Rev. Mr. Ball, one of the chaplains of the East-India Company, he had continued to officiate alone. His fellow-laborers, in the Mission, were two English schoolmasters, three catechists, and three Malabar schoolmasters, who were in training to be made catechists. The Christians at Dindegal and Madura had been frequently visited by the catechists, who also frequently announced the gospel of Christ to the natives. Mr. Pohle considered his mission, on the whole, to be on a promising footing. He had been successively favored with vis its from Messrs. Kerr of Madras, Buchanan of Calcutta, and John of Tranquebar, with whom he had had important conversations, concerning the English missions, and the dissemination of christian knowledge in the East.

Dr. Buchanan who had had opportunities of personally knowing Mr. Henry Horst, had much encouraged the idea of his ordination; which had taken place by the hands of Mr. Pohle, and his co-ordinators Mr. Kolhoff and Mr. Holzberg, on the first Sunday of the preceding advent, at Tanjore, in the manner Mr. Kolhoff, and the country priest Sattianaden, had received their ordinations, through the hands of Father Schwartz. Mr. Pohle therefore strongly recommend. ed the reception of Mr. Horst, as the Society's missionary, and that they would grant to him the salary of a missionary; to which recommendation the Society have acceded.

Mr. Pohle mentions, that they had celebrated a jubilee, on the 13th of July, 1806, in commemoration of the arrival of the two first protestant missionaries at Tranquebar, on the 9th of July, 1806, with thanksgivings and praises to God, and a suitable sermon from Matt. xxviii. 19.

He expresses his wish that the mother mission at Tranquebar may continue to be remembered for good by the Hon. Society, as it still supplies the daughter missions with books, treatises, &c. from its press.

Mr. John had resolved on a voyage to England and Denmark, in consequence of medical advice; and in order to give a clear and oral account of the missions to the respecfive superiors, he had previously visit

ed Tanjore, Trichinapally, and the christian congregation in the country, where he had had many confer. ences with the brethren, in the view of preserving and promoting the ob jects of the missions, and encourag ing, together with the christian religion, civilization and industry amongst the Christians, and particularly in the mission schools; and he had had much pleasure in finding his excellency the Maha Rajah, the English Resident Captain Blackburn, and at Madras Lord William Bentinck, cordially inclined to aid these good designs, where opportunities should occur.

Mr. John, however, finding difficulties in getting a passage, and that his complaints returned with greater violence, found it necessary to return to Tranquebar, where, in October, he had providentially arrived by

sea.

Since then, he had been enabled to retake his share in the charge of the mission, the duties of which had chiefly fallen on Mr. Cammerer, who had, however, been faithfully assisted by Mr. Schreyvogal in the church, and in the schools of the Malabar and Portuguese congrega tions. In both, the increase in the years 1805 and 6 was 249; amongst whom were 30 heathens and four Roman catholics. Their marriages had been sixty-five, communicants 2,240, and the number of school children, exclusive of those in the country, 150.

In consequence of the scarcity of paddy, they had been obliged to return many school children to their parents, and to refuse many who were brought for reception. Some enemies too had united to disturb the established order of the mission, to grieve the missionaries, to ruin the catechists and elders, and to seduce a part of the Christians; but they report, with gratitude to God, that these schemes had been confounded, and that the better part of their Christians had acknowledged the value of enjoying the means of grace; and their esteem for those, who had their spiritual and bodily welfare at heart, had rather increased than diminished; and instances of true piety, on the occasion, had also increased. Some new arrange.

ments had been made to encourage industry,and civilization amongst the Christians and school children. The latter were directed to occupy their minds by learning in the forenoon; and in the afternoon, their hands and feet,bycultivating the school yards and grounds adjacent with different vegetables, which heretofore were bought at the market. The several Christian families were encouraged to do the same on the spots next to their houses, and were assisted, as far as possible, by having wells dug for them, and by being furnished with the necessary utensils. The catehists and Christians in the country were continually directed and encouraged to make the best use possible of the ground granted by government to the chapels and houses, through the generous endeavors of that inestimable friend of mankind, and of his country, Mr. Charles Harris; whose removal from the collectorship they, with the inhabitants in general, and particularly the poor, most keenly lament. Of the character of this gentleman, they speak in the highest terms. The catechists had been encouraged to practise vaccination, which they had done gratuitously to a great extent in various districts, looking for their reward from above. The names of many hun

dreds of poor children, whom they had vaccinated, had been brought to the missionaries, and in no instance does the experiment appear to have failed.

The cultivation of potatoes having been very successfully introduced in some of the more remote and inner parts of the country, and a trial also having been successfully made near. er the sea-coast, they entertained the hope that similar attempts amongst other Christians, which were to be pursued when the hot season and the rains were over, would not fail of

success

They would not cease to shew and testify to the public, that the mission and christianity were not hurtful to the interest of the country, but beneficial in every respect, and worthy of being preserved, encouraged, and promoted.

They observe, that if the Indian nations were to be blessed with the Holy Scriptures, or at least with the New Testament, aud some parts of the Old, in their different languages, the fruits of this charity would be inestimable. They had themselves lately published in Malabar, the Proverbs of Solomon and the book of Ecclesiasticus separately, and it was surprising with what ea ger desire Christians and heathers applied for copies.

Relig. Mon.

DR. MCCALLA was born at Neshaminy in Pennsylvania in the year 1748. Blessed with most excellent and pious parents, he was early in. structed by them in the principles of the christian religion, and attended on this species of instruction with uncommon expansion of mind, and great seriousness of reflection. He received the rudiments of his education at the grammar school in Foggsmanor in his native state, under the direction of the Rev. John Blair, where he acquired a taste for classical learn

ing, which did honor to his preceptor and displayed the opening of a refin ed and manly genius. At this place he was also distinguished for early piety and was admitted to the communion of the church in the thirteenth year of his age.

When properly qualified he was removed to Princeton, where, by intense application, his constitution was endangered, and parental interference became necessary to prevent his falling a sacrifice to the ardor of his mind.

In 1766 he finished his course at College, and was honored with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with the reputation of extraordinary attainments.

Being now only in his 19th year, Mr. McCalla was prevailed upon, by the solicitation of several respectable and literary characters in Philadel phia, to open an academy in that place for the instruction of youth in languages and sciences. In this useful employment he acquitted himself with honor, and with general approbation. In the mean time, in addition to his favorite studies of Theology and Belles Lettres, he made himself acquainted with the science of medicine and the collateral branches of literature, and obtained a critical knowledge of the French, Spanish, and Italian languages.

On the 29th of July, 1772 he was licensed to preach the gospel, and received testimonials of the first Presbytery of Philadelphia, of their high approbation.

His popular talents soon attracted the attention of several vacant congregations, who wished to obtain his residence among them, as their pastor. He gave the preference to the united churches of New Providence and Charleston in Pennsylvania, and was ordained their minister in 1774.

In this situation he preached to great acceptance till the commencement of the American Revolution, when a new field opened for the exercise of his eloquence, and he became peculiarly useful in directing the views and in inspiring and con firming the patriotism of many others, as well as those of his own congregations.

After the commencement of hostilites, when troops under the command of General Thomson were ordered to Canada, at the solicitation of several of the officers,he was appointed by Congress to a chaplaincy to attend that corps. His opportunities for ministerial usefulness how ever were not equal, in this station, to his wishes: for soon after his arrival in Canada, he was made prisoner with General Thomson and seve ral of his officers at Trois Rivieres. After several months confinement on board of a loathsome prisonship,be

was permitted to return to his friends on parole, and was restored to his congregations in the latter end of 1776. But the tranquillity he enjoyed here was not long; it was interrupted by an order issued by the commander of the British army then in Philadelphia, for apprehending him on a pretence of his having vio lated his parole in praying for his country. He had timely notice of this order, and retired to Virginia. Here having received information of his release from parole by an exchange of prisoners, he returned to the uncontrolled office of his ministry,and at the same time took charge of a respectable academy in Hanover County. But it pleased the Head of the church by a train of providences to remove him once more to a situation better suited to his inclinations in Christ's church; where, in undis. turbed retirement, he could pursue his beloved studies and indulged his ample mind in inquisitive research.

It has often been considered by some of Dr. Mc Calla's friends, as a subject of regret, that his useful talents were confined to so limited a. sphere. He was himself of a different opinion. His predilection for solitude for the sake of study was such that nothing but a strong conviction of imperious duty, could ever have drawn him out of it. Happy in the affections of a beloved congregation among whom he enjoyed alternately the advantages of public use. fulness and retirement, no inferior consideration could have induced him to desire a change.

In retirement he possessed a tranquillity little known in the miscella neous throngs of populous cities, which he would not have bartered for any flattering encomiums in the roll of Fame. Rather avoiding than courting public notice, he never sought, nor willingly consented that his friends should seek for him a more conspicuous station, than the one he occupied. In retirement he indulged his taste for elegant literature on every subject; through his whole 21 years residence at Wappetaw, his attention was principally directed to the sacred Scriptures. He read them diligently in the originals, and in the several languages into which

they have been translated, collected and compared the various readings from many authorities, and had it in design, had life been spared, to have digested his remarks and arranged them in an order which would have rendered them useful to posterity. But infinite Wisdom determined otherwise. An afflictive providence, by the death of a most amiable, excellent, and dutiful daughter, an only child, accelerated an event, which frequent attacks of sickness, on a constitution alreadyalmost exhausted, must soon have brought to pass. He bore the affliction with exempla. ry resignation, and while he felt with sensibility, he blessed the hand that inflicted the stroke. In religion he found resources sufficient to support his spirit, but not sufficient to fortify his enfeebled frame against the power of disease. In calm submission to the paternal will of God, he met the king of terrors with the composure and magnanimity of a Christian, and on the 6th day of April 1809, in the 61st year of his age sweetly resigned his soul into the arms of the Savior in whom he had long placed an unwavering confidence.

Dr. Mc Calla was in person a graceful figure, polite, easy, and engaging in his manners: entertaining and improving in conversation, of a lively fancy, and a generous heart, of unfettered liberality, and undissembling candor.

He was easy of access, a friend to human nature, but peculiarly attached to men of science and religion.

With powers of mind equal to his piety and benevolence, he justly held a place in the foremost ranks of eminent and good men.

*It ought to have been mentioned before, that when in Virginia Mr. Mc Calla was married to Miss Elizabeth, Todd, third daughter of the late Rev. John Todd of that State. By this Lady he had only one child to live, who became the wife of Dr. John R. Witherspoon, and died in the 27th year of her age, leaving one son.

He was a profound scholar combining the wisdom of antiquity, with the refinements of modern literature. In biblical learning, criticism, and sacred history he was exceeded by

none.

As a divine his theological opinions were founded solely on the Scriptures; a strong advocate for the pe culiar glory and divinity of the Son of God, and zealously inculcating the obligation on all men to worship him; he professed without servile attachment to party distinctions of any name, to be a moderate Calvinist On the subject of church government he was liberal, but thought the popular plan of congregational churches the most consonant to apostolic and primitive practice, and best suited to promote the interests of piety and virtue.

As a preacher the elegance of his manner, the perspicuity of his style, the abundant variety of his information, enforced by a manly and almost unrivalled eloquence at once charmed, convinced, and instructed.

The subjects of his pulpit addresses,never uninteresting, seldom speculative, were always calculated to inform the understanding and improve the heart. To have been languid or unbenefited under his ordinary preaching would have evidenced great insensibility or depravity.

As a teacher of youth he had a peculiar facility of communicating the knowledge with which he was so copiously endowed, and the peculiar happiness of commanding obedience and respect without severity or hau

teur.

As a man of piety and virtue, with as few infirmities as usually fall to the lot of good men in the present world, his example in every department in life was worthy of imitation, and displayed a rectitude of mind, which could only result from perfect integrity of principle.

His loss to the church, to the partner of his life, to his friends and his country, is unspeakable: "Well done good and faithful servant” and a manston in heavenwe trust, are his reward.

DR. ERSKINE was born June 2d, 1721. He descended from one of the most respectable families in Scotland. His father, eminent for talents as a Lawyer and Professor of Law, became still more eminent by his valuable publications, which are universally regarded in our Courts of Justice, as of the highest authority.

By birthright Dr. Erskine was entitled to a very considerable patrimonial estate. His bodily constitution was, from the beginning, delicate, and his stature small and slender; but his mind was strong and vigorous, acute and active: his thirst for knowledge insatiable, and his memory singularly retentive.

His mind, impressed with a deep sense of piety, was early turned to Theology, as his favorite study; but law was the profession for which he was intended by his family. Accord. ingly at the close of his collegi. ate course, he entered upon the study of law, in which he made very considerable progress. To his proficiency in this science has been justly ascribed much of that subtilty of discrimina. VOL. II. New Series.

tion, and accuracy of reasoning, for which he was distinguished. But, notwithstanding his fair prospects of eminence in a profession, which was deemed by his friends best suited to his rank in society, as well as to the advancement of his fortune, his mind was still fondly turned to Divinity, and he at length obtained the reluctant consent of his family, to attend exclusively to that profession. After spend ing the usual number of years in diligent preparatory studies he obtained a license to preach the gospel, from the Presbytery of Edinburgh.

Among his first appearances in the pulpit, he preached from a text, which was thought peculiarly applicable to his own character and circumstances "I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.'

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