ter impulse to the fate of nations, and the destinies of the human race. Having enriched those who were so fortunate as to enjoy its commerce, by pouring profusely into their bosom the riches of the earth; it would turn, in its career of beneficence, to other objects, and bless those, who peradventure neither needed nor desired its worldly commodities, with incomparably higher benefits, "the precious things of

the heavens."

And it must be confessed, that Hindostan possesses mighty advantages" for diffusing the light of the Christian religion throughout the Eastern World." Situated almost in the centre of Asia, and surrounded by populous empires, to which the access is easy; having alliances with several, and commercial connections with many; holding a commanding attitude amongst all; possessing considerable territories, and some trading stations, beyond the limits of Hindostan ; the British government in the East would be wanting to God, to their country, and to the world, if they did not avail themselves of such facilities for spreading the "light of life” among those who are yet "sitting in the region of darkness and of the shadow of death." "How beautiful upon the moun

tains of Thibet would be the feet of them who," ascending from the plains of India, " "should bring good tidings of

good, should publish salvation, and say" unto the outcast heathens, dwelling in their vicinity, the great "God," the Saviour, "reigneth!" "The wilderness and the solitary place would be glad for them, and the desert would rejoice and blossom as the rose, it would blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and with singing: the glory of Lebanon would be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they would see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.”

And still it spreads! see Hindostan' send forth
Her sons, to pour it on the farthest north:

Fir'd with a zeal peculiar, they defy

The rage and rigour of a polar sky,

And plant, successfully, sweet Sharon's rose,
On icy plains and on eternal snows.

Thus our government, in that part of the world, opening the path of "the day-spring from on high" to visit the benighted regions around, would realise the beautiful delineation of David still more exactly than the benign administration of one man could accomplish, and be "as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds, as the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after the rain."

There are several circumstances which may encourage us to undertake this most honourable enterprise. Among others, two merit particular notice. The character of the superstitions which prevail in many of the regions to the East, is uniform. Throughout the Burman empire, and Siam, the religion of Boodh, which is nearly allied to the religion of Brama, and the doctrine of transmigration, which is the capital tenet of Hindoo superstition, constitute the national faith and worship. The Malays are Mahometans. Now, both these forms of superstition are familiar to the English in the East, and the same education which would fit a person to be a missionary in Bengal, will prepare him for spreading the Gospel through these countries. Besides, the primary languages of the eastern parts of the globe are few, and several of them borrow much from the Shanscrit. By some only five are enumerated, the Hindostanee, Persian, Marrasdæ, Malay, and Chinese. The last but one is spoken extensively, and has been called, from its elegant and mellifluous idiom, the classical Latin and Italian of the East. It is the common tongue of the exterior India, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebez, the Philippine Islands, &c. And the Persian is almost universally understood to the west. That the latter may be perfectly learned in India, where it

is generally spoken, cannot be doubted; and that the means of acquiring the language of a country so adjacent as Malacca, may also be obtained there, it should seem, may be fairly presumed. Hence a singular facility will arise to the undertaking. Missionaries may be fully prepared in Hindostan itself, by a perfect knowledge of the languages, the laws, and the customs, of the surrounding nations, for entering upon the various scenes of their labours.

Nor do our countrymen in India possess inconsiderable means for executing the grand design. Strangers will always judge of the excellence of any new system proposed to their approbation or adoption, by the influence which it shall appear to have upon its professed votaries. Let then the sailors, and other servants of the Company, be instructed to recommend, by their spirit and deportment amongst foreign nations, Christianity to the reception of those they may visit; and let some person, who knows how to write for them, compose a brief address, illustrating the importance of the object, and enforcing their duty in the most persuasive manner. In every ship's company there will usually be found, it is to be presumed, one or more who are at least seriously inclined: let such persons be intrusted with the dispersion of Bibles and evangelical tracts, previously trans

lated into the languages of those countries at which they are to touch. To facilitate and insure this distribution, in trading with the inhabitants of foreign countries, let such good books, as often as possible, be given away in exchange; and where this cannot be done, let proper persons be selected, and if necessary, engaged to circulate them in the course of business, or to carry them on purpose into the interior, and give them away in the progress of their excursions. Let every factory, which the British may possess in foreign countries, become an evangelical depot; and a person be either appointed with this sole design, or those stationed there principally with another view, be invited by such considerations as may prove successful, to exert themselves in scattering abroad the " word of life" amongst the natives. By and by a chaplain might be attached to each considerable trading station, with orders to endeavour, by all means in his power, particularly by mingling and conversing with the inhabitants, and by making such journies into the country as circumstances will permit, to avail himself of the elementary information previously diffused by the written word, and to impress the natives with a sense of the truth of Christianity, and of the importance of salvation. Besides, itinerant preachers might be sent forth to take a