a 
674 
that ridicule and contempt, which moral ex- 
cellence too often meets with in society. — 
However great our qualifications, or brilliant 
éur endowments, unless supported on the 
firm basis of religion and morality, they can 
sparkle only with a tinsel brillianey. If in 
delineating the character of one who claimed 
the admiration of mankind, after having as- 
cribed to him eloquence, valour, and every 
accomplishment that is most shining and 
captivating, it were to be said, that he in- 
dulged in every vicious inclination, was un- 
accompanied by truth, and uninfluenced by 
virtue; by that one stroke alone the whole 
character would be sunk and degraded. 
‘< *Tis the last key-stone 
That makes the arch; the rest that there were 
ut 
Are nothing, ‘till that comes to bind and shuit: 
Then stands it a triumphal’mark! then men 
Observe the strength, the height, the why, 
and when 
Tt was erected.” 
How honorable are such sentiments 
as these; what a pledge do they afford, 
that if the individual who now utters 
them should at any future period of life 
be promoted toany rank or station where 
his power and influence are conspicuous, 
he will exert thern in the distribution of 
justice, and the defence of innocence. 
Mr. Elliot has thus expressed the same 
feelings : 
<< In a moral point of view, the advantages 
of an academical irstitution will be equally 
conspicuous. Pleasures and amusements, 
unless restrained within moderate bounds, 
soon lead to extravagance and licentiousness. 
Cominginto the country at &n early age, itcan 
hardly be expected that young men should 
have any strong or fixed ideas of the truth of 
their religion ; and whatever they may have, 
are too often obliterated by a constant inter- 
course with men, who are, perhaps, as defi- 
cient in moral principle as in their knowledge 
of the true religion. Nor is this all: a very 
short course of dissipation places them in the 
power of men, who want not the inclination 
_ to render them instrumental in the perpetra- 
tion of the most dishonest and unworthy ac- 
tions, to the disgrace of their country and the 
dishonour of the religion which they protess. 
As we believe our religion to be infinitely 
more pure than that of Tndia, and our mora- 
lity more refined, it is incumbent on us to 
shew that our actions are not at variance 
with our ideas ; and to evince the truth of that 
religion, by displaying its efficacy on our con- 
duct. The paths of vice hold out so many, 
and such powerful allurements, that nothing 
but a firm and solid foundation of religion, 
integrity and morality, can resist their power, 
It becoines therefore a primary object of the 
institution to check, in the very beginning, 
the progress of dissipation and vice ; to instill 
MISCELLANIES. 
the principles of religion and virtue; to er* 
force the necessity of order and industry ; and 
to warn thé inexperienced of the y Aan 
and snares which await them in their passage 
through life. 
a Teaniot omit to observe two ¢ircum- 
stances, which will tend very greatly to con- 
ciliate to the British government the good 
will and esteem ot the natives of India, and 
which inay be ranked among the principal 
advantages of this institution. 
«« The first is, the great advantage which 
is hercby extended to natives of learning and 
abilities. India has been long descending 
by slow degrees into the gulph of barbarism 
and ignorance, and learning and the arts have 
been gradually falling into disrepute and ob- 
scurity. ‘The ample held which this institu- 
tion préposes io itself, comprehending the 
languages, literature, arts, and sciences of all 
the more polished nations of Asia, will not 
fail in a few years to assemble the most 
learned men from all parts, by affording them 
suitable encouragement. Nor does it end 
here. The student will come into active life 
with a taste for eastern literature, and extend 
that patronage so happily begun; the shoots 
of science will again spring up and flourish, 
and the east will regain its once well merited 
celebrity. 
«< The other circumstance I had to men- 
tion, is the conviction which will be afforded 
to the natives of India, of the earnest desire 
of the supreme government, that they may 
not be ruled by men, ignorant of the genius 
of the country and its inhabitants; but by 
those who, from a regular course of diligence 
and study, have attained a perfect knowledge 
of the subject. This will inspire a confidence 
that the laws will be administered with jus- 
tice and impartiality; that every respect will 
be shewn to their usages and customs, and 
every indulgence to their prejudices ; in fine, 
they will cease to consider themselves as a 
conquered people, and unite with one soul 
ina general wish for the permanency and 
prosperity of the British empire.” 
Of the essays ‘ on the best method of 
acquiring a knowledge of the manners 
and customs of the nations of India,” we 
are rather inclined to give preference to 
Mr. Martin’s; Mr. Metcalf, however, is 
a powerful competitor for the palm.— 
Mr. Hamilton is busied about the im- 
portance of acquiring this knowledge, 
rather than about the means of obtainmg 
it; and he is totally ignorant of .a truth 
which is brought forward and enlarged 
on by both the other gentlemen, namely, 
that the genius and pve eg of a people 
is often tobe inferred from theirlanguage, 
and that language, therefore, is not mere- 
ly the key of knowledge, but is know- 
ledge itself.—Mr. Martin says, 
** So intimate is the connection between 
