strained application of them to events long subsequent to their publication, is a solid ground of belief that they were genuine predictions, and consequently inspired."

There were, in truth, few sciences in which he had not acquired considerable proficiency; in most his knowledge was profound. The theory of music was familiar to him, nor had he neglected to make him. self acquainted with the interesting discoveries lately made in Chemistry; and I have heard him assert, that his admiration of the structure of the human frame had induced him to attend for a season to a course of anatomical lectures, delivered by his friend the celebrated Hunter.

His last and favourite pursuit was the study of Botany, which he originally began under the confinement of a severe and lingering disorder; which, with most minds, would have proved a disqualification from any application. It constituted the principal amusement of his leisure hours. In the arrangements of Linnæus he discovered system, truth, and science, which never failed to captivate and engage his attention; and, from the proofs which he has exhibited of his progress in Botany, we may conclude that he would have extended the discoveries in that science. The last composition which he read in this Society, was a description of select Indian plants: and I hope his executors will allow us to fulfil his intention of publishing it in a number of our Researches.

It cannot be deemed useless or superfluous to inquire by what arts or method he was enabled to attain to a degree of knowledge almost universal, and apparently beyond the powers of man, during a life little exceeding forty-seven years.

The faculties of his mind, by nature vigorous, were improved by constant exercise: and his memory, by habitual practice, had acquired a capacity of retaining whatever had once been impressed upon it. To an unextinguished ardour for universal knowledge he joined a perseverance in the pursuit of it, which subdued all obstacles; his studies began with the dawn, and, during the intermissions of professional duties, were continued throughout the day; reflection and meditation strengthened and confirmed what industry and investigation had accumulated. It was a fixed principle with him, from which he never voluntarily deviated, not to be deterred by any difficulties that were surmountable, from prosecuting to a successful termination what he had once deliberately undertaken.

But what appears to me more particularly to have enabled him to employ his talents so much to his own and the public advantage, was the regular allotment of his time to particular occupations, and a scrupulous adherence to the distribution which he had fixed; hence, all his studies were pursued without interruption or confusion: nor can I here omit remarking, what may probably have attracted your observation as well as mine, the candour and complacency with which he gave his attention to all persons, of whatever quality, talents, or education: he justly concluded that curious or important information might be gained, even from the illiterate; and wherever it was to be obtained, he sought and seized it.

Of the private and social virtues of our lamented President, our hearts are the best records. To you, who knew him, it cannot be necessary for me to expatiate on the independence of his integrity, his humanity, probity, or benevolence, which every liv

ing creature participated; on the affability of his conversation and manners, or his modest unassuming deportment; nor need I remark that he was totally free from pedantry, as well as from arrogance and self-sufficiency, which sometimes accompany and disgrace the greatest abilities: his presence was the delight of every society, which his conversation exhilarated and improved; and the public have not only to lament the loss of his talents and abilities, but that of his example.

To him, as the Founder of our Institution, and whilst he lived its firmest support, our reverence is more particularly due: instructed, animated, and encouraged by him, genius was called forth into exertion, and modest merit was excited to distinguish itself. Anxious for the reputation of the Society, he was indefatigable in his own endeavours to promote it, whilst he cheerfully assisted those of others. In losing him, we have not only been deprived of our brightest ornament, but of a guide and patron, on whose instructions, judgment, and candour, we could implicitly rely.

But it will, I trust, be long, very long, before the remembrance of his virtues, his genius, and abilities, lose that influence over the Members of this Society which his living example had maintained; and if, previous to his demise, he bad been asked, by what posthumous honours or attentions we could best show our respect for his memory, I may venture to assert he would have replied, "by exerting yourselves to support the credit of the Society;" applying to it, perhaps, the dying wish of Father Paul, "Esto perpetua."

ON

THE GODS

OF

GREECE, ITALY, AND INDIA.

WRITTEN IN 1784.

AND SINCE REVISED BY ·
SIR WILLIAM JONES.

We cannot justly conclude, by arguments preceding the proof of facts, that one idolatrous people must have borrowed their deities, rites, and tenets from another; since gods of all shapes and dimensions may be framed by the boundless powers of imagination, or by the frauds and follies of men, in countries never connected; but, when features of resemblance, too strong to have been accidental, are observable in different systems of polytheism, without fancy or prejudice to colour them and improve the likeness, we can scarce help believing, that some connexion has immemorially subsisted between the several nations who have adopted them. It is my design, in this Essay, to point out such a resemblance between the popular worship of the old Greeks and Italians,

Nor can there be room to

and that of the Hindus. doubt of a great similarity between their strange religions and that of Egypt, China, Persia, Phrygia, Phoenicia, Syria; to which, perhaps, we may safely add some of the southern kingdoms, and even islands of America: while the Gothic system, which prevailed in the northern regions of Europe, was not merely similar to those of Greece and Italy, but almost the same in another dress, with an embroidery of images apparently Asiatic. From all this, if it be satisfactorily proved, we may infer a general union or affinity between the most distinguished inhabitants of the primitive world, at the time when they deviated, as they did too early deviate, from the rational adoration of the only true GOD.

There seems to have been four principal sources of all mythology. I. Historical or natural truth has been perverted into fable by ignorance, imagination, flattery, or stupidity; as a king of Crete, whose tomb had been discovered in that island, was conceived to have been the God of Olympus; and Minos, a legislator of that country, to have been his son, and to hold a supreme apellate jurisdiction over departed souls; hence too probably flowed the tale of Cadmus, as Bochart learnedly traces it; hence beacons or volcanos became one-eyed giants, and monsters vomiting flames; and two rocks, from their appearance to mariners in certain positions, were supposed to crush all vessels attempting to pass between them; of which idle fictions many other instances might be collected from the Odyssey, and the various Argonautic poems. The less we say of Julian stars, deifications of princes or warriors, altars raised, with those of Apollo, to the basest of men, and divine