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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 man— modern 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.

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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,

of him also shall the SON OF MAN be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and with the holy angels."

In discussing the important subject contained in this chapter, I shall avail myself of every assistance from the various sources of information which have been lately opened, and now flow in copious streams through this highly favoured island: which seems to be selected by Infinite Wisdom and Goodness for the preservation of liberty in Europe, and the diffusion of truth and knowledge throughout the dark regions of the earth.

It is now one of those predicted periods when there should be wars and rumours of wars, when nation should rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there should be famine, and pestilence, and earthquakes, in divers places. In the arcana of Infinite Goodness and Infinite Power, much good may be ordained to spring up from the unparalleled events and calamities now overwhelming the continent of Europe, which are felt in a greater or less degree throughout the British empire. "Dulce mihi nomen pacis !" May the blessings of peace, of an honourable and lasting peace, be restored! May my native country be providentially the means of restoring that choicest good to exhausted Europe! May England rise in triumph, to promote the glory of God, and the happiness of man; to dispel the mists of ignorance, superstition, and idolatry, and diffuse the light of Revelation to the remotest corners of the earth. If I may be deemed the humblest instrument in promoting this great design, by any thing which may be offered in the ensuing pages, it will afford me a heartfelt satisfaction, which language could ill express.

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My mind is solemnly impressed with the importance of the object, my heart, I trust, "is inditing of a good matter," and I hope to be excused for bringing in so many auxiliaries.

I have often been struck with the simple language, good sense, and piety, in a dedication to Sir Francis Walsingham, secretary to queen Elizabeth, by Richard Hakluyt, the celebrated author of the early voyages and discoveries of the English nation, imprinted in the year 1599. It appears to be in some degree so connected with the general purport of these volumes, and particularly with the contents of this concluding chapter, that I shall transcribe a part of that excellent letter, because I trust I have been actuated by the same spirit; and shall be truly happy if I may, in one instance especially, contribute in the smallest degree to the fulfilment of his pious and almost prophetical wishes for the accomplishment of an event which he so ardently desired to behold in the reign of his peerless mistress. Although not permitted to take place at that memorable period, it is, I trust, reserved for the liberal and enlightened epoch of the nineteenth century.

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Right honourable, I do remember that being a youth, and one of her majesty's scholars at Westminster, that fruitful nursery, it was my hap to visit the chamber of Mr. Richard Hakluyt, my counsin; a gentleman of the Middle Temple, well known unto you, at a time when I found lying upon his board certain books of cosmography, with an universal map. He seeing me somewhat curious in the view thereof, began to instruct my ignorance, by shewing me the division of the earth into three parts, after the old account, and then, according to the latter, and better distribution, into more. He pointed with his wand to all the known seas, gulfs,

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