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this Philofopher,.and ofConfequence Apocryphal, fuf-. 
peded, and for the mod Part rejected by the mod able 
Chinefe^ and full of Circumdances which thefe 
learned Men deny, or at lead call in Doubt. More- 
over, if thefe Treatifes defer ve any Credit, fome Things 
are found therein, even under Confuciuses Name, 
which quite overturn the chronological Sydem of Se 
nm T^ften. Are thefe Titles to be boaded of as Tedi-* 
monies of Confucius in Favour of a Chronology, on 
which, there is judReafon to believe, he never fo much 
as thought } 
Notwithdanding fo many evident Proofs of a pal* 
pable Faldiood, this Chronology of Se ma ffen is at 
this Day received in China, It was at fird negleded 
there: but Error infenfibly prevailed. The Multi- 
tude among the Chinefe^ as among us, eafily embraces 
the mod groundlefs Opinions a great Name impofes. 
Se ma fffen had the Employ of Hidoriographer of 
the Empire : He was the only Perfon that could be fol- 
lowed then. He foorhed the Nations Pride, making 
not only its Origin, but even the Beginnings of its 
Monarchy afeend backward to very remote Antiquity. 
He annoblized it by a Croud of Heroes, to whom he 
gave Birth in its Bofom He enriched it by an Infinity 
of Incidents, invented it is true, but fuch as were 
deemed indrudive and glorious to the Chinefe 
Name. After the Lofs of the Libraries burnt un- 
der Chi hoang^ there was not more than an Age 
elapfed when he compofed this Hidory: fuch a 
Work was a fort of Confolation : It was regarded as a 
Treafure : Men ran eagerly after a Book that feemed 
to prefent fuch fine Things ; Its Stile was pleafing, 
being Laconic and drong : It was read then, and in 
reading 
