A curious and concije Tiefcription of Book HI. 
lOoo 
SECTION VII. 
A curious and concife Defcription of the Country, Hiftory of the In-' 
habitants, and Account of the prefent State of the Kingdom of 
Corea, together with fome Hints of the Eafe with which Commerce 
might be eftablifhed in its Ports, the Benefits that might be expeft- 
ed from thence, the great Likelihood of Gaining an Entrance from 
thence into Japan, or at leaft an Intercourfe with the Japonefe ; and 
many other entertaining and inftruclive Particulars relative to this 
Subjed, and the Trade that is or might be carried on in the 
Dominions and Dependencies of the Emperor of Chinal 
ColleBed chiefly from Memoirs hitherto unpuhlijhed^ and compared with all the 
printed Hiflories and Travels-^ in which any Mention is made of this Country^ 
its Commerce or Inhabitants* 
I. Of the Situation, Extent, Climate, and Boundaries of the Kingdom of with Remarks and Oh- 
' fervations, 2. Of the Hiftory of this Country, as delivered in the Chinefe and Japonefe Authors, which, 
for any Thing that is hitherto known, are the only W riters upon that SuhjeB, 3. Of the Soil, Produce, 
Commodities, Manufactures, and Riches of this noble Peninfula. 4. Of the Provinces, Cities, Ports, 
Fortreftes, &c. in Corea, and of the Iflands that lie upon its Coafts. _ 5. Of the Inhabitants, their Sta- 
ture Complexion, Habit, Cufloms, Manners, Tetnper, Learning, Diver fons, &c. 6. Of the Commerce 
of the Coreans with the Chinefe, the Commodities they import and export, and the Reafon why the lafi 
mentioned Nation are Jo excefively jealous of them. 7. Of the Commerce of the Coreans with the Japo- 
nefe the Commodities and Manuf allures they export and import, and of the natural Aver fan 
between the two Nations. 8. An Enquiry into the Probability of the trading by Stealth 
into other Countries, and fome ConjeBures of the Countries to which they trade, and the Commodities for 
which they deal g. Reafons why it is not at all impofible to enter into a Trade with the Coreans, 
as alfo why this Commerce might anfwer, notwithjlanding any Umbrage it might give to the Chinefe. 
10 Some Arguments tending to prove, that a Trade with Corea is the moji probable Method of recover- 
ing fome Degree of Intercourfe with •, with a few Hints of the Means by which this might be ef- 
fe%ed II A fuccinSi Reprefentation of the Advantages that might refult from fuch a Commerce as 
this with Reference to the Difeovery of unknown Countries, that are probably richer than any to which 
we 'trade at prefent. 12. A Hint that we may receive Satisfaliion this Way, as to the Pojfibility or 
Impofibility of finding a North Eaft Pajfage. 13. Mfcellaneous Remarks and Obfervations on the 
principal Points mentioned in this SeBion. 
HERE are two different Methods by 
^ S' Commerce may be promoted, the 
I one derived from the Improvement of the 
a Lights afforded by Experience, which is 
indeed certain and fare, but generally fpeaking flow, and 
producing only a moderate Profit; the other arifing ffom 
Science, and the endeavouring to ftrike out a new Road 
to frefli Markets, by a comprehenfive Knowledge ol 
Cofmography, Navigation, and the Manner ©f con- 
ducing foreign Trade. In Reference to the firit, the 
Spaniards refolved to attempt a diftant Navigation, alter 
the Example of the Rortuguefe ; the Dutch when op- 
preffed by the Spaniards, and denied a Share of the 
India Trade in Europe, refolved to attempt a Paffage 
thither themfelves ; and in liice Manner, when we per- 
ceived the Advantages refulting to Spain, from her 
Colonies in the Wfi-Indies, determined to try what 
might be done in the fame Way. In Regard to the 
latter, Columbus was the firft, who had the Courage to 
propofe going in Queff of all thofe Iflands and Con- 
tinents, that his own Sagacity had difeovered on the 
other Side the Globe, and we very well know, what 
mighty Things followed from the Queen of Spain s 
accepting his Propofal In like Manner, John Cabot 
firfl: formed a Notion of a North -weft- Paffage, which 
hitherto has not, but I perfwade myfelf will, fometime 
Of other, be difeovered. Ferdinand Magellan was hap- 
pier in his ProjeC of going to the Indies by a South 
.J^affage, which he accompliflied j all thefe were with 
RefpeC to the human Species in general, and with Re- 
gard to the Inhabitants of Europe in particular, very 
great and important Difeoveries, and thofe chiefly that in 
the Eye of important Reafon fet this Part of the World 
in a much fairer and better Light than any of the reft. 
But notwithftanding the manifeft Advantages refult- 
ing from this high Prerogative of vifiting and com- 
manding in all the other Qiiarters of the Globe, it 
feems in this laft Century to have been lefs regarded. 
Far from profecuting that noble Plan, which in the 
Midft of luch Obfeurity our Anceftors had the Wif- 
dom to draw, and the Courage to carry into Execution, 
we arc difpofed rather to make the moft of what they 
have left us, and even to quarrel with each other about 
our Shares; fb that AJia and America, inftead of wonder- 
ing, as they were wont to do, at the Boldnefs of our 
Voyages, and the Expertnefs of the Europeans in what- 
ever relates to Trafiick,are juftly aftonilhed at our Feuds, 
and fee with Amazement, that we labour to deftroy 
Settlements already planted, inftead of making new ; 
that we employ our Pains in decrying and diferediting 
each other, in publiftiing our Imbecilities and Misfor- 
tunes, and in exciting the Indians to fhake off that 
Fear, which the Exploits of the Europeans, in the two 
laft Ages impreffed, and to exert that Power, which 
themfelves always poffeffed, but hitherto have been 
afraid to employ, in thrufting out thofe, who, not con- 
tented with trading, have ventured to play the Mafters 
fo far from Home. > 
