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consequence of the private disapproval of the Europeans, shews the powerful influence of the bare opinion of their rulers over the minds and conduct of the natives: and when all the Honourable Company's Servants shall exhibit to them a faithful specimen of the Christian character, and study to promote their mental and religious improvement, what beneficial effects may we not anticipate from their intercourse with the people whom they govern!

M. Dubois' comparison between the immolating of the Hindoo Widow, as by Law established, and the crimes of Duelling and Suicide, as committed in Europe-and which are acknowledged to be contrary to all Laws both Human and Divine, and discountenanced in every possible way by all who have any sense of religion-merits no other observation, than that which is elicited by the silent amazement which his remarks cannot fail to excite : (pp. 175, 197-199.)

I shall refrain from dwelling longer on this painful subject; and will merely subjoin the account of two cases of Hindoo Widows, south of Calcutta, who were prevented from burning, without occasioning the slightest disturbance to the public peace.

The former occurred in 1818, in the district

of Tinnevelly, when I was resident at that station. Upon the death of a respectable Brahmin, both his widows applied for permission to burn with his body. As this was an unusual circumstance in South India, no orders had been issued by the Madras Government upon the subject. The Magistrate replied to that effect; at the same time forbidding them to burn, until the necessary orders should arrive. As this, however, would occasion too great delay, (in consequence of the sacrifice being considered as divested of its peculiar virtue if offered long after the husband's decease, and the difficulty of preserving the corpse five or six days,) it was burnt alone, without any inconvenience to the public, or the surviving widows.

The other instance occurred at Chicacole, about sixty miles from Vizagapatam. A Lady at that station, shocked at hearing of a woman who intended to burn, and knowing that the wood was prepared for the dreadful sacrifice, wrote to the late Rev. C. Church, at that time Chaplain at Vizagapatam, requesting him to intercede with the Magistrate, to prevent it. That Gentleman replied to Mr.Church, that he could not interpose his authority, but that he would withhold his sanction until

every means had been tried to dissuade her from her purpose. For some time she disregarded every thing that was said to her, and all importunity to save her was resisted by her Friends to the last. She, however, at length overcome by the kind and persuasive entreaties of the Lady in question, retracted. The immediate consequence was, her expulsion from her caste, and loss of all her jewels. But her compassionate Protectress received her, and shewed her every attention she required; and a Subscription was raised for her support. After a time, her Friends, observing the notice taken of her by Europeans, received her back, and she was reinstated into all the privileges of her caste. She frequently visited her Benefactress, after her return to her Relations, and, with tears in her eyes, expressed her gratitude for her preservation.

So much for the impracticability of abolishing this horrid practice!-and so much for the danger the Abbé apprehends from the attempt!-In short, I do maintain, that it betrays an ignorance of the native character, to suppose that the Hindoos are capable of being "roused to a determined spirit of opposition and resistance," by such means as have been hitherto employed to wean them from any of their "sacred customs and practices."

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The Abbé very well knows, that the natives of India are not composed of such active and irritable materials.

Having thus considered the question in every point of view suggested by the Abbé Dubois' remarks, and endeavoured to put a fair construction upon all his statements, I think the arguments and facts here advanced in reply fully establish the position, that there is "a possibility of making real Converts to Christianity among the natives of India." Since the Abbé endeavoured to establish the opposite position, by an appeal to the immoral character of the subjects upon whom the experiment is to be made, and to the nature of their superstitions and inveteracy of their prejudices, I have hitherto waved the religious and spiritual consideration of the subject, for the purpose of shewing, upon his own grounds, that the Hindoo's entrenchments are not impassable, nor the moral impediments of his character irremediable; since they are not more vicious than others, and even less culpable in the sight of God than many who have been converted to the Faith of Christ. Hence the possibility of their conversion, also, must be conceded by every ingenuous mind: and while that possibility exists, we have not the shadow of authority

for excluding them from all hope of obtaining the divine mercy provided for apostate but repenting creatures in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

SECTION II.

THE NATURE OF THE MEANS EMPLOYED BY THE ROMAN-CATHOLICS FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE HINDOOS; TOGETHER WITH THEIR FAILURE, AND THE CAUSE OF THAT FAILURE.

THE Abbé Dubois arrives at his conclusionthat the conversion of the Hindoos is impracticable-from the failure of the means hitherto employed by Roman-Catholic Missionaries; which, he thinks, are better adapted to the purpose than the measures which Protestants adopt. Therefore, before proceeding to establish my position by arguments drawn from the successes which have crowned the labours of Protestant Missionaries, in justice to the Abbé, and to my own argument also, I will endeavour to take an impartial view of the efforts of M. Dubois and his Brethren to evangelize India, and of their result.

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