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New Works on the Chinese Language.
Juty,
The mariner's compass, the six Boards, an observatory with astrono- inical instruments, the calendar, writing, arithmetic, scales of weights and measures, chronometors, music, medicine, commerce, ships and carriages, with a great variety of useful and elegant implements, were the products of his genius. His was a golden age. After a reign of 100 (some say 111) years, this great and wise sovereign fell. His praises are celebrated alike both in story and in song; but, the Chi- nese being judges, no language can do justice to his virtues. He was buried in Shens).
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ART. IV. New works for
New works for aiding the study of the Chinese lan- guage: Systema Phoneticum Scriptura Sinica; a Lexilogus of the English, Malay, and Chinese languages; First Lessons in the Tie-chew Dialect; and Easy Lessons in Chinese. Too long already we have neglected to bring these several works to the notice of our readers; and now we have only space for brief notices of them. The multiplication of this class of books argues well for the progress of Chinese literature. The facilities for multiplying books of this sort have of late years been greatly increased. Twenty years ago, Dr. Morrison's Dictionary was completed, at an expense of £15,000; and all this outlay was made for type, manual labor, &c. Now, we suppose, one third that sum, or perhaps even a less amount, would suffice. Still the expense of such publications is not small. It is desirable, therefore, that every proper means be taken to secure for them as extensive patronage as possible.
1. Systema Phoneticum Scripturæ Sinicæ. Auctore J. M. Callery, missionario apostolico in Sinis. Part 1. et II. Macao, 1841. Regard- ing the merits of this book, it is not easy to form an opinion, and those we have heard expressed are very contradictory. Much labor was bestowed on its preparation by M. Callery, and it is a valuable addition to the helps for studying the Chinese language. We shall feel much indebted to any student in the language who will prepare for our pages an analysis of the book, with critical remarks on its several parts. Hoping that some one, who can perform this task better than we can, will soon furnish such a view, we withhold, for The present, any additional remarks of our own
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