1204 ON THE PITNDU 



With respect to those considerations unconnected 

 mith astronomy, from which the Reviewer says he 

 could distinctly prove, " that the high antiquity 

 " attributed to the Hindu records is founded on evi- 

 '' dence of a nature almost conclusive," we wish he 

 had stated those weighty considerations, or told us 

 where we might find them ; for the astronomers 

 and others now engaged in investigating the anti- 

 quities, arts, and sciences of India, are unwilling to 

 take his ipse dliit for it; particularly as he had but 

 the moment before totally destroyed the credibility 

 of those very records he would wish to support, by 

 saying, that " no work of any great antiquity can 

 " exist in a country where the art of printing is un- 

 " known, fiee from interpolation." How is it pos- 

 sible then, that they are to be considered diS ancient 

 records, when every line of them may be interpo- 

 lated? who can pretend to judge of those parts which 

 are genuine, and those which are not? for certainly 

 it is not necessary that a part that is interpolated 

 should have any date or mark annexed to it, by 

 which it might be known ; therefore the authenti- 

 city of works so interpolated, must be as fully to 

 all intents and purposes destroyed, as if the whole 

 were an actual forgery. 



The Reviewer sljoidd only judge for himself, — • 

 for thatevidence which he may think is of a nature 

 almost conclusive, may be no evidence at all to 

 others* And I am afraid, that unless his gymnoso- 

 phisfs find ii better advocate in- their cause, their 

 pretensions to superior antiquity, to arts, and to 



sciences, must soon fail to the ground. Lastly, 



the Rcvicv/er says, 



"By exhibiting the mean result only, we have 

 -''' given Mr. lk;NTLEY's arguntcnt an advantage to 

 *' which it .is not entitled; the individual results 

 " from each of tiie tea data vary from oOO to 1 i 00 



