insinuate that they are not divine? Do you think it a "likely way to preserve moral principles in your children, "or in young persons under your direction, to take away all "religious sanction ?

"But you will say, that you mean not to do any harm; "that your casual reflections on religion cannot be supposed "to have much effect, and that you only indulge your pas"sion for displaying your talents in your own circle, by as"serting what you think liberal sentiments among young "people, and by retailing the wit of learned infidels.

"But in doing this, do you assume the character of a "good member of society? If all men were such as you are, "our constitution and liberties would not survive another "day. They have not hitherto been maintained by such "defenders! It was not this levity of principle which con"ducted us through our late dangers, and gave vigour to "our fleets and armies in the awful contest. Nor is it this "principle which at this eventful moment animates our na"tion with such a holy enthusiasm for the preservation of "their country, their laws, and their religion.

"If it please the providence of God that success should "still attend us in the deliverance of our country, you will "yet have to reflect that you have not contributed to its pre"servation; that you have neither supported its religion "nor its principles: but will have to fear, that, in the degree "of your influence, you have injured both. You will have "to reflect, that you have not done your part as a good mem"ber of society; that however obscure your situation, or "small your ability, you have put no mite into the treasury "of the public good; that, on the contrary, you have lived "a mere inactive pensioner on the bounty of your country, "which grants you the blessing of a tranquil life, and grants "you also that liberty of opinion which is abused to her "injury."

The preceding passages form a brief abstract only of the train of reasoning pursued in this able sermon. Towards the close of it, Mr. Buchanan observes, that great as is the benefit of the Christian religion to nations, and irresistible

as are the arguments for maintaining it for the good of society, its importance to the happiness of the individual is still greater.

"Had not its eternal sanctions awakened the consciences "of men in every age, and its spirit sunk deep into their "hearts, its national importance would never have preserved "it; and the solemnity of this day would not now have been "observed. But there are those now who pronounce the con❝fession of the text with the same confidence and in the "same spirit with which it was pronounced at first. • We "believe and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Sav❝ iour of the world.””

After referring to the practical illustrations of this assertion which had been lately afforded amongst themselves, Mr. Buchanan thus concludes:

"That which was prophesied of the Christian religion has "been fulfilled in every age; that it should be in a state of "conflict; but that the spirit of some would preserve it unto "the end of the world.' Ye,' saith our Lord, are the salt "of the earth.' Ye are they, who, having an impression of "the eternal truth of my Gospel will maintain its doctrine "and principles for your own salvation, and for the advan"tage of an evil world.

But if at any time this salt shall lose its savour;' if at "any time your profession of religion should degenerate into "a mere form, it then only serveth to be cast out, and to be "trodden under the feet of men;' under the feet of your "present enemies, and by a vain philosophy.

"We, my brethren, may be accounted the representatives "of the Christian religion, in this remote country. A duty "is imposed on us, from which some societies may think

themselves exonerated. And however little many of us "may think of this duty, it is one which must and will be "performed by some, zealously and faithfully, as a duty to "God and to their country.

"And living in the observance of this duty, they will wait "the event of that awful commotion which begins again to

* Probably alluding to the deaths of Mr. Obeck and Mr. Edmonstone.

"agitate the world; in humble acquiescence in the right"eous dispensations of God; not trusting to the merits of "our nation for deliverance; but firmly believing that, since "it hath pleased his providence to honour us, in time past, "with the defence of his religion, it is his will that it should "yet be established by our means."

It is a gratifying reflection, that the high duty and privilege of maintaining inviolate the purity of the Christian religion has been faithfully fulfilled by the British empire at large; and that we have emerged out of that great conflict which had then lately recommenced, with augmented strength and glory; a monument of the truth of the divine declaration, that the steady profession, and the undaunted defence of truth and righteousness, are the surest means of protecting and exalting a nation.

It may not be improper to add, that, at the close of the preceding sermon, a collection was made to the amount of 6000 rupees, a sum highly creditable to the liberality of the congregation, for the benefit of the Calcutta Charitable "Fund," instituted in the year 1800 by the Rev. David Brown, under the auspices of Marquis Wellesley, for the relief of distressed Europeans, Mohammedans, and Hindoos; of which Mr. Buchanan some years afterwards observed, that it had been a fountain of mercy to thousands.

CHAPTER III,

THE college of Fort William, according to the regulation of Lord Wellesley, in obedience to the decision of the Court of Directors, was to close on the 31st of December 1803. It was, however, a very gratifying circumstance to the friends of that institution, that on the 3d of January 1804, a despatch announced to the Governor General the determination of the Court, that the college should for the present continue on its original footing. The business and examinations of the students accordingly proceeded in their usual train, or rather with additional spirit.

"An example of idleness," says Mr. Buchanan in a letter to a friend, is a rare thing. The appointments to the "service continue to be made according to the college list, "that is, according to merit."

The annual disputations in the oriental languages were held this year on the 20th of September, in the presence of the Governor General, accompanied, as usual, by the principal officers of the Presidency, with the addition, on this occasion, of Soliman Aga, the envoy from Bagdad. The subjects of the disputations were, "the Shanscrit, as the pa"rent language of India," in Hindostanee; "the figurative "sense of the Poems of Halfiz," in Persian; "the utility "of translations of the best works extant in the Shanscrit "into the popular languages of India," in Bengalee; and, in Arabic, the importance of the Arabic to a grammatical "knowledge of the Persian language." A declamation was afterwards pronounced in Shanscrit, for the first time, by one of the students; which was followed by a speech in the same language by the Rev. Mr. Carey, the Moderator and Professor.

Prizes were at the same time awarded for the best English essays on " the utility of the Persian language in India,”

a See "The College of Fort William," page 124.

b For a translation of this eloquent and interesting speech, see "The College of "Fort William," p. 168.

on the progress of civilization in India under the British "government," and on "the decline and fall of the Moham"medan empire in India." Honorary rewards of books were also adjudged to the best proficients in the Greek and Latin classics, and in the French language.

The several compositions of this year were afterwards published in the third volume of the Primitia Orientales."

In the speech with which Marquis Wellesley closed the proceedings of the day, his Lordship declared, that in each successive year the standard of comparative merit had been progressive in the highest classes of the college, and expressed his cordial satisfaction at the proficiency and good conduct of the students.

"The observance of all the statutes," said his Lordship, "is equally essential to the interests and honour of the stu"dents; nor is their duty confined merely to the diligent "pursuit of the prescribed course of study. The intention "of the statutes is not only to provide instruction in the ori"ental languages, and in the several branches of study im"mediately connected with the performance of official func"tions, but to prescribe habits of regularity and good order. "My principal purpose in founding this institution was, to "secure the junior servants of the Company from all undue "influence in the discharge of their official functions, and to "introduce them into the public service in perfect freedom "and independence, exempt from every restraint, except"ing the high and sacred obligations of their civil, moral, "and religious duty."

In the course of the year 1804, several circumstances occurred, connected with Mr. Buchanan and the college of Fort William, which will be best introduced by a few extracts from his letters. He thus wrote to Major Sandys in the month of February.

"We are much the same in church, state, and college, as "when you left us; only in respect to myself my various la"bours have increased, are increasing, and, I fear, will "not be diminished.