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sir william jones

The Works of Sir William Jones

First published 1799 · Jones's own printings in Asiatick Researches, vols. I–IV (Calcutta, 1788–95)
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contents

a discourse
On the Institution of a Society
When I was at sea last August, on my voyage to this country, which I had long and ardently desired to visit, I found one evening, on…
The Second Anniversary Discourse
If the Deity of the Hindus, by whom all their just requests are believed to be granted with singular indulgence, had proposed last year to…
the third discourse
On the Hindus
In the former discourses, which I had the honour of addressing to you, Gentlemen, on the institution and objects of our Society, I confined…
the fourth discourse
On the Arabs
I had the honour last year of opening to you my intention, to discourse at our annual meetings on the five principal nations, who have…
the fifth discourse
On the Tartars
At the close of my last address to you, Gentlemen, I declared my design of introducing to your notice a people of Asia, who seemed as…
the sixth discourse
On the Persians
I turn with delight from the vast mountains and barren deserts of Túràn, over which we travelled last year with no perfect knowledge of our…
the seventh discourse
On the Chinese
Although we are at this moment considerably nearer to the frontier of China than to the farthest limit of the British dominions in…
the eighth discourse
On the Borderers, Mountaineers, and Islanders of Asia
We have taken a general view, at our five last annual meetings, of as many celebrated nations, whom we have proved, as far as the subject…
the ninth discourse
On the Origin and Families of Nations
You have attended, gentlemen, with so much indulgence to my discourses on the five Asiatick nations, and on the various tribes established…
the tenth discourse
On Asiatick History, Civil and Natural
Before our entrance, gentlemen, into the disquisition, promised at the close of my ninth annual discourse, on the particular advantages,…
the eleventh discourse
On the Philosophy of the Asiaticks
Had it been of any importance, gentlemen, to arrange these anniversary dissertations according to the ordinary progress of the human mind,…
On the Orthography of Asiatick Words in Roman Letters
Every man; who has occasion to compose tracts on Asiatick Literature, or to translate from the Asiatick Languages, must always find it…
On the Gods of Greece, Italy, and India
We cannot justly conclude, by arguments preceding the proof of facts, that one idolatrous people must have borrowed their deities, rites,…
On the Chronology of the Hindus
The great antiquity of the Hindus is believed so firmly by themselves, and has been the subject of so much conversation among Europeans,…
A Supplement to the Essay on Indian Chronology
Our ingenious associate Mr. Samuel Davis, whom I name with respect and applause, and who will soon, I trust, convince M. Bailly, that it is…
Note to Mr. Vansittart's Paper on the Afghans
This account of the Afghàns may lead to a very interesting discovery. We learn from Esdras, that the Ten Tribes, after a wandering journey,…
On the Antiquity of the Indian Zodiack
I engage to support an opinion, (which the learned and industrious M. Montucla seems to treat with extreme contempt) that the Indian…
On the Literature of the Hindus
There are eighteen Vidya's, or parts of true Knowledge, and some branches of Knowledge falsely so called; of both which a short account…
On the Second Classical Book of the Chinese
The vicinity of China to our Indian territories, from the capital of which there are not more than six hundred miles to the province of…
The Lunar Year of the Hindus
Having lately met by accident with a wonderfully curious tract of the learned and celebrated Raghunandana, containing a full account of all…
On the Musical Modes of the Hindus
Musick belongs, as a Science, to an interesting part of natural philosophy, which, by mathematical deductions from constant phenomena,…
On the Mystical Poetry of the Persians and Hindus
A figurative mode of expressing the fervour of devotion, or the ardent love of created spirits toward their beneficent creator, has…
Gítagóvinda; or, the Songs of Jayadéva
‘The firmament is obscured by clouds; the woodlands are black with Tamála-trees; that youth, who roves in the forest, will be fearful in…
Remarks on the Island of Hinzuan or Johanna
HinzuˊAˊN (a name, which has been gradually corrupted into Anzuame, Anjuan, Juanny, and Johanna) has been governed about two centuries by a…