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BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE REV. DAVID BROWN,

IATE SENIOR CHAPLAIN OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY IN BENGAL.

THIS excellent Clergyman, though not a Mis-) sionary to India, in the usual acceptation of the word, was so important an instrument, for nearly thirty years, of maintaining and extending the influence of Christianity among the European Residents in India, and entered so zealously into every prudent plan of diffusing it among the natives, that, on these accounts, he ranks as the first of all our countrymen.

We shall be fully supported in this assertion by that distinguished man, the friend and co-adjutor of Mr. Brown, the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, to whom both India and Britain are under deeper obligation than' to any other man who ever lived, for the diligence with which he has investigated the moral and reli« gious degradation of our Indian Empire, his fearlessness in displaying this degraded condition before his country, and the intelligence and ability with: which he has pleaded for the highest interests of India before her tribunal.

We derive our materials for this short Memoir chiefly from the Appendix to the last Report of the

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Bible Society, and from the Notes and Appendix to the Address, by Dr. Buchanan, delivered to two English and two Lutheran Clergymen, Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society to India, at a Special General Meeting of that Society, some account of which will be given in a subsequent part of this Number.

The Rev. David Brown was born at Driffield, in Yorkshire. He studied at Magdalen College, Cambridge; and went out to India, as Chaplain to the Company, in 1783, soon after he had entered into Holy Orders. For twenty-seven years he maintained an honourable and consistent character as a Christian and a Clergyman, in a situation of no common difficulty and temptation. He was twice married ; and died at Calcutta, in 1812, in the fiftieth year of his age, leaving a widow and a large family.

Mr. Brown had been for some time in a declining state of health, which was greatly increased by his exertions in advancing the interests of the Auxiliary Bible Society of Calcutta, to which he acted as Secretary.

The cause of God in India (says Mr. Thomason*, his successor as Secretary), has lost one of its most zealous and useful supporters. He may be considered as the Father of our noble Auxiliary Society; the publication of whose first Report lay very near his heart, and, when accomplished, caused the tears of joy and thankfulness to flow in abundance. He was then much reduced by sickness. The effect was too great. He could not bear such an excitement, and afterward drooped rapidly. He embarked, intending (as Mr. Thomason adds) to proceed to

See Ninth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Appendix, p. 33.

Madras for the recovery of his health; but Providence determined otherwise. The ship, after leaving the roads at Saugor, struck on a sand. The poor suffering invalid was brought back to Calcutta, rather a loser than a gainer by his little journey. He grew weaker daily; and on Sunday, June 14, 1812, about one o'clock, it pleased God to take him to himself. On Monday his remains were committed to the earth. His grave was watered by the tears of many, who, for a course of years, enjoyed the benefit of his ministry, and feel that they have lost a father and a friend.

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The Corresponding Committee, in Calcutta, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in addressing the Committee of that Institution*, add their high testimony to that of Mr. Thomason.

In reporting to you the progress of those important labours which are carrying on in India, under the patronage of the British and Foreign Bible Society, we have to communicate some tidings of an afflictive nature. You are, doubtless, prepared to receive from us an official confirmation of the loss we have sustained, by the removal of our late Secretary from the scene of his labours.

He had been long in a declining state of health, and his friends watched the sad progress of his disorder with many anxious forebodings. They felt that his presence in the Church was greatly wanted, and that important scenes of exertion were opening, which would require the' combined support of all who wished well to the cause of religion: it was not, therefore, without deep regret, that they saw so faithful and so zealous a labourer drawing near the close of life, in the midst of his usefulness. On the 14th of June last, it pleased God, whose ways are unsearchable, and whose judgments are past finding out, to call home to himself the late beloved and lamented Mr. Brown. The loss is deeply felt, not only by your Corresponding Committee, but by the Church of Christ at large in this part of the world.

We are persuaded that this sad event will excite in you the liveliest concern; and doubt not that your commiseration of our bereaved state will work out increasing earnestness in prayer to the great Head of the Church,

See idem. p. 85.

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that he would look down upon us in mercy, and shew himself strong in our behalf.

Dr. Buchanan, in a Note, furnishes us with a memorable example of Mr. Brown's fidelity to the engagements of his sacred office.

Some discussion has lately taken place concerning the CUBBEE, or sacred verses of the Hindoos, used at the festivals of Juggernaut, Doorgah, &c. of which mention was made in a Letter to the Court of Directors, laid on the table of the Honourable the House of Commons. The question was, whether these verses were really indecent, or whether they were not rather innocent and holy, resembling our own sacred poetry. It may be satisfactory to some, to have the character of these verses from another authority. In a Sermon preached by the late Rev. David Brown, Senior Chaplain of the East India Company, at Calcutta, on Sunday the 7th October 1810, admonishing the English not to countenance idolatry by accepting invitations from the Hindoos to honour with their company the festival called the Doorgah Poojah (the printed cards referred to in the sermon were issued by the Hindoos in the English Language, and requested the company of the English on Friday, Saturday, and SUNDAY); at which Poojah (or worship) the idol goddess Doorgah, whom the preacher compares to Astarte and the Bona Dea, is exhibited in gorgeous state, and worshipped with songs and dances-he thus describes the stanzas above alluded to: "They have, lastly, at this festival, what is called KOBEE (verse). This is properly the carnival of the Ilindoos-the carcase on which they feed! But I cannot describe it from this place. The hoary Brahmin, while he glories in his shame, blushes on these occasions in the presence of an European."-THE CARCASE ON WHICH THEY FEED! What a meaning does this expression convey! And this testimony was delivered to the English Settlement at Calcutta, in the middle of the Hindoos themselves! It was first given on the Sunday above mentioned, in 1810; and afterwards repeated, with new circumstances, at the Presidency Church, on Sunday, Sept. 15th, 1811, a few months before the faithful preacher died.

Let us mark the end of this servant of Christ!

In the Appendix to Dr. Buchanan's Address, he says, "A particular account of the last illness and death of the venerable Swartz, has already been given to the public, in the Reports of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge*. I proceed to do a similar act of justice to the memory of the Rev. Mr. Brown."

The following is an extract from a Sermon preached, at Calcutta, on the 21st of June, 1812, on occasion of the death of Mr. Brown, by the Rev. Tho- mas Thomason, late Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge.

His numerous friends will be anxious to hear some particulars of his last sickness and death Such I shall now communicate, partly in his own words, and partly in those of his friends.

About two months before his decease, at a time when his disorder seemed to have taken a favourable turn, and his strength appeared to be returning, he wrote in pencil some recollections on recovery from sickness, which af ford us a complete insight into his mind, and contain an edifying account of the consolation which he enjoyed in his low estate. After some short notices respecting the progress of his disorder for several successive days, he writes thus:

“ March 22, Sunday. --Prostration of strength to the utmost degree, without the least check to the disease. I said, My times are in thy hand! I ascended into the chambers of the Divine Attributes, and had a pienary assurance that Jehovah is good, that great is our Lord, and of great power, and that his understanding is infinite : and I rejoiced in his sovereignty. He made me sensible, that, for aught I knew, that very day was the best for my dissolution. I was persuaded, that, if it were his will, THAT VERY DAY WAS IHE BEST IN ALL RESPECTS, how much soever appearances might be to the contrary; that it would be best for my soul, whose destiny I could commit to Christ; and even best for my family, dark and anystem

* See pp. 310-317, of our First Volume.-EDITORS,

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