delay shall bring about. Here is a splendid opportunity for the new Ministry. Let Lord Palmerston seize it, his popularity would be at its height, the Czar humbled and the future peace of Europe secured. These are no dreamer's visions, but sober realities which are daily more and more taking possession of the minds of men.

LITERARY NOTICE.

Narrative of the Life and Travels of Sergeant Butler.-Written by himself. Edinburgh: Johnstone & Hunter.

Philip O'Flaherty, the Young Soldier. Edinburgh: John Shepherd.

In proportion to the difficulties and trials experienced by the agent in pursuing a virtuous career, is the excellence of his character to be determined. Impediments to the cultivation of mind and heart-and to the exercises of the divine life, there may be in discouraging abundance amidst the quieter walks of life. And it is the heart that knows its own bitterness. But there are situations in life, where it is matter of formal difficulty to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Under present circumstances and those past indeed, the personnel of the army has to a great extent been procured from a very doubtful class of citizens-indeed, too often enlistment is the correlative of sin or folly-after associations but too frequently tend to perpetuate bad habits-although a mechanical obedience is rendered imperative towards superiors. But there have been valuable Christians in the army-and we believe there are many at the present time-and that the camp at the Crimea, and the military hospitals are made to contain devout soldiers-meu who live to God and die in faith. The first work named above is an autobiography-that of a Christian man long in the army. He tells his own story with great simplicity-and it is replete with incidents varied in the details. The work has passed through several editions, and we do not wonder at its success. It is a narrative finely suited for fireside reading— and in country places would be quite a treasure. Such a book might be sent with great advantage to the soldiers serving abroad-and might be greatly prized by the sick and wounded of the army in the East. The easy, simple style of the writer-so full of a soldier's experience-so redolent too of ardent piety, might attract to divine themes, those who must in cases be taken craftily, and as it were with guile. We would throw out the hint to benevolent persons who attend to the spiritual wants of the brave men who abroad and amidst dangers and toils are fighting their country's battles.

Philip O'Flaherty is, as his name denotes, an Irish "boy," a genuine Milesian. It is interesting to know that this young soldier was originally a poor Popish boy, who, clothed in rags, had obtained admission into a Protestant school. His career under instruction was wonderful-he acquired knowledge so quickly, and was able to communicate what he knew so skilfully. He became a Protestant, but his change, while it provoked the resentment of Romish relatives, excited the suspicions of Protestants, who, although bound to be cautious, must not be over suspicions of imposture in instances like the present. His thirst for learning too, was attributed to incipient insanity-the best account many people can give of aspirations and actions which they cannot understand or appreciate. He became a teacher in Ireland-but persecution forced him to England, where he obtained a situation; here his father and brother followed him, and so worried the poor

fellow with their tongues-realizing, we daresay, the eloquence of the Cowgate here, or Paddy's market in the west,-that in desperation he enlisted. It is rather to be regretted that such a step should have been taken under the influence of the moment, but it is pleasing to understand that the conduct of the young and forlorn recruit was very excellent. Afterwards, it would seem as if the brother became a Protestant, at least was in the way of the change, and even the old father has relented, arguing, with not the best logic, that the persistance of Philip in his new views was from God. Arrived in the East, the young Irishman was made a corporal, and not only so, but he learnt the Turkish language so rapidly, that he is now one of the interpreters to the army-on good pay, and in the way we should think of further promotion. There is no saying what O'Flaherty may yet attain to if he escapes the rifle or sabre of the Muscovites. He possesses an amount of modest assurance, we infer, like the more thriving of his lineage. He is a good lad, this Philip O'Flaherty we believe, but may be rather in danger of contracting a spice of forwardness, which the experience of life, and converse with great minds may prevent. He was last heard of before Sebastopol. Poor man, he writes home: "It is expected that this strong garrison will fall in twenty-four hours." How vain the hope we all know! Granite fortresses well defended don't yield so readily, and we could wish to find such defensible works in larger number in this country. We may state that this is an interesting tract, the matter being mainly extracts of letters written by O'Flaherty, and we allow to the Editor that his history is "calculated to have a beneficial influence upon youth, by illustrating the advantages of education, and proving how difficulties of position almost unsurmountable, could be overcome by persevering energy and application." Many of our youths really require to be stimulated by such examples of "knowledge under difficulties,"-and encouraged also by the piety of devout persons of their own standing.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

gregation were suitably addressed. At the close of divine service Mr Ingram received a cordial welcome at the principal door of the church.

Presentation. - The Rev. Thomas Leishman, M.A., minister of Collace, and son of Dr Leishman of Govan, has been presented to the Parish of Linton, in the county of Roxburgh, by R. K. Elliot, Esq. of Clifton.

Presentation.-Lord Fife has complied with the wishes of the parishioners of Crimond, and appointed the Rev. Mr Irvine, at present minister of Peterhead, to that church, vacant by the death of the late Mr Boyd.

Appointment. The Rev. Dr Rogers has been appointed, by the Right Hon. the Secretary-at-War, chaplain to the garrison of Stirling Castle, vacant by the death of the Rev. Robert Watson.

University Degree.-The Senatus of the University of Glasgow have unanimously conferred the Degree of Doctor

MACPHAIL'S

EDINBURGH ECCLESIASTICAL JOURNAL.

No. CXI.

APRIL 1855.

AN ESSAY ON INDIAN LITERATURE,

WITH REMARKS ON THE ENCOURAGEMENTS TO THE STUDY OF INDIAN LITERATURE AND LANGUAGES, BY THE NEW RULES OF THE COUrt of direcTORS, FOR CIVIL APPOINTMENTS.

GREAT political and religious revolutions, illustrious feats of arms, the subjugation of foreign states, or the successful repulsion of invaders, have laid the foundation for literature in all ages and countries. It is such events as these, that have roused to activity the genius which otherwise would have slumbered on amid the dull uniformities of life, and furnished subjects for poetry and history. Poets and historians have often been accused of exciting in the minds of youth a thirst for military glory; but was it not the martial deeds of Greeks in Asia that fanned into a flame the poetic fire, smouldering in the breast of Homer, and the heroic defence of their native land by Miltiades, Themistocles, Leonidas, and hosts of brave compatriots against Persian invaders, that inspired the fathers of history with the noble enthusiasm to raise a monument, more lasting than bronze and marble statues, to the heroes who turned the tide of war, drove back the barbarian foe, and established the superiority of Europe over Asia. The most famous works of Indian, as well as of Grecian literature, had their origin in the celebration of warlike exploits. Of the two great Indian Epics, one celebrates the prowess of five brothers of the Lunar race of kings, who recovered their paternal realm, usurped by their own cousins; and the other panegyrizes the illustrious Ráma, born in the family of the Solar race, and relates his exploits in Southern India and Ceylon. The capital of the former of these royal families was near the modern Delhi, and that of the latter in the vicinity of Oude. In truth all the most popular epics and dramas that have ever existed, have had some foundation in real transactions,

VOL XIX.

I

but in the transactions of a bygone age. It is not till the sun has set and the shades of evening have begun to gather around us, that we see the western sky irradiated by those brilliant colours which at once form a subject for the artist's pencil, and afford pleasure to the eye. Nor are the deeds of heroes fit subjects for the poet, till the lapse of time has softened them with its mellow hues, and the veneration of an admiring posterity prepared men to accept without questioning its reality, the brilliant colouring of the bard. But we are anticipating, and rushing into the midst of our subject, which is according to rule in an epic poem, but not exactly the plan to secure perspicuity in a dissertation. The earliest writings known in India are of a liturgical character,-sacred bymns composed to be chaunted during the performance of sacrifices, and the offering of oblations to the elements of nature, fire, air, earth, and water, to the sun, the firmament, the moon, and other celestial bodies. The collection of these hymns forms the oldest portion of what is called the Vedas, and goes back to a period probably about twelve centuries before the Christian era. The only European composition that this work resembles is what is called the Orphic hymns, a compilation, however, belonging to a much later age. It is rather remarkable that many of the Psalms, those especially composed by David, and which were used in the monotheistic worship of the Jewish temple,-should be nearly of the same age as these first specimens of hymns intended to be sung during the performance of the polytheistic rites of the ancient Brahmins. To the European scholar the interest of this ancient Vedic system, is chiefly owing to the similarity that exists between it and the theogony of Greece and Rome. This connection was first brought prominently before the public by Sir William Jones in the first volume of the Asiatic Researches, and additional light has since been thrown upon it by the learned dissertations of Monsieur Bournouf, and of the German Orientalists Lassen and Rothe, and a farther connection established between it and the ancient Magian and modern Parsee religion. It is certainly an interesting fact to find the same system of religious belief, not only in fundamental principles, but in a great many minute particulars, prevailing in countries so far separated from each other; and this, along with the other great fact of an intimate connection existing between the Greek and Sanscrit languages, leads us to the conclusion, that at a period comparatively recent, just before the dawn of authentic history, the two people formed but one nation in Central Asia, part of which went westward to Greece and Italy, and part crossed the Himalayas to settle in the plains of Hindostan. The ancient hymns of the Veda are now partly translated by Dr Wilson, Professor of Sanscrit in the University of Oxford, and are thus accessible to the English reader. The following specimen will convey some idea of their subject and style :

"1. I invoke Agni (Fire) for protection: I invoke for protection Mitra and Varuna (the sun at various seasons): I invoke Night who brings rest to the world: I invoke the divine Savitri for my preservation.

"2. Revolving through the darkened firmament, arousing mortals and