vernor of Ceylon, Sir Robert Brownrigg; who had, in consequence, immediately written to Lord Molesworth, Commandant of Galle, directing that the Government House in the fort should be prepared for their reception. Lord Molesworth executed these instructions, not with mere official punctuality, but, though an entire stranger to them, with all the feelings of personal friendship. The kindness which they received from all these parties could not have been surpassed by their most attached friends in England. It was equal-it could not exceed the attention paid them at Bombay. This mention of the favours they received may be thought too particular for the page of History; but we cannot consent to regard these as private acts of beneficence. They were rendered to the individuals for the sake of the cause in which they were embarked; and they serve to mark the rapid transition now going on in the public mind towards Missionaries and their objects. If it was not unworthy of the sacred historian to record the courtesy with which Julius entreated his prisoner Paul1, why should it be deemed unsuitable for these humbler pages to relate the courtesies of the nobleminded men who so liberally encouraged the Missionary in his adventurous undertaking? They have set the world an example which must not be lost. vernor of their design. 5. A few days after their arrival, the Rev. George The GoBisset, Chaplain at Columbo, paid them a visit, in approves the Governor's name, for the purpose of bidding them welcome to the island, and of making himself acquainted with the plan on which they intended to conduct their Missionary labours. After giving him an account of their Society, and explaining the circumstances which led to their present under (1) Acts xxvii. 3. VII. CHAP. taking, they stated that their immediate object in Ceylon would be to commence the study of the native languages, in order to qualify themselves for labouring among the Cingalese. Meanwhile they expressed themselves ready to instruct and preach to such persons as might be disposed to hear them in their own language. Mr. Bisset was satisfied with this statement, and assured them that they might expect every encouragement. A proposal 6. At a second interview, he stated to them that from Government the Governor, with himself and other gentlemen at accepted. Columbo, not knowing what funds they had, nor how they were to be supported, had been consulting on some means of assisting them, in case it should be needful; and that the only way which occurred to them was, to offer each Missionary a monthly allowance for teaching English to the children of the principal Natives, in a few of the most important towns. It was proposed that they should undertake the superintendence of Schools at the several stations which were to be appointed for them. As this arrangement would make them. acquainted with the most respectable inhabitants, procure for them considerable influence, and, at the same time, afford them great facilities for acquiring the native language, it appeared to them likely to subserve the design of their Mission, and they willingly accepted the proposal. In a few days Mr. Bisset informed them that the Governor, entirely approving of their design and disposition, proposed to allow fifty rix-dollars a month for each School; and stated, that he considered Jaffna, Manaar, Batticaloa, Galle, and Matura, as the most eligible places for such establishments. At the same time he informed them that this was only the Governor's opinion, and that they were at liberty to choose for themselves such stations as might appear to them, after careful inquiry, to be the most desirable. After mature deliberation and fervent prayer, it appeared to them advisable to occupy only four stations for the present, namely, Jaffna and Batticaloa, for the Tamul division of the island, and Galle and Matura for the Cingalese; and they finally agreed that Messrs. Lynch and Squance should go to Jaffna, Mr. Ault to Batticaloa, Mr. Erskine to Matura, and that Mr. Clough should remain at Galle. sionaries 7. The promptitude with which they now ad- Two Misdressed themselves to their work is not less worthy proceed to of admiration, than their piety and simplicity, mu- Columbo. tual confidence and affection, in making these arrangements. In a few days, after celebrating the Lord's Supper together, in which Lord Molesworth requested permission to join them, Messrs. Lynch and Squance set out for Jaffna. On their arrival at Columbo they were hospitably entertained by Mr. Twistleton, and much refreshed in spirit by their intercourse with other friends. Sir Robert and Lady Brownrigg, Sir Alexander and Lady Johnstone, gave them a cordial welcome, and encouraged them to proceed. Mr. Armour received them as brethren, and Mr. Chater, the Baptist Missionary, was no less kind, and invited them to preach in his Chapel, where the military of the garrison attended. medan 8. They mention a singular case of conversion A Malofrom Mahomedanism to Christianity which had re- Convert. cently occurred in Columbo. The convert was baptized in the Fort Church, by the name of Daniel Theophilus, and it was stated to have been the first conversion from Islamism which had been known in Ceylon. Such conversions are rare in all parts of India. The subject of this change was a man of strong mind, and of considerable learning; and hopes were entertained that his public renunciation of his former faith, and his open acknowledgment of Christianity, would have an extensive effect on CHAP. VII. Missionaries' arrival at Jaffna. Com mencement of their labours. others, and be productive of similar results. The change in his religious profession had called down upon him the indignation of his relatives and former connexions, some of whom were fully bent upon his destruction. He was, in consequence, taken under the immediate protection of the Government, who committed him to the care of Messrs. Lynch and Squance, that he might accompany them to Jaffnapatam, and there be further instructed in the doctrines and duties of Christianity. 9. On the 1st of August they set out with this interesting companion; and, on their arrival at Jaffna, the Sub-Collector, Mr. Mooyart, received them as friends whom he had long expected, rather than as strangers from a distant land; and the religious effect upon his mind of their subsequent intercourse with him he ever considered more than an equivalent for the kindness which they received at his hands. Here they were welcomed by Christian David also, the Tamul preacher from Tranquebar, of whom we have already spoken, who presided over the Tamul Christians in the province. He told Mr. Lynch that he had for more than ten years prayed that some Missionaries might be sent to Ceylon, and that he regarded their arrival as an answer to his prayers. While he was able to afford them considerable aid in furthering the objects of their Mission, they, in their turn, greatly assisted him in the way of religious instruction. 10. They had now a gratifying proof of the liberal intentions of Government towards them in the proposal for the endowment of English Schools to be placed under their care. Since Jaffna was to be the residence of two Missionaries, they found that the stipulated allowance for each School was, in their case, doubled. At the request of the European residents, who were without the means of public instruction, they performed Divine Service in English, alternately reading the Church prayers and preaching; and they were much encouraged by the apparent effect of their ministrations. On the whole, they had reason to be thankful to God for the very auspicious circumstances under which this station was commenced. Station. 11. The other Missionaries joined their Stations Matura about the same time, and met with similar aid in the prosecution of their work. Matura, to which Mr. Erskine was appointed, was about thirty miles from Galle. The civil authorities afforded him every facility he required in the opening of the proposed English School, which the children of the higher classes of Natives attended with manifest pleasure. He soon commenced his English ministrations also, in the Dutch Church in the fort; but his congregation was small, the European garrison consisting of few troops. The native population was considerable, and the district was found to be one of the strongholds of their superstition: he lost no time, therefore, in beginning the study of Cingalese, that he might attack the enemy in his quarters. Here he found the German Missionary, Mr. Ehrhardt, with whom he formed an intimate friendship; but he was not the companion in labour that he wanted. The district extended about forty miles by thirty, and he greatly felt the need of a colleague. Nevertheless, though labouring in comparative solitude, he found a sacred pleasure while engaged in the work to which he was devoted, and was encouraged to indulge expectations of ultimate success. Station. 12. Batticaloa, Mr. Ault's Station, was above one Batticaloa hundred and fifty miles beyond Matura. It is a small island, containing a fort, with a few houses; but the district to which it gives name is of importance in a Missionary point of view, carrying on a constant trade with the interior, and containing a |