wrong to withhold from him the name of Christian : but of this we think the pamphlets before us do not afford proof; and as he is indignant at the application to himself of the term Heathen, which he describes. as a violation of truth, charity and liberality, there appears every reason to believe that he is, in the honest persuasion of his own mind, a Christian, and entertains no doubt of the divine authority of Jesus, and the truth of the Christian revelation. If so, it is to the honour of Christianity that so distinguished an inquirer after truth can for himself discover in the instructions of Christ that which commends itself to his admiration and regard nor can it fail to gratify Unitarian Christians to find that the doctrines of the New Testament, as understood and received by them, produce conviction in the mind of such a man, and in the degree in which they are known to him, induce him to the cordial reception of Christianity, whilst the doctrines which they reject, and with which he has the best opportunity of becoming acquainted, produce no conviction, and, as far as they operate, impede his persuasion of the truth of Christianity."

In the same number of the "Monthly Repository," p. 515, occurs a copy of a private letter from RAMMOHUN Roy himself, which shews the candid and earnest spirit with which he was entering on his work.

"This letter is dated Calcutta, Sept. 5, 1820. After expressing 'grateful acknowledgments' of his correspondent, Col. BR'S, 'frequent remembrance,' RAMMOHUN thus proceeds:

"As to the opinion intimated by Sir SAMUEL T————R, respecting the medium course in Christian dogmas, I never have attempted to oppose it. I regret only that the followers of Jesus, in general, should have paid much greater attention to inquiries after his nature than to the observance of his commandments, when we are well aware that no human acquirements can ever discover the nature even of the most common and visible things, and, moreover, that such inquiries are not enjoined by the divine revelation.

On this consideration I have compiled several passages of the New Testament which I thought essential to Christianity, and published them under the designation of Precepts of Jesus, at which the Missionaries at Shrainampoor have expressed great displeasure, and called me, in their review of the tract, an injurer of the cause of truth. I was, therefore, under the necessity of defending myself in an 'Appeal to the Christian Public,' a few copies of which tracts I have the pleasure to send you, under the care of Captain S, and intreat your acceptance of them.

"I return, with my sincere acknowledgments, the work which Sir S. T. was so kind as to lend me. May I request the favour of you to forward it to Sir S. T., as well as a copy of each of the pamphlets, with my best compliments, and to favour me with your and Sir S. T.'s opinion respecting my idea of Christianity, as expressed in those tracts, when an opportunity may occur; as I am always open to conviction and correction?"

The writings of RAMMOHUN ROY and the controversy

which they excited attracted so much notice in British India, that an article appeared on the subject in the "Asiatic Department of the Calcutta Journal of Politics and General Literature," No. VIII., for Aug., 1821. Long and very interesting extracts are made from this and other Indian papers in the "Monthly Repository" for 1822, Vol. XVII., pp. 393-400. Though the whole of this might be very important and interesting in an extended memoir, yet space prevents our doing more than copy the following letter, which occurs in the Journal of August 1, 1821, pp. 405, 406 :—

"To the Editor of the Calcutta Journal.

"SIR,-RAM MOHUN ROY may be known by name to most of your readers, and it is probable, that many of them have heard he has forsaken the idolatry and all the superstitions of the Hindoos; but excepting those who are personally acquainted with him, few are likely to be duly informed of his acquirements, his conduct, and his present religious belief. The Second Appeal to the Christian Public in defence of the 'Precepts of Jesus,' a work lately published by him, will make us acquainted with his religious belief, will enable us to form some idea of his acquirements, and cannot fail of producing in every Christian, great regard for the author, and a strong interest concerning so illustrious an individual; and the more we learn of his conduct. the more will he be raised in our estimation.

"The worthy motives by which RAM MOHUN ROY is actuated, have caused him to print the work in

question, and several previous works, at his own expense, to distribute them among his acquaintance and such other persons as are likely to take an interest in the important subjects on which he has written. His last publication, that above-mentioned, is too large to be reprinted in a newspaper; but its contents are so important, and do the author so much credit, that I hope some competent person will prepare a compendium thereof, and have the same published in the Calcutta Journal. In the mean time, you will oblige me by printing the two portions which accompany this letter: the first portion commences in p. 159, and ends in p. 164; the other commences in p. 172, and extends to the end of the work. If such persons as on reading these extracts feel a sufficient interest to desire to peruse the work with attention, apply to the author for copies, it is probable he will readily comply with their request, as far as the number of copies printed will admit.

Here we observe an individual, born and bred in a country benighted under the most gross idolatry and superstition, who, by a just use of that understanding which our gracious Creator has given to mankind to guide them to all truths, having discovered the falsehood of that system of idolatry and the absurdity of those superstitions, conscientiously abandoned both, and thereby subjected himself to inconveniences and dangers of which persons living in more enlightened societies can hardly form an idea. Next, he directed his attention to the Christian religion; and that same just and honest use of his understanding, which discovered the falsehood

and absurdity of idolatry and superstition, satisfied him that Jesus was the Messiah, that he was employed by God to reveal his will to men, and to make known to them the only true religion. He observed the internal and historical evidence of Christianity to be such as demonstrated its truth. Blessed with the light of Christianity, he dedicates his time and his money not only to release his countrymen from the state of degradation in which they exist, but also to diffuse among the European masters of his country, the sole true religion as it was promulgated by Christ, his apostles and his disciples.

One other testimony to RAMMOHUN ROY we must quote; it is given by an Englishman who had known him in India, and is recorded in the same number of the " Monthly Repository," p. 754. It is from a letter dated January, 1822

"When I was in Calcutta I met the native of whom I wrote to you in some of my letters of last year, and to whom you allude in your letter since received. RAMMOHUN ROY is really a wonderful man; he is not only master of almost every Eastern language (including Hebrew), but is, I may safely say, a perfect master of the English, so far as idiom goes; his pronunciation only is defective. I found him asked one evening by the friend I was living with to meet us at dinner time in a family party, that we might see him at his ease. He