'A Tour to Sheeraz by the Route of Kazroon amd Feerozabad with various Remarks on the Manners, Customs, Laws, Language and Literature of the Persians to which is added A History of Persia from the Death of Kureem Khan to the Subversion of the Zund Dynasty' [‎5] (29/362)

[ 5 ]
who boast of such excessive refinement. But since the aera of
Halhed and Sir William Jones, the existence of the precious manu
scripts of Sanscrit learning, has, like the chorus to a popular song,
been echoed from author to author, who, though entirely ignorant
of Sanscrit, have stamped with credibility a seemingly vague sup
position. For what production have we yet seen to justify these
extravagant praises ? That the Hindoos possess many valuable works
is extremely probable; but our being perpetually told so, without
one of these works being ever produced, is the most extraordinary
of all methods, to convince us of the truth of this assertion.
Unfortunately for the character and reputation of the Hindoo
religion and mythology, it has been tortured by etymologists, and
embellished by the ingenuity of fancy and of fiction ; yet whatever
it may have suffered in the purity and orthodoxy of its tenets, has
been amply compensated by the illustrations of erudition, and by
the powerful and persuasive assistance of poetry and of eloquence.
We must not, however, forget, that systems founded on etymologies,
and supported by solitary facts, are subject to one insurmountable
objection. If one etymology, maintained by the most recondite
learning, be proved erroneous, the whole system must inevitably
be fallacious; for etymologies on Eastern subjects are like the key
stone of an arch, upon whose stability and permanence depends
the existence of a vast superstructure. Sir William Jones, who
may certainly be considered a sufficient authority, protests strongly
against the licentiousness of etymologists; and yet the principles of
almost every author I have read on Eastern subjects, rest solely on
etymological conjecture.* Mr. Maurice, whose name must be
* There is hardly a word which, agreeable to the principles of Eastern etymologists, may not
be changed into any other. Thus mul may become lul, or nul, or nuny and possibly be the
means of discovering that England was peopled from India. Etymologies are usually brought in
support of systems, and ought not to be admitted upon questionable grounds, f
f See Mr. Gilchrist's Improved System of Indian Orthography, where the barbarous errors
of ignorant Europeans are adduced to support the licentiousness of etymologists.