his correspondents; and lamented what he considered his unkindness, in forbearing to encourage him during the labours of the last five years. He then expressed a hope, that his death would prove useful to two persons whom he particularly named.

On the morning of the 22d, Mr. Brown, on entering his sick chamber, found him still fixed in his opinion that he should die, and opening his spiritual state to another Christian friend. He then took a review of the way in which the providence of God had led him from his earliest years; and gave his friends a brief sketch of his history: the romantic project of his youth; his residence in London; his conversion to the faith and practice of a real Christian; his career at Cambridge; his voyage to India; and his comparative banishment during the first three years of his residence in that country. At this critical period, Mr. Buchanan observed, his call by Lord Wellesley to the chaplaincy of the Presidency, and the subsequent establishment of the college, had given him an important work to perform; that his preaching, indeed, (notwithstanding the specimens which have been before given of its ability and excellence, such was the high standard to which he aspired,) had been unsatisfactory to himself, but that his spiritual labours and opportunities in college, though desultory, had often afforded him comfort. He added, says Mr. Brown," that I must "preach," probably intending his funeral sermon," though "he felt himself unworthy to choose a text; yet that it must "be from these words, Being justified by faith, we have "peace with God.""

"After praying earnestly," continues Mr. Brown, "for "some time, he lay quite still, and then with great tran"quillity and satisfaction said, What a happy movement ! "Now I am resigned; now I desire not to live. I am un"worthy of this.' He then spoke of his hope, and said that "he could only be saved by grace."

After this conversation, Mr. Buchanan mentioned his wishes concerning his funeral and monument, and spoke of his departure from the world as a happy deliverance from

the evils which he foresaw he should have to encounter, if he were to return to Europe. Alluding to his intended journey, which his present illness had prevented, he said, “ I am "now about to travel not an earthly journey, but still to "unknown regions of the Gospel.' I shall now pass over "the heads of old men labouring usefully for Christ; and at "this early period be advanced to see what eye hath not "seen, nor ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart of "man to conceive,' and behold discoveries of the glory of "Christ, God manifest in the flesh,' who hath come to us, ❝and kindly taken us by the hand. He will lift us out of "the deep waters, and set us at his own right hand. I once "saw not the things I now see; I knew not the Gospel. "Now I pray, that the little I have known may be perfect❝ed, and that God would complete his work on my soul.”

Mr. Brown adds, that his apparently dying friend was almost continually praying in a humble, submissive, patient, and fervent tone, for mercy and grace through Jesus Christ; and, with the Apostle, that God might be glorified by his life or death.

Such is the interesting and instructive memorial which remains of this alarming illness of Mr. Buchanan. While it demonstrates the excellence and the solidity of the principles which could thus support him, it must surely excite in the mind of every reader a conviction of their value, and an earnest desire to possess the same consolation in a season of similar trial.

Of the progress of his recovery nothing is particularly recorded. The fever appears gradually to have subsided; and on the 4th of September he was so far restored as to be able to remove to Barrackpore for change of air, and afterwards to Sooksagur, about forty miles above Calcutta. The remembrance, however, of his illness, and the impressions which an anticipated deathbed had made upon his mind, instead of being obliterated, as in too many instances, by returning health, were ever afterwards cherished and retained. The scene was, perhaps, intended to prepare him for the painful trial which was approaching; and both, as we

shall shortly perceive, produced the happy effect of quickening him in his Christian course, and of rendering him even more zealous and unwearied in the service of his heavenly Master.

One of Mr. Buchanan's first exertions of recovered health was in writing the following reply to a pious man, who appears to have been known to him during the early part of his residence in England, and to have been employed as a humble preacher of the Gospel. It was found amongst the papers of the late Mr. Henry Thornton, to whom it had probably been sent by the person to whom it was addressed, for the purpose which the letter itself will explain. The Christian kindness and humility which it breathes sufficiently authorize its insertion.

"My dear Friend,

"Calcutta, 3d Sept. 1805.

"I received your letter by Mr. B- about five years ago, and in consequence took him into my house for some time. "The young man is in the army, and conducts himself, I "hear, with propriety. I am sorry to find that my answer "to your letter on that occasion has never reached you.

"A few days ago I received your letter of the 4th of No"vember 1804 by Mr. Taylor, a missionary to India. In "that letter you mention that you are still poor; and, what "is better, that you preach the Gospel to the poor. After "so long an interval, it gives me great pleasure to learn "that you are yet found faithful, and that in the midst of 66 your poverty you have found the unsearchable riches.' "Your heavenly Father knoweth best what is good for you; "and he hath, no doubt, led you hitherto in that narrow and “peculiar path which was suited to your state, and necessary for the advancement of his glory.

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"I have, on the other hand, been led in a broader road, "and a more dangerous way. If I have been preserved, if "I am yet, in my measure, faithful in dispensing the Gos"pel, and in promoting by various means the interests of

"Christ's kingdom, it is mercy; far more distinguished "mercy, as it appears to me, than that which has been ma"nifested in you. The Gospel is not without its witness "even in this place. The company of the faithful is increa"sing, and the opportunities of publishing the good tidings "are multiplying.

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"I inclose to you a note on my agents in London for fifty pounds. I should send you more, if I thought it would do "you any good. If you should want more, ask Mr. Henry "Thornton for it, and I will repay him.

"I was much pleased with your account of your aged fa"ther. I think on the whole you have reason to be thank"ful that your family are so well disposed of in the course "of years and worldly revolution. It seemeth good to Pro"vidence to keep you all in a strait estate; and that is the "general dispensation to God's favoured people.

"That you may be blessed yourself, and continue to be a "blessing to others, is the prayer of,

"Dear Sir,

"Your sincere friend,

"C. BUCHANAN."

During the temporary retreat of Mr. Buchanan at Sooksagur, for the reestablishment of his health, he was diligently employed in Hebrew, Syriac, and Chaldaic studies, with various accompaniments of Rabbinical and other commentators. In the midst, however, of this occupation, he was interrupted by the afflicting intelligence of the death of Mrs. Buchanan. This distressing, though in some measure expected, event had taken place on the 18th of June, on board the East India ship, in which she was returning to England, off the Island of St. Helena. Of Mr. Buchanan's feelings upon this mournful occasion, as well as respecting his own late illness, the two following letters will afford an affecting and truly interesting picture. The first is to his friend Colonel Sandys.

"My dear Sandys,

"Sooksagur, near Calcutta, 22d Oct. 1805.

"I have been at this place for some time past, in the "hope of getting a little strength. I was visited by a fever "about two months ago, and was despaired of for a day or "two. But the prayers of the righteous were offered up, "and my days have been prolonged. It was with a kind of ❝reluctance I felt myself carried back by the refluent waves ❝to encounter again the storms of this life: for I had hoped "the fight was done. Although unprofitable has been my "life, and feeble my exertions; yet I was more afraid of the "trials to come, if I should survive, than of departing to my "rest, if it was the will of God. I had made a disposition "of my fortune to Mary, and her pious purposes; (for she "too had undertakings in view ;) believing that she would "be much more useful than I could. My first care on my "convalescence was to write to her an account of that event. "In a few days afterwards the Calcutta Indiaman arrived "from St. Helena, and brought me the news of my dear "Mary's decease! Before she went away I perceived that "her affections were nearly weaned from this world; and "she often said, that she thought God was preparing her for "his presence in glory. She was greatly favoured in her "near access to God in prayer; and she delighted in retire"ment and sacred meditation. She was jealous of herself "latterly, when she anticipated the happiness of our all "meeting in England; and endeavoured to chastise the "thought.

"Her sufferings were great, but she accounted her conso"lations greater; and she used to admire the goodness of "God to her, in bringing her to a knowledge of the truth at "so early an age. It was her intention, had she lived to "reach England, to have gone down with her two little girls "to visit you; saying, we shall behold each other as two "new creatures.' You had been accused to her of being too "peculiar, and she wished to see what was amiss.

"When she found her dissolution drawing near, she so"lemnly devoted her two little girls to God; and prayed that