yt »« the Chinese language. Sept. n. 



This we would conclude from reasoning alone ; and 

 it is confirmed by the following letter, that was com- 

 municated to me by an ingenioub gentleman, to whom 

 the literary world is much indebted for many valu- 

 able efsays. The letter was wr len near twenty 

 years ago, by a gentleman who is now no more ; 

 and I print it the more readily at the present time, 

 in the hope that it may fall into the hands of some of 

 the gentlemen who are to go with lord Macartney, 

 on his embafsy to China ; and may probably suggest 

 to them some subjects of enquiry that might other- 

 wise escape them, among the vast diversity of new 

 objects that must necefsarily solicit their attention. 



" I have lately met in company Whang- At-Ting, 

 the Ciiinese, who is now in London ; of whom, if 

 you have not received any account, you may per- 

 haps like to hear some particulars. He is a young 

 man of twenty-two, and an inhabitant of Canton, 

 where having received from Chit-qua, the Chinese 

 f.gure maker, a- favourable account of his reception 

 in England, two or three years ago, he determined 

 to make the voyage likewise, partly from curiosity, 

 and a desire of improving himself in science, and 

 partly with a view of procuring some advantages in 

 trade, in which he and his elder brother are engaged. 

 He arrived here in August, and already pronounces 

 and understands our language very tolerably ; but he 

 writes it in a very excellent hand, which he acquired' 

 with ease by using the copy books recommended by 

 !Mr Locke, in which the copies are printed in red 

 ink, and are to be traced over by the learner with 



