tian countries-as it ought to be if advisable here-is it not manifest that the Jews, on their conversion to Christianity, can never return as a people to the land of their fathers? Or is there to be no such return? Or if there is, are we to look for it before the Jews are generally converted to the Christian faith; so that their conversion generally is to take place after their return? Have we reason to believe that as soon as the Jews are converted to Christianity, it will be incumbent on them to lay aside all their rites, and all their national character, and be completely amalgamated with the mass of mankind? Or will there be some national distinction still kept up; and if so, in what, probably, will it consist? If the Jews are to be specially instrumental in bringing in "the fulness of the Gentiles," must they not in some way preserve their national character? Is it, or is it not, probable that they are to be a separate people till the end of time?

In proposing these queries, be assured, sir, I am not influenced by a cavilling spirit, but by one of serious and conscientious inquiry. I am en gaged with others, and that most cordially, in measures for meliorating the condition of the Jews, and gaining them to the Christian faith. And it does seem to me, that the inquiries I have stated have a close connexion with the propriety of adopting or rejecting the plan which has been proposed to the committee and is yet in contemplation. QUERENS.

Obituary of the Rev. William Ward, one of the Serampore Missionaries.

From the Monthly Friend of India, for April, 1823.

We are now called to mourn over one of the most afflictive dispensations with which we have ever been exercised. Our dear brother Ward, whose help and Christian society we have enjoyed for nearly twenty-four years, has been removed by death almost without any warning. Since his return from Europe his health had been in general pretty good; but latterly the complaint with which he was so much afflicted before his de

parture for Europe, indigestion attended with distressing flatulency in the stomach, appeared to be returning upon him in so great a degree, as to compel him to abstain from rice in every form, from nearly all vegetables, from beer and every kind of wine, and from most kinds of meat. By strictly observing this course, however, and taking abundant exercise on horseback, his health seemed so much restored, as to give us hope that he might be spared to us for years to come. On the Sabbath preceding his death, he was at Calcutta, and preached in the evening there from "Lead us not into temptation," in so searching a manner, as to attract particular notice. He also attended the Monthly prayer-meeting held on Monday evening at the LallBazar Chapel, after having spent the day in visiting, for the last time, the flock he so much loved.

On Tuesday morning, March 4th, he returned to Serampore in the boat with Mrs. Marshman: and on the way

from Brainerd, making such remarks occasionally as sufficiently evidenced the state of his own mind. He appeared quite well the whole of that day, as well as the next, Wednesday the 5th, in the evening of which he preached in the Mission Chapel at Serampore the weekly lecture, intended chiefly for the youth there for education, from Mark xvi. 16. "He

that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be damned." No one suspected that this was the last message he had to deliver in his Great Master's name; but the close and poignant manner in which he addressed them, seemed to excite unusual attention. It was particularly recollected, that in the course of his sermon, while he was exhibiting Christ as the only Saviour, he repeated the following verse:

The best obedience of my hands,
Dares not appear before thy throne;
But faith can answer thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord has done

and to impress it the more firmly on his audience, he repeated the verse a second time. The earnest affection with which he prayed for the salvation of his own children in his last prayer, was particularly remarked.

He retired to bed about ten quite in as good health as usual; but about five in the morning of Thursday, the 6th, he felt himself affected with a bowel complaint, and instead of taking his morning ride as usual, he returned to bed for an hour. At the weekly meeting for prayer, however, which he and his colleagues established more than twenty-two years ago, and which, amidst every discouragement and affliction, has not, we believe, been omitted for three weeks in the course of these twentytwo years, he united with his brethren and sisters as usual. Thus after more than twenty-three years' labour in promoting this object in the most assiduous and intense manner perhaps ever known, he closed his public life by uniting in prayer with his brethren for the continuance of the Divine blessing on the work.

After the prayer-meeting, which from the beginning has been held at seven in the morning, he breakfasted with his brethren and sisters at Dr. Marshman's, where it has been for many years the custom for all, with any friend occasionally at the Mission-house, to breakfast together afterwards, and converse on the things which relate to the advancement of

the kingdom of God around them. He entered so much into discourse of this nature that morning, that no one suspected him to be at all ill, beyond his having a slight bowel complaint, with him not uncommon. He went into the printing-office as usual about ten, and among various letters on business, he wrote to the Brethren Peggs and Bampton at Cuttack in the course of the forenoon-the following extract from which was sent to his afflicted family in an affectionate letter from Mrs. Peggs, dated the 14th March, the day after they had received from Dr. Marshman the melancholy tidings of his removal"In his last note to as dated March the 6th, he says, 'How do you feel in your desires after the Holy Spirit? We can have no hope of success but as we are brought to a believing dependence upon his influences, and an earnest solicitude to obtain them. Oh how I should like to be among you, though only for one hour, to sing a hymn with my dear sisters and brethren Peggs and Bampton. What hymn should we choose, 'Jesus with all thy saints above?'-or 'Jesus I love thy charming name?" Mrs. Peggs properly adds, "We see by this note what a happy frame of mind he was in just before he was taken ill." He had indeed been really ill in the Cholera many hours before he wrote this note, although he was scarcely aware of it, and continued so assiduously pursuing that work of his dear Redeemer to which he had for so many years devoted every moment of his life, not spent in sleep or refreshment. About eleven Dr. Marshman going into the office and thinking he looked very ill, earnestly questioned him on the subject. Our beloved brother then told him, that he had been quite ill in the morning with a bowel complaint, and imputed it to his having taken a little cold during the night. Dr. M. then begged him not to neglect this complaint, but to have instant recourse to medicine. Dr. M. however had not the least idea of its being the Cholera, as he had not then heard of

his having thrown up any thing, which is one of the symptoms usually accompanying this disease. The day after his death however, he learned with unspeakable pain, that he had thrown up much bile even before breakfast.

Our lamented brother continued to go on doing business in the printing-office till past twelve, in which interval he wrote the letter to brother Peggs and Bampton from which the quotation is taken which so fully discovers the happy state of his mind. After this he begun a letter to the Rotterdam Bible Society; which was found unfinished on his desk after his death, from which it appeared that before he had finished the second line, he was constrained to desist, and retire to his own room. Respecting his state then, the following particulars have been kindly given us by his eldest daughter:

"When my dear Father came from the office and reclined on the sopha, I was sitting in the same room writing a letter, and my Mother was busily engaged in another I supposed he was fatigued, and said nothing about his lying down. When on the sopha he in his usual affectionate way asked me, what I was doing; to which I replied "writing a letter." He was cheerful, and said something which occasioned us both to smile. Some time after, Mr. Solomon came in and informed him that his child was just dead of the Cholera: my beloved Father assured him of his sympathy and gave directions to another native brother to see that a coffin was made for the child, adding "I fear I have some thing of the cholera myself." This startled me; for this was the first intimation I had of his being ill. I asked him to let me send for the Doctor. He replied, "No child; 'tis nothing of consequence." Happily how ever I did not wait for his leave; but wrote to the Doctor, begging he would call immediately to see my Father. He came and my Father again repeated his fears that he had a slight attack of the Cholera. The Doctor VOL. II.-Ch. Adv.

told him there was no reason to think so, and said he would send him some medicine. Just before the Doctor came, I went and told my Mother that I feared my dear Father was seriously ill. She was alarmed, and asked him how he felt; to which he replied "not well," as not appearing to apprehend any danger. It being dinner time, and my father being asleep, we thought it best to leave him, as he seemed anxious to remain quiet. As soon as dinner was over, I came into the room where we had left him asleep; but not finding him there, I went into the next room. Some minutes after I heard him make a noise as if calling some one. I approached him and asked what he wanted; to which he replied, “Nothing child, only I feel very ill." I immediately ran to my mother, begging her to come to my Father. She came, and learning from him that he had the cramp and feeling his hands cold, she burst into tears and kindly remonstrated with him for having concealed his state so long. He begged her to make herself easy, adding, "Call brother Carey and brother Marshman." I ran instantly to do this, and in a few minutes the aların spread through the premises and brought the brethren and sisters from every side. Dr. Mundt had come again, and seeing the disorder gain ground, prescribed and applied what it seemed immediately to require."

While Dr. Carey, and the sisters were occupied about our brother, Dr. Marshman took the boat and crossed the river to Barrackpore, to bring more medical aid. Meeting with Dr. Grierson at home, who has succeeded Dr. Chalmers there, and who kindly attended Dr. Carey about three months before, he brought him over with him. Dr. Grierson coincided with Dr. Mundt respecting its being the Cholera, and among other things they prescribed a hot bath. This he took about six in the evening, and seemed greatly refreshed; but felt exceedingly inclined to sleep or at least to doze. The medical gentleP

men then intreated that he might be left to himself, in the hope of his getting a little sleep, adding, that this would do more for him than any medicine they could give. In consequence of this, Mrs. Ward and all his brethren and sisters refrained from conversation with him on the state of his mind; and remained waiting the issue, in a state of suspense which words cannot easily describe.

About nine in the evening he told Mrs. Ward that he felt himself sensibly better, and was not in any kind of pain. This excited great hope that he would be able to obtain sleep during the night. Four or five therefore remaining with him, among whom was our young brother, Mr. Brunsdon, who watched with him during the whole of his illness as a son over a father, and Mr. Williamson, who being acquainted with medicine himself, assisted with the two medical gentlemen in consultations respecting him, and remained with him continually to see their prescriptions administered the rest retired. Our deceased brother remained quiet and free from pain, apparently sleeping, till about ten at night, when he complained of a pain in the right side, particularly when he turned himself. Mr. Williamson immediately went to Dr. Mundt to consult him. He advised a fomentation of the side, if the pain should continue. This was tried, and gave immediate relief. With this exception he was free from pain and perfectly quiet during the night, appearing in a dozing state and saying nothing-Mrs. Ward and his brethren, from the fear of preventing his obtaining sleep, still forbearing to converse with him.

As in the morning there appeared very considerable hope of his reco very, Dr. Carey went to Calcutta in the course of his college duty as usual; and Dr. Marshman again went over the river for Dr. Grierson that he might assist in consulting relative On Dr. G.'s arrival, the medical gentlemen recommended an injection, as the calomel he had

taken during the night, had produced no effect. It was hoped that this would have relieved him greatly; and that as he had for so many hours been free from pain, he would immediately have felt better. Dr. Grierson indeed said, that he thought there was no cause for alarm respecting his case; and to Mrs. Ward's inquiry, our dear brother himself said, that he felt better. The injection however produced no effect; but he still continued quiet and easy. Another injection was then prescribed; but by the time it was ready, he appeared so weak that his medical attendants forbore to administer it. He was still perfectly free from pain however; and as late as ten in the morning, we had hopes of his recovery. But about eleven, Mrs. Ward offering him something directed to be given, he gently put it away with his hand, and with a sigh said, "Oh dear;"-which were the last words he was heard to utter, though he continued perfectly quiet and apparently free from pain. About twelve his pulse declined so much as to take away all hope; and about five in the afternoon, he ceased to breathe, in so imperceptible a manner, however, that we for some moments were scarcely aware that his happy spirit had left its tenement of clay. Dr. Carey had returned about an hour previously. His step-son, Mr. John Fountain, to whom he had ever been the father, and Mr. B. W. Marshman, had arrived from Calcutta to see him, six or seven hours before his departure; but he was too far gone fully to recognise them.

Thus, in the fifty-fourth year of his age and the twenty-fourth of his Missionary labours at Serampore, departed one of the most faithful, disinterested, and arduous labourers in the vineyard of his Glorious Redeemer, that India has ever seen. To enlarge on his character here would be quite superfluous; it is too well known to those who enjoyed the happiness of his acquaintance, for words to add any thing to the impression it has left on the mind. The next day,