my fellow-creature, an immortal being, place herself with apparent composure on the combustible matter laid to consume her, and here again confer her last tokens on a favoured few. By her own hands were her garments loosened, her jewels removed and given to her sister, and, as if to sleep only till to-morrow, did she lay herself down behind her insensate companion.

But was there no one who would break the charm, and open a vista to that awful region whither she would go? was there no humanity? was there no moral sensibility to render those present capable of feeling the obligations of the divine law? Saith the Scripture in vain, "If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, behold we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart, consider it, and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it, and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" And what shall we say when a word from the chief magistrate would have put an immediate stop to, and prevented the whole proceeding, that instead of this he was pointing to the over-casting clouds, urging forward the perpetrators, and by his servants keeping order for destruction? They were his attendants who by their swords cut the cords of the suspended pile, the falling of which crushed and imprisoned the victim. He had previously been requested by one present to inquire if the poor woman would accept of an escape; but he employed an officiating brahmin, furiously am

bitious of perpetrating the horrid deed, and directed him to ask if she would remain. This was done at the moment when she was looked upon and addressed as little less than divinity, and worshipped, before the consuming fire appeared, or any thing of the awful scene was realized. The magistrate was told that this was his business (which was admitted), that he ought to see to it, that one word from him would prevent the murder, that it was a sinful, an awfully bad transaction, that he ought to withstand the design, and that one day he would have to answer for his conduct.

What expression sufficiently strong can be given to our thoughts, when instead of endeavouring to avert the awfully fearful tragedy, numbers were seen, by songs and prayers, seeking to lull the apprehension and misguide the thoughts of the unhappy creature ; while some were covering her with straw, others heaping together the wood, various others sprinkling oil apparently to facilitate ignition, not a few employed in the work of applying flaming torches, or, more coolly wicked, cautiously strewing only the seeds of cremation, and hundreds rendering their sanction to and becoming implicated in the deliberate and scandalous murder? How shall we describe their hardheartedness, their indifference, their obstinacy, and their guilt, when native Christians, and Christian native teachers, attempting to bear their testimony against the crime, and charging home the condemnation upon those engaged, had their voice and words drowned by noises purposely kept up, were driven

back from contiguity to the work of death by the servants of the magistrate ?—when British Christians and British authorities were compelled, should we not rather say infatuated, to stand still and behold a woman, with the smile of composure on her countenance, in the meridian of life, without a disease, with the red streak of suicide on her forehead, led calmly to the brink of destruction, placed by the body of her already sentenced husband, stretched out, her blood flowing full in her veins, covered with straw, for a few moments surrounded by the kindling element, then crushed beneath the ponderous load of fuel almost to suffocation, remaining in this situation unheard for eight minutes, and when approached by the flames, when scorched to misery by their influence, when assailed by death's dread sting, screaming and shrieking with piteous, heart-rending, piercing exclamations for help, for deliverance, unable to move a limb or turn from her woe for a moment;-to see all this, to hear all this, and not a hand dare to be put forth, not one person permitted to obey the instinct of nature, the call of helpless misery, the voice of reason, the stings of conscience, and the command of God? No! every one kept back by swords and staves until the devouring fire was too fierce for any one to approach, and even then the last moan hardly uttered, or ceasing to be heard. O merciful God! let it not cease to be heard till the powers of darkness are cast down, and the divine Redeemer, who made atonement for sin, and who is exalted to rule the nations, is recognized as universal King, and obeyed as rightful Lord, according to his word.

Can I ever forget the horrid spectacle which now passeth before my mind's eye in all its frightful realities? My companions must have hearts of sand, and feelings which can ebb as the receding tide, if they can ever banish it from their mind. How can those by whose authority, sanction, or direction it was completed, cease to ponder over their transaction till the judgment-day? How can the aged mother who stood by when the pyre was lighted, and heard her daughter's shrieks, forget that day and its sad event? How can the poor woman forget her sorrows, or have they only comparitively begun? and, alas! when will they terminate? And how can those wretched mortals, who aided in the dreadful tragedy, who were performers in the appalling scene, who imbrued their hands in the blood of the living sacrifice, and are charged with blood-guiltiness, how can they stand, when once he is angry and is risen up, who cometh to judge the world, for the Lord will come out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity ; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. How can they behold the face of the judge? And shall we gaze with unconcern upon this affair? Can mothers in Britain, can widows in Israel, can those who fondly love their widowed parents, and who know the value of the soul, refrain from feeling, or hold their peace? Shall humanity be silent? shall she not rather blush? shall religion be mute? is there no argument she can urge, no means she can employ?

But have the people who perpetrate these deeds of darkness no religion? Are they destitute of any sense of moral obligation, or is justice banished from their abode? An alien to the breast of their legislators, has she no word to whisper in the ears of their rulers and great ones? Or are the footsteps of mercy no more to be seen? Is she too restrained, or has she forgotten that the deluded are the objects of her compassion? Yes, they possess a religion extensive in its sway, multifarious in its prescriptions, and loud in its pretensions to the highest authority:-a religion which can number eight-tenths of the population of Hindostan as its followers, and some called by another name as its professed admirers, and which is recognized by consolidated systems and European laws, and upheld by nominal Christians and government exactions. But is it, or is it not a violation of this religion, thus to wave the firebrand of destruction, and minister at the altar, and to the demon of death: and are such orgies not abhorrent from the principles, and inconsistent with the genius of this religion, with its records, its spirit, and its tendency? Or does it possess a fountain where such foul crimes may be washed white, an elixir which will transmute the red stain of blood guiltiness, a potent charm which can transform the criminal act into a meritorious and holy sacrifice?

In the opinion of some there may appear more criminality in this act, if the conclusion can be drawn, that these immolations are practised in opposition to the requirements and principles of the religion which

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