Poetry and Belles-Lettres. The Scholia of Sharishi, of Taj Oddeen Ibn Ilyas, of Motarezzi, &c. on Hariri. The Makamát of Ibn ul Juzi, with Scholia. The Makamát of Hamadani, with ditto. The Makamát of Soyúti, with ditto. Scholia on the Deewán of Motanabbi. Scholia on the Deewán of Ibn Doreid, in addition to those printed by Haitsma. Scholia on the Hamasa, of which Col. Baillie has a good copy. Tales in verse and prose, of which there is great abundance. History. The Golden Meadows of Masoudi—the Mobtada wa Khabar, of Ibn Khaldoun. Lives of the Poets, &c. by Ibn Khalikan. The Biographia Meccana. History of the famous Men in Spain. El Wakedi's Conquest of Syria. The Tarikh Tabari.* El Jabarti's account of the French war in Egypt. Ditto by a Syrian. Histories of ancient Arabia, Persia, &c. El Damiri's Natural History. Ditto by Caswini. Macrizi's Egypt. Edrisi's Geography complete. Ditto by Abulfeda, Yakuti's Dictionary, &c. Travels of Ibn Batuta, &c. Visits to places of pilgrimage, &c., with Translations from the Greek authors, some of which may perhaps be restored. PERSIAN. Geography and Lexicography. Commentaries on Persian Grammar. Sorooree's Poetical Dictionary. Scholia on the Poets generally. History. The Rauzat Ossafa, the National History of Persia. The Tárikhi Alam Arái on the reign of Mirza Abbas. Histories of the several dynasties in Persia, India, &c., such as of Jengiskhan, Timour, the Life of Akbar, and other emperors of Hindustan. The whole of Ferishta. † Translations from the Turkish, Tartar, Sanscrit, &c., which, according to the editor of the Life of Baber, must soon perish unless collected and printed. Lives of the Poets, by Doulatshah, &c. Natural History, by Cazwini, &c. Poetry, &c. A good translation of the Anvari Soheili, for the use of learners. A good translation of the works of Sadi, Deewan of Khakani, with scholia. * About to be published by Kosegarten. ditto. + Col. Briggs's translation of this work is now in the press. Deewan of Anwari, with ditto. Works of Nizámi, Jámi, Háfiz, &c., with ditto. Similar lists may be made out with reference to the Turkish, the Armenian, Syriac. Ethiopic, Chinese, and Sanscrit, and to the dialects of India, the Pali, the Singalese, the Burman, the Malay, the Javanese, &c. &c., were it necessary. Let us now proceed to consider in what way such works as these may be executed under the patronage of the Royal Asiatic Society. It was suggested by my Correspondent, in the Cambridge paper of March 16, * that needy Arabs and Persians may probably be employed in furthering the progress of such works. I believe this is practicable, for the following reasons. There is in Persia at this time a predilection so strong in favour of English literature, that, I believe, a dozen learned men, if they were wanted, might be easily induced to come and settle in this country, at least for a time. This has been exemplified in the case of Mirza Ibrahim, who is now at Haileybury; for, to my certain knowledge, he came here without the least prospect of wealth whatever, and expressed his willingness, when he joined me at Cambridge, to give his labour for a considerable time on the most liberal terms. But, as this was more than I could promise him, and as the East-India Company expressed a wish to have him at their College, I was content to part with him, and he accepted of a salary of 2001. a year, with lodging, &c. for the first year, which was to be a year of trial; I have no doubt, therefore, that others would be induced to come over on terms equally easy. Now, as to the Arabs, I believe the same may be done. I myself have had letters from learned Arabs, both in Egypt and Palestine, soliciting employment, and one of these persons, I have reason to believe, has since been employed in the capacity of a translator and teacher. I believe, therefore, that there would be no want of help from these quarters, and these would be sufficient perhaps to make the trial upon. In reducing this to practice, I should certainly advise to begin on a small scale. In the first case, perhaps, no one need be sent for. Mirza Ibrahim, I have no doubt, would be willing to occupy his vacations, and vacant time during the period of lectures, in conjunction with an Orientalist, in some work of this description, and, indeed, I have heard him say, that it is his wish to do so. If then the Society thought it worth while to make the experiment on a small scale, perhaps this would be an advisable plan; and, in this case, one of the Professors at Haileybury, &c., may be associated with him. If they should wish also to try the Arabic, no doubt Mr. Salt would engage a Moollah for a short time, and at a reasonable rate, who may be associated with some gentleman, in London or elsewhere, to superintend such work. Perhaps a person ac This correspondence follows this letter. quainted with English might be engaged; but, if not, that is of little consequence, the parties would soon be able to understand one another. In this event, I think the Universities would not be unwilling to assist in the article of printing, as they have certain privileges in this respect not possessed by others. I certainly would do all in my power to do the needful at Cambridge; and I have reason to believe, that there is a feeling there in favour of this project; and Oxford would probably join. I hope it will not be thought that I have any wish to make myself important in this business. I only wish to see something done; and shall be most willing to further any project likely to do so, as far as my slender means and abilities will go. Much I cannot promise; but the little I can do shall be done cheerfully. I have the honour to be, dear Sir, Your's very faithfully, SAMUEL LEE. Correspondence referred to in the preceding Letter. To the Rev. Professor Lee. SIR-The influence which you possess in the community of letters, not only from your distinguished situation among a body itself highly eminent for talent and enlightenment, but also from your own personal attainments, point you out to me as the person, above all others, to whom I would publicly address a few thoughts on the present state of Oriental learning. You are well aware that the literature of the East is of great extent and great value; that the treasures which have been hitherto explored have furnished us with specimens of the most polished and elevated poetry, and the most ingenious and beautiful fiction; with much that is valuable and single in history, and much in science that even now is curious and useful; nor, in the present state of scientific improvement, are we to forget that we derived from the East those extensive and generalized principles of calculation which have conducted to the proudest triumphs of philosophy. Yet it is no less certain that the great field of Hindoo, Persian, Arabic, and Chinese literature, has been very imperfectly explored. Even the libraries of Europe, especially those of Spain, comprise a far greater number of Oriental MSS. than have ever been studied; or, at least, communicated to the literary world. But these again are a mere speck, in comparison with the vast treasures of the East itself. Amidst all these MSS., many, doubtless, are of little intrinsic worth; but it still will remain certain that an immense ocean of knowledge is floating around us, which, like the waters which eluded the grasp of Tantalus, is for ever escaping our thirst. And what may not this knowledge be? Details on the population of the ancient world; particulars of those nations with whom the Greeks acquaint us incorrectly, and the Hebrews imperfectly; and translations of the lost Greek and Roman authors, which we know the Arabians of Europe frequently made. The entire history of Livy is, perhaps, latent in some European library, among the neglected and perishing treasures of Eastern knowledge. The theory of Egyptian hieroglyphics, in illustrating which the most logical and discriminating minds have hitherto laboured with small, though wonderful success, is perhaps placed beyond the province of conjecture in some Arabian or Ethiopian treatise. That such probabilities should not have been fathomed, seems a reproach to the literary world, but most of all to this country, whose power and possessions in the East are so considerable, and whose learning and opportunities point her out as the most effective instrument in promoting the great result. But it may be said, what can she do? Has she not her colleges and her professors, both here and in India; and is not the work itself proceeding, although with a slowness proportioned to its extent ? But the labourers are too few, nor are they of the class required. Dr. Wait, I am told, is now making a descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS. in the University library: his fine talents are employed in an object of the highest use. But what if this object be attainable with equal certainty, greater celerity, and the expenditure of less valuable time than that of such a scholar as Dr. Wait? What if the attainment of this object depended not on the will and taste of individuals, but be made the subject of a system which will compel its end? What if its promotion be not confined to the walls of an university, but extend through the whole of the British possessions? The method to which I invite your notice, carries with it a better authority than my own. It was recommended by Bishop Watson forty years ago, and it is astonishing that it has excited so little attention. It is a work," says he,worthy of the attention of all the universities in Europe, to undertake the translation of the Oriental MSS. which we are at present possessed of. Men skilled in these languages should be invited from every quarter, formed into a kind of society, and employed for life, under the direction of proper persons, in the drudgery of translation. Nothing worthy of notice in this way can be expected from the detached labours of a few professors of Hebrew or Arabic; men of liberal education cannot readily be brought to undertake such a task, and, if they could, the matter may be effected at a much easier expence by the labours of inferior persons. What would be an adequate reward for three or four needy Turks or Persians, would not be a proper stipend for one man of letters, who should be obliged annually to produce the fruits of his unremitted diligence.' But, without entering into the particular manner of accomplishing this design, I cannot help being of opinion, that an institution established at Cambridge for the express purpose of translating and publishing Oriental MSS. would redound to the credit of the University, and tend to put the learned world in possession of a very valuable part of literature, of which, at present, we have but a very imperfect knowledge. I shall not presume to suggest methods where the learned Bishop has been silent, but sure I am that the subject is well worthy mature consideration; and, effectively pursued, it would do honour to yourself, the university, the country, and even to the civilized world. I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, A MEMBER OF THE SENATE. To the Editor of The Cambridge Chronicle.' SIR,-Having had the honour of being addressed by A Member of the Senate,' in your paper of the 16th instant, as to the means whereby the treasures, now hidden in our Oriental manuscripts, might be more generally made known among us, you will oblige me by allowing the following reply to appear in your next. In the first place, then, I concur entirely with the opinions of this gentleman, that to bring to light these treasures could not but tend considerably to advance our knowledge on subjects of the greatest interest and moment, and that to devise some plan by which this could be effected, would be a consummation devoutly to be wished.' It has been truly said by him, that the library of the Escurial contains vast treasures of this kind. I answer, our own library, since the acquisition of the MSS. of the late Mr. Burckhardt, and of several purchases made since his death-that of the British Museum, since the purchase of the valuable collection made by the late Mr. Rich-that of the Bodleian of Oxford, to which may be added a most valuable and extensive collection at the India House, present stores, perhaps, sufficiently extensive to satisfy the most sanguine enquirer on subjects of this kind. But, if not, access is to be had to the almost endless stores of the Vatican, the Imperial Library of Vienna, and the Royal Library of Paris; not to insist on the daily accessions made to our libraries by the importation of MSS. from the East. That the resources are abundant, therefore, I think there can be no doubt, and that to bring their contents to light is desirable, perhaps there cannot be more than one opinion. But I may be allowed to say, that it is not to science only, or general information, that the most interesting accessions may be thus made; our knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures could not but be greatly advanced. The grammar, rhetoric, laws, customs, and manners, of the Orientals contribute, as all allow, in an astonishing degree, towards elucidating the phraseolgy of the Bible; and I am sure it cannot be necessary here to shew that these means have never yet been drawn upon to any thing like the extent of their resources. |