But, we shall have occasion, by and by, more fully to display the eastern branchings from this Scythiac root, which have evidently intrinsic. and striking family resemblances. One of the personified attributes of Veeshnoo, or the Deity, in his preserving quality, among the Hindoos, Haree, is represented as sleeping upon a great serpent. The Hindoos are taught to believe that at the end of every kalpa, or creation, all things are absorbed in the Deity; and that between the intervals of creation, he repossth himself on the serpent Sésha, or duration, who is also called Ananta, or endless. They are likewise taught to believe, that organized matter is governed by three principles, which are termed Satwa, Raja, and Tama. The first inspires truth, the second passion, and the third sin. By their laws, also, they are enjoined to esteem fire as of divine origin. At certain periods it is prescribed, that they light a fire, which must be done by the friction of two pieces of a particular species of wood, and that this fire shall be kept up as long as they live. Their sacrifices, it is ordained, shall be all burnt by this fire; the flames of their nuptial altars be raised, and finally, their funeral piles be kindled by it. Soorabbees is the name of the cow of plenty, or more more properly of the earth. But, Nature herself, from whom all things are made, is personified as a beautiful female, whom, we are told by a most learned oriental scholar,* is literally the Eve of the Hindoos. That the worship of serpents was formerly common in Hindostan, we have many proofs. In Cashmere, there were no less than seven hundred places, where carved figures of snakes were worshipped. In like manner, we are told, that in Egypt the serpent was adored as the emblem of the Divine Nature, not only on account of its supposed great vigour and strength, but of its extended age and revirescence; but more properly, perhaps, as it had an hieroglyphical connection with certain planetary orbits. Even the solar progress is depicted by the Hindoos, by a circle of intertwining serpents. The Chaldeans, Arabians, Chinese, and Persians, adopted also, in astronomny, the emblem of the serpent. And hence, says an emiment astronomer, § "the ancients, by the draco, or serpent, did not mean that fictitious and monstrous figure with wings, which we see represented in modern Wilkins. Ayeen Akberry. paintings, Warburton. & paintings, but simply a large snake, by a comparison of which with the two points in the heavens, where the moon's apparent orbit cuts the ecliptic, and are called the moon's nodes, the figure is plainly to be traced of the progressive union of their astronomical speculations, with their hieroglyphical theology. VOL. II. T LET LETTER XLV. THE task of clearing the mind from the delusions of error, independent of the courage which is required in laying aside authority in the search of truth, is difficult in itself, and not unfrequently dangerous. Mcn pertinaciously attached to certain professions, or hurried away in the pusuit of fame, or the more laudable desire of strengthening opinions which have been preestablished, are not, in general, the least irascible in their natures, nor the least confident in displaying their talents. This, indeed, ensures to them the reputation of profundity and learning; and it enables them, from the variety of their reading, and the popularity of their expressions, to throw forth that web of fascination, which never fails to entangle and to fix the admiration of the many. But yet, much reading will not lead us so soon to truth, as much observation and much employment of thought. From the one, it is certain, we in a great measure must draw our materials; but it is from the others we must acquire that habit of discrimination, and that strength strength which arises from conviction, and which is alone adequate to the bursting of the involved. and the complicated fetters of prejudice. In thus emancipating the mind from every unfair restraint, I am far from the idea of conceiving it even pardonable, that licentiousness should be tolerated and spread abroad with impunity. On the contrary, those writers of great talents, who have employed their rare abilities in the propagation of immorality, and who have with brilliancy of stile, with wit, but with wretchedly mistaken pleasantry, endeavoured to scason vicious sentiments, and to allure the unsuspecting to those precipices, where the steadiest brains have been too often rendered giddy; such writers I cannot otherwise look upon, than as disturbers of society; and as enemies, though unintentionally, perhaps, of their country and of mankind. Nor is it during their own mere existence they are, in this manner, reprehensibly injurious. They leave behind them a dire contagion, similar to those who die of a pestilential disease, which eventually scatters an infection, that is baneful to posterity. But, the fairly disposed philosopher, who has been accustomed to reason with a generous freedom, and to expatiate in the fields of science, is T 2 not |