T. W. Rhys Davids estimates the number at five hundred millions (_Handbook of Buddhism_, p. 6). The previous general estimate was about four hundred millions; but Dr. A. J. Happer, missionary at Canton for forty-five years, reduces this number to seventy-three millions. Sir Monier Williams, in his recent book on Buddhism, quoting Professor Legge’s introduction to _Travels of Fa-Hian_, calculates the number at one hundred millions, and claims for Christianity, with its four hundred and thirty millions of adherents, the numerical preponderance over all others. Footnote 9: T. W. Rhys Davids, _Buddhism_, pp. 4, 7; Sir Monier Williams, _Buddhism_, p. 171. Footnote 10: Dr. Caird, _Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion_, Croall Lectures, 1878-9, pp. 82 _seq._; T. W. Rhys Davids, Hibbert Lectures, 1881, _On the Origin and Growth of Religion as illustrated by Buddhism_, p. 7. Footnote 11: To draw proper inferences from statistics of the spread and supremacy of a religion, we must first investigate the circumstances in which it was propagated, and the intellectual and moral conditions of the peoples whom it has converted. If it has gained only the belief of _one_ section of the human race, it is evidently not entitled to rank with another which proves itself influential among _all_ sections. A religion dominant only over _inferior_ races is manifestly of less value than another which, while satisfying the wants of the lowest and most degraded peoples, is yet fulfilling the spiritual aspirations of the _highest_. The first, if in any way related to the second, can only be so as preparatory and prophetic of the mission which the second alone can accomplish. Footnote 12: _Sacred Books of the East_, vol. i. Introd. Footnote 13: Köppen, _Die Religion des Buddha_, s. 231; J. Barthelemy Saint-Hilaire, _Le Bouddha_, etc., pp. 78, 144, 181; Spence Hardy, _Manual of Buddhism_, p. 358. Footnote 14: Sir Monier Williams, _Buddhism_, p. xv, Introd. Footnote 15: Alabaster, _Modern Buddhist; in the Wheel of the Law_, p. 73; Trübner and Co., 1871. Footnote 16: 5th April 1885. In the Madras _Times_ for October 29, 1886, a meeting of the Society for the Propagation of True Religion is advertised, for reading and exposition of the Bhagavad-Gita. Footnote 17: _The Light of Asia_; _The Occult World_; _Esoteric Buddhism_; _Theosophy of Archaic Religions_. Footnote 18: _Parerga_, 3d ed. i. 59. Footnote 19: _Westminster Review_, New Series, vol. xlviii. p. 469. Footnote 20: Gerald Massey, _Light_, 16th June 1883. Footnote 21: Among these are reckoned Adam, Fohi, Laotze, Jesus, Mohammed, and Jenghiz Khān.—Kinnealy, _Commentary on the Apocalypse_, p. 685. Footnote 22: Pember, _Earth’s Earlier Ages_, p. 326. Footnote 23: H. H. Wilson, _Essays_, vol. ii. p. 376; Huc and Gabet, _Travel in Tartary and Thibet_; translated by Mrs. p. Sinnett and W. Hazlitt.