78 Oriental Literature. 



tile to them or their religion was entertained by the 

 applicants, they yielded. Mr. Nathaniel B. 

 Halhed, before mentioned, was the first English- 

 man who acquired a knowledge of the Sanscrit. 

 He was soon followed in this interesting acquisi- 

 tion by Mr. Charles Wilkins, and Sir William 

 Jones, who were not long in giving to the public 

 the fruits of their labours. 



The first translation ever made from the sacred 

 language of the Brahmans into English, was by Mr. 

 Wilkins, and published in 1785. This translation 

 was from the Mahabarat, an epic poem much es- 

 teemed among the Hindoos, and which, in the origi- 

 nal, is very voluminous, consisting of more than four 

 hundred thousand lines, of which Mr. Wilkins 

 translated at least one third, but published only an 

 Episode, entitled Baglwat-Geeta. The publication 

 of this work excited great curiosity in the literary 

 world, and was the occasion of increased attention 

 to eastern learning. In 1786 a second translation 

 from the Sanscrit language, by Sir William Jones, 

 was laid before the public. This was Sacontala, a 

 dramatic poem, of great antiquity, and indicating 

 considerable refinement, both of sentiment and 

 manners, among those who could produce or relish 

 it. In 1787 Mr. Wilkins again laid the republic 

 of letters under obligations to him, by publishing 

 a version of the Heeto-pades, or Amicable Instruc- 

 tion, a series of connected fables, interspersed with 

 moral, prudential, and political maxims. These 

 were followed by several other versions from the 

 Sanscrit of less importance, by Mr. Wilkins, Sir 

 William Jones, and some anonymous hands. 



In addition to the various translations which have 

 been made from this ancient language, its structure, 

 beauties, and antiquity, have been the subjects of 

 much ingenious and instructive investigation, 

 within a few years past. Among these the inquiries 



