ΤΟ ROBERT HART, Esq., INSPECTOR GENERAL OF H. I. C. M. CUSTOMS, WHO IS EVER READY TO ASSIST BY HIS COUNTENANCE AND SUPPORT ANY WORK TENDING TO INCREASE AN INTEREST IN, AND KNOWLEDGE OF, CHINA AND THE CHINESE, THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. THIS little volume is published chiefly with the object of bringing before the English public some of the quaint ideas, &c. to be found in Chinese ballads and songs. The collection of the different pieces composing the book, and rendering them into English, has been a labour of love, and many agreeable hours have been passed by me in so pleasant and novel a pursuit. I freely admit that, in many cases, the versification might have been improved upon. Such as the book is, however, I offer it, feel |