40 Notes on the Eran Inscriptions. [No. 1, 



avowed object of correcting the errors of such a scholar as Prinsep, it 

 is naturally expected that he should take some precaution to ensure 

 accuracy, and not blunder even in those places where the unfortunate 

 subject of his criticism happens to be correct."* This is directed at 

 me ; and I reply to it. 



Where have I come " forward with the avowed object of correcting 

 the errors of such a scholar as Prinsep" ? Are the words of such an 

 avowal producible ? Or can it be inferred, from anything I have put 

 on paper, that my purpose was that here alleged ? Adverting to the 

 Eran inscriptions, I have expressed myself as follows, concerning their 

 original decipherer : " Had Mr. Prinsep inspected the documents in 

 discussion, with the advantage of the facilities I have been able to com- 

 mand, it is beyond question that his conclusions respecting them would 

 have differed, as on matters of moment, so as to points of unimport- 

 ance, from those he has recorded. Writing under obligation of the 

 reserve impressed by this consideration, I shall stay to expatiate on 

 but a few of the discrepancies, touching secondary details, which, on 

 collation of our results, the attentive reader will discover. At the 

 same time, I have weighed these cases, one and all, with my best 

 diligence. "f My chief aim, as to the Eran inscriptions, was to read 

 and to translate them anew. That, all along, I studiously aimed, 

 wherever it was practicable, not to provoke comparison of my own 

 work with that of my predecessor, will, I believe, strike most of my 

 readers. 



The Babu, on the other hand, has thus delivered himself with 

 respect to " such a scholar as Prinsep," "the unfortunate subject of" 

 my " criticism :" " Prinsep, notwithstanding his untiring diligence 

 and splendid critical acumen, was obliged, owing to his own want of 

 familiarity with the Sanskrita, to depend upon his interpreters ; and 

 they, blind to the importance of the work upon which he was so 

 ardently engaged, neglected their duty, and trifled with him in all 

 matters in which he could not readily detect the imposition they prac- 

 tised upon him. Hence it is, that his translation of the Eran re- 



* Journal As. Soe. Beng., 1862, p. 394 

 f Journal As. Soc. Beng., 1861, p. 16. 



Mr, Prinsep was guided solely by Captain Burt's facsimiles j and I had 

 pored for two whole days on the incised originals. 



