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procuring the death of the woman, he would immediately issue warrants for the apprehension of the offender or offenders, and prosecute for murder. For such a declaration he had the best ground, the sanction of the highest law authority: he had been told by the L CJ, that were such a case brought into the supreme court, he would feel it his duty not only to entertain it, but also to direct the grand jury to find a true bill. In the presence of the brahmins he placed in the hands of the chief servant of the office a general warrant to apprehend, wherever they could be found, whoever would attempt to perform suttee; at the same time he informed the parties that he would use his influence in the surrounding districts to prevent the ceremony, and punish the offenders with severity. This pnt an entire stop to their efforts, and the desire was no more heard of. The woman returned to her family, but not to the comforts of revered widowhood.

Many a tale not true has rivetted the attention, and melted the soul of its reader, far more than I can hope this story of sorrows, this relation of facts will accomplish. The cause of truth however is not always served by aiming to give effect; simplicity and truth become the narrative of suffering. I have laboured under a great difficulty from the conviction that hard or violent names are not the fruit of dispassionate reasoning, but give the colour of the reverse to any composition; and yet my judgment has so decidedly condemned every actor in the scene, and my feelings have been so

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strongly enlisted against them, so much excited by the recurrence to my mind of the heart-rending realities, that the suppression of epithets has been more the work of revision. Even yet what I have said may be too much imbued with asperity towards the deluding and deluded performers.

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But to what tend all such statements? what is the monition which conscience whispers, which the God of providence imparts by bringing such tidings to our ears? What thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest." Thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground," was a charge brought against one who felt its sting, and smarted from it, for he was guilty; and may not a similar accusation be addressed to some by such occasions, who have an influence in political negotiations and international adjustments, but leave it to lie dormant? Avarice is generally the cause of flagrant sin being either tolerated or committed. This is a powerful and influential principle, and is most violently assailed in the legal prohibitions against the slave-trade with those native states (such as Madagascar, &c.) which had practised the traffic, where the whole has been rendered illegal through the influence of British counsel and integrity. This affects the cupidity of kings and princes; the immolation of Hindoo women brings a revenue to the avarice of individuals of brahmins. The honourable champions who have achieved this triumph for the sons of hu

manity, in procuring so decidedly the condemnation and abolition of this trade by the public voice and the legislature of the country, may not stop nor be sileut, nor may British legislators throw the cause of India's expiring daughters into careless oblivion with impunity. They must answer for it. However others may neglect any duty, their actions will be no shadow of a covering for our remissness in the day of God's anger, when his wrath begins to burn as an oven; and if princes and great men fail in the discharge of their responsible trust, it is the more incumbent on others to be valiant for the truth upon the earth.

Every mother may become a widow, but every Christian mother and widow has mercy desired of her and not sacrifice, and is honoured, not despised in her state of bereavement. What has produced the change in our happy land and nation? What has elevated the female character, and secured their honourable condition in the church of God? Who pointed out his bereaved mother to the friendly regard, the filial care of his beloved disciple? Jesus, who is the pattern for his people. The gospel, the author of the gospel, gives the charter for female rights, for a distinguished rank to aged mothers, and otherwise hapless widows. Let Christian widows consider their calling then. In their seasons of devotion and nearness of access to a throne of grace, let their gratitude burst forth to the Redeemer, let their sympathy for Hindoo females be breathed in prayer, that they may soon know the gospel; for a saving knowledge of this alone, and not merely a go

vernment prohibition, will prevent the sinful indulgence of thoughts and feelings which lead to personal immolation, and the parricidal fires of Hindostan. Let them show by the purity of their example, and the active usefulness of their lives to their children, their dependants, and those around them, the excellency of that religion which secured to them their proper sphere. Higher classes might follow the steps, and learn the benevolence and piety of a Lady Rachel Russel and Mrs. Lucy Hutchinson; and others might do well to imitate the worth and zealous labours of Mrs. Isabella Grahame. Nor let those who have only two mites, which make a farthing, as all their living, think they are forgotten, or suppose their offering will be unaccepted by him who sitteth over the treasury, if they cast it in for the service of Christ's cause. Let them, let all widows remember, there is a place for every individual to fill, which each one ought to fill with fidelity, and that every individual has an influence and weight proportioned to the measure in which the duties of their appropriate sphere are discharged; and that if the influence of every one were rightly directed, and sanctified with prayer, the Lord's cause would be, rationally speaking, far more strong, and would sooner prevail.

Ye mothers of Israel! remember Deborah, her victory and her song-read the record of Anna the prophetess, and her consolation-and be excited by the example of Phebe, her labours in succouring many, and her letters of commendation by the penman of the

Spirit. Lend your aid to the diffusion of Christ's gospel among the heathen. Were you, who give yourselves to prayer, more decidedly to remember our work in your supplications, and were more undividedly to give us your influence among a rising generation, not leaving the missionary cause to the management or labours of young people, there is encouragement to hope the young would be more active, the labourers more cheered, and that the Spirit of God would be more fully poured out, the prejudices of the heathen be more speedily overcome, and the glorious gospel of the blessed God established on the earth. At least you ought to act as if this were to be the result, and that you are responsible for the discharge of such obligations.

But I write this under the apprehension, my young friends, that your mothers will read what has been addressed to their children, and my business is more with you. The instructions of a mother you value; her friendship and her presence are a solace to you in times of perplexity and sorrow. What earthly friend is so soothing to you, or whose words are more truly the oil of consolation to your parched soul? Does not the eye of the Hindoo naturally turn to the same channel for the same comfort? Wherefore is your mother's kindness so valued, and on what account are her counsels so valuable? whence are her excellencies derived, and what has secured the benefit of these to you?-the religion of Christ, the gospel dispensation. It is the Bible that testifieth we are all one in

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