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with God, the world, and himself; encircled by a loving and be- 
loved offspring, to “ rock the cradle of declining age ;” 
<c Though old he still retains 
f< His manly sense, and energy of mind: 
“ Virtuous and wise he is, but not severe ; 
“ He still remembers that he once was young; 
“ His easy presence checks no decent joy. 
Him, ev’n the dissolute admire, for he 
“ A graceful freeness, when he wills, puts on; 
“ And laughing, can instruct.” Armstrong, 
The Mahomedans, in power, are generally intolerant and cruel; 
bigotted to the theism of their own system, they treat all other 
religions with a sort of contemptuous abhorrence, and we may 
safely pronounce them cold and uncharitable in their religious 
opinions: the Hindoo character, though very different, is in many 
essential points extremely defective, and led by deep-rooted pre- 
judice and barbarous custom, to the commission of crimes, which 
ought not to be sanctioned by any moral or religious code. Un- 
like our patriarchal friend at Ram-Rajah, or the venerable Chris- 
tian just mentioned, how often is the aged Hindoo parent deemed 
an encumbrance and unnecessary expense^ by his family; and 
carried, a living victim, devoted to die, on the margin of the 
Ganges, or some holy stream; there his own children fill his 
mouth and nostrils with mud; and thus, cutting off every prospect 
of recovery, they leave the author of their being to be carried 
away by the stream, as food for alligators and vultures. Although 
sanctioned by the Brahmins, and perhaps sometimes voluntary on 
the part of the aged victim, no religion should tolerate such a sacri- 
