecially the fimplicity of the game itfelf, when compared to 

 its compafs and variety in other parts, appeared to give a 

 colour to my belief. That I was not difappointed in the event, 

 I have no doubt will be allowed, on the perufal of the tran- 

 flation of a manufcript extracft, which my friend Tinqua 

 brought me, in compliance with my defire ; and which, accom- 

 panied by tlie Chinefe manufcript, goes under cover to your 

 Lordfhip. As the Mandarin folem.nly aflTured me that he took 

 it from the vrork quoted, and the tranflation has been as 

 accurately made as poflible, I have no hefitation to deliver the 

 papers as authentic. 



In 



