fort of Hyder, about forty English miles from Trichinopoly.

On the 14th, they reached Sattimungulum, after travelling for more than a day at the foot of the mountains. The fort stands on a high rock, opposite to which is a pagoda, from which Colonel Wood bombarded and captured it without much trouble. The marks of the shot were distinctly visible. Being Sunday, divine service was performed with his friends from Caroor, and Swartz preached from Luke xviii.

Here he found the son of a Dutch gentleman at Colombo, with whom he had once resided for several months, and who had shown him much kind, ness. This young man had been most liberally established in Ceylon by his father; but being of fended by the refusal of some trilling request, he went in disgust to Negapatam, involved himself in hazardous speculations, was obliged to withdraw Three days afterwards, the party arrived at from Madras, where he next resided, and at length Guzzulhatty, close to the pass. The heat was inentered into the service of Hyder Ali, raised re-tense, and formidable mountains were before them. cruits for him, and incurred debts, in the hope that "Early on the 18th," he writes, "we set forth, not he would pay them. Hyder allowed him a salary; without fear, and prayer to God for his fatherly but deducted more than one-half monthly, for the protection. A multitude of people accompanied purpose of liquidating his debts. Here he passed us. Many carried a piece of wood, which they his life in sorrow, sighing over his folly, yet not lighted, not only to render the path more discernthoroughly disposed to renounce it. Hence he en- able, but to deter the tigers. The mountain is asgaged in new speculations, which only added to his cended gradually. In many places, it is steep. If perplexities. "How many," observes Swartz, one looks down into the abyss, the head becomes have I known, who, from determined self-will, quite giddy. The path is frequently narrow; so have lost their prosperity, their lives, nay, too often, that if you slip, it is all over with you. But the it is to be feared, their eternal salvation! O how trees which grow on all sides, conceal the danger. should parents and teachers endeavor to inculcate When we had mounted about half way up the hill, on those entrusted to them, humility, and the sub- the sun rose, and we beheld the numerous heights jugation of their own will!", and depths with astonishment, and admiration of God. The eye cannot satiate itself with gazing; so that the dread of tigers is forgotten. Often we had a summit on our left, and a fearful abyss on our right. We directed the people around us to the majesty, the might, and the inconceivable greatness of God. The heights and declivities which weary the traveller, are his work; and He has created them that they may proclaim his glory. But wretched man looks off from these wonders, and makes to himself worthless images, and says, Ye are our gods!

At Caroor he remained a month, having to write to Hyder for permission to advance, and to await his answer. During this interval, which to many would have proved tedious and uninteresting, he found full and most useful occupation. With his young friend from Ceylon, and his family, he performed divine service. Some of his servants he instructed and baptized. In the place itself, he and Sattianaden proclaimed the majesty of God, the deep corruption of man, the mighty Saviour, and the nature and necessity of repentance and faith in him. Upon these occasions, the street was often "About nine o'clock, we had surmounted the quite filled. Many listened attentively. A Brahmin pass, and its seven lofty ridges. We expected said, "This is deep wisdom." A young man re- that we should now have to descend; but it was a plied to his exhortation, "Look at the water in the plain before us, and we perceived, with surprise, river will it assume another color? : As little that the Mysore country is a full English mile shall we change." Some objected, that it was re-higher than the Carnatic. During the whole way, pugnant to them to receive the Christian doctrine, the people saw but one small tiger, though there are though they acknowledged it to be good, from thousands of them in these mountains. Having Europeans. Were it preached by Brahmins, it reached a village, we began to rest ourselves, when would be more acceptable. a thunder-storm came on, one clap of which was so loud, that the whole mountain seemed to be shaken in pieces.

On the 6th of August, Swartz and his catechist left Caroor, teaching and conversing with heathens and Roman Christians by the way. On the 8th, being Sunday, they staid at Curremudi, where he was joined by his friend and his family from Caroor. He preached to them from the 19th of St. Luke. "We were on the banks," he says, "of the river Cavery, where beautiful trees render the scene very delightful. We had a long discourse with a pandaram, on the principal subjects of religion. When he heard of the resurrection, he said, What is this? Can the body rise again ?'"

"On the 19th, we proceeded, and had another hill to climb; fearful, on account of the tigers, but not to be compared, in elevation, with the first. There was a tolerably spacious choultry; and, on entering into conversation with the people, a Brahmin said, 'No man lives so holy. Only let money be offered to any one, and all his good resolutions vanish!"--an observation which, though but too true of the generality of mankind, and particularly of the Hindoos, was most remarkably refuted by the pure and perfect disinterestedness of the admirable person to whom it was addressed.

The next day they came to Errode, where they observed the vestiges of the English army, which had some years since encamped there, and cap- The following day, the party came to Arryacottah, tured the fort. In the afternoon, they arrived at where Swartz conversed in Hindostanee with the Bovany, "This," says Swartz, "is an island formed Brahmins on religious topics. The chief Brahmin, by the Cavery, and highly venerated by the Hin-however, sent and called him away, fearing that doos. As we were to halt here for some time, I visited the inhabitants, inspected the pagoda, and the lovely spots near the river, where the Brahmins are accustomed to assemble. The streams flowing on each side, and the lofty and branching trees, refresh the eye and the spirits much more than in Europe. Several Brahmins pressed me to visit them, when I set before them the doctrine of Christ, and earnestly admonished and exhorted them. Apparently, they approved all; but there it rested. We have already heard of you,' said one; 'how you have declared the true law at Caroor.'

Hyder might hear of it, and think that they were conferring on political subjects. "Hyder," he added, "is quite unconcerned as to religion. He has none himself, and leaves every one else to his choice." The observation was perfectly true, and affords a striking contrast to the despotic government of this successful adventurer in every other respect, and to the relentless bigotry of his son.

"On the 22nd of August," he continues, “being Sunday, we halted at Madenemuley, a pleasant little town. I first held divine service by the river, under the green trees. We meditated on the gos

the Lord Jesus, in his gospel, had fixed the period | calls another, and hears it read a second time; and of his coming, and of the day of judgment. In re- if the secretary has not strictly conveyed his meanply to this I explained to them the doctrines of the ing, or has in the least deviated from his crders, gospel; to some, in Tamul; to others, in Hindos- his head pays for it. tanee. As the household of Hyder consisted chiefly of Brahmins, I had very frequent conversations with them. Some of them gave me very modest answers; whilst others avoided the discussion, and gave me to understand that they did not consider their temples to have been built in vain. The 'buildings,' I replied, 'may be useful; but the idols you worship, are worthless.'

"Without the fort, several hundred Europeans were encamped; some of whom were French; others, Germans. I also met with a few Malabar Christians, whom I had instructed at Trichinopoly. To find them," he adds, with true pastoral feeling, "in that country, far from all Christian ordinances, was painful, but to renew the instruction which they had formerly received, was very comfortable.Captain Buen, the commander of the German troops, lent me his tent, in which I performed divine service every Sunday, without asking permission; acting in this as one bound in conscience, to do his duty. We sang, preached, and prayed, no one presuming to hinder us. The whole I considered as a kind providence of God.

"I frequently sat with him in a room, adorned with marble pillars, opening into the garden, which, though not large, as it could not be in the fort, was neatly laid out with trees, which were grafted, and bore two kinds of fruit; rows of cypresses, fountains, &c. Observing a number of youths carrying earth into the garden, I inquired respecting them, and was told that Hyder had established a battalion of boys, all of whom were orphans, and whom he had taken under his protection; boarding, and clothing them, and furnishing them with wooden guns, for the purpose of teaching them their exercise. This care of poor orphans really pleased me; and I wish our government would, in this particular, imitate his example, and improve upon it, particularly as to religious instruction, so as it becomes Britons, and as God will certainly require it at our hands, who hath armed us with power, that we should use it chiefly for his service and glory, and not merely for our cwn*

"On the last evening, when I took my leave of Hyder, he requested me to speak Persian before him, as I had done with some of his attendants."In Hyder's palace, high and low came, inquir-Of this language he understood a little, but he does ing of me the nature of the Christian doctrine; so not speak it. I did so: and explained the motives that I could speak as long as my strength allowed. of my journey to him. You may perhaps wonder,' Hyder's younger son (not Tippoo) seeing me in the said I, what could have induced me, a priest, who durbar, or hall of audience, saluted me in a friend- has nothing to do with political concerns, to come ly manner, and invited me to pay him a visit in his to you, and that on an errand which does not proown apartments. I told him I would come most perly belong to my sacerdotal functions. But as I cheerfully, provided his father would give permis- was plainly told; that the sole object of my journey sion; since to do so, without his consent, might was the preservation and confirmation of peace; prove injurious both to himself and to me. Of this and having witnessed, more than once, the misery was perfectly aware. Even the most intimate and horrors attending on war; I thought within my friends do not venture to speak their mind freely.- own mind, how happy I should deem myself, if I Hyder has every where his spies: but I knew very could be of service in cementing a durable friendwell, that, on the subject of religion, I might dis-ship between the two governments; and thus securcourse day and night, without fear of giving himing the blessings of peace to this devoted country, the least offence.

and its inhabitants. This I considered as a commission in no wise inconsistent with my office as a minister of a religion of peace.' He said, with great cordiality, 'Very well! very well! I am of the same opinion with you; and my only wish is, that the English would live in peace with me. If they offer me the hand of peace and concord, I shall not withdraw mine, provided-' 'But of these mysterious provisions, nothing,' observes Colonel Wilks, 'can now be ascertained.'

"When I was admitted to an audience, Hyder bade me sit next to him on the floor, which was covered with the richest carpets; and I was not required to take off my shoes. He listened to all I had to say; expressed himself in a very frank and open manner, and told me, that notwithstanding the Europeans had violated their public engagements, he was willing to live in peace with them. A letter was then read to me, which had been prepared by his order. In this letter,' said he, 'I have stated "I then," adds Swartz, "took my leave; and, on the substance of our conversation; but you will be entering my patarquin, I found three hundred ru able to give further explanations personally.' Hy-pees, which he had sent me, to defray the expenses der seemed, by this expression, to consider my visit as the preliminary to a treaty of peace; but the nabob at Madras defeated all these intentions.

of my journey."

The conscientious missionary wished to decline this present, but was told by Hyder's officers that it "Whilst sitting near Hyder, I was struck with would endanger their lives, if they presumed to the expeditious manner in which the public busi- take it back. He then expressed his desire to reness was despatched. When he had ceased con- turn it in person; but he was informed that it was versing with me, some letters were read to him, and contrary to etiquette to re-admit him into their mashe dictated an immediate answer. The secretaries ter's presence, after having had his audience of hastened away, wrote the letter, read it before him, leave, or to receive any written representation on and he affixed his seal to it. In this way, many let-the subject; and that Hyder, knowing that a great ters were written in the course of the evening-present would offend him, had purposely limited it Hyder himself can neither read nor write; but he to the lowest amount of travelling expenses. has an excellent memory. Few have the courage to impose upon him. He orders one to write a letThe benevolent missionary was here misinter, and then has it read to him; after which be formed, or he would not thus have eulogised Hyder's supposed humanity. The battalion alluded to * In his account of this interview to the Society was formed of boys, called chelahs, or captives, sefor promoting Christian Knowledge, Swartz says, lected, at the proper age, from the numbers carried "Lyder Ali gave a plain answer to all the ques-away after one of the sieges of Chittledroog, to tions I was ordered to put to him; so that the honorable Board at Madras received the information they desired."

people the island of Seringapatam, and trained, like the Turkish Janissaries, for the military ser vice of this tyrant.

"The

Such is Mr. Swartz's interesting narrative of this | which the desired information is wanting. singular embassy. Too much praise can scarcely nabob and others, frustrated all hopes of peace."be given to his conduct throughout this difficult un- The truth appears to have been, that full infordertaking. While his piety engaged the protection mation of all that passed between himself and Hyand favor of Heaven, his frank and manly bearing der Ali was afforded by the pious missionary on evidently disarmed the hostility, and won the con- his return, to the governor of Madras, and that, fidence, of the Mysorean chief. The natives of with his characteristic candor and fidelity, he comIndia are said to be expert in appreciating cha-municated his own impressions as to the state of racter, and Hyder Ali possessed this talent in an affairs. Swartz himself was not deceived as to the eminent degree. He failed not to discern, under probability of an approaching rupture. He clearly the simple and pious demeanor of Swartz, a mind foresaw, and in subsequent letters to his friends of no common order; a degree of talent and of plainly adverted to the intrigues of the nabob, and fearless integrity which he could neither deceive the misconduct of other persons as the causes of nor alarm, and which at once commanded his re- this calamitous event. May it not, therefore, be spect and conciliated his regard. Had the Madras conjectured, that the report cf the result of his misgovernor been as penetrating with respect to the sion to Hyder was not recorded, because it little character and designs of Hyder, and as sincere in coincided with the prevalent views of the Madras his professions of peace, as his admirable envoy, government? the storm which soon afterwards burst over the "These extracts," says Colonel Wilks, "are Carnatic, might have been retarded, if not alto-added, for the purpose of exhibiting the amount of gether averted. the lights which they afford regarding the nature By the most unhappy coincidence, Swartz ar- of the mission, and of furnishing a curious and inrived at Seringapatam a few days after Hyder had teresting picture of the mind of this venerable received intelligence of an attempt on the part of a Christian, who seems to have deemed the political body of British troops to pass without permission, mission no farther worthy of notice, than as it tendthrough his territory. This event was not calcu-ed to promote a particular object of spiritual purlated to allay the resentment which he had long cherished against the English on other accounts; and in fact, though gracious and condescending to the venerable missionary, in a letter to the governor, of which he was the bearer, Hyder evidently betrayed his irritation and his hostile disposition. He reviewed the conduct of the English as connected with Mohammed Ali, from his refusal to resign the province of Trichinopoly, as he had promised in 1752, to their breach of the treaty of mutual support and defence in 1769, in consequence of which his affairs had been nearly ruined, in his contest with the Mahrattas, and enumerated the capture of Mahe from the French, the conduct of the nabob's officers on the frontiers, and of the Company's servants at Tillicherry, in affording protection to his rebellious subjects, as so many proofs of their determination to break with him; adding with fearful emphasis, "I have not yet taken my revenge, and it is no matter. Wher such conduct is pursued, what engagements will remain inviolate! I leave you to judge on whose part treaties and promises have been broken. You are acquainted with all things; it is right to act with prudence and foresight." From the haughty usurper of Mysore what could be more intelligible, or more menacing, than such language as this!

On the return of Mr. Swartz, the governor communicated for the first time to his council the result of a mission, which it seems had been undertaken without their knowledge. The only documents recorded on that occasion, are Sir Thomas Rumbold's letter to Hyder, and his reply, which has been already adverted to, and which intimated that the faithful missionary would inform the governor of several matters with which he had charged him.No entry, however, appears on the records, of any such information; nor a single line of report or communication in any form upon this important subject.

suit."

In his last observation, this candid and eloquent writer by no means does justice to the character and views of Swartz. It was, indeed, one of the motives which induced him to undertake the embassy to Hyder Ali, that it would afford him an opportunity of pursuing the higher objects of his sacred mission; but he was, at the same time, deeply interested in the preservation of the peace of India, and, as the most effectual means of securing it, was anxious to promote the British power and ascendancy in that country. Simple and spiritual as he was, he entertained the most just and enlarged conceptions of the real welfare of nations, and upon more than one occasion evinced the extent of his information and the soundness of his judgment on points of civil and political importance. In one respect only did he invariably reject every approach to secularity-in steadily refusing to derive from political services any personal or pecuniary advantage.

On his return to Madras, "having been furnished," says this disinterested man, "with all neces saries by the honorable board, I delivered the bag containing the three hundred rupees sent to me by Hyder to them, who desired me to keep it. Thus urged, I requested their permission to appropriate this sum as the first fund for an English orphan school at Tanjore, hoping that some charitable people would increase it. General Munro promised to recommend the plan to the gentlemen of the settlement." This design was immediately commenced, and it will be gratifying to know, was afterwards carried into extensive and most beneficial execution.

"Being told," continues Swartz, "that Sir Thomas Rumbold intended to procure me a present from the board, I begged leave to decline accepting any, declaring that if my journey had been in any way beneficial to the public, I rejoiced at the opporThe able historian of the South of India justly tunity. I signified, however, that it would make expresses his surprise at this omission, as well as me very happy if the board would allow my colthat no such report had ever been officially called league at Trichinopoly the same yearly sum they for. He adds, what the writer of these memoirs had given to me, being convinced that he would can confirm, that upon various inquiries, both in use it for the benefit of the school, and the mainIndia and in England, no document of this nature tenance of sonie catechists. This request was has been discovered, and that in the preceding ex-granted. Mr. Pohle receives at Trichinopoly yeartracts from the correspondence of Mr. Swartz, a ly a hundred pounds sterling, as I do here at Tanmysterious blank is interposed at the very point on jore; by which means we are enabled to maintain

Wilks' South of India, vol. ii. D. 242.
Number 32.

• From the missionary's correspondence.

Thus ended this memorable visit of Swartz to the capitol of Mysore. "Of my journey back," he observes, "and the conversations I held with heathens, Roman Catholics, and Mohammedans, I cannot, on account of the shortness of time, say more. God preserved me on the dangerous journey, gave me abundant opportunities to announce his word, and directed all circumstances so as was most ex-out success." pedient for me. Praised be his gracious name! May the Almighty grant that every where, and even in the Mysore country, his gospel may be preached, received, and glorified; so that many thousands may be converted, and eternally saved, to the praise and glory of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ!"

Completion of the church in the little Fort at Tanjore-Preparation of another for the Tamul congregation in the garden, presented by sion of the Carnatic by Hyder Ali-Letters to Mr. and Mrs. Cham-fore, to be very diligent, and to spend your time in bers-Desolation and distress of the country in consequence of