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Art. XI.—The Life and Labours of Alexander Wylie, Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society in China. A Memoir

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

M. Henri Cordier
Affiliation:
Professor at the École des Langues Orientales Vivantes and École des Sciences Politiques, Paris.

Extract

It may be at first a matter of surprise to many that an alien by nationality and religion, a Roman Catholic Frenchman, should come before this learned Society to discourse on the life and labours of a British Protestant Missionary. A few words, however, will show that there are strong reasons for my taking up some of your valuable time with an account of the good work done by our late friend.

Type
Original Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1887

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References

page 351 note 1 Bibliotheca Sinica. Dictionnaire bibliographique des ouvrages relatifs à, I'Empire ehinois par Henri Cordier. Paris, E. Leroux, 1878–1885, 2 vols. imp. 8vo. I wrote in the Preface, June, 1878, p. x: “Tout le monde en Chine connaît Mr. Alex. Wylie; le savant et modeste agent de la ‘British and Foreign Bible Society’ donnait de son cabinet de travail situé a la ‘London Mission,’ Shantung Road, Changhai, les renseignements les plus utiles à ceux qui venaient frapper à, sa porte. Une portion de sa bibliothèque avait été cédée à, la Société asiatique, mais la plus précieuse partie à laquelle étaient venus s'adjoindre de nouveaux volumes était restée chez lui. Avec une rare bieuveillancfi, Mr. Wylie m'avait permis de travailler dans sa bibliothèque, et j'ai à m'accuser d'avoir souvent dérangé cet excellent homme dans ses propres travaux, en venant—avee une indiscrétion qui n'a d'excuse que mon désir de produire un ouvrage sèrieux—m'installer au milieu de ses livres et de ses manuscrits. C'est là que j'ai pu examiner la copie faite par Stanislas Julien de la Notitia du P. de Prémare, une traduction du Tchoung Young du P. de Ventavon, et mille et une plaquettes uniques ou rarissimes. D'ailleurs, Mr. Wylie est un confrère, si un élève comme moi peut traiter de confrere un maitre comme lui; n'a-t-il pas écrit ces Notes on Chinese Literature qui sont aujourd'hui le vide mecum de celui qui cherche à s'orienter dans le labyrinthe de la littérature de la Chine.”

page 353 note 1 January 21st, 1882.

page 355 note 1 Sacred Books of the East, translated by DrLegge, James. Part iii., Li ki, Oxford, 1885, pref. p. xiii.Google Scholar

page 355 note 2 Williams's, S. W.Recollections, Journ. N.C. Br. R.A.S. Soc. N.s. vol. viii. p. 18.Google Scholar

page 355 note 3 Vol. i. No. 1, Saturday, 3rd August, 1850. Henry Shearman died, 53 years old, at Shanghai, on the 22nd March, 1856.

page 356 note 1 Shanghai Almanac for 1853, and Miscellany. Printed at the “Herald” Office, Shanghai, 8vo. The last numher is: Miscellany or Companion to the Shanghai Almanac for 1857. Printed and published at the N.C. Herald Office, Shanghai, 8vo.

page 356 note 2 The Nestorian Tablet in Se-gan Foo (N.O. Herald, 1854, Oct. 28, Nov. 25, Dec. 2; 1855, Jan. 6, Nov. 24, Dec. 15, 22, 29). Rep. in the Shanghae Miscellany for 1855 and 1856, and in the Journ. of the Am. Oriental Soc. vol. v. pp. 275–336.

page 356 note 3 Cf. my Bibliotheca Sinica, col. 325–329.

page 357 note 1 Nestorians in China (China Review, viii. pp. 190–191).

page 357 note 2 Nestorians at Canton (China Review, viii. pp. 31–34).

page 357 note 3 “Jottings on the Science of the Chinese” (North China Herald, 108, Aug. 21, 1852; 111–113, 116–117, 119–121, Nov. 20, 1852). Rep. in The Shanghai Almanac and Miscellany, 1853, 22 pages; and in The Chinese and Japanese Repository, April, 1864, et seq.

page 357 note 4 Crelle's Journal für die reine und angetvandte Mathcinatih, 1856, pp. 59–94, “Die Arithmetik der Chinesen” (Von Herrn Dr. K. L. Biernatzki, zu Berlin), Berlin, April, 1855.

page 357 note 5 Journal des Savans, 1869, June and August.

page 357 note 6 Born at Macerata, 6th October, 1552; arrived in China in 1583; and died at Peking 11th May, 1610.

page 357 note 7 Published in 1601.

page 359 note 1 Sing chin khao yonen. Uranographie chinoise oil Preuves directes que l'Astronomie primitive est originaire de la Chine et qu'elle a été empruntée par les anciens peuples occidentaux à la sphère chinoise … par Gustave Schlegel … La Haye, 1875, 2 parts, Svo. and atlas.

page 359 note 2 vi. pp. 442–447.

page 359 note 3 Journ. des Savans, Sept. 1875, pp. 557–566. Schlegel answered since (1880) in the Bijd. tot de Taal- Land- en Volkenkunde v. Ned. Ind. pp. 350–372.

page 359 note 3 Cf. Yule's Marco Polo, 2nd ed. ii. pp. 544–550.

page 360 note 1 On an Ancient Inscription in Chinese and Mongol, from a Stone Tablet at Shang-hae. By Mr. A. Wylie, printer to the London Missionary Society, Shanghae. Head before the Society May 21st, 1855 (Tram. China Br. R.A.S., pt. v. Art. III.). On an Ancient Inscription in the Neuchih Language (ibid. vi. pp. 137–153, 1859). Remarks on some Impressions from a Lapidary Inscription at Keu-yung-kwan, on the Great Wall near Peking. By A. Wylie, Esq. (Journal N.C.B.R.A.S., No. 1, N.S. pp. 133–136). See also Journal of this Society : Vol. XVII. (1860), Art. XVI.; and Vol. V. N.S.(1871), Art. II.

page 360 note 2 Translation of the Ts'ing Wang ke'mung, a Chinese Grammar of the Manchu Tartar Language: with Introductory Notes on Manchu Literature. Shanghae, London Mission Press, 1855, 8vo. pp. lxxx–314.

page 360 note 3 Klaproth's sale, part ii. No. 202.

page 360 note 4 Grammaire Tartare-mantchou, par M. Amiot, Missionnaire à Pékin. Tirée du tome xiii. des Mémoires concernant l'Histoire, les Arts, les Sciences, etc., des. Chinois. A Paris, chez Nyon l'aîné, … M.DCC.LXXXVII. 4to. pp. 39.

page 360 note 5 Elementa Linguae Tartaricae. (Thévenot, Recueil, vol. ii. 4e Partie, 1696.)

page 361 note 1 Journal of the Shanghai Literary and Scientific Society, No. 1, June, 1858, Inaugural Address, pp. 1–16.

page 361 note 2 Coins of the Ta Ts'ing, or Present Dynasty of China. Laid before the Society, Nov. 17th, 1857, pp. 44–102.

page 361 note 3 China Review, vol. vii. July, 1878, to 06, 1879, pp. 162167, 255–269.Google Scholar

page 361 note 4 Lettre du P. Jean Paul Gozani, S.J., au P. Joseph Suarez, Kai Fung foo, 5th Nov. 1704, Let. edifiantes, éd. Mérigot, xviii. pp. 31–48.

page 362 note 1 They left Shanghai 15th November, 1850.

page 362 note 2 The Jews at K'ae-fung-foo, being a Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jewish Synagogue at K'ae-fung-foo, on behalf of the London Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews; with an Introduction, by the Right Rev. George Smith, D.D., Lord Bishop of Victoria. Shang-hae, London Missionary Society's Press, 1851, 8vo. pp. 82.— Fac-similes of the Hebrew Manuscripts obtained at the Jewish Synagogue in K'ae-Fung-Foo. Shanghae, printed at the London Missionary Society's Press, 1851, 4to.—On a Hebrew MS. of the Pentateuch, from the Jewish Congregation at Kai-fung-fu in China, by Mr. John W. Barrow, of New York ; presented by DrMartin, (communicated to the Am. Or. Son. Journal, 05, 1869, ix. No. 2, p. liii.Google Scholar

page 362 note 3 i. July, pp. 13–22; ii. August, pp. 43–52.

page 362 note 4 Catalogue of Books relating to China and the East. Shanghai, 1868, 8vo. pp. 29.

page 362 note 5 A Catalogue of the Library of the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatie Society (including the library of Alex. Wylie, Esq.), Systematically Classed. By Henri Cordier, Hon. Librarian, Shanghai. Printed at the “Ching-Foong” General Printing Office, 1872, 8vo. pp. viii.–86.

page 363 note 1 Catalogue of the London Mission Library, Shanghae. Shanghae, 1857, 8vo. pp. 102.

page 363 note 2 Memorials of Protestant Missionaries to the Chinese, giving a list of their Publications, and Obituary Notices of the Deceased, with copious Indexes. Shanghae, American Presbyterian Misslon Press, 1867, 8vo. pp. vi.–331.

page 363 note 3 William Gamble, Superintendent of the American Presbyterian Mission Press.

page 351 note 4 Notes on Chinese Literature, with introductory remarks on the Progressive Advancement of the Art, and a List of Translations from the Chinese into various European Languages. By A. Wylie, Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society in China. Shanghae, American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1867, 4to. pp. viii.–xxviii.–260.

page 364 note 1 Itinerary of a Journey through the Provinces of Hoo-pih, S'ze-chuen, and Shen-se, by Wylie, A. (Journ. N.C.B. Roy. Asiat. Soc. N.S. No. v. 12, 1868, Art. VIII. p. 153).Google Scholar

page 365 note 1 On the Introduction and Use of Gunpowder and Firearms among the Chinese, with notes on some Ancient Engines of Warfare, and Illustrations, by W. F. Mayers, Esq., F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., etc., of H.B.M.'s Consular Service, China. Read May 18th, 1869 (Ibid. N.S. NO. vi. 1869 and 1870, Art. V. p. 73).

page 365 note 2 Quelques renseignements sur l'histoire naturelle de la Chine septentrionale et occidentale, par le Père Armand David, Missionnaire Lazariste. Lettre à. M. Forbes à. Shanghai. Pekin, 12 Août, 1872 (Ibid. N.S. No. viii. 1871 and 1872, Art. X. p. 205.)

page 365 note 3 Elucidations of Marco Polo's Travels in North China, drawn from Chinese Sources. By the Rev. Archimandrite Palladius (Ibid. N.s. No. x. 1876, Art. I. p. 1).

page 365 note 4 Notices of the Mediæval Geography and History of Central and Western Asia. Drawn from Chinese and Mongol Writings, and compared with the Observations of Western Authors in the Middle Ages. By E. Bretschneider, M.D. (Ibid. N.S. No. x. 1876, Art. IV. p. 75).

page 365 note 5 Notes on the Opinions of the Chinese with regard to Eclipses. Read October 13th, 1866 (Journal N.C.B.R.A.S. N.S. NO. iii. December, 1866, Art. IVa, p. 71). Eclipses Recorded in Chinese Works (Ibid. N.S. No. iv. December, 1867, Art. VII. p. 87).

page 365 note 6 The Missionary Recorder : A Repository of Intelligence from Eastern Missions and a Medium of General Information. Vol. i. 1867, American M.E. Mission Press. Foochow, 8vo.

page 365 note 7 The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, Rev. Baldwin, S. L., Editor. Vol. i. 05, 1868, to April, 1869. Foo-chow, printed by Rozario, Marçal & Co., 1869, 8vo.Google Scholar

page 366 note 1 The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, vol. v. Shanghae, American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1874, 8vo.Google Scholar

page 366 note 2 Traces of Christianity in Mongolia and China in the Thirteenth Century, drawn from Chinese Sources. By Palladius, Archimandrite (The Chinese Recorder, vi. 1875, pp. 104113).Google Scholar

page 366 note 3 Notes on Chinese Mediæval Travellers to the West. By Bretschneider, E., M.D. (China Recorder, vol. v. 1874).Google Scholar

page 366 note 4 The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East. Newly translated and edited, with notes, maps, and other illustrations. By Col. Henry Yule, C.B., 1875, 2 vols. 8vo.

page 367 note 1 Works of Pauthier (Evening Courier, Shanghai, 05, 1873).Google Scholar

page 367 note 2 Works of Stanislas Julien (Shanghai Budget, April 26, 1873). History of the Heung Noo in their Relations with China. Translated from the Tseen-Han-Shoo (Shanghai Budget, 1873, passim),

page 367 note 3 Advance of a Chinese General to the Caspian. (Notes and Queries on China and Japan, ii. pp. 153154)Google Scholar.—Steaks from Living Cattle (Ibid. pp. 155–156, October, 1868).

page 367 note 4 The Subjugation of Chaou-seen (Corea) (Atti del IV. Cong. int. degli Orient.).

page 367 note 5 Notes on the Western Regions. Translated from the “ Tëěen Han Shoo ” (Journal of the Anthropological Institute, from August, 1880). —Ethnography of the After Han Dynasty. By A. Wylie, Esq., History of the Eastern Barbarians. Translated from the How Han Shoo, book exv. (Rev. Extrême Orient, tome i. No. 1, 1882, pp. 52–83).—History of the Southern and South-Western Barbarians. Translated from the How Han Shoo, book exvi. (Ibid, tome i. No. 2, 1882, pp. 198–246).—History of the Western Keang. Translated from the How Han Shoo, book cxvii. (Ibid, tome i. No. 3, 1882, pp. 423–478).

page 367 note 6 “ The publishers have to acknowledge the efficient and disinterested aid they have received from Mr. A. Wylie, late Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society in China, who, owing to the absence of the author in England, has revised the proof sheets of this work in their passage through the press; and they are also indebted to him for the preparation of the copious and valuable index appended to it ” (Adv. of Chinese Buddhism, etc., by Rev. Joseph Edkins).