NOTE F, p. 90.
LETTERS ON BUDDHISM.
A Conference on Buddhism was held in June, 1882, at Sion College, to discuss the real or apparent coincidences between the religions of Buddha and Christ. Being unable to assist in person, I addressed the following letters to the Secretary, which were read at the meeting and published afterwards. I.
'I regret that it is quite out of my power to be present at the discussion on Thursday. May I venture, however, to say that a discussion on Buddhism in general seems to me almost an impossibility. The name of Buddhism is applied to reli- gious opinions not only of the most varying, but of a decidedly opposite character held by people on the highest and the lowest stages of civilisation, divided into endless sects, nay, founded on two distinct codes of canonical writings. I hardly know any proposition that could be made with regard to Buddhism in general. Divide et impera I is the only way that can lead to a mutual understanding on the fundamental principles of Buddha's doctrine, and considering the special qualifications of those who will address your meeting, I should think that an account of what Buddhism is at the present moment in Ceylon, both with the learned and unlearned classes, would be far more interesting and useful than a general discussion on Buddhism. I shall mention the subject to two Buddhist priests who have been reading Sanskrit with
