22 MEMOIR OF 



heard the dialects, and became interested in their 

 origin ; and to this singularity and variety may be at- 

 trib ited the first desire to investigate the history and 

 antiquities of this people. In these pursuits he was as- 

 sisted by the researches which now occupied Mr 

 Marsden, whose constant application upon the occur- 

 rence of difficulties, and innumerable queries, forced 

 and kept up the interest of a subject to which he 

 was already deeply attached. It was at Malacca, 

 also, where he first gained the acquaintance and 

 friendship of Dr Leyden. 



About this period the affairs of the East were in 

 considerable confusion. The conquest of Java was 

 contemplated, and there was little time to be spared 

 for the pursuits of literature, researches into the an- 

 tiquities of the country, or into its natural history. 

 The stolen moments which could be spared, were, 

 however, all devoted to these studies, and the very 

 information which was to be acquired in forwarding 

 the objects of the government, increased his know- 

 ledge, and laid the basis for many of his after disco- 

 veries As, however, we wish to avoid the details 

 of hit political career, we shall pass over the period 

 until the capture of Java ; suffice it to say, that he 

 exhibited as much perseverance and presence of mind 

 in the diplomatist and soldier, as he had before in 

 the more peaceful researches of antiquities and lite- 

 rature. 



The capture of Java was terminated in 1811, and 

 by all, much of the merit of planning and conduct- 



