By Thunberg. 1794, 4 vols.
8vo. - This work relates principally to Japan; and it may justly be
remarked, that few parts of the world have met with sucn admirable
describers as Japan has done, in Koempfer and Thunberg. Certainly the
natural history of no part, so rich in this respect, has been so fully and
scientifically investigated. A French translation of this work was
published in Paris in 1796, in 2 vols. 4to. enriched by the notes of
Langles and La Marck.
760. Golownin's Narrative of his Captivity in Japan, 1811-13. 2 vols.
8vo. - Japan is a country so little accessible, that every work on it is
acceptable. This work does not add very much to what Koempfer and Thunberg
have told, but perhaps quite as much as the author, under his
circumstances, could collect or observe. The same remarks apply to his
Recollections of Japan. 1 vol. 8vo.
The history of the missions in the East Indies, Japan, and China, which
were published in the Italian, Spanish, German, and French languages,
towards the end of the sixteenth, and the beginning of the seventeenth
century, is interspersed with some curious and valuable information
regarding these countries; the titles and character of the principal of
these may be found in the Bibliotheque, vol. 5. p. 264, 272, &c.
761. Voyage to China and the East Indies, by Rel. Osbeck; with a Voyage to
Surat, by Torreens; and an Account of the Chinese Husbandry, by Ekelberg.
Translated from the German by J.R. Forster. To which is added a Fauna et
Flora Sinensis. 1777, 2 vols. 8vo. - Travels, embracing scientific natural
history, by competent persons, are so rare and valuable, that the titles of
such should not be omitted: the nature of this work is sufficiently
indicated by the title, and its merit by its having been translated by
Forster.
762. Sonnerat, Voyage aux Indes Orientals et a la Chine, 1774. 1781. Paris,
1806. 4 vols. 8vo. - This work is particularly full and minute on the
theography of the Hindoos: besides the East Indies and China, it embraces
Pegu, the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, Malacca, &c. A translation of part of
it into English was printed at Calcutta.
763. Nouvelles Memoires sur l'Etat present de la Chine. Par Le Comte.
Paris, 1701, 3 vols. 12mo - The best account of China previous to Duhalde's
work, though in many particulars extremely partial to the Chinese.
764. Memoires concernant l'Histoire, les Sciences, et les Arts des Chinois.
Par les Missionaires de Pekin. Paris, 1775, &c. 15 vols. 4to. - In this
voluminous work is contained a wonderful deal of information on China; the
continuation of the work was put a stop to by the French Revolution: it is
by far the best the Jesuits have produced on China; and if there are
materials for perfecting it, they ought to be given to the public.
