2

THE DECLINE AND FALL

CHAP.

LXV.

his secretaries : 8 the authentic narrative was re-vised by the persons best informed of each par-ticular transaction; and it is believed in theempire and family of Timour, that the monarchhimself composed the commentaries b of his life,and the institutions c of his government/* Butthese cares were ineffectual for the preservationof his fame, and these precious memorials in theMogul or Persian language were concealed fromthe world, or at least from the knowledge of Eu-rope . The nations which he vanquished exer-cised a base and impotent revenge; and ignor-

a These journals were communicated to Sherefeddin, or Cherefed-din Ali, a native of Yezd, who composed in the Persian language a his-tory of Timour Beg, which has been translated into French by M. Petitde la Croix (Paris , 1722, in 4 vols. 12mo), and has always been myfaithful guide. His geography and chronology are wonderfully accu-rate ; and he may be trusted for public facts, though he servilely praisesthe virtue and fortune of the hero. Timour’s attention to procure in-telligence from his own and foreign countries may be seen in the Insti.tutions, pp. 215, 217, 319, 351.

6 These commentaries are yet unknown in Europe ; but Mr. Whitegives some hope that they may be imported and translated by his friendMajor Davy, who had read in the East this “ minute and faithful nar-“ rative of an interesting and eventful period.”

c I am ignorant whether the original institution, in the Turkish orMogul language, be still extant. The Persic version, with an English translation and a most valuable index, wa3 published (Oxford, 1783, in4to), by the joint labours of Major Davy, and Mr. White, the Arabic professor. This work has been since translated from the Persic intoFrench (Paris, 1787) by M. Langles, a learned Orientalist , who hasadded the life of Timour, and many curious notes.’

11 Shaw Allum, the present Mogul, reads, values, but cannot imitate,the institutions of his great ancestor. The English translator relies ontheir internal evidence ; but if any suspicion should arise of fraud andfiction, they will not be dispelled by Major Davy’s letter. The Orien-tals have never cultivated the art of criticism; the patronage of aprince, less honourable perhaps, is not less lucrative than that of abookseller; nor can it be deemed incredible, that a Persian , the realauthor , should renounce the credit, to raise the value and price of thework.