Opium smuggling, in which case we shall have our naval heroes slaughtering their smuggling fellow-sailors, who will be employed in forcing a drug grown and sold to their owners by an integral part of their own Government. The other party involved in the immoralities of this traffic are clearly the Opium purchasers and shippers. We cannot bring ourselves to call them merchants, for with that appellation we have been accustomed to associate only the most honorable trade. But when we see men, Britons and Christians, forcing this drug into China for the mere sake of gain, we can find but one idea which can at all save us from classing them with the Dirk Hattericks and other daring smugglers, to suppress whose trade the vigilant preventive service of Britain has been established, and that is, that they are sanctioned in every way by the ruling power. Surely these traders cannot for a moment reflect on the fact, that however ample the fortune they may amass in this traffic, it is obtained at the expence of the religious and national character of their country, and at the expence equally of the morals, health and pecuniary interest of the Chinese. It is the enriching of a mere handful of people at the expence of every thing dear to two nations, and to the sacrifice of all honorable trade between the British and the Chinese. Badinage and sarcasm are quite out of place on such a subject; therefore, we have not stopped to notice mere quibbling regarding it. Neither shall we be brought to see the justice either of the trade or the war from the considerations, that the Chinese may if obliged grow the drug themselves, or that it will be supplied by others if not by the Government; nor shall we feel in the least more satisfied with the origin of the war, should it even issue in the opening of China to every good purpose. The sin of growing the drug must rest with those that grow it, and the sin of supplying with those who supply; and all the bloodshed and misery must rest with those who originate the war. Our duty as a great, moral, humane and honorable people is to wash our hands of every doubtful traffic; and not by any love of money, or for the interest of a wealthy or powerful few, sacrifice that which is to us above all price-that character for justice and uprightness which has generally distinguished our acts as a people towards others less fortunate than ourselves. One argument usually urged in defence of the trade is, that the drug can do but little harm when scattered amongst so many millions of people. It is true this is an argument, which as far as China is concerned must remain for the present in some degree of doubt; but the following alarming extract will show what must be the state of China, where it is as much used, if not more than in Assam. The extract is from Mr. Bruce's account of the tea tracts of Assam, published in the Asiatic Journal :— "I might here observe, that the British Government would confer a lasting blessing on the Assamese and the new settlers, if immediate and active measures were taken to put down the cultivation of Opium in Assam, and afterwards to stop its importation by levying high duties on Opium land. If something of this kind is not done, and done quickly too, the thousands that are about to emigrate from the plains into Assam, will soon be infected with the Opium mania,-that dreadful plague, which has depopulated this beautiful country, turned it into a land of wild beasts, with which it is overrun, and has degenerated the Assamese from a fine race of people to the most abject, servile, crafty, and demoralized race in India. This vile drug has kept, and does now keep, down the population; the women have fewer children compared with those of other countries, and the children seldom live to become old men, but in general die at manhood; very few old men being seen in this unfortunate country, in comparison with others. Few but those who have resided long in this unhappy land know the dreadful and immoral effects, which the use of Opium produces on the native. He will steal, sell his property, his children, the mother of his children, and finally even commit murder for it. Would it not be the highest of blessings, if our humane and enlightened Government would stop these evils by a single dash of the pen, and save Assam, and all those who are about to emigrate into it as Tea cultivators, from the dreadful results attendant on the habitual use of Opium? We should in the end be richly rewarded, by having a fine, healthy race of men growing up for our plantations, to fell our forests, to clear the land from jungle and wild beasts, and to plant and cultivate the luxury of the world. This can never be effected by the enfeebled Opium-eaters of Assam, who are more effeminate than women. I have dwelt thus long on the subject, thinking it one of great importance, as it will affect our future prospects in regard to Tea; also from a wish to benefit this people, and save those who are coming here, from catching the plague, by our using timely measures of prevention.” Who, on reading this terrible account, but must pray that all the Opium lands might be devoted to the growth of tea, or some still more nutritive and yet remunerative plant; and that the energies of men, and especially Britons, were directed into such a channel, as might tend to elevate and bless the millions of China, without being preceded by all the horrors of war; for verily we may say, "Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn." φιλος. When the world is the strongest, When Satan's in arms; When their trumps sound the longest And loudest alarms His faith sees the angels The Lord will provide. When death is approaching And judgment is near, When conscience reproaching Excites all his fears, Then heavenly raptures Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord will provide. And when in the judgment No fear can find lodgement; The Brethren's accuser His Saviour has died. In tribulations darkest hour When most exposed to Satan's power- M REVIEW. The Wujra Soochi*, or Refutation of the Arguments upon which the Brahmanical Institution of Caste is founded. By the learned Boodhist ASHWA GHOSHU, 1839. An 8vo. pamphlet. No press named. This admirable pamphlet includes an original treatise in Sanskrit by a Buddhist Pandit, directed against the notion of a primitive distinction of castes, and especially of the superiority of the Brahmin above the other sacro-civil divisions of Hindu Society, together with an English translation by the talented resident in Nepal, B. H. Hodgson, Esq. The latter was by him first transmitted to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and in concert with L. Wilkinson, Esq. Political Agent at Bhopal, well known as also a learned and valuable contributor to our stock of oriental knowledge, is now published (at what press is not said) for general information. In his preface, Mr. Wilkinson, to whom we are indebted for the suggestion of its publication, justly deems it "calculated to prove of great benefit to the enlightened friends of India, as well native as European; as it will afford them arguments and proofs, in great number, of the most co vincing nature to a Brahman." To the work announced as above, is appended the original Sanskrit of a reply entitled "THE TUNKUT, by SOOBAJEE BAPOO," the learned Brahmin Shástri, or Pandit, of Mr. Wilkinson, and described by that gentleman as "distinguished among his countrymen for talent and learning; and, all things considered, for liberality of sentiment and regard to truth." We think the Editor has done well to publish the Tanka, as the very best comment on, and enforcement of, the Buddist argument; exhibiting the whole strength of Brahminism, all that one of the * According to the present mode of romanized spelling, Vajra Súchí, (बज्रसूची, from बज्र a thunderbolt, and सूची a needle,) q. d. arguments sharp and penetrating as a needle, while powerful and destructive (to the contrary position) as the bolt of heaven. + Or Tanka ( or ), a scimitar or short-sword, q. d. the fine-edged weapon with which the Brahman combatant meets and destroys his infidel opponent. It is doubtless known to such of our readers as take an interest in subjects like the present, that Buddhist and infidel or atheist, ( and e) are synonymous in the estimation of orthodox Brahmans. most learned among orthodox Hindus was able to put forth in support of the equally impious and unnatural assumption of an almost divine superiority in one above the other tribes of their fellow-men. With the Tanka it is not our object at present to meddle-its style and course of argument may readily be imagined to be wholly adapted for Hindu intellect, prejudice and ignorance, however ably maintained on Hindu data. We may perhaps notice it hereafter-but pressed for time on the eve of embarkation for Europe, shall now proceed at once to furnish a few specimens of the far more elevated and conclusive reasoning of him of the thunder-tipped needle or sharp-pointed thunderbolt. In a letter to the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, Mr. Hodgson thus speaks of the work : "It consists of a shrewd and argumentative attack, by a Bauddha, upon the Brahmanical doctrine of caste: and what adds to its pungency is, that the truth of the Brahmanical writings is assumed throughout, and that the author's proofs of the erroneousness of the doctrine of caste are all drawn from those writings. He possesses himself of the enemy's battery, and turns their own guns against them. To an English reader this circumstance gives a peurile character to a large portion of the Treatise, owing to the enormous absurdity of the data from which the author argues. His inferences, however, are almost always shrewdly drawn, and we must remember that not he but his antagonists must be answerable for the character of the data. To judge by the effect produced upon my Brahman pandit-a wise man in his generation, and accustomed for the last four years to the examination of Bauddha literature-by this little Treatise, it would seem that there is no method of assailing Brahmanism comparable to that of "judging it out of its own mouth :" and the resolution of the Committee of the Serampore college to make a thorough knowledge of Hindu learning the basis of the education of their destined young apostles of Christianity in India, would thence appear to be most wise and politic." Of the unknown writer of this concise but valuable polemic treatise, Mr. H. thus speaks : "Who Ashu Ghosha, the author, was, when he flourished and where, I cannot ascertain. All that is known of him at Nepal is, that he was a Maha pandit, or great sage, and wrote, besides the little Treatise now translated, two lager Bauddha works of high repute." Much of the argument proceeds, as before observed, entirely upon Hindu notions, and however forcible and conclusive to an intelligent native, would make but little impression upon, if not often seem absurd and childish to, a European mind. In meeting an adversary, however, it is a just principle in all practical logic, to take him upon his own ground, and addressing him in the argumentum a concesso, or ad hominem, to effect a lodgment for our positions obtainable in no other way of proceeding. The entire treatise, therefore, deserves to be extensively circulated among the natives who are now awakening to much |