their country, so far from endeavouring to impart to its inhabitants the benefits of their religion, too often banished it from their own minds, and exhibited to heathens and Mohammedans the sad spectacle of men without a faith. Were they then neutral and inactive in the contest? Alas, no! for their lives too often presented a practical and powerful, a constant and a living, argument against the truth of our holy faith. The great controversy was thus silently advancing in favour of the Mohammedan, whose views, arguments and faith, were receiving so convincing a corroboration from the conduct and manners of their apparently infidel conquerors.

But the nineteenth century dawned with brighter prospects; and, as it advanced, the dark incubus of idolatry, superstition and bigotry began gradually to receive the light and teaching of the Gospel. Buchanan and Martyn, Brown and Thomason, are among the harbingers of this better era, in which Britain started from her lethargy; and, as if she had been treasuring up strength during her long inaction, came forth as a giant to the encounter. Her missionaries, with the venerable Carey at their head, led the van in a strong array; many of her exiled sons began to perceive their responsibility for India's regeneration, and their number has since steadily, increased. England now pours forth her gold in the merciful and blessed work of enlightening the people; while a material portion of her people in India has assumed a new aspect, and acknowledges by its deeds that its highest object is the enlightenment of India. How, then, has the great argument between the Christian and the Moslem fared in this altered position: has it advanced as rapidly in the direction of truth as we might have anticipated: what has been effected since the tone of society has thus improved?

In endeavouring to answer this question, we propose to examine several works which have lately appeared and given rise to some important discussions, -indicating remarkable signs of the times, if they do not indeed constitute a new epoch in the controversy. To give, however, as complete a view of the state of the argument as possible, we notice first a previous treatise of great merit and interest, which was published twenty-one years ago by