one hundred and two Solar Years, there having been run 
out fince the Creation 8 864 Ven, of Years ( every Ven. con- 
teining ten thoufand fuch Years ) and of the prefent Ven. 
this Year 1686 is the io2d. Which account is abundant! v 
more extravagant than the jEgyptian: But this need not In- 
validate their Hiflory fince Fohi ; by which it appears that 
their Character was Invented before the time of Mofes a- 
bout 1400 Years, and even before Menes the firft King of 
Mgjp about 500 Years. So that the Chinefe Invention of 
Writing or Characters, feems to be the mofl: Antient of 
that kind. And the Book Tekim (aid to be writen by iohiy. 
the moft Antient Book. 
Thefe accounts made me the moredefirous to underftand 
Ibmewhat of the Reallity ahd Truth, of what is related 
concerning the Knowledge of Literature and Manual Arts^ 
which thefe people of {ihinci are faid to have poffeffed fo 
long a time in fo great Perfeftion, and without Alteration 
from the Primitive Inftitutio^n, efpecially upon the account 
of their Art of Printing, which gave a hint to the Inventors 
of that admirable and moft ufeful of all Inventions ( for the 
Common Wealth of Learning ) the way of Printing here in 
Europe. For Patdus Joums affirmes that the firft Occafioa 
of that Invention in Germany^ was a Germane Merchant^ 
who returning out of C^/^^ into his own Country, Relat- 
ed what he had oblerved concerning the Pra£tife of it as 
uled in that Country. And tho' the Chinefe way, be 
wholly diifering as to the method of compofing, from what 
was Invented and Perfected here: Yet iiichan intimation 
was enough to an Ingenious Artift to improve the firft Con- 
triyance, and make it more accomodate to the Literal way 
of Wnting with us; Aadasour way may poflihly be now 
brought to tlifi greateft Perfection for exa(3:nefs and expediti- 
"on,(b without doubt nmft be their way of Printing any thing 
juft as it is writen, Since I find, that they can Ingrave their 
Stamps for a flieet, as ibon as one of our Cornpofiters can i^t 
and coiTcSfc aftieetpf ourXiteral Cha^^^ and wlien lQ 
