800.1 
the loweft order inthis country toa condi- 
tion unufual even in civilized ftates; and 
the domination of politico-religious party, 
interefted to fupport penal government 
rather than equality of privilege, has for 
many years made a chafim between the 
different ranks of fociety in this ifland, 
which, in the eftimation of fome, can only . 
be clofed by feparation from England, and 
in that of others, by an indivifible union 
with that country. 
In compenfation for the miferiesbrought 
upon the European world by the events 
conlequent upon the revolution in France 
(and what power is refponfible for thefe 
calamities, it is for impartial hiftory, if 
there be fuch a thing, to relate), I think 
it muft, in fome-degree, be confolatory to 
remark, that the higher orders, whether 
from compunstion for the paft, or from 
fear of the future, have turned the eye of 
compaffion and ftretched out the hand of 
relicf to the poor, with a zeal and affidu- 
ity which fhew they could part with every 
thing, except that without which charity 
becomes a bounty and premium to idlenefs 
—a juf? proportion of political power. A 
moral revolution is taking place filently 
and gradually, and humanity is making 
its progrefs, like the green of vegetation - 
which, in the procefs of fome years, ap- 
pears upon the volcanic /ava. Whenthe 
florm and ravage of this war have cealed, 
the cultivation of focial virtue will go on 
more rapidly, and the efforts of individu- 


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im 
SS 
—————_—_—— See 
So ee 

T certainly feems that this machine 
was invented before writing came into 
ufe in China, and hence it is not fur- 
prifing to find it made in imitation of the 
Knotted cords then in ule; only, as it 

a 


Dr. Hager on the Chinefe Notation. 203 
als for their happinefs will be lefs ob- 
firucted than it has been. Mankind have 
fuffered, and are fuffering,a rough proba- 
tionary ftate, which may contribute to 
their own ultimate happinefs, and cer- 
tainlywill to the perfectioning of the future 
generation. It is like the fickening, and 
diforder, and convulfion, that in the ani- 
mal exiftence does not portend diffolution, 
but precedes regeneration ; and, through- 
out the hiftory of man, as in the hiftory of 
nature, I find conftant proof of this moft 
cordial and confolatory truth, that de- 
ftruétion and death are terms only relative 
to the imperfection of our fenfes, and na- 
ture is never more fruitful than when we 
fuppofe her at the moment of extinétion. 
The plough and the harrow feem to be 
rough ufage to theearth: but in the progrefs 
of the vegetable education the warm fun 
fhines,the gentle fhower falls,and the living 
verdure begins to {pread over the clod, to 
infinuateitsway,and guide the foft evolving 
leaf through every ftony obftacle. The 
hope of a harveft of happinefs.to man- 
kind thus begins its development in my 
heart. The fickle of Philofophy will reap, 
before the fcythe of Time fhall ravage. 
D. 

For the Monthly Magazine. 
Some aCCOUNT ofthe CHINESE ABACUS, 
andon the COINCIDENCE of the ROMAN 
and CHINESE NOTATION. 
eR 
vn 





| 
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was neceflary in this inftance, with move- 
able knots, or fliding beads, 
Hence likewittefeems to have been de- 
| rived the ufe of keeping the Chinefe Tuag- 
11én 
(the 


- S 
————— 
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ee 
es 
SSS 
eet 
ae ST 
a ee 
SSS 

