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presence . I recollect that a poet , who lias well beeu called divine , has drawn a beautiful picture of the feelings of tho . se who first visited the southern hemisphere , and there saw , for the first time , that beautiful constellation , the Golden Cross . It was with feelings such as they underwent that I was overwhelmed when I stretched out in your name the baud of welcome to the Rajah Ranimohuu Boy . In my mind the effect of distance is very
like the effect of time j and he who comes among us from a country thousands of miles off , must be looked upon with the same interest as those illustrious men who lived thousands of years ago . But in the case of < nir friend , bis coming may be deemed an act of heroism of which the European cannot form a just estimate . When Peter the Great went forth to instruct himself in the civilization of the South , —when he left the barbarous honours of his own court
to perfect himself m ship-bui ] dingatSaardam , he presented himself to the public eye in a more illustrious manner than after any of his most glorious victories . Hut Peter had to overcome no prejudices —he had to break down no embarrassments ; for he knew that he had left those who were behind him with an enthusiasm equal to his own , and he knew
that he would be received by them , when ) ie should return , with the same display of enthusiasm . Qur illustrious friend , however , has made a more severe experiment : he has ventured to accomplish , that which perhaps none other connected , as he is , with the highest honours of the Brahmiuical race ever attempted : he has ventured to do that which would
have been regarded with incredulity ten years ago , and which hereafter will crown his name with the highest honour . He will go back to his friends in the East and tell them how interested we are in them , and how delighted we are to communicate to them through
him all our desires to do every thing iu our power to advance their improvement mid felicUy . Time would fail me if i were to attempt to go over the history of our illustrious guest , —if I were to tell how eminently and constantly he has exerted himself for the removal of
misery and the promotion of happiness . If at this moment Hindoo piles are not burning for the reception of widows , it ia owing to his interference , to his exhortations , to his arguments . Can we look on such benefits as these without considering him as our brother ? Can lie come here without hearing our enthusiastic voices telling him how we have inurked his pi ogress , and without our
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proffering to him , if -not our note of triumph , at least our accents of gratitude ? It was to us a delightful dream that we might , on some occasion , welcome him here ; but though it was a hope , it was but a trembling one , of which we scarcely dare 4 to anticipate the
fruition . But its accomplishment has produced recollections so interesting , that this day will be an epoch in our history , and no one will forget the occasion when the Brahmin stood among us to receive our welcome , and the assurance of the interest we take in all he
does and in all he shall do ; to which I may add , that our delight will be too great if we can in any way advance those great plaus , the progress of which is the grand object of his exertions . Sir , I move with great pleasure , " That the Members of this Association feel a deep interest in the amelioration of the
condition of the natives of British India ; that we trust their welfare and improvement will never be lost sight of by the Legislature and Government of our country ; that we have especial pleasure iu the hope that juster notions aud purer forms of religion are gradually advancing amongst them j aud that our illustrious Visitor from that distant
region , the Uajah Ram mob un Roy , be hereby certified of our sympathy iu his arduous and philanthropic labours , of our admiration of his character , of our delight at his presence amongst us , aud of our conviction that the magnanimous and beneficent course which he has
marked out for himself and hitherto consistently pursued , will entitle him to the blessings of his countrymen and of mauk ' md , as it will assuredly receive those of future generations . " Dr . Kiukland ( late President of Harvard University ) . —In the absence of the
Hon . Henry Wheaton , who was to have seconded this motion , but is prevented by indisposition , 1 have great pleasure iu seconding the motion . It is well known that the Rajah is an object of lively interest in America ; and he is expected there with the greatest anxiety .
The Rev . Chairman . —In proposing this resolution I beg to suggest that the assembly should rise iu unanimous approbation of its object . The meeting accordingly rose , and carried the resolution by acclamation . Ram m oh un Roy . — I am too unwell and too much exhausted to take any active part in this meeting ; but I am much iu deb ted to Dr . Kirklaud and to Dr . Bo wring for the honour they have conferred ou me by calling me their fellowlabourer , aud to you for admitting me to
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Intelligence *—Unitarian Association . 419
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1831, page 419, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2598/page/59/
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