associates to acquire more particular knowledge of the continent, to which the missionaries might repair hereafter, when they had fully established themselves in Ceylon, where part of the inhabitants, not wholly ignorant of Christianity, might be addressed in the languages of Europe.

Convinced by the representations of Dr. Buchanan, Dr. Coke now fully fixed his mind on a mission to Asia, and considered Ceylon as the grand point to which his views should be primarily directed. To a letter, in which the author of this work endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose of visiting India, on account of his age;-the shock which his constitution must sustain by a long residence in the torrid zone;-the difficulty of rendering the organs of articulation sufficiently flexible at his time of life to enable him to pronounce a new language;-and finally, his inability to leave behind him a successor that should be at once able and willing to beg from door to door,* to support the missions already established, he wrote the following reply: Preaching-house, Dublin, June 28, 1813. "My very dear Friend,

66

"I beg pardon for being so long answering your letter. I have labored in the begging way, since the last Conference more arduously than ever, except about a month or six weeks, when I swam in waves of wo on account of my late precious wife..

God

"I am now dead to Europe, and alive for India. himself has said to me, 'Go to Ceylon.' I am as much convinced of the will of God in this respect as that I breathe so fully convinced, that methinks I had rather be set naked on the coast of Ceylon, without clothes, and without a friend than not go there. The Portuguese language is much spoken all around the cost of Ceylon, and indeed all along the coast of India. According to Dr. Buchanan there are 600,000 Christians (nominal Christians at least,) in Ceylon ;

* See Plate 5, p. 225, also Appendix, letter F,

and there are now only two ministers to take care of them. I am learning the Portuguese language continually, and am perfectly certain I shall conquer it before I land in Ceylon. The fleets sail in October and January. If the Conference employ me to raise the money for the outset, I shall not be able to sail till January. I shall bear my own expenses of course. I'll request you to speak to the preachers, to see whether a preacher or two can be procured, who will consent to travel with me. I shall probably be here until this day fortnight, then I set off for Liverpool."

It is plain from the preceding extract, that Dr. Coke had not, in the month of June, procured any associates to engage with him in this important mission. It is also to be inferred, from the manner of his expressions, that it was his design to embark for Asia, if no one could be found to accompany him thither. We cannot, however, suppose, under such circumstances, that it was his intention to remain in India alone. He might have gone thither to make observations on the spot, that, on returning to England, he might be better able to judge of the number and qualifications of such missionaries as should afterward be induced to embark.

Prior to this time, he had taken into his serious consideration the state to which the missions, on his leaving England, would be reduced for want of pecuniary assistance. This was a subject which frequently occupied his thoughts, from the first moment that he had recently turned his attention towards Asia. To provide for their support, even dur ing his absence, and in case of his decease, whether at home or abroad, he had projected the plan of establishing missionary societies throughout the kingdom, and had calculated upon the practicability and utility of the measure sometime before any attempts were made to carry the plan into actual effect. It is not probable that he had anticipated the bene

fits which have already resulted from the institution, in all their extent; but that he had contemplated the design with the most ardent pleasure, his own hand-writing, now in the author's possession, furnishes a decisive proof.

At the Conference of 1814, which was held at Liverpool, Dr. Coke introduced the design to visit India, stating at large the providential concurrence of circumstances which had appeared, the favorable disposition which some men in power had manifested towards the mission, and the reasons which had finally led him to visit the eastern regions of the globe. At the same time he introduced to the Conference six men whom he had procured to accompany him, and share in his toils. Of these volunteers in the cause of God, James' Lynch, William Ault, George Erskine, William M. Harvard, and Thomas Squance were already travelling preachers, and to these were added two approved local preachers, whose names were Benjamin Clough and John M'Kenny.

The connexion at this Conference being deeply involved in debt, Dr. Coke was well aware that the old objection, which he had for many years been compelled to encounter, and occasionally to stifle with an act of generosity, would again be raised. And it seemed probable, from the embarrassments which existed, that his design to visit India would be wholly defeated, unless he could find some decisive method to impose silence upon the tongue of opposition, so far as pecuniary assistance and domestic claims were engaged in the issue. To meet this he boldly and generously offered to bear from his own private fortune, the whole expense of the outfit, to the amount of six thousand pounds, if that sum should be thought necessary.

The preachers assembled in Conference, who could not but approve of the measure, even while they doubted the ability of the Connexion to bear the expense of this additional mission, were awed into silence at this noble act of unexampled generosity. It was therefore finally determin

ed, that a mission under the superintendency of Dr. Coke, should repair to Asia, that the seven missionaries proposed should be accepted, that £3,291 should be borrowed of Dr. Coke, to be reimbursed, and that such assistance should be immediately rendered to the noble undertaking as their cir cumstances would allow. It was furthermore resolved, that in the distribution of their labors, one of these should remain at the Cape of Good Hope, three should settle in Ceylon, one should repair to Java, and the other two should travel with Dr. Coke in such places and in such ways as his judgment, and existing circumstances, might direct. Such was the determination of Conference; but subsequent events rendered some alterations in these arrangements necessary.

Affairs having proceeded thus far, Dr. Coke, soon after Conference, repaired to London with his associate missionaries, to make arrangements, and serious preparations for their departure. His first care was to procure an able tutor, who could fully instruct them in the Portuguese language, so far as their time would allow, and furnish them with directions to complete their knowledge in its idiom and pronunciation during their voyage. With a large assortment of clothes, books, and other articles necessary for their com fort, during their intended residence in the regions they were about to visit, they were fully provided. In addition to this, Mr. Harvard and Mr. Squance being acquainted with the printing business, a printing press, with its various appendages, together with types and the necessary apparatus, was likewise purchased, and united to the general stock. For these various articles an ample allowance was made by Conference but that nothing might be wanting to their accommodation in a foreign land, their stores were additionally augmented by the bounty of Dr. Coke.

Among the missionaries who were now prepared to embark, Mr. Ault and Mr. Harvard were married; and their wives had engaged to accompany them into the eastern hem

isphere. Dr. Coke, who was at this time a widower, had even while residing in his native land. These he conceived would be greatly augmented, when, in a foreign country, he should be removed from the solaces which civilized life and European manners afforded. Possessed of property that was amply sufficient to support himself and a partner who might be willing to enter into his views, and travel with him in India, he once more turned his thoughts towards the marriage state. Piety, zeal, activity, an enterprising spirit, and a pleasing address, joined to a suitable age, were the primary qualifications which he sought. This assemblage of excellencies he found, or thought he had found, in a lady, who through a train of previous circumstances had presented herself to his notice. His proposals of marriage to her were accepted. But prior to their union, a knowledge of his intention reaching some of his friends, who thought the connexion he was about to form rather improper, they interfered, and, by their persevering remonstrances, ultimately frustrated his design.

felt the inconveniences of his solitary condition

Dr. Coke and his companions continued in London, attentively studying the Portuguese language, and making other arrangements for their departure, until the 10th of December, when they found it necessary to repair to Portsmouth, to be in readiness to embark, as they had taken their passage on board of two ships belonging to the fleet: the Lady Melville, commanded by Captain Lochner; and the Cabalva, commanded by Captain Birch. Dr. Coke, with Mr. Harvard, his wife, and Mr. Clough, were stationed in the latter, and all the others in the former. It certainly would have been desirable, if they could all have embarked in one ship, but neither the Lady Melville nor the Cabalva could receive them without incommoding other passengers: and to have taken another ship, in which all could be accommodated, would have cost them an additional sum of £900 for their passage.