Come boldly on; no venom'd snake Yet who in Indian bowers has stood, But thought on England's 'good greenwood,' And bless'd beneath the palmy shade, Her hazel, and her hawthorn glade; And breathed a prayer-how oft in vain !— A truce to thought-the jackal's cry And through the trees, yon failing ray Still as we pass, from bush to brier Enough, enough; the rustling trees Yon lamp that trembles on the stream, His peace on earth-His hope of heaven. Early in the year 1826, Bishop Heber acompanied by Archdeacon Robinson, the learned translator of the Bible into Persian, commenced a visitation of the southern parts of his diocese. At each station he discharged, with earnestness and vigour, the duties of his sacred office; preaching, administering the rite of confirmation, and visiting the various Christian communities in his route, with all his wonted ardour and affection. Oh arriving at Madras, where he was received by the Governor, Sir Thomas Munro, with the utmost consideration and kindness, he was thought by his friends to exhibit some symptoms of declining health, but continued to discharge his episcopal duties with all his former efficiency; and subsequently pursued his southward progress through Combaconum, Tranquebar, and Tanjore, to Trichinopoly. It is superfluous to say, that HEBER did not visit Tanjore (once the abode of SWARTZ, and the place where at the age of seventy-two, that apostle of India had departed this life) without extreme interest. When he saw the numerous body of native Christians-amounting in number to many thousands-who form the Church of that place, he was powerfully affected, and exclaimed, "Here is the strength of the Christian cause in India." The Rajah of Tanjore, who had himself been a pupil of the great Swartz, on being introduced to the Bishop on this occasion, addressed to him a few words not likely to fade from his memory. "I love thee," he said, "because thou lookest so like my dear father Swartz." On Saturday, the 1st of April, 1826, Bishop Heber, attended of course by a numerous train, reached Trichinopoly. On the morning of the following day, he preached to a large congregation in the Government Church; and in the evening confirmed nearly fifty persons, explaining to them afterwards, in an earnest and affectionate manner, the nature and use of the rite of confirmation. On returning to his place of abode after the conclusion of this service, the Bishop complained of head-ache, and observed, that from the construction of the church it was a very difficult building to speak in; and that he thought the pulpit was too much elevated. These expressions were thought to indicate a feeling, on his part, of unwonted fatigue; but nothing like serious indisposition was apprehended. On the following morning, the indefatigable prelate rose at day-break, and having first conducted the solemn duty of family worship, he rode to the Mission Station, and administered confirmation in the church to fifteen young persons, performing the service in their native tongue. He then went to the Mission House, investigated the state of the schools, and transacted other necessary business. On returning to his encampment, he went immediately to the apartment of Archdeacon Robinson, who was suffering from illness, and sitting down by the side of his couch, he conversed with him, respecting the affairs of the mission, without any appearance of physical exhaustion, and with all his accustomed ardour and energy. This done, he retired to his own apartment, and having taken off his robes, dated, as was his custom on similar occasions, the address on Confirmation which he had just delivered, "Trichinopoly, April 3, 1826." He then prepared to take a cold bath; a refreshment which he frequently took, and which he had taken on each of the two last preceding days. Whether the chill temperament of the water induced an apoplectic fit, or in what manner death was occasioned, cannot be certainly known. After the lapse of about half an hour, his servant, somewhat alarmed at his protracted absence, entered the bathing-room, and found him lying senseless at the bottom of the bath. Medical aid was immediately procured; but all attempts to restore animation were vain. The freed spirit had returned to God who gave it; the faithful servant had entered into the joy of his Lord. It would be vain to attempt to describe the grief which this event produced among the immediate friends and followers of Bishop Heber, and which the news of it diffused throughout all ranks of society in British India. Equally general and sincere was the sorrow with which the sad intelligence of his sudden death was received in England. No man, perhaps was ever richer, or more deservedly rich in the affectionate |