cussion of an important political, as well as religious, question, before them, at the request of an individual; which question has already been very seriously discussed in par liament,

Most undoubtedly, Sir, every individual in the kingdon is free to recommend the adoption of such measures as he thinks would tend to the conversion of the pagan world to our holy religion. But, is it pru dent, temperate, or regular, in public bodies, to run before the legislature, as I may say, and without a previous conmunication with the constituted authorities of the

Bengal have already gratuitously circulated parts of our Holy Scriptures and religious tracts by thousands in different places, to the extent of one hundred miles round Fort Wil. liam. By this gratuitous circulation we know from their own reports, that they have caused much jealousy and alarm, and have occasioned many acts of violence. But should the plau be extended, designs, I am confident, will be imputed to Government which it never has entertained, and never will entertain. No man of common sense believes that Government will interfere with the religious prejudices of the natives of British India; but, in this enlightened country, absurd and ground-realm, to direct and order the most solemn less jealousies have often been entertained as to the security of the Protestant religion; what, then, have we not to expect in India if individuals are to act without restraint! 1 assure you, Sir, I am incapable of supposing you inclined to force Christianity on the natives of British India. I do not believe the Dr. Buchanan is a chaplain in the pay most enthusiastic sectarian, or Catholic, of of the East India Company, and vice provost modern times, is caple of so horrible an in- of the college of Fort William in Bengal. clination. The question is, whether well-He publishes a memoir dedicated to the. meaning individuals, actuated by the purest intentions, may not, if unrestrained by authority, act in such a way as to rouse the suspicions of the natives? A member of the Madras government, in September 1806, expressly declared, that suspicions did, at that time, universally prevail among the natives on the coast, and that if suffered to gain further ground, our existence in the country

was at stake.

public discussion of a question of such extreme delicacy, that parliament has not thought proper to agitate it since the year 1793. I think, from the commencement to the close of the proceeding, there has been much of imprudence and irregularity.

metropolitan, in which he strongly recommends the adoption of certain measures, with a view of evangelizing one hundred millions of Hindoos and Mahomedans. He next writes to the vice chancellor of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, requesting that they would permit sermons to be preached, and essays to be read, before each Univer sity, on subjects proposed by himself, which were, in effect, to add weight to the memoir which he had so recently published-he desired, that the sermons and essays, should be uniformly printed, and copies sent to his agents in London, for the college of Fort William, a public institution paid by the East India Company, in which there are Hindoo and Mahomedan professors, and not the private property of Dr. Buchanan ;— the Universities met in convocation, and resolved to comply with all Dr. Buchanan's requests, and nominated the respectable clergymen, who were to preach the sermons before the Universities; days were also appointed for hearing the essays read, and for adjudging the sum of five hundred pounds to the writer of the essay entitled to the prize, at each University.

I did not mean to be indecorous, when I These sermons and essays certainly will observed, that the learned University of appear in the college of Fort William with the Oxford must have been puzzled to determine stamp of public authority-get neither his whether Dr. Barrow or yourself were right, Majesty's India ministers, nor the Court of when you gave such different accounts of Directors, appear to have been consulted the extent to which conversions had been either by Dr. Buchanan, or by our learned carried in India. I hope it will not be deem- Universities; as the constituted authorities very ed indecorous in me, now, to give as my well knew that in the last year a considerdecided opinion, that it was not prudent, or able degree of jealousy did prevail among temperate, or regular, in the most respecta- the natives of India, for the security of their ble public bodies in this kingdom, the legis- religion, and as they know also, that an latore excepted, to direct and order the dis-invasion of ludia was meditated by our im

:

placable enemy, it is possible, at least, that, bridge, speaks of her guilt, and the Christian the constituted authorities of the realm might Observer, conducted by members of the esta have deprecated a discussion of so important blishment, says, she has much to answer for a political question, at such a moment, On this head. A more unjust, or a more-riunder the authority and orders of such re-diculous charge, was never preferred against spectable bodies as the two Universities. the church of England. She has no revenue The members of the legislature, and the applicable to the conversion of the natives constituted authorities of the realm, must, of India; she knows, that a plan, on a scale as Christians, be anxious for the spread of less expensive than that proposed by Dr. BuChristianity. The House of Commons did, chanan, was rejected in the house of comin 1793, declare it to be the bounden duty of mons, fifteen years ago. Without subjecting the legislature, to adopt all safe and prudent herself, therefore, to the imputation of fanameans for the moral and religious improve- ticism and folly, if the church of England ment of the inhabitants of British India. were to petition the legislature, to vote an anThe resolution has, indeed, remained as a nual suin to be employed in evangelizing the dead letter upon the journals since 1793 natives of British India, she must state some and why? Because, prudence, policy, and grounds for making the application. a conviction of the impracticability of success have prevented the House of Commons, hitherto, from acting upon that resolution. It was proposed, immediately after the resolution was voted, to send missionaries to India, and to establish free schools, for the moral and religious improvement of the natives. The worthy member who introduced the clause in a bill then depending, was prevailed upon to give it up; and he has never mentioned the subject in parliament, from 1793 to this hour-Doabis were expressed by the India minister at the time, whether any system of proselytism would succeed in India; and Mr. Fox condemned all systems of proselytism, as wrong; and in most cases as tending to political mischief. It is fair to infer, then, that the members concurred in opinion with the India minister and Mr. Fox. Let me, then, ask you, Sir, who are friendly to the constituted authorities of the realm, who recommend prudent, temperate, and regular measures, whether it would not have been more prudent, and regular, in our learned Universities, to have refused compliance with the requests of Dr. Buchanan, until the legislature had resumed the consideration of a subject of the first political as well as religious importance? It is open to individuals, undoubtedly, to canvass the subject as they please, but public bodies ought to have so much confidence in the legislature, as to be convinced, that if the proper time for resuming the consideration of it should arrive, so important a duty will not be neglected. Dr. Barrow, with great propriety, observes, that whatever can be done should be done by the church of England, under the authority of the legislature, and the church has displayed her wisdom, in waiting until the legislature comes to a decision.

Could she venture to petition parliament for the erection of an ecclesiastical establishment in India, the appointment of missionaries, and the institution of free-schools, throughout Hindostan, merely because Dr. Buchanan, in a memoir dedicated to the metropolitan, has said, that, were these mea-sures adopted, the conversion of one hundred millions of Hindoos and Mahomedans was very practicable?

Could she insert in her petition, that thousands and thousands have been converted in the lapse of centuries, and among them thousands of the Brahminical caste, on the mere ipse dixit of Dr. Buchanan ?

|
Could she appeal to the success of the Ro-
manists in three centuries, in converting the
natives to Christianity, or would she produce
a copy of the romance of Xavier the Jesuit,
in proof of the assertion?

Could she appeal to the reports of the venerable Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, to prove the success of the Protestant missionaries, Danes and Germans, employed by that society in the last century?

Could she appeal to the reports of the Sectarian Societies, and state, that in Bengal there were seventy-five converted natives, in December 1806, after a trial of thirteen years, by active and zealous English missionaries?

In truth, Sir, the church would most justly expose herself to censure, were she to intrude a petition upon parliament, when she has no possible ground to go upon.

Members of the church have already done all that they prudently could do: I mean the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge,

Denmark has factories in India, and, a century ago, she sent missionaries of her church to India. The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge gave them pecuniary assist ance, and have, latterly, employed some German missionaries also:-you will considér, that these persons were employed in countries independent of the British empire, with the consent of the native princes of those coun

Yet the church of England, has been inost unjustly censured for her neglect of the heathen world, not, certainly, by you, or by Dr. Barrow, in your excellent sermons. The Rev. Mr. Wrigham, however, in his sermon, preached before the university of Cam-tries.

But, the circumstances are now completely changed: we are the sovereigns of those countries; and, I think, a gentleman who conceives that our measures should be prudent, temperate, and regular, must concur with me in opinion, that no one step ought to be taken, even in the hope of converting the perishing millions of India, that is not previously sanctioned by the legislature, or by the constituted authorities of the realm.

"faith, as that afforded to us by our influence 66 over the hundred million natives of Hin"dostan. No other nation ever possessed "such facilities for the extension of its faith, as we now have, in the government "of a passive people, who yield submissively "to our mild sway, reverence our principles "and acknowledge our government to be a blessing."

66

You speak of the facility which offers at The principle, by which India is now held present of propagating the word of God, though and governed, is this: that no British subject in terms of great moderation; Dr. Barrow shall proceed to India, without the knowledge is equally guarded in what he says; but in the and consent of his majesty's India ministers, essays, which were also intended for the and the court of directors: if, therefore, the College of Fort William, the sentiments of Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, Dr. Buchanan are repeated. I will, however, should hereafter chuse to extend their exertions venture to hazard an opinion, that the conin India, and instead of expending one thou- stituted authorities of the realm and the lesand pounds, annually, in support of foreign gislature conceive, that our acquisition of an Lutheran missionaries, should devote their immense empire in India, and our influence whole funds to the support of English mis- over the bundred millions of men, so far sionaries in India, the propriety of the mea- from facilitating the great object which Dr. sure must be determined by the constituted Buchanan has in view, will operate so as to authorities of the realm; because, no English obstruct, rather than to forward conversions missionary can go to India without obtaining in future. Suppose, a proposition had been the previous consent of the constituted autho- made in parliament sixty years ago, for the rities. The Society for promoting Christian appointment of missionaries and the institution Knowledge would not, I am confident, follow of schools in India, for the propagation of the example of the Sectarian societies, who Christianity; there could have been no posviolated the law, by sending their English sible objection to the proposition, except, that missionaries out in foreign ships, without the it would cost the nation a certain sum of knowledge of the constituted authorities of money. The Danish government did, at that the realni, and who thus avow the fact: "We period, maintain Christian missionaries in "were not insensible that, by such a mode India, and they had established schools" on of going out, they might be subject to in- the coast of Coromandel, and were materially "conveniences; and had it been in our pow-assisted by our church Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.

er to have sent them otherwise, we should "gladly have done so. But, as there was no hope of this, we were reduced to the al"ternative either to desist from what we con. "ceived our duty to God, or to comply with it, and risk the consequences. We "chose the latter, as being the principle on which the first Christian miss onaries "went forth to evangelize all nations,"

I do assure you, Sir, that I very much approve of, and admire your sermon, and Dr, Barrow's you both admit the extreme delicacy of the subject, which you so ably discuss, and you recommend the utmost caution in all future attempts to change the religion of an immense population. My objection is to any discussion by the authority and in the presence of any public body in this kingdom, the legislature excepted, and the objection is the stronger, because the sermons, and the prize essays also, were to be lodged in the College of Fort William in Bengul, which was highly irregular, unless they were lodged there with the knowledge and consent of the constituted authorities of the realm.

Dr. Buchanan has said: "No Christian nation has ever possessed such an extensive field for the propagation of the Christian

But, when the proposition was made in 1793, our situation was materially changed. We were the sovereigns of an immense empire; and the native subjects of that empire were Hindoos, and Mahomedans. If the legislature had been of the same opinion with Dr. Buchanan, the propositions of Mr. Wilberforce would have been adopted. They were rejected, as far as can be guessed from what passed in debate, because, the natives of India were supposed to be singularly bigotted to their religious prejudices, and because any system of proselytism must inevitably lead to political mischief. Had we not been the sovercign of India in 1793, it did not signify a straw, to us, whether the natives were, or were not, singularly bigotted to their religion; nor could the adoption of the proposition have led to any political mischief. The native sovereigns of India were to judge, whether they would, or would not, permit missionaries to reside in their dominions, or allow schools to be established, for the instruction of youth.

As sovereigns of India, it has been hitherto the object to consider how that empire could be best held, and governed, for the honour and advantage of Great Britain, and

Copy of a Letter from the Bishop of Lon-traordinary. Indeed he is, I believe, without don to a Clergyman in his Diocese.

1

the Dardanelles, by apprehension of danger from the Turkish Government.

He has the most ample and honourable testimonials to his character, in point of morality, religion, good dispositions, and good conduct, from no less than forty-nine Members of the English Factory at Smyrna, and the Levant Company, who have known him for above ten years at that place, and are now all in England, and with many of whom I have myself conversed respecting Mr. Usko. They all confirmed to me, in the strongest terms, the high encomiums they have given him in their Certificate annexed to the printed Narrative of his own life, which I subjoin to this Letter, and assured me that they have not, in the smallest degree, exceeded the truth. On these grounds, Mr Usko appeared to me a man well worth retaining in this Kingdom at any price, and accordingly, I have given him a benefice in Essex of considerable value. It became vacant just at the time I wanted it for carrying my plan into execution; and it so happened, from a concurrence of very peculiar circumstances, that there was no other Benefice whatever that would have answered my purpose so well.

I had two great objects in view. One was to revive, if possible, by the exertions of Mr. Usko, the study of Oriental Literature in this Island, where it has, of late years, fallen greatly into disuse and neglect. The other was, to engage all his talents, and extensive knowledge of Oriental Languages, and Oriental Countries, Customs and Manners, in the explanation, illustration, and exposition of the Sacred Writing; by which he may be of infinite service to the cause of Religion, and do credit to the Church of England, of which he is now a member, by his learned and critical remarks,

You do not seem to be aware that it is no new thing to bestow Benefices and Dignities in England (some of them far superior in value to what I have given to Mr. Usko) on illustrious Foreigners, from the time of Erasmus to this day. Besides that great man, who was patronized and preferred in England by Archbishop Warham, there is a multitude of other instances of the same kind, from the period of the Reformation to our own times, among which we find the celebrated names of Allix, Isaac Vossius, Antonio de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalatro, Saurin, Abbadie, *Balthazar Regis, &c. &c, +

It appears, therefore, that when men of the most distinguished worth and learning presided over our Church, this custom of sometimes noticing men of eminence in foreign Countries, was so far froin being a matter of surprize or ceusure, that it was an established system, approved, and pracised for a long course of years, by some of

the most zealous friends of the Church of England.

And indeed it seems to me highly becoming the dignity of this great Kingdom, and the exalted rank it possesses in Europe, for learns ing and Religion, to hold out its patronage occasionally to men of distinguished eminence in worth,'abilities, and erudition, in every part of the world.

It must be observed, however, that Mr. Usko must not be considered in the light of a common Foreigner altogether unknown in this country. He has on the contrary for many years been in some degree connected with the Church of England, having been Chaplain to the English Factory at Smyrna, where he used our liturgy, and preached in English to an English Congregation during that whole time.

And this reminds me of an apprehension: you express in your Letter, that Mr. Usko, not being well acquainted with our language, and speaking with a foreign accent, will not be understood by an English Congregation, especially in a small Country Village. What I have just mentioned entirely does away that apprehension. Several Members of the Smyrna Factory, who were under his Minis try for upwards of ten years, and who are now in England, have assured me, that he both read and preached in English extremely well that his articulation was remarkably clear and distinct, and that he was not only per fectly intelligible, but impressive and ani mated. This has been confirmed to me by many persons, who have heard him preach since he came to England; and I can now add to it my own experience, having heard him read a Sermon much to my satisfaction,

in

my own house.

1

But there is still another objection, which you say, you have heard made to this appointment-namely, that it seems to cast a kind of tacit reflection on my own Clergy, as if I could not find among them any one worthy of so valuable a Benefice. You add, however, at the same time, that this unfounded insinuation makes no impression on your mind, and that nothing but extreme malignity could give so invidious a turn to so well meant anact. Still, however, as we see that such malig nity does exist, it is, I think; necessary for me to repel it, in order to obviate those prejudices against me, which might otherwise arise in the minds of those, for whom I enter tain the highest esteem and affection, the Clergy of this Diocese. Among these there are, I acknowledge, many excellent men, on whom I actually wished to bestow that Benefice, and who would have done honour to my choice; but, though distinguished by considerable talents and learning, they did not happen to possess those peculiar qualifications, by which alone the great objects i had in view