you

I hope you will not forget, that when have leifure, your friends at Twyford will be very happy to see you.

Mr. BURKE to Mr. JONES.

I do not know how I can

justify myself in the liberty I take with you, but confiding in your humanity and condescension, I beg, if you have leisure for it, that you would be fo kind as to breakfaft with me, and affift me with your opinion and advice on the conduct of the Bengal Bill. The natives of the East, to whose literature you have done fo much justice, are particularly under your protection for their rights. I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem and regard, dear Sir,

Your most faithful and obedient

humble fervant,

EDMUND BURKE.

* Mr. JONES to H. A. SCHULTENS.

June, 1781.

You are not ignorant of my

fentiments on this most abominable war; the enclosed imitation of an ode of Alcæus will clearly prove my deteftation of tyranny, my zeal and exertions in the cause of liberty. Literature, which is, and ought to be, ever connected with humanity, will never, I trust, be degraded by a fratricidal war between the learned, particularly those who pursue the fame ftudies. Do you therefore, though a native of Holland, preserve that affection for which I, an Englishman, have, and fhall ever retain for

me,

you.

I have translated into English, without the omiffion of a fingle line, the feven fufpended poems of our Arabs, and mean to publish the whole with notes, and a differtation on the ancient monuments of Arabia, in the next fummer vacation.

I poffefs the Commentary of Tabrizi; and * Appendix, No. 37.

I have been obligingly furnished from Trinity College, Cambridge, with the Paraphrase of Zouzini, and his short and excellent notes. At Oxford, we have the notes and Perfic verfion of Sadi, the Scholia of Anfari, and the fine edition of Obeidolla ; but I am anxious to infpect all editions and commentaries. Your illuftrious grandfather, for whose memory, as in duty bound, I preserve the greatest respect, pronounces these poems worthy of immortality, and fays, if I do not mistake, that he transcribed the manufcript of Nahafi, at Leyden, for his own ufe. I also observed in the copious catalogue. of the Schultenfian library, (one copy of which I delivered to my friend Hunter) these words, "6990. 6990. The feven Moallakat ་ Arabic, most beautifully written." Has this been purchased by any one? at what price will it be difpofed of? I lament that I did not buy it, but being tied up at that time myself, by various important occupations, I could not bestow a thought on the fufpended poems.

Affift me, I beseech you, in the name of the Muses, with materials for perfecting my work; collect from your stores any notes, or various readings which you may poffefs, and communicate them to me. I have mentioned in my preliminary discourse, your Philarabic family*, and have more to say about it both

* Albert Schultens the grandfather, and J. J. Schultens, the father of the person to whom this letter is addressed, were both distinguished for their knowledge of Oriental, particularly Arabic, literature. The former was a German divine, born at Groningen, and taught Hebrew and the Oriental languages at Leyden, with great reputation for many years before his death, which happened in 1741. He composed many works which shew profound learning and just criticism. Biog. Brit. He translated and explained the fifty dissertations of Hariri, although he sent abroad but few of them, and published Ancient Memorials of Arabia, which Sir William Jones notices in an anniversary discourse delivered before the Asiatic society, in Calcutta, as the most pleasing of all his works. Of J. J. Schultens his son, I have little information. In Reiske's correspondence, published by his widow, there is one letter from him dated Herborn, 1748, which manifests no ordinary zeal in the writer for the promotion of Arabic literature. I have no account of any publications by him, excepting two academical dissertations. The learning and labours of H. A. Schultens, are sufficiently apparent from his own letters and those of Mr. Jones.

true and honourable. I wish particularly to know whether any of the feven poems, excepting those of Amr'olkais and Tarafa, will be published in Holland. You fhall receive my book, which will be elegantly bound by Baumgarten.

My mother, whom I moft tenderly loved, was ever in my opinion the best of women; I trust the is now the happieft. But my affliction for her lofs is inconfolable. I fhall be most happy to hear that you and your wife are well, and the early gratification of my wishes will be an additional pleasure.

Mr. JONES to Mr. GIBBON.

Lamb's Buildings, June 30th, 1781.

DEAR SIR,

I have more than once fought, without having been fo fortunate as to obtain, a proper opportunity of thanking you very fincerely for the elegant compliment which you pay me, in a work abounding in elegance of all kinds.

My Seven Arabian Poets will fee the light