wholly absorded in philosophy and metaphysics. Besides, and the remark affords a striking proof of the sobriety as well as fervour of his piety, I have the opportunity every morning and evening of attending chapel prayers, which of itself I consider a great bless ing" Vol. I. pp. 58, 59. › To this use of such means as were provided he was desirous to add such as were otherwise attainable. "He cultivated the acquaintance of the more serious students at different colleges; and at his solicitation they agreed to meet regularly for the purpose of reading the New Testament, and conversing practically upon some chapter which had been selected. Their meetings were begun and ended with prayer." Vol. I. pp. 55, 56. "The society met not so much for the purpose of discussion, as of raising a barrier against the undue influence of secular learning on the minds of those who were almost exclusively employed in its pursuit; and of cherishing that spirit of piety and devotion, the cultivation of which in themselves and others was to form the one great business of their lives." Ibid. p. 56. p.5 The extracts which have been given display a mind entirely devoted to the will of God, and ready to act in any sphere, whether humble or distinguished, in which that Will might place him. Accordingly, in the opening which shortly after presented itself, though not without some of those disappointments with which the Almighty not unusually crosses the path of his servants for their good, he evidently followed, as he ever desired to do, a superior "Guidance without seeking to make any choice for himself. The disappointments to which we allude were not slight ones: for, though he was commissioned, as it were, from his very entrance upon the ministry, to preach the Gospel in India, that station seemed for a * time, even after all the difficulties in the way of his attaining it were cleared before him (so inscrutable are the designs of Providence!), to be the grave rather than the theatre of his usefulness. He was appoint ed, soon after his arrival, military chaplain at Barrackpore, where he had seldom an opportunity of even performing Divine service; and thus seemed to have quitted his native country and taken a distant voyage only to be silenced at the close of it; on which the following just andpractical remark is made by the author. "The history of Mr. Buchanan's first appointment in India will not be in vain, if it serve to check in any who may be similarly situated, either abroad or at home, the too-natural disposition to despondency or haste; and to lead them, in the conscientious improvement of present opportunities, to wait patiently for farther openings, and in the mean time to hope in God;' and if it tend to abate in those who may be observing them any impatience of their backwardness in fulfilling even just expectations; and to teach them that charity, which, concerning the substantially pious and sincere, hopeth all things."" Vol. I. p. 155. It ought indeed to be observed, as a proof of the due mixture of temper and discretion with zeal in Mr. Buchanan's character, that although, when opportunity occurred, he improved it eagerly and to the utmost in promoting the cause of Christianity, yet, when it was denied, he refused to step beyond the limits of his official duty, labouring only to improve the leisure which obscurity entails, and to prepare himself, like a wise soldier, for the future combat. But the reader shall judge of his character and proceedings, during this interval, from his letters, in one of which he says: "I suffered a long struggle before I could resign myself passively to my un expected destination. But the struggle is now over; and I view myself as one who has run his race; to whom little more is left to do. I have known some, who, in such a case, would have extricated themselves with violence, and sought a new fortune in the Gospel. But it will require a very evident interposition of God indeed to bring me out of this Egypt, now that he has placed me in it: I shall esteem myself highly favoured, if I be enabled to pass my days in it, with a pure conscience, en deavouring to do a little, where much cannot be done. "I take the liberty of enclosing a bill for fifty pounds for my mother; which I request you will be so good as to send to her, after it is accepted." Vol. I. p. 153. At length, however, it pleased Providence, most unexpectedly to Mr. Buchanan, to summon this faithful labourer to a more active field of exertion. When the Marquis Wellesley was Governor-General of India he gave a countenance both to religion and to learning which, in that quarter of the world, they had never before received. One of his lordship's first acts was to appoint Mr. Buchanan as a third chaplain to the presidency church; one of his next was to found a college for the education of the civil servants of the Company, to which he invited all the learned of the empire, and of which he made Mr. Brown Provost, and Mr. Buchanan Viceprovost. To the discharge, there fore, of his now twofold line of duty, the whole energies of Mr. Buchanan's mind were henceforward cheerfully devoted. The institution, thus hastily erected, and since revived, was at first but of short duration. It did not long survive the oriental administration of its founder; and both its Provost and Vice-provost lived to witness its dissolution. Yet, during the short period of its existence, it diffused a light which could not be quenched, and by its death has been the parent of other institutions, which would otherwise, perhaps, be still only a matter of debate. Mr. Buchanan accordingly said of it, soon after the first annual examination of the students-and his words have been amply veri fied "It must continue to exist (though perhaps under a different name), as long as the British empire reigns in India. To send a young man adrift in the upper provinces, without any knowledge of the languages, and without any official preparation, is now utterly impossible. The good sense of young men themselves would deprecate it. Every one here sees that the body of civil servants educated these three years in the college of Fort William will by and by govern India. Many of them are already approaching to the most responsible situations. The body of juniors that follow, if left in their native ignorance, will be held in comparative Contempt, and must ever feel the injustice done to them." Vol. I. p. 252, He then adds "Education has been proved to be useful in India. Of the students who have just left college, only eight out of of them have saved money; a thing thirty have contracted any debt. Many unheard of in India, and by the old civil servants accounted impossible. This is the point to which the public attention is turned. The reign of native moneylenders is now at an end. But a school or seminary directed by native moonshees, and destitute of the high and respectable jurisdiction of learned and religious men, would never be able to thority and the honours of a college are effect this desirable purpose. The au alone competent to restrain a body of young men of good families and flattering prospects in this luxurious and deteriorating country. That ever such an objection as that of expense should have been urged by the Directors ap pears to me unaccountable. The expense, whatever it has been, is now amply liquidated; and in a manner Company than if the sum had been paid into their treasury; with some advantage of health, of morals, and of learning, and with some coercion of the native ascendency, which has ever been deemed the bane of the British administration more favourable to the interests of the in India. "Satisfied, however, with the good which has been done by the institution, we wait submissively for the period of its regular dissolution; which will be in December next. Even were it to continue in its present state, or in one yet more improved and respectable, I should not desire to bear a part in it. I have weak health. My heart seeks to be disengaged from collegiate labours, and to find rest and refreshment in the one spiritual work of the everlasting Gospel. Fortune or fame cannot add an hour's happiness to my present existence; but they may interrupt it. I feel a secret pleasure in the purpose of the Directors to abolish the college, as it respects myself; but I feel at the same "The first versions of any "of the Gospels in Persian and Hindostanee 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 Hun ter, Esq. The Gospels were translated into the Malay by Thomas Jarrett, Esq. of the civil service. "Of these and other translations of the Scriptures then projected and undertaken, only a very inconsiderable part was executed at the public expense. The sole charge incurred by the college in the department of sacred translation, was for the Gospel of St. Matthew in Persian and Hindostanee: with this exception, the extensive biblical works successively announced from this institution were carried on at the private expense of those members of the college, amongst whom the Provost and Viceprovost held the first rank, and others who deemed it to be of the highest importance to promote the diffusion of sacred literature in Asia." Vol. I. pp. 299, 300. "The publication of an hundred original volumes in the oriental languages and literature in the term of four years, is no inconsiderable proof of the flourishing state of the college, as' a literary institution. That was, however, but one of its subordinate objects. "The distinguished proficiency of the students in the oriental languages," says Mr. Buchanan, "is the proof we would propose of the efficiency, utility, and undoubted success of the college of Fort William." Ibid. p. 324. In these extracts the reader will perceive some traces of that enlarged and liberal spirit which in duced Mr. Buchanan to consider all that he possessed as his only for the service of the Gospel. The passages which follow will shew in what manner he dispensed his aug. mented funds, and on what principles he acted in the disposal of them. During his poverty he had not been restrained by the pride of independeuce from incurring an obli gation, when the service of the Gospel might be promoted by his accepting it, although he could then have no hope of making any return. When he became rich, no selfish desire of aggrandizement witheld him from repaying to the full the favours which he had received, and extending similar benefits to others. Thus, in one of his confidential letters, he says: "By the last ships I sent four hundred pounds to Mr. H. Thornton; being the amount of his expense on my account at college for four years, at one hundred He never expected pounds per annum. that I should repay him; but God has put it in my power, and therefore it is my duty. "I told him I only sent it back to the fountain, from whence it would probably soon flow again in some act of benevo lence. "I also told him, that I meant to devote five hundred pounds for the support of a young man at the Univer sity, of religious character and good ability, who might be in poor circumstances; and whom he, or Mr. Newton, or Dr. Milner, president of Queen's college, should select. At the same time I remitted an order on Messrs. Boehm and Co. to Mr. T. for paying the sum of one hundred and twentyfive pounds pèr annum, by half yearly instalments, for this purpose; and I expressed a wish that the young man might prove an honour to the Gospel, and become an useful labourer in his Master's vineyard. "While it is in my power, I wish to do some good thing for the Gospel of my blessed Lord. Imay soon be called hence. May I be able to devote my heart to his glory while I stay!" Vol. I. pp. 236, 237. The munificence which thus be gan in justice, was soon extended to more splendid objects, as the bounty of Providence furnished the opportunity. It was no less a sum than two thousand six hundred and seventy pounds, that Mr. Buchanan offered in prizes for such compositions as might tend to excite interest and diffuse information respecting the religious condition of India, as well as the duty of England to improve it; and, in addition to the other translations of Scripture, to which his contributions have been already mentioned, we are told, that "Mr. Lassar arrived at Calcutta in a commercial capacity; and having met with some difficulties, he became known to Mr. Buchanan, who, appreciating his talents, generously liberated him from his embarrassments, and engaged him at a stipend of three hundred rupees per month to devote himself to the translation of the Scriptures, and to the instruction of a Chinese class, formed of one of the elder, and three of the junior members of the missionary establishment at Serampore. The expected reduction of the college rendering it inexpedient that Mr. Lassar should be attached to that institution, this stipend was afforded for about three years at the sole expense of Mr. Buchanan. To his liberality, therefore, must be chiefly ascribed the progress which has been made in that quarter towards supplying the vast empire of China with a translation of the sacred volume into its own extraordinary language." Vol. I. pp. 314, 315. the public at large had become, in some measure, acquainted with its necessity. While, however, he possessed a zeal and courage which never shrunk from the responsibility and publicity of such a task, his sense of propriety and his principles of subordination, led him always to adopt the most prudent and regular methods of performing his designs. Thus "Mr. Buchanan first communicated his thoughts on the expediency of an ecclesiastical establishment for British India, in letters to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the rest of the episcopal bench, having previously submitted them to the Marquis Wellesley. The reply which he received from the late Bishop Porteus confirmed and encouraged him in his determination to bring that important subject fully before the public." Vol. I. p. 282. proceedings was interrupted by a The course, however, of these dangerous illness; which, while it led both himself and others to look for a fatal termination, served, under Divine grace, to strengthen him in his Christian labours, to quicken his diligence, and stimulate his faithful zeal. The decline of his health also, by disqualifying him for his accustomed duties at home, prepared the way for an enterprize of which the world has heard much, and for which, we devoutly trust, all the world will, eventually, be the better: for it was the constant practice of Dr. Buchanan to make even relaxation and retirement subserve the purposes of the Gospel. It will be readily perceived, that we allude to his extensive journey along nearly the whole coast of India; including his visits to Juggernaut, the Syrian Christians, and the Cochin Jews, as well as his subsequent The order in which these several efforts of enlightened charity were made, is of much value in elucidating the character of Mr. Buchanan. Having commenced in acts of filial piety and just gratitude, he afterwards devoted his property, without restraint, to the diffusion of Christian light and knowledge through every part of the British empire. When he had thus awakened attention in the public mind to a sub-introduction to the inquisition at ject so interesting to his own, he proceeded to address the constituted authorities of the land respecting a measure, which it might have been premature to press upon the notice of the government before Goa. The notoriety of these visits, which have already been detailed in our pages, deprives us of the pleasure of accompanying him in this undertaking, although the reader will find several additional the Messiah in the Second Psalm. I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Vol. 11. pp. 74-76. for facts brought forward in these volumes, and the whole narrative enlivened by neatly executed en gravings of the Syrian churches. We must, however, find room, the few following extracts from his correspondence, which illustrate the necessity of the inquiry, the disinterestedness with which it was conducted, and some of the benefits which could not fail to result from it. "In the vicinity of Ranniel, there is a high hill, from the top of which the people told me I might have an extensive view of the country. The hill was steep, and of laborious ascent, and I left my servants below. When I had gained the summit, I felt myself much fatigued, and sat down to contemplate the delightful prospect. The mountains of the Ghauts were at some distance, but from their great height they appeared to be close at hand. "In a few minutes I saw a man coming up from a village below, with a cocoa-nut in his hand. I drank the cooling water, and was much refreshed. He said he was a Christian; that seeing me ascend, he thought the cocoa-water would be acceptable. I said I was a Christian too. He smiled doubtingly, looking at my English dress. He said he was never farther from home than the adjacent mountains, where he sometimes went to fell wood. He did not seem to understand that there were Christians in any other part of the world, than the mountains of Malayala. He pointed out to me by name the Christian parishes which I had visited, but most of the churches were con cealed by, the trees. The Christians are forbidden to have steeples, as they would appear too pre-eminent among the pagodas of the heathens. "While I surveyed the Christian districts all around, I reflected on the inscrutable counsels of God, in finding this asylum for the Bible during so many ages; and yet in confining it for so long a period to this region of the heathen world. I indulged the hope that the same Providence was about to unfold itself by dispensing the Bible throughout, the East, by means of this people. "I passed two hours on the top of "I proceeded into the interior of the country, to visit the Syrian Christians who inhabit the hills at the bottont of the great mountains of Malayala. The weather was cool and pleasant. The country is picturesque and highly cultivated, diversified with hill and dale, and winding streams. These streams fall from the mountains, and preserve the vallies in perpetual verdure. The Christians received me courteously, seeing I travelled in some state, escorted by the Rajah's servants. But when they found any object was to look into their books and religion, they surveyed me with doubtful countenances, not well understanding how an Englishman could have any interest in the Christian religion. And the contrary was only proved to them by long and serious discussion, and by the evidence of facts which for the first time came to their knowledge." Ibid. pp. 89,90. "I have expended a large sum here. Mr. F. told me he had orders from his government (Madras) to supply me with any money I might want. But I did not avail myself of this kindness." Ibid. p. 96. "If I should go by Persia, I am prepared to spend twelve thousand rupees in presents." Ibid. p. 125. "I write this from the fort which the English first built in India; and where, as Tippoo observed in his official manifesto, the English pedlars first exhibited their scissars and knives. Tellicherry lines inclose nine miles in circumference; and the natives have enjoyed the protection of the English for about one hundred and sixty years. The enemy was never suffered to destroy them. But no English church, or house of prayer, has yet been built." Ibid. p. 154. To these extracts, we are desirous of adding the following testimony from the author. 3 "Dr. Buchanan was cordially and habitually generous; and, independently of those munificent acts which were unavoidably public, the writer of this narrative has met with many other instances scarcely less noble, of which the world never heard; while, in addi"Christian institutions country, there were, no doubt, numerous 3 Y of various this bill. I do not know its name. But tion to his Tiberal adorn our I called it Pisgah; for I believed that I had a sight of kingdoms promised to CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 188. Whi |