Day of the

Meteorological Register, kept at the Surveyor General's Office, Calcutta, for the Month of May, 1835.

Minimum Temperature

observed at Sunrise.

Maximum Pressure observed at 9h. 50m.

Observations made at Max.Temp.and Dryness Minimum Pressure Apparent Noon.

observed at 2h. 40m.

observed at 4h. 0m.

Observations made at
Sunset.

Direction.

Obsd. Ht.

of Barom.

Wind.

the Mercury.

Temp. of

Of the Air.

Of an Evap.
Surface.

Direction.

Obsd. Ht.

the Mercury.

of Barom.

Temp. of

Wind.

Of the Air.

Of an Evap.
Surface.

Direction.

Wind.

Obsd. HL. of Barom.

Temperature

of the Mercury. Of the Air.

Or an Evap.

Surface.

Wind.

Direction.

29,926 79,4 74,8 74,5 S.,986 82,7 87,382,8 s. w.,954 85, 89,5 86, s. w.
98, 89,5
,91080, 75,575,5 s. E.,954 84, 88,684,2 S.,940 86, 94,5 88, s. E. 890 88, 96, 89,5 s. E.,864 88,495,4 88,4's. E .952 85,8 89,5-3,7
.906 81,7 78,378, N. E.,942 85, 89,3 84,6 S.,908 87,7 95, 88,5 s.bw, 854 89, 97,7 90,7 s.,832 89,3 96,2 89,6 s.be..840 87, 90,334,7
,856 81, 77,577,5 S.,914 84,7 98,283,2 S. E.,900 85,7 93,286,3 s.bw 850 87,2 95, 88, sbw.,832 87,3 93,2 87,4 s. w..824 85,7 88,4 $3,
,930 80,5 76,476, CM.,980 84,286,783, ,960 85,7 91,586,7 w. 900 88,7 96, 90, N. E.,864 87,896, 85,5
854,85,791,783,6 CM.
,924 80,3 75, 74,2 N.,956 83,7 87, 81,8 S. E.,936 85,5 94,587,
870 87,7 93,7 87,6 N. E.,854 87,4 93, 87,5
946 85,5 89,535,8
,910 82,4 78,5 78, s.,046 85, 88,3 84,8 s. E.,946 85, 84,8 85,2 st. E.,902,81,2 34,775, S. E.,840 79,276,7 75, s. 850 81,5 78, 77,8E.bs.
,91080, 75,275, N. E.,966 83,3 85,7 82,8 s. E.,934 84, 91, 85,7 E. 884 83,2 85,8 83,
,870 83,4 85,282,8 .900 82,783, 91, N. E
,922 79,5 75, 75,2 N. E.,974 84, 86, 83, s. E.,936 85,2 89,784, s. E. 886 85, 86, 84, s. w.,830 85,3 87,8 83,7 s. 368 83,684,2 0,5 s. E.
,874 72, 70,4 70, VAR.,914 78, 76,876, S.,900 78,6 78, 77,5 s. E.860,79,6 79, 79, s. E.,850 79, 79, 78,7 s. E..846 79,5 78, 78,
s. 784 80,5 79,2 79,4 N. w.,754 79,9 78,7 78,2
,818 73,772,371,4 VAR.,850 79, 77,5 77,4 s. E.,838 78,8 78,577,6
E..770 79,376, 76,4
,786 77,6 74,576, N. E.,800 78,7 78,5 77, N. E.,800 79,7 79,278,7 N. E. 730 81,7 82,6 81, Nbw.,722 82, 83, 81,7 Nbw..718,81, 80, 80,2 W.
,714 77,574,774, N. E.,758 80,680,2 79, N. E.,760 82,7 83,7,81,5 N.bE. 714 84,8 85,7 83,5 Nbw.,700 84,4 84,6 82,7 .710 83,3 82,881,4 CM.
,766 78, 75,775,2 wbN.,814 82,384,382,8 w. ,808 83, 86, 83,2 wbs. '762 84, 85,5 83,7 N. w.,746 83,4 85,7 84,6 NbE. .752 82,5 $3.7 83.3s. E.
,824 79,7 77,877,5 E.,868 82,887,385, S.,852 85,5 90,4 86,7 s. w. 766 86,291,5 87,4 s. E.,750 86,2 90, 86,8 s. E..756 84,7 86.283, S. E.
,720 81,579, 78,7 E.,794 86,488, 85, S.,764 87,3 90,286,4 s. 728 87, 89, 86,4 s. ,712 86,8 88, 85,2 S. .720 84.7 84, 82,5) S.
,664 82, 80, 79,4 8. E.,722 87, 88, 84,8 s.bE.,706 88,5 90,5 86, st. s. 646 88, 93,387,6 s. E.,620 89, 92,7 87, s. E.,624 56.7 85,5 85, S. E.
,650 63,481,30,7 s. E.,702 87,389,4 86,5 s.bE.,676 88, 93, 89, s. E.630 89,695, 89,2 s.bE.,616 89,7 93, 88,7 s.be. .624 87,8 86, 85, S. E.
,694 84, 81,581, S. E.,736 86,2 89, 85,6 s.bE.,728 88,3 92,5 87,6 s.be. 724 89,2 93,7 88,4 s. E.,700 89, 93, 89,4 s. E.,824 87,3 86, 84,7 s. w.
,834 82,777, 76, N. E.,906 83,8 84,5 82, N. E.,878 85,2 89, 86,
828 86,7 91, 87,4 ,800 86,890, 87,
794 85,786,484,5
,820 83, 79, 78,4 S. ,890 83,8 87,583,6
8.,796,86,890,3 86,
s. 818 87, 91,387,2
806 $5,5 86, 84,5 S.
,816 83,580,780,2 s.bE.,876 85,4 88,5 84,7
E.816,87,7 92, 87,2 S.,792 87,991,
8.798 $5,785,583,4 S.
,872 83,280,680, S. E.,922 85,788,7 83,7
860 87,591, 86,4 S.,846 87,7 90.5
,866 83,481,280,5 s.bE.,930 86,389, 84,6
844 87,491,286,3 s.,820 87,7 90,385,6
748 90,3 92,7 87, s.,698 89,7 91,4 86,5
750 88,490,787,3] s.,736 68,791, 87,2
792 85,289,5 85,6

S.,870 85,7 91,487,
S.,864 86,7 91,2 86,3 s.
S.,906 87, 90, 86,4
s. ,916 88, 91, 87,
st. s.,816 89, 90,7 85,5

744 87, 87,26,3 s.be. .790 83. 94.682,7 s. E. N. E..740,86,6 90,5 87, N. E.,726,86,8 90, 86,5 N. E.,746 85,6 87, 85, E. 710 89,392, 87,6 E.,700 86,7 87,5 84,5 8. E. .694 84,8 2,5 81,7 N. E..694 82,481,780,2 N. E..686 83,5 83,6 81,7 N. B.692 82,7 51,831, N. E.,710 84,586,4'84, N. E.,696 84,686,484, N. E.,704 83,193,782,2 N. E.

,838 83,381,779,7 S.,854 87,388,3 84, ,752 82,8 79,879,4 s.,810 87,688,785, S.,800 87,7 91,786,6 ,806 78,5 75,275, E.bN.,864 82,482,5 60, E.,844 84,286,283, E. ,790 82, 76, 76, N. E.,840 83, 83,681,3 N. E.,806 85, 87, 84,3 ,732 80,2 78, 77,4 N. E.,786 84, 85,782,5 E.,770 86, 90, 84,7 ,716 80, 77,3 77, N.bE.,760 84, 84,782, N. E.,750 84, 84,5 83, ,700 80,578,5'78,5 760'81, 80,880, N. E.,750 81,381,580,

THE

CALCUTTA CHRISTIAN OBSERVER.

August, 1835.

I.-The Use of the Siddhántas in Native Education.

DEAR SIRS,

To the Editors of the Calcutta Christian Observer.

Being anxious to do what lies in my power to attract the attention of the friends of education to the policy of adopting the works already esteemed by the natives of this country, (in as far as they agree with our opinions,) as the foundation on which to work in this sacred cause, I do myself the pleasure to forward for insertion in your pages, should you think it desirable, a critique, from the pen of a clerical friend, on the paper published some time ago, on the Siddhántas, by Mr. Wilkinson.

'Though I greatly disapprove of the Editor's recommendation (expressed in a note) to teach the natives morality through the medium of the Shástras, I think that good would arise from the use of the Siddhántas, in teaching them astronomy, care being taken to lessen their veneration for the books, by convincing them of the errors they contain. This, I think, it would be easy to do, after establishing the belief of those fundamental truths which the Siddhántas teach. For the rest could then, upon these principles, be disproved; and it should not be forgotten, that if plane astronomy fail to do this, we have other means of convincing the most sceptical ;-the true system of the world, which before had been established by observation, having, since the age of Newton, been the subject also of physical demonstration.

It seems to me, that they would in this way greatly promote the cause of religion, though their first tendency might be to produce an opposite effect; but exposure of the errors they contain, on principles which have been admitted and proved, would certainly lessen their veneration for those books, and enhance in the same degree their opinion of European science.

And if the enlightened study of the Siddhántas would furnish sufficient data to invalidate the Siddhántas themselves, what might not be expected with regard to the Bauddha Sutras and Puráns? Could they retain their veneration for books which taught a system of Astronomy diametrically opposite, consisting of the grossest absurdities? The Siddhantas would begin the important work, and farther instruction in the science would com• The Editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society, in his No. for Oct. 1834.

plete it. Such at least would be their direct tendency, and, if just principles must ultimately prevail, such also would be the certain result. And what aid we should derive from the enthusiasm excited by such discoveries can be appreciated by those, who remember what they themselves have felt, when contemplating the phenomena of the universe with the full assur ance of mathematical demonstration,-their adoration of the Creator, and devout gratitude for having rendered man capable of knowing him in his sublimest works.

When these truths first beam upon minds enveloped in gross darkness, they must, by their very magnitude and grandeur, awaken admiration; and when this has been attained, the force of demonstration will compel assent. Startled indeed they may be, to find that with these discoveries they must resign their former creed; but will they not reflect that those nations may possess also the true faith, who possess the only true system of the world, and as there is evidence that the Astronomy of the Siddhántas was first taught in the West, and brought from thence some ages ago, that there also may be found the true system of religion? They would then be disposed to examine seriously the proofs of Christianity, and those who labour to extend its dominion would thus acquire among the heathen a more favorable position than they maintain at present in Christendom, as it is certain that most nominal Christians have never made this examination.

Astronomy is the sublimest of the sciences next to Theology, of which it may almost be called a part, and is consequently the next in importance. If it can be studied without prejudice to Christianity, it is the most calculated of the sciences to expand the mind, and to inspire it with pure devotion. The other sciences, as Geology, Natural History, Anatomy, Chemistry, all display the wonders of Creation and Providence, and add to the knowledge of the one true God, his being, and his attributes; but in these studies, the same truths, I think, do not present themselves so forcibly to the mind, and will interest less the generality of men. Let any one read the late Bridgewater Treatises, in which all these sciences are considered with reference to the being and providence of God, and then ask himself if this is not the case? To it we are oftenest directed in Scripture ; for "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge: there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

"It was a favorite idea among the ancient philosophers (says. Dr. Blair), that when God had finished this goodly frame of things we call the world, and put together the several parts of it, according to his infinite wisdom, in exact number, weight, and measure, there was still wanting a creature in the lower regions that could apprehend the order, beauty, and exquisite contrivance of it: that from contemplating the gift, might be able to raise itself to the great Giver, and do honor to his attributes:-That every thing indeed, which God had made, did in some sense glorify its Author; but this was an imperfect and defective glory, the sign being of no signification here below, whilst there was no one here as yet to take notice of it :-That man, therefore, was formed to satisfy this want, endowed with powers fit to find out, and to acknowledge these unlimited perfections. This was a favorite idea among the ancient philosophers, and it is not the worse on that account, as it thereby appears to have been a natural sentiment of the human mind. But prompted by infinite benevolence, the Supreme Creator formed the human race, that they might rise to happiness and to the enjoyment of himself through a course of virtue or proper action."