" Scriptures into all the languages from the borders of the
•* Caspian to the sea of Japan.
" An idea seems to have gone forth in England, that Lord
« Wellesley founded his college merely to instruct the Com-
<*pany's writers. Lord W^ellesley founded the college of
" Fort William to enlighten the oriental world ; to give
g6S MEMOIRS OF
<« science, religion, and pure morals to Asia; and to confirm
** in it the British power and dominion.
<«.... It is the opinion of intelligent men in India, that
" the formation of an extensive ecclesiastical estahlishment
*< is a measure which, during the present revolutions of Eu-
" rope, will tend greatly to confirm our dominion. It is
<* certain that nothing would more alarm the portentous
" invader of nations, than our taking a * religious possession'
<*of Hindostan. Five hundred respectable clergy of the
<' English church, established in our Gentoo cities, would
<' more perplex his views of conquest than an army of fifty
"thousand British soldiers. The army of fifty thousand
^* would melt away in seven years ; but the influence of an
^< upright clergyman among the natives of his district would
« be permanent. He would be to them in time their mouth
" and mind, and speak for them peace or war. Friendly,
" admonitory, social intercourse is what is wanting to en-
" chain the hearts of the people of Hindostan, and to make
" them our people.
'^ . . . . The toleration of all religions, and the zealous
" extension of our own, is the way to rule and preserve a
" conquered kingdom. It is certain that men are ruled vir-
^' tually by the Church, though ostensibly by the State, in
<« every country. The seeds of moral obedience and social
" order are all in the Church.
« How India is to be preserved in time to come must be
" submitted to the wisdom of the Imperial Parliament. If
" the Scriptures be from God, our nation does not deserve
<* at his hand to retain the possession of this ' paradise of
" nations' a year longer ; so greatly have we abused our
j<^ sacred trust. We have, in one word, « withheld the reve-
ls lation of God; and permitted the libation to Moloch of
^« human blood.' In the course of the two last months, the
*' Rev. Mr. Brown, the senior of the English clergy now in
^* India, has witnessed the burning alive of eight women at
" the place of sacrifice, in the suburbs of Calcutta, as he
" passed casually on his way from his country-house to the
^« church in town. How can the minister of the altar ap-
DR. BUCHANAN. ^63
f« proach without trembling to his holy oflSice, when he re-
« fleets on such scenes, and on their connexion with the sin
" of his country !
« I said a little on these subjects in my Memoir; but had
<^ I said all I could say, I should have exposed to severe cen-
" sure the national character. I have since been visited by
•^ a dangerous illness ; and when I considered myself at the
'* point of death, I repented that I had not spoken more loud-
" ly and more faithfully to my Christian country.
" In the hope of atoning for a mistaken tenderness, I would
" now impress the mind of your Grace with a just sentiment
« of our present state in India, in order that your Grace
'i may deliberate on the means of promoting the welfare of
<< the hundred million of souls which Providence has commit-
" ted to our charge.
<< One observation I would make on the proposed Ecclesi-
«astical Establishment. A partial or half measure will
« have no useful eff*ect. A few additional chaplains can
« do nothing towards the attainment of the great objects in
*< view.
^< An Archbishop is wanted for India ; a sacred and exal-
« ted character, surrounded by his Bishops, of ample reve-
« nue and extensive sway ; a venerable personage, whose
'^ name shall be greater than that of the transitory governors
<^of the land; and whose fame for piety, and for the will and
<^ power to do good, may pass throughout every region.
« We want something royal in a spiritual or temporal
"sense, for the abject subjects of this great eastern empire
« to look up to. They cannot conceive themselves in a set-
" tied state without a Sultan or Maha Rajah. They are in-
" capable of freedom; for superstition keeps men in child-
"hood. And yet they have neither King nor Emperor;
<« they have neither national temple nor high priest. They
" are a mixed multitude, who have no common sentiment of
" truth or falsehood, of right or wrong. Every man contra-
" diets his neighbour; and the European tells them they are
" all right !
S64 MEMOIRS OF
** Spiritual power, with means of instruction, is wanting,
•* to awaken to life this sluggish and inert race. Vegeta-
<^ ting in ignorance and passive misery, they want a sacred
<* guide, who shall take them by the hand, and lift them up,
" and look them in the face, and express some interest in
*< their happiness. The success of the solitary missionary
<* demonstrates what would be the powerful effect of the whole
« Church.
^< 1 feel a solicitude that your Grace should not consider
" me as adverting to subjects unnecessary or unimportant
*» in themselves, or such as it is not becoming in me to allude
*« to. My apology for noticing the political state of our In-
** dian empire is this. The existence of it is involved in re-
« ligious considerations. The men whose business it is to
«' know this will not believe it. But where is the truth to
" be found, if not from those who are at the fountain of infor-
*< mation ; who, if they fulfil their sacred character, are not
"careless 'observers of the signs of the times;' and who
" stand, as it were, on an eminence, and behold their own
" country and India distinctly in one view ? I would not
<' without reason urge this subject on the attention of good
" men at home. India is nothing to me, in the sense in
" which some value it. I am about to leave it. But truth
^* and the honour of the nation are something. There is a
" yet more solemn sanction. The word of God is e^verlast-
«*ing; but our dominion in India is temporary. That do-
" minion has been exercised in succession by the other pow
" crs of Europe. But Providence did not intend that the
" Romish faith should be given to Asia. Now we reign. But
<* we do not fulfil the purpose for whicli the sceptre was given.
<« Why then should Providence withhold the country from a
'< new invader? If we ultimately lose it, let us acknowledge
'< the justice of God in the dispensation.
" It will be a satisfaction to your Grace, to know that the
<^< translation of the Scriptures into the oriental languages
<« still proceeds with spirit, though many do not smile on our
" labours. A few individuals have devoted their slender
*< means to the furtlierance of this great work. But these pri-
DR. BUCHANAI^. 26d
<• vate resources will soon fail. A commencement fho^GVQv,
<* in the translations is of vast importance. They are begun
*« < in faith ;' and we trust to the divine Author to bring to a
<< happy termination (though not perhaps in our time) the
** versions of his own most holy word. ^
*< We have it in contemplation to bring tlie great question
<* of giving the Scriptures to the heathen before the public
<*in a few weeks, and to move the subject at all the Presi-
*« dencies in India at the same time. The Protestant mission
*< here must be used as the engine to effect this design,
" (wielded by the power of the college,) seeing we have no
<< church of our own as a corporate body, and the duration of
<* the college is uncertain. If the public voice shall favour
*' the proposal, an immense sum will be subscribed, and the
<^ translations will be carried on under happy auspices.
<* Britain will acquire by these works a lasting renown
<< among * the churches which are in Asia,' planted in a new
" age. She is indebted for it (under the divine counsel)
" to the honest purpose of Marquis Wellesley to do good in
" India. And I consider that the success which has hitherto
** attended the translations of the Scriptures is a « token for
" good,' and the best < sign' we have in present circumstan-
*< ces that Providence means to preserve to us this country.
*< I have the honour to present to your Grace, for the ar-
" chiepiscopal library at Lambeth Palace, in the name of
<< the college of Fort William, and with the permission of the
"Marquis Wellesley, a valuable copy of the Mohammedan
" Koran in folio, beautifully ornamented with paintings and
" oriental enamel, and written by the pen of the Sultaun
<< Allavuddeen Siljuky, about four hundred years ago. It
<« has descended to these times in the line of emperors ; and
" was found in the library of Tippoo Sultan at Seringapa-
<< tarn, after the reduction of that capital by the British
*' armies.
<*By depositing the most valuable Koran of Asia in the
« ancient library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the col-
« lege of Fort William would intimate, that the sway of the
"East, once usurped by the Arabian impostor, has now re-
J. 2
^(56 •MEMOIRS OF
•» verted to a Christian power; and would express the hope,
•• that, in return for this volume of emblazoned delusion, the
*' Church of England will exhibit to all nations the dutiful
»* act so long expected, and send forth to tl»e inhabitants of
** Asia the true revelation of God."
Tlic reply which the Archbishop was pleased to make to
the preceding letter will prove, that his Grace duly appreci-
ated the importance of the subject of whicji it treated; nor
can it be doubted that the representations of Mr. Buchanan
contributed to tlie accomplishment of the great purpose to
whicli his labours had been long directed.
Within a few days after the date of this able and eloquent
address, a second attack of ague and fever again laid Mr.
Buchanan aside for a fortnight. On his recovery, he was
informed by Mr. Udny, tliat Sir George Barlow, now Go-
vernor General, had appointed him Provost of the college,
under the new regulation, which admitted only of one super-
intending officer. This honourable distinction afforded Mr.
Buchanan an opportunity, which he immediately embraced,
of manifesting botli his disinterestedness and his friendship
for his valuable associate Mr. Brown. On the very next
day he intimated to the government his wish to resign the
appointment to the Provostship in favour of Mr. Brown, in
consideration not only of his long and meritorious services as
a chaplain of the Company, but of the extent of his family,
and the slender provision which in consequence of that cir-
cumstance, and of his liberal and charitable disposition, he
liad as yet been able to make for their support. No deci-
sive arrangement, however, appears to have been made,
until the arrival of final orders upon the subject from En-
gland.
Mr. Buchanan closeti liis ministerial labours this year, by
a sermon on Christmas Day, on the appropriate subject of
the diffusion of that evangelical light in India, the dawn of
which they were commemorating on that festival.
The usual college examinations first occupied the atten-
tion of Mr. Buchanan in the following year. At their close,
towards the end of January, in writing to Mr. Grant re-
DR. BUCHANAN. . 267
specting one of the students who had distinguished himself
by his talents and assiduity, he mentions an idea whicli iiad
occurred to liim relative to tlie now establislanent at Hoil-
ford, and which may serve to shew the activity of his mind
upon every subject connected with the improvement of India.
"I have encouraged a few native moonshees to tiiink of
*« proceeding to England, to aid the students of Hertford col-
" lege in their pronunciation of the oriental tongues. It ap-
" pears to me that it would greatly subserve the cause of
" Christian knowledge in Asia, if the Company were to in-
" vite to England a few respectable and learned natives
" every year. They would see us to advantage at home ;
^<but they see us at a great disadvantage here.
«< I forgot to say in my last how much I was gratified by
*' your mention of the Chinese language in the printed pro-
'^ spectus of the new college which you sent me. That pas-
«• sage was highly valuable and important."
It is, however, to be regretted, that the Chinese language
has not yet been cultivated by the servants of the Comjiany
either in India or in England, notwithstanding the facilities
afforded by the Chinese class, the establishment of which by
Mr. Buchanan has been already mentioned.
On the 12tli of February, Mr. Buchanan again wrote to
Mr. Grant, on the return of some of liis friends to England,
and thus expresses his sentiments on the political state of
Europe, respecting which, thougli the period was tlien dis-
tant to which he looked forward, his view was remarkably
just, as well as religious.
«* It is now nearly six months since we had any ships from
" England ; and few private letters since April 1805. By
" the overland packet, however, we learn the state of public
« affairs in Europe. If the combined nations should not be
« able to make much impression on Buonaparte, then may
««we believe that a remarkable period spoken of in the pro-
« phets is at hand. But if (as is most natural to suppose
<* from the common course of things) he is to be shorn of his
<^ power, then will another nation (that is, Britain) be tri-
•< umphant in the world, and another great event spoken of
g(58 MEMOIRS OF
" by the prophets may be expected, even that to which oiu'
^< Lord alludes, < And the Gospel must first be published
*^ amonj^ all nations.' For what other people can begin this
'« work like us? It would require three centuries, judging
<^ by past history, for any other nation to be so matured by
*« power and will to evangelize the heathen, as we now are,
« or rather as we shall be when the usurper of many crowns
« shall fall like Lucifer, and we shall be delivered from the
*<fear of that dreaded event, his expedition to the East; for
" with infinitely more ease than ever Alexander did may he
<^ march through eastern countries, if he could once get his
*< army to the south of the Hellespont.*'
Mr. Buchanan's next letter to the same highly esteemed
correspondent displays in a striking yet unaffected point of
view, the piety, tenderness, and humility of his mind, toge-
ther with his unremitting anxiety, amidst infirm and languid
health, for the great interests of religion. The hint of eccle-
siastical preferment to which he alludes was very natural.
It occurred to many in England and in India ; and amongst
others to his excellent colleague Mr. Brown; who, as he had
the best opportunities of knowing his talents and qualifica-
tions, wrote expressly to a distinguished person connected
with India in this country, recommending in the strongest
terms the elevation of Mr. Buchanan to the episcopal digni-
ty in the East, whenever it should happily be determined to
make such an appointment for our oriental dominions. For
the present, however, let us hear Mr. Buchanan himself.
"Calcutta, 1st March, 1806.
" Dear Sir,
" I was favoured to-day with your letter by the Thalia of
" the 25th of September last ; and I am greatly obliged to
"you for your notice of the decease of Mrs. Buchanan, and
** for the tenderness of your expressions in relation to that
" event. She was indeed a model of humility ; so framed by
•* a spiritual power, and richly adorned by the grace of God.
<< I was not worthy of her ; but she has left two little daugh-
DR. BUCHANAN.
i5i«9
« ters to read lier history, who I trust will be chosen to fol-
*« low her high example.
" The subject in your letter, which you will wish me to
*^ notice, is that of my return to England. You desire I
•'^ would stay beyond this year. I would with pleasure, if I
*< thought it would be attended with good. But I must in-
•< form you, that since my late illness I am become infirm
•'* in body and mind ; and I am scarcely fit for those public
^« duties in this place, whicli require the heart of a lion, and
•* a countenance of brass. I trust my excursion to the Dec-
*^ can, which I meditate next month, will be beneficial to
" me. The circumstance I communicate to you is not as
<« yet, perhaps, very evident from my appearance, but it is
<* so in fact.
^' The good to be expected now will flow from other sour-
" ces than Calcutta; so I am less anxious about maintaining
« this strong post any longer. But if Providence think fit,
** I will ; or rather I shall.
" As to returning in order to receive episcopal dignity,
« my soul sinks at the thought of it. I trust my lines will
^» rather be cast in a curacy.
<♦ Place the mitre on any head. Never fear; it will do
" good among the Hindoos. A spiritual bishop will appear
" in due time.
« My thoughts pass not beyond next month, or that fol-
" lowing. But I say thus much, that if I return this year,
'« you may hope that it has been rightly ordered.
" I am sorry you should trouble yourself in noticing my
" difference of opinion with you on some points. I do not
" know that there is a right and a wrong in them. They
<* are varying shades of a picture we both love. If any
^^ thing I have ever said or done give you uneasiness, I pray
'« you to pardon me. I have no opinion on any thing, at
'< least I desire not to maintain any, but what concerns the
" Gospel of Christ. Had I been brought up in your school,
^^ and sat in your chair, I should probably think as you do.
«« But we are both scholars in the school of Christ, wliere all
•• are taught ^ the same words.' And we shall wonder here-
-jyO MEMOIRS OF
•« after, (if it be given us to look on from above,) that our
*' right and wrong, our truth and error in India and Eng-
<* land, should be overruled to harmonize for the glory of
*« God.
" I preach to-morrow a discourse before the government;
« < And the Gospel must first be preached among all nations.'
« Mark xiii. 10. My last effort, I suppose, on these sub-
ejects. On Monday, the next day, the Governor General
« delivers his annual speech before the college ; for which I
" have furnished him, at his desire, with some notes. Much
<< depends, very much, which I have not time now to ex-
" plain to you, on the complexion of his discourse. And
*< many are waiting with solicitude the result ; many on
»< both sides.
« If he admit the word < civilization' into his speech this
<i year, you may expect to hear the word * religion' next
<^ year. For thus by slow degrees we must proceed.
<*If I were nearer to you, communication in present cir-
" cumstances would be useful. As it is, little can be done.
" May your sun continue long to give its light in your
« present sphere. Your work that remains, may it be
<« wrought in humility of soul, that heavenly frame ! and
« your decease, like that of Jacob, may it be attended with
« blessings ; blessing your own family, and embalming your
" memory among the righteous that remain.
" I am, dear Sir,
it Yery sincerely yours,
" C. Buchanan."
« P. S. I read sometimes with tears (which flow more
•< commonly than usual) the two last pages of your son's
•< Poem.
" I hope the Prose composition of the other will be pnb-
" lishcd. With the helps of the two last years he may en-
« large and improve it; and I shall be obliged to him if he
'• will permit it to be published at my expense."
The annual disputations in tlie oriental languages, to
which Mr. Buchanan refers in the preceding letter, were
DR. BUCHANAN. 371
held on the 3(1 of March ; on which occasion Sir George-
Barlow, the new Governor General, presided as Visitor*.
In the speech with which his Excellency closed the proceed-
ings, after paying a tribute of merited respect to the great
and venerable Nobleman of whom they had been so lately de-
prived, and of applause to the illustrious Founder of the col-
lege, he alluded to the conviction which he had expressed
at a very early period of the beneficial consequences of its
establishment; and added, that the correctness of that judg-
ment had been confirmed by the experience of every suc-
cessive year. Those branches of the projected education,
he observed, which they had the means of prosecuting, had
been cultivated beyond the limits of their most sanguine ex-
pectations. The Governor General proceeded to declare,
that those students of the college who had been distinguish-
ed for their proficiency in its prescribed studies, and had
been employed in public situations, more particularly in the
diplomatic service, had maintained the credit, and demon-
strated the advantages of the institution, by the distinguish-
ed merit of their general conduct, and by their peculiar abi-
lity, industry, and judgment in the execution of the impor-
tant duties committed to their charge. Sir George Barlow
next referred to the new establishment at Hertford.
" An opinion has, I understand, prevailed, that the ori-
<^ ental seminary established in England under the authori-
*< ty of the Honourable the Court of Directors, is calculated
" ultimately to supersede the existing institution of the col
<« lege of Fort William.
" I deem it proper therefore to take this opportunity of
" stating, that the oriental seminary founded in England is
*< not intended to supersede the college of Fort William ;
" and it is my deliberate opinion, that the system of orien-
*< tal study projected in England will tend to support the
" efficiency of this institution, and to accelerate its opera-
<• tion, by affording to the youth who are destined for this
•< country the advantages of an earlier proficiency in those
* Calcutta Gazette Extraordinary, March 8, 180C,
S7^
MEMOIRS OF
" branches of knowledge, which are considered to be pecu-
<* liarly adapted to the nature of their future duties, and of
«< an early acquisition of the rudiments of the oriental Ian-
*< guages."
After complimenting the professors and officers of the col-
lege on their persevering and zealous activity in the dis-
charge of their various duties, the Governor General con-
cluded a long and able speech by thus expressing, as Mr.
Buchanan had hoped, his conviction of the benefits which
might justly be expected to be derived, both by the natives
of India and by the British government, from the literary
branch of the college of Fort William.
'< The numerous works which have been published under
<< the auspices of the college in the course of the last six
" years, will not only open to the learned in Europe ample
<* sources of information on all subjects of oriental history
<* and science, but will afford to the various nations and
<< tribes of India, and especially to those which compose tlie
" body of our Indian subjects, a more favourable view, and
" a more just and accurate conception of the British charac-
" ter, principles, and laws, than they have hitherto been
« enabled to form ; and may be expected gradually to diffuse
'» among them a spirit of civilization, and an improved sense
" of those genuine principles of morality and virtue, which
«« are equally calculated to promote their happiness, and to
«< contribute to the stability of the British dominion in
« India."
The disapprobation, with which the extensive nature of
the college of Fort William had been viewed by the Court of
Directors, had long prepared its superintendants to expect
a reduction of its establisljment. Anticipating, therefore,
the suspension of that department in it which had hitherto
been instrumental in promoting translations of the Scrip-
tures into the oriental languages, they were anxious to make
some provision for the continuation of these important works.
With this view they resolved to encourage individuals to
proceed with versions of the Scriptures, by such means as
they could command ', purposing, at the same time, not to
DR. BUCHANAN. 273
coiifiiie this encouragement to Bengal, but to extend it to
every part of the East, where fit instruments could be found.
Mr. Buchanan particularly determined to devote his influ-
ence as Vice-Provost of the college, in aid of the transla-
tions then in the hands of the missionaries at Serampore,
and to endeavour to excite the public interest in their fa-