Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 259

1841.

Historie of the Mightie Kingdome of China.

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was now proposed; the fleet of Willoughby and Chancellor was to reach the rich lands of Cathay by doubling the northern promontory of Lapland. A. D. 1553. The ships parted company. The fate of Willoughby was as tragical as the issue of the voyage of Chancellor was successful. The admiral, with one of the ships, was driven, by the severity of the polar autumn, to seek shelter in a Lapland harbor, which afforded protection against storms, but not against the rigors of the season. When search was made for him in the fol- lowing spring, Willoughby himself was found dead in his cabin; and his journal, detailing his sufferings from the polar winter, was complete probably to the day when his senses were suspended by the intolerable cold. His ship's company lay dead in various parts of the vessel, some alone, some ín groups. The other ship reached the harbor of Archangel. This was "the discovery of Russia," and the commencement of maritime commerce with that empire. A Spanish writer calls the result of the voyage ‘a discovery of new Indies.' The Russian nation, one of the oldest and least mixed in Europe, now awakening from a long lethargy, emerged into political distinc- tion. We have seen that, about eleven years from this time, the first town in the United States' territory was permanently built. So rapid are the changes on the theatre of nations! One of the leading powers of the age, but about two and a half centuries ago became known to Western Europe; another had not then one white man within its limits.”

The work in hand is a small octavo, of 410 pages, printed in old German text, and is divided into three parts, which are further sub- divided into numerous books and chapters. It must have been in its day a notable production. The work opens with a description of China and the confines it hath belonging.' After a very few words, by way of introduction, Parke brings his reader at once in medias res.

"You shall understande that this mightie kingdome is the orien- talest part of all Asia, and his next neighbour towards the ponent is the kingdome of Quachinchina, whereas they doo observe in whole all the customes and rites of China. The greatest part of this king- dome is watred with the great oriental ocean sea, beginning at the iland Aynan, which is hard by Quachinchina, which is 19 degrees towards the north, and compassing towards the south, whereas their course is northeast. And beyond Quachinchina to- wards the north, the Bragmanes do confine, which are much people and verie rich, of golde, silver and precious stones, but in especiall, rubies: for there are infinit. They are proud and hawtie men, of great courage, wel made, but of browne colour: they haue had (but few times) warre with them of China, in respect for that betwixt both the kingdomes there are great and mightie mountaines and