this old trick in controversy, viz. affixing suspicion on the adverse party, Mr. Fuller hopes to aid his argument: but, in our judg ment, it is unfair to convey such an insinuation, especially when some of the opponents of the missionaries avow themselves to be Christian believers. With respect to the cause which Mr. F. advocates, it is a fair matter of inquiry whether it be politic, under the predicament in which our dominion in the East stands, to allow societies formed at home to send out individuals for the purpose of converting the Hindoos. Their motive may be good but will not more injury than benefit result at present from their interference? Is it not better to wait for the operation of civil causes, on the prejudices and habits of Hindoos? Is the fullness of time for their conver, sion come? We think that the negative to the last of these questions may be maintained by those who are not Deists; for they who attend to the operations of Providence, or are acquainted with the history of Christianity, must be convinced that the progress of truth is slow, and that it has often been retarded by injudicious attempts to hasten it. If a notion, however unfounded, has spred among the native inhabitants of India, amounting to fifty millions, that the British Government is meditating an attempt on their religion, may it not be prudent, for the present, to recall the missionaries, and to suppress the circulation of translations of our sacred Scriptures? Such a measure is not to be considered as an abandonment of Christianity. We do not renounce our faith, when we abstain from proclaiming it to those whom we perceive to be altogether unprepared for receiving it. Mr. Fuller charges Major Scott Waring with a quantity of misrepresentation, and is particularly solicitous to correct his account of "the great number of sectarian missionaries," by stating the plain fact that they amount to 15 or 16, the greater part of whom reside at Serampore, near Calcutta. On the testimony of a gentleman who came from India in 18c6, he asserts that the success of the missionaries has been greater than the Major reports, and that several respectable Hindoos have embraced Christianity: but, if the Hindoos be remarkable for their falsehood and profound hypocrisy, even their conversion is suspicious.-As the official servant of the Baptist Missionary Society, Mr. F. replies to Major S. W.'s reflections on Sec taries. On A postscript having been subjoined to the third edition of Mr. Owen's Address*, &c. which contains some strictures on the Major's Preface to his Observations, the latter now replies in a Letter to the Rev. Gentleman; in which, notwithstanding the obloquy and opposition that he has encountered, he keeps steady to his text. a review of the important subject which has obtained so ample a discussion, he perseveres in his condemnation of missionary interference; and, considering the nature of the government of India, the character of the people, their invincible attachment to their religion, and the immense disproportion between thirty thousand British subjects (which is the extent of our population, including the whole army,) and fifty millions of native subjects,' it is his opinion See Rev. Vol. lv. N. S. p. 106. that that no sort of interference with them on the subject of religion can be attempted without immediate danger, and ultimately affecting our destruction in India' Reference is again made to the Madras Proclamation, and to the reports of the Missionaries, as the grounds and documents on which he has formed his judgment. He admits that the alarm itself was unfounded: but, the people of India having been alarmed, he insists that a regard for the safety of our oriental empire demands the measure which he has recommended. Some instances of the effects of alarms in our own country, on the score of religion being in danger, are quoted in support of the reasonableness of his appre hensions; and he spiritedly repels the charge of an indifference to Christianity, which the avowal of his opinion has brought on him. Having proceeded on the principle of the Salus Reipublice, he certainly has reason for complaining of the harsh epithets which have been affixed to his name. On the whole, Messrs. Twining and Scott Waring have provoked a very minute discussion of a question of great importance to our empire in the East; and as the success of the Missionaries is proved to have been very inconsiderable, and the attachment of the Hindoos to their religious prejudices to be very inveterate, the step which these gentlemen advise appears in a worldly view to be politic: but the advocates for Missions will not allow it, and are prepared to extend the controversy. Art. 21. An Essay to shew that no Intention has existed, or does exist of doing Violence to the religious Prejudices of India. 8vo. 15. 6d. Hatchard, 1808. Dr. Buchanan's remark, "that we should use every means of coercing the contemptuous spirit of our native subjects" in India, seems to intimate a wish that some strong measures should be taken towards the conversion of the Hindoos and Mohammedans : but we are persuaded that less was meant than met the eye, though more than was consistent with sound policy, considering the very small proportion of Europeans to Asiatics. We grant that Dr. B. only intended legal means: ut, as the government is in our hands, it is in our power to legalize means which might have alarmed the religious prejudices and stimu lated the religious fury of India. A misconception of our motives having already caused an agitation of the public mind in India, the British and Foreign Bible-Society will pause, (we are here told,) before they proceed farther, and wait a fitter season for their labours.' This is a prudent resolution. Art. 22. A Letter to the President of the Board of Controul, on the Propagation of Christianity in India: to which are added Hints to those concerned in sending Missionaries thither. 8vo. 18. Hatchard. While this writer applauds Mr. Twining's Letter, he does not adopt the whole of that gentleman's opinion, but advises a middle course. He would not appear so indifferent to the cause of Christi anity in India, as to exclude all means of conversion; but he recommends great discretion in the mode and circumstances of its communication. No danger, he apprehends, would arise from the dissemination of of the knowlege of the Gospel, if the natives of the East were assured that they were perfectly at liberty to receive or reject it. Art. 23. MILITARY AFFAIRS. The Review-Exercise and Evolutions of a Squadron (as published by Authority), methodically arranged and illustrated by a Series of Engravings, descriptive of the Relative Situations of the Commissioned, Staff, and non-commissioned Officers, &c. &c. on Parade and in Manoeuvre. By an Adjutant of Yeomanry. Crown 8vo. Boards. Printed at Glocester, and sold in London by Longman and Co. The author of this small performance, which consists of 40 pages, and twenty plates illustrative of the review exercise, evolutions, skirmishing, &c. appears with modesty before the public. Far from arrogating to himself any particular merit, he informs us that his intention in publishing it was to explain some points probably considered by military men as of minor importance, that are only alightly or ambiguously noticed in the prescribed regulations, and others that are wholly omitted in them. It appears to him, however, not unfair to conclude that, as far as his tract supplies such deficiensies, it may be regarded as an additional improvement in the sys tem, and may be useful to commanding and other officers of Yeo. manry and Volunteer cavalry; whose engagements too frequently preclude the study of military tactics in theory. The work itself, exclusively of the plates and the table explanatory of the marks and figures, consists in the formation of the squadron, the tellings off, the posting of officers and non-commissioned officers, the fetching and lodging of the standard, the inspection or review of the squadron, the sword exercise, the evolutions, and the words of command; and it must be allowed that the directions and observations, together with the engravings, are well calculated for conveying clear and distinct ideas on these several points. Art. 24. Progressive Military Instructions for forming Men and Horses in the Rudiments of Cavalry Service. By Captain Skeene, Riding Master, Cavalry Depot. 8vo. 38. 6d. Boards. Egerton. The precepts and lessons here delivered have no connection with high manège, but are of a preparatory nature, and are solely intended to perfect men and horses in those acquirements which they ought to make previously to their joining the squadron. They are the result of many years of observation and experience, and are offered by one who has had peculiar opportunity of a certaining the most ef fectual mode of forming both men and horses for cavalry service, Captain S.'s methods are simple and expeditious, and his lessons are easy and progressive. The volume consists of two parts; the first of which relates to the instruction of the recruit, and the second to the formation of the horse. In the first are ten lessons, besides directions relative to the position of the recruit before mounting, then to mounting, to leaping, to the drawing and returning of swords, and to the modes of using the carbine and pistol The second contains nine lessons, in which, among other instructions, REV. JULY, 1808. directions Y directions are given never to treat the horse with severity.-Captain Skeene modestly recommends his methods to those who are employed in the riding department. Art. 25. Suggestions for raising from 10 to 20,000 Men annually for the Line for training 250,000 Men, in a general way: forming a Reserve of 225, 250 Men, appointed, regimented, and capable of being assembled at the King's Pleasure: for increasing the Home Establishment 24,750 Men: and raising the Supplies for the total Expenditure. By Samuel Bridge, Paymaster of the 95th Rifle Regiment. 8vo 2s. 6d. Kerby and Bowdery. 18c8. We are here presented with one of those schemes with which the press is almost daily teeming, for rendering England a military country; and if the author's positions respecting the uecessity of an immense army' for the purposes of national defence be once admitted, his plan is perhaps the best that has made its appearance, as being least burdensome to the subject, and calculated both for forming on the spur of an occasion a large, useful, and efficient force for defensive operations, and for rendering a huge and enormously expensive standing army unnecessary particularly in time of peace. We must remark, however, that Mr. Bridge, like all our other projectors of military organization, does not go one inch beyond the mere alphabet of the profession; and that he does not devote so much as even one solitary sentence to the true principles of national defence, or to the proper application of the force which we already possess according to those rinciples. As the means of defence are the sole object of this scheme, and as the force supposed to be raised by it is to be drawn from the whole of the male population of the country, it stands on a much broader basis than the others which have been proposed; and it would operate less oppressively on the people in general, while it would answer the purposes either of war or peace as far as defensive measures might be concerned. The Reserve Bill obliged men to serve not only in this but in the adjoining islands: the Defence Act incor-porated them not exclusively for home service, but as a mixture also for offensive operations; and the Training Bill is not only more severe as to the extent of fines, but is also much less efficient by admitting these payments generally as exemptions in favour of those who could afford them Mr. B. takes the whole of the male popula tion at 7,000,000, and supposes one fourth or 1,750,000 to be capable of bearing arms, between the ages of 16 and 45 years; or in a situation from their property to commute that service by payment of a fine, if even above the age specified. From this number, he deducts 350,000 for men employed in the public service, leaving a remainder of 1,400,000 subject to the operation of his plan. The 400,000 he allows for deficiencies arising from various causes, and speculates on 1,000,000 only. By admitting one half, or 500,000, to pay a fine of 51. each, producing the sum of 2,500,000l. he compares his amount with the following statement of the necessary expenditure m the first year on 225 regiments of 1000 men each, or en a defensive force of 225,000. • EXPENDITURE. EXPENDITURE. Each man 40 days; married men zs. single men 18. average Is. 6d. per day; 31. Cloathing, il. 58. Accoutrements, 158. Each man, 51. £1,126.250 22 adjutants, at Icol. per an. pay 22,500 Allowance for arms, &c. to each, sol. per an. 11,250 225 subalterns, 50l. per an, in addition to half pay 11,250 50l. to each for paying regiment, provided they give the requisite securities 11,250 11,250 serjeants, at 351. per ann. each 393,750 11,250 corporals, at 251, ditto 281,250 2,250 drummers, at 20l. ditto 4,500 Cloathing for 11,250 serjeants, at 21. 10s. each 28.125 Ditto for 13,500 corporals and drummers, 21. 27,000 250,000 great coats and knapsacks, at 16s. 6d. for each 206,250 2,250 225,000 150,000 £2,500,625 man 225 stores for arms at 1ol. each Bounty for 22,500 serjeants and corporals, or substitutes Total Expenditure first year He thus finds the expenditure for the first year exceed the amount of the fines by 6251.: but he makes it appear that, by savings on the cloathing and accoutrements for the privates, on the great coats and knapsacks, and on the bounties to non-commissioned officers, after having deducted the bounties for 2000 men to fill up vacancies, the amount of the fines will after the first year exceed the expenditure by 861,751; which surplus he proposes to convert into a fund for various modes of relief, or exemptions to the poor and the families of men actually serving. The best part of his plan seems to be the keeping of 11,250 serjeants, or 50 for each regiment, with an equal number of corporals, in constant pay and discipline, as the most effectual way of rendering the whole speedily fit for service when embodied. He supposes the whole to be divided into two classes, and would permit a certain number to volunteer for the line on a bounty of 1,1. each man. For his proposed regulations, we must refer to the pamphlet itself: but we cannot conclude without observing that Mr. Bridge appears to us, in assuming that this country in its present situation requires a numerous and immense army' for its defence, to proceed on a principle radically and fundamentally erroneous. We agree entirely in opinion with General Lloyd, that, while our fleets can venture out, a serious invasion of this island for the purpose of conquest cannot take place; and that, while we maintain any thing like a naval superiority, 50,000 marines would be of more efficient use both for defensive and offensive measures, than a standing army of ten times that number. The constitution has already been materially affected by military plans and arrangements; and should they continue to be indulged, they will soon occasion its total overthrow. |