gations. The Quakers, who are of all people best adapted to spread Christianity among the heathen, are so few in number, that according to the common chances of nature, they would not produce a missionary in an age. It is only the methodistical Christians who are numerous enough, zealous enough, enthusiastick enough to furnish adventurers for such a service, and wealthy enough to support the charge of such expensive undertakings. We must not, therefore, inquire whether the persons thus laudably employed are the best that could be imagined-they are the best that can be found.

All sects and all professions have their peculiar language; and it must be admitted that none is so odd and extraordinary as that of the professors of certain modes of religion. An old journalist of this very sect, in summing up the praises of a young

woman, says:

"She walked like a

he-goat before the flock." These missionaries and their English brethren abound in such strange appropriations of scriptural phraseology. When Andrew Fuller preached to them before their departure, he said: "It is a great encouragement to be engaged in the same cause with Christ himself. Does he ride forth as on a white horse, in righteousness, judging and making war? Ye are called, like the rest of the armies of Heaven, to follow him on white horses, pursuing the same glorious object." Thomas, when he approaches Bengal, rejoices to be so near a flock of black sheep but his vivid imagination having thrown out the metaphor in that half sportive mood, which minds the most serious delight in, pursues it with the passion of a poet: "I long," he cries, "to run and roll away the stone from the well's mouth, that they may drink." When Carey mourns over the "leanness of his own soul," and has much sweetness in a sermon, and when Fountain remembers to have had pretty strong convictions of sin, and

VOL. II.

remorse of conscience, " at eight or nine years old," it is pitiable to find such men expressing themselves in But it were more such a fashion. pitiable if we despised them because their fashion is not as ours;—if we did not pass lightly over the weakness of men, who have the zeal and the sincerity, the selfdenial and the selfdevotement of apostles. Hear Thomas, when he says: "Never did men see their native land with more joy than we left it; but this is not of nature, but from above." Hear him also, when, pouring out his heart to one of those relations of whom he had taken leave for ever, he exclaims: "If it were not for my engagement in the mission, I could come to old England to morrow, and kiss the ground I trod on, and water it with tears of joy, as the glory of all lands”

and then say, if the man who, with such feelings abandons his country for ever on such an errand, is to be regarded with contempt or with admiration. A single extract will show how eminently well this madman, as it pleases the anti-missionaries to call him, was qualified for his work.

This

"A large company of Brahmans, Pun dits, and others, being assembled to hear him, one of the most learned, whose name was Mahashoi, offered to dispute with him. He began by asserting, that God was in every thing: therefore,' said he, every thing is God-you are God, and ĺ am God.' Fie, fie, Mabashoi!' answered Mr. Thomas, why do you utter such words? Sahaib, meaning himself, is in his cloths; therefore [pulling off his hat and throwing it down] this hat is Sahaib! No, Mahashoi, you and I are dying men; but God ever liveth.' short answer confounded his opponent, and fixed the attention of the people; while, as he says, he went on to proclaim one God, one Saviour, one way, one faith, and one cast, without and beside which all the inventions of man were nothing.'-Another time, when he was warning them of their sin and danger, a Brahman, full of subtilty, interrupted him by asking: "Who made good and evil?' Hereby intimating, that man was not accountable for the evil which he committed. 'I know your question of old,' said Mr. Tho

mas; I know your meaning too. If a man revile his father or his mother, what a wretch is he! If he revile his Goroo,*

you reckon him worse: but what is this, turning to the people, in comparison of the words of this Brahman, who reviles God! God is a holy being, and all his works are holy. He made men and devils holy; but they have made themselves vile. He who imputes their sin to God is a wretch, who reproaches his Maker These men, with all their sin-extenuating notions, teach that it is a great evil to murder a Brahman; yet the murder of many Brahmaans does not come up to this. For if I murder a Brahman, I only kill his body; but if I blaspheme and reproach my Maker, casting all blame in his face, and teach others to do so, I infect, I destroy, I devour both body and soul, to all eternity.Being on a journey through the country, he saw a great multitude assembling for the worship of one of their gods. He immediately approached them; and passing through the company, placed himself on an elevation, near to the side of the idol. The eyes of all the people were instantly fixed on him, wondering what he, being a European, meant to do. After beckoning for silence, he thus began: It has eyes... [pausing, and pointing with his finger to the eyes of the image; then turning his face, by way of appeal to the people] but it cannot see! It has ears ... but it cannot hear! It has a nose... but it cannot smell! It has hands.. but it cannot handle? It has a mouth. but it cannot speak; neither is there any breath in it.' An old man in the company, provoked by these selfevident truths, added: It has feet; but it cannot run away! At this a universal shout was heard. The faces of the priests and Brahmans were covered with shame, and the worship for that time was given up."

Nothing can be more unfair than the manner in which the scoffers and alarmists have represented the missionaries. We, who have thus vindicated them, are neither blind to what is erroneous in their doctrine, or ludicrous in their phraseology. But the antimissionaries cull out from their journals and letters all that is ridiculous, sectarian, and trifling; call them fools, madmen, tinkers, Calvinists, and schismaticks; and keep out of sight their love of

* His teachier

man, and their zeal for God, their selfdevotement, their indefatigable industry, and their unequalled learning. These lowborn and lowbred mechanicks have translated the whole Bible into Bengalee, and have by this time printed it. They are printing the New Testament in the Sanscrit, the Orissa, Mahratta, Hindoostan, and Guzarat, and translating it into Per sick, Telinga, Karnata, Chinese, the language of the Sieks and of the Burmans; and in four of these languages they are going on with the Bible. Extraordinary as this is, it will appear more so, when it is remembered, that of these men one was originally a shoemaker, another a printer at Hull, and a third the master of a charity school at Bristol. Only fourteen years have elapsed since Thomas and Carey set foot in India; and in that time have these missionaries acquired this gift of tongues. fourteen years these lowborn, lowbred mechanicks have done more towards spreading the knowledge of the Scriptures among the heathen, than has been accomplished, or even attempted by all the world besides.

In

A plain statement of the fact will be the best proof of their diligence and success. The first convert was baptized in December 1800, and in seven years from that time has the number amounted to 109, of whom nine were afterwards excluded or suspended, or had been lost sight of. Carey and his son have been in Bengal fourteen years; the other brethren, only nine. They had all a difficult language to acquire before they could speak to a native; and to preach and argue in it required a thorough and familiar knowledge. Under these circumstances the wonder is, not that they have done so little, but that they have done so much. For it will be found, that even without this difficulty to retard them, no religious opinions have spread more rapidly in the same time, unless there was some remarkable folly or extravagance to recommend them, or some powerful

worldly inducement. Their progress will be continually accelerating; the difficulty is at first, as in introducing vaccination into a distant land; when the matter has once taken, one subject supplies infection for all around him, and the disease takes root in the country. The husband converts the wife, the son converts the parent, the friend his friend, and every fresh proselyte becomes a missionary in his own neighbourhood. Thus their sphere of influence and of action widens, and the eventual issue of a struggle between truth and falsehood is not to be doubted by those who believe in the former. Other missionaries from other societies have now entered India, and will soon become efficient labourers in their station. From government, all that is asked is toleration for themselves, and protection for their converts. The plan which they have laid for their own proceedings is perfectly prudent and unexceptionable; and there is as little fear of their provoking martyrdom, as there would be of their shrinking from it, if the cause of God and man require the sacrifice. But the converts ought to be pro

tected from violence; and all cramming with cow dung prohibited on pain of retaliation with beef tea.

Let it not be deemed that this is spoken disrespectfully. Far from depreciating church establishments, our earnest wish and desire is, that they may be extended. Let there be one in India, the more magnificent the better. Make Dr. Barrow a bishop or an archbishop there, if it be thought fit. Build a St. Paul's at Calcutta, and raise the money by evangelical sermons. But do not think, even if this were done, to supersede the Baptist missionaries, till you can provide from your own church such men as these; and it may be added, such women also as their wives. Why will not the church of England adopt a policy more favourable to her views? Sectaries, such as these, instead of being discountenanced, should, in fact, be regarded as useful auxiliaries. Their services, indeed, are desultory; but, like the Pandours and Croats of military powers, they may precede the main body, and, by their zeal and intrepidity, contribute to facilitate the success of the regular force.

and facilitated. This is the end proposed by system; and though system has an air of constraint which is not precisely the character of nature, yet this imperfection is no more than might be expected, from human powers. It is the best man can do ; as such let him value it. We are

glad, therefore, to see a systematick arrangement of the British Quadru peds, presented to the British publick, in a single volume, and at a moderate price. Perhaps Pennant did as much service to science by his "Synopsis," as by any of his works; because it was within the purchase of all who were attentive to science; while his "British Zoology" was no less gratifying to the naturalist, than to the patriot. Mr. Bingley follows the same honourable course. We cannot expect that all should be new in a work of this description; yet Mr. B. contributes a portion of novelty. He understands his subject; he explains the leading principles of it with perspicuity; and he communicates the result of his assiduity in a pleasing manner. His plates are mostly etched in a spirited style; and we are glad to see the Misses Byrne employed in a manner so suitable to their talents: Many of these plates evince their skill. Others are by Mr. Howitt.

Specimens of the execution of this work selected from articles that occur constantly in Natural Histories, would not be doing justice to the author. We therefore select the history of the hares domesticated by the late poet Cowper; which Mr. B. has very properly admitted into a volume, intended to illustrate the manners of animals; that of the still less to be expected performances of the famous setting pig, whose portrait has lately gratified the amateurs of living extraordinaries are no less amusing.

"The hare is a very gentle animal, and when caught young is susceptible of education. The best proof that I can adduce of this, is to recite, without abridgment, Mr. Cowper's highly interesting narrative

respecting his tame hares. This is inserts ed in some of the latest editions of his poems; but as it has not hitherto appeared, in illustration of the character of the animal, in any book of natural history, I trust that, without censure (on account of its length) I may be allowed to introduce it here.

In the year 1744, being much indisposed both in mind and body, incapable of diverting myself either with company or books, and yet in a condition that made some diversion necessary, I was glad of any thing that would engage my attention without fatiguing it. The children of one of my neighbours had a leveret given them for a plaything; it was at that time about three months old. Understanding better how to tease the poor creature than to feed it, and soon becoming weary of their charge, they readily consented that their father, who saw it pining and growing leaner every day, should offer it to my acceptance. I was willing enough to take the prisoner under my protection; perceiving that, in the management of such an animal, and in the attempt to tame it, I should find just that sort of employment which my case required. It was soon pleased with the present; and the conse known among the neighbours that I was quence was, that in a short time I had as many leverets offered to me, as would have stocked a paddock. I undertook the care of three, which it is necessary I should here distinguish by the names

I gave them: Puss, Tiney, and Bess. Notwithstanding the two feminine appellations, I must inform you that they were all males. Immediately commencing carpenter, I built them houses to sleep in. Each had a separate apartment, so coneach, received whatsoever fell from them. trived that an earthen pan, placed under This being regularly emptied and washed, they were thus kept perfectly sweet and clean. In the daytime, they had the range of a hall; and at night, each retired to his own bed, never intruding into that of another.

'Puss grew presently familiar, would leap into my lap, raise himself upon his hinder feet, and bite the hair from my temples. He would suffer me to take him up and carry him about in my arms, and has, more than once fallen fast asleep on my knee. He was ill three days, during which time I nursed him; kept him apart from his fellows, that they might not molest him (for, like many other wild animals, they persecute one of their own species that is sick) and, by constant care, and trying him with a variety of

herbs, restored him to perfect health. No creature could be more grateful than my patient after his recovery; a sentiment which he most significantly expressed by licking my hand, first the back of it, then the palm, then every finger separately, then between all the fingers, as if anxious to leave no part unsaluted; a ceremony which he never performed but once again, upon a similar occasion. Finding him extremely tractable, I made it my custom to carry him, always after breakfast, into the garden, where he hid himself, generally under the leaves of a cucumber vine, sleeping or chewing the cud till evening. In the leaves also of that vine he found a favourite repast. I had not long habituated him to this taste of liberty, before he be gan to be impatient for the return of the time when he might enjoy it. He would invite me to the garden, by drumming on my knee, and by a look of such expression as it was not possible to misinterpret. If this rhetorick did not immediately succeed, he would take the skirt of my coat between his teeth, and pull at it with all his force. Thus, Puss might be said to be perfectly tamed; the shyness of his nature was done away; and, on the whole, it was visible by many symptoms, which I have not room to enumerate, that he was happier in human society, than when shut up with his natural companions.

'Not so Tiney. Upon him the kindest treatment had not the least effect. He too was sick, and in his sickness had an equal share of my attention; but if, after his recovery, I took the liberty to stroke him, he would grunt, strike with his forefeet, spring forward, and bite. He was, however, very entertaining in his way. Even his surliness was matter of mirth; and in his play, he preserved such an air of gravity, and performed his feats in such a solemnity of manner, that in him too I had an agreeable companion.

'Bess, who died soon after he was full grown, and whose death was occasioned by being turned into his box, which had been washed, while it was yet damp, was a hare of great humour and drollery. Puss was tamed by gentle usage; Tiney was not to be tamed at all; and Bess had a courage and confidence that made him tame from the beginning. I always admitted them into the parlour after supper, when the carpet affording their feet a firm hold, they would frisk, and bound, and play a thousand gambols, in which Bess, being remarkably strong and fearless, was always superiour to the rest, and proved himself the Vestris of the party. One evening, the cat being in the

room, had the hardiness to pat Bess upon the cheek; an indignity which he resented by drumming upon her back with such violence, that the cat was happy to escape from under his paws, and hide herself.

I describe these animals as having each a character of his own. Such they were in fact; and their countenances were so expressive of that character, that, when I looked only on the face of either, Iimmediately knew which it was. It is said that a shepherd, however numerous his flock, soon becomes so familiar with their features, that he can, by that indica. tion only, distinguish each from the rest; and yet, to a common observer, the difference is hardly perceptible. I doubt not that the same discrimination, in the cast of countenances, would be discoverable in hares; and am persuaded that among a thousand of them, no two could be found exactly similar; a circumstance little suspected by those who have not had opportunity to observe it. These creatures have a singular sagacity in discovering the minutest alteration that is made in a place to which they are accustomed, and instantly apply their nose to the examination of a new object. A small hole had been burnt in the carpet. It was mended with a patch, and that patch in a moment underwent the strictest scrutiny. They seem, too, to be very much directed by smell in the choice of their favourites. To some persons, though they saw them daily, they could never be reconciled, and would even scream when they attempted to touch them; but a miller coming in, engaged their affection at once. His powdered coat had charms that were irresistible. It is no wonder that my intimate acquaintance with these specimens of the kind has taught me to hold the sportsman's amusement in abhorrence. He little knows what amiable creatures he persecutes; of what grati tude they are capable; how cheerful they are in their spirits; what enjoyment they have of life; and that, impressed as they seem with a peculiar dread of man, it is only because man gives them peculiar cause for it.

"That I may not be tedious, I will just give a short summary of those articles of diet that suit them best.