expressions in that work relative to the apparent absence of religious views and feelings in the Europeans generally resident in India, might be considered as somewhat too strongly and indiscriminately hazarded, no well-grounded objection to his representations upon any point connected with his main argument was ever substantiated. So convinced was Dr. Buchanan himself of his correctness and integrity as to the statements contained in his Memoir, that in a note to his letter to the Court of Directors from Calcutta, in December 1807, which has been already mentioned, he ventured to make the following appeal upon this subject.

"The Memoir of the expediency of an Ecclesi"astical Establishment for British India has now "been in the hands of our Indian governments for 66 a year and a half, and I have not heard that any "one fact or deduction contained in that volume "has been disputed or disproved; which in this "country, where the merits of such a work can be "best understood, and where only just information "of the local circumstances therein detailed can be

obtained, and where moreover there are fourteen

weekly publications to animadvert on that inform"ation, may be considered as some testimony to "its general accuracy, as well as some acknowledg"ment of the necessity of the great measure therein proposed."

The labours of the friends and advocates of diffusing Christian knowledge in India more than

kept pace with those of its adversaries. Amongst others, the venerable Bishop Porteus wrote some remarks on Mr. Twining's pamphlet, which were published anonymously, and which, in a strain of animated and well-directed irony, defended the measures of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and what his Lordship termed "Dr. Buchanan's "invaluable Memoir."

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Early in the spring appeared Mr. Cunningham's Essay on the duty, means, and consequences of introducing the Christian religion among the "native inhabitants of the British dominions in "the East;" forming a part of the work which he had submitted to the University of Cambridge, as a candidate for Dr. Buchanan's prize. The main argument of this able and elaborate publication was founded upon the malignant and pernicious nature of the Hindoo superstition; which was here so completely developed, as not only to form a decisive answer to the statements of such writers as the Bengal Officer, but to prove the obligation of Great Britain to communicate that divine system of faith and morals, by which alone the civil and religious character of the natives of India can be effectually improved.

1

Mr. Cunningham's Essay was followed by the Prize Dissertation of the Author of these Memoirs;

• See Owen's History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, vol. i. p. 350.

of which he will only observe, that he shall ever esteem it one of the chief privileges and blessings of his life to have contributed, in whatever degree, to the accomplishment of the great end which the admirable proposer of the subject had in view; the infinite importance of which is confirmed by every year's experience, and cannot fail ere long to be universally acknowledged.

One other work remains to be mentioned of singular excellence and authority; and of which it may be justly remarked, that had it appeared in an earlier stage of the controversy, it would have superseded every other. This was the production of Lord Teignmouth; who, together with the principles of Christian piety and benevolence, brought to the consideration of the weighty subject in question the correct and extensive local knowledge and the practical wisdom and experience which were the result of the high stations he had occupied in India. The temperate and dignified manner in which his Lordship discussed the various topics connected with the controversy before us, deserve the highest admiration; nor is it too much to assert, that his "Considerations on the practicability, policy, and

obligation of communicating to the natives of "India the knowledge of Christianity," were not only conclusive of the temporary contest in which they appeared, but will remain a standing testimony to the duty of a Christian nation towards its ignorant and unconverted subjects.

It would be unjust to close this brief enumeration of the principal writers in this controversy, without mentioning the eminent services of one periodical publication, distinguished by the zeal and ability with which it originally embraced and steadily supported the great cause of Christianity in India. It is scarcely necessary to add the name of "the Christian Observer;" which, whether in the examination of the productions on either side of the question, or in original communications, may justly claim a very considerable share of the praise which belongs to its successful termination.

Thus, as in the instance of the rising opposition at Calcutta, the storm which threatened to overwhelm the efforts of Christian benevolence in this country to diffuse the knowledge of the Gospel in the East was quickly dispersed; and the advocates of this important and salutary measure were for the present permitted to continue their peaceful and charitable course without farther interruption or disturbance.

CHAP. II.

WHILE the controversy, of which a brief view has been given, was thus carrying on, the person, whose zealand activity had principally given occasion to it, was quietly pursuing his voyage from India to his native country. Of the incidents which occurred during the five months which intervened between Dr. Buchanan's departure from Point de Galle in Ceylon to his arrival in England about the middle of August, no memorial appears to have been preserved. The following extracts from letters to several of his friends, though they fail in expressing his emotions on revisiting his native shores, after an absence of twelve years, during which he had been employed in so important and honourable a manner, and had experienced such vicissitudes of joy and sorrow, of repose and toil, of gratification and trial, will yet afford some notices of his proceedings. They will serve also to shew his filial affection, his wish for retirement, yet his desire of usefulness as a minister of the Gospel, and his lively interest in the progress of true religion in this country.

His first visit, on his arrival in London, was to the house of Mr. Newton; " but judge," said he to one of his correspondents, "what were my feelings, when I was informed that my venerable