allude in this manner to his self-denials. Except when drawn out by questions that seemed to require an answer, he bound himself to silence in respect to them all, apparently regarding them as but "light affliction, which is but for a moment."

In the same spirit he toiled from year to year, without any token of good, his energy rising, as the obstacles to success were more painfully visible. At first view, it would seem that a more barren result of ten years' incessant labour could scarcely be conceived. At the time of his death, the church at Ramree consisted of nine members. Six or eight others were candidates for baptism. Thousands had heard the gospel, presented with the utmost skill and enforced by the most fervid and tearful eloquence. Where were they? But their insensibility, greatly as it moved his compassion, could not shake his purpose, for it was founded on a spirit of obedience to Christ, and drew from His promises unfailing strength. So he went on, scattering the good seed, and leaving its increase to appear at the bidding of Him who alone can give it, and at the time when his wisdom and grace should appoint. Meanwhile, he so laboured that he might speak to the future as well as the present. To this end, he studied very thoroughly the character of the people to whom he was sent their history, their modes of thought and of faith. The results of his investigations were embodied, in part, in an elaborate paper, entitled "Notes on Arakan," published shortly after his decease in the Journal of the American Oriental Society. His tracts are still widely circulated, and will long be regarded as effective instruments to diffuse the knowledge of Christ throughout Burmah.

His faith has been amply confirmed. The words he spoke did not fall fruitlessly on the air. The seed sown in tears is now reaped in joy. In every part of the field he traversed, succeeding missionaries have seen first the blade, then the ear. He expressed the confidence that Boodhism was fatally wounded in Arracan. It is now testified that the great body of the people are ripe for its rejection. He seemed to fear at times that his preaching was of no effect in drawing men to the cross, but they are now coming to bow before the crucified One, and they confess that it was "Teacher Comstock” whose voice first woke their slumbering souls to see something of the excellency of Christ. Nor these alone. Karens, who never saw him, have been overcome by the truth as he imprinted it on the mute page to instruct the eyes of the heathen when his own should have been closed in death. This pleasing testimony has been lately

communicated to the public by Rev. Mr. Stevens of the Maulmain Mission.* A Burman, afterwards a Boodhist priest, was reading aloud "The Way to Heaven," one of Comstock's tracts. A Karen chanced to hear him, and begged that he would come to his village, and read those words to his neighbours. He did so, and the people flocked together to listen. They wept as they heard of the Saviour's love. They urged him to repeat his visit, and though himself uninterested in the theme, this idolatrous Burman went from village to village reading the tract to deeply affected hearers, who in return loaded him with gifts. Thus, being dead, the devoted missionary still speaketh, and in the presence of the angels doubtless rejoices over repentant sinners whom he knew not on earth, but who will be his crown in the day when God shall make up His jewels.

See Missionary Magazine for January, 1852.

JAMES RICHARDS.

JAMES RICHARDS* was born at Abington, Mass., February 23d, 1784. His parents removed to Plainfield, in the same state, while he was very young, and there he received his early education. He was brought up in the fear of God, and at the age of thirteen, during a season of special religious interest, was led to a cordial subjection to the claims, and the enjoyment of the hopes, of the gospel. His admission to the church, however, did not take place till nearly six years from that time. He ardently desired to prepare for the Christian ministry, but the circumstances of the family did not permit him to be released from labour till nearly twenty years of age. He then commenced his preparatory studies, and at the age of twentytwo entered Williams College. His slender means required him to submit to many privations, which he bore with manly and Christian fortitude, sustained by his ardent desire to be useful in the church and in the world. His standing as a scholar was good, particularly in the mathematics, but his highest honour as a member of college was the steady consistency with which he discharged the duties of his religious profession, and studied to promote the spiritual interests of his fellow-students.

Among his most intimate associates at this period was Samuel J. Mills. To him he first disclosed his desire to engage in a mission to the heathen. He was one of those who held that memorable conference in the meadow, at which Mills proposed the enterprise which his heart had long cherished, and found, with delightful surprise, that his auditors were already in sympathy with him. At what time the missionary spirit was kindled in the mind of Richards, or

*It is proper to state that arrangements were made for a fuller sketch of Mr. Richards, and one more worthy of his character. But these having failed, at a period too late to secure such an article as was desired, the editor yet felt that the work would be incomplete without something more than a passing notice of such a man, and this brief tribute to his memory was therefore compiled, chiefly from the Missionary Herald.

by what circumstances it first gained a lodgment there, cannot be determined, but thenceforth he was a party to those secret consultations, prayers and efforts that called into being the first general missionary society in this country. In 1809 he took his bachelor's degree in the arts, and immediately entered the Theological Seminary at Andover. Here he was active in diffusing a missionary spirit among his associates, and when it was decided to memorialize the General Association on the subject, his name was subscribed to the paper presented to that body, in which the youthful company gave public expression to their long-cherished wishes. But through fear lest so many applicants might be unfavourably received, he withdrew his name, and deferred to others, whose seniority in the seminary seemed to give them precedence. He yielded to none, however, in the strength of his resolution; for he had fully determined, should no other avenue to the heathen world present itself, to work his passage to some pagan land, and there support himself by his own toil. "Let me never," was his language, "consider anything too great to suffer, or anything too dear to part with, when the glory of God and the salvation of men require it."

In September, 1812, he finished his theological studies, and was licensed to preach. Having been accepted by the Committee of the American Board as a candidate for missionary service, he spent nearly two years in Philadelphia, studying medicine, then considered an essential part of missionary education. There he frequently preached to destitute congregations, and for a time was employed as a missionary in the suburbs of the city. In 1814, war with Great Britain making it impossible for the Board to send him forth, he was engaged in preaching to a congregation that greatly desired him to remain as their pastor, but his heart was fixed on other objects, and he declined their call. He was ordained on the 21st of June, 1815, and on the 23d of October following, in company with eight brethren and sisters, appointed to the same field, embarked for Ceylon. When asked how he could refrain from weeping at his separation from friends and country, he replied, "Why should I have wept? I had been waiting with anxiety almost eight years for an opportunity to go and preach Christ among the heathen. I had often wept at the long delay. But the day on which I bade farewell to my native land was the happiest day of my life." A favourable passage of five months brought them to Columbo. It is worthy of note that two of the crew were hopefully converted during the voyage.