so nicely balanced that philosophy has seldom found cause to reverse, however much it may qualify, the sentence passed by the world. But it is nevertheless not sufficiently fair in its standard of selection, inasmuch as it is precisely of "the world, worldly." Obtain success in the cabinet, perpetrate an inhuman slaughter on the field, or shine out publicly in literary quackism, and the world is ready to pour forth applause with all its vehemence and adulation; but pass an entire life in the labours of quiet benevolence, rescuing hundreds and thousands from "the ills that flesh is heir to," or the ills their own misguidance and circumstances, or the misguidance and circumstances of their forefathers, have subjected them to, and the world is prone to be indifferent and silent. The statesman, the warrior, and the poet have their praises and their testimonials, because their's is the apparent merit: but the humbler patriot, who has quietly worked for the political advancement of his country; and the silent philanthropist, who has devoted his life to the promotion of the happiness or alleviation of the sufferings of his fellow-creatures, have neither the recognition nor the reward of greatness from the world-not, certainly, as truly undeserving,

ESTIMATE OF CHARACTER.

3

but as greatly passing its own conception of greatness. But narrow as the world is in this respect, philosophy is liberal enough; so that while it allows the heroes of the world their merited meed, it also concedes due honour and admiration to those quiet heroes of the heart who appeal the most earnestly, because the least pretentiously, to its regard. If the worth of these is not according to the common appreciation of mankind, it is still according to the appreciation of those philosophic minds that in their recognition would ask for something worthier and nobler than outward show. And if the world neglects them, it is much to their taste, as their's is the pleasure to contemn all popular applause in the silent approval of their hearts. Of such noble worth there are but few illustrations, but from amongst these few it were hard to find a greater name for India than that of BABOO HARRISCHANDER-a name prominently distinguished by services which the world neglects, and philosophy loves to honour with becoming regard.

The State of India is certainly far better now than of yore. The ignorance and intolerance of Mahomedan times have vanished, and we have a change mighty in results, and

mightier still in prospect, coming over the country under the benign influence of British domination; and there has now sprung up a class of men who, without purse or power, are more influential than the greatest warrior in olden days. We refer to the educated men of our country, who are not, like all influential men of some centuries past, "blind leaders of the blind"; not men whose influence, whenever they have any, may be seen only in the triumphs of the field or the chicaneries of the court,-but men, who command more without either of these graces, by the mental light they enjoy; men, whose power is only in the evocation of the breath or the stroke of the pen. There are traditions in this land which perhaps none has yet attended to with due concern-that the East will be completely changed by a nation from the west; and the tenth avatar of Vishnu, a man on a white horse, so current among the prophecies of the sacred Brahmanical writings, must be looked upon to typify the advent of the English in India. Statesmen vainly look upon the Anglo-Indian empire as an accident, something that will not last long; and though events like the Mutinies of 1857 frequently give to that expres

sion a significance it can never otherwise bear, the prophecy of the West, "Japhet shall dwell in the tents of Shem," and the prophecy of the East relating the tenth incarnation of Vishnu, a man on a white horse, coming from the West and destroying everything Brahmanical,* render it imperative on us to accept, however reluctantly, that European supremacy in Asia is one of the permanent conditions of the world. When we consider the darkness of former times, the slavish reverence to authority, its abuse, its adulteries, and its vicious acts in every instance, and the superstitious awe of religious guides, in spite of their lies, deceptions, and crimes, we may well conceive that He who sits King among nations has most wisely ordained that the East shall be lorded over by the West. If there is anywhere inscribed, in modern times, with special truth, "Ichabod!" it is upon Eastern imbecility and utter darkness; and we have got among us now a class of young men moral in tone, vigorous in character, and intellectual in attainments, in whom centre the hopes of families,

* The writer of these pages is not aware whether this prophecy has been dealt upon in its significance by any author, but if not, he does not see why he should not on his part.

of churches, of the entire nation, of futurity itself. These are destined to convert the whole country into a moral, healthy, and vigorous being, to dispel its present darkness and bring forth light; who shall illuminate not only their own country, but, as we shall show hereafter, the whole of the East, and even perhaps the World, by developing a new and more healthy civilisation than the European. We predict a glorious future for these men; they are as lights, created by the advent of English civilisation: "few and far between," we readily admit; but yet lights to illuminate this land of darkness and error, and, in time, also the East; and though night yet broods thickly and extensievly here, we may say, without any inspiration of prophetic discernment, that "the morning cometh." But while thus cheerfully according its due meed, we must never forget that this subject has shades as well as lights. The state of our young countrymen has much to cause a gloom as well as exhilaration in the heart: the many defects in their character, their want of energy, fixedness of purpose, and determinate zeal-so apparent, that he who runs may read them-require as much to be weighed in the balance of calculation as their greatness