CHAP. II.

Doctor Coke's application to preparatory duties-Portuguese Studies -Decline of the Portuguese power in India-Subscriptions for Ceylon-Recommendatory Letters-The subject considered-Doctor Coke's successful applications-Earl Bathurst-Right Hon. Lord Teignmouth Mr. Grant- Mr. Stevens-Mr. Wilberforce-Dr. Buchanan, &c. &c.-Piety and simplicity-Interesting sceneInterview in London-Doctor Coke's last circular letter-RepliesMissionary motto of the Rev. Doctor Carey-The Ceylon Missionaries encouraged and animated-The Rev. Walter Griffith-Thomas Thompson, Esq. M. P.-Joseph Butterworth, Esq. M. P.--The late Reverend John Barber-Portuguese Teacher-Search for a vessel-Cabalva, Captain Birch-Lady Melville, Captain Lochner -Outfit-Printing-press and types-Missionary Ordinations-Marriages of Missionaries-Dismissal from the Committee, preparatory to the voyage-Meeting at Portsmouth-Mr. Clough's Account of Doctor Coke-Kindness of friends at Portsmouth and Portsea, &c. The Rev. Jon. Edmondson-The Rev. Messrs. Aikenhead, Fish, and Beal-The only meeting of the entire Missionary family - Doctor -Missionary emotions - Rev. Henry Moore - Xavier Coke's last Sermon at Portsea-Mrs. Ault's distressing illness-Division of the party-Embarkation at Portsmouth Point.

DOCTOR COKE having thus, under the sanction of the British and Irish Conferences, engaged those who were to be his Missionary companions to meet him in London, proceeded to apply his attention more rigorously than ever to those preparatory duties which devolved the more especially upon himself; and in his application to these, he manifested most clearly how well he was suited to the formation and introduction of a foreign mission.

He had long applied his mind to the study of the European Portuguese language, which he had understood from Dr. Buchanan, was spoken throughout the whole of the Asiatic coast and islands.

This

application became constantly increased, in proportion as the time appeared to draw near, in which he might in that language proclaim to the heathen and nominal Christians of India "the unsearchable riches of Christ;" and so intense was his desire to become familiar with this preparatory language, that I do not remember to have seen, from that time, any book in his hand which did not tend, in some way or other, to assist his acquirement of the Portuguese.

Helps in the study of the Singhalese or Tamul languages were less easy of access. Indeed, a teacher of either of them was not to be procured in London; and to this, as well as to his attaching more than perhaps a due importance to the Portuguese, as a medium of intercourse with the Asiatics, may be attributed the Doctor's unwearied and persevering application. It is true, that the Portuguese language is spoken throughout India. But neither is it exactly the same as that which is spoken in Europe, nor is it used to that extent in general which would admit easily of a free communication of religious sentiments. This is particularly the case with respect to the heathen aboriginal natives of the Indian continent and islands.

The degenerated state of the Portuguese language, as it is at present found throughout Asia, is, indeed, but a melancholy vestige of the general influence which was formerly possessed in the East by that once enterprising and successful nation. Had that influence been more generally consecrated to the dissemination of pure and undefiled religion among the Indian pagans, over whom it was exercised, it is more than probable it would have been continued unto the present day. But it is at the will of Divine Providence, that " nations and empires rise and fall, flourish and decay:" and the subserviency of a nation to the purposes of God in the spread of the everlasting gospel is intimately and evi

dently connected with its political ascendancy and greatness, and is the strongest pledge of its universal prosperity. In the order of events, the influence and lanlanguage of Portugal in India has almost entirely given place to those of our own highly-favoured country. May Britain long continue the foremost and the most enterprising among the nations of the world, in the honourable and glorious cause of religion and truth; that, by her instrumentality, the ends of the earth may be made to see the salvation of God!

But the attentions of Doctor Coke to preliminary studies did not cause him to lose sight of the funds necessary for the support of the Eastern Mission. Before he left Liverpool, he commenced soliciting subscriptions; and it was in that town the spirit of zeal for this new undertaking first evidenced itself, in the liberal donations of the friends of religion for that specific object. I have seen the names of those liberal persons, as entered by the Doctor in his primary subscription book: and though it is not in my power to remember correctly the names of those who thus generously contributed to the support of this important mission, when as yet it was in its infancy, they have a just claim to all that personal satisfaction which the reflection must naturally yield them.

The Doctor's intimate knowledge of the world, and his familiarity with all that is essential to the favourable introduction of a mission to a foreign land, pointed out to him the indispensable importance of furnishing himself with every possible aid in the way of recommendatory letters to men of power and influence abroad, from their connexions in this country. His station in the church, as well as his learning and talents, and the celebrity of his previous undertakings of a missionary nature, all tended very successfully to open his

way, and to favour his views with respect to several of the first characters of our nation.

The powers that be are ordained of God. It is the natural desire of every pious and reflecting Christian, not only to render a cheerful obedience to the laws of the State in the discharge of the customary duties of civil life; but when his line of duty may assume, in some cases, a character which may appear different from that of common life, it is then his sincere wish to give every reasonable assurance and security to those by whom he is governed, that, though unusual in its character, the object of his pursuit is, at least, perfectly harmless and innocent, and such as becomes a good subject of civil government.

In this respect we cannot but be struck with the marked sense of propriety which was so observable in the proceedings of the primitive preachers of Christianity, the holy and successful apostles of our Lord. There was a constant " rendering unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's ;" an invariable deference to the political establishments of the various countries through which they passed, whatever testimonies they found themselves obliged to bear against the idolatry and depravity of their several inhabitants. Indeed, they appear to have considered political rank and eminence as demanding from them an acknowledgment of deference and respect.

Independent of any sense of Christian propriety, they knew too much of men and things, rashly and rudely to evince among any people a contempt for the authorities to which they had been accustomed to submit. And, so far as it implied no dereliction of the principles of their holy calling, they were always disposed to render unto all men their dues; not only tribute to whom tribute, and custom to whom custom, but likewise fear to whom fear, and honour to whom honour.

It was, probably, from a motive like this, that St. Paul, on his arrival at Jerusalem, whither he had gone by special revelation from God, waited privately upon those of reputation, explaining to them fully the object of his mission; lest those, who would otherwise have proved favourable to his undertaking, should, from an involuntary misconception of his character and intentions, be the occasion of throwing serious hindrances in the way of his general usefulness; and lest he should, in consequence, by any means have run in vain, or laboured in vain.

It has been the custom of the church in all ages to provide its public messengers with credentials of office, and testimonials to character. In the case of Christian missionaries proceeding to foreign stations, to be furnished with such testimonials, it is a duty they owe to themselves, to the civil authorities, beneath whose pro. tection they wish to live, and to the all-important work in which they have so solemnly engaged themselves. As it respects the latter, would it not appear an unconcern almost bordering upon criminality, to neglect any circumstance which might rationally be expected to facilitate the object of their mission? It is, indeed, within the bounds of possibility for the Divine Being to open the way for his servants by miraculous interposition; but his ordinary method is, to aid them in the use of those means which his goodness places within their own reach.

In respect to the local authorities of their contemplated spheres of action, when we consider the watchful care which those exalted characters must necessarily exercise o er their charge, as they are entrusted with the government of distant colonies and settlements, and the anxiety which they, of course, must feel on the entrance of a stranger into their colony, coming there