[1] Argyll Street London
15 Jany 1823
Dear Sir
I have for sometime been postponing from day to day the pleasure of addressing you, in daily expectation of announcing to you the transmission of the 14th volume of Asiatic Researches. I have now the satisfaction of saying that the Asiatic Societyʼs bookseller has the requisite directions to forward a copy to your address in the manner you desired through Boehte.
You will find this volume nearly filled with Geographical and Geodesical details; besides some speculations of a veteran in antiquarian researches after the manner of the old school of antiquaries (Col. Wilford.)
I have much gratification in being enabled to report to you that progress has been recently made towards instituting an Asiatic Society of London for the promotion of Oriental researches in Science, Literature and the Arts; & for communication of European improved science & arts to the East. I shall have the honor of sending to you the plan of it, when printed, which will better explain the objects of the institution. The purpose, shortly stated, is to investigate the past and assist the future; and every way to promote science & useful arts –
[2] Should you vouchsafe us the favour of a visit next summer, as you have given reason to expect, you will find Oriental Studies in greater estimation & more attended to here, than they have of late been. Without entertaining very sanguine expectations, I do think, that a rallying point was wanting; and as that is now furnished by the institution of a society of Orientalists, something may now be achieved. We shall probably publish a volume of Transactions from time to time.
I hope your printing press continues to proceed to your satisfaction. It surely is a laborious task to compose in person. I have been partial to the logographic mode of printing, as well adapted to Devanagari; and it was by my suggestion it was tried in the printing presses at Calcutta & Serampore: & I thought it answered well. I continue partial to that method, in preference to any other system of movable types. But, in India, I might perhaps now prefer Lithography with the aid of good scribes.
The philosophical writings of the Hindus well deserve your attention. I hope you will advance from the Bhagvatgítá to a higher order of works, & to the text on standard compositions in the several systems of Indian metaphysics. Very little has been yet done to illustrate this branch of inquiry.
I am glad to learn that you think of publishing on Sanscrit grammar. I could wish to see a complete grammar of the Language including etymology, whether by inflection or composition, and syntax, on which Sanscrit treatises are not wanting. It was once my intention [3] to have developed the whole of the system according to the Indian method, one volume of which you have seen: it would have been completed in another, the greater part of which I had ready for the press. I am more than half inclined to regret, that I did not complete the publication. With such materials for reference, it would have been easy to prepare compendious treatises & abridged forms of instruction, without fear of error. It is however now too late to resume the task.
Wishing you entire success in whatever study you direct your attention to, I am
with great regard
Your very obedt Servt
H. T. Colebrooke
[4] M. A. W. De Schlegel
Bonn
Prussian Dominions
Feby 24
1823
Bohte
London
JH
15 Jany 1823
Dear Sir
I have for sometime been postponing from day to day the pleasure of addressing you, in daily expectation of announcing to you the transmission of the 14th volume of Asiatic Researches. I have now the satisfaction of saying that the Asiatic Societyʼs bookseller has the requisite directions to forward a copy to your address in the manner you desired through Boehte.
You will find this volume nearly filled with Geographical and Geodesical details; besides some speculations of a veteran in antiquarian researches after the manner of the old school of antiquaries (Col. Wilford.)
I have much gratification in being enabled to report to you that progress has been recently made towards instituting an Asiatic Society of London for the promotion of Oriental researches in Science, Literature and the Arts; & for communication of European improved science & arts to the East. I shall have the honor of sending to you the plan of it, when printed, which will better explain the objects of the institution. The purpose, shortly stated, is to investigate the past and assist the future; and every way to promote science & useful arts –
[2] Should you vouchsafe us the favour of a visit next summer, as you have given reason to expect, you will find Oriental Studies in greater estimation & more attended to here, than they have of late been. Without entertaining very sanguine expectations, I do think, that a rallying point was wanting; and as that is now furnished by the institution of a society of Orientalists, something may now be achieved. We shall probably publish a volume of Transactions from time to time.
I hope your printing press continues to proceed to your satisfaction. It surely is a laborious task to compose in person. I have been partial to the logographic mode of printing, as well adapted to Devanagari; and it was by my suggestion it was tried in the printing presses at Calcutta & Serampore: & I thought it answered well. I continue partial to that method, in preference to any other system of movable types. But, in India, I might perhaps now prefer Lithography with the aid of good scribes.
The philosophical writings of the Hindus well deserve your attention. I hope you will advance from the Bhagvatgítá to a higher order of works, & to the text on standard compositions in the several systems of Indian metaphysics. Very little has been yet done to illustrate this branch of inquiry.
I am glad to learn that you think of publishing on Sanscrit grammar. I could wish to see a complete grammar of the Language including etymology, whether by inflection or composition, and syntax, on which Sanscrit treatises are not wanting. It was once my intention [3] to have developed the whole of the system according to the Indian method, one volume of which you have seen: it would have been completed in another, the greater part of which I had ready for the press. I am more than half inclined to regret, that I did not complete the publication. With such materials for reference, it would have been easy to prepare compendious treatises & abridged forms of instruction, without fear of error. It is however now too late to resume the task.
Wishing you entire success in whatever study you direct your attention to, I am
with great regard
Your very obedt Servt
H. T. Colebrooke
[4] M. A. W. De Schlegel
Bonn
Prussian Dominions
Feby 24
1823
Bohte
London
JH
