peii or Herculaneum from under the lavas by which it was overwhelmed. It is true, that Ebn Haukal is often incorrect in his estimation of distances, and that the historical facts which he mentions do not always appear with the evidence of sufficient credibility. But, even in these imperfections, his work has a value, as affording an instance of what was the precise state of knowledge and liberal enquiry among the learned Mahometans of the age in which he lived.

Sir William Ouseley's next publication furnished a specimen of the manner in which the moralists of the east often contrive to use those fictions in which the vulgar and ignorant delight, as vehicles of ethical and political instruction. It was a translation of a Persian work, named Bakhtyar Nameh, or, "Tales of Bakhtyar and the Ten Viziers." We have perused it with great pleasure; and are satisfied that it must long be a favorite with English readers. It is contained in a single octavo volume.

Beside those three species of hand-writing which have been mentioned as being in use in Persian literature, there is another more ancient, which, since the Mahometan conquest of Persia, has gone into disuse, and is now no longer certainly understood. It is denominated the pehlavi, and appears still in some ancient inscriptions. In 1801, Sir William Ouseley, in a paper of learned and ingenious "Observations on some Gems and Medals bearing inscriptions in the Pahlavi or ancient Persick characters," produced a specimen of his diligence to introduce new light

even into the deepest obscurities of Persian literature, and an incontestible proof that there was in this province nothing too dark or arduous for the perspicacity of his understanding, and the energies of his ge

nius.

By the university of Rostock, Sir William Ouseley has been created a doctor in philosophy. He has been elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a member of the Asiatick Society at Calcutta, a member also of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Gottingen, and of several literary societies. The authors of the Journals of Criticism, which are published in London, and in France, and Germany, have reviewed his learned works with the testimony of the most liberal applause. Dr. Vincent, the learned Dean of Westminster, Mr. Eyles Irwin, the author of the Pursuits of Literature, and other eminent men of letters, have in their writings equally expressed warm approbation of the zeal and the success of his oriental studies.

We regret, that, to this account of the merits and fame of a scholar whose proficiency in oriental learning is more remarkable even than that of Sir William Jones, because it has been attained without the same advantages of academical leisure and assistance, we cannot add the mention of encouragement conferred by his sovereign or by the East India Company, in official employment, or in pecuniary rewards.

But although, for the diplomatic, for the military, for the commercial, and for the judicial service of this country, in the east, it be of the highest impor

tance

tance that we should have always among us a great number of men of worth and talents, expert in every branch of oriental learning, and capable of speaking and writing in the eastern languages with facility and elegance; though France have derived, extraordinary advantages from the institution of Louis XIV. for educating at Paris men who should be qualified to serve as interpreters to his oriental embassies; though incalculable mischiefs have arisen to the interests of Britain from the necessity in which we have generally been, whether in Turkey, India, or China, of trusting to the interpretation of strangers in the ultimate transaction of business; though a school for the east+ ern languages might be, for an expence comparatively small, established at the India-house; though one should imagine, that, for the education of those who are destined for the public service of their country, a new institution for the Persian, the Sanscrit, and the Chinese languages, should be added to every university in these kingdoms; though in France, Bonaparte be now winning every suffrage by his zealous and magnificent patronage of this and every other part of learning and science; yet, in Britain and Ireland, oh shame! there is nothing publicly done to promote the knowledge of a literature, intimately connected with the government of more than twenty millions of our subjects,-nothing that is not absolutely extorted from our supremely barbarous aversion and indifference, by the invincible necessity of nature and of business. Sir William Jones, had he not found other recommendations than his abilities as a lawyer and his skill in oriental literature, might pos

sibly have seen the chief-justiceship at Calcutta denied to him, that it might be bestowed on any of the most illiterate of his brethren at the English bar and it were delusion in us to hope, that those who possess the patronage in India affairs, should, in the instance of Sir William Ouseley, exercise in favour of their country, a discernment and a noble disinterested preference of merit, which they have not hitherto shewn,

But, this gentleman has now a reputation in these studies to sustain, the care of which no discouragement should tempt him to abandon. Having done so much at so early an age; he has thus justified expectations in the learned world, which are not easily to be satisfied; and has virtually contracted obliga. tions towards it, which it will require the most ardent Jabour of his whole future life gloriously to discharge. The task is arduous: but high and sure is the prize, of conscious utility, and of indestructible reputation: Enough-enough to an exalted and generous mind; though every meaner and more sordid reward should be entirely withheld !

If we be not misinformed, he is now preparing to pursue, with new zeal, the illustrious career on which he has entered. For some years he has been employed on a great work on Asiatic geography. For the sake of enquiries, which he thinks necessary to bring that work to due perfection, he intends shortly to make a journey to Persia, and to visit the other countries of the east. How much might not the adventures and researches of such a traveller contribute to enlarge and correct our present knowledge of the state of those regions! R. H.

SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.

THIS zealous advocate of the cause of liberty and humanity is descended from an ancient family, whose origin may be traced, in an uninterrupted succession, to the time of William the Conqueror. Hugh Burdett came into England with William in the year 1066, and his son, Sir William Burdett, distinguished himself in the Holy Wars.

In the year 1618 Sir Francis Burdett, knight, was created a Baronet. This gentleman was celebrated for his hospitality and beneficence: he built and endowed, at his own private cost, the church of Foremark in Derbyshire, which was consecrated in the year 1662, and called St. Saviour's.

Sir Robert Burdett, grandfather to the present Baronet, succeeded to the title and estate in the year 1739; he was many years member of parliament for Tamworth; he married the daughter of Sir Charles Sedley of Nuthall, in the county of Nottingham, by whom he had several children; among these was Francis, who in the year 1767 married Eleanor Jones, daughter and coheiress of William Jones, Esq. of Ramsbury, in Wiltshire, but died before his father, Sir Robert. His surviving sons were Robert, Francis, and Jones; the former was unfortunately drowned in descending one of the cataracts on the Rhine, and Francis, the subject of this memoir, succeeded to the title and estate at the death of his grandfather, Sir Robert.

1802-3.

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Sir