which appear judicious and rational; but we can expect nothing fo important from the works. of Hindu or Mufelman phyficians, as the knowledge, which experience must have given them, of fimple medicines. I have feen an Indian prescription of fifty-four, and another of fixtyfix, ingredients; but fuch compofitions are always to be fufpected, fince the effect of one ingredient may destroy that of another; and it were better to find certain accounts of a fingle leaf or berry, than to be acquainted with the most elaborate compounds, unless they too have been proved by a multitude of fuccefsful experiments. The noble deobftruent oil, extracted from the Eranda nut, the whole family of Balfams, the incomparable ftomachick root from Columbo, the fine aftringent ridiculously called Japan earth, but in truth produced by the decoction of an Indian plant, have long been used in Afia; and who can foretel what glorious discoveries of other oils, roots, and falutary juices, may be made by your fociety? If it be doubtful whether the Peruvian bark be always efficacious in this country, its place may, perhaps, be fupplied by fome indigenous vegetable equally antifeptick, and more congenial to the climate. Whether any treatifes on Agriculture have been written by experienced natives of these provinces, I am not yet informed; but fince the court of Spain ex

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

The fublime fcience of Chymiftry, 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 thofe 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 those elegant arts, which are called fine and liberal, though of lefs 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 exquifite 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 amufes 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 ftrange 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 compofers 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 same may be truly afferted of the Arabian or Persian syftem; 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 style and form, are here pretty generally known; and, though tastes, 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, " although

they abound with extravagant images and descriptions, they are in the highest degree entertaining and inftructive." Poets of the greatest genius, PINDAR, ESCHYLUS, DANTE, PE

TRARCA, SHAKESPEAR, SPENSER, have moft abounded in images not far from the brink of abfurdity; 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's A, with which a member of our fociety, whose presence deters me from faying 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 composed many agreeable tales and lovefongs, which are ftill extant, the Bháfbá, 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 earlicft 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 thofe of the best. Arabian and Perfian authors.

Of the Hindu and Mufelman architecture there are yet many noble remains in Babar, and fome in the vicinity of Malda; nor am I unwilling to believe, that even thofe ruins, of which you will, I trust, 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 sagacious 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 simple elements: there may, indeed, have been, in the favourable atmosphere of Afia, fome diligent observers of the celestial bodies, and fuch obfervations, as are