পাতা:ব্যবস্থা-দর্পণঃ প্রথম খণ্ড.djvu/২৩

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XIX to which he has affixed annotations referring to passages of other works on the Hin lu. law, and rendering his version of peculiar utility to the student of the law of that side of India. A translation of the Dáyakrama-sangraha has been published by Mr. Wynch, who has judiciously adopted the version of the texts of the legislators and sages of antiquity cited therein from the works of Sir William Jones and Mr. Henry Colebrooke. The Institutes of Manu have been translated by Sir William Jones and Sir Graves Haughton into English, and by Monsieur Loiseleur Deslongchamps into French. The version by Jones has been generally considered as the masterpiece of that learned and elegant writer: those by Haughton and Deslongchaumps vary from it but slightly and no where importantly. There is another translation by one or two natives of the first three books of Manu, published in pamphlets, in which thc Sanscrit text is given in the Devanagree character, a literal translation in Bengalee, and Sir William Jones’ translation, with a revised translation in English. The Dattakaanimdinsa and Dattaka-chandrikdi have been translated by Mr. Sutherland; with useful notes after the manner of his illustrious uncle, Mr. Colebrooke. His version of these two standard works on adoption and the synopsis thereos, which he has appended to his translation, are emi nently uscful. A French translation of the Dattaka-chandrikā by Mr. Orianne, has also been published. A translation of the Vyavahtira kanda of Júgnyavalkya’s institutes by Dr. Roer and F. Montriou, Esq., barrister, has just appeared. This work is entitled “ Hindu Ilaw and Judicature,” and contains many explanatory and useful notes. Besides the abovementioned translations we have some original works on the Hindu law written in English. The chief of these are the “Considerations on the Hindu Law,” “ Elements of II indu Law,” and the “Principles and T’recedents of Hindu Law.” Sir Francis Macnaghten was the author of the Considerations on the Hindu Law, which consists of enunciation of principles,” seldom founded upon the authority of the law books, but generally colleeted from the then decided cases, such as ought, in his judgment, to be adopted, and such as ought, if adopted, to continue immutable. Those cases however were decided for the most part according to the opinions of Pandits, who are spoken of by hiin in the most disparaging terms, and to whom he says he was obliged to have recourse on points as they arose. Those principles have been illustrated copiously by arguments; and the decided cases from which those principles have been deduced are repeated over and over, and given in extenso. His chapter on adoption is the longest of all, occupying 122 pages, 42 of which are devoted to a criticism of, and severe reprehension on, a judgment of Sir Thomas Strange in a partieular case. The seventh chapter of the work in question is on contracts, and is couposed only of such texts so are set forth in Colebrooke's translation of the Digest of Jagannātha ; and the cighth and ninth chapters are for the most part translations from the Mittikshard. The Addendum and Appendix respect only the law of adoption. It is apparent from his writings that he had not the slightest knowledge of the Sanscrit language nor of the law books not translated into English. His work however is more useful than could be expected from an author who was possessed of such insufficient means, and who, moreover, commenced and finished it in one year." The Elements of Hindu Law was written by Sir Thomas Strange when Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Madras. Although he had no knowledge of the Sanscrit lnuguage,

  • “It is to be regretted,” says Mr Morley, “that the whole w ork is pervaded by a spirit of exaggerated selfestimation and unjust depreciation of every thing not consonaut with the author's professional prejudices.”