The characters have by some been thought to be those of
China, but I compared them with Chinese books, and they seemed to me
quite different, yet not letters to compound words by spelling, as
ours, but words expressed in their several characters, such as are
used by the Chinais and as the brevity manifesteth. I take them to be
characters peculiar to Japan. - Purch.
In a marginal reference in the plate given by Purchas, the lines are
said to read downwards, beginning at the right hand. It may possibly be
so: But they appear letters, or literal characters, to compound words
by spelling, and to be read like those used in Europe, from left to
right horizontally. In a future portion of our work, the subject of the
Japanese language and writing will be farther elucidated; when, we
believe, it will appear that they have two modes of writing, one by
verbal or ideal characters like the Chinese, and the other by
literal signs like all the rest of the world. - E.]
Letter from the Emperor of Japan to the King of Great Britain.
Your majesty's kind letter, sent me by your servant Captain Saris, who
is the first of your subjects that I have known to arrive in any part of
my dominions, I heartily embrace, being not a little glad to understand
of your great wisdom and power, as having three plentiful and mighty
kingdoms under your powerful command. I acknowledge your majesty's great
bounty, in sending me so undeserved a present of many rare things, such
as my land affordeth not, neither have I ever before seen:
![A General History And Collection Of Voyages And Travels - Volume 9 - By Robert Kerr
- - E.]
[Footnote 23: The characters have by some been thought to be those of
China, but I compared them with - Page 54](../images/travel.jpg)
