CHAPTER XVII.

The Bishop's voyage from Ceylon-Arrival at Calcutta -Interest he takes in Bishop's College-Ordination of Abdul Musseeh—Visit to Chinsurah—Commences his second visitation journey—Voyage to Madras— First sermon there-State of the schools-Suggests the propriety of having an evening-lecture-Preaches the first evening-sermon in Madras-Reaches Pondicherry-Cuddalore-State of the mission thereTemple of Siva-Arrival at Tanjore-Confirmation service, and charge-Visit to the Rajah-Persevering exertions—Parting address to the missionaries -Illness of Dr. Heyne, and great attention paid him by Heber.

OWING to Heber's dangerous and very tedious voyage to Calcutta, he did not arrive there till the 21st of October. The Discovery encountered, on the 17th, a most severe gale, which proved destructive to another vessel, if not to more, in the same sea; as they picked up, while cruising about the next day, in hopes of meeting a pilot, the crew of a ship which had gone down during the gale, consisting of thirty-nine individuals, who, having escaped in the boat, were now tossing about in the sea, with scarcely any provisions; and whom the bishop's detention was thus providentially made the

means of rescuing from their perilous condition, greatly to the joy of himself and of all on board.

His lordship landed at Calcutta on the 21st, having been absent, in the visitation of only one part of his vast diocess, fourteen months; during which he had travelled through a greater extent of country, and had encountered more perils than perhaps had ever fallen to the lot of any other Christian bishop since the days of the apostles; and yet he had still to traverse the immense tracts of southern India before he could be said to have completed his visitation. In the Calcutta Church Missionary Society's Report, it is well remarked, that his lordship, by manifesting in every place the liveliest zeal for the missionary cause, had gladdened the hearts of the native Christians, and brought them into close connexion with their episcopal head; thus teaching them to regard him as their chief pastor.

Owing to Heber's long absence from home, much important ecclesiastical business had unavoidably accumulated; and as he proposed setting off again to complete his visitation, in the course of two months, not a moment's time was now to be lost. Instead, therefore, of his having a little relaxation to recruit his exhausted strength, preparatory to his next arduous journey, his mind was so incessantly employed, that he became more, rather than less, fatigued.

Hearing that archdeacon Barnes was on the eve of sailing for England, the bishop wrote him a brief but affectionate farewell-letter, remarking, at the close: "And now, my dear and valued friend, accept my best adieus, and my thanks for the pleasure and advantage which I have received from your advice, your agreeable conversation, and your unvaried good-nature and kindness. You have my best prayers for your safe passage and your speedy and happy reunion with those who are most

dear to you.

In India we shall miss you sadly: but who, under such circumstances, could urge you to remain any longer?"

The first object of Heber's care, after his return to Calcutta, was Bishop's College, which he regarded justly as of the greatest importance in promoting the spread of Christianity in India. With the discipline enjoined, and the method of instruction pursued by principal Mill, on the soundness of whose judgment he placed the greatest reliance, he was indeed perfectly satisfied; but the college itself was still very far from being completed, and the subscriptions received for its support, though most liberal, both in England and in India, had been found inadequate to the expenditure. Owing to his lordship's indefatigable exertions, subscriptions to the amount of twenty-four thousand siccarupees had already been made towards it in India ; but even this, with the munificent benefactions received from the societies in England, was found to be insufficient, though it was laid out with the most scrupulous economy, to complete the building, on the extensive scale projected by bishop Middleton: and much more was necessary to be done than had been comprised in his plan, as he had made no provision for building printingoffices, making roads, or draining the land, which it was really necessary to do to promote the health of the students.

"Of the great talents, splendid liberality, and illustrious piety of bishop Middleton," remarks Heber, "God forbid that I should ever speak without reverence. It is impossible to see what he has done, and what an impression he has left in India, without honouring him and loving his memory, as one of the best and wisest prelates whom the English church can reckon among her worthies. But I may be allowed to say, that in the situation

and style of building which he adopted, and other circumstances connected with his designs, he appears to have derived his information from very incompetent sources; and that, had his life been prolonged he would have encountered abundant mortification and disappointments, on which he probably little calculated. Still the college which he has left behind, though it might have been more providently begun, is a beautiful monument of his taste and genius; and conducted as it is by Mr. Mill, who is never to be named without praise, it bids fair to confer more important advantages on India than any thing which England has yet done for this most interesting part of her foreign empire."

On the 21st of December, 1825, after an excellent sermon from archdeacon Corrie, the bishop admitted to episcopal ordination several individuals, most of whom owed their conversion principally to the labours of the archdeacon. Among these was Abdul Musseeh, an individual of high respectability, of great zeal, and of considerable attainments. The service, which is at all times impressive, was on this occasion peculiarly so. Here was an experienced individual, of a rich family, and of a highly-cultivated mind, solemnly separating himself from all secular and worldly affairs, and devoting himself solely to the service of God. "The well-known character of all the candidates," remarks Mr. Robinson," and the bright prospects of futurity which opened upon the mind, as the probable result of this day's services, conspired to make the scene one of deep and powerful interest."

It was increasingly evident, from the whole of the bishop's engagements, and more especially from his public discourses, that his zeal in promoting the spread of Christianity, not only continued unabated, but became every day more intense. In almost

every sermon he preached, the subject of individual activity in the Redeemer's cause, in some of its bearings at least, was powerfully and eloquently enforced. The zeal of his lordship was not, however, confined exclusively to the subject of missions; though he never overlooked its paramount importance. He was on all occasions, the steady friend of humanity, and the unflinching patron of benevolence. Every institution formed for the alleviation of distress, in whatever form, or among whatever class it appeared, was sure to find in him a firm friend and a powerful advocate. Accordingly he preached a most impressive sermon on Christmas-day, 1825, in the cathedral at Calcutta, in behalf of the Society for the Relief of distressed Europeans, as he had done the preceding year. He selected for his text, those most appropriate words, Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill to men."-Luke, ii. 14. And after strikingly illustrating the fact, that the incarnation of the Redeemer was the subject of rejoicing to angels as well as to men, he concluded his discourse by such irresistible appeals, in behalf of the object for which they were assembled, as could not fail to make a deep impression on the minds of all present.

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Early in January, 1826, the bishop visited Chinsurah, a town about twenty miles from Calcutta, which had then been recently transferred by the Dutch government to the English. He was not a little delighted to find, that though there were three missionaries from different societies here, yet they all lived in harmony and peace, evidently making it their great object to promote the spread of Christianity, without murmurings, or disputings, or the least compromise of principle. The bishop preached on Sunday the 8th, to a numerous congregation, when Mr. Mundy, of the London Missionary