“A viro laudato laudari pulchrum est,” &c.
Beyond this solitary honour Csoma declined all others [[118]]which the Societies of Europe and Asia sought to confer on him. He cannot, however, deny himself the title, so says a writer, “of an indefatigable student, a profound linguist, and of a man who devoted his life to the cause of learning, regardless of any of its popular and attractive rewards, and anxious only for the approbation of posterity.”[2] [[119]]
[2] See “Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal,” 1834, p. 655. [↑]
CHAPTER IX.
The Tibetan Grammar and Dictionary are published at Government expense—Mr. Prinsep’s letter to Government—Prince Eszterházy to Mr. Prinsep—Mr. Döbrentei of Pest to the same.
Csoma’s principal effort was now directed towards the issuing of his Grammar and Dictionary from the press. This was finally accomplished in January 1834, and the fact was notified to Mr. Macnaughtan, the Secretary to Government, on the 5th of that month by Mr. Prinsep giving a detailed account of all the circumstances connected with these works. In that letter is found a summary of the pecuniary aid which the author had received from the Indian Government for the previous fourteen years, that is, since the 14th of October 1820, when, on his arrival at Teheran, Csoma applied to Major, afterwards Sir Henry Willock, for help and protection. This the recipient gratefully acknowledges in the Preface to the Tibetan Dictionary. The flattering distinction which Csoma had just obtained from the Asiatic Society by being elected an Honorary member, was doubtless highly gratifying to such highly sensitive feelings as his; but his systematic silence and reserve in regard to everything that concerned himself deprive us of the opportunity of being partakers of such pleasures as occasionally cheered his toilsome career. We miss also many details of events and incidents such as always constitute an attractive charm in a biographical sketch like the present.
The above-mentioned letter of Mr. Prinsep’s, announcing [[120]]to Government the completion of Csoma’s works, reflects honour, not only on the achievements of the indefatigable scholar, but also on the authorities for their long-continued generosity. It likewise does credit to Mr. Prinsep himself from the graphic description his report contains of the various details and of the difficulties that had to be overcome.