[ 477 ] 
taught to entertain very extraordinary Conceptions. 
But that even They will be no Exception to your 
Surmize, but, on the contrary, a ftrong Confirma- 
tion of it, will, I perfuade myfelf, appear, from 
what I am now going to offer. 
I need not inform you, that the Eaftern Writers 
in general are much addifted to Fable and Romance. 
This is a Fad too well known to need any Proof $ 
and therefore great Judgment is many times required 
to diftinguifh what is real from what is purely ima- 
ginary, improbable, and abfurd. I fay this, not fo 
much with regard to their Accounts of foreign Na- 
tions, with whofe Affairs they may be grefumed to 
be lefs acquainted, as of their own ancient State and 
Condition, and that in Ages not exceedingly remote. 
But if this Obfervation holds but too true, with re- 
fped to thofe whofe Hiftory we are in feme man- 
ner acquainted with, how much ought it to put us 
upon our Guard as to thofe we are in great meafiire 
abfolute Strangers to? 
The beft Accounts we have received of China arc 
owing to the Jefuits. But thofe Accounts them- 
ielves are, I am afraid, to be frequently received 
with great Caution. Thefe Fathers have been fame- 
times, perhaps, not fufficiently verfed in European 
or Chinefe Learning, or both, to give us proper In« 
formation. At other times, it may be, they have been 
too much prejudiced in Favour of tfteir Converts, or 
had Ends to ferve, of which the World hath not been, 
properly enough apprifed. To have propagated their 
Religion only in a barbarous and uncultivated Na- 
tion, would not have been fo much for the Credit 
of the Million^ as to have been able to introduce it 
• Qjl q z among 
