50 Biographical Account of M. D Acosta, 
every where proving himself adequate 
to the task he had undertaken. As a 
writer; he appears far superior, in 
spirit, to any of his countrymen; a 
sound judgment, combined witha lively 
and brilliant imagination; the art of 
arranging his ideas in a logical order ; 
definitions laid down, with precision 
and perspicuity, produce on the read- 
er’s mind a favourable impression of 
his taste aS an author. On the sub- 
ject of style, he was somewhat at vari- 
ance with established opinion, ever 
preferring the warm interest of original 
conceptions, and the life of description, 
to the rules of euphony. In poetry, he 
sported some light pieces, both. in 
French and English, and his efforts be- 
speak a mind raised above the level of 
the multitude. In his epistolary cor- 
respondence, the subjects were of a na- 
ture to be deserving of notice, and the 
style was marked with grace and ease. 
He wrote frequently to Messrs. 
Langles aud G. Thouin, and trans- 
mitted to the latter a collection of 
plants and seeds from Hindoostan, 
for the service of the Jardin des Plantes 
at Paris. 
Ais Chandernagore was not provided 
with the means of education for his 
children, (he having employed himself 
therein,) he removed, towards the latter 
end of the year 1816, to Calcutta, 
where he purchased a two-third share 
of the office and Gazette, known by the 
name of the Times, which, from 1812, 
had succeeded to the 'Telegraph. He 
soon became the sole conductor of it, 
and this procured him a house to live 
in, and 200 rupees per month, exclu- 
sive of his benefit in it as a concern. 
Under his management, the paper was 
successful, for no subject could be 
chosen whereon his thoughts and words 
were not apposite and novel. In lite- 
rary criticism, he combated erroneous 
opinions with rhetoric and reasoning, 
rather than with ridicule and rude 
pleasantry. 
It was about that time that M. Gre- 
goire received from him a very inter- 
esting notice relative to Ramohun 
Roy, a Bramin of Calcutta, who seems 
to have created a sort of schism among 
the Hindoos. This notice was inserted 
in La Chronique Religieuse, of Paris, 
and was much read by those to whom 
subjects of that nature are acceptable. 
[Aug. 1 
M. D’Acosta had itin contemplation 
to remit to Paris, for publication, vari- 
ous papers on the subject of Asiatic 
literature, but Avs longa, Vita brevis ; 
while devoting the greatest attention 
to the situation which he had gained 
and so well deserved, while investi- 
gating the resources and riches of his 
nation in antiquarian speculations, 
riches which he well knew how to ap- 
preciate and turn to account, his ener- 
gies were suddenly repressed, and he 
was snatched away, by death, in the 
earcer of his valuable labours, from an 
affectionate spouse and six children, 
whose education he was superintend- 
ing. His portfolio, no doubt, contains 
a variety of curious notes and learned 
researches, of the merits of which we 
need be at no loss to form a general 
judgment. He had long enjoyed lei- 
sure for the prosecution of his learned 
enquiries, was habituated to close and 
accurate observation; and, to a mass 
of miscellaneous intelligence, he add- 
ed a familiar acquaintance with the 
Greek, Latin, French, Portuguese, 
Spanish, English, Persian, Sanscrit, 
Bengal, and Hindoostanee languages. 
An aequaintance with M. D’Acosta 
proved a source of gratification and 
pleasure to various characters respect- 
able in the political and literary world ; 
the sweetness of his temper, the gen- 
tleness and. amenity of his manners, 
awakened agreeable and lively sensa- 
tions in their minds. I have heard it 
repeated by those who knew him well, 
that it was impossible to be much in 
his company without being wiser and 
better; his conversation opened new 
and important views on almost every 
subject that a versatile mid could 
possess. 
The premature death of M. D’Acosta 
is regretted the more from this cireum- 
stance, that, had his life been pro- 
longed, he would have been one of the 
most active and useful correspondents 
of the new Asiatic Society which has 
been recently founded at Paris. This 
establishment is under the superin- 
tendance of Messrs. 
Sacy, de Lasteyrie, Abel Remuzat, 
Chezy, Morenas, Fauricl, &e. and 
which held its first public meeting on 
the Ist of April, 1822, in the hall of the 
Society of Encouragement for National 
Industry. 
NEW 
Sylvestre de 
