The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-11

To the Editor of the Union :

In my memoir-geographical. political and CONNER
cal--on Japan and the independent maritime nations OF
the East prepared at the request OF the late Secretary
State. (Hon JOHN NJ CLAYTON } and transmitted by him
to the Senate in OF its resolution Of the 2st
OF February, 1850, stated shat the Japanese language
is SOFT euphonous, copious and one Of the polished
and perfect OF Eastern Asia, bearing radical affinity
the Chinese, any other primitive Asiatc idiom except
the Corean that the Japanese possess rch Indigenous
literature OF their primary schools in which child
rem OF both sexes and all classes taught the element
airy branches Of educaton and endowed colleges with
professors in the higher departments OF learning and SCI
ence. including mathematics, ast ronomy and
the leading Asatic and European languages: and that
they moreover, possess an Imperial Library Yedo said
TO contain $50, 900 volumes"
Mention is likewise made in that memoir of the ex.
stence oil large collection Of Japanese works in the i'm
peria library OF Vienna. and that popular Japanese
romance by RIUTEI TANEFKo, of Yedo, entitled "THr
SIX FOLDING SCREENS" had been translated into German
and published by Dr. AUGUST PrTzMAER, professor OF
oriental languages in the University, and member OF the
imperial Academy OF Sciences, Vienna. An English
translation of this work by my friend w G. SSErHES,
esq, himself oriental scholar first appeared in The
Literary World" of New York. in February last and
has since been republshed in England.
have recently received letter from Professor Pitt
maier, in reference to the above translation, and the
Japanese works in the Imperial Library Vienna
accompanied with copies of six memoirs read by him
before the Imperial Academy, on the following subjects
and published by him, viz
On the AIso LANGUAGE.
AINo POETRY.
ANCIENT JAPANESE POETRY, 1.-TWO memors)
!" SAGHALIEN LANGUAGE.
/" ETRUscAH LANGUAGE.
Deeming his letter. which is written in English, in
terestng oriental scholars in this country, take
leave 10 enclose it to you for publication in your paper
Professor Ptzmaier native OF Carlsbad, bohemia
in which city he born in 1905 At the age of 10 his
passion for linguistic study had enabled him the
principal languages Of Europe. and he then about
curing those of the East. He is known TO be well
versed in the Hebrew Arabic. Cop,ic and their cognae
dialecis-n Persian Turkish. Chinese, Manchu, Mon
golan Japanese, and the other languages OF Eastern
Asia from several OF which he has published transla
lions, and is the author OF Turkish grammar in
French He has also compiled japanese dictionary,
containing OF 900 words which he is DESTROYS
of publishing under the auspices OF any government
which will make him favorable offer for ii. The pro-
lessor who is still a young man, bids fair to rival in
the exten, OF his linguistic attanmenis the late Cardinal
Mezzofant OF the Propaganda Eide College, Rome, who
had the reputation of being master Of fifty languages
The imperial printing Office Of Vienna. under the direc-
ton OF Herr Alloys Auer, is the frs, IN the world in
gard 10 the number and variety of its aphabeis II EN-
poys seven hundred persons and thousand
reams OF paper daily Ii possesses complete founi OF
movable types Of the japanese Frakana character,
from which the facsimile edition OF "ihe Blk Folding
Screens" has been reprinted by Professor Fizwarder
with his German translation. Two founis OF the same
character were cast in Is47 by Mr. John I White, type
founder OF New York-,he one Tor Mr.. 5. Wells vii.
ams, of Canton employed by the American Board Of
Foreign Missions in translang portions Of the Scriptures
and religious tracts into that language the other Tor the
American Oriental Society" Of Boston. An interesting
account oil this Japanese romance with an introduction
by the distinguished orientalist Professor William W
Turner of New York. read by him before The society
October a. ls49, will be found in the second volume OF
its transactions, recently published.
Comes Of the romance and grammar together with the
Lords Prayer in COS languages several oriental works
and ten folio volumes OF the Statistics OF the Austrian
Empire all splendidy printed at the imperial printing
Office, Vienna have recently been presented by the Aus
rian government to the Department OF State.
have the honor be, very respectfully dear sir your
most obedient servant,
AARON III PALMER