Excerpt from China, in a Series of Views, Displaying the Scenery, Architecture, and Social Habits, of That Ancient Empire, Vol. 4: Drawn, From Original and Authentic Sketches

The Chinese have, in many instances, taken a first step in the progress towards some great invention, or sown the seeds of some valuable harvest, leaving the consummation, the collection, to wiser heads, although probably less dexterous hands. They discovered the magnetic needle, but failed to extend its usefulness - they have long possessed a mode of printing, but it has brought them little benefit; - they have known for ages the composition of gunpowder, yet made no advances in the art of war; their ancient familiarity with kite-ﬂying gave them frequent opportunities of communication with the higher regions but it does not appear that, by these means, they ever became acquainted with the possibility of drawing down to the earth they trod on, that most subtle ﬂuid, lightning, which they have so often witnessed in its shadowy kingdom. Yet it was by means of a kite that American Franklin established the identity of light ning and electricity; and by repeated experiments with the same toy, that De Romas was enabled to construct an electrometer. In later years the kite has been enlisted by Captain Dansy, in the legion of inventions for forming a communication between.

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