1837.] Historical Sketch of the Kingdom of Pandya. 153 



There are some matters of less moment in different parts of the 

 sketch, which might be commented on ; but I forbear. 



It is now due to the learned and indefatigable Professor to state that 

 he has made a better sketch of the History of Madura of the olden 

 time, than I should antecedently have thought to be practicable from 

 his acknowledged materials. The general accuracy — in so far as native 

 documents can be admitted to be authentic— predominates over the 

 occasionally doubtful or erroneous portions ; and that there are a few 

 errors in it tends not to reflect by any means on the Professor's labours, 

 but to elucidate a point of some public moment which I announced my 

 intention to develope. This is, that if there be any person in Europe 

 who could educe, and set forth in order, the contents of the Mackenzie 

 MSS. , Professor Wilson is that man. I do not think any one could vie 

 with him ; yet since even his account of the plainest and best authenticat- 

 ed portion of Peninsular history is defective, owing to the materials 

 wrought upon, then no person in Europe I conceive is qualified proper- 

 ly to give an adequate or fair representation of the contents of that col- 

 lection. The full investigation of them in this country is perhaps the 

 more important from the possibility of being made answerable for 

 documents never contained therein. I have seen a production and a 

 very clever one too, which, lauded by the Atlas as just the thing they 

 would wish to see generally done in reference to the Mackenzie MSS., 

 and transferred to the pages of the Madras Journal of Literature and 

 Science, is yet, I will venture to say, essentially non-oriental, though 

 quite western, in character ; and, with possibly some foundation in the 

 Colonel's own Survey-papers in the Mackenzie collection, is yet for the 

 greater part possibly the result of the able writer's own ingenuity and 

 personal observation. 



Should Professor Wilson follow out his expressed purpose of giving 

 accounts, in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, of the other Penin- 

 sular dynasties, before any thing of the kind may proceed from myself, 

 there is no one else who would offer them a more cordial welcome, or 

 read them with greater interest and pleasure. I should rejoice to re- 

 ceive hints or corrections from such a source. However, I retain my 

 impression, long since announced, that the field is not ripe for the 

 harvest of the general historian ; or for discussion and condensation. 

 All original authorities, worth any thing at all, should in my opinion 

 be printed in parallel pages, with faithful and literal translations. 

 Annotations may be added ; but inferences or conclusions, in a general 

 or final way, ought not to be drawn until the whole evidence is fairly 

 and fully given. Then the judge and recorder may come, sum up, 

 abstract, decide, and ordain ; but, as it seems to me, not at an earlier 

 period. 



