those who wish to approach him must appease the agitation of the waves-they must be of a tranquil and steady mind, retired within themselves, and their thoughts being collected, must be fixed on God only."*

In a letter written to M. Ziegenbalg, by a Brahmin, he says, "God may be known by his laws, and wonderful works,—by the reason and understanding he has given to man, and by the creation and preservation of all beings. It is indispensably the duty of man to believe in God, and love him. Our law enjoins this.-Those two principles ought to be in his speech, in his mind; they should guide all his actions, in which being well founded, he should invoke God, and endeavour in every thing to conform himself to his will,"

A Hindū having been converted to Christianity by the Danish missionaries, his father wrote to him, You are yet unac

* From a book named Tchiva-Vackkium.

quainted with the mysteries of our religion. We do not worship many gods in the extravagant manner you imagine. In all the multitude of images, we adore one Divine essence only. We have amongst us learned men, to whom you should apply, and who will remove all your doubts."*

M. de la Croze, says, on the authority of M. Ziegenbalg and another missionary, M. J. E. Grundler: "In one of their books, they (the Hindus) express themselves in the following manner: The Supreme Being is invisible, incomprehensible, immovable, without figure or shape. No one has ever seen him; time never comprised him; his essence pervades every thing; all was derived from him.'

Father Bouchet, superior of the Jesuit missionaries, writes to the bishop of Avranches,+ from Madura, in the Carnatic:

* Histoire du Christianisme des Indes, tom. ii. liv. 6. + The celebrated P. D. Huet, chosen by Bossuet to be preceptor, under him, to the dauphin, eldest son of Louis XIV. As a recompense for his ser

The Indians acknowledge one eternal God, infinitely perfect."

They say, that the great number of divinities which they worship, are only inferior deities, entirely subject to the will

vices, he obtained the Abbacy of Aunai, and afterwards the bishopric of Soissons, which he changed for that of Avranches. Having vacated this last see, he procured the Abbacy of Fontenay in Normandy, near Caen: thence he retired into what was called la Maison Professée des Jésuites at Paris, spending the day in literary pursuits, the evenings in society; and died in 1721, at the age of ninety-one years. All the learned missionaries in eastern countries, seem to have corresponded with him. There is a well executed account of Huet, in the Memoirs of Mademoiselle de Montpensier. He left numerous works both in French and Latin. Some of them have been criticised. He is said to have shewn more learning than taste and elegance in his compositions, which in the age of Louis XIV., was not a trifling charge. It was Huet who suggested the publication of the classics ad usum Delphini, but on a much more extensive plan than that on which they were executed.

See also Dr. Aikin's translation of Huet's Commentarii de Rebus ad se pertinentibus, published at London, 1810, in two vols. 8vo.

of the Supreme Being, who is equally Lord of Gods and men."*

*Lettres édifiantes et curieuses, 12mo. edit. de Paris, 1781, tom. ii.

In a work published at the protestant mission press at Serampore in Bengal, in 1811, in four vols. 4to. and intituled, "Account of the Writings, Religion, and Manners of the Hindus, by W. Ward," much minute information in regard to the festivals, forms of worship, customs and practices of the Hindus, will be found; but it is apprehended that forms have too much influence with Mr. Ward, and sometimes lead him to conclusions, which, we believe, no impartial persons, who have inquired into and considered the subject, will admit. Inventions artfully employed to impose on the public in matters of religion, and to excite superstitious and groundless fears in the ignorant, are undoubtedly highly reprehensible, whenever, or by whomsoever they may be practised. Such we must consider many of the practices of the Brahmins of India; but as their orthodox doctrines teach the belief of one God, or Supreme Being only; and as it has been repeatedly declared by the learned Pundits, that their mythology and use of images were only invented, and are employed to represent the different attributes of the divinity, we can, after such solemn declarations, no longer join with Mr. Ward, in representing the whole body of Hindus, as

gross and monstrous idolaters," than we can join with some too zealous protestants in applying the same epithets to the whole body of Roman Catholics, for having crucifixes, images, and pictures in their churches. The Church of England admits of pictures being placed over the altars, and the members of that church, as well as the Roman Catholics, we presume, will be ready to declare, that nothing more is intended by those outward signs, than to commemorate what may serve to excite devotion in the beholders.