Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 22

1841.

Chinese History.

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ledge of words being very limited, it was constantly necessary to consult authorities. Besides, early disabled by diseased feet, I had no mind for the study of the classics and general literature; while of cities and towns, of mountains and rivers, not one was visited. Although possessed of a strong inclination to read history, I was yet like the deaf devoid of hearing, and like the blind devoid of sight ; therefore ere the reading a single chapter was completed, 1 suddenly became disgusted and wearied. This was the reason why I never read through a single work. Still, although I possessed a strong in- clination to read history, and desired to study a multitude of books for perfecting my inquiries, and to visit all the noted hills and great rivers for the extension of iny observations, I deemed it impractica- ble. Hence I was led to inquire, what method of reading I should adopt in order to obtain the accomplishment of my wishes.

"

Always I have observed that those who found delight in history, were for the most part far more intelligent than other men, capable of compassing much at a glance, never forgetting what they had once read, and without any labored effort readily digesting what they had acquired; hence, when they read historical works, they must needs seek for such as were ample; and when they discoursed there- on they must necessarily be inclined to such as were profound; but those who are stupid, like myself, should take that history which is concise rather than those which are ample, and that which is plain rather than such as are profound; then perchance they may be able to obtain that to which they aspire.

"The two Chows, Tsingchuen and Singjō, were the friends of

my earliest years, my youthful fellow-students, engaged with me in the study of history. In the 43d year of Kanghe (A. D. 1705), having compiled from the Kang Muh a complete work, they submitted it to me as a model for historical reading; and immediately in conjunction. with them I engaged in its revision, which without interruption from the winter's cold or the summer's rain was continued for six succes-

sive years.

Displeased with the diffuse style of the manuscript, we aimed to select what was most important and to pare off what was redundant; and anxious to remove all obscurity, we labored to bring forward the general heads and to present them in the most perspicuous order.: Of the facts which were recorded therein we diligently searched for the origin and source, carefully describing and attentively explaining them, endeavoring to make them as distinctly visible as the finger laid in the pain of the hand, so as not to burden the mind or oppress the

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