Page:Horæ Sinicæ, Translations from the Popular Literature of the Chinese (horsinictran00morrrich, Morrison, 1812).djvu/7

 oral and the written language of China. To his attainments, Sir George Staunton and the gentlemen of the British Factory at Canton, have, on various occasions, borne honourable testimony: and his probity, prudence, and conciliatory manners, in circumstances at all times delicate and occasionally very difficult, have procured him the esteem and confidence of his own countrymen and of the natives with whom he has had intercourse.

Among other evidences of Mr. Morrison’s integrity and circumspection, and of his extensive acquirements in the Chinese language, it is a pleasing fact that these qualifications have enabled him to render various and important services to the British agents and officers, in their transactions with a people so remarkable for their jealousy of foreigners, and want of confidence among themselves.

The principal object to which he devotes his zealous and persevering labours, is to produce a correct version of the Holy