After various illustrations of the countenance afforded by the Company itself to Christian missionaries, and of their successful efforts in different parts of India, Dr. Buchanan adds the following observation.

"It has been the usual conduct of Asiatic governments to "let Christianity alone. In the annals of the British ad"ministration in India, has there been no instance of the "suppression of a Christian mission."

Having presented the preceding considerations to the notice of Lord Minto, Dr. Buchanan recurs to the subject of his discourses on the Prophecies. He had at the opening of his Memorial professed that he would willingly transmit them to the perusal of the Governor General, and that he should be happy to receive such observations on them, as his Lordship's learning and candour might suggest. But, adds Dr. Buchanan, "I now beg leave to submit to your "Lordship's judgment, whether in the view of the temper "of mind displayed above, it would be proper in me to sub"mit my compositions to the opinion and revision of the offi❝cers of your Lordship's government. I incline not to com"mit them to the hands of those officers from another consi"deration it would be a bad precedent. I would not that "it should be thought, that any where in the British domi"nions there exists any thing like a civil inquisition into "matters purely religious.

:

"It is nearly two months since I received the letter from "government on this matter, and I have not yet communi"cated my intentions. I now beg leave to inform your "Lordship, that I do not wish to give government any un"necessary offence. I shall not publish the Prophecies.

"At the same time I beg leave most respectfully to assure "your Lordship, that I am not in any way disappointed by "the interference of government on this occasion. The sup"posed suppression of the Christian prophecies has produ"ced the consequence that might be expected. The public "curiosity has been greatly excited to see these prophecies; "and to draw the attention of men to the divine predictions "could be the only object I had in view, in noticing them in

"the course of my public ministry. Another consequence "will probably be, the Prophecies will be translated into the languages of the East, and thus pave the way, as has "sometimes happened, for their own fulfilment."

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Dr. Buchanan closed his Memorial with entreating Lord Minto, in case any circumstance should afford a pretext for renewing the attempt to suppress the translation of the Scriptures, that the Chinese translation, in which, as its original proposer and patron, he felt peculiarly interested, might at least be spared; and without offering any farther evidence or explanation of the facts asserted in his letter, which his Lordship might require. This offer, however, Lord Minto did not condescend to accept. He did not even honour Dr. Buchanan with a single word of reply. Instead of considering the Memorial as a communication intended to inform his Lordship on subjects with which he was likely to be unacquainted, he viewed it as disrespectful to his government, and transmitted it by the very fleet which conveyed Dr. Buchanan himself to England, to the Court of Directors, accompanied by a commentary, of which Dr. Buchanan remained perfectly ignorant till some years afterwards; when, with many other documents relative to Christianity in India, it was laid upon the table of the House of Commons. It then attracted his notice, and called forth some remarks, which will be better considered, when we arrive, in the course of this narrative, at the period of their publication. The Bengal government, however, not having thought proper to pay any attention to his Memorial, Dr. Buchanan deemed it to be his duty to transmit a copy of it to the Court of Directors, which he did immediately before his departure from Calcutta, accompanied by a letter, in which he expressed his hope, that some general principles on the comparative importance of religion in political relations in India, might be established at home, and transmitted to our eastern government for their guidance. Dr. Buchanan concluded his address to the Honourable Court, by recalling to their notice the solemn charge which he had received about eleven years since from their chairman, the late Sir Stephen Lushington,

the tenor of which has been already stated. "In obedience "to these instructions," observes Dr. Buchanan," I have "devoted myself much to the advancement of the Christian "religion, and of useful learning, since my arrival in India; "using such means as I was possessed of, and directing the "opportunities which have offered, to the accomplishment "of that object. I am yet sensible that I have fulfilled very "imperfectly the injunctions of your Honourable Court. It "suffices, however, for my own satisfaction, if what I have "done, has been well done; that is, with honesty of purpose, "and with the sanction of truth. In my exhibition of the "religious and moral state of British India, I might have "palliated the fact, and presented a fair picture, where "there was nothing but deformity. But in so doing, I "should not have done honour to the spirit of the admoni❝tions of your venerable chairman, now deceased. And "however grateful it may be for the present moment to "suppress painful truths, yet as my labours had chiefly re"ference to the benefit of times to come, I should not, by "such means, have conciliated the respect of your illustri"ous body twenty years hence."

Under these impressions, Dr. Buchanan requested that the Court would be pleased to investigate fully his proceedings, with respect to the promotion of Christianity in India, that the Company at large might be enabled justly to appreciate them; and that he might be encouraged (if it should appear that encouragement were due) to prosecute an undertaking which seemed, he said, to have commanded the applause of all good men, and which had certainly commenced with omens of considerable success.

Nei

The preceding letter to the Court of Directors was not published with the Memorial to the government of Bengal, nor does it seem to have been noticed by the Court. ther of those addresses, however, though unacknowledged at the time, was unproductive of effect. In Bengal, a more favourable disposition on the part of the government, towards the promotion of Christianity, shortly afterwards appeared; and the reply of the Court of Directors to the representa

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tions of the Governor General in council, though not friendly to Dr. Buchanan, was, as we shall hereafter perceive, strongly marked by those enlightened and liberal views, which he had been so anxious to see established for the guidance of our Indian governments. The favourable change which took place in the conduct of the Bengal government towards the mission at Serampore, is, however, chiefly to be ascribed to the Memorial presented by the missionaries. themselves to the Governor General in council; which, when published a few years afterwards in this country, excited general admiration.

The painful transaction which has now been detailed was nearly the last of a public nature in which Dr. Buchanan was engaged in Calcutta. The time was now approaching for his second and final departure from that city. Accordingly, in the month of November, he preached his farewell sermon to the congregation at the mission church from the words of St. Paul to the Philippians, chap. i. 27. "Only let "your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: "that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may "hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with "one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel." From this appropriate and interesting passage, Dr. Buchanan delivered a discourse remarkable for the importance of the practical truths which it enforced. After an introductory view of the origin and progress of the Church at Philippi, Dr. Buchanan considered the two particulars, of which the parting request of the Apostle to his favourite converts consists. The first respects the holy practice which they were exhorted to maintain.

"Without a highly moral conversation," observed Dr. Buchanan," a congregation of Christians cannot be said to "have substance or being; for faith without works is dead. "Unless the world see something particular in your works, "they will give you no credit for your faith; or rather, they ❝ will not care what your faith may be. In such circum"stances, your faith will give them no trouble. But when "wonderful works' appear, they will begin to ask what

"power hath produced them.' In this very Epistle, the "Apostle calls the Christians at Philippi, the sons of God,' "and the lights of the world; and he expresses his hope, "that their conduct would be correspondent with these no"ble and distinguishing appellations."

"Now," continues Dr. Buchanan, when this light shi"neth to the world, even the light of a holy life and conver"sation, it will be manifested by these two circumstances. "First, it will not be agreeable to some. And, secondly, "some will misrepresent your motives, or attach to your ❝conduct an evil name; accusing you of hypocrisy, or of "unnecessary strictness. And if no man allege any thing "of this kind against you, if the worst of men make no dero"gatory remark on your conduct, then may you doubt whe"ther you are walking in the steps of the faithful servants "of Christ. They all were marked out by the world, as "being in a greater or less degree singular and peculiar in "their conduct, as persons swayed by other principles, and "subject to other laws. If these things be so, you will per"ceive how little concerned you ought to be about the praise "of man, or the honour which cometh from the world."

Dr. Buchanan then proceeded to the second part of the Apostle's exhortation; and in urging the duty of" striving "for the faith of the Gospel," he observed, "This will ap66 pear strange to nominal Christians, both preachers and "hearers. But when once a man's heart comes under the "influence of the grace of God, he will discover (perhaps in "old age for the first time) that it is his duty, and it will be "his pleasure, to promote the faith of the Gospel, by every "way; by his means, by his influence, by his exhortation, "by his example. Every true disciple of Christ, however "humble his situation, or peculiar his circumstances, will "find opportunities of doing something for the faith of the

Gospel. And, indeed, the poor often enjoy means of use"fulness, which, from many causes, are denied to their su"periors."

Dr. Buchanan next directed the attention of his hearers to the Apostle's rule for the successful pursuit of this great ob