1836.] Tumour's Hist, of Ceylon, and Trans, of the Mahawanso. 401 



Asiatic Journal alone, the decyphering of the alphabets in which the 

 ancient inscriptions scattered over Asia are recorded, (which is calcu- 

 lated to lead to important chronological and historical results) ; the 

 identification and arrangement of the ancient coins found in the 

 Punjab ; the examination of the recently discovered fossil geology of 

 India; the analysis of the Sanscrit and Tibetan buddhistical records, 

 contained in " hurdreds of volumes," by professor Wilson; and the 

 translation of the hindu plays, by the same distinguished scholar; — 

 exhibit triumphant evidence, that at no previous period had oriental 

 research been exerted with equal success. Yet it is in the midst of this 

 comparatively brilliant career, and at the seat of the operations of the 

 Bengal Asiatic Society, that the heaviest disappointment has visited 

 that institution. It has within the last year been decided by the 

 Supreme Government of India, that the funds which "have hitherto been 

 in part applied to the revival and improvement of the literature, and the 

 encouragement of the learned natives of India, are henceforth to be ap- 

 propriated to purposes of English education." In an unavailing effort 

 of the Asiatic Society to avert that decision, the Supreme Government 

 has thought proper to designate the printing of several standard orien- 

 tal works, then in progress, to be ' to little purpose but to accumulate 

 stores of waste paper.' 



" I advert not to these recent discussions in Bengal with any view to 

 take part in them. My object is exclusively to show that the increas- 

 ing discouragement or indifference evinced towards oriental research, 

 does not proceed either from the exhaustion of the stores to be exa- 

 mined, or from the relaxation of the energy of the examiners ; and to 

 endeavour to account for the causes which have produced these con- 

 flicting results. 



" The mythology and the legends of Asia, connected with the fabu- 

 lous ages, contrasted with those of ancient Europe and Asia Minor, 

 present no such glaring disparity in extravagance, as should necessa- 

 rily lead an unprejudiced mind to cultivate the study and investigation 

 of the one, and to decide on the rejection and condemnation of the 

 other. Almost every well educated European has exerted the first 

 efforts of his expanding intellect to familiarize himself with the mytho- 

 logy and fabulous legends of ancient Europe. The immortal works of 

 the poets which have perpetuated this mythology, as well as these 

 legends, have from his childhood been presented to his view, as models 

 of the most classical and perfect composition. In the progress to man- 

 hood, and throughout that period of life during which mental energy 

 is susceptible of the greatest excitement, — in the senate, at the bar, on 

 the stage, and even in the pulpit, — the most celebrated men of genius 

 have studiously borrowed, more or less of their choicest ornaments^ 

 from the works of the ancient poets and historians. 



" To those, again, to whom the fictions of the poets present no 



