the means of tranfporting himself into the mountains of Armenia, in the view of offering his fervices to Heraclius, the reigning prince of Georgia, and of rousing the religious zeal and martial spirit of his countrymen. He had there the mortification to find his refources inadequate to the magnitude of the enterprife, and he was compelled to return disappointed to England. After fome time fpent in folicitation, he was enabled by the affiftance of his patrons to proceed with recommendations to Ruffia, and thence after various fatigues and impediments, which his fortitude and perfeverance furmounted, he reached Tefflis, the capital of Georgia. After eight years of wandering, perils, and diftrefs, through the mountains of that country and Armenia, he was obliged to abandon his vifionary project, and returned to his father in Calcutta. Still anxious for the accomplishment of his plans, and no ways intimidated by the experience of paft dangers and difficulties, he made a third attempt for the execution of them, and proceeded to Perfia. This proved equally unfuccefsful, and he again returned to Calcutta. In Emin, we fee the fame man, who was a failor, a porter, a menial fervant, and fubfifting by charity, the companion of nobles, and patronised by princes and monarchs, ever preferving in his deepest distresses, a fenfe of honour, a spirit of integrity, a reliance upon Providence, and a firm adherence to the principles of Christianity, in which he had been educated. During his residence in Calcutta, he published an account of his eventful life, which Sir William Jones condefcended to revise, so far only as to correct orthographical errors, but without any amendment of the style. From Chatigan, Sir William Jones returned to Calcutta, and after the recefs of the court, again vifited his retirement at Chrishnanagur, where he occupied himself as ufual in his favourite ftudies, an account of which, as well as of his journey to the prefidency, I shall fupply by extracts from his familiar letters. Sir William Jones to Mr. Juftice Hyde. Comarcaly, June 15, 1786. I find that in this country, tra vellers are perfect flaves to the feafons and elements. It was my refolution when I left Dacca, to push on as expeditiously as poffible to Calcutta; but in our paffage of eight days. laft year through the Tulfi creek and the Artai river, our boat was hotter day and night, than I ever felt a vapour-bath; till then, as much as I had reafon to dread an Indian fun, I had not a complete idea of it. both Lady Jones and me fo This affected much, that it would have been madness to have paffed the Sundarbans in fuch weather; and Mr. Redfearn having promifed to fend me word, when the Jelinga becomes navigable (which is usually about the middle of this month) I expect every day to receive that intelligence, after which I fhall be in Calcutta in eight days. I am principally vexed at this delay, because from your having taken the charge when it was Sir R. Chambers' turn, I fear he muft be ill, and confequently that you must have a great deal of trouble: give my affectionate re membrance to him. I am, &c. Sir William Jones to Mifs E. Shipley. On the Ganges, Sept. 7, 1786. You do too much honour, my dear Madam, to my compofitions; they amufe me in the few hours of leifure that my business allows, and if they amuse my friends, I am amply rewarded. Mà si 'l Latino e'l Greco Parlan di me dopo la morte, è un vento; Adunar sempre quel ch'un' ora sgombre, Vorrei 'l vero abbraciar lassando l'ombre. We talk of the year 1790, as the happy limit of our refidence in this unpropitious climate; but this must be a family secret, left applications should be made for my place, and I should be shoved out before my refignation. God grant that the bad ftate of my Anna's health, may not compel her to leave India before me; I fhould remain like a man with a dead palfy on one of his fides; but it were better to lose one fide for a time than both for ever. I do not mean that she has been, or is likely to be, in danger from her complaints. I have proposed a visit to her friend Lady Campbell, and the feemed to receive the propofal with pleasure; the fea air, and change of scene at a proper season, may do more than all the faculty with all their prescriptions. As to politics and minifters, let me whisper another fecret in your ear: Io non credo piu àl nero ch' all' azzurro, and, as to coalitions, if the nero be mixed with the azzurro, they will only make a dirtier colour. India is yet fecure, and improveable beyond imagination; it is not however in fuch a ftate of fecurity, but that wife politicians may, with ftrong well-timed exertions and well applied addrefs, contrive to lofe it. The dif charge of my duty, and the ftudy of Indian laws in their original languages (which is no inconfiderable part of my duty) are an excufe for my neglect of writing letters; and indeed I find by experience, that I can take up my Life-V. II. H 1 |