Miscellaneous essays Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 Excerpt: ...in exact conformity to the rules delivered by Hindu writers who have treated of this subject,-f-That durable memorials have been usually framed to record other events or circumstances, there is no reason to suppose; and this consideration is sufficient to explain the comparative.frequency of monuments which recite royal grants. It was the interest, too, of persons holding possession under such grants, to be careful in the preservation of the evidence of their right. But this circumstance, while it accounts for the greater frequency of monuments of this description, suggests a reason for particular caution in admitting their genuineness. Grants may have been forged in support of an occupant's right, or of a claimant's pretensions. It will be, therefore, proper to bring a considerable portion of distrust and jealousy to the examination of any inscription on stone or metal, alleged to be ancient, and now possessed by persons who have any claims or pretensions under the grant which it contains. But no such cause of jealousy exists, where the monument in question favours no one's pretensions, and especially where it is accidentally discovered after being long buried. It is, indeed, possible, that such a monument, though now casually found, may have been originally a forgery. But even where that may be suspected, the historical uses of a monument fabricated so much nearer to the times to which it assumes to belong, will not be entirely superseded. The necessity of rendering the forged grant credible, would compel 'a fabricator to adhere to history, and conform to established notions: and the tradition, which prevailed in his time, and by which he must be guided, would probably be so much nearer to the truth, as it was less remote from the period which it concerne...