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and truth were the objects of all his studies, and his 

 ambition was to be useful to mankind. With these 

 views, he extended his researches to all languages, 

 nations, and times. 



Such were the motives that induced him to pro- 

 pose to the Government of this country, what he 

 justly denominated a work of national utility and im- 

 portance ; the compilation of a copious Digest of 

 Hindu and Maliommedan Law, from Shanscrit and 

 Arabic originals, with an offer of his services to su- 

 perintend the compilation, and with a promise to 

 translate it. He had foreseen, previous to his depar- 

 ture from Europe -, that without the aid of such a work, 

 the wise and benevolent intentions of the legislature of 

 Great Britain, in leaving, to a certain extent, the na- 

 tives of these provinces in possession of their own 

 laws, could not be completely fulfilled ; and his expe- 

 rience, after a short residence in India 9 confirmed 

 what his sagacity had anticipated, that without prin- 

 ciples to refer to, in a language familiar to the judges 

 of the courts, adjudications amongst the natives must 

 too often be subject to an uncertain and erroneous ex- 

 position, or wilful misinterpretation of their laws. 



To the superintendence of this work, which was 

 immediately undertaken at his suggestion, he assi- 

 duously devoted those hours which he could spare 

 from his professional duties. After tracing the plan 

 of the digest, he prescribed its arrangement and mode 

 of execution, and selected from the most learned 

 Hindus and Mahommedans fit persons for the task of 

 compiling it.- Flattered by his attention, and encou- 

 raged 



