LETTER VII. 177 



a high veneration for Oriental Art, and Inge- 

 nuity ; and the Indian Pagod made from a prepa- 

 ration of Rice, which Dr. Baylor fhowed us in 

 your Univerfity Library, is one of the greateft 

 Proofs of their Art I ever faw, and an exquifite 

 Mafter-piece in its kind. I have frequently met 

 with fmaller Pagods, Tea- Pots, Bowls, and other 

 fine things of various forts, made of Rice fo prepa- 

 red; and (for ought I know) if we Europeam 

 were let into the Secret of preparing it, we might 

 allow it to be as durable as Brick ; I have no notion 

 of our being capable to improve upon their Art, 

 becaufe we ufually go backward in that reipedt. 

 For inftance, what ordinary Morter do we now- 

 a-days make m comparifon of that which we 

 meet with in old ruinous Buildings in moft parts 

 oi England^ particularly at Norwich^ and St, Ed- 

 jnund's Bury, 



33. My own ferious judgement upon this 

 Fourth and laft article is (asl faid before) in the 25 

 paragraph of this Letter, that it is even polTible for 

 us to invent Artificial Stones, which will be very 

 durable. Dear Sir, I am very fenfible that I have 

 entered too far into your peculiar Province, without 

 fagacity enough to keep me from wandering out 

 of the right Path : However, if you pleafe to cor- 

 redt any errors, you may fpy, either in this or a- 

 ny of my preceding Letters, they fhall as foon as 

 loiown to mCj be thankfully acknowledged, and 



M amended : 



