[ 49 1 ] * 
It is not my Defign to enter into any ControveiTy 
with the Learned Fathers of the Society of JeJus j 
the World hath been frequently indebted to them 
for their Philofophical Labours ; and will be fo again, 
when they {hall have conftdered the Chinefe Hiftory 
with proper Accuracy, and told us in what manner 
they have been able to preferve Accounts and Ob- 
fervations of fo ancient a Date. Public Libraries, it 
is allowed (r)> they have none ; nor doth it appear 
rhey ever had. Where then could Things fo ufelefs, 
as the Generality muft have thought afironomical 
Obfervations , be repofited? When intruded to pri- 
vate Hands, they muft have run great Rifque of being 
deftroy'd by Wars, by Fires, and in popular Commo- 
tions 5 which muft frequently have happened in fo 
long a Courfe of Years. 
Let us fuppofe Things of this fort are of more 
Value to the Chinefe Commonalty , or, if you pleafe, 
their Nobility , than they are to the European 5 and 
that they would lay Hands on every thing they could 
meet with of the leind> and, when once in their 
Pofleffion, would preferve it with a religious Exaft- 
nefs: But whence then comes it to pafs, that it is 
fo difficult a Matter in China to meet with Books 
upon thefe Subje&s (/), to underftand them when 
found, or to get any Afliftance from the Natives to- 
wards underftanding them ? 
But befides, are not Writings thus kept in private 
Perfons Cuftody, unlefs carefully laid by, apt to be 
fcribbled 
(r) Gbferv* ut j up, Tom. 2. Pref, (/) Ibid . 
S f f 
