To gentleman then remember, that if his objection is not a fallacious one, it must equally apply to the principles of all voluntary associations. profess our attachment to the Son of God, as opportunity offereth, and, to do good unto all men, are alike duties; and no such objection, as the writer has urged, can warrant any man to live in the neglect of them. It is easy enough to put words in the mouth of an imagined adversary, but where are the persons who would use such words, or the absurd objection they are intended to convey? It may have its weight, perhaps, with those who possess more prejudice than penetration; but in the view of every unprejudiced mind, there is not even plausibility, much less argument, in such statements as these. 3rd Objection.-Under this paragraph, the writer questions, whether Temperance Societies will in the end diminish drunkenness; but we have no thing to do with this inquiry. The question is, Have they hitherto succeeded in rescuing our fellow men from that deadliest curse, Intemperance? They have, and beyond the most sanguine expectation. Let the gentleman read the following extract: "There are in America about 3000 Temperance Societies, eighteen of which are State Societies. More than one thousand distilleries have been stopped by their means. At least 3000 merchants have discontinued the sale of spirituous liquors, in consequence of the diminished demand. There are upwards of 300,000 members enrolled in the Temperance Society. No less than 100 Taverns have given up selling ardent spirits by retail, and it is calculated, about 3000 drunkards have been reclaimed by the instrumentality of these institutions. In one town, populated by 2000 persons, not one new drunkard has been made in four years. In a town where the quantity of ardent spirits drank had been reduced nine-tenths, in consequence of the inhabitants generally having enrolled themselves as members of Temperance Societies, the deaths announced in the bill of mortality have been decreased one-fourth." We need not multiply statements of what has taken place in Scotland and Ireland, and in almost all the cities and large towns in England. If the writer, after reading the above extract, can believe that the institution will prove vain and chimerical, we envy not his gloomy forebodings. At the same time, we hope that we are not less alive than the gentleman himself, to the utter inefficiency of mere resolution, without the aid of divine grace but judging from the past, we believe that Temperance Societies have met with Divine approbation. By their instrumentality, men have not been merely partially reformed in the exterior habits of life, but it has been followed by rich displays of divine grace. Instead of indulging in the croakings of despondency, therefore, we are led to draw an argument from past success, that at some future period, "the plague will be stayed ;" and then it will be seen, that the exhibition of this evil in its nature, its aggravation, and its consequences, has, under divine influence, not merely snatched immortal souls from impending ruin, but indirectly led to the reception of the pure joys, and the glorious hopes of the Gospel of the ever-blessed God. We would call on the friends of Christianity, therefore, to come forward, and give their help to this noble cause. We would have them to remember, that the temporal and eternal happiness of a mass of our fellow creatures is deeply concerned; that seeing, as opportunity offereth, it becomes them to do good unto all men, let them give the influence of their example against an alarming evil. Who can tell, but their combined influence may save millions from spiritual and eternal death? Who can tell but, with united and fervent supplication, God may hearken, and such may be the blessing, that the voice of thanksgiving and praise shall be heard through the land? Digah, 9th May. G. F. F. A. SIR, V.-Native Compliments, &c. in Artificial Forms. To the Editor of the Calcutta Christian Observer. I beg to offer, for the OBSERVER, the accompanying specimen, supplied me by a Missionary friend, of a species of complimentary composition, practised by Pandits, called for fata. It is written in Sanskrit, and consists of a series of laudatory epithets, arranged from the top of the triangle in horizontal lines, each connected with a central perpendicular one, which continues downwards from the base of the triangle, in the form of an invocation or wish for the health, happiness, and salvation of the extolled individual. This wish, being the stem of the tree, is read after each of the horizontal lines, commencing with the top, first on the left, and so to the bottom; then proceeding up again to the topmost line on the right, and so downwards. Both sides are read from the outer letter to the centre, in which way the lines on the right come to be formed backwards, as we should say. The terms imply the composition of poetical sentences in artificial or pictorial forms, from fa a picture, t poesy, and to compose. I have thought it might prove interesting to some of your readers, both as exhibiting a fanciful mode of native compliment, and as shewing the character and practices to which the Pandits attach the notion of praise-worthiness. A curious mixture of sensual and mental habits will present itself; on the whole, however, it will appear, that the natural mind is not without much just apprehension of moral right and wrong. Were the natural heart less prone to evil indulgences, the understanding would be found still less obscured than it even now is. May the day speedily arrive when the glorious Gospel, that brings both light and purity, virtue and happiness, to man, shall effectually visit the yet blind, superstitious, and demoralized Hindus. I have ventured to subjoin a metrical version, as well as a literal prose translation, should you feel inclined to insert them. P. S. Two similar curiosities having also been supplied by a literary friend, I have, agreeably to his request, subjoined to his own literal prose translation, a metrical version, in order to convey, it may be, a tolerable notion of the original, to the general English reader. Your's, &c. HAVARENSIS. THE TREE, Literally rendered, and, as far as possible, imitated. To the Lord of the lowliest's ser- Being's all-wise omniscient the To ed just- enjoyment every of sweetness the taste To prone The Tree-Poem, addressed to a Missionary, by a Pandit of Nuddea. THE STEM. 1 THE mighty God, with holy mind, To worship evermore inclin'd, O excellent and venerable !-thine 1ST OR LEFT-HAND PORTION. 3 Devoted still to pleasing joys, Fed with sweet food that never cloys, 5 In garments fair full neatly drest, And wisdom on each thought imprest, The poor man's friend art thou, blest sage! 6 When mourns the wretch, and asking sighs- 1 On God thy inmost mind though fixing, To help another thou delightest- And firm in virtue's strength dost stand, All heedful of divine command. O excellent, &c. 2ND OR RIGHT-HAND PORTION. To Him the Last in thought up-soaring, The great Preserver fills thy mind, Each richer blessing who imparts, O excellent and venerable! thine 2 The great Redeemer's lofty praise And in His worship blest hours spending. 3 Prompt at lov'd Duty's various call, 4 Of form most fair, and handsome face, 5 Each foul delight, each sinful deed Thou hatest, and reproof dost speed; 6 Thou mercy lov'st, and right and pure, In truth's straight pathway dost endure; Sobriety of thought is thine, Within thee Wisdom's light doth shine: To soothe another bosom's woe. 7 Tranquil thyself, compos'd and still, |