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tion of other writers, who, I doubt not, from the best motives, have 

 written so very favourably of the Hindoos. 



To avoid prolixity, I shall only make a few short extracts from 

 the most respectable Avriters on the Hindoo character. Such as- 

 sistance is necessary, when philosophers and sceptics are endea- 

 vouring to undermine Christianity, and exalt paganism. It then 

 behoves every person who has acquired a knowledge of those 

 pagans, and been happily taught the truths of Christianity, to 

 support religion, purity, and virtue, against priestcraft, supersti- 

 tion, and error. To those advocates for Hinduism, I must, in the 

 first instance, oppose the high authority of Sir William Jones, 

 whose judgment and impartiality are universally acknowledged. 

 In the preface to his Institutes of Menu, this learned orientalist 

 allows that code to possess " a spirit of sublime devotion, benevo- 

 lence, and tenderness to all sentient creatures; that the sentiments 

 of independence to all beings but God are truly noble; and prove 

 that the author adored, not the material sun, nor any symbolical 

 representation of the Deity, but that divine light, which illumines 

 all, and delights all; from which all proceed, and to which all 

 must return." This beautiful and rational thesis cannot fail to 

 delight every pious mind, but candour renders it necessary to 

 transcribe another passage on the same subject, from the same au- 

 thority. " This code is also a system of despotism and priestcraft, 

 both indeed limited by law, but aitfully conspiring to give mutual 

 support, though with mutual checks. It is filled with strange con- 

 ceits in metaphysics and natural philosophy; and with a scheme 

 of theology most obscurely figurative, and consequently liable to 

 dangerous misconceptions." 



