paramount influence on all its affairs.  I do not say that they will be so minded, but they will have the power and the opportunity to a degree never yet presented to any Christian Government of directing the tone of thought of Mussulmans throughout the world, and of utilizing the greatest religious force in Asia for the purposes of humanity and progress.  I am myself profoundly convinced that on England’s acceptance or refusal of this mission the future of her dominion in India will mainly depend, and with it the whole solution of the problem she has set to herself of civilizing Southern Asia.

Let us see what our actual relations with Mohammedanism are, and what is the value of its goodwill to us in Asia.  And first as to India.  I find in Hunter’s Gazetteer, our latest authority, the following figures:—­

MUSSULMAN CENSUS OF INDIA.

Bengal 19,553,831
Assam 1,104,601
North-West Provinces 4,189,348
Ajmere 47,310
Oudh 1,197,724
Punjab 9,337,685
Central Provinces 233,247
Berar 154,951
Mysore 208,991
Coorg 11,304
British Burmah 99,846
Madras 1,857,857
Bombay 2,870,450
                           -----------
Total 40,867,145

These are large figures taken merely as they stand, but in point of fact they represent far more than is apparent.  To understand them at their full value it must be remembered—­First, that the Mussulman population is a largely increasing one, not only in actual numbers, but in its proportion to the other races and sects of the Peninsula, a fact which I believe the census returns of 1881, when published, will amply prove.  Secondly, that its geographical distribution coincides pretty closely with that of the political life and energy of the country.  The Punjab and the North-West Provinces alone contain an aggregate of thirteen million Mussulmans.  Thirdly, that it is homogeneous to a degree shown by no other Indian community.  Though less numerous by two-thirds than the whole Hindoo population, it is far more so than any coherent section of that population, and is thus the largest body of opinion in the Empire.  Fourthly, it is also the most generally enlightened.  It is the only section of the community which knows its own history and preserves the tradition of its lost political importance; and if it has held itself aloof hitherto from competition with other races for the public service, it has been through pride rather than inability.  What Mussulmans there are who have entered the service of Government have been men of distinguished capacity.  And lastly, it is no isolated body, but remains in close communication with the mass of its fellow-believers throughout the world.  The Mohammedan population of India is, therefore, an exceptional as well as a large one.