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MEMOIRS OF DR. BUCHANAN.

week in June, when he returned to London, to complete the preparations for his voyage. On the 3d of July, he preached for Mr. Newton at St. Mary Woolnoth; and terminated by a pious and affectionate farewell his short connection with the congregation of his dear and venerable friend.

MEMOIRS

OF THE

REV. DR. BUCHANAN.

PART II.

CHAP. I.

AMONG the various recommendations and introductions from his more immediate patrons and friends, by which Mr. Buchanan was accompanied to India, one occurs, from so respectable a quarter, and of so appropriate a nature, that it may be proper to insert it. This is a letter from the Rev. Dr. Gaskin, Secretary to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, to the Rev. David Brown, then one of the East India Company's chaplains resident in Calcutta. That part of his letter which relates to the subject of these memoirs is as follows.

"Rev. and dear Sir,

"London, July 3, 1796.

"It is with particular pleasure that I introduce

to you the name of the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, who is appointed to be chaplain to the Hon. Company, and in whom I am persuaded you will find a most valuable colleague; as I have every reason to believe, from the intercourse I have had with him, and from the testimony chiefly of my Lord Bishop of London, that he is a man of sound learning, serious piety, and great steadiness. I was myself present, and assisted at his admission to priest's orders. The pleasure I have in communicating this information is increased considerably, from the full expectation I entertain, that he will cheerfully, and to the utmost of his power, assist you at the mission church.”

This was, however, by no means the only introduction which Mr. Buchanan carried with him to the pious and excellent person to whom the foregoing letter was addressed; who afterwards proved one of his most valued and intimate friends, and with whom he was long associated in the various labours which devolved upon him in India.

Thus recommended and accredited, Mr. Bu chanan left London for Portsmouth on Saturday the 30th of July, and on the 11th of August following he embarked on board the Busbridge East Indiaman, commanded by Captain Dobree, and sailed for Bengal. During the course of his extensive voyage, Mr. Buchanan was diligently employed in acquiring useful knowledge, and in en

deavouring to promote the improvement of his various companions and fellow-passengers.

The principal subjects of his studies were probably such as bore an immediate reference to the work of the ministry, and to his peculiar destination in India; but the only traces of them which now remain consist of some additional commonplace books, one of which is dated at sea in January 1797, near the island of St. Paul, containing abridgments of chemistry from Lavoisier, of botany from Rousseau and Martin, of the history of Denmark and Sweden, and miscellaneous observations, chiefly of an historical nature.

Of his employments, views, and feelings in the early part of his voyage, the following letter to Mr. Newton presents an interesting account.

"Busbridge East Indiaman,

at sea, off the Canaries, 27 Aug. 1796.

"My dear Sir,

"I take the opportunity of writing to you by the Polyphemus, a 64-gun ship, which, after convoying us safely to this latitude, returns now to England. We have had a monsoon all the way. We took our departure from the Lizard, and in eight days made the island of Madeira; a shorter passage than the East India fleet has ever had. In two days we hope to arrive at the trade winds; indeed the captain thinks we have them already. About the end of September we expect to reach

the Cape; from which place you will probably hear from me. I enjoy good health on board. I was sea-sick for about a week. Every body pays me much attention. I am instructing some in science, some in classical knowledge, some in the belles lettres, and all, I hope, in Christian truth. I do not expect to be so useful in preaching sermons to them, as in conversation. The captain supports a very consistent character. He is the

friend of virtue, and I doubt not will continue to arm my endeavours with his power. All his officers are in proper subjection to him; and exert their authority in the ship in accommodating me.

"We have more than a dozen officers of the army going out as passengers. I have some weight with them; but there are many divisions among themselves. They have been challenging already; and probably duels may follow.

"We are now about twenty sail. The frigate l'Oiseau accompanies us to the Cape, and will probably carry home our letters.

"One day lately an enemy appeared in sight; and we began to think of an engagement. Then was the time for examining myself, and learning what was my object in a voyage to India. Indeed, unless we have some confidence that the Lord is with us, our hearts must sink in despair on such occasions. But where we can believe that He is leading us out on his own service, we have nothing to fear from an enemy, or from the dan