ΤΟ THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY. I GRATEFULLY acknowledge the frank and gracious condescension, which has permitted me to dedicate the following sketches descriptive of "Continental India” to your Majesty's acceptance and patronage. These volumes are designed to develop the condition and character of many millions of Asiatic lineage, subject to the sceptre which a benevolent Providence has placed in your Majesty's hand; and to unfold the treasures and resources of your wide Oriental dominions: the largest over which any European monarch has ever been called to preside. They trace, and, under the influence of Christian principle, attempt to survey, the heroic deeds by which the conquest b of these many lands was achieved, and their possession made an appendage to the British Crown. They also mark the steady progress of a conquest, still more glorious and beneficent, in which already your Majesty has discovered a generous sympathy; and to complete which, the battle of the warrior, with confused noise and garments rolled in blood, will not be required. 66 It will not displease you, Madam, if I anticipate that the triumphs in which the Christian delights, will add to your royal pleasure, as they will contribute to the glory of your Majesty's reign, when the hearts of myriads shall" be made willing in the day of His power," by whom kings reign and princes decree justice." If the people of India shall, by the influence of instruction and the persuasion of wisdom, throw off the thraldom of spiritual slavery and the chains of idolatrous superstition; and, having bowed to Messiah's sceptre, stand up as citizens of Zion, whom the truth has made free,—your Majesty will rejoice in their devout allegiance, and your Government will enjoy peace in their obedience. In the SACRED VOLUME, which your Majesty has manifested a desire to see circulated among all your subjects, this promise is made, concerning the Divine Government, by Him who is the Redeemer of mankind: 'Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, the possession of continued salvation. The fear of Jehovah, this shall be thy treasure." If temporal princes follow the model of this heavenly King, then will wisdom and knowledge be the stability of their times. As one of your Majesty's loyal subjects, I therefore hail with gratitude the determination of your Majesty to promote the means of an enlightened and liberal education among the poor of the land, without distinction of creed or party. "For lack of knowledge the people are destroyed;" and, while, religion without knowledge is a bald superstition, religious truth teaches its votaries to "fear God and honour the King." Your Majesty's desire to extend the advantages of education among all your people, and to remove every obstruction which would prevent its universality, is the dictate of a wise benevolence, and accords with the judgment of enlightened piety. I would thankfully ascribe the same benevolent wisdom to the policy zealously pursued by your Majesty's Servants, entrusted with the administration of Government, in British India. They have judiciously given the impulse to the native mind, both to desire and to promote education; they have opened channels and afforded abundant facilities for diffusing knowledge: whereby European literature and Christian truth may become the possession alike of the Hindoo and Mussulman, without distinction of rank, of caste, or of wealth. They have adopted a means, of a character analogous to the rapidity and pervading progress of rail |
