240 On the prolalle Composition of Sulphur. 



lists of the books in their temples for the college of Fort 

 William in Bengal. His excellency the rajah of Tanjore 

 was pleased to set the example, by givhig the voluminous 

 catalogue of the antient library of the kings of Tanjore ; 

 ami his example has been followed by the ranny of Ram- 

 nad, patroness of the celebrated temple of Ramisseram, near 

 Adam's Bridge ; by his highness the rajah of Tra\'ancore, 

 who has given lists of all the books in the Travancore 

 country ; and by the rajah of Cochin, patron of the antient 

 Shanscrit college, at the temple of Trichiur. It is under- 

 stood that a copy of any book in these catalogues will be 

 given when required. The brahmins of Travancore con- 

 sider that their manuscripts are likely to have as just a claim 

 -to high aniiquity, or at least to accurate preservation, as 

 those in the temples in the North ; and for the same reason 

 that the Christian and Jewish records have been so well pre- 

 served ; which is, that the country of Travancore, defended 

 by mountains, has never, according to tradition, been sub- 

 jugated by invaders from the north of Hindostan. 



The design of investigating the history and literature of 

 the Christians and Jews in the East, was submitted to the 

 marquis Wellesley before he left India. His lordship, 

 judging it to be of imi)ortance that the actual relation of the 

 Syrian Christians to our own church should be ascertained, 

 and auguring something interesting to the republic of let- 

 ters from the investigation of the Syriac and Jewish an- 

 tiquities, was pleased to give orders that public aid should be 

 afforded to Dr. Buchanan, in the prosecution of his inqui- 

 ries, wherever it might be practicable. To the operation of 

 these orders it is owing that the proposed researches, of 

 which some slight notices are given above, have nor been 

 made in vain. 



Cochin, 

 January 1807. 



XXXV. On the prolalle Composition of Sulphur. By a 

 Correspondent. 



J. HE decomposition of any of those substances, which are 

 at present regarded as simple, would certainly be a conside- 

 rable 



