Oriental scholars of Europe in general, as well as by the learned of his own country. It was per haps the first publication on Eastern literature, which had an equal claim to elegance and erudition. This work was begun by Mr. Jones in 1766, and finished in 1769, when he was in his twentythird year: but with the same solicitude which he had exhibited on other occasions, to lay his compositions before the public in the greatest possible perfection, he had repeatedly submitted the manuscript to the examination and critical remarks of his learned friends. Their approbation of it was liberal and general: but the opinion of Dr. Parr on any subject of literature is decisive, and I select from a letter which he wrote to Mr. Jones in 1769, some passages, in which he expresses his admiration of the work. " "I have read your book De Poësi Asiaticâ with "all the attention that is due to a work so studi'ously designed, and so happily executed. The "observations are just and curious, and equally "free from indiscriminate approbation, licentious censure, and excessive refinement. Through the "hurry of the first composition, the same expres"sion frequently occurs, and sentences begin in "the same manner, and now and then two words "are improperly combined. "These inaccuracies are very rare, and very trifling. On the whole, there is a purity, an ease, an elegance in the style, which shew an accurate and most perfect knowledge of the "Latin tongue. Your Latin translations in verse gave me great satisfaction. I am uncommonly "charmed with the idyllium, called Chrysis. "The flow of the verses, the poetic style of the "words, and the elegant turn of the whole poem, "are admirable. "On the whole, I have received infinite enter"tainment from this curious and learned performance, and I look forward with pleasure, to the great honour such a publication will do our "country." It will readily be supposed, that, in the interval between the date of the letter and the publication of the Commentaries, Mr. Jones had not neglected to make the corrections suggested by the criticisms of his learned correspondent; and that such further emendations were adopted, as the growing maturity of his own judgment pointed out. In the preface to the Commentaries, Mr. Jones mentions and laments the death of Dr. Sumner, in terms which strongly mark his affection for the memory of his respected friend and instructor, who died in September 1771 : "There never was a man more worthy of being "remembered, for his talents, integrity, admirable disposition, amiable manners, and exquisite learning; in the art of instructing, I never knew 46 66 any master equal to him; and his cheerfulness "and sweetness were such, that it is difficult to say, "whether he was most agreeable to his friends or his pupils. In Greek and Latin literature he 46 I was deeply versed: and although, like Socrates, he "wrote little himself, no one had more acuteness 66 or precision in correcting the faults, or in point ing out the beauties of others; so that if fortune "or the course of events, instead of confining his "talents to a school, had placed him at the bar, "or in the senate, he would have contested the prize of eloquence with the ablest orators of "his own country, where only this art is successfully cultivated. For if he did not possess all the qualities of an orator in perfection, he had each "of them in a great degree. His voice was clear "and distinct, his style polished, his expression fluent, his wit playful, and his memory tenahis eyes, his countenance, his action, in short, were rather those of a Demosthenes than "of an ordinary speaker; in short, we may say of "him what Cicero said of Roscius, that whilst he "seemed the only master qualified for the educa"tion of youth, he seemed at the same time, the "only orator capable of discharging the most important functions of the state." 46 "cious; Those who had the good fortune to receive their tuition under Dr. Sumner, will not think this eulogium exaggerated, and must read with pleasure a testimony, which their own recollection confirms*. The *The following epitaph, said to be composed by Dr. Parr, is inscribed on the monument of Dr. Sumner, at Harrow on the Hill: H. S. E. ROBERTUS SUMNER, S. T. P. The dedication of his Commentaries to the University of Oxford, which he pronounced "would be the most illustrious of all universities, "as long as she remained the most free," was a pleasing proof of his gratitude to his alma mater; and he concludes the preface with some animated thoughts, which I shall endeavour to convey, Archididascalus. Fuit huic præstantissimo viro Ingenium naturâ peracre, optimarum disciplinis artium sedulò excultum, Usu diuturno confirmatum, et quodam modo subactum: Nemo enim Aut in reconditis sapientiæ studiis illo Aut humanioribus literis limafior. Insuper accedebant In sententiis, vera ac perfecta eloquentia ; Et gravitate insuper aspersa urbanitas; Vitæ denique ratio constans sibi, et ad severèque exacta, Omnibus qui vel amico essent eo, Doctrinæ, ingenii, virtutis justum reliquit desiderium, Subita, eheu! atque immaturâ morte correptus, Prid. Id. Septemb. Anno Domini M,DCC,LXXI. Etat. suæ 41. with the full consciousness, at the same time, of the imperfection of my attempt. "Whether this work will please the French, or "their admirers, is to me of little concern, provided "it prove acceptable to my country, and to that "renowned University, in which I received my "education; with a view to the honour of both, "these Commentaries were undertaken and com"pleted; nor is there any wish so near to my heart, "as that all my labours, past or future, may be "useful and agreeable to them. I lament, indeed, "the necessity which compels me to renounce the "pursuit of polite literature: but why do I say, "lament? let me rather rejoice, that I am now "entering upon a career, which will supply ampler "and better opportunities of relieving the oppres"sed, of assisting the miserable, and of checking "the despotic and tyrannical. "If I am asked, who is the greatest man? I answer the best; and if I am required to say, "who is the best? I reply, he that has deserved "most of his fellow-creatures. Whether we de"serve better of mankind by the cultivation of "letters, by obscure and inglorious attainments, by intellectual pursuits calculated rather to "amuse than inform, than by strenuous exertions " in speaking and acting, let those consider who bury themselves in studies unproductive of any "benefit to their country, or fellow-citizens. I "think not. I have been long enough engaged "in preparatory exercises, and I am now called 66 L "to |