R

MAJOR GENERAL FOSTER WALKER.

The late Major General Foster Walker, entered the East India Company's Service as an Infantry Cadet, in 1800, arrived in Calcutta about October 1801, and was posted to the 1st European Regiment on 13th November 1804. He was present at the bloody action of Deig; fought under the walls of that fortress, and at the siege and storm of that place, which fell on the 24th December 1804. In 1805, he was engaged in the four different storms against Bhurtpore. He subsequently became Adjutant to his Regiment, and in 1813, was at Amboyna, with part of his corps. In 1814 he was appointed Brigadier in Oude, and a few days before his death, was temporarily appointed to the command of the Presidency Division. He died of cholera, at the advanced age of 61, on the 19th January 1843. He was a brave Soldier, and a most excellent man, in all the relations of social life.

His remains were interred in the New Circular Road Burial ground, and his Monument bears the following Inscription ::

Sacred to the Memory of Foster Walker,

late Major General in the Service of the Hon'ble East India Company, who after 42 years
of active and hon'ble service, died at Calcutta Jan. 19th, 1843, aged 61 years,

and rested in peace, in hope of a happy resurrection through the mercy of his God and Redeemer. Here in the dust of death lie the mortal remains of Mary Fisher,

wife of the Rev. Henry Fisher, Senior Presidency Chaplain,

in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
She died on the 12th of November 1841, aged 68 years and 9 months.
Also Frederick Roxby Fisher, her infant grandson,

who died on the 19th of December 1841, aged 15 months.
This tablet is also sacred to the Memory of the

Rev. Henry Fisher, Senior Chaplain,

who after a long and painful illness departed this life at Mussooree,
on the 16th of March 1845, in the 73d year of his age.

MRS. FISHER.

This amiable and exemplary lady, the wife of the Reverend Henry Fisher, Senior Presidency Chaplain, was called to the rest prepared for the people of God, on Friday the 12th of November, 1841, in the 69th year of her age. The disease was cholera and the call fearfully sudden. In a few hours, death did his work. The speedy summons, however, is the only thing to be regretted, for although to God's faithful people "sudden death, is sudden glory," yet when it is considered how awful such removals are to survivors, how unexpected and alarming the wrench of domestic ties, who does not feel that a more calm and gradual change is to be desired.

In this case there is all that is consoling, all that could be desired to sooth the sorrows of the soul, and to leave the assurance that her freed and happy spirit is now with the righteous, in joy and felicity. Mrs. Fisher's whole life had been one of piety and excellence. From a child she had feared and loved and served God. The Holy Scriptures from her youth had been her counsellor and guide. In every relation of life she had not only been blameless and harmless, but a pattern of all that was praiseworthy and of good report, humble, modest, retiring, sincere, affectionate, full of benevolence. She did indeed exemplify the power and truth of religion. As a wife, as a mother, as a member of the Church of Christ, she left an example which may be appealed to, as a model, without hesitation. Who that knew her but at once recognized the Israelite indeed, the Christian void of guile, seeking not her own, but the good and happiness of all around her.

But with all her excellence and worth, there never was one, who more humbly felt her need of a Saviour, and traced all that was good to his grace. It was with her, as it is with all God's children, the more they know of themselves, the greater need they feel of a Saviour's merits: the more they strive to do God's will from the heart, the more they feel the need of a better righteousness than their own. They repent of sin, but they trust not to their repentance,―their faith worketh by love, but their trust is in the atonement; they bring forth the fruits of righteousness, but they know that it is God that worketh in them and by them, and thus they are kept humble, confiding, loving and obedient.

It was in this spirit, she lived, it was in this spirit, she finished her course, and looked forward through the merits of her Saviour to a joyful resurrection to eternal life.

To particularize those graces which more eminently shone forth in the character of Mrs Fisher, we should say they were,-1. The most deep and unaffected humility.-2. The most entire freedom from selfishness.-3. The most simple and firm confidence in the righteousness of Christ.

In her whole behaviour the humility of her Saviour was evident. It was a part of her character. It gave a sweetness to all she said, a lustre to all she did. And as to her entire want of selfishness she scarcely seemed to think of herself in seeking to promote the comfort, the welfare, the happiness of others. And then her trust in Christ-her desire to be found in him-it was in fact a strong, and fixed, and simple faith in proportion to her humbleness of mind.

The following letter, written by her affectionate and bereaved partner (now no more) to a Christian friend, sets forth the piety and faith of the subject of these sketches, which cannot but be calculated to strengthen and encourage the faith of God's children.

"I cannot tell you how gratefully I have received your friendly sympathizing remembrances of me in my deep distress. The suddenness of the calamity has rendered it doubly painful-for I think I had not seen my beloved and affectionate partner so well for some time, as she was through the whole of the day of the 11th of the month, previous to the attack of this dreadful, irresistible disease. We had just finished our family prayers at nine o'clock in the evening, and she had retired to her dressing

room, where she had always been in the habit of spending half an hour in reading her Bible and in private prayer. When I entered her room, she complained of having, as she thought, taken cold. She felt suddenly a little indisposed. I proposed sending for Corbyn, but not willing to disturb him at that hour, she begged me not to send but wait till the morning,-saying, she would take a little rhubarb and magnesia, and hoped the unpleasant feeling would pass off. She requested me to pray with her, which I did, and we retired to our pillow. We have always kept up the custom learnt in early childhood of repeating together the little simple prayer of a child, which is so familiarly known

"I lay my body down to sleep, &c.

"She remained silent a while-and then with peculiar fervour repeated the affecting
words of her favorite hymn-

"Come ye sinners, poor and wretched, &c.

A second time the word seemed to flow out from her heart, and turning her face, she said"good night dear, dear husband-try to sleep, and don't be uneasy, I shall be better to-morrow." We fell asleep, as I supposed, but about two hours afterwards, I heard her groan. I jumped up and found her in great pain-sick and suffering violent spasmodic cramps in her limbs. I immediately sent off a carriage for the doctor, and about one in the morning he arrived. She said-" Corbyn is it cholera?" he evaded giving her a decisive answer, but his grave and distressed look seemed at once to be understood-and she quietly whispered to me-" pray for me, dear husband! God's will be done!" She took Corbyn's prescription and laid down upon the bed. I asked, "I hope dearest Mary, your whole trust and confidence are fixed on Jesus the son of God, the faithful Saviour?" She faintly smiled, and lifting up her eyes to Heaven, replied—“O! who else! who else!" she speedily became insensible to all around. Did not know my son Henry, or his dear wife, or dear Frederick, or Mrs. Dealtry, and gradually became quite insensible and sank into the sleep of death, as if it was only to take a night's repose. I bless God for the merciful care of the dear sufferer through the dark valley! Naturally she had often expressed great apprehensions of the actual suffering of the death pang-but death seemed deprived of his simple power. She had no alarms or doubts, but seemed expecting with resignation and with fortitude and christian hope and faith, that the rod and staff would bear her through the valley. I have the rich consolation fully, that my dear Mary died in the Lord. We have been 43 years in happy enjoyment of each other's society, and I think and believe in the sanctified sympathy and love which first bound us in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet a little while and I must follow, and be re-united in unchangeable communion-see her and see Him, the Rock of ages, on whom we built all our sweetest pleasures, and who lightened all our cares. I feel grateful too, that she is first called to her rest. The endurance of the awful trial would have been fearful indeed to her tender and loving heart, and it was always her earnest wish that it should be 80. I think her especial grace was exceeding humility. Her faith was, I may say, uniformly strong. She made no noisy or talkative profession. But she deeply felt, that the ways of righteousness were ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. Kind and affectionate, diligent in all her duties—the best of wives, the tenderest of mothers-the most disinterested-the most free from all selfishness, of any one I ever knew. But I will not dwell on a subject so full of consolation, and yet so full of grief. She is with the Lord. I cannot, I must not, repine. Heber's beautiful hymn is very sweet to my humble Spirit"Thou art gone to the grave," &c.

REV. HENRY FISHER.-(Late Senior Presidency Chaplain.)

Mr. Fisher entered the ministry in the year 1795, or 6, and was ordained to a Curacy near Selby, in the Diocese of York; from thence he removed to Marston, where he became acquainted with that, amiable, devoted, humble-minded Christian lady, who was indeed a help-meet for him through a long series of years, and who only preceded him to her heavenly rest, a short time before. From the period of his marriage to her in 1798, unto the time of his coming out to India in 1815, he was settled at the perpetual Curacy of Kirk Hammerton, procured for him by a dear and esteemed relative.

It is to be recorded, on his own admission, that at the time of his taking holy orders, and for years after, like the Rev. Thomas Scott, the great Commentator, and many others, he had not those views of saving truth with which it pleased God, afterwards, to enlighten his mind, and consequently not that proper sense of the high responsibility of the ministerial office which he, that is called of God, ought to possess. He was at that time passionately attached to those pursuits and pleasures which are quite incompatible with any thing like zeal or usefulness in the Lord's service. His sister, Mrs. Stevens, a lady well known by her eminent services to religion, both as a teacher of the truth to the young and as a writer, and to whom he was devotedly attached, used to labour to convince him of the unsuitableness, not to say, sinfulness, of those amusements he followed with such avidity. He endeavoured to meet her arguments against his conduct, but in vain. She always silenced him by the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, and when he could not answer her he became angry and would turn away in a rage. This state of things continued for two or three years, during which time his sister's tears and prayers for him were incessant. At length, by God's grace he was led by slow degrees, to see the truth and force of her statements and the folly and inconsistency of the things on which his heart had been set. Light broke in upon his mind. His desires were brought under the influence of the blessed Spirit, which alone can change the heart, subdue the will and affections, and give them entirely a new direction. His sister continued to be his kind and able spiritual counsellor and guide. Every thing was relinquished that could be thought to interfere with the great work of saving his own soul and the souls of them that heard him. He became a diligent student of God's word with earnest prayer for divine teaching. Luther's Commentary on the Galatians also greatly tended to confirm and strengthen his views and to impart peace and consolation to his spirit.

The change in his sentiments and conduct, of course, caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood. He experienced, what all true Christians must in a measure expect, under such circumstances, a good deal of opposition from those former friends and associates, who were loath to lose one in whose society they had found so much delight. But happily none of these things moved him. He pursued the even tenor of his way; God was present with him to bless his preaching and labours, in a remarkable manner, both in his own and the surrounding villages. At this period his exertions for the good of all around became very great. Besides the care of his own small parish, he obtained the sanction of nonResident Ministers in the neighbouring villages to establish an evening lecture, once a week, for the benefit especially of young people. Great numbers attended these lectures, and very many date their first religious impressions to what they then heard. Even at this day his name is had in honor by many poor cottagers who remember him with affectionate gratitude as the instrument in God's hand of bringing them to the knowledge of the truth as it is Jesus.

It was during a visit to one of these villages that he first became acquainted with Dr. Buchanan, through whom his thoughts were turned to India. But the providence was so remarkable, and the interview so characteristic of that eminent servant of God, that we must permit Mr. Fisher to relate it in his own words. “I had just finished my morning Sabbath Service at the village of G. O. and was conversing in the Church Yard with the gathering group of parishioners before returning to my home, when I perceived a stranger in the crowd, whose attention to the sermon, which I had been preaching, had drawn my eyes frequently towards the pew in which he had been seated. The villagers were pressing round with their affectionate inquiries after my health, &c. when the stranger addressed me with a courteous-smile, saying somewhat abruptly, It is a blessed occupation for a minister of God to preach the "metanoia" to a sinful world." (My subject had been from the 3d chapter of St. John and the 5th verse.) In reply to this address, which somewhat surprised me, I observed, very true, and blessed are the people who know the joyful sound.' Will you go to India?' said he. If opportunity served, I should not hesitate; I have often thought of it!' Have you?' said he, then think of it again and when you have made up your mind let me know, I am Dr. Buchanan.' We shook hands and I mounted my horse and rode away! Some little delay arose from various causes before my final decision was made, but difficulties and impediments were overruled and finally the way was open; I bid farewell to my English home and relatives and friends, and set off for London with my family to make all the requisite preparations for departure. The memory of the painful parting with such dear friends still dwells upon the heart, although revolving years have softened down the harsher shadow of the retrospect. Even now I can back the melancholy history of that dark day, when with many tears and prayers and blessings, we relized the scene of anguish described as having taken place at Miletus between Paul and the Ephesian elders; behold,' said the Apostle, I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see no more." " Mr. Fisher arrived in India in the year 1815. He had, therefore, completed thirty years period of service at the time of his death, and was the oldest chaplain, not only on the establishment, but, that has ever been in the country.

His first appointment was Dum Dum. He remained, however only a few months at that station. From thence he removed to Meerut, the scene of his Indian labours and usefulness until the year 1832. Here his ministry was eminently blessed to the European soldiers. He was their spiritual counsellor and friend. His visits "to the house of mourning" during several years, so strikingly set forth in the pages of the Christian Intelligencer, were chiefly made whilst at that station, and many will be known in the last day as the seals of his faithful labours there.

From Meerut, Mr. Fisher was brought down in the year 1832 to the Presidency, to occupy the Junior Chaplain's post at St. John's Church, then the Cathedral, and the same exemplary zeal and devotedness in the cause of Christ were manifested in his conduct there.

He was associated with all those great and valued institutions which are designed to promote the temporal or spiritual interests of men.

On one occasion, when driven from his post of duty to seek for restoration to health, he expresssd in beautiful terms the grace by which he was sustained. "My sickness," he said in a letter to his beloved sister, “has been severe and dangerous, but mercy and undeserved compassion and love have spared me; it is not my intention, however, to fill my paper with the history of my own griefs and pains, suffice it to say, that sweet Hope is with me and that my Saviour sanctifies and blesses and heals and comforts me," and the same elevated feelings were conspicuous throughout the whole of his late severe and complicated sufferings. No one could more fully exemplify the power and grace of Christian hope, both as it respects God's dealings with him and the prospects of future blessedness. He was saved by hope." He felt amidst his acutest pains that the Lord dealt bountifully with him, and that the sufferings of the present time were not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed ; bodily pain might occasionally extort a groan, but groaning is not grumbling; with him there was not an expression of murmuring or repining: no petulant complaint as to why wearisome days and nights were appointed him; on the contrary there was the most perfect acquiescence in the Divine disposal, the most complete submission to the Divine will-the most entire dependence upon the strength and grace of Jesus Christ.

It was in the midst of extreme bodily anguish and death-like exhaustion, that his son, overwhelmed with grief, heart-broken at seeing his father's sufferings, enquired how he felt in his mind amidst them? He looked up and giving one of his wonted sweet smiles exclaimed with energy, "strong in hope! strong in hope!" These were almost his last words, as he only said afterwards with evident feelings of gratitude" I am easier." It was with such elevation of mind and constant ejaculatory prayer that his spirit passed to its destined rest,--to the paradise of God, and thus left every possible evidence that could be desired, that "the righteous hath hope in his death."

Mr. Fisher died at Mussourie after a long and painful illness, on the 16th of March 1815, and was buried at Deyrah in the Dhoon, near the grave of his youngest daughter, Mrs. R. H. Scott.