But his brilliant and useful life was rapidly approaching its termination. One evening, in the month of April, 1794, after incautiously remaining in conversation till a late hour in the open air, he called upon Lord Teignmouth, and complained of aguish symptoms. Those symptoms, in fact, indicated the existence of a complaint common in Bengal,-an inflammation of the liver. Two or three days afterwards a physician was called in; but it was too late; and the disorder, which was unusually rapid, terminated fatally on the 27th April. "On the morning of that day," says Lord Teignmouth," his attendants, alarmed at the evident symptoms of approaching dissolution, came precipitately to call the friend who has now the melancholy task of recording the mournful event. Not a moment was lost in repairing to his house. He was lying on his bed in a posture of meditation, and the only symptom of remaining life was a small degree of motion in the heart, which, after a few seconds, ceased, and he expired without a pang or groan. His bodily suffering, from the complacency of his features and the ease of his attitude, could not have been severe; and his mind must have derived consolation from those sources where he had been in the habit of seeking it, and where alone, in our last moments, it can ever be found."

It is much to be regretted that we so rarely find genius and learning united with practical good sense and with a knowledge of the world. "It unfortunately happens," says an enlightened writer*, "that the same turn of mind which is favourable to philosophical pursuits, unless it be kept under proper regulation, is extremely apt to disqualify us for applying our knowledge to use, in the exercise of the arts, and in the conduct of affairs." Yet these antagonist qualities were so happily blended in the mind of Sir William Jones, that he was no less remarkable for his discretion, his aptitude for business, and his worldly success, than for his astonishing proficiency as a scholar, and for his productions as a man of genius.

His knowledge was extensive, various,

* Dugald Stewart.

and accurate to a degree which has rarely been equalled. As the keys to the literary treasures of other countries, he applied himself, very early in life, to the acquisition of foreign languages with an assiduity and success which excited the wonder and admiration of his contemporaries. He made himself acquainted critically with eight languages,—English, Latin, French, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Persian, and Sanscrit. Eight were studied less perfectly, but were intelligible to him with the assistance of a dictionary-Spanish, Portuguese, German, Runic, Hebrew, Bengali, Hindu, and Turkish; and on twelve more he had bestowed considerable attention Tibetian, Pali, Phalavi, Deri, Russian, Syriac, Ethiopic, Coptic, Welsh, Swedish, Dutch, and Chinese. His skill in several of these languages he has attested by the excellent translations which he at various times gave to the world. But to have confined the powers of his active and enlightened mind to the acquisition of that which is merely the symbol of ideas-the casket in which the rich treasures of intellect are contained would have been unworthy of his genius. He applied himself sedulously to the acquisition of true knowledge; and from the doctrines of philosophy, the records of history, and the teachings of science, derived those higher lessons which regulated his useful and beautiful life. To enumerate the various branches of literature and science in which he excelled, hardly comes within the scope of the present memoir, the chief design of which is to record his professional history.

If an explanation of the means by which he accomplished these extraordinary intellectual labours is sought for, it may be found in that persevering industry which was so distinguishing a feature of his character, and in the early adoption of the invaluable maxim, that whatever had been attained was attainable by him. "It was," says his biographer, 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

66

had once deliberately undertaken." This magnanimous confidence in the success of virtuous exertion is the root

of greatness. “There is nothing in the world,” says Burke, " truly beneficial, that does not lie within the reach of an informed understanding and a well-directed pursuit. There is nothing that God has judged good for us, that he has not given us the means to accomplish, both in the natural and the moral world.” *

The professional acquirements of Sir William Jones were undoubtedly of a very high order. He commenced the study of the law at a later period of life than is usual; and he brought with him to the task powers of mind polished to the finest brilliancy by unremitting exercise, and tempered and proved in a variety of pursuits. With these advantages, he applied himself to the study of his profession as to that of a science, resting upon principles, and to be mastered, like other sciences, by an exact and orderly method. His Essay on the Law of Bailments affords an instance of the logical manner in which his mind was accustomed to deal with legal subjects; and it has been already stated that he had treated several other branches of the law upon the same model. His acquaintance with legal writers was doubtless very extensive; and his admirable memory enabled him to preserve the greater portion of whatever he perused. As a judge his character stood stainless and unreproached. "The inflexible integrity," says his biographer, "with which he discharged the solemn duty of this station will long be remembered in Calcutta both by Europeans and natives. So cautious was he to guard the independence of his character from any possibility of violation or imputation, that no solicitation could prevail upon him to use his personal influence with the members of administration in India to advance the private interests of friends whom he esteemed, and which he would have been happy to promote. He knew the dignity and felt the importance of his office, and, convinced that none could afford him more * Speeches, vol. ii. p. 86.

No

ample scope for exerting his talents for the benefit of mankind, his ambition never extended beyond it. circumstance occasioned his death to be more lamented by the public than the loss of his abilities as judge, of which they had had the experience of eleven years."

In all the relations of private life Sir William Jones was truly amiable and excellent, securing the respect and winning the affection of all who were fortunate enough to enjoy his intimacy. Amongst these were many of the most distinguished men of his day, one of whom, the friend of his childhood, has drawn in three lines his beautiful and exemplary character. "To exquisite taste, and learning quite unparalleled," says Dr. Parr, "Sir William Jones is known to have united the most benevolent temper and the purest morals.'

But the crowning virtue of Sir William Jones's character was his pure and ardent desire to benefit mankind. To this shrine he carried all the rich offerings of his taste, his learning, and his genius. In this great ambition every meaner passion was forgotten. He loved knowledge with that wise love which teaches us that it is the means only, and not the end,—the means of laying open to man the sources of his true happiness, · virtue, and freedom, and truth, and honour. Unconnected with the interests of his fellow-creatures, he knew no ambition. To him power had lost its evil allurements, and riches their debasing influence; and he so justly estimated the value of fame, as to regard it only when it echoed back the voice of his own pure and uncorrupted conscience. It is the interest as well as the duty of mankind to bestow upon characters like his the full measure of their grateful applause. The world has too long lavished upon its enemies the praises due to those who have truly and faithfully served it; and it is fitting that the gratitude of mankind should be at length directed to their real benefactors, -to those who, opening to them the gates of knowledge, and guarding for them the strongholds of liberty, find their noblest ambition gratified in the divine office of doing good.

Character of Fox, vol. ii. p. 683.

LORD ERSKINE.

1750-1823.

THE Honourable Thomas Erskine, the third and youngest son of Henry David, tenth Earl of Buchan, in Scotland, was born in Scotland, in the year 1750. At a very early age he selected the navy as his profession, for which he is said to have manifested a decided predilection, and went to sea with Sir John Lindsay, the nephew of the celebrated Lord Mansfield. He did not · remain in the service a sufficient period to obtain a commission of lieutenant, though, by the friendship of his commander, he acted for some time in that capacity. In the eighteenth year of his age, having few hopes of promotion in the naval service, he entered the army as an ensign in the Royals, or first regiment of foot, and immediately afterwards accompanied his regiment to Minorca, where he remained three years. At this early period of his life, while labouring under the inconveniences of a very restricted fortune, he yet ventured, with that want of forethought which was unhappily a distinguishing feature of his private conduct, to unite himself to a young lady, who accompanied him to Minorca. In the year 1772, on his return from that island, he appears to have resided for some time in London, where the brilliancy of his talents speedily made him known in society. Amongst the distinguished persons who assembled at the house of Mrs. Montague, where Dr. Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Bishop of St. Asaph, Dr. Burney, and others of the most celebrated scholars of the day, were in the habit of meeting, Mr. Erskine was not unfrequently seen.' "He talked," says Boswell, who met him in society at this time, "with a vivacity, fluency, and precision so uncommon,

*

* Wraxall's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 152.