life; and I muft ftay in this country a few years longer: Lady Jones has however promised me to take her paffage for Europe in January 1793, and I will follow her when I can. She is pretty well, and prefents her kindeft remembrance to you and Mrs. Haftings, whom I thank moft heartily for a very obliging and elegant letter. My own health has, by God's bleffing, been very firm, but my eyes are weak, and I have conftantly employed them eight or nine hours a day. My principal amusement is botany, and the converfation of the pundits, with whom I talk fluently in the language of the Gods; and my bufinefs, befides the discharge of my public duties, is the tranflation of Menu, and of the digeft which has been compiled at my instance. Our fociety ftill fubfifts, and the third volume of their Tranfactions is fo far advanced, that it will certainly be published next feafon. Samuel Davis has tranflated the Surya Siddhanta, and is making difcoveries in Indian aftronowhile Wilford is purfuing his geographi

my;

cal enquiries at Benares, and has found, or

thinks he has found, an account of Africa and Europe, and even of Britain by name, in the Scanda Puran; he has fent us a chart of the Nile from Sanferit authorities, and I expect foon to receive his proofs and illuftrations. Of public affairs in India, I fay little, because I can fay nothing with certainty: the seasons and elements have been adverse to us in Myfore. Farewell, my dear Sir, and believe me to be with unfeigned regard,

Your faithful and obedient,

WILLIAM JONES.

Sir William Jones to Sir Jofeph Banks.

Calcutta, Nov. 19, 1791.

Since I fent my letter to the packet of the Queen, I received the inclosed from a Hindu of my acquaintance, and I fend his cufha flowers, which I have not eyes to examine, especially in a season of business. The leaves are very long, with a point exceffively long and fine, their edges are rough downwards, in other refpects fmooth. As this plant is to my knowledge celebrated in the veda, I

am very defirous of knowing its Linnæan name. I cannot find it in Van Rheede.

*

The frequent allufions in thefe letters to local or botanical fubjects, may render them particularly interefting only to the friends and correfpondents of Sir William Jones, but they defcribe his occupations and contain his mind, which I wish to display; they exhibit a warmth of affection for his friends, upright principles, a manly independence, and a defire of honourable diftinction, combined with a contempt for all ambition incompatible with his public character. The frequent mention of the work which he had undertaken is equally a proof of his opinion of the importance of it, and of his folicitude to make it as perfect as poffible.

The manner in which he mentions the travels of Mr. Bruce fhews, that he was not one of the fceptics who doubted of his veracity. In a paper which he presented to the society in Calcutta, he recites a converfation with a native of Abyffinia, who had seen and known Mr. Bruce at Gwender, and who spoke of

"

him in very honourable terms. At the period of this converfation, the travels were not publifhed; but it was too particular and defcrip. tive to leave room for doubt, as to the identity of Mr. Bruce, and of his having passed some years in Abyffinia.

Of the correspondence of Sir William Jones in 1792, if it were not altogether fufpended by his more important ftudies and avocations, no part has been communicated to me. In March 1793, I returned to Bengal with a commiffion to fucceed Marquis Cornwallis, in his station of Governor-General whenever he thought proper to relinquish it, and I had the fatisfaction to find my friend, although fomewhat debilitated by the climate, in a state of health which promised a longer duration of life than it pleased Providence to affign to him. The ardour of his mind had fuffered no abatement, and his application was unremitted. The completion of the work which he had undertaken, occupied the principal portion of his leifure, and the remainder of his time which could be fpared, was as ufual

devoted to literary and scientific pursuits. Botanical researches occafionally diverted his hours of relaxation, but he found impediments to them from the weakness of his fight, and heat of the climate.

The conftitution of Lady Jones, which was naturally delicate, had fuffered fo much from repeated attacks of indifpofition, that a change of climate had long been prescribed by the phyficians, as the only means of preferving her life; but her affectionate attachment to her husband had hitherto induced her to remain in India, in oppofition to this advice, though with the full conviction that the recovery of her health, in any confiderable degree, was impoffible. She knew that the obligation which he had voluntarily contracted, to translate the digeft of Hindu and Mohammedan laws, was the only, though infuperable obftacle to his accompanying her, and his entreaties were neceffary to gain her reluctant affent to undertake the voyage without his fociety. In the courfe of his correspondence, we trace his ardour to explore the new ob