ABSTRACT OF “HISTORIA IMPERİİ
JAPONICI GERMANICÉ SCRIPTA
AB ENGELBERTO KAEMPFER,
LONDINI, 1727.”
READ BY
R. G. WATSON, Esq.
Before the Asiatic Society of Japan,
on the 22nd October, 1873.
———o———
The work which I propose to bring before your notice this evening in the form of a précis is divided by its author into five hooks, to which are added in an appendix six separate papers on scientific or political subjects, the whole being illustrated by a series of carefully-drawn and carefully-engraved plates.
I propose in speaking of it to follow the order of the subjects to which the books and papers are severally devoted, and as it may be difficult to compress so elaborate a work, in however elementary a manner, into the compass of one lecture, I shall as far as possible confine myself simply to expressing the leading views and observations of Mr. Kaempfer, without attempting to illustrate them by the observations of later writers on the subjects to which he refers. I do not doubt that on a future occasion a comparison will be instituted by one of our members, showing how far the notes and conclusions of Kaempfer have been borne out or otherwise by the labours of the present generation in the same scientific field.
