MEMOIRS OF THE REV. DR. BUCHANAN. PART III. CHAP. I. pre OF the events referred to at the close of the ceding division of this narrative, the first in order of time relates to the determination of the munificent prizes proposed by Dr. Buchanan to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, in the year 1805. It has been already stated, that the time assigned for this purpose was the 4th of June, 1807; on which day, the prize was adjudged at Oxford to the Author of these Memoirs. At Cambridge some circumstances occurred which prevented any decision upon the subject; and which the following letter from the Vice-Chancellor of that University to Dr. Buchanan will sufficiently explain. "Reverend Sir, "The sum of five hundred pounds proposed by you for the best Essay on The probable Design of divine Providence in subjecting so large a Portion of India to the British Empire,' &c. was accepted by the University; and Dr. Milner, Dr. Jowett, and Dr. Outram, appointed to read the compositions, and decide upon their respective merits. "Of all that were sent in within the appointed time, not one was deemed worthy of so magnificent a prize. Another came a few days after the time, which was unanimously preferred to all the rest; and to which the examiners would without the least hesitation have adjudged the prize, but did not think themselves authorised to do so, without your special permission, as one of the conditions, the presenting the composition within such a time, had not been complied with. "The author has since avowed himself to be the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, M. A. of St. John's college. "Dr. Pearce, Vice Chancellor at the time when the examiners made their report, having heard that you were on your passage to England, deferred writing, as he daily expected to have a personal interview with you: and thus has devolved to me the office of communicating to you the thanks of the whole University for your very liberal offer, and their regret that your design has not been completely carried into execution. "Though I have not the honour of being known to you, yet in admiration of your character as the munificent Patron and Promoter of literature, "I subscribe myself, With the greatest respect, Your very humble Servant, "St. Peter's College, Cambridge, Jan. 19th, 1808." It appears that Dr. Buchanan did not feel himself at liberty to make any decision upon the point stated in the preceding letter, and that the University was unwilling to resume the official consideration of the subject. He offered, however, to bear the expense of printing Mr. Cunningham's work. On the 10th of May, and the 28th of June, 1807, two sermons were preached before the University of Cambridge, by the Rev. Francis Wrangham, of Trinity College, and the Rev. John Dudley, of Clare Hall, pursuant to the proposal of Dr. Buchanan in the preceding year, on the translation of the Scriptures into the oriental languages. Two discourses on the same important subject were preached before the University of Oxford, on the 8th and 29th of November following, by the Rev. Dr. Barrow, of Queen's College, and the Rev. Edward Nares, of Merton College. The two former of these sermons were published in the course of the year 1807, and the two latter early in 1808. All of them, with different degrees of ability and eloquence, and by various considerations and arguments, supported the duty and expediency of translating the sacred records into the principal languages of the East; and all strenuously maintained the general obligation of this country to attempt, by every wise and rational method, to promote the knowledge of Christianity in India. But the authors of these excellent discourses, like those of the first series of prize compositions, though a most able and efficient corps, formed the advanced guard only, if the expression may be allowed, of the main body which was now hastening to its support, and whose united exertions were eventually crowned with the most gratifying and decisive success. Dr. Buchanan's Memoir on the expediency of an Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India, produced, as might be expected, a considerable sensation on the public mind. The subject was not only highly important, but it was new. The world had, indeed, heard much of East Indian commerce, policy, and conquests; but of East Indian religion, little or nothing. Now and then the name of a chaplain to the Company had been mentioned, and, still more rarely, that of a missionary to the Hindoos. But, generally speaking, the whole subject of the religion of India was little known, and still less regarded. Its European population was presumed, without thought or enquiry, to be sufficiently provided with the means of Christian instruction; and as to the natives, they were considered as a race so completely separated from ourselves, and at the same time so religious and even moral in their own way, that, with the exception of those who had heard something of the Danish mission on the coast of Coromandel, the idea of converting any considerable number of the Hindoos was either treated as altogether unnecessary, and even unjust, or deemed in the highest degree visionary and impracticable. The admirable writings of Sir William Jones had illustrated the history, the antiquities, and the laws of India, and had excited some degree of literary and even political interest in favour of its native inhabitants; but the peculiarly Christian consideration of them and of their country was a topic which had hitherto been but incidentally noticed. In this state of things, a work like the Memoir of Dr. Buchanan, exclusively devoted to this momentous and unusual subject, and characterised by great boldness, decision, and ability, might naturally be expected to produce a powerful and various impression upon the public. The more religious part of it hailed this production as presenting facts and arguments of a most important nature, and as opening a boundless sphere of exertion to the newly awakened and expanding energies of Christian benevolence and zeal; while others, and those a numerous and respectable class, considered it as at best a rash and unauthorised publication, and even deprecated it as tending to excite dissatis |