for the relief of widows and children in distress, formerly adopted at his recommendation, that a poor and work-house should be established; with a view as well to free Madras from vagrants, with whom it abounded, as to afford more effectual help to such as really needed and merited assistance, without holding forth to those of an opposite description any incentives to idleness, profligacy, or crime. The plan met with general approbation; but the attention of the settlement, soon after the time it was proposed, being occupied in the consideration of other subjects, it was not then carried into execution. At a subsequent period, he had the gratification to see the plan revived; and the settlement now experiences the benefit of an establishment, the leading principles of which are analogous to those proposed by Dr. Kerr.

On the occasion of the death of the Marquis Cornwallis, governorgeneral of Bengal, an event not less deeply deplored by the natives of India than by the British nation, Dr. Kerr was requested to preach a funeral sermon. This discourse, in which the distinguished character of that illustrious nobleman in public and in private life, as a statesman and as a general, is faithfully pourtrayed, was printed by order of the Government.

In May, 1805, Dr. Kerr began to publish, in weekly numbers, a collection of Religious Tracts and Sermons. In undertaking this publication, the principal objects he had in view were, to diffuse religious instruction among Europeans resident in India, and others professing Christianity; to dispel erroneous opinions respecting the Christian dispensation and the doctrines of the Gospel; and to inculcate and enforce those principles on which alone the virtue and happiness of mankind can be uniformly and steadily maintained. In this manner too, he hoped more perfectly to accomplish an object, the anticipation of which had sustained and

animated him in his anxious labours to introduce the art of printing at the Asylum, which was that of rendering the press instrumental in the diffusion of moral and religious truth. The profits arising from the publication were appropriable to charitable purposes: and the Government encouraged the undertaking by permitting the weekly numbers to be transmitted to the subordinate stations exempt from postage.

Selected with judgment, the religious tracts and sermons were well calculated to promote the benevolent purposes of Dr. Kerr. The collection contains some of the best treatises in the English language, on the evidences, doctrines, and duties of Christianity; and comprehends extracts from the writings of our ablest and most admired divines, together with sermons, many of which are selected from those of Bishop Porteus. Several of the sermons, also, are original compositions.

It is true, some excellent popular tracts will not be found in this collection; but as most of them were already either well known through the exertions of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, or every where procurable, they were designedly omitted by Dr. Kerr. Undoubtedly, had his life been prolonged, he would have rendered the collection much more complete; but the hand of death was already upon him, when the last number of the fifth volume issued from the press.

Possessing the esteem and confidence of successive governors of Madras, his sentiments on subjects connected with the clerical profession were always received with attention. About this time (1805), his zeal in the cause of religion was judiciously exerted, in suggesting, for the consideration of Government and the Court of Directors, the necessity of augmenting the number of chaplains on the establishment, and of strict regard to pu rity of mind and conduct in those who might be sent to India, in order

result of his inquiries on these interesting subjects, is contained in a letter to the Right Hon. Lord William Bentinck, governor of Madras, written after Dr. Kerr's return to the presidency.

This letter was printed for private distribution, together with a Report on the same subject, by Dr. Buchanan, who was directed by the Government of Bengal to make an investigation similar to that on which Dr. Kerr was employed. Both these papers have since become known to the public through the medium of the Christian Observer (Vol. for 1807, p. 751), the Philosophical Magazine, and other periodical publications*.

The precarious state of his health, obviously to be ascribed to climate,

In the general observations offered by Dr. Kerr at the conclusion of his Report, he adverts to the means in his opinion best adapted to lead to an improvement of the moral character of the Hindoos, to augment their attachment to their British rulers, and to destroy the effect of any influence which may be exerted by those who are disaffected to the British nation to alienate the Hindoos from their allegiance; and, finally, to the means by which the blessings of the Gospel may be extended to our Indian subjects. For obtaining these most important benefits, Dr. Kerr recommends the establishment, throughout the British territories in India, of free schools, for the instruction of the natives in the English language. He is of opinion, that the prospects of advantage and emolument which a knowledge of the English tongue opens to the natives on the coast, will induce many fathers to send their children to these schools; and lie contemplates the moral and political improvement of the Hindoos, as a consequence which must flow from the perusal of English books, and an acquaintance with our religious and civil institutions. Major Scott Waring has called this a plan to "cheat" the natives of India; and he accuses Dr. Kerr of having suggested "a scheme as repugnant to every principle of justice and true morality as any ever proposed by a disciple of Loyola ;" and he expresses his confidence," that the British nation possesses too just a sense of honour, and is too attached to the true Christian principle of not doing evil that good may come, to

would have determined Dr. Kerr to have quitted India at this time, had he possessed resources adequate to

sanction so foul a fraud as Dr. Kerr recommends"."

Disclaiming the intention of engaging in a discussion with Major Scott Waring on the subject of Indian Missions, 1 shall calmly remark, that the charge he has brought against Dr. Kerr is of a very grave nature, but that it appears to be entirely destitute of foundation. Warmly engaged in the controversy which has afforded so much exercise for his pen, that gentleman has allowed his feelings and imagination to outstrip his judgment; and in this, as in seve ral other instances which might be adduced, has assumed and argued from positions which he has not shewn to be just, and which indeed do not admit of proof. With the question, whether the means proposed by Dr. Kerr are competent to the production of the expected result, I have now no concern; but I contend, that, as his objects were confessedly good and of high importance, Major Scott Waring ought to have proved, that the means recommended to obtain them were at least reprehensible, before he stigmatised them as infamous.

Does it in any degree detract from the merit of a scheme-does it not, on the contrary, enhance its value-that beneficial consequences are involved in it, which, though anticipated by the authors of the plan, are not foreseen, and which, under existing moral debasement, cannot even be comprehended, by those for whose advantage it is formed? If Major Scott Waring's animadversions on Dr. Kerr's suggestion be deemed just, it appears evident, that almost all po litical institutions are equally obnoxious to them; nor can I see how the Christian religion itself can be exempt from their appli

cation.

Dr. Kerr did not, as Major Scott Waring bas said, reconimend that the Hindoos should be "cheated," but, on the contrary, that they should be undeseived. To accomplish his laudable purposes, he proposed no measures except such as the most rigid moralist might approve. He neither recommended that the Hindoos should be terrified by threats to send their children to school, nor that they should be dragged thither by force, nor yet that they should be inveigled under delusive promises and pretences. He

Major Scott Waring's Observations on the present State of the East-India Company. 4th edit, p. xxxviii.

the expense of living in England. But, always liberal and hospitable, his disposition and his habits had not been favourable to the accumulation of an independency. His voyage to England was attended with very serious expense; and he had Jaboured under some peculiar disadvantages with respect to emoluments, from which his predecessors and those chaplains who had entered the service at a period posterior to himself had alike been exempt ed. These circumstances, and the urgent necessity which existed for his return to England, induced him, during his second visit to Mysore, to address a Memorial to the Court of Directors, in which he besought them to grant him in arrear those allowances which he had not been so fortunate to enjoy, as the means, though of very inconsiderable amount, of enabling him to retire from the service.

The support afforded to this Mcmorial by the Madras Government, and the eminent services Dr. Kerr had rendered to the Company*,

simply proposed a mode, affording, in his opinion, to the Hindoos, an opportunity of present and progressive improvement. He

did no more-the rest he left to time, and to the whisperings of "the still small voice" of reason. But Major Scott Waring, by the force of a heated imagination, has conjured up a phantom, which he attacks with as much fierceness, and at which he aims as many heavy strokes, as if it were a real non

ster.

The result of Dr. Kerr's zealous labours

for the advantage of the institution (the Male Asylum) has been, the establishment within itself of the means of paying a great proportion of its expenses, and of contributing in an eminent degree to the convenience and emolument of the Government, by the labours of a printing-office chiefly wrought by the boys of the institution; the amount of which saving, since the first esta blishment in 1799 until the end of August 1806, has been to the Government upwards of 75,000 pagodas, and profit to the Asylum of about 28,000 pagodas, exclusive of an uncollected balance of 10,000 pagodas, and of books saleable to the amount of 7000 pagodas, now on hand; the whole arising solely from the exertions of Dr. Kerr,

were circumstances which might reasonably be expected to concur in inducing the Court of Directors to come to a decision favourable to Dr. Kerr's wishes. He awaited with considerable solicitude the result of his application, under frequent apprehensions that it would not arrive until he should be far removed from this sublunary scene of anxiety and trouble. This melancholy foreboding was unfortunately verified; for though the Court of Directors at length complied partly with the prayer of the Memorial, having granted him a donation of pagodas 500 (20007.), the decision was not known in India until it was too late. On the 1st April, 1808, Dr. Kerr was attacked by a fever, which, on the 15th of the same month, being Good Friday, terminated his valuable and useful life, at the early age of thirty-nine years.

His remains were interred with every mark of respect, and in the presence of numerous spectators, in the chapel in the Black Town *; and on Sunday the 24th April, in reverence for his memory, the church of Madras was hung with sable drapery, lessons appropriate to the melancholy occasion were read, and a funeral discourse delivered by his colleague.

Dr. Kerr has left two daughters and one son, all of whom are young. Four children he had the misfortune death was deplored with profound of losing in their infancy.-His grief by his relatives and friends, who arranged the plan of this establishment and carried it into effect, by the appropriation of the means he discovered to exist in the institution itself.-Minute of a General Meeting of the Directors of the Male Asylum held September 20th, 1806.

Among the tokens of respect which have been shewn to the memory of Dr. Kerr, ought to be noticed that of several of his more intimate friends, who, anxious to possess the likeness of one whom they so much loved and valued, subscribed for a highly finished engraving, which has been executed by Skelton, from a striking likeness of Dr. Kerr by Chinnery.

And sorrowing say, Pure spirit, thou art gone!

It has been remarked by Dr. Johnson*, that he that writes the life of another is either his friend or his enemy, and wishes either to exalt his praise or aggravate his infamy." The writer of the foregoing sketch, while be hesitates not to express the feelings of entire respect and attachment with which he can never cease to contemplate and cherish the memory of this excellent divine, trusts that he will escape the imputation, as he has endeavoured to avoid rendering himself justly obnoxious to it, of having regarded with undue partiality the character of his departed friend. Satisfied that the surest test of the principles and dispositions of men is to be found in their actions, he has rarely interrupted the course of this narrative by obtruding his own observations and opinions. From the facts which have been recorded, he believes his readers will be enabled to trace, with considerable accuracy, the more prominent features of the character of Dr. Kerr; and he will but just remark, that if a man's merit is to be estimated with reference to the benefits which have flowed from his exertions, it canuot be denied that Dr. Kerr possessed a solid claim to the esteem, the praise, and gratitude of his fellow

creatures.

To this plain and faithful record of the labours of Dr. Kerr, and the more important events of his life shall be subjoined an extract from an account of him which appeared

Idler, No. 8

in one of the public prints. It was written by a gentleman who had been long and intimately acquainted with Dr. Kerr; and in it his character is delineated with equal elegance, discrimination, and truth.

"Animated with the spirit of genuine piety and expansive benevolence, endowed by nature with comprehensive and energetic powers of understanding, and enriched by education with the embellishments of a highly cultivated mind; he exerted those faculties with a fervent zeal, and an ardent devotion, for the service of that God in whose sanctuary he was a sincere and faithful minister, for the interests of morality, for the instruction of his fellow-creatures, and for the benefit of that charity of which he was the immediate superintendant, the eminent benefactor and friend.

66.

Among the more conspicuous instances of this good man's beneficence, we have to notice the chapel in the Black Town, in which his reliques are now enshrined; an edifice projected by himself, erected by subscriptions raised through his individual solicitations, consecrated by him under authority procured from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in which he gratuitously administered divine service for the instruction of the community in that vicinity, so long as his health permitted, in addition to his functions at St. Mary's church.

"We have to notice his zeal for the due and regular discharge of divine worship at the several subordinacies, evinced by the regulations which, under the sanction of Government, he framed for that purpose, as well as the other measures which he recommended for improving the condition of the clerical establishment.

"We have to notice the signal services rendered by him to the Male Orphan Asylum, which had been of late years principally supported by funds, provided within the seminary, by means of the pressestablishments instituted by Dr.