observed such delicacy of conduct toward the conquered, on the subject of religion, that they not only did not trouble them with their own religion, but said unto them, "We shall be of yours." So far did these nations excel us in the policy of not “disturbing the faith of the natives."

Can any one believe that our Indian subjects are to remain for ever under our government involved in their present barbarism and subject to the same inhuman superstition? And if there be a hope that they will be civilized, when is it to begin, and by whom is it to be effected?

15. No Christian nation ever possessed such an extensive field for the propagation of the Christian faith, as that afforded to us by our influence over the hundred million natives of Hindostan. No other nation ever possessed such facilities for the extension of its faith as we now have in the government of a passive people, who yield submissively to our mild sway, reverence our principles, and acknowledge our dominion to be a blessing. Why should it be thought incredible that Providence hath been pleased, in a course of years to subjugate this eastern empire to the most civilized nation in the world, for this very purpose?

16. "The facility of civilizing the natives, some will admit, is great; but is the measure safe? It is easy to govern the Hindoos in their ignorance, but shall we make them as wise as ourselves! The superstitions of the people are no doubt abhorrent from reason: they are idolatrous in their worship, and bloody in their sacrifices; but their manual skill is exquisite in the labours of the loom; they are a and obsequious people in civil transaction."

In ten centuries the Hindoos will not be as the English. It is now perhaps ninete ries since human sacrifices were offered c... tish altars. The progressive civilization doos will never injure the interest of the

T

Company. But shall a Christian people, acknowledging a Providence in the rise and fall of empire, regulate the policy of future times, and neglect a present duty; a solemn and imperious duty: exacted by their religion, by their public principles, and by the opinion of the Christian nations around them! Or can it be gratifying to the English nation to reflect, that they receive the riches of the east on the terms of chartering immortal superstition!

17. No truth has been more clearly demonstrated than this, that the communication of Christian instruction to the natives of India is easy; and that the benefits of that instruction, civil as well as moral, will be inestimable; whether we consider the happiness diffused among so many millions, or their consequent attachment to our government, or the advantages resulting from the introduction of the civiliz ed arts. Every thing that can brighten the hope or animate the policy of a virtuous people organizing a new empire, and seeking the most rational means, under the favour of heaven, to ensure its perpetuity; every consideration, we aver, would persuade us to diffuse the blessings of Christian knowledge among our Indian subjects.

CHAPTER III.

On the impediments to the civilisation of the natives.The philosophical spirit of Europeans formerly an impediment to the civilization of the natives.

1. A chief obstacle to the civilization of the Hindoos during the last fifty years, is accounted by some to have been the unconcern of Europeans in India, particularly the French, as to their moral improvement, and the apathy with which they beheld their superstitions. This has been called the philosophical

1

spirit, but improperly; for it is a spirit very contrary to that of true philosophy. The philosophical spirit argues in this manner: "An elephant is an elephant and a Hindoo is a Hindoo. They are both such as nature made them. We ought to leave them on the

plains of Hindostan such as we found them."

2. The philosophical spirit further shews itself in an admiration of the ancient systems of the Hindoos, and of the supposed purity of their doctrines and morals in former times. But truth and good sense have for some years been acquiring the ascendency, and are now amply vindicated by a spirit of accurate investigation, produced by the great encouragement which has been lately afforded to researches in oriental literature.

3. The college of Fort-William will probably illustrate to the world what India is, or ever was; for all the sources of oriental learning have been opened. The gravity with which some learned disquisitions have been lately conducted in Europe, and particularly in France, respecting Indian science and Indian antiquity, is calculated to amuse us.

The passion for the Hindoo Joques seems to have been first excited by a code of Gentoo laws, transmitted with official recommendation from this country, and published at home by authority; and yet not by the code itself, but the translators preface, in which there are many solemn assertions impugning the Christian revelations, and giving the palm to Hindoo antiquity. The respect due to the code itself seems to have been transferred to this preface, which was written by a young gentleman, who observes, "that he was held forth to the public as an author, almost as soon as he had commenced to be a man;" that he could not translate from the Shanscrit language himself, "for that the Pundits who compiled the code, were to a man resolute in rejecting all his solicitations for instruction in this dialect; and thatt he persuasion and influence of the governor

general (Mr. Hastings) were in vain exerted to the same purpose." Having then translated the Gentoo laws from a Persian translation, he thinks himself justified in believing, "that the world does not now contain anuals of more indisputable antiquity than those delivered down by the ancient Brahmins; and that we cannot possibly find grounds to suppose that the Hindoos received the smallest article of their religion or jurisprudence from Moses; though it is not utterly impossible that the doctrines of Hindostan might have been early transplanted into Egypt, and thus have become familiar to Moses."*

4. These sentiments for the first time ushered on the nation under the appearance of respectable sanction, were eagerly embraced. The sceptical philophers, particularly in France, hoped that they were true: and the learned in general were curious to explore this sacred mine of ancient literature. "Omne ignotum pro magnifico." Strangers to the language, they looked into the mystical records of the Brahmins as into the mouth of a dark cavern of unknown extent, probably inaccessible, perhaps fathomless.— Some adventurers from the Asiatic society entered this cavern, and brought back a report very unfavorable to the wishes of the credulous infidel. But the college of Fort-William holds a torch which illuminates its darkest recesses. And the result is, that the former gloom, which was supposed to obscure the evidence of our religion, being now removed; enlightened itself, it reflects a strong light on the Mosaic and evangelic scriptures, and Shanscrit record may thus be considered as a new attestation to the truth of christianity, granted by the divine dispensation, to these latter ages.†

5. The whole library of Shanscrit learning is accessible to members of the college of Fort-William. The old keepers of this library, the Pundits, who

Preface to Gentoo Code.

+ See Appendix k..

would give no access to the translator of the Gentoo code, or to the then governor of India, now vie with each other in giving every information in their power. Indeed there is little left for them to conceal. Two different grammars of the Shanscrit language are now compiling in the college, one by the Shanscrit professor, and the other by the Shanscrit teacher; without any communication as to each others system, so absolute is their confidence in a knowledge of the language. The Shanscrit teacher proposed to the council of the college to publish the whole of the original Shasters in their own character, with an English translation. The chief objection to this was, that we should then publish many volumes, which few would have the patience to read. Such parts of them however as are of a moral tendency, or which illustrate important facts in eastern history or science, were recommended for publica

tion..

6. It does not appear that any one work in Shanscrit literature has yet been discovered; which vie in antiquity with the poem of Homer, on the plain ground of historical evidence, and collateral proof. It is probable that there may be some work of an older date, but we have no evidence of it. If ever such evidence should be obtained the world will soon hear of it. As to the alledged proof of 'antiquity. from astronimical calculation, it is yet less satisfac tory than that from the Egyptian zodiac, or Brydone's lava..

What use shall we make of the illustration of these facts, but to urge, that, since the dark traditions of India have confirmed the truth of divine revelation, the benefits of that revelation may be communicated to India.