"The principal objects of our religious association are, the public worship of God; the edification and comfort of each other; the strengthening of the weak, and the recovery of those who have wandered from the way of peace and safety. "It is only under the influence of gospel love that these objects can be attained. Whenever any among us so far forsake this fundamental principle of our union, as to act in the spirit of strife and discord, and to oppose and condemn their brethren who may conscientiously differ from them in opinion, they break the bond of gospel fellowship, and, as far as their influence extends, frustrate the design of reli- | gious Society. If such, after the use of proper means, cannot be reclaimed, the peace, and harmony, and welfare of the body require that they should be separated from our communion." Epistle of the 5th mo. p. 6. It has long appeared to me that the "religious world," in the worship of our heavenly Father, is prone to place too much dependence on ceremonies, on ministers, and on words. Allow me to make a very few observations on each of these points; and believe me, that my remarks are not suggested by any ex parte feelings as a Quaker, but by an impartial desire to behold the day, when Zion shall array herself in all her strength, her loveliness, and her beauty. ter of faith, then what blasphemies so horrible, what | spiritual principles than is now generally the case, is The Contribution of a Member of the Society of TO P If we examine these paragraphs in detail, we shall find them to be a singular mixture of truth, and error, and inconsistency. The first assertion is, that it was by obedience to the new command of loving one another, that our early Friends were made powerful instruments in removing the fetters of superstition and error. If I understand the meaning of the terms, there is about as much propriety in this language, as in saying that the sense of smelling enables us to see; for the disciples of Christ "love one another" through the effects of his spirit on the heart and affections; and they detect and refute errors through its operation on the understanding, which are two very distinct things. "That God alone is the sovereign Lord of conscience" is, indeed, “a great and glorious truth." But if it is meant that no ecclesiastical power ought ever to interfere with the opinions of men, or that the Society of Friends allowed to its members the blessed liberty of holding what opinions they pleased, the epistle itself refutes the assertion. For what says the next sentence? that they became of one heart and one mind;" united in love, in sentiment, in doctrine. All who were not thus with them, were not of them, and were disowned by them, and excluded from their fellowship. We have only to read their books to learn this. The "blessed liberty" into which they were led by the light of Christ, was a freedom from sin. For it is a contradiction in terms to assert that they could be united in that light, and yet left free to believe as they pleased upon the essential doctrines of revelation. The mere loving of one another could not, therefore, have been the sole bond, and the "fundamental principle" of their union. To the greater part of the extract from the epistle of the 6th mo. I freely subscribe. For how stand the facts? The society had held certain doctrines in peace and harmony, for more than a century. Elias Hicks, it appears, attacks what he calls the vulgar error, and opposes and condemns his brethren who conscientiously adhere to it. Let the epistle pronounce his sentence." He has broken the bonds of gospel fellowship; and if he cannot be reclaimed, the peace, and harmony, and welfare of the body require that he should be separated from our communion." The epistle admits that faithfulness to the light of Christ within united Friends in the unchangeable spirit, and made them of one heart and one mind. It was as ne-provement of the religious world. cessary, therefore, to put the question of "What To begin, then, I may venture to confess my opiteachest thou?" as of "How livest thou?" And it is nion, that religious persons, in the present day, are in vain for the epistle to attempt to brand those whose not quite alive enough to the consideration, that, duty it may be to condemn in their fellow members, under the glorious Gospel dispensation, the worship opinions which are inconsistent with the doctrines of of God is to be spiritual; not in word so much as in the Society, as acting in the spirit of strife and dis-power; not in the form, but in the reality; not in the cord. The grievance, if it be such, must be laid at shadow, but in the substance; not in the type, but in the door of those through whom the offence came. the antitype. The system of worship under the law The authority of Robert Barclay, upon this point, is was, indeed, one of forms, shadows, and types; but clear and decisive. "Were such a principle to be that which was introduced to the attention of manreceived or believed," says he, "that in the Church kind by the Gospel appears to me, in this respect, to of Christ no man should be separated from, no man be radically different. The first is like the body, the condemned, or excluded the fellowship and commu- second is like the soul; the first is external, the senion of the body, for his judgment or opinion in mat-cond inward and spiritual. My Dear Friend,-Having in the composition of my mind little that is poetic, and less that is epigrammatic, I will take the liberty of conversing with thee, though it be through the medium of an Album, in the form of a letter; and being, as thou knowest, a plain man-not to say, a plain Quaker-I will venture to throw out a few observations to one, who, I am sure, will not misinterpret me, on the present state of the "religious world." For a full investigation of this point, performed with great care and judgment, the reader is referred to "A Defence of the Christian Doctrines of the Society of Friends," &c. published in Philadelphia, in 1825; a work which remains to this day unanswered and unanswerable! The Society of Friends have always considered it right to disuse the outward ceremonials of baptism and the supper. Far be it from me to attempt to persuade any brother or sister, who may be truly edified through the medium of these ordinances, to follow this example. But I may be permitted to remark, that these ceremonies have been found, in various ages of the Church, more perhaps than any other thing, the occasions of intricate and tiresome discussion-of angry and most unedifying disputeof doubt, division, and schism-and, above all, of cruel and shameless persecution. And hence the pious churchwoman may so far accompany the Quaker as to conclude, not indeed that the ordinances themselves are without foundation, but that a far greater stress has been laid upon them by Christians, than truly consists either with the welfare of man or with the glory of God. Possibly this observation may have its application, in some degree, to the serious part of Christendom, as well as to the mere professors. I confess I can never succeed in dispossessing myself of feelings of a somewhat jealous, though, I trust, not ungodly nature, when I hear the reports of the zealous agents of our Jewish and Missionary Societies, who appear to be so eager to declare to us how many of the Jews-how many of the Gentiles-have been baptized! Alas! what will the application of water do for them, if they are not introduced to the Church by the baptismal influence of the Holy Ghost and of fire! I am quite aware, that these pious men profess to baptize only those who are truly converted; and thus, by the information that such a number have been baptized, they mean to convey to us the complex idea, that such a number have, through the blessing of God on all their administrations, been gathered, as they believe, into the fold of Christ. But when I remember how prone we are, by nature, to fix our hearts on that which is outward, instead of that which is inward, and to trust in any thing rather than the living God, I cannot but hold this to be a dangerous misnomer. It must, I think, be allowed by the spiritual reader of Scripture, that the Church of Christ is principally addressed in the following animated language of ancient inspiration-" Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come unto thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion." Isa. lii. 1, 2. And well would it be, my dear friend, were the universal society of God's people, I mean of those who really love the Lord Jesus Christ, more clothed in their strength-more arrayed in their beautiful garments-more shaken from the dust of the earth- On the same principles, it is always painful to me and more entirely loosed from the bands which have to hear of the eagerness so often manifested by sebeen imposed upon them by the inventions and sys-rious Christians to administer the ceremonial bread tems of man! and wine to their dying friends; and of the delight It seems strange that so imperfect a person as my-which dying Christians are as often described as takself should cry out for a more evident advance towards perfection in others; but, strange as it may appear, I will now take the liberty of dropping a few hints to a friend whom I highly esteem, respecting the present defects, and the probable future im No person of serious reflection would, I presume, object to those outward institutions such as the Sabbath day, appointed hours and places of meeting, &c.; which are essential, in the order of Providence, to the congregational worship of the Deity; but, whether that worship ought not, under the full light of the gospel of Christ, to be conducted on more ing in the ceremony. When I hear of such things, To be brief on this interesting subject, permit me, without pretending, on the present occasion, to say a syllable for the disuse of these things, to express an earnest desire that the religious world may be brought to lay less stress on the ceremonial affusion of water, and more on that celestial baptism of which Christ is the Author, and which can alone renovate the soul; that they may also learn to detach their dependence from the supper of bread and wine; and strive, with greater earnestness, independently of every outward ceremony, to commune with one another in spirit; and, by a living faith, to feed together on the body and blood of Christ our Lord. My next two heads of observation I must dismiss more briefly. wise. no more. I am satisfied that my friend does not want the FOR THE FRIEND. strong in faith, that it was easy with the Lord God intervention of a plain Quaker, in order to be conto deliver us, we trusted in his holy power; and I FRAGMENTS.-No. 7. vinced that professing Christians--and even the more being in deep travail of soul, had an opening from serious among them-are prone to place too great a Richard Davies. I had several exercises this year, the Lord, that it was his holy will to deliver us, and dependence on the ministry, of man in general, and 1682, in London, both from false brethren, and otherwe should live to see it; which I believed, and was on individual ministers in particular. I am confident Once I was at the Bull and Mouth meeting, humbly thankful to the Lord, and told my dear comshe will agree with me in the opinion, that there is and there were in the gallery several troublesome panion thereof with great joy; for we being nearly to be found amongst us, in the "religious world," people, and none of our ministering brethren in true united in true love, could freely open our minds each too much of the pinning of our faith on the sleeve of unity with us, but George Whitehead and W. Gib-to the other. He also told me, that being under a our neighbour-too much of one minister out of son. The gallery being pretty full, one of them travail of soul, the Lord had showed him, that the fashion, and another minister in fashion--and too lit- seemed to strive to keep me out, and our friends G. French fleet would encompass us on both sides, and tle of a settled and paramount dependence on the Whitehead and W. Gibson perceiving it, made way also behind, and come very near, but the Lord would Minister of the true tabernacle; on the only High for me to come up to them; another of them had send in a great mist and darkness between us and Priest of our profession; on him who teaches as never been speaking long in the meeting, and had made man taught. The unction which we have received many weary of him. I was under great concern in them, in which we should sail away, and see them Thus we imparted our minds to each of him teacheth us of all things, and is truth, and no my spirit for the honour and exaltation of the name other before we left London; and our openings so lie. Under the new covenant, we have no longer of the Lord and his truth, and the case of many that agreeing one with another, we were the more conneed to say, every one to his brother, and every one were under weights and burdens; yet, for quietness' firmed that it was of the Lord. to his neighbour, Know the Lord; for we may all sake, I silently bore the weight and exercise that was know him for ourselves, from the least to the greatest upon me, till he had done. Then my mouth was of us. Why may we not sit every one under his own opened in the name and power of God, who had vine, and every one under his own fig-tree? Human compassion on his afflicted seed, and caused the light ministry is good in its season, no doubt. Far be it from and life of his countenance to overshadow the meetme to depreciate or to decry it; for I can say for my-ful. I was made to detect the false doctrine which ing, to the comfort and great satisfaction of the faithself, "Wo is me, if I preach not the Gospel." But O! for the fuller accomplishment of the promise of God to his Church: "All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children!" To pass on to my third and almost identical subject; the religious world is surely far too eager to feed, and to be fed with words. How many are there who may, to a certain extent, be justly considered serious in their views of religion, who are ready enough both to hear much and to talk much on the sacred subject, but who are strangers, nevertheless, to that deep, inward exercise of mind, in which the Christian is brought to a con "We sailed from London to Gravesend, and had a blessed meeting there, with the Friends that accompanied us from the city, and after meeting took leave of each other; we sailed from thence to the Downs, and the master being very kind, we went on shore, Lord's holy power tendered our hearts together; and and had some meetings thereabout, wherein the from thence we sailed to Plymouth, and went ashore, where we had some blessed comfortable meetings, and Friends were very glad to see us. "On the ninth day of the fifth month, 1691, we went on board, and sailed to Falmouth, where all the fleet put in; and at times we had very good meetings, both Friends and people being very open to hear the truth declared. So after our return aboard the ship, and some time of sailing, we met with the French fleet, who gave us chase, coming up under English colours, within musket shot of us; then the English, putting up their own colours, the French began to fire at them. The first French ship that came up was very large, and, as it is said, had ninety guns; sail behind them, as some of our company said they nigh unto which ship were eleven more, and seventy counted; the first ship pursued us, and fired hard, a broadside at every time; and being come up within musket shot, the Lord was graciously pleased to hear our prayers, and sent a great mist, with thick darkness, which interposed between us and them, so that they could not see us, nor we them, any more; then James Dickenson arose from his seat, and took me by the hand, saying, Now I hope the Lord will deliver us; for he had seen all fulfilled, which the Lord had showed before we left London. This was deep travail of spirit, with fasting and prayer to the cause of great gladness to me, who had been under a Lord, that he who smote his enemies in times past Lord did please to answer, in a sense whereof our with blindness, might please to do so now, which the hearts were truly thankful to him. My fasting, praying, and inward giving of thanks continued three days. one of them had declared to the people, viz. That the children of God are destroyed for want of knowledge. I told the people that the children of God in these days were the children of the new covenant; and the covenant that he makes with them is, that they shall know him, from the least to the greatest; and the true knowledge of God to his people, in these days, is life eternal. Though Israel of old were destroyed for want of knowledge, because they forgot the God of their fathers, that brought them out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage; insomuch that the Lord complained of formity with the sufferings of Christ; and in a spiri- them, and said that "the ox knoweth his owner, and tual sense, is “buried with him in baptism?” the ass his master's crib, but my people know not How unspeakably desirable is it that the "religious me," and elsewhere it is said, they have forgotten world" should now at length begin to learn the les-me days without number. These were those aposson of true silence; I mean of that prostration and tates that the Lord complained had committed two humiliation of soul, in which the creature dares not evils; they had forsaken him, the fountain of living act in his own strength, or light his lamp with sparks waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, of his own kindling; but is reduced to absolute quies- that could hold no water. These were such, as the cence, in the presence, and under the power of his apostle said, when they knew God, they glorified him Creator. "Be still," said Jehovah, "and KNow that not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain I am Gon." Such a condition of soul is most suita- in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was bly accompanied (at times at least) by the corredarkened; for this cause, God gave them up unto sponding stillness and silence of the body. Surely, vile affections, and a reprobate mind. And the aposmy dear friend, if there were times (and they not a tates in our days, said I, have forgot the God that few) in the public as well as private worship of Chris- first made them acquainted in measure with him; so tians, in which (even in this sense) tongues were having lost the sense of his goodness, have separated known to cease, and prophecies to fail, and God in themselves from the love and unity of the brethren; but Christ to be ALL IN ALL, it would indeed tend to the of the grace of God in themselves, know it to be the children of God, who are faithful to the measure edification-or I should rather say to the more perfect settlement of the church universal. The spiri- their teacher and leader into all truth. These are tual temple, in this blessed Gospel day, like the out- not destroyed for want of knowledge, though the ward edifice in the days of Solomon, would often be world knows him not. There are apostates in our so filled with the glory of God, that there would be age, who have lost the true knowledge of him; but "no place for the priest to minister." "Two ships of our company that escaped, came the saints in light have and remain in the true know-up with us, which we were glad to see; and the cap ledge of him, being guided by the spirit of truth, tain of our vessel being a very kind man, called to whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him those in the other two ships to come aboard his, and not, neither knoweth him; "but ye know him, for have a meeting with us; which they readily did, and he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.' a large and good meeting we had, giving glory to the Lord's holy name for his great deliverance; so sailed on our way rejoicing, continuing healthy and well until we landed at Barbadoes." Thus have I endeavoured to unfold and justify my sentiment, that in order to the arising of ZION in her strength, her beauty, and her glory, her worship of God, even the Father, must come to be more spiritual than it is at present. Had I not already engrossed too much of thy Album, and too much of my own time, I would go on to the proof, that, in many particulars, Zion's law of practice, as it relates to her intercourse with men, is in equal need of purification. On this branch of the subject, however, I will now content myself with a single observation. I am persuaded, that, were serious Christians, of every denomination, bold and honest enough to face the precept of Jesus, Love your enemies, and were they thoroughly imbued with the spirit of that precept-no earthly consideration-no plea of human obedience to human authorities-no plea of self-defence--would induce them ever to take part in the greatest of human abominations, that most desolating of the scourges of the world-the practice of WAR. Pray excuse my having filled so many of thy pages, and believe me to be thy affectionate friend. He who makes conscience his counsellor will find it his comforter when all others stand aloof.-Dillwyn. xiv. 17. John Thomas Wilson and James Dickenson were remarkably united in gospel fellowship, and had travelled much together, both in England and Ireland, on religious service; they became simultaneously impressed with the persuasion that it was required of them to cross the Atlantic, and to preach the gospel in America. For this purpose, having obtained the necessary certificates of approbation from their friends, Thomas Wilson, in his journal, gives the following account of an extraordinary preservation which they experienced in the voyage. "But the times seemed like to be very dangerous and stormy; the French being at war against England, had a great fleet at sea; and while we were in London, the rumour was, that the French fleet lay about thirty or forty leagues from the Land's End of England, in the way we should pass; which brought a very great concern upon us, with many inward seekings and supplications to the Lord, if it was his blessed will, that he might be pleased to preserve us. And being A RELIGIOUS AND LITERARY JOURNAL. VOL. I. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, SEVENTH DAY, FIFTH MONTH, 24, 1828. BY JOHN RICHARDSON, Corner of Carpenter and Seventh Street, PHILADELPHIA. Price Two Dollars per annum, payable in advance. FOR THE FRIEND. and the ignominy of the forlorn widow who NO. 32. The practice of infanticide appears never to have had its origin in any precept of religion, and partial success has attended the attempt to suppress it. It makes us shudder to read the details of such monstrous and abominable cruelties, as show the perpetrators to be dead to the common sympathies of life; and we may well forbear indulging the vanity or pride of a nature which we share with beings so dreadfully degraded, while we are grateful for that purer faith, which has exalted and refined the human mind wherever it has been received, elevating even the humblest and most neglected member of society, to a participation in the sweetest charities of life, and vindicating its divine institution by the uniform amelioration of the hearts, and correct regulation of the actions of men. HEBER'S INDIAN JOURNAL. M. It has been a very general impression, we believe, that, notwithstanding the labours of the missionaries, who have, for many years, been engaged in spreading a knowledge of Christianity in India, very little has yet been The sacrifices that are yet frequently made done to reclaim those benighted regions from by deluded victims are most revolting, and the gross superstition and degrading cus- must raise our pity and indignation, while toms of a false religion. It is, however, con- they impose a solemn obligation on England solatory to find some evidence which has re- to make every possible effort for their supcently been made public, that there is "a pression. From parliamentary papers it apslow, but distinct and undeniable diminu- pears, that it is now near forty years since tion of the antichristian prejudices of the the question was first entertained by the Innatives," although the example of their Eu- dian government. The orders which were ropean conquerors, it may be feared, has been issued to regulate Suttees have had, howrather calculated to repel than to attract ever, a tendency to establish the practice (Continued from page 235.) their affection for Christianity. The peace- even more firmly, under the authority of the In following the track of the fascinating ful tenets of the gospel must appear, to their supreme power of the country, and the atten- Heber, we have experienced no abatement of simple minds, to have been very inefficacious tion and inquiry excited serve to keep the interest or gratification; we have marked in regulating the conduct of those who have feelings of the Hindoo population alive upon many passages for quotation, and the only carried slaughter and rapine through their the point, and give a sort of interest and ce- difficulty seems to be, which to prefer of so country. Yet, when contrasted with the lebrity to the sacrifice which is in the highest much that is pleasant and racy. Lest, thereconduct of the Mahometan conquerors in degree favourable to its continuance and ex-fore, we should be guilty of forestalling the former times, and the terrible domination of tension, while, by a specific permission in anticipated enjoyment of our readers from their own princes, it may be hoped that the certain cases, England becomes an ostensible the work itself, we shall content ourselves English government has many claims to their party. The actual number of widows immo- for the present, with one or two additional preference; and as their empire becomes lated was ascertained to be 378 in 1815, selections, reserving the privilege of recur more firmly established, a greater opportu- while in 1824, they amounted to 572, show-ring to the volumes when convenient, for nity will be given for the extension of the ing a fearful increase, after every deduction the embellishment of subsequent numbers. mild and peaceful sway of Christianity. is made for the greater accuracy of the later Even now, it is reasonable to expect, that returns, and for the increase of population; many enormous iniquities will gradually dis- and what is peculiarly mortifying is, that appear before the influence of those more the greatest increase appears to have occurmoral and correct sentiments which neces- red in that tract of country immediately sarily flourish under the rule of their present surrounding the seat of government. governors. We find from Bishop Heber's comparison with the neighbouring provinces Journal, that a Brahmin of high rank and yet under the control of native princes, congreat wealth applied to Archdeacon Corrie, firms the humiliating conclusion, that, to to grant him an interview that he might the present time, the efforts made to suppress receive instruction in Christianity." And the rite of Suttee have had a contrary effect. again, "one of the hill people at the school Attention, however, is directed to the sub-in its entrance, and the rest of the way was passed in has declared, of his own accord, his inten-ject, and we have reason to hope that the tion of giving up Sunday to the worship of God:" and the Bishop, after he had visited the country from Calcutta to Meerut, records his observation, that in many places, "a sort of regard seemed to be paid to the Sabbath by the natives." We have made choice for this number of the author's account of his visit to the city of Benares, replete with incident, minuteness of detail, distinctness of delineation, and much that is peculiarly and exclusively ori from "Benares is a very remarkable city, more entirely and characteristically eastern than any which I have yet seen, and at the same time altogether different town, nor are the streets wide enough for a wheelany thing in Bengal. No Europeans live in the carriage. Mr. Frazer's gig was stopped short almost tonjons, through alleys so crowded, so narrow, and difficulty. The houses are mostly lofty, none I think so winding, that even a tonjon sometimes passed with less than two stories, most of three, and several of five or six, a sight which I now for the first time saw in India. The streets, like those of Chester, are considerably lower than the ground-floors of the houses, which have mostly arched rows in front, houses are richly embellished with verandahs, gallewith little shops behind them. Above these, the overhanging caves, supported by carved brackets. The number of temples is very great, mostly small and stuck like shrines in the angles of the streets, and under the shadow of the lofty houses. Their forms, however, are not ungraceful, and they are many of them entirely covered over with beautiful and elaborate carvings of flowers, animals, and palm powerful energies of English philanthropy will not be directed in vain to abolish the rite. Already much is gained in ascertaining that coercive measures will not be availing, and a more just estimate of the difficulties to be encountered will establish the necesThe attention of philanthropists, both in sity of "opposing it, not in its progress, but England and India, appears to be directed at its source; of dispelling superstition, ig-ries, projecting oriel windows, and very broad and to the suppression of the horrid rite of Sut-norance, and delusion-of inculcating new tee, or immolation by fire, and the most re- rights and new duties-motives, charities, volting practice of infanticide. Much diffi- affections, hitherto unknown, must be imculty is apprehended from the deep-seated parted-and a moral reformation must be superstition and prevalent notions so wide-wrought in the character of the people of Inly spread in regard to the merit of the Suttee, dia." "I have, indeed, during the journey, been surpris ed at the progress which painting appears to have made of late years in India. I was prepared to expect glowing colours, without drawing, perspective, or even shadow, resembling the illuminations in old monkish chronicles, and in the oriental manuscripts which are sometimes brought to England. But at Sir C. D'Oyley's, I saw several miniatures of this same Lall-jee, dead some years since, and by his son now alive, but of less renowned talent, which would have done credit to any European artist, being dis tinguished by great truth of colouring, as well as softness and delicacy. The portraits which I now saw, were certainly not so good, but they were evidently the works of a man well acquainted with the principles of his art, and were extraordinry productions, considering that Lall-jee had probably no opportunity of so much as seeing one Italian picture." branches, equalling in minuteness and richness the, three times that amount. He died the second night best specimens that I have seen of Gothic or Grecian of my residence at Secrole; Mr. Brooke said he was architecture. The material of the buildings is a very really a good and kind man, religious to the best of good stone from Chunar, but the Hindoos here seem his knowledge, and munificent, not from ostentation fond of painting them a deep red colour, and, indeed, but principle. There are yet, I understand, some of covering the more conspicuous parts of their living instances of splendid bounty among the Hinhouses with paintings in gaudy colours of flower-pots, doos of Benares, indeed Calisunker is no bad specimen, women, bulls, elephants, gods, and goddesses, men, and on the whole my opinion of the people imin all their many-formed, many-headed, many-handed, proves, though it never was so unfavourable as that and many-weaponed varieties. The sacred bulls de- of many good men in Calcutta. God,' I yet hope voted to Siva, of every age, tame and familiar as mas- and believe, in the midst of the awful and besotted tiffs, walk lazily up and down these narrow streets, darkness which surrounds me, and of which, as well or are seen lying across them, and hardly to be kicked as its miserable consequences, I am now more senup (any blows, indeed, given them must be of the sible than ever, 'God may have much people in this gentlest kind, or wo be to the profane wretch who city!" braves the prejudices of this fanatic population) in "By the time the examination at the school was order to make way for the tonjon. Monkeys sacred over, the sun was too high to admit of our penetratto Hunimaum, the divine ape who conquered Ceylon ing further into these crowded streets. Close to the for Rama, are in some parts of the town equally school, however, was a fine house belonging to two "Our little friends were very civil, and pressed us numerous, clinging to all the roofs and little projec- minors, the sons of a celebrated baboo, who had made to stay for breakfast, but it was already late. We tions of the temples, putting their impertinent heads a vast fortune as Dewan to some Europeans high in looked, however, before we went, at the family pago. and hands into every fruiterer's or confectioner's office, as well as to some natives of rank resident in da, which stood close to the house, and was, though shop, and snatching the food from the children at and near Benares, which we had time to see. It small, as rich as carving, painting, and gilding could their meals. Faqueer's houses, as they are called, was a striking building, and had the advantage, very make it. The principal shrine was that of Siva, occur at every turn, adorned with idols, and sending unusual in Benares, of having a vacant area of some whose emblem rose just seen amid the darkness of out an unceasing tinkling and strumming of vinas, size before the door, which gave us an opportunity the inner sanctuary, crowned with scarlet flowers, biyals, and other discordant instruments, while reli- of seeing its architecture. It is very irregular, built with lamps burning before it. In front, and under gious mendicants of every Hindoo sect, offering every round a small court, two sides of which are taken up the centre cupola, was the sacred bull richly painted conceivable deformity, which chalk, cow-dung, dis- by the dwelling house, the others by offices. The and gilt, in an attitude of adoration, and crowned case, matted locks, distorted limbs, and disgusting house is four lofty stories high, with a tower over likewise with scarlet flowers, and over all hung a and hideous attitudes of penance can show, literally the gate of one story more. The front has small large silver bell suspended from the roof like a chanline the principal streets on both sides. The number windows of various forms, some of them projecting delier. I thought of the Glendoveer and Mount Caof blind persons is very great, (I was going to say of on brackets and beautifully carved, and a great part lasay, but in the raree-show before me there was nolepers also, but I am not sure whether the appearance of the wall itself is covered with a carved pattern of thing sublime or impressive. One of the boys in the on the skin may not have been filth and chalk,) and sprigs, leaves, and flowers, like an old fashioned pa- Mission school, whose quickness had attracted my here I saw repeated instances of that penance of per. The whole is of stone, but painted a deep red. notice, and who appeared so well pleased with my which I had heard much in Europe, of men with their The general effect is by no means unlike some of the praise that I found him still sticking close to me, now legs or arms voluntarily distorted by keeping them palaces at Venice as represented in Canaletti's views. came forward, showed his brahminical string, and in one position, and their hands clenched till the We entered a gateway similar to that of a college, volunteered as cicerone, telling us in tolerable Eng nails grow out at the backs. Their pitiful exclama- with a groined arch of beautifully rich carving, likelish the history of the gods and goddesses on the tions as we passed, 'Agha Sahib,' Topee Sahib,' that on the roof of Christ Church great gateway, walls. The fat pundit seemed pleased with his zeal, (the usual names in Hindostan for an European) though much smaller. On each side is a deep richly but it was well, perhaps, for the little urchin, that khana ke waste kooch cheez do,' 'give me some- carved recess, like a shrine, in which are idols with the corpulent padre did not understand the language thing to eat,' soon drew from me what few pice I lamps before them, the household gods of the family. in which some of the remarks were made. They had, but it was a drop of water in the ocean, and The court is crowded with plantains and rose-trees, opened my eyes more fully to a danger which had the importunities of the rest, as we advanced into the with a raised and ornamented well in its centre; on before struck me as possible, that some of the boys city, were almost drowned in the hubbub which sur- the left hand a narrow and steep flight of stone steps, brought up in our schools might grow up accom rounded us. Such are the sights and sounds which the meanest part of the fabric, without balustrades, plished hypocrites, playing the part of Christians with greet a stranger on entering this the most Holy and looking like the approach to an English granary, us, and with their own people of zealous followers of City' of Hindostan, the Lotus of the world, not led to the first story. At their foot we were receiv- Brahma; or else that they would settle down into a founded on common earth, but on the point of Siva's ed by the two young heirs, stout little fellows of sort of compromise between the two creeds, allowing trident,' a place so blessed that whoever dies here, thirteen and twelve, escorted by their uncle, an im- that Christianity was the best for us, but that idolatry of whatever sect, even though he should be an eater mensely fat brahmin pundit, who is the spiritual di- was necessary and commendable in persons of their of beef, so he will but be charitable to the poor brah-rector of the family, and a little shrewed-looking, own nation. I talked with Mr. Frazer and Mr. Morris mins, is sure of salvation. It is, in fact, this very holi- smooth spoken, but vulgar and impudent man, who on this subject in the course of the morning; they an ness which makes it the common resort of beggars, called himself their Moonshee. They led us up to swered, that the same danger had been foreseen by since, besides the number of pilgrims, which is enor- the show-rooms, which are neither large nor nume- Mr. Macleod, and that in consequence of his repremous, from every part of India, as well as from Thibet rous; they are, however, very beautifully carved, and sentations they had left off teaching the boys the and the Birman Empire, a great multitude of rich in- the principal of them, which occupies the first floor Creed and the ten Commandments, as not desiring dividuals in the decline of life, and almost all the great of the gateway, and is a square with a gothic arcade to expose them too early to a conflict with themmen who are from time to time disgraced or banished round it, struck me as exceedingly comfortable. The selves, their parents, and neighbours, but choosing from home by the revolutions which are continually centre, about fifteen feet square, is raised and cover- rather that the light should break on them by deoccurring in the Hindoo states, come hither to washed with a carpet, serving as a divan. The arcade grees, and when they were better able to bear it, away their sins, or to fill up their vacant hours with round is flagged with a good deal of carving and or- They said, however, that they had every reason to the gaudy ceremonies of their religion, and really nament, and is so contrived that on a very short no- think, that all the bigger boys, and many of the lesser give away great sums in profuse and indiscriminate tice, four streams of water, one in the centre of each ones, brought up at these schools, learned to despise charity. Amrut Row, for a short period of his life side, descend from the roof like a permanent shower-idolatry and the Hindoo faith less by any direct prePeishwa of the Mahrattas, and since enjoying a bath, and fall into stone basins sunk beneath the cept, for their teachers never name the subject to large pension from our government in addition to a floor, and covered with a sort of open fret-work, also them, and in the gospels, which are the only strictly vast private fortune, was one of the chief of these of stone. These rooms were hung with a good many religious books read, there are few if any allusions to alms-givers. On his name-day, that is, in Hindostan, English prints of the common paltry description it, than from the disputations of the Mussulman and the day on which his patron god is worshipped, he which was fashionable twenty years ago, of Sterne Hindoo boys among themselves, from the compariannually gave a seer of rice and a rupee to every and poor Maria, (the boys supposed this to be a doc- son which they soon learn to make between the sys brahmin, and every blind or lame person who applied tor feeling a lady's pulse,) the sorrows of Werter, tem of worship which they themselves follow and between sunrise and sunset. He had a large garden &c. together with a daub of the present emperor of ours, and above all, from the enlargement of mind a short distance from the city with four gates, three Delhi, and several portraits in oil of a much better which general knowledge and the pure morality of of which were set open for the reception of the three kind, of the father of these boys, some of his power- the gospel have a tendency to produce. Many, both different classes of applicants, and the fourth for the ful native friends and employers, and of a very beau- boys and girls, have asked for baptism, but it has Peishwa and his servants to go backwards and for- tiful woman of European complexion, but in an East- been always thought right to advise them to wait till wards. On each person receiving his dole, he was ern dress, of whom the boys knew nothing, or would they had their parents' leave, or were old enough to shown into the garden, where he was compelled to say nothing more than that the picture was painted judge for themselves; and many have, of their own stay during the day lest he should apply twice, but for their father by Lall-jee of Patna. I did not, in- accord, begun daily to use the Lord's prayer, and to he had shade, water, company, and idols enough to deed, repeat the question, because I know the reluc-desist from showing any honour to the image. Their make a Hindoo (who seldom eats till sunset) pass tance with which all eastern nations speak of their parents seem extremely indifferent to their conduct his time very pleasantly. The sums distributed upon women, but it certainly had the appearance of a por- in this respect. Prayer, or outward adoration, is not these occasions are said to have in some instances trait, and, as well as the old baboo's picture, would essential to caste. A man may believe what he amounted to above 50,000 rupees. His annual cha- have been called a creditable painting in most gen- pleases, nay, I understand, he may almost say what rities altogether averaged, I was informed, probably tlemen's houses in England. he pleases, without the danger of losing it; and so long as they are not baptized, neither eat nor drink "In another temple near those of which I have not unlike those in Roman Catholic chapels, with a in company with Christians or Parias, all is well in been speaking, and which is dedicated to Unna Fur- little niche on one side, resembling what in such the opinion of the great majority, even in Benares. na,' supposed to be the 'Anna Perenna' of the Ro-churches they call the 'Piscina. In the centre of The Mussulmans are more jealous, but few of their mans, a brahmin was pointed out to me, who passes each room was a large tray with rice and ghee children come to our schools, and with these there his whole day seated on a little pulpit about as high strongly perfumed, apparently as an offering, and in are so many points of union, that nothing taught and large as a dressing-table, only leaving it for his two or three of them were men seated on their heels there is at all calculated to offend them. necessary ablutions, and at night, though then he on the floor, with their hands folded as in prayer or "September 7.--This morning, accompanied by sleeps on the pavement beside it. His constant occu- religious contemplation. Over each of the altars Mr. Macleod, Mr. Princep, and Mr. Frazer, I again pation is reading or lecturing on the Vedas. The lat- was an altar-piece, a large bas-relief in marble, conwent into the city, which I found peopled as before ter he does to as many as will hear him, from eight intaining the first, five, the last in succession twentywith bulls and beggars; but what surprised me still the morning till four in the evening. He asks for no- five figures, all of men sitting cross-legged, one conmore than yesterday, as I penetrated further into it, thing, but a small copper basin stands by his pulpit, siderably larger than the rest, and represented as were the large, lofty, and handsome dwelling-houses, into which any one who feels disposed may drop the a Negro. He, the priest said, was their god, the rest the beauty and apparent richness of the goods ex-alms on which only he subsists. He is a little pale were the different bodies which he had assumed at posed in the bazars, and the evident hum of business man, of an interesting countenance, which he does different epochs, when he had become incarnate to which was going on in the midst of all this wretch- not disfigure by such ostentatious marks of piety instruct mankind. The doctrines which he had deedness and fanaticism. Benares is, in fact, a very as are usual here, and is said to be eloquent, as well livered on these occasions make up their theology, industrious and wealthy, as well as a very holy city. as extremely learned in the Sanscrit. and the progress which any man has made in these It is the great mart where the shawls of the north, mysteries, entitles him to worship in one or more of the diamonds of the south, and the muslins of Dacca the successive apartinents which were shown us. and the eastern provinces, centre, and it has very considerable silk, cotton, and fine woollen manufactories of its own; while English hardware, swords, shields, and spears from Lucknow and Monghyr, and those European luxuries and elegancies which are daily becoming more popular in India, circulate from hence through Bundlecund, Gorruckpoor, Nepaul, and other tracts which are removed from the main artery of the Ganges. The population, according to a census made in 1803, amounted to above 582,000; an enormous amount, and which one should think must have been exaggerated; but it is the nearest means we have of judging, and it certainly becomes less improbable from the really great size of the town, and the excessively crowded manner in which it is built. It is well drained, and stands dry on a high rocky bank sloping to the river, to which circumstance, as well as to the frequent ablutions and great temperance of the people, must be ascribed its freedom from infectious diseases. Accordingly, notwithstanding its crowded population, it is not an unhealthy city; yet the only square, or open part in it, is the new market-place, constructed by the present government, and about as large as the Peckwater Quadrangle in Oxford. "One of the most interesting and singular objects in Benares is the ancient observatory, founded be. fore the Mussulman conquest, and still very entire, though no longer made any use of. It is a stone building, containing some small courts, cloistered round for the accommodation of the astronomers and their students, and a large square tower, on which are seen a huge gnomon, perhaps twenty feet high, with the arc of a dial in proportion, a circle fifteen feet in diameter, and a meridional line, all in stone. These are very far from being exact, but are interesting proofs of the zeal with which science has at one time been followed in these countries. There is a similar observatory at Delhi. "They call their god, I think, Purnavesa, but he is evidently the same person as Buddha, being identified by his Negro features and curled hair, and by the fact which the priest mentioned, that he had many worshippers in Pegu and Thibet. Yet when I asked if he was the same with Buddha, he did not expressly allow it, merely answering that his proper name was Purnavesa. Mr. Princep asked one of the merchants, what was the difference between their religion and that of some other persons whom he named, and who are their religious opponents. The man coloured up to the eyes, and said with bitterness, "From the observatory we descended by a long As much as between the Hindoo and the Christian, flight of steps to the water's edge where a boat was as much as between the Christian and the Mussulwaiting for us. I had thus an opportunity of seeing man.' We worship the same God,' the priest said the whole city on its most favourable side. It is more calmly, but they are ignorant how to worship really a very large place, and rises from the river in him. Mr. Princep afterwards told me that the meran amphitheatrical form, thickly studded with domes chant to whom he spoke had been one of the most and minarets, with many fine ghats descending to active in the recent disturbance, and had been 'in the water's edge, all crowded with bathers and wor- trouble' on that account. On our return to the vesshippers. Shrines and temples of various sizes, even tibule, where we first entered, the priest expressed within the usual limits of the river's rise, almost line his satisfaction at the interest which I had taken in its banks. Some of these are very beautiful, though their temple, and the hope of his congregation and all are small, and I was particularly struck with one himself that I would accept a trifling present from very elegant little structure, which was founded, as them. One of the laymen at this raised a cloth, and "Our first visit was to a celebrated temple, named well as the ghat on which it stands, by the virtuous displayed two large trays, one full of sweetmeats, the Vishvayesa, consisting of a very small but beau- Ali Bhaee. On rowing past this, Mr. Princep said fruit, sugar, &c. the other of very handsome shawls. tiful specimen of carved stone-work, and the place that he had, as a special favour, obtained permission The latter were far too valuable for me to accept is one of the most holy in Hindostan, though it only for me to see a Jain temple. These Jains are a body with propriety, and I told them that the first would approximates to a yet more sacred spot adjoining, of sectaries held in detestation by the Hindoos, but be quite sufficient, and that it did not become a priest which Aulum Gheer defiled, and built a mosque on who agree with them in their adoration of the Gan- to be greedy of costly apparel. I then picked out it, so as to render it inaccessible to the worshippers ges, and in their esteem for Benares. They are not some of the raisins, and begged them to send the of Brahma. The temple court, small as it is, is very numerous, and are themselves divided into two fruit to Mr. Brooke's, but to excuse my taking the crowded like a farm-yard with very fat and very sects, who hold each other in great abhorrence, and shawls. The merchants looked heartily glad, I tame bulls, which thrust their noses into every were recently in arms in the streets of Benares, and thought, that they were let off so easily, and acbody's hand and pocket for gram and sweetmeats, were only parted by the same strenuous peace-companied me down stairs with many compliments which their fellow-votaries give them in great quan- makers who interfered in the war of the cows and tities. The cloisters are no less full of naked de- swine. Those who reside here are chiefly from Bunvotees, as hideous as chalk and dung can make dlecund, and many of them very rich merchants, who them, and the continued hum of Ram! Ram! Ram! are exceedingly jealous of their religious mysteries, There yet remained to be visited the mosque of Ram!' is enough to make a stranger giddy. The and had never been known to admit strangers into Aurungzebe, and the Vidalaya or Hindoo college, place is kept very clean, however,--indeed the the penetralia of their temple. Mr. Princep had, how- which fortunately both of them lay pretty nearly in priests seem to do little else than pour water over ever, called most good-naturedly on the high-priest, our direct way home. The former is a handsome the images and the pavement; and I found them and on one of the leading members of the congrega- building in a very advantageous situation, but chief. not merely willing, but anxious to show me every tion, the day before, and had said so much about me, ly remarkable for the view from its minarets, which thing-frequently repeating that they were Padres both personally and officially, that they offered to ad- are very lofty, and derive still greater elevation from also, though it is true that they used this circum- mit me, at first alone, and at length relaxed so far as the hill on which they stand. The day was not fastance as an argument for my giving them a pre- to receive him and Mr. Macleod as interpreters. Mr. vourable, but we still saw a great distance. The sent. Near this temple is a well, with a small tower Frazer was not specially included, but Mr. Princep Himalaya range may, as I was told, be sometimes over it, and a steep flight of steps for descending to did not doubt he might go too. The high-priest is seen, but nothing of the sort is now visible, nor any the water, which is brought by a subterraneous himself regarded as an incarnation of the deity. mountains at all in a horizon of great extent. The channel from the Ganges, and, for some reason or "After climbing a steep flight of steps, and thread-ground, however, of this part of Hindostan is not other, is accounted more holy than even the Ganges ing a succession of the narrowest alleys I ever saw, without inequalities, and though it is certainly for itself. All pilgrims to Benares are enjoined to drink we arrived at the door of a large and lofty but dingy the most part one immense plain, it is such a plain as and wash here; but a few years ago, a quarrel having house, at the top of which peeped out a little gilt one sees in miniature in England, or on the continent Occurred between the Hindoo and Mussulman po- cupola. Here we climbed another steep stair-case, of Europe, not such a mere dead level as Bengal. pulation of the town, arising from the two religious and were received in a small but neat vestibule, with- The bank on which Benares itself stands, is of some processions of the Mohurrun and Jumna Osmee en-out furniture, except three or four chairs, and with a height, and there were several ridges of hills, as at countering each other, the moslem mob killed a cow beautiful oriel window looking on the river, by the Chunar and other places within sight, which would on this spot, and poured her blood into the sacred priest, a tall, large man, with a very shrewd and in- fully rank on a level with Hawkstone. water. The Hindoos retaliated by throwing rashers telligent countenance. He begged us to be seated, of bacon into the windows of as many mosques as and observed he was very sorry he could not conthey could reach; but the matter did not end so: verse with me in any language which I was suffiboth parties took to arms, several lives were lost, ciently acquainted with, to make me understand all and Benares was in a state of uproar for many hours, I should see. Two or three others, Jain merchants, till the British government came in with its autho- now entered, and the priest led us into a succession rity, and quelled the disturbance. of six small rooms, with an altar at the end of each, and offers of service in any way that I would command them. With the priest I had a friendly parting at the stair head. "The whole country seems in cultivation, but less with rice than wheat. The villages are numerous and large, but the scattered dwellings few, and there is but little wood. Fuel is, consequently, extremely dear, and to this circumstance is imputed the num ber of bodies thrown into the river without burning. Suttees are less numerous in Benares than many parts |