CL.

TO THE REV. D. BROWN.

MY DEAR SIR,

Cawnpore, Nov. 4, 1809.

Your last bungy parcel, containing Mahommed Rasheed's translation and letter, is just come to hand. I must own that I feel a little for poor Sabat on this occasion, and think that Rasheed's letter would engender choler in one of less bilious temperament. I dare not show him the papers, without preparing him for the shock, and mean to get the Epistle to the Romans fairly away to you before the commencement of the storm. Rasheed says that the translator has not a facility in writing Persian, hence his style is destitute of ease and elegance. Yet it is intelligible, and the work not absolutely good for nothing :-by no means, however, worthy of admiration. He says, that the translator of the divine books should aim at perspicuity, in which I agree with him; but perspicuity is not the only requisite; a certain portion of grace is desirable, and dignity indispensable. I am now about to mention Rasheed's own production, but I must keep a tight reign on myself, lest you should suppose I have imbibed Sabat's spirit, as it is probable I have in some degree. Is it possible that Mr. H. can approve such low, miserable, bazaar language? Where can Mahommed Rasheed show a book written in this style, except perhaps the Tooteh Nameh ! Did he ever read a letter written so meanly ?

Why, Sir, it appears to me below the style in which the Mahometans speak their Hindoostanee. He mentions Sadi, I think, as a writer of the simple kind. Let him produce any chapter in Sabat's work, that has half as many high Arabic words, as Sadi's preface to the Gulistan. If the Scriptures are to be given in this form, we need not be giving away three hundred rupees to Sabat. A moonshee at fifteen rupees per month will answer our purpose; nay, a Hindoo Cargater at five rupees. And this was your opinion, my dear Sir, you will remember, when I used to communicate my fears to you, that there was a redundance of Arabic. After all, I think it more than probable, that more Persian words would materially improve the work, and I shall endeavour to persuade Sabat to alter it accordingly. But we need never expect that he will come down to the point of depression which Rasheed would bring him to.

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Now, dearest Sir, you, or rather we, all are in a dilemma. Who shall decide? To make Sabat's scale preponderate, I will remind you of two things. First, the side on which Sabat errs, is the safer side. A mean style puts it in the power of every blockhead to ridicule it, though the words may be pure, and the rendering exact. Who can help smiling, sometimes, at good Wickliffe's simple language. * Secondly, The Mahometans are more affected with sound, than even the Greeks. They have no other argument for the truth of the Koran, but its eloquence. They are therefore accustomed to expect it in every divine book. By and bye, perhaps, when Persia shall become a Christian nation, and a synod of her bishops shall be held at Teheran, a translation more adapted to the capacity of the lower people will be deemed advis

able; but at first, their ridiculous prejudices require to be humoured, and we may do it innocently, we may become all things to all men, that we may gain some. I hope you will be able to find the Persians. Their opinion may have some weight with Sabat, but Rasheed's never will, if Sabat sees his translation. I hope you will cause my Hindoostanee to undergo a vigorous scrutiny, and get written opinions upon it. Sabat does not work half hard enough for me. I feel grieved and ashamed that we produce so little, but the fault is not mine. I would never willingly be employed about anything else, but Sabat has no ardour. The smallest difficulty discourages him, the slightest head-ache is an excuse for shutting up his books, and doing nothing for days. I make strong representations to him, which he does not take in good part, thinks my temper soured, and so on. It is a comfort, however, to me, for which I desire to be. thankful, that his temper is much better than it was.

CLI.

TO THE REV. D. BROWN.

DEAREST SIR,

Cawnpore, Nov. 14, 1809.

Mr. Grant's letter is really refreshing to me. I had no notion that he possessed such a tender spirit, and now I grieve that he is so old. Why cannot he put on fresh feathers, like the moulting eagle? 'This is the third brought up under my wing who hath taken a splendid flight before me.' Fine remark! and from the sovereign of Hindoostan.

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It appears that Dr. B.'s memoir has not been in vain, if four additional chaplains are to be sent. Sabat is gone off again to Lucknow.

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I dare not promise much from him, because there is no depending upon him. When he was safely in his palanquin commencing his journey, I put into his hands Rasheed's remarks, with an injunction not to open the parcel till he had crossed the river.

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I have just heard from Sabat. Among other remarks he says, 'Ah, and pity that a pearl should be set in the shop of an ironsmith!' 'They said that I am a beginner in Persian, which I spoke, sucking milk.'

Yours, ever affectionately,

H. MARTYN.

with you a little on some part of your letter, but it has probably all passed out of your mind long before this. Respecting my heart, about which you ask, I must acknowledge that H. Martyn's heart at Dinapore is the same as H. Martyn's heart at Cambridge. The tenor of my prayer is nearly the same, except on one subject, the conversion of the heathen. At a distance from the scene of action, and trusting too much to the highlycoloured description of missionaries, my heart used to expand with rapture at the hope of seeing thousands of the natives melting under the word as soon as it should be preached to them. Here I am called to exercise faith-that so it shall one day be. My former feelings on this subject were more agreeable, and at the same time more according with the truth; for if we believe the prophets, the scenes that time shall unfold, 'though surpassing fable, are yet true.' While I write, hope and joy spring up in my mind. Yes, it shall be; yonder stream of Ganges shall one day roll through tracts adorned with Christian churches, and cultivated by Christian husbandmen, and the holy hymn be heard beneath the shade of the tamarind. All things are working together to bring on the day, and my part in