Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 15.pdf/156

140

, Colonial secretary Victoria, Hongkong, January 9th, 1846

desirableness of having the Notitia Linguæ Sinicae of P. Prémare translated into English having often been suggested, we are happy in being able at length to announce its completion, and also to state, in reply to inquiries for the book, that it is now half through the press in the office of the Chinese Repository. Prémare's work, we believe, is generally admitted to be the best extant for aiding the student in the acquisition of the Chinese language. We have before us the sheets that have been printed; and as a specimen of the work, and of the thoughts of the Chinese and their mode of expressing them, we select a few of the apothems and proverbs from the closing section of Part First, which treats of "the spoken language and familiar style."

The apothems and proverbs in the Chinese language add not a little to its dignity and strength of expression. There are doubtless, in all, many more than are comprised in this collection. In the examples presented it will be desirable to attend as wel1 to the mode of expression as to the sense." So says P. Prémare.

1. Yih máng yin chung máng, siáng tsiáng juh ho káng,一盲引眾盲相將入火炕, if the blind lead the blind they will both go into the pit.