John Leyden (1775-1811): his life and works
Abstract
Leyden had written much competent verse and entertaining
prose, and he had done good work in Scottish literary antiquities;
but his main energies had been reserved for the distant
and obscure field of oriental philology. Therein, indeed, he
had laboured with a skill peculiar to himself and "a
superiority truly philosophical", seizing the grand features of
the languages of Asia and claraifying them "with an accuracy
altogether unequalled"; but his achievement was caviare to
the general, and too incomplete to provide a lasting basis for
his reputation, so that the name which his friends believed
immortal is now all but forgotten. Nevertheless, it "forms
his highest and peculiar eulogium to remember, that in the
course of eight years - in India, pursued by ill-health,
burdened by official duties, and distracted by diversity of
pursuits", he very nearly effected for Asia "a classification
of its various languages and their kindred Dialects."
"It Is not only in finished undertakings that we ought
to honour useful labour. A spirit goes out of the
ran ho moans execution, which outlives the most
untimely end."
So let it be with Leyden.