414 THOUGHTS ON THE FORMATION, &c. 



and simultaneously invented, is unphilosophical, and seems to 

 Lave led him into liis principal error, that in all compound cha- 

 racters one element is phonetic. 



This error is decidedly opposed to competent Chinese autho- 

 rities, and would place us, if we adopted it, in the dilemma of 

 either rejecting obviously correct analyses, or of setting aside 

 the laws by which the affinities of sounds are governed. 



I must here conclude these remarks. They are the result 

 of your kindness, which has led to my seeing the works on sub- 

 jects of Chinese literature recently added to the Library, and 

 lias thus recalled my thoughts to matters which my increasing 

 illness had made me lay aside. You know the circumstances 

 in which I write, or, to speak more accurately, dictate. Vive 

 et vale. 



Yours very truly, 



E. L. ELLIS. 



March 17, 1854. 



