"The Roman Catholics here were at first very jealous of "my attention to the Syrians. The Romish Bishop, how"ever, who is a bon vivant, perceiving that my chief object "was to diffuse the Scriptures among the people, began to "think that it might be politic in him to circulate them "among his people too, and to please the English rather "than the inquisition. Colonel Macaulay thinks the Bishop "will adopt the measure the moment we 'seriously propose "it. He lives in some state, and fires a salute of eleven 66 guns on occasion. "Cochin is rich in Hebrew literature, and I am purcha"sing what is to be sold. "The Rajah of Cochin has followed the example of the "Rajahs of Travancore, of Tanjore, and the Ranny of Ram"nad, and Ramisseram, in giving me catalogues of the "Shanscrit books in the temples. I hope the Coorgo Rajah "will do the same. "This opening of the Pagodas is a new scene in India. "Mr. Swartz was the remote instrument. He opened the "Rajah of Tanjore's heart; and the Rajah of Tanjore open"ed the Pagodas, those chambers of imagery, the emblem " of the heart. "The Rajah of Tanjore wishes me to visit him again. If "practicable, I shall open a correspondence with him. "I propose to leave this coast in a fortnight, and proceed "to Bombay, from whence I shall probably go across to Be"nares, and thence down to Calcutta by the Ganges. “Having arrived at the extreme boundary of my tour, "and accomplished its object, I thought it would be accept"able to you to have some short notices of it. Be pleased "to tell Mr. Newton that I am well. I wrote him a long "letter from Tanjore. It is with pleasure I see that, amidst "the agitations of the world, he is tranquil, and at peace, "and nearly arrived at the haven where he would be. Mar "Dionysius, the Bishop of the Syrians in the mountains, "has somewhat of Mr. Newton's manner and appearance; "only that the Bishop has a venerable long beard, which "reaches below his girdle, and through which you may see "a large gold cross beaming at intervals. He is now "seventy-eight years of age, amiable in his temper, and "devout according to his knowledge. "I read at this place, in Hayley's third volume, Cowper's "correspondence with Mr. Newton, and was pleased to see "the name of the good man honoured. "I remain, "Very sincerely yours, In his next letter to Mr. Brown, Dr. Buchanan announced his intention of shortly returning to Bengal, together with a farther plan which he was projecting respecting a visit to the Christian churches in Chaldea and Syria. "Cochin, 23d January, 1807. "I am happy to hear that the first Gospel in Chinese and "Shanscrit is ready. "I should have left Cochin before now, but some splendid " events have taken place. The Syrian Church finding I "was their friend indeed, opened new sources of antiquity. I visited them once more; and the Bishop presented to me "an ancient copy of the Old and New Testament in Syriac, "on thick vellum, reputed to be as old as the Alexandrine. "On the other hand, the Jews were softened by gold, and a "singular discovery was made." This referred to some valuable Hebrew manuscripts, of which Dr. Buchanan gave a full account in his Christian Researches, and which will be again noticed hereafter. The letter thus proceeds. "I despatched on the 3d instant three chests of books and "MSS. to my own address, and to your care. Be pleased contents. I shall carry round "to open them, and air the with me three chests more. My hands are so fully occu"pied here, that I cannot proceed farther up the coast at "this time; besides I see you are desirous that I should re"turn. I therefore purpose to take my passage in large "Danish vessel, now here and ready to sail. I have promised "to visit the Syrians and the Jews once more before I leave "the country, if practicable. The information I have re"ceived from the Syrian Christians strongly inclines me to "visit their fellow-churches in Chaldea and Syria. The "ancient patriarchate of Antioch is just expiring, unless "supported by the English Church. As it will be more "convenient for a sea-sick traveller to go by land, I had al"ways proposed to myself that route. And this new induce"ment will probably lead me to adopt it, about the conclu"sion of the present year, or whenever the monsoon will "carry a ship rapidly into the Persian Gulph. These things "I have thought of, not thinking that I can do much more in "India; but I leave them to the issue which God in his "allwise counsel shall be pleased to give. I have certainly "no pleasure in the thought of returning to England, or of "staying in India. The world (as the world) is equally "distasteful to me every where. If I knew where it was "the will of God I should pass my days, I should there lie "down contented; and endeavour to do some good in a quiet ❝ and humble way. "In one of the chests you will find some shawls. Let J. "and H. choose one each; and each of the boys may choose "a Hebrew book." Dr. Buchanan's last letter to his friend, previously to his embarking for Calcutta, contained the important information of his having actually made arrangements for the translation of the Scriptures into the native language of Malabar. His success therefore, as to the great objects of his journey, had been complete. "Cochin, 29th January, 1807. "I received your letter of the 31st ultimo, and am glad to "hear that you have ended the year so well and so happily. "I embark to-morrow in the Danish ship, Danesberg, "for Calcutta; and shall touch at Columbo. I hope to be "with you early in March. I send a chest of books and "MSS. to England by the Bombay ships, which touch "here. "I am now about to encounter sea-sickness for a while. "If I call at Mr. T's, in Columbo, it will be some relief, for "I have much to do there. It is understood by all ranks here that I shall call on them six months hence on my "way to the Persian Gulph. 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. "My servant, who came from Calcutta, is still with me. "He was formerly a ship-cook, and will be useful now by "sea, as he has long been by land. Mr. Swartz's catechist, ❝and other attendants, wait here to see me on board; as do "various Syrian, Romish, and Jewish priests. I am glad to "get out of the throng. "I hope I have come to this place for good, and not for "evil. The goodness is God's, and the evil is my own. It "is wonderful that I should have travelled so far in safety; and that, after the strange events that have occurred, I "now leave the coast in peace. If I should never see you, "my testimony is gone forth to the world, and others must "carry on what is now begun. "The Tamul copy of the Scriptures (complete) is only "arrived to-day from the Carnatic; I proceed with it to"morrow to the Syrian Bishop, who is now engaged with "three learned Syrian and Malayalim scholars in the trans❝lation into the language of Malabar. The Bishop longed "to see the Tamul, he being a good Malayalim scholar "himself. "I leave the three translators at monthly wages; and "Colonel Macaulay superintends when I am gone. "The Romish Bishop has consented to the circulation of "the Scriptures throughout his diocese; so that there will be upwards of 200,000 persons who are ready to receive the Malayalim Bible." Dr. Buchanan did not leave Cochin quite so soon as he had anticipated in the preceding letter; but on the 6th of February he embarked on board the Danesberg, after having despatched the following letter to his valuable friend and coadjutor, Colonel Macaulay. "My dear Sir, "I have directed Messrs. Harrington and Co. at Madras "to honour all drafts of yours for any sums you shall have "the goodness to lay out on my account. I leave to you to "settle the sum for the Verapoli Cassanar. "Mr. Swartz's catechist stays a month at Candenad, to "shew them the best plan of proceeding in the translation. "If any obstacle to their progress should occur from the "Tamburan, or Mar Thoma's fear, I shall be obliged to "you to transfer the translation establishment to Tanjore, "whither the chief man has no objection to go. If a Vera"poli Cassanar, of Syrian and Malayalim learning, could "be prevailed on to go to Tanjore also, the establishment "would be complete. "I cannot leave you without expressing my sense of the "peculiar obligations I am under for your uniform assist"ance in every subject which has engaged my attention on "this coast. Without your direct countenance, I certainly "could have done little or nothing. Something beneficial "to the country will, I trust, result from what has been "done; though the circumstance of your leaving it presents "but a doubtful aspect. "Believe me to be, "My dear Sir, "Very sincerely yours, |