Volume 2

The history of Hindostan; its arts, and its sciences, as connected with the history of the other great empires of Asia ... / By the author of Indian antiquities [T. Maurice].

  • Thomas Maurice
Date:
1795-1798[-1799]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of Hindostan; its arts, and its sciences, as connected with the history of the other great empires of Asia ... / By the author of Indian antiquities [T. Maurice]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/372 (page 5)
    sklerable part of this vast and interesting liistory has been long written by me, but disquisitions thought by my friends more im- portant have superseded its appearance. The event has justilied their advice; and the learned reader who may have perused the ingenious and elaborate, but dangerous, work of M. Dupuis, on the Origin of all Religions, alluded to in the preface to the former part, a work comprized in three large quarto volumes, with two additional volumes of plates, illustrative of his chim.-cras, must be convinced of the necessity which existed of the previous appearance of a work like mine; however inferior in point of execution. He will tlicre see with what determined hostility the noble science of astronomy, which I have endea- voured to render subservient to the cause of Christianity, has been employed on the Continent to subvert, and, if possible, to eradi- cate it from the earth. For denominating, as I have done, in the subsequent pages, the Indian prince, who most vigorously opposed Alexander, Paurava, I beg permission to produce the authority of Sir William Jones, in a letter addressed to me, from Bengal, on my first making known to him my intention of commencing this History, and soliciting his support and patronage in India. As it is not long, I insert it unabridged, except in that part which confided to me the opinion which I ought to entertain, but which I shall never divulge, of certain persons who have not since proved the most zealous friends to my literary labours, v^fter several years of unwearied applica- tion, those labours are for the present closed; and, from some recent exertions in my favour, which I am bound, by gratitude, thus publicly to acknowledge, my friends will rejoice to hear that there is a fair prospect that the remainder of my checquered life shall glide down in lettered ease and honourable independence. British Musexim, SOth March, 1799.