us learning the word of God. The sound has reached Tubuai, and the high islands called Raivavoe, and the people are desirous of missionaries.' AMERICA. FROM an American publication, just arrived, we extract the following interesting letter, lately received in that country, from Mr Wheelock, sent out by the American Baptist Missionary Society to Rangoon. My dear Parents, Oct. 7. 1818. WE were detained at Calcutta four months, anxiously waiting for a passage to Rangoon. Our voyage to Rangoon, where we arrived on the 19th of September, was short and pleasant. The captain and his officers, though far from being seri ous, treated us politely; and we were furnished with every thing comfortable. At the mouth of the river, we were favoured with a note from brother Judson, informing us that brother Hough, or himself, would be ready to receive us at the wharf, or more properly, the landing-place. Judge of our feelings when we arrived before the town, which is to be, as we trust, our home on earth! We were all soon landed, and in the company of our dear missionary friends. What a meeting was this! Never before did I experience such a joyful season. To behold our beloved brethren, and their companions, afforded me such pleasure as I cannot express! Indeed, the joy was mutual. We felt our souls united. After we had been searched by the officers of govern. ment, we, a happy missionary band, proceeded to the mission house. Here we arrived about dark on Sa. turday evening. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name." The mission house is delightfully situated among the trees, about two miles from the town. A large piece of ground is attached to it, containing a number of fruit trees. The house is large and commodious, well con, structed for two families; so that at present brother Colman and I have only one room each. We, however, are comfortably situated, as we live with brother Judson. We prefer one room at Rangoon, to six at Boston. We feel that we are highly blessed. Shortly after our arrival, brother Judson went with brother Colman and myself to introduce us to the Viceroy. We found him in his garden-house, surrounded with his officers of government. We took off our shoes before we came into his presence, (which is the same thing here as taking off the hat in America,) and then seated ourselves on a mat opposite him. He observ.. ed that we were not accustomed to the Burman mode of sitting, and said to brother Judson, "Let them sit comfortably." We had brought with us from Calcutta, a small chest of carpenter's tools for the use of the Mission. The Viceroy heard of it, and expressed a desire for it. As there never was one like it seen here before, it was a great curiosity. We carried it with us as a present, knowing that he must have it. Accordingly it was placed before him, and he arose himself, (a thing very uncommon on such occasions,) and opened it. He appeared much gratified with it, and called one of his artificers to examine it also. He inquired if we meant to remain here, and had brought our women? Mr Judson observed that we had; and that "we wished to take shelter beneath his glory." To which he answered, Stay! Stay!" and desired that Mrs Judson might come with our women. Business being entirely suspended while we remained, he appeared to desire our departure. We therefore again paid him our respects, and retired, much gratified by the favour shewn us; and which we hope, through the over-ruling hand of our heavenly Father, will be continued. 66 The excessive heat of Bengal, combined with my exertions, private and public, considerably enervated my system. My extreme sea-sickness reduced me still lower. But after my arrival at Rangoon, I forgot my weakness, and exerted myself two much in attending to our affairs, the difficulty of which can only be known by experience. And the Saturday evening following the evening of our arrival, after engaging in family worship, I was attacked with a slight return of raising blood. It was very unexpected and alarming at first; but in a few days, I ceased to raise any more, and have now gained considerable strength on my lungs. Through Divine mercy, I trust that I am getting better. Do you inquire, my dear parents, how I felt when thus afflicted? I did not feel as when in America. I thought that I had now certainly arrived at Burmah, and I felt less anxious than formerly about my sickness. I remembered that God had already gratified one of the most ardent desires of my soul; and, at least, I should have the great privilege of being buried in a heathen land-a privilege which I once feared I should never enjoy, and of which I am utterly unworthy. But my soul pitied the poor Burmans, and I longed, if it could consist with the will of God, to live a little while, that I might point them to "the Lamb of God." Blessed be his name that I have an encouraging prospect of returning health. I have a Burman, teacher; I engaged him the 5th instant, and attempted to study; but was obliged to relinquish it. Harriet, however, employs him, and has now begun to read the Bur man. I hope that ere long, I shall be thus highly favoured. Your affectionate son, E. W. WHEELOCK. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Stallybrass has made so much progress in the Russian language, that he has written a letter in it to Prince Galitzin, which has been read to the Emperor, and afforded much satisfaction. A donation of L. 23 has been received by the London Missionary Society from a few pious persons, who are in the habit of meeting in the vestry of the Church at St Helena in the evenings for spiritual improvement. This sum, the letter states, has arisen chiefly from the contributions of natives, free blacks, slaves, soldiers, and other poor persons, who, having experienced the blessings of the gospel in their own souls, are desirous that the same should be communicated to all their fellow creatures.' We have just seen the following article of intelligence, which we are sure will be gratifying to many of our readers. It refers to an Address, which was sent, in May last, from the Committee of the Congregational Union, to the Congregational Churches in England. "The Essex Annual Meetings.-On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 12th, 13th, and 14th of July, these interesting anniversaries were held at Bocking and Braintree. The associated Congregational ministers of the county met on the Monday afternoon to transact business, and enjoy the pleasures of Christian and ministerial intercourse. After the local concerns of the Association were dispatched, the affecting address of the Congregational Union of Scotland was discussed, and a Committee appointed to solicit, from each church in the Association, a small contribution expressive of its sympathy and regard for our Scottish brethren, and to forward the amount with a letter to the Committee in Edinburgh." THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. OCTOBER 18. 1819. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE REV. DAVID BROWN, LATE SENIOR CHAPLAIN OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY, AND PROVOST of the COLLEGE OF FORT-WILLIAM. THIS account is taken from a very interesting work, which Iras recently been published by Cadell and Davies, entitled, "Memorial Sketches of the Rev. David Brown, with a Selection of his Sermons preached at Calcutta." The work is edited by the Rev. Charles Simeon, of Cambridge, who had been amongst the earliest friends of Mr Brown; and I unite with that distinguished minister of Jesus Christ, in the hope that it may tend to kindle in the hearts of many, not only a respect for the memory of Mr Brown, but an ardent solicitude to follow his steps. The Rev. David Brown was born in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where his venerable parents, still living, and his brothers, reside. The exact time of his birth is not mentioned; but it must have been in the latter months of 1763, or the first months of the following year. From his early youth he was distinguished for a religious turn of mind, an amiable disposition, and a thirst for knowledge. When about ten or eleven years of age, being on a journey with his parents, he fell into the company of a minister, who, though a stranger, was so much struck with his intelligence, that he offered to take charge of him for a year or two, in order to prepare him for a grammar-school, with the view of his finally entering the church. His parents were induced to acquiesce in the proposal. Young Brown resided for some time, under the tuition of his new friend, at Scarborough. He was afterwards removed to the grammar-school at Hull, then under the care of the Rev. Joseph Milner. Mr Milner became much attached to his pupil; VOL. VI. Z z and while that good man lived, Mr Brown continued to consult the judgment, and confide in the experience and piety of his tutor. Mr Brown proceeded to the University of Cambridge, and was entered at Magdalen College, where he prosecuted the usual studies preparatory to his entering into the church. Mr Brown had been piously educated. The following allusion to this circumstance was found among his papers after his decease" Thy goodness, like the sun, dawned on my early days: a godly grandfather, who poured out prayers for me; -parents who attended to the instructions given them by the ministers of God;-early acquaintance with the Rev. Messrs Jesse, Stillingfleet, Milner;-mercies all flowing from my God!" What a strong encouragement does the case of Mr Brown hold out to parents, not only to be assiduous in forming the minds of their children, from earliest infancy, to the fear and love of God; but to provide for them, as far as possible, such friends and associates as may promote their religious progress! He During Mr Brown's residence at college, he was led, in the course of his correspondence with a pious friend in London, to relate some successful efforts he had made to do good among the poor. This letter having been shewn to an officer in the East India Company's service, a new direction was given to all his prospects in life. In the month of February 1785, he was invited by this officer, Major Mitchell, to undertake the task of superintending an institution recently formed in Bengal, for the support and education of the orphans, of both sexes, belonging to the indigent deceased Europeans of that presidency. was at first disinclined to listen to this proposal, deeming it his duty to pursue his academical studies to their natural termination; but the friends whom he consulted being of a contrary opinion, he yielded to their judgment, and agreed to accept the situation that had been offered to him, provided he could obtain episcopal ordination. Here, however, a new difficulty arose. Dr Lowth, then Bishop of London, gave a peremptory refusal to his application, alleging, that he had already ordained several men for the colonies, who afterwards remained lounging about town, a disgrace to the clerical profession. On this repulse, Major Mitchell applied to the late Bishop of Llandaff, Dr Watson, who agreed, that if the Archbishop of Canterbury saw no impropriety in his ordaining Mr Brown, after what had passed, he would cheerfully do it. The Archbishop approved of the proceeding, and Mr Brown was ordained by the Bishop of Llandaff, on the 26th of February 1785. The Bishop shewed him much pastoral regard: he had himself conducted a long and close examination of Mr Brown, and he gave him much valuable counsel, which proved afterwards a comfort and support to him. His Lordship's last words were: "Go in peace, and may the blessing of God go with you! Do all the good you can; and if it is no better for you in this world, it will be in the world to come." The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge elected Mr Brown a corresponding member, gave him books, and recommended him to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, who, with great liberality, advanced 300 guineas for his outfit. He did not leave England until the month of November following. The interval appears, from his journal, to have been passed partly among his friends in Yorkshire, but chiefly in London. During this time the frame of his mind appears to have been that of devotedness to God's service, and resignation to his will. Before the East India Company had resolved to make him an advance, he experienced much pecuniary inconvenience. On one occasion he observes: "My duties this day have been, preaching two sermons, reading prayers three times, a funeral, a churching, and a christening. Major this morning came to church, and begged me to make use of a ten-pound note as long as I wished. I had but two shillings remaining, which I left this evening with a poor soldier whose wife lay-in of twins, which last Sunday I haptized. My God, continue to help me to serve thee, and follow me this day and every day with thy blessing!" 66 66 From an incidental expression in his journal, Mr Brown appears to have been married about this time; a circumstance which, probably, added to his pecuniary difficulties. now," he says, to reside in Chelsea, and have very little money and food to provide for my wife and self. The Lord will provide. Of this he has given me a precious token this evening; for unexpectedly were sent in various supplies." The friends whose regard he seems at this time to have cherished with the greatest affection, were Mr Simeon, the Messrs Lloyds, of King's College, Cambridge, and Mr Houseman. Mr Simeon accompanied him to the ship in which he embarked for India, on the 15th of Nov. 1785, with Mrs Brown, who was delivered on board, of a son, on the 1st of February. The journal of his voyage exhibits the same deep piety which was visible in his former memoranda, and contains many interesting details. The following incident is selected, merely because it marks that union of firmness and suavity which was characteristic of Mr Brown's mind. "Feb. 25. 1786. The evening of the day was remarkable for a debate, in which my sentiments respecting song-singing, drinking to excess, &c. were brought to the test. After a glass of claret, I declined taking more, when the Captain forcibly |