('eylOii.
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The situation of Ceylon, whether we
regard it in its geographical, political, OF
religious aspect, must render it place OF
immense importance in the ages to come
and it is not impossible that Ceylon may
be destined to exercise upon Asia the same
influence that Great Britain has exercised
upon the Continent of Europe. 1t is
bound to the myriads of India by position,
and TO the still mightier myriads of China,
Siam, Burma, by religion, the emancipa-
ton of Ceylon from the trammels of a
fell superstition, will be an example to
those who groan under the spell of the
more ancient Brahim; its shores may
afford refuge to their prosecuted church.
es; and the fall of Buddhism in this island
will probably be its fall throughout the
world. - Separated from all other coun-
tries by its insular position, it is safe,
even at this early period, to grant to the
natives degree of political liberty that
might be highly imprudent, under present
circumstances, if extended to the varied
population of our Indian possessions.
The Island of Ceylon has always been
regarded with peculiar interest by the
different nations with which it has been
connected: old Sinbad speaks for the
legends of the Arabian navigators; La
wana, the giant king, for the romances of
the Brahmins and the thousands of pill
grims who annually visit ihe temple of
Calany, and other consecrated srots, are
equal evidence of the prominent place it
maintains in the bana of the atheist budha.
Its species, gems, and pearls, have been
celebrated from the mos. distant ages |;
and its groves of balm that encircle its
shores as band of beauty in the mon
arch's diadom; the rich valleys of its
maritime provinces: and the magnificent
scenery that is presented among the cloud
capped heights of its majestic mountains,
will reno. n it an object Of deep veneration
to the favored traveller, when the discov-
cries of science have carried rapidi,y of
communication to its utmost limit and
converted the inhabitant of our antipodes
into our neighbor. The present import
ance of Ceylon, as colony Of the British
crown, deserves our especial notice. We
are daxzled by the more splendid acquire
ments Of the East India Company and
il is, therefore, necessary that we should
resort TO calculation, and thus illustrate
our subject by the details of sober fact.
The entire population Of the whole Of the


British colonies was recently estimated


AZ 3,0e3,D that Of Ceylon canno, now