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iv It remains a subject of regret, that talents so rare, should have been devoted to the promotion of a religion scarcely less replete with error, than that which it supplanted: but we may draw this practical conclusion from Beschi's success. that a thorough acquaintance, with Hindoo learning and a ready compliance, in matters of indifference, with Hindoo customs, are powerful human means, to which the Jesuits owed much of their success, and which should not, as is too much the case, be despised by those who undertake the task of conversion in a better cause. Viramamooni continued to hold the office of Divan, in Trichinopoly, until the year 1740; when that city being besieged by the Mahratta army, under Morary Rao, and Chunda Saheb being taken prisoner, he contrived to effect his escape, and filed to the city of Gayal Patanam, then belonging to the Dutch. He there remained, in the service of the church, until 1742, when he was carried off by an illness, the particulars of which are not stated. His name is still remembered in Gayal Patanam, and massess continue to be offered up for the salvation of his soul, in that city and its neighbourhood." It will be gratifying to our readers to know that Maharaja Serfoji was keenly interested in the study of Tamil and of the contribution of western savants towards spreading the understanding of Tam l, as is evidenced by the Raja's collection of several works of Viramamunivar for his private library which is preserved in Sarasvati Mahal. Though much in demand, the work has been out of print for more than a century and quarter. There is an earlier translation in English of this work by Christopher Henry Horst to which a reference is made by George William Mahon in the preface to his translation. On the
