Tanjore, 30th August, 1806.

"On my entering this Province, I stopped an hour "at a village near the road; and there I first heard the "name of SWARTZ pronounced by a Hindoo. When "I arrived at the capital, I waited on Major Blackburne, "the British Resident at the Court of Tanjore, who "informed me that the Rajah had appointed the next "day at 12 o'clock to receive my visit. On the same "day I went to Swartz's garden close to the Christian "village, where the Rev. Mr. Kohloff resides. Mr. "Kohloff is the worthy successor of Mr. Swartz; and "with him I found the Rev. Dr. John, and Mr. Horst, "two other Missionaries who were "Mr. Kohloff.

on a visit to

"Next day I visited the Rajah of Tanjore, in company with Major Blackburne. When the first "ceremonial was over, the Rajah conducted us to the "grand saloon, which was adorned by the portraits of "his ancestors; and immediately led me up to the "portrait of Mr Swartz. He then discoursed for

"

a considerable time concerning that good man,' "whom he ever revered as his father, and guardian.' "The Rajah speaks and writes English very in"telligibly.-I smiled to see Swartz's picture amongst "these Hindoo kings, and thought with myself that "there are many who would think such a combination scarcely possible. — I then addressed the Rajah, and

"thanked him, in the name of the Church of England, "for his kindness to the late Mr. Swartz, and to his "successors, and particularly for his recent acts of "benevolence to the Christians residing within his "provinces. The Missionaries had just informed me "that the Rajah had erected a College for Hindoos, "Mahometans, and Christians;' in which provision " was made for the instruction of fifty Christian child"ren.' His Highness is very desirous that I should "visit this College, which is only about sixteen miles "from the capital. Having heard of the fame of the "ancient Shanscrit, and Mahratta Library of the kings "of Tanjore, I requested his Highness would present "a catalogue of its volumes to the College of Fort"William; which he was pleased to do. It is vo"luminous, and written in the Mahratta character; "for that is the proper language of the Tanjore « Court.

"In the evening I dined with the Resident, and "the Rajah sent his band of music, consisting of eight "or more Vinas with other instruments. The Vina or "Been, is the ancient instrument which Sir William "Jones has described in his interesting descant on "the musical science of the Hindoos, in the Asiatic "Researches, and the sight of which, he says, he found "it so difficult to obtain in northern India. The band "played the English air of God save the King,' set to "Mahratta words, and applied to the Maha Rajah, "or Great King of Tanjore. Two of the Missionaries "dined at the Resident's house, together with some

"English officers. Mr. Kohloff informed me that

Major Blackburne has promoted the interests of the "Mission by every means in his power. Major "Blackburne is a man of superior attainments, "amiable manners, and a hospitable disposition; and "is well qualified for the important station he has "long held, as English Resident at this Court.

"On the day following, I went to view the Hindoo "Temples, and saw the great BLACK BULL of Tanjore. "It is said to be of one stone, hewn out of a rock of

granite; and so large that the Temple was built *around it. While I surveyed it, I reflected on the "multitude of natives, who during the last hundred

years, had turned away their eyes from this idol."When I returned, I sat some hours with the "Missionaries, conversing on the general state of "Christianity in the provinces of Tanjore, Tritchinopoly, "Madura, and Palamcottah. They want help. Their

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vineyard is encreased, and their labourers are decreased. "They have had no supply from Germany in the room of "Swartz, Iænicke, and Gericke; and they have no prospect of further supply, except from the Society "for promoting Christian Knowledge;' who, they hope, will be able to send out English Preachers to perpetuate the Mission."

"

"Tanjore, Sept. 2, 1806.

"Last Sunday and Monday were interesting days to

me, at Tanjore. It being rumoured that a friend of the "late Mr. Swartz had arrived, the people assembled from "all quarters. On Sunday three Sermons were preached "in three different languages.—At eight o'clock we pro"ceeded to the Church built by Mr. Swartz within the "Fort. From Mr. Swartz's pulpit I preached in English "from Mark xiii. 10. And the Gospel must first be

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published among all nations.' The English gentlemen ❝ here attended, civil and military, with the Missionaries, "Catechists, and British soldiers.-After this service was "ended, the congregation of Hindoos assembled in the "same Church, and filled the aisles and porches. The "Tamul Service commenced with some forms of prayer, " in which all the congregation joined with loud fervour. "A chapter of the Bible was then read, and a hymn of "Luther's sung. After a short extempore prayer, during "which the whole congregation knelt on the floor, the "Rev. Dr. John delivered an animated Discourse in the "Tamul Tongue, from these words, Jesus stood and "cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me and “drink.'—As Mr. Whitefield, on his first going to Scot"land, was surprised at the rustling of the leaves of the "Bible, which took place immediately on his pronouncing "his text (so different from any thing he had seen in his "own country) so I was surprised here at the sound of the

"iron pen engraving the Palmyra leaf. Many persons "had their Ollas in their hands writing the Sermon in "Tamul short-hand. Mr. Kohloff assured me that some "of the elder Students and Catechists will not lose a word "of the preacher if he speak deliberately.* This, thought "I, is more than some of the Students at our English "Universities can do. This aptitude of the people to "record the words of the preacher, renders it peculiarly

necessary 'that the priests' lips should keep knowledge.' "An old rule of the Mission is, that the Sermon of the morning should be read to the Schools in the evening, "by the Catechist, from his Palmyra leaf.

"Another custom obtains among them which pleased "me much. In the midst of the discourse the preacher "sometimes puts a question to the congregation; who "answer it without hesitation, in one voice. The object "is to keep their attention awake, and the minister gene"rally prompts the answer himself. Thus, suppose that "he is saying, 'My dear Brethren, it is true that your "profession of the faith of Christ is attended with some 66 reproach, and that you have lost your cast with the "Brahmins. But your case is not peculiar. The man of "the world is the man of cast in Europe; and he despises "the humble and devout disciple of Christ, even as your "Brahmin contemns the Sooder. But, thus it hath been

* It is well known that natives of Tanjore and Travancore can write fluently what is spoken deliberately. They do not look much at their ollas while writing. The fibre of the leaf guides the pen.