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been exploded by Providence, and their authors brought to light and to punishment. The Rajahs of Coorg and Goomsoor and their adherents who boasted so loudly of their power, and talked so contemptuously of the Christians and of the Galilean, were speedily driven from their bulwarks, and reduced to subjection. And though in such an immense empire as India, there will be many events to agitate, the Lord has prospered us for his own name sake, and to uphold his glory in the sight of the heathen.

It is at present with our Eastern possessions, as it was, with Judea, under some of her kings. Their reign was a blessing; judges were appointed to administer the laws in truth and righteousness; the Levites were allowed to go through the land to instruct the people; and the worship of the God of Israel was maintained and acknowledged at Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the high-places were not possession of the fort. But, at the head of the 19th dragoons, and a regiment of native cavalry, Colonel Gillespie soon compelled them to surrender. Some enemies of the truth, wished to attribute this plot to missionary exertions. But besides that there was no English missionary then in the Peninsula, and not a Danish one almost within a hundred miles, the event was easily accounted for. Tipoo's sons were prisoners; many of their adherents in the army, wished for an occasion to rise in their favour; a government order had proposed some change in the uniform, the turban and the marks of caste; and taking advantage of this regulation, the Musselmen proclaimed that the government wished to make the native army Christians by force, and the night after this order was issued, the horrid conspiracy was carried into execution.

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taken away; the altars erected to Baal were not thrown to the ground; and what was the consequence? The Lord subdued their enemies before them, but his favour was not fully enjoyed; peace and prosperity were the privileges of their times, but the curses which the prophets had pronounced, were not repealed; judgments were suspended for a time, but were laid up in store for posterity. So our Eastern rule has been blest; measures of amelioration have been adopted for the benefit of the people; judges and magistrates administer the laws in equity and righteousness; Christianity is acknowledged and, to a certain extent, the worship of Jehovah is maintained; missionaries are permitted to go through the land, declaring the truth; what then hinders that the divine blessing, in all its extent, should be granted? Alas! the high-places of Jugernaut and Gya and Allahabad have not been taken away; the pilgrim-tax has not been abolished; the government is still in league with idolatry; and a revenue is collected from the festivals which are celebrated to Moloch. But let these evils be done away; let the lands and endowment of idolatry be given back to the management of their natural trustees; and let Christian authorities wipe away this reproach from the British name and nation; and what, then, may we expect? That the blessing of the Lord will be more fully enjoyed; that peace and prosperity will be our crown of joy; that the empire will be consolidated and its interests ad

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vanced; that a long and glorious career will attend our rule over that people; that the curse which is sure to rest upon the abettors of idolatry, will be removed from our own land; and that our prosperity at home and abroad will be great and lasting.

Nothing it appears to me can be more absurd, than to suppose that the progress of our religion will become the bane of our Indian rule. Where could such an opinion originate? The natives who are already converted, and profess attachment to the truth, are they become enemies of Britain and its government? No, they feel identified with its welfare; it is the ground of their security; and though they are the only class who have to complain of its intolerance, there are none, among its subjects, so devoted to its rule, and so likely to take its side in the day of trial. What then would be the feelings and the sentiments of the millions, were they, instead of the hundreds, to abandon their idols and submit to the power of the gospel? Exactly the same. Whatever insurrections might arise in the empire; they would invariably be found on the side of a Christian, and a Protestant government; since the establishment of a heathen or a Mahomedan rule must be to them oppression, persecution, and death.

Most gladly do I avail myself of the support which these sentiments receive, from similar opinions recorded by the wise and intelligent Sir Thomas Munro. In an address to the government of Fort

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St. George, he thus writes: "The facts which I have described seem to authorise the conclusion-a conclusion which, I am convinced, will be further confirmed the more the subject is examined and studied that whatever impediments may be opposed to the progress of Christianity, will proceed from political not religious jealousy. They who cherish sentiments of hostility against the British power, and hopes of instability will, of course, decry any measures calculated to unite the interest of a body of the people with its permanency. That power is exposed to greater danger from secret conspiracy, than from open resistance; and this danger must increase with the extension of the British possessions, which augments the disproportion in numbers, already so immense between the rulers, and the subjects. But in establishing a body of native subjects connected with the mass of the people by a community of language, occupations and pursuits, and united to the British government by the stronger ties of religion, and mutual safety; ample means would be acquired of procuring information of the proceedings of the people, and of all machinations against the British power. In the course of time still greater advantages would arise; the support of a respectable body of Christian subjects would contribute to strengthen the British power in those junctures of commotion and difficulty which must be expected to occur in a country like India that has been in a state of revolution for ages. The in

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troduction of Christianity in some of the provinces, may be attended with delays; but in Travancore and Cochin, there is already a numerous body of Christian inhabitants, who with moderate assistance and encouragement from the British government, will firmly attach themselves to its interests, and may prove of material service in supporting its power."