much oppression; but this it is hoped will be removed, and then those institutions will be admitted without impediment. They would facilitate the connexion between the Europeans and natives, and would open a door to the missionaries who visited them to converse freely with the principal people of the country, by which means divine knowledge might be conveyed to the natives in the easiest manner."-Mr. Gerické, he added, was preparing some young persons as instructors in these schools, and the same plan was pursued in his own school at Tanjore, where several European and native children were learning English for this purpose. At the close of this letter, Swartz took occasion to request the Society to receive his young friend Mr. Kohlhoff into the number of their missionaries, assuring them of his conviction that he would discharge the duties of that office with integrity; and concludes by thanking them for the satisfaction with which he had read Dr. White's celebrated Bampton Lectures, a copy of which had been sent to each of the missionaries, praying that God would be pleased to open the eyes of the nations, and that the pious endeavours of the Society might be blessed with abundant success. CHAP. XV. 1786. XV. 1786. CHAP. foot, and more than 14,000 pagodas are already collected. The nabob has given a very spacious house, which he bought for 8,000 pagodas, for that purpose. Twelve ladies form the committee, and each of them is to inspect a month. Lady Campbell hopes that a similar institution for the education of boys, particularly soldiers' sons, will soon be made. Though this account is but short and imperfect, yet I am confident that it will be highly pleasing to the Society. The plan has often been proposed, but never put into execution till now. Every one who takes delight in the welfare of his fellow-creatures, will praise God for the humane disposition he has put into the heart of Lady Campbell. This is a most comfortable sign, and an evidence that God still intends to dwell among us. When the orphans are collected, and things are put into some order, I hope, as her ladyship has invited me to be an eyewitness, I shall be able to transmit to you a fuller account of this matter. He then notices the provincial schools, which were to be erected upon Mr. Sullivan's plan; and after informing the Society that the school at Ramanadapuram was proceeding with tolerable success, he regrets that the external circumstances of the country did not seem favourable to the establishment of others. "The petty lords of districts," (i.c. polygars) he observed, "feel too much oppression; but this it is hoped will be removed, and then those institutions will be admitted without impediment. They would facilitate the connexion between the Europeans and natives, and would open a door to the missionaries who visited them to converse freely with the principal people of the country, by which means divine knowledge might be conveyed to the natives in the easiest manner."-Mr. Gerické, he added, was preparing some young persons as instructors in these schools, and the same plan was pursued in his own school at Tanjore, where several European and native children were learning English for this purpose. At the close of this letter, Swartz took occasion to request the Society to receive his young friend Mr. Kohlhoff into the number of their missionaries, assuring them of his conviction that he would discharge the duties of that office with integrity; and concludes by thanking them for the satisfaction with which he had read Dr. White's celebrated Bampton Lectures, a copy of which had been sent to each of the missionaries, praying that God would be pleased to open the eyes of the nations, and that the pious endeavours of the Society might be blessed with abundant success. CHAP. XV. 1786. 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 Rajah 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 CalcuttaDonation of Ameer Sing to the Tanjore mission-Liberal support of provincial schools, by the Court of Directors-Consequent proceedings of the Governor and Council of Fort St. George, and of Mr. Swartz-Question respecting CastesHis 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 him-Journey 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. 1787. at Tanjore. This was the ordination, according CHAP. to the rites of the Lutheran church, of his young 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 |