| RefNo | AP/4/15/2 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Unpublished translation of letter, regarding Chinese language and history from an unknown priest to the Royal Society |
| Date | 1762-1764 |
| Description | Translation of a letter, originally written in French, sent in response to the letter from Butler and Morton, addressed to the Royal Society and dated at Pe-king [Beijing, China] on 20 October 1764. The author acknowledges that knowledge of Chinese language and history is scarce in Europe, so he uses several sources to write his response. He writes that it is unlikely that ancient Egyptians and ancient Chinese communicated with each other, but suggests that both Egyptians and Chinese could have drawn from the same source in developing their written alphabets. He then explains contemporary Chinese dialects and quotes at length from a history of China from the Song Dynasty on the origin of Chinese characters. Numerous corrections, additions, marginalia, and deletions appear in ink throughout.
Subject: Anthropology / Linguistics
Translated by Charles Morton. Read to the Royal Society on 9 and 16 June 1768. |
| Extent | 38p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedRecord | AP/4/15 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1286 | Morton; Charles (1716 - 1799) | 1716 - 1799 |