He
transcribes the account from the French Hist. de l'Expedition Chrestienne
en la Chine, 1618. But as I have the Latin, which is the original and is
more lucid, by me, I will translate from that.[7]
"Not only at Peking, but in this capital also (Nanking) there is a College
of Chinese Mathematicians, and this one certainly is more distinguished by
the vastness of its buildings than by the skill of its professors. They
have little talent and less learning, and do nothing beyond the
preparation of the almanacs on the rules of calculation made by the
ancients; and when it chances that events do not agree with their
calculation they assert that what they had calculated was the regular
course of things, but that the aberrant conduct of the stars was a
prognostic from heaven of something going to happen on the earth. This
something they make out according to their fancy, and so spread a veil
over their own blunders. These gentlemen did not much trust Father Matteo,
fearing, no doubt, lest he should put them to shame; but when at last they
were freed from this apprehension they came and amicably visited the
Father in hope of learning something from him. And when he went to return
their visit he saw something that really was new and beyond his
expectation.
"There is a high hill at one side of the city, but still within the walls.
On the top of the hill there is an ample terrace, capitally adapted for
astronomical observation, and surrounded by magnificent buildings which
form the residence of the Professors.... On this terrace are to be seen
astronomical instruments of cast-metal, well worthy of inspection whether
for size or for beauty; and we certainly have never seen or read of
anything in Europe like them. For nearly 250 years they have stood thus
exposed to the rain, the snow, and all other atmospheric inclemencies, and
yet they have lost absolutely nothing of their original lustre. And lest
I should be accused of raising expectations which I do not justify, I will
do my best in a digression, probably not unwelcome, to bring them before
the eyes of my readers.
"The larger of these instruments were four in number. First we inspected a
great globe [A], graduated with meridians and parallels; we estimated that
three men would hardly be able to embrace its girth.... A second
instrument was a great sphere [B], not less in diameter than that measure
of the outstretched arms which is commonly called a geometric pace.
