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perceptible gradations by which a consonant of one order glides into, and is assimilated with, its cognate consonant of another order; or, by a still smaller variation of the organic energy, from hard becomes soft, and vice versâ; or assumes, or relinquishes, an aspirate.

whatever. They also deny, with every pearance of truth, tohave discord assista from collateral sources, as in the instar quoted those languages might have d For this, indeed, they would have prepared by the habitual use of wr communications for so many ages, wh would have modified this part of the ence to their hands whereas the Sa krita grammarians, and masters of the sought directly from nature and t! own talent of investigation, the prim dial principles of that system which t studied and inculcated.

These remarks open a wide field of dissertation on the origin and progress of language, a subjection which we might offer a very different hypothesis from that of the late acute but whimsical Monboddo. Our limits forbid such an undertaking. It is enough for our present purpose, that we acknowledge our The second part of Sanskrita gramm acquiescence in the opinion that the an- which in other languages comprises cient prophet and patriarch Enoch ac- most the whole, consists in the due dist tually wrote a book, To this opinion bution of words into their several class our own Sacred Scriptures are evidently in the inflexions of those words, and th favourable; but the inevitable couse- relative position for the right constr quence, deduced from this admission, is tion of a sentence. The extent of the existence of written language at that author's knowledge in this branch, early period. Again, as we place entire acuteness of his researches, and the acc confidence in the Mosaic account of the racy of his classification, are mani Deluge, we know not how to deny, that a from the table of contents, prefixed to very considerable, perhaps the major part, work, in which the most experienc of the arts and sciences of the antedilu- philologer will with difficulty find on vian world, perished in that universal sions, and the severest critic correctio catastr phe, or its consequences. To that This branch being necessarily common world, and to the supposed state of learn- all well composed (i. e. SANSKRITA, SU ing while it flourished, we conceive the being the meaning of the word) langu Sanskrita grammarians allude, in the hu- ges, we need only direct the reader's a miliating comparisons by which they tention to it, to satisfy him that it co describe the inferiority of their own at- tains every requisite for correctness, el tainments. But, declining to proceed fur-gance, and energy of style; yet combi ther in this very extensive enquiry, we have to call the reader's attention to the extraordinary minuteness and diligence, with which the precise position and combination of the alphabetical elements are every where inculcated, Three fourths, at least, of the truly ingenious and elaborate work before us, are occupied in providing rules for the due commutation, combination, colliison, and elision of separate letters, according to the circum stances under which they come in contact, and the organs to which they respectively belong. Now, when we ob

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serve th
that this multiplicity of rules, and
congeries of instances,, are condensed in
our common Latin Grammars, into the
few pages of hexameters, which com-
prise the As in presenti," and to a still
smaller space in the Greek grammar, we
think it evident that the Sanskrita mas-
ters copied from no models known to us
and, as they affirm from no previous model,

ed with differences so strongly marke as effectually to vindicate its claim to or ginality and antiquity. In the cases nouns it abounds, beyond all the fangu ges with which we ourselves pretend a quaintance; and in its numbers it rivals th Greck and Hebrew. Its verbs may bo the full quota of tenses applicable to th variability of time in its three grand div. sions; together with several forms of th verb peculiar to itself; each indicating different modification of the origina meaning designated by the simple word

The basis of the language, like that c the Hebrew, Arabic, &c. consists of certain number of primordial roots. Fo the construction, selection, and appropri ation of these, considered as mere inac tive representations of ideas, we can al lege no satisfactory reasons of preference, nor are we disposed too lightly to concede that these Sanskrita roots have any pre tensions to rival, much less to surpass, the

simplicity, the utility, and the elegance | undeclined, form, with a single sign of of the triliteral rudiments of Arabic and inflection to terminate the whole series. Hebrew; which, with Ravis of neglected Is this an excellence? or, must we deem memory, we deem the perfection of ety-it a defect? Many modern idioms, and mology.

The Sanskrita verbs, indeed, seem to he chargeable with a falling short of orientil precision, by the want of a feminine termination; we doubt whether in pracce this be a real defect; but, at least, it prove that Sanskrita grammarians, whousudly err by redundancy, did not borrow from the languages in which this termination is row found. Were we writing an essay, tead of a review, we should naturally advert to the very important re emblances between words in this language and words in other languages. The Latin furnishes a great number; Greek, from which Latin, originally, was but a scion, supplies very many more. But Greek itself is a derivative from some previous oriental tongue : we mean that of Noah and his immediate posterity. This the most expert etymologists allow; and, indeed, it is proved, by the history of the first colonization of Greece, and might be demonstrated by an analysis of the etymology of proper names in Homer. A celebrated living writer has very forcibly drawn the public attention toward the long disused literary remains of the Celts and Goths; and we are persuaded, from such little experience on this subject 29 has fallen to our lot, that these also would furnish numerous instances of verbal similarity with the Sanskrita. The Malay language is said to be most copiously sprinkled with Sanskrita words; and there are some, though perhaps not many, in Persian and Arabic: nor have the few Chinese terms, which we have incidentally gleaned from authors who have mentioned or quoted them from that lan guage, failed to supply an instance. In fact, we deem it a most remarkable coincidence in grammatical research, that the Jesuit Fourmont, in attempting to deduce an alphabetical arrangement of the Chinese language from its own sources, actually brings out the order and structure of the Sanskrita alphabet..

That the science of grammar was in its infancy, when this idiom assumed and Gred its peculiar texture, is clearly proved by the constant practice among the best authors of blending together a number of words in regimine, all in the absolute, or

particularly our own, contain nothing but indeclinable nouns, whose relative office in a sentence can only be ascertained by their position; but then the verb almost always intervenes between the agent and the subject, and the auxiliary members of the period are distinguished by prepositions. In this Indian dialect we have whole lines composed of mere nouns, without any diacritical mark whatsoever, to distinguish the governing from the governed, or the principal from the subordinate. Whatever be the beauty or merit of this arrangement in the eyes of its native professors,-precision, we must confest, is but too often sacrificed to its attainment. This is also, on some occasions, a more serious evil; for, in treatises of religion and morality encouragement is hereby given to ambiguity of meaning, or to contrariety of interpretation; in a code of national law, it must, by its very nature, afford too ready occasion for fluctuating, and what is infinitely worse, for corrupt decisions. But that in poetry it contributes to the sublimity of expression, and the expansion of imagery, we can easily admit; and that it conveys much pleasurable sensation to those, who by education are familiarised to its use, may fairly be deduced from its universality. Still, as a pregnant instance of the very wildest mode of expression, common even to savages in every part of the world, incorporated into a language of the most scientific and otherwise most elegant structure, we deem it an unanswerable evidence of the prodigious antiquity of the Sanskrita, and not less of the ingenuity and contrivance of its earliest cultiva tors.

Notwithstanding this general commendation of his labour, we must be permitted to observe, that Mr. Wilkins has not spoken to the eye, by such an analysis of the formation of Sanskrita letters as reduces them to their most simple elements. The first thing that strikes an observer, on inspecting a sentence of Sanskrita writing, is, that all the letters forming a word are united at the top by a line passing along them. Now, to us, this seems to be neither more nor less than a retention of the line originally ruled in order to pre

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does no more than repeat the inform which by some means he had d from Sanskrita authority. It wou very desirable, therefore, to afford facility in the examination of this thesis; and something is gained i article of comparison, when the let any two ancient alphabets are dives their artificial accoutrements, and re to a state of nature :-we had a said, to their original nudity.

The mode of writing practiced a day, in India, especially in the Sou by impressing an iron style on a l the palm tree: this, penetrating the coat or epidermis of the leaf, lea

⚫serve regularity among them; and if this -line were abstracted, when analysis of form is in question, we presume that the real character of the letter would remain unimpaired. Those additional marks, - also, or after-thought branches, which - command the prolongation of sound on the vowels, should have been distinguished, for the benefit of the inquirer into the rudiments of the language; together with whatever variations in form the letters assume when peculiarly placed; as finals, &c. These should have been, in a few examples, cast hollow; as the Author has seen in Parkhurst's Hebrew Dictionary: The curious, as a still further distinction, sometimes colour them with vermil-lasting mark. But, from the cons lion, whereby the eye catches at a glance the marked peculiarities which the stuIdent is in search of. We have some sus.picion, too, that were these appendices I removed, several of the letters would, either reversed or direct, furnish points of similarity to those of some of the alphabets used in the west, which at present are absolutely concealed. Mr. W. knows very well, that our present Greek characters are not unchanged descendants from those of the early ages. Now if the alphabets which remain, and have fallen within our cognizance, of the ancient Pelasgi, Hetruscans, &c. should be found allied in form, and especially if allied both in form and power, to the Sanskrita letters, the inference would be extremely favourable to his opinions; and this discovery would, in fact,become a new chapter in the history of the human race.

We are convinced that the Deities of Western Asia, and of Europe connected with it, are the Dévatas of India; and that the religious rites of these countries were derived from the same source; it is therefore a very plausible conjecture, that the writings, in which those rites were enjoined and described, should be transcripts from Indian originals, in the written character of those originals; though afterwards, from a variety of causes, these characters gradually changed their forms. When Pliny derives the art of writing from the Gods, when he tells us, that letters had always existed in Assyria, he

We may be allowed to place a conjecture in a note, which possibly may be thought not sufficiently well founded to appear in the text. We would ask, whether the Assyria of Pliny, and of Virgil, Eclogue IV.

tion of the plates before us, we a
to suspect that this was not the prin
mode of writing. The varying bre
of the letters, (in some places the
very broad and bold; in others the
narrow and fine) together with the st
ing forms of some of their parts, st
to our minds, the idea of char
made by means of the camel's
pencil, or some such instrument :
this is at present the customary m
of writing among the Chinese.
this might be, originally, which
can be only supposed, we are happ
acknowledge our obligations to
author for several very neatly exe
plates, explaining the manner of for
these characters, with their shapes,
initial and when final, when compou

Ho

...... ASSYRIUM vulgo nascetur Amom may not have been compounded from original words Ai', the country, dis region, of Sura or Surya, the Hindoo I the God of Day, the Sun? In plain lish," the Land of the Rising Sun," w

to those who travelled westward, would the easterly quarter of the heavens, the of their nativity, of their forefathers, a their earliest and fondest prejudices. A is the Bible name of the same country: the Seira of Hesychius: the Syriad or riadice of Manetho, in Eusebius and Sy

lus.

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If we examine this very passag Pliny more strictly, we shall find it no think letters were always extant apud Syr favourable to this conjecture: he says not the Syrians, or the Assyrians, as monly understood, but the Surya-ans: those who worshipped the Deity Surya those who inhabited the country where Deity Surya was understood to reside.

(sometimes three or four together) with other peculiarities. This is a valuable part f his work. The whole of his volume, Indeed, is very creditably executed it manifests much patience, as well as skill. Aleserrors in so long a work may be pardoned; we wonder their number is greater.

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received into the stomach in considerable quantities must be injurious. Nature has placed in such regions, many kinds of fruits of cooling juices, limes, lemons, &c, as correctives; but man must needs employ his faculties, in procuring, by a process foreign to the purposes of nature, the means of self-destruction. New run, new brandy, destroy more of our warriors in one year, than the enemy does in seven years. When will our troops be convinced of this fact, and learn so much temperance as to spurn at the deadly draught? Our author states this fact with great em

It may be proper to hint, that although this is the first Sanskrita grammar which hasbeen printed in England, yet it isnot the first which has been published in Europe. We suppose that character is due to the Sidharubam seu Gramatica Samscrdapica, cui accedit Dissertatio historico-cri.phasis, and it cannot be too strongly, or picain linguam Samscrdamicam vulgo Sam creet dictam, &c. Auctore Paulino a S. Bartholomæo, Carmelita excalceato Malabarica Missionario. Roma 1790. From that grammar Mr. Wilkins has borrowed nothing; nor perhaps should we have referred to it, but for our hope, that, as that was printed by the Congregation de Propaganda Fide, so the learned performance on which we have been reporting, may be a mean, in its turn, of contribung to the propagation of the true faith, by furnishing opportunities for our more intimate acquaintance with the learning, antiquities, and religion of India. For this, it is in our opinion well calculated; not less by the extent of research and copiodsness of selection of the author, than by the discernment, application and talent manifest in its execution. We cordially recommend it to all who aspire to the title of Indian Literati.

Suggestions for the Prevention of the Yellow Ferer, &c. By Stewart Henderson, M.D. District Staff Surgeon. 8vo pp. 114. Price 5s. Stockdale, Jun. London. 1808. We have abridged the title of this tract; for to say truth, it has more the air of quackery than becomes the good sense of its author.

We are persuaded that Dr. H. communicates the result of his personal observation, with the best intentions: and we wish to enforce the necessity of attending to some of his remarks, with all our power.

The exercise of common sense must Convince any man who would impartially altend to it, that in a climate constantly beated by the almost perpendicular beams of the sun, the addition of ardent spirits

too often repeated. He also recommends a free air, salt-water bathing, a proper allowance of vegetables as part of diet, and a separation of the sick, not merely from the healthy, but from each other. For this purpose he suggests the plan of an hospital: which we should rejoice to believe the exigencies of service would allow to be constantly adopted, We have nevertheless, much satisfaction in being able to bear our testimony to the greater attention paid to the health and comfort of our brave defenders, in late years, than was practised formerly. Too much cannot be done for those on service, who venture their lives for their country.

Dr. H. considers distinctly the remittent or marsh fever; the intermittent, the yellow fever, the dysentery, and some other diseases to which troops are exposed. We do not observe any striking peculiarities in his system. But the hints which are incidentally dropt by him, are entitled to attention. He says of the yelble of it than children"; and that" among low fever, that "men are more suscepti the multitude of black men and women whom he has had occasion to see employed constantly in the hospitals, and who have executed all the menial duties about the sick, the dying and the dead, I never knew even a single instance of either male or female taking the disease!" Hence the Dr. infers that this fever is not infec tious. We do not advise any of our readers to trust this inference.

We agree that it would be highly desirable to prepare all our troops for the cli mate of the West-Indies by degrees and besides what use has heretofore been made of Gibraltar as a station for that purpose, we think that greater advantage might be taken of the Island of Madeira, with the

same intention. We hope this hint will not be lost.

Our author speaks in very favourable terms of the climate and accommodations of the Cape of Good Hope: his remarks as a medical man, come in aid of those which have been suggested by politicians on the importance of this colony.

army or navy has died of disease contrac here, since the British forces arrived at

Cape (during a period of three years) whi I think clearly proves that no noxious quali exists in the air of this country, which has bee by some imagined, and erroneously blame as the cause of the malignity of the disorder and the many deaths that have occurred. the General Hospital. We must therefo look for other causes than those assigned.

climate and natural productions, so far fro Upon the whole, considering its situation being deemed unhealthy, it may more pr perly, in my opinion, be styled the Montp lier of the southern hemisphere.

The diseases which prevail among the so diers are: fever, dysentery and ulcers. Th principal causes seem to be the unlimited an

immoderate use of ardent spirits, want ( proper diet, cloathing and bedding.

Travellers who have visited this part of Africa for the purpose of investigating the The natural productions for the use of ma natural history of the country, speak with rap- perhaps exceed in variety most parts of ture of the salubrity of its air and natural world. At that season of the year whe productions. I think it will be found, upon great heat prevails, nature has made amp inquiry, to merit the most favourable opinion. provisions to lessen its influence on the hi The face of the country, for a considerable man body, by the abundance of sweet ac distance (except the land which forms the fruits (European and Tropical) of which i Cape) is rather low; but open, and well cul-stinct and our reason dictate the use. tivated, of a sandy and marly soil, which soon absorbs the rain, thereby preventing the noxious exhalations, so productive of sickness in hot climates. The air, except a few months, may be called temperate; the atmosphere is seldom loaded with moisture, but possesses a degree of elasticity not often felt in any other country; and although Fahrenheit's thermometer, during the summer months, ranges from 80 to 90, and frequently a considerable variation is suddenly experienced; yet from the dryness of the atmospheric air, and a brisk circulation of it being kept up by the prevailing south-east winds, the constitution suffers little from relaxation. Invalids from India, labouring under complaints of debility, the effect of great heat, soon recover their strength here, by the temperate and bracing air of the winter months; and a further proof of its salubrity, are the florid and healthy looks we perceive in the Dutch inhabitants, especially those who live in the country, and are not enervated by luxury and indolence; though it is remarked that there are not many instances of longevity among them, owing in a great measure to their habits and manuers of life, yet they are happily exempt from many of those endemic and epidemic diseases which rage in other parts of the world, and annually carry off great numbers. The small pox, measles, remittent, and intermittent fever, and that most fatal of all discases, the jail, hospital, or ship fever, which destroy. so many of the human species in every part of Europe, are never generated here, and are unknown, but when introduced; which, unfortunately for the natives, has sometimes happened. We likewise find, that neither the inhabitants or officers are attacked with the diseases which prevail among the soldiers; and it is a singular circumstance that not an officer of the

There is, no doubt, in the human body a constant tendency to putrescency; more el pecially in a hot climate, producing varion morbid appearances; and this tendency wil be increased in proportion to the nature an quality of our food. Men using much am mal food, without a due proportion of vegeta bles, soon contract diseases of a putrid nature and when assisted by that powerful agent and destructive poison, new brandy, which the soldiers have so much access to, cannot fail to produce such changes, both in the so lids and fluids, as to aggravate those diseases which, from other causes, have incidentally come on.

In a constitution thus previously prepared, it is easy to conceive, that the smallest scratch or wound will degenerate into an ulcer; and if seized with fever or dysentery, the worst termination may be expected.

I therefore consider the immoderate use of ardent spirits to be the great leading cause not only of disease, but those frequent punishments which have proved fatal to many of the soldiers, from the bad state of their constitutions, and foul air of the hospitals. In my printed letter already mentioned, I gave an instance of what happened in the southern province of India, when there was no arrack for the troops in camp. The sick considerably decreased, although the fatigue of duty was great, and the season unfavourable; but a few days after receiving a supply of that * November, December, January, and liquor from Calicut, the sick-list again reFebruary.

turned to its usual standard,

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