'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎593] (674/730)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
593
which occurred in the reign of his son, Shah Sultan Hussein, have chap. xv.
been minutely recorded by a Polish missionary* of learning and
observation, who was at Isfahan during the greater part of the
time of which he writes, and who had the best opportunities of
obtaining the most accurate information. The Memoir of this
author is corroborated by a valuable Persian manuscript f; and
it has received additional authenticity from being adopted as a
correct narration of facts, by an English traveller J, who visited
* The name of this missionary was Father Krusinski. He was procurator to the
Jesuits, and associated in a negotiation at the Court of Persia with the Bishop of Isfa
han, who was accredited by the pope, and had letters from several princes of Europe.
Krusinski was at Isfahan twenty years, and resided there till the year 1725.
t Manuscript of Shaikh Mahomed Aly Hazeen.
x Jonas Hanway, the author to whom I allude, was born in 1712. He became a
partner in a commercial house at Petersburgh, and went from that into Persia: the loss
of some goods led him to the Court of Nadir Shah, with whose history and character
he became intimately acquainted. He also made himself master of all the events that
had preceded that tyrant's usurpation. In 1753, when he retired to England, he pub
lished his Travels. He was the author of several other works. Both his writings and
his actions show that he was a man of extraordinary activity of mind, and of the most
singular virtue and benevolence. He was the chief founder of the Marine Society.
The Magdalen Charity, which was projected by his partner, Mr. Dingley, was prin
cipally indebted to his active virtue for its establishment. To him may be traced
many of our best parish regulations that relate to the care of children ; and the first
establishment of Sunday schools originated with Jonas Hanway. His efforts to do
good were eminently successful, because all his projects were practical, and every class
of his poor countrymen were objects of his benevolence. He endeavoured to alle
viate the condition of chimney-sweepers, a race too generally despised. It is to the
honour of the merchants of London, that they evinced their respect and veneration for
this excellent man, by the most uncommon mark of attention. We are told by the
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. of his life, that " his fellow citizens entertained such a sense of his merits, that,
vol. i. 4 g