A LETTER from Lieut Col Browne to the President, 



•DEAR SIR, 



N the courfe of reading hiftory, it is a reflection, which mull, 1 think, 

 have occurred to every one, that, if the »acT:ors in the moft material 

 -events could have forefeen the importance, which thofe events ould have 

 in the eyes of posterity, they would certainly have preferved fuch detailed 

 -.and circumftantial relations of them, as would have prevented the general 

 darknefs and uncertainty, which we now experience and lament: but it has 

 probably feldom happened, that their genius, or leifure from more important 

 concerns, has admitted of this ; and thus we are from neceffity often com- 

 pelled to reft fatisfied with imperfect traditions, repeated (or, which is 

 worfe, arbitrarily amended) by fubfequent hiftorians. 



With what avidity fhould we now perufe an account written by any 

 -of the principal perfons prefent at the battle of Ha/tings; of Lincoln; 

 of Lewes, of Eve/bam ; of Crejfy, of Agincourt ; of Towton; or of Bq/l 

 worth / but in thofe days, a general or ftatefman was as unflkilful with 

 his pen, as he was expert with his fword ; and the monks, who were 

 .almoft the only writers, were feldom participators of fuch active fcenes. 



Considering this, as well as the importance, which the wars and poli- 

 ticks of Hindoflan have now acquired in the opinions of European hifto- 

 xians, I cannot avoid believing, that the great events of this country will 

 hereafter be fought for with as much diligence, as thofe of the early part of 

 European hiftory are at prefent : if I am not miftaken in this, the battle of 

 Paniput will be among thofe events, which will claim the greateft attention, 

 both as a military action,, and as an era, from which the reduction of the 





