"yet more wonderful; at least so I should esteem them; for "in every region, and in every clime, the loving-kindness "of God is magnified in my experience. May his grace "also be magnified in me! My love to all your family." On the 13th of March the Charlton arrived off Point de Galle, from which place Dr. Buchanan again wrote a few lines to Mr. Brown. "I had intended," he says, " to have published my letter "to the Archbishop of Goa at this place. But if we do not "go on shore, I shall have no opportunity. I shall there"fore publish it at home. "I have just been on board the Piedmontaise frigate, "which has been captured by the St. Fiorenzo. The Pied"montaise lost one hundred and sixty-five men killed and "wounded, and exhibited a scene of vast carnage. Captain "Hardinge of the St. Fiorenzo is killed. "I have extensive commissions for sending good books "and Bibles to Bombay, Malabar, and Ceylon. For if they "have no preachers, they must read. "All is well on board this ship, and I hope some good "will be done. "With unfeigned prayers for the best of spiritual bles❝sings on you and your family, "I remain, "My dear Sir, "Very affectionately yours, To Colonel Macaulay Dr. Buchanan wrote the next day, as follows. "My dear Sir, "We have just arrived at this place, and see the Bengal "fleet ready to sail; so that I have only time to bid you "farewell. We staid three days at Columbo; one of which "I passed with General Maitland at Mount Lavinia. After a On his arrival in England, Dr. Buchanan found it unnecessary to publish this letter, the Inquisition at Goa having been abolished. 390 MEMOIRS OF DR. BUCHANAN. "long and interesting conversations, he was pleased to pro"mise that he would recommend to his Majesty's govern"ment an Ecclesiastical Establishment for the island of "Ceylon. By the next despatch he will send me, under "cover to the Bishop of London, copies of all the papers I "wanted relating to the ecclesiastical state of the island "for the last two centuries. He has agreed to support the "translation of the Scriptures into the Cingalese language. "I resided with the Honourable Mr. Twisleton, whom I "found well disposed to second all my views. Mr. Hey"wood did more. I think he is disposed to be zealous as a "pastor to his people. I shall correspond, I hope, with "both. They are surprised at the Governor's full acquies"cence in the above important measures. I hope he will "not retract. "I received your letters for your brother, which I hope to "deliver into his hands. I am much obliged to you for your "introduction to him. "The fleet is now under weigh for St. Helena. Fare❝ well. "H. C. Ship Charlton, Point de Galle, "14 March, 1808." "C. BUCHANAN." Here we also must for the present take our leave of Dr. Buchanan; and, while he is pursuing his homeward voyage, resume our account of various events and circumstances connected with his history, which occurred during the interval between the publication of his Ecclesiastical Memoir, and his return to this country. MEMOIRS OF THE REV. DR. BUCHANAN. PART III. CHAPTER I. Of the events referred to at the close of the preceding division of this narrative, the first in order of time relates to the determination of the munificent prizes proposed by Dr. Buchanan to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in the year 1805. It has been already stated, that the time assigned for this purpose was the 4th of June 1807; on which day, the prize was adjudged at Oxford to the Author of these Memoirs. At Cambridge some circumstances occurred which prevented any decision upon the subject; and which the following letter from the Vice-Chancellor of that University to Dr. Buchanan will sufficiently explain. "Reverend Sir, 6 "The sum of five hundred pounds proposed by you for "the best Essay on The probable Design of divine Pro"vidence in subjecting so large a Portion of India to the "British Empire.' &c. was accepted by the University; "and Dr. Milner, Dr. Jowett, and Dr. Outram, appointed "to read the compositions, and decide upon their respective "merits. "Of all that were sent in within the appointed time, not "one was deemed worthy of so magnificent a prize. Ano"ther came a few days after the time, which was unani, "mously preferred to all the rest; and to which the exami "ners would without the least hesitation have adjudged the "prize, but did not think themselves authorized to do so, "without your special permission, as one of the conditions, "the presenting the composition within such a time, had not been complied with. "The author has since avowed himself to be the Rev. J. "W. Cunningham, M. A. of St. John's college. "Dr. Pearce, Vice-Chancellor at the time when the ex"aminers made their report, having heard that you were on 66 your passage to England, deferred writing, as he daily "expected to have a personal interview with you and thus "has devolved to me the office of communicating to you the "thanks of the whole University for your very liberal offer, ❝and their regret that your design has not been completely ❝ carried into execution. "Though I have not the honour of being known to you, "yet in admiration of your character as the munificent Pa❝tron and Promoter of literature, "I subscribe myself, "With the greatest respect, "Your very humble Servant, "FRANCIS BARNES." "St. Peter's College, Cambridge, "Jan. 19th, 1808." It appears that Dr. Buchanan did not feel himself at liberty to make any decision upon the point stated in the preceding letter, and that the University was unwilling to resume the official consideration of the subject. Dr. Buchanan, however, offered to bear the expense of printing Mr. Cunningham's work. On the 10th of May and the 28th of June 1807, two sermons were preached before the University of Cambridge, by the Rev. Francis Wrangham, of Trinity College, and the Rev. John Dudley, of Clare Hall, pursuant to the proposal of Dr. Buchanan in the preceding year, on the translation of the Scriptures into the oriental languages. Two discourses on the same important subject were preached before the University of Oxford, on the 8th and 29th of November following, by the Rev. Dr. Barrow, of Queen's College, and the Rev. Edward Nares, of Merton College. The two former of these sermons were published in the course of the year 1807, and the two latter early in 1808. All of them, with different degrees of ability and eloquence, and by various considerations and arguments, supported the duty and expediency of translating the sacred records into the principal languages of the East; and all strenuously maintained the general obligation of this country to attempt, by every wise and rational method, to promote the knowledge of Christianity in India. But the authors of these excellent discourses, like those of the first series of prize compositions, though a most able and efficient corps, formed the advanced guard only, if the expression may be allowed, of the main body. which was now hastening to its support, and whose united exertions were eventually crowned with the most gratifying and decisive success. Dr. Buchanan's Memoir on the expediency of an Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India, produced, as might be expected, a considerable sensation on the public mind. The subject was not only highly important, but it was new. The world had, indeed, heard much of East Indian commerce, policy, and conquests; but of East Indian religion, little or nothing. Now and then the name of a chaplain to the Company had been mentioned, and, still more rarely, that of a missionary to the Hindoos. But, generally speaking, the whole subject of the religion of India was little known, and still less regarded. Its European population was presumed, without thought or inquiry, to be sufficiently provided with the means of Christian instruction; and as to the natives, they were considered as a race so completely separated from ourselves, and at the same time so religious and even moral in their own way, that, with the exception of those who had heard something of the Danish mission on the coast of Coromandel, the idea of converting any considerable number of the Hindoos was either treated as altogether unnecessary, and even unjust, or deemed in the highest degree visionary |