35 



may now be the prevailing practice I cannot say; certainly the 

 spirit of Christianity was not the actuating principle of European 

 society in India. A thoughtlessness of futurity, a carelessness 

 about religious concerns, were more prominent. Highly as I 

 esteemed the philanthropy, benevolence, and moral character of 

 my countrymen, I am sorry to add, that a spirit of scepticism and 

 infidelity predominated in the younger part of the community; 

 especially in the circle of those who had received what is called a 

 good education; implying a knowledge of classical, mathematical, 

 and metaphysical learning, as far as such knowledge can be ac- 

 quired at sixteen years of age; the period when most of the writers 

 were then appointed to India. 



My mind is at this moment solemnly impressed with scenes 

 long past in those remote regions; especially in conversation at 

 the breakfast table of a gentleman, frequented by young men of 

 the first character in the Company's civil service: infidelity was 

 the order of the day; the systems of Voltaire and Hume the prin- 

 cipal topic of discourse; the philosophy of Sans Souci, the grand 

 subject of admiration! The truths of Christianity were so entirely 

 effaced by these doctrines, that for years together, many of those 

 deluded youths never entered a place of worship, nor read the 

 Bible, except for the purpose of misapplying texts, and select- 

 ing unconnected passages; so often, and so ably refuted, by all 

 that can be urged by the force of reasoning, or the extent of 

 learning. 



I have since had occasion to witness the effect of those fatal 

 errors upon the living and dying conduct of many who then em- 

 braced that pernicious system of infidelity. I know the misery it 



