[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin) › [A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa) › 42.29.1 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.29.1 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 42.29.1 - **Language:** English ### [42.29.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.29.1) I have been obliged, Sir, to run over all that detail, in order to shew you a succession of men of parts, who never have objected to my English, whether in letters or in a pamphlet; and also in order to ask how it happens, that this same man in writing a book of history in eighteen sections, that is, in binding together eighteen pamphlets, should have chanced at once to write so very ill, that no less than twenty persons at table have declared that there was no reading two pages of it. Are not all those solecismes, and all those faults of grammar and syntax, owing to the carelessness of the impression? Or is it necessary that, in a cause which so deeply affects not only his credit, but very deeply his fortune, he should stand up to speak in his own praise, or at least to oppose to the opinion of twenty men, the testimonies of not twenty men, indeed, but of five men of parts, and a nameless one, who think advantageously of the work? The latter in particular, in writing to a friend at Patna, (and I saw his letter by mere chance) tells him that it is in good language, and that it does not read like a translation. Were I to add a few illustrious names, such as General Carnac's, Colonel Murray's, Mr. Chapman's, Mr. M'Kenzie's, and several others, Lucan's verse of Adversas-que Aquilas, et pila minantia pilis, might find its place here; and a file of Englishmen might be opposed to a file of Englishmen. - [Previous: 42.28.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.28.6) - [Next: 42.29.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.29.2) - [Up: 42.29](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.29) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.29.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.42.29.1) · Pramāṇa