IKTRODUCTIOK. 



Cere, wliofe friend (liip he and I enjoyed, 

 has given an excellent defcription. To 

 M, Cere, at prefent, the care of that trea- 

 fure is entrufted ; and thofe who have the 

 management of the colonies could not cer- 

 tainly have made choice of a more able and 

 more zealous cultivator *. 



I have 



* M. Poivre, formerly intendant of the ifica of 

 France and Bourbon, was born at Lyonsj in the year 

 17191 and at an early period of life entered into the 

 congregation of foreign miflions, by whom he w»» fcnt 

 to China, fonic pajt of which he travelled over, and 

 co!le£lcd many important obfcn'ations rtfpe£ting the 

 country, and panicularly the flatc of agriculture among 

 the Chinefe. In returning to Europe, the veffcl in 

 wliich he had taken his paflage, was attacked by an 

 Englilh fhip of war, and during the engagement he had 

 the misfortune to lofe one of his arms by a cannon bul- 

 let. This unfortunate accident obliged him to renounce 

 the ccclcfufticiil ftate*, but the Eaft-India company find* 

 ing him an a£livc, Intelligent man, made choice of him 

 for cftabliflung a new branch of commerce in Cochin- 

 china. 



