The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-12 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIE►V.

A LETTER from the Right Re7erend the LORD BISHOP
of CALCUTTA, addressed to the Reverend. ANTHONY
HAMILTON, Secretary to the Society for the PROPAGA7
TION of the GOSPEL in FOREIGN PARTS.

It is needless to insist_on the importance of Re;
ligh-n, as it is not only essential to the happiness
Of MAn hereafter, but to his pence and comfort in
this transitory state of things; and even the Free,
thinker, if he is not wholly destitute of virtue and
hnnou will nor andeaVOur to weaken its
though he may view it only as it relates
to the concerns of this life. The-Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts have,
therefore, deserved well of mankind, for having
spread the light of pure Christianity in many dis•
rant regions. -It it svitlt lunch pleasure we find,
that in consequence of the King's Letter, address-
ed to tic Archbishops•-nd Bishops, and by them
to the Clergy throughout England .-and JVAles,
Sermons are about to be preached in aid of the
Fonds of tile admirable Society above-mentioned;
and when we reflect on the benefits bcstouved do
most of his Majesty's Colonial Possessions by the
exeptions of the Members of that venerable and

una,:suming Institution, we cannot refrain from
expressing our anxious wishes that these Sermons
may he productive of a great increase to the re-
cenuo of the Society, as its attention and aid are
called for in India, where there i's-an ample
.field
for its beneficial purposes. For this reason we
conceive it to be our duty to direct the notice of
the Public to the excellent Letter addressed to
the Society in question by that eminent and learned
Divine, Dr. MIDDLETON, the present Bishop of
Calcutta. It is written with great simplicity,
but in a persuasive and interesting manner. The
amiable Prelate states the difficulties which the dis-
semination of Christianity among the Ilindoos has
to meet, but by no means thinks them insuperable,
by time and proper regulations. Among the sug-
gesPons offered by the Bishop as most likely to
lead to the diffusion of the lights of the Gospel,
he observes, that

" Another of the objects proposed is to afford
to native children instruction in useful knowledge,
and especially in the English language, without
any immediate view to their becoming Christians.
It seems now to be generally believed that little
effect can be produced by preaching; while super-
stition and extreme ignorance are the prevailing
characteristics of the people. We have not here,.
indeed, to encounter barbarism : the impediments
to conversion are probably much greater than
reilly rude and uncivilized life ever presents : the
progre'ss of our religion is here opposed by disci-
pline and System ; and by these alone, with the
divine blessing, can it ever make its way: the te-
nets of superstition are inculcated in early life :
the popular writings are generally tales familia-
rizing the mind with the achievements of Hindoo
divinities; and the Brahmin possesses an almost
unbounded influence over the people committed
to his care. While this state of things prevails,
the truths of the Gospel are heard unheeded :
they arc not perceived to be truths, nor is there
much disposition to examine them : they appeal
to no recognised principle, and they excite no in-
terest : the Hindoo, if he reflects at all, finds atone-
ment in his sacrifices, and a mediator in his priest.
" It is conceived, therefore, that one great in-
strument of the success of Christianity will ha the
diffusion of European knowledge ; it seems al-
most impossible that they, who in their childhood
shall have been accustomed to use their minds,
can ever afterwards be capable of adopting the
absurdities and reverencing the abominations now
proposed to them as truth, and the acceptable
worship of God : it is hoped that,. by enlarging
the sphere of their ideas generally, we shall teach
them to inquire at least upon subjects on which
we do not professedly instruct them; and that
they, who have been emancipated from supersti-
tion, may in time be brought to a knowledge of
Christ.

I have, however, laid particular stress upon
the teaching of English : it this were generally
understood through the country, it would, I doubt
riot, entirely alter the condition of the people : it
would give them access to our literature and
habits of thinking; and the familiar use of it
would tend very much to dissipate the prejudices
and the indifference which now stand in the way
of conversion. Our language is so unlike every
thin;: Oriental, not merely in its structure, but in
the ideas to which it is made subservient, in ima-
gery, in metaphor, and in sentiment, that a com-
petent acquaintance with it seems unavoidably to
lead the mind of a Native into a new train of
thought, and a wider field of reflection. We, in
learning the languages of the East, acquire only
a knowledge of words ; but the Oriental in learn-
irg our language extends his knowledge of
things."
_ _

These remarks are the result of good sense and
sound discretion, and, therefore, under the wise
soperintendanee of the Bishop, matters will pro-
ceed with doe caution, and the triumphant Ban-
tiers of the Cross may be raised upon the ruins of
Pagan Idolatry.

LONDON SOUR' IA L 5.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERY OF, THIS DAY.

Plorizing IYeraii ,]

The public feeling bas been a goad deal excited
by the treatment, described in our Piper of Sa-
turday, which R British schooner has experienced
from a Spanish frigate. We would willingly
lay hold of any fair reason for ascribing the
circumstance to accident ; but if the minutes
may be relied on, that supposition is •impossi-
bk. The gun seems to have been fired with
deliberately murderous design. In fact, Hcci-

dent is out of the question. Probably it will be
said that the Spaniard misunderstood the answer to
his hail, which is also very improbable. The
general impression is, that the Spaniard was in-
cited to this act of atrocity by the idea that our
vessels have materially aided in supplying the
%vents of the South Americans. We shall not say
such an outrage should not go unpunished ; but
certainly it should not pass without inquiry. A
reasonable explanation may be given ; and it can
be no ordinary explanation that can justify a cir-
cumstance so shocking in which a British subject
has bueu, as. the event shall turn out on inquiry,
either killed or murdered. •

We have learned, that whilst hift Majesty's
ship Lee lay at Margaritta, a Afajor BATas, of the
Independent service (Lieutenant in the British
Army), made his escape, with several seamen, on
board the Lee. The Officer had been placed un-
der arrest, for having transmitted the Memorial
of his Regiment, demanding their pay, which
they bad not received for seven months. The
seamen deserted from Admiral BaioN's squadron,
being disgusted with the cold-blooded assassina-
tions going on. They all claimed protection from
the Lee, as being British subjects ; and had the
Lee sent her boats for those who were inclined
to come off, Admiral Baton would not have had
many British subjects with him. Admiral BRION
bad 15 sail of all descriptions.—A long corre-
spondence took place between Captain BLAcKaa,
the Governor of Margaritta, and Admiral BRION,
upon the subject of the Lee not saluting the In-
dependent hag, on her arrival at theisland.—(lL,id.)