manners is gradually making changes in India.  The natives, so far as their religion will allow them, are become fond of Europeans, and invite them to their great festivals.  He has a conceit that the Afghans are the remains of the Ten Tribes.  I cannot find he has a better reason than their own tradition, which calls them Ben-Israel, and says they are not Ben-Judah.  They have Jewish rites and ceremonies, but so have all Mahometans; neither could I understand that their language has anything peculiar.  The worship of Bhoodah he conceives to have [been] an original, or rather the original, of Hindu religion, until the Brahmins introduced the doctrines respecting caste and other peculiarities.  But it would require strong proof to show that the superstition of caste could be introduced into a country which had been long peopled, and where society had long existed without such restriction.  It is more like to be adopted in the early history of a tribe, when there are but few individuals, the descent of whom is accurately preserved.  How could the castes be distinguished or told off in a populous nation?  Dr. Marshman was an old friend of poor John Leyden.

January 30.—­Blank day at Court, being the Martyrdom.  Wrought hard at Bon. all day, though I had settled otherwise.  I ought to have been at an article for John Lockhart, and one for poor Gillies; but there is something irresistible in contradiction, even when it consists in doing a thing equally laborious, but not the thing you are especially called upon to do.  It is a kind of cheating the devil, which a self-willed monster like me is particularly addicted to.  Not to make myself worse than I am though, I was full of information about the Russian campaign, which might evaporate unless used, like lime, as soon after it was wrought up as possible.  About three, Pitfoddels called.  A bauld crack that auld papist body, and well informed.  We got on religion.  He is very angry with the Irish demagogues, and a sound well-thinking man.[458] Heard of Walter and Jane; all well, God be praised!

By a letter from Gibson I see the gross proceeds of

Bonaparte, at eight volumes, are L12,600 0 0
Discount, five months, 210 0 0
                                            -----------
                                            L12,390 0 0
          
                                  ===========

I question if more was ever made by a single work, or by a single author’s labours, in the same time.  But whether it is deserved or not is the question.

January 31.—­Young Murray, son of Mr. M., in Albemarle Street, breakfasted with me.  English boys have this advantage, that they are well-bred, and can converse when ours are regular-built cubs.  I am not sure if it is an advantage in the long-run.  It is a temptation to premature display.