China and the West

Letter attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds. (18 Febr. 1775). In : The Bee ; vol. 11 (12 Sept. 1792). I have lately met in company Whang-At-Ting [Huang Yadong], the Chinese, who is now in London ; of whom, if you have not received any account, you may perhaps like to hear some particulars. He is a young man of twenty-two, and an inhabitant of Canton, where having received from Chitqua, the Chinese figure-maker, a favourable account of his reception in England, two or three years ago, he determined to make the voyage likewise, partly from curiosity, and a desire of improving himself in science, and partly with a view of procuring some advantages in trade, in which he and his elder brother are engaged. He arrived here in August, and already pronounces and understands our language very tolerably, but he writes it in a very excellent hand, which he acquired with ease by using the copy books recommended by Mr Locke. He has a great thirst after knowledge, and seems to conceive readily what is communicated to him…