Wilhelm von Humboldt

Joseph John Freeman an Wilhelm von Humboldt, 30.01.1833

Antananarivo
30 Jan|uar|y 1833

To Baron Will.m Humbolt
&c &c &c
Sir,

I extremely regret that it has not been in my power to forward, at a much earlier period for your perusal & use, the accompanying documents.

I have copied the principal part of the Gram.r I drew up some time ago on the Malagasy language. I need not say, it is far from being perfect. It was drawn up with a vein of condensing & embodying the various rules & illustrations I had collected from time to time, – some of which were scattered about or fragments of paper as they occurred at the moment – and a great part was entrusted to my own memory with the intention of supplying illustrations whereever a convenient opportunity should present itself. I regard the Grammar at present as an outline – to be corrected confirmed, – illustrated or altered as may seem requisite, from future investigations. Such as it is, however, it may possibly afford some guidance & aid in your important & highly valuable theories on the comparison of the Malay languages or Dialects. I am not with|ou| t the hope, that you will find further confirmation of the vein you have entertained of the relative subsistence|?| between the Malagasy language & the original Malay. It is a point I am most anxious to see illustrated and I shall eagerly avail myself of the publication you refer to on the subject – & which I trust is by this time, issuing from the press, as I judge it to have been in a considerable state of forwardness at the time of the date of y|ou| r last favor, Sep.r 1830.

You have most diligently availed yourself Sir of the few means which you posessed |sic| for the Study of the Malagasy. You had not I suppose seen a narrative of a fourteen years residence|?| on the Island by Drury, a shipwrecked mariner. It was written several years ago, – but I think it bears internal marks of authenticity. It has no pretensions to science or to any value as a Literary Composition, but you would have found there also another Vocabulary which would have assisted a little|?| – with those you have named. Drury was a shipwrecked on the S. W. coast of Madagascar & his vocabulary relates principally to words used in that part of the Islands.

I have prepared to forward with this communication the Grammar as already mentioned – from the Verbs to the End – not however containing Syntax – for two reasons first, that various remarks occur on the course of the parts now sent illustrative of the leading principles on the Syntax of the language; – but secondly – I have not yet drawn out the Rules systematically. I have preferred making a pretty extensive collection of native compositions examining these & drawing up the rules – of I may be allowed the term, by induction, from those facts. Madagascar has been, ’till within the past four years without a written language. The few words who have written occasionally in the Malagasy language with the Arabic character, have been too few and I apprehend too unimportant to be considered exceptions to the remark. At any rate they could not be entitled to the phrase "Native compositions". – But Madagascar cannot be considered wholly destitute of materials. Its language is rich, extensive & philosophical, – and there around are the language innumerable native compositions – tho’ not hitherto reduced to writing; – they are traditional; – consisting of Legendary Rules, – historical reminiscences – Songs, – Proverbs – Repartees, – Salutations – Modes of addressing the Sovereign, – Solemn Oaths – &c &c These form the Stock, the material of the National unwritten literature. To rescue a portion of this, permits present fallacious & fugutive modes of perpetuation, is, I think a "pretium operis." Much that is more trash, – in an intellectual & moral view, – may thus be amassed|?|, – but some literary curiosities may be found also – & as the natives themselves say on such occasions, when a selection is made, – what pleases cannot you keep – & what displeases cannot you reject? At any rate, it is not to bring the native compositions to a Literary, so much as to a Grammatical test, that I collect and examine|?| them. They are the people’s own mode of thinking, and of expressing themselves – & from therefor |sic|, good criteria, on the case requiring their assistance. Should I be able to reduce the rules to Syntax within a reasonable time – so as to be likely to afford you any further aid on the prosecution of your Studies, it will afford me pleasure to transmit a copy of it, to place by the side of the Grammar.

I have endeavoured also to answer the various questions you were free enough to propose for Solution. Some of the answers are less fully illustrate than they might have been, had I not been aware at the time, that the Grammar would supersede such additional illustrating. The same remark may apply to the Observations made of the Analysis of a few verses from Matthew & a passage from Flacourt. Flacourts "Voyage" I have by me – with Rochon^[a].

I copied off for your amusement one or two pages of Native compositions. I think you will be able to construe them without difficulty.

With regard to the publication of a reimpression of Flacourts & Challans Vocabularies, it strikes me, with all reference to your own judgement, Sir, that such a work could be regarded only as a Literary curiosity – or may I say – Illustration of the Past state of the Malagasy language. I do not think it exists now, as in the time of Flacourt. The lapse of 150 or 180 yrs is very considerable in the progress of a language – the changes incidentally & unintentionally introduced are numerous; – still more so|?| where the custom has prevailed – & it has done in Madagascar and still does in some of its provinces|?| – of changing names – of places – persons & things on great & special occasions. I rely on your kindness & candour therefor |sic| to forgive me on suggesting – & I do not for a moment presume to do more than suggest, – that the publication of the above named vocabularies would but|?| be of extensive practical utility in assisting any person to allow a knowledge of the language now existing, I will not say only on Imerena^[b] but prevailing extensively through the Island, & likely to become the one metropolitan language of Madagascar. The above vocabularies bear no comparison (I have examined them in Mauritius,) with the collection we have made, – and which may lay the foundation of a Dictionary at some, not|?| very distant period.

I purpose forwarding with this, a copy of all that we have issued from our Press since my last communication. Of the Scriptures – you will find All the New Testament & a part of the Old – up to 1 Samuel – a few new Tracts and a hymnBk |sic|^[c] – which we use in the Native Congregation – who now assemble for Christian worship. Of the excellent "Oberlin" of the Ban de la Roche I presume you may have heard – it may interest you to see a Sketch of him which I drew up in this language, & is now circulated here as a Tract. So eminent a character I see|?| him a fair specimen of the Religion we wish to teach this people.

I have the honor to remain
Sir
Your most obliged & faithful Ser.t
J. J. Freeman


To Baron William Humbolt |sic| –
Berlin.