A Visit to Europe. By T. N. Mukharji. (W. Newman,
Calcutta.) —Mr. Mukharji is a very favourable specimen of the educated Hindoo. He observes intelligently, and speaks his mind candidly. We do not agree with all his views. It is very easy to say that "England is sufficiently strong to do justice to Ireland in the first place, and to punish her for her perfidy if the worst comes to the worst." A reconquest of Ireland, except after some such event as a massacre of the Protestants, would be impossible. It is much more to the point when he says : "The creation of a little disaffected independent State in such close proximity to England would simply mean the annihilation of the British Empire." And disaffected it would be, if we are to believe the Parnellites when they were speaking from their hearts. Mr. Mukharji is under no delusions about his own country, except it be a belief in the "mildness and gentleness" of the Hindoo character. He sees the necessity of British rule, though he has aspirations, for which, indeed, no one can blame him, for Home-rule. To our national character he does full justice. We are more just and merciful than any other "rationalistic country" upon earth. "To sacrifice sentiment to duty is English character, to sacrifice duty to sentiment is Indian character." "The Bengali is the infant Frenchman of India." "He thinks gravity, but acts frivolity." But we cannot go through the author's opinions on men and things. It must suffice to say that they are worth study.
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