RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 313 



themselves, and it will have been seen from the notices of different sects, 

 that scepticism is not unfrequent amongst the less privileged orders. The 

 tendency of many widely diffused divisions is decidedly monotheistical, 

 and we have seen that both in ancient and modern times, attempts have 

 been made to inculcate the doctrines of utter unbelief. It is not likely 

 that these will ever extensively spread, but there can be little doubt that 

 with the diffusion of education, independant enquiry into the merits of the 

 prevailing systems and their professors, will become more universal, and be 

 better directed. The germ is native to the soil : it has been kept alive for 

 ages under the most unfavourable circumstances, and has been apparently 

 more vigorous than ever during the last century. It only now requires 

 prudent and patient fostering to grow into a stately tree, and yield goodly 

 fruit. 



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