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passed a law, “declaring the practice to be murder punishable by death."The law is entitled "A regulation for preventing the Sacrifice of Children at Saugor and other places; passed by the Governor-General in Council on the 20th of August, 1802."-The purpose of this regulation was completely effected. Not a murmur was heard on the subject: nor has any attempt of the kind come to our knowhedge since. It is impossible to calculate the number of human lives that have been saved, during the last eight years, by this humane law of the Marquis.

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THE following relation, in the words of the same author, will shew what human nature can believe and perpetrate, when destitute of the light from Heaven.

Among the Hindoo tribes called the Jarejah, in the provinces of Cutch and Guzerat in the west of India, it is a custom to destroy female infants. "The mother herself is commonly the executioner of her own offspring. Women of rank may have their slayes and attendants who perform this office, but the far greater number execute it with their own hands."* This

* "They appear to have several methods of destroying the infant, but two are prevalent. Immediately after the birth of a female, they put into its mouth some opium, er draw the umbilical cord over its face, which prevents respiration. But the destruction of so tender and young a subject is not difficult, and it is effected without causing a struggle." Col. Walker's Report. Paragraph 55.--Col. Walker further states that DADAJI, the Chief of Raj-kut, being interrogated as to the mode of killing the infants, emphatically said, "What dif ficulty is there in blasting a flower? He added, in allusion to the motives for infanticide, that the Rubaries, or goat herds in this country, allow their male kids to die, when there are many of them brought forth."

...This atrocity has been investigated and brought to light by the benevolent and truly laudable exertions of the Honourable JONATHAN DUNCAN, Esq. Governor of Bombay, to whom humanity is now indebted for one of her greatest victories. Mr DUNCAN had instructed Colonel WALKER, late political resident in Guzerat, to inform himself (in a military progress through that province) of the nature and extent of the practice of Infanticide, and, in the name of the British Government, to endeavour to effect its abolition. The Bombay Government has now transmitted to the Court of Directors the official report from that officer, dated the 15th March 1808; and from this document, detailed in 298 paragraphs, the following facts are given to the public. This disclosure seems to have been directed by Providence at this time, to aid the counsels of the British nation, in considering th obligations which are due from a Christian empire, in regard to the moral improvement of its heathen subjects. But the fact of Hindoo Infanticide is by no means new. Mr DUNCAN himself was instrumental in abolishing the crime among the tribe of the Rag-kumars in Juanpore, near Benares, in the year 1789. Indeed the unnatural custom seems to have subsisted for more than 2000 years; for both Greek and Roman historians notice it, and refer to those very places (Barygaza, or Baroach) where it is now to be found. The number of females who were thus sacrificed in Cutch and Guzerat alone (for it is practised in several other provinces) amounted, by the very lowest computation (in 1807,) to three thousand annually. Other calculations vastly exceed that number.

Lieut.-Colonel ALEXANDER WALKER had first the honour of appearing before this people as the advocate of humanity. He addressed them in his official character; and, as ambassador from the British nation, he entreated them to suffer their daughters to live. It seems that they had means of appreciating the private character of this

officer,

officer, and they respected his virtues; but in regard to this moral negotiation, they peremptorily refused even to listen to it.

"What more," it would be said, 66 can be done with prudence?" Enthusiasm alone would dictate further so licitude about the matter. But Col. WALKER did not desist from his benevolent purpose, because he met with some obstacles: for he wished to overcome them. He sought opportunities of informing the understanding of the people on the nature of the crime. "By discussing the subject frequently in the public Cutcherry (the Court of Justice) and exposing the enormity of the practice, as contrary to the precepts of religion, and the dictates of nature, every Cast came to express an abhorrence of Infanticide; and the obstinate precepts of the Jarejahs began to be shaken." And what was the result? Within twelve months of the date of the foregoing letters, Jarejah, JEHAGEE himself, and JEHAGEE's Mother, and FATTEH MAHOMED, formally adjured the practice of infanticide, and were soon followed by the Jarejah tribes in general. About the end of the year 1809, many of the Jarejah fathers brought their infant daughters to Col. WALKER'S tent, and exhibited them with pride and fondness. "Their

mothers and nurses also attended on this interesting occasion. True to the feelings which are found in other countries to prevail so forcibly, the emotions of nature here exhibited were extremely moving. The mothers placed the infants in the hands of Col. WALKER, calling on him to protect what he alone had taught them to preserve. These infants they emphatically called HIS children."

REFLECTION.

THIS event, our author observes, affords an invaluable lesson concerning the character of the Hindoos, and the LL3 practicability

practicability of civilizing them. What was effected in Guzerat, as to the murder of children, is equally practicable in Bengal in regard to the burning of women; and at Juggernaut, in regard to self-murder under the Idol's Car. "By discussing the subject frequently," says Colonel WALKER, "in the public Cutcherry, and exposing the en ormity of the practice, as contrary to the precepts of religion and the dictates of nature, the obstinate principles of the Jarejahs began to be shaken." Now, we would ask, what is there to prevent the custom of BURNING WOMEN ALIVE from being discussed in the public Cutcherry of Calcutta, and exposing the enormity of the practice, as contrary to the precepts of religion, and the dictates of

nature ?"

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The following extract accompanying the Note of our worthy correspondent, plainly evinces that the detestable rites and horrid ceremonies practised at Juggernaut are not so strictly guarded as some may be apt to imagine; and the ready admission of so many eye-witnesses, has already demonstrated, that this theatre of abomination is far from being surrounded by the minute precautions of Chinese jealousy.

SIR, As an appendix to your accounts of the Temple of Juggernaut, if you thought proper to insert in your Magazine the following Extract from Mr JOHN PETER, a Missionary at Cuttack, to Dr. WILLIAM CAREY, dated March 9th, 1812, it would gratify some of your readers.

S. B.

"I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your liberal supply of Ooriya versions of the Scriptures, and you will rejoice with me that I have obtained their admittance into the very Temple of Juggernutha. May their blessed light break through the intense darkness of this heathen land! I have distributed them among the principal per sons belonging to the Temple, and gave one to one of the Purichas, or head ministers of the Idol."

E.

1

JAMES HAY BEATTIE,

SON of Dr. JAMES BEATTIE, professor of moral philosophy and logic in the university of Aberdeen, was born in the year 1768. He died early in life, at the age of twenty-two; but wisdom, not years, is the gray hairs to man, and unspotted life is old age.

This young man possessed a fine genius, great vigour of understanding, and a very uncommon portion of learning and knowledge but what renders him a subject proper for these memoirs, is that rectitude of heart, and genu ine piety, by which he was so eminently distinguished.

His father never had occasion to reprove him above three or four times, during the whole of his life: bodily chastisement he never experienced at all. It would indeed have been most unreasonable to apply this mode of discipline to one, whose supreme concern it ever was to know his duty, and to do it. His whole behaviour, at school and at college, was not only irreproachable, but exemplary. In the year 1787, the king, upon the recommendation of the university of Marischal college, was pleased to appoint him assistant professor of moral philosophy and logic. His age was then not quite nineteen; but to the gentlemen of the university his character was so well known, that they most readily, as well as unanimously, concurred in the recommendation. His steadiness, good-nature, and self-command, secured his authority as a teacher; and by his presence of mind, and ready recollection, he satisfied his audience that, though young, he was abundantly qualified to instruct them.

Piety and meckness were striking features in his character, habitual to him in infancy, and through life. The Christian religion and its evidences he had studied with indefatigable application; and the consequence was such, as

may

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