CHARACTERS. 



737 



fessional duties and studies ; and 

 all the time that could be saved from 

 these important avocations, was de- 

 dicated to the cultivation of science 

 and literature. Some periods were 

 chequered by illness, the conse- 

 quence of intense application ; and 

 others were imbittcred by the fre- 

 quent and severe indispositions of 

 the partner of his cares and the ob- 

 ject of his atfections. The climate 

 of India, (as he had already found 

 occasion to remark, in a letter to a 

 friend), had been unpropitious to 

 the delicate constitution of his be- 

 loved wife ; and so apprehensive 

 was he of the consequences, that 

 he intended, unless some favourable 

 alteration should take place, to 

 urge her return to her native coun- 

 try, preferring the pang of separation 

 for five or six years, to the anguish, 

 which he should hardly survive, of 

 losing her. 



While business required the daily 

 attendance of sir William Jones in 

 Calcutta, his usual residence was 

 on the banks of the Ganges, at the 

 distance of five miles from the court ; 

 to this spot he returned every even- 

 ing after sun-set, and in the morn- 

 ing rose so early, as to reach his 

 apartments in town by walking, 

 at the first appearance of the dawn. 

 Having severely suftered from the 

 heat of the sun, he ever afterwards 

 dreaded and avoided an exposure to 

 it; and in his hymn to Surya, he 

 alludes to its cfleft upon him, and 

 to his moon-light rambles, in the 

 following lines : - 



Then roves thy poet free, 

 Will) with no borrov.'d art. 

 Dares hynui thy power and durst pro- 

 voke tliy blaze, 

 Rut felt the thrilling dart 

 Anrl now on lowly knee 

 From him wlio gave the wound the bal- 

 sam prays. 



Vol. XLVI. 



The intervening period of each 

 morning until the opening of the 

 court, was regularly allotted and 

 applied to distindl studies. He 

 passed the months of vacation at his 

 retirement at Crishna-nagur in his 

 usual pursuits. 



Among other literary occupations 

 in which he empoyed himself during 

 the two last years, C17S8 and 89) 

 it is to Be noticed that he under- 

 took Uic office of editor of the ele- 

 gant poem of Hate?,, or the unfor- 

 tunate loves of Laili and Mnjnoon, 

 an Arabian youth and princess. 

 The benevolent object of his labours 

 readers theni interesting, as the 

 book was published at his own 

 expcncc, with a declared appropri- 

 ation of the produce of the sale to 

 the relief of insolvent debtors in the 

 gaol at Calcutta. 



The manner in which he men- 

 tions the travels of Mr. Bruce, 

 shews, that he was not one of those 

 sceptics who doubted of his veracity. 

 In a paper m hich he presented to 

 the society in Calcutta, he recites 

 a conversation with a native of 

 Abyssinia, who had seen and known 

 Mr. Bruce at Gondar, and who 

 spoke of him in very honourable 

 terms. 



The constitution of lady Jones, 

 which was naturally delicate, had 

 sutlered so much from repeated at- 

 tacks of indisposition, that a change 

 of climate had long been prescribed 

 by the physicians, as the only- 

 means of preserving her life ; but 

 litr adertionate attacliment to her 

 husband had hitherto induced her 

 to remain in India, in opposidon 

 to this advice, though with (he full 

 convic^lion that the recovery of her 

 heal/h, in any considerable degree, 

 was impossible. At an earlier^ pe- 

 riod, when the extent of the field 

 of investigation appeared l)oiindJess, 

 . 3 B siJ 



