A writer in the North American Review observes, that: "The first serious, decided, and persevering attempt to awaken public attention of Protestant England, was made as late as 1805, by one who has not inappropriately been termed the Apostle of the Indies. During the century in which they had been acquiring their Oriental empire, the British East India Company, intent on the pursuits of commerce and ambition, and contending frequently not only for aggrandizement, but for existence, were but little at leisure to attend to the moral and religious claims, even of their own European servants, much less to consider those of their native subjects. But, to the eye of Christian observation, the matter always appears in an aspect which takes its character more from the lights of eternity, than from any views of shortsighted worldly policy; and it is not surprising that a subject so grand in itself, and so intimately connected with his own profession, should have early occurred to the mind of such a diligent and wakeful observer as Mr. Buchanan." Buchanan tells us, with great candour, that a word which once fell from the good Bishop Porteus on the subject, first inspired him with the purpose of devoting his life to the enlightenment of India. Dr. Buchanan made an appeal to English Christians, on the claims of India, which awakened public sensibility in Great Britain to such a degree, as had never been witnessed before in a similar cause. On the 22d of June, 1813, Lord Castlereagh proposed, in the House of Commons, the formation of an ecclesiastical establishment for India. The measure was carried in the Commons by a large majority, and in the Lords without opposition. The Company's charter, which was about to expire, was again renewed. The Crown established a bishopric, and soon afterwards Calcutta was erected into a bishop's see. The learned and pious Dr. Middleton was first selected to fill that important station. He fell a victim to the climate in 1822, after eight years of active and holy exertion. Reginald Heber was appointed his successor. It is a painful fact in this world's history, that the career of such men is almost always short. The heathen poet spoke Christian truth when G2 he said, "They become so much like celestials, that the gods take them home." One of Heber's biographers has used the following beautiful language, in speaking of his death: "His sun was in its meridian power, and its warmth most genial, when it was suddenly eclipsed for ever. He fell, as the standard-bearer of the Cross should ever wish to fall, by no lingering delay, but in the firmness and vigour of his age, and in the very act of combat and triumph. His Master came suddenly, and found him faithful in his charge, and waiting for his appearing. His last hour was spent in his Lord's service, and in ministering to the humblest of his flock. He had scarcely put off the sacred robes, with which he served at the altar of his God on earth, when he was suddenly admitted to his sanctuary on high, and clothed in the garments of immortality." The other day, in conversing with a friend of Mrs. Opie, I ascertained that the following tribute to Heber's memory was written by that celebrated lady: " Here hush'd be my lay for a far sweeter verse ; own. Thou art gone to thy grave, but we will not deplore thee, Since God was thy refuge, thy ransom, thy guide; He gave thee, he took thee, and he will restore thee, And death has no sting, since the Saviour has died." Much good has resulted from the labours of the church missionaries; though it may well be doubted, if the peculiar forms and ceremonies of the Established Church are best adapted to the religious want of a rude and uninstructed people. It is well known, too, that other Christian missionaries, in India, have never experienced too much toleration from the religious Establishment there. The London Missionary Society have made noble exertions in India, and they have met with great success. But I am inclined to think that no men who have gone into India as missionaries, have laboured with greater zeal, or with more success, than those who have been sent from America. The first missionaries went from the United States to India in 1812. The operations of the American Board of Foreign Missions are confined to Ceylon and Bombay. They have thirteen stations, twenty-five American missionaries, six churches, and more than ninety schools, numbering nearly 4000 scholars. In addition, they have several presses, from which they distribute large quantities of Bibles, tracts, &c. The American baptist missionaries have also laboured there with great zeal and success. Some of the most brilliant examples of Christian heroism and firm endurance have been exhibited by American women, who have gone to aid in evangelizing that great continent. We all remember the beautiful memoir of Mrs. Judson. But several causes have contributed to obstruct the progress, and weaken the influence of all these missions-causes but little appreciated by the Christian world. 1. Until 1812, the East India Company not only gave no encouragement to missionaries to labour in India, but actually opposed their efforts. They knew that the Hindoo and Mo |