pect to find useful remarks in an Arabick tract preferved in the Efcurial, on the cultivation of land in that kingdom, we should inquire for fimilar compofitions, and examine the contents of fuch as we can procure.

The sublime science of Chymistry, which I was on the point of calling divine, must be added, as a key to the richest treasuries of nature; and it is impoffible to foresee how greatly it may improve our manufactures, especially if it can fix those brilliant dyes, which want nothing of perfect beauty but a longer continuance of their fplendour; or how far it may lead to new methods of fluxing and compounding metals, which the Indians, as well as the Chinese, are thought to have practised in higher perfection than ourselves.

In thofe elegant arts, which are called fine and liberal, though of less general utility than the labours of the mechanick, it is really wonderful how much a fingle nation has excelled the whole world: I mean the ancient Greeks, whofe Sculpture, of which we have exquisite remains both on gems and in marble, no modern tool can equal; whose Architecture we can only imitate at a fervile distance, but are unable to make one addition to it, without deftroying its graceful fimplicity; whofe Poetry ftill delights us in youth, and amuses us at a maturer age; and of

whofe Painting and Mufick we have the concurrent relations of fo many grave authors, that it would be strange incredulity to doubt their excellence. Painting, as an art belonging to the powers of the imagination, or what is commonly called Genius, appears to be yet in its infancy among the people of the Eaft: but the Hindu fyftem of mufick has, I believe, been formed on truer principles than our own; and all the skill of the native composers is directed to the great object of their art, the natural expreffion of strong paffions, to which melody, indeed, is often facrificed: though fome of their tunes are pleasing even to an European ear. Nearly the fame may be truly afferted of the Arabian or Persian system; and, by a correct explanation of the best books on that fubject, much of the old Grecian theory may probably be recovered.

The poetical works of the Arabs and Perfians, which differ furprisingly in their ftyle and form, are here pretty generally known; and, though taftes, concerning which there can be no difputing, are divided in regard to their merit, yet we may safely say of them, what ABULFAZL pronounces of the Mabábbárat, that, " aithough

they abound with extravagant images and de

scriptions, they are in the highest degree enter"taining and inftructive." Poets of the greatest genius, PINDAR, ESCHYLUS, DANTE, PE

TRARCA, SHAKESPEAR, SPENSER, have most abounded in images not far from the brink of absurdity; but, if their luxuriant fancies, or thofe of ABULOLA, FIRDAUSI, NIZA'MI, were pruned away at the hazard of their strength and majefty, we should lofe many pleasures by the amputation. If we may form a juft opinion of the Sanfcrit poetry from the specimens already exhibited, (though we can only judge perfectly by confulting the originals), we cannot but thirst for the whole work of VYA'SA, with which a member of our fociety, whofe presence deters me from saying more of him, will in due time gratify the publick. The poetry of Mathurà, which is the Parnassian land of the Hindus, has a fofter and lefs elevated ftrain; but, fince the inhabitants of the diftricts near Agra, and principally of the Duab, are said to surpass all other Indians in eloquence, and to have compofed many agreeable tales and lovefongs, which are ftill extant, the Bháfhá, or vernacular idiom of Vraja, in which they are written, should not be neglected. No fpecimens of genuine Oratory can be expected from nations, among whom the form of government precludes even the idea of popular eloquence; but the art of writing, in elegant and modulated periods, has been cultivated in Afia from the earliest ages: the Veda's, as well as the Alcoran, are written in measured

profe; and the compofitions of ISOCRATES are not more highly polished than those of the best Arabian and Perfian authors.

Of the Hindu and Muselman architecture there are yet many noble remains in Babar, and fome in the vicinity of Malda; nor am I unwilling to believe, that even those ruins, of which you will, I truft, be prefented with correct delineations, may furnish our own architects with new ideas of beauty and sublimity.

Permit me now to add a few words on the Sciences, properly fo named; in which it must be admitted, that the Afiaticks, if compared with our Western nations, are mere children. One of the most fagacious men in this age, who continues, I hope, to improve and adorn it, SAMUEL JOHNSON, remarked in my hearing, that, "if NEWTON had flourished in ancient "Greece, he would have been worshipped as a "divinity:" how zealously then would he be adored in Hindustan, if his incomparable writings could be read and comprehended by the Pandits of Cashmir or Benares! I have seen a mathematical book in Sanfcrit of the highest antiquity; but foon perceived from the diagrams, that it contained only fimple elements: there may, indeed, have been, in the favourable atmosphere of Afia, fome diligent obfervers of the celestial bodies, and such observations, as are

recorded, should indifputably be made publick; but let us not expect any new methods, or the analysis of new curves, from the geometricians of Iran, Turkistan, or India. Could the works of ARCHIMEDES, the NEWTON of Sicily, be restored to their genuine purity by the help of Arabick verfions, we might then have reafon to triumph on the success of our scientifical inquiries; or could the fucceffive improvements and various rules of Algebra be traced through Arabian channels, to which CARDAN boafted that he had access, the modern History of Mathematicks would receive confiderable illuftration.

The Jurifprudence of the Hindus and Mufelmans will produce more immediate advantage; and, if some standard law-tracts were accurately tranflated from the Sanfcrit and Arabick, we might hope in time to fee fo complete a Digest of Indian Laws, that all difputes among the natives might be decided without uncertainty, which is in truth a difgrace, though fatirically called a glory, to the forenfick science.

All these objects of inquiry must appear to you, Gentlemen, in so strong a light, that bare intimations of them will be fufficient; nor is it necessary to make use of emulation as an incentive to an ardent pursuit of them: yet I cannot forbear expressing a wish, that the activity of the · French in the fame purfuits may not be fuperior