ANCIENT HISTORY. 107 



(i.) That of the empire of China. They 

 talk much of the chronology of this people, 

 which according to Father le Compte*, includes 

 more than 40,000 years from the foundation of 

 their empire ; but unlefs it can be clearly proved, 

 that the Chinefe have known the ufe of letters 

 for 40,000 years paft, we mull regard their chro- 

 nology as fabulous, chimerical, and altogether 

 ridiculous: for there is no tradition, no other 

 monument or voucher that can laft fo long. And 

 and iuppofing the Chinefe to have exifted for fo 

 great a period, mutt there not have been other peo- 

 ple upon the earth ? Were not India, and all 

 other countries adjacent to China inhabited? And 

 muft not thele people have learnt from the Chi- 

 nefe, in 40,000 years, the ufe of letters? Is 

 it poflible, that the communication between 

 neighbouring nations could be fo far interrupt- 

 ed ? The ridiculous fables likcwife, with which 

 the antient Chinefe hiftory is crowded, from be- 

 ginjiing to end, coni; every rational mind, 



a contempt for their boalted chronology. Their 

 moft fagacious hiftorians, moreover., commonly 

 fuppofe that Fohi, their firft king, mounted the 

 throne 225? years before the birth of Chrift. 

 r they draw of this Fohi, is not un- 

 like that , who ni very well be that 

 ffhom the {M>ct, talk, and who lived 



a prieft and i the Chincic, llouri 



Vol. I. p. 



ab^ut 



