DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0344
320 Life of Mountstuart Elphinstone. ca. x.
afraid I have generally left the difficnlties where I found them,
while, like a good commentator, I have furnished you with
elaborate explanations of everything that was clear before.’
(To Sir John Malcolm.)
‘ Poona, September 11, 1816.
‘ My dear Malcolm,—I have several letters of yours to
answer, and many thanks to give you for your frequent letters
at the time when my book was coming out, and when it was so
interesting to me to hear how things were going on; but I must
first discharge the task you have imposed on me of criticising
your book.
‘ It is of course my principal business to point out the defects,
as the beauties require no alteration; but I cannot help saying
how much I was delighted with the production. It possesses in
an eminent degree the knowledge of human nature and of Asia,
which is the fundamental quality of an historian of Persia ; and
to this it adds proof of great research, and of a talent for pre-
senting the cha.racters, manners, and actions of nations and of
individuals in the most animated and interesting forms. We
now possess aclear, complete, intelligible, credible, and readable
history of Persia in all ages—a work which it required a union
of so many qualities to produce, that I scarcely ever expected to
have seen it accomplished.
‘ Notwithstanding the great size of the'book and the charac-
teristic monotony of Asiatic history, I never for a moment felt
the volume too long. I read it with always increasing interest,
and finished it with regret. The fabulous and heroic times
were very difficult to manage, and have been extremely well
executed. Grreat good sense is shown in weighing the scanty
authorities and in reducing the fables to rational dimensions.
I was particularly interested by the seventh chapter, which
shows great learning, ingenuitv, and judgment. The view of
the government and manners of the ancient Persians, and the
estimate of their merit, is very complete ; and the scepticism
with wliich their supposed prosperity and civilisation are ex-
afraid I have generally left the difficnlties where I found them,
while, like a good commentator, I have furnished you with
elaborate explanations of everything that was clear before.’
(To Sir John Malcolm.)
‘ Poona, September 11, 1816.
‘ My dear Malcolm,—I have several letters of yours to
answer, and many thanks to give you for your frequent letters
at the time when my book was coming out, and when it was so
interesting to me to hear how things were going on; but I must
first discharge the task you have imposed on me of criticising
your book.
‘ It is of course my principal business to point out the defects,
as the beauties require no alteration; but I cannot help saying
how much I was delighted with the production. It possesses in
an eminent degree the knowledge of human nature and of Asia,
which is the fundamental quality of an historian of Persia ; and
to this it adds proof of great research, and of a talent for pre-
senting the cha.racters, manners, and actions of nations and of
individuals in the most animated and interesting forms. We
now possess aclear, complete, intelligible, credible, and readable
history of Persia in all ages—a work which it required a union
of so many qualities to produce, that I scarcely ever expected to
have seen it accomplished.
‘ Notwithstanding the great size of the'book and the charac-
teristic monotony of Asiatic history, I never for a moment felt
the volume too long. I read it with always increasing interest,
and finished it with regret. The fabulous and heroic times
were very difficult to manage, and have been extremely well
executed. Grreat good sense is shown in weighing the scanty
authorities and in reducing the fables to rational dimensions.
I was particularly interested by the seventh chapter, which
shows great learning, ingenuitv, and judgment. The view of
the government and manners of the ancient Persians, and the
estimate of their merit, is very complete ; and the scepticism
with wliich their supposed prosperity and civilisation are ex-