not repine at not being also permitted to cultivate and gather in the fruit; but cheerfully turns to whatever work his employer next directs him to pursue.

Something of a like spirit influenced Mr. Brown's friendship: His attachments were ardent; but when a cessation of such connexions took place, through distance, or other insuperable obstacles, and by death; he in these instances also, firmly refrained from indulging unavailing regrets, through a holy fear lest these should be murmurs in disguise, at the divine will in breaking such bands.

On the death of a beloved son, by which overwhelming stroke he seemed nearly cut down, he was soon enabled to express, that "if a wish could bring back his child, that wish he would not form.

The singular epitaph he chose for his first born child, of whom he was first bereaved, may be suitably introduced here. At a subsequent period, he remarked in a letter to a friend: "Of the gift of eight sons, their heavenly father hath resumed five; and the rest, with our five daughters, are mercifully preserved to us to this day." November 1809.

THE EPITAPH.

Bold Infidelity, turn pale and die,

Under this turf an Infant's ashes lie;

Say, is it lost or saved?

If death's by sin, it sinn'd, because 'tis here;
If Heaven's by works, it can't in Heav'n appear:
Ah, reason how depraved!

Revere the Bible's sacred page, the knot's untied,
It died through Adam's sin; it lives, for Jesus died!

DAVID MITCHELL BROWN,

Born at sea, Feby 1st 1786;

Died at the Orphan House, Bengal, Ap' 20, 1787*.

HAVING thus attempted a slight sketch of his character and course, it is proper to consider Mr. Brown more attentively in the office of the christian ministry, his sweetest care, and brightest crown.

Here particularly, as he would have wished, the glory must be ascribed to God, who sendeth by whom he will send, and worketh by whom he will work.

His

*This Epitaph was since given by a friend, to the Reverend Mr. Boys, of St. Helena, who published it in March 1813, in the Monthly Journal.

His love for the ministry was unlimited. In this especially his faith shone forth, and counteracted the self-abasing meekness, which was remarkable in his character, and which would otherwise have kept him dumb before God and man.

The circumstances which led to his officiating in the distant region of the East, were entirely unlooked for, and unsought by himself; and he felt a separation from his native land was undesirable. He confided to respected Ministers of the Church of England the decision on the question of the providences connected with this event: and he submitted himself to their opinion, in following this opening to the field of his future labors.

Should any positive evidence be required of the effect of those labors on the spot where he was so long fixed, it may safely be answered, that abundant evidence is to be found unquestionably in the superior tone of morals, which during the course of his extended ministry became prevalent at the chief Presidency of our Asiatic possessions.

It is not to be inferred, that Mr. Brown alone contributed to this evident improvement yet must it be decidedly admitted, that a ministry

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a ministry which was in lively exercise for so long a period cannot but have had considerable influence. And if it is found, that a remarkable change, and a favorable revolution of customs, once too prevalent, have taken place, it is reasonable to attribute this improvement, under the blessing of God, chiefly to the character of that ministry, which was the longest and most unremittingly established. Had an opposite change taken place, it is but too probable that a different inference would have been drawn from it.

But, to speak in the mildest manner, Mr. Brown found on his arrival at Calcutta in 1786, that a deep ignorance on religious subjects, and a careless indifference to christian duties, were but too generally prevalent there. Living witnesses can testify, that the Lord's day, that distinguishing badge of a christian people, was nearly as little regarded by the British, as by the Natives. The most noted distinction being hardly more than the waving of the flag at head quarters; excepting as it was the well known signal for fresh accessions of dissipation. In short, it would hardly be believed in Calcutta now, how the Sunday was openly neglected then.

Some

Some instances might be adduced that are absurd, others ludicrous. "Is it Sunday?"— "Yes; for I see the flag is hoisted;" was rather customary breakfast table phraseology, on Lord's day mornings. A lady, on being seriously spoken to upon her utter disregard of that day, maintained that she always religiously observed it, For," said she, " every Sunday morning I read over the church service to myself, while my woman is combing my hair."

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Another lady being urged to attend divine service, said, she had been more than twelve years a resident of Calcutta, and twice married; but it had been out of her power in all that time to go to church, because she had never had an offer from any beaux to escort her there, and hand her to a pew! She was perfectly serious in urging this difficulty, and on its being removed by an immediate offer from a gentleman who was present, to usher her into the church, she accepted the engagement to go the following Sunday.

It was frequently urged, that there could be no use in keeping holy the seventh day, in a heathen country; since the common people not being, as in England, Christians, the example was not needed!