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Memoir on the expediency of an Ecclesiastical Establish-
ment for British India,

AND

HIS STAR IN THE EAST,

WITH

TWO NEW SERMONS.

To which is added,

DR. KERK'S CURIOUS AND INTERESTING REPORT,
Concerning the state of the Christians in Cochin and

Travancore.

Made at the request of the Governor of Madras.

BALTIMORE:

PUBLISHED BY NEAL AND WILLS,

No. 129, Market Street.

Benjamin Edes, printer.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

33263

ASTOR, LENOX AND WILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1903

INTRODUCTION.

IN his late Discourses before the University of Cambridge, the Author noticed incidentally some general circumstances of the darkness of Paganism, and of the means which are now employed to diffuse the light of Christianity in the East. This awakened a desire in some members of that learned body to know the particulars; for if there were a just expectation of success, and if the design were conducted in consonance with the principles and order of the Church of England, it might be a proper subject for their countenance and co-operation. A more detailed account, therefore, will probably be read with interest. Many, doubtless, will rejoice to see the stream of Divine knowledge, and civilization flowing to the utmost ends of the earth. And even those who have hitherto heard of the progress of Christianity with little concern, may be induced to regard it with a humane solicitude.

In the college of Fort-William, in Bengal, there was a department for translating the Scriptures into the Oriental languages; and, so early as 1805, (the fifth year of its institution) a commencement had been made in five languages. The first version of any of the Gospels in the Persian and Hindostanee languages which were printed in India, issued from the Press of the college of Fort-William. The Persian was superintended by Lieut. Colonel Colebrooke, and the Hindostanee by William Hunter, Esq. The Gospels were translated into the Western Malay by Thomas Jarrett, Esq. of the Civil Service; into the Orissa language by Pooroosh Ram, the Orissa Pundit; and, into the Mahratta language by

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