CHAPTER XVI. Ordination of Mr. J. C. Kohlhoff-Adoption of a son by the Rajah of Tanjore-He requests Mr. Swartz to become his guardian, and manager of the country during his minorityHe declines, and recommends another plan-The Rajalı accedes to it-His death-Reference of the succession to Tanjore, to the Governor General-Lord Cornwallis's directions-Sir Archibald Campbell sets aside the adopted son, and places Ameer Sing on the throne-Advice of the Governor to the new Rajah-Committee of Inspection dissolved-Arrival of the Rev. Mr. Brown at Calcutta — Donation of Ameer Sing to the Tanjore mission--Liberal support of provincial schools, by the Court of DirectorsConsequent proceedings of the Governor and Council of Fort St. George, and of Mr. Swartz-Question respecting Castes— His conduct with reference to this subject-Congregation at Palamcotta-Letters to Mr. Duffin-Arrival of Mr. Janicke as a missionary at Tanjore-Swartz's character of himJourney to Madras-Provincial schools-Letters to Mr. Chambers and Mr. and Mrs. Duffin. XVI. 1787. CHAP. THE Commencement of the year 1787 was marked by an event peculiarly interesting to Mr. Swartz, and productive, from that period to the present, of the most beneficial consequences to the mission XVI. at Tanjore. This was the ordination, according CHAP. to the rites of the Lutheran church, of his young 1787. friend, Mr. John Caspar Kohlhoff. The ceremony was performed at Tranquebar on the 23rd of January, "one of the most solemn.days," said the Danish brethren, "ever celebrated at that place." On that day their venerable senior, the Rev. John Balthasar Kohlhoff, kept the jubilee of his services as a missionary, and being compelled to retire from active labour, had the inexpressible pleasure of seeing his eldest son ordained in the mission church, and invested with the holy office of the priesthood. The several missionaries, both English and Danish, propounded to the candidate questions in divinity, which he answered to their great satisfaction, showing how well he had employed his youthful years under the tuition of Mr. Swartz. The Danish governor, and all the European families of the settlement, together with a great number of native Christians and heathens, attended the service, and a general awe was conspicuous, particularly during the ordination sermon, which Mr. Swartz preached, from 2 Tim. ii. 1. "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." After the ordination, the young minister entered the pulpit, and preached in Tamul with such graceful ease, that it was pleasing to every one who understood it. The missionaries expressed the greatest XVI. CHAP. hope of his continuing a faithful servant of Christ, and a great help to their brother Swartz in his old age. 1787. To the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, who at his request had admitted Mr. Kohlhoff into the number of their missionaries, he communicated some interesting particulars respecting this new associate of his labours. He had been educated by himself, he informed them, from his eighth to his twenty-fifth year; he was truly upright, and had given satisfactory proofs to the English and Tamul congregations, of his sincerity in practising the duties which he had learned from the holy Scriptures. Humble, and content with little, he was willing to instruct others. The New Testament he read in its original language. Latin and Hebrew he had not then studied. The Tamul he spoke fluently, and had preached in it above four years. The Portuguese language he also understood. The Moorish, or Hindoostanee, he knew, and in the Persian he could express himself with tolerable propriety. The English and German languages he spoke with some elegance. He had read prayers in the English congregation above four years, and had occasionally preached. Though but young, he was liked by the English, and sent for by the sick. Such was Swartz's account to the Society of his young colleague. To Mr. and Mrs. Duffin, who were much attached to him, he mentions CHAP. him briefly, but touchingly, as follows. "As Mr. Kohlhoff has written to you, I thought to add a line or two. As to his ordination, the sight of the young man and the old father sitting near the altar, melted down my heart, so that I could not refrain from shedding tears. I know you love my young friend, and he has reason to look upon you as a sort of parents. He has now his course to run. May the Spirit of Jesus be his guide and comforter! According to the course of nature, I shall soon leave him and the world. May a gracious God lead me so that I may not be afraid of passing through the valley of death!" To Mr. Chambers, he wrote more fully on a subject which, on various accounts, so deeply interested him. XVI. 1787. "MY DEAR FRIEND, "Tanjore, June 8th, 1787. "Your long and most agreeable letter I received many months ago, and should have answered it before this, had not business and an indolent old age prevented me: for now I must confess that I cannot do business as in former XVI. CHAP days. However, I bless God that my proper business, viz., that of being a witness to him who died for me, is not a burden, but still my delight and comfort. 1787. "Your most friendly letter contains many comfortable proofs of divine Providence watching over you and your welfare, which has rejoiced me much. "The righteous shall see it and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.' May you and Mrs. C. daily observe these things-then shall you understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.' ( "As for me, I am also highly obliged to sing of the mercy of the Lord, though I am not worthy of the least of all his divine benefits. "You know that I took the son of our venerable senior, Mr. Kohlhoff, under my care. From his younger years, I instructed him in Christianity, English, German, Greek, and some country languages. Having been instructed for several years, it pleased God to awaken him to a sense of his own sinfulness, and to raise in his mind a hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Jesus. He then prayed, wept, and meditated; and, in short, he became a very agreeable companion to me. His improvement in knowledge I observed with delight. "I employed him gradually, so that he in a short time catechised in the English and Malabar |