pinefs of renewing his perfonal intimacy with Sir William Jones. The uniformity which marked the remaining period of his allotted exiftence, admits of little variety of delineation. The largest portion of each year was devoted to his profeffional duties and ftudies; and all the time that could be faved from these important avocations, was dedicated to the cultivation of fcience and literature. Some periods were chequered by illness, the confequence of intense application; and others were embittered by the frequent and fevere indifpofition of the partner of his cares and object of his affections. "The climate of "India" (as he had already found occafion to remark in a letter to a friend)" had been "unpropitious to the delicate conftitution of "his beloved wife;" and fo apprehenfive was he of the confequences, that he intended, "unless fome favourable alteration should take 66 66 place, to urge her return to her native country, preferring the pang of feparation "for five or fix years to the anguish, which " he should hardly furvive, of lofing her." While business required the daily attendance of Sir William Jones, in Calcutta, his ufual refidence was on the banks of the Ganges, at the distance of five miles from the court; to this spot he returned every evening after fun-fet, and in the morning rofe fo early as to reach his apartments in town by walking, at the first appearance of the dawn. Having feverely suffered from the heat of the fun, he ever afterwards dreaded and avoided an expofure to it; and in his hymn to Surya, he alludes to its effect upon him, and to his moon-light rambles in the following lines: Then roves thy poet free, Who with no borrow'd art, Dares hymn thy pow'r, and durst provoke thy blaze, And now on lowly knee From him, who gave the wound, the balsam prays, The intervening period of each morning until the opening of the court, was regularly allotted and applied to distinct ftudies. He paffed the months of vacation at his retire ment at Crishna-nagur, in his usual pursuits. Some of the literary productions of his retirement will be noticed; and I fhall now continue my extracts from his familiar correfpondence. Sir William Jones to J. Shore, Efq. Gardens, near Calcutta, March 25, 1787. I am charmed, my dear Sir, with the fhort but comprehenfive work of Rhadacaunt, your pundit, the title of which I fee is Purán-arthupracufam, or the meaning of the Purans difplayed. It contains pedigrees, or lifts of kings, from the earliest times to the decline of the Indian empire; but the proper names are fo murdered, or fo ftrangely disguised in Perfian letters, that I am only tantalized with a thirst for more accurate information. If the pundit at your requeft, will lend me the original, my marhatta writer fhall copy it elegantly, with fpaces between the lines for a literal English tranflation, which may perhaps be agreeable, with your confent, to our fociety. Sir William Jones to J. Shore, Efq May 11, 1787, I return with many thanks, my dear Sir, the letter of his High Mightiness Tatbu Arnu (king of Ava *). When I began * If the reader has a curiosity to see this singular letter, he may gratify it. The perusal, may perhaps recall to his recollection, the following lines: Here's a large mouth indeed, That spits forth death and mountains, rocks and seas! Official translation of a letter from the Rajah or Principal of the Burmas to the Collector of Chittagong; I am lord of a whole people, and of 101 countries, and my titles are Rajah Chatterdary (i. e. sitting under a canopy) and Rajah Surey Bunkshee, (i. e. descendant of the Sun). Sitting on the throne with a splendid canopy of gold, I hold in subjection to my authority many Rajahs; gold, silver, and jewels, are the produce of my country, and in my hand is the instrument of war, that, as the lightning of Heaven, humbles and subdues my enemies; my troops require neither injunctions nor commands, and my elephants and horses are without number. In my service are ten pundits learned in the Shas ter, and 104 priests, whose wisdom is not to be equalled; agreeably to whose learning and intelligence, I execute and distribute justice among my people, so that my mandates, like the lightning, suffer no resistance nor control. My subjects are endowed with virtue and the principles of justice, and refrain from all immoral practices, and I am as the Sun, blessed with the light of wisdom to dis it, I feared it was hoftile, but am glad to find it fo amicable. Dulce mihi nomen pacis! If cover the secret designs of men; whoever is worthy of being called a Rajah, is merciful and just towards his people; thieves, robbers, and disturbers of the peace, have at length received the punishment due to their crimes; and now the word of my mouth is dreaded as the lightning from Heaven. I am as a great sea, among 2000 rivers, and many rivulets; and as the mountain Shumeroo, surrounded by 40,000 hills, and like unto these is my authority, extending itself over 101 Rajahs; further, 10,000 Rajahs pay daily attendance at my Durbar, and my country excels every country of the world; my palace as the heavens, studded with gold and precious stones, is revered more than any other palace in the uniMy occupations resemble the business of the chief of the angels, and I have written unto all the provinces of Arracan, with orders to forward this letter in safety to Chittagong, formerly subject to the Rajah Sery Tamah Chucka, by whom the country was cultivated and populated; and he erected 2400 places of public worship, and made 24 tanks. verse. Previous to his accession, the country was subject to other Rajahs, whose title was Chatterdary, who erected places of worship, and appointed priests to administer the rites of religion to people of every denomination; but at that period the country was ill govern ed, previous to the accession of Rajah Sery Tamah Chucka to the government of the countries of Rutunpoor, Dootinady, Arracan, Dooraputty, Ramputty, Chagdoye, Mahadaye, Mawong, in whose time the country was governed with justice and ability, and his wisdom was as the lightning; and the people were happy under his admi nistration. He was also favoured with the friendship of |