HAMILTON. 295 or solicited by pleasure, devoted every leisure hour to honourable studies, and lived in the practice of every Christian virtue. He was born at Belfast, in the year 1753, and went out to India in 1769. From the com mencement of his military career, he zealously applied to the study of theoriental languages, and was early associated with those eminent characters, “the Asiatic Society esta blished at Calcutta.” The expedition against the Rohillas, was a subject of general interest, on which no one was so competent to afford information as Mr. Hamilton, who had been per sonally engaged in the service. Induced by various con siderations, he began the Rohilla history, and had already made some progress, when a more important object ar rested his attention. Amongst many magnificent literary plans, originating in the enlightened liberality of Mr. Hastings, was a proposal for translating from the Persian, the Hedaya, or, “Code of Mussulman Laws;” a stupendous undertaking, of which it was difficult to calculate the toil or predict the termination. Mr. Anderson, a member of the Asiatic Society, eminent for his knowledge of oriental literature, was the person first selected for the task; but the state of his health rendered his return to Europe necessary, and the governor and council transferred the office to his intimate and valued friend Mr. Hamilton; who considered that the leisure, ease, and tranquillity, so essential to the performance of this work, could only be enjoyed in England, and accordingly obtained permission for five years absence. It was nearly thirteen years since he landed in Asia, a solitary stranger, without patronage or protection;–now he was returning to his native country, and affectionate relatives, with reputation and distinction, acquired by intense application and unblemished conduct: with such reflections he beguiled the tedious voyage, nor would he descend to lament the waste of health and strength by which these honours had been purchased. On the 20th of December, 1786, Mr. Hamilton arrived at Ingram's Crook, Stirlingshire, the residence of h i s affec
