VOL. XXXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 427 



A Solar Eclipse observed at fFillemberg, July 4, 1730, 0. S. By J. F. IVeidler, 

 F.R.S. N°415, p. 394. 



At 3'' 56"" 0» True time, the sun rose eclipsed; 4*" 26"" O^ the greatest ob- 

 scuration, being 6\ digits; 5** IS*" 30' the end of the ecHpse. 



The same Eclipse observed at Padua. By J. Poleni. N°415, p. 396. 

 At 4^ 46™ 12* the digits eclipsed were 4; at 5*^ 6"* 8' the eclipse ended. 



An Explanation of the new Chronological Table of the Chinese History. By 

 Father John Francis Foucquet, Soc. Jes. Bishop of Eleutheropolis, and pub- 

 lished at Rome in the Year 1730. N° 415, p. 397. 



This is a translation published by Father Foucquet, Soc. Jes. the present bishop 

 of Eleutheropolis, who has lived near 23 years in China, of a new Chronolo- 

 gical Table of the Chinese History, whicli lately appeared in Latin on a large 

 sheet of paper. The Chinese original table, from which this translation was 

 made, is owing to the learned Nien hi yao, a Tartar, illustrious by birth and 

 merit, and viceroy of Canton in the year IJ24: for the Tartars, since their 

 conquest of China, are become well versed in sciences, and especially in the 

 history of the empire they conquered. 



Yet this gentleman is not the author of the Chronological system he has 

 here drawn up. He tells us, he has taken it from the most valued historical 

 work in China. What renders this writer praise-worthy, is his ranging his 

 system in a beautiful order, which gives a great facility of seeing at first sight 

 the series of the dynasties, or imperial houses, the names and succession of 

 the emperors, the beginning, end and duration of each of their reigns. 



However, this is not the only advantage of this new table : the ancient 

 Chronology of China is there reduced to its true beginnings. The most remote 

 epoque of this Chronology, according to Nien hi yao, does not surpass the 

 first year of a prince called Guei lie wang, who began his reign 424 years 

 before the vulgar aera. Some even think this epoque might still be brought 

 nearer to us; not to fix there the origin of the nation, which, for strong reasons, 

 may be traced back to near the deluge; but because from much later date only, 

 any certainty appears, of whatever is pretended to have befallen this famous 

 people. Se ma quang and Tchu hi, the two gravest historians China has pro- 

 duced, were of this opinion. The first flourished in the )ear of Christ io6l, 

 the second about the end of the 12th century. They have both omitted what- 

 ever is before the time of Guei lie wang, nor would tliey mention ought of it 

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