allotted; but you will admire the principle upon which the laws of thefe new Chriftians in this cafe proceeds. It throws the crime of poverty into the scale, which inftantly fettles the balance.

Even when poverty conftitutes the fole offence, nothing is more equitable than the punishments which proceed in regular gradation, and correspond in exact proportion to the degree in which the crime exifts. For inftance, within the maffy walls of this prifon, whose iron gates open to receive the reeking murderer, the midnight thief, and all thofe miferable out cafts of 'fociety, who, loft to every principle of fhame, every feeling of humanity, have funk into all the brutality of vice; thofe guilty of the crime of poverty, are likewife immerfed. But think not that they are all equally wretched. No; those who can afford to defraud their creditors, are fuffered by these wife legiflators, to live in a degree of luxury. Those who can fave enough from the wreck of former times, to pay for their accommodation, may ftill enjoy fome comparative degree of comfort. Bút, it is those wretches who have loft their all, and are alike deftitute of friends and fortune-it is they who are doomed to fuffer the bitterness of confinement, in all its horrors.

It is true, that fome who follow the old fyftem of Chriftianity, as it was taught by Jefus Chrift and his Apoftles, by whom poverty is not confidered as fo unpardonable a crime, have exerted their endeavours for relieving the fufferings of their fellow-creatures, who for fmall fums, are fhut up in these dreary abodes of wretchednefs. But notwithftanding their endeavours, notwithftanding the zealous efforts, the heart-touching remonftrances of one of thofe Chriftians of the old fchool, who devoted his life to the children of misfortune*; ftill in these prifons, many thoufands of the inhabitants of this land of freedom, are left to pine out a miferable existence, alike useless to themfelves and to fociety. Many, at whofe birth the voice of congratulation has been raised, and over whose infant forms the tears of parental tenderness have been fondly fhed, are here fuffered to languish, unnoticed and unknown.

As for those wretches who have committed fuch offences against fociety, as all nations upon earth have deemed criminal, they are here held in fuch juft

*We fuppofe the Rajah points at the benevalent exertions of Mr. Howard.

abhorrence, that it is not thought fufficient to visit their fins with mere temporal. punishment, but every poffible pains is taken to preferve them in fuch a state of wickedness, as may give them every pos fible chance of being, according to the faith of the lawgivers, miferable to all eternity.

This, you may, perhaps, efteem rather an unjustifiable degree of feverity.-But confider, O benevolent Maandaara, that by the old Chriftian Shafter, none are excluded from the hopes of mercy, who feek it by fincere repentance. Now nothing is more probable, than that many of thofe miferable beings, who have been unwittingly fwept into the torrent of vice, might, when they find themfelves fhipwrecked on its barren fhores, gladly liften to the voice that would conduct them to the path of peace and virtue. If kept in a ftate of feparation from the bad, and favoured with means of inftruction from the good, this would, no doubt, often be the cafe. But then confider what might be the confequence: perhaps, fome of thefe vile felons might come to have a higher feat in Heaven, than fome of the proud, and jealous guardians of the laws, which had condemned them upon earth. The idea is not to be endured with patience! and to prevent

any poffibility of its being realized, the poor trembling wretch, new to vice, and whofe mind is not yet hardened in iniquity, no fooner commits (or is faid to have committed) the moft trifling offence, that ftands within the cognifance of the law, than, hurled into the fociety of thofe veterans in fin, of whofe repentance there is little reason to be afraid, the unfortunate offender is gradually trained to an equal degree of depravity.

Thus, the door of mercy is for ever fhut the returning path to virtue is barricaded, and fo filled up by the briers and the thorns, which thefe new Christians have thrown in the way, that it becomes quite invifible; and left reflection fhould point it out, intoxicating liquors are allowed in all prifons to be diftributed in fufficient quantities, to prevent the most distant apprehenfions of fuch an event. Thus do thefe enlightened people, exert their endeavours to fill the regions of Nareyka !!

As for the philofopher, who, I need not tell you, is a Chriftian, according to the old Gospel, he deprecates the whole fyftem, and was fo much fhocked at the fight of the young victims, who are here devoted to vice, in order that they may be afterwards immolated on the altars of justice; that no cordial lefs powerful

than the fight of the happiness he had himself created, would have had efficacy to restore his mind to any degree of compofure.

Before I conclude this epiftle, I muft entreat you, to fend for the good and pious Bramin Sheermaal;-tell him, that my heart reproaches me, for the injustice I was guilty of towards him: I implore his pardon, for the incredulity with which I regarded his account of the conduct of Chriftians.-Experience has now taught me to acknowledge, tnat his words were dictated by truth, and his obfervations emanated from wisdom.

All that I have written, thou wilt not, perhaps, think it proper to read to Zamarcanda; many parts of it, fhe certainly could not underftand; but, I requeft, thou wouldft affure her, that the love of her brother is undiminished-I embrace my fon-and implore upon him, the blef fing of all the benignant Dewtahs!-May the fortunes of Maandaara, be established for ever!-What can I fay more.