THE
CHINESE REPOSITORY.
Vol. I.—April, 1833.—No. 12.
REVIEW.
The history of that great and renowned Monarchy of China, wherein all the particular provinces are accurately described; as also the disposition, manners, learning, laws, militia, government, and religion of the people; together with the traffic and commodities of that country; lately written in Italian by Father Alvarez Semedo, a Portuguese, after he had resided twenty-two years at the court and other famous cities of that kingdom. Now put into English by a person of quality, and illustrated with several maps and figures to satisfy the curious and advance the trade of Great Britain. London, 1655.
We are much pleased with this book, because it presents us the observations and reasonings of an intelligent man, made at the time when the history of a great and remote empire began to excite attention in Europe. For in later years, when more dissentions had arisen among those who were best able to write this history, or when the various theories which learned men had formed respecting China and her policy, required any certain statement and coloring of facts to support them, such
