The domestic morning work table, was nearly as regularly surrounded the Sunday forenoons, as the card table was on Sunday evenings. One lady who indeed professed to feel scruples respecting the use of her own needle, judged nevertheless it would be absurd to restrain that of her husband's daughter; "Since she was the child of a native mother, and could be nothing better than the durzees (Mahomedan male sempstresses) and she therefore ought and should do her needle work the same as they, on Sundays, equally with any other day."

These specimens, drawn from domestic life, previous to 1794, are taken from the three classes of superior European society in Calcutta, the families of the civil and military services, and the agents. And if, as is usually thought to be true, the female sex is the most noted for piety in every land, the state of the male part of the British society in India, it must be supposed, was still less favorable to the interests of the Christian religion at that period. In truth, no business (any more than pleasure) whether public or private, was discontinued on the Lord's day.

A well known highly respected British merchant, since retired to Scotland, his native home,

home, whose residence was many years immediately opposite to the principal church of Calcutta, bore testimony sixteen years ago to the fact, that a remarkable change had even then taken place at that church, to which Mr. Brown was appointed by Lord Teignmouth, in 1794.

This gentleman had observed the attendance on divine service there so greatly increased, that the church yard, and even streets adjoining, were regularly thronged with the palanquins and other equipages of the congregation, where, but a few years before, scarcely more than half a dozen had usually appeared*.

In a note dated Christmas night, 1795, Mr. Brown thus speaks; "I am just arrived from church; we had almost five full sets at the sacrament to-day; so many were never seen before at one time at the table, in this country. Near a thousand rupees were collected.

*The following memorandum of Mr. Brown's is to the same purport: "Lord Cornwallis observed to me to-day, "of the new church (St. John's) a drawing of which "hangs in his room, that he thought it a pretty church, "but it had many critics.' I might have answered that "there were, on Sundays,-not many." 15 July 1788.

C 4

lected*. I had not recovered from the excessive fatigue, before I was called to the Mission Church service. I feel some serious effects from my exertions, on my health, which never can hold out as it has done; but I do not see how I can lessen my labours without doing wrong."

Mr. Brown never had the slightest pretensions to be what is called a popular preacher; neither, at the first, were his subjects or delivery considered attractive; but his consistent walk, perseverance, and conscientious earnestness, finally prevailed: and he at length found himself distinguished by the deepest and most universal attention from all classes of his numerous auditory. Perhaps his course may be aptly compared to the wintry sun, which, though it produce no dazzling blaze, yet dissipates the shades of night, and imparts comfort and direction to many a weary traveller. The influence of his well accordant ministry and conduct, had perhaps the more certain, because gradual, effect. Strangers from Europe, and the sister Presidencies of India, have expressed themselves struck at the superior

* £.125. sterling.

perior tone of the religious advantages of Calcutta; and have freely admitted that they had not witnessed elsewhere, more eager attendance, and devout observance of the ordinances of religion*.

What

That a church has been built up of living stones, that a godly people, loving holiness, have risen up in India, is then a fact, that may be safely credited. And assuredly, in having accomplished this, he may well be considered as having been made eminently useful. ever moral or political changes our Asiatic states have in the course of this period undergone, his warning and encouraging voice was uninterruptedly heard in the churches of Calcutta for twenty-five years. Hence it might well be asked by the serious reader, What kind of spiritual food was regularly distributed, and whether the people were spiritually strengthened by it. Of this the Reader will be enabled to judge by the annexed specimen of Mr. Brown's Sermons, and a cursory view of his ministry.

It may be proper to remark to readers distant from Bengal, that circumstances have led to no

small

* Vide Sir John Doiley's testimony on this subject among Extracts from letters.

small difference in the congregations there, from those of England. The mixed and uninformed hearers, usual in the churches of this country, now prevail there but in a very slight degree, if at all. The regular attendants on divine service are mostly a well informed people, on general, as well as on religious topics. Their minds seem swayed to seriousness, partly by the circumstances of the climate, and their separation, generally, from their family connections. They are eager for solid religious instruction, as a principal source of their solace and comfort. There were therefore comparatively few indifferent, uninformed, or inattentive hearers in the congregations, during the latter years of Mr. Brown's ministry.

This must be attributed, in some measure, to his anxious watchfulness over the principles which might be instilled by books. In his conferences with those who looked up to him particularly for guidance, and especially the young, he did not satisfy himself with merely warning them against authors whom he considered as of dangerous tendency (this he has done occasionally from the pulpit,) but likewise pointed out those which he deemed most suitable to the state of their religious and general attainments.