trines of falvation, to the natives of India. In an early period of life he faw and felt the truth and importance of the Chriftian Religion, and while his own conduct exhibited the ftrength of his conviction, he thought it a duty to employ his talents and acquirements in diffeminating amongst the untaught natives a knowledge of that faith, which he regarded of fupreme and univerfal importance. In this view, he determined to undertake a tranflation of the New Teftament into Perfian, and devoted all his leifure to the performance of this task, with the most zealous folicitude to make it accurate; but he had not completed half the Gospel of St. Matthew, when it pleased Providence to call him out of this life. Such, amongst others, were the original members of the fociety formed at Calcutta, for enquiring into the history, antiquities, the natural productions, arts, fciences, and literature of Afia, under the patronage of Sir William Jones, who at the first meeting after the inftitution was completed, in his capacity of president, unfolded, in an elegant and appropriate address, the objects proposed for their researches, and concluded with a promife, which he amply difcharged, of communicating the refult of his own ftudies and enquiries. That he might be qualified to perform this promise, in a manner worthy, his high reputation, as well as from more commanding motives, he determined to commence without loss of time the study of the Sanfcrit. His reflection had before fuggefted, that a knowledge of this ancient tongue would be of the greatest utility, in enabling him to discharge with confidence and fatisfaction to himfelf, the duties of a judge; and he foon difcovered, what fubfequent experience fully confirmed, that no reliance could be placed on the opinions or interpretations of the profeffors of the Hindu law, unless he were qualified to examine their authorities and quotations, and detect their errors and mifreprefentations. On the other hand, he knew that all attempts to explore the religion or literature of India, through any other medium than a knowledge of the Sanfcrit, muft be imperfect and unfatisfactory; it was evident, that the most erroneous and difcordant opinions on thefe fubjects, had been circulated by the ignorance of those who had collected their information from oral communications only, and that the pictures exhibited in Europe, of the religion and literature of India, could only be compared to the maps conftructed by the natives, in which every pofition is distorted, and all proportion violated. As a lawyer, he knew the value and importance of original documents and records, and as a scholar and man of science, he difdained the idea of amufing the learned world, with fecondary information on fubjects which had greatly interested their curiofity, when he had the means of accefs to the original fources. He was also aware, that much was expected by the literati in Europe, from his fuperior abilities and learning, and he felt the strongest inclination to gratify their expectations in the fulleft poffible extent. Of his time he had early learned to be a rigid economist, and he frequently regretted the facrifices of it, which custom or ceremony extorted. An adherence to this principle, while it reftrained in fome degree his habits of focial intercourfe, neceffarily limited his correfpondence with his friends. From the few letters which he wrote, I fhall now select fuch, as describe his feelings, thoughts, and occupations, a few months only after his arrival in Bengal. Sir WILLIAM JONES to Mr. Juftice HYDE. Friday Evening, at the Chambers, Jan. 1784. DEAR SIR; Ramlochimd has raised my cu riofity by telling me, that when you had oc * As a proof of the strict regularity of Sir William Jones in the application of his time, the reader is presented with a transcript of a card in his own writing. It contains, indeed, the occupations which he had prescribed to himself in a period of the following year; but may serve as a sample of the manner in which he devoted his leisure hours at all times. DAILY STUDIES for the Long Vacation of 1785: Morning..........One letter. Ten chapters of the Bible. Hindu Law, &c. After cafion to receive the evidence of fome Mugs, they produced a book in strange square characters, which they called Zuboor. Now Zuboor is the name by which the Pfalms of David are known in Afia. May not this book be the Pfalms in old Hebrew or Samaritan, and the people a fect of Jews? Can you give me any information on this head? Sir WILLIAM JONES to Mr. Juftice HYDE. Garden, May 14, 1784. Many thanks, my dear Sir, for your kind concern and attention. I was on the bridge by Col. Tolly's houfe in the midst of the ftorm, my horfes mad with the fear of the lightning, and my carriage every moment in danger of being overfet by the wind; I was wet to the skin, and faved from worfe inconvenience by the diligence of my fervants, who took off the horses and drew the carriage to a place of fafety. I am nevertheless in good health; but Lady Jones is Afternoon.......Indian Geography. Chess. Ariosto. |