“I understand it is not the ornamentation your friend objects to?[4] If it is, I would observe that there is no evidence of progress in the decorative and ornamental arts during the Ming Dynasty; and even in the Jesuit instruments that part of the work is purely Chinese, excepting in one instrument, which I am persuaded must have been made in Europe.

“I have a Chinese work called Luh-King-t’oo-Kaou, ’Illustrations and Investigations of the Six Classics.’  This was written in A.D. 1131-1162, and revised and printed in 1165-1174.  It contains a representation of an armillary sphere, which appears to me to be much the same as the sphere in question.  There is a solid horizon fixed to a graduated outer circle.  Inside the latter is a meridian circle, at right angles to which is a graduated colure; then the equator, apparently a double ring, and the ecliptic; also two diametric bars.  The cut is rudely executed, but it certainly shows that some one imagined something more perfect.  The instrument stands on a cross frame, with 4 dragon supporters and a prop in the centre.[5]

“It should be remembered that under the Mongol Dynasty the Chinese had much intercourse with Central Asia; and among others Yelewchootsae, as confidential minister and astronomer, followed Chinghiz in his Western campaign, held intercourse with the astronomers of Samarkand, and on his return laid some astronomical inventions before the Emperor.

“I append a notice of the Observatory taken from a popular description of Peking, by which it will be seen that the construction of these instruments is attributed to Ko Show-king, one of the most renowned astronomers of China.  He was the chief astronomer under Kublai Kaan” [to whom he was presented in 1262; he was born in 1231.—­H.  C.]

“It must be remembered that there was a special vitality among the Chinese under the Yuen with regard to the arts and sciences, and the Emperor had the choice of artizans and men of science from all countries.  From the age of the Yuen till the arrival of the Jesuits, we hear nothing of any new instruments having been made; and it is well known that astronomy was never in a lower condition than under the Ming."[6]

Mr. Wylie then draws attention to the account given by Trigault of the instruments that Matteo Ricci saw at Nanking, when he went (in the year 1599) to pay a visit to some of the literati of that city.  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]