CIVIL AND NATURAL. XX^i 



original works of Confucius, which are eafily procured, 

 with the literal translation of them by Couplet ; and 

 having made that first step with attention, he would 

 probably find, that he had traversed at lead half of his 

 career. But I should be led beyond the limits assigned 

 to me on this occasion, if I were to expatiate farther on 

 the historical division of the knowledge comprised in 

 the literature of Asia - 9 and I mud postpone till next 

 year my remarks on Asiatic Philosophy, and on thofe 

 arts which depend on imagination ; promising you 

 with confidence, that in the course of the present year 

 your inquiries into the civil and natural history of this 

 eastern world, will be greatly promoted by the learned 

 labours of many among our associates and correspond- 

 ents. 



ASIATIC 



