ON THE CHINESE SYSTEM OF WRITING. 9 



great part of these signs are not pronounced by the Chinese at random, nor do 

 the nations that have introduced them amongst themselves entirely abandon 

 the analogy observed in reading them, though their modes vary very much. 



8th. Having, myself, acquired the Japanese, as well as Cochinchinese, and 

 also had intercourse with the Coreans, of whom several are now at Macao, I 

 can only extol the ease with which one may communicate to them by means 

 of the Chinese character, though not understanding a single word of their 

 idiom. This does not refer to the learned classes only, but to the very fisher- 

 men and peasants, with only some exceptions. In the Loo-Choo islands men 

 of distinction talk the Chinese with great fluency, but the bulk of the people 

 speak a dialect of the Japanese, and use the Chinese character as well as the 

 Japanese syllabary. 



9th. It is, therefore, certain that the nations who have adopted the Chinese 

 character attach the same meaning to it as the natives from whence it originally 

 came, and that its construction is likewise retained, with scarcely any altera- 

 tions. 



I have the pleasure of transmitting to you a copy of the Chinese Magazine, 

 which I have now been publishing for several years. I, myself, possess a 

 Cochinchinese dictionary, which I compiled some years ago, and also a Cam- 

 bodian one. If your society washes to publish the latter, it is at your service. 

 "Whatever I can do for promoting your objects will be readily undertaken ; and 

 I should be happy if you would continue your correspondence. 



I have the honour of subscribing myself, dear sir, 



Yours respectfully, 

 (Signed) CHARLES GUTZLAFF. 



To John Vaugiian, Esq., ') 



Librarian to the American Philosophical Society. 5 



VII. — C 



