Page images
PDF
EPUB

utility of his official labours to the public, and the occupation so peculiarly delightful to him, of investigating unexplored mines of literature. Sir William Jones was now in his thirty-seventh year, in the full vigour of his faculties, and he looked forward with ardour to the pleasures and advantages arising from his situation in India, without any apprehension that the climate of that country would prove hostile to his constitution. A difference of opinion on great political questions, without diminishing his regard for his friends, had narrowed his habits of intercourse with some whom he sincerely esteemed, and he felt therefore the less regret in quitting those whose principles he wished to approve, but from whom, an adherence to his own frequently compelled him to dissent. He reflected with pleasure on the independency of his station, that the line of duty, which it prescribed, was strait and

defined,

defined, and in leaving his native country, for which he retained the warmest affection, he was not sorry to abandon all political cares and discussions. But his greatest consolation and enjoyment were derived from the society of Lady Jones.

To those who are destitute of internal resources, whose habits have led them to seek for amusement in the miscellaneous occurrences and topics of the day only, a sea voyage is a period of fatigue, languor, and anxiety. To Sir William Jones every new scene was interesting, and his mind, exercised by incessant study and reflection, possessed an inexhaustible fund of subjects; which he could at pleasure select and apply to the purposes of recreation and improvement, but his application during his voyage was more particularly directed to those studies, by which he was to enlarge the requisite qualifications for discharging the duties of his public station, with

B 2

with satisfaction to himself, and benefit to

the community.*

The

The following memorandum was written by Sir William Jones during his voyage.

Objects of Enquiry during my residence in Asia.

1. The Laws of the Hindus and Mohammedans.
2. The History of the Ancient World.
3. Proofs and Illustrations of Scripture.

4. Traditions concerning the Deluge, &c.

5. Modern Politics and Geography of Hindustan.
6. Best Mode of governing Bengal.

7. Arithmetic and Geometry, and mixed Sciences of
the Asiatics.

8. Medicine, Chemistry, Surgery, and Anatomy of the Indians.

9. Natural Productions of India.

10. Poetry, Rhetoric, and Morality of Asia.

11. Music of the Eastern Nations.

12. The Shi-King, or 300 Chinese Odes.

13. The best accounts of Tibet and Cashmir.

14. Trade, Manufactures, Agriculture, and Commerce

of India.

15. Mogul Constitution, contained in the Defteri Alemghiri, and Ayein Acbari.

16. Mahratta Constitution.

Ta

The following short letter to Lord Ashburton, written a few weeks after his em

barkation, may not be unacceptable to the reader :

To print and publish the Gospel of St. Luke in
Arabic.

To publish Law Tracts in Persian or Arabic.

To print and publish the Psalms of David in Persian Verse.

To compose, if God grant me Life,

1. Elements of the Laws of England.
Model The Essay on Bailment-Aristotle.

2. The History of the American War.

Model Thucydides and Polybius.

3. Britain discovered, an Heroic Poem on the Constitution of England. Machinery. Hindu Gods. Model-Homer.

4. Speeches, Political and Forensic.

Model-Demosthenes.

5. Dialogues, Philosophical and Historical.

6. Letters.

Model-Plato.

Model-Demosthenes and Plato.

12th July, 1783. Crocodile Frigate.

Sir WILLIAM JONES to Lord ASH

BURTON.

April 27, 1783.

Your kind letter found me on

board the Crocodile: I should have been very unhappy had it missed me, since I have long habituated myself to set the highest value on every word you speak, and every line you write. Of the two inclosed letters to our friends, Impey and Chambers, I will take the greatest care, and will punctually follow your directions as to the first of them. My departure was sudden indeed but the Admiralty were so anxious for the sailing of this frigate, and their orders were so peremptory, that it was impossible to wait for any thing but a breeze. Qur voyage has hitherto been tolerably pleasant, and, since we left the Channel, very quick. We begin to see albicores about the ship, and to perceive an agreeable change of cli

;

mate.

« PreviousContinue »