Biographical Account of M. D Acosta. 49 
playing. It happened, however, that 
in the studies which attracted his at- 
tention, he had to combat the system of 
Bentley, who had invested Indian an- 
tiquities with a perfectly new dress, by 
ascribing a recent origin to the most 
ancient of civilized nations. This he 
found no difficulty in overthrowing, 
and the felicity of his speculations was 
creditable to his powers as an original 
writer. The solidity of his informa- 
tion, and the soundness of conjectures 
which he occasionally indulges in, in- 
spire us with confidence, and leave no 
room for doubt as to the opinions ad- 
vanced. 
. The private correspondence of this 
useful man evinced a character of 
extraordinary energy, and deserves 
honourable notice from his extended 
views in philosophy, and the intuitive 
quickness with which he could skilfully 
discriminate merit, in proportion to the 
utility which men afford to each other 
in society. The interest of all, in the 
great mass of human nature, was the 
object which he followed up with per- 
severance; this was connected with 
every study to which he applied, and 
was, indeed, the hasis of his political 
conduct. In one of his letters to M. 
Morenas, he says, “I have the most 
profound respect for your new ac- 
quaintance, M. Lanjuinais, whose 
labours in antiquarian pursuits, and for 
the acquisition of Oriental knowledge, 
1 am no stranger to; with just com- 
mendations of his diligence and acti- 
vity, I shall give him an authentic tes- 
timony of my esteem, by transmitting 
to him the first Sanserit manuscript I 
can procure, likely to attract the no- 
tice of one gifted with a genius for 
such subjects.” 
Had M. D’Acosta returned to Eu- 
rope, the collected sum of his matured 
information, with the knowledge of a 
number of Oriental languages, would 
doubtless have insured him an advan- 
tageous situation in France; it ap- 
pears, however, that he could never 
be prevailed on to leave Bengal, 
where he had so long been quietly 
settled. In the-general morality of its 
inhabitants, he found something to ad- 
mire and be delighted with, without 
feeling disgust or aversion towards 
European manners; the latter were, 
indeed, less suited to his notions of ex- 
cellence. In support of this assertion, 
I shall quote his own words, as taken 
frem his correspondence with M. 
Morenas. “T willingly allow to Euro- 
_Montuty Mac, No, 371. 
peans a prevailing superiority in the 
various kinds of knowledge, in the dif- 
ferent subjects or styles of science 
and literature, in the attractions of a 
cultivated taste, and of simplicity com- 
bined with elegance, in prosaic or 
poetic composition. In an extensive 
and accurateacquaintance with matter, 
in subjecting it to mind, and to the 
wants of man, Europeans may assume 
a lofty mien; but I do not think they 
are farther advanced than we are in 
that knowledge which should be the 
result of all our labours, discussions, 
favourite pursuits, that knowledge 
which is most necessary through the 
journey of life, but the most difficult of 
acquisition, self-governmentand moral 
culture. Where this rich knowledge 
is added, contentment, satisfaction, 
and felicity, will be found scattered 
around them. The species has had 
time enough to build enguiries on this 
substratum s but the individual, who 
wishes to live and be happy, will be 
studying the readiest means of attain- 
ing his principal object. In this coun- 
try, where so many different institu- 
tions are tolerated, and man enjoys a 
certain independence, I know not 
whether we Creoles are not as well 
fitted to expand a great and original 
idea, as the intense thinking Euro- 
peans, with all their progressive and 
accumulated observations.” 
The whole time of M. D’Acosta was 
employed in studies which demanded 
capacity and industry; he was con- 
stantly projecting new plans to pro- 
mote objects of public utility, the pro- 
motion of literature and the arts, and 
the moralameliorationofman. At the 
pressing solicitations of M. Morenas, 
his attention was much devoted to the 
abstract study of languages and Indian 
antiquities ; and, notwithstanding many 
interruptions in his application to this 
pursuit, he advanced further ina know- 
ledge of the Sanscrit than most of those 
whose sole object was to prosecute en- 
quiries into the subject. Several tracts 
were published by him, on the local 
circumstances of the country, and he 
endeavoured, by the translation of do- 
mestic histories, to represent the cha- 
racter, opinions, &c. of the Hindoos, 
as a surer method of affording correct 
information to Europeans than general 
descriptions. 
In all his writings, M. D’Acosta 
possessed the talent of interesting bis 
readers, inviting their attention to his- 
tory, morals, metaphysics, &c. and 
3 | every 
