APPENDIX.

A. Record of the superstitious practices of the Hindoos, now subsisting, which inflict immediate death, or tend to death; deducted from the evidence of the Pundits and learned Brahmins in the College of Fort William

B. Notes on the practicability of abolishing those prac

59

tices of the Hindoos, which inflict immediate death, or tend to produce death; collated from the information and suggestions of the Pundits and learned Brahmins in the College of Fort William

C. A. D. 1802. Regulation VI.

62

64

D. Report of the number of women, who have burned

themselves on the funeral pile of their husbands within thirty miles round Calcutta, from the beginning of Bysakh (15th April) to the end of Aswin (15th October), 1804

E. Religious mendicants

65

67

I. Testimonies to the general character of the Hindoos 72

K. Jewish Scriptures at Cochin

74

L. Shanscrit testimonies of Christ

76

M. Chinese version of the Scriptures; and Chinese lit

erature

77

PREFACE

TO THE

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION.

THE title of this work might lead one to suppose, that it would contain nothing, but what should have an exclusive regard to an Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India. On examination, however, it will be found to contain such important and well authenticated facts, relating to the past history and present state of that country; to its population, manners, and customs; to its literature and laws; and to its religious rites and ceremonies; as furnish much entertainment and instruction. Separately from all consideration of the question respecting the expediency of the proposed Establishment, it is, both in a literary and religious point of view, a very estimable work. The arguments here adduced for a Church Establishment will, probably, be thought by many, if not most, readers conclusive. There seems an increasing conviction, in England, of the expediency of this measure. A late English writer, having quoted some interesting passages from a chapter of this Memoir of Dr. BUCHANAN-whom he styles" an "excellent man," and "a pious, beneficent, and most liberal church"man,”-observes, "Such an appeal is unanswerable. The first "step towards winning the natives towards our religion is to show "them that we have one. This will hardly be done without a vis❝ible church."*

But we leave this question to the proper judges. The prospect of extending, by some means, the benefits of civilization, and the infinitely greater benefits of CHRISTIANITY, to the Natives of India, is what gives to the subject, at this time, an unusual impor tance. America is cooperating with Europe in this benevolent and pious design. Contributions have been forwarded from this country to India, towards procuring translations of the Scriptures into the languages of the East; and some of our young men have already devoted themselves to the Indian Mission. The present publication, it is believed, will be seasonable and useful.

This work is now printed, for the first time in America, from a splendid English copy, in quarto (the only one that is known to be in this country), which was sent by a gentleman in England to a worthy minister in this State, who obligingly lent it for republication. From this copy no alteration is made, excepting what will be found in the additional Notes, which are always distinguish ed by the signature of the AMERICAN EDITOR.

Cambridge (Mass.) Feb. 1811.

• Quarterly Review.

TO THE

MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,

JOHN,

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.*

MY LORD,

I. Ir is with propriety that a work, embracing such objects as those professed by the following Memoir, should be inscribed to the Primate of the Church of England.

An appeal to the nation is certainly intended; but that appeal would not have been thus made with the sanction of your Grace's name, had we not been encouraged by the authority of your Grace's opinion. It has been communicated to us in India, that your Grace has already declared the expediency of giving an ecclesiastical establishment to the British empire in the East. In support of such opinion, we here offer the evidence of facts, which are incontrovertible; and which demonstrate that the measure proposed, while it is recommended by religion, is demanded by justice and humanity.

New sources of information on all Oriental subjects have been opened by the College of Fort William in Bengal. Those persons, who have held official situations in that institution during the last four years, have had constant opportunities of observing the conduct, and of learning the opinions, of the most intelligent natives. There are attached to the college, at this time, upwards of one hundred learned men, who have arrived, from different parts of India, Persia, and Arabia. In such an assemblage, the manners and customs of remote regions are distinctly described; and their varying sentiments,

This Dedication was written before the death of the most Reverend Prelate was known at Fort William.

religious and political, may be accurately investigated and compared.

Of the learned Hindoos, who have been employed as teachers, there were lately two from the Deccan, who profess the Christian faith; and comport themselves according to Christian manners. Two Protestant missionaries have also been attached to the institution; one of whom is lecturer in the Bengalee and Shanscrit department; and has been for many years employed in preaching in the Bengalee language to the natives in the north of Hindoostan. The other is a teacher of the Tamul or Malabar language; and has been long attached to a mission in the south of the Peninsula.

More desirable means of obtaining accurate and original intelligence could not have been presented to any one, who wished to investigate the state of the natives of India, with a view to their moral and religious improve

ment.

It was the authenticity of this information, which chiefly prompted me to record it in this Memoir. I should however have hesitated to submit it to the public, had I not been honoured with a communication from the Bishop of London, who expresses his "conviction of the indispensable necessity of a religious establishment for "our Indian Empire."

II. In the presence of the learned body of Asiatics assembled at the College of Fort William, the Christian Scriptures have been exhibited for translation into the Oriental tongues.

When Ptolemy Philadelphus, three hundred years before the Christian æra, invited to Alexandria in Egypt, seventy-two learned natives of Judea, to translate the Scriptures into the Greek language, he could not have foreseen that his translation was divinely intended to be the means of the world's civilization, by diffusing the knowledge of the true God; or that the Messiah promised therein, would in a future age quote its language, as the canonical version of the sacred original.

The expense of which is computed by Prideaux to have amounted to two millions sterling.

This illustrious act of an heathen Prince, acknowledg ed, as it has been, by heaven, and celebrated among men, has yet been rarely proposed by Christian nations, as an example for their imitation.

Under the auspices of Marquis Wellesley, who, by favour of Providence, now presides in the government of India, a version of the holy Scriptures may be expected, not in one language alone, but in seven of the Oriental tongues; in the Hindoostanee, Persian, Chinese, and Malay; Orissa, Mahratta, and Bengalese; of which the four former are the primary and popular languages of the Continent and Isles of Asia.

In the centre of the Pagan world, and at the chief seat of superstition and idolatry, these works are carried on; and the unconverted natives assist in the translations. The Gospels have already been translated into the Persian, Hindoostanee, Mahratta, Orissa, and Malay languages; and the whole Scriptures have been translated into the Bengalee language. One edition of the Bengalee Bible has been distributed among the natives; and a second is in the press for their use. A version of the Scriptures in the Chinese language (the language of three hundred millions of men) has also been undertaken; and a portion of the work is already printed off.*

III. The publication of an important part of this Memoir was suggested by the perusal of certain letters, addressed by a King of England to the Christian instructors of the Hindoos. In the following pages your Grace will find letters written by King George the First, to Protestant missionaries in India; in which his Majesty urges them to a zealous and faithful discharge of their ministry, that they may lay a foundation for the civilization of the nations of Asia; and "that the work may not fail in generations to come."

When I first saw these royal epistles, and reflected on the period of time at which they were written, and the circumstances of the people to whom they were addressed, I perused them with emotions of reverence and admiration. When further I had called to mind the happy effects they had contributed to produce, in enlightening a region of Paganism not less in extent than Great