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84 St

UISTORY OF INDIA.

[Book IV.

A.D.

Hope o" tiii.al over- tlirow of Hlndooism.

most ancient things now existing in the world ; and while all around has been decaying, it has stood firm and unshaken. The inference meant to be drawn is, tliat it is equally hopeless and sacrilegious to attempt its overthrow. To this representation and inference it is sufficient to reply, that the whole history of Hindooism records only a series of changes, by means of which it has been deprived of all that ever gave it any claim to veneration. As it now exists, it is not one uniform system, but a thing of shreds and patches — not a religion bear- ing the impress of a high antiquity, but a grovelling superstition, full of mon- strosities and abominations, many of them of a comparatively recent date. It has thus neither the respectability nor the stability which great age might have given it ; and therefore there is good reason to hope, that its power of resistance to the efforts made to overthrow it, becoming gradually weaker and weaker, it will at no distant period tumble into ruins. No one who desires the welfare of India can wish for any other result ; and no one who confides, as he ought, in the power of divine truth, will despair of its accomplishment.

CHAPTEE IIT.

The Government of the Hindoos,

ly^^^-^A;

Suliject of Hindoo gOT- eniment still impor- tant.

OYERNMENT will in this chapter be taken in its most general acceptation, and will include not merely the form of government, properly so called, but the administration of it in its various departments, civil and military, judicial and fiscal. A subject so

^ wide requires far more space than can be here allowed to it, and yet it seems necessary to make some apology for mentioning it at all. Since British supremacy was established in India, Hindoo government has ceased to exist, and it may therefore be thought that any account given of it can only gratify curiosity without furnishing information of practical value. This infer- ence is plausible — so plausible, indeed, that the East India Company, in the early management of the territories acquired by them, acted upon it, and thought they were giving their new subjects the best proof of their wisdom and justice by endeavouring to govern them in accordance with Eiiroj^ean ideas. It was not long, however, before they discovered their mistake, and learned, by an experience which cost them dear, that a thorough accpiaintance with the prin- ciples on which government had previously been conducted was absolutely neces- sary, in order both to conciliate good-will and prevent gross mismanagement. Even after they had arrived at this conclusion, many serious mistakes were committed, and it would not be difficult to trace some of the worst grievances