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"I was now in the hall where the captives were wont to be marshalled when they proceeded to the flames. I contemplated the scene awhile with mournful reflection, and then retired. The alcaides and familiars of the holy Inquisition stood around me, wondering at my introduction into the hall, and my conversation with the Inquisitor. I went into a neighbouring church, and ruminated on what I had seen and heard. I resolved to go again to the Inquisition. The familiars thinking I had business with the Inquisitor, admitted me. I immediately saw a poor woman sitting on a bench in the great hall. She appeared very disconsolate, and was waiting to be called before the tribunal in the next room. I went towards the tribunal, and was met at the door by Josephus à Doloribus, who seemed to have lost his temper at this intrusion, and exclaim. ed, Quid vis tu Domine?' All our discourse was in Latin. I told him I wanted to speak with the chief Inquisitor, who was on the bench. I then looked at the poor woman very significantly, and then at him-And what has this poor woman done? He was silent, and impatient to lead me out. When we came to the head of the stairs, I took my last leave of Josephus à Doloribus, and repeated once more in his ears, what I had pleasantly pronounced before in our amicable discussions about the Inquisition, Delenda est Carthago.'

Before I left Goa, I communicated to him my intention (I first declared it to him in his own cell) of addressing the Archbishop in a Latin letter, which would probably be published, on the four following subjects:

1. The Inquisition.

2. The want of Bibles for the priests. "3. The disuse of public preaching and instruction in his diocese.

4. The state of the public libraries. "This letter I began and dated from the convent of the Augustinians, 25th January, 1808. I shall probably print it before I leave

Point de Galle.

666

'My visit at Goa has excited a very general alarm among the priests. The Viceroy wishes success to my endeavours. The English at Goa seemed to know little or nothing about the subject. The whole Catholic body there are awed by it; and it was said, that some would suffer in consequence of my visit; for Major B. and others of the Viceroy's

household, were known to furnish me with every information in their power. But at last I perceived, that even B. himself, the philosophical, liberal, learned B. was cowed, and endeavoured to draw off.""

"On quitting his friend, Josephus à Doloribus, whose favour and forbearance had perhaps been conciliated by the present of a small purse of moidores, previously to his admission into the santa casa, Dr. Buchanan confesses in his letter to Mr. Brown, that his own mind was much agi

tated."

"I began to perceive,' he says, 'a cow

ardly fear of remaining longer in the power of the Inquisitors. My servants had repeatedly urged me to go, and I set off about twelve o'clock, not less indignant at the Inquisition of Goa, than I had been with the temple of Juggernaut."

"In two hours,'continues Dr. Buchanan in his letter to Mr. Brown, I reached New Goa. The alarm of my investigations had gone before me. The English came to inquire what I had seen and heard, and I told them all. I staid a day or two with them, and embarked in a pattamar (an open boat) for Bombay. The wind was contrary, and I was ten days on the voyage. I touched at three different places on the Pirate coast; Gheria, the celebrated fort of Severndroog, &c. One day we were driven out to sea, and in considerable danger. At length, however, on the 6th of February, I reached Bombay.'

"On his arrival at this Presidency, Dr. Buchanan was kindly received by Governor Duncan, and took up his abode at the house of Mr. Forbes. He experienced the utmost civility from the principal persons of the settlement, and was particularly gratified by the attentions of Sir James Mackintosh. I passed five hours,' he observes in a letter to Colonel Macaulay, with Sir James in his library. It is uncommonly numerous and valuable. He is a friend to religion; and professes a desire to support me in all useful plans for India.' "—pp. 157–169.

Dr. Buchanan had taken with him to Bombay the MS. translation of the four gospels into the Malayalim language, which had been completed by the Syrian Bishop and his clergy, intending to print it at his own expense. He was, however, advised by Mr. Duncan to address a letter to the Government on the subject, which which he received from the Secretary, was accordingly done; and the reply informed him, that the Governor in council readily extended his countein contemplation. In consequence of nance to the pious work which he had this favourable answer, Dr. B. drew up an advertisement, announcing his intention, and soliciting subscriptions, the appropriation of which he consigned to two friends, under whose patronage he hoped the work would prosper.

Having made the preceding arrangements, and settled his affairs in India, Dr. Buchanan sailed from Point de Galla, for England, on board the Honourable Company's ship Charlton, on March 14th, 1808, and reached this country about the middle of August following, after an absence of twelve years.

On reaching London, he repaired to the house of his venerable friend, Mr. Newton, but, alas! he had been

or Estrangelo character, which was a present to Dr. B. from the venerable Bishop of the Syrian Churches; and a version of the New Testament into Hebrew, executed by a learned Rabbi, in Travancore, about one hundred and fifty years since.

taken from his labour to his reward some months before. From London he hastened to Scotland, to visit his aged mother, whom he found in excellent health and spirits. Their interview was such as may naturally be imagined after so long a separation. Remaining in Scotland some time, he proceeded with his two daughters to Bristol, where he arrived on the 21st of November. On the 26th of February, 1809, he preached his justly celebrated sermon, entitled "The Star in the East," in the parish church of St. James, Bristol, for the benefit of the Church Missionary Society. The purport of this discourse was, to prove from an enumeration of facts, and a train of concurrent circumstances, that the day had begun to dawn upon the benighted inhabitants of Asia. But its immediate publication, and extensive circulation, render all remarks on its distinguishing excel-ful exertions. The Duke of Glouceslencies unnecessary. Scarcely was a ter was present on this occasion. discourse ever published, which produced such instantaneous, visible, and lasting effects.

From Bristol, Dr. B. repaired to Oxford, that he might have an opportunity of examining and comparing various Oriental manuscripts, and of looking into the libraries of the University. At this place he arrived early in April, and continued ten days, during which time he preached in the parish churches of St. Martin and St. Giles. By the Heads of Houses he was received with much civility, but no mark of honour was conferred by them on this munificent patron of Oriental literature and religion. With Dr. Ford, the Oriental Professor, Dr. B. left a manuscript of the Gospel of St. John, in the Ethiopic language, which he had procured in the East; but his principal collections he had reserved to enrich the sister university. These were twenty-five in number, chiefly Biblical, and written in the Hebrew, Syriac, and Ethiopic languages. These manuscripts had been procured by him during his journey to the coast of Malabar.

The most curious and important among these manuscripts were, a copy of the Hebrew Pentateuch, written on goat skins, and found in one of the Black Jews' Synagogues, at Cochin; a copy of the Bible, containing the Apocrypha, written on large folio vellum, and in the ancient

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In consequence of these valuable presents, his unremitting exertions in the cause of Christianity, his learning, and his piety, the University of Cambridge presented a petition to his Majesty, through which Dr. Buchanan received the title of Doctor in Divinity, the highest honour which Cambridge had the power to confer. When this title was granted, Dr. Ramsden, as Regius Professor of Divinity, delivered a speech in the name of the University, in which he referred to the noble undertaking of evangelizing the East, and complimented Dr. B. on his unwearied and success

Removing from Cambridge, Dr. Buchanan visited various parts of England, in nearly all of which he occasionally preached, and was introduced to families of the first distinction, who, from his representation of the moral condition of India, expressed a willingness to favour his views respecting some permanent establishment of Christianity in our Oriental possessions. Among these families was that of Mr. Thomson, of Kirby Hall, which he visited while at Scarborough. In this amiable family the second daughter particularly attracted his attention, by her unaffected piety, her active benevolence, and filial duty and affection. Desirous of forming a more intimate connection with this amiable lady, proposals of marriage were made, which being accepted, their union was solemnized in the month of February following, from which period he fixed his residence in Yorkshire.

Dr. Buchanan's publications having spread his fame throughout England, many solicitations were presented to him, courting his settlement in various neighbourhoods, accompanied with advantageous offers; but to none of these did he accede. In 1810, he published his celebrated Jubilee Sermons, in which this important subject was surveyed in a three-fold light. These were the Mosaic Jubilee, the British Jubilee, and the Jubilee of

Heaven; and in all he found means to introduce some observations that should have a bearing on the universal spread of the gospel.

On the 12th of June, Dr. B. preached the annual sermon before the Church Missionary Society, at St. Anne's, Blackfriars'-Road; and the interest which his representations excited, may be easily inferred from the fact, that the collection amounted to nearly four hundred pounds.

"The

terwards published, entitled, Healing Waters of Bethesda." He found, however, but little benefit from the waters of Buxton, and repaired to Scarborough, to enjoy the sea air, keeping still in view his journey to Palestine, which he hoped to undertake in the approaching autumn. But this was a labour on which he was never to enter.

About the middle of December, 1811, he was again seized with another alarming attack, which was more violent than the preceding. This dissipated all his hopes of leaving England, and gave him a presentiment that his dissolution was at no considerable distance.

A few days before the conclusion of the year, Mrs. Buchanan was confined under circumstances of peculiar suffering and danger. Her life, however, was preserved for the present, but her infant son, who was named Claudius, survived only three days. At the close of the year 1812, Mrs. But notwithstanding this domestic B. was again confined, under circumaffliction, Dr. B. applied himself with stances of more auspicious promise to unremitting attention, to the various herself, than on the preceding occabranches of the great cause in which sion, but the infant only lived about he was engaged. This operating upon half an hour. To this amiable lady his debilitated frame, brought on a death was also laying a close siege. slight paralytic seizure, which occur- Of this she seemed to have some red while he was leading the family strong apprehension; for although, by devotions at Kirby Hall. His speech her medical attendants, a rapid recowas instantly taken from him, and he very was prognosticated, she more was unable to proceed. From this than once intimated, that they did shock, however, he afterwards reco- not understand her case. Of this vered, and no effects of the ma- afflictive dispensation of Divine Prolady were perceived on his intellec-vidence, Dr. Buchanan gives the foltual powers. lowing account.

As the spring advanced, Dr. B. was advised by his physicians to suspend his studies. In compliance with this, he formed a plan of undertaking a voyage to Palestine, in the hope that it might tend to establish his health, and furnish him with an opportunity, which he had long wished might occur, of investigating subjects connected with the translation of the scriptures, and the extension of Christianity. From Palestine, it was his intention, if his health allowed, to visit the churches in Mesopotamia and Syria, to inquire into the state of the Jews in Palestine, to view the Syriac printing presses of Mount Lebanon, to establish presses in Jerusalem or Aleppo, for the Hebrew, Arabic, and Syrian languages, and to return from his tour by Lesser Asia, through the region of the seven primitive churches.

But, alas! these schemes were too gigantic for his sinking and emaciated frame. Towards the end of May he paid a short visit to Buxton, where he preached a sermon, which was af

"On the night previous to her death, while she sat on the couch in my study, she begged I would give her the Bible, and a little table, and a candle. She read one of the

Psalms very attentively, the 46th I believe, fuge and strength, a very present help in beginning with these words. God is our retrouble.' And when I took the Bible out of her hands, finding it open at that Psalm, I read it to her as a portion of our evening religious exercise.

"On the morning of the day on which she died, after I had kneeled by her bedside, as usual, and prayed with her, and had left her, she desired her maid to read a hymn to her. She began one, but immediately said it was a funeral hymn; to which she replied, ‘A funeral hymn will suit me very well.'

"About an hour afterwards she was

brought into my study, and took her seat in the arm-chair. About one o'clock her dear father and mother came to visit her. After her father had stayed some time, he and I went ther remained with her. On our return, her out in the carriage for an hour, while her momother took her leave, and I accompanied her down stairs to the carriage. On my coming up, my dear Mary had just got up from her chair, aud walked over to the couch with a quick step, assisted by her nurse, from an apprehension that she was about to faint. I immediately supported her in my arms. Slight faintings succeeded, but they were momentary.

She complained of a pain near her heart. On my saying, I hoped it would soon be over, she replied, 'O no, it is not over yet; what is this that is come upon me?-send for mamma.' After a few minutes' struggle, she sat up in the couch with much strength; and looking towards the window, she uttered a loud cry, which might have been heard at a consiwater; and immediately after drinking, without a groan or sigh, her head fell upon my breast. I thought she had only fainted; but her spirit at that moment had taken its flight. It was just three o'clock in the day.

derable distance. She then drank a little

"Thus died my beloved wife. She was ready for the summons. She had long lived as one who waited for the coming of her Lord. Her loins were girded, her lamp was burning, and the staff was in her hand. She had nothing to do but to depart.'

The great question of "Christianity in India," having about this time been agitated in Parliament, where from certain individuals it met with a powerful opposition, Dr. Buchanan was arduously engaged in repelling insinuations and charges that tended to invalidate the statements he had already published, and in supporting facts which several affected to doubt. This, in his debilitated state, occupied a considerable portion of his time; and, in connection with his extensive correspondence, and the responsibility of translations of the scriptures, then passing through the press, deprived him of that leisure which his health so imperiously demanded. About the middle of July, when in Yorkshire, he wrote to a friend as follows. "I am stronger than I was, but my defect in utterance, and breath, remains, and also my want of memory, which shows that my illness affected the mind a good deal."

But notwithstanding Dr. Buchanan's increasing debility, he continued unremittingly to superintend the printing of the Syriac Testament; and such was his serious solicitude that it might appear correct, that he adopted the precaution of revising each sheet five times, and of availing himself in the meanwhile, of the most learned assistance which he could procure, before he finally committed it to the press. In this momentous work he had proceeded so far as the twentieth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, when a sudden attack compelled him to close his earthly labours, and in a few days to terminate his earthly

career.

Dr. Buchanan having apparently No. 39.-VOL. IV.

taken a slight cold, while attending the funeral of Henry Thornton, Esq. felt something of its effects, but nothing which gave either him or his friends any immediate alarm. On going out, however, one morning to visit some neighbours, he was seized with a slight fainting fit, which, after some time, seemed to pass off. As evening advanced, his sickness, however, returned, when his servant, without waiting for orders, sent for medical assistance. A medicine was administered about nine o'clock, and Dr. B. retired to bed about half past ten, directing his servant not to disturb him to take another medicine until he rang his bell. The servant waited until about eleven, when hearing something that resembled an hiccough, he was induced unbidden to enter his master's chamber, when Dr. B. signified that he was worse. hearing this, he alarmed the family, and immediately returned to the room, when Dr. B. expressed a wish that his head might be supported; and in this posture, without struggle or convulsion, his breath appeared to leave him. A few neighbours, on the alarm being given, hastened to the house, but before twelve o'clock, the spirit had taken its flight.

On

This solemn event took place on the ninth of February, 1815, at Broxbridge, in Hertfordshire, in the 49th year of his age, and his remains were interred near those of his amiable wife, where two plain stones, with suitable inscriptions, record their respective virtues and their Christian graces.

From a Christian Minister, of such literary eminence, unwearied zeal, and distinguished excellence, it would have been gratifying to the church of Christ, to have heard some dying testimony, when, in the arms of death, he had the prize in view; but this the nature of his complaint forbade. His life, however, was a living comment on the doctrines which he taught, and his numerous letters bear evidence to the meekness and piety of his amiable spirit. The love of Christ, and a solicitude for the souls of men, lay near his heart; and towards the latter period of his life, he seemed to have this admonition constantly in view-“ Be` ye also ready."

As a writer, Dr. Buchanan was rather impressive than voluminous ; 2 A

and perhaps few other works that have of late years issued from the English press, have ever excited such a general feeling, and so lively an interest. His works will be remembered when many ponderous folios, and splendid quartos, shall be forgotten, or only seen in catalogues, or on the shelves of the booksellers.

His works are, Christian Researches in India; Memoirs of the Expediency of an Ecclesiastical Establishment in India; Colonial Ecclesiastical Establishment; An Apology for Promoting Christianity in India; and eight Sermons, including The Star in the East; Jubilee Sermons, The Light of the World, The three Eras of Light, and The Healing Waters of Bethesda.

To all these publications there can be no doubt, that the peculiarity of his situation, his travels in India, and the scenes he was called to witness, have given a tone of enlivening originality. But independently of these adventitious circumstances, the vigorous pulse of Christianity beats in every sentence, and displays the ennobling emanations of his mind. There are few, it is presumed, whatever their creeds may be, who, if intimately acquainted with this celebrated Divine, would not breathe the pious wish-"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

quees, in which they have been in the habit of preaching the gospel for some years past, in different parts of the kingdom. On Lord's day, August 19th, they erected this Tent upon a convenient spot of ground, near to Ancoat's Lane, in the midst of a population of 20,000 souls, (chiefly poor) who were destitute of any place of worship whatever. The novelty and suddenness of this erection attracted almost universal attention in the neighbourhood, and their purpose of preaching having been previously announced by advertisements in the public papers, and the distribution of handbills, multitudes of all ranks and descriptions were drawn to the spot. Many religious professors of the Independent, Baptist, and Methodistical persuasions, came to see this "new thing," and several others, who were attached to no denomination, save the synagogue of Satan, eagerly flocked to hear what these "babblers" had to say.

On the very first sabbath, it pleased the Lord to accompany his word with mighty power; like fire among stubble it ran, and as the sun shining in his strength, so it was glorified. Old and young, rich and poor, professor and profane, were filled with astonishment, and many were constrained to say, "We never saw it on this fashion before." The attention of the most careless was arrested; those who had impiously thrown off the fear

BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE TENT METHO- of God, and neglected his sabbaths

DISTS IN MANCHESTER.

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and worship, were deeply affected: the pious were transported with rapturous exultation; and many, who had anxiously desired, by some means or other, to cultivate the moral soil of this populous district, and to gather home to the fold of Christ the thousands of wandering sheep roaming through its wilderness, were vinced, from the simplicity of the plan, the portability of the erection, the certainty of its attraction, the facility with which it could be removed from place to place, the zealous and truly reverential manner of conducting the services, that this was the very means adapted to produce that mighty and saving effect, which they had often desired to see, but desired in vain. Hence two or three persons of the Independent denomination begged to know of the Tent Missionaries, if they could not continue their labours in

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