( ?97 ) 
V • An Explanation of the new Chronological Ta^ 
hie of the CHl]^ESE HISTORY, 
tr anflated into from the Original Chinefe^, 
ly Johannes Francifcus Foucquet, Soc. 
Jef !Bifhop of Eleutheropolis, and puhlifhed 
at Rome in the Year 1 7 J o* ColleSied from two 
Accounts thereof written in French, one fent 
from Rome hy Sir Tho. Dereham, !Bar^’ to 
the <S^yal Society^ the other fent from Father 
Foucquet to Father Euftache Guillemeau, a 
Barnabite at Paris, ajtd by him tranfmitted to 
Sir Hans Sloane, !Bar^- (pr, 3^. 5. 
T here have been fpread in 'Em ope divers Opi« 
nions concerning the Chhefe Antiquity, which 
are very falfe, nay fome very abfurd. I place in the 
hrfl: Rank of thefe falfe and abfurd Opinions that 
which traces back the Origin of the Chinefe Nation 
beyond our Account of the Creation of the World j 
likewife others which would fain place the Beginnings 
of the Chinefe Empire before the Deluge. Such Chi- 
meras deferve not the Pains of refuting. They are 
equally repugnant to good Senfe, the Rules of Criti- 
cifm, and to Religion. 
There are fome more moderate Opinions, which 
bring nearer to us the Beginnings of the Chinefe Mo- 
narchy : thefe may be reduced to three. 
H h h - The 
* One ef the Original Chinefe Tables printed at Canton, was prefented t» 
the Society by Sir Tho. Dercham, and is now reported in their Library* 
