It has sometimes been said, that religion is merely a political device, invented by statesmen, for the pur pose of enforcing obedience to the laws. Without stopping to controvert an opinion which has been so often refuted, we merely observe, that the Braminical religion has evidently not had its foundation in the policy of princes : it is in all its parts a complete system of priestcraft : it claims for its ministers a dignity and respect far superior to that of kings ; and the highest monarchs have been content to bow before them, and to acknowledge their pretensions. This circumstance sufficiently indicates the high an tiquity of the order. It was only in the earliest times that the priestly office had such influence in society, as to be able to mould the government and manners of a state. In the remotest antiquity, we arc informed, the same person was priest and king. The Braminical system is evidently an improvement on this plan ; for by it, the framers have contrived to reserve to themselves the highest place in respect and dignity, whilst they have devolved the cares and business of government on an inferior order, which must act in all respects according to their directions. The great extent of Hindostan, and its remoteness from the scene of European politics and conquest, preserved this system unimpaired for perhaps several thousands of years. India remained almost entirely undisturbed by the inroads of conquerors, till the period of the Mahometan invasion. Alexander the
Great scarcely made the slightest impression upon it, and we make no account of the fabulous exploits of Bacchus. But dreadful was the shock which it received from the Mussulman invaders : they swayed the sceptre, which. in their hands, was a rod of iron, over the greatest part of Hindostan. and they left no art unemployed, which bigotry, policy, or cruelty could devise, to establish Islamism on the ruins of the Braminical religion. By these means the Brami nical institutions were considerably affected, and their influence has been still farther impaired by the inter course with European settlers they still exhibit how ever, a gigantic system of superstition, whose over throw is rather an object of distant hope, than of san guine expectation.
See Maurice's Ancient Hist. of Hindostan and „Indian Antiquities passim ; Asiatic Researches passim, particularly the papers by Sir William Jones, Mr Colebrooke, and captain Wilford ; Universal His tory, vol. vi.; Phil. Trans. No. 268, p. 729 ; Bartolo meo's Voyage to India; Bernier's Travels; Lord's Re ligion of the Bramins; Ayeen Akberry; Institutes of Menu, translated by Sir \V. Jones. Dow's Hindostan, Preliminary Dissertation ; Foster's Travels; Kenders ley's Hindoo Literature; Sketches of the Hindoos, ano nymous, but giving a very clear and satisfactory state ment; Edin. Phil. Trans. vol. ii. p. 135 ; and Edin burgh Review, vol. x. p. 455, and vol. xii. p. 41. (g)