564 Proceedings of the [Dec. 



boundless extent of the language itself — the quantity of research often neces- 

 sary for ascertaining the precise import of even inconsiderable vocables among 

 the thousands here enumerated and explained; — this work, so lucid in its ar- 

 rangement, its interpretations and etymologies, must ever be regarded as a magni- 

 ficent monument of philological skill and industry. The edition of 1819, setting 

 aside the consideration of those additions just now published, with which your 

 subsequent labors have enriched and nearly doubled its value — that first edition 

 alone would amply deserve this character. Under any circumstances, it would be 

 an excellent and valuable Sanscrit lexicon. Considered as the firitt in any European 

 language, it is admirable, and beyond all ordinary praise. 



But we feel, Sir, that it would be unjust to your high merits in this department 

 of learning, were we to dwell too much on this one production, great as it is, 

 indeed pre-eminently valuable in its kind, and sufficient of itself to establish the re- 

 putation of any oriental scholar. The several translations of classical Indian com- 

 positions, which, before and after the publication of your great work, you have 

 given to the world, have shewn how well yon could yourself tread those remote 

 and arduous paths of literature which your labours had made free to the ap- 

 proach of others : they have added to the character of deep recondite erudition — 

 the more desirable, if less distinguished, praise of a highly cultivated mind, and 

 poetic taste and feeling. These qualities, not common in their separate excellence, 

 but in their union truly extraordinary, are visible in your first published work, 

 the version of the Cloud-Messenger of Ca.lida.sa, as well as in what is among the 

 latest, your selections of the Dramatic Literature of the Hindus : and while the San- 

 scrit scholar wonders at the graceful ease and delicacy with which the peculiar cha- 

 racter of Indian composition is most faithfully represented to English readers, 

 the English general reader — he at least who has taste to discern the forms of 

 beauty in the most unwonted combinations, and the philosophy to sympathize 

 with man, however diversified by climate and institutions — cannot fail to be both 

 delighted and instructed with the perusal. 



It were really impossible to particularize in this address, the many elegant 

 and useful editions of Sanscrit works that you have prepared, or the still more 

 numerous dissertations on Hindu literature and antiquities, on the religious sects 

 of this peninsula, and other kindred subjects, with which your indefatigable 

 research has enriched the memoirs of this Society, as well as some other literary 

 repositories of India and England. One of these, however, which heads the 15th 

 volume of our own Transactions, is of too important a nature to be passed over 

 without distinct mention. In the intricate labyrinth of Indian history and chro- 

 nology, where the erudite labours of Jones, of Hamilton, and of Wilford, seemed 

 only to render the darkness visible, and the confusion more hopelessly inextrica- 

 ble, furnishing too just ground for the idea that, in India, mythology and pan- 

 theistic mysticism had swallowed up history altogether — you have discovered one 

 point at least, where order could be educed from the chaos of existing materials— 

 where conclusions satisfactory to sound historical criticism could be attained— 

 from which, as way-marks, the future investigator might safely proceed in 

 exploring what is elsewhere most doubtful in this vast undiscovered region of 

 Asiatic antiquity. That this is a correct jndgment of your" Essay on the Hindti 

 History of Cashmir," the voice of continental critics, some of them most conver- 

 sant with the philology of Central Asia, will unite with ours in attesting. And, 

 after the casual mention of one eminent deceased scholar of this Society, whose 



