ESSAYS BY THE STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM, &ce. 
sensible to every feeling of gratitude. To 
Vegetate in sloth is the delight of the Hindoo, 
and he is never roused to exertion but by the 
calls of necessity, or to gratify his ruling pas- 
sion, avarice. He is dastardly in spirit, and 
will seldom stand a contest with an open foe, 
but is rather inclined to injure his enemy 
secretly. When transported with anger, he 
vents his rage with feminine impotence, in 
the vilest and foulest reproaches; but this 
fury is quickly damped, if likely to be resent- 
ed by force.” 
Justly is it obsérved by Mr. Newn- 
ham, that that country can never be 
called civilized, where ‘ the priest stands 
before the altar of his idol, his hands 
yeeking with the blood of the newly 
slaughtered victim ; whose laws permit 
the son to expose to the flood the being 
who gave him birth; when oppressed by 
years, and unable to labour for the sup- 
port of life;* where the youthful widow 
is compelled to finish a short life upon 
the pile ef her deceased husband, or else 
must survive his loss in ignominy or ser- 
vitude; and where the woman who has 
long been barren, offers her first born to 
her god, by exposing it to the birds and 
‘ral knowledge. 
677 
of the Portugueze, and their persecuting zeaL 
This protection is now afforded by the Bri- 
tish government. The dissenting Hindoo 
nay be expelled from his cast, but no vio- 
lence can be used against his person, and his 
rights, a$a subject, remain unimpaired. This 
ary and the general mildness of the 
ritish government, must in time animate 
the natives to make some attempt to sharé 
with us in the daily evident benefits of gene 
The reflection of vad ne- 
cessary for the attainments of general know- 
ledge, will lead them to the examination of 
principles. Truth and its evidence will then 
be displayed fo their view ; and, in this way, 
we may hope that their superstitions will gra- 
dually lose strength, and in time disappear.” 
We shall not have occasion to dwell 
long on the theses contained in this vo- 
lume; they are three in number.t The 
first was pronounced in the Persian lane 
guage, by Mr. Lovett, on this position: 
«“ An academical institution in India is 
advantageous to the natives and to the 
British nation.” This subject is so nearly 
the same with that of the first three es- 
says already noticed, that we shall be ex. 
cused from enlarging onit. We cannot 
pass it over, however, without a compli-* - 
ment to the extensive reading displayed ie 
by our orator. It was opposed by Mr.:t: 
C. Lloyd, and Mr. G. D. Guthrie; theed 
moderator was Lieut. John Bailliespro-ch 
beasts of prey, or suffering it to be car- 
ried away by the flood of the Ganges !” 
Will it be. credited, that several of these 
unnatural cruelties were perpetrated in 
_ the presence of Europeans, at thé last 
Hindoo festival in the island of Saugor, 
in December 1801? 
«« The only effectual expedient for the im- 
provement of this idolatrous and deluded peo- 
ple, appears to be the civilizing influence of 
the christian religion. Itis, perhaps, too au- 
dacious an attempt for philosophy or human 
policy. Philosophy, indeed, has already ac- 
knowledged that the difficulties of the attempt 
appear insuperable; but though the supersti- 
tions of the natives are certainly great obstax 
cles to the propagation of truth, these super- 
. 
fessor. 1 
The second disputation was held in *- 
the Bengal language. Mr. Martin de- 
fended this position: ** The Asiatics are 
capable of as high a degree of civiliza- 
tion asthe Europeans.”” In his essays, 
Mr. Martin had more than once acknow- 
ledged the co-operative influence of cli- 
mate: here he thinks it necessary to re- 
tract a little; but it really was not ne- 
cessary, at least according to our theory 
on the subject. If the Hindoos were 
$titions are not to be deemed invincible. We . siege 
_ cannot believe that the Hindoos are an ex- left entirely to themselves, it is probable , 
4 ception to the human race. History affords that ages might roll away before they 
~ many instances of nations who have-yielded would extricate themselves from the 
__ up their ancient and inveterate prejudices to shackles in which their Brahmins bind 
ee ‘the truth of the gospel. Besides, it is a fact, them; if they made any advance towards 
_ that this very country has felt its power, and ¢iyilization, the motions, like that of the 
_ that there afte numerous classes of the natives howe-Wand ofa watch. sueiel beau 
__ who protess obedience to the christian faith. b oo ¢ Peace Ij ~~ 
<« Protection from prosecution for religious '° D& Perceived. r. Martin is obliged 
opinion, is the chief encouragement to the to look about for extraneous assistance, 
" inyestigation of truth; and it is not wonder- for the introduction of christianity. If 
ful, that little success followed the cruelties there be one more distinguishing feature 
~~ * In China infanticide is allowed and practised; but Sir George Staunton tells us, that 
_achild is bound to support his parents in distress, the brother his brother, and so on; even 
_ the most distant kinsman has a claim upon his relation. To this obligation Sir George 
attributes the exclusion of mendicity from the empire-—Rev. 
t They are priuted in the original language, and 
a translation is annexed to each —Rey, 
