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under the higher and more powerful auspices CHAP. of the episcopal establishment in India.

It will readily be imagined that the loss of a friend so highly and so justly esteemed as Mr. Chambers, must have been deeply felt by Swartz. It is remarkable, however, that men who, like him, have a strong and habitual impression of the frailty and uncertainty of all human things, combined with a lively faith in the infinite importance and permanent reality of things eternal, with an unshaken confidence in the wisdom and goodness of God, and with an animating hope of future happiness, are accustomed to express themselves with great calmness and moderation under the trials and vicissitudes of life, and to be chiefly anxious to promote submission to the will of God, and acquiescence in the dispensations of his providence. Such was eminently the characteristic of Buchanan, and such is the tenor of the following letter to the widow of Mr. Chambers; which, if it should be thought deficient in the warm expression of sympathising sorrow, breathes the most exalted spirit of Christian resignation, and imparts the richest consolation.

"DEAR MADAM,

"The loss of a dear husband, which you have sustained, is felt by you; and as he was my dear friend, with whom I had contracted an intimate

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CHAP.

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friendship, is, you may be sure, felt by me. But God, who is the giver of our life, has a right to take it from us whenever he pleaseth.

"If we die in the Lord, united to him who has redeemed us, and having a share in his precious atonement, we are gainers by death, though the survivors may lose. It is therefore our duty to be resigned to the will of our Lord. Not my will, but thine, O Father, be done!' This is the most difficult lesson; but at the same time a lesson which is attended with the greatest blessing. It is natural to shed a tear over the grave of our dear friends; but it is truly Christian to resign our will to the will of God.

"Whatever you, dear madam, or your children have lost by the death of our friend, God is able and willing to make it up.

"When we give our hearts to him, we promise that we will be pleased with the ways in which he leads us.

"When our friends are called away, we are to remember that they are with the Lord; and that it is our happiness to be disengaged from the world, and to become heavenly minded. May the death of our deceased friend move our hearts to look upwards, and to be prepared for the coming of our Lord!

God, who is the friend of widows and the father of the orphan, will, no doubt, take care

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of you and your children. Put your trust in CHAP. him, and all will be well.

"The commission which you have been pleased to send me by the Rev. Mr. Brown, I have executed as well as I could, and have got a pleasing promise which I hope will be fulfilled. God knows a thousand ways of supplying our wants, though it seems very difficult to us how to comprehend it. He is called the hearer of prayer. Let your heart be confident when you lay your wants before him. Trust in him, and you will never be confounded. May Jesus be your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption! Let us not glory in any thing below; but in him who is the source of all our blessings.

Commending you and your dear children to the care, protection, and blessing of a reconciled God, I am sincerely,

"Dear Madam,

"Your affectionate friend and humble servant,

"Cuddalore, Oct. 5, 1793."

"C. F. SWARTZ.

To this calm but touching and elevated expression of Christian affection, the following brief postscript was added by Mr. Gerické, in a similar strain of subdued feeling, but pious and emphatic . consolation.

"The Rev. Mr. Swartz sent this from Cudda

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CHAP. lore to me open, desiring me to add a word of

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comfort, to seal and to send it. I pray God, who alone can comfort widows, that he may comfort you by manifesting himself to you as your God, in a degree superior to what he did, when you had so much more creature comfort; and am,

"Most sincerely yours,

"C. W. GERICKE."

CHAPTER XX.

Debate in Parliament on the renewal of the East India Company's Charter in 1793-Letter of Mr. Swartz in reply to some reflections of Mr. M. Campbell on Missionaries, in the course of that debate-Letters to friends-Testimony of Mr. Pazold-Report to the Society for the year 1795-Revival of the discussion respecting the validity of Serfojec's adoption, and his title to the Musnud--Proceedings at the two Presidencies of Madras and Bengal--Important services of Mr. Swartz upon this occasion-High testimony to his character by Sir John Shore-Complete establishment of Serfojee's claims-Appointment of two new missionaries— Sir A. Johnstone-Declining health of Mr. Swartz-His devout and interesting reflections on this subject.

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UPON the renewal of the charter of the East CHAP. India Company, in the year 1793, it was resolved in a committee of the House of Commons, "that it is the peculiar and bounden duty of the legislature to promote, by all just and prudent means, the interest and happiness of the inhabitants of the British dominions in India; and that for these