756.  Raffles’s History of Java. 1817. 2 vols. 4to.—­Had this work been compressed into a smaller compass, by a judicious abridgment of the historical part, its value as well as interest would have been enhanced; these, however, are not small, as it gives by far the fullest and most accurate account of Java, and its inhabitants, that has appeared; and as the author, from his residence and high official situation, possessed every advantage, its accuracy may be depended on.  When the natural history illustrations of Java, by Mr. Horsfield, are completed, they will, in conjunction with this work, and the Transactions of the Batavian Society, leave nothing to be desired on the subject of this part of Asia.

757.  E. Koempfer’s Geschichte und Beschriebung von Japan.  Lemgo, 1777-79. 2 vols. 4to.—­This edition of Koempfer’s celebrated work on Japan contains several things which are not to be found in the English translation.

758.  Histoire du Japan.  Par Charlevoix.  Paris, 1754, 6 vols. 12mo.—­This is the best edition of Charlevoix’s work, many parts of which, especially what relates to natural history, are drawn from Koempfer.  Charlevoix has added important details on the administration of justice in Japan, and on the moral character of the Japanese; but the bulk of the work is swelled by tiresome ecclesiastical details.

759.  Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa.  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.