might, perhaps, have conducted himself with temper and discretion: but the height of his elevation has made him giddy; he wishes to quit the staff which has hitherto supported him; and by the assistance of which he has climbed to his present greatness. If he succeeds, he will probably be made sensible of his folly, by the precipitancy of his fall. You may imagine in what manner this young man is imposed upon by his people, when I tell you, that they have actually made him believe that the present Governor-General is not without enemies, even in the Supreme Council! Was ever any thing more absurd, than to imagine that men, who could possibly have no other motive for visiting these regions, than to promote their country's glory, and the happiness of mankind, should yet become enemies to him who has so eminently contributed to both? Ridiculous idea! What is it but to imagine, that from the base motives of personal enmity, envy of superior talents, or jealousy of superior power, these men would prefer the ruin of a rival to the glory and preservation of an empire! How unworthy of the character of Englishmen ! I was much rejoiced at the arrival of my two English friends, whose chief motive for visiting Benares at this time, was to inspect and examine the astronomical apparatus still extant in the Tower of the Stars. Both these gentlemen were deeply learned in this divine science. The stupendous engines, constructed by the ingenuity of our ancestors for measuring the expanse of heaven, and tracing through its trackless arch the path of its illustrious inhabitants, filled their minds with astonishment. Alas! that these evidences of the wisdom of our fathers, should now serve to mark the degeneracy of their children! That science, which exalts the soul to heaven, which enables it to peruse that book of wisdom, where the Supreme hath written his attributes in the most legible characters; even in the golden orbs whose distant glories delight the eye of ignorance. That science, so familiar to our fathers, is now almost lost to their unenlightened sons. But as the splendid luminary of the sky, when apparently extinguished in darkness, continues still to pursue his course, illuminating with his brightness the various inhabitants of the earth; so doth the Goddess of Science pursue her radiant journey; and when we vainly imagine she is gone for ever, if we open the eyes of our understanding, we shall see her beaming with redoubled lustre on the children of another hemisphere. These strangers could, at one glance, comprehend the use of those instruments, which the Pundits who attended us could not explain; and I soon found that the knowledge imparted to us upon this subject, by our reverend teacher, was but ignorance, compared to their superior attainments. Need we farther proof that the spirit of Brahma is not confined to any particular region, but extendeth over his great creation ? In the conviction of this truth, I have determined to devote some months to the cultivation of a more intimate acquaintance with those, who are so well qualified to impart the light of knowledge to my mind. I have now fulfilled the purpose of my journey to Benares, but have no pleasure in the thoughts of returning to Almora. Alas! wherefore should I return? The lamp of love is extinguished in my dwelling, and darkness rests upon my pleasant bowers. To my friend, and to my sister, I can, with confidence, entrust the only |