The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2) — John Shaqi
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)Beloe, William
General
The sexagenarian; or, the recollections of a literary life (Volume 2 of 2)
Beloe, William
Authors, English; Beloe, William, 1756-1817; English literature -- Anecdotes
On his return to his native country, his active spirit found various
opportunities of employment. He obtained a seat in Parliament, he was
confidentially employed in some important offices by government, and
having retained his situation in the army, refused to resign it, when he
might, without the smallest imputation on his honour, or his courage,
have retired. He accordingly joined his regiment in the Peninsula,
and distinguished himself as well by his personal exertions, as by
testimonies of diplomatic skill and acuteness.
But his constitution had long been shaken; he had never entirely
recovered his wonted energy, after his second expedition to the court of
Ava. He was engaged in the unfortunate expedition of Sir John Moore, and
though he survived the battle of Corunna, and got safe back to England,
he died very shortly afterwards, really exhausted by debility and
fatigue. He certainly was one of those personages, of whom some memorial
should be preserved, and as none have preceded the present, imperfect and
inadequate as this may be, it will be far, it is hoped, from rendering
him dishonour.
Ite nunc fortes ubi celsa magni
Ducit exempli via.
CHAPTER XIII.
With no less degree of familiarity, and with an equal portion of esteem,
is represented the name and character of the Ambassador from the East
India Company, to the court of the Teesho Lama, in Tibet. Materials for
biographical sketches, are in general easily collected, and when used
with skill, importantly contribute both to information and amusement. But
it rarely happens, that the writer or compiler of such sketches has the
advantage which our Sexagenarian possessed, of a personal intimacy with
so many individuals, of such various talents, pursuits, and employments.
With this last traveller the intercourse appears to have been frequent
and familiar, and it should seem that he had been consulted on the
subject of one of the most curious and interesting works in our language.
What had been vaguely and imperfectly represented of Bootan, Tibet, and
its Lama, had, till this work appeared, rather the character of Oriental
fiction, than of grave, sober, and accurate narrative. Fiction itself,
indeed, can hardly proceed further than is exemplified in the Tibetian
idea of their Lama, who though he never ceases to exist, withdraws
himself from the world, when the body, which he has vouchsafed to
inhabit, decays from age or disease, and at a proper interval, again
makes his appearance, by animating an infant; his presence in whom is
unequivocally ascertained by certain well-known and characteristic
symbols.
Few more important volumes than this communication on the subject of
Tibet, have appeared in modern times, and our Sexagenarian has not failed
to express himself with particular self-complacency from the circumstance
of having rendered some service in its publication.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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