CONTENTS.

The harp of prophecy-present awful and eventful period—reflections -purport of this concluding chapter—auxiliaries on the important subject—Britain highly favoured--blessings of peace—sensible and pious dedication by Hakluyt to Sir Francis Walsingham—commencement of the India Company's settlements in India-causes of their becoming generally interesting-no longer simply a trading Com·pany, but sovereigns of an extensive empire-French and Dutch no longer in possession of a factory there-epitome of the administration of Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, and other governors in India-institution of the college at Calcutta-its essential advantages-these great characters opposed to the infamous successors of the Portugueze conquerors of India-geographical outline of Hindostan-divisions-revenue-amelioration of the natives under the wise and benevolent administration of Great Britain-dreadful effects of famine--humanity of the Bombay government—comparative ignorance of Europeans respecting the Hindoos in 1774— luminous researches of Mr. Hastings-and grand acquisitions of knowledge since that period-reflections on the conversion of the Hindoos-sentiments of the author-Dr. Johnson—and many eminent writers—the author assigns reasons for altering his opinion of the Hindoo character-anecdote of an amiable pundit-pleasing portraits of other natives-depravity of the zemindars and higher

castes, corroborated by other writers-opinion of Sir William Jones, Lord Teignmouth, Holwell and others-charge of Sir John Mackintosh at Bombay—paramahansa, a caste who eat human flesh— parricide and infanticide-blessings of Christianity, in time and eternity—illustrated by many eminent characters-its benevolence contrasted with the cruel policy of the Hindoo religion in various instances-Om, or Aum-druidical mysteries-ignorance of the lower castes of Hindoos-interesting anecdotes, prayers, and religious opinions of Sir William Jones and Lord Teignmouth-Lord Valentia's sentiments on Hindoo conversion, and the example of Europeans in British India-difficulty of converting the higher castes great power of the brahmins-necessary moderation in all attempts to proselyte-many brahmins have embraced christianity-its progress in India-its sublimity and consolationwretched state of the Chandalas-the Hindoos compared with the Greeks and Romans when Christianity was preached among them-Cornelius-Paul's sermon at Athens state of fallen manmodern philosophy-religious sentiments of Socrates, Plato, Seneca, and other eminent heathens-appeal for Hindoo conversion from various motives—happiness of Christians compared with unbelievers -state of the world at its promulgation-examples of the effects of true religion, in life and death, in time and eternity! Conclusion.

CONCLUSION.

"SWEET is the harp of prophecy; too sweet,

Not to be wrong'd by a mere mortal touch:

Nor can the wonders it records be sung

To meaner music, and not suffer loss.

"O! scenes surpassing fable, and yet true, Scenes of accomplish'd bliss! which who can see, Though but in distant prospect, and not feel

His soul refresh'd with foretaste of the joy?

Rivers of gladness water all the earth,

And clothe all climes with beauty. No foe to man

Lurks in the serpent now

All creatures worship man; and all mankind

One Lord, one Father! Error has no place :
One song employs all nations; and all cry,
"Worthy the LAMB! for he was slain for us!"

"Behold the measure of the promise fill'd;
See Salem built, the labour of a GOD!
Bright as the sun the sacred city shines;
All kingdoms, and all princes of the earth
Flock to that light. Thy rams are there,
Nebaioth; and the flocks of Kedar there:
The looms of Ormus, and the mines of Ind,
And Saba's spicy groves pay tribute there.

HAVING, by the Divine blessing, been favoured with health and leisure to pursue my allotted task, and finish the selection from the manuscripts and drawings mentioned in the preface, I now take leave of my readers, in a concluding chapter; which I hope will not be deemed obtrusive, or irrelevant to the general tenor of these volumes.

At this eventful period, every reflecting mind must be convinced, whether in a political or religious point of view, that something extraordinary is carrying on in the counsels of that Omnipotent Being, "whose way is in the sea, and his paths in the great waters, and whose footsteps are not known." I have neither talents nor inclination to venture on such an interesting topic: in the awful events now taking place, some prophecies are doubtless fulfilling, from which time will withdraw the veil. Many attempts have been made to develope those ancient predictions; not always satisfactorily; and the mind is still left in uncertainty and conjecture. In this state of precocity I should deem it presumptuous to enter the field; but there is a subject connected with this important epocha, in which I am warmly interested, and my mind is so deeply impressed with the necessity of avowing my sentiments, (feeble as may be my endeavours) that I cannot remain in a state of neutrality. It has been pronounced by the highest authority, "He that is not with me, is against me! whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation,