quity while baptized on a profession of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Further, those they have baptized, have included a greater number of the Brahmun and Writer than of the other Castes, considering the proportion they bear to the rest in general society. This, under divine grace, they attribute to their being more acquainted with reading, and hence more capable of examining the Scriptures, than the other classes, Now although they, twentyfour years ago, expected all this speculative misery with which our author fills the minds of his readers, and with which some Europeans endeavored to fil their minds; and although they told every one who seemed to listen to the gospel, that these things would surely follow their embracing Christ, for they never thought that all they heard of this amounted to more than being "killed all the day long for Christ's sake;" yet the fact has turned out to be, that so little of this misery has been actually experienced, and that little has been so easily borne, that some of the missionaries scarcely wish caste to be removed, until the known duplicity which at present so unhappily pervades the native character, be in some degree removed by the introduction of the Scriptures and the practice of a purer system of morals. Until that time some think that it is quite as well for caste to continue as a fence against hypocrisy; and that, as it stands at present, it is no more than a salutary check on the multitudes who would otherwise embrace christianity in name, while in heart they love iniquity.

A little reflection will indeed be sufficient to convince us, that the distress is in reality little more than may be met with in almost every country and every circle, by those who are determined to "live godly in Christ

Jesus, whom the apostle assures that "they shall suffer persecution." Of course those enlightened natives who have begun to abhor the iniquity they see among their relatives, as well as the idolatry which nourishes it, have no wish to continue in their former idolatrous circle. They would not be found any longer prostrate before the idol, even though they were cajoled and flattered by the nearest relatives; they could no longer mingle in the frantic and lascivious dance, in the impure midnight orgies, though they were bribed thereto by the promise of possessing the largest inheritance. Nor can they be unconscious of the brutish ignorance which pervades their late idolatrous circle, and the gross imposture practised constantly on the votaries of the Hindoo system; and it is impossible that they should any longer feel delight in abominable idolatries, in impos. ture and deception, or even in sottish ignorance. They are "children of the day;" with them "the night is past:" they cannot therefore have fellowship any longer with the unfruitful works of darkness. Meanwhile they perceive, that the community of native christians near them, is as far superior to their former circle in knowledge, as in purity of conduct and virtuous feeling and to these their minds cleave. With them they can converse freely on the most interesting subjects, and with them they delight to associate.

Hence we have seldom or never known a father turn a son out of doors for becoming a christian, or an elder brother thus act towards one younger: but we have known a son leave his father's, a nephew leave his uncle's, and a younger his elder brother's large household circle, where, to use our author's language, the "impostors" and the "dupes" mingle together, polluting the place with abominable idolatries. Nay we have known them

prefer laboring for their daily bread, to living in this state without labor. But this is no distress to them, except as they pity their blinded relatives; and christian feeling makes them bear all their reproaches with patience, and watch an opportunity of meekly suggesting a profitable idea to their minds. And the happiness they enjoy in the knowledge, and purity, and uprightness, and virtuous affection found in their new circle, in the study of the Divine Word, and the public and social opportunities afforded of worshipping their Heavenly Father, the Redeemer who died for them, and the Spirit of purity and love, makes them prefer this state in so high a degree, that to be constrained to go back and live in idolatry with their former relatives, for ever banished from those in whom their soundest judgement and their purest affections delight, would be to them all that misery our author professes so much to deplore. It would be, the loss of relations, kindred, friends,-all. "Goods, possessions, inheritance would all disappear" as of no value; while their every day's life in the midst of idolatry, and falsehood, and impurity, and the absence of all generous and affectionate feeling, would make them prefer even death to life in such circumstances.

We have now described the situation of those whose circumstances may place them in a state of dependence on their elder brothers, fathers, or uncles, should they obey the voice of truth, and conscience in embracing Christianity and forsaking idolatry with all its attendant vices. Let us now advert to the situation of those who are householders and conduct their own affairs; and respecting these it should be remembered, that things in India, differ greatly from those in Europe. There are few large Hindoo manufacturers who employ two or

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three thousand workmen ; nor any extensive agriculturists who employ from one to five hundred servants in husbandry. While in England there are those who conduct manufactures and agriculture on this extensive scale, and who therefore can say to any poor laborer whom they employ, "If you dare to differ from me on any point of religion, in this village there is no farther employment for you or your family;" there is scarcely a Hindoo manufacturer to be found who permanently employs ten workmen; and but few Hindoo farmers who employ even three neighbours in ploughing, sowing, or reaping. Nearly every one exposes his own articles of manufacture to sale as he is able; and most native agriculturists cultivate their two or three acres, happy if they can obtain enough at the year's end to support their family and a pair of lean bullocks. This state of independent indigence, leaves every man to his own exertions, we might rather say, to his own indolence; and to a man in these circumstances it will be easily seen, that the new impulse given his mind by that display of truth which imparts new feelings and energies, must be of more value, than the frown or the smile of a poor neighbour or two, void at best of affection, whose ignorance he views with pity, and whose idleness and vices he is constrained to despise.

Should men in these circumstances obey the voice of truth, (and these form the greater part of the population) it follows of course, that they would carry their wives and their children with them; and this indeed is according to the Hindoo law, which declares that the husband is the gooroo of the wife,-hence as she lives for him, superstition and cruelty add, that at death she must burn herself with him, as often as this suits the views of his relatives. In the case of persons thus si

tuated, there is little difficulty therefore, unless relatives interfere; for the father in giving the man his daughter, so fully gives up all right over her, that she cannot revert to him again even in case of the husband's death: and parents have seldom been found to interfere. It has happened in eight or ten instances among so many hundreds, however, that brothers and other relatives have interfered, although their right is none whatever, -and scarcely any where does there exist less of fraternal affection. If the wife therefore, be living with such relatives, and not with her husband, they may prevent her coming to live with him, at least for a season, although her heart be with her husband. A little waiting however, united with christian mildness, generally, mollifies both the wife and the brothers. Of this we will mention two instances.

The first is, that of Petumbura-Singh's wife. This excellent man, twenty-three years ago, on obtaining a pamphlet while residing in a small wood in Jessore, whither he had retired in disgust with the world after many years' search for the true way of salvation, came to Serampore to enquire whether it was true that Jesus Christ had died for sinners. Having fully satisfied his mind relative to this glorious fact, he departed declaring that he would bring his wife, or should she be unwilling, he would come alone and be baptized in the name of Christ. He to our surprize returned within the seven days he had appointed; but without his wife. She had refused to forsake her false gods. He immediately made a profession of Christianity, and to the day of his death, about seven years, he sustained such a character for integrity, wisdom, piety, and zeal, as put the enemies of Christianity to silence, and secured him their esteem even though they hated the