On the best Means of civilising the Subjects of the British Empire in India. Civilisation defined-Ancient Refinement-Present State-Inferences-Obstacles- Facilities-Presumed Character of the proper Plans-Methods of promoting the Object, 1. Sketch of Hindoo Superstition-Contrasted with a brief View of Christianity- Obstructions-Advantages-Progress already made-Preliminary Considerations-Plans 2. Advantages possessed by the British in India for diffusing the Light of the Gospel throughout other Eastern Countries-Encouraging Circumstances in the State of the Neighbouring Nations-Means to be employed-Where to begin-Motives-Con- ESSAY ON THE CIVILISATION OF INDIA, &c. To o a contemplative mind, no country on earth will appear to exhibit features of peculiarity more striking than Hindostan. Those vast ranges of lofty mountains which environ it on three sides; the majestic sweep of its principal rivers, and the extensive fertility which they diffuse in their course; the variety and excellence of its productions, of nature and of art; the mild character of its inhabitants; the peculiar structure of society and of manners, by which they are distinguished; the antiquity of its annals; and the revolutions of its history, have all concurred to render Hindostan, from age to age, most interesting to foreigners. A Singular at tractions of India. General consequences in respect of science, And, from ancient times, no other region has more powerfully attracted the researches of the philosopher, the enterprise of the soldier, or the adventurous spirit of the merchant. That the light of science, following the path of the sun, has all along shone from east to west, is a remark which the general history of literature suggests *. Nor can there be a doubt, that some rays of the philosophy of India, had, at an early period, illuminated the schools of Egypt and of Greece. The sages of these schools, it is well known, were accustomed to travel eastward in quest of knowledge; and, from the similarity of some of their tenets, particularly of their famed transmigration, we might be led to presume that, in the course of their inquiries, they had profited, either directly or circuitously, by the wisdom of the Brahmans. But we are struck with extreme surprise at some recent discoveries. Who is not astonished when he first reads, that the rules of that famous system of logic, which for ages maintained a sovereign ascendancy in all the seminaries of Europe, and of which Aristotle had been deemed the sole inventor, were known long before in India; and that, accord * Vide Note A. + Jones's Works, vol. i. pp. 275, 276. ing to a tradition prevalent in that country, Callisthenes, the nephew of the Grecian philosopher, having accompanied Alexander the Great in his invasion of Hindostan, had transmitted this method of reasoning to his uncle? And is not our wonder heightened, our interest in this singular people increased, when we learn further, that the outlines of the Ċopernican system of astronomy, together with some of the leading principles of the Newtonian philosophy, and the abstruse speculations of arithmetic and algebra, had been taught in Hindostan, long before they were discovered in Europe†? “Asia” (says the celebrated Montesquieu) "has been of conquest, thirteen times conquered." In these calamitous enterprises Hindostan has deeply shared. What is singular, every invader of this unfortunate country has been successful. Seldom has a race of native princes, in the later ages, occupied the throne of India. Without having recourse to an era prior to the commencement of authentic history in Europe, we learn from the annals of classical antiquity, that the Macedonian conqueror, having penetrated into this remote region, with the design of annexing it permanently to * Asiatic Researches, vol. iv. p. 172. 2d edition. + Jones's Works, vol. i. pp. 170, 171, 172. & and of com merce. his ample dominions, had established an empire there, which subsisted for a considerable period after his death. To this foreign yoke others have closely succeeded. For, fertile in soil and genial in climate, inhabited by a gentle and unwarlike race, this country has at once strongly attracted the desire, and readily submitted to the arms, of those who sought either for accession of territory or increase of wealth. But Hindostan has been chiefly interesting as a scene of commerce. From a remote antiquity, the attention of mercantile nations has been directed to this envied region; and its trade has invariably enriched those who were so fortunate as to share, or to engross it. No other country, at least none equally distant, was so anxiously explored, or so industriously frequented, by the celebrated commercial nations of former times. It was visited by the Phenicians and Egyptians, even before the days of Solomon. There is some reason to suppose, that the fleets of this magnificent prince, fitted out in the ports of the Red Sea, resorted to the shores of India. And, though this conjecture were allowed to be satisfactorily disproved, yet it is certain that, since his time, the staples of this country have continued to be in high request among the polished nations of the western parts of the world; and that the command of this cele |