( 4 '« ) 
If the Reader is ftruck with thefe Ideas, new to 
him as they muft be, let him not attribute his Sur- 
prize to the Writer hereof, feeing it was the Obligati- 
on of anfwering the Objedion above-mentioned that 
urged him thereto. 
But let us drop this Subjed, too fruitful in Para- 
doxes. What has been alledged is fufficient to verify 
a Word in the Latin Inftrudions at the Head of the 
Chronological Table, ^iz. that the Charaders by their 
Combination form the Cycle, are very profound. 
To enter upon the Explanation of the reft, would lead 
us into new' Depths, the Difeuftion whereof would re* 
quire long and critical Differtations. It is well the 
underftanding thefe Myfteries is of no Service to the 
Ufe of the Table in Hand. Wherefore let us return 
to the Cycle itfelf, fuch as it is at prefent in the Hands 
of the Chinefe. 
This fo ufeful Cycle, which in the printed Hiftory 
is a certain Rule to fix Time, the ingenious T'artar 
has difpofed in his Table with fuch Art as renders the 
Relation of the Years of the Cycle to the Years of the 
Emperors very fenfible ^ whence fpring great Advan- 
tages that are very vifible to whoever attentively con- 
fiders the Table, and penetrates into its Arraing^ 
ment. 
In the Front of the Table appears a Line writ in 
Capital Letters, and x tend s Horizontally from Right 
to Left : This Line contains, according to the Order 
of their Succeffion, the Names of twenty-one Dy- 
nafties, or Imperial Families, who have reigned 
fince four Centuries before Jefns Chriji unto this 
Time.- 
Thefe 
i 
