in of his materials, and many of his sceptical conclusions as to the antiquity of Indian astronomy are chiefly owing to his never having come into possession of ancient and accurate copies of the leading astronomical writers. Besides his Sanskrit MSS. he has left behind him a number of miscellaneous papers, containing translations from the originals, and astronomical calculations, which are only partially embodied in his well-known work on Hindu Astronomy. Mr. Bentley died in 1824, and his MSS. then came into the possession of the late Dr. Mill, from whose executors they were acquired for Trinity College, in 1858.
The description of the four Pali MSS. on pp. 83-87, was made by Dr. Best, the learned Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society. Mr. Aldis Wright, the Librarian of Trinity College, has taken a very active part in the preparation of the present work, and the friends of Sanskrit Literature are indebted to him for the assistance given in the unearthing of one of the treasures lying hidden in this country.
