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Rh religion, are so irreconcilable that we cannot concur in anyone act of worship. The more necessary it is, then, that each man, in his own breast, should offer up his prayer to the god whom he worships, that here morality may be rightly taught, and that here truth, in all its majesty, may prevail. This aspiration may have a different meaning, according to the wishes or belief of the person who forms it; but with many it will point to a new state of things, when a higher philosophy and a purer faith will pervade this land, not enforced by the arbitrary decrees of a persecuting government, not hypocritically professed to meet the wishes of a proselytizing government, but cordially adopted by a willing people, yielding to the irresistible arguments placed before them.'

The catholic charity which breathes through this passage, and its truly Christian purport, are clear enough. Nevertheless, some well-meaning persons objected to his phrase 'each man in his own breast should offer up his prayer to the god whom he worships,' as if he, the Christian Governor addressing a non-Christian audience, had conceded that the heathen gods might be hearers of prayer. This was a misinterpretation of the passage, but with his usual candour he said that had this been foreseen, he would have so framed the expression as to obviate misunderstanding.

Thus glancing over past labours, he doubtless sighed to himself 'Nunc dimittis.' For he must have had some knowledge that the authorities in England contemplated transferring him to another sphere. The Court of Directors, later in the year, nominated him to the Governorship of the Madras Presidency. Such a