ADVERTISEMENT. ix 



the Sanfcrit books than we are, and by our inter- 

 courfe with the Brahmens and learned Pundits, 

 much may be done towards a right difcovery of 

 this important matter. The Hindus have, for many 

 ages, looked upon their Scriptures as a revelation 

 from the Supreme Being of his. mind and will con- 

 cerning the works of his creation. They bring 

 forward the Deity declaring his own mind, and 

 think they have- an indubitable right to follow the 

 precepts which his word, according to their an- 

 cient lawgivers, contains. Moses too, in his 

 Pentateuch, tells us that the Almighty ordered 

 him to promulgate his law among the people, and 

 to mew them the path in which they ihould walk. 

 The Jews, and after them the Chriftians, have 

 generally received Moses's account as valid, 

 and have confequently followed its dictates 

 with a religious zeal. Enthufiaim among every 

 defcription of people muft certainly be de~ 

 ipifed, but zeal in contending for the truth is 

 highly commendable in whomfoever it mall be 

 found, Had the Hindu writings, diverted of their 

 "fabulous paflages, been dhTeminated in the Wes- 

 tern world with as much ener^v as the works of 

 Moses have been fpread abroad, perhaps they 

 would likewife have found many admirers and ad- 

 vocates. 



Sir W. Jones, fpeaking of the Laws of Menu, 

 fays, they contain abundance of curious matter 

 extremely intcrefting both to fpeculative lawyers 

 and antiquaries, with many beauties -which need 

 not be pointed out, and with, many blemimes 

 which cannot be juftified or palliated. It is a fyf- 

 tem of defpotifm and prieftcraft, both indeed li- 

 mited by law, but artfully confpiring to give mu* 



Vol. V. b tual 



