IV 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



I make him fo nearly the Alpha and Omega of this my 

 labor. The various pen of my illuftrious countryman ex- 

 celled in every fcience. Phcebus fmiled on all his un- 

 dertakings, and he was faluted by the whole circle at- 

 tendant on the deity, as Gallus is faid to have been of old i 

 — A truer limile cannot be adduced. 



Utque vero Phoebi Chorus furrexerit omnis !' 



I muft not be filent in refpe6t to the labors of an- 

 other gentleman, who, notwithftanding he never vifited 

 Hindooflait^ has written with uncommon fucccfs ~ on the 

 wonderful mythology of the Hindoo religion, derived mofl 

 happily the fources of many of its myfheries, and traced 

 their origins, nearly loft in the mifts of fable, from the facred 

 purity of Holy Writ. He has done the fame by numbers 

 of the abftrufeft antiquities of the works of art ; and 

 that with a depth of learning and perfpicuity rarely to be 

 met with. But, alas ! no Choir rifes to falute the Re- 

 verend "Thotnas Maurice. This learned divine bends under 

 the weight of honejia pauperies. That ftill voice which, 

 hurt -merit and confcious modefty cannot always fupprefs, 

 is often drowned in the clamors of the undaunted throng, 

 fo as never to emerge into the notice of thofe whofe 



peculiar 



