ancestral belief. Let the principle of the objection be but fairly applied, ond they ought to close the doors of every government seminary in Madras, and before all others, those of the scientific, unsectarian, unproselytising "University,” where, all unwittingly and unsuspectedly, yet nowhere inore effectually, under the able tuition of its respected and talented Principal, are the deprecated processes of "undermining," and "overturning," being now carried on. Not only, therefore, does this objection recoil directly on its own advocates, but it lays them open also to the still graver imputation which they so unjustly allege against their opponents. In this respect, indeed, we are much beholden to the unwitting candour of our antagonists.

"I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word."

For which of the two parties is in reality dealing" unfairly" by the natives? Those who openly and undisguisedly put the Bible-the obnoxious record of Christianity-into their hands—and leave it to work its legitimate results; or those who, inspiring a mere ideal security by the exclusion of the Bible, and professing to impart only the innocuous elements of secular and scientific knowledge, are yet doing what, they are well aware, must ultimately endanger, if not destroy the very faith they profess so scrupulously to respect? We do not say that such is the design, but they cannot be ignorant that such must be the result, of the system they pursue. We are far from imputing any intentional deception. But against which of the two systems most justly lies the imputation of virtual deception? To whom, might the-not designedly yet virtually-deluded Hindus turn and say-as, we fear, they will ere long, have too much reason to say, “You offered us knowledge, but you have given us scepticism. You promised to preserve us uninjured in our faith, but you have shaken its foundations to the dust. We asked for bread, and you gave us a stone-for an egg, and we have got a scorpion."

Nay, does not this objection justly furnish the strongest possible argument for that very education which it thus assails? Which of the two systems of instruction is in reality the true and honest benefactor of the poor, erring, deluded Hindu? Not that assuredly whose lessons, however specious and promising, only create a vacuum which they cannot fill; shaking false but long cherished beliefs, without substituting any rational faith; uprooting error, without supplying its place with truth; and only succeeding, as the utmost result it can achieve, in exchanging heathenism for scepticism, in substituting free-thinking for superstition, in producing a nation of infidels instead of a nation of idolators. Such is the inevitable tendency of a merely secular, unreligious education. Such is the result, which, we fear, it has already, in some measure, produced. And can there be a stronger reason for the adoption of the system which we advocate? Never, probably, was there a time when it was more needed: when the mind of the nation awakened and enquiring, but still restless and unsatisfied, more urgently required the communication of that Truth which can alone supply the place of now detected error; or, when wearied with the frivolities of a despised superstition, the souls of thousands more needed to be taught, and were more ready to receive that knowledge of the true and only God, which alone can satisfy the desires and capacities of man's spiritual and immortal being. But if this divine knowledge be not supplied (and how can it be adequately supplied but by a religious education?)—if sublime and satisfying faith come not to occupy the place of dethroned credulity-if, though the unclean spirit" be " gone out of the

man," no better and purer influence supply the perilous void-what must be the final issue? The hand of a mighty and truthful Master has already drawn the picture: "Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits

more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there, and the last state is worse than the first."

Our time will not permit us to advert to other objections; if, indeed, there be any more requiring notice. The oft-repeated complaint-that the use of "the Bible as a school-book," will prove injurious to its salutary influence, by associating it with the irksome drudgery attendant on the first steps of learning-scarcely deserves serious refutation. We hope, and in all charity must believe, that the objection proceeds from an overflowing zeal for the sanctity of the Scriptures, and the spiritual welfare of the scholars; but it is difficult to conceive how such an idea could have occurred to any one who had ever read the Minute in question; for the slightest perusal of it would have shown that the Bible is not intended to be read as a school-book, in the sense of teaching the scholars to read, (the only sense in which its use is objectionable,) but as the manual to be used in a separate, and necessarily advanced class; since it is to be formed of those who can read already, and with whom, therefore, the unpleasant associations in questions will, most wisely and properly, not be connected with the Sacred Volume,

There is, however, a circumstance connected with the Minute itself, to which, although unwilling to criticise what is otherwise so highly commendable, we cannot, in justice, refrain from adverting. We allude to the time at which this important document has made its appearance. Not only has it come into existence at a peculiarly untoward juncture of events --at a time of such strong and unfavourable excitement in the native mind -a circumstance, indeed, for which the devisers of the measure are not to blame, although one, we fear, too likely to prove adverse to its adoption by the Home Authorities-but why, we would ask, did it not come into existence at an earlier period? Why does it appear so late in the day? Why, even when first projected, so near, in the usual course of events, to the close of the gubernatorial régime? For what reasons a measure of such importance should have been thus delayed, so as to render its final adoption so uncertain and precarious, we certainly cannot understand. It is a circumstance which, to say the least, gives rise to painful misgivings as to the ultimate success of the undertaking, and leaves us too much reason to fear that, like former educational reforms of the Presidency, ushered into being in very similar circumstances, this auspicious project may, for the present at least, be destined to occupy a place only in the chapter of good intentions."

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We trust, indeed, it may be otherwise, and that either now, or at no distant hour the movement thus so rightly begun, may be followed out throughout the length and breadth of India, by those to whom its mighty destinies have been committed. It is chiefly in this particular point of view-with reference to those invested with earthly authority-that we have considered the present question; and this simply because we regard it as a question involving a high and paramount national duty, not that we deem it dependant for its success on the smiles of earthly rulers, or the subsidies of worldly states. No: the kingdom" yet "to come" to India, is a kingdom "not of this world;" and humbler and lowlier hands than those invested with the insignia of earthly grandeur, will doubtless be employed to rear the spiritual structure yet destined to arise on the perished ruins of Heathenism. But "the powers that be" whether Temporal or Spiritual, are alike "ordained of GoD ;" and as ministers of God for good," the former, no less than the latter, are bound in all they do, to fulfil the divine will, and promote the divine glory.

And of all the "Powers" that be, or have ever been on earth, is there one to which has been assigned so manifest, so mighty, so glorious a minis

try" for good," as the Nation to which we belong? Who can doubt, that in the ascendancy acquired by Christian England over Heathen India, there is something else and higher designed to be attained, than the temporal aggrandizement of a perishable kingdom of this world? Who can contemplate the wondrous and most unparalleled series of events-events as much beyond her control, as often adverse to her will-by which Britain has been raised to this high eminence, and yet ask what is the nature of the Mission she is called to fulfil? Why have all other nations, many of them as powerful, and between whom and ourselves the scale of sovereignty more than once trembled in the balance, not only successively disappeared from the scene of contest-but why is it that the dynasties thus denied the dominion of India-the Mahommedan empire of Mogul, Romanist Portugal, infidel France, feeble and impotent Holland-have all been obviously either unfit or nuable to advance the "kingdom of God"-disqalified by national weakness, or still more by religious error and apostacy? And why that the Nation which has been exalted to the supremacy denied to them, is One not only in the first rank of political power and eminence. but occupying the highest position of religious character and moral influence-distinguished, above all others on earth, by its preservation of the pure and scriptural religion of the Cross? If such events as these do not themselves indicate the high and sacred mission to which our Country is called, the voice of Providence speaks in vain to man. Whatever, therefore, may be done by the church, by missionary institutions, or by private parties in the exercise of personal piety and zeal, there is still a duty incumbent on the Nation-a duty which it is bound, as a Nation, to fulfil-and which, as it is its highest national glory to achieve, so it can never hope, without shame and chastisement, to neglect. The blessed and glorious vocation assigned us will not be allowed, with impugnity, to be treated with disdain or indifference. National delinquency will sooner or later be followed by national retribution. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord." "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." And if the nation, to which are now intrusted the destinies of India, is found unfaithful to her trust, no graver deed of national delinquincy will be needed, that she may be "weighed in the balance and found wanting;" no hand-writing to come forth on the wall to declare that from her, "the kingdom" has " passed away." It needs only, that other instruments be found more fitted for the work of God (happily as yet they do not seem to exist) that the solemn prediction, once already realized, may be anew and still more signally fulfilled: The Lord of the vineyard shall come, and miserably destroy these servants, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons." Would that the rulers of India were willing to believe that its vast and fertile realms have been committed to them, not to bring forth the fruits of lucre or of glory for themselves, but to yield immortal produce to God; that to give to their subjects not only the wiser governments and the juster laws, but the purer morals and the holier faith of Christendom, is the true end and object of their mission; and that the stability of their own kingdom on earth, so far from being disturbed, as prejudice is ever wont to aver, is by nothing so directly ensured, as by their thus advancing the greater and more glorious "kingdom of heaven." Even, therefore, if the conclusion for which in these pages we have been contending, did not rest on the most obvious principle, we should still advocate it on those of the highest expediency; convinced, as we are, that, in the highest ease, the claims of piety not only involve no sacrifice of the claims of patriotism, but are in fullest accordance with the dictates of that love of country, which ranks in every true heart next to the love of God; and that the first and

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surest step to perpetuate to future generations the British Empire of the East is-THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF INDIA AND HER CHILDREN.

H.

Since the above was written, we have heard that the recommendation of the Council of Education has, for the present, been negatived by the Home Authorities. For this result we were by no means unprepared. Such measures are never carried at once. That the present one will be carried eventually we have no doubt. But meanwhile, the friends of Christian Education must not relax their efforts. Let them remember the saying of the first Missionary to the Indians of America: "Prayer, pains, and perseverance, with the blessing of God, can do every thing."*

ORIGINAL POETRY.

TO THE COMET NOW VISIBLE, AND WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO VISIT OUR SYSTEM AT INTERVALS OF ABOUT SEVENTY YEARS.

(Written in the year 1835.)

Thou wondrous voyager! again thy keel
Swift cuts the billows of the aerial deep,
Where our fair Sun, like some broad island, girt
With many a subject islet, calmly lies.

Columbus-like thou comest from unknown strands,
Far o'er the ocean of blue boundless space :

Thy daring prow, in awful solitude,

Has stemmed for long long years the glimmering tide,
Still steering on and on, with steady aim
And compass true, towards our unseen shores.

What tidings from yon distant worlds, beyond

The broad Atlantic of thy mighty course?
Ah say, is primal innocence yet there?

Is the fair savoury fruit untasted still?

And has no cherub's flaming sword been drawn?

And do ye ask how fares our world now?

The race that gazed upon thy burning flag,
When last it streamed along our wondering shores,
Have, with their follies, miseries and crimes
To dark oblivion passed; a feeble few

Excepted-sickly lingerers, soon to drop,

Like bleak November's scared and scanty leaves -
Their tombs are still oracular; but still

Man has the adder's car when Wisdom speaks,
Whether in temples or from hollow tombs.

* We are indebted for the above able paper to one of our ministers in India.—Ed.

His power to tame the outward elements
And train them to his yoke, grows as the world
Grows older. Ah! not so his power to rule
Those strugglings deep within his heaving breast
That oft burst forth with desolating rage,
More fell than tempests or volcanic fires—
Wide spreading woe, 'mid scenes for Angels meet.

Again from hence to yon far world return,
Bearing sad tidings of their brethren here.
And when again thy swift keel ploughs our seas,
Oh! may a better and a wiser race
Hail thy broad pendant o'er the etherial wave.

A. CARLILE.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Whitehall, February 28.-The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. Angus Logan to the church and parish of Tongue, in the Presbytery of Tongue and county of Sutherland, vacant by the translation of the Rev. Hugh Mackenzie, late minister thereof, to the Gaelic Church of Cromarty.

Presentation. Mr. Farquharson of Invercauld has presented the Rev. Colin A. M'Vean, minister of Strontian, to the church and parish of Kirkmichael, vacant by the death of

the Rev. Peter Drummond.

His Grace the Duke of Montrose has presented the Rev. William Mackintosh to the church and parish of Buchanan, in the Presbytery of Dunbarton, vacant by the death of the Rev. William Freeland.

Induction.-On Thursday, the 9th current, the Presbytery of Dunblane met in the parish church of Tulliallan, for the purpose of

inducting the Rev. John Smeaton to the pas toral charge thereof. The services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Young of Lecropt who, after a very suitable discourse addressed both the pastor and his congregation. Altogether this has been a most harmonious set

tlement.

Presbytery of Kirkaldy. The Presbytery of Kirkaldy met in the parish church of Kinglassie, on the 9th current, for the induction of the Rev. Andrew Johnston, minister of the High Church, Paisley, to the church and parish of Kinglassie. There was a full attendance of the members of Presbytery, and the services of the day were performed by the Rev. Mr. Blackie of Abbotshall. At the conclusion of the services Mr. Johnston met with a most cordial reception from the congregation.

LITERARY NOTICE.

The Natural History of the Human Species. By Lieut. Col. HAMILTON SMITH, K.H., &c., &c. Edinburgh: W. H. Lizars. 1848.

The physical history of man has often struck us as a very strange study. Amid the many mental and moral, political and social, wonders which are exhibited in the world every day, it does, at first view, appear singular that philosophers, instead of considering these, should occupy themselves with the mere zoology of the human race. comprehensive and minute,-to take in every fact, that it Yet it is the glory of science to be under a universal law. And when we think how different types of body are inmay range variably and essentially connected with different types of mind, when we