.62 On the Musical Modes 



vernj and,laftly, to the differtation of Dr. Burney, who, patting {lightly 

 overall that is obicure, explains with perfpicuity whatever is explicable, 

 and gives dignity to the characterof a modern .mufician by uniting it with 

 that of a fcholar and a philofophgr. 



The unexampled felicity of our nation, who diffufe the bleffings of a 

 mild government over the fineft part of India, would enable us to attain 

 a perfect knowledge of the oriental mufick, which is known and practifed 

 in thefe Briti/h dominions not by mercenary performers only, but even by 

 Mufelmans and Hindus of eminent rank and learning: a native of Cdjhan, 

 lately refi dent at Murjhed&bdd, had a complete acquaintance with the Per- 

 fian theory and practice ; and the bell artifts in Hindujidn would cheerful- 

 ly attend our concerts : we have an eafy accefs to approved AJiatick treatifes 

 on mufical compolition, and need not lament with Chardin, that he 

 neglected to procure at Isfahan the explanation of a fmall tract o« that 

 fubject., which he carried to Europe : we may here examine the belt, inftru- 

 ments of Ajia f may be mailers of them, if we pleafe, or at leaft may com- 

 pare them with ours : the concurrent labours, or rather amufements, of 

 feveral in our own body, may facilitate the attainment of correct ideas on a 

 fubject fo delightfully interefling ; and a free communication from time to 

 time of their respective difcoveries would conduct them more furely and 

 fpeedily, as well as more agreeably, to their defired end. Such would be the 

 advantages of union, or, to borrow 3, term from the art before us, of har- 

 monious accord, in all our purfuits, and above all in that of knowledge. 



On Perjian mufick, which is not the fubject of this paper, it w r ould be 

 improper to enlarge : the whole fyflem of it is explained in a celebrated col- 

 lection of tracts on pure and mixed mathematicks, entitled Durratultaj^ 



