enclose his verses to you, with a hasty translation, on the back of the paper, of the best couplets. The smaller volume contains part of the epic poem, which is written with enthusiasm; and the other volume is filled with odes and elegies, all in the old man's writing: he is married to immortal verse; and his highest ambition is, to be an atom in one of your sun beams. CI. To John Macpherson, Esq. May, 1785. THE ornament of the faith, (for that is the bard's name) Zainudeen, will wait upon you on Wednesday his style of compliments is moderate, in comparison of most Oriental compositions; other poets of this country would have entreated you not to ride on horseback, lest you should cause an earthquake in India when you mounted. This was actually said to a prince at Delhi, who pleasantly bade the poet comfort himself; and assured him, that he would ever after go in a palanquin. CII. To John Macpherson, Esq. May 26, 1785. THE regulation which you made concerning the Madrissa,* is so salutary, that few things would grieve me more than to see it frustrated. Your predecessor has often mentioned to me, the high opinion which he had formed of the rector; but (I The passages in these letters relating to the Madrissa, or college, as an establishment of national importance, merits a more particular explanation. Mr. Hastings, whilst he held the office of governor-general, with a view to promote the knowledge of Mohammedan law, as essential to the due administration of justice to the natives of India, had established a college at Caleutta, in which native students were admitted and taught at the public expense. This institution was dictated by a wise policy: it was calculated to conciliate the affections of the Mussulmans, and to insure a succession of men properly qualified by education to expound the law of the Coran, and to fill the important offices of magistrates in the courts of justice. The president of this college had been selected with every attention to his character and ability; but, some representations having been made to his disadvantage, the succeeding governor-general, J. Macpherson, Esq. consulted sir William Jones, on the regulations proper to be established for promoting the laudable objects of the institution, and controlling its conduct. know not for what reason) he is very unpopular.Perhaps it is only faction, too common in most colleges at our universities, of the students against the head. It is a remark of Johnson's, that as spiders would make silk, if they could agree together; so men of letters would be useful to the public, if they were not perpetually at variance. Besides my approbation, as a good citizen, of your regulations, I have a particular interest in the conduct of Muj- duddeen, who is Maulavy+ of the court, and, as such, ought to be omni exceptione major: I believe, from my conversation with him, that he is not a man of deep learning; but his manners are not unpleasing. The proposal which you make, cannot but produce good effects; but I hardly know any member of our society, who answers your description for a visitor under your directions, except Mr. Chambers, and his report might be depended on. I will, if you please, propose it on Thursday. The students brought a complaint before me last term, which I dismissed, as not being within my cognizance, that their allowances were taken by the head, who left them without subsistence; but whether this be true or false, it will not be amiss for the Maulavy to know, that he is subject to visitation from time to time. If the best intentions can insure safety, you have nothing to apprehend; but alas! my friend, if you can be safe only in fixed unanimous opinions of statute law, you can seldom, I fear, act with perfect Originally Reaumur's. t Expounder of the Mohammedan law. confidence. Such is the imperfection of human language, that few written laws are free from ambiguity; and it rarely happens that many minds are united in the same interpretation of them. A statesman told lord Coke, that he meant to consult him on a point of law. "If it be common law," said Coke, "I should be ashamed if I could not give you a ready answer; but if it be statute law, I should be equally ashamed if I answered you immediately." I will here only set down a few rules of interpretation, which the wisdom of ages has established, where the sense of the words is at all ambiguous. 1. The intention of the writer must be sought, and prevail over the literal sense of terms; but penal laws must be strictly expounded against offenders, and liberally against the offence. 2. All clauses, preceding or subsequent, must be taken together, to explain any one doubtful clause. 3. When a case is expressed to remove any doubt, whether it was included or not, the extent of the clause, with regard to cases not so expressed, is by no means restrained. 4. The conclusion of a phrase is not confined to the words immediately preceding, but usually extended to the whole antecedent phrase. These are copious maxims, and, with half a dozen more, are the stars by which we steer in the construction of all public and private writings. CIII. To John Macpherson, Esq. Court House, July. We have just convicted a low Hindu of a foul conspiracy, which would have ended in perjury, and (as his own law-giver says) in every cause of damnation. If richer men were of the plot, I hope our court will escape the reproach of the satirist, that "laws resemble cobwebs, which catch flies, and let the wasps break through." CIV. To John Macpherson, Esq. August 14, 1785. I GIVE you my hearty thanks, my dear sir, for the history of the Roman Republic, which I read with particular pleasure. Looking over my shelves the other day, I laid my hand on the annexed little book, ascribed to sir |