22 
M£MOm OF 
h^rd tlie diaTecta, and became interested in difi^ 
origin ; aticl to thi« flinpiiTarity an(l variety may be at- 
tribut*<] the first ttt^iri.' to itive*t5i;ate the liistory and 
antiquities t>f thb people. In tliese pnrbiiits hp waa a«- 
siKttfd by the researches which now orcapfed Mr 
Marsdpii, whose fousiflnt applk-ation i)i»m the occur- 
rence of (litticoltieH, antl iniuimemble qnerit's, forced 
and kept up the interest of a suUjeft to whieh he 
was already deeply attached. It waa at Malacca^ 
ako, where he firj<t grained the arquaintance and 
friendsliip of Dr Leyden. 
About this period the aflPiiira of the East were In 
considerable confusion. The conquest of Java was 
c^jintcmpiated, and there was little time to be spared 
for the pursuits of literature, researches into the an- 
tiquities of the counlr)^ or into its tiaiural Ivistory. 
The stolen moments which conid be sparetft wcfe, 
however, all devoted to these studies,, anti the very 
information which was to be acquired in forwarding 
the objects of the {government, increased his know- 
ledge, antl lai<l the basis for many of \m after diseo- 
"feries. As, however, we «'isb to avoid tfie details 
of his political career, we shall pas* over the period 
until the capture of Java ; suffice it to say, that he 
exhibited as much persevpratice and presence of mind 
in the diplomatist and soldier, aa he had before in 
the more peaceful researches of antiquities and lite- 
rature. 
The capture of Jara waa terminated in 1811, and 
by all, much of the merit of planning and cooductF^ 
