C 37] 
heen informed of if ^the Hiftorical Rektions dout Chim^hf on*^ 
lytake notice that hefides^thiiufe^ thefe Letters will give another^ 
viz. Several Curiam Mathematical and Phyficai Obfervations 
there made by the Author^ who it feems well under flood what 
would he benejicial to Europe as well at f leafing to the Chinefec 
To men fo equalified with Mathematical knowledge^ we owe the 
Difcovery^ of the before^ unknown farts of the World^ and from 
fuch we are to hofe for the pcrfeBwn of that knowledge^ and the 
Difcovery cf the refi, I have ufon this occafion added fome incjui- 
ties concerning the Literature of that Country^ they are hut con^ 
je^fures^ grounded ufon the ferufal of fome of their Bookso A full 
Difcovery is not fretended^ however I hope they may ferve as 
hints and incitements to others, v^ ha;ve btfttr'^i^ md vther-^ 
advantages to compleat it. We have hitherto not been admitted 
to the Skirt s^hut this Difcovery when perfeBed^will lay of en to us 
^;:^ Empire of Learping^ fiithetto ordf fak^loulkidefcriked ; This 
will admit ustoconverje with the heft and greatefl of that Empire^ 
that eithe^ are or^ jver h^vejbeen ; This will Difcover a new \xx^ 
dkarMke-y^d'^Tf^^ 
thery which may not be unworthy ^ the con fider at ion ofm^mk^^^^" 
rable Eaft-Indian-Company,' As well as of fever al Learnd Men^ 
who have leifure^ and other offortunities to make further Pro-- 
grefsjn this Inquiry : To promote which^ ^ff^^^ff.^^ ^^fllj^^^Ix 
I/hall add [omepri^^ 
of one piece of their Philofophyj which is frinted in their own 
Chara^er^ with the pronounciation and interpretation in Latine ; 
which mayfupply aft SukjeB for the Curious to practice upon^ and 
give a taft of the Philofofhy and of the manner of Edipreffion 
in that Remote Part of the World, To thefe 1 have added the 
the figure of the Roman Abacus. Which queft ion lefs was 
the Ground of the fignificatiof^ of figures according to f laces* 
A^ alfo that of the Chinefe in the DtBionary of the Court Lan^ 
guage^ differing from that &f Martinius defcribed in the firft 
Decad of his Chlneie Htftory^ ift. in that the Dignity cf the 
places here afcend fro?n the Left to the Right ; contrary to what he 
fayes of his : and 2ly, La that this has one bead only for the fifth 
6th. Andhis h^th two; > A, 
