their unhonoured prophecies in their own country. The summons of an "internal call" claims unequivocal obedience. "Putting their lives in their hands," and having made those arrangements for the "outward man " which worldly prudence fails not to dictate in such cases, they embarked, and in due course and time landed in this country of Brahmins.

Scarcely had they landed and made report of their names and professions, when the Police, attentive, as in duty bound, to the conservation of the public interests, and to the support of the policy of Government, pursued them with the staff of office, and announced to them the order of supreme authority, to "depart hence" with the least possible delay. It was in vain that representations and memorials were deposited upon the Council Table. Inflexibility marked the decree of banishment. Then it was that the wisdom of the serpent was found necessary to be combined with the harmlessness of the dove, and, therefore, to avoid the misfortune of a speedy transmission to Europe or America, they escaped under the cover of the night to vessels moving down the river, and embarked for Madras, Ceylon, and Bombay. Those, who found their way to the two latter places, were permitted to remain, while two of them who went to Madras were under the necessity of leaving that place, and accordingly embarked for the Isle of France. A peculiarity attending the circumstances of these two individuals, arising from their having received the apostolic form of baptism at the hands of their English predecessors, residing a short distance from Calcutta, had separated them from the patronage and support of the Society under whose auspices they took their first steps in their troubled career. Other means of subsistence must therefore be found out. It fortunately happened for them, that at that time a large and numerous sect of Christians, with which by baptism they had become incorporated, and which was widely spread over the United States, had not yet been affected with the missionary" mouvement." They agreed therefore to separate, one, with his wedded partner, to remain upon the Island, while the other, of" single blessedness," was to embark for America, and excite the hitherto inactive materials, in that country, to a spirit of animation and benevolence towards the conversion of the benighted heathen. The plan was crowned with the most brilliant success. A new missionary society was formed, whose hearts overflowed with pious zeal, as their treasury did with pecuniary offerings.

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In the mean time the missionary with his wife who were left upon the Isle of France, not finding the prospect around them sufficiently inviting, or not thinking it to be, technically, "missionary ground," turned their attention to a darker and wholly unevangelised part of the globe. This was Burmah. Formerly two or three transient missionaries, had, as it were pitched their tents," upon the border of this country, which lay like a vast and mysterious" unknown," amongst others of similar character and policy in extra-Gangetic India. Hither it was, that they finally resolved to "wend their way," knowing at least, that if they were driven from thence, it would be by heathen power, and not by a Government which emanated from one that plumed itself in

being the most enlightened and the most Christian. They embarked from thence for Madras, and then proceeded to Rangoon, the place of their destination, which, though situated in the Golden Chersonesus, did not, from its shabby appearance, indicate any just claim upon that dis tinguished appellation. Some, however, since that period, have in that field reaped a harvest of gold, which however but poorly answered the expectations of those who thrust in their sickle; others have gained military fame in the same field; and others, in greater proportion-im mortality.

Here the Missionary and his wife took up their abode, and without ostentation, quietly applied themselves to the acquisition of the language, as preparatory to the accomplishment of the great work to which they had consecrated their lives and labours. Missionaries have coveted nothing so much in modern times as the gift of tongues.

After they had resided here about two years, (says the narrator,) it was my good or bad fortune, which to denominate it I am yet uncertain, to become an associate with them. I believe I had a spice of fanaticism, or enthusiasm, or both, in my nature, which, coming in contact with the glowing representations of the state of the heathen, and excited by the faith which I had embraced, led me to forsake a father in the decline of life, to tear a wife from a numerous family of affectionate relatives, leave a land of liberty and republican institutions, for one whose monarch was a god of despotic power, whose subjects breathed for himself alone, whose will was the fountain of law and life. I have not now to learn, that there is not much difference between the tyranny of an individual despot, and the tyranny of a Missionary Society; both can trample with equal disdain, upon individual rights, and both are equally indifferent whose feelings are tortured to subserve their views, right or wrong. This, however, became an additional article to my creed, which the experience of a few years indelibly inculcated. Having, after the usual period allotted for the accomplishment of the voyage, landed at the place of destination, my first object was to acquire the medium of communication; to this labor I applied myself with all the diligence of which I was capable; the idea that I was destined to employ this acquisition in a cause so sacred as that of conveying the word of eternal life to those who were considered by the Christian world, "perishing for lack of vision," was a stimulus to my endeavours. With some interruptions, which it is not necessary for me to detail, I proceeded in my "vocation" for several years, in which I often felt no little satisfaction, in arraying the arguments which I could derive from nature, reason, and revelation, to support the belief of the existence of an eternal God, against the avowed atheism of the disciples of Bood❜h. If no converts were made to the faith which I attempted to inculcate, my efforts were not lost, if topics of thought and discussion were supplied to minds, to which before they had been entire strangers. For who has not felt, that the acquisition of a new idea to the mind, is like the impulse of renovated existence? But I am not sure, that the Burmese, whose final hope is in annihilation, will acknowledge the advan

tages of the "march of intellect," or justly appreciate that rare acquisition," a new idea.”

Although my time was generally occupied, yet I felt, that a weight hung upon the passing hours. In the midst of thousands we were a solitary family. The reminiscence of early associations would now and then come to shed a gleam upon the surrounding gloom, or call a tear from its hidden spring. "Few and far between," were the arrivals from Bengal, which brought us news from the civilized world, from which we were excluded, and now and then a letter from "HOME" reanimated our sinking spirits, and renewed the fond assurance to our almost desolate hearts, that many "in a far distant land" cherished our recollection, and thought of us with love.

About the commencement of the year 1824, suspisions began to take hold of the public mind, that the political relations of the Burmese and the Honourable Company, were assuming an unfriendly character, and were approaching to an open rupture. But no information that we could gain, was decisive upon that point. A small schooner arrived about this time from Calcutta, the object of whose visit seemed somewhat unaccountable. She was consigned to a resident merchant at Rangoon. But as she brought none, or few articles of commerce, it was thought she would not have been dispatched by her owners for the purposes of trade merely, and so suspicious were the jealous local authorities, that they required the contents of the letters to be explained, as they were delivered into the King's Custom-House; but they were all entirely destitute of the least confirmation that the Indian Government meditated hostilities. We afterwards heard, under circumstances which prevented our being benefitted by the information, that the commander of the cutter brought on shore a letter in his shoe, which was delivered to the merchant, the contents of which indicated an approaching disturbance. About the same time the Burmese began to exhibit some symptoms of a warlike nature, although no one pretended to understand when, where, how, or for what the first blow would be struck; such was the arbitrary disposition of government, that no one dared to hazard a conjecture, or reveal what he knew. Towards foreigners, particularly, the most profound reserve was observed. We all saw, however, that the Custom House began to assume the appearance of an arsenal. Muskets were collected and deposited there, and bullets were being cast in large quantities; the little battery constructed of planks, and mounting a-halfdozen guns, more or less, which had been purchased at different times from private trading vessels in the port, were subjected to inspection, and underwent some reform with a view to defend the town against the attacks of an enemy, or more probably to frighten them away, as the guns were elevated about fifty-five degrees, no doubt with a merciful disposition, to spare the lives of any audacious foe who might, in violation of the duty which he owed to the puissant " Lord of Life and Death," presume to enter the "golden kingdom," with other intentions than those of doing profound and servile homage.

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This state of suspicion and suspense continued till the evening of the 11th of May, when the truth broke suddenly upon us in the most unequivocal language. An English fleet was entering the mouth of the river, about twenty miles below this scene of bustle and preparation. We were living in a retired situation, about half a mile from the town, and this intelligence was announced to us by a servant. The inhabitants were in complete confusion and dismay. A party of Englishmen, who had gone to spend a day of pleasure and amusement, and to dine in a garden in the vicinity, were taken into custody, by the order of the local government, and conducted to the royal godown. A strange sensation passed over me on hearing this unexpected intelligence, which I endeavoured to disguise and to avert the sense of impending danger, by the hope that we, being the "ministers of spiritual peace, would he held harmless. So it is the mind finds out for itself something to lean upon for support, till the last moment. The evening was closing around us, and we were still free, and beginning to congratulate each other on the probability of our exemption from the jealousy and vengeance of the civil power; but the last ray of twilight had scarcely faded, when a dozen figures, brawny and bronze, entered the premises, and I was a prisoner! Knowing, as I did, the character and disposition of the Burmese, my expectations were any thing but those which delight the heart; but yet I did hope that I could make such representations to the authorities as would induce them to make an exception in my case, and with this hope I took leave of my agonized wife and little son, and followed the direction of my savage conductors. What a sleepless night was that to my family!

On entering the place of imprisonment, the foreigners, who had been seized, were just undergoing the humiliating operation of being fettered, and I soon found that to return to my family that night was beyond all hope. I however contrived to send them a word or two of consolation, which I had written in the dark with a pencil, by a servant who had followed to learn the probable fate that awaited me. I was soon introduced with the other prisoners into an interior apartment, where a party of Burmese were placed over us with spears, who with that peculiar refinement of feeling which is not unfrequently found in our brethren of "human mould," ever and anon, polished and sharpened the points of their weapons with the brick-dust which they collected from the floor, at the same time eyeing us with looks of no friendly import. I was precisely in that state of mind which led me even to feel some comfort in the reflection that, if in the extremity, we should be doomed to suffer death, the thrust of a polished spear would be attended with less agony than a rusty one; but it is a pleasure, which few will envy, to be placed in a condition where such final conclusions force themselves upon our minds. From the time that I had been introduced to the prison, the black-smith, under the grated window had been applying the "skill of his profession," to the formation of a pair of iron-fetters, with which, about the hour of midnight, he honoured my ancles. Daylight at length dawned, and at eight o'clock, my wife, who had spent the night in indescribable anxiety, sent me some refresh

ment which was admitted into the prison; I artfully concealed a letter which I found between the plates, and returned the breakfast untasted. By the letter I learned that my family had remained unmolested, that my wife had endeavoured, without success, to interest an Armenian, having some influence with the government, in my favour, at the same time she inquired into my situation and prospects. I could only transmit in return a verbal message, carefully concealing my chains from the view of the servant, lest the situation of her whose anxieties I would not aggravate, should be rendered more distressing, by the certainty that there was no hope of release.

"As the flood-tide entered the river, the fleet commenced moving up, at the head of which was the frigate Liffey. But to us in prison, what was going forward in the town, what the preparations, what the courage and purposes of the inhabitants, were all a profound secret. We could see nothing; but now and then the report of a distant cannon, announced to us through the walls of our prison, that the fleet was ascending the Irrawaddy. About noon we received a visit from the jailer; he came to see that all was right, but more particularly to issue orders to our keepers, which were to this effect; "the fleet is within sight; at the discharge of the first gun upon the town, inflict death upon the prisoners!" Thus my worldly prospects were contracted by the mere fiat of one whose occupation in life was worse than despicable, to the narrow limits of an hour, and perhaps to a shorter period. On such sudden and unexpected emergencies, the work of preparation requires dispatch, and this the urgent necessity of the case very much helps to accelerate. I fully expected the order would be fulfilled, and with this expectation endeavoured to compose my mind, and rally fortitude sufficient to meet the impending fate, though in that hour the thought was deeply humiliating, that every attempt at defence would be attended with no success, and only aggravate and protract the painful operations which it was apparent I must undergo. Thus I waited in silence, in company with several others, who with pallid faces, were probably occupied in similar meditations. The language of comfort and sympathy is but a miserable offering to the feelings of human nature under such circumstances. The only acceptable offering is the hope of life; if that be withheld, the deep and intense thought is unwillingly disturbed. An hour or more was passed away in fearful expectation, when a gun was discharged from the little insignificant battery which was near the prison. The most breathless silence and immoveable attitudes were maintained by all in prison, during the few seconds which intervened between that and a similar delivery from a gun of the Liffey. The signal for our execution was thus passed; but no one offered to strike. Then immediately began the thunder of the canonade, and the walls of the prison, (a large brick building,) were shaken to their foundation. Our keepers were panic struck, and perfectly incompetent to attempt a blow. This served to reanimate my spirits, and I felt that every shot was a messenger of friendship. In an agony of terror the cowardly wretches soon contrived to open the prison door, and made their escape, having