deed it was evident to all who saw him, that he was harassed and worn, and stood greatly in need, at this stage of his journey, of some relaxation.

The bungalow provided for the bishop gave him the advantage of the sea-breezes, which he found very refreshing. Its good effects, too, were much increased by the safe arrival, at Bombay, of his wife and child, after a tedious and distressing voyage. Being now restored to those who were most dear to him, and concerning whom he had suffered great anxiety, his lordship felt himself greatly relieved, and speedily obtained his usual health.

CHAPTER XVI.

Bombay visitation-Multiplicity of the Bishop's engagements-Islands of Elephanta and SalsetteSchools in Bombay-Subscriptions in aid of Bishop's College-Persevering exertions of the Bishop-Commencement of his intimacy with Mr. Robinson-Providential escape from danger-Opinion of Bombay— -His amiable and Christian spirit-Voyage to Ceylon — Arrival at Colombo-Visitation-Schools-State of religion on the island-Address of the archdeacon, chaplains, and missionaries—his Lordship's departure from Ceylon.

On the 25th of April, 1825, the bishop confirmed about a hundred and twenty individuals in St. Thomas's church, and afterwards delivered to them a very appropriate and impressive charge. He held his visitation on the 28th, when archdeacon Barnes preached the sermon, with which his lordship was so much pleased, that at his particular request it was afterwards published. All the clergy, six chaplains and one missionary, dined with him in the evening. The conversation turned entirely on the progress which it was hoped Christianity was steadily, though not rapidly, making in India; and the bishop expressed himself as being highly gratified with the promising state of the church in the Bombay archdeaconry, commending much the conduct of many, whose unwearied and patient labours he had witnessed.

and exciting all to prudent and persevering diligence in the great work.

The fatigue which his lordship had already endured, did not in any degree diminish his zeal in the course to which he had devoted his life. Instead of returning to Calcutta by the most direct way, he was desirous, if possible, of visiting the central parts of Hindoostan, and made many enquiries, soon after his arrival at Bombay, as to the practicability of returning by Nagpoor; and it was not without considerable difficulty he was dissuaded from attempting to undertake this immense journey. The rainy season, however, was now about setting in at Bengal, and he was ultimately prevailed upon to content himself in Bombay till this was nearly or wholly over. The arrears in his official correspondence too, owing to the interruption he had experienced for so many days. successively, rendered this necessary.

"I do not," he remarks, in one of his letters, "think, that in the regular and ordinary functions of my diocess, there is more, or even so much to be done as in any of the more extensive bishoprics in England; the small number of the clergy must prevent this being the case. But, on the other hand, every thing which is done must be done by myself, both in its spirit and in its details; and partly owing to the manner in which we are scattered, and partly to the general habit of the country, all must be done in writing. Questions which in England would not occupy more than five minutes' conversation, may here sometimes call for a letter of six or eight pages: and as nothing, or almost nothing, which concerns the interest or duties of the clergy can be settled without a reference to government, I have, in fact, at least two sets of letters to write and to receive, in every important matter that comes before me. As visitor of Bishop's College, I receive, almost every week, six or seven sheets of close writing on the

subject. I am called upon to give an opinion on the architecture, expense, and details of every church which is built, or proposed to be built in India : every application for salary of either clerk, sexton, schoolmaster, or bell-ringer, must pass through my hands, and be recommended in a letter to government. I am literally the conductor of all the missions in the three presidencies; and what is most serious of all, I am obliged to act in almost every thing from my own single judgment, and on my own single responsibility, without any more experienced person to consult, or any precedent to guide me. I have, besides, not only the Indian clergy and the Indian government to correspond with, but the religious societies at home, whose agent I am, and to whom I must send occasional letters, the composition of each of which occupies me many days; while, in the scarcity of clergy, which is and must be felt here, I feel myself bound to preach, in one or other of the churches, or stations, no less frequently than when I was in England. All this, when one is stationary at Calcutta, may be done without any great difficulty; but my journeys throw me sadly into arrears. The work is indeed as much as I can do, and, I fear, more than I can do well; as no comparison can be formed between the degrees of fatigue occasioned by clerical duties in England and in India. When I came out of the pulpit yesterday, my lawn sleeves were as if they had been soaked in water."

The letters written by the bishop, while he was at Bombay, were all highly interesting, abounding with valuable remarks respecting the climate, the productions, the curiosities, (natural and artificial,) the manners and customs of India. Their leading subject, however, was invariably something relating to the great work which he had immediately in hand. Every letter bore some distinct reference to this important subject, while many of the longest and most

interesting, related to it almost entirely, pointing out eligible spots for missionary labour; suggesting improved plans for missionary operations; giving directions for the avoidance of those errors which, without great care, were likely to occur, to the serious injury of the Christian cause; and exerting invariably the nicest discrimination in the selection of different individuals for the various stations of his immense diocess.

While at Bombay the bishop made some excursions into the surrounding country, accompanied by Mrs. Heber, Mr. Elphinstone, the governor, and some other intelligent and distinguished Europeans. On one of these occasions they visited the Island of Elephanta, so named by the Portuguese, from an immense stone elephant which is there, about three times the size of a living one, cut out of the solid rock. They pursued their journey in the middle of one of the hottest days, till they reached the mouth of the immense cavern found in this island, which is justly celebrated for the spacious and splendid Hindoo temple it contains. "It is," says Heber, “in a most magnificent situation, deserving all the praise which has been lavished upon it: and though my expectations were highly raised, the reality much exceeded them; the dimensions, the sculpture, the proportions being of a more noble character, and a more elegant execution than I had been led to suppose.

On another of these occasions they made an excursion to Salsette, a very beautiful island, containing fifty thousand inhabitants, all extremely poor. It is larger than Bombay, from which it was formerly divided by a shallow arm of the sea; but is now united to it by a causeway, made for the accommodation of the surrounding country by governor Duncan. The greater part of the inhabitants reside in villages, which, though surrounded by scenery, the