HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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Chinese navigation is too limited to have afforded experience or observation forforming any system of laws supposed to govern the variation of the needle. Theirknovvlege of the general polarity of the needle answers every purpose, in prac-tice, to that navigation ; and their researches upon most subjects seem to havebeen directed chiefly, and to be too often circumscribed, by the immediate pros-pect of utility resulting from the continuance of every particular pursuit */

With respect to the state of naval science in China, the narrative of the em-bassy seems to corroborate the testimony of former travellers; and it is unanimouslyagreed that the progress of time has produced but little addition to its extent.On one hand, however, it appears, that their knowlege is fully adequate toevery want which their peculiar situation subjects them to ; and, on the other,something must be allowed for the prejudices with which their attainments areunavoidably viewed by foreigners: by Europeans especially, whom necessity, oravidity, has led into the most arduous maritime enterprizes, and thus, as it were,forced upon them an intimate acquaintance with this interesting science. Sir GeorgeStaunton observes, in a passage already quoted -f-, that “ it is not uncommon tohave, on board Chinese vessels, maps or sketches of the intended route, with theneighbouring headlands, cut out or engraved upon the back of empty gourds.”Tlvc fact admitted, that, in the delineation of these charts, a globular is preferredto an horizontal medium, it is scarcely possible to avoid imputing the observationby which it is followed, to perverseness of observation.

Some deference is doubtless due to a writer who speaks from information ac-quired upon the spot; but it is difficult to reconcile with probability the supposbtion that a people, accustomed on all other occasions to draw upon a flat surface ,should chuse a convex, and absolutely sperical body, to receive the outlines of anobject which they imagine to be plane. If, however, in this instance, Sir Georgehas suffered himself to judge too meanly of tire knowlege ot this people, it is tobe considered as only a.slight and inadvertent derelection from the good seme, can-dour., and liberal sentiment, which seem to pervade every other part of theaccount.

Respecting the shipping of the Japanese, the short account that can be given ofit will be usefully introduced by applying to them a remark suggested by theauthor already mentioned, that China gives the ton, as it were, to all the sur-

* Authentic Account of an Embassy, c. vol. I. p. 4-l3 } ei seg.

t Sec vol. I. p. 8, et seg.

U ft 2

rounding