quity, cannot prove unacceptable to your lordship, when adding a mite to the Transactions of the academy which is distinguished by your superintendence.

Why I have addressed a subject of this nature to the Irish academy, when there is a society existing, who seems to have a title to it from its name or why the first offering of my researches should proceed from the remote empire of China, are, I trust, questions that are not necessary for me to resolve. If a patriot wish to promote the spirit of investigation in my country, by the exertion of my mean abilities, be not denied me, I am indifferent to censure or praise on this occasion.

I must premise to your lordship, that, during a long residence in the East Indies, where the game of Chess is generally supposed to have originated, I had often heard of its existence in China, though on á different footing, as well in respect to the powers of the king, as to the aspect of the field of battle. The Bramins, who excel in this game, and with whom I used frequently to play for improvement, had a tradition of this nature, which is a farther argument in behalf of what I am about to advance. But, with all my enquiries from persons who had been there, and from the publications relative to China, I could never obtain any confirmation of the game being ever known in the country, except that Chambers, in his Dictionary, mentions it to be the favourite pastime of the ladies, but quotes no authority for the assertion.

Some unlooked for circumstances in the course of the last year, at length brought me to the quarter, which I had once wished, but neVOL. XXXVI.

ver expected to visit. I need not say, that among other objects of curiosity, I was eager to ascertain the reality of the Bramins story. And if the difficuity of acquiring information here, not more from the want of interpreters, than the jea lousy of the government, were not well known in Europe, 1 should be ashamed to tell your lordship that I despaired of success for some time. A young Mandarin, however, of the profession of arms, having an inquisitive turn, was my frequent visitor; and what no questions could have drawn from him, the accidental sight of an English chessboard effected. He told me, that the Chinese had a game of the same nature; and on his specifying a difference in the pieces and board, I perceived, with joy, that I had discovered the desideratum of which I had been so long in search. The very next day my Mandarin brought me the board and equipage; and I found, that the Bramins were neither mistaken touching the board, which has a river in the middle to divide the contending parties, nor in the powers of the king, who is entrenched in a fort, and moves only in that space, in every direc tion. But what did I not before hear, nor do I believe is known out of this country, there are two pieces, whose movements are distinct from any in the Indian or European game. The Mandarin, which answers to our bishop, in his station and sidelong course, cannot, through age, cross the river; and a rocket-boy, still used in the Indian armies, who is stationed between the lines of each party, acts literally with the. motion of the rocket, by vaulting over a man, and taking his adversary at the other end of the board. B b

Except

Except that the king has his two sons to support him, instead of a queen, the game, in other respects, is like ours.

As the young man who had discovered this to me, was of a communicative and obliging disposition, and was at this time pursuing his studies in the college of Canton, I requested the favour of him to consult such ancient books as might give some insight into the period of the introduction of Chess into China; to confirm, if possible, the idea that struck me of its having originated here. The acknowledged antiquity of this empire, the unchangeable state of her customs and manners, beyond that of any other nation in the world; and more especially the simplicity of the game itself, when compared to its compass and variety in other parts, appeared to give a colour to my belief. That I was not disappointed in the event, I have no doubt will be allowed, on the perusal of the translation of a manuscript extract, which my friend Tinqua brought me, in compliance with my desire; and which accompanied by the Chinese manuscript, goes under cover to your lordship. As the Mandarin solemnly assured me that he took it from the work quoted, and the translation has been as accurately made as possible, I have no hesitation to deliver the papers as authentic.

In the pursuit of one curiosity I flatter myself that I have stumbled by accident on another, and have gone some length to restore to the

Chinese the invention of gun-powder, so long disputed with them by the Europeans; but which the evidence on their chess-board, in the action of the rocket, seems to establish beyond a doubt. The institution of the game is likewise discovered to form the principal æra in the Chinese history; since, by the conquest of Shensi, the kirgdom was first connected in its present form, and the monarch assumed the title of emperor, as may be seen in the extract which I have obtained from their annals.

From these premises I have therefore ventured to make the following inferences :-That the game of Chess is probably of Chinese origin. That the confined situation and powers of the king, resembling those of a monarch in the earlier parts of the world, countenance this supposition; and that, as it travelled westward, and descended to later times, the sovereign prerogative extended itself, until it became unlimited, as in our state of the game. That the agency of the princes, in lieu of the queen, bespeaks forcibly the nature of the Chinese customs, which exclude females from all power or influence whatever; which princes, in its passage through Persia, were changed into a single vizier, or minister of state, with the enlarged portion of delegated authority that exists there; instead of whom, the European nations, with their usual gallantry, adopted a queen on their board. That the river between the parties is expres

on ours. *

Kiangnan, by the defeat and capture of its king, Choupayuen,* a famous warrior among the Chinese. On this conquest Hugh Cochu assumed the title of emperor, and Choupayuen put an end to his own life in despair.

Explanation of the position, powers, and motives of the pieces on the Chinese chess-board, or Chong Ké royal game).

As there are nine pieces instead of eight, to occupy the rear rank, they stand on the lines between, and not within, the squares. The game is consequently played on the lines.

The king, or Chong, stands in the middle line of this row. His moves resemble those of our king, but are confined to the fortress

marked out for him.

The two Princes, or Son, stand

on each side of him, and have equal

powers and limits.

The Mandarins, or Tchong, answer to our bishops, and have the same moves, except that they cannot cross the water or white space in the middle of the board to annoy the enemy, but stand on the defensive.

The knights, or rather horses, called Maa, stand and move like ours in every respect.

The War-chariots, or Tchè, resemble our rooks or castles.

The Rocket-boys, or Pao, are pieces whose motions and powers were unknown to us. They act with the direction of a rocket, and can take none of their adversary's men that have not a piece or pawn intervening. To defend your men from this attack it is necessary to open the line between, either to take off the check on the King, or to save a man from being captured by the Pae. Their operation is, otherwise, like that of the rook. Their stations are marked between the pieces and pawns.

The five Pawns, or Ping, make up the number of the men equal to that of our board.

Instead of taking sideways, like ours, they have the rook's motion, except that it is limited to one step, and is not retrograde. Another important point, in which the Ping differs from ours, is, that they continue in statu quo, after reaching their adversary's head-quarters. It will appear, however, that the Chinese pieces far exceed the proportion of

ours; which occasions the whole force of the contest to fall on them,

and thereby precludes the beauty and variety of our game, when reduced to a struggle between the pawns, who are capable of the highest promotion, and often change the fortune of the day. The posts of the Ping are marked in front.

EYLES IRWIN.

Unpublished

Unpublished letters respecting Dr. Walton's translation of the Bible, transcribed from the common place book of Mr. John Dwight, secretary to bishop Vallis.

"To the right honourable the counsel of state the humble petition of Brian Walton, D. D.

"Humbly sheweth,

"THAT, whereas sundry edi

Holy Bible (the divine treasury of saving truth) have been formerly made in divers learned languages, which have highly tended to the honour of God, and advancement of religion, especially those great and famous editions of the Complutense, the Antwerpe, and the late Paris, Bibles: and whereas, your petitioner having perused the said editions, and compared the same with sundry others, and finding that a more compleat and per fect edition than any of them may be made, which may be more usefull, and withall afforded at a fifth part, or thereabouts, of the price of those of Paris, whereby the same will become more common and great encouragement be given to the study of those tongues which conduce most to the understanding of the text, hath, with the advice of sundry learned men, drawn up a form of an edition in the original languages, with the most ancient translations, according to better and more authentic copies than those of the former editions, with addition of sundry things needful, which are wanting in them all; and hath digested the same in such order, whereby the several languages may be represented to the reader's view

at once, and the whole may be printed in a few ordinary volumes, and sold at the price aforesaid; a draught whereof, with a printed proof, and the suffrage and approbation of eminent learned men, is herewith exhibited: your petitioner, therefore, humbly prayeth, that your honours will pe pleased to take the premises into your grave and serious consideration, and (as those former editions, though less perfect have been furthered by public au

give your approbation of this work, with such furtherance, by recommendation or otherwise, as in your wisdoms shall be thought fit, where by your petitioner, and those that shall join with him herein, may be the better enabled and encouraged to go on in so great a work, so much conducive to the public good and honour of this nation. And your petitioner shall ever pray," &c. &c.

[Not delivered.]

"To his excellency the lord gene

ral Cromwell, the humble petition of Brian Walton, of London, D. D.

"Humbly sheweth,

"That, whereas your petitioner, with the advise of divers learned men, hath drawn up a form of an edition of the Bible in the original and other learned languages, which the late counsell of state, by their order of July, have declared to be an honourable work, and deserving encouragement, whereupon divers persons have subscribed several sums of money towards the printing thereof, as a work much tending to the honour of God and the nation; your petitioner humbly prayeth, Bb 3

thas