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 The life of Christian F 
 Swartz 
 
 No.. 
 


LIFE OF CHRISTIAN F. 8WART/ 
 
 MISSIONARY AT TRAVANCORE. 
 A.D. 1750—1798. 
 
 ■'r>o the work of an cvfingplist ; make full proof of thy ministry.'' — 2 Tim. ir. 
 
 SEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET 
 
 AND B. SEELEY, HANOVER STREET, 
 
 LONDON. MDCCCLV. 
 
LONDON: 
 
 Printed by G. Barclay, Castle St Leicester Sq. 
 
i^ 
 
 
 '^'",- 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The present volume may be regarded as iu some respects 
 the most valuable of the present series. The devoted 
 Christian Missiouaiy is the highest style of man,— the 
 truest follower of the Apostles ; and Swartz was among 
 the first of the missionaries of modern times. 
 
 The period in which we live is remarkable for two 
 rival systems of pseudo- Christianity, opposed to each 
 other, but both still more opposed to Evangelical reli- 
 gion. We have had a ritualist and patristic Christianity, 
 — a sect or party, not content with apostolic simplicity, 
 but yearning for the Church of Ambrose and Gregory. 
 Still more recently, we have seen a very different 
 scheme, or phase of religion, in which the Atonement, 
 the Judgment to come, the Resurrection, and even 
 Heaven and ticll themselves, are all explained away. 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 To both these sects or parties we propound this 
 question : — Examine the characters, systems of belief, 
 lives, and deaths, of four men of vastly different births, 
 stations, and circumstances. David Brainerd, the New 
 England student; Christian Swartz, the labourer for 
 fifty years in India; Henry Martyn, the most dis- 
 tinguished man of his year in Cambridge ; William 
 Johnson, the mechanic from Whitechapel, the most 
 successful missionary of modern times. Read the 
 letters and diaries of these four men, from different 
 lands, labouring and dying in four different quarters 
 of the globe. The most perfect harmony of thought 
 and feeling pervades the whole. All follow Paul, as he 
 followed Christ. All four gave their lives, and met 
 their deaths, in Christ's service. Now, will either of 
 the New Schools of Divinity above referred to, show us 
 a single man, taken from among their own ranks, or 
 liolding their views, who has ever evinced the least 
 readiness to undertake the labours of Swartz or of 
 Brainerd, or to lay down his lil'e with Johnson or 
 ^Martyn ? 
 
 We are ignorant of the existeiice of such a person. 
 And we believe that no other principles than those set 
 forlli hy St. Paul (Ilom. viii.. Eph. i.. I lib. xii.). and 
 
lived upon by Swartz, by Braiuerd, by Martyii, and by 
 Johnson, will ever make a genuine missionary. But 
 then, is it not more than questionable, -whether any 
 system which is incapable of sending fortli one mes- 
 senger to the heathen, can be the system of St. Paul 
 or of his Divine Master ? 
 
 In the compilation of this volume, it was obviously 
 unavoidable that the path marked out by Dean Pearson 
 should be followed. His Memoir is a complete work 
 of its kind ; and any attempt to construct a different 
 history would naturally fail. He had gathered the 
 choicest materials, and had most judiciously arranged 
 them. All that the present Editor could attempt, under 
 such circumstances, would naturally be, to follow the 
 chief biographer of Swartz at humble distance ; so as 
 to profit by his labours, w^ithout servilely copying them. 
 It is hoped that the present volume will be found to 
 contain all the main circumstances of Swartz's eventful 
 life, and tlie choicest portions of his admirable journals 
 and correspondence. In this way, it may carry the 
 history of this exemplary servant of Christ into quarters 
 where the larujer and more costlv work could not 
 have gone : — whde. in other cases, it may reconnnond 
 and introduce I)('an Pearson's Memoii' to those who 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 can afford its purchase. In either way, may the Mis- 
 sionary's Lord be glorified, and the cause of the Gospel 
 advanced ! 
 
 London, Oct. 24, 1855. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I'AGE 
 
 I. HIS EARLY life; — TO HIS ENTKAXCE ON THE 
 
 MISSIONARY WORK ..... 1 
 
 II. SWARTZ AT TRANQUEBAR — HIS REMOVAL TO 
 
 TRUCHINOPOLY . . . . . .31 
 
 III. SWARTZ AT TRICHINOPOLY HIS VISITS TO TAN- 
 
 JORE TAKES UP HIS RESIDENCE AT THAT 
 
 PLACE . . . . . £3 
 
 IV. SWARTZ AT TANJORE HIS GREAT AND BENE- 
 FICIAL INFLUENCE — DEATH OF THE RAJAH . 140 
 
 V. SWARTZ IN HIS INTERCOURSE WITH STATESMEN . ISO 
 
 VI. THE LAST YEARS OF SWARTZ HIS DEATH 
 
 AND CHARACTER . . . . .207 
 

 TKAVANCOKE, TANJOllE, &c. 
 

 LIFE OF C. F. SWAKTZ. 
 
 His Early Life ; — to his Entrance on the 
 Missionary Work, 
 
 A.D. 1726—1750. 
 
 Christian Frederick Schwartz, or, as he himself often 
 wrote it — Swartz, was born on the 8th of October, 1726,* 
 at Sonnenburg, a small town in what is now Prussia, but 
 which was then termed the Electorate of Brandenburgh. 
 His family appears to have been of respectable station. 
 His mother, whose maiden name was Gruner, died while 
 he was yet young, and on her death-bed she informed her 
 husband and the minister who attended her, that she had 
 solemnly dedicated her son to the Lord, intreating them, 
 that if he should show any fitness for it, he should be 
 trained up for the ministry. 
 
 He was sent, in his eighth year, to the principal gram- 
 mar-school at Sonnenburg, where, under its rector, Mr. 
 Helm, he made good progress. This gentleman also in- 
 culcated on his pupils the importance of prayer, and en- 
 couraged them to pray in their own language, and as 
 might be dictated by their own feelings. Swartz after- 
 wards declared, that even at that early age he used fre- 
 quently to retire from his youthful companions into soli- 
 
 * Most Memoirs of Swartz give the 26th as the date of his birth ; but 
 Dr. Pearson asserts the 8th to be the true date. 
 
 B 
 
2 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 tude, and there pour out his heart before God ; that he 
 found this practice highly beneficial, and that when con- 
 scious especially of having acted wrong, he could never 
 regain tranquillity of mind until he had earnestly implored 
 the Divine forgiveness. 
 
 Mr. Helm, however was removed from the school, to 
 undertake a ministerial post of duty, and his successor 
 proved to be a man of a different character. He took no 
 heed to the religious improvement of his pupils, and 
 Swartz became comparatively indifferent. The period for 
 confirmation arrived, but the clergyman who examined 
 him was content with the mere repetition of the Cate- 
 chism, and the ordinance proved of no advantage to those 
 admitted. 
 
 Swartz had now acquired as great a proficiency in Latin 
 and Greek as the Sonnenburg school could afford him, 
 and had commenced the study of Hebrew. He was there- 
 fore removed to an academy of higher pretensions, in the 
 town of Custrin. He now received from his father a 
 lesson in that regimen of frugality and abstinence which 
 proved so serviceable to him in after-life. 
 
 They proceeded to Custrin on foot, and on leaving him, 
 his father gave him no more money than what was requi- 
 site for his necessary expenses. On his return home, on 
 the arrival of the vacation, his father said — " Mj dear 
 Frederick, you may, perhaps, have sometimes repined on 
 comparing your homely food and clothing with that of 
 others : and possibly you may have thought that your 
 father did not love you so much as the parents of some of 
 your friends ; but I trust that your own good sense, and 
 the painful example of their failure, will have led you to 
 perceive my reasons for inuring you to hardships, and 
 never encouraging you in self-indulgence. I may now 
 justly hope, that in whatever situation it may please God 
 to place you, you will be qualified to sustain it." Un- 
 questionably, in his mother's prayers, and his father's 
 instructions, we seem to discern a providential prepara- 
 tion for that peculiar course in which he was, in a long 
 and useful life, to glorify God. 
 
 Still, although at Custrin he learnt frugality and ab- 
 
HIS EARLY LIFE. 3 
 
 stemiousness, he found the usual temptations arising from 
 gay and trifling society, leading his heart from God. He was 
 tempted to think that it was not possible for him, in such 
 a place, to maintain a serious and consistent walk. Hap- 
 pily, however, he became acquainted with one of the Syndics, 
 who had formerly been a student at Halle, and who retained 
 great respect for the professors of that University. The 
 daughter of this gentleman, who appears to have taken a 
 lively interest in the young scholar, endeavoured to point 
 out to him his previous errors, and to convince him of the 
 importance of greater decision of character. She lent him 
 several books, among wdiich was the remarkable narrative 
 of the rise and progress of the Orphan-House at Glaucha, 
 near Halle, entitled. Demonstrations of the Footsteps of a 
 Divine Being yet in the World, by the celebrated Augustus 
 Hermann Francke. This extraordinary work made a deep 
 impression upon his mind. It first inspired him with a wish 
 to visit Halle, and proved, in fact, the turning-point of his 
 future destination. When reviewing, however, this period 
 of his life, Swartz afterwards observed that he was diligent 
 in study, but chiefly from worldly motives ; and that 
 twice in seasons of dangerous illness he had resolved to 
 devote himself entirely to God, but that he soon forgot his 
 good resolutions. 
 
 In the year 1746, attracted by the striking narrative 
 just alluded to, he repaired to Halle, intending to enter 
 himself at the Grammar-Scliool of the Orphan-House. 
 But the missionary Schultz, who had recently returned from 
 the Madras ]\Iission, and was then residing in Halle, en- 
 couraged him to enter the University at once, seeing that 
 he already possessed the requisite elementary knowledge. 
 He followed this advice, and began to attend the lectures 
 of the professors Baumgarten, I\Iichaelis, Knai)p, and Frcy- 
 linghausen, boarding and lodging in the meantime at the 
 Orphan-House. While pursuing his studies there, he was 
 chosen to be preceptor to the Latin classes, and to assist 
 in the evening assemblies for praj'er, appointed by the 
 venerable founder to be held with the attendants and ser- 
 vants of the institution. These pious employments were 
 highly beneficial to him ; and, together with the instruc- 
 
4 LITE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 tion which he received at the devotional meetings, under 
 the direction of the Rev. G. F. Weiss, Inspector of the 
 German School, and his intercourse v/ith the learned and 
 pious Professor Francke (son of Aug. H. Francke), confirmed 
 him in the determination of devoting himself to God, and 
 established him in that truly Christian course, which his 
 subsequent life so strikingly displayed. 
 
 Schultz had returned from India after twenty years' 
 labour in the Madras mission, solely from ill health ; and 
 he was now endeavouring to aid that mission, while at 
 Halle, to the utmost of his power. He was projecting an 
 edition of the Tamul Bible, as well as a tract for distribu- 
 tion in the same language. He begged Swartz and another 
 of the students to try to acquire some knowledge of Tamul, 
 in order to assist him in these works ; and thus by an- 
 other step the future missionary was led to prepare him- 
 self for his future important labours. 
 
 While he was thus engaged. Professor Francke, the head 
 of that institution, received the most urgent entreaties fi'om 
 India to select and send out some additional labourers. 
 Seeing the interest which Swartz was taking in the sub- 
 ject, and the studies to which he was addicting himself, 
 it was very natural that the professor should lay this appli- 
 cation before young Swartz, and should propose to him to 
 devote himself to missionary work. 
 
 Swartz listened to the call, but naturally left the de- 
 cision, in a great measure, in the hands of his surviving 
 parent. He visited Sonnenburg in order to arrive at some 
 conclusion ; but, being the eldest son, he was considered 
 the chief prop of the family, and no member of it would 
 believe that his father could be brought to consent to such 
 a project. Swartz, however, stated his wishes, together 
 with the motives which influenced him, with great serious- 
 ness and solemnity, to his father ; who, instead of putting 
 an immediate negative upon the proposal, as had been ex- 
 pected, replied that he would take two or three days to 
 consider of it, and fixed a time for declaring his determina- 
 tion. The important day arrived, and the family waited 
 with divided anxiety for the decision ; the young can- 
 didate for this arduous undertaking afraid of a refusal, the 
 
HIS ENTRANCE ON THE MISSIONARY WORK. 5 
 
 rest equally fearing a consent. At length his father came 
 down from his chamber, gave him his blessing, and bade 
 him depart in God's name, charging him to forget his 
 native country and his father's house, and to go and win 
 many souls to Christ. 
 
 Having thus obtained his dismission, he hastened his 
 departure ; and, gladly resigning his patrimony to his 
 brothers and sisters, he returned to Halle, A few days 
 afterwards, an advantageous offer was made to him of en- 
 tering upon the ministry at home ; but he felt that the 
 die was cast, and that, having deliberately put his hand to 
 the plough, it did not become him to look back. How 
 manifestly this determination originated in the superin- 
 tending providence of God, and was crowned with his 
 blessing, the subsequent history of this eminent mis- 
 sionary has abundantly proved. 
 
 Some months must have been given to such further 
 preparation as was needful, for we next find Swartz, on 
 the 8th of August, 1749, when he had nearly completed 
 his 23d year, proceeding to Copenhagen, in order that, as 
 it was the Danish mission to which he was about to be 
 attached, he might receive ordination in the Danish Church. 
 Two other candidates, Mr. Poltzenhagen and ]\Ir. Hutte- 
 man, accompanied him. They reached Copenhagen on the 
 23cl, and after due examination by the Bishop of Zealand, 
 were ordained by Bishop Horreboa, and left that city on 
 the 19th of September on their return to Halle. 
 
 Two months more completed the necessary prepara- 
 tions, and early in December they repaired to Helvoctsluys 
 on their way to England. They reached Harwich on the 
 6th of December, and on the 8th they arrived in London. 
 Two reasons ]3rompted this visit. As they were about to 
 place themselves under English government in India, it 
 was thought needful that they should acquire the English 
 language ; and to the London Society for promoting Chris- 
 tian Knowledge they looked for most important patronage 
 and support ; in ftict, that Society most kindly received 
 and provided for them during their stay in England. 
 From Kensington, Swartz wrote to Professor Halle, on the 
 18th of December, as follows : — 
 
6 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " God hath ordered all things well on the voyage. Our 
 hearts (more especially mine) were very cheerful during 
 the storming and raging of the sea ; and I have frequently 
 reminded myself of the 46th Psalm with great joy. Praised 
 be God ! This ought to be the beginning, middle, and end 
 of my letter. If God maketh this only to resound in our 
 hearts, that he, Jehovah, our sun and shield, is with us, we 
 can then not only be tranquil, but cheerful. 
 
 " Our occupations here have been of singular use, and 
 a great refreshment to us. In every difficulty we could 
 have recourse to the Kev. Mr. Ziegenhagen, the venerable 
 chaplain of his Majesty, who has behaved to us with 
 paternal kindness, and has given us such plain directions 
 as we, like inexperienced children, stood in need of. This 
 was our daily occupation, to take lessons and receive in- 
 struction. Then we had also to preach a few sermons ; I 
 twice, namely, once in the royal chapel on the first day of 
 the Nativity, and afterwards for the Rev. Mr. Pittius at the 
 Savoy ; Mr. Poltzenhagen four times, and Mr. Huttemau 
 three. May God bless what has been spoken in great 
 weakness ! " 
 
 The Society having applied to the East India Company, 
 and having obtained, from the kindness of the Honourable 
 Court of Directors, free passages for the three missionaries, 
 Mr. Swartz and his brethren proceeded to Deal on the 21st 
 of January, 1750, in order to embark in the Lynn India- 
 man, commanded by Captain Egerton. They remained at 
 Deal for nearly a week, during which time Swartz wrote to 
 Professor Francke as follows : — 
 
 " The 10th of January, according to the old style, which 
 is yet used here, or the 21st according to the new, was the 
 day on which we left dear Kensington, where God bestowed 
 so much grace upon us. On the preceding evening we 
 were from seven till ten with his IMajesty's chaplain, who 
 said many things to the awakening of our hearts. He gave 
 us the 121st Psalm for meditation on our voyage : 'I wiU 
 lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence comcth my 
 help.' Whatever could in any way contribute to our 
 
SAILS FROM ENGLAND. 7 
 
 comfort and encouragement, that he did. On new-year's 
 day also he addressed us publicly from the pulpit from 
 these words : ' Be not afraid, only believe.' (Mark, v. 36.) 
 At the same time he exhorted the congregation to pray for 
 us. On the same evening he prayed again with us, com- 
 mended us to the mercy of our God, and gave us some 
 copies of his lately- published Exposition of the Lord's 
 Prayer. He then dismissed us with the cordial admo- 
 nition, not to allow our brotherly love to cool. May God 
 write all that we have heard deeply in our hearts ! 
 
 "Thus we departed on the 21st of January, N.S., in the 
 name of Jesus, accompanied by that trusty German, Mat- 
 thieson, who has conducted all the missionaries from ^Mr. 
 Walther until now. On the 23d we arrived at Deal, in 
 perfect health and spirits. Here we lodge in a house which 
 is only a few paces from the shore, so th^t from our 
 windows we see nothing but the sea. My heart is filled 
 ^\^th cheerful confidence, being convinced that as God has 
 taken us under his paternal care during our late travels, so 
 will he likewise continue to be our protector. If we will 
 only cleave stedfastly to him, he will also most certainly be 
 with us, and be our faithful God. And he will graciously 
 hear the prayers with which we know so many of his 
 children and servants accompany us. Now, therefore, we 
 go forth in the name of the Lord, who hath called us to be 
 his servants and messengers among the heathen ; who will 
 also guide and bring us to the destined place." 
 
 A few days later, Swartz sends to Mr. Ziegenhagen two 
 reports of their further proceedings : — 
 
 " From on board the Lynn, off the Isle of Wiijht, 
 February 1, 1750. 
 "There comes a ship to bring us provisions, by which I 
 send you a few lines. On the 29th of January we left 
 Deal. God hath given us a favourable wind, with which 
 we have already sailed past Portsmouth. Praised be his 
 name ! we are all well. Our cabin is below that of the 
 captain. We are alone, for which we have thankfully to 
 acknowledge the goodness of God. We are as conveniently 
 
8 LIFE OF C. F. SWA.RTZ. 
 
 accommodated as can be expected on board ship. God be 
 praised for it ! The captain is a good, plain-deahng man, 
 and the other passengers show us much kindness. We 
 talk EngUsh as yet very badly, but they all encourage us to 
 speak, and no one laughs at our blunders. Several of them 
 know a little Latin, and use their utmost endeavours to 
 explain to us whatever we do not understand. We return 
 hearty thanks to God for having brought us to this ship. 
 Hitherto he hath graciously preserved us, that no one has 
 sustained any hurt, except that last night a sailor fell into 
 the water ; however, he was saved. The number of persons 
 on board is about an hundred, and a few passengers. We 
 pass our time in reading the holy Scriptures in the original 
 languages, and other good books, and practise reading and 
 writing English, according to your kind instruction. There 
 are persons on board who go to India for pleasure. One of 
 them goes for the fifth time, and says it is a very pleasant 
 voyage. There are also many children on board who learn 
 navigation. Now this I have written in haste. May Jesus 
 bless you abundantly, and hear your prayers, and those of 
 other children and servants of God for us ! Oh, the Lord 
 is faithful, and never yet forsook his people. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 " February 3, 1750. 
 "■ Filial love requires us to make use of this opportunity 
 of informing you of our circumstances. When we last 
 wrote to you we were off the Isle of Wight, and had a most 
 favourable wind ; but we were obliged to lay to for more 
 than half a day, before the things which the ship brought 
 us from Deal were taken on board. Towards evening we 
 sailed, and by Monday had come already close to the Bay 
 of Biscay. In the morning the wind veered about, and the 
 captain found himself compelled to return to some harbour. 
 Here the motion of the ship was so violent, that I expe- 
 rienced sometiiing of the sea-sickness, but only for a few 
 minutes. That day, about four, we arrived oflf Falmouth. 
 We were met by two pilots, and the captain engaged him 
 who came first to the ship ; but the other, on coming up, 
 expressed his great dissatisfaction, not so much because he 
 
ACCOUNT OF HIS VOYAGE. 9 
 
 had not been engaged, as because the other had not con- 
 ducted us aright. He disputed so long, that the first was 
 obhged to go away. This morning we found that the man 
 had just grounds for his displeasure. For when it wa.s ebb 
 tide our ship had not sufficient water, but struck frequently 
 against the ground with such a crash, as if a gun was fired. 
 At the same time there was a great storm, so that wc 
 might have sustained much injury, if God had not pre- 
 served us. Now we praise him that we were forced to 
 return ; for in this storm we should have been in the 
 gi-eatest danger off the Spanish coast. Thus wc daily per- 
 ceive that his goodness preserves us. Oh, that we might 
 always look only to him, rest in his will, and filially i-esign 
 ourselves to it ! Our captain shows us great kindness. 
 For the rest I pray God daily, that he would purify my 
 heart more and more from all dross, and by his Spirit fit 
 me for the important office for which, unworthy as I am. 
 he has, out of mere grace, ordained me. I rest assured 
 that you also will daily beg this grace for myself and my 
 dear brethren. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 Contrary winds detained the ship for more than a 
 month ; by which delay, however, it escaped some danger- 
 ous storms. The brethren at Tranquebar, in noticing this 
 circumstance, remarked, with gratitude, that during the 
 continuance of the Danish Mission, out of fifty missionaries 
 wliich had sailed from Europe, not one had perished by 
 shipwreck. 
 
 AVe next find Swartz at Tranquebar. To Professor 
 Francke he gives, under date Octol)er 8, 1750, the following 
 account of his voyage, and its happy termination : — 
 
 " We can now joyfully relate how graciously God hath 
 heard your supph cations to his goodness for us. With 
 undeserved grace and mercy he hath brought us, hath 
 graciously averted all perils on our long voyage, mightily 
 refreshed us during the course of it both in soul and body, 
 and caused us to reach the end of it speedily and happily, 
 
10 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 in four months and four days. We could scarcely liave 
 imagined that he would so paternally and graciously guide 
 us. His name be humbly praised and glorified, now and in 
 eternity ! 
 
 " In order to give you, reverend sir, a somewhat detailed 
 account of this gracious guidance of our God, that you may 
 magnify his name with us, I shall briefly relate the most 
 important particulars from our diary, not having yet found 
 time to copy the diary itself, which your reverence will 
 kindly excuse. 
 
 " How God conducted us into Falmouth harbour, and 
 what we there noticed to his praise, you will have observed 
 from the short letter which we wrote on the day of our 
 departure. On the 12th of March, 1750, God gave us a 
 good wind, and every thing was prepared for sailing. But 
 the tide being then at ebb we were obliged to wait till the 
 evening, as we could not otherwise get safely out of the 
 harbour. In the afternoon an inhabitant of the town came 
 on board, who had been powerfully awakened by Mr. 
 "Whitefield, This man related to us many things, par- 
 ticularly of the minister of Falmouth — how zealous he was 
 in the discharge of his duty. We regretted that we had 
 not visited him ; and as the stranger intimated that he 
 would salute him from us, we sent the minister Professor 
 Zimmermann's Treatise on the Excellency of the Kiiouiedge 
 of Christ, translated into Latin, in which we wrote a few 
 lines. 
 
 " About seven in the evening we sailed, in the name of 
 God, out of the harbour, "with a man-of-war, which we 
 thought was to escort us ; but the next day we learned 
 that she was to escort the Norfolk. With this Divine dis- 
 j.ensation we were well satisfied, believing that we should 
 not need that convoy, if we could only say with David 
 (Ps. xlvi. 7), ' The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of 
 Jacob is our refuge.' If the Lord be for us, who or what 
 can be against us '? We met a Dutch ship, from Smyrna 
 to Rotterdam, the captain of which informed us that he 
 had suffered much from the late severe storms whilst we 
 were quietly in the harbour. On the 16th we were met by 
 two ships, which exhibited a sad spectacle. One of them 
 
ACCOUNT OF HIS VOYAGE. 11 
 
 had sprung a large leak, and drew several feet of water, so 
 that she lay very deep, and rolled from side to side. Our 
 captain backed the sails, and sent the carpenter, with an 
 officer and some others, to see whether they could assist ; 
 but on their return they declared that the vessel must 
 sink. The other ship therefore kept quite close to the 
 damaged one, that the people might save themselves. 
 
 " On the 2Ist of March I had a fever, which continued 
 till the 10th of April. As I fell away so much the doctor 
 was alarmed ; but God helped me graciously, and soon re- 
 stored to me my bodily strength. I must also confess, to 
 his praise, that this sickness has been of great service to 
 me.. On the 22d of March we had for the first time divine 
 service on board our ship, which afibrded us great plea- 
 sure. On the 29th we passed the tropic of Cancer ; and 
 on the 18th of April we crossed the line for the first time. 
 There was great joy on board that we had not been de- 
 tained longer. On the 22d we were in the height of Ascen- 
 sion. The 30th God visibly preserved a youth from death, 
 who had entered on board to learn navigation. A thick 
 cable fell down from above, exactly on the spot where he 
 was standing ; but before it reached him he perceived it, 
 and narrowly escai)ed. Towards evening a ship was seen. 
 We rejoiced at first, hoping for an opportunity of sending 
 letters ; but our joy had nearly been changed to fear^aa 
 our people began to think they might be enemies, and 
 made preparations for defence. Early the next morning 
 we looked out for her, but in vain. On the 5th of ]\Iay we 
 passed the tropic of Capricorn, and thus left the torrid 
 zone. As soon as the trade-wind ceased we were favoured 
 with a delightful breeze from E.N.E. If we attend to the 
 difterent changes of winds, we may observe agreeable traces 
 of the admirable wisdom of God. On the 7th we saw a 
 French vessel, and, on our captain firing a signal-gun, to 
 desire them to wait, they did so, and we came up with her 
 towards evening. The captains conversed with each other 
 on their observations, and ours agreed pretty well with 
 theirs. It was a great advantage that we could observe so 
 well in our ship ; for even in hazy weather the sun ap- 
 
12 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 peared a little about noon. The chief mate requested us 
 to communicate the observations contained in our diaries, 
 particularly with regard to the variation of the compass. 
 We did so, and he gratefully acknowledged it by giving us 
 a fine large Cheshire cheese. The 11th of May we had a 
 very high wind, and the next day a calm. While we spoke 
 of it in the evening, and sighed to God that he would have 
 pity on us as before, suddenly there arose a very favourable 
 breeze. Thus God fulfilled to us what he has promised — 
 ' Before they call, I will answer ; and while they are yet 
 speaking, I will hear.' So that we could praise God with 
 joyful hearts. On the 17th of May we celebrated the Feast 
 of Pentecost, and heartily besought God that by his Spirit, 
 whom Jesus has obtained, he would fit us for the important 
 office to which he has called us. The 19th of May our 
 dear brother Hutteman was seized with alarming sickness ; 
 but God most graciously blessed the use of the medicines 
 out of the travelling-chest which you gave us, so that he 
 was fully restored to us in a few days. On the 23d we had 
 an unusually brisk gale ; the ship inclined so much that it 
 shipped water, which we had not hitherto seen. However, 
 it passed over without damage. On the 27th we had a 
 complete calm, so that the captain and the chief mate went 
 out in a boat to shoot birds ; but in the following night 
 arose a real storm, which, as it came unexpectedly, tore all 
 the sails. When we came upon deck in the morning they 
 all hung in rags, and we had only one small sail hoisted. 
 We did not, however, yield to anxious or desponding 
 thoughts. So faithful is God ! In need he refrcsheth, and 
 comforteth abundantly. The 30th of ]\Iay we had very 
 pleasant weather, which was a great relief after the storm. 
 On the 31st we saw a Dutch ship. We all wished that it 
 might approach us, but were disappointed, as it passed us 
 at a considerable distance ; but in the afternoon our joy 
 was the greater as we got a sight of the Cape. The moun- 
 tains presented themselves at a distance like clouds ; but 
 as we came nearer we could see them distinctly. We 
 praised God heartily, the more so, as we had on this very 
 day been powerfully impressed in meditating on the words 
 
ACCOUNT OF HIS VOYAGE. 13 
 
 (1 Cor. XV. 58), ' Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 
 stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the 
 Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour shall not be 
 in vain in the Lord.' 
 
 " From this time we began to look out for India, and 
 thought we had now left the worst behind. But on the 
 17th of June, in the night, we had a most furious storm, in 
 which all declared we were in great danger. Even the next 
 day it was frightful to behold, and it was much heightened 
 by the heavy rain which accompanied the wind. Mean- 
 while, when the tempest was at the highest, we slept in 
 peace and quiet : a gracious God had hidden the danger 
 from us. On the 19th there was a pretty strong breeze. 
 A rope, with which a sail was belayed, happened to break, 
 which caused the ship to heel a little, and all at once we 
 lay on our side. The captain called out to the men at the 
 helm to put the ship about ; but they could not accomplish 
 it. The vessel had inclined altogether to one side, and 
 was, moreover, quite wet from the rain, so that the people 
 fell as they attempted to walk on the deck. However, the 
 storm at length subsided, and we sustained no material 
 injury. In how many distresses hath not our gracious God 
 covered us, as it were, with his wings ! On the 30th of 
 June we passed the tropic of Capricorn a second time. 
 Now we came again into a pleasant climate ; hitherto we 
 had sometimes very cold weather. The 4th of July the 
 rope at the helm broke, and, as the wind happened to blow 
 fresh, the ship fell into some disorder. On the 10th we 
 again crossed the line. The 13th was a most agreeable 
 day ; for we then came in sight of Ceylon. The chief mate 
 discovered it about nine in the morning. The joy which 
 this produced on board is hardly to be described, since the 
 greater number scarcely expected that we should make it 
 so directly. We said, ' This hath God done ! ' Oh, how 
 great is his goodness, and how graciously doth lie hear our 
 prayers ! May the kindness which he hath showed us in 
 this instance, serve to strengthen us in fihal confidence ! 
 
 " This day and the following we enjoyed the delightful 
 smell of cinnamon. At the same time we had a most 
 favourable wind, ao that during the day we passed at a 
 
14 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 good distance by the rocks of Ceylon. On the IGth of July 
 we were approaching the coast of Coromandcl : every one, 
 therefore, looked out eagerly for land ; but the night drew 
 on, and we could see none. About nine we found a bottom 
 at fifteen fathoms ; and it was remarkable that, as soon as 
 it was found, the wind ceased. We therefore dropt the 
 anchor. In the morning, when we looked out, we not onl}^ 
 beheld the coast, but found ourselves right opposite to 
 Cuddalore. We praised the name of the Lord for this 
 paternal guidance : and whosoever delights in the traces 
 of his gracious providence will, on hearing it, exalt his 
 name together. 
 
 " After we had cast anchor the natives immediately came 
 on board. The sight of these poor people, who sit in dark- 
 ness and in the shadow of death, deeply affected our hearts ; 
 and we awakened ourselves cheerfully to work at their con- 
 version, and to recommend to them the salvation of the 
 Gospel. Now, the Lord vouchsafe to give us wisdom, grace, 
 and strength, to accomplish this purpose, since we are most 
 unworthy to be unto them ' a savour of life unto life.' We 
 informed the Rev. Mr. Kiernander of our arrival, and he 
 sent in the afternoon a country boat to fetch us. There 
 we took our leave of the officers and passengers, who had 
 showed us every kindness. They were much moved at 
 parting, and wished us every blessing in our future minis- 
 try. May the Lord do good abundantly to them all ! In 
 the evening dear Mr. Kiernander received us, and praised 
 the name of the Lord for all the mercy he had shown us. 
 
 " I should now give an account of our occupations 
 during the voyage. But as they wore substantially the 
 same as those of our predecessors, that is, preparing our- 
 selves for our duty in the best manner we were able, I 
 shall be brief. Every morning and evening, and frequently 
 during the day, we stirred up ourselves by joint prayer and 
 meditation on the holy Scriptures, by which God graciously 
 refreshed us. Afterwards, each of us, apart, used either to 
 meditate on some passage of Scripture, or read some other 
 devotional book. From eleven to twelve we practised 
 reading English together, besides what each afterwards 
 read for himself. The German Mission Accounts hitherto 
 
ARRIVES AT TRANQUEBAR. 15 
 
 edited, five volumes and a half, we have partially perused. 
 Mr. Niecamp's Abridgment, and the first volume, we have 
 nearly read through. This occupation we have found to 
 be of great advantage. AVe also kept a diary ; but as in 
 many places it is rather illegibly written, in consequence of 
 tlie rolling of the vessel, and we do not wish to send it so, 
 we shall l)y the first ships send one fair copy of it to your 
 reverence, and one to the Mission College. 
 
 " On the 24th of July the Eev. Senior of the Danish 
 missionaries, Mr. Wiedebrceck, came from Tranquebar to 
 fetch us. He joined us in hearty praises to God for all his 
 mercies. After having, therefore, visited several English 
 gentlemen, we departed on the 28th from Cuddalore. Dear 
 Mr. Kiernander accompanied us as far as the first river, 
 and there took leave of us. On the 30th we arrived at 
 Tranquebar in perfect health, and were most fraternally 
 received by our dear brethren. Now, hitherto the Lord 
 hath helped us. To him be glory for ever and ever ! 
 
 " Our present occupation can be described in a few 
 words. At seven in the morning we begin, and practise 
 Tamul almost the whole forenoon. Three days in every 
 week ]\ir. ]\Iaderup comes to us at ten, and gives us a lesson 
 in Portuguese. From two to three in the afternoon we 
 again read Tamul. Afterwards every one remains alone 
 till five. From five to six I and dear brother Hutteman 
 practise speaking Tamul. We have Christopher with us, 
 who affords us wonderful help in that language, because he 
 talks German fluently ; and where we make mistakes, he 
 corrects us. The Rev. Mr. Zeglin is holding at this time a 
 preparation for baptism with some heathen, at which we 
 also attend, as we begin already to understand a little. We 
 perceive that God helps us on from day to day. Dear 
 brother Poltzenhagen and I live together. We do not, 
 however, provide for our diet, as Mr. KohlhofF has taken 
 us to his table. In the morning and evening we excite 
 each other by joint prayer and reading the word of God. 
 
 " This is the principal intelhgence which I can at 
 present impart to your reverence. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
16 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Having thus accompanied the young missionary to his 
 post of duty, we must now briefly describe the condition 
 and past history of the mission to which he had attached 
 himself. 
 
 It was in the year 1705 that God put it into the heart 
 of Frederick IV., king of Denmark, by the suggestion of 
 his chaplain. Dr. Lutkens, to establish a mission to the 
 heathen in the Danish settlement of Tranquebar. To the 
 University of Halle, then presided over by Dr. Francke, 
 the father of Swartz's friend and counsellor, the king had 
 lecourse ; and Dr. Francke was providentially guided to 
 make choice of Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, a young man of 
 eminent talents and earnestness in religion, who had been 
 educated at Halle under his own immediate superintend- 
 ence, and who, happening to be at Berlin when Dr. Lutkens 
 was inquiring for suitable persons to be employed as mis- 
 sionaries, joyfully accepted the proposal. He was soon 
 afterwards joined by his friend and fellow-student, Henry 
 Plutscho, who was actuated by a similar desire of engaging 
 in the first Protestant mission to India. These pious men, 
 having received holy orders from the Bishop of Zealand, 
 embarked at Copenhagen on the 29th of November, 1705, 
 and after a pleasant voyage arrived at Tranquebar on the 
 9th of July, 1706. 
 
 But, when arrived in India, the missionaries found the 
 Danish authorities and merchants as indisposed to favour 
 their undertaking, as, in many instances, English officials 
 have since proved. Obstacles of various kinds were placed 
 in their way. Still, undismayed by the difficulties which 
 surrounded them, and fortifying themselves by the study 
 of the word of God, particularly of the Acts of the Apostles, 
 and by prayer, these excellent men entered without delay 
 on their arduous undertaking. Their first object was to 
 acquire the knowledge of the Portuguese language, which, 
 from its introduction two centuries before, was now gene- 
 rally understood by the natives, and then of the Tamul, the 
 vernacular language of the country from Madras south- 
 ward, and the greater part of the extremity of the penin- 
 sula, and of the north of Ceylon. Such was their zeal and 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 17 
 
 diligence, that in the course of a few months they had 
 acquired a sufficient knowledge of both languages to enaV)le 
 them to catechise the native children in two schools which 
 they had established, and which they supported out of 
 their own slender funds, Ziegenbalg particularly devoted 
 himself to the study of the Tamul ; and such was his 
 extraordinary proficiency, that he not only acquired a very 
 extensive acquaintance with the books written in that 
 language on Hindoo mythology and history, but soon began 
 to converse fluently with the natives on moral and religious 
 subjects. 
 
 Nor was it long before some fruit was granted to him, 
 in reward for his persevering labour, A young man of 
 high caste, named Modaliapa, while assisting Ziegenbalg in 
 acquiring the knowledge of Tamul, became gradually con- 
 vinced of the errors of idolatry, and of the truth of the 
 divine religion which he saw so admirably exemplified in 
 him and his fellow-missionary. After much reflection and 
 intercourse with these pious men, he at length delighted 
 them by declaring that he was " willing to live and die 
 with them ; desiring nothing more than a bare main- 
 tenance in this world, if he might but partake of the bles- 
 sings and promises of the Gospel." When Dr. Buchanan 
 visited Tranquebar, in 1806, precisely a century after this 
 cheering event, he found in an apartment in Ziegenbalg's 
 house the registers of the church, in which the name of 
 this first heathen convert was inscribed. A circumstance 
 of so unusual a kind, as the conversion of one of this rank, 
 led to an invitation from the Rajah of Tanjore, who, like 
 the Athenians, " desired to know what these things meant." 
 The missionaries, however, were probably doubtful whether 
 the same liberty of departure, as of entrance,, would be 
 assured to them, and they declined the Eajah's invitation. 
 
 A year had not expired when Ziegenbalg and his col- 
 league were enabled to admit in the Christian Church by 
 baptism several of their catechumens. This ordinance was 
 administered in May 1707, in the Danish church at Tran- 
 quebar, on which occasion Ziegenbalg preached in Tamul 
 on the conversion of the heathen, and the best method of 
 diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel, A few days after- 
 
 c 
 
18 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 wards they conferred on one of their converts the ofi&ce of 
 a catechist, to assist them in the instruction of his native 
 countrymen ; and on the 14th of June, notwithstanding 
 their slender means for such an undertaking, they com- 
 menced the building of a church for the use of the mission. 
 Such was the blessing with which this pious design was 
 attended, that with the assistance of those who were 
 friendly, and even of some who were at first opposed to it, 
 the building was completed in the month of August follow- 
 ing, and consecrated in the presence of a large assembly, 
 both of Christians, Heathens, and Mahomedans. This 
 church was built of stone, and in the midst of the native 
 population, a little out of the town. Here the missionaries 
 regularly preached, both in Portuguese and Tamul, twice in 
 every week ; and here, after baptizing some additional 
 catechumens, and administering the holy communion, they 
 laid the foundation of a numerous and flourishing church, 
 composed of converts well prepared and instructed in the 
 principles of the Gospel, and for the most part duly ac- 
 crediting the sincerity of their Christian profession. 
 
 The instruction of the young, as in all well-conducted 
 missions, formed a principal feature in the labours of these 
 devoted men. Besides a school for the Tamul children, 
 another was established for the children of the Portuguese. 
 In a letter from Ziegenbalg to Dr. Lutkens he describes the 
 ordinary occupations of a day. Passing from his early 
 devotions to the explanation of Luther's catechism in Por- 
 tuguese, he proceeded to the study of Tamul, and then to 
 conversation and reading with a native poet, for the pur- 
 pose of perfecting himself in that language. After some 
 short refreshment and repose he catechised the children, 
 then returned to the study of the Tamul, and afterwards 
 joined in an exercise of piety with some German residents 
 at Tranquebar. " All the evenings," he adds, " we converse 
 with each other respecting our work, and the best means 
 of advancing it. After supper I review the business of the 
 day, and examine my own heart, and conclude with singing 
 and prayer." 
 
 An exemplary life, however, was no protection from 
 the opposition and enmity of the Danish governor. The 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 19 
 
 same dislike whicli so many English merchants and officials 
 have shown, at various times, to the attempt of the con- 
 version of the heathen, evidently actuated this officer ; 
 who, at one time, actually arrested and confined Ziegen- 
 balg for several months, until the entire want of any justi- 
 fication for such a proceeding compelled him to release his 
 prisoner. Still more than by this opposition, were the 
 faith and patience of the missionaries tried by the failure 
 of the expected aid from Europe. Two shipwrecks de- 
 prived them of remittances from Denmark ; and it was 
 with difficulty that, amidst the greatest self-denial, the 
 work of the mission was still carried on. At last, however, 
 in July, 1709, an important reinforcement arrived. Three 
 new missionaries, Messrs. Grundler, Bseving, and Jordan, 
 together with a considerable remittance of money, were 
 landed at Tranquebar ; and at the same time the opposition 
 of the Governor was eftectually checked, by a royal injunc- 
 tion to assist and encourage the missionaries to the utmost 
 of his power. 
 
 The labours of Ziegenbalg and his colleagues became 
 known about this time in England. Letters from the 
 missionaries to a friend in London made the existence of 
 the mission known ; and as Prince George of Denmark was 
 consort of the Queen of England, it became natural that a 
 Danish mission in India should excite interest. Prince 
 George was a member of the Society for promoting Christ- 
 ian Knowledge, then recently established ; and when the 
 communications from Tranquebar were laid before the 
 Committee of that Society, assistance, both in books and 
 money, was immediately voted ; and a notice of the new 
 mission was inserted in the Report of the Society for that 
 year. Thus commenced that connexion between the Tran- 
 quebar mission and that Society, which has contributed in 
 so important a manner to the extension of Christianity in 
 India. 
 
 In the following year, 1710, Ziegenbalg paid a visit to 
 Madras, to ascertain what prospect there might be of gaining 
 access to the heathen, either by the way and in the neigh- 
 bouring country, or in the town itself, with a view to their 
 conversion to Christianity. The congregation at Trauque- 
 
20 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 bar entreated "him with tears not to quit them, or to return 
 as soon as possible. At Chinnmbrum, quitting the terri- 
 tory of Tanjore, he entered what were then the dominions 
 of the Great Mogul, and proceeded to Porto Novo and 
 Cuddalore, and from thence to Fort St. David's ; and on 
 the tenth day, having touched at St. Thomas's Mount, ar- 
 rived at Madras in the evening. There he was kindly re- 
 ceived by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, chaplain to the factory, with 
 whom the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge were 
 in correspondence on the subject of the Danish mission. 
 During his stay at this place, Ziegenbalg made many in- 
 quiries respecting the religious wants of its inhabitants. 
 " Madras," he writes, " is advantageously situated for 
 spreading Christianity, if the English who command there 
 would but second our endeavours, or join with us in 
 propagating the Gospel in the East. I found here a letter 
 from Mr. Boehm, wherein he gives us some hope that the 
 English might perhaps be prevailed on in time to concern 
 themselves in so promising and worthy a design." 
 
 The missionaries, now becoming familiar with the lan- 
 guage of the country, were not long in calling to their aid 
 the powerful agency of the press. From England they 
 received an edition of the Portuguese New Testament, and 
 a printing-press, with types and paper. From Germany 
 they obtained a fount of Tamul characters. Ziegenbalg 
 had commenced the translation of the New Testament into 
 Tamul in 1708, so soon as he felt that he had acquired a 
 sufficient knowledge of the language. The work was com- 
 pleted in 1711, but three years more were occupied in a 
 careful revision, and in the printing ; so that the year 1714 
 had arrived before it issued from the press. 
 
 " May God Almighty," said he, addressing the Society 
 for promoting Christian Knowledge, on transmitting a copy 
 of this translation, " prosper our labours by his heavenly 
 blessing, and grant that his Holy Word, like an incorrupt- 
 ible see.d, may be scattered among these nations, to pre- 
 serve them from eternal destruction ! " 
 
 The mission began now to assume a position of import- 
 ance. A blessing from on high had manifestly rested upon 
 it. Tlie converts amounted to nearly three hundred, most 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 21 
 
 of whom had been admitted into the Church by l)aptism. 
 The schools gave instruction to eighty children, most of 
 whom were supported as well as taught ; and the school- 
 masters, catechists, and other persons employed in the 
 work, were more than twenty in number. Ziegenbalg felt 
 a desire to make the extent and importance of the work 
 known in Europe, and to remove, if possible, the difficulties 
 arising from want of men and want of funds. "With this 
 view, he resolved at last on a visit to his supporters in 
 Denmark, Germany, and England. 
 
 R<?signing, therefore, to Grundler the charge of the 
 mission, he left India in October, 1714, accompanied by a 
 young native convert. He occupied his time on the voyage 
 in translating a part of the Old Testament in Tamul ; and 
 in forming a Tamul grammar, which was published at Halle 
 in 1716. On the 1st of June, 1715, Ziegenbalg arrived at 
 Bergen in Norway, from whence he proceeded to Stral- 
 sund, to present himself before his patron, the King of 
 Denmark. After a gracious reception, he proceeded to 
 Copenhagen, where he was cordially welcomed, and suc- 
 ceeded in effecting some important arrangements with the 
 Danish East India Company. Next he visited Halle, to 
 see his friend Professor Francke ; and while there he mar- 
 ried a lady to whom he had long been attached. He 
 reached England before the close of the year, and was pre- 
 sented to King George I. Dr. Wake, then Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, and the Bishop of London, treated him with the 
 highest consideration. He was introduced by them to the 
 Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, from whom he 
 received a liberal supply of paper, books, and money. The 
 East India Directors having granted -him a free passage, 
 he embarked in one of their ships on the 4th of March, 
 and arrived at Madras, on his return, on the lOth of 
 August, 1716. Making but a short stay in Madras, Ziegen- 
 balg soon rejoined his friend Grundler at Tranquebar, and 
 resumed his accustomed labours. A school was imme- 
 diately founded for the education of young natives, to be 
 employed as catechists and schoolmasters ; and with the 
 approbation of the Governor, they established, both at 
 Madras and Cuddalore, Tamul and Portuguese schools. 
 
22 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 In the following year a new church was erected in Tran- 
 quebar, the old one being converted into a school. 
 
 Ziegenbalg's labours were incessant, but they were soon 
 to come to a close. In translations of the Scriptures, and 
 of catechisms and tracts, and in missionary journeys and 
 discussions, he was unremittingly employed ; but in 1718, 
 after only twelve years' labour, his constitution began to 
 give way. He languished for a few months amidst great 
 weakness and pain ; and with a faint hope of relief from 
 travelling, he commenced a journey along the coast. 
 Having reached Ciiddalore, he found his end approaching, 
 and sent for his friend Grundler, to whom on his arrival 
 he expressed the most humble yet exalted hope of heavenly 
 happiness ; and having received the holy communion, and 
 requested a favourite Lutheran hymn to be sang, he ex- 
 pired in perfect peace, on the 23d of February, 1719, in the 
 36th year of his age, deeply lamented by his excellent col- 
 league and the native converts, and esteemed and regretted 
 even by the heathen themselves. 
 
 The name of Ziegenbalg will ever be honoured and 
 revered among the friends of missions. He was the founder 
 of a Christian church among the heathen ; and he accom- 
 plished this great work, under the Divine blessing, by a. 
 faithful " following of the apostles." His simple piety, his 
 unwearied zeal, his conciliatory manners, and his sound 
 judgment, overcame in the end the most threatening ob- 
 stacles ; and it will never be forgotten, by future ages of the 
 Church, that Swartz himself was only the worthy follower 
 of Ziegenbalg. 
 
 His friend Grundler survived him little more than a 
 year. And now the very existence of the mission would 
 have been in danger, since Plutscho had already quitted 
 India, had not the courage of the survivors been once 
 more invigorated by the arrival of three new labourers 
 from Europe. Messrs. Schultz, Dahl, and Keistenmacher, 
 landed in the September following the death of Ziegenbalg, 
 and in March, 1720, Grundler gave the mission into their 
 care, and resigned his spirit into the hands of his Saviour ; 
 being interred in the Mission Church, by the side of his 
 departed friend and colleague. 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 23 
 
 Schiiltz now became the superior of the Danish mission, 
 and proved himself worthy of following his admirable pre- 
 decessors. The severe losses which it had recently sus- 
 tained, excited the hopes of its Roman Catholic adversaries 
 in India that it must be abandoned, and awakened the 
 apprehensions of many even of its European friends. But 
 the piety and energy of Schultz and his fellow-mission- 
 aries were fully equal to this trying emergency. They 
 laboured diligently in the acquisition of the native lan- 
 guages, in which they were soon able to catechize and 
 preach ; and instead of yielding to despondency, they en- 
 larged the sphere of their labours. Aided by the liberal 
 contributions of the Governors of Madras and Fort St. 
 David, and of other friends both in India and Europe, they 
 increased the number of their schools, and of their pub- 
 lications from the press, and resumed the visits of their 
 predecessors to the neighbouring towns and villages. 
 Within five years from the death of Ziegenbalg, one hun- 
 dred and fifty converts were added to the Church. 
 
 In the year 1724, three additional missionaries, Messrs. 
 Bosse, Pressier, and Walther, who had been selected by 
 Professor Francke, and had sailed under the auspices of 
 the Society for promoting Christian Kjiowledge, arrived at 
 Trauquebar. They were charged with a letter to Mr. Schultz 
 from Archbishop AVake, in which the venerable primate, 
 after expressing his satisfaction at this augmentation of 
 the mission, recommended him to select from the native 
 converts those who might appear to be the best qualified, 
 and to associate them, in case of necessity, in his cran- 
 gelical labours. Such was the ardour of the new mis- 
 sionaries in the study of the Portuguese and Tamul lan- 
 guages, which they had commenced during the voyage to 
 India, that within three months after their arrival they 
 were able to enter upon their duties both as catechists and 
 preachers. 
 
 Among the objects to which Schultz had directed his 
 most earnest attention was the continuation of the trans- 
 lation of the Old Testament into Tamul, which Ziegenbalg 
 had conducted only as far as the Book of Ruth. He com- 
 menced this arduous undertaking early in the year 1723, 
 
24 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 and regularly devoted to it six hours every day. Schultz 
 was well acquainted with the original Hebrew, and con- 
 sulted most of the European versions. He was assisted 
 by a learned Brahmin and other well-informed natives, and 
 the translation underwent a careful revision by his col- 
 leagues. This important work was concluded in 1725, and 
 the first part of it was immediately committed to the press. 
 In 1727 the printing was completed, when the delight of 
 presenting to the native converts the whole Bible in their 
 own language, made him forget all the toil and pains which 
 it had cost him ; while, in common with every other la- 
 bourer in this sacred service, he had been abundantly re- 
 paid during its progress by those copious communications 
 of divine wisdom and strength, with which a more intimate 
 acquaintance with the Word of God had enriched his 
 mind. 
 
 It was in this same year, 1727, that Professor Francke, 
 of Halle, who had contributed so materially to the esta- 
 blishment of the Travancore mission, departed to his rest. 
 The Mission College at Copenhagen requested his son, 
 who was afterwards the means of enlisting Swartz in the 
 missionary service, to take his father's place, and to become 
 the chief correspondent and agent in Germany of the 
 Indian missions. George I., about the same time, ad- 
 dressed a letter of encouragement to the missionaries at 
 Tranquebar ; while the Society for promoting Christian 
 Knowledge sent them paper for an edition of the Tamul 
 Bible, and a considerable donation in money. 
 
 In the next year, under the recommendation of Mr. 
 Schultz, the Society undertook the support of a mission at 
 Madras. A house was purchased in the Black Town for 
 the use of the mission, to which Schultz himself imme- 
 diately removed. There he preached constantly in the 
 Tamul, Telinga, and Portuguese languages ; and, besides 
 the superintendence of schools and other zealous labours, 
 translated parts of the Bible, together with various tracts 
 on religion, into Telinga and Hindosta,nee. The jealousy 
 of the Boman Catholic priests, no less than of some native 
 teachers, as in other places, excited considerable opposition, 
 in some instances leading to open violence, against Schultz 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 26 
 
 himself, as well as some of the Madras converts ; but they 
 were protected by the governor, their numbers gradually 
 increased, and under the blessing of God the new mission 
 prospered. 
 
 The Tranquebar mission, about this time, came into 
 collision with the Romish priests in that neighbourhood. 
 The simple truth of God's word, distributed in the native 
 tongue, and explained in tracts and catechisms, could not 
 but prove antagonistic to the errors of the Papal Church. 
 Several important converts left the ranks of Rome, and 
 joined the Mission Church. In the kingdom of Tanjore, a 
 subaltern officer, in the service of the rajah, had been bap- 
 tized in the Romish Church. Rajanaiken — for that was 
 his name — was ardently desirous of religious knowledge, 
 and he learned to read when he was about twenty-two 
 years of age. Happening to visit an Hindoo of his ac- 
 quaintance, he met with a copy of Ziegenbalg's Tamul 
 translation of the Gospels. Delighted with what he read, 
 he began to transcribe it for his own use, before he found 
 that he might be allowed to keep it. Being in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Tranquebar some time after, he met with one 
 of the tracts circulated by the missionaries, and soon en- 
 tered into correspondence with them. At last, on a visit 
 to the missionaries, Rajanaiken became satisfied of the 
 truth of the Gospel which they preached, and forthwith 
 joined himself to their communion. So earnest was he in 
 his love to the cause, that in the course of that year he 
 succeeded in bringing three other converts to baptism. 
 
 A second adhesion of the same class soon took place. 
 Surappen had been employed as a catechist under the 
 Romish missionaries. Perceiving, on investigation, the 
 purer character of Protestant Christianity, he sent his son 
 to be instructed in the Tranquebar mission. This son, 
 Sattianaden, proved an important acquisition to the mis- 
 sion. He soon brought fifteen natives to baptism ; and, 
 receiving the necessary instruction, the missionaries deter- 
 mined on employing him as a catechi.st in Tanjore. 
 
 These circumstances, however, excited the greatest 
 anger among the Roman Catholic priesthood, and they 
 took the means which are common with them to compel, 
 
2fi LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 by persecution, the return of the converts to their com- 
 munion. With Surappen they were successful. Not so, 
 however, with Rajanaiken or Sattianaden. These both 
 withstood their efforts, met them in public discussion, 
 endured such persecution as they could excite, and re- 
 mained firm in their attachment to the Protestant faith. 
 The conflict tended to excite the attention of the heathens 
 and Mahomedans around, and increasing numbers resorted 
 to Tranquebar for instruction. The missionaries even 
 found it practicable to assume an aggressive posture. Mr. 
 Pressier undertook a journey into Tanjore ; and Mr. 
 Schultz, with two companions, itinerated, preaching as 
 he went along the coast of Coromandel, 
 
 The work thus becoming larger, and the prospects 
 more hopeful, it was with pleasure that the missionaries 
 received, in 1730, the reinforcement of three more coad- 
 jutors. Messrs. Worm and Reichsteig were added by the 
 Danish Mission College, and Mr. Sartorius was sent out 
 by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, and 
 devoted to the service of the Madras mission. In 1731 
 Mr. Schultz received a kind and encouraging letter from 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, enclosing a donation of 
 420 pagodas. This aid enabled him to establish a second 
 native school. In acknowledging his Grace's kindness, Mr, 
 Schultz took courage to solicit from the London Society 
 still further aid in prosecuting the mission. The Society 
 responded by sending out Mr. John Ernest Giesler, of 
 Halle, together with Mr. CnoU, who was to act as physician 
 to the mission. 
 
 Thus strengthened and encouraged, the missionaries 
 proceeded to extend their operations. The number of con- 
 verts being now considerable, they deemed it expedient 
 to set over- them one of their own countrymen, fitted for 
 the oflice of the ministry by his personal piety, his talents, 
 and his proved efficiency. They selected Aaron, a catechist 
 who had been baptized and instructed by Ziegcnbalg, and 
 who had borne an exemplary character for many years. 
 At the close of 1733, the missionaries of Tranquebar and 
 ^Madras united in ordaining him to the ministerial office, 
 according to the rites of the Lutheran Church. 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 27 
 
 Aaron was at this time about thirty-five years of age, and 
 his long white pastoral robe, like that of the Syrian clergy, 
 corresponded with the mild and amiable character of his 
 appearance and manner. The mother and sister of Aaron 
 had also embraced Christianity. The duty of the new 
 minister was to preach and administer the sacraments 
 alternately in a district of Tanjore, comprising several 
 congregations of Christians ; and such was the success 
 with which he laboured, that in the course of the following 
 year he had been the instrument of converting no less 
 than fifty of his countrymen to the faith of the Gospel. 
 The services of the catechists, particularly of Rajanaiken, 
 had been at the same time eminently beneficial. 
 
 The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge now 
 felt emboldened to give instructions for erecting a church 
 and two schools at Madras ; and the missionaries were 
 even indulging a hope of extending their efforts to Bengal 
 itself ; but in 1 735 their prospects were overclouded by 
 the early death of two of their number, Messrs. Ilcichsteig 
 and Worm. They died at Tranquebar within three weeks 
 of each other, leaving their departing testimony to the 
 value of the promises of the Gospel. This loss of necessity 
 depressed the hopes and limited the eff'orts of the Tran- 
 quebar mission. Still the work of translation and printing 
 went on unceasingly, and a Portuguese Bible, a Tamul and 
 German Grammar, a History of the Church in Tamul, and 
 the Tamul Dictionary, evinced the diligence of the re- 
 maining labourers. 
 
 The aid aff"orded to the mission by the London Society 
 for promoting Christian Knowledge, amounted, in 1736, to 
 1500Z., and in the following year, to 1700/., while the col- 
 lections made in Germany, Denmark, &c., exceeded three 
 thousand crowns. 
 
 The Governor of Fort St. George having promised his 
 aid and countenance to a mission, Messrs. Sartorius and 
 Giesler were encouraged to fix themselves at Cuddalore 
 in 1737. The former of these labourers, however, was 
 called to his rest in the following year ; and Mr. Pressier, 
 at Tranquebar, did not long survive him. Happily the 
 loss which the missions thus sustained was in some mea- 
 
28 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 sure repaired, by tlie accession of three new missionaries, 
 Mr. Wiedebra3ck, and Messrs. Obuch and Kolhoff, wbo ar- 
 rived from Halle in 1738. The next year brought also Mr. 
 Kiernander, who had been a teacher in the Orphan-House 
 at Halle, and who was recommended by Professor Francke 
 to succeed Mr. Sartorius at Cuddalore. With him also 
 came Messrs. Fabricius and Zegler, from the Mission Col- 
 lege of Copenhagen, who were destined for Tranquebar. 
 They brought with them thirteen chests, containing books 
 and printing-paper, besides a supply of money for the 
 missions. 
 
 In 1740 Mr. Schultz felt encouraged to commence a 
 Tamul school, for the instruction of the children of heathen 
 parents under a Christian schoolmaster. He began with 
 eight youths, sons of merchants and traders of Cuddalore. 
 Meanwhile the congregations at Tranquebar were daily 
 growing in numbers, and at Cuddalore the mission under 
 Mr. Giesler's care grew and prospered. At the close of this 
 year a second catechist, Diego by name, was ordained to 
 assist Aaron, who was becoming feeble, and required help 
 in his ministerial labours. 
 
 The return to Europe of Mi\ Schultz, who, in 1742, 
 found it necessary, from ill health, to leave India, was a 
 serious calamity to the mission. For more than twenty 
 years he had guided its affairs with equal zeal, piety, and 
 discretion. Mr. Fabricius supplied his place, with humble 
 dependence on the grace and protection of the great Head 
 of the Church, whose help he so deeply needed. In the 
 following year the mission received from Professor Francke 
 the important reinforcement of two more missionaries, 
 Messrs. Klein and Breithaupt ; and the same zealous friend 
 also remitted, in the course of three years, donations 
 amounting to 7501. to the London Committee, in aid of 
 their efforts for the support of the Indian missions. 
 
 Aaron and Diego, the native preachers, were now 
 actively engaged in preaching, from village to village, the 
 Gospel of the grace of God, and numerous converts testi- 
 fied to their usefulness. In 1745 the vital powers of the 
 elder of the two, Aaron, gave way, and he finished his 
 course, lamented alike by the missionaries and by his fellow- 
 
HISTORY OF THE MISSION. 29 
 
 countrymen. Mr. Obuch, one of the Tranqiiebar mis- 
 sionaries, died about the same time. The following year 
 vrar visited Madras, and the missions severely suffered. 
 Fort St. George was compelled to surrender to the French 
 invaders, the mission-house was destroyed, and the church 
 converted into a magazine. JMr. Fabricius retired, with the 
 children of the mission-school, to Pulicat, a Dutch settle- 
 ment in the neighbourhood, where he experienced a kind 
 and friendly reception. On the restoration of peace in 
 1748 he returned to ]\Iadras, and had assigned to him a 
 spacious church at Vepery, in that neighbourhood, from 
 which the Romish mission had been expelled for treason- 
 able practices. The Romish church at Cuddalore was also 
 given to Mr. Kiernander, for the use of the Society for 
 promoting Christian Knowledge. Such was the position 
 of affairs about the time when Mr. Swartz landed in India. 
 
 The mission at Tranquebar and its vicinity had now 
 existed for rather more than forty years. In that time, as 
 appears from the returns regularly made to the Mission 
 College at Copenhagen, and to the Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge in London, the number of converts 
 in that neighbourhood had been nearly eight thousand, 
 while in less than twenty years, from 1728 onwards, the 
 converts at Madras and Cuddalore had been more than one 
 thousand. The great majority of these were native Hin- 
 doos or their children ; the converts from Mohammedism 
 or Popery being comparatively few. 
 
 It is an important question, whether all this was real ; 
 or whether there was an eagerness to make converts, and 
 a facility in their admission, which might deprive the mis- 
 sionary work of half its value. The best answer is found in 
 the diligence, care, and fidelity with which the catechumens 
 were instructed, examined, warned, and exh(U'tcd ; as well 
 as in the simple, earnest, self-denying faith of the mis- 
 sionaries themselves. " Their periodical reports," observes 
 Dean Pearson, " afford many unquestionable proofs and most 
 interesting memorials of the faith and piety of their converts, 
 many examples of Christian virtue, and many instances of 
 opposition and persecution " for righteousness' sake," sus- 
 tained with a stedfastness, meekness, and patience, well 
 
30 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 worthy of the purest ages of the Church, the genuineness 
 and authenticity of which cannot fairly be doubted. Many 
 a death-bed scene also is recorded in these reports, in 
 which the dying Hindoo, and not unfrequently the female 
 convert, expressed with intelligence, humility, and ardent 
 gratitude, the heartfelt penitence, the holy dispositions, 
 and the heavenly hopes of the true Christian. And be- 
 sides the actual conversions they enumerated, the disper- 
 sion of the various translations of the Holy Scriptures, 
 and the distribution of numerous tracts and treatises, 
 printed at the Tranquebar press, tended to disseminate 
 Christian knowledge and Christian principles, far beyond 
 the narrow limits of the Protestant missions and their 
 immediate vicinity, and to prepare the way for that more 
 extensive diffusion of the Gospel in India, which we have 
 happily lived to witness." 
 
AT TRANQUEBAR. 31 
 
 II. 
 
 SWARTZ AT TrANQUEBAR — HiS REMOVAL TO TrICHINOPOLY. 
 A.D. 1750—1766. 
 
 It was in November, 1750, within four months after his 
 arrival in India, that Swartz preached his first sermon in 
 Ziegenbalg's church, choosing for his text Matt. xi. 25-30, 
 " Come unto me, all ye that labour^'' &c. He had, doubt- 
 less, commenced the study of Tamul at Halle, and con- 
 tinued it on his voyage ; but this early entrance into the 
 highest missionary work is a striking proof both of his 
 ardour and of his success. Having pointed out the in- 
 vitation of Christ to all to come to him for the blessings 
 of heavenly rest and peace, and observed that they could 
 only be obtained in the order here prescribed by the Re- 
 deemer, he earnestly exhorted all who were present not to 
 think lightly of this gracious offer ; thus exhibiting, in his 
 first address to the heathen, the very spirit of that Gospel 
 which he was commissioned to proclaim, and which he 
 continued unceasingly to recommend and to exemplify 
 during his long and honourable career as a missionary in 
 India. 
 
 In this sermon Swartz struck at once the key-note, 
 which never ceased to vibrate from his lips, until he rested 
 from his labours in the silent tomb. And, in truth, the 
 purity and elevation of his theological system is the greatest 
 wonder of his life. 
 
 For although God docs in every age save some out of, 
 or even in the midst of, corrupt and apostate churches, 
 still, as a general rule, men rise or sink with the prevalent 
 theology of their times. A learned doctor in an evil age, 
 knows less than a well-instructed school-boy in days of 
 
32 LITE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Gospel light. We •wonder, therefore, v/li en we meet with 
 a man who is remarkably above his age. And such was 
 Swartz. 
 
 For the period of his birth and education was, indeed, 
 a gloomy one throughout Protestant Europe. It was just 
 then that Bishop Butler wrote (a.d. 1736), " It is come 
 to be taken for granted by many persons, that Christianity 
 is not so much as a subject of inquiry, but that it is now 
 at length discovered to be fictitious." It was of that pe- 
 riod that Archbishop Seeker wrote (a.d. 1738), that " An 
 open and professed disregard to religion is become, through 
 a variety of unhappy causes, the distinguishing character 
 of the present age. Christianity is now ridiculed and 
 railed at, with very little reserve, and the teachers of it 
 without any at all. Regard to piety is strangely lost, even 
 amongst persons that are otherwise tolerably serious." 
 And we might expect to hear, that at such a period the 
 pulpit was in a low and ineffective state. Bishop Home 
 (a.d. 1756) writes: — "There is a lamentable falling off 
 from the old way of preaching and expounding the word of 
 God." Another witness says : — " It was unquestionably the 
 most unevangelical period that had ever occurred in this 
 country since the Reformation." Bishop Warburton writes 
 (a.d. 1753) : — " Learning is, in England, in a most deplor- 
 able condition. The books which come out are either 
 miserable common-place collections on the one hand, or 
 extravagant whimsies and paradoxes on the other." 
 
 Nor was Germany in a much better condition. It is 
 true that, towards the end of the seventeenth century, 
 Francke and Spener had laboured, but their reception 
 resembled that of Whitfield and Wesley in England, In 
 1690 Francke's lectures in Leipzig were prohibited by the 
 Theological Faculty : in 1691 he was banished from Erfui*t 
 by an electoral rescript. He then removed to Glaucha, 
 near Halle, where " he found the congregation in a very 
 deplorable state. Not only was it entirely destitute of 
 inward and vital religion, but also of outward morality 
 and propriety of conduct." But here, also, his preaching 
 soon excited opposition ; the whole clerical body began to 
 persecute, and an electoral commission was sent to Halle, 
 
ABSTRACTS OF HIS SERMONS. 33 
 
 for the purpose of investigating the charges brought against 
 him. In 1700 there followed another inquiry. Thus we 
 learn that the teaching of Francke in Germany, like that 
 of AVhittield in England, ran counter to the whole system 
 of theology then prevalent. 
 
 And, indeed, it is here that we find the answer to the 
 question we have asked, How came Swartz to be so far 
 beyond his age ? God had raised up Francke and " the 
 pietists" in Germany, just as, soon after, he raised up 
 Whitfield and " the methodists " in England. And when 
 he would send forth into India a missionary of pure doc- 
 trine and exemplary life, it was from amongst this school 
 that He selected him. 
 
 Dean Pearson has furnished us with specimens of 
 ISwartz's preaching, in the abstracts of four sermons found 
 among his papers. Of these we copy the first two, which 
 apj^car to have been preached on Christmas-day, from 
 Luke ii. 1-14, the second lesson for the morning service. 
 
 " The most superficial consideration," observes the ju- 
 dicious preacher, " of thiis history will convince us of two 
 remarkable circumstances respecting the birth of Jesus 
 Christ. There is an intimation of the deepest humiliation 
 of our Saviour, and there are at the same time very visible 
 evidences of his greatness. Both circumstances must be 
 considered ; otherwise the birth of our Saviour will prove 
 rather a stumbling-block to us, than a divine means of 
 raising our hearts to gratitude and praise. 
 
 "Jesus came into the world for a most extraordinary 
 purpose, — to save that which was lost, — to become the 
 first-born, or head of the unhappy family of Adam. The 
 consideration of this intention will clear up all our doubts, 
 and convince us of the propriety of the humble circum- 
 stances in which he appeared ; and none are, or ever will 
 be, offended at his humiUatiou, but those who forget that 
 they are sinners." 
 
 The first indication of our Saviour's humiliation to 
 which Swartz refers, is the enrolment at Bethlehem, in 
 pursuance of the decree of the Emperor Augustus, which 
 
 D 
 
34 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 was a mortifying proof that the Jewish nation was no 
 longer free, but that God had, as in ancient times, de- 
 livered his people into the hands of the Gentiles. 
 
 " If," he says, " we heartily believe the true dignity of 
 Jesus Christ, who was the Son of God, the Creator and 
 Preserver of all things ; if we look upon him, as holy 
 Scripture teaches us, as the heir of all things, and then 
 consider how he appeared at Bethlehem, how his name was 
 enrolled, we must acknowledge that he was made very low. 
 The Son of God hid his glory, and condescended to be 
 treated as the subject of a heathen emperor. ' He took 
 upon him the form of a servant,' that we, as holy Zacharias 
 prophesied, ' might be saved from our enemies, and from 
 the hand of all that hate us.' 
 
 " A second proof of our Saviour's humiliation was his 
 becoming a pilgrim, being born on a journey, as one who 
 had no fixed habitation. 
 
 " Our first parents were placed in paradise, in the 
 garden which God had planted for them. But Jesus was 
 born as a pilgrim, at an inn, even in a stable, and laid in a 
 manger, and thus became like ourselves, who were turned 
 out of paradise into the desert of the world. This, as it is 
 a striking proof of his humiliation, so is it of his immense 
 love to mankind. He had deserved to be in the house of 
 his Father, amidst the joyful acclamations and praises of 
 angels ; but, moved with divine compassion, he chose our 
 condition, that he might restore us to his Father's house, 
 even to a heavenly paradise. Again ; ' He was born in the 
 night.' And what was our condition 1 ' Behold,' says the 
 prophet Isaiah, ' darkness shall cover the earth, and gross 
 darkness the people ; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, 
 and his glory shall be seen upon thee.' Zacharias described 
 in a similar manner the condition of the world at the 
 coming of Christ, ' as sitting in darkness and in the shadow 
 of deatli.' The Saviour appeared to procure for us 'the 
 light of life.' 
 
 " The poverty which he suffered from the day of his 
 birth was another proof of our Lord's deep humiliation. 
 * There was no room for him in the inn.' There was no 
 
ABSTRACTS OF HIS SERMONS. 35 
 
 pj'ovision made for him. He came, but none regarded 
 him. Heaven and earth belonged to him as their Maker 
 and Lord ; but, though infinitely rich, * for our sakes he 
 became poor, that we through his poverty might be made 
 rich,' — rich in heavenly, and even in temporal blessings, as 
 far as is consistent with the welfare of our souls. 
 
 " Oh, my brethren, here is a mirror of the transcendent 
 love of your Redeemer ! Look upon his poverty with the 
 enlightened eye of ftiith, and how can you withstand his 
 amazing love ? Whatever blessings you enjoy, remember 
 that you owe all to his meritorious poverty, by which he 
 purchased for you all spiritual and temporal blessings. 
 Lay, then, before him all your wants, trusting in his media- 
 torial power to supply them. You are poor, but behold, to 
 those who acknowledge their poverty, and, sensible of their 
 own inability to help themselves, hunger and thirst after 
 righteousness, the riches of his grace are offered. 
 
 " At the same time I entreat you to use every blessing, 
 whether spiritual or temporal, to the glory of your Re- 
 deemer. If, instead of thanking him for his bounty, you 
 abuse it by rioting, drunkenness, and intemperance, how 
 will you answer for such heinous ingratitude ? 
 
 " Oh, that the view of our Saviour's humiliation might 
 destroy all the seeds of pride in our souls ! Oh, that it 
 might be the divine means of bringing us to a true know- 
 ledge of ourselves, and consequently to a deep-rooted 
 humility ! Whoever cherishes pride is ignorant of his true 
 condition ; he denies the necessity of Christ's humiliation, 
 and becomes an unbeliever, who has no share in the merits 
 of his Redeemer. 
 
 " Let us then entreat God to work in our hearts true 
 humility, from the consideration of that of our Lord, even 
 from his very birth. Let us check all the sinful emotions 
 of pride and haughtiness, and lay hold on the humility of 
 Christ, as a part of the atonement made for our sins, tliat 
 we may obtain pardon by it ; and let us humbly thank and 
 praise him for this his amazing love to mankind, in re- 
 deeming them from all the effects of their pride and self- 
 exaltation. 
 
 " Having considered the proofs of the deep humiliation 
 
36 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 which our blessed Redeemer sufifered at his birth, let us 
 now attend to the evidences of his dignity and greatness. 
 
 " These latter throw a most striking light upon the 
 former, by teaching us how highly God was pleased with 
 him, and, consequently, that the lowliness in which he 
 aj)peared was not on account of himself, but only of his 
 being our mediator and surety. These proofs of the great- 
 ness of our Saviour dispel all our doubts, cheer and 
 strengthen our faith in him, and make him appear in his 
 divine brightness and glory, removing all the offence which 
 without them we might take at the lowly circumstances of 
 his birth. 
 
 " The first testimony of the Redeemer's greatness was 
 the divine contrivance for gathering the whole nation of 
 the Jews together. It is true, when we take a superficial 
 view of it, we may think that there was nothing in the 
 decree of Augustus which reflected honour upon the new- 
 born Redeemer. But more mature consideration will con- 
 vince us that the hand of Providence directed all these cir- 
 cumstances. Jesus was promised to the Jewish nation, as 
 their king and deliverer from sin, from the power of the 
 devil, and from eternal condemnation. It was, therefore, 
 just and meet that the nation should be collected together 
 at the time when their long-expcctod king appeared. Nor 
 ought it to seem strange to us, since we know that God by 
 his unsearchable wisdom orders all the occurrences of civil 
 government to the purposes of his glory. 
 
 " A second proof of the dignity of Christ was the as- 
 sembling of the angels, or children of heaven, to whom God 
 manifested the riches of his mercy to a fallen world. The 
 angels themselves were not so much concerned in the birth 
 of Jesus as we arc ; but still we find it filled their hearts 
 with joy and adoration. And ought it not to have the 
 same effect upon us ? 
 
 "Thirdly; the birth of our Saviour was immediately 
 manifested to mankind, and that by the command of God, 
 though at first only to a few, namely, to the shepherds, 
 who were watching over their flocks in the plains of Beth- 
 lehem. If you ask why the Gospel of Christ was not pro- 
 claimed first to the high-priest, scribes, and Pharisees, the 
 
ABSTRxVCTS OF HIS SERMOXS. 37 
 
 answer is plain ; because those priests were less qualified 
 to receive the glad tidings of his birth. Their pride would 
 have hindered them from perceiving the dignity of Jesus 
 in the manger ; but the humble shepherds were better pre- 
 pared for the reception of that Gospel, and, therefore, they 
 were favoured with the intelligence of the new-born 
 Saviour. ' Wherefore,' he saith, ' God resisteth the proud, 
 but giveth grace unto the humble.' 
 
 " Fourthly ; the messenger who was sent to publish the 
 glad tidings of the birth of Jesus was an angel, who ap- 
 peared in bright glory, speaking of him in a very lofty 
 manner. ' Fear not,' said he, to the affrighted shepherds, 
 ' for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a 
 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.' 
 
 " To-day God has begun to accomplish his divine 
 promise concerning the salvation of mankind. The Saviour 
 whom you stand in need of, and who has been promised by 
 a merciful God, is Christ, who is able to save, being 
 filled with the Holy Ghost ; and not only so, but he is the 
 Lord, our Lord and yours : he is truly God. 
 
 " That which the angel thus spake to the praise of 
 Christ was not of his own mind, but by the command of 
 God. From the day of the Redeemer's birth he began to 
 glorify Jesus, in order to attract our hearts to trust in 
 him. 
 
 " ' And suddenly a host ' of heavenly spirits appeared, 
 and, fired with the love of God, sang praises to him, pro- 
 claiming the salvation which the Divine Redeemer was 
 born to purchase. ' Glory to God in the highest.' Now is 
 the blessed time when the glory of God, which has been 
 concealed and darkened by sinful man, shall be illustrated. 
 The glory of his mercy, holiness, righteousness, and truth, 
 shall be displayed, not only by the doctrine, but by the 
 sufferings and atonement of the Redeemer, to tlie intent 
 that all mankind may fear and love him. 
 
 " ' And on earth, peace.' Now is the time when peace, 
 which men had lost by the fall, by which they became 
 obnoxious to the wrath of God, shall be establi.slicd by the 
 Saviour, who came to bear the curse mankind had de- 
 served, and to restore them to the favour and blessing of 
 
38 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 the Almighty. A new foundation will thus be laid for 
 their happiness. By the tidings of this peace mankind 
 will be comforted, and induced to believe in God, to accept 
 his grace, and to rejoice in him. ' Good will towards men.' 
 As God will regard them with kindness, so will men begin 
 to love God as their father. The image of God in which 
 they were at first created will now be re-established. 
 
 "This is the purport of that angelic hymn which those 
 children of heaven sang that very night when Christ was 
 born, by which they joyfully proclaimed the unspeakable 
 blessing which should be purchased by Jesus Christ, and 
 by which God glorified him as the divine Redeemer of the 
 world. 
 
 " Let us all, therefore, be animated to praise that 
 blessed Saviour. His love towards mankind was truly 
 great when he took upon him our nature. Our love to him. 
 should consequently be very lively, and show itself in all 
 proper expressions. Let us draw near to him, adoring him 
 for his inestimable loving-kindness ; and let us entreat him 
 to grant us divine light, grace, and blessing, that by us, as 
 always, so particularly on these da3^s, God may be glorified, 
 true peace and reconciliation with him may be enjoyed, 
 and a filial disposition and obedience towards him may be 
 excited in our hearts by the gracious operation of the 
 Holy Spirit, Amen!" 
 
 The second sermon upon this passage of Scripture 
 dwells chiefly on the angelic message and the anthem of 
 the heavenly host. 
 
 " It was," he observes, " a most agreeable invitation to 
 joy which was addressed by a heavenly messenger, first to 
 the poor shepherds, and not only to them, but to all who 
 are concerned in the wonderful event proclaimed by that 
 angelic preacher. 
 
 " All mankind wish for joy — what pity is it that they 
 too commonly mistake the true source and foundation of 
 it ! Let us consider them as disclosed in our text. 
 
 " The very first word spoken by the angel is a spring of 
 joy. ' Fear not.' They were alarmed at the glory which 
 
ABSTRACTS OF HIS SERMONS. 39 
 
 accompanied his appearance. This was a plain proof that 
 they were of the race of sinners. Fear, or the ap[)rchen- 
 sion of a threatening evil, is a sign that we have lost our 
 original innocence. No sooner did our first parents sin, 
 than a fearful apprehension of punishment seized them. 
 It is true, a wise and gracious God may, and does, use and 
 direct our fear as a method of awakening us from the 
 impending stoi-m ; but when we recur to its first origin, 
 we must own it to be the sad effect of the fall. This fear 
 we all feel, if we reflect on what passes in our hearts. 
 Nay, even those who shamefully deny their IMaker, saying, 
 * There is no God,' even they fear, and often where nothing 
 is to be feared. So that all mankind are subject to this 
 afilicting passion, because all are sinners. 
 
 " Is it not, therefore, matter of joy when a merciful God 
 sends a messenger from heaven, and bids us restrain our 
 fear ? How reviving is such an exhortation ! It testifies 
 of the tenderly compassionate heart of God towards us. 
 He beholds us afflicted with fear ; but he has provided an 
 effectual remedy for curing it, and restoring us to true 
 serenity and peace of mind. 
 
 " ' Behold,' said the angelic messenger, ' I bring you 
 good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people ; for 
 unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, 
 which is Christ the Lord.' This is the Gospel, the very 
 essence and marrow of it, wdiich God designed for the 
 efiectual comfort of mankind. 
 
 " The person of Christ is described by the angel. He 
 describes him as David did in the 110th Psalm; 'The 
 Lord said unto my Lord.' So majestic and divine a person 
 has been sent. Well might the prophet call upon the 
 world to rejoice. Of this divine Person who was promised 
 and foretold by the prophets, particularly by Isaiah, it is 
 said that he is born, — that he left the throne of his ma- 
 jesty, and stooped very low to rescue us from our misery. 
 This is the divine doctrine, which affords rich matter of the 
 highest and purest joy, — that a Saviour has taken upon 
 him our nature, and out of mere love to mankind is con- 
 cerned in the highest degree for their salvation. Oh, what 
 wonderful love must have been in the heart of our com- 
 
40 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 passionate Eedeemcr ! Blessed are we who liave so clear 
 and certain an assurance of this astonishing transaction, 
 with the distant light of which maoy pious kings and pro- 
 phets were obliged to be contented, and in the prospect of 
 which they rejoiced. How much more should we rejoice, 
 who have so much better an opportunity of knowing the 
 personal glory of our Redeemer ! " 
 
 He next refers to the lowly and suflfering condition in 
 which the divine Redeemer appeared, as illustrating and 
 aggrandising his love to mankind, and on which he had 
 enlarged in the preceding sermon, and then proceeds to 
 the grand intention of his coming : — 
 
 " There is not a sweeter name in heaven or earth than 
 that of a Saviour. It is the source of all our peace and 
 joy. The hymn sung by the angelic host contains nothing 
 more nor less than the consolation comprised in that 
 blessed name. 
 
 " ' Glory to God in the highest.' Now has that most 
 delightful period arrived, when God and his adorable at- 
 tributes and perfections shall be manifested and glorified. 
 The Saviour is born to vindicate the glory of the wisdom, 
 holiness, veracity, and love of his heavenly Father, and at 
 the same time to lay a solid foundation for the salvation of 
 sinners. He is made obedient to the divine law, under- 
 takes to endure its curse, and thus rescues mankind, and 
 glorifies God. This was absolutely necessary. The know- 
 ledge of the mercy of God, without a deep impression of 
 his holiness and justice, does not improve us, but rather 
 tempts men to go on presumptuously in a course of sin. 
 Look around you, my friends, and consider the reason of 
 that general corruption which prevails amongst mankind, 
 and you will find that the abuse of the divine mercy is one 
 of its principal causes. Whereas, if we would devoutly 
 consider the Gospel, we should be convinced that it dis- 
 plays at once the mercy, the holiness, and the justice of 
 the Almighty. 
 
 " By this we perceive the divinity of the Gospel. It 
 does not soothe us vainly, but if used impartially, it cures 
 
ABSTRACTS OF HIS SERMONS. 41 
 
 US effectually. Consider it always in this light, and let the 
 evidence of the divine holiness and justice, as displayed in 
 the humiliation and sufferings of Jesus Christ, awaken us 
 all to true repentance. Oh, let us not trifle with sin, but 
 hate, resist, and oppose it, and that earnestly. AVhoever 
 does not abhor every sin, dishonours God, rejects his salva- 
 tion, and frustrates the intention of the Redeemer's birth, 
 turns his medicine into poison, and deprives himself of all 
 the blessings which Jesus came to purchase. But every 
 one who wishes to glorify God upon earth, will look upon 
 the revelation of his glory in the nativity of Christ as a 
 source of the purest joy. 
 
 "The second part of the angelic hymn, and conse- 
 quently the second blessing of our Saviours coming, is 
 ' Peace on earth.' Peace consists in the disposition of the 
 Almighty to forget the injuries done to his law, and to 
 love, protect, and bless sinners. The meaning, therefore, 
 of the angelic anthem is this. Now is that happy time 
 come, when a solid foundation of peace between God and 
 men shall be laid. Peace, which sinners had lost, shall and 
 will be restored by that divine Saviour who has already 
 begun to procure it. Rejoice in it, all ye w^ho feel and 
 lament your sinfulness, and fear lest a righteous God 
 should frown upon you eternally. Behold and rejoice. It 
 is Jesus who came from heaven to restore peace to you. 
 Give not way, therefore, to despondency or anxiety. These 
 glad tidings were published that you might enjoy peace. 
 Do not think that you honour your Saviour by anxious 
 fear. You honour him, indeed, by trusting and reposing 
 in him confidently. 
 
 " But let me speak a word to those who desire peace, 
 but look for it from their own virtues. Hear the divine 
 Gospel proclaimed from heaven. ' Peace on earth,' and 
 that through the Redeemer. He has made peace ; he offers, 
 he bestows that blessing. Do you reject this 'Prince of 
 peace V Then be assured you will never find it, either in 
 time or eternity. Trust, therefore, no longer in yourselves, 
 or your imperfect works ; but come to the divine Saviour 
 for pardon and peace. Remember the Jews of old, who 
 desired righteousness and peace, but would not accept 
 
42 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 them at the feet of Christ, but as the reward of their own 
 merit, and take warning from their unhappiness. The 
 price by which peace was purchased was not your im- 
 perfect, but the absohitely perfect obedience and suiFerings 
 of Jesus Christ, your surety. Blessed will you be, if in 
 poverty of spirit you seek it where alone it is to be found ; 
 namely, in Him. Thousands of real Christians have expe- 
 rienced it. Oh, try to have the happy experience of it in 
 your own hearts ! 
 
 " The third part of the angelic hymn is, ' Good will to 
 or in men.' For as the preceding clause declares the good 
 will of God to us, this describes our good will both to God 
 and one another. The meaning, I apprehend, is this. Now 
 will men be rightly disposed towards God in consequence 
 of the Redeemer, and of the love of God displayed in him. 
 They will look upon God as their gracious Father, and will 
 love and honour, trust and praise him. And being in that 
 happy frame of mind they will love one another also, be- 
 cause God has loved them. This is the true spring of all 
 godliness, justice, charity, and goodness. In and through 
 Jesus Christ, and his redemption, the love of God and his 
 infinite mercy to sinners are so clearly revealed, that every 
 one who receives the glorious light of it into his heart, 
 cannot but be made imspeakably happy by it ; and as soon 
 as man knows and tastes the loving-kindness of God to 
 him, he begins to love him in return. The conclusion 
 which St. John draws is very natural. ' We love him 
 because he first loved us.' All that enmity which is 
 naturally in our heart to God, arises particularly from want 
 of true and saving knowledge of his love to us. Could the 
 most wicked man be brought to a lively perception of that 
 divine love of God towards him he would lay aside his 
 enmity, adore God, and love him with all his heart. Could 
 the heart of the most sensual man be filled with divine 
 peace, so as even for a few moments to enjoy it, he would 
 readily forsake, and disdainfully reject, all the temptations 
 that were offered to draw him away from that sweet sense 
 of the love of God. Oh, let us all seek that good will to- 
 wards our divine Benefactor ! Let us meditate upon his 
 infinite love. Let us pray for his enlightening Spirit, and 
 
HIS LETTERS. 43 
 
 for a comfortable sense of his loving-kindness to us, and so 
 let us speiKl this feast, that we may rejoice in it after a 
 godly manner. Let ours be Christian, not worldly joy. 
 Rejoicing in Jesus will embitter to us all sensual and sinful 
 mirth. For carnal joy and merriment dishonour God, and 
 bring scandal upon that holy religion which we profess, and 
 is, therefore, a high abuse of the glorious Gospel of Jesus. 
 
 " And as rejoicing in the benefits of the nativity of our 
 Saviour will incline us to have a good will towards God, so 
 will it render us kind and charitable to our neighbour. 
 Did the Son of God love you so as to become poor for your 
 sake ? How should this incline your heart to love your 
 poor neighbour, and to make him a partaker of your joy ! 
 
 " In short, the joy which arises from the redemption of 
 Jesus will make us truly a good, holy, and charitable 
 people ; it will make us happy, and all who live with us. 
 May the Spirit of Jesus Christ work it in us to the honour 
 of his name. Amen ! " 
 
 It will be sufficiently clear to every well-informed 
 reader, that these sermons, preached in the gloomy period 
 of the middle of the last century, possess all the essential 
 characteristics of the highest strains to which we are ac- 
 customed, in these brighter and more evangelical days. 
 They are redolent of the One great Theme ; the character 
 and work of Christ ; and hence they render credible that 
 which we might otherwise receive with doubt, — the narra- 
 tive of the success which always seems to have attended 
 this great missionary's labours. 
 
 But it was not in sermons only, or on public occasions, 
 that Swartz showed the evangelical character of his reli- 
 gion. We take his private correspondence, and read a letter 
 or two, written some years later than this period, to his 
 intimate friend, Mr. Chambers. 
 
 " My dear Friend, — Five days ago I received your 
 agreeable letter, and praise God for all the mercies he has 
 bestowed on you in your journey, and on your arrival at 
 Madras. I doubt not but he will nudtiply his favours 
 according his wonted mercy. In your new station }*bu 
 
44 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 will need liis gracious assistance. You have had some 
 specimens of the Malabar people's sad art of evading truth, 
 and of affirming lies with the boldest countenance. This 
 little experience will help you in some respects, at least so 
 far as to make you cautious. 
 
 " But our caution, what doth it avail, unassisted by 
 divine grace 1 May the Spirit of Jesus Christ strengthen 
 and comfort you every moment ! What you write touch- 
 ing the clergyman, is doleful indeed. But, you know, that 
 sort of people, when they refuse to accept of divine grace, 
 have always been the worst of enemies to the promotion 
 of the cause of Christ, as all history declares, and par- 
 ticularly that of the sufferings of Christ. I hear there is 
 another lately arrived. that he may be a disciple of the 
 humble Jesus ! 
 
 " Many people went from hence to Madras, white and 
 black, to the court-martial, which seems now likely to take 
 place. You are on the spot. May you be serviceable ! 
 I wish and pray a gracious God may help our friend to 
 behave, in all circumstances, as a true disciple of the meek 
 and holy Jesus. A great degree of true humility, denial 
 of himself, presence of mind, in short, nothing less than 
 divine grace, will be able to carry him through his present 
 troubles with a clear and clean conscience. Pray often for 
 him. We will here intreat the Lord likewise to glorify his 
 name in this aftair. ***** 
 
 " Farewell, my friend ; and whenever you appear be- 
 fore the throne of Christ, remember your fellow-pilgrims at 
 Trichinopoly. Salute in the Lord all our friends, par- 
 ticularly the Colonel and Mrs. Wood and the little ones." 
 
 " My dear Friend, — It is a long time since I received 
 your kind letter. The evening hour which I used to spend 
 in writing letters, as you know, I have spent a long time 
 with Mr. U., who was more than once on the borders of 
 eternity. Often he could hardly pronounce a word. I 
 admonished him to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. 
 He was always glad to see me, and joined in prayer ; nay, 
 sometimes, at least once, he entreated me to pray with 
 him. At present he is in a way of recovery, and I 
 
HIS LETTERS. 45 
 
 tliink not . I cannot write more ; since what passeth 
 
 between a clergyman and a sick person ought not to be 
 divulged. But O the heart of man ! So far I may tell 
 you, that we were very plain. ]\[ay God have mercy on 
 him and us all ! The heart of man is fickle beyond ex- 
 pression. Christian stedfastncss is a glorious grace spring- 
 ing from the enjoyment of the redemption. In proportion 
 as we enjoy its precious fruits, particularly pardon and 
 peace, we obtain confidence in God, and count all things 
 but loss, that we may win Christ, and be found in him. 
 
 " Concerning the palanquin, the carpenter would have 
 gladly done it, but to this day I have not got a plank from 
 Tranquebar, though they promised to send them as soon 
 as they arrived from the Malabar coast, which would cer- 
 tainly be at the beginning of October. The bamboo I 
 hope to get soon. Write me in your next how I shall send 
 it you. 
 
 " Hov*' do you go on in the Persian language ? Where 
 do you live 1 How is the new clergyman ? Have you 
 not yet met with one who dares to be good at IMadras ? 
 
 Here at Trichinopoly is great coldness. Mrs. and I 
 
 are exactly as strangers. I have seen her twice or thrice 
 at her house, but she takes care not to be molested. Every 
 Monday there is a concert at her house, and daily more 
 than one card-table. The altar-jDiece is finished. It is 
 done, as they say, very well. In the Persian we have se- 
 veral passages ; as, ' I am the way, the truth, and the 
 life ; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John, 
 xvi. 23 ; John, xvii. 3. ' Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
 God,' &c. ' Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel 
 to every creature.' How is everything in the Colonel's 
 house carried on 1 Can you see that they go forward in 
 their pilgrimage ? 
 
 " We think of you often in prayer. May Jesus Christ 
 strengthen you to fight the good fight of faith, laying hold 
 on eternal life ! 
 
 We see here, the same simple-minded, earnest, devoted 
 Christian. To a friend at Halle he gives the followmg still 
 more confidential view of his state of mind : — 
 
46 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " With respect to my present circumstances, I feel 
 constrained to bless God for the manifold mercies showered 
 down in the past year upon me, the least of his servants, 
 through Christ's atonement and intercession. He has sup- 
 ported me day by day in the most gracious manner ; he 
 has insti'ucted and reproved me by his Sjiirit ; he has 
 never left me without consolation — therefore ' my soul doth 
 magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
 Saviour.' Indeed I have the greatest cause for gratitude ; 
 for the Lord has regarded the low estate of his servant. 
 My joy is not extravagant, but calm and abiding, and my 
 great aim is to know that I am the Lord's, through Christ, 
 that I have found grace in his sight, that his peace rests 
 upon me, that I can confidently approach him in prayer, 
 and have a certain hope of eternal life ; so that even days 
 of sickness cannot dej^rive me of these consolations. 
 
 " Many of the Eoman Catholics in this place acknow- 
 ledge the superior advantages which the pure Gospel has 
 over the confused doctrines and traditions of men ; which, 
 instead of relieving, only oppress the conscience. When I 
 visit them in their houses, they listen to me gladly, and I 
 affectionately invite them to convince themselves of the 
 full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfac- 
 tion, made by Christ for the sins of the whole world, as the 
 foundation of their faith ; and that, believing this, they 
 may enjoy peace of conscience, and become partakers of 
 the precious blessings obtained for them by his sufferings 
 and death upon the cross. I point out to them what Jesus 
 Christ himself has taught respecting the way which leadeth 
 unto life, and how much the Romish Church has deviated 
 from the pure doctrine of the Gospel. Father, let thy 
 kingdom come ! send forth faithful labourers into thy 
 harvest ! " 
 
 Mr. Chambers, to whom the first of the above letters 
 was addressed, himself gives us the following description 
 of this exemplary missionary : — 
 
 " I had often heard mention of Mr. Swartz as a man of 
 great zeal and piety, and of considerable attainments in 
 
A DESCRIPTION OF HIM. 47 
 
 the languages of the country ; but as these accounts were 
 in general given me by those who viewed the excellence of 
 a religious character through the medium of popular pre- 
 judice, my ideas of him were very imperfect; and as I 
 myself had then scarcely any better rule of judging, a pre- 
 conceived notion of great strictness and austerity had 
 mixed itself with ever}i:.hing I had heard in his praise. 
 The first sight of him, however, made a complete revolution 
 in my mind as to this point. His garb, indeed, which was 
 pretty well worn, seemed foreign and old-fashioned ; but 
 in every other respect his appearance was the reverse of all 
 that could be called forbidding or morose. Figure to your- 
 self a stout well-made man, somewhat above the middle 
 size, erect in his carriage and address, with a complexion 
 rather dark, though healthy, black curled hair, and a manly, 
 engaging countenance, expressive of unaffected candour, 
 ingenuousness, and benevolence ; and you will have an 
 idea of what Mr. Swartz appeared to be at first sight. 
 During the intimacy which I had afterwards the happiness 
 to contract with him, I learnt the following particulars of 
 his past history." 
 
 Here Mr. Chambers briefly details the account which 
 has been already more fully given of the birth and educa- 
 tion of Swartz, of his employment as a tutor in the Orphan- 
 House at Halle, and of the proposal made to him to become 
 a missionary ; of the interesting deliberation of his father 
 upon this important subject, his consent to the plan, and 
 the departure of his son to England for the i^urpose of 
 embarking for the East Indies. Mr. Chambers then pro- 
 ceeds as follows : — 
 
 " His first residence in India was at the Danish mission 
 at Tranquebar, where he was initiated into the Tamul 
 (improperly called the Malabar) language, which is the 
 vernacular tongue of almost all the countries that are go- 
 verned by the Nabob of Arcot. As this is tiie language of 
 an ancient, w^ealthy, and sagacious people, who have culti- 
 vated their own learning assiduously, and have abounded 
 in the arts of hfc from a remote antiquity, it is of course 
 
48 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 of great exten , and its pronunciation is at the same time 
 exceedingly difficult to Europeans. Mr. Swartz deeming it 
 necessary, in order to converse with advantage with these 
 people, to be well acquainted with their system of theology, 
 whatever it was, spent five years, after he had attained 
 some proficiency in their language, in reading their mytho- 
 logical books only. Hard and irksome as this task must 
 have been to a devout mind, he has reaped this benefit 
 from it, that he can at any time command the attention 
 of the Malabars by allusions to their favourite books and 
 histories, which he never fails to make subservient to the 
 truth. He also learnt at Tranquebar the Portuguese 
 tongue, particularly that dialect of it which is used by the 
 Portuguese who are natives of India. The missionaries 
 have found great numbers of these, in every place at which 
 they have settled, ready to embrace the Protestant faith, 
 or who having already embraced it, or been brought up in 
 it as servants to Protestant masters, were in need of in- 
 struction and of pastors. Willing, therefore, to seek souls 
 wherever they were to be found, they have all voluntarily 
 added the study of Portuguese to that of Malabar, and 
 preach and instruct in that language also. 
 
 " Mr. Swartz, however, while engaged in these pursuits 
 at Tranquebar, found his province there somewhat con- 
 fined, and therefore sought and obtained permission to go 
 and establish an English mission at Trichinopoly, where 
 the Gospel had not hitherto been preached, at least not 
 for a continuance. He was there happy in a correspond- 
 ence and frequent intercourse with another young mis- 
 sionary named Dame, who was settled at Tanjore, and was 
 as fervent and zealous as himself. The same spirit and 
 the same pursuit soon drew them into the strictest bond 
 of Christian friendship — the sublimest of all earthly aflfec- 
 tions. Their prayers, their labours, and their souls, were 
 united in the same glorious and never-dying cause, for 
 which they had both resigned all temporal prospects. But 
 Mr. Swartz did not long enjoy this source of comfort ; for 
 being called once suddenly to see his friend, he hastened 
 to Tanjore, and found him dead. 
 
 " At Trichinopoly he had much to do, with very narrow 
 
A DESCRIFllON OF HIM. 49 
 
 means. His whole income was ten pagouas per month, 
 or about 48^. per annum ; and he had no other fund for 
 making a new establishment. I must here, however, ob- 
 serve, that though, computing at the usual rate of exchange, 
 one hundred and twenty pagodas must be allow^ed to be 
 equivalent to 48^., yet if we estimate it according to the 
 effective value of money in India and in England, it will 
 not be equal to half that sum. I mean, that an European 
 may live much better in England on 24(?. per annum than 
 he could in India for one hundred and twenty pagodas. 
 Let us see, then, how he managed with this income. He 
 obtained of the commanding officer, who, perhaps, was 
 ordered to furnish him with quarters, a room in an old 
 Gentoo building, which was just large enough to hold his 
 bed and himself, and in which few men could stand upright. 
 With this apartment he was contented. A dish of rice 
 and vegetables, dressed after the manner of the natives, 
 Avas what he could always sit cheerfully down to ; and a 
 piece of dimity dyed black, and other materials of the same 
 homely sort, sufficed him for an annual supply of clothing. 
 Thus easily provided as to temporalities, his only care was 
 to ' do the work of an evangelist.' He preached to the 
 natives incessantly, both in the town and in the villages 
 around, and was not long without a congregation of con- 
 verted Hindoos ; and among them there were three or four 
 who were capable of instructing others, whom he therefore 
 entertained as catcchists, and contrived to maintain out of 
 his little income. 
 
 " But these were not his only labours at Trichinopoly. 
 He found there a large English garrison without a chaplain ; 
 to these, also, he sought to be of service by every means in 
 his pow'er. The kindness of his heart and the unaffected 
 simplicity of his manners, soon procured him a civil re- 
 ception among them, and he improved this into an oppor- 
 tunity of gaining a knowledge of the English language, 
 with which he was unacquainted at his first coming. After 
 he had made, however, but a small proficiency in English, 
 he undertook to read the service to the garrison on Sun- 
 days, and at the same time read them sermons from those 
 of our English divines in whose writings he discovered an 
 
 E 
 
50 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 evangelical spirit. But since tie has attained a more per- 
 fect acquaintance with our language, he has proceeded to 
 preach extempore, which I am told he still continues, and 
 is enabled to command the utmost attention in his au- 
 ditory." 
 
 We have introduced these letters without regard to 
 chronology, in order that the reader may have, at once, 
 a full portrait of this admirable missionary. We have 
 placed him before the mind's eye, in his zeal, simplicity, 
 self-denial, and ardent love to God and man. So qualified 
 for his work, we shall not feel any wonder at the honour 
 which God was pleased to put upon him. 
 
 His first year's labours in Tranquebar are sufficiently 
 described in a letter to a friend in Halle, which is dated 
 September 28, 1751, about fifteen mouths after his arrival 
 in India : — 
 
 " The manifold kindness which you showed me in my 
 university years, induces me to address a letter to you 
 from this country ; the more so, as it was you who first 
 gave me a hint that I should, perhaps, be asked to go to 
 India. When I think of this, and of the first distant pre- 
 parations made by the Divine Providence, I praise and 
 humbly thank the only wise God. It is also a sweet com- 
 fort to my heart that I am enabled to say, ' It is thou, O 
 my God, who hast conducted me to these parts ; I have 
 not run hither of my own accord, but would rather have 
 declined the call, if thy unseen hand had not retained me. 
 O therefore help, and bestow upon me all necessary wisdom, 
 grace, and strength, for this office ! ' 
 
 " My gracious God has already manifested so many 
 proofs of his paternal love towards me, that I cannot but 
 remember the word of the Lord Jesus, which he spake to 
 upright Nathanael (John, i. 50), 'Thou shalt see greater 
 things than these.' May the Lord give me grace, that, like 
 Nathanael, I may use the proofs of divine goodness and 
 mercy which I have hitherto experienced as a solid founda- 
 tion for the strengthening and confirmation of my faith. 
 If henceforth I do not behold the glory of God, then verily 
 
HIS ACCOUNT OF TTIS LABOURS. 61 
 
 iinl)e]ief will be the cause of it. At Nazareth, my Saviour 
 did not many mighty works, because of their unbelief. 
 Now, Lord, grant faith, and tliat a lively faith ! 
 
 " But that you may know this from more special cir- 
 cumstances, and adore the name of the Lord with me, I 
 shall mention some particulars. First, I humbly praise 
 God that, during the year I have been here, he, notwith- 
 standing all my imperfections, hath borne with me with 
 great patience and forbearance, hath been daily nigh unto 
 my soul, and hath kindly refreshed me. If I have not had 
 the same enjoyments daily, the fault was on my own side. 
 Now this goodness, long-suffering, and patience of our 
 Lord, I shall account my salvation^ according to St. Peter's 
 exhortation. 
 
 "As to external things, God has given me life and 
 health, and has made the climate and the heat supportable ; 
 so that, though my breathing was sometimes oppressive, 
 yet I have not been induced to complain. Praised be his 
 name also for his gracious help ! Whoever always reposes 
 in the good and holy wnll of God, saves himself much 
 trouble, and makes that suj)portable which an impatient 
 and unsubdued self-will renders intolerable. May the Lord 
 subdue this self-will more and more by the power of the 
 cross of Christ ! 
 
 " Concerning the language of this country, I frequently 
 thought during the voyage— ' Behold, at Halle I learned 
 Tamul three months, and I made but little progress ; how 
 much time will be required to learn that language, even 
 though it be only so much as to be able to express myself 
 intelligibly?' But God has graciously removed this diffi- 
 culty, which appeared to me so great ; for after I had 
 once preached, it became more and more easy. 
 
 " Soon after the commencement of the new year, I 
 began a catechetical hour in the Tamul, or Malabar school, 
 with the youngest lambs ; and thus I learned to stammer 
 with them. At the same time, I made almost daily excur- 
 sions, and spoke with Christians and heathens, though, as 
 may be easily conceived, poorly and falteringly. However, 
 God helped me on from day to day. 
 
 " After I had thus practised reading and speaking for 
 
52 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 nine months, I began the first preparation on the 26th of 
 May, 1751, and finished it on the 2d of July, when I bap- 
 tized most of the converts. Each of my brethren was 
 occupied with preparing a small number for holy baptism. 
 When, therefore, ten days afterwards, another party came, 
 I began the second preparation on the 12th of July, and 
 ended it in six weeks. AVith these souls I hope the Lord 
 has not permitted me to labour in vain. How they now 
 conduct themselves I cannot say, as the far greater part of 
 them were from the country. 
 
 " The increase this year is very pleasing, consisting of 
 four hundred in the Tamul congregation, including a hun- 
 dred and fifty-nine children, partly of Christian, and partly 
 of converted heathen, parents ; though the real blessing 
 does not amount to the whole of that number. God send 
 forth faithful labourers, for the harvest is indeed great! 
 Therefore help us, dear sir, to implore the Divine assistance. 
 
 " This short account I have given you, in humble praise 
 of our gracious God. To him alone belongeth glory, but 
 to us shame ; and if we should even sufier ignominy and 
 disgrace for the sake of Jesus, we are unworthy of so great 
 an honour." 
 
 These preparatory instructions for baptism formed a 
 chief feature in the labours of the missionaries. The ut- 
 most care was taken during these exercises to ascertain, 
 not only the religious knowledge, but the Christian dis- 
 positions of the professed converts. Those who were slow 
 of apprehension, or the sincerity of whose views in em- 
 bracing Christianity appeared doubtful, were deferred to 
 the next preparation. This occurred with respect to two 
 candidates on one of the occasions just mentioned, of 
 whom one was found to be deficient in knowledge, and the 
 other of too worldly a mind to be admitted into the 
 Christian Church. The period of probation for baptism 
 was sometimes extended to several months, that the mis- 
 sionaries might have a better opportunity of observing the 
 moral character of the converts, and with resj)ect to those 
 who came from distant places, of obtaining information as 
 to their previous conduct. 
 
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NATIVES. 53 
 
 Another branch of the missionary work consisted in 
 preaching excursions. The missionaries formed themselves 
 into small parties, of four or five, who, attended by a few 
 catcchists, went into the neighbouring towns and villages, 
 mingling with the natives, entering into discussion with 
 them, and, wherever practicable, preaching the Gospel in 
 the plainest manner. Various records have been preserved 
 of conversations of this kind, a few of which may here be 
 inserted. 
 
 A Hindoo merchant said to him, " God has created us 
 to the end that we should know and serve him." This 
 Swiii tz confirmed, and then added with regret, that although 
 God had given him and many of his countrymen a know- 
 ledge of the end of their creation, yet they remained in 
 idolatry, and thus, unhappily, never attained it. He then 
 declared the doctrine of Christ, and pointed Him out as 
 the only way to the true and saving knowledge of God. 
 
 Another wealthy old merchant, who understood Danish, 
 English, and French, said to him, " Sir, be not displeased ; 
 I wish to ask you a question. Do all Europeans speak like 
 you?" Swartz replied, that all Europeans were not true 
 Christians ; but that there were many who were really so, 
 and who sincerely prayed for the Hindoos that they might 
 become acquainted with Jesus Christ, " You astonish 
 me," said he ; " for, from what we daily observe and ex- 
 perience, we cannot but think Europeans, with but few 
 exceptions, to be self-interested, incontinent, proud, full of 
 illiberal contempt and prejudice against us Hindoos, and 
 even against their own religion, especially the higher classes. 
 So at least I have found it with the majority of those with 
 whom I have had any intercourse." 
 
 This is a reproach which has been but too justly thrown 
 upon Europeans by the unenlightened natives of India, and 
 has ever formed one of the most powerful obstacles to their 
 conversion to Christianity. It is, however, a reproach 
 which, though still too frequently deserved, has of late 
 years been considerably removed by the improved cha- 
 racter and conduct of our own countrymen ; more par- 
 ticularly in stations of influence and authority. ^May it 
 daily become less merited ! 
 
64 ' LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Swartz one day met a Hindoo dancing-master, with his 
 female pupil, and told them, that no unholy persons shall 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven. " Alas, sir ! " said the 
 poor girl, " in that case hardly any European will ever enter 
 it ;" and passed on. 
 
 Having asked a Pandaram, or Hindoo devotee, who car- 
 ried about an idol, why he did so ; " For my support," said 
 he. Swartz reproved him for his baseness, and inquired 
 the name of his idol. He replied by a Tamul word, sig- 
 nifying, "He that removes evil/' Upon this, the mis- 
 sionary spoke to him of Jesus, as the only Saviour who 
 took away the sins of the world. 
 
 A Hindoo pretended that he and his countrymen wor- 
 shipped the same God as the Christians did, only under 
 other names. Swartz replied, " The true God must possess 
 divine perfections ; such as supreme wisdom, omniscience, 
 omnipotence, holiness, justice. Now, nothing of this is 
 found in your divinities ; but, by your own records, igno- 
 rance, impurity, cruelty. How can it be said of such that 
 they are gods ? You have a proverb, that where sin is, 
 there is no excellence. Now you acknowledge the practices 
 ascribed to your gods to be sinful ; consequently, by your 
 own confession, they are unworthy of the name." " That 
 is very true," said the Hindoo ; " but if we receive even 
 what is false, and think it to be true in our heart, it is 
 done to us according to our faith." " How can you adopt," 
 answered Swartz, "a sophism, which you yourselves, on 
 other occasions, reject % You are accustomed to say, ' If 
 one write the word sugar, and then lick his finger, it will 
 not on that account become sweet, though he believe it 
 ever so firmly.' " 
 
 A native objected, " Show us any one who has embraced 
 your religion, and has been actually saved, and we will 
 believe you." Swartz answered, in the spirit of Abrahatn's 
 reply in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, " God 
 has given you his word — prove and examine it. Such an 
 evidence as you require is not the appointed way of be- 
 coming convinced of the truth ; for the devil can transform 
 himself into an angel of light." 
 
 Another observed, " I am surprised to hear you say, 
 
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NATIVES. 55 
 
 that if we forsake Paganism our souls will be happy, and 
 that if we do not, God will punish us. What is the soul ? 
 A breath, which, when it has left the body, is blown away 
 with other winds. You may perceive this by our holding 
 the hand to a dying person's mouth, to feel whether there 
 is yet breath. If there be, life is still in him. Thus breath 
 and the soul arc one and the same thing. Who then can 
 say that wind shall be punished ? What is God ? Can he 
 be seen ? He is the universe, I die : — that means nothing 
 more than that my body is resolved into its original 
 elements — water, fire, earth, air. But the existence of 
 such a spirit within me as yon speak of, I believe not. 
 Where is it when I sleep, when I see no one, or though 
 one touch me, I do not feel it?" Swartz replied to each 
 point. He reminded the objector of the operations of the 
 soul, such as thinking, judging, determining ; and asked, 
 whether wind was capable of these ? whether he could not 
 by this perceive that he had a soul, which is a real being, en- 
 dowed with understanding and will, and which is therefore 
 susceptible of sorrow, anxiety, and pain ? He next explained 
 the (loctrine of the resurrection. This man expressed, 
 without reserve, the doubts which other heathens enter- 
 tain ; from which it appears that the errors of Spinoza are 
 not unknown in India. Indeed they are not new, having 
 been long since noticed and refuted in Eccles. iii. 19-21, 
 and in the Book of Wisdom, ii. 1-3. 
 
 A heathen said to Swartz, "If I become a Christian, 
 how shall I be maintained?" He replied, " AVork and 
 pray." The Gospel of St. Matthew was given to him, and 
 on his first opening it, he lighted on the passage, chap. vi. 
 31-33. " Take no thought, saying. What shall we eat, &c., 
 for after all these things do the Gentiles seek : for yDur 
 heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these 
 things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his 
 righteousness ; and all these things shall be added iinto 
 you." This singular coincidence made a deep impres- 
 sion. 
 
 A Hindoo inquired whether there were any worldly 
 advantages, such as money or rice, to be gained by em- 
 bracing our religion. Swartz lamented his earthly mind 
 
56 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 and informed liim that tlie missionaries were not come to 
 support the idle, but to show to all the way to obtain 
 incorruptible blessings. Another said, " If I become a 
 Christian. I shall be called an apostate, who has crept into 
 another caste." Swartz told him, that heathens and un- 
 believers belonged to the caste of the devil ; but that the 
 family of God, into which those are adopted who believe 
 the Gospel, is " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood ; 
 a peculiar people." 
 
 Thus passed 1751 and 1752. Four or five successive 
 preparations for baptism were held, and severa,l excursions 
 were made into the surrounding country. In the following 
 year, 1753, Swartz writes as follows to Dr. Struensee, the 
 Professor of Divinity at Halle : — 
 
 " Concerning my poor labours, I usually employ myself 
 in the morning with the school children ; and when I am 
 preparing a small party for baptism, that is also done in 
 the forenoon. In the afternoon, Mondays excepted, I com- 
 monly go out to the villages, to visit the Christians in their 
 cottages, and to converse with heathens. 
 
 " The enclosed Annual Keport will exhibit to you the 
 present external state of the mission. This year Satan, by 
 his raging, endeavoured to excite the fears of the Christians, 
 by which many heathens were no doubt deterred from em- 
 bracing the Gospel. For towards the end of April last, a 
 dissension arose between the Papists and heathens in Tan- 
 jorc, on account of some usages. The rajah having been 
 informed of it, treated the Roman Catholics with great 
 severity ; upon which many of them renounced Christ- 
 ianity, both verbally and in writing. Since that time, the 
 Romish Christians in the Tanjore country have been roughly 
 handled : in which sufferings our Christians have also been 
 made to share in several places, though not so severely as 
 the Papists in Tanjore. May our faithful God arm us with 
 grace, resohition, and strength ! 
 
 " In July a captain of the Danish navy was sent as an 
 envoy to Tanjore, on which occasion Mr. Wiedebroeck, at 
 the captain's earnest request, accompanied him, and had 
 
VISITS CUDDALORE. 57 
 
 an opportunity of announcing the Gospel of Christ, both in 
 the country and in tlie residence itself, without hindrance. 
 May God grant a permanent blessing upon it !" 
 
 In 17o-l, on the 18th of February, two of the mission- 
 aries, Swartz and Kohlhoff, set out on foot to visit Cud- 
 dalore. Two other missionaries accompanied them a few 
 miles on their way, and united with them in prayer at 
 parting. They supped and slept at the house of a Hindoo 
 merchant, who civilly received their exhortations to himself' 
 and his family. The following morning they proceeded on 
 their journey, and delivered a lecture on the Atonement 
 at a place where several Christians were assembled, with a 
 concluding address to the surrounding heathen. On the 
 next day, they represented to the Brahmins and others, in 
 front of a pagoda at Sembankudi, the absurdity and fatal 
 consequences of idolatry, and in the evening reached Tiru- 
 cottah, where they lodged at the commanding ofliccr's, who 
 was very kind to them, and accommodated them with a 
 boat to carry them down the river and across the Coleroon, 
 and afterwards a catamaran over another river, which saved 
 them from passing through a desert and swampy forest. 
 The boatmen refused to hear anything of Christianity ; but 
 stopping for refreshment in a wood, several Hindoos, and 
 Mahomcdans, and a Roman Catholic native, came round 
 them, to whom they announced the onlj' true God, and 
 Jesus the only IMediator and Redeemer. A robber, one of 
 whose feet had been struck off by the headsman of Chil- 
 lumbrum, begged a plaster, which the missionaries gave 
 him, with a direction to the onl}^ Physician of the soul for 
 the healing of his spiritual wounds. The Romish Christian 
 made himself known in private, but was admonished of the 
 duty of openly confessing Christ before men ; and when he 
 urged the difficulty of doing this in India, he was reminded 
 of our Lord's words, Matt. x. 32, 33. On their way many 
 were exhorted, and tracts were distributed. One man said, 
 "We follow our rulers."' "Then," replied the missionaries, 
 "follow God. He is the Supreme Ruler of us all." 
 
 Arriving at the Porto Novo river, they were met by Mr. 
 Huttemau, and by Mr, Van Eck, the Dutch superior, who 
 
58 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 took them to his house. On the 23(1, they travelled the 
 whole way to Cuddalore along the sea-shore. A merchant 
 of high rank in hia caste, but reduced in circumstances, 
 followed them from Porto Novo, and offered to become 
 a Christian ; but his views appearing to be interested, he 
 was admonished to be sincere. At noon they addressed 
 some Hindoos at a choultry, particularly some Byragees, a 
 caste of professed and importunate beggars, and pointed 
 out to some fishermen how they were entangled in the 
 net of Satan, and by whom they might be rescued. To- 
 wards evening, Mr. Kiernander met them near Chetty- 
 Cupam. Having strengthened each other in the Lord, 
 they proceeded up the river in a boat, and arrived safely 
 at the Mission House at Cuddalore. There they united in 
 prayer to Almighty God, their reconciled Father in Christ, 
 laid their own wants and the general distress, humbly yet 
 confidently before him, and implored a blessing upon them- 
 selves, their brethren, and their work. They then visited 
 a sick Portuguese schoolmaster, and conversed with the 
 catechists, and several members of the congregation. A 
 number of Christians having come from the country for 
 the succeeding day's service, they explained to them the 
 Lord's Prayer, and the form of general confession, by way 
 of question and answer. They closed this busy day by 
 visiting the school and some of the mission servants. 
 
 The next day being Quinquagesima Sunday, Mr. Swartz 
 preached in the morning in Tamul, on Luke, xviii. 31, on 
 the necessity of Christ's sufferings, and Mr. Kohlhoff in the 
 afternoon in Portuguese, during which service, the morning 
 sermon was repeated in the Tamul school. 
 
 On Monda}'^ they conversed with the native Christians 
 who were returning into the country ; and exhorted them 
 to " keep the word of God" which they had heard, and to 
 walk worthy of it. They again visited the sick school- 
 master, and reminded him how necessary it was to be 
 well assured of one's state, in order to be peaceful in 
 death. 
 
 It had been usual from the commencement of the mis- 
 sion at Tranquebar, for the missionaries to hold, on Tuesday 
 in every week, a pastoral conference on some passage of 
 
VISITS CUDDALORE. 69 
 
 Scripture, for mutual edification and encouragement. This 
 pious custom, Messrs. Kohlhoff and Swartz did not omit 
 during their present excursion, but from ten to twelve on 
 the 2Gth held what they called a colloquium biblicum with 
 their brethren at Cuddalore, on Acts, x. 36, 37 ; taking 
 occasion, from that animating passage, to exhort each other 
 to courage and perseverance in the great work of " preaching 
 peace" to the Gentiles by Jesus Christ. In the afternoon, 
 they visited by water two villages of fishermen, situated to 
 the east of Cuddalore, between the river and the sea, and 
 observing that the hours struck at the mission church 
 were distinctly heard on their island, they represented to 
 them the duty of listening to the word of salvation, which 
 the goodness of God had thus brought so near to them. 
 
 On the 27th of February, the two missionaries, accom- 
 panied by their brethren of Cuddalore, proceeded to a small 
 neighbouring town, and sitting down in a choultry conversed 
 with the natives who collected round them on the acknow- 
 ledged earthly origin, and base and unwoi-thy character of 
 their pretended divinities, and urged the unprofitable 
 nature of their idolatry, and the peace, purity, and im- 
 mortal hope resulting from the fiith of the Gospel. Several 
 succeeding days were thus occupied, either in exhortations 
 to the heathen or to the native Christians, the catechists, 
 the school-children, and their teachers. 
 
 Having, at the request of their brethren, consented to 
 remain two days longer at Cuddalore, they assisted at the 
 weekly conference, the object of which was thus stated by 
 the founder of the mission, Ziegenbalg. 
 
 " The weekly conference, which \\q hold every Friday 
 with all the labourers, is of the greatest utility in keeping 
 the mission work in oi-der. For on that day in the fore- 
 noon, we pray to God for wisdom and counsel, and each 
 relates how he has been employed, or what has occurred in 
 the congregations and schools, and in the printing and 
 bookbiriding offices, and in the private houses. Here every- 
 thing which might occasion disorder or detriment is ad- 
 justed, and those means are adopted which may best pro- 
 mote the general good. The conference being ended, the 
 Portuguese and Tamul assistants make a report of their 
 
60 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 labours, and of whatever may be wanting, that as far as pos- 
 sible it may be supphed." 
 
 This useful practice was regularly observed during 
 nearly the first century of the mission, when, for some 
 reasons which do not appear, it was discontinued. 
 
 The weekly conference being closed, Messrs. Kohlhoflf 
 and Swartz went down the river to a tirkera, or Moorish 
 hermitage, where, amongst others, they addressed a fakir, 
 or Mahomedan mendicant, to whom the nabob had given 
 the place and the surrounding grounds. He acknowledged 
 that he had three wives and four-and-twenty children, and 
 that he was much addicted to the use of intoxicating drugs. 
 With this man they urged the base and licentious character 
 of Mahomedanism, and the superiority of Christian prin- 
 ciples ; he admitted the truth of their representations, and 
 promised to visit them at Cuddalore. 
 
 On the 5th of March, the four missionaries again held 
 a biblical conference on Acts, x. 38, in which they encou- 
 raged each other humbly and earnestly to implore the com- 
 munication of the Holy Spirit, that in the power of that 
 divine grace they might, after the example of their hea- 
 venly Master, " go about doing good." Swartz concluded 
 with an impressive prayer, that the Lord would vouchsafe 
 to them a permanent blessing from that hour ; that ac- 
 cording to his promise he would fill them, their brethren, 
 and all their fellow-labourers, with his Spirit, for the sake 
 of the great Mediator and Saviour ; that he would preserve 
 them from venturing on any service relying on their own 
 strength, but that they might go forth in his power, that 
 thus labouring they might never want all necessary light, 
 strength, and blessing. 
 
 Early the next day, the four missionaries again united 
 in thanlssgiving and prayer ; and in the strength of their 
 Eedeemer entered into a covenant to be his, to serve him 
 with all their heart, and thenceforward with renewed 
 energy to preach the Gospel to the poor Gentiles around 
 them, "Now," said Swartz, "the Lord has heard what 
 w^e have spoken before him. May he give us light, life, 
 strength, and prosperity ! " The Cuddalore brethren ac- 
 companied him and Mr. Kohlhofi* a few miles, and then 
 
RETURNS TO TRANQUEBAR. 61 
 
 separated after a cordial farewell, and wishing tliem abun- 
 dant grace and blessing. 
 
 On their return to Tranquebar they had frequent oppor- 
 tunities of scattering the good seed of the word of God 
 among Peons in the Dutch service, and Hindoos and Ma- 
 homedans from the neighbouring towns. Most of these were 
 fishermen, of which class of natives, though there are many 
 who have become Roman Catholics in the south of the 
 peninsula, few have ever been converted by the Protestants. 
 The two missionaries, in brief, and sometimes in longer 
 addresses, declared the nature of the true God, and the 
 vanity of idols, the misery of sin, the inefficiency of Pagan 
 ceremonies, and pai-ticularly of bathing in the sea, to 
 which many whom they met were resorting, and the only 
 eflectual atonement of the Cross. To those who made in- 
 quiries or urged objections, they gave suitable and often 
 satisfactory replies, and received promises of farther atten- 
 tion to their instructions. To some Romish Christians 
 they pointed out the errors of image-worship and of pur- 
 gatory, and exhorted them to repentance, faith, and true 
 godliness ; and finding at one place at which they rested 
 some Protestant converts, they preached to them, inquired 
 as to their domestic devotions, and reproved the negligent. 
 
 On the 9th they were met by one of their Tranquebar 
 brethren, and on approaching the Mission House, the Tamul 
 school children welcomed them by singing a metrical ver- 
 sion of Ecclesiasticus, i. 22-24, " Now let us praise the 
 Lord," which is in universal use among Protestants on the 
 continent. The missionaries blessed the children, and 
 shortly afterwards their remaining brethren met them, 
 and luiited with them and with several officers of the 
 Danish troops at Tranquebar in the following devout and 
 fervent thanksgiving and prayer offered up by Mr. Swartz. 
 
 '* Praised be thy name, O Lord, in profound humility, 
 for all the grace, protection, and blessing which, during the 
 whole of our journey, thou hast graciously bestowed upon 
 us of thine undeserved mercy, for the sake of Christ our 
 Mediator ! j\Iay the seed of thy word, which we thy poor 
 servants have sowed on our journey, spring up and pro- 
 duce abundant fruit, that we, and those who have received 
 
62 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 the word into their hearts, may praise and adore thy good- 
 ness to all eternity ! May the union with our brethren at 
 Cuddalore, which has been renewed afresh in thy sacred 
 presence, be productive of abundant blessing ! Our suppli- 
 cations, which we have jointly brought before thy footstool, 
 with regard to ourselves and the flock entrusted to us, 
 vouchsafe graciously to hear, and to let us perceive it, for 
 the strengthening of our faith. And thus begin anew to 
 bless us, and to prosper the work of our hands. Yea, pros- 
 per thou our handiwork, Lord, for the sake of Christ, 
 and of his bitter sufferings and death ! Amen." 
 
 A letter from Swartz to Professor Francke, dated Oct. 
 17, 1755, gives us an affecting and interesting picture of 
 the missionary's state of mind : — 
 
 " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the God of all true consolation, salvation, and life, 
 who mercifully and gloriously helpeth us in all trouble ! 
 He is a God that delighteth in our life, a God that hum- 
 bleth that he may exalt us, that maketh us to feel our 
 wretchedness that he may thoroughly save us from it. My 
 soul, magnify the Lord ! 
 
 " The distress of the Christian congregation, and the 
 insensibility of the heathen to the word of God, often 
 grievously afflict my soul, which is not yet experienced in 
 the ways of truth. However, I strive as well as I am en- 
 abled by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, to cast this burden 
 upon him that is mighty to help, and delights to bow 
 down to us in mercy, that we may not remain and sink in 
 trouble. The words of Christ from Isaiah, xlix. 4, often 
 occur to my mind. ' Then I said, I have laboured in vain, 
 I have spent my strength for nought and in vain ; yet 
 surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with 
 my God.' But, indeed, the following verse ought to allay 
 all grief, and to bind the sorrowful heart to the word of 
 the divine promise. The unwearied patience and mercy 
 of God in working upon my own soul also greatly comforts 
 me, when he saith within me, ' Tell it once more — go, an- 
 nounce it both to Christians and heathens ; for thou thy- 
 
HIS STATE OF MIND. 63 
 
 self also wcrt sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, 
 serving divers lusts and pleasures ; and yet in that most 
 corrupt condition, deserving wrath and death, a merciful 
 God hath wrought in thee for Christ's sake, and waited for 
 thy conversion, not a few, but many years — now learn 
 thou also to wait patiently in hope. Now, my heart, mind, 
 thoughts, desires, designs, and all my will be altogether 
 offered up to the will of my heavenly Father. Not my 
 will, but thine be done ! Yea, let thy kingdom come, in 
 India also, to myself and to others ! ' 
 
 "As to outward circumstances, a gracious God hath 
 paternally preserved m-e, and amidst bodily weakness 
 mightily supported me. Let my God only give me that 
 which Paul was enabled cheerfully to say, 2 Cor. v. 1, ' We 
 know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- 
 solved, w^e have a building of God, an house not made with 
 hands, eternal in the heavens !' 
 
 " I shall waive a particular account of the circumstances 
 and concerns of the mission, since the most important 
 points are contained in our common letter. I only men- 
 tion my heartfelt joy on account of the wonderfully kind 
 providence of God, that he blessed us on the 1st of July 
 last with a new fellow-labourer and brother, Mr. Peter 
 Dame, in whom the mind of Christ is so pleasingly con- 
 spicuous. As we little expected this, it hath caused us the 
 greater joy. In the Christmas holidays he will, by the 
 Divine blessing, deliver a testimony to Christ before the 
 congregation. Now, may a gracious God grant that he 
 may prove abundantly successful. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 At this period there were resident at Tranquebar as 
 many as eight missionaries, the largest numlier the mission 
 ever posses^sed. But in September, 1756, Mr. Poltzenhagen 
 visited the Nicobar islands, where illness terminated his 
 life, and deprived the mission of a valuable laboui-er. 
 
 The French, who had been for some time carrying on 
 hostilities with the English in India, began now to indulge 
 hopes of entire success. This encouraged the Romish 
 priests to threaten the native Protestant converts, and 
 
64 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 even to commit some acts of violence. Besides which, a 
 disf)iite with the Rajah of Tanjore led to an incursion 
 into the Danish territory, in which the mission- church at 
 Poreiar suffered injury. The missionaries, however, cele- 
 brated ths 9th of July, 1756, as a jubilee — the anniversary 
 of the day on which, fifty years before, their predecessors 
 landed on the shores of India. In this year, also, three 
 Mahomcdan converts were baptized at Vepery, the first of 
 that class which had owned the power of the Gospel on the 
 coast of Coromandel. 
 
 In 1757 Mr. Kohlhoff was called to Seringham, to visit 
 a sick German officer in the French service. While there 
 he had several opportunities of addressing the Brahmins 
 in the Great Pagoda, as well as at Trichinopoly, then gar- 
 risoned by the English. From this latter place he pro- 
 ceeded to Tanjore, where he preached both to European 
 and native Christians, and held a conference with one of 
 the rajah''s ministers, to whom he explained the truths of 
 the Gospel. 
 
 Towards the close of this year Mr. Swartz writes to a 
 friend in Europe in the following strain : — 
 
 " In my ministerial functions no variation has taken 
 place, except that I have been upwards of nine months in 
 the late Mr. Poltzenhagen's house, and have had the in- 
 struction of the Portuguese school and congregation. The 
 Lord lay his blessing on it ! This is certain, and I learn 
 it daily, that neither is he that planteth anything, neither 
 he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. He 
 who, altogether despairing of himself and his own strength, 
 goes out in all humility with prayer and supplication, 
 seeks that which is lost, and then waits for the former and 
 the latter rain from the Lord, he receiveth blessing of 
 God, and is preserved from much disquietude. And al- 
 though the blessing is not instantly visible, yet God 
 awakeneth the heart, and enableth us to say, ' At thy 
 word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, 
 they enclosed a great multitude of fishes.' This text I 
 remember frequently, especially as it is that on which I 
 IJreached my first sermon at the University; and by 
 
VISITS NEGAPATAM. 65 
 
 means of which God has produced in mc poverty of spirit, 
 and at the same time a fihal rehance on his word. ]\Iay 
 he teach it me more and more, and inculcate it by his 
 Spirit ! It was only yesterday, as Mr. Dame and I were 
 observing the obstinacy of the poor pagans, we spoke on 
 this subject, and excited each other to look off from our- 
 selves to God." 
 
 The next year, 1758, Mr. Swartz, in company with 
 Mr. Kohlhoff, paid a visit to Negapatam, about twenty miles 
 south of Tranquebar. As they went, they assembled the 
 native Christians wherever they could be found, and ad- 
 dressed them on the Gospel for the day, or the Creed, or the 
 Lord's Prayer, being the subjects most likely to be under- 
 stood by them. During the week that they remained at 
 Negapatam, they were continually occupied with various 
 religious services ; preaching in Tamul and in Portuguese, 
 and also in German, to about two hundred of their own 
 countrymen. One fruit of this visit to that settlement was, 
 the erection of a mission church for the native Christians ; 
 which the Governor promised to build, and which was 
 actually completed in less than a year afterwards. 
 
 This visit to Negapatam proved so acceptable to the 
 German Protestants at that place, that at their earnest re- 
 quest Mr. Swartz, with Mr. Klein, made a second journey 
 to that settlement in the month of April following. They 
 were met by the two native catechists, and by several 
 European gentlemen, and conducted to Negapatam. There 
 they spent another week, preaching on the most impor- 
 tant and impressive subjects, chiefly in German, but two 
 or three times also in Portuguese and Tamul, to the native 
 converts. They administered the sacrament, distributed 
 books and tracts of piety and devotion, and departed, re- 
 joicing at the evident proofs afforded by many of every 
 class, of their cordial reception of the word of God. At 
 the close of their farewell discourses, the Europeans made 
 a collection for the poor at Tranquebar, amounting to up- 
 wards of thirty- two pagodas, the greater part of which was 
 contributed by the Dutch soldiers. 
 
 Returning from Negapatam, ^Mr. Swartz met the cate- 
 
 F 
 
66 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 chists, at the montlily meeting which was usually held, 
 to receive their reports, and to give them counsel and 
 exhortation ; when he addressed them from 1 Cor. xv. 10, 
 " By the grace of God I am what I am," from which striking 
 example of the apostle, he represented to them humility 
 as an essential and most important quality in every Chris- 
 tian teacher, leading him to entertain the lowliest thoughts 
 of himself, and at the same time to value and depend on 
 the grace of God in Christ Jesus above all things. 
 
 The year 1758 was one of peril to the missions, and, 
 indeed, to the British power in India. Towards the end of 
 April the French landed troops near Fort David, which, 
 being joined by a detachment from Pondicherry, seized 
 upon the whole country in that vicinity. On the 1st of 
 May they approached Cuddalore, which soon capitulated. 
 Providentially, the German officer, whom Mr. Kohlhoff 
 had visited at Seringham, was with the force, and had 
 given his men orders to protect the missionaries. The 
 next day, the commander. Count Lally, visited the mission, 
 and after conversing with the missionaries, gave them pass- 
 ports, and granted boats for the transport of their goods. 
 
 On the 8tli they arrived at Tranquebar, where houses 
 were assigned to them by their brethren : the native 
 Christians were lodged for the present in the paper-mill at 
 Poreiar, and the Cuddalore children were received into the 
 Tamul school. The two missionaries insisting on taking a 
 share in the labours at Tranquebar, Mr. Kiernander as- 
 sisted in the Portuguese, and Mr. Hutteman in the Malabar 
 congregations. 
 
 The early departure of the missionaries and their con- 
 verts from Cuddalore, appears to have been highly pro- 
 vidential. Several Jesuits from Pondicherry, with a party 
 of their followers, arrived the next day ; and on finding 
 they had escaped, expressed their disappointment, as well 
 as great displeasure against Count Lally for having granted 
 them a safe dismissal. 
 
 Most of the native converts having left Cuddalore, 
 some having retired to Tranquebar, and others to Madras, 
 Mr. Iviernandcr perceived no immediate prospect of being 
 able to return to his former station, and in consequence 
 
THE FRENCH IN CUDDALORE, 67 
 
 felt it to be his duty to engage in some new sphere of 
 labour. After mature reflection and consultation with his 
 brethren, it was resolved that he should endeavour to 
 establish a mission in Bengal. For this purpose he pro- 
 ceeded to Calcutta in September, 1758 ; and notwith- 
 standing many difficulties and discouragements; he laboured 
 there for some years with exemplary piety and diligence, 
 and with considerable success. Mr. Hutteman remained 
 at Tranquebar till September, 1760, when he returned and 
 resumed his labours at Cuddalore, which had been retaken 
 by the British array. There, among other instances of the 
 Divine blessing upon his ministry, he was the instrument 
 of converting a Pandaram of the highest caste, and of 
 great respectability and learning, in Tanjore. The account 
 of this distinguished convert, written by himself, together 
 with the remonstrance of his brethren of the college of 
 Pandarams, of which he had been a member, and his ener- 
 getic and truly Christian reply, are contained in the re- 
 ports of the -Society for promoting Christian Knowledge 
 for the year 1765. By one of the biographers of Swartz, 
 this conversion has been erroneously attributed to him, 
 instead of his excellent friend Mr. Hutteman, to whom, 
 under God, this honour is due. 
 
 In November, Count Lally approached Madras, and on 
 the 6th of December he began to invest it. On the 12th 
 the French army advanced, and the English forces retreated 
 into the fort. The Mahomedan cavalry, in the French 
 service, now forced their way into the mission-house and 
 church, and began to plunder. In the evening the mis- 
 sionaries obtained a protection from Count Lally ; but it 
 was now too late ; furniture, books, utensils, clothes, had 
 all disappeared. Some benevolent friends at Fort St. George 
 kindly sent Messrs. Fabricius and Breithaupt a present of 
 money, linen, and clothing ; and thus the providence of 
 God watched over them and supplied their wants. 
 
 On the 14th of December the French army defiled past 
 the mission-house towards the northern suburb of ^Madras, 
 compelling two youths of the Christian congregation to 
 accompany them as guides. A strong detachment from 
 the fort here attacked the French, but the English were 
 
68 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 repulsed with considerable loss. The French plundered 
 the Black Town, and commenced the siege of Fort St. 
 George. To avoid the difficulties and dangers attending 
 such a scene, the missionaries, about Christmas, together 
 with many of their converts, left Madras, and proceeded 
 to Pulicat, where they were hospitably received by the 
 Dutch authorities. In the mean time. Count Lally urged 
 the siege of Madras with the feeble means which he pos- 
 sessed, and about the middle of February, 1 759, a breach 
 having been made in the walls, notwithstanding the utmost 
 efforts of the Governor Pigot, and the English commander, 
 the veteran Major Lawrence, preparations were making for 
 the assault ; when, on the 16th, the very day which had 
 been fixed for the purpose, an Enghsh fleet unexpectedly 
 arrived off Madras, and in two hours the French officer 
 commanding in the trenches received orders to abandon 
 the siege. The next day the French army retreated from 
 Madras, and in the course of a few weeks the missionaries 
 returned to their peaceful labours. The victory of Colonel 
 Coote at Wandewash, and the subsequent capture of Pon- 
 dicherry, defeated the last hopes of the French in that 
 quarter, and established the British ascendancy in the 
 Carnatic. 
 
 During this troublous period, however, of the Madras 
 mission, Mr. Swartz and his colleagues had quietly pursued 
 their accustomed labours at Tranquebar, giving shelter and 
 hospitality when needed to their afflicted brethren. 
 
 In the following year, 1760, an invitation reached Tran- 
 quebar, for some of the missionaries to visit Ceylon. The 
 Tamul language being spoken in the north of the island, 
 the mission had occasionally supplied copies of the Holy 
 Scriptures to the Dutch ministers in that country. At 
 last, an earnest desire was expressed that some of the mis- 
 sionaries would pay a visit to the island, for the purposes 
 of spiritual instruction ; and Mr. Swartz, with two of his 
 brethren, determined to comply with the request. On the 
 25th of April they left Tranquebar, and embarking at 
 Negapatam, reached Jaffnapatnam on the 30tb, where he 
 took up his abode with Captain de Dohren. 
 
 The two Dutch ministers, then residing at Jaffiiapat- 
 
GOES TO CEYLON. 69 
 
 nam, were native Tamiils. After addressing the Com- 
 pany's interpreter in the presence of many who were as- 
 sembled, on the characteristics of a true Christian, Mr. 
 Swartz explained in the evening to the two ministers, in 
 their native language, the great design of missions, the 
 duties of missionaries, their l)ehaviour towards the heathen, 
 and the best method of conducting schools. On the 2d of 
 May he preached to a Christian congregation from Luke, 
 xix. 10, " The Son of man is come to seek and to save that 
 which was lost." On the 10th, from John, xvi. 5, on the 
 Holy Spirit, and the grounds on which we may now hope 
 to become partakers of that inestimable gift. On the 5th 
 he visited the hospital with the physician, and addressed 
 both the sick and those in health, from the words of St. 
 John, i. 29, " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
 the sin of the world." The next day he set out for Co- 
 lombo, to request permission of the governor to administer 
 the holy sacrament at JafFuapatnam. This tedious journey 
 occupied twelve days, and he arrived at Colombo on the 
 18th, just as divine service was commencing. Li the after- 
 noon he was introduced to the Governor Schreuder, who 
 inquired into the design of his visit, and then very kindly 
 giving him his advice how best to proceed, opened a field 
 of usefulness far more extensive than he had anticipated. 
 The day following he devoted to a visit to the Dutch clergy- 
 men, conversing with them on the state of the mission 
 and the exertions of the Dutch, in behalf of the heathen, 
 in the island of Ceylon. On the 20th he dined with the 
 governor, to whom he related the most important occur- 
 rences at the several missionary stations, and the active 
 operations which were in progress, both amoug Christians 
 and heathen. From the 21st to the 26tli he was engaged 
 in preparing those who intended to receive the holy sacra- 
 ment. But about this time he was interrupted in the 
 midst of his pious labours by a severe illness, probably 
 brought on by his long and fatiguing journey in the hot 
 season, which contiinied during the whole month, but of 
 which it is to be regretted that no other record remains 
 than his thankful acknowledgment, whicli afterwards ap- 
 pears, of its beneficial efiiect upon his own mind. 
 
70 LIFE OF C. F, BWARTZ. 
 
 On recovering from this indisposition, on the 17th of 
 July, the anniversary of his arrival in India, ten years be- 
 fore, Swartz preached a sermon preparatory to the holy 
 communion, on Matthew, iii. 2, in which he dwelt much 
 on the nature of the motives to true repentance. The next 
 day, after a discourse on 1 Cor. xi. 28, in which he expa- 
 tiated on the happy effects of worthily approaching the 
 table of the Lord, the bread and cup of blessing were re- 
 ceived by four hundred persons, many of whom after- 
 wards acknowledged the powerful impression produced 
 on their minds by their participation in that sacred 
 ordinance. 
 
 On the following day Mr. Swartz received an invitation 
 to preach the word of God to the Christians at Point de 
 Galle, to which place he proceeded on the 2 2d, and arrived 
 on the 24th. Several members of the congregations met 
 him on the road with tears of joy. On the 26th he com- 
 menced preparatory instructions for the holy sacrament, 
 which he continued till the 30th, when he preached on 
 Luke, XV., explaining the nature of true conversion ; and 
 on the next day one hundred and twenty-six persons were 
 admitted to the holy communion, after he had exhorted 
 them, in many private conversations, to choose that narrow 
 way which leadeth unto life eternal. 
 
 On the 1st of August he left Point de Galle for Co- 
 lombo, where he again arrived on the 4th, after having 
 administered the sacrament at Caleture. The road to the 
 latter place, planted on both sides with cocoa-trees, he 
 described as particularly pleasant. Having now spent 
 more than three months in Ceylon, he commenced his re- 
 turn to Tranquebar. For this purpose he embarked on 
 board a Moorish vessel, much enjoying the fine view of 
 Colombo from the sea, and commending its inhabitants to 
 the Divine mercy. Towards evening, having lost sight of 
 land, the Mahomedan seamen requested him to relate to 
 them the history of Christ, with which he gladly complied, 
 calling their attention to the difference between the Christ- 
 ian and Mahomedan religion. They would not admit that 
 Mahomet was a false prophet, but behaved with great 
 mildness and modesty. 
 
AT JAFFNAPATNAM. 71 
 
 On tlie 29th of August he arrived at Jaffnapatnam, and 
 after preaching from Matt. xxvi. 26, he administered the 
 holy sacrament to thirty-nine persons. In the afternoon 
 he addressed the sick at the hospital, on Luke, xv. 2, " This 
 man receiveth sinners." He visited the hospital again on 
 the following day, and preached in the morning from 1 Cor. 
 xi. 23, when eleven persons received the holy communion. 
 In the afternoon he selected for his text the words of the 
 Psalmist, " Teach me to do thy will," Ps. csliii. 10, exhort- 
 ing his hearers to make this one of their chief prayers to 
 God. 
 
 Amongst others with whom he conversed at Jaffna, on 
 religion, a well-informed man, who was of a scientific turn 
 of mind, told him of the distress which his unbelief caused 
 him, mentioning several of the doubts which he entertained 
 on the subject of revelation. Mr. Swartz having dispelled 
 them, concluded his conversation with the following im- 
 portant admonition : — " It is very right to endeavour, by 
 sound reasoning and argument, to become convinced of 
 the truth of divine revelation : but this is not sufficient. 
 Tlie chief cause of your unbelief is your own perverse will 
 and inclination. Y^ou wish that the word of God may 
 prove untrue for no other reason than this, that you may 
 be allowed to live undisturbed in sin ; but I declare to 
 you, it is not enough that your understanding is convinced 
 of tlie truth — ^your heart and will must be changed. Tiirn, 
 therefore, with full purpose of heart, to the living God, and 
 endeavour to obtain grace and pardon, through the blood 
 of the atonement ; and watch and pray, and you will find 
 help. You must enter upon this most important business 
 with gi'cat zeal, and with a holy importunity." The gentle- 
 man, to whom this faithful appeal was addi-essed, appeared 
 to be deeply affected by it ; and, as one proof of its efficacy, 
 he immediately sent for a neighbour, with whom he had 
 lived at enmity, and reconciled himself to him. 
 
 On the fifth of September, prior to his departure, Mr. 
 Swartz went to Point Pedro for the purpose of seeing the 
 large tree, under which the celebrated Balda!us, who ac- 
 companied the Dutch expedition which took possession of 
 Ceylon, in the seventeenth century, addressed his first dis- 
 
72 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 course to the natives. He conversed with some Malabar 
 people whom he met on the spot, and preached the Gospel 
 to them. On his return, he again embarked on board his 
 vessel, impressed with gratitude to God for the help which 
 he had experienced in visiting and addressing so many 
 different congregations ; and after a short and pleasant 
 voyage, he arrived on the 9th of September in the port of 
 Negapatam, and concluded his journal of his visit to Ceylon 
 in the following modest terms : — " AVith a humble heart I 
 bless the name of the Lord for the grace, help, and pro- 
 tection, he has vouchsafed to me. INIay he pardon, for 
 Christ's sake, all my sins of omission and commission ; 
 and may a lasting blessing rest on all I have done and 
 spoken in my infirmity, agreeably to his word ! Amen." 
 
 To his friend Professor Francke, Swartz thus speaks of 
 this expedition : — 
 
 " May I never forget the good I have received at the 
 hands of God ; and may the remembrance of his great and 
 unmerited kindness strengthen me to do his will, and to 
 walk in the way of his commandments ! I know, indeed, 
 from experience, that after God has comforted the heart 
 with the assurance of his grace and pardoning love, there 
 will be also found readiness and strength faithfully to dis- 
 charge our general and relative duties. May a merciful 
 God glorify Christ in my soul, as my adorable Llediator 
 and Redeemer, that I may taste and see how gracious 
 he is ! 
 
 " I was much troubled, and even somewhat impeded in 
 the discharge of my duty, by a dry cough in January and 
 February last, which always greatly increased whenever I 
 attempted to remain for any leugth of time in the open 
 air, during the prevalence of northerly winds ; on which 
 account an opportunity of undertaking a voyage to Ceylon 
 was particularly welcome to me. AVhen I reflect how God 
 has condescended to humble and purify me by means of an 
 illness, with which I was visited at Colombo, I am con- 
 strained to praise him in silence. ' All the paths of the 
 Lord are mercy and truth/ even when it would seem as if 
 
AT CUDDALORE AND MADRAS. 73 
 
 he had visited us in anger, and contrary to the assurance 
 which his word contains. I have reason to think that the 
 seed of the word sown at Colombo has been productive, in 
 some instances, of real and lasting good. Tlie commanding 
 officer at Galle, a member of the Reformed Church, ap- 
 peared much affected, and said to the Lutherans, ' I sup- 
 pose you would be glad to receive a similar visit once 
 a-year.' And on my taking leave, he thanked me most 
 feelingly for the edification he had received, and begged me 
 to come agiiin. The word of God being so scarce in that 
 island, I assure you that the divine service was conducted 
 in a very solemn and edifying manner. Indeed, my inmost 
 soul was moved by it." 
 
 In 1761 Swartz undertook, with his friend Kohlhoff, a 
 journey to Cuddalore and Madras. Meeting some fisher- 
 men on their way they exhorted them to turn to the living 
 God, through Jesus Christ. One of them replied, " You 
 are not in want, and are therefore not prevented from 
 serving God." The missionaries pointed to the sea, as to 
 an inexhaustible treasury, from which they might every 
 day derive enough to satisfy their own wants, as well as 
 those of many others. In Wanagiri, a Brahmin and some 
 natives that were with him inquired from whence they 
 came. " We replied," says Mr. Swartz, " from Tranquebar, 
 for the purpose of addressing to you the tidings of salva- 
 tion." " We have no time," said they, " to hear you, as we 
 are going to the magistrate." Being, however, prevailed 
 upon to listen for a few moments, the missionary told 
 them that the Lord of heaven called them to enjoy bliss 
 and happiness in another world. " What would you have 
 us to do ?" was the reply. " We earnestly exhort you," he 
 said, " to repentance towards God, and faith in Jesus 
 Christ." They observed, "We do worship God, and he 
 being omnipresent, we may as well worship him under the 
 form of a stone." The missionary replied that there was 
 no likeness of the living God, either in heaven above or 
 in the earth beneath ; and, therefore, that it was dishon- 
 ouring him to worship him in the form of any thing 
 corruptible. 
 
74 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Near a river the two travellers met with a Mahomedan 
 chief, and some of his people entered into conversation 
 with them. Mr. Swartz observed, that all men were 
 strangers and pilgrims on the earth, who should desire a 
 better, even a heavenly country, which it was impossible to 
 reach by any works or merits of their own, but only by 
 faith in Jesus Christ. They listened with great atten- 
 tion, and as often as the name of Jesus was mentioned, 
 the chief added that of Messiah. On parting he requested 
 the friendship of the missionaries, and wished them 
 prosperity. 
 
 On the 30th of January Mr. Swartz and his companion 
 arrived at the mission-house in Cuddalore, admiring the 
 goodness of God, by which the town was preserved during 
 the tumults of the late war. Having stayed a day or two 
 and preached there they pursued their journey ; and near 
 Pondicherry a native Roman Catholic, v/ith his wife, joined 
 them, to whom they pointed out the happiness to be de- 
 rived from the pure Gospel of Christ. At Pondicherry 
 they were kindly received by a French inhabitant, who 
 related to them the great distress they had suffered during 
 the late siege of that place. To a young Brahmin whom 
 they met near Mareikanam, carrying a bench on which the 
 idol Pamen is usually placed, and who accompanied them 
 as far as the river Kartiel, Swartz related the history of the 
 creation, and fall of man, and the redemption by Jesus 
 Christ, and testified against the deplorable practice of idol 
 worship. 
 
 On the evening of the Gth they reached Sadras, where 
 they were received in a very friendly manner by the Dutch 
 commander of the fort, and distributed some German 
 tracts among the soldiers ; and on the 8th they arrived at 
 Vepery, from which their brethren had been compelled to 
 retreat two years before. They visited the various in- 
 stitutions at this station, conversed with some Mahome- 
 dans, and exhorted the native Tamul Christians to walk 
 worthy of the Gospel. On the 10th a conference of the 
 missionary brethren was held, at which the native assist- 
 ants were present. On the 15th Mr. Swartz preached in 
 Tamul, from Luke, xxii. 39-46. He was detained at Vepery 
 
A RETROSPECT. 75 
 
 till the 10th of March, by a contusion which he had re- 
 ceived at Scxdras, and which had brought on inflammation ; 
 but on the 18tli he returned safely to Tranquebar, where 
 he continued during the remainder of the year actively 
 engaged in the ordinary labours of the mission. 
 
 The year was closed by the following beautiful retro- 
 spect in a letter to a friend : — 
 
 " With respect to my present circumstances, I feel con- 
 strained to bless God for the manifold mercies showered 
 down in the past year upon me, the least of his servants, 
 through Christ's atonement and intercession. He has sup- 
 ported me day by day in the most gracious manner ; he 
 has instructed and reproved me by his Spirit ; he has 
 never left me without consolation — therefore my soul doth 
 magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my 
 Saviour. Indeed, I have the greatest cause for gratitude ; 
 for the Lord has regarded the low estate of his servant. 
 ]My joy is not extravagant, but calm and abiding, and my 
 great aim is to know that I am the Lord's, through Christ, 
 that I have found grace in his sight, that his peace rests 
 upon me, that I can confidently approach him in prayer, 
 and have a certain hope of eternal life ; so that even days 
 of sickness cannot deprive me of these consolations. 
 
 " Many of the Koman Catholics in this place acknow- 
 ledge the superior advantages which the pure Gospel has 
 over the confused doctrines and traditions of men ; which, 
 instead of relieving, only oppress the conscience. When I 
 visit them in their houses they listen to me gladly, and I 
 affectionately invite them to convince themselves of the 
 full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfac- 
 tion, made by Christ for the sins of the whole world, as 
 the foundation of their faith ; and that believing this, they 
 may enjoy peace of conscience, and become partakers of 
 the precious blessings obtained for them by his sufferings 
 and death upon the cross. I point out to them what Jesus 
 Christ himself has taught respecting the way which leadeth 
 unto life, and how much the Romish Churcli has deviated 
 from the pure doctrine of the Gospel. Father, let thy 
 
76 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 kingdom come ! Oh, send forth faithful labourers into thy 
 harvest ! " 
 
 In the year 1762 he was led to visit Tanjore and 
 Trichinopoly, in both which places, accompanied by an- 
 other missionary, he was able to preach the Gospel both 
 to converts and to the heathen. At Tanjore he was per- 
 mitted to explain the doctrines of the Gospel, not only in 
 the city, but even in the rajah's palace, where he took occa- 
 sion, from questions which the officers of the court asked 
 him concerning worldly affairs, to turn the conversation to 
 religious subjects. The rajah was present, and heard him, 
 but was not visible. 
 
 At Trichinopoly, where he remained till July, he was 
 treated with great kindness by the English ; and with the 
 assistance of Major Preston and Mr. Newton a room was 
 built for the purpose of divine worship, and as a school for 
 children. In September, on his return from Tanjore, he 
 baptized several Hindoo converts, and received some 
 Roman Catholics into the congregation, after having pre- 
 viously instructed them in the Protestant faith. 
 
 Though Tranquebar continued for some time to be 
 nominally the place of his residence, Trichinoj^oly and 
 Tanjore began from this period to be the chief objects of 
 his attention, as they were ultimately the principal sphere 
 of his missionary labours. The former of these two cities 
 contained at this period from twenty to thirty thousand 
 inhabitants, several handsome mosques, and a palace and 
 gardens of the nabob, and is celebrated for its stupendous 
 rock of granite, rising within the fort to the height of four 
 hundred and fifty feet, and commanding from that emi- 
 nence an extensive view of the surrounding country. In 
 one direction, the island of Seringham, encircled by the 
 diverging branches of the fertilising Cavery, and con- 
 spicuous from its gigantic pyramids, and vast and venerated 
 pagoda, forms a rich and magnificent object ; while the 
 whole scene is scarcely less memorable as the principal 
 seat of the struggle between the French and English, which 
 has been already adverted to, for the empire of India, and 
 the signal triumphs of British talents and valour. Such 
 
VISITS TANJORE AND TRICHINOPOLY. 77 
 
 was the spot -whicli was about to be rendered doubly in- 
 teresting by the Christian labours of Swartz. 
 
 " On my return to Trichinopoly," he observes in his 
 journal, " early in the year 1763, I found that the powder- 
 magazine had blown up. Among other Europeans who 
 lost their lives on this occasion were three very pious men, 
 by whose society and conversation I had often been re- 
 freshed." With reference to this calamitous event, he 
 addressed a small congregation of Germans from the ad- 
 monition of our Lord on the fciU of the tower in Si loam 
 (Luke, xiii. 4). the number of those who perished having 
 been in each case the same. " This event," he adds, " pro- 
 duced a beneficial change in the sentiments and conduct of 
 many of the inhabitants." Mr, Swartz made a collection 
 in behalf of the children of those who had suffered by this 
 melancholy catastrophe, which amounted to three hundred 
 and thirty pagodas. This sum he applied to the establish- 
 ment of an English orphan- school, and the necessary books 
 were obtained from Madras and Calcutta. 
 
 In the same journal he mentions, that after preaching 
 from Gal. iii. 23, on the different effects produced by tlie 
 dispensation of the law and that of the Gospel, he ad- 
 ministered the sacrament to thirteen individuals, among 
 whom was a family which some months before had at- 
 tached itself to his congregation from the Eoman Catholic 
 Church, the members of which, as they increased in the 
 knowledge of divine truth, exerted themselves in communi- 
 cating it to others of their acquaintance. During the fol- 
 lowing month he was engaged in preparing several native 
 converts for baptism, in teaching the children of Europeans 
 to read, and instructing them in the Christian religion. 
 He visited the sick in the hospital, and devoted his 
 evenings to friendly conversation with heathens and Roman 
 Catholics, who frequently collected round him in great 
 numbers, listening with pleasure to his instructions. 
 
 While he was one day reading an English tract, on the 
 fifteenth chapter of St. Luke, under a shady tree, an old 
 Hindoo, who had often entreated him not to trouble him 
 with his Christian tenets, approached him, in company with 
 several others, and begged to know what he was reading. 
 
78 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Mr. Swartz told him that it was a narrative of the truly 
 paternal conduct of God towards us, and of our refusal to 
 render due obedience to his kind and gentle government ; 
 thus abusing his mercies, and bringing upon ourselves 
 distress and misery. Notwithstanding this, there was, he 
 said, a way opened, by which we might return to our justly 
 offended Maker, and become partakers of his grace and 
 benediction. The old man being pleased with this parable, 
 Swartz proceeded to relate to him that of the sower, telling 
 him why the seed did not everywhere bring forth good 
 fruit. He comprehended this also perfectly, and asked 
 whether God is not omnipresent. " Yes," Swartz replied ; 
 " he sees every thing that passes on earth, whether it be 
 good or evil ; but his omnipresence is formidable to the 
 wicked." The Hindoo said, " In my heart, inwardly, I 
 worship God." " If that is the case," rejoined Mr. Swartz, 
 "your outward conduct must prove the reverence which 
 you profess to entertain in your heart towards the Al- 
 mighty. What would you think of a man who reproached 
 and even struck you, while he pretended that he had 
 cordial love for you in his heart 1 " The Hindoo confessed 
 that he could not value such love. " jSTeither," he con- 
 cluded, " can God accept the homage which you profess to 
 feel inwardly for him, while in your words and conduct 
 you deny and dishonour him." 
 
 It was during this visit to Trichinopoly that Mr. Swartz 
 became known to Mahommed Ali, nabob of the Carnatic. 
 He was walking in his highness's garden, when the Ma- 
 homedan prince himself happened to enter it, and, sitting 
 down near a piece of water, he desired him to approach, 
 and offered him some refreshment, which, however, he 
 declined. A few days afterwards, on seeing him again, the 
 nabob accosted and conversed with him in a very friendly 
 manner. His chief minister always behaved with much 
 kindness to the missionary, and often said, " You have no 
 regard for me ; for you seldom come to my house." Mr. 
 Swartz had much conversation with this Mahomtdan ; who, 
 when he found himself closely pressed, and appeared much 
 affected, always broke off the visit abruptly. 
 
 About this time a festival of a Hindoo goddess was 
 
AT CAROOR. 79 
 
 celebrated by the natives, in the immediate neighbourliood 
 of the fortress, which was accompanied with much noise 
 and many strange ceremonies. The moment Swartz ap- 
 proached, they became silent. He availed himself of this 
 interval to direct their attention to the true God, who had 
 created and preserved them, and to whom alone those 
 divine honours and that adoration were due, which they 
 were now paying to a woman, who neither had nor could 
 have done the things which they attributed to her. They 
 listened to his admonition ; but when he left them, re- 
 commenced their idolatrous ceremonies. 
 
 On the 4th of May, in this year, Mr. Sw;artz went to 
 Caroor, twelye miles west from Trichinopoly, for the pur- 
 pose of instructing some Hindoos of high rank in the 
 Christian religion. "They listened," he observes, "with 
 great attention to all that I told them of the supreme 
 excellence of the true God, and of the redemption of man- 
 kind from their fallen state, by his Son Jesus Christ. The 
 next day I assembled a number of the natives under a tree, 
 and explained to them the Christian doctrine. They felt 
 how vain and irrational it was to worship their numerous 
 deities, and fully approved the doctrine of one God, the 
 Creator of heaven and earth. I also visited a Brahmin, 
 who was considered the richest inhabitant of the place, 
 who allowed me, without interruption, to expose the folly 
 of idolatry, and then said, ' I also worship God.' We were 
 interrui)ted by the arrival of a Hindoo, who fell on his face 
 before him. The Brahmin took some ashes, which he 
 spread over the poor man. I told him how wrong he acted 
 in accepting honours which were due to God alone. En- 
 raged at this reproof, he exclaimed, ' Prove that there is 
 only one God !' This I did by directing his attention to 
 the great works of creation. He dismissed me by saying, 
 ' In the same way that we bow before the body of a man, 
 and yet mean to pay respect to his soul, we bow before 
 images, and intend to worship God,' — a plausible excuse, 
 which has been urged in favour of idolatry in all ages, but 
 which is at once derogatory from the majesty of the 
 Supreme Being, and destructive of all true and acceptable 
 worship. 
 
so LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " Among the Europeans at this place, there were some," 
 says Mr. Swartz, " who were very desirous of instruction ; 
 I, therefore, solicited the commanding officer to allow 
 prayers and a sermon to be read to the soldiers every 
 Sunday. To this he willingly consented, requesting me to 
 make a beginning. I gladly complied, and he publicly re- 
 peated his promise, that he would have divine service 
 regularly performed." Swartz was evidently an admirer of 
 fine natural scenery, and observes of that part of the coun- 
 try, and particularly near the river, that it was rich and 
 beautiful, everywhere well watered, even as the garden of 
 the Lord. The neighbouring hills afforded a delightful 
 prospect, and most of their summits were surmounted by 
 a pagoda. 
 
 On his return to Trichinopoly on the 15th, he met a 
 Roman Catholic monk clothed in a yellow habit, similar to 
 those worn by the Pagan priests, attended by a man who 
 carried his golden fan, as well as by a drummer and fifer. 
 He had a long conversation with him on the doctrines of 
 Christianity, to which the Roman Catholic assented, but 
 paid no further regard to his observations. 
 
 In the course of this month an infectious fever carried 
 off many people, but the pious missionary was mercifully 
 preserved. The Hindoos employed idolatrous incantations 
 for the cure of the sick ; but he earnestly admonished them 
 to apply for help to that Omnipotent Being, who is alone 
 able to deliver, and who designed, he said, by such dispen- 
 sations, to draw them to himself. 
 
 The only notice which occurs of his proceedings during 
 the interval which elapsed from this period to the time of 
 his removal from Tranquebar, appears in the Report of the 
 Society for promoting Christian Knowledge for the year 
 1766. In an extract from a letter of INIr. Hutteman it is 
 stated, that Mr. Swartz " had been of infinite service to the 
 English army during the bloody siege of Madura." The 
 event thus referred to, was occasioned by the attempt of 
 the unfortunate Mahomed Issoof to establish his inde- 
 pendence in that district. He had been in the Company's 
 service as commandant of the English Sepoys at Trichi- 
 nopoly, and had been vigorously employed, from the relief 
 
AT CAROOR. 81 
 
 of Madras to the fall of Pondi cherry, in reducing the re- 
 fractory Polygars, and other local chiefs in the south of the 
 peninsula. Having proposed to become responsible for 
 the revenue of that part of the country, which, not being 
 as yet in a state of tranquillity and order, was in reality 
 unproductive, and failing in the payment of the stipulated 
 sum, the nabob of the Carnatic and the Madras govern- 
 ment proceeded to enforce their claims ; and for this pur- 
 pose, in the month of August 1763, a combined army of 
 natives and British troops marched to Madura. Llahomed 
 Issoof endeavoured by negociation, and by the influence of 
 his friends among the English, to ward off the blow ; but 
 finding these efforts unavailing, he resolved on hazarding a 
 struggle in his own defence. Brave and enterprising as he 
 was, his subjugation was by no means easy. He success- 
 fully resisted several assaults on the fort, in one of which 
 Major Preston, the commander of the English troops, whom 
 Mahomed had intimately known, and who had assisted 
 Swartz on his first visit to Trichinopoly, unhappily fell in 
 the breach. After honourably restoring the dead body of 
 his former military friend to the British camp, and baffling 
 all the efforts of the besieging army till the month of 
 October, 1764, Mahomed Issoof was betrayed by one of his 
 own people into the hands of his enemies, and ]\[adura 
 surrendered to the combined forces. 
 
 It was during this destructive siege that Swartz is re- 
 ported to have been signally useful to the English army. 
 The precise nature of his services is not stated ; but, judg- 
 ing from his subsequent conduct, it is probable that they 
 were not confined to his pious attendance on the sick and 
 wounded, but extended to some substantial benefits, which 
 his growing influence among the natives might have en- 
 abled him to render in facilitating the supplies of the army 
 in a desolated country during a long and protracted contest. 
 
 It was in the year 1766 that the Society for Promoting 
 Christian Knowledge, anxious to extend their influence in 
 India, resolved, in consequence of representations from 
 Tranquebar, on establishing a mission at Trichinopoly. 
 The frequent visits of Swartz to that city, and the favour- 
 able manner in which his labours had been received, en- 
 
 G 
 
82 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 couraged the proposal of a settlement there, and, inde- 
 pendently of his eminent qualifications for usefulness, evi- 
 dently pointed him out as the most eligible person to be 
 placed in that important station. Deeply as bis brethren 
 at Tranquebar regretted the removal of so able and ex- 
 cellent a colleague, they readily acquiesced in this arrange- 
 ment, which was also sanctioned by the approbation of the 
 Koyal Mission College at Copenhagen. He accordingly 
 quitted Tranquebar, and fixed his residence at Trichinopoly. 
 Towards the close of the same year, the Rev. Christian 
 William Gericke, who had been recommended to the So- 
 ciety by Professor Francke, and who afterwards proved so 
 faithful and zealous a fellow-labourer, arrived in India as 
 an associate with Mr. Hutteman at Cuddalore. 
 
 An early communication from Swartz to the Venerable 
 Society, with which he was connected, acknowledges " the 
 goodness of God to the poor Hindoos in directing their 
 hearts to establish a mission at Trichinopoly," and ex- 
 presses "his particular obligations to them for choosing 
 him as their missionary ; the duty of which ofiice he 
 humbly hoped God would enable him to perform to the 
 honour of his holy name." 
 
AT TRICHINOPOLT. 83 
 
 III. 
 
 SWARTZ AT TrICHINOPOLY — HiS VISITS TO TaNJORE — 
 
 Takes up his Residence at that place. 
 
 A.D. 176&-1778. 
 
 Swartz, then, is now at Trichinopoly, in which place he 
 remained for about twelve years. A rapid outline of his 
 labours and mode of life in that place we have already 
 given at pages 47-49. Mr. Chambers there states, that the 
 influence of the missionary on the garrison was such, that 
 they resolved to raise for themselves a church. His friend 
 Col. Wood, at that time commandant of the fort, gave his 
 powerful aid, and in a short time a building capable of 
 holding from 1500 to 2000 persons was completed. It was 
 dedicated to God on the 18th of May, 1766, in a special 
 service. A few passages from Swartz's prayer on that 
 occasion may here be given : — 
 
 "Be merciful unto us, God, and hear our prayer, 
 that we make before thee in this place. As often as we, 
 from henceforth, shall assemble here, let thy Spirit awaken 
 our hearts to seek thy face sincerely, without hypocrisy. 
 As often as we shall hear thy word, let us do it with an 
 unfeigned intention to obey and keep it without exception. 
 As often as thy sacraments, which are holy means of 
 entering into a covenant of love and obedience, are ad- 
 ministered in this house, oh, be pleased to make them 
 eflfectual to the salvation of our souls. And, finally, when 
 strangers, who do not know thy name, hear of all the 
 glorious doctrines and methods of worshipping thee 
 preached in this house ; incline, — oh, mercifully incline, 
 their hearts to renounce their abominable idolatiy, and to 
 worship thee, God, in the name of Christ ! 
 
84 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " In this manner make this a place where thy name is 
 glorified, thy kingdom sought for, and thy will duly per- 
 formed. 
 
 " Bless all those who have forwarded the building of 
 this house, by kind advices, or charitable contributions. 
 Remember them in mercy, during the days of their life, 
 and particularly at the hour of their death. Let them see, 
 at the day of judgment, that their charity has been service- 
 able to the benefit of many souls. 
 
 " Frustrate all the machinations of the devil against 
 this house ; preserve it from all dangerous accidents ; and 
 let it long be, what we from henceforth humbly shall call 
 it, Christ's Church. 
 
 " Hear these our supplications, Father of mercies, 
 for the sake of our Mediator, and to the glory of thy 
 name ! " 
 
 Having completed the church, Swartz next proceeded 
 to raise a mission-house, with suitable offices ; and an 
 English and Tamul school. To these works he cheerfully 
 devoted the stipend of 100^. per annum, consigned to him 
 by the government of Madras, as chaplain to the garrison. 
 When these necessary buildings were completed, he pro- 
 posed to the Society in London to apply in future one half 
 of this stipend to his own use, and the other half to the 
 assistance of the poor of his congregation. 
 
 Some temporary pressure on the mission of Tranque- 
 bar, in consequence of the loss of two of the senior mis- 
 sionaries, made Swartz for a time desire to give up his new 
 post, and return to that settlement. He stated this wish 
 to his friends in London and at Copenhagen ; but, as Pro- 
 fessor Francke had just nominated two new labourers for 
 that post, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge 
 left the ultimate decision to Swartz himself, who, after re- 
 viewing the whole case, decided on remaining at Trichin- 
 opoly. 
 
 In 1768 he paid a visit to Tranquebar, taking the op- 
 portunity to visit and address the little congregations of 
 Christians which he could find in the towns and villages 
 through which he passed. On the fourth day he reached 
 
AT TRICHIXOPOLY. 85 
 
 the mission, and found his brethren well. Here he re- 
 mained ten days, preaching frequently in German, Tamul 
 and Portuguese, and taking part in conferences and re- 
 ligious meetings. Taking leave of them, he records -in his 
 journal his pious aspirations : " Oh, that this place, which 
 has been richly favoured and visited of God with the pure 
 revelation of the blessed Gospel, may become full of light 
 and power, so that the whole country may become en- 
 lightened ! May God, according to the riches of his grace, 
 bless all who plant and water in this place ; and especially 
 may he cause the children in the schools to grow up in his 
 fear and favour, that many of them may be transplanted to 
 the conversion of the country ! " 
 
 On his return to Trichinopoly he noticed near Kuttalam 
 a magnificent banian-tree, the girth of which measured 
 seventy paces, and the widely-spreading branches of which 
 afibrded a delicious shade. Here he visited the merchants 
 at their booths, and discoursed to them on God, the 
 Supreme Being, on the fall, the Redeemer of men, and the 
 way of salvation. They replied, " It is so written, but who 
 can live thus ? Who is able thus to eradicate his desires ? 
 We have it also on the palm-leaves, but it is impossible to 
 keep it." To this plausible and common objection, even 
 among professed Christians, Swartz answered by pointing 
 out the source from which strength may be derived. 
 
 At Adutura, one of the catechists who accompanied 
 him assembled a little group of Christians. " We sat 
 down," he says, " under a tree. Many heathens, among 
 whom were several Brahmins, listened at the conclusion to 
 what was addressed to the Christians in the catechetical 
 form, relative to the method of salvation ; that is," as he 
 inv^ariably and most justly represented it, " by true re- 
 pentance, faith in the divine Saviour Jesus Christ, and 
 godliness springing from a true faith. Not a single heathen 
 made the least disturbance ; they listened in silence. 
 Afterwards I addressed them separately, and exhorted 
 them to receive the saving doctrine of the Gospel." 
 
 At Combaconum, where, he observes, there are about 
 two hundred pagodas, the people were preparing for the 
 monthly feast before the great temple. His spirit was 
 
86 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 much moved on beholding their idolatry, and he earnestly 
 appealed to them on the sin and folly of a superstition by 
 which they could not but acknowledge that they were 
 neither enlightened, strengthened, nor comforted. In this 
 place, he says, " We talked ourselves quite weary with 
 various heathen. When the catechist," Saedtinaicken, 
 " read to them our Lord's warning against ' false prophets,' 
 and said something in explanation, a Brahmin declared 
 before all present, ' It is the lust of the eyes and of pleasure 
 that prevents us from embracing the truth.' Many bore 
 testimony that this was true." Upon this honest, but 
 humiliating confession, Swartz justly observes, "St. Paul 
 enumerates idolatry among ' the works of the flesh,' and 
 corrupt nature does, indeed, derive support from it in more 
 ways than one. If it were only an error of the under- 
 standing, the greater number of heathens -would already 
 have forsaken it ; but being a work of the flesh, and 
 Christianity requiring its crucifixion, they stop there. 
 May Divine power rescue them from it, through Jesus 
 Christ!" 
 
 At Ayenpottah, where he had many conversations with 
 Mahomedans and heathens, his friend. Captain Berg, met 
 and accompanied him to Tanjore. Here, he says, "my 
 chief occupation was with our Christians, though I con- 
 versed also with Roman Catholics and others. To the 
 Protestant congregations I explained and applied the meri- 
 torious sufferings of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel 
 of St. Mark, and the unspeakable blessing which we derive 
 from them ; stirring ourselves up to true repentance, faith 
 in this Saviour, gratitude, and love. Never, Lord Jesus, 
 may it be effaced from my mind how much it cost thee to 
 redeem me ! " 
 
 At this period hostilities were carried on for nearly two 
 years between Hyder Ali and the English. Swartz was 
 much occupied in visiting the sick and wounded, who 
 were sent from the English camp to Trichinopoly. " An 
 officer," he writes, " who had previously discovered a great 
 inclination to religion, and had intreated me to instruct 
 him catechetically, just as I would an ignorant heathen, 
 in which we had made a beginning, but were interrupted 
 
AN ENGLISH OFFICER. 87 
 
 by tbe war, was brought in mortally wounded. He ex- 
 pressed a great desire for instruction. I accordingly visited 
 him daily, and explained to him the chief points in prac- 
 tical Christianity. After a few days he appeared to be 
 something better. He could occasionally take the fresh air, 
 and his appetite returned. Under these circumst;xnces, 
 he gradually yielded to indifference as to religion. He 
 listened, indeed, but not with real earnestness. At length 
 I said to him, ' I see you are quite indifferent. I fear 
 you are deceiving yourself. Your wound is as mortal now 
 as it was fourteen days ago. When you perceive that you 
 are drawing near to your end, you will be terrified to think 
 that you have been so foolish as to allow worldly men to 
 draw you off from the chief concern.' He replied, ' It is 
 true : they have flattered me with the hope that I should 
 recover ; but it is not so. I know that my wound is mor- 
 tal.' After this he became more earnest in prayer and 
 meditation on the word of God. Before his death I visited 
 him, prayed with him, and exhorted him to commit him- 
 self in faith into the hands of his merciful Saviour. Speak- 
 ing was painful to him ; 3'et he said, he hoped to obtain 
 mercy ; and thus he departed, amid the exhortations and 
 prayers of those around him." 
 
 Another painfully interesting case of a similar nature 
 occurred shortly afterwards. " A young English officer 
 arrived from the camp in a very weak state, having been 
 already an invalid for some time from a rapid consump- 
 tion. Having known his previous character, at his father's 
 request I visited him daily — often, indeed, twice a-day; 
 led him to the knowledge of his sins, and especially to the 
 crucified Saviour, and earnestly besought him to take 
 thought for the salvation of his immortal soul. He now 
 acknowledged what it is to forsake the fountain of living 
 water, and to be immersed in the lusts of the flesh, by 
 which both body and soul are ruined. He prayed and 
 wept. The wretchedness of many young people here is 
 difficult to be described. Of such, how many are in a 
 short space removed into eternity ! They arrive in this 
 country, to make, as it is called, their fortunes, and usually 
 
88 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 go down to the grave under circumstances sorrowful in- 
 deed." 
 
 The journals of Swartz frequently record, from time 
 to time, various conversations with the natives and the 
 Brahmins, some passages from which will prove interesting 
 and instructive. 
 
 At Ureiur, a village near the fort, where his instruc- 
 tions appear to have been so well received that he was 
 induced to build a small cottage, thatched with the leaves 
 of the palmyra-tree, to which he might occasionally resort, 
 for the purpose of more frequent and unrestrained inter- 
 course with the natives, Swartz one day inquired of some 
 Brahmins what they believed and taught. " The eldest 
 replied, 'We teach that God is omnipresent, and is to 
 be found in every thing.' ' It is true,' I said ; ' God is 
 present everywhere, and to every one of his creatures ; 
 but it does not follow from this that you are to adore 
 and worship every creature. If you regard the heaven, 
 earth, sun, or moon, as evidences of the power, goodness, 
 and wisdom of God, and as teachers that lead to the 
 Creator, you do well : but if you invoke the creature, 
 you ascribe to it the glory which is due to God alone, and 
 fall into idolatry. Besides, the creature is not a perfect, 
 but only a frail image of the Almighty. Can an idol, which 
 is unable to see, speak, or move, adequately set forth to 
 you the majesty, greatness, wisdom, and goodness of the 
 living God 'I ' They acknowledged that it could not. I 
 next demanded of a Brahmin whether he did not perceive 
 that the world was full of sin, and that we should aU be 
 found guilty ; and I asked how we might obtain forgiveness ? 
 He answered, ' Through the mercy of God.' ' You say right,' 
 I resumed ; ' but you know that God is righteous, and 
 punishes the wicked ; how then can a just God be gracious 
 to such sinful creatures, so as fully to pardon us, and to 
 make us blessed?' Upon this I explained to them the 
 doctrine of redemption through Jesus Christ, and ear- 
 nestly exhorted them to embrace it." 
 
 " In one of the pagodas," he writes, " at Puttur, resides 
 a learned Pandaram, who is generally friendly, and does 
 
THE NABOB S SON. 89 
 
 not seem entirely to reject instruction. We both seated 
 ourselves on a bank of earth, near a street. This brought 
 together a concourse of inhabitants. The Pandaram said, 
 ' My chief question to you again and again has been this, 
 How shall I arrive at the knowledge of God, whom I can- 
 not see 1 ' I replied, ' It has often been stated to you, that 
 heaven and earth declare the glory of God. Reflect, then, 
 attentively on the creation, and you will soon be convinced 
 that no other than an almighty, all-wise, and all-gracious 
 Being, produced it. This Creator we ought, in justice, to 
 reverence and adore ; but you render this honour to the 
 creature, and not to the Creator.' ' This,' said he, ' is all 
 good, but it does not satisfy me ; this knowledge is not of 
 the kind I seek.' ' AVell,' I said, ' do you desire to have a 
 clearer and more perfect knowledge ? God has in great 
 goodness afforded it. He has taken compassion on igno- 
 rant man, and given freely to him his word, or true law ; 
 wherein he has revealed all the doctrines which are neces- 
 sary to the attainment of everlasting happiness. He has 
 made known to men, rebellious, corrupt, and lost, the 
 Saviour of the world, as the restorer of forfeited blessed- 
 ness, and the way in which that salvation is to be attained. 
 In short, all that can make us holy and happy, is in this 
 word of God made known to mankind. Read and medi- 
 tate upon it, with prayer to God ; so will it become clear 
 to you. Compare it also with your heathen instruction, 
 and the superiority of the divine word will soon be dis- 
 cerned.' ' Still,' said he, ' this is not enough ; for even if 
 I read this, I cannot rightly conceive the idea of what God 
 is.' * Well,' I replied, ' one thing is wanting to you ; 
 namely, experience. Lay your heathenism aside ; follow 
 the word of God in every point ; and pray to him for 
 light and power. Then I may assure you that you will say, 
 Now I am like one who could not, from any description, 
 understand the nature of honey, but now I have tasted it, 
 and know what honey really is.' " 
 
 On the 7th of August he thus writes : — 
 
 " The nabob's second son, who is a genuine disciple of 
 
90 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Mahomed, that is, indined to cruelty, watches narrowly 
 the lives of Europeans ; and if he remarks anything wrong, 
 he generally gives it a malicious construction, as if the 
 Mahomedan doctrine rendered people better than the 
 Christian, This young man, observing some Europeans, 
 entered into conversation with them. I was the inter- 
 preter. 'It seems remarkable,' said he, 'to me, that 
 Christians are so inclined to card-playing, dancing, and 
 similar amusements, which are contrary to the true law.' 
 One of them answered, ' We think it no sin, but an innocent 
 pastime.' ' Indeed,' said he, ' it is singular that you do 
 not consider it sin to spend your time in such amuse- 
 ments, when even the heathen themselves declare it to be 
 sinful. It is certainly wrong to pursue such things, 
 though you are of opinion that there is nothing sinful in 
 them. You,' he continued, addressing one of the party, 
 * are a cashier ; if you do not know the value of money, 
 you inquire and inform yourself on the subject ; why, then, 
 do you not examine into these things ? — the omitting such 
 examination is a sin also. Nay, if you do not know whe- 
 ther it be right or wrong, and yet continue to play, that is 
 still a greater sin. I am sure Padre Swartz would tell you 
 at once that it is sinful, if you would but receive it.' The 
 cashier replied, ' It is better to play a little, than to absorb 
 all one's thoughts on money.' But the young nabob an- 
 swered him very discreetly on this point, that we are not 
 to justify one sin by another. 
 
 '' So artful is he, that he will accost and converse with 
 an European during divine service, and afterwards observe, 
 ' If the man had the least reverence for the worship of God, 
 he would not have allowed himself to be interrupted.' 
 
 " On the 15th of this month," continues Mr. Swartz, 
 " in the morning I had a conversation with him. He first 
 asked, how God was to be served, and how we should pray 
 to him : and censured us for not washing our hands, and 
 taking off our shoes, before pra3^er. I answered that this 
 was merely a bodily, outward act, which was of no value 
 in the sight of God — that his word requires pure hearts, 
 which abhor all and every sin, and approach him in humi- 
 lity and faith — we could then be assured that our prayer 
 
HIS USEFULNESS. 91 
 
 was acceptable to him. One of those present asked, 'From 
 what must the heart be cleansed V 1 replied, ' From self- 
 love, from fleshly and worldly lusts ; which constitute, 
 according to the first commandment, the real inward 
 nature of idolatry.' The nabob's son said, ' This inward 
 cleansing is very good ; but the outward is also necessary, 
 and God is pleased with it, even though the inward cleansing 
 be not perfect.' I replied, 'Not so. You should rather 
 say, that God has pleasure in inward purity, though the 
 hands be not washed immediately before prayer.'" 
 
 At the close of another conversation about this time 
 with some of the poor heathen natives, in which he had 
 been endeavouring to convince them of the sin and folly 
 of their idolatry, and to persuade them to embrace the 
 blessed doctrines of the Gospel, he thus expresses the 
 genuine kindness of his heart, and aftbrds a beautiful 
 example of the tender earnestness with which the mis- 
 sionary should address them. " At length I said, as I 
 often do to them, ' Do not suppose that I reprove you out 
 of scorn ; no, you are my brethren ; we are by creation the 
 children of one common Father. It grieves us Christians, 
 that you have forsaken that almighty gracious Father, and 
 have turned to idols who cannot profit you. You know, 
 because you have often heard, that a day of judgment is 
 before us, when we must render up an account. Should 
 you persist in remaining enemies to God, and on that day 
 hear with dismay the sentence of condemnation, I fear you 
 will accuse us Christians of not warning you with sufficient 
 earnestness and fervour. Suffer yourselves, then, to be 
 persuaded, since you see that we want nothing of you, but 
 that you turn with us to God, and be happy.' They all 
 declared that they were convinced of our sincere intentions, 
 and that the}'- would speak further with us." 
 
 In October, in a letter to Dr. Francke, after expressing 
 his anxious wish for a second missionary, for the purpose 
 of more extensive usefulness, he writes as follows : — 
 
 " Though I should much prefer being at Tranquebar, 
 
92 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 for the enjoyment of the communion of faithful brethren, 
 yet, when I look on our congregations, I feel that my pre- 
 sence is more necessary here. The catechists require daily 
 superintendence and admonition to prevent them from re- 
 lapsing into indolence and disorder. The heathen, too, 
 though courteous to Europeans, are apt to behave un- 
 kindly to the poor catechists ; so that they need coun- 
 tenance and encouragement. With regard to myself, I 
 praise God, who has borne with my weakness, and pros- 
 pered my labours. During the whole of this year my 
 health has been good ; so that my work has been easier 
 to me than at any former period. Many heathens and 
 Catholics have been this year instructed, and received into 
 the congregation. Affliction, both from without and from 
 within, has not failed us ; but God has been our helper." 
 He then mentions that many Europeans, not only among 
 the soldiers of the garrison, but of the higher ranks, had 
 been powerfully awakened to a sense of religion. Among 
 others, he notices particularly one young man, who had 
 made a temporary visit to Trichinopoly, and who, though 
 virtuous and well disposed, knew but little of Christ, and 
 of the real value of the Gospel. " He visited me several 
 evenings," says Swartz, "and acknowledged that he was 
 stirred up to greater concern for his salvation. I testified 
 my joy, but observed that he was at present tnisting to 
 the sandy foundation of his own righteousness, from w^hich 
 he could derive neither rest nor power. He received all 
 that I said in good part, and began to read his New Tes- 
 tament better ; that is, with prayer. Soon afterwards, he 
 was invited to a gay party, but declined it, which had a 
 good effect on others. He soon learned how the Gospel 
 becomes saving, and communicates to man more power 
 unto salvation than any considerations derived merely 
 from the law. He went boldly forth ; and, when many 
 were displeased that a young man should speak so freely, 
 he gladly bore the cross : and his example has been made 
 a blessing to others." He concludes as follows : — 
 
 " In my previous letters I mentioned a Mahomedan, 
 who had formerly been employed in the highest offices. 
 This man understands Persian most thoroughly, and speaks 
 
STATE OF TANJORE. 93 
 
 it excellently. He often ^^sited me of an evening, and 
 gave me a complete idea of the Mahomedan doctrines and 
 discipline, and read to me the rarest books he possessed. 
 I thus learned to express myself in Persian, and to explain 
 the doctrines of Christianity. Some months ago, this poor 
 man was put under arrest, and confined to his own house, 
 where he still remains. The nabob's son, a bigoted Maho- 
 medan, said that he had offended his father, and on that 
 account he was imprisoned. Every one, however, believes 
 that it was in consequence of his having visited me, and 
 expressed himself in terms too favourable to Christianity. 
 God graciously help us for Christ's sake, and tread down 
 Satan under our feet ! The good Lord inwardly strengthen 
 you, and by the comfort flowing from the inestimable 
 mercy of reconciliation, animate you ; and may your old 
 age be truly blessed ! " 
 
 Writing, about this period, to the London Committee, 
 Swartz gives a lively though deplorable picture of the state 
 of the country, and of the injury done by the profligate 
 lives of the bulk of the European residents. He says : — 
 
 " Tlie king of Tanjore is, in the estimation of the igno- 
 rant, a prince who governs according to his despotic will ; 
 but he is, in fact, more a slave than a king. He seldom 
 goes out ; and often, when he purposes to do so, the 
 Brahmins tell him that it is not an auspicious day. This 
 is sufficient to confine him to the house. His children are 
 brought up in ignorance, — for why should a prince learn 
 much ? He need not be acquainted with writing and ac- 
 counts, — for has he not servants enough for this? The 
 number of his wives destroys all domestic peace. The first 
 whom he espouses is denominated his lawful wife. By de- 
 grees, however, as he takes more, jealousy among them 
 becomes a source of dangerous disquiet, and the love 
 which should subsist between brethren is banished. So 
 true it is, that when man departs from the ordinances of 
 God, he treads in a thorny path. 
 
 " A despotic ruler, being intent only on increasing or 
 preserving his power, entertains a distrust of all his minis- 
 
94 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 ters. He considers it expedient, therefore, often to humble 
 them. Though a minister possess his favour for years, he 
 sometimes falls at once. The king permits his house to 
 be plundered (this has often happened within my remem- 
 brance), and lays him under a domiciliary arrest. No one 
 must visit him, or speak to him. By degi-ees, this severity 
 is relaxed. The ex-minister, thus fallen into disgrace, 
 hunts after the failures of his successor, and endeavours 
 to involve him in the same ruin, and frequently is restored 
 to favour. 
 
 " The troops belonging to the Eajah of Tan j ore are 
 chiefly cavalry, — about six thousand, — and two thousand 
 foot. The cavalry are not furnished with horses, but each 
 soldier provides his own. He who can collect a hundred 
 horse, is appointed their captain. To these troops a dis- 
 trict is assigned, where they receive their pay from the 
 tenants. If they do not give what they demand, they 
 resort to force. 
 
 "The Tanjore country is, however, as a well- watered 
 garden. Notwithstanding all the oppression and injustice, 
 the inhabitants subsist tolerably well : it teems with 
 people. The land is divided into districts, and every 
 district is leased. The lessee is obliged to advance at 
 least the half of his rent ; and as he cannot in general do 
 this from his own resources, he borrows of the native mer- 
 chants or Europeans, and gives forty, or even more, per 
 cent. He borrows also what he requires for the support 
 of his family ; and all must be eventually extorted from 
 the poor inhabitants. It may with truth be averred, that 
 the poorer people enrich with their labour the idle and 
 the proud. A cultivator of land in Tanjore, commonly 
 gives sixty or seventy in the hundred. Supposing that he 
 has on his ground a hundred bushels of rice, the king (or 
 the lessee in his name) takes seventy : the remaining 
 thirty are retained by the inhabitant ; and with this he 
 has to pay his servants and support his family. Nay, if 
 the king need money, as in time of war, he seizes upon all. 
 I have myself witnessed the poor labourers contemplating 
 at a distance the blessing of God upon the fields, while the 
 king's people have reaped it all. Thus, the oppression 
 
STATE OP TANJORE. 95 
 
 being so great, they endeavour, by every possible means, 
 to defraud the king. They are accustomed to say, ' With- 
 out stealing, we cannot live.' Hence it may easily be con- 
 ceived what disposition to the maintenance of justice pre- 
 vails in this country. 
 
 " Under a frame of government so wretched, the educa- 
 tion of the young is miserably neglected. Few children 
 learn to read, write, and cast accounts ; and these are 
 almost exclusively boys. It is a most rare occurrence for 
 a father to afford his daughter the means of education. 
 When taught to read, it is from books in which the fabled 
 epiphanies of their gods, together with all their licentious 
 acts, are delineated. We cannot, they think, be better 
 than our gods ; they everywhere practised lying, impurity, 
 injustice, and revenge ; these cannot, therefore, be sinful. 
 Thus is the little which they know from reflecting on the 
 works of creation, greatly obscured. In the temples of 
 their deities, their most flagrant actions are described in 
 images and pictures, which sink the people in the depths 
 of vice and misery. The consequences of this devilish 
 instruction are clearly visible. Both body and soul are 
 destroyed. Thousands sensibly feel their errors. 
 
 " The children of the Brahmins are commonly better 
 educated. Besides the thousands attached to the idol 
 temples, many of them farm the land, hold offices under 
 the king, and act as clerks, overseers, and accountants. 
 The offspring of the Brahmins are in general clever, and 
 learn languages quickly, especially when they hope to turn 
 it to advantage. ]\fany English gentlemen engage Brahmins 
 to keep their books ; and hence a great number acquire 
 the English. Besides this, they learn the Persian, and are 
 employed by the nabob and others as interpreters. In 
 every lucrative situation we find a Brahmin. It is re- 
 markable, that within the narrow limits of Tanjore a hun- 
 dred thousand vigorous young Brahmins might, with very 
 little trouble, be collected. With the exception of their 
 daily ceremonies and ablutions, they do nothing : living in 
 voluptuousness and corrupting sloth. They possess the 
 best lajid, and give away little or nothing ; besides which, 
 
96 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 the numerous pagan festivals are eminently profitable to 
 them. I asked a wealthy Brahmin whether they imparted 
 to the poor a portion of their great revenues. He replied, 
 * No : the people give to us and the pagodas ; but we con- 
 tribute nothing.' What is asserted, therefore, in one of 
 Mr. Holwell's books, as to the beneficence of the Brahmins, 
 is not to be credited. Some months ago, a Brahmin de- 
 clared to me plainly, ' The reasons why we do not embrace 
 the Christian doctrine are avarice, pride, and voluptuous- 
 ness.' 
 
 " Meanwhile," adds this excellent man, with something 
 of prophetic hope as to the future progress of Christianity, 
 "we faint not; we know that Christ is ordained as a light 
 to the Gentiles. He is able to dispel this heathen dark- 
 ness. Confiding in his divine assistance, we go forth dili- 
 gently among the natives to make known to them the way 
 of life, and affectionately to invite them to the enjoyment 
 of the salvation purchased for them by the Redeemer. 
 The progress of conversion is not so great as we wish ; 
 still the rescuing of one single soul (not to mention many), 
 is sufficient to encourage us not to be weary. Who knows 
 to what important end the all-wise God may direct the 
 revolutions which have taken place in India during the 
 last twenty years 1 that the Europeans in this country 
 would discern the glory of God ! Should he graciously 
 work a thorough change and reformation among the prin- 
 cipal Europeans, a blessing would spread through the 
 whole land. Many salutary regulations might be intro- 
 duced. Multitudes of abominations might be prevented, 
 and thus the obstacles which have hitherto deterred the 
 natives from embracing the Gospel might be lessened. 
 There are several Englishmen here, who, through the con- 
 verting grace of God, have been convinced that the know- 
 ledge and enjoyment of his loving-kindness are better than 
 life, and consequently better than ill-gotten wealth." 
 
 In a letter to a friend in London, Mr. Swartz again 
 refers to the same painful topic ; and the passage is here 
 introduced, chiefly for the purpose of contrasting that 
 
STATE OF TANJORE. 97 
 
 representation with the marked improvement in European 
 character which has of late years been universally acknow- 
 ledged : — 
 
 " It is extremely difficult," he observes, "when describing 
 our situation here, to give any one a just conception of it 
 without adverting to the profligacy of the Europeans. 
 The great among them aim at nothing but to live in 
 pleasure, and to become rich. If not readily successful in 
 the latter object, they resort to unjust means, the employ- 
 ment of which hardens the mind to so alarming a degree, 
 that they will hear nothing of the word of God, and too 
 frequently plunge into the most frightful infidelity." 
 
 The journal for 1768 thus closes : — 
 
 " The conclusion of the year has been very melancholy 
 with respect to political events. All the territory which 
 the English had taken from Hyder-Naick they have again 
 lost. He approached near to Trichinopoly, and would pro- 
 bably have taken it, had not a rain of three days' con- 
 tinuance driven him off. 
 
 " God be gracious to us, and further his work ! May 
 be cause his countenance to shine upon us, that the heathen 
 may know his ways, believe in him, and adore him as his 
 children in Christ Jesus ! " 
 
 Writing to Professor Francke he says : — 
 
 " Oh, may the faithful God grant to me, a feeble crea- 
 ture, his powerful grace more and more, that I may spend 
 my days to his glory, and the benefit of my neighbour. 
 Oh, that I had a dear brother with me, then could many 
 be better instructed ! In the mean time God knows our 
 affliction, and our sighs are not hidden from him. May he 
 compassionate the poor heathen, and may his kingdom 
 break forth here graciously!" 
 
 Early in 1769 a treaty of peace was concluded with 
 Hyder Ali, and the p2rils of traveUing were thus in a great 
 
 H 
 
98 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ, 
 
 measure removed. On the 20th of April Swartz visited 
 Tanjore, where he preached daily, and examined the state 
 of the congregations, and of the schools. 
 
 This visit was also the occasion of introducing him to 
 the Rajah Tuljajee, with whom and with his successor 
 Swartz became subsequently very intimate, and in whose 
 affairs he became deeply concerned. Tuljajee was then in the 
 prime of life, of good natural talents, and of mild and dig- 
 nified manners ; indolent and self-indulgent, like the gene- 
 rality of Hindoo princes, but by no means tyrannical or 
 oppressive ; and though too much under the influence of 
 the Brahmins, tolerant and liberal in his views of religion. 
 He is said to have formed an exception to the general 
 ignorance of men of his rank in India, and to have success- 
 fully cultivated Sanscrit literature, so as even to have pro- 
 duced some poetical compositions in that language, which 
 are still recited at Tanjore as proofs of his genius and 
 learning. Such was the Hindoo prince with whose history 
 that of Swartz is henceforth so intimately interwoven. 
 
 " At five in the afternoon of the 30th of April," says 
 the excellent missionary, in his journal for 1769, " I was 
 introduced to the king. He was seated on a couch sus- 
 pended from pillars, surrounded by his principal ofiicers, 
 and opposite to him a seat was placed for me." The con- 
 versation began by the Persian interpreter informing him 
 that the king had heard a good report of him, to which 
 Swartz replied in Persian, expressing his thanks for the 
 kindness which he entertained for him, and wishing that 
 God might enrich him abundantly with every blessing. 
 The interpreter omitting to repeat the wish, one who sat 
 by told him, " He wishes you a blessing," " He is a priest," 
 replied the king. Perceiving by the manner in which he 
 made this observation, that he was but imperfectly ac- 
 quainted with the Persian language, he requested permis- 
 sion to speak in Taraul, at which the rajah apj)eared 
 pleased. 
 
 He first inquired how it happened that some European 
 Christians worshipped God with images, and others with- 
 out them ; to which Swartz answered, that the worship of 
 images was expressly forbidden by the word of God, and 
 
THE RAJAH TULJAJEE. 99 
 
 that this corrupt practice originated in the neglect of the 
 Holy Scriptures, which had in consequence been removed 
 by such Christians from general use among the people. 
 The rajah next inquired how man could attain to the 
 knowledge of God. In reply to this question, the mis- 
 sionary pointed out, in his usual manner, the works of 
 creation, and the bounties of Divine Providence, as testify- 
 ing the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, and his word 
 as clearly revealing whatever is essential to salvation. " If 
 it please the king," said he, " I will set before him briefly 
 the principal subjects of that word." The rajah having 
 signified his assent, Swartz proceeded to explain the nature 
 and divine attributes of God, one of the attendants repeat- 
 ing his explanation of each point very distinctly, slowly, 
 and audibly. He then remonstrated against the worship 
 of idols, as inconsistent with the perfections and glory of 
 God, observing, that before their conversion from heathen- 
 ism, the European nations also made images, and adored 
 the work of their own hands with prostrations and salams. 
 The king laughed, for the expression struck him forcibly, 
 and said, " He speaks plain." The pious missionary next 
 shortly urged the corruption into which mankind had 
 fiillen, which is visible from universal and melancholy ex- 
 perience ; and then unfolded the method of deliverance 
 through the Mediator and Saviour whom God has gra- 
 ciously provided, and his indescribable willingness to re- 
 ceive those who turn to him — illustrating this encouraging 
 assurance by his favourite and appropriate parable of the 
 prodigal son. 
 
 Upon the usual introduction of sweetmeats, of which 
 Swartz took a little, he said, " We Christians are in the 
 habit, before we partake of food, of praising God for his 
 goodness, as well as of imploring grace to use the gift to 
 his glory ;" and on being desired to offer up such a prayer, 
 he immediately complied. With the simplicity and fi-ce- 
 dom from the apprehension of ridicule which peculiarly 
 characterized him, he then, at the request of the king, who 
 had been informed that Christians were accustomed to 
 sing in celebrating divine worship, sang some verses of the 
 
100 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Lutheran hymn, in the Tamul translation of Mr. Fabricius, 
 beginning, 
 
 " My God, to thee this heart I bring." 
 
 The rajah declared himself much pleased, apologising that 
 he had detained him so long, and desiring him to dine with 
 Captain Berg, who was his constant friend and companion, 
 in the palace. " I withdrew," he adds, " repeating my 
 wishes for his happiness." 
 
 Mr. Swartz remained at Tanjore about three weeks du- 
 ring this visit, and then returned to Trichinopoly. A few 
 days after the rajah having inquired for him, and being 
 told that he had left Tanjore, said, " I thought he would 
 have stayed with us ;" and on being reminded that he had 
 not desired him to remain, he replied, " It is my most 
 earnest wish that he would continue here." Captain Berg 
 having informed him of this favourable disposition of the 
 rajah, Mr. Swartz consulted his brethren at Tranquebar, 
 Cuddalore, and Madras, as to the best mode of proceeding, 
 who unanimously advised him to return to Tanjore with- 
 out delay, in order to ascertain what the rajah's views really 
 were. Accordingly, in the month of June he proceeded 
 thither in company with his friend Colonel Wood, who 
 was about to leave Trichinopoly, and whom the rajah was 
 desirous of seeing as he passed through Tanjore. " We 
 set out," he says, " and on the way I had many pleasing 
 conferences with the natives. When introduced to the 
 king in the presence of Colonel Wood, he was very friendly. 
 After a few inquiries respecting the welfare of the Colonel 
 and his family, he asked me what was the design of our 
 celebrating Sunday. I explained to him the command of 
 God relative to the consecration of the Sabbath, and his 
 merciful intention in giving it ; namely, to make us holy 
 and happy, by devoting it to the concerns of our souls. 
 He then inquired why we Christians did not anoint our- 
 selves, as they did. I replied, that the heathen thought 
 they were thereby purified from sin ; but that we knew 
 that sin could not thus be removed — that God had pro- 
 vided a more effectual remedy by sending a mighty Saviour, 
 
THE RAJAH TULJAJEE. 101 
 
 who had taken away our sins by the sacrifice of himself ; 
 and that we must seek forgiveness through faith in this 
 Redeemer, 
 
 " He then asked some questions respecting the king of 
 England, and expressed a wish to visit our country. I took 
 occasion in reply to say something concerning the religion 
 which is there taught, and how much it contributes to the 
 welfare both of princes and people ; adding, This is our 
 wish, that you and your subjects may embrace it to your 
 present and eternal happiness. The king looked at me, 
 and smiled. His chief Brahmin often interposed, and told 
 him what he had seen among the Papists at Pondicherry ; 
 to which he replied that we were very different from the 
 Papists. He then desired me to speak to the Brahmin in 
 Persian, which I did, and addressed a short admonition to 
 him ; but he professed to have forgotten his Persian. Here 
 the conversation ended, and we took our leave. I accom- 
 panied Colonel Wood a day's journey beyond the river; 
 and parted from him and his lady, who is powerfully 
 awakened to religion, with prayer. They were both greatly 
 affected. May God mightily carry on the work he has be- 
 gim in them, and bring it to a glorious issue !" 
 
 After this interesting conference with the rajah, not 
 having as yet received permission to enter the fort, Swartz 
 repaired daily, early and late, to the glacis near it, and 
 addressed the natives, who in great numbers surrounded 
 him. Frequently, from the violence of the land wind, he 
 was covered with the dust which flew around : he generally 
 spoke upon the great subjects of repentance, faith, and re- 
 conciliation with God, through Jesus Christ, till he was 
 quite exhausted. Sometimes he expounded the parables 
 by which our Saviour displayed the treasures of the king- 
 dom of heaven, and the means of attaining them. The 
 people commended his doctrine, and often said, " O that 
 the king would embrace it ! All would then forsake hea- 
 thenism." At the end of a fortnight he received an un- 
 limited permission to enter the fort whenever he was dis- 
 posed. He in consequence visited the principal officers of 
 the rajah, and fully declared to them the Gospel of Christ. 
 One of them having offered him a present, he civilly de- 
 
102 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 clined it, requesting him and those who were assembled 
 not to be offended at his refusal, as he was only anxious not 
 to interpose any obstacle to their reception of Christianity, 
 by giving occasion to any to suspect him of interested 
 motives. " He who tendered me the present," says this 
 wise and excellent man, replied, " that he should never 
 think this of me." I answered, " That may be ; but you 
 cannot prevent others from thinking thus. I seek the good 
 of your souls, and not gifts. I accepted a nosegay, and so 
 we parted." 
 
 Sometimes he went through the principal streets of the 
 fort, when many of the inhabitants. Brahmins and others, 
 collected around him, and listened for a long time. One 
 of the Brahmins observed, " You allure the people with 
 money." " I replied," said Swartz, before the whole multi- 
 tude, " Prove to me that either I or my brethren at Tran- 
 quebar have decoyed a single heathen to us with money, 
 and I will hold my tongue." It was said, that when speak- 
 ing one day before the palace, the rajah stationed himself 
 in an upper room, and after listening to his address, ob- 
 served, " He makes out our gods to be downright demons ! 
 We must keep him here to instruct this foolish people." 
 Upon another occasion, when near the palace, the king sent 
 to desire him not to quit the fort, as he wished to speak 
 with him. Upon this a number of Brahmins and others 
 belonging to the court hastened to the palace, and Swartz 
 prepared himself for the interview ; but the chief Brahmin, 
 who had the control of the revenue, came and diverted 
 the king from his purpose. He sent, however, to tell him 
 that he would speak to him in the evening ; but again he 
 was prevented. " The poor king," he observes, in a letter 
 to Dr. Francke, in which he briefly mentions this remark- 
 able visit to Tanjore, " sits, as it were, in a prison. His 
 officers deceive him and the whole country, and resist to 
 the utmost the settlement of a missionary here. Many," 
 he says in his journal, " even of the Brahmins themselves, 
 said that the king would gladly have had me with him, but 
 he was afraid of the people around him. The great about 
 the court saw, with regret, that he was desirous of detain- 
 ing me, being fearful lest their corrupt practices might be 
 
PARTICULARS CONCERNING HIM. 103 
 
 exposed. At length I visited one of his principal ofiicers, 
 and after declaring to him the Gospel of Christ, I begged 
 to make my humble salam to the king, and to ask what 
 was his purpose with regard to me ; that I was come at 
 his gracious summons, ready to serve him from my heart 
 in the cause of God ; but that as I had an engagement at 
 Trichinopoly, it would be necessary that some one should 
 take charge of my duty there, if I were to remain at Tan- 
 jore. I requested, therefore, to know the king's intention. 
 The answer which I received the next day was this ; that 
 I might return for this time to Trichinopoly, but that I 
 was to remember that the king looked upon me as his 
 padre. Many," he adds, " of the common people were 
 grieved that the king should allow himself to be hindered 
 by his servants from detaining me near him. But God 
 can, and in his own time will, cause this nation to adore 
 and fear his name. May He compassionate this poor peo- 
 ple, now lying in darkness and the shadow of death, for his 
 name's sake." 
 
 Such is the account which Mr.Swartz gives in his journal, 
 as well as in letters to Dr. Francke and the Societ}' for 
 promoting Christian Knowledge, of his first interviews with 
 the Rajah of Tanjore, which led to his subsequent esta- 
 blishment and favourable reception as a missionary in that 
 kingdom. In tlie month of July he returned to Trichino- 
 poly, and resumed his ordinary labours among the Christians 
 and heathens of that city. 
 
 A letter written about this time by Mr. W. Chambers, 
 to his brother, gives some interesting particulars of Swartz 
 and his proceedings. Mr. C. says : — 
 
 " I told you in a former letter, that Mr. Swartz had 
 struck into a new path at this place, by having already 
 made himself master of the Hindostanee language, and 
 continuing to acquire a knowledge of the Persian. As he 
 was upon this plan when 1 came up about seven months 
 ago, he was very well pleased with my having brought with 
 me the Persian Gospels ; and these, I assure you, are read 
 with such profound veneration and attention by the moro 
 
104 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 learned Maliomedans, as would surprise you. But Mr. 
 Swartz, though he could not but acknowledge the advantage 
 these gave him in showing the fundamental doctrines of 
 our religion, yet has often lamented his want of the latter 
 part of the New Testament, in which alone the application 
 of those doctrines is to be found. Indeed, the sophistical 
 questions they so frequently put to us, in perusing the 
 * Ingeel' (as they call it), do but too plainly discover to us 
 the disadvantage of not being possessed of a complete 
 Persian New Testament. Mr. Swartz is a man of such ex- 
 tensive learning, of such strength of judgment, is of so 
 regular a conduct, so cheerful a disposition, and such sin- 
 cere piety, that I think there can scarcely be a man more 
 likely to succeed in such an undertaking as this is, if he 
 had only the proper means. He has already written to 
 the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, to beg 
 they may supply him with some books, and particularly 
 the complete New Testament in this language, if such a 
 thing can be procured. But I believe his modesty, in the 
 infancy of such a scheme, has prevented his descanting so 
 largely upon it as he would, if he were to open his mind. 
 He has declared to me, however, with some energy, that 
 he thought if some hundred impressions of the Persian 
 New Testament, in a portable volume, without any trans- 
 lation, could be printed off in England, either by subscrip- 
 tion or any other means, they might be dispersed in this 
 country amongst the Moors, in all human probability to 
 great advantage. The son of the nabob said to him one 
 day, — * Padre, we always regarded you Europeans as a most 
 irreligious race of men, unacquainted even with the nature 
 of prayer, till you came and told us you had good people 
 amongst you in Europe ; since you are come here, indeed, 
 we begin to think better of you ! ' Both he (Mr. Swartz) 
 and your humble servant begin now to be a little known 
 among them ; but I assure you, at first they seemed vastly 
 surprised to find there was anything rational in our faith, or 
 that any of us pretended to holiness of life. Mahomed Pandh 
 (the Moorman I mentioned in a former letter) agreed once 
 so far with us, and talked so loudly in praise of the ' Ingeel/ 
 even before his own countrymen, that I really thought he 
 
EXTRACTS FROM HIS JOURNALS. 105 
 
 was going to turn Christian : — ]\Ir. Swartz happening to tc41 
 him the circumstance within his knowledge of an Engh.sh- 
 man having sent back some valuables from scruples of 
 conscience, he (Mahomed), in a large company of Moormen 
 of rank, began to talk highly of our ' Eem.'ihu ' (faith and 
 religion), and as a proof of the excellence of it, brought up 
 this very circumstance ; and at the end of the narration he 
 exclaimed, ' There's an Eemdhu for you ! where shall we 
 find a Mussulman that would do so ? ' He talked at this 
 rate so long and so strenuously, that there was a universal 
 report amongst the Moormen, even to the nabob, that 
 Mahomed Panah was going to be a convert of Mr. Swartz ; 
 and upon this he found himself deserted by all his ac- 
 quaintance, particularly his great ones, that before had 
 reverenced him for his learning. This the old man had 
 not strength to bear ; and, resigning himself up to that 
 passion which gets hold of us all, in some degree, ' the fear 
 of man,' he tacked about, and has ever since, in the pre- 
 sence of his countrymen, disputed against some of the 
 principal points of Christianity with all his usual sophistry. 
 " Who knows, however, what such a man might have 
 done before now, if he had but had one more to keep him 
 in countenance ? and who can say that he might not have 
 had many more, if the New Testament had been known 
 among them ? All I have to beg of you is, that you will 
 procure for me one Persian New Testament at least, if pos- 
 sible ; and as for the other scheme, you know best whether 
 you can at all promote it." 
 
 Swartz's journals, of the close of 1769, furnish various 
 interesting details, from which we copy a few passages : — 
 
 " On the 13th and two following days of November, I 
 was engaged only with the children in the schools, and with 
 a sick person ; the almost incessant rain preventing me 
 from going out. The gracious God has copiously refreshed 
 this district, so that the high lands, which cannot be watered 
 by the river, are rendered fruitful by the showers. Praised 
 be God ! On the 2()th, I went out early. It was a pecu- 
 liarly pleasant morning ; the beams of the sun, after the 
 
106 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 late rains, being doubly reviving. A heathen came to me, 
 whom I affectionately entreated not to neglect so good a 
 God, who created, preserves, and redeemed us. During 
 this month the Brahmins and others repair to the river to 
 bathe. On the 21st, a vast multitude being assembled, I 
 suggested to the Brahmins, whether their outward washings 
 could purify ; and added, that the great God had indeed 
 provided and revealed to mankind a divine method of puri- 
 fication from sin. 
 
 " The next day, after pointing out to a party of attentive 
 hearers the sin and folly of idolatry, and explaming the 
 leading doctrines of divine truth, a Brahmin said, ' We also 
 have books and priests, and we must not depart from them. 
 You do well to believe your law, and to instruct the igno- 
 rant ; but that we, who have learned something, should 
 go over to you, can never be.' ' If a blind man,' I replied, 
 ' pretend to show others the way, both must fall into the 
 ditch. You have priests ; but prove whether what they 
 teach be truth or falsehood, light or darkness. To what 
 purpose has God given you understanding 1 Pray to him 
 also that he would guide you to the knowledge of the truth. 
 You well know how your priests instruct. You will shortly 
 have a festival at Seringham, during which they will exhibit 
 the obscene images and actions of your idols. Do you call 
 that instructing in what is good ? Look at the effects 
 which such instructions produce. Is not your country over- 
 whelmed with impurity V Upon this we seated ourselves 
 under a tree, and I expounded and applied to them the 
 parable of the prodigal son. 
 
 " I again visited the sick in the hospital. Some thought 
 that this school of the cross had not been unblessed to 
 them. In the afternoon I was called to an officer of the 
 nabob, who was born in the principality of Halberstadt. 
 He was very ill, and his mind much distressed. An im- 
 prudent marriage, against which I had earnestly warned 
 him, had injured him much both in body and soul, which 
 he now deeply lamented. I directed him to Christ, and 
 his blood of reconciliation, by which all our sins can be 
 blotted out, and prayed with him. 
 
 " December. — A Mahomedan from the north, who 
 
EXTRACTS FROM HIS JOURNALS. 107 
 
 wished to be a chief priest, visited nie with his wife. We 
 sat down before the church-door. He inquired concerning 
 the Christian doctrine, when that of the atonement was 
 chiefly insisted on. He said, ' My mind is truly in doubt 
 and anxiety.' ' Turn, then,' I replied, ' to Him who can 
 and will relieve you.' His followers went into the church, 
 and performed their evening devotions kneeling. This 
 man has since visited me only twice. ' The nabob,' said 
 another Mahomedan, near him, ' is against it. What can 
 we do r To this a third, who is in the nabob's confidence, 
 assented. When 1 asked him, therefore, afterwards, why 
 he never came to me—' The times are such,' said he, ' that 
 whoever converses with you must suffer for it.' 
 
 " Many among the heathen, also," Swartz observes in 
 his letters to Dr. Francke and to the Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge, " have owned themselves convinced 
 in their hearts of the truth of the Christian religion, but 
 the cross which they must take up as soon as they embrace 
 Christianity deters them from a public profession of it." 
 Notwithstanding these difficulties and discouragements, he 
 adds, " I have baptized twenty-five adults in the course of 
 this year, received several Roman Catholics into the Pro- 
 testant Church, and five children have been born in the 
 congregations. Some, especially of the women, so conduct 
 themselves, that I have a good hope that the word of God 
 has not been preached to them in vain. We exhort one 
 another to this end, and trust that God will, according to 
 his goodness, permit us to behold with rejoicing the days 
 of harvest. 
 
 " At the sacred festival of Christmas," thus he con- 
 cludes his journal for the year 1769, " we endeavoured to 
 stir up ourselves and the congregations to faith, love, and 
 thankfulness, by the blessed Gospel of the unspeakable love 
 of God, as it is manifested in the incarnation of Christ ;" 
 and in a short letter, dated December 23, in which he in- 
 forms his friend, Mr. Chambers, that he had despatched 
 the furniture which he had left at Trichinopoly, he thus 
 exjn-csses his grateful emotions on the return of that 
 hallowed season : 
 
 " I WLsh you may enjoy the fulness of grace, purchased 
 
108 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 for US by Jesus Christ. May the good tidings raise your 
 heart to holy joy, thankfulness, and love ! Remember me 
 to all our friends." 
 
 The year 1 770 was not distinguished by any remarkable 
 occurrence. Swartz went on with his labours, in the most 
 patient, earnest, believing spirit. " From the commence- 
 ment to the end of this year," he writes, " the Gospel of 
 God reconciled to us in Christ has been preached to the 
 poor heathen in Trichinopoly, Seringham, and the sur- 
 rounding villages. Daily, morning and afternoon, have the 
 catechists gone forth, and sowed the seed of the word of 
 God. In the afternoons I have myself accompanied one 
 of them. The conviction among many thousand heathen 
 and Roman Catholics is certainly remarkable, so that they 
 even speak of it among one another. The fear of man, 
 however, and other similar causes, keeps them back. Not- 
 withstanding, may God yet have mercy on them ! In ad- 
 dition to my employment in the schools throughout the 
 year, except during two months, in which I travelled to 
 Madras, I have in the mornings held preparations with 
 various natives, heathen and Roman Catholic, for receiving 
 them into the communion of our Church." 
 
 With respect to some of his converts, he reports the 
 most pleasing and satisfactory proofs of sincerity ; while, 
 as to others, he with equal ingenuousness acknowledges 
 the superficial and temporary nature of their profession of 
 Christianity. Among other instances of success he par- 
 ticularly mentions the following : — 
 
 " A young Pandaram, who for nearly seven years had 
 resorted to all the celebrated pagodas and reputed sacred 
 waters, without finding rest to his soul, was accosted by us 
 one afternoon near the river. He had, he said, often en- 
 tertained doubts as to the whole of the heathen ceremonies. 
 A Roman Catholic had given him a little brazen crucifix ; 
 this he had carried about him, and often, as he told us, 
 had placed it before him, and worshipped. ' To-day,' he 
 said, ' I was at the river, and beholding the numerous pa- 
 godas of Seringham, I thought within myself, What is all 
 this ? What can it avail ? Just as I was thinking thus, 
 
LETTERS. 109 
 
 your catechists approached and recommended Christianity 
 to me. I will now see what effect your doctrines will have. 
 If I discover in them anything better than I have found in 
 heathenism, I will cheerfully embrace them.' We recom- 
 mended him to remain with us a fortnight, and attend to 
 the Christian doctrines with becoming seriousness and 
 prayer ; honestly to state the doubts he might at any time 
 entertain ; and when he had in some degree ascertained 
 the nature of Christianity, to determine what he would do. 
 He was pleased with the proposal, and attended daily to 
 what was addressed to those who were under a course of 
 catechetical preparation ; and at length voluntarily laid 
 aside his Pandaram's habit, and gave up his string of a 
 particular kind of corn, which both Pagans and Eomish 
 Christians use as a rosary. He learned with diligence, and 
 began to pray, being daily present when I prayed with my 
 servant morning and evening. After holy baptism, he re- 
 quested that an opportunity might be afforded him of again 
 learning to read, which he had been previously taught, but 
 had forgotten. He has now been with us four months, and 
 nothing inconsistent has been perceived in him. The 
 knowledge of Christ will render him truly zealous and 
 sincere." 
 
 The journey to jMadras, alluded to in the preceding ex- 
 tract, occupied the months of February and March : " but 
 as I did not keep a perfect diary," says this conscientious 
 missionary in his journal for the year, " I have passed it 
 by, from an apprehension that much might be now written 
 that was not accurate, and consequently not according to 
 truth. On the whole journey repentance towards God 
 and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ were proclaimed to the 
 heathen and to the Roman Catholics, and at the request 
 of my brethren, I visited the different and distant con- 
 gregations in the country, in order to impress upon their 
 hearts a word of exhortation." 
 
 To his friend Mr. Chambers he writes : — 
 
 " Let Jesus be your high priest and preacher. Grow 
 in him, and what I told you last, keep in memory, or 
 
110 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 rather in constant practice. Read frequently John, xvii. 3, 
 11, 15, 16, 21. Let us, according to that heavenly pattern 
 and divine admonition, strive to be one, — 
 " One in doctrine. 
 
 One in adhering to Christ, 
 
 One in loving him, 
 
 One in despising and renouncing the world, 
 
 One in loving one another, 
 
 One in bearing the cross. 
 " As God has made us equal in the share of the most 
 glorious benefits of the Gospel, as having given us one 
 Gospel, one baptism, one hope, one glorious Redeemer, so 
 he has thereby designed us to be the same in brotherly 
 love. And as without joint prayer that brotherly love can- 
 not be kept in proper vigour, let us endeavour to keep up 
 that holy exercise." 
 
 In another letter he says : — 
 
 " That you are united in a brotherly manner, has re- 
 joiced me very much. Such Collegia Biblica, as we were 
 used to call them, were the beginning of that extensive 
 blessing in Germany. Mr. Spener first instituted them, 
 when he was chaplain at Dresden. Afterwards Mr. Francke, 
 Mr. Anthony, and others, followed the good example of 
 Mr. Spener at Leipzig, and from thence it became more 
 fashionable. As you kindly desire my advice in this matter, 
 I will freely offer it, knowing that friends receive every- 
 thing of that nature, though they have a right, nay, are 
 obliged, to prove everything according to the infallible rule 
 of Holy Scripture. I could wish, that when, after reading 
 the chapter of the Bible, you begin to expound it, every 
 member might contribute something. In this manner you 
 might all learn to prophesy. The spirits of the prophets 
 are subject to the prophets, as you all know. Likewise in 
 respect of the prayer, one might undertake it one Sunday, 
 another the next, so your gift might become beneficial to 
 all. I confess the joint prayer of my brethren has been 
 highly edifying to me, and even then, when the person who 
 prayed displeased himself. The reading of the sermon, 
 
LETTEBS. Ill 
 
 likewise, should not always be by one. The world will 
 also have less to censure. Yours is a brotherly society ; 
 none is greater, none less ; all upon that noble ground of 
 humility, and brotherly forbearance. And this divine hu- 
 mility will keep every member from censuring or gainsay- 
 ing his brother. If humility and sincerity govern your 
 society, you will have, 1 cheerfully hope, a gi'eat blessing. 
 that the Spirit from on high might come upon us all, 
 that the barren might become fruitful, the weak strong, 
 and the mourners rejoicing ! Salute your dear brethren 
 in the Lord, and let this plain epistle be read, if you please, 
 by them. jMy heart and love are with you. Remember us in 
 our desert, that here the waters of life may likewise flow." 
 
 In a letter to Dr. Knapp he says : — 
 
 " When I return in the evening from my customary 
 excursion among the heathen, I hold a prayer-meeting 
 with the English soldiers. This God has graciously not 
 left without a blessing. A chapter from the New Testa- 
 ment is read, some verses expounded, and the services con- 
 cluded with some practical advice. Many attend this 
 evening prayer, and twenty of them have united in de- 
 voting themselves sincerely to the Lord ; and, to confirm 
 their resolution, have received the holy sacrament. These, 
 on Sundays, after public service, hold a special prayer- 
 meeting, in which they encourage themselves by singing 
 the evangelical hymns of the blessed Watts, and, in their 
 own words, pour out their hearts before God. The mutual 
 agreement among them is, that if any one lives in known 
 sin, he is admonished, reproved, and, on failing to amend, 
 is to be excluded from this special meeting. The gracious 
 God direct his eye towards them, increase their number, 
 and guide them by his Holy Spirit, to the glory of his 
 name, and the edification of each other ! " 
 
 Two more brief passages, in notes to I\[r. Chambers, re- 
 veal to us the secret source of the missionary's strength : — 
 
 " Your kind letter I received several days ago, by 
 
112 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Tasunaick, together with the piece of broadcloth. I thank 
 you for your tender (I might ahiiost say, too tender) regard 
 for me, poor sinner ; I wish, — nay, pray heartily, — that you 
 may always appear clothed with the righteousness of your 
 divine Redeemer. Just now we considered, to our mutual 
 ediftcation, in our evening prayer, that excellent chapter 
 (Rom. v.), "Being therefore justified by faith, we have 
 peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; rejoice in 
 the hope of glory ; rejoice even in tribulation." What in- 
 estimable blessings are these ! and all purchased by Christ, 
 and given freely to all hungry and thirsty souls ! Oh, that 
 we might open our mouths wide and be filled ! As I read 
 you once that passage in the garden, so I could not help re- 
 flecting on it ; nay, I shall remember you as often as I read 
 it. May the Sj)irit of God be poured out in our hearts, and 
 may he display to us the inconceivable wonders of the 
 grace of God towards us ! " 
 
 And, again : — 
 
 " I have been reading the 2d chapter of the Revelation, 
 and considered the first epistle sent to the angel of 
 Ephesus. How many things doth our Saviour approve of 
 which wer-e conspicuous in the character of that bishop ! 
 Nevertheless, he had against him that he had left the first 
 love. He still did many laudable things, but the principle 
 from which they flowed was no more that pure and fervent 
 love which formerly used to move and influence him. His 
 heart became somewhat cold and indifierent, and he per- 
 formed many things more from custom than love. I can- 
 not say how that tender and mournful complaint moved 
 me. It was as if Jesus stood before me, telling me, I have 
 that against thee. My heart was quite melted down. Yes, 
 no doubt, too many things, otherwise good in themselves, 
 are done without' that noble spirit of love. Oh, that my 
 heart might bleed for that unaccountable coldness with 
 respect to the love I owe to my blessed Redeemer ! I 
 repent of it sincerely, though not so as I wish, remember- 
 ing how great the fall is. But how cheering is the promise, 
 which that beloved Redeemer gives to all those who over- 
 
AGAIN VISITS TAXJORE. 113 
 
 come that coldness, and strive to be fervent in love. They 
 shall ' eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the 
 paradise of God ; they shall enjoy the sweet favour and 
 love of Ood ; they shall see and taste how good the Lord 
 is.' May this inestimable promise kcei3 up a fire of love in 
 our breast ! May we condemn all coldness and mere for- 
 mality in religious exercises. I hope your heart is burning 
 with the love of Christ, as the heart of the disciples in the 
 road to Emmaus. Indeed, materials to kindle that fire in 
 us are not wanting, provided we take care and be vigilant. 
 Let us, then, mutually excite one another as long as we 
 have opportunity ; and let not the multiplicity of business 
 damp that holy flame which ought to be burning con- 
 tinually. My heart wishes you may be always a shining 
 light! Amen! Be it so!" 
 
 Towards the end of this year Svv^artz paid another visit 
 to Tanjore. He was accompanied on this journey by the 
 native catechist Saedtinaicken, who was born there. Having 
 reached Klicotta they conversed with a number of heathens, 
 Mahomedans, and Homish Christians, on the important 
 subject of the Creator of heaven and earth, and his Son 
 Jesus Christ. " While engaged," he observes, " in this 
 conversation, a poor widow came and asked alms. They 
 referred her to me ; upon which I said, ' God has shown 
 mercy to every one of us, and thus teaches us our duty to 
 one another. You have sent this poor widow to me ; be 
 not, then, hard-hearted, but let us all contribute something, 
 and gladden her heart.' But, alas ! no one of them would 
 give anything." He alone relieved her. The next day he 
 arrived at Tanjore, and accompanied his friend, Captain 
 Berg, who had met him on the way, to his house. 
 
 On Sunday, Oct. 14, he preached in the morning to the 
 Tamul Christians, next to the Portuguese, and in the after- 
 noon to a few Germans who were there, from ^latt. xxii. 
 34, on the genuine love of God, evidenced by its fruits. 
 " The day being cool," he says, " I went round the fort, the 
 poor heathen collecting in numbers to hear the word of 
 God. After conversing with them a Mahomedan ap- 
 proached, and asked me, ' What was the difference between 
 
 I 
 
114 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 his religion and mine ? ' To wliich I replied, ' We both have 
 a heavy burthen of sin to carry. You have none to ren^ove 
 it ; but we have, in Jesus Christ, a powerful deliverer.' 
 
 "On the 16th," he continues, "I repaired to the river, 
 where, during this month, the Brahmins assemble daily, 
 and read the history of Ram to the numerous attending 
 natives. On the way thither I met the rajah's arikar, 
 whose duty it is to report to him every day whatever he 
 sees extraordinary. ' Tell the king,' said I, ' that you saw 
 me, and that I testify to great and small, that they should 
 turn from dumb idols to the living God ; and that from my 
 heart I wish that the king would in this respect set his 
 subjects a good example.' ' Good, good ! ' he replied ; ' I will 
 tell him.' 
 
 "The Brahmins sat in rows by the river. As I ap- 
 proached, one said, " Give something to the Brahmins.' 
 ' Well,' said I, ' first give me some useful instruction — 
 teach me what relates to my welfare, and then I will give 
 you something gladly.' Another said, ' This is our advice, 
 that if you give money to the Brahmins, you shall prosper.' 
 ' Is that all ?' I replied ; ' do you know nothing more than 
 that V I then copiously unfolded the perfections of the 
 great God, and our obligation to worship and serve him 
 only, our ingratitude and disobedience, the one method of 
 reconciliation with him, the holiness and happiness con- 
 sequent upon cordially acquiescing in it. Many listened 
 in silence. The Brahmins afterwards strongly commended 
 my doctrine, and the people testified their satisfaction. 
 
 " Further on," he continues, " I sat down under a shady 
 tree. The river was skirted with a border of verdant 
 shrubs, and all looked fresh and green after the abundant 
 rain. My heart was quite exhilarated by the view of God's 
 lovely creation. Many heathens approached, one of whom 
 said, ' What you were teaching yonder is right and good.* 
 Upon this I declared to them the counsel of God, and 
 testified to them that we must, in a short time, appear 
 before the Judge of all mankind to give an account of our 
 conduct ; and that they would rue it everlastingly if they 
 rejected the truth. A young man said, 'I will hear the 
 truth.' 
 
AGAIN VISITS TANJORE. 115 
 
 " In the afternoon I addressed the people at the 
 entrance of the fort, where they surrounded and hstened 
 to me as long as I continued speaking. Oh, that God 
 would give them an obedient heart ! On my return a 
 Maliomedan frankly said, 'The people talk of you very 
 strangely, asserting that you come here to draw them over 
 to your religion.' I replied, ' They say what is perfectly 
 true. I wish I could persuade them all to turn to the 
 living God.' ' So, then,' said he, ' you avow that to be your 
 object.' " 
 
 It is remarkable that, though at the period of this con- 
 versation there was some risk in openly avowing, more 
 particularly to a Mahomedan, the intention and the earnest 
 wish to convert the natives to Christianity, so prudent a 
 man as Swartz did not hesitate to make such a confession. 
 It is at once a striking proof of the simplicity of his aim, 
 and the strength of his faith, and of the general confidence 
 which the integrity and excellence of his character had con- 
 ciliated, that it was followed by no reproach, and by no at- 
 tempt to interrupt or counteract his exertions. 
 
 On the 21st he preached, as on the preceding Sunday, 
 in Tamul and Portuguese, and afterwards addressed the 
 Germans from Matthew, ix. 1. In the evening he took his 
 usual walk, accompanied by two Mahomedans, who said, 
 " The people are fond of you." This led to a conversation 
 respecting the grace of God, and the way in which the for- 
 giveness of sin is to be obtained. The next day, having 
 gone early to the river, among many of the natives who 
 joined him one of them said, " It is our fate to be heathens, 
 and a convenient season must first arrive before we can 
 change our religion." "You speak," said he, "of blind 
 fate, which you must yourself acknowledge to be evil, yet 
 you reject a better dispensation, against your own know- 
 ledge and conviction. Can you suppose that the Almighty, 
 to whom you will have to render an account, will accept 
 this as an excuse ? The time will come when you will 
 regret having refused the means of salvation. It is the 
 fear of men which keeps you in bondage." To the last 
 observation they assented. 
 
 In the afternoon a large number assembled near the 
 
116 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 fort to hear him. One of them, a lively young man, said, 
 " Show me God, that I may see him, and I will become 
 your disciple." Mr. Swartz replied, " You speak like a sick 
 man, who wishes to become well without taking medicine. 
 There is a sure way revealed by God himself ; follow it, 
 and you will see him. This consists in self-abasement and 
 poverty of spirit, in repentance, meekness, and humility, in 
 hungering and thirsting after righteousness." He then 
 asked the young man whether he would choose this way. 
 He went away like another mentioned in the Gospel, ac- 
 knowledging that this way was too difficult. 
 
 The next day he met with a learned Hindoo at one 
 of the resting-houses, who took him by the hand, and ex- 
 pressed great satisfaction in seeing him, promising at the 
 same time to be obedient to the truth, should he be con- 
 vinced of it. Several sentences in the Tamul language 
 being visible on the wall, the Hindoo read them. The sub- 
 stance was nearly as follows : — 
 
 " Our ancestors have been taught to observe many 
 ceremonies, and have died. He will be the true priest who 
 can confer immortality." "What say you to this?" said 
 the missionary. " Do you, indeed, desire true and happy 
 immortality ? If so, you may attain it." The Hindoo de- 
 clared that the immortality he wished to possess consisted 
 in being exempt from pain, sickness, and death, and, when- 
 ever he was so inclined (such was his expression), in being 
 able to make an excursion to the moon. " Your first care," 
 rejoined Swartz, " should be this : how, as a poor, guilty 
 sinner, you may be reconciled to God." " I know no sin," 
 he exclaimed, " and wish for superior instruction from 
 you." " Ah," said Swartz, " I perceive that you are full of 
 conceit — the chief knowledge you want is self-knowledge." 
 
 On the 31st of October he left Tanjore, and the next 
 day arrived safely at Trichinopoly. On the 15th of No-' 
 vember he visited the great mosque, and addressed the 
 assembled Mahomedans on the true way of obtaining grace. 
 Their legend respecting this mosque is, that it contains 
 the remains of a celebrated fakir named Natter, distin- 
 guished for his extraordinary miraculous powers displayed 
 there about seven hundred years ago. It is frequented by 
 
HIS NATIVE ASSIST.V2fT3. 117 
 
 the Mahomedans every afternoon, particularly on a Tlnirs- 
 day, to worship God at the tomb of this pretended saint. 
 One of the superintendents told ]Mr. Swartz, that " the 
 annual income of this temple amounted to about two thou- 
 sand rupees, a sum insufficient to support the numerous 
 families residing in its vicinity; Avhich," he added, "occa- 
 sioned continued quarrels." Two Mahomedans, who spoke 
 Persian very fluently, conversed with him, and greatly ex- 
 tolled the merit of good works. He observed, " that the 
 real foundation for the remission of sins was Christ's merit 
 and satisfaction. I will not," said he, " detain you with 
 long discussions, as you have just quoted the Persian pro- 
 verb, ' He who disputes, loses every time a drop of blood 
 from his liver.' I will, therefore, simply state the truth as 
 revealed to us in the Gospel. We are sinners, and deserve 
 the wrath of God. Consider his pure and holy nature. 
 The more we think of God and ourselves, the more we 
 must be convinced, that either we must suffer ourselves 
 the punishment due to our sins, or that another person 
 duly qualified must endure it in our stead. This person is 
 no other than Jesus Christ. God has made him to be sin 
 for us, who knew no sin ; accepting out of infinite compas- 
 sion his atonement, which he has sufficiently demonstrated 
 by his resurrection. He is now the foundation of all 
 grace ; so that unless you seek through him tlie forgive- 
 ness of your sins, the guilt will rest upon yourselves, and 
 you must bear the punishment." Having then explained 
 how the doctrines of repentance, faith, and godliness, all 
 spring from this reconciliation with God through Christ, 
 the eldest of the Mahomedans, who had listened in silence, 
 at length said, " You have it one way, and we another ;" 
 but the other observed, " that Mahomed also taught, that 
 Iman, or faith, lies at the foundation of good works." 
 
 At the close of 1770, writing to Dr. Knapp, he says : — 
 
 " God has supported me and my native assistants in a 
 very signal manner. The latter are perfectly well, and 
 zealous in prosecuting the work of God. There are five ; 
 1st; Devanesen (Theophilus), a man of quiet, peaceable dis- 
 
118 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 position ; 2d, his son, Eayappen, who formerly had been 
 my servant, but conducted himself with so much propriety 
 that I appointed him schoolmaster ; 3d, Stedtinaicken, a 
 man in his fiftieth year, of a very cheerful and happy 
 temper, who has a peculiar gift in conversing with all kinds 
 of people ; 4th, Ignasimutta, thirty years of age, who is 
 very anxious to make known Christ ; and lastly, Dewa- 
 sagayam, whom I lately engaged on account of his piety 
 and ability in teaching others. Each receives monthly two 
 pagodas, which is little enough to support themselves and 
 their families. They are a great comfort to me, and each 
 of them possesses qualities which render him useful in his 
 department. During the last year I had many Papists and 
 heathens under instruction. One of the assistants is then 
 always present to teach the catechumens. The others I 
 send to teach in the villages, which they do very willingly. 
 In the afternoons one of them accompanies me in my 
 walks to converse with the natives, and he addresses 
 Christians and heathens in my presence. I have often 
 been surprised at the great propriety with which they 
 apply passages of the New Testament, to point out the 
 superiority of Christian doctrine. 
 
 " In the English school I have forty children, who are 
 taught by two pious soldiers, and I daily examine them 
 myself for an hour. In the Malabar school, thirty children, 
 of whom twenty-six receive a monthly gratuity of half a 
 rupee. In the forenoon they are instructed in reading and 
 Christian knowledge ; in the afternoon they are taught 
 netting, that they may be accustomed to some employ- 
 ment." 
 
 During this visit to Tanjore, the Roman Catholics ap- 
 peared much excited by his visit, and requested him to 
 hold a conference with their padre on the doctrines of 
 Christianity in their presence. To this he willingly as- 
 sented, laying down three excellent rules to be observed 
 during the discussion, viz. that it should be conducted in 
 the spirit of kindness and charity ; that the appeal should 
 be exclusively to the word of God ; and that correct minutes 
 of the arguments should be made in writing, so that the 
 
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS. 119 
 
 whole might be reviewed. When the day, however, ap- 
 pointed for the interview arrived, the Romish padre, much 
 to the disappoinment of his people, decUned making his 
 appearance. Swartz contented himself with expounding to 
 those who had assembled several beautiful passages of 
 Scripture, such as ]\Iatt. v. 1-10 ; John^ xiv. 6 ; 2 Cor. iv. 1 ; 
 1 Tim. iv. 6 ; ISlatt. xi. 28 ; and some of his hearers ex- 
 pressed their conviction, that if a missionary were settled 
 at Tanjorc, many would attach themselves to the truth. 
 He concludes this letter, as he did one of nearly the same 
 date to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, 
 with an earnest wish for additional aid in his mission. 
 
 " The king," he says, " having once desired that I would 
 settle at Tanjore, it might be well to make the attempt. 
 Who knows whether the hand of God might not be with 
 us, and many be reheved from their wretched state ! 
 
 " Had I a colleague here, I might be absent for some 
 months. But if anything be done in Tanjore, a missionary 
 must be constantly resident there. I have mentioned the 
 subject to the honourable Society. May God in his mercy 
 for Christ's sake direct all things to the glory of his name !" 
 
 Tlie year 1771 was fitly opened by Swartz in a brief 
 letter to Mr. Chambers, in which he says : — 
 
 " This is the first letter I write you this new year. Oh, 
 may Jesus be glorified in your precious soul, so as to be 
 your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ! 
 We were reading and meditating this evening on Coloss. ii., 
 wherein Jesus is set forth as our all, — the sum, the centre, 
 and fountain of all our bliss. Whatsoever we want we find 
 in him ; and are, as the apostle says, ' complete in him.' 
 In him we are circumcised, by putting away the body of 
 sin, which is the true spiritual circumcision ; in him we 
 are buried, by being baptized in his name ; in him we are 
 raised from the dead, by believing in him and his divine 
 resurrection ; by him we are quickened with a true sense 
 of the paternal favour of God, having our sins pardoned. 
 If, then, we have all in our divine Redeemer, how just and 
 comfortable is the conclusion, that we are not to look out 
 
120 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 for any happiness in the new moons, &c. Why should we 
 run to the shadow, having and possessing the body ? Wliy 
 should we complain of want of comfort or strength, having 
 Jesus ? Let us stir up one another to a faithful adhering 
 to the fountain of all our bliss. But let us receive him 
 entirely as our all, — love, serve, and glorify him as such by 
 our whole life. Amen. Be it so ! May this year prove to 
 us both, and to our friends, a year of blessing, and peace, 
 and strength ! " 
 
 Throughout 1771, with but little pause, Swartz held 
 preparatory catechetical lectures from eight till eleven 
 o'clock, and observes in his journal, that many of the cate- 
 chumens occasioned him much joy. Among those who at- 
 tended his first preparation was the young Pandaram, who 
 had been so anxious in pursuit of religious truth, and who 
 had so ingenuously resolved on listening to his instructions. 
 " To me and all the catechists," says Swartz, " he has been 
 a real joy. His desire after the word of God, and his sin- 
 cere love of prayer, as well as his kind and charitable dis- 
 position, have been clearly evinced. An officer, who is sick, 
 told me that he heard him pray every night about twelve 
 o'clock for an hour together ; a custom which in the sim- 
 plicity of his mind he has since continued." This young 
 man, who was of a good caste, received at his baptism the 
 name of Nyanapracdsam (Spiritual Light), and was added as 
 a sixth to the number of the catechists. 
 
 This year the aged Schinappen, one of the first converts 
 at Trichinopoly, by the ministry of Mr. KohlhoflP, had the 
 gratification of seeing all his relatives, with their families, 
 attend Swartz's preparation as catechumens. Many in- 
 stances of conversion amongst the Eoman Catholics and 
 heathens occurred, the sincerity of which was strikingly 
 proved by resistance to every species of allurement and 
 persecution. " The increase in the congregation," he ob- 
 serves, " has been greater than in the preceding year, one 
 hundred and forty persons in all having been added to it. 
 "We have also remarked more of the work of God in the 
 hearts of the catechumens, which has encouraged us cheer- 
 fully to jperscvere. The Lord strengthen us daily in faith, 
 
THE GOSPEL IN THE CAMP. 121 
 
 love, and hope, that we may go on from strength to 
 strength, and zealously promote his work in humility of 
 heart, and dependence on his blessing ! " 
 
 The blessing of God had been remarkably evident 
 among the English solders ; and the little company of the 
 sincerely pious and devoted, which had increased to thirty, 
 were eminently useful, both in visiting the sick and in 
 accrediting and adorning the profession of Christianity in 
 the estimation of all around them. An interesting me- 
 morial of the death of two of those pious men is recorded 
 in Swartz's journal. The first of them was an Englishman, 
 who had during several years lived as a true Christian. 
 " There was a manliness," he says, " in his whole deport- 
 ment. The Gospel of Christ was precious to him, and pro- 
 duced a settled peace and holy courage in his heart. This 
 year he became sick. His pious companions visited him 
 diligently. His mind was perfectly composed, and he 
 longed for the holy communion, which was administered to 
 his edification. Some hours before his death I visited him, 
 and found him in a most happy frame. ' My sins,' said he, 
 * are forgiven me of God for Christ's sake ; my heart has 
 rest and peace ; the enemy has no power over me. I look 
 forward with complacency to a blessed eternity. I would 
 not exchange with the King of England. Oh, the poor 
 world, that it could but reflect what a blessed thing 
 Christianity is ! ' Then turning to me, he said, 'And I 
 thank you, my friend, for having made Jesus Christ known 
 to me.' 
 
 "At last he repeated several times that beautiful 
 sentence, ' Into thy hands I commend my spirit ; thou 
 hast redeemed me, Lord God of truth!" 
 
 " The other soldier, an Irishman, whom we called Old 
 James, died about a month since ; an ancient servant of 
 Christ, who kept his heart with all diligence. He fre- 
 quently lamented, during his days of health, that he was 
 troubled with sinful thoughts, which hindered his prayers. 
 The very ungodly acknowledged that he was a Christian. 
 He was in the habit of retiring alone in the night to devo- 
 tion. Prayer was one of his chief employments. He hesi- 
 tated when he read ; but when he prayed, it was scarcely 
 
122 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 I)erceptible. Tliis aged man was a blessed member of tbe 
 pious Soldiers' Society. The last time I saw him at the 
 hospital, he said that he had no particular pain, but only- 
 general uneasiness. ' Well,' said I, ' James, you have no- 
 thing to object, should the Lord Jesus call you home V 
 ' Nothing, nothing,' he replied, with a smiling countenance. 
 AVe prayed with him, and the following night he departed." 
 
 Such simple and genuine memorials of those who, in a 
 far distant land, amidst so many dangers and discourage- 
 • ments, lived and died in the faith and fear of God, are truly 
 cheering. And how incalculable the value of such a mis- 
 sionary as Swartz, both to the European and native in- 
 habitants of India ! Eternity alone can fully unfold it. 
 
 His residence at Trichinopoly was, indeed, an interest- 
 ing spot. Daily he assembled his catechists, who were not 
 on stations too remote, and instructed them how to explain 
 the truths of Christianity, and to address the natives in a 
 mild and winning manner ; "trying," to adopt his Dwn ex- 
 pressions, " whether they might not be so happy as to 
 bring some of their wandering fellow-creatures into the 
 way of truth." In the morning the catechists joined with 
 him in prayer, and in meditating on the word of God ; 
 after which every one was directed whither to go that day. 
 In the evening they gave an account of their labours, and 
 the day closed as it began, with meditation and prayer. 
 During the day many of the natives, of various ranks, came 
 to visit and converse with him, as well as officers of the 
 garrison, who esteemed his character, and courted his 
 society. The widow of one of them, who still survives, 
 and at whose table Swartz was a welcome guest, bears the 
 following pleasing testimony to him : — 
 
 " No time can efface the remembrance of that remark- 
 able man : more than half a century is since gone over my 
 head ; yet his features, his sweetness of temper, and kind 
 and courteous manners, are still before me ; his information 
 was great and various, and whether he spoke of religion or 
 of the world, it was delightful to listen to him." 
 
 In August we meet with the following beautiful letter 
 to Mr. Chambers : — 
 
CHRISTIAN ARMOUR. 123 
 
 " Though I have not written to you for some time, you 
 are in my thoughts, I may say, every day. I wish and 
 pray that you may 'be strong in the Lord, and in the 
 power of his might.' Without him we are nothing, and 
 can do nothing. But being united to him and his Spirit, 
 we shall be strong, so as to gain the victory over all our 
 enemies. This strength, which comes from our Lord, we 
 need everyday and hour, on account of our enemies. ' For 
 we wrestle not against flesh and blood,' or weak men only, 
 ' but against principalities, against powers, against the 
 rulers of the darkness of this world, against sj)iritual 
 wickedness in high places.' St. Paul describes the enemies, 
 their power and malice, in a true, that is, terrible manner, 
 not to frighten, but to rouse us to earnestness. Slothful- 
 ness will not do ; a holy zeal is absolutely necessary in 
 order to overcome such powerful and cunning enemies. 
 
 " Let us ' stand, therefore, having our loins girt about 
 with truth.' The truth of the Gospel, particularly concern- 
 ing the Author of our salvation, is like a girdle, that will 
 keep close, and, as it were, unite our strength. As soon as 
 we let go the truth we lose our girdle, and are like to 
 dissipate our strength. But as the principal truth of the 
 Gospel conccrneth the righteousness of Jesus Christ, let us, 
 above all, take and put on that perfect righteousness as a 
 ' breastplate,' which covers our breast, and screens our con- 
 science, so that no accusation or condemnation can reach 
 and disturb it. And as the Gospel contains and sets forth 
 that glorious righteousness of Christ, ' let our feet be shod 
 with the preparation of peace.' When our enemies deride 
 our relying on the righteousness of Christ, and ask us from 
 whence we have it, let us say, 'So it is written.' The 
 Gospel is our armoury. And whereas our enemies not 
 only seduce but likewise threaten, let us in that case take 
 'the shield of faith,' and trust in the providence of our 
 heavenly Father. Our faith in the goodness, power, and 
 veracity of God, is our shield, by which we keep off, — nay, 
 ' quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.' The glorious 
 promises, scattered up and down in the word of God, 
 relating to his providence and his preservation of his 
 children, and that all shall turn to their welfare, those 
 
124 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 pacify our hearts. Nay, and if we suifer here, let us look 
 up to that great salvation, which shall be in a short time 
 our lot ; let us use it as a ' helmet ' on our head, that we 
 may not faint. And if our enemies will entangle and 
 perplex us with their sophistical and knotty questions, let 
 us take ' the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,' 
 and cut them all asunder. And lastly, in our cheerful con- 
 fidence, let us never be proud, but maintain that most 
 necessary poverty of spirit, ' praying always with all prayer 
 and supplication in the Spirit.' What divine arms are here 
 offered to us ! To know and consider them is good ; but to 
 put them on and use them, is infinitely better. Tlie primitive 
 Christians used those arms in a ver}'- manly manner. Oh, 
 that the Spirit of Jesus Christ would enable us to become 
 true and faithful soldiers of our Lord ! Let us entreat him 
 to strengthen us daily and hourly, till the whole conflict is 
 over ; and we can say, ' It is finished ; I have fought a good 
 fight.' May divine grace, peace, and strength, attend you in 
 all your ways ! " 
 
 A brief contest between the Rajah of Tanjore and the 
 Company's troops is alluded to in the following letter, 
 dated October 22, 1771 :— 
 
 "My dear Friend, — As I am sure you have prayed to 
 God to bring the affair of the war to a happy end, so I 
 think myself obliged and very hajDpy in giving you the 
 glad news of an accommodation which has taken place. 
 To-day every thing is to be settled. No doubt, to-morrow 
 we shall hear more of all the articles. Blessed be God ! 
 It would have been a bloody affair if the fort had been 
 stormed. We have lost a great number of Europeans and 
 Sepoys, the Tanjorians likewise. How easily is human 
 blood shed, and lives thrown away ! 
 
 " Bj the mercy of God we stand and are preserved. By 
 Him only ; for if the enemy had power, he had swallowed 
 us up long ago. Last Sunday happened a peculiar case to 
 us. A young man who came to us with his father and 
 mother, six months ago, grew in true wisdom ; and, besides, 
 showed a truly Christian spirit, almost above any of our 
 
SIGNAL PRESERVATION. 1 25 
 
 catechists. The Roman Catholic people have tried to 
 delude him by persuasion, bribes, and at last threatenings. 
 All proving inefiectual, they fell twenty or more of them 
 upon the young man last Sunday, and nearly killed him. 
 For three hours the poor creature was senseless. I heard 
 it at ten o'clock, but could not go to see him till twelve. I 
 went with the doctor, and found him senseless ; but after 
 bleeding he came to himself. His chest is miserably hurt. 
 The occasion was shortly this : one of the young man's 
 near relations came from the country and fell sick. In his 
 sickness he called for this young man, Nyanapracdsam, 
 who was reading to him and praying with him three days. 
 In the course of Saturday night he died. Then came the 
 Papists to bury him ; but seeing this young man, desired 
 him to go away on account of his having received the 
 Parreiar law. He replied, ' If your catechist comes and 
 tells me so, I will go.' As soon as the catechist came, he 
 struck the young man with his slippers, and then all fell on 
 him, dragging him through the street. The heathens cried 
 out, ' "Will you murder the young man V They are of their 
 father the devil, and the pope. However, the young man 
 praiseth God, and is not dismayed. He is still very sick. 
 Pray for us." 
 
 At the beginning of 1772 Swartz notices with gratitude 
 a signal preservation. On the afternoon of Feb. 14, the 
 powder magazine of the fort exploded. " By this ca- 
 lamity," he writes, " many Europeans were killed and 
 wounded, and a much greater number of the natives. The 
 w^hole street was covered with the massive stones of which 
 the magazine was constructed, with men prostrated be- 
 neath them. Besides the powder which exploded, a mul- 
 titude of shells and cartridges descended like hail." The 
 windows of his house were shattered, and several balls 
 flew into the room next him ; but amidst the surrounding 
 danger, both he, his catechists, school-children, and mem- 
 bers of his congregation, providentially escaped unhurt. 
 To Mr. Chambers he says : — 
 
 " By this time you are sufficiently informed of that 
 
126 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 divine judgment executed by a holy God on this sinful 
 place. I will not, therefore enlarge upon it, but bless God 
 for his divine protection which he vouchsafed me, the 
 children, and congregation. Human chastisements are 
 trifles when compared with divine ones. Well may we 
 stir up one another to fear God as well as to love him. 
 So many hundred souls sent into eternity, without a mo- 
 ment's warning, with all their sins about them — how ter- 
 rible ! No doubt many were amongst those unhappy 
 people, wlio dreamed of repenting to-morrow. May we be 
 wise, and employ the present time to the best of purposes ! 
 May we never slumber, lest the bridegroom come at mid- 
 night, and find us sleeping. Blessed are those that wake, 
 and keep their garments undefiled ! 
 
 " This I write just before I go to Tanjore. Pray for me, 
 and those that may hear the word of God. I wished Mr. 
 Gericke might come here for some months ; but that 
 seems impracticable. ' The harvest truly is great, but the 
 labourers few.' that God would stir up many to come 
 and help ! We wait upon thee, God. Let us not be 
 put to confusion. The enemy is at present fierce. May 
 God strengthen us ! " 
 
 At the beginning of this year, 1772, Mr. Swartz not 
 only preached the gospel in Trichinopoly and the neigh- 
 bouring villages, but sent out his catechists, generally 
 two together, to distant jplaces, where their labours were 
 more than usually successful. Among the converts who 
 were at this period added to .his congregation was a young 
 man from the country, who, having been met by one of 
 the catechists, was conducted to Swartz. He remained 
 with him several days, heard his instructions in silence, 
 and at length avowed his conviction of the falsehood of 
 heathenism. He then desired to go into the country, and, 
 after a few days, returned with his mother. He continued 
 to attend diligently to reading and prayer, and at his 
 baptism received the name of Sattianaden (Professor of the 
 Truth). Many of his relations were much offended at his 
 conversion ; but he advanced steadily in Christian faith, 
 accompanied the missionary and his assistants in their 
 
PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. 127 
 
 excursions, and manifested upon various occasions his 
 humility as well as his courage. In a short time he was 
 received as a catechist, " only," observes Swartz, with his 
 usual judgment, " I never send him forth alone, but in 
 company with an elder assistant, that if he should happen 
 to be roughly treated, he may have some one to console 
 him." Sattianaden proved, as it will hereafter be seen, 
 a genuine and valuable convert, and was distinguished 
 during a long course of years for his useful and laborious 
 services in the mission, to which he became thus early and 
 happily attached. 
 
 Another instance of conversion, of a very interesting 
 nature, occurred at this time, which is particularly men- 
 tioned in his journal for the year. It is that of a man, said 
 to have been more than a hundred years old, who placed 
 himself under instruction, and, considering his extreme 
 age, comprehended well what he was taught, and prayed 
 fervently. Not long afterwards he was taken iU, when he 
 earnestly entreated that he might not be allowed to die 
 unbaptized ; " for," said he, " I believe in Jesus Christ." 
 He was accordingly baptized and received, and was named, 
 at his own request, Eayappen (Peter), after one of the 
 younger catechists, to whom he was much attached. 
 During his illness he desired to be read and prayed with 
 diligently. " I visited him," says Swartz, " the day before 
 his departure, when he said, ' Now, padre, I am going to 
 the kingdom of blessedness ; and when I am gone, see to it 
 that my wife, who is ninety years of age, may at length 
 follow me.' Soon afterwards he expired, and, as an old 
 man of a hundred years, and a child of God of a few 
 months, he received honourable and Christian burial. His 
 aged wife is now under preparation, and has hitherto de- 
 lighted us by her grave, devout, and quiet demeanour. 
 She partakes of the spirit of those holy matrons of whom 
 Paul and Peter wrote. She is now about to receive with 
 us the holy communion. May the Lord bring in her 
 children and relations also ! " 
 
 Early in March, as intimated in his last letter to ^Mr. 
 Chambers, Swartz proceeded to Tanjore, accompanied by 
 three of his catechists. On the day after his ariival, the 
 
128 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 king having heard that he had been explaining the doctrines 
 of Christianity to his officers and servants in the palace, 
 desired to hear him himself. He was accordingly con- 
 ducted to a shady tree in the court before the king's apart- 
 ment, who, before he was aware, approached him, holding 
 a yellow umbrella. " At first," he says, " I did not recog- 
 nise him, as he was very thin compared with his robust 
 appearance when I saw him two years before. Having 
 made a low salam to him, ' Padre,' he said, ' I wish to speak 
 with you privately ; ' and led me to a detached court. 
 We had been together only a few minutes, when the 
 great Brahmin, who might be called the court chaplain, 
 joined us. The king prostrated himself to the ground, 
 and afterwards stood before him, with folded hands, while 
 the Brahmin placed himself on an elevated seat. The 
 rajah gave me a sign to address the Brahmin, who also 
 expressed a wish to hear the discourse which I had de- 
 livered in the palace the preceding day. I then directed 
 him to the supreme Creator and Preserver of all things, 
 and to the worship worthy of him, pointed out the folly of 
 adoring images and departed men, urged the depravity of 
 mankind, and exhibited the mercy of God in Christ, and 
 the method of salvation by repentance and faith in the 
 Saviour. The Brahmin listened in silence, and I was de- 
 sired to withdraw a little." Refreshments were afterwards 
 brought ; and while he was partaking of them the king 
 asked him many questions respecting the nature of re- 
 pentance, and particularly whether it were allowable to 
 return to the sins which we professed to lament. The 
 faithful missionary replied, that " true repentance con- 
 sisted in an hatred of all sin, which was inconsistent with 
 such a return." And to an inquiry as to what he thought 
 of the sin of drunkenness, though he perceived its ten- 
 dency, he took occasion, after the example of the great 
 Apostle, to " reason concerning temperance." 
 
 Notwithstanding his Christian boldness and fidelity, it 
 is evident that Swartz had conciliated in no common de- 
 gree the confidence of the rajah, and that he was anxious 
 to see and hear him as often as his superstitious dread of 
 oftending the Brahmins permitted. Intending to marry 
 
THE RAJAH OF TANJORE. 129 
 
 the daugliter of Captain Berg to another European officer 
 in his service, he desired that they might be previously- 
 examined and instructed in Christianity. At the end of 
 a fortnight the day for their marriage was fixed ; and the 
 king, having expressed his wish to be present at the cere- 
 mony, the bridal party met towards evening in the open 
 air, in front of the female apartments in the palace. Mr. 
 Swartz was accompanied oA this singular occasion by two 
 of his catechists and a schoolmaster. In the follovsdng 
 letter to Mr. Chambers, after mentioning the case of a pro- 
 mising catechumen, and his interviews with the rajah, he 
 details the particulars of this marriage ceremony : — 
 
 " My dear Friend, — Your kind letter I have received 
 by Nalla Tambi, who has been with us seventeen or eighteen 
 days, reading, hearing, and attending public and private 
 prayers. He seems to be pleased with such exercises. 
 Here he is as in a desert. He has no communication with 
 men, except with the catechists, who teach him something 
 daily out of the New Testament. May divine grace work 
 in him a thorough change of heart ; for without that, all 
 other exercises would prove fruitless. I shall now soon 
 see whether I stay here longer, or depart ; consequently, 
 whether Nalla Tambi will be baptized here or at Trichi- 
 nopoly. 
 
 " Concerning affairs here, I am quite in the dark. The 
 last time I was here I saw the king four times, and spoke 
 with him, more or less, of Christianity. But as soon as 
 Manoziappa was put at the head of the government, the 
 king was to be seen no more ; because such intercourse 
 was not proper ! The king himself is very free, and speaks 
 with one as a brother : but, unhappil}', he is addicted to 
 intoxicating drugs and the love of women. These two 
 things lessen his sense and authority. Were he to con- 
 verse freely with Christians, I firmly believe he would be 
 persuaded to be a Christian. He told me once, in reply 
 to my entreaty that he would give up his heart to God, 
 ' Alas ! my padre, that is no easy matter ! ' 
 
 " I fancy you have heard that the king desired me to 
 marry a couple in his palace, which I did. First we began 
 
 K 
 
130 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 with a hymn ; then I prayed ; after prayer, I preached a 
 sermon in Malabar, explained the duties of man and wife, 
 and enforced them by Christian motives, warning against 
 the opposite vices by all that is awful. The king and his 
 first people stood round us, hearing with attention, and 
 even making his remarks. His women were before me, 
 though concealed by a screen. All this displeased the 
 devil. 
 
 " We have been since preaching everywhere in and out 
 of the fort ; to which purpose I brought three catechists 
 from Trichinopoly. About ten days ago I was talking to 
 a number of people, when I was attacked by two servants 
 of the king. Leaving me, they went into another street, 
 where they found Rayappen (my former servant), and 
 Nydnapracdsam, (the young man who was abused by the 
 Papists in Trichinopoly). These two were reading the 
 New Testament to many people, in which work they were 
 attacked by those two servants of the king, beaten and 
 deprived of their Testaments. Rayappen and Nyanapra- 
 cdsam have behaved like Christians, declaring to all the 
 people present that they were not ashamed to suffer for 
 the sake of the truth. You see, then, that the word of 
 God meets with the same treatment everywhere. May 
 Jesus begin to open the eyes of the Gentiles, that they 
 may come and receive the salvation which is prepared for 
 them also ! " 
 
 The rajah (or king) of Tanjore began now to cultivate 
 the friendship of Swartz. He perceived the storm which 
 was approaching him on the part of the Nabob of the 
 Carnatic, and was desirous of employing the missionary 
 as a mediator between hira and the English, in order to 
 revive their drooping friendship. " Now," Swartz ob- 
 serves, " this in itself would not be sinful ; but it is a 
 dangerous matter to engage in such things with a people 
 so prone to deceit ; and this I distinctly avowed to them. 
 The king said, ' Padre, I have confidence in you, because 
 you are indifferent to money.' But his officers did not 
 wish me to be engaged in this affair, lest their own ini- 
 quity might be discovered. And thus it passed off; for 
 
FORBIDDEN TO PREACH. 131 
 
 which God be praised, as I had no occasion to declare fully 
 my averseness to the employment." 
 
 It is right to notice, in passing, the testimony borne by 
 the friendly rajah to the known superiority of Swartz to 
 the prevailing love of money, and the Christian integrity 
 and prudence with which he guarded against every engage- 
 ment which might in the remotest degree hinder or inter- 
 fere with his one grand object of promoting the Gospel in 
 India. 
 
 In the month of October he again visited Tanjore, and 
 conversed with numbers of all ranks on the great truths 
 of Christianity. Upon one occasion, however, he was for- 
 bidden by an inferior officer to preach so publicly with- 
 out an order from the king ; upon which he inquired, 
 whether he had any authority to interrupt him in the 
 peaceable exercise of his duty ; and finding that he had 
 not, he concluded that a Brahmin who happened to be 
 present had excited this temporary opposition. 
 
 Returning to Trichinopoly, he spent the rest of the 
 year in his usual 9ccupations, in which the goodness of 
 God permitted him to witness much that was hopeful, to 
 the strengthening of his faith and the comfort of his heart 
 in the midst of many discouragements and trials. He 
 thus piously concludes his journal: — 
 
 " With this I close, and praise the merciful God for his 
 unmerited goodness to me and the eight assistants during 
 the whole year. May He, according to the riches of his 
 mercy, forgive us whereinsoever we have, either inwardly 
 or outwardly, in act or omission, offended him ; clothe us 
 with the perfect righteousness of our Redeemer ; anoint us 
 with his Spirit, enlighten, strengthen, and bless us all, to 
 the praise of his mercy. Amen ! " 
 
 Tanjore began now to occupy increasingly ]\Ir, Swartz's 
 attention. In 1773 he came to the determination of sta- 
 tioning a catechist there, and occasionally visiting it him- 
 self. In January of that year he thus writes to Mr. 
 Chambers : — 
 
 " As some Malabar people seem willing to be instructed, 
 
132 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 I proposed to the gentlemen there to erect a small house 
 wherein we might assemble in an orderly manner ; which 
 they agreed to, and collected fifty pagodas for that pur- 
 pose. 1 intend to keep a catechist there, and to visit that 
 place occasionally. As some families beyond the Coleroon 
 came hither and were instructed, they desire to fix one 
 catechist there. In a few days' time I intend to go to that 
 place, in order to regulate matters as well as divine grace 
 leads us. 
 
 " I had many things to write to you, but my time being 
 much confined, I must conclude. May you grow daily in 
 grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ ! 
 May the blessed Spirit of Christ glorify Jesus more and 
 more in your heart ! And, oh, may you be honoured to be 
 a glorious instrument in promoting the honour of God, and 
 consequently the benefit of your fellow-creatures." 
 
 AVriting to the London Society, about the same time, 
 Swartz expresses his grateful sense of the divine goodness 
 in preserving him and his fellow-labourers in health during 
 the prevalence of an epidemic disease which had swept 
 away above a thousand persons in a fortnight. He informs 
 the Society of his visit to the natives beyond the Cole- 
 roon, mentioned in the preceding letter to Mr. Chambers, 
 and adds that, finding the greater part of the village in- 
 clined to embrace Christianity, he had left two catechists 
 there, and ordered everything for the building of a small 
 church, promising to return to them shortly. From thence 
 he went to Tranquebar to see his brethren the Danish 
 missionaries, and to regulate some affairs relating to his 
 congregation. He notices the increasing expenses of the 
 mission, but expresses a humble hope that a merciful God 
 will supply whatever might be needful — a hope which was 
 not long afterwards realized by a donation of 200^ on the 
 part of the members of the Society towards the support of 
 Swartz and his catechists. He gratefull}^ acknowledges the 
 Society's present of Bibles and Common Prayer-books, 
 which were most useful and acceptable to the English 
 soldiers ; and referring to the liberal offer of Archdeacon 
 Congrcve to defray the expense of translating into Tamul, 
 
THE N.VBOB OF ARCOT. 1 33 
 
 and printing, Leslie's Short Method with the Deists, and 
 Bishop Wilson's Imtructioiu for the Indians, he assures 
 the Society of his intention to accomplish that design on 
 his return to Trichinopoly. 
 
 A change took place in Tanjore at this time, which was 
 unfavourable to Mr. Swartz's views, and to the progress of 
 Christianity. The Madras Government took part with the 
 Nabob of Arcot, in a quarrel between him and the rajah ; 
 the British forces attacked Tanjore; and on the 17th of 
 September the fort was taken, and the rajah and his family 
 made prisoners. A short time before, Mr. Swartz had 
 written to ]\Ir. Chambers : — 
 
 " Here all is confusion. Poor Tanjore will — nay, must, 
 as they are pleased to say, fall. I am afraid Tanjore has 
 filled the measure of its sins, and is given up. Certainly 
 the poor rajah was blind and infatuated, otherwise he 
 might have prevented the present misery that comes upon 
 him. In January I was there the last time. I warned 
 them, and told them that in the present course they must 
 perish. Manoziappa's son said, ' What can we do ?' I 
 answered, ' Turn to Him who can help you.' He said, ' Is 
 it not the way of the world V ' Well,' I said, ' the course 
 of the world will undo you.' Within a short time it will 
 be decided. As the church at Vellum is to be turned into 
 an hospital, I shall go to try whether it may be prevented. 
 May Jesus be with jou and your spirit." 
 
 The Nabob of Arcot was less favourable to the mission 
 than his predecessor, and two applications for a site for a 
 church were refused. Yet Swartz writes to the London 
 Committee, that " Many of the best families would not 
 hesitate to become Christians, could it be shown how they 
 might maintain themselves. But the difficulties are now 
 greater than when Tanjore and the Mara war country had 
 their own princes and governments ; many thousands of 
 the inhabitants having quitted the country for want of 
 food and employment. VVe go on, however, casting all our 
 burden upon Him ' who careth for us,' and who can point 
 
134 THE LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 out a thousand means of alleviating these distresses, and 
 open the way for the reception of his word." 
 
 In the same letter he informs the Society that two of 
 his catechists were stationed at Vellum, for the instruction 
 of the small congregation collected there ; and that his own 
 at Trichinopoly had received a large accession of members. 
 Several of these, he acknowledged with his characteristic 
 sincerity, had been actuated rather by the pressure of the 
 famine which was then afflicting the country, than by a 
 genuine desire of knowing the way of salvation. " As they 
 insist, however, on being instructed," he adds, " I think it 
 my duty to bestow on them all diligence, though the labour 
 sometimes increases to a great degree, hoping that some at 
 least may make a good use of my instructions ; nor have 
 I been disappointed in my expectations." 
 
 In 1774 and 1775 the labours of Swartz in Trichinopoly 
 appear to have been largely blessed. The converts were 
 numerous, and generally intelligent. Among them Swartz 
 mentions a young man of high caste, who had deliberated 
 more than three years, whether he would embrace the 
 gospel. His relations opposed his conversion, but he 
 followed the convictions of his own mind ; and, having 
 cultivated our language, was taken into the service of an 
 English gentleman. His countrymen shunned and reviled 
 him ; which he bore with humility, yet without dejection ; 
 and finding that they could not depress his spirits, they 
 acknowledged the wrong they had done him, and even en- 
 treated him to read to them some passages of the New 
 Testament. In the same letter, Swartz speaks of two fa- 
 milies near Trichinopoly, who had been converted, and 
 whose patience, under the persecution which had followed 
 from their heathen neighbours, combined with a degree of 
 cheerful boldness in maintaining their Christian profession, 
 had been productive of such happy effects, that a third 
 family had been induced to embrace the truth ; and he 
 entertained the hope of shortly seeing the whole village 
 converted to Christianity. 
 
 In 1776 the deposition of Tuljajee, the dethroned 
 rajah, came under review in England, and the Court of 
 
STATE OF AFFAIRS AT TANJORE. 135 
 
 Directors saw ground for disapproving of the course 
 adopted by their officers in India. An order was sent out 
 to restore the rajah to his former rank and position, and 
 the British president of Fort St. George was recalled. In 
 April of this year Tuljajee was publicly proclaimed rajah ; 
 and the way thus appeared to be again opened for Mr. 
 Swartz's efforts for the spread of Christianity. 
 
 In the course of this and the next year, however, a great 
 disappointment was suffered by the mission. Mr. Schoelkopf, 
 of whose efficiency warm anticipations were entertained, 
 was sent out for the reinforcement of the mission, and 
 reached Madras in safety, but died very shortly after. 
 Swartz thus adverts to this loss, in a letter to Professor 
 Freylinghausen of Halle : — 
 
 " Your letter, containing the agreeable intelligence of a 
 missionary coming to my assistance, afforded me great 
 satisfaction. This gentleman arrived safely at Madras ; 
 but it pleased the Lord of life and death soon to call him to 
 himself, by a pleurisy, which terminated his life in a few 
 days. You may easily conceive how deeply this intelli- 
 gence affected me. But the Lord is holy : just and true 
 are all his ways. Our duty is to submit to his will. May 
 he have mercy on us, and support the work in which we 
 are engaged, for Christ's sake." 
 
 Of the state of affairs at Tanjore he adds, in the same: 
 letter : — 
 
 " Respecting our situation at Tanjore, you will easily 
 conceive the confusion into which we have been thrown 
 by the late events at Madras. Indeed, the arrest of the 
 governor by his council could not fail to have a great in- 
 fluence on the affairs of Tanjore. It being known that the 
 king placed confidence in me, I received letters requesting 
 me to persuade him to accede to certain propositions ; but 
 this I refused in a polite way, as a business which would 
 interfere with the conscientious discharge of my sacred 
 office. This is the cause of my not having conversed with 
 the king for these six months past. It is with great re- 
 
136 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 gret I have to inform you that he has lately given way to 
 a luxurious and dissipated life, so that little hope can 
 now be entertained respecting him. Yet, let us not for- 
 get that God can do exceeding abundantly above all that 
 we can ask or think." 
 
 But though thus disappointed, Swartz was not dis- 
 heartened, nor did he relax his efforts. As one plain and 
 effectual way of prosecuting his work, he learned the 
 Mahratta language, and published in that tongue a dialogue 
 between a Christian and a heathen : which little work is 
 still largely used on the coast of Coromandel. This dialogue 
 discusses the following subjects : — 
 
 " 1st. On the being and infinite majesty of God. 
 
 " 2d. On his glorious attributes. 
 
 " 3rd. On creation and providence. 
 
 " 4th. On the overflowing goodness of God towards our 
 first parents, in creating them good and happy. 
 
 " 5th. On their deplorable fall, and consequent great 
 misery. 
 
 " 6th. On the unspeakable mercy of God in promising, 
 and sending in due time, a Saviour, to the fallen human race. 
 
 " 7th. On our Saviour's person, and what he has done 
 for the redemption of mankind. 
 
 " 8th. The way appointed by God for receiving man 
 into his favour again ; namely, that of repentance, faith, 
 and holiness. 
 
 " 9th. The means by which mankind may obtain 
 strength for repentance ; namely, prayer and the sacra- 
 ments. 
 
 " 10th. On the unspeakable happiness of those who 
 walk in the path of faith ordained by God, and keep his 
 commandments. 
 
 " 11th. Lastly, a treatise, proving the truth of the 
 Christian religion." 
 
 Swartz now became more and more satisfied of the im- 
 portance of the opening he had found at Tanjore. He thus 
 writes : — 
 
RECEIVES ASSISTANCE. 137 
 
 " I regret that I cannot reside more constantly at Tanjore. 
 I have scarcely found an entrance into the hearts of my 
 hearers, when I must leave them again. You are well aware 
 that a few conversations will not suffice. Continual preach- 
 ing is required, as well as frequent friendly converse, which 
 will afford an opportunity of bringing to their consideration 
 the various divine truths of the Scriptures. By relating to 
 them the many remarkable events revealed in the Old and 
 New Testaments, the foundation of heathenism is shaken, 
 and Christianity appears in all her beauty. IMany have 
 observed, that when they first conversed with me, scarcely 
 anything struck them as deserving particular attention ; 
 and that they secretly thought how they might get rid of 
 me, or confound me by their answers. But after hearing a 
 more complete representation of the different facts and 
 points of tlie Christian religion, they then saw the end in 
 view, and the advantages to be obtained. God grant that we 
 may put our hands with renewed zeal, vigour, and joy, to 
 the great work of converting the heathen ! " 
 
 But when his wish became known, aid was soon sup- 
 plied to him. The Tranquebar mission detached one of 
 its members, the Rev. Christian Pohle, then recently ar- 
 rived in India, to his assistance ; and the London Com- 
 mittee readily adopted this gentleman as one of its mis- 
 sionaries on the Trichinopoly station. This excellent 
 missionary made himself master of the English as well as 
 the Tamul language, so as to officiate with acceptance in 
 both, and soon took a very active part in the work of the 
 ministry and the schools. 
 
 Thus relieved of a part of his duties, Mr. Swartz was 
 able to visit Tanjore more frequently. In 1777 he paid 
 four visits to that place. " In one of my journeys," he 
 says, " I arrived at a large place, where the heathen were 
 celebrating a feast. I was struck with the excessive crowd 
 which I saw before me. I stood at some distance from 
 them, but was soon surrounded by a great number of 
 people, to whom I explained the glorious perfections of 
 God, and remarked how they dishonoured him by their 
 idolatry. I told them at the same time, what infinite 
 
138 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 mercy God had shown to lost sinners, by sending them a 
 Redeemer, and how they might become partakers of the 
 benefits of redemption. All seemed pleased, and acknow- 
 ledged their own folly, and the excellence of the Christian 
 doctrine. I spoke till I was quite exhausted." 
 
 In his letter to the Society for promoting Christian 
 Knowledge, he laments in this year the loss of the able and 
 exemplary catechist, Eayappen. " His solid knowledge," 
 he says, " of the Christian doctrine, his meek behaviour to- 
 wards all, his contented mind, and, more particularly, his 
 love of Christ and humble zeal in preaching the word of 
 God, were acknowledged both by Christians and heathens." 
 
 With respect to the natives in general he observes, 
 " that though many who were convinced of the truth and 
 excellence of Christianity were restrained by worldly con- 
 siderations from embracing it, the divine blessing rested 
 on his endeavours, to the real conversion of some." " It is 
 our duty," he adds, " to be faithful in the discharge of our 
 office, without being too anxious as to the number of those 
 who are benefited by our labours." 
 
 At the commencement of 1778 he thus writes to Pro- 
 fessor Freylinghausen, at Halle, who now occupied the post 
 formerly filled by the elder and the younger Francke : — 
 
 " Blessed be God for his abundant mercy, by which 
 the missionary brethren and myself have been spared, sup- 
 ported, directed, and consoled ! Who are we, that He 
 should have compassion on us from day to day ? We are 
 all well, although some of us begin to feel the effects of 
 advanced age. The different congregations at Trichinopoly, 
 Vellum, and Tanjore, are not only preserved, but have 
 lately received an accession of fifty members. The schools 
 are continued with good success ; but it is with regret 
 that I have to state, that the junior teacher of the English 
 school has applied for leave to resign his place, as another 
 more lucrative situation has been offered to him. The 
 senior schoolmaster also wishes to leave us ; he intends 
 to turn merchant. They have by no means" — such is the 
 pious reflection of the devoted missionary upon the se- 
 cession of these useful fellow-labourers — " a due value for 
 the welfare of immortal souls. As they see other people 
 
REMOVES TO TANJORE. 139 
 
 labouring for riches, and many succeeding in their schemes, 
 they also become eager for their possession. may the 
 gracious Lord not leave us ! 
 
 " The catechists are all out on different journeys to 
 preach the gospel to Christians and heathens. From their 
 reports, as well as from my own observations, it appears 
 that the principal cause which prevents most heathens 
 from embracing Christianity is the fear of man. 
 
 " Of the king of Tanjore I cannot relate much good at 
 present. Formerly the Brahmins stood in his way; and 
 
 now . But let us recollect, that all things are possible 
 
 with God. He has ways and means of humbling the proud, 
 and of opening prospects for the dissemination of the 
 gospel. I have presented the king with a copy of the 
 Treatise, which I composed at the desire of Archdeacon 
 Congreve, which he received kindly ; and it is said that he 
 reads it. May God bless its perusal ! " 
 
 And now, for the remainder of his life, we shall find 
 Swartz, for the most part, a resident in Tanjore. 
 
140 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 IV. 
 
 SWARTZ AT TaNJORE — HiS GREAT AND BENEFICIAL 
 
 Influence — Death of the Eajah. 
 
 A.D. 1778—1787. 
 
 Fixed now in the spot where the last twenty years of his life 
 were to be spent, we find Swartz, in full maturity, the same 
 zealous, untiring, judicious missionary. Early in 1778 we 
 meet with one or two letters to Mr. Chambers, which show 
 his heart still bent on his work. 
 
 " My dear Friend, — You have truly put me to shame 
 by your repeated kind favours, when I reflect on my neg- 
 lect in answering. Pardon this neglect. I promise to 
 mend in this, as I ought in all points of my duty. 
 
 " Hitherto a merciful God has preserved your unworthy 
 friend, and bestowed on him innumerable benefits. "Would 
 to God I had made proper returns for all his unmerited 
 kindness ! 
 
 " The mournful story of your valuable servant has much 
 affected me, and every one who has heard of it. Satan is 
 * a murderer from the beginning,' and his servants are too 
 often, at least in their hearts, of the same hellish disposi- 
 tion. The conduct of that young man is a great comfort 
 to you and to us in this melancholy affair. May God raise 
 up many to be witnesses of his grace, and the divine effects 
 which it produces in the hearts of all, who do not wilfully 
 oppose it ! 
 
 " The most agreeable account which I have heard a 
 long time of the conversion of souls, is doubtless that 
 which you so circumstantially described to me. I mean 
 that happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. . Tell them that as all 
 
AT TANJORE. 141 
 
 angels and servants of God rejoice over a sinner that re- 
 penteth, so the devil and his servants murmur and blas- 
 pheme. may our blessed Redeemer fill their hearts with 
 * joy and peace in believing,' that they may go on vigor- 
 ously to the praise of their Saviour, to the encouragement 
 of fellow-Christians, and to the confusion of the devil ! 
 
 " Here I had a few days ago an example which pleased 
 me very much, though attended with trouble. A young 
 man of twenty-four years, of the shraf caste, resolved to 
 visit us at our evening prayer — heard the word of God 
 explained, joined in prayer, meditated what to do — came 
 to a settle(l resolution to join the despised people of God. 
 Not poverty, not quarrel, but a desire of being happy, in- 
 clined him. He was engaged to marry a young woman, 
 the daughter of a rich man at Seringham. The day of their 
 wedding was appointed. He told his mother that he would 
 fain marry that girl, but not with idolatrous rites. The 
 mother said, ' I wish I had killed you as soon as you were 
 born,' &c. All this happened before his being baptized. 
 The relations got him cunningly, and kept him a close pri- 
 soner ; but he found an opportunity of making his escape, 
 and came hither to Tanjore. His mother and others made 
 a great noise, and came and begged I would not admit him. 
 I replied, in the presence of Brahmins and a number of 
 people, that I never forced anybody ; but that I could not 
 reject him, if he desired me to instruct him. Further, I 
 said, ' Here he is ; ask him whether he likes to go with 
 you, or stay with us.' The young man said, ' Mother, and 
 friends, if ypu can show me a better way to heaven, I will 
 follow you ; but I will not live any longer in idolatry.' I 
 remained in my house ; the young man went to the chat- 
 tiram ; his relations followed him, and fairly carried him 
 oflf to Vellum ; but he again contrived to make his escape. 
 After that I instructed him daily, and baptized him. May 
 Jesus triumph over all his enemies shortly ! 
 
 " As to the rajah here, I thought to write to you as 
 soon as I knew anything with certainty. But I saw that 
 this might detain me too long. I have not seen him since 
 February. He has married more wives ; lives a sensual 
 life, and indulges much, as his people say, in drunkenness. 
 
142 Lli'E OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 He is surrounded with bad people. Nay, to say the plain 
 truth, the behaviour of many Europeans to him has dis- 
 gusted him much. You know, my dear friend, that the 
 generality of our people do not mind that which is 
 Christ's. 
 
 " In Colonel Wood's affair, he has declared that not he 
 but the nabob is obliged to pay the debt. 
 
 " Remember me to your kind brother. how T esteem 
 people who introduce justice into this desert. May your 
 brother prosper ! But you mention not a word of your 
 mother. God bless you ! 
 
 " I am, 
 " Your affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWAKTZ." 
 
 " Jinie 25, 1778. 
 
 " My dear Friend, — I arrived here at ]\ladras yesterday ; 
 and as I heard that a vessel is to be despatched to-morrow 
 for Bengal, I thought it my duty to write you a line or two. 
 The occasion of my taking this journey is melancholy. Mr. 
 
 , who has brought disgrace upon himself and us all, is 
 
 dangerously ill. Some friends thought it necessary that I 
 should try to get some information concerning certain 
 points before he died. He is a little better, and as I have 
 been dissuaded from entering upon that business, I shall 
 say no more of it, except that his conduct has given me 
 the most pungent pain. What shall I say ? Let us watch 
 and pray, lest we enter, fall, and sink into temptation. 
 What is man when left to his own foolish devices ! 
 
 " Your truly friendly letter has revived me in the midst 
 of all my present anxieties. The contents of it are glad 
 tidings out of Sion. Blessed be God ! 
 
 " I rejoice that you have awakened in some degree 
 
 Mr. . may you be a happy instrument of his 
 
 thorough recovery ! Your advice to him not to compose 
 his own sermons till he be more perfect in the English 
 language is prudent. Anything of his own composition in 
 his present condition would rather hinder edification. May 
 he have so much good sense as to follow the advice of 
 sincere friends ! 
 
AT TANJORE. 143 
 
 " It is cHeering to reflect on the externally devout be- 
 haviour of the congregation. may the Spirit of Jesus 
 come on them like rain, that the Bengal desert may become 
 a fertile soil and fruitful field of the Lord ! 
 
 " That this time is a time of apostasy and blasphemy 
 none can deny ; but this must not discourage us from 
 glorifying our God and Redeemer. No ; ' tu contra auden- 
 tior ito^ Who knows but God may bless us one way or 
 other 1 And if (which God forbid !) we should seem to 
 spend our strength in vain, yet the work (and the fruit of 
 it) is the Lord's. 
 
 " It is a most pleasing reflection to me, which has been 
 much strengthened by the reading of your favour, that 
 God is able to raise up to himself servants to do his wiU, 
 and to promote the glory of his name, though those who 
 are most obliged to do it should turn faithless to their 
 charge. 
 
 " May you be a burning and a shining light, like St. 
 John — a light full of divine knowledge — burning, and 
 vigorous to live according to that knowledge ; and lastly, 
 shining, and difiiising that knowledge wherever you 
 are ! 
 
 " ^iy poor prayer shall attend you, and your dear friends. 
 Whenever I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ I shall often remember you, not only because 
 you are my friend, but because you are a friend of my dear 
 Master. 
 
 " Eemember me kindly to Mr. and Mrs. , likewise 
 
 the young lady that has dared to be unfashionable, so as 
 to count all things but dross in comparison of the excel- 
 lency of Jesus Christ our Lord. My prayer to God is, that 
 they all may be fruitful branches ingrafted into the true 
 vine, viz. Jesus Christ. 
 
 " And now, my dear friend, abide in him, so shall you 
 become daily more fruitful, and your fruit shall remain 
 sure ; and which, above all, is comfortable, your prayer 
 will be acceptable before God, so that whatever you ask, 
 the Father in heaven will grant, on account of Jesus, with 
 whom you are united. 
 
 " Farewell, my dearest of all friends. Be strong, watch 
 
144 LITE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 and pray. And may God prosper you ! You shall hear 
 from me again soon. 
 
 " I am constantly, 
 " Your affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 In his report to the London Committee for the year 
 1778 he says : — 
 
 " Hardly a day passes in which Brahmins do not visit 
 my house at Tanjore, hear attentively what is addressed 
 to them, frequently take up a book in which the doctrines 
 of Christianity are explained, and praise it as a divine 
 religion." But too generally their convictions ended with 
 their applause. " A Brahmin," he continues, " being asked 
 what he would resolve upon, whether he intended to stifle 
 his conviction, or to receive that divine doctrine, and to 
 profess it, replied that he could not deny the impression 
 he had received, and that he had sounded some of his 
 acquaintance ; but that they all insisted upon the task as 
 too difficult and dangerous, on account of the great numbers 
 of the professors of idolatry. Nothing, therefore, but fear 
 keeps them at present from embracing the Christian reli- 
 gion ; but it is to be hoped that this conviction will em- 
 bolden them, one day or other, to shake off that inglorious 
 servitude of sin and' Satan. For my part," he adds, " I 
 entertain a cheerful hope of seeing better days, and there- 
 fore rejoice in the present opportunity of preaching the 
 salutary doctrine of Christ, frequently calhng to my 
 mind, that there is a time of sowing preceding that of 
 reaping. 
 
 " At Trichinopoly, we begin and end the day with pub- 
 lic prayer. At Taujore, I have introduced the same custom. 
 Very often, Brahmins and others have been present, ob- 
 serving our reading the word of God, our singing and pray- 
 ing. I never discourage the heathen from being present 
 at any of our acts of solemn worship." 
 
 The following year, 1779, was signalized by the erection 
 of a handsome church. Of this Swartz writes : — 
 
AT TANJORE. 145 
 
 " AYe had lost our church in Tanjore, after that fort 
 had fallen into the hands of the nabob. He amused us 
 with empty promises ; but when we were quite at a loss 
 where to assemble for divine service, my pious friend, 
 Major Stevens, built us a fine mud-wall church, which cost 
 him upwards of a hundred star pagodas. But the congre- 
 gation increasing rapidly, and a fresh covering with straw 
 being requisite from time to time, we began in January, 
 1779, to think of building a spacious and permanent church. 
 A subscription was set on foot, but the amount was shame- 
 fully insignificant. At Madras, about ten thousand pagodas 
 were cheerfully contributed towards erecting a playhouse ; 
 but to build a house of prayer people have no money. 
 Major Stevens, who could have efiectually promoted the 
 subscription, and superintended the building, and who in- 
 tended to return to Europe, and make a faithful repre- 
 sentation of what might promote the true interest of the 
 Honourable Company, and the welfare of this country, was 
 killed on the 14th of October, 1778, before Pondicherry. 
 
 " General ^Munro, who knew, as well as everybody, that 
 Major Stevens and I lived together as brethren, condoled 
 with me in the kindest manner, saying, ' You will not soon 
 get a Stevens again ; however, I request you will consider 
 me as your friend.' Although we are bid not to place our 
 reliance upon men, and although their promises are seldom 
 anything more than compliments, yet I praise the Lord, 
 whenever he makes any one's heart willing to further the 
 work of God, even in the smallest degree. At a visit which 
 General ]\lunro and I paid the rajah, the General observed, 
 that Christianity is far to be preferred to Paganism. ' I 
 am convinced,' said the rajah, ' that the Christian religion 
 is a hundred thousand times better than idolatry.' But 
 the conduct of the Europeans makes a bad impression on 
 his mind. 
 
 " In full reliance on the help of God, I set about the 
 building of the church in the little fort. On the 10th of 
 INlarch, 1779, the General laid the foundation-stone, nine 
 feet deep ; and the garrison being assembled, I preached a 
 short sermon from the sixty-seventh Psalm. 
 
 " As I had rendered the General some little service by 
 
 L 
 
146 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 translating the letter which the Court of Directors had 
 written to the king, by performing the duty of a chaplain 
 in camp for a short time, and otherwise, I was informed 
 that he had requested Government to make me a present 
 for my trouble. Instantly, when I heard it, I wrote to 
 Madras, declining any present for myself; but if they 
 would do me a favour, I requested that they would make 
 a present of bricks and lime, of which the Company had 
 here a quantity in store, towards building of this church, 
 as we had not even money enough to pay the labourers, 
 much less to purchase materials. The General, who went 
 to Madras, promised to support and promote my request." 
 
 His petition was, after some delay, fully granted. In- 
 deed, it was at this moment that the Madras government 
 requested the services of the missionary, in the delicate 
 and responsible duty of a private embassy to Hyder Ali, 
 at Seringapatam. As the object of this embassy was strictly 
 pacific, — as it was the chief object of the Government to 
 send to the ruler of Mysore an agent in whom he was 
 likely to have confidence, and on whose report they also 
 could rely, — Mr. Swartz did not feel at liberty to refuse the 
 duty. He says : — 
 
 " I requested time for reflection, intending to lay the 
 case in retirement before God. It immediately occurred 
 to me that it was in more than one respect an undertaking 
 of danger." It was, indeed, truly such, both from the nature 
 of the country through which he was to pass, and from the 
 fierce and perfidious character of the despotic chief whose 
 territories he was about to enter. 
 
 " Having implored wisdom from above, I thought it," 
 he continues, " my duty not to decline the proposal. The 
 grounds which determined me, were, 
 
 " 1st. Because the mission to Hyder was not attended 
 with any political intrigues. To preserve the blessings of 
 peace was the only aim I had in view, and at that time I 
 really believed Sir Thomas's intentions to be upright and 
 peaceable, I considered, that if God, according to the 
 riches of his mercy, would vouchsafe to employ mc as an 
 
HIS INFLUENCE. 147 
 
 instrument to establish the happiness of British India, I 
 durst not withdraw myself, nor shrink back on account of 
 the danger of the undertaking, of which I was fully aware ; 
 but I ventured upon it in firm reliance upon God and his 
 fatherly protection. 
 
 " 2d. Because this would enable me to announce the 
 Gospel of God my Saviour in many parts, where it had 
 never been known before. And, 
 
 " 3d. As the Honourable Company and the Govern- 
 ment had shown me repeated kindness, I conceived that 
 by this journey I might give them some marks of my 
 gratitude. 
 
 " But at the same time I resolved to keep my hands 
 undcfiled from any presents, by which determination the 
 Lord enabled me to abide ; so that I have not accepted a 
 single farthing, save my travelling expenses." 
 
 Having consented to undertake this duty, Swartz set 
 out from Trichinopoly, accompanied by a catechist, on 
 July 1, 1779. It was the 24th of August before he arrived 
 at the fort of Mysore. Here he had several interviews with 
 Hyder Ali ; who, he says, " gave plain answers to all the 
 questions I was ordered to put to him." On his last inter- 
 view, Swartz thought it necessary to explain his own posi- 
 tion and his motives. 
 
 " ' You may perhaps wonder,' said I, ' what could have 
 induced me, a priest, who has nothing to do with political 
 concerns, to come to you, and that on an errand which 
 does not properly belong to my sacerdotal functions. But 
 as I was plainly told, that the sole object of my journey 
 was the preservation and confirmation of peace ; and having 
 witnessed, more than once, the misery and horrors at- 
 tending on war ; I thought within my own mind, how 
 happy I should deem myself, if I could be of service in 
 cementing a durable friendship between the two govern- 
 ments ; and thus securing the blessings of peace to this 
 devoted country, and its inhabitants. This I considered 
 as a commission in no wise inconsistent with my office as a 
 minister of a religion of peace.' He said, with great cor- 
 diality, ' Very well ! very well ! I am of the same opinion 
 
148 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 with you ; and my only wish is, that the Enghsh would 
 live in peace with me. If they offer me the hand of peace 
 
 and concord, I shall not withdraw mine, provided ' " 
 
 "But of these mysterious provisions, nothing," observes 
 Colonel Wilks, "can now be ascertained." 
 
 "I then," adds Swartz, "took my leave ; and on enter- 
 ing my palanquin I found three hundred rupees which he 
 had sent me, to defray the expenses of my journey." 
 
 Returning to Madras, Mr. Swartz made his report of 
 all that had passed ; and he adds, " having been furnished 
 with all necessaries by the honourable Board, I delivered 
 the bag containing the three hundred rupees sent to me 
 by Hyder to them, who desired me to keep it. Thus urged, 
 I requested their permission to appropriate this sum as the 
 first fund for an English orphan-school at Taujore, hoping 
 that some charitable people would increase it. General 
 Munro promised to recommend the plan to the gentlemen 
 of the settlement." 
 
 " Being told," he adds, " that Sir Thomas Rumbold in- 
 tended to procure me a present from the Board, I begged 
 leave to decline accepting any, declaring that if my journey 
 had been in any way beneficial to the public, I rejoiced at 
 the opportunity. I signified, however, that it would make 
 me very happy if the Board would allow my colleague at 
 Trichinopoly the same yearly sum they had given to me, 
 being convinced that he would use it for the benefit of the 
 school, and the maintenance of some catechists. This re- 
 quest was granted. Mr. Pohle receives at Trichinopoly 
 yearly a hundred pounds sterling, as I do here at Tanjore ; 
 by which means we are enabled to maintain in both places 
 schoolmasters and catechists." The Government further 
 immediately ordered that he should be supplied with 
 bricks and lime towards the building of his church at 
 Tanjore. 
 
 So terminated this memorable visit of Swartz to the 
 capital of Mysore. " Of my journey back," he observes, 
 " and the conversations I held with heathens, Roman 
 Catholics, and Mahomedans, I cannot, on account of the 
 shortness of time, say more. God preserved me on the 
 dangerous journey, gave me abundant opportunities to 
 
HIS INFLUENCE. 149 
 
 announce his word, and directed all circumstances so as 
 was most expedient for me. Praised be his gracious name ! 
 May the Almighty grant that everywhere, and even in the 
 Mysore country, his Gospel may be preached, received, and 
 glorified ; so that many thousands may be converted, and 
 eternally saved, to the praise and glory of God, and of his 
 Son Jesus Christ !" 
 
 In April, 1780, Swartz was enabled to consecrate his 
 new church, by the name of Christ Church. " It is built," 
 he writes, " on the plan of the church at Trichinopoly, 
 being ninety feet long and fifty broad ; so that five hun- 
 dred people may conveniently find room in it. But," he 
 continues, " though the church is very convenient to the 
 garrison, it is not so to the IMalabar congregation, the 
 greater part of whom live in the suburbs. They used to 
 assemble in the large fort, where my late worthy friend, 
 Major Stevens, had prepared a very convenient place. 
 
 " But as the spot on which he built belonged to a 
 Brahmin family, which he endeavoured to find out, but in 
 vain, and when at last that family, upon their return to 
 the fort, refused to sell the ground, we were in conscience 
 obhged to let them possess their own property. However, 
 we soon got a more convenient place given us by the 
 rajah, near to which was a vaulted house for the use of an 
 European family. That family quitting the place, I bought 
 the house for one hundred and fifty pagodas, which were 
 given me by Mr. John Macpherson, at the time of his 
 returning to England, and by General Munro. But as this 
 house was by much too small for the congregation, I 
 lengthened it, so that it is now a convenient church for 
 that congregation. It Hes on a rising ground, not an 
 English mile distant from the fort. Round about it hve 
 the inhabitants. On all sides of it is an empty spot, on 
 which may be built a school-house, and houses for the 
 catechists. I have inclosed it with a wall. All circum- 
 stances concurred to make this house of prayer convenient, 
 healthy, and remote from noise. Blessed be God, that we 
 are so agreeably placed ! May he graciously vouchsafe his 
 blessing, that many thousands of the poor heathens may 
 
150 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 hear, embrace, and practise the truth preached in the midst 
 of their habitations." 
 
 Shortly after this, we meet with a beautiful letter from 
 Swartz to the daughter of his friend Colonel Wood, to whom 
 he says : — 
 
 " With great joy I have been reading again and again 
 
 the most agreeable letter which N has written me. 
 
 I praise God for all the innumerable blessings which he, 
 for the sake of your Eedeemer, has bestowed upon you all, 
 particularly for that inestimable benefit of being guided, 
 instructed, and corrected by a religious mother and go- 
 verness. Be sure you are, in this respect, blessed above 
 millions. The advantages which you daily reap from that 
 double blessing are obvious, and very great. The impres- 
 sions which we get from the good example of those whom 
 we honour are very lasting ; and though we sometimes 
 swerve, they follow us, and incline our hearts to pursue 
 
 that which is good. My blessed friend, Major S , told 
 
 me, that the pious conduct of his mother laid the first 
 foundations of that excellent frame of mind which was 
 afterwards raised and strengthened by Divine grace. But 
 remember always the rule which is strictly observed by 
 God, namely, ' To whom much is given, from them much 
 will be required.' O my dear young friends, regard the 
 admonitions, example, nay, and the correction, of your 
 pious mamma ; despise them not ; prize them higher than 
 all jewels. Rejoice her heart by your humble and obe- 
 dient behaviour, as I hope you have hitherto done. Doubt- 
 less you see and hear much in so large a city, which should 
 not so much as be named by Christians. But the Church 
 is at present like a field which is overgrown with weeds, 
 thorns, and thistles. You are happily guarded by your 
 Christian education against the pernicious influence which 
 the prevailing wickedness might otherwise have over you. 
 Shun those places ; turn away your eyes and hearts from 
 all which might vitiate your mind, or at least tempt you, 
 or retard you in your way. Be sure, you may pray, nay 
 
HIS INFLUENCE. 151 
 
 be fervent in prayer ; but except you watch, you will lose 
 all most miserably. Watchfulness is the soul of Christ- 
 ianity. Be therefore careful. Watch ; above all, watch 
 over your heart, over your conversation, over the company 
 you keep. In short, be wise virgins. You will then be 
 ready to go out to meet the Lord. You read, you pray, 
 you sing hymns ; but take care that all these excellent 
 things may improve your hearts and lives, that by your 
 reading you may grow in the knowledge of Jesus, in faith, 
 in a sincere love towards him, in willingness to follow him, 
 in hating and rejecting all things which hinder you in your 
 desire of winning Christ, and the happiness of being found 
 in him. I remember you all frequently ; my heart wishes 
 you all the riches of grace, of strength, and comfort, which 
 are to be found in Jesus. 
 
 " When you come together to bow your knees before 
 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, forget not your old 
 friend who lives in this wilderness. Beg of God, that 
 grace may be given me to finish my course with joy, and 
 that in the time that my kind Master suffereth me to 
 work I may glorify him. After I have preached in the 
 fort to the English, I go out to the Malabar church, 
 when I preach from ten till twelve. In the afternoon 
 a catechist repeats the sermon, and at seven o'clock in 
 the evening we have prayer ; then I go to rest pleasingly 
 tired. At our prayer I frequently remember you. Such 
 joy the Lord my Master grants me in the wilderness ! Oh, 
 when shall we appear before his glorious presence ! Till I 
 see you there, I am 
 
 " Your aficctionate friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 Towards the close of the same year he thus writes to 
 Mrs. Chambers : — 
 
 " Tanjore, Bee. 19, 1780. 
 
 "Madam, — Had I no other reason for addressing you 
 than your being connected with my dearest friend in India, 
 I think I should stand absolved from all imputation of 
 being impertinent. But you have sent me joyful news con- 
 cerning Air. 's life and death, and copied them with 
 
152 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 your own hands ; by this, you have made my addressing 
 you an act of gratitude. 
 
 " I rejoice over your mutual happiness. You, madam, 
 are united to a Christian. This will, this must ennoble 
 your state of matrimony. This must endear your con- 
 nexion, even in respect of eternity. How haj)py should I 
 be, if I could see you both, converse with you, and finish 
 our conversation with prayer and thanksgiving. But though 
 I cannot enjoy this delight at present, I may anticipate 
 something of it by sending you a line now and then. 
 
 " You know, madam, that the goodness of a building 
 depends much upon the foundation ; if that be deep and 
 firm, the whole building will be strong. 
 
 " Just so it is in Christianity, which is compared, by an 
 excellent master-builder (St. Paul), to a building. Let us 
 then take care to lay the foundation as deep as possible. 
 
 " The only foundation of all our holiness and happiness, 
 in time and eternity, is Jesus Christ ; his atonement, his 
 righteousness, and sacrifice. If we are united to him, so 
 as to share in his all-sufiicient righteousness, we shall have 
 and enjoy every blessing : wisdom, righteousness, sanctifi- 
 cation, and redemption : we shall glory in him. 
 
 " Now, that we may know, value, "desire, and choose 
 Him, we must know ourselves, and our sad condition by 
 nature. In proportion as we know ourselves, we shall 
 desire and hunger after Jesus, more or less. And still how 
 backward are we to know our hearts, our poverty, and 
 misery ! Let us, therefore, entreat God to grant us his 
 Spirit, that by the light of the Searcher of hearts we may 
 see our true condition. This will make us humble, and 
 show our poverty ; but blessed are the poor in spirit, who 
 have been so far enlightened as to see their poverty, in 
 respect of knowledge, holiness, strength, happiness ; for in 
 all these particulars we are poor. 
 
 "This poverty the world endeavours to remove by 
 riches, honour, fame, pleasures, and what not. But gold 
 and silver cannot pay off our dreadful debt which we have 
 contracted ; it may, by ill use, even increase it. 
 
 " Others endeavour io become free from sin and sorrow 
 by living a strict and virtuous life : they are servants, who 
 
HIS INFLUENCE. 153 
 
 owe their master ten thousand talents, but they fancy to 
 pay off that debt by a farthing or two ; and by such far- 
 things, as, if well inspected, will be found to be bad coin. 
 But the strict and holy law of God says, ' Pay that which 
 thou owest ;' pay all, perfectly. ' Cursed be every one that 
 doeth not according to all that is written in the law.' And 
 who of us is able to satisfy these just demands '? 
 
 " But the righteousness which is by faith, doth not say. 
 Pay thou all ; but rather entreats us to accept of that full 
 payment, which has been made by Jesus Christ. This 
 righteousness of faith (to represent it as a speaking person), 
 says, in a warning manner, to every mourning sinner, ' Say 
 not in thy heart. Who shall ascend into heaven, that is, to 
 bring down Christ from above V Be upon thy guard ; do 
 not thou, mourning sinner, speak in so unbelieving a 
 manner ; for by such a speech thou deniest Christ, as if 
 he had not come from heaven to redeem thee. 
 
 " Neither say, ' Who shall descend into the deep,' to 
 atone for my sins ? Would not such a speech be a denial 
 of the sufferings of Christ, as if he had not yet descended 
 into the deep — death, and the grave, — or as if he was still 
 in the gi-ave, and not yet risen from the dead ? 
 
 "But the righteousness which is by faith, not only 
 warneth us, but gives, at the same time, the most salutary 
 counsel ; viz. 
 
 " The word which thou, mourning sinner, needest for 
 thy comfort, is nigh thee, even in thy mouth (so that thou 
 art able to speak of it), and in thy heart (so as to perceive 
 and feel its strength). Why, then, wouldest thou refuse to 
 accept of it 1 
 
 " That is the word of faith, which the apostles preached 
 and sealed by divine works and miracles ; so that there 
 remaineth no reasonable doubt of its being divine ; ' that 
 if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, that Jesus,' who was 
 cinicified in order to redeem us, ' is Lord,' our redeeming 
 Lord and King, 'and shalt believe in thy heart that God 
 has raised him from the dead, in testimony that he has 
 fulfiUed all : 
 
 " If thou, who art hungry and thirsty after righteous- 
 ness, pardon, and peace, takest thy refuge in Jesus, who 
 
154 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 has made a full atonement for thy sin ; and to whom God 
 has given his judicial approbation, by raising him from 
 the dead : thou art happy, blessed, pardoned, and a be- 
 loved child of God. 
 
 " This is the only way in which we, who are poor, de- 
 praved, and deep in debt, may find comfort, strength, — 
 nay, eternal life. 
 
 " So Paul thought — so all prophets preach — so all true 
 Christians have believed ; and so I hope you, madam, and 
 my friend your husband, look out for all blessings, in and 
 through Christ. Here is firm footing. This union and 
 communion with Him will make your life happy, and your 
 conduct holy. This will fill you with grateful sentiments, 
 and make you very kind to your fellow-creatures. 
 
 " Believing in Christ, and having found pardon, peace, 
 and hope of everlasting happiness, by faith, you will not 
 regret the loss of worldly friends. Paul could count all 
 (all riches, honours, pleasures of the world) loss and dung, 
 that he might win Christ, and be found in him. Try to 
 follow him. Having obtained the best, I hope you will be 
 less anxious about smaller matters. 
 
 "You see, madam, by my prolixity, that I almost 
 fancied myself to be in your company. 
 
 " That you and your dear husband may always, in 
 health and in sickness, in riches and poverty, in time and 
 eternity, be found in Jesus Christ, is the hearty prayer of, 
 " Madam, 
 " Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 The next two or three years were years of trouble. 
 Hyder Ali invaded the British territory with a numerous 
 army ; the country was ravaged ; cultivation was arrested, 
 and famine extensively prevailed. Describing some part 
 of these calamities, Swartz says : — 
 
 " We have suffered exceedingly in this fortress from 
 hunger and misery. When passing through the streets 
 early in the morning, the dead were lying in heaps on the 
 dunghills." 
 
 Pie then mentions a purchase he had made of twelve 
 
HTDER ALL 155 
 
 thousand bushels of rice, by which he was enabled not 
 only to support his catechists and schoolmasters, but 
 to assist many others. " Unfortunately," he continues, 
 " there was no magazine in the fort for the native soldiers 
 or sepoys. The King and the Company requested me twice 
 to procure provisions for the garrison, since they were 
 unable to obtain oxen for the carriages, for want of a good 
 understanding with the natives. In this dilemma I wrote 
 to the inhabitants, desiring them to bring their cattle, and 
 promising them payment on my own responsibility. This 
 had the desired effect ; the oxen were, brought, and the 
 garrison supplied, at the very moment when a fresh attack 
 from the enemy was expected. I afterwards settled with 
 the natives, and they went home quite satisfied. The Lord 
 also enabled me to consider the poor ; so that I had it in 
 my power to feed a considerable number for the space of 
 seventeen months. Often eight hundred poor people as- 
 sembled. Several Europeans sent sums of money for this 
 charitable purpose ; but instead of giving them the money, 
 I prepared food and distributed it, many of them having 
 no utensils for cooking. Such distress I never before 
 witnessed, and God grant I never may again." 
 
 Yet, in September 1783, regarding spiritual much more 
 than temporal things, he could write thus cheerfully : — 
 
 " The last three years have been years of sorrow and 
 anxiety ; notwithstanding which, we have no reason at all 
 to murmur, or to find fault with God's ways, which are 
 very just and equal ; and the judgments which have be- 
 fallen us may, perhaps, be more conducive to the true 
 welfare of the country than we conceive. This year God's 
 fatherly goodness has preserved and strengthened us for 
 his service. All the four catechists are alive, as is likewise 
 the Tamulian schoolmaster. Besides these five, I have 
 taken two more upon trial, who have been educated in the 
 mission-school at Tranquebar : both seem to be truly reli- 
 gious. Our congregation has received an increase of up- 
 wards of a hundred : most of them, it is apprehended, 
 have been compelled, by the famine, to come to us : never- 
 theless I have given them the necessary instruction, and 
 this during the space of several months, during which I 
 
156 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 have also procured them some provisions. The teaching 
 them was attended with much difficulty and fatigue, on 
 account of the great decrease of their mental powers. Yet 
 I could not persuade myself that it would be consistent 
 with the will of God to put these poor people off ; many of 
 whom afterwards died. As the famine was so great, and 
 of so long a continuance, those have been affected by it 
 who seemed to be beyond its reach. A vigorous and 
 strong man is scarcely to be met with : in outward ap- 
 pearance men are like wandering skeletons. 
 
 " When I returned from Seringapatam, I saw reason to 
 apprehend an approaching war: this induced me to buy 
 rice whilst it was at a low price, which proved of great 
 benefit to our catechists. Besides this, God moved the 
 hearts of some Europeans to send me a portion monthly 
 to distribute among the people lying on the road, by 
 which means numbers of them have been saved from 
 perishing. This benefaction is continued to this day, so that 
 about a hundred and twenty persons are constantly fed. 
 
 " When it is considered that Hyder Ali has carried off" 
 so many thousands of people, and that many thousands 
 have died of want, it is not at all surprising to find not 
 only empty houses, but desolated villages — a mournful 
 spectacle indeed ! " 
 
 In the next year, 1784, Mr. Swartz consented, at the 
 earnest intreaty of Lord Macartney, to join an embassy to 
 Tippoo Sultaun, who had succeeded Hyder Ali. But this 
 embassy was not allowed to reach the Sultan. Mr. Swartz 
 alludes to it in the following letter : — 
 
 " Tanjore, Murch 4, 1784. 
 " Hitherto a gracious God has preserved, guided, and 
 comforted us. This is, and ought to be, our first con- 
 sideration in the midst of all the calamities which we have 
 experienced. How many dangers have we escaped — how 
 many of our fellow-creatures fell on our right hand and on 
 our left! but God has hid us under the pavilion of his 
 kind providence ! The 103d Psalm should be precious to 
 us ; for it expresses and magnifies all the divine benefits 
 
HYDER ALL 157 
 
 'whicli God has so richly bestowed upon us. But not only 
 in words ought we to express our gratitude, but in and by 
 our lives. Surely God deserves to be obeyed by us, par- 
 ticularly as we only reap the benefit of it. 
 
 " I heartily wished to see you, and I entertained a 
 lively hope, that in my return from the Mysore country I 
 should meet you. But God has been pleased to lead me by 
 another road.' 
 
 He then describes his late expedition, his detention by 
 Tippo's officers, and his return to Darapuram. The letter 
 continues : — 
 
 " To this day I do not know the reason why I w^as not 
 permitted to proceed. One said it was because Tippoo 
 would not treat till Mangalore was in his possession. 
 Some entertained other conjectures. I thank God for his 
 mercy and providence over me. I should have been very 
 glad if I could have been an instrument in that great work 
 of peace-making. But who knows but there might have 
 been temptations too great for me ? In short, whatever 
 God does is right, and the best for us. After my return, 
 the Governor desired that I would take a second trip 
 by the way of Tellicherry ; but having a severe scor- 
 butic eruption on my legs, I found myself unable to go — 
 I therefore declined it. Even now I am not free from 
 that complaint. But if I had made another attempt I 
 could not have forced my way to Tippoo. If he refused to 
 admit me, what could I do ? Two refusals I met with. I 
 wrote first from Tanjore, and the second time from Sat- 
 timungalum. To spend my time in roving about the 
 country to little or no purpose was disagreeable. If Go- 
 vernment had sent me with the Commissioners, I should 
 have attended them. I entreat God to bless them with 
 wisdom, resolution, and integrity, to settle the business to 
 the w^elfare of this poor country. But, alas ! we ourselves 
 are so divided — one pulls one way, the other quite a dif- 
 ferent one. When one considers all, high and low, rich 
 and poor, rulers and those that are ruled, one is struck 
 w^th grief, ami a variety of passions. What blindness, 
 insensibility, and obstinacy, greediness, and rapacious- 
 ness ! — a thousand times I think with myself, ' Good God, 
 
158 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 must all these people die — must they all give a strict ac- 
 count of their lives — must they all appear before the tri- 
 bunal of Jesus, the Mediator and Judge 1 How little do 
 they mind their end, and the consequences of their lives ! ' 
 " But, however, in spite of all these horrid confusions, 
 which are so prevalent upon earth, God has some servants, 
 who obey him faithfully, though imperfectly. This morn- 
 ing we read the fourteenth chapter of the Revelation ; 
 wherein Jesus is represented as the Lamb sacrificed for us 
 and our redemption, and with him 144,000, who had the 
 name of God written on their foreheads. that we may 
 openly and sincerely confess the name of our God on all 
 occasions ! They were singing a new song, (and should 
 not new mercies require a new song ?) No one could 
 learn that song, save those 144,000. Whoever gives his 
 heart to the world will never be able to praise God sin- 
 cerely. Surely every true believer gives his whole heart 
 to the Lord Jesus. Those blessed ones follow the Lamb 
 whithersoever he goeth. This is the sure evidence of our 
 believing in Jesus. They, at least, do not adulterate the 
 word of God. All the world is upon that scheme. Every 
 one wishes to explain it according to his inclination — but 
 that is pernicious. Let us then accept of the word of God, 
 take it, use it, and practise it as it lies before us, even 
 when it desires us to mortify our beloved sins. My sin- 
 cere wish and prayer is, that you and I may be found true 
 disciples of Jesus, and so at last rejoice with him eternally. 
 " I am your sincere friend, 
 
 « C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 But advancing years began now to be felt. Swartz 
 speaks not unfrequently of ill health and decaying powers. 
 In the summer of 1784 he thus writes : — 
 
 " Katternafe, near Tanjore, July 10, 1784. 
 " My dear Friends, — It is a loDg time since I had the 
 pleasure of addressing you. Illness has prevented me. I 
 can hardly describe to you the nature of my weakness. I 
 felt no pain, but such a relaxation in my frame, that 
 speaking, walking, &c. fatigued me, so that often I could 
 
mS ILL HEALTH. 1 59 
 
 scarcely stand, This I felt during April and May. Wlien 
 we were favoured with some refreshing showers, I revived 
 a Httle ; and at present I am much better, though still 
 weak. But enough of this. Age comes upon me : I have 
 no reason therefore to wonder at weakness. 
 
 " If the mind be sound, all is well ; the rest we shall 
 quit when we enter into the grave. That will cure all our 
 bodily indispositions. On this subject I meditate frequently. 
 And, ! may God grant me grace to do it more effectually, 
 that I may number my (perhaps very few) days. Eternity 
 is an awful subject, which should be continually in our 
 mind. 
 
 " I know, I feel it, that I have no righteousness of my 
 own, whereon I would dare to depend for eternal hap- 
 piness. If God should enter with me into judgment, 
 what would become of me ? But blessed, for ever blessed, 
 be the adorable mercy of God, which has provided a sure 
 expedient for guilty man. The atonement of Jesus is the 
 foundation of my hope, peace, love, and happiness. Though 
 I am covered all over with sin, the blood of Jesus cleanseth 
 me from all mine iniquities, and sets my heart at rest. 
 Though I am a cornipted creature, the Spirit of Jesus en- 
 Hghteneth, cheereth, and strengtheneth us to hate and 
 abominate aU sin, and to renounce the lusts of the world 
 and the flesh. Though the day of judgment is approach- 
 ing, the love of God comforts us so far as to have bold- 
 ness to appear before our Judge ; ij.ot as if we were in- 
 nocent creatures, but because we are pardoned, washed, 
 and cleansed in the blood of Christ. 
 
 " ! my dear friends, an interest in the atonement of 
 Jesus, and a participation in the graces of his Spirit ; 
 these constitute a Christian ; these cheer and strengthen 
 the heart ; these glorify God, and prepare for heaven. 
 
 " Let us daily, therefore, come before God through the 
 blessed Jesus ; but let us, at the same time, not neglect 
 the second point, viz. our sanctification. Our time is 
 short. Within some days, I have sojourned in this coun- 
 try thirty-four years. The end of my journey is, even 
 according to the course of nature, near. May I not flag ! 
 May my last days be the best ! but as long as we live 
 
160 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 together upon earth, let us admonish and stir up one 
 another. 
 
 " Eemember me to Mrs. F , and tell her not to 
 
 overvalue the pleasures of the world, but to let her mind 
 feed on pleasures which are substantial and permanent. 
 I am to take a journey near the sea. Perhaps the sea-air 
 may brace me up a little. I shall remember you in my 
 poor paternosters, and, if I can, send you another line 
 from the sea-shore. Farewell ! May grace, peace, and 
 divine mercy follow you at all times ! 
 
 " I am, my dear friends, 
 " Your affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 At the close of the same year he writes as follows : — 
 
 " At present, I am so far established in health, that my 
 labour is rather delightful to me than troublesome, which 
 was not the case in April and May. May God, who has 
 bestowed so many blessings on me, a poor sinner, grant 
 that the last days of my life may be well spent ; that I 
 may finish my course with peace, if not with joy. 
 
 '•'We are not only allowed,^ but even commanded to 
 ^ rejoice in the Lord.' No joy has so good and firm a 
 foundation, as that which is to be found in the Lord, who 
 has bought us, redeemed us, and prepared for us ail true 
 happiness. Shall we not rejoice in his salvation, pardon, 
 peace, strength, and kingdom ? But whoever wishes to 
 rejoice in the blessings purchased for us by Jesus Christ, 
 must be in him, closely united to him, renouncing sin, 
 and all the false pleasures of the world, and hungering and 
 thirsting after him. This true union and communion 
 with Jesus is the source of joy — the only source. From 
 hence will follow a willingness to love, serve, obey, and 
 glorify him as long as we live. Is it possible that we, who 
 have found pardon, peace, and a lively hope of a glorious 
 eternity in Jesus ; that we, who have been made happy by 
 him, should not wish and endeavour to live to his glory ? 
 
 " But if, instead of trusting in Jesus and his consum- 
 mate atonement, we trust and rely on our own virtue, and 
 
HIS ILL-HEALTH. 161 
 
 consequently stand upon our own foundation, we shall 
 never enjoy a moment's peace and unshaken delight. Our 
 virtue and holiness are, and must remain, imperfect. We 
 shall, therefore, always have reason to confess before God, 
 ' If thou wilt mark in my thoughts, designs, intentions, 
 what is amiss. Lord, who shall stand before thee 1 ' Let 
 us, therefore, seek for pardon, peace, and joy in Jesus ; 
 and having found that, let us be grateful and obedient. 
 But though we should be as holy as any of the apostles, let 
 us beware lest we put our confidence in anything but the 
 sufFerings and atoning death of Jesus Christ. 
 
 " In this grand fundamental article of true Christianity, 
 I like none so much as good Bishop Beveridge. He forgets 
 not to raise the superstructure of holiness ; but he lays 
 first the foundation in a true and lively trust in Jesus, as 
 Paul likewise has done. Read Philippians iii. In the 
 explanation of hohness Archbishop Tillotson is excellent ; 
 but he does not so well, so clearly lay the foundation as 
 Beveridge, Hervey, and the first reformers. ' When thou 
 comfortest my heart, then, and not tiU then, shall I run 
 in the way of thy commandments.' The divine com- 
 mandments, well and spiritually considered, will convince 
 us of our sinfulness and corruption, and, of course, con- 
 demn us. (Rom. vii.) Being condemned by the law, as 
 servants who owe to their Lord ten thousand talents, how 
 shall we pay off our debt 1 By the few pence of our own 
 virtue 1 No ; but by the complete atonement made by 
 Jesus Christ. This atonement of Jesus is offered in the 
 Gospel to every one who knows and feels his sinfulness, 
 and wishes to be delivered from the curse he has de- 
 served by it. To those who feel the burden of their sins, 
 and groan under it, how inexpressibly sweet is and must be 
 that tender invitation of Christ, (Matt, xi.), ' Come unto 
 me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give 
 you rest ; ' by taking the burden from you. 
 
 " That you and your dear husband may rejoice in Jesus, 
 here and in a blessed eternity, is the sincere wish of your 
 old friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
162 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " P. S. Pray let us know how your school goes on. Are 
 there some of the black people who profess Christianity ? 
 Is there any one who instructs them ? 
 
 " As to the Malabar church which I have been building 
 in the suburbs, General Munro encouraged me, by giving 
 me fifty pagodas. But when I found that the stones which 
 I needed for the foundation cost twenty-five pagodas, 
 without chunam, I thought I should soon stop my mill for 
 want of water ; but the rajah having given me some gold 
 cloths at the time of Lord Pigot's arrival, when the General 
 was lately here, I took them to the merchants, who, to my 
 agreeable surprise, valued them at one hundred and thirty- 
 six pagodas ; so that I could prosecute my plan without 
 interruption. I hope that God, who has so graciously fur- 
 nished me with the means of building a house of prayer^ 
 will fill it also with spiritual children, to the praise of his 
 name. He is strong who hath promised us such glorious 
 things. Read for that purpose my favourite chapter of 
 Isaiah, xlix. verses 4-7, 18-20. I cheerfully believe that 
 God ' will build the waste places ' of this country. But 
 should it be done after we are laid in the grave, what 
 matter ? This country is covered with thorns ; let us 
 plough and sow good seed, and entreat the Lord to make 
 it spring up. Our labour in the Lord, in his cause, and for 
 his glory, will not be in vain." 
 
 Swartz's attention began now to be drawn to Tinne- 
 velly, — that district of South India which has since been 
 so highly favoured of God. Some years before the period 
 at which we have now arrived, Swartz had remarked the 
 following hopeful indications : — 
 
 " 1771. 
 
 " At Palamcotta, a fort and one of the chief towns of 
 Tinnevelly, about two hundred miles from Trichinopoly, 
 there resides a Christian of our congregation, Schavri- 
 muttu, who having been instructed, reads the word of God 
 to the resident Romish and heathens. And an English 
 sergeant, whose wife is a member of our congregation, has 
 in a manner taken up the cause. A young heathen ac- 
 countant had heard the truth with satisfaction. He was 
 
WIDOW OF A BRAHMIN-. 163 
 
 once here (at Trichinopoly), listened to all that was repre- 
 sented from the word of God in silence, and promised to 
 place himself under further instruction. The sergeant 
 made him learn the five principal articles of the catechism, 
 and then baptized him. It grieved us that he should have 
 baptized the young man before he had attained a distinct 
 knowledge of Christianity. Besides, such an inconsiderate 
 step might prove injurious both to the heathens and 
 Roman Catholics. May God mercifully avert all evil ! " 
 
 Some time after this Swartz visited the neighbourhood 
 of Palamcotta, when the widow of a Brahmin applied to 
 him for baptism, which, after some objections had been re- 
 moved, he administered to her. She continued to reside 
 in the south of India ; but at the conclusion of the late 
 war, she and two Roman Catholic Christians from the 
 same quarter came to Tanjore. One of these persons had 
 obtained a copy of the New Testament, and cf the Eccle- 
 siastical History published by the missionaries at Tranque- 
 bar, which he read with so much efiect, that he was not 
 only himself convinced of the errors of the Church of 
 Rome, but testified against them so strongly that many 
 around him were much impressed by his representations. 
 He and his fellow-traveller now visited Mr. Swartz, and en- 
 treated that a missionary or native assistant might come 
 and teach them more perfectly. He accordingly sent one 
 of his catechists to Palamcotta, to instruct the rising con- 
 gregation in that neighbourhood. The zealous female con- 
 vert just mentioned, with the assistance of one or two 
 English gentlemen, built a small but neat church at that 
 place ; and from this period the attention of Swartz was 
 anxiously directed to a quarter in which the congregations 
 of Christians have since become so numerous and so 
 prosperous. 
 
 In the year 1785, to which our narrative has now come, 
 Swartz mentions that his Majesty's 48th Regiment being 
 then stationed at Tanjore, he performed divine service 
 before them eveiy Sunday. He adds, that a number of 
 that regiment had entreated him to permit them to attend 
 prayers with him, to which he had readily consented ; so 
 
164 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 that every evening about one hundred persons met in the 
 church, where a hymn was sung, a chapter of the New 
 Testament read, and a portion of it expounded ; after 
 which they concluded with a prayer. 
 
 In another letter, dated in September of the same year, 
 and communicated to the Society by the Rev. Mr. Pasche, 
 Swartz writes, that he was just returned from an official 
 journey, which had occupied him between two and three 
 months. The younger Kohlhoff had supplied his place 
 during his absence, both in the English and Tamuliau 
 congregations, and he expresses his grateful sense of the 
 divine protection and blessing which he on his travels, and 
 Mr. Kohlhoff at Tanjore, had experienced. He first pro- 
 ceeded to Ramanadapuram, for the purpose of instituting 
 the English provincial school there, which he accomplished. 
 The beginning was made with ten young persons. The 
 reigning prince and his minister sent their children to the 
 school, of which Mr. Wheatley from Tanjore was appointed 
 master. At this place, according to his invariable practice, 
 he embraced the opportunity of preaching the Gospel to 
 all descriptions of persons. From thence, after touching 
 at Tutukurin, and preaching to the Dutch there, on St. 
 Mark, viii. 36, he went to Palamcotta ; stayed there three 
 weeks, preached twice, sometimes three times a-day, ex- 
 plained the principal doctrines of Christianity, and ad- 
 ministered the sacrament to eighty persons. He found 
 the state of this new congregation in many respects to his 
 satisfaction, while in others, he frankly acknowledged, it 
 occasioned him concern. "But this," he justly observes, 
 " is no more than what are usually united together, wheat 
 and chaff" 
 
 Another admirable letter meets us at this date, ad- 
 dressed to a friend who was just entering on his rehgious 
 course : — 
 
 " July 20, ] 785. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — Your very kind letter I received two 
 months ago, and should have answered it sooner, had not 
 some circumstances prevented it. 
 
 " Your first awakening was a most agreeable and heart- 
 
LETTERS TO FRIENDS. 165 
 
 reviving transaction of divine Providence. So kind is God, 
 even when he chastiseth. I believe there are very few in 
 heaven, but owe their conversion or their continuance in 
 that state to some stroke or other. Blessed be God for all 
 his mercies which he has bestowed on us ! Nay, through- 
 out all eternity we shall praise him for all the wonders he 
 has done towards us. 
 
 "Even in respect of temporal affairs your conversion 
 has been, as I observe, beneficial to you ; and so would 
 every one experience it, if the trial were fairly made. How 
 much is squandered away in what is called fashionable 
 living, to no purpose, or rather to the worst ! Health, 
 strength, conscience, and the sweetest sense of the favour 
 of God, are lost — for what 1 Though we are not to serve 
 God for the sake of temporal advantages, we shall find that 
 true unfeigned ' godhness is profitable unto all things, 
 having promise of the life that now is, and of that which 
 is to come.' The people of the world lose both. Their 
 tumultuous mirth does not deserve the name of joy, and is 
 always closely attended and embittered by unspeakable 
 disquietude and anxiety, which they must feel as soon as 
 they begin to reflect. May God strengthen and confirm 
 you by his blessed Spirit, that the good work which he has 
 begim in you may be carried on uninterruptedly, till you 
 can say at last, ' It is done ; Father, into thy hands I com- 
 mend my spirit :' and so ' enter into the joy of your Lord ! ' 
 
 " Let us daily grow more and more fervent in prayer. 
 With prayer we begin to be Christians. By prayer we 
 grow stronger, and continue in the narrow road, and at 
 last, praying, we end our course. 
 
 " All that we are to pray for, we find in that excellent 
 prayer taught us by our Lord, in which Christianity is 
 regularly delineated or explained, just as it ought to be, 
 from the beginning to the end. 
 
 " In the first petition we, in fact, entreat God to turn 
 away our hearts from all vain nam'3s (call them honour, 
 riches, pleasure, or what else you please), because they all 
 together cannot make us happy. To look upon them as 
 the source of our happiness is idolatry. We entreat God 
 to enlighten our hearts, so that we may know, esteem, 
 
166 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 venerate, fear, love, and praise his name. This is the 
 truest beginning of our conversion, when all things and 
 their names become little, and the glorious name of God 
 becomes great and venerable to us. 
 
 " The second blessing which we need is the kingdom of 
 God, as it is restored to us by Jesus Christ, containing 
 * righteousness ' to cover all our sins ; ' peace,' or a sense of 
 the favour of God, who is now our Father, and we his 
 children ; and 'joy in the Holy Ghost.' ' Thy kingdom, 
 Father, come,' that we may be no longer separated from 
 thee, as we deserved, but that we may be reunited unto 
 thee, that there may be a happy union between thee and 
 us, as there is between a kind prince and obedient sub- 
 jects. And is not this true faith in Jesus, which places us 
 again in the kingdom of God our Father 1 
 
 " Being turned to God and his name, and being made 
 the children of the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus 
 Christ, we crave the third blessing, — namely, fihal obedi- 
 ence. Having received the two former blessings we are 
 now willing, and by the Spirit of God strengthened, to re- 
 nounce and to overcome our own will (that stubborn 
 thing), the will of the world, though never so fashionable, 
 and the will of the devil. We now learn daily that most 
 difficult but salutary lesson, — ' Not my will, but thine be 
 done.' 
 
 " Having thus obtained mercy, we are regenerated and 
 born again. What do we need more ? Having begun well 
 by the grace of God, let us be ' strong in the Lord ;' let us 
 take care not to fall back, but to be constant. To this 
 purpose our compassionate Saviour has taught us to pray, — 
 
 " 1. For our daily bread — to moderate our desires after 
 the things of this world. GodHness and contentment must 
 go together. A very strict discipline is necessary, lest the 
 cares of this world enter in again and choke the good seed. 
 
 " 2. Though we have reason to rejoice in the Lord, and 
 in the possession and enjoyment of all his mercies, yet we 
 have little or no reason at all to boast and to be proud. 
 Therefore he has directed us to come daily before the 
 throne of grace, deeply humbling ourselves on account of 
 our daily faults, and praying, ' Forgive us our trespasses.* 
 
LETTERS TO FRIENDS. 167 
 
 We confess and bewail them, and crave pardon. This 
 humility must remain in us daily. 
 
 '' 3. Being turned to the name of God ; being received 
 as his children for the sake of Jesus ; being willing to obey 
 the will of God, we are happy, and free from all condemna- 
 tion. But as long as we sojourn here in this world, we are 
 not free from trials. Let us, therefore, daily watch and 
 pray, lest we enter and sink into temptation. Let us 
 entreat God not to forsake but to strengthen us, that we 
 may by his grace be able to overcome all temptations. 
 
 " 4. Being united to Christ, and consequently being the 
 children of God, we are happy ; but this happiness, 
 though very great, is not yet complete. Here is a mixture. 
 Here are knowledge and ignorance, holiness and many 
 faults, peace and uneasiness, health and sickness, joy and 
 gi'ief, together. But we are to receive a complete happi- 
 ness. In the midst of all calamities and tribulations, be 
 hope our cordial ! Let us daily come before the throne of 
 mercy, entreating God to deliver us entirely from all igno- 
 rance, from all sin, from all pain and grief ; and to receive 
 us into his glorious kingdom, ^\here we shall weep no more 
 — where we shall rejoice for ever and ever ; where our 
 prayers and supplications shall be turned into thanks- 
 givings. This hope, if lively, will refresh us. 
 
 " There, my dear Mr. , I hope to see you, and to 
 
 sing with you the song of the Lamb. There we will relate 
 one to another all the wonders of mercy which Jesus has 
 wrought towards our restoration. 
 
 " Be this our aim, and may our hearts — (ah, our slippery 
 hearts !) — never swerve from the path to that heavenly 
 Canaan ! May we never murmur or lust after the things 
 which we have once renounced ! May we be faithful unto 
 death, and so receive the crown of life I Remember me 
 likewise when you come before the throne of mercy, that 
 my approaching age may not be unfruitful, but blessed. 
 
 " You and your family are dear to me, because clothed 
 and adorned with the righteousness of Jesus. Peace be to 
 you, and to all that live with you. ]\Iay they all find mercy 
 on that great day. May they all be numbered with those 
 that shall stand at the right hand of our God ! 
 
168 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " I am at present at Eamanad, in the Marawar country, 
 where I intend to erect an EngHsh school. All seems to 
 be ready. Next Monday we hope to make the beginning. 
 May God bless it ! Our intention is to have such schools 
 in several provinces, if God grant peace to this country. 
 The harvest is great, but few are the labourers. Well, let 
 us pray to the Lord of the harvest. If amongst Euro- 
 peans there was any real piety, what a blessing would come 
 over the whole country ! But they refuse to go into God's 
 vineyard. May God awaken them ! 
 
 " Wishing you health and peace of mind, 
 " I am, dear Sir, 
 " Your affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 « C. r. SWARTZ." 
 
 It is worthy of note, how seldom Swartz wrote, even to 
 an intimate friend, without bringing into view the whole 
 Thus, writing shortly after to another friend, he 
 
 "When I came here (Trichinopoly), I thought to re- 
 joice with Mr. Pohle ; but we soon experienced grief in- 
 stead of joy. A battalion mutinied ; went upon the rock, 
 and threatened destruction if they should not get their 
 pay. These poor people had received none since August ; 
 consequently five months' pay was due to them, besides 
 former arrears. It is truly melancholy to observe that 
 nothing but fear will incline us to do justice to them. By 
 these means all discipline is relaxed, the officers lose that 
 respect which is due to their rank and station, and the 
 sepoys become insolent. This has been the case, not only 
 in war, but now in the time of peace. May God help us to 
 consider the things which belong to our peace in all re- 
 spects ! 
 
 " In the world we have tribulation. This has been 
 from the time mankind fell into sin, and will be so till we 
 enter into the peaceful mansions of the saints and angels 
 in eternity. Having, then, little or no peace in the world, 
 let us take care to have, maintain, and enjoy peace with 
 God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
LETTERS TO FRIENDS. 169 
 
 " What an immense blessing is it to have peace with 
 God ! When we reflect on our miserable hearts, so prone 
 to sin and iniquity, we might think that it was altogether 
 impossible to possess that inestimable treasure. And, no 
 doubt, if it depended on our perfect obedience, we could 
 not entertain a thought of enjoying it. But, blessed be 
 God, our peace and happiness stand on a better basis than 
 that of our own merit. 
 
 " It is Jesus, the blessed Redeemer, who has made an 
 atonement, — a perfect atonement for our sins, and thereby 
 laid the foundation for a complete reconciliation between 
 us and God. Without this divine atonement we could not 
 expect pardon and peace. God would not be to us a God# 
 of gi-ace, but rather ' a consuming fire.' What praises, then, 
 are due to Jesus, the purchaser of our peace and happi- 
 ness ! The nearer we keep to him, the more we enjoy of 
 that peace. The more we ti-ust in ourselves, so much the 
 more we shall be perplexed. Nothing keeps and preserves 
 our minds so much as this peace. The thunder of the law 
 may frighten, but it will never compose or strengthen our 
 minds to obey God cheerfully. 
 
 " Let us, then, daily look out for pardon and peace : 
 watching at the same time that we may follow its guidance 
 — that so our reason, our will, and all our passions (ay, 
 and our external senses, too), may be preserved in subjec- 
 tion, obedience, and the path of holiness." 
 
 Writing to the London Committee at the opening of 
 1786, Swartz gratefully acknowledges the perfect health 
 which he and his fellow-labourers had enjoyed during the 
 preceding year, and the uninterrupted performance of their 
 important duties. He had come to Trichinopoly for the 
 purpose of consulting with his friend and brother, Mr. 
 Pohle, upon points relating to the mission, and of visiting 
 the congregations and schools. At this time he informs 
 the Society, that besides his young friend Mr. Kohlhoff, 
 who was his willing assistant, and whom he intimated his 
 wish of seeing established as his colleague, he maintained 
 three catechists aud one schoolmaster at Taujorc, one cate- 
 chist at Tripatore, and three at Palamcotta. The Tamul 
 
170 IIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 school at Tanjore tlien consisted of twenty-two children, 
 who were daily instructed in Christian principles, in read- 
 ing, writing, and arithmetic, and some of them, at their 
 own request, in the English language. Of the English 
 school, Mr. Kohlhoff and his brother, and a young native, 
 had the care. In this there were generally about forty 
 boys and girls. Besides learning the English, they were 
 exercised also in the Persian and Tamul languages. Most 
 of these children, being the offspring of poor soldiers, were 
 educated gratis. 
 
 " In some of my last letters," he observes, " I have men- 
 tioned that an English school was established in Ramanad- 
 *apuram, and that another has been proposed at Shevagenga. 
 We even entertained lively hopes of seeing more of these 
 schools in other places. But when the country was re- 
 stored to the nabob, these pleasing expectations nearly 
 vanished. The old system of oppression was resumed, and 
 the country princes began to tremble. It does not belong 
 to me," he modestly adds, " to write of politics ; neither 
 would I have mentioned the subject, had it not been so 
 closely connected with the schools." 
 
 The congregation at Palamcotta had increased, and 
 Swartz had lately sent there his catechist, Sattianaden, 
 who had for many years sustained the character of a 
 sincere Christian and an able teacher. The congregation 
 was visited every year by one of the country priests from 
 Tranquebar, for the administration of the sacraments. 
 
 While thankfully acknowledging the past kindness of 
 the Society, he was urgent, both in this and a subsequent 
 letter, for a fresh supply of books, not only for the native 
 congregations and schools, but also for the soldiers in the 
 garrison, many of whom were anxious for instruction ; a 
 request with which the Society, knowing how judiciously 
 they would be distributed, cheerfully complied. 
 
 While thus adverting to the various charitable labours 
 of this excellent man, it may not be irrelevant to observe, 
 that for a considerable space of time during the late war 
 he forbore, on account of the public distress, to draw the 
 pay which was due to him as chaplain to the garrison. 
 Mr. Huddleston, in communicating this circumstance to 
 
LETTERS TO FRIENDS. 171 
 
 the Government, observes, " Mr. Swartz makes no other use 
 of money than to appropriate it to the purposes of charity 
 and benevolence." 
 
 Shortly afterwards we meet with another letter, filled 
 with the deepest spiritual wisdom : — 
 
 « Tanjore, March 29, 1780. 
 
 "Dear Sir, — I have received your favour of the 10th of 
 October, and wonder that it did not reach me sooner. I 
 have perused the account which you have kindly given me, 
 more than once, and shall read it again. Even your com- 
 plaints are precious to me, as they are a proof that you feel 
 your w^ant, or your poverty ; and you know that our 
 Saviour has declared such to be blessed. 
 
 " When I have reflected upon my own deviations (and 
 they have been numerous, nay, innumerable), I have had 
 reason to attribute them to some secret pride. "We con- 
 fess, no doubt, that we are poor ; that we have lost the 
 glory of wisdom, holiness, and righteousness. Our confes- 
 sion is very orthodox ; but, alas ! our thoughts, wishes, 
 aims, and whole conduct, are proofs that our confession is 
 too often undermined. 
 
 " As true religion endeavours to humble us and exalt 
 God, and as this is absolutely necessary to our real welfare, 
 we plainly perceive that God, in all his transactions with 
 us, aims at this double point, viz. that we may be, what we 
 really are, mere nothings ; that he may be acknowledged 
 as the only source of grace, strength, and happiness. 
 
 " When I read your letter, I think I am reading the 
 history of my own life. Our want of poverty of spirit 
 makes us put our confidence in our own (imagined) merit : 
 at other times it makeb us indolent in prayer, sometimes 
 presumptuous in venturing where we ought to be careful 
 and vigilant. In short, it hinders us in faith, love, and 
 hope. 
 
 " Of this I am sure, every saint now in heaven will tell 
 you hereafter that our pride is our greatest enemy. Nay, 
 sometimes we attempt to bring it down furiously : and 
 even this is a specimen of our pride. 
 
172 -LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " The best, the surest way, therefore, is to look up to 
 Jesus, and to cry to him : ' Help me, grant me that true 
 poverty of spirit which I need.' 
 
 " I remember to have read the story of a pious man 
 complaining of his unsettled mind. The old Christian, to 
 whom he discovered his whole mind, answered him in the 
 following manner : ' I perceive, sir, that you do not pray. 
 The mourning Christian replied, ' Not pray ? I fall on my 
 knees oftentimes a-day.' The old man said, ' I do not 
 doubt that : but still, I say, you do not pray ; I mean, you 
 do not converse with God and your Redeemer so inti- 
 mately, so freely, so often, as if you and He were alone on 
 earth. To converse so with God, in the midst of all our 
 business, we need not be always on our knees.' 
 
 "In the same manner a friend once asked Mr. Francke 
 (who built the famous Orphan House at Halle), how it 
 came to pass that he maintained so constant a peace of 
 mind. Mr. Francke replied, 'By stirring up my mind a 
 hundred times a-day ! Wherever I am, whatever I do, I 
 say. Blessed Jesus, have I truly a share in thy redemption ? 
 Are my sins forgiven ? Am I guided by thy Spirit ? Thine 
 I am. Wash me again and again. Strengthen me, &c. &c. 
 By this constant converse with Jesus I have enjoyed se- 
 renity of mind, and a settled peace in my soul,' 
 
 " Throw yourself upon Him, dear sir, upon his mercy, 
 atonement, grace, and Spirit. Do not look constantly upon 
 your faults only. The sense of the love of God, and of 
 Jesus, some true experience of ease, peace of mind, and a 
 well-grounded hope of a blessed eternity, — all this, in some 
 degree enjoyed, will give you more strength to deny the 
 world and the lusts of it, to take up the cross and to follow 
 Christ, than all the thunders of the law. But as all this is 
 not granted absolutely, but in the way of humble depend- 
 ence upon God, therefore, not only pray but watch ear- 
 nestly, that you may not lose by dissipation what you have 
 obtained in the way of begging. 
 
 " Your whole letter is a clear evidence that you hunger 
 and thirst after righteousness ; which by nature you have 
 not, but which is purchased for you by your atoning High 
 Priest. The promise which is given to such is quite ani- 
 
INDIAN POLITICS. . 173 
 
 mating ; viz. ' They shall be filled and be satisfied ; they 
 shall not be left in a painful hunger and thirst.' 
 
 "This promise, be assured, Jesus will make good. It is 
 as if he said to you : You shall be filled. Wait humbly 
 his hour. Knock at his door confidently. Entreat him to 
 fulfil his promise : do it again and again. You will soon 
 find that he is faithful ; and so, instead of lamenting your 
 dejected condition, you will rejoice in the God of your 
 salvation. 
 
 " Then the former experience of darkness and uncom- 
 fortable hours will be of great advantage. You will take 
 care not to lose your roll, as Mr. Bunyan's pilgrim says. 
 
 " I shall not wait for your answer ; but now and then 
 send you a line as I have leisure. 
 
 " Pray for us. We shall remember you and your family 
 likewise. Peace be to you ! 
 
 " I am, my dear sir, 
 
 " Your afiectionate friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 Writing to the London Committee at the close of 1786, 
 Swartz assures them that their labours in behalf of India 
 had not been in vain. The missionaries and teachers of 
 the natives at the various stations had been preserved, and 
 prospered. He particularly notices the diligence and suc- 
 cess of the pious catechist, Sattianaden, at Palamcotta, and 
 speaks with much pleasure of the soldiers in the garrison 
 at Tanjore, w^ho attended divine service both on Sundays 
 and at the weekly evening lectures, which were frequented 
 by great numbers. " To this," he says, " they are encou- 
 raged by the officers, who all confess that corporal punish- 
 ments had ceased from the time that the regiment began 
 to relish religious instruction." 
 
 We have hitherto avoided, as much as possible, all allu- 
 sion to the secular politics of India ; but it now becomes 
 necessary to advert briefly to various circumstances which 
 claimed Swartz's attention. 
 
 " Peace," says Dean Pearson, " had been restored to 
 India ; but the territory of Tanjore was still in a deplor- 
 able condition. The calamities consequent upon the un- 
 
174 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 just assumption of that province by the nabob in the year 
 1773, and the subsequent devastation and ruin occasioned 
 by the invasion of Hyder AH, had reduced the rajah to 
 grcdt pecuniary distresses, and rendered the closing years 
 of his reign a painful contrast to the gaiety and splendour 
 of his youth. Debilitated by an incurable disease, and 
 overwhelmed with affliction by the premature loss of his 
 son, his daughter, and his grandson (his only legitimate 
 descendants), the unhappy Tuljajee, regardless of the con- 
 solations of that divine religion which had been repeatedly 
 displayed before him by his friend and adviser Swartz, re- 
 tired in hopeless despondency to the recesses of his palace, 
 from which he never afterwards emerged. Here, brooding 
 over his public embarrassments and his private sorrows, 
 his former mild and benevolent disposition appears to have 
 been exchanged for harshness and indifference to the suf- 
 ferings of his people. Avarice became his ruling passion ; 
 and the collections from a country desolated by war and 
 famine were barely adequate to supply his demands. At 
 this period the rajah lost his upright sirkeel, or prime 
 minister, Buchenah, who was succeeded by Baba, a man of 
 notoriously oppressive and rapacious character. Instead 
 of relieving the distresses which the people had long suf- 
 fered, this unprincipled minister augmented them to an 
 intolerable degree, partly for the purpose of replenishing 
 the rajah's treasury, and partly for his own individual 
 advantage, by a system of the most atrocious injustice, 
 cruolty, and oppression. Tlie people, groaning under this 
 barbarous misgovernment, and appealing to the rajah for 
 redress in vain, at length abandoned their country, and 
 fled in crowds to the neighbouring districts of Karical, 
 Nagore, and Trichinopoly, in the former of which, then 
 possessed by the French, they not only found a secure 
 asylum, but were received with the utmost hospitality and 
 kindness. Several populous towns and villages were 
 deserted, and whole districts, for want of labourers, lay 
 waste and uncultivated. The number of useful inhabitants 
 who thus emigrated was estimated at sixty-five thousand. 
 
 " Such was the melancholy state of Tanjore when Sir 
 Archibald Campbell succeeded Lord Macartney as governor 
 
INDIAN POLITICS. 175 
 
 of Madras ; one of the earliest measures of whose adminis- 
 tration was to open a communication with the rajah, in- 
 forming him of the representation which had been made 
 to the Enghsh Government, and entreating him to dismiss 
 his oppressive Duan, and to appoint able and virtuous 
 men to manage his affairs. 
 
 " The rajah was offended at this interference, and en- 
 deavoured to excuse his own and his minister's conduct ; 
 but the attempt was unavailing. The inhabitants of the 
 southern and western districts declared their determination 
 not to cultivate their lands until a change should take 
 place in the administration of Tanjore. In consequence of 
 this declaration the Government of Fort St. George re- 
 solved to take the temporary superintendence of Tanjore 
 into their own hands ; and for this purpose, in July 1786, 
 appointed a committee of inspection, consisting of Mr. 
 Huddleston, the resident, Colonel Stuart, the commandant 
 of the garrison, and the paymaster, Mr. Hippisley, with 
 very large powers, to watch over the affairs and interests of 
 Tanjore. 
 
 " With this committee Sir Archibald Campbell proposed 
 to unite the subject of these Memoirs ; obsen-ing, ' There 
 are abundant proofs on record of the zeal, ability, and ser- 
 vices of the Rev. Mr. Swartz, whose accurate local know- 
 ledge, and facility in the country languages, and, above all, 
 whose high estimation with the rajah, from an intercourse 
 of thirty years, must render his assistance of essential con- 
 sequence on such occasions. 
 
 " His presence, if possible, should always bo requested 
 in the Committee, in which he should have an honorary 
 seat, and he should also be desired to interpret and trans- 
 late whatever may be necessary, and to subjoin his signa- 
 ture to all such examinations and translations. 
 
 " Shortly after this important appointment IMr. Huddle- 
 ston proposed to the Governor, that Mr. Swartz should not 
 only have a seat but a voice in the committee ; stating 
 that he had exerted the political authority of his situation, 
 * in conjunction only with that excellent man,' and adding, 
 '■ It is, and will be as long as I live, my greatest pride, and 
 most pleasing recollection, that from the moment of my 
 
176 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 entering on this responsible situation, I have consulted 
 with Mr. Swartz on every occasion, and taken no step of 
 the least importance without his previous concurrence and 
 approbation ; nor has there been a difference of sentiment 
 between us in any one instance. Adverting only to the 
 peculiar circumstances under which the committee begins 
 its administration, and the prospect they present, you will, 
 I am persuaded, sir, readily conceive of how serious a con- 
 sideration it must be to me to have both the advice and 
 effectual support of Mr. Swartz in the adoption of that con- 
 duct which our concurrent judgment may approve. Happy, 
 indeed,' continued the resident, himself no mean judge of 
 moral and political merit, — ' happy would it be for this 
 country, for the Company, and for the rajah himself, when 
 his eyes should be opened, if he possessed the whole au- 
 thority, and were invested with power to execute all the 
 measures that his wisdom and benevolence would suggest.' 
 " In reply to this communication, the Governor ex- 
 pressed his entire acquiescence in the resident's suggestion, 
 and added, ' Such is my opinion of Mr. Swartz's abihties 
 and integrity, that I have recommended to the Board that 
 he should be admitted a member of the Committee, with- 
 out any reservation whatever ; and my confidence in him 
 is such, that I think many advantages may be derived 
 therefrom." 
 
 In a subsequent part of the same letter the Governor 
 wrote as follows : — 
 
 " Mr. Swartz's idea of prevailing with the rajah to give 
 a joint cowle (or engagement) with the Company to the in- 
 habitants, pleases me much. It would give the Company 
 a more immediate right than they ever have had to see 
 justice done agreeably to the terms of the cowle ; and I 
 shall be very happy if the measure is found practicable." 
 
 On being called to the Committee as an honorary 
 member, " Mr. Swartz expressed his readiness to give his 
 best opinion and advice, and to be aiding, on all occasions 
 that did not involve violent or coercive proceedings ; which, 
 
ORDINATION OF MR. KOHLHOFF. 177 
 
 however expedient they might be deemed in the estimation 
 of Government or the Committee, he considered, neverthe- 
 less, as unbecoming the character of his mission. His 
 most zealous endeavours, as they ever had been, so they 
 were now, at the service of the Honourable Company, and 
 happy he should esteem himself if he could be in the least 
 instrumental in producing harmony between the rajah and 
 the Company, and to see the poor inhabitants of this once 
 flourishing country restored to the undisturbed possession 
 of the fruits of their labour. Having made this declara- 
 tion, he took his seat in the Committee."* 
 
 At the opening of 1787 Swartz had the satisfaction of 
 taking part in the ordination of his young friend, Mr. J. C. 
 KohlhofF. The ceremony was performed at Tranqucbar on 
 the 23d of January, "one of the most solemn days," said 
 the Danish brethren, " ever celebrated at that place." On 
 that day their venerable senior, the Rev. John Balthasar 
 KohlhofF, kept the jubilee of his services as a missionary, 
 and, being compelled to retire from active labour, had the 
 inexpressible pleasure of seeing his eldest son ordained in 
 the mission church, and invested with the holy office of 
 the priesthood. The several missionaries, both English 
 and Danish, propounded to the candidate questions in 
 divinity, which he answered to their great satisfaction, 
 showing how well he had employed his youthful years 
 under the tuition of Mr. Swartz. The Danish governor, 
 and all the European families of the settlement, together 
 with a great number of native Christians and heathens, at- 
 tended the service, and a general awe was conspicuous, par- 
 ticularly during the ordination sermon, which JNfr. Swartz 
 preached from 2 Tim. ii. 1 : " Thou, therefore, my son, be 
 strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 
 
 Of tliis event Swartz thus speaks, in a letter to his 
 friend Mr. Chambers : — 
 
 " As for me, I am highly obliged to sing of the mercy 
 
 * Dean Pearson's Memoir of Swartz, vol. ii. p. 78. 
 
178 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 of the Lord, though I am not worthy of the least of all his 
 divine benefits. 
 
 " You know that I took the son of our venerable senior, 
 Mr. KohlhofF, under my care. From his younger years I 
 instructed him in Christianity, English, German, Greek, 
 and some country languages. Having been instructed for 
 several years, it pleased God to awaken him to a sense of 
 his own sinfulness, and to raise in his mind a hunger and 
 thirst after the righteousness of Jesus. He then prayed, 
 wept, and meditated ; and, in short, he became a very 
 agreeable companion to me. His improvement in know- 
 ledge I observed with delight. 
 
 " I employed him gradually, so that he in a short time 
 catechised in the English and Malabar school. As I ex- 
 plained to him the Epistles of St. Paul, and read with him 
 many of the best authors in English and German, I per- 
 mitted him to preach before the Malabar congregation. By 
 slow degrees he became a very useful assistant to me. 
 
 " Feehng the infirmities of old age coming upon me, I 
 represented his case to the Society, requesting permission 
 to put him into sacred orders, and to constitute him my 
 successor. The Society consented to all, desiring that the 
 ordination might be performed in the presence of all the 
 missionaries at the coast. Accordingly, we went to Tran- 
 quebar. The young candidate was examined by all, and 
 publicly ordained. The Danish governor, and the whole 
 congregation, black and white, were assembled. When 
 kneeling at the altar, he had the peculiar and awful delight 
 of seeing his aged father sitting near him. I explained the 
 words of St. Paul, 2 Timothy, ii. 1, and so blessed him in 
 the name of the Lord. Afterwards young Mr. Kohlhoff 
 mounted the pulpit and preached. It is impossible to 
 describe or explain what I felt on that day — the most awful 
 of all my days. Praise the Lord, my soul !" 
 
 In the beginning of the following year the rajah, Tul- 
 jajce, selected and adopted, according to the legal forms of 
 India, a youth, his cousin, who was then ten years old, 
 naming him his successor, under the title of Serfojee 
 Rajah. At Swartz's particular recommendation he made 
 
DEATH OF TULJAJEE. 179 
 
 an illegitimate brother of liis own, afterwards called Ameer 
 Sing, guardian over this youth, and shortly afterwards died. 
 Kis body was publicly burned, but no female was immo- 
 lated on the funeral pile, — a circumstance of which Sir 
 Archibald Campbell, much to his honour, at a period when 
 the subject had excited but little attention, availed himself, 
 to urge upon his successor the prohibition of a custom 
 '' distressing," as he justly observed, " to the feelings of 
 humanity, and only serving to enrich the priest, by means 
 of the jewels of the women who are thus cruelly and un- 
 timely sent out of the world." 
 
180 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 V. 
 
 SwARTz IN HIS Intercourse with Statesmen. 
 
 A.D. 1787. 
 
 At this period of his history the missionary was drawn, by 
 unavoidable circumstances, into connexion with some of 
 the great ones of the earth ; but he appears to have passed 
 through this trial, as he did through all others, to all hu- 
 man sight, unharmed. His simplicity and uprightness, his 
 freedom from all ambitious and selfish views, and above all, 
 his never-absent sense of his own condition as a sinner, and 
 of the work that was before him, — " to save his own soul, 
 and the souls of them that heard him," — this truly un- 
 worldly frame of mind enabled him to pass through all 
 kinds of circumstances in the spirit described by John 
 Newton, when he says, " If two angels were sent down to 
 this earth, the one to sweep a crossing and the other to 
 rule an empire, they would neither of them care which of 
 the two tasks fell to his lot." 
 
 In the last chapter we witnessed the death of Tuljajee, 
 rajah of Tanjore, after he had adopted a child named Ser- 
 fojee as his successor. At Mr. Swartz's suggestion, he left 
 an illegitimate brother regent during the child's minority, 
 consigning the young rajah to his care. This arrangement 
 showed more frankness and confidence than worldly craft. 
 The regent, Ameer Sing, aspired to be himself the rajah. 
 He took measures to have the adoption of Serfojee called 
 in question, alleging that Tuljajee was scarcely competent 
 to perform such an act during his last illness, and that the 
 adoption itself was contrary to the Shasters, the religious 
 laws of the Hindoos. 
 
 The representative of the East India Company lent an 
 
AMEER SING. 181 
 
 ear to these objections, and submitted the points to twelve 
 Pundits, learned in Hindoo law. These (secretly bribed by 
 the regent) unanimously declared that the adoption of Ser- 
 fojee was illegal and invalid, and that the right of Ameer 
 Sing to the throne was clear and undoubted. Actuated by 
 no other motive than a desire to do justice, Sir Archibald 
 Campbell received this decision as final and conclusive, and 
 at once placed Ameer Sing on the throne. 
 
 In doing this, however, and thus setting aside the claims 
 of the young Serfojee, Sir Archibald did not neglect to 
 enforce upon the new rajah the duty of protecting, main- 
 taining, and bringing up the youth in a manner befitting 
 his station and high connexions. This Ameer Sing most 
 solemnly promised ; but soon showed, in this matter, the 
 usual duplicity of Hindoos. 
 
 Mr. Swartz, however, could not forget that Tuljajee, on 
 his deathbed, had wished to make him the guardian of the 
 infant heir ; and when the missionary, true to his higher 
 and nobler duties, absolutely refused this post of honour 
 and of power, it was at his, Swartz's recommendation, that 
 the youth was committed into the charge of Ameer Sing. 
 Hence he could not cast ofi" all further care of the child. 
 He soon found that, with the jealous dread which is com- 
 mon throughout the East, the discarded heir to the throne 
 was regarded as a natural enemy, a rival, — one who, but 
 for the East India Company's protection, would speedily 
 have been removed from this world. 
 
 The British Resident at the court of Tanjore, when long 
 after questioned as to Ameer Sing's treatment of Serfojee, 
 stated, " that about three months after the death of Tul- 
 jajee, he and Mr. Swartz were sitting with the rajah, waiting 
 for Serfojee, who had been desired to attend them. When 
 he made his appearance, " the child," says Mr. Macleod, 
 " was so dreadfully altered, that though we saw him in his 
 approach down an open colonnade, we did not know him 
 till he came within three or four yards of us : he had be- 
 come emaciated and dejected to the greatest degree." It 
 was upon this interview, and the Resident's report, that 
 the Madras Government interposed ; and probably only 
 just in time to save the child's life. 
 
182 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. . 
 
 Mr. Macleod, the Eesident; wrote to Madras as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 " I lament the occasion which obliges me again to ad- 
 dress you on the treatment shown by his excellency to 
 Serfojee, the adopted heir of the late rajah. 
 
 " Though my representations to you on this subject 
 have been no less frequent than forcible ; and though your 
 admonitions, in consequence, to the rajah have been such 
 as the situation of the boy demanded, those admonitions 
 have not been attended with the desired effect. 
 
 " In addition to the knowledge Mr. Swartz and myself 
 have of his situation, the widows of the late rajah have 
 stated the condition in which he is held, and have called 
 upon me, as representative of the Honourable Company 
 here, to procure for him that protection which has hitherto 
 been refused him by the present rajah. 
 
 " He remains still deprived not only of all education, 
 but also of free air, exercise, and attendance. There being 
 no prospect of a favourable change in his situation, hu- 
 manity induces me to hope that some effectual mode of 
 interposition may suggest itself to you, by which the boy 
 may receive the protection he so well merits from the 
 justice of the Honourable Company. 
 
 " I beg leave to add, that the Eev. Mr. Swartz (whom 
 Tuljajee, on his death-bed, appointed guardian to Serfojee) 
 might, with propriety, be constituted the judge of his con- 
 dition ; and while he approved of the treatment shown by 
 his excellency, the child would be secure of every protection 
 the Honourable Company could desire to obtain for him." 
 
 The Madras Government instantly adopted this sug- 
 gestion, and this minute was made : — 
 
 *•' The Board approve the suggestion of Mr. Macleod 
 respecting the appointing the Rev. Mr. Swartz guardian to 
 the adopted son of the late Rajah of Tanjore ; and it is 
 accordingly agreed that a copy of the foregoing letter be 
 sent to Mr. Petrie, and that he be desired to j)ay every 
 attention to the subject contained in it." 
 
AMEER SIXG. 183 
 
 On a report, sent to INIadras by the Eesident, in August, 
 1789, the Governor wrote to Ameer Sing as follows : — 
 
 " I have been informed that the adopted son of the late 
 rajah is kept by your excellency under close confinement, 
 and deprived of the means of an education suitable to his 
 rank and condition. This I think proper to mention to 
 your excellency, not doubting that you will order him to 
 be set at liberty, and allow him free access to his adopted 
 mother, and the other branches of his family ; that proper 
 care may be taken of his education, and that his health may 
 not sutler by confinement." 
 
 jSio amendment taking place, on the 25th of September 
 the Governor wrote more distinctly : — 
 
 " To his Excellency the Rajah of Tanjore. 
 
 " ]\rany complaints having been made to me that Serfojee, 
 the adopted son of the late rajah, is not only treated with 
 much severity, but that his education is totally neglected ; 
 which being contrary to those liberal sentiments of equity 
 and justice which the Honourable Company are ever desirous 
 to promote and inculcate, I have been induced to intercede 
 in his behalf. Your excellency will be pleased to allow him 
 to occupy a separate dwelling, contiguous to that of his 
 adopted mother, the widow of the late rajah, free from 
 every restraint of his person ; as it is proper that he should 
 be permitted to see his adopted mother, and to visit or 
 receive visits from his other relations, without any ob- 
 struction or hindrance, whenever he thinks proper. I have 
 accordingly directed that he shall be allowed a small guard 
 of Company's sopoys to attend on his person ; and I most 
 earnestly recommend it to your excellency to treat him 
 with kindness, and to discourage every species of oppres- 
 sion towards him or the widows of the late rajah, either 
 in their persons or property. 
 
 " To a friend, what can I say more ? " 
 
 The result is reported to the Government at Madras by 
 Mr. Ram, who had now taken the place of Mr. Macleod, the 
 late Resident, and who thus writes : — 
 
184 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " Having obtained an interview with the rajah, I found 
 Shevarow present as usual. I stated that I was informed 
 it was by his counsel that Serfojee was continued in con- 
 finement, notwithstanding the repeated admonitions of 
 Government, and the positive promise of his excellency to 
 Mr. Petrie, that he should be released in eight months ; 
 that I now came to deliver a more explicit order upon that 
 head; a compliance with which I must earnestly recom- 
 mend to his excellency, not only as the mandate of this 
 presidency, but as the earnest wish of the Enghsh in gene- 
 ral ; for that Sir Archibald Campbell, having set aside the 
 adoption of Serfojee, in favour of his excellency's better 
 title to the musnud of his late brother, the English must, 
 in consequence, consider themselves as in honour bound 
 to protect him from every degree of oppression. 
 
 " The rajah acknowledged his promise to Mr, Petrie, 
 and affirmed that it had been his design to find out a suit- 
 able match for Serfojee, that he might be married at the 
 same time with his own son-in-law, after which he allowed 
 the present restraint would be improper, but was now 
 agreeable to their customs ; that the mother of the boy 
 (by adoption) had herself objected to a match proposed by 
 him, on the plea that the parties were too young, which 
 had prevented his carrying his intentions into effect, as he 
 had proposed to Mr. Petrie ; that, however, in six months 
 more he would, without fail, accomplish them ; that in the 
 meantime it would be highly repugnant to their customs 
 for a youth of Serfojee's age to visit the apartment of the 
 widow of the late rajah ; that if I doubted any part of what 
 he now affirmed, I might, if I thought proper, have an op- 
 portunity of conversing with the widow, she being con- 
 cealed from my sight. To this I replied, that I could never 
 conceive it agreeable to their customs to confine their 
 children in a place where they could not have the free 
 benefits of light and air ; that therefore it was highly ne- 
 cessary that Serfojee should be placed in the house men- 
 tioned in the honourable president's letter, which I under- 
 stood had been built by the late rajah purposely for his 
 accommodation ; that if his visiting the widows of Tuljajee 
 was repugnant to their customs, I could not suppose those 
 
AMEER SING. 185 
 
 ladies would suffer it ; and without their permission it 
 would be impossible for him to see them. 
 
 " The conference running to a great length, the rajah, 
 requested I would excuse him for the present, but allow 
 Mr. Swartz to come to the palace the next day ; by which 
 time, having considered what I had said, he would com- 
 municate his sentiments to him. To this I readily con- 
 sented, imagining that a less embarrassed communication 
 of sentiments, which would take place when Mr. Swartz 
 only was present, would be more likely to prevail on the 
 rajah to comply with the sentiments of the honourable 
 president, and placing the utmost confidence in the good 
 missionary's discretion and zeal for the service. Yesterday 
 evening the conference took place ; and the following is 
 his communication of it to me, immediately after his re- 
 turn from the palace. 
 
 " The rajah began, of his own accord, on the subject of 
 Serfojee, and gave the strongest assurances that in a very 
 short time he would so act as to give entire satisfaction ; 
 and that we, being on the spot, should be witnesses and 
 judges of it. Mr. Swartz then observed that it must be by 
 releasing Serfojee from the present dark and dismal place 
 of his confinement, to which the rajah assented, but de- 
 clined being more particular, repeating his assurances that 
 he was certain we should be satisfied with his conduct. 
 With respect to Shevarow, he affirmed that he had been 
 calumniated, and hoped that he would be able to clear 
 himself to my satisfaction. I had given a short memoran- 
 dum to Mr. Swartz of the points I wished to be satisfied 
 on ; one of which was to obtain information respecting a 
 late grant from the rajah of a considerable district to his 
 son-in-law ; on the impropriety of which, at a time when 
 he could not pay his kists (instalments to the Company), 
 I desired him to remark. The rajah admitted that he had 
 made such a grant, but defended it on the ground that a 
 similar provision had been allowed for the son-in-law of 
 the late raj all. 
 
 " Notwithstanding that Mr. Swartz appeared to place 
 some confidence in the above assurances of the rajah re- 
 specting Serfojee, I must own they appear to me rather 
 
186 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 evasive, and calculated to gain time ; but of that the Ho- 
 nourable Board will be more capable of judging." 
 
 About a week after the preceding communication, the 
 Besident received an order from the Governor of Madras 
 to remove Serfojee from the immediate control of the 
 rajah ; of his execution of which the following is his ofi&cial 
 report : — 
 
 " I shall proceed to relate the steps by which the situa- 
 tion of Serfojee has been so considerably altered for the 
 better. The letter of Mr. Chamier, of the 16th. arrived 
 about noon on the 20th. I requested an interview with 
 his excellency for the day following, which being granted, 
 I repaired to the palace, accompanied by Colonel Stuart 
 and Mr. Swartz. Having desired that Serfojee might be 
 brought into our presence, which was with some difficulty 
 complied with (the rajah apprehending that he might charge 
 him with neglect of his education to his face), I took the 
 youth by the hand, and having declared your orders that 
 he should be removed from the palace, I was proceeding to 
 conduct him out, but was prevented by the violent agita- 
 tion of the rajah, who took hold of my other hand, and of 
 my clothes, conjuring me not to disgrace him so much in 
 the sight of his people. I endeavoured to make his excel- 
 lency comprehend that the step I was taking was for his 
 own reputation, which suffered by the treatment hitherto 
 observed towards Serfojee, It would be needless to repeat 
 all that passed during a couple of hours. The rajah at 
 length, finding me resolved, either to take the boy out of 
 the palace, or to place him under the protection of the 
 Company's sepoys within, after affirming that the proper 
 house could not be prepared for him under seven, then 
 three days, and at last by the next day, most solemnly 
 promised that it should be done ; upon which I retired, 
 leaving Serfojee under the protection of Mr. Swartz, near 
 to whom it was settled he should sleep for that night. 
 
 " The next morning he, for the first time since his con- 
 finement, saw the sun ! Between eight and nine I returned 
 to the palace, and about eleven we were joined by Colonel 
 
AMEER SING. 187 
 
 Stuart ; about one, having notice that the house was nearly 
 cleaned out, and Scrfojee's furniture removed there, with 
 the rajah's consent, who did not appear, I conducted him 
 to it, and placed a guard of twelve sepoys of the 23d over 
 him. I have ordered a proper person, recommended by 
 Mr. Swartz, a Mahratta Brahmin, named Dadarow, to at- 
 tend to his education, which has been entirely neglected, 
 he not being acquainted even with the alphabet. The person 
 before mentioned has likewise been instructed to prevent 
 such discourse being held in his presence as might tend to 
 put ambitious thoughts into his head, upon his present 
 enlargement. Serfojee expressed his gratitude for the fa- 
 vour shown him, and was desired by me to send his ac- 
 knowledgments to the rajah for his ready compliance with 
 your orders. The admitting of the sepoys to this part of 
 the palace was long disputed. On the evening of the 21st 
 the rajah requested that my peons might be stationed in 
 lieu of them, but this appearing to me as a very insuffi- 
 cient security, I persisted in my first position ; and having 
 sent for the sepoys the next day, no further objection was 
 made. 
 
 " ]\Ir. Swartz was of opinion, that after what had passed 
 Serfojee ought to have his provisions furnished by the 
 rajah's widows, to which his excellency has made no kind 
 of objection. Indeed I understand that, having been taken 
 under the protection of the Company, his food may be 
 provided by any one he chooses. 
 
 " Mr. Swartz is likewise of opinion that a discontinuance 
 of the guard would be attended with some risk to the per- 
 son of Serfojee. 
 
 " The house in which he now is has been somewhat 
 encumbered by buildings since the time of the late rajah. 
 It is, however, pleasantly situated, and has a small garden 
 adjoining. 
 
 " I have great hopes that the enlargement of the boy 
 being thus effected, will remove the improper influence 
 which Shevarow had obtained over the rajah, by persuading 
 him that whilst his excellency adhered to his counsels the 
 release of Serfojee would never be effected." 
 
188 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Besides this affair of the young Scrfojee, Mr. Swartz was 
 also obliged to make some representations to the British 
 authorities with reference to the gross mismanagement 
 of the affairs of Tanjorc, and to the ruin and depopulation 
 of the country, which appeared almost certain. The 
 Resident writes to Madras as follows : — 
 
 " The good Mr. Swartz having frequently lamented the 
 mischiefs which arc daily happening for want of a regular 
 system of justice (with that knowledge which his long 
 acquaintance with the language and manners of the coun- 
 try has given him), has favoured me with his thoughts 
 upon that important subject, which I have the honour to 
 inclose. The want of such regulations are daily before my 
 eyes. Any man in the Tanjore country (who has the 
 power) ties up and tortures whomsoever he pleases, on the 
 most frivolous pretences." 
 
 Of these acts of oppression and injustice, the Eesident 
 then mentions some gross instances, which clearly proved 
 the inability of the rajah himself, under the present cor- 
 rupt system, to restrain and punish such atrocities. The 
 letter from Mr. Swartz to the Governor in Council, referred 
 to by the Resident, is as follows : — 
 
 " Hon. Sir, and Gentlemen, — Permit me humbly to 
 address you in behalf of this country, of which you are 
 constituted guardians and defenders, and in whose pro- 
 sperity or distress you are concerned. 
 
 " Every Government is to be supported by a rational 
 administration of justice, without which both king and 
 subjects cannot prosper. This proposition needs no proof, 
 being self-evident.. All nations confirm it, at least in 
 theory ; experience, nay, all history, gives us the strongest 
 proof, that a country without justice is a ruined country. 
 
 " When, some years ago, the spirit of despotic cruelty 
 drove the people to despair, the late rajah promised to 
 alleviate the burthens of his people, and to introduce a 
 better administration of justice. And as the people, so 
 
AMEER SING. 189 
 
 often deceived and oppressed, entertained strong doubts 
 of the truth of this noble and exhilarating promise, he em- 
 powered me to publish it in writing, and to become re- 
 sponsible for the accom})lishment of it. The people re- 
 joiced, returned from their emigration to their own country, 
 set about the cultivation with a wonderful ardour, though 
 it was very late in the season, so that many were afraid of 
 a famine ; and by their cheerful exertions, were blessed 
 with a very rich crop, 
 
 " The late rajah soon after this died. Before his suc- 
 cessor was seated on the throne, I intreated Sir Archibald 
 Campbell to benefit the country by introducing a better 
 administration of justice. Fully convinced of the pro- 
 priety of my request, he desired me to draw up a plan by 
 which this might be accomplished according to the laws of 
 the Hindoos. 
 
 " I obeyed this command with all possible cheerfulness, 
 representing to myself the beneficial effects which the 
 country would from hence experience. But on one point 
 I entertained an opinion which differed from Sir Archibald 
 Campbell's sentiments. He, out of delicacy, thought it 
 i^roper to let the present rajah have the honour of estab- 
 lishing such a court of judicature. I represented to him, 
 that without derogating from the good will of the rajah, 
 so many ill-disposed people would surround him, and 
 hinder an institution, beneficial indeed to the country, but 
 diametrically opposite to their self-interested views, that 
 the whole plan would be soon laid aside. On the other 
 hand, if, during the interregnum, such a court of justice 
 should be established, and by the English Government 
 protected and encouraged, as might easily be done, it 
 would succeed and prosper. But Sir A. Campbell thought 
 otherwise. The plan was recommended to the rajah after 
 ho was seated on the throne, but was soon strongly 
 opposed at the instigation of his servants. 
 
 " A faint show, indeed, was made. A small house was 
 appointed, where four judges should hear causes. It was 
 at first open, but soon a cross-wall was built, so that none 
 could observe the proceedings. 
 
 " One or two of the judges had a laudable desire to act 
 
190 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 impartially ; but their good intentions were frustrated by 
 the servants of the rajah. The judges were obliged to wait 
 for leave to hear a law-suit. When they had got permis- 
 sion, and hardly had begun to inquire into the business, 
 they were frequently interrupted by messages from the 
 rajah's servants. They were desired not to go on. Par- 
 ticularly those dubashes who had lent money to the rajah 
 acted as masters. They had the power of confining and 
 punishing people, and whoever was supported by them, 
 let his cause be never so unjust, came off victorious — of 
 all which unjust proceedings whole volumes might be 
 written. If an inquiry should be set on foot, many in- 
 stances would fully prove the total want of justice in this 
 country. One man was supported by Chinnia Moodely (a 
 powerful money-lender). The injustice of his interfering 
 was so glaring to the judges, to the rajah, and his minis- 
 ter, that Shevarow said, ' What can I do when Chinnia 
 intercedes for the unjust party?' Another inhabitant 
 was prosecuted by Chinnia ; he retired with many others 
 to Karikal, but got the rajah's cowl, at Mr. Ram's request, 
 to come and speak for himself. He came, was acquitted, 
 and went home. Chinnia hearing this at Madras, sent a 
 letter ordering that person to be confined and beaten, and 
 even now he is still under confinement. The sirkeel pro- 
 mised to release him, but being afraid of Chinnia's resent- 
 ment, did not think it proper to accomplish his promise. 
 
 " The judges feeling their own want of power, intreated 
 the rajah to permit them to retire, because their endea- 
 vours to do justice became totally useless. 
 
 " This being the injurious method of acting, the inha- 
 bitants became disheartened and unwilling to go on vigor- 
 ously in the cultivation. Last year many promises were 
 made to them, but never fulfilled. Those given by the late 
 rajah before his decease are totally disregarded. Before 
 the inhabitants reap, they are obliged to pay a part of 
 their tribute ; having no money, they go to the rapacious 
 dubashes to borrow at exorbitant interest ; not being able 
 to pay it, that is added to the original sum, and a new 
 premium is often charged. When Mr. Petrie was here, an 
 order was issued that none should pay more than twelve 
 
AMEER SING. 191 
 
 per cent per annum, but soon disregarded. No country, 
 though the most fertile, is able to bear such oppres- 
 sions. 
 
 "And as no relief is to be expected from hence, it 
 would be the highest benefit which Government could 
 bestow on this oppressed country, if, without lessening the 
 authority of the rajah, it should privately insist upon the 
 introduction of justice in a regular manner, before the 
 alleviation made by the Honourable Company was pub- 
 lished. It would then rejoice the rajah, and the inhabit- 
 ants, if both points, viz. the kindness of the Honourable 
 Company to the rajah, and his kindness in establishing a 
 court of justice, were published at the same time. 
 
 " As the late rajah appointed me guardian to Serfojee, 
 the young boy whom he adopted, and as Government con- 
 firmed it by enjoining me to watch over his welfare, I take 
 the liberty to entreat the Honourable Board to settle his 
 establishment. The first act done by taking him out of 
 the miserable situation in which he was, is very great. 
 To procure for him a suitable settlement will complete his 
 temporal happiness. The rajah does not seem to be very 
 willing to do that business of his own accord. 
 
 " Having nothmg in view but the happiness of the 
 rajah and his country, and the honour of the Company, both 
 which would undoubtedly be promoted by a regular and 
 impartial administration of justice, I hope that the Honour- 
 able Board will not disapprove of this my liberty which I 
 have humbly taken of addressing them. Being in the 
 country, under the protection of the English Government, 
 I wish and pray for their welfare. And lest this my 
 address might appear as a clandestine business, I have sent 
 it by Mr. Ram, our resident here. 
 
 " I am, with profound respect, &c. &c. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 In August 1790, in consequence of some animadversions 
 having been made on Mr. Swartz's conduct in the deliver- 
 ance of Serfojee, he thought it right to lay before the 
 Government a narrative of his share in that matter. After 
 relating the history of the Rajah Tuljajee's adoption of a 
 
192 LIFE OF C. F, SWARTZ. 
 
 son, his request to liim to be his guardian, his advice to 
 the rajah to appoint his brother, his accession to the 
 throne on the setting aside of Serfojee, and the complaints 
 of Ameer Sing's severe treatment of him, Mr. Swartz thu3 
 proceeds : — 
 
 " An order having come from Government to Mr. 
 Macleod, and I think to Colonel Stuart, to inquire into the 
 treatment which the boy had met with, both gentlemen 
 sent me to the palace to see him ; whom I found in a dark 
 room, a lamp burning at his side, and no fresh air could 
 reach it. AVhen I saw him thus, I felt a grief which I can 
 hardly express. With amiable simplicity, he asked me 
 whether the children in Europe were deprived of seeing 
 the sun and the moon. I comforted him. I then in- 
 quired whether he had any master to teach him reading 
 and writing. Shevarow, who was present, said imme- 
 diately, ' Yes, yes, he has a man to teach him ! ' I asked 
 the boy ; who replied, in the presence of Shevarow, ' I 
 have none to teach me ; therefore I do not know one 
 letter. 
 
 " Government ordered me frequently to visit him, and 
 to inquire how he was kept. But I have not been able to 
 do so above five or six times ; because I could not get 
 permission. 
 
 "For two years I intreated the rajah, privately, and 
 often in the presence of Shevarow, to show kindness to the 
 innocent boy ; to give him a room where there was a cir- 
 culation of air ; not to be jealous of him, assuring him 
 that he could do him no harm ; that if he would show 
 some kindness to him, and let him sometimes enjoy fresh 
 air, all complaints would cease." 
 
 Mr. Swartz then mentions the ineffectual admonition 
 of Sir Archibald Campbell to the rajah, and his own re- 
 peated intreaties upon this subject ; and finally details the 
 proceedings consequent upon the order of Governor Hol- 
 land, by which Serfojee was rescued. In this part of his 
 narrative the following passage occurs, which illustrates 
 his calm fearlessness in the fulfilment of what he conceived 
 
AMEER SING. 193 
 
 to be his duty, and the inviolable integrity of this excel- 
 lent man : — 
 
 " The rajah desired that Mr. Ram might wait some (I 
 think ten) days. He said, ' I must obey the order, and put 
 the boy under a sepoy guard!' The rajah at last said, 
 ' Mr. Swartz, stay you here with the boy this night, that 
 the sepoys may not be called into this interior part of the 
 palace !' I asked ^Ir. Ram and the Colonel what I should 
 do. They said, that ' it depended upon me ; but that they 
 were content with my staying with the boy.' I accord- 
 ingly consented to stay. Mr. Ram and the Colonel went 
 away. The rajah, Shevarow, and myself, were alone. I 
 then said, 'This uneasiness his excellency owcth to you, 
 Shevarow. You intended to ingratiate yourself by those 
 cruel severities which you made the boy to suffer. How 
 often have I begged you to desist ; how often have I told 
 you that the Honourable Company, and the English nation, 
 to whose protection the boy was delivered by the late 
 rajah, in the presence of Mr. Huddleston, Colonel Stuart, 
 and me, would not suffer those severities V Shevarow 
 said. ' You have told me all this, but,' &c. The rajah then 
 observed, ' As you are our friend, why did you not this 
 very morning send me word that such an order had been 
 sent to Mr. Ram?' I rephed, 'Ten days ago I intreated 
 you to prevent the present uneasiness ; and that was an 
 act of friendship. But to give you notice of Government's 
 letter, after it had been confidentially communicated to the 
 Colonel and me, would have been treachery, which your 
 excellency must never expect from me.' 
 
 "The rajah and Shevarow then told me I might go 
 home. Astonished at this proposition, ' What ! ' said I, 
 ' to become guilty of a breach of faith ? Even ray father 
 should not be permitted to make such a proposal ! ' Upon 
 this declaration, they left me with preci[)itation ; and I 
 remained with the poor boy that night, who, as I observed, 
 walked as if he was lame. I inquired the reason of it. ' I 
 have not,' said he, * been able to sleep, but have been sitting 
 clasping my hands about my knees, on account of the in- 
 numerable insects in my room. My sinews are a little 
 
 o 
 
194 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 contracted, but I hope I shall soon recover.' The next 
 day he was conducted to his new apartment by Colonel 
 Stuart and Mr. Ram. The indignities which were then 
 oflfered to him I will not minutely relate, but they all 
 showed the high degree of the rajah's jealousy. 
 
 "A Brahmin, who formerly taught Mr. Burke, and 
 afterwards Mr. Blackburne, the Mahratta language, was 
 appointed (by my recommendation) to teach him reading 
 and writing. His excellency's letter says, that my servants 
 were employed for that purpose. But the writer of that 
 letter knew that the Brahmin had never been my servant. 
 The boy has made a good use of the opportunity given to 
 him. He reads and writes the Mahratta language, and is 
 very willing to learn English. The letter says, that Mr. 
 Earn visited the boy, and that I accompanied him ; which 
 is true. I inquired how he improved in learning, and 
 admonished the Brahmin not to be remiss in teaching 
 him ; which I thought was quite agreeable to the late 
 rajah's desire." 
 
 A few months later, Mr. Swartz felt compelled to ad- 
 dress the Madras Government once more, on the general 
 question of the best mode of managing the affairs of 
 Tanjore. He thus wrote : — 
 
 " Honourable Sir, — Fully convinced of your indulgence, 
 I take the liberty to address you, hoping that if my ob- 
 servations do not meet with your approbation, they wiU at 
 least be pardoned. 
 
 " A rumour has been spread here that you intend to 
 give the management of Tanjore to renters. If this should 
 be the case, I am afraid that this poor country would be 
 still more impoverished. Before the Honourable Company 
 took possession of it, I intreated the rajah to accede to 
 any, even mortifying terms, rather than suffer it to be 
 taken out of his hands. Whether my uneasiness pro- 
 ceeded from prejudice or love of justice, I will not deter- 
 mine. But I confess that, when the rajah lost the country 
 (at least for some time), I felt sincerely for him. And what 
 was the true cause of the rajah's ruin ? It was particularly 
 
AFFAIRS OF TANJORE. 195 
 
 his depending upon rapacious dubashcs, who managed the 
 country, and were, in fact, renters. When they, by en- 
 riching themselves, had impoverished it, and ruined the 
 rajah, the}' abandoned him. Surely they might have extri- 
 cated him, if the least principle of honesty had been in 
 their hearts. 
 
 " Whether the rajah ever thought that they would act 
 so treacherous a part, I cannot say ; but he feels it now. 
 This very day he is in great distress, being, as it were, be- 
 sieged by his servants, who have had no pay for seven 
 months, and are now very clamorous. 
 
 " Having been called by his excellency more than once 
 to give him some advice in his present distress, I have 
 been at a loss what to say. To upbraid him now for his 
 past misconduct, would be cruel, and altogether useless. 
 
 " Instead of blaming him, I have told him that the 
 Honourable Company would do that which he ought to 
 have done ; that they would manage all things so wisely, 
 that they would introduce justice, encourage industry and 
 trade, and consequently, instead of diminishing the revenue, 
 would increase it ; so that when the country should be re- 
 stored, he might find it improved, and his subjects happy 
 people. But when I heard that the country might, per- 
 haps, be given to renters, and very likely to Madras du- 
 bashes, who are all well able to make supplements to 
 Machiavel's iniquitous scheme, my hopes vanished. 
 
 " Give me leave, honourable sir, to make a few observa- 
 tions on the scheme of giving the country to renters. 
 
 " It is acknowledged by all people, that the administra- 
 tion of justice is the basis of the true welfare of a country ; 
 but is that blessing to be expected from renters ? I think 
 it morally impossible ; but it may be said, that proper 
 people should be employed to attend to the administration 
 of justice. However, if they did their duty faithfully, fre- 
 quent complaints would be raised by the renter of having 
 suffered a great loss by the dispensers of justice: and that, 
 on that account, an abatement ought to be made in respect 
 of their stipulated payments. 
 
 " The management of this country has hitherto, in fact, 
 been that of renters ; for what else were those dubashes. 
 
1 96 LIFE OF C. F. SWAETZ. 
 
 to whom whole districts were mortgaged ? When these 
 people and their friends were in power, their intention was 
 to get as many villages as they could. As soon as the poor 
 inhabitants failed in their payments, they proposed to pay 
 off their arrears to the circar, and to appropriate the village 
 to themselves and their friends, promising to give to the 
 owners some allowance per year. Many complaints of the 
 inhabitants are now in my hands, which prove this de- 
 ceitful method beyond any doubt. Some of those dubashes 
 have got two, four, six villages by this artful management ; 
 nay, it is said that they have made use even of force to 
 gain their point. An inquiry into that base oppression is 
 wished for by the inhabitants ; a renter will hinder such 
 an inquiry, and discourage the inhabitants in their endea- 
 vours to get their property restored. In the nabob's 
 country there is hardly anything of this nature, for plain 
 reasons. To rectify all these abuses, a court of justice 
 ought to be established. Four or five respectable persons, 
 if they were well chosen, and endowed with necessary 
 authority by the Honourable Board, would be a blessing to 
 this country. These judges ought to be responsible for 
 their conduct. Having formerly recommended a proper 
 attention to the introduction of justice, I cannot but repeat 
 my request in the name of all the people. 
 
 " It is well known that the Tanjore country is not yet 
 fully cultivated. The third part of it lies waste, though 
 capable of the highest cultivation. This year it has been 
 shamefully neglected ; for at the time when the rivers 
 were full of water, the puttekdars were here confined by 
 the dubashes, whom I before called renters. They saga- 
 ciously foresaw what would happen ; therefore they pressed 
 the people for the payment of the money they had lent 
 them, and the high interest on it ; the consequence was, 
 that instead of advancing money for cultivation, as is 
 usual, the inhabitants were obliged to i3ay off their just 
 and unjust debts, to those plunderers. Being deprived of 
 the little money which they liad, they found it difficult to 
 carry on the cultivation with vigour ; by this means more 
 than ten lacs of koUam have been lost this year. 
 
 " But should the land be properly cultivated (which is 
 
AFFAIBS OF TANJORE. 197 
 
 hardly to be expected if renters manage it), it would soon, 
 instead of ten lacs, produce twelve, nay, fifteen, and that 
 without any oppression of the inhabitants. Surely a fair 
 trial ought to be made. Lastly, I would observe, that as 
 the Tanjore country is already parcelled out to above two 
 hundred puttekdars, who have ten or more villages, and 
 are responsible for a certain quantity of grain, the collec- 
 tion is made easy by it. These are, in fact, petty renters, 
 who may be kept in some good order with more ease than 
 a general renter. 
 
 " I would humbly propose to the Honourable Board, 
 that Messrs. Earn and Fallofield might not be entirely 
 separated in their operations. If they acted, at least in 
 the principal points, jointly, that would check their ser- 
 vants, against whom otherwise hardly any complaint could 
 be made. 
 
 " Xay, they ought to agree in the fundamental regula- 
 tion of the country, viz. how much the inhabitants are to 
 pay per cent ; whether it is to be paid by them in grain 
 or money ; if in money, is the market price to be de- 
 manded, or something more ? is every little tax for the 
 maintenance of the subadars and other officers, to be paid 
 as formerly ? is all service called vassalage to be destroyed ? 
 and many more considerations of that nature ought to be 
 agreed upon by both, that there may be no party spirit. 
 Though the business of cultivation has been much im- 
 peded this year, still something may be done to encourage 
 it. Whoever of the merchants will lend money for that 
 purpose, he ought to be assured of being repaid ; and in 
 case of the inhabitants' reluctance to pay off their debt, 
 the merchant ought to be assisted : to facilitate that 
 business, it would* be very good to fix the lawful interest. 
 
 " These few observations I beg leave to offer, and 
 humbly submit to your mature consideration. 
 " I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 A second letter, of the same kind, followed ; and the 
 Government at Fort St, George thus recorded its sense of 
 the value of Mr. Swartz's suggestions : — 
 
198 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " That a copy of the former, and an extract from the 
 latter, should be transmitted to the Board of Assumed 
 Revenue, and that the sentiments of Mr. Swartz as to the 
 management of the revenue, and the administration of 
 justice in the Tanjore country, should be recommended to 
 their attentive consideration." 
 
 In 1791-1792, the jealous animosity of Ameer Sing 
 again manifested itself, and fresh measures became neces- 
 sary for the protection of Serfojee. The youth thus wrote 
 to Swartz, towards the end of the latter year : — 
 
 " I will not again explain the various vexations which I 
 have hitherto suffered from Ameer Sing, Maha Rajah, be- 
 cause you know them, and have mentioned them to Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 " Though the Governor has often admonished Ameer 
 Sing to behave friendly to me, he has disregarded all ex- 
 hortations. 
 
 " That I still live, I owe to the kindness of Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 " I will only mention one of the last grievances caused 
 by Ameer Sing. Sultshana Baie Saheb behaved to me as 
 a mother from my infancy. Upon her recent death, I 
 wished to honour her by performing the funeral rites. 
 But as the Governor and Council determined that Ameer 
 Sing should fulfil that duty, I was quiet. As he insisted 
 upon it, he should have performed it ; but instead of this 
 he sent a hired man, and he himself went out of the fort 
 as soon as the corpse was carried away ; which disrespect 
 to my mother grieved me very much. 
 
 "He continues to torment us. Mf teachers he pre- 
 vents from coming to me. My servants he confines ; so 
 that hardly any one will stay with me. When a merchant 
 comes to sell cloth to me, the merchant and his cloth are 
 detained. I would mention many things more ; but why 
 should I trouble you with all my griefs ? I entreat you to 
 send this my letter to the Honourable Board, and to be- 
 seech them either to call me to Madras, which I heartily 
 wish ; or to put a guard of Europeans near the gate, to 
 
HIS PUPIL SERFOJEE. 199 
 
 protect mc and my two mothers ; or to give me a room 
 out of the fort, in your garden. 
 
 " I entreat you to lay my grief before the Honourable 
 Board. Now they can help me ; and I trust that they will 
 protect me." 
 
 This state of affairs being communicated by Mr. Swartz 
 to the ]\Iadi-as Government, orders were transmitted to 
 Tanjore that Serfojee and the Bale Sahebs should be 
 rescued from the vexatious interference of Ameer Sing ; 
 and that they and such members of their family as were 
 willing to accompany them should be invited to Madras, 
 where they would live unmolested, and the education of 
 Serfojee, which had hitherto been much impeded, might 
 be duly attended to. 
 
 On the 21st of November this plan, so contrary in 
 some respects to the usual habits of Hindoo females, was 
 carried into effect. A detachment of the Comi:)any's 
 troops, under the superintendence of Mr. Swartz, accom- 
 plished the removal of Serfojee and the widows from the 
 palace of the late rajah, without occasioning the least dis- 
 turbance. They soon afterwards left Tanjore, and on the 
 10th of January, 1793, the whole party, accompanied by 
 their faithful friend and protector, safely reached the Pre- 
 sidency. Ameer Sing, dreading the exposure of his folly, 
 used his utmost endeavours to prevail upon them to re- 
 main ; but they could not be persuaded to forego their 
 intention. In addition to the immediate object of their 
 personal safety and comfort, they had resolved to take this 
 opportunity of stating their conviction of the validity of 
 Serfojee's adoption, and of obtaining such a full investiga- 
 tion of his claims'as might lead to the deposition of Ameer 
 Sing, and the elevation of Serfojee to the throne. 
 
 In 1793, Swartz visited Madras, partly to have an op- 
 portunity of seeing and conversing with Serfojee. He 
 writes : — 
 
 " The young man is of a very docile, affectionate, and 
 gentle disposition ; at least he has given proofs of it 
 hitherto. I have often explained to him the doctrines of 
 
SOO LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 holy Scripture, and set before him the examples of real 
 goodness which it records. That of Joseph made a strong 
 impression on him. Frequently, when his servants were 
 complaining and murmuring, he has turned to them and 
 said : ' Have you never heard that it is our duty to humble 
 ourselves ; and that God at length helps those who are 
 bowed down, as he did in the case of Joseph?'" 
 
 In a subsequent letter Mr. Swartz thus reverts to this 
 interesting subject ; and the following passage affords an- 
 other example of his singular disinterestedness : — 
 
 " For two years I have discharged the duties of a 
 Resident. A Resident usually receives seven thousand 
 star pagodas, or 3000/. sterling. I have not received any- 
 thing, nor have I asked it. 
 
 " My journey to Madras I undertook at the desire of 
 Government, as tutor of Serfojee. The expenses of the 
 journey I bore myself. I was obliged for conscience sake 
 to undertake it, as the legal guardian of the young man. 
 His life was in the utmost danger. He is now at Madras, 
 learns English, and reads good books. What effect this 
 may have on his future life, is known to Him alone who 
 trieth the heart and the reins. Lord Cornwallis behaves 
 very kindly to him, and said to me, ' I wish the young 
 man were rajah already.' When I was about to quit 
 Madras, the Governor said to me, ' But the Tar j ore family 
 will be without superintendence !' However, when I told 
 him that Mr. Gericke would undertake the office in my 
 stead, he was satisfied." 
 
 In October, Mr. Swartz thus wrote to his pupil : — 
 
 " Negapatam, Oct. 24, 1793. 
 " My dear Friend, — I received your kind letter when I 
 was at Cuddalore. I praise God who preserved your 
 health, and am happy to hear you are endeavouring to 
 improve in useful learning. The knowledge of the English 
 language may be to you very useful. Besides, try to get a 
 sufficient knowledge in arithmetic, learn to write a good, 
 
HIS PUPIL SERFOJEE. 201 
 
 and, if possible, an elegant letter in English and Mahratta. 
 By this you will facilitate your business, and please your 
 correspondents. I am happy to hear that Dada enjoys a 
 better state of health. I hope and wish that he may assist 
 you as much as possible in arithmetic and writing letters. 
 Besides, tell him to acquaint you with all the country's 
 accounts, and how to make, and how to examine them. If 
 you are deficient in that point, all that you do will prove a 
 drudgery instead of pleasure. 
 
 " Pay always a proper regard to the Bale Sahebs, and 
 show them that you honour them notwithstanding their 
 infirmities. I need not tell you that my good brother, Mr. 
 Gericke, will give you the best advice, and I hope that you 
 will be willing to follow it. Above all, I entreat you to 
 seek the favour of the only true God. If He be your friend, all 
 will be well. If you leave and provoke him, all will go wrong. 
 Pray to him daily ; for he hears our prayers, and helps us. 
 
 " Tell Dottagee that I have received his letters, which 
 have pleased me very much. I shall answer as soon as I 
 arrive at Tanjore. 
 
 " Give my respects to the two ladies, and tell them that 
 I pray to God to make them truly happy. 
 
 "May God bless, strengthen, and guide you by his 
 Divine Spirit ! So wishes, 
 
 " My dear friend, 
 " Your affectionate friend and guardian, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 In the next year wc find the two following letters to 
 Serfojee : — 
 
 " Tanjore, Jug. 6, 1794. 
 
 "My dear Friend, — Your kind letter I have received. 
 It seems that the eldest lady will hardly become satisfied, 
 though her servants, I believe, are much to be blamed, 
 who stir up her mind to make so many unreasonable 
 demands. 
 
 " I entreat you very much to read and write and speak 
 English as much as you can. If you are able to converse 
 freely with the gentlemen, and particularly the Governor, 
 that will recommend you very much. 
 
202 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 "As Colonel Braithwaite has given you a globe, you 
 ought to learn something of geography, as you live in the 
 world which God has created, that you may get some idea 
 of the great God, the creator of heaven and earth. It is 
 ignorance of the works of God that inclines us to value the 
 creature more than God. A good prince is obliged to 
 imitate God. But how can he imitate him if he does not 
 know him, and his goodness, wisdom, power, and justice ? 
 
 " God complains that the heathen have not worshipped 
 worthily, though they might have known him by the works 
 of creation and providence. A great king therefore prayed 
 to God, saying, ' Open thou mine eyes that I may see the 
 wonders of thy works and words.' 
 
 " That you may be happy here and hereafter, is the 
 wish of 
 
 " Your affectionate friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 " Tanjore, Oct. 9, 1794. 
 
 " My dear Friend,— Just now I received Dattajee's letter 
 concerning the reception you met with from Lord Hobart. 
 I am very glad that he behaved so kindly towards you, and 
 I hope that from hence you will endeavour to improve in the 
 English language. The English are fond of their language, 
 and like every one who speaks it with tolerable propriety. 
 If Lord Hobart sends you books, he will inquire whether 
 you have read them, and what improvement you have 
 made by the perusal of them. 
 
 " But above all, be careful to have the glorious God on 
 your side. His loving-kindness is better than life. Pray 
 to him, fear him, do not dare to do anything against his 
 will, and he will be with you. 
 
 " "We are here very well. Mr. Kohlhoff sends his salam. 
 The country is very well cultivated ; since August we have 
 had many refreshing showers. 
 
 " Tell Dattajee that I shall soon answer his letter. May 
 God bless you ! 
 
 " I am, in sincerity, 
 " Your affectionate friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
HIS PUPIL SERFOJEE, 203 
 
 One more of these epistles, dated in January, 1795, we 
 must here give : — 
 
 "My dear Friend, — At present I have no letter to 
 answer. The season of the new year puts me in mind to 
 wish you true happiness. Hitherto God has preserved us. 
 To this moment we enjoy his mercy. But surely we do 
 not know how long we are to enjoy it. We arc planted by 
 God as trees. These trees are to bring forth good fruit, by 
 which God is to be honoured. What sort of fruit we have 
 borne, we are to inquire by searching our hearts. If we 
 do not bear good fruit, we shall at last be cut down. I 
 heartily wish and beseech God to make you a good tree, 
 which bears good fruit to the praise of God, your Maker 
 and Benefactor. Besides the welfare of our souls, which 
 ought to be our first concern, we are obliged to prepare 
 for the wise exercise of every duty to which God caUs 
 us. 
 
 " You in your station ought to learn all virtues, by the 
 exercise of which you may become beneficial to mankind — 
 justice, benevolence, patience, and resignation to the will 
 of God. 
 
 " I wish you may read history, by which you may be 
 instructed in every necessary point. History shows how 
 many princes have exercised justice, benevolence, and dili- 
 gence, by which they have made a whole nation happy. 
 But history informs you likewise how many princes have 
 indulged in wickedness, and impiety, and sloth, and cruelty, 
 by which they have even ruined their lives. In short, it is 
 and will always be true, what was said to an Israelitish 
 king, ' Thou hast forsaken God, therefore God will forsake 
 thee.' 
 
 " Do not, my dear friend, indulge in sloth and idleness ; 
 be diligent in every laudable thing. 
 
 " I have rebuked Dattajee for neglecting you. He 
 learns the English language very well, but doth not, as 
 it seems, care for you. 
 
 " Dada's son has not acquainted me how far you have 
 advanced in arithmetic. Tell him not to be slothful. His 
 father was a faithful friend to you. As for his son, and 
 
204 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 your other servants, I am afraid they mind their own 
 interest more than yours. 
 
 " My love to you incHneth me to write in this manner. 
 I wish to hear from the Rev. Mr. Gericke, that you improve 
 iu all that is good. 
 
 " I am, your faithful friend, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 In 1796 the question of Serfojee's adoption, and of his 
 title to the throne, was revived ; and Mr. Swartz wrote an 
 account of the transaction to the Marquis Cornwallis. 
 After mentioning the visit of Sir Archibald Campbell to 
 Tanjore, and his convening of twelve pundits, who declared 
 the adoption of Serfojee to be invalid, he thus proceeds : — 
 
 " As I knew nothing of their Shasters, and the whole 
 business was done so quickly, I was silent, for which I 
 blame myself; for these pundits ought to have given a 
 proof from the Shaster to vindicate the justice of their 
 opinion — but nothing of this was done. When I after- 
 wards read the translation of the Hindoo laws, which 
 was published in Bengal, I was astonished, when I found 
 that those pundits had acted a base part. 
 
 " Your Lordship wished to have authentic proofs of 
 their having been bribed. Five of them who formerly had 
 no office are taken into the rajah's service. Others have 
 fields which they would immediately lose if they confessed. 
 One of them is here, who declared that hope and fear had 
 influenced him ; that he was conscious of having done 
 wrong ; but he said, ' As the present rajah, before he was 
 proclaimed, was already in the possession of the country 
 and treasure, every one had hopes and fears. You had no 
 reason to expect a just decision from us under these cir- 
 cumstances. His money has made him king ; but if you 
 desire us to confess publicly, you must protect us publicly.' 
 This is in some degree confirmed by a declaration, which 
 the present rajah made in the presence of Mr. De Souza, a 
 Portuguese gentleman. Sir Archibald Campbell's dubash, 
 Shcvarow, and myself, at the time when Mr. Petrie was 
 sent to Tanjore to oblige the rajah to pay the arrears. 
 
HIS PUPEL SEKFOJEE. 205 
 
 The rajah then said, ' If they press me too much, I will 
 reveal all, and raise a storm over all England ; for they 
 have all got money from me except Mr. Svvartz.' Whether 
 those who were then present would choose to confirm this 
 declaration, I know not ; but I could confirm it in the 
 most solemn and awful manner. 
 
 " The present rajah has made three objections to Ser- 
 fojee's adoption, which some pundits, at the desire of the 
 late rajah's family, have answered. I beg leave to send 
 those answers taken from the Shaster. 
 
 "As the present rajah has requested that no stranger 
 might be admitted to his palace and government — that 
 your Lordship may be convinced that Serfojee is no 
 stranger, but has a right to the government of the 
 country, not only on account of his having been adopted, 
 but even on account of his birth, I beg leave to send your 
 Lordship his pedigree. 
 
 " Wnether these my reflections, which I have made 
 with a conscientious regard to truth, wall throw some light 
 upon the whole matter, I leave to your Lordship's better 
 judgment. 
 
 " Having been too silent, when the twelve pundits gave 
 their opinion, I have written this letter to ease my mind, 
 and if possible to benefit my unfortunate pupil. A line 
 from your Lordship on this subject shall be my comfort. 
 In your Lordship's determination I shall cheerfully ac- 
 quiesce." 
 
 The reconsideration of the whole case occupied a long 
 time. It ended in the re-establishment of Serfojee on the 
 throne ; but not until after Mr. Swartz himself had been 
 raised to a much higher dignity, not on earth, but in 
 heaven. 
 
 We have thus endeavoured to bring into one view Mr. 
 Swartz's interference in Indian politics. In most cases 
 such interference must be highly deprecated. But enough, 
 probably, has been adduced to show that Mr. Swartz's 
 dealings with public men, and public matters, were in 
 strict accordance with the whole tenor of his life. He 
 steadily refused to have anything to do with party contro- 
 
206 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 versies. He was drawn into the discussions whicli we 
 have just been describing by his friendship for the rajah 
 Tuljajee ; and by the obligation which he felt he had taken 
 upon himself to defend and protect the young Serfojee. 
 But beyond discharging his duty in this respect, he meddled 
 not with politics. He touched such subjects with unwil- 
 lingness, and he always escaped from them with delight. 
 
HIS LAST TEABS. 207 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Last Years of Swartz — His Death — and 
 Character. 
 
 A.D. 1787—1798. 
 
 Having in the last chapter described the various public 
 matters in which Mr. Swartz from time to time was in- 
 volved, and having shown that he engaged in them only 
 when it seemed to be absolutely needful, and always from 
 the purest motives of charity or patriotism, we now return 
 to his proper and personal history, and shall endeavour to 
 describe the last twelve years of his missionary life. 
 
 It has been ah'cady seen, that in the latter years of his 
 career Mr. Swartz enjoyed the entire respect and con- 
 fidence, both of the Biitish Government in India and of 
 various native princes. He never made use of these ad- 
 vantages for his own personal aggrandisement and enrich- 
 ment ; but, seeing the fearful want that existed of schools, 
 and of the means of supporting them, he employed his in- 
 fluence, in the latter years of his life, in supplying, as far 
 as he was able, this want. 
 
 In 1786, the Governor and Council of Madras were so 
 impressed with a sense of the services rendered by Mr. 
 Swai-tz in their transactions with the rajah of Tanjore, that 
 they resolved on granting him a salary of 100^. per annum, 
 as interpreter to the Company at Tanjore, with a monthly 
 allowance of twenty pagodas for a palanquin ; and the resi- 
 dent was desired, in communicating this resolution, to ex- 
 press " the high sense which the Board entertained of Mr. 
 Swartz, and the satisfaction they derived from the hope 
 that his zealous exertions in promoting the prosperity of 
 the rajah of Tanjore and his country would be crowned 
 
208 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 with success." How this money was devoted we shall 
 hereafter see. 
 
 About the same period Swartz reports the rise of a 
 benevolent institution, in the formation 'of which he, 
 doubtless, was a chief adviser : — 
 
 " As Sir Archibald Campbell," he writes, " showed the 
 kindness of a father to this country, so his lady has acted 
 the part of a mother to the poor female orphans. She has 
 formed a plan, and begun to execute it, for educating poor 
 daughters of soldiers, who have hitherto been miserably 
 neglected, or if educated in private schools, were left with- 
 out protection, and consequently soon fell into the hands 
 of the destroyers. Lady Campbell's plan has the sanction 
 and protection of Government. A subscription has been 
 set on foot, and more than 14,000 pagodas are already col- 
 lected. The nabob has given a very spacious house, which 
 he bought for 8000 pagodas, for that purpose: Twelve 
 ladies form the committee, and each of them is to inspect 
 a month. Lady Campbell hopes that a similar institution 
 for the education of boys, particularly soldiers' sons, will 
 soon be made. Though this account is but short and im- 
 perfect, yet I am confident that it will be highly pleasing 
 to the Society. The plan has often been proposed, but 
 never put into execution till now. Every one who takes 
 delight in the welfare of his fellow-creatures, will praise 
 God for the humane disposition he has put into the heart 
 of Lady Campbell. This is a most comfortable sign, and 
 an evidence that God still intends to dwell among us. 
 When the orphans are collected, and things are put into 
 some order, as her ladyship has invited me to be an eye- 
 witness, I shall be able to transmit to you a fuller account 
 of this matter." 
 
 The rajah Tuljajee, before his death, had promised, and 
 his successor Ameer Sing fulfilled the pledge, to devote and 
 appropriate for ever " a village, of the yearly value of five 
 hundred pagodas (200?.) for the school, and especially for 
 the orphans." The village is situated on the confines of 
 the district belonging to Tranquebar, which Swartz pre- 
 ferred to one in the neighbourhood of Tanjore, on account 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 209 
 
 of the convenience of sending the children, in case of war, 
 of which he was constantly apprehensive, to a neutral 
 territory. In a letter to the Society for promoting Christian 
 Knowledge, which contained this pleasing information, he 
 makes honourable mention of Mr. Hippisley, as having 
 always shown himself willing to be serviceable to the 
 mission. 
 
 About the same time the attention of the Court of 
 Directors in London was directed to this subject, and the 
 following letter was sent to the Governor and Council 
 at Madras : — 
 
 " The utility and importance of establishing a free and 
 direct communication with the natives having been sen- 
 sibly exj^erienced during the late war in India, and their 
 acquiring a knowledge of the English language being the 
 most effectual means of accomplishing this desirable object, 
 it is with great pleasure we learn from Mr. John Sullivan, 
 our late resident at Tanjore, that, seconded in his laudable 
 undertaking by the zealous exertions of the Rev. Mr. 
 Swartz, he had jDrevailed on the rajah of Tanjore, and the 
 rajahs of the Great and Little Marawar, to establish schools 
 for teaching English at Tanjore, Ramanadapuram, and 
 Shevagunga, the capitals of their respective countries ; the 
 two latter assigning three hundred pagodas each for the 
 support of their two seminaries. These works of peace, 
 Mr. Sullivan informs us, have been interrupted by the 
 calamities of war, and the funds assigned for their support 
 necessarily diverted to other purposes ; but we hope they 
 will revive with the restoration of tranquillity. 
 
 " Highly approving of institutions calculated to establish 
 mutual good faith, to enlighten the minds of the natives, 
 and to impress them with sentiments of esteem and respect 
 for the British nation, by making them acquainted with 
 the leading features of our government, so favourable to 
 the rights and happiness of mankind, we have determined 
 to evince our desire of promoting their success by con- 
 tributing two hundred and fifty pagodas per annum to- 
 wards the support of each of the schools abovementioned, 
 and of any other school which may be opened for the same 
 purpose ; and we, accordingly, direct you to pay such 
 
 P 
 
210 LITE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 schools respectively the annual stipend of two hundred and 
 fifty pagodas, flattering ourselves that our example will 
 excite the native princes in alliance with us to similar and 
 more extensive benefactions." 
 
 The Madras Government replied : — 
 
 " We are so well convinced, that there is no one either 
 better qualified or disposed than Mr. Swartz to establish 
 and promote the institutions directed by your Honourable 
 Court, that we have approved what he has written on the 
 subject, and shall hope that his endeavours will be success- 
 ful. If they are not, we shall be well assured that the plan 
 at this juncture is not feasible." 
 
 "From this time," observes the able and intelligent 
 author of a summary view of the Society's establishments 
 in India, " the mission gradually extended itself around its 
 chief scat, which was the residence of Swartz, and by dona- 
 tions of money and land a fund was provided, from which 
 the support of teachers and catechists was defrayed, and 
 chapels and school-rooms were built at places, some con- 
 tiguous to, and some at a considerable distance from, the 
 fort and town. The missionaries made frequent visits to 
 these institutions, allotting to them such portion of their 
 time and care as could be spared from the superior requi- 
 sitions of the principal establishment." 
 
 At the commencement of 1788 Swartz reports the first 
 payment of the liberal grant from the East India Company 
 towards the support of the provincial schools already esta- 
 blished, and his appropriation of it, as he had proposed, to 
 the schoolmasters and the superintendents. " I desire," he 
 adds, " nothing of it for myself ; although I shall readily 
 assist as long as I am able." He then mentions in the 
 most satisfactory terms the ability, zeal, and industry, of 
 Mr. I. KohlhofF, his new colleague in the mission. Respect- 
 ing the congregation at Palamcotta, concerning which in- 
 quiries had been made, he replied, that it consisted of 
 about one hundred and twenty persons, many of whom 
 were inferior traders, some artificers, some farmers, and a 
 few native soldiers, or sepoys, all having their respective 
 employments, and none, as far as he knew, living ujjon the 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 211 
 
 charity of others, much less of the church. The able and 
 pious catcchist, Sattianadcn, was proceeding excellently 
 with the care of this interesting congregation. The English 
 liturgy was translated, and used regularly before the 
 sermon. The following very interesting letter occurs in 
 this year, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Dufhn : — • 
 
 " Tanjore, July 2, 1788. 
 
 " My dear Friends, — I am just come from taking my 
 
 farewell of Mrs. J. . In all human probability I have 
 
 seen her for the last time. She has had her share of 
 sorrow. May we meet in a blessed eternity, where sin and 
 sorrow cannot afflict us any more ! As there is sin in us 
 in this world, there is, and must of course be, sorrow.. 
 Nor have we any reason to complain of its being so, since 
 sorrow, if well managed, will produce excellent fruits. No 
 man, unacquainted with grief, ever came to a lively know- 
 ledge of himself and his corruption ; without which, how 
 could he in earnest apply to Jesus the Redeemer, hunger- 
 ing and thirsting after his righteousness ? Not knowing 
 ourselves and our corruption, how can we fervently pray 
 for pardon, or for the grace of the Holy Spirit ? In short, 
 I believe every sincere Christian will confess with David : 
 'Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I keep thy 
 commandments.' If, then, sorrow and affliction are our 
 medicine, let us take from the hand of the Lord the cup of 
 salvation, and call upon his name to make it effectual to 
 our amendment. On these and the like meditations you 
 both, jointly with Mr. J , will dwell, and comfort your- 
 selves with the prospect of a better world. These are fre- 
 quently my thoughts, particularly as I am so near my end. 
 I am not sick ; I go through the course of my duties ; but 
 when alone I groan a little, yet, I hope, without murmuring. 
 
 " I intended to write a little more, but a sick man in 
 the hospital sends for me, wishing to hear a word of 
 comfort. Farewell, my dear friends. May the Spirit of 
 Jesus guide, strengthen, and preserve you in the place 
 whither Providence has sent you ! If God be with you, 
 none will be able to hurt you. Only take care to walk 
 worthy of the Gospel you ])rofess. Glorify God and your 
 
212 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Eedeemer, even in that gay place to which you now be- 
 long. 
 
 " The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 
 God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you ! 
 I am, tiU I see you before the throne of God, 
 " Your affectionate friend, 
 
 « C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 In writing to one of the same excellent persons on the 
 12th of November of this year, Mr. Kohlhoff thus expresses 
 himself respecting him whom he calls ^' his honoured god- 
 father :" — 
 
 " Mr. Swartz has enjoyed a perfect state of good health 
 by the mercy of God since I last wrote to you. Though 
 now advanced in age, it is surprising how a gracious God 
 enables him to go through a great deal of business. Our 
 heavenly Father uses him still as a blessed instrument, not 
 only for the enlargement of his kingdom, but for the pro- 
 moting of the public good. At present there are thirty- 
 five of the natives instructed, who will soon be admitted 
 into our church." 
 
 A few days afterwards Swartz experienced a most 
 merciful preservation. He had risen before daylight, and 
 sat down on a seat where a very dangerous serpent lay ; 
 but providentially it did not attack him. Its bite is so 
 venomous, that in general death ensues before any remedy 
 can be applied. 
 
 In January, 1789, we find Swartz at Vepery, near Madras, 
 where he stayed for about two months, preaching several 
 times in each week. He also visited the Asylum for 
 Female Orphans, which we have recently mentioned as 
 established by Lady Campbell, of which he gave the follow- 
 ing interesting account in a letter to Mr. Pasche : — 
 
 "The house devoted to it is a considerable building, 
 and was formerly in the possession of Colonel Wood. 
 
 " The children read to me, showed me their copy-books, 
 their sewing, and knitting, and recited their catechism. I 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 213 
 
 expressed a wish to catechise them (by extemporaneous 
 questions), but they were not accustomed to it. I observed, 
 ' that mere learning by heart would be of very little use to 
 the children.' ' True,' Lady Campbell answered ; ' but 
 where shall we find persons to catechise them in a useful 
 manner V I have often mentioned this subject since, and 
 trust that God will point out the means. 
 
 " Some progress has been recently made towards the 
 establishment of an asylum for boys. The necessary 
 buildings will be ready in four or five weeks, and they will 
 open it with one hundred boys. Both asylums have con- 
 siderable funds : that for the girls, forty thousand pagodas. 
 Many hundreds, — yea, thousands of children, will be rescued 
 from temporal misery by these institutions ; and God 
 grant they may be the means of saving them from spiritual 
 ruin hkewise! They are a great blessing to the children 
 and the country. The Company contribute five rupees per 
 month for each child. I solicited the Governor to grant 
 the same benefit to the children of European parents in 
 Tanjorc. He said, ' I will propose it to the Council, and 
 give my voice for it.' " 
 
 Returning to Tanjore he wrote, several times in this 
 year, to a friend at Madras, Mrs. Duffin, and some extracts 
 from these letters will be interesting : — 
 
 " Tanjore, February 10, 1780. 
 " I arrived here on the 7th instant, having had a very 
 ])leasant journey. Blessed be God, who has preserved me 
 during my absence from Tanjore ! So we go from place to 
 place, till our pilgrimage be ended. God grant that at last 
 we may be able to say with Paul, ' I have finished my 
 course, I have kept the faith.' Let us watch and pray that 
 nothing may interrupt us. How many impediments lie in 
 our way ! But if we are strengthened by the Lord, all will 
 be well. God bless you and all that are in your house, par- 
 ticularly ^Ir. D . Tell to give her whole heart to 
 
 Jesus ; that, though the body be weak, the spirit may be 
 strengthened and prepared for the day of Christ. The 
 grace of our Lord Jesus, and the love of God, and the com- 
 
214 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 munion of the Holy Spirit, be with all who take the cross 
 of Christ upon them ! " 
 
 " September 10. 
 
 " Though I have not written to you these last few 
 months, I have not forgotten you. No ; I remember you 
 and your family often, and wish that you may prosper in 
 the way that leadeth unto life eternal. 
 
 " Here we are under apprehension of being molested by 
 Tippoo. He has collected an army at Dindegal. Colonel 
 Stewart is ordered to form a camp at Warriore to be in 
 readiness, if Tippoo should commence hostilities. We are 
 but ill-prepared in respect of provision. And though we 
 have suffered much formerly by our neglect, nothing will 
 make us wiser. And as it is in that respect, so in other 
 articles likewise. 
 
 " But, oh ! if God were with us, we might be confident, 
 trusting in his Almighty arm. But Him and his word we 
 disregard shamefully, as if we needed him not. However, 
 we are in his hands, to save or to chastise us. May we 
 seek and find mercy in and for Jesus' sake ! 
 
 " I hope you go on well in your female asylum, where 
 Mr. Gericke, as I understand, has the inspection. But I 
 cannot learn who has the management of the male asylum. 
 
 " God bless you and us all ! May he be our light and 
 salvation in all circumstances ! " 
 
 " September 25th. 
 
 " We all here rejoice at the happy change which 
 
 has made. We join with you in wishing that she and her 
 husband may be one in seeking the kingdom of God and 
 his righteousness, for then he will direct and bless all 
 other things. That divine pursuit of the best thing makes 
 that state truly happy. Tell, therefore, our friend to per- 
 suade her husband by all gentle methods to read daily with 
 her the word of God, and to keep up family prayer. Men 
 sometimes indulge pride and stubbornness in this respect ; 
 but a friendly perseverance on her side will be blessed with 
 good effects, though in the beginning impediments will tire 
 us a little. But tell her not to give up that point, but 
 meekly to persevere. I shall be very happy to hear of her 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 215 
 
 and her husband's Christian course. I rejoice that you 
 and my brother, Mr. Gericke, jointly work in improving 
 the females in the asylum. May you find many (I wish 
 all) of them in a blessed eternity! There shall we sing 
 praises to our Redeemer for ever. 
 
 "Pray give my respectful compliments to Lady , 
 
 the governess of the asylum. Tell her that I wish she may 
 be a true mother to that beneficial institution. May a 
 merciful God awaken us to become vigorous Christians ! " 
 
 " November 17th. 
 
 " Your last letter I should have answered much sooner, 
 had I not waited for the arrival of the vessel, on board of 
 which you had sent a box for me, and two pieces of cloth 
 
 for Mrs. K . I showed your letter to her. She 
 
 wished to get the cloth made up for her sons, whom she 
 hoped to send to England. I believe she intends to con- 
 duct them to Madras next month. She wishes to live in 
 your neighbourhood, as she is anxious to be retired. With 
 the gay world she has nothing to do. She is a prudent 
 mother, and her children are very agreeable, having been 
 brought up in obedience to their parents, and in the fear of 
 God. 
 
 " Is the new couple in your house 1 Do they rejoice 
 
 your heart by their conduct ? I hope you and Mr. D 
 
 enjoy tolerable health ; for, knowing your frequent ailments, 
 I will not express it in stronger terms. I have suftered a 
 good deal from a wrench, though I know not when and 
 where I got it. However, all is for our benefit. These 
 things put us in mind of our departure, which we must 
 expect, and for which we are to prepare. Oh, what un- 
 speakable happiness will it be to be free from sin, pain, 
 and sorrow, and to rejoice in the presence of God and all 
 his children ! There I hope I shall sing the praises of God 
 and our Redeemer with you. Till then let us ' fight the 
 good fight of faith,' laying hold on eternal life, till we enjoy 
 
 it. My best wishes to my dear friend Mr. D , and all 
 
 your household." 
 
 " December 2dth. 
 
 " Your last favour I have received. Since that the 
 
216 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 chest arrived from Negapatam. Tlie snuff, the pickle, the 
 book, the hats, were all in good order. For all these new 
 proofs of your repeated kindness I thank you sincerely. 
 
 " Mrs. K will be with you in a few days. I hear 
 
 that she will live in the fort. You will delight in the 
 behaviour of her children, who have been brought up under 
 the closest inspection of a careful mother. 
 
 " I have been informed of the severe illness of Mr. 
 
 D ; but at the same time I have heard the agreeable 
 
 news of his perfect recovery. No wonder if he feels him- 
 self weak, as he daily goes through so much fatigue. May 
 God preserve his health to your comfort, and to the benefit 
 of those who need his assistance ! Every sicknass reminds 
 us of our end. 
 
 " We are now completing a whole year. How fast 
 passes away our time ! At length, we must quit the whole 
 period. However, let us only take care to finish our course 
 with joy. 
 
 " When our Saviour was born, the angels proclaimed 
 the intention of his coming into this world, viz. to glorify, 
 or declare the glory of God ; to estabUsh peace on earth, 
 good-will in and towards mankind. 
 
 "■ This treble blessing He procured for us. If we then, 
 by a lively faith in our Redeemer, partake of these three 
 inestimable mercies, so as to glorify God for his goodness, 
 and to enjoy that peace which Jesus, by suffering and 
 dying for us, has obtained, surely we shall have a good-will 
 towards God and men, and be truly happy. 
 
 " This happiness I sincerely wish to you and Mr. D , 
 
 and to all that belong to your house. 
 " I am, constantly, 
 " Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 At the opening of 1 790 Mr. Swartz writes to the London 
 Committee, that he and his brethren had reason to adore 
 the mercy of God, and to say, "Hitherto the Lord has 
 guarded, guided, and protected us." Mr. Kohlhoff had 
 assisted him faithfully in ttie church, and in the schools, 
 and Mr. Jcenicke had made amazing progress in learning 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 217 
 
 the English and Tamul languages. The catechists and 
 schoolmasters at Tanjore and Palamcotta amounted to ten. 
 Their salaries, the charge of supporting the schools, the 
 repairs of old houses, and the building of new ones, and 
 the extraordinary allowances to the catechists when sent 
 to distant places, were such, he states, that, were it not for 
 his salary from the East India Company, it would be im- 
 possible to defray all the necessary expenses. " But God," 
 he adds, " has always helped. To him be glory for ever.'" 
 
 Mr. Joenicke, the last arrival from Europe, began now to 
 make great progress in the language. The sermons com- 
 posed by Mr. Jccnicke, INIr. Swartz says, were corrected by 
 himself ; but that in a short time he would stand in no 
 need of such assistance. " It would then," he said, '• be 
 necessary to determine upon the station for his missionary 
 labours, whether at IMadras or at Palamcotta, where the 
 congregation was considerably increasing. In that quarter 
 he thought more success would be experienced, as the 
 people there had less connexion with Europeans. On the 
 other hand, Mr. Gericke at Madras much needed assistance, 
 which, however, he hoped would be afforded by the Society 
 soon sending out another missionary. Should God call 
 him away," he observes, " Mr. Gericke would then reside at 
 Tanjore, and Mr. Kohlhoff go to Palamcotta, or they might 
 alternately be at each place. These speculations, however, 
 he humbly submitted to the determination of divine Provi- 
 dence. They had then," he said, " no comfortable prospect 
 before them ; being apprehensive that the poor country 
 would experience another devastation, though it had scarcely 
 begun to hft up its head from the ravages occasioned by 
 the last war." 
 
 In this letter Swartz communicates his intention of 
 establishing a provincial school at Cumbagonam, one of 
 the principal places in Tanjore. A very good spot had 
 been granted to him by the rajah, and he had begun to lay 
 the foundation of the building, which he intended to be 
 used as a place of divine worship. Whether the war they 
 . were dreading would prevent his proceeding with the work, 
 a short time would show. 
 
 The intention thus announced, as to an additional 
 
218 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 school, was soon afterwards fulfilled, as appears by tlie fol- 
 lov/ing extracts from a letter to Mr. Pasche, dated July 21, 
 1790, ill which, among other useful and interesting matter, 
 he first mentions the design of ordaining his pious and 
 excellent catechist, Sattianaden : — 
 
 " God has graciously strengthened me hitherto, so that 
 I have been enabled, to do my work both among Christians 
 and heathens. Meanwhile, I feel the approaches of age 
 being near the completion of my sixty-fourth year ; but as 
 long as I live, and have any strength left, I shall gladly 
 take my share in the work. 
 
 '•' In order to relieve the missionaries, I intend to ordain 
 one of the native catechists, of the name of Sattianaden, 
 whose upright, disinterested, serious walk and conversation, 
 flowing from sincere attachment to Christ, has attracted 
 the notice of Mr. Joenicke ; and reallj , as to my own feel- 
 ings, I cannot but esteem this native teacher higher than 
 myself. He has a particular talent in conversing with his 
 countrymen. One of the principal labours of a missionary 
 ought to be to train up young natives for future catechists. 
 Whenever I meet with a promising youth, I spare neither 
 pains nor expense to qualify him for the work. 
 
 " I have built a school-house at Cumbagonam, which 
 has been attended with considerable expense. Such schools 
 are the very best means of communicating the knowledge 
 of the word of God, not to the young people only, but to 
 the inhabitants of the country at large. They may serve 
 as a place of residence for catechists of the higher castes, 
 who may proclaim, both in town and country, the glad 
 tidings of the Gospel. 
 
 " I had thoughts of opening the Cumbagonam school ; 
 but the war between Tippoo and the English prevents it. 
 General ]\Ieadows was here in May, and departed to assume 
 the command ; and I hear with pleasure that he maintains 
 the severest discipline, and has so strictly forbidden all 
 plunder, that the inhabitants of Caroor and Coimbetore 
 have returned without apprehension, and pursue their, 
 business in the presence of the army. May God preserve 
 and strengthen the General ! 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 219 
 
 "Several Malabar youths afford the pleasing hope, that 
 in due time they will become useful assistants in our con- 
 gregations, as well as in our schools. If God shall favour 
 us with skilful native teachers, his work will prosper in this 
 country. \Vc still live in hope. The difficulties are, in- 
 deed, neither few nor small ; but to sink under them would 
 be sinful. God has removed many an obstacle during my 
 forty years' sojourn in this land ; and he who has hitherto 
 been with us, will be so in future. He commanded Joshua 
 to be ' strong and of good courage ;' and the same charge is 
 applicable to us. The eyes of many of the heathens are 
 opened ; but the cross which is connected with the pro- 
 fession of Christianity is to most a stumbling-block. 
 
 " With respect to the proposition to establish a village 
 entirely inhabited by Christians, I have always entertained 
 the apprehension, and likewise expressed it, that in the 
 event of any commotion, such a village would be immedi- 
 ately burned down. On the other hand, when there are 
 some Christian families residing in a village, the whole 
 district may become acquainted with the counsel of God 
 for their salvation." 
 
 To his friends at Madras he writes : — 
 
 "The 17th of July T finished my fortieth year of pil- 
 grimage here in this country, as I arrived July 17, 1750. 
 How many thousand benefits have I received from a merci- 
 ful God ! How grateful I ought to have been ! But, alas ! 
 I must say, ' Forgive, forgive all my multiplied iniquities, 
 for the sake of Jesus.' Indeed, my dear friends, our salva- 
 tion consists in being pardoned. May we all be able to 
 say, as Paul did, ' We have obtained mercy.' Amen. Be it 
 so ! God bless you both in all respects." 
 
 Towards the close of 1790, Mr. Swartz carried into effect 
 his plans with respect to Sattianaden. Previous to that 
 time the missionaries at Tranquebar permitted one of their 
 country priests occasionally to visit Palamcotta ; but as 
 one of them died, and the other became an invalid, the 
 English missionaries thought it expedient to confer their 
 
220 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Lutheran ordination on one of their own native catechists, 
 who had performed the functions of that subordinate office 
 for many years, and had given ample proof of abihty and 
 faithfulness. " His whole deportment," observes Mr. 
 Swartz, " evinces clearly the integrity of his heart. His 
 humble, disinterested, and believing walk, has been made 
 so evident to me and others, that I may say with truth I 
 have never met with his equal among the natives of this 
 country. His love to Christ, and his desire to be useful to 
 his countrymen, are quite apparent. His gifts in preaching 
 afford universal satisfaction. His love to the poor is extra- 
 ordinary ; and it is often inconceivable to me how he can 
 manage to subsist on his scanty stipend (three star pagodas 
 per month), and yet do so much good. His management 
 of children is excellent ; and he understands how to set a 
 good example in his own house," which Swartz illustrates 
 by the piety of two of Sattianaden's daughters, one of whom 
 had died in a most Christian and edifying manner. 
 
 On the 26th of December, 1790, this estimable man 
 received ordination at the hands of the missionaries, ac- 
 cording to the rites of the Lutheran Church, in one of the 
 congregations of the mission connected with the Society, 
 on the coast of Coromandel. " It was a sacred and most 
 delightful day," says his venerable instructor, " to us all. 
 Should I not sing to my God ? The name of the Lord be 
 humbly praised for all his undeserved mercy! May He 
 begin anew to bless us and the congregation, and graci- 
 ously grant that through this our brother many souls may 
 be brought to Christ." On this interesting occasion Sat- 
 tianaden delivered a sermon in the Malabar or Tamul lan- 
 guage, an English translation of which, by Mr. Kohlhoflf, 
 Swartz transmitted to this country. 
 
 The Society, justly deeming a production, so extraordi- 
 nary worthy of being generally known, directed it to be 
 pubHshed for the satisfaction of the members at large, " in 
 order to evince the capacity of the natives for the work of 
 the ministry, and as an evidence that the efforts of their 
 missionaries in India had not been in vain ; but that the 
 work of God was advancing, and the light of the Gospel 
 spreading through those regions of darkness and idolatry." 
 
HIS LAST TEARS. 221 
 
 This sermon of Sattianaden is certainly a very remark- 
 able composition. That it was his genuine production, is 
 attested by Swartz himself, who was incapable of affirming 
 anything but the strictest truth. It is founded on that 
 striking and encouraging declaration of the prophet Eze- 
 kiel, xxxiii. 11, "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no 
 pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked 
 turn from his way and live : turn ye, turn ye, from your 
 evil ways : for why will ye die, house of Israel ? " From 
 this instructive and aficcting passage the pious Hindoo 
 considered the gracious offers of Divine mercy to all man- 
 kind ; the inestimable blessings of Divine forgiveness and 
 grace which they comprise, and the method of obtaining 
 them by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. In the dis- 
 cussion of these important points he evinced much sound 
 scriptural knowledge, together with great perspicuity and 
 strength of thought ; and notwithstanding the disadvantage 
 of a translation, which, though scrupulously faithful, in- 
 adequately expressed the force and beauty of the original, 
 a simple and tender strain of eloquence pervades the whole, 
 which powerfully accredits the sincerity of its author, and 
 sufficiently proved his qualifications for the office of a 
 Christian teacher. 
 
 The necessity so deeply felt, and so continually urged, 
 by the English missionaries, of additional fellow-labourers, 
 and the importance of investing pious and w^ell-qualified 
 natives with the ministerial character, led, even at this 
 period, to the conviction on the part of some of the friends 
 of the mission, of the expediency of some measure for 
 securing episcopal ordination ; nor would any one have 
 more cordially rejoiced in such a provision for the spiritual 
 wants of India than Swartz, who, having been himself cpi- 
 scopally ordained, would have hailed with delight the esta- 
 blishment of our apostolical Church, which has since been 
 so happily planted in India. For the present, he was con- 
 tented to supply the increasing want of labourers, par- 
 ticularly in the south of the peninsula, to the best of his 
 ability, by the discipline of the Lutheran Church ; and in 
 the instance in question, nothing could be more judicious 
 and successful than his choice of Sattianaden as a native 
 
222 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 teacher. That sincere and zealous convert, as soon as he 
 had received ordination, returned to Palamcotta, where he 
 had been before so usefully and diligently employed. 
 " God," observes Mr. Kohlhoff, in mentioning this pleasing 
 event, " has already blessed the labours of this worthy man, 
 in awakening many to turn from their sins unto him ; and 
 no doubt is entertained of his proving a favoured instru- 
 ment in the hands of the Almighty for the enlargement of 
 his kingdom upon earth." 
 
 With equal wisdom and kindness, the Society for pro- 
 moting Christian Knowledge directed their secretary to 
 address a letter to Sattianaden, assuring him of their sanc- 
 tion and support, and encouraging him to fidelity and dili- 
 gence in the ministry which he had recently received. 
 This was translated by Swartz, and afforded the native 
 pastor inexpressible joy. 
 
 In a letter to Mr. Joenicke, with whom he was asso- 
 ciated in the mission at Palamcotta, he thus expressed 
 himself : — " I shall always be thankful to the hoxiourable 
 Society for their benevolence, and the great demonstrations 
 of it towards me. I shall never forget their having con- 
 firmed me in my office. Their having my happiness, and 
 the happiness of my nation, so much at heart, excites me 
 to constant praises to God. I shall obey them in every re- 
 spect, be careful not to disappoint their hopes, and by dis- 
 charging all the duties of my function, endeavour to live to 
 their satisfaction. Whoever knows the truth, and the de- 
 sign for which it was revealed, and enjoys the blessings of 
 our holy religion, he, and he only, is fit to recommend it to 
 others. For he who does not lead a holy life, according to 
 the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, though ha should 
 speak as an angel from heaven, yet his life not being cor- 
 respondent with his doctrine, his preaching will often be in 
 vain : it will, too, be a testimony against him, and tend to 
 his own ruin, as we read in the 5Uth Psalm. That this may 
 not be the case with me, I shall endeavour to be watchful ; 
 and it is my daily prayer to God, that he may grant me 
 the grace of his blessed Spirit to grow more and more in 
 knowledge and godliness." 
 
HIS L.iST YEABS. 22 
 
 After this satisfactory expression of his sound and 
 scriptural piety, Sattianaden thus beautifully refers to his 
 own conversion to the faith of the Gospel : — 
 
 " When I contemplate the ways of God by which he led 
 me, I am full of admiration and praise. I was once a 
 heathen, who did not know him ; and he called me by his 
 faithful servant ]\Ir. Swartz. This my venerable father re- 
 ceived and instructed me. His exertions ty day and by 
 night tended to brmg me to repentance towards God and 
 faith towards our Lord Jesus Cln-ist, to produce in me 
 fruits meet for repentance, to induce me to lead a godly 
 and holy life, and to grow in knowledge, and in every grace 
 and virtue. He did not destine me to worldly business, 
 but appointed me to bring my nation to the knowledge of 
 God, ard of Jesus Christ, whom he sent to redeem the 
 world. In consequence he gave me the office of a catechist, 
 and used his utmost endeavours to bring me to a more 
 extensive knowledge. And likewise you, sir," writing to 
 Mr. Jocnicke, " exerted yourself to correct my errors and my 
 failings, encouraged me to grow in godliness, and endea- 
 voured to make me more and more useful and happy. 
 Should I be saved, which, trusting in the mercy of God, I 
 hope to be, it 'will be a glory to you ; and even though I 
 should be lost (which God forbid !) my damnation cannot 
 diminish your glory. Now, to crown the pious exertions of 
 my much-esteemed teachers, the honourable Society has 
 approved your proceedings, and confirmed me in the higher 
 office committed to me ; a benevolence which I shall never 
 forget. May God grant me a truly humble mind ! May 
 he make me acceptable to himself, diligent in the perform- 
 ance of every duty, useful in my generation, and obedient 
 to him and my superiors ! " 
 
 Early in the next year his friends at Madras, ^Mr. and 
 Mrs. Duliin, prepared to return to England. On hearing of 
 
 D.:— 
 
 " I hear that ^Ir. D intends to leave this country. 
 
224 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Tlie public will suffer by his departure ; but none can envy 
 him the rest which he and you will then enjoy. 
 
 "One day, that greatest and most solemn of all days, 
 will bring us all together. How shall we then rejoice, when 
 we find that our course and warfare are come to a blessed 
 end ! In the meantime let us fight the good fight of faith, 
 laying hold (in hope) on eternal life. 
 
 " May we be daily girt with the girdle of truth, — of the 
 whole truth, as it has been revealed to us by God, and par- 
 ticularly that cheering truth, that in Jesus Christ, and in a 
 close union with him, consists eternal life. 
 
 " Let us daily put on the breastplate of righteousness. 
 For the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, his meritorious suffer- 
 ings, his blood and death, whereby he has delivered us 
 from the wrath of God, having taken upon him the sentence 
 of death, which we had deserved, — this his righteousness 
 will cover our breast, so that no accusation can be brought 
 against us. 
 
 " Daily let our feet be shod with a readiness to confess 
 the Gospel of peace ; for we have the greatest reason to 
 glory in Christ. 
 
 " Daily let us take up the shield of faith, which God has 
 shown us. By faith we lay hold on the promises of God. 
 He has promised to uphold, strengthen, comfort, and deliver 
 us in all circumstances. These precious promises are our 
 shield, by which we quench all the fiery darts of the devil. 
 
 " Daily let us put upon our head the helmet of salva- 
 tion ; that is, the hope of a blessed eternity. This hope 
 will support us under all gloomy and terrifying circum- 
 stances. Daily let us use the word of God, not only as a 
 seed, or milk, or food, but as a sword likewise ; by which 
 we may cut asunder all knots which the enemy ties. 
 
 " Being armed with these divine weapons, let us rejoice ; 
 but let us never be proud ; but pray daily to Him, from 
 whom comes all our help and comfort. 
 
 " May God strengthen us all to live, to suffer, and to die 
 like real Christians ! My best wishes shall follow you both, 
 wherever you are, till we see one another before the tin-one 
 of God." 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 225 
 
 Swartz had now reached old age, and experienced the 
 truth of that scripture ; " the hoary head is a crown of 
 glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." He was 
 full of years and of honour. The records of the period at 
 which we have now arrived show the degree of influence and 
 respect to which, without seeking it, he had attained. In 
 September, 1791, he wrote as follows : — 
 
 " Though I feel age and the infirmities connected with 
 it, I have much cause humbly to praise God that he so 
 graciously strengthens me to pursue my daily lal)Ours 
 among both Christians and heathens, as well as to prepare 
 some for baptism, — labours which, so far from exhausting, 
 are a cordial to me. I baptize no one whom I have not in- 
 structed diiily for two and sometimes three months. There 
 are two villages of Christians round our garden, one of 
 Pariah, and the other of Soodra caste ; and these can con- 
 veniently attend our daily worship. That which you for so 
 many years desired, that we might have a village of 
 Christians, God has brought about without our interfe- 
 rence. INIay he grant that we may be a blessing to the 
 heathen dwelling around us ! " 
 
 Soon after, writing to the London Committee, he grate- 
 fully acknowledges that, though past the 65th year of his 
 age, he had great reason to bless God for the preservation 
 of his health, and for having been enabled to persevere in 
 the discharge of his duty ; that eighty-seven heathen con- 
 verts had been baptized in the course of the preceding 
 year, the greater part of whom were cultivators of fields a 
 few miles from the fort, and that houses were intended to 
 be built for their convenient attendance upon divine ser- 
 vice. He observes that Mr. Jcenicke, who was settled at 
 Palamcotta, was much delighted with the good conduct of 
 the several congregations, which had, since his residence 
 there, received an addition of sixty-five members ; and 
 adds, that there are some really pious people in the fort 
 also. He then mentions that he had lately received a visit 
 from Mr. Cammerer, the new missionary at Tranquebar, 
 who had remained with them three months, studying the 
 
 Q 
 
226 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 Tamul language, and whom he believed to be an upright, 
 sincere Christian, who would diligently do the work of an 
 evangelist. He expresses his hope that an end would soon 
 be put to the war, and that a more open field would thus 
 present itself for the labours of missionaries. "Would to 
 God," he continues, "that some labourers could be sent to 
 work in it ! I am sure that some gentlemen here would 
 assist. Government would not suffer by it, but rather ex- 
 perience the benefit of seeing the people instructed. This 
 I could show by undeniable proofs, and Government would 
 confirm it." 
 
 Of the visit thus mentioned from the new Tranquebar 
 missionary, Mr. Coemmerer himself gives the following par- 
 ticulars, which will be found scarcely less interesting than 
 the early sketch of Mr. Swartz's character by Mr. Chambers ; 
 and, in some respects, remarkably coincident with that 
 striking fragment. 
 
 " I had spent three months at Tranquebar," writes Mr. 
 Coemmerer, " when I mentioned to my brethren my wish 
 to see the aged, and by me long since esteemed missionary, 
 Mr. Swartz ; as well as to visit Mr. Jcenicke, whom I had 
 known at Halle. My brethren acceding to my request I 
 set off on the 30th of August, and met Mr. Swartz at Cum- 
 bagonam. Sincere esteem and reverence penetrated my 
 soul when I saw this worthy man with his snow-white hair. 
 Integrity and truth beamed in his eyes. He embraced me, 
 and thanked God that he had led me to this country. Mr. 
 Jcenicke received me with open arms. It was very affect- 
 ing to me to see him once again ; for when he accepted the 
 call to India, and preached his farewell discourse at Halle, 
 where I was among his hearers, I certainly never imagined 
 that we should meet and converse again in so remote a 
 country. For twelve days I had the satisfaction of being 
 in his society, till he departed for Palamcotta. 
 
 " Tanjore is a large fortified town, which underwent con- 
 siderable repairs after its occupation by the English. Yet 
 the streets remained dirty and disagreeable, and the place 
 was very unhealthy during the rainy season. This induced 
 Mr. Swartz to select a piece of ground of considerable 
 dimensions, at the distance of about two miles, which he 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 227 
 
 cultivated and formed into a garden, where he erected 
 several houses and a small church. In the immediate 
 vicinity of this garden the native Christian settled, and he 
 lives amongst them like a father." Speaking of the splen- 
 dour of the pagodas in this chief seat of idolatry, he adds, 
 " Here we see how much superstition can efiect. 
 
 " My stay at Tanjore was to have been limited to the 
 25th of October, my presence being much wanted by the 
 Tranquebar brethren ; but dear Mr. Swartz wished for an 
 extension of the time, being desirous that I should make 
 considerable progress in the Malabar tongue ; and it so 
 happened that the rains this season were more violent than 
 was ever recollected by the oldest inhabitants. I could 
 not in consequence return, without endangering my life. 
 Under these circumstances, my residence with that excel- 
 lent man was delayed until the 14th of December. 
 
 " Nothing could possibly afford me more lively satisfac- 
 tion than the society of Mr. Swartz. His unfeigned piety, 
 his real and conscientious attention to every branch of his 
 duties, his sincerity, — in short, his whole demeanour filled 
 me with reverence and admiration. He treated me like a 
 brother, or, rather, like a tender parent, and instructed me 
 in the most agreeable manner in the IMalabar language. 
 The same did JNIr. Kohlhoft^ who is meekness and humility 
 itself. Many an evening passed away, as if it had been but 
 a single moment, so exceedingly interesting proved the con- 
 versation of this truly venerable man, and his relations of 
 the singular and merciful guidance of God, of which he had 
 experienced so many proofs throughout his life, but par- 
 ticularly during the dreadful wars in India. The account 
 he gave of the many dangers to which his life had been ex- 
 posed, and the wonderful manner in which it was often pre- 
 served, his tender and grateful aficction towards God, his 
 fervent prayers and thanksgivings, his gentle exhortations 
 constantly to live as in the presence of God, zealously to 
 preach the Gospel, and entirely to resign ourselves to God's 
 kind providence, — all this brought many a tear into my 
 eyes, and I could not but ardently wish that I might one 
 day resemble Swartz. His disinterestedness, his honour- 
 able manner of conducting public business, procured him 
 
228 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 the general esteem both of Europeans and Hindoos. Every 
 one loved and respected him, from the King of Tanjore to 
 the humblest native. 
 
 " Nor was he less feared ; for he reproved them, without 
 respect to situation and rank, when their conduct deserved 
 animadversion ; and he told all persons, without distinc- 
 tion, what they ought to do, and what to avoid, to promote 
 their temporal and eternal welfare. The king frequently 
 observed that, in the world, much was effected by presents 
 and gold, and that he himself had done much by those 
 means ; but that with Padre Swartz they answei-ed no pur- 
 pose. This excellent man often told me that the favour of 
 God, and communion with Christ, were of greater value to 
 him than 'thousands of gold and silver.' Certainly, by the 
 goodness of God, he has been made a great blessing to this 
 country. What other men could not eflfect without a 
 military force, he has done by the personal influence which 
 he possessed over the people, and which arose exclusively 
 from his integrity and sincere piety. 
 
 " A few miles from Tanjore two Brahmins enticed a 
 child of rich parents, splendidly adorned with gold and 
 precious stones, into their pagoda, where they put him to 
 death. The Government of Madras desired Mr. Swartz to 
 investigate this horrid deed. He accordingly examined the 
 murderers in the king's palace, and brought them to confess 
 the crime. They were afterwards executed. 
 
 " AVhile on a visit at Cumbagonam, Mr. Swartz conversed 
 with a Brahmin wdio had considerable landed property, en- 
 treating him with much affect" on to turn to the true God. 
 A few weeks afterwards we heard that he had died, and that 
 his wife was burned alive with his corpse. Although this 
 happens less frequently than formerly, yet in many in- 
 stances it takes place, and that from two motives : one is 
 superstition ; the poor widow believing that she shall attain 
 to a higher degree of happiness after death ; the other is 
 the fear of being despised by her relations, in case she 
 should not manifest an affection sufficiently strong to de- 
 vote herself to the funeral pile with her husband. When 
 Mr. Swartz learns beforehand that such an inhuman sacri- 
 fice is about to take place, he exerts his utmost influence to 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 229 
 
 prevent it ; and in these endeavours lie has often suc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 " His garden is filled from morning till late in the even- 
 ing with natives of every rank, who come to him to have 
 then- differences settled ; but, rather than his missionary 
 duties should be neglected, the mo&t important cases are 
 delayed. 
 
 " Both morning and evening he has a service, at which 
 many of the Christians attend. A short hymn is first 
 sung ; after which he gives an exhortation on some passage 
 of Scripture, and concludes with a prayer. Till this is over, 
 every one, even the most respectable, is obliged to wait. 
 The number of those who come to him to be instructed in 
 Christianity is great. Every day individuals attend, re- 
 questing him soon to establish a Christian congregation in 
 their part of the country. 
 
 " ]Juring my stay about thirty persons, who had been 
 previously instructed, were baptized. He always performs 
 the service with such solemnity, that all present are moved 
 to tears. He has certainly received from God a most pecu- 
 liar gift of teaching the truths of religion. Heathens of the 
 highest rank, who never intend to become worshippers of 
 the true God and disciples of Jesus Christ, hear his in- 
 structions with pleasure. During an abode of more than 
 forty years in this country, he has acquired a profound 
 knowledge of the customs, manners, and character of the 
 people. He expresses himself in the Tamul language as 
 correctly as a native. He can immediately reply to any 
 question, and refutes objections so well, that the people 
 acknowledge, 'We can lay nothing to the charge of this 
 priest.' 
 
 " The time having arrived for my return to Tranc^uebar, 
 it was not without the deepest regret that I parted from 
 tliis excellent man. Besides making considerable progress 
 in the Malabar language, I derived great benefit for my 
 immortal soul. On my taking leave, he said, shaking 
 hands with much warmth, ' Oh, that we may meet again 
 before the throne of God ! I wish once more to see my 
 friends on the coast, and to take my farewell of them.' " 
 
230 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 The journal of Swartzfor the year 1791 contains a striking 
 illustration of Mr. Coemmerer's remark as to the respect in 
 which he was held, both by the English Government and 
 the rajah of Tan j ore, and of his beneficial influence even in 
 civil concerns, combined, as it ever was, with his unabated 
 zeal and piety. 
 
 " When the present king," he observes, " ascended the 
 throne, I was desired to form the outline of a plan for the 
 better administration of justice and the laws. I did so ; 
 and it was transmitted to England and approved. This 
 year the Directors sent out orders to have my plan carried 
 into execution, and the Governor of Madras desired me to 
 superintend it. This greatly increased my la])0urs ; but 
 for the sake of the poor inhabitants, I could not refuse the 
 office. 
 
 "As many of the natives daily come to me from all 
 parts of the country, I had the best opportunity of de- 
 claring to them the counsel of God for their salvation. 
 Those who came at seven in the morning attended our 
 morning prayers. Others, who called at eight, heard the 
 instructions given to the candidates for baptism. Some- 
 times forty or fifty persons are present, both of high and 
 low castes. Frequently, from fifteen to twenty Brahmins 
 are sitting by while I am catechising. I say to them, ' Sit 
 down, and you will hear what doctrines we teach. I trust 
 you will dedicate yourselves to the service of your Creator 
 and Redeemer, and forsake your wretched idolatry ! ' They 
 quietly sit down for an hour, and hear everything I have to 
 say. Thirty years ago they would have looked upon this 
 as the greatest scandal. ]\Iay God be merciful to them, and 
 incline their hearts not only to hear, but to receive the 
 truth in the love of it ! 
 
 " My hope that this country will be brought to a saving 
 knowledge of the Gospel daily gains strength ; but whether 
 I shall live to see the change, the Lord only knows, — nor, 
 indeed, is it material. My chief care is to train up young 
 people in the service of Christ. Mr. Jccnicke observed, ' I 
 wish we had a few more young men like Sattianaden.' 
 * Yes,' I replied : ' the Lord of the harvest can call others.' 
 May He only grant us a single aim and humble hearts ! 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 231 
 
 Then his blessing will not be wanting ; but if we harbour 
 sordid motives we cannot expect it." 
 
 This exemplary man is ever the same. What might 
 not be expected from the united exertions and prayers of a 
 few such labourers ? 
 
 In another part of the journal for 1791, Swartz thus 
 mentions one of the benevolent methods he adopted for 
 supplying some of his native converts with the means of 
 support. 
 
 " I sometimes employ poor widows in spinning. They 
 bring the yarn to a Christian weaver, who makes good 
 cloth for a trifling sum. Some widows bruise rice, and sell 
 it ; others support themselves by selling fruit. When I 
 visit these poor women on an afternoon I first catechise 
 them, and then get them to show me their work, as a proof 
 of their industry. Labour is constantly necessary for 
 them, not only as an occupation, but to fix their minds on 
 an object during the hours of solitude. 
 
 " The great wish of our hearts is, that those who have 
 been instructed in our religion may lead a life conformable 
 to its holy precepts. Some, indeed, bring forth the fruits 
 of faith ; as for others, we labour with patience, in hope of 
 seeing them turn to the Lord. 
 
 " A short time since an old man was interred, whose 
 life and death were a great consolation to us. He was a 
 man of some property in land and cattle, and left the 
 whole to his children, exhorting them in his last moments 
 to follow his example, and become disciples of Jesus Christ. 
 But, alas ! they were far from being so inclined. His whole 
 heart was fixed upon God, and he sought and found salva- 
 tion, by repentance and faith in the great Redeemer, and 
 by a steady course of consistent piety. He was indefatig- 
 able in prayer, never gave way to a spirit of discontent, but 
 always enjoyed a happy frame of serenity and peace. Many 
 heathens who knew him were wont to say, ' If there be not 
 another sincere Christian among those who have been in- 
 structed, this good old man certainly is one.' In his last 
 illness he was visited by the catechists and ourselves. The 
 day of his departure I said to him, ' My dear friend, it 
 
232 LIFE OF C. F. SV/ARTZ. 
 
 seems as if the Lord designed to call you away to-day.' 
 ' Yes,' returned he, ' I am ready to go ; and my soul ex- 
 claims, Come, Lord Jesus ! I am willing to follow thee !' 
 Shortly after one of the catechists asked him how he found 
 himself ' Very well,' he replied, and expired. His death 
 produced a general sensation. The children in the schools, 
 who revered him as a father, followed him, singing hymns, 
 with a great concourse of Christians and heathens, and 
 strewed his grave with flowers. All the brethren were con- 
 vinced that his life was truly Christian, and his end happy. 
 His memory will be blessed." 
 
 In January, 1792, Swartz writes to a friend : — 
 
 " I am now in the 66th year of my age, and I cannot 
 but bless God that I am still able to perform all my usual 
 functions, both in the church and in the schools. Nature 
 certainly begins to decay ; but as long as God shall grant 
 me any degree of strength, I will gladly spend it in labour- 
 ing in his vineyard. The harvest is at present truly great, 
 but the labourers are few : we, therefore, earnestly pray 
 that the Lord would send labourers into his harvest ; and 
 we urgently entreat all our friends and patrons in Europe 
 to do their utmost to send us out faithful assistants in this 
 work. In the last year the increase of converts was con- 
 siderable. Our three schools in this place go on well, and 
 also that at Cumbagonam, and another at Paliamkodi. In 
 the latter place above sixty persons have been converted to 
 Christianity." 
 
 On the 8th of March following he says, " Ten days ago 
 I returned from a journey to Trichinopoly. My excursion 
 was very gratifying, both in going and returning. I visited 
 the little congregations from village to village, and was 
 pleased with their open-hearted avowal of the truth. When 
 I catechised there were generally above a hundred heathens 
 present who listened in silence. One of the newly-baptized 
 Christians said, ' The whole land will yet turn to Christ.' 
 I said, ' Amen ! ' For so it is written, that the kingdoms 
 of this world shall finally be given to the Lord Christ. On 
 
HIS LiVST YEARS. 233 
 
 my outward journey I took the northern side, on my return 
 the southern, and declared the counsel of God to Christians 
 and heathens with much emotion of heart. The three 
 schools here, and that at Cumbagonam, are continued. 
 Our greatest anxiety is how to dispose of the children 
 educated in the English schools, as most of them are 
 orphans. They are not received into the army, unless they 
 are content to rise no higher than sergeants ! In writing 
 departments so many applicants arc to be found in Madras, 
 that it is difficult to obtain situations. The w^ar is now 
 almost at an end, and the prehminaries of peace have been 
 already acceded to by all parties." 
 
 To some young friends in Europe he writes about this 
 period : — 
 
 " Your old friend is still alive, going about to preach 
 the glad tidings concerning a Kedeemer, who came to save 
 that which was lost. As this blessed Jesus is called, with 
 the greatest propriety, the ' Consolation of the nations,' I 
 hope you seek all true comfort in him. By him ^-ou shall 
 be made wise, for he is the author of all wisdom. In and 
 by him you shall obtain a full and atoning righteousness, 
 as he has fulfilled the law of God and satisfied Divine 
 justice for us ; in and by him we shall be truly sanctified, 
 and restored to the image of God ; because he has not only 
 given us the best rules for holiness, but has set us an ex- 
 ample of unspotted holiness, and, which is our greatest 
 comfort, has purchased for us the grace of his Holy Spirit ; 
 nay, is now able to send this blessed Spirit into our hearts. 
 In and by Jesus we shall be delivered from all evil and 
 calamity, and introduced into the presence of God. Should 
 not such a Saviour be precious in our sight ? St. Paul 
 counted all things but loss, in comparison with the excel- 
 lency of the knowledge of his Saviour. Whatever worldly 
 people say, they will one day or other be of Paul's opinion. 
 
 " I pray to God to enable you to show by your conduct, 
 before all the world, that Jesus is tlie highest object of 
 your desires and wishes. Worldly riches and honoui-s are 
 not sinful in themselves ; nay, ought to be used with thank- 
 
234 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 fulness to God, but with a becoming care and vigilance, lest 
 they become a snare to us." 
 
 Somewhat later in the same year Llr. John, one of the 
 Tranquebar missionaries, having occasion to consult Mr. 
 Swartz, arranged to meet him at Tripatore. " I reached that 
 place," he says, " at seven, and at eight Mr. Swartz arrived, 
 whom I had so earnestly desired to see. He was not able 
 to quit his palanquin without difficulty ; and I soon per- 
 ceived that since I saw him at Tanjore, a year and a half 
 ago, his energy and strength had become much impaired. 
 It went to my very heart, as I reflected with sorrow that 
 we were not likely to retain this dear brother long amongst 
 us. He himself observed : ' I am getting nearer the grave ; 
 travelhng no longer does for me ; my heavenly Father will 
 not, I trust, permit me to lie long sick and incapable of 
 work ; but take me soon to himself, if it be his will.' He 
 complained of a severe cold that affected his teeth ; the 
 loss of which would much grieve him, as it would hinder 
 his speaking. 
 
 " Our Christians assembled, and Mr. Swartz recapitu- 
 lated to them his sermon of last Sunday. Till midnight I 
 poured out my heart into the bosom of this faithful and 
 experienced brother, and was through him not a little 
 refreshed." 
 
 The prospects of the mission at Palamcotta, under the 
 zealous ministry of Joenicke and Sattianaden, were particu- 
 larly gratifying to the venerable missionary at Tanjore. 
 " The native preacher," Mr. Jccnicke informed him, " re- 
 turned lately from an excursion, after an absence of thirty- 
 five days. Every morning he went to some village in the 
 neighbourhood. He cannot sufficiently describe the desire 
 expressed by the people ; wherever he went, they begged 
 him to read and preach to them. He was full of joy, and 
 would gladly have returned to them again, but I rather 
 preferred his holding the preparation at Padunadapooram. 
 I believe we shall have a great harvest in the West." 
 
 "I always thought," replied Swartz, "and I wrote to 
 you to say so, that a large congregation would be collected 
 at Palamcotta. This my hope now begins to be fulfilled. 
 
HIS LAST TEARS. 235 
 
 Oh, may the Lord of the harvest give faithful labourers ! 
 But I hope and pray that God will protect this work from 
 the race of those that deny the Godhead of Christ, and his 
 atoning sacrifice. 
 
 " Since January I have had from twenty to thirty 
 persons constantly under preparation ; and I have lal)oured 
 on them with all my might, morning, afternoon, and even- 
 ing, until almost ten o'clock at night. I recapitulate and 
 apply the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, 
 lead them to child-like communion with God in prayer, and 
 while so engaged, almost forget my age and infirmities. I 
 esteem it the greatest of blessings, next to my own interest 
 in Christ, to be an instrument in the salvation of others." 
 
 In the following year, 1793, Swartz lost his valuable 
 friend Mr. Chambers, to whose widow he addressed the 
 following letter of Christian consolation: — 
 
 " Cuddalore, October 5, 1703. 
 
 " Dear Madam, — The loss of a dear husband, which you 
 have sustained, is felt by you; and as he was my dear 
 friend, with whom I had contracted an intimate friendship, 
 it is, you may be sure, felt by me. But God, who is the giver 
 of our life, has a right to take it from us whenever he 
 pleaseth. 
 
 " If we die in the Lord, united to him who has redeemed 
 us, and having a share in his precious atonement, we are 
 gainers by death, though the survivors may lose. It is 
 therefore our duty to be resigned to the will of our Lord. 
 ' Not my will, but thine, Father, be done ! ' This is the 
 most difficult lesson ; but at the same time a lesson which 
 is attended wnth the greatest blessing. It is natural to 
 shed a tear over the grave of our dear friends ; but it is 
 truly Christian to resign our will to the will of God. 
 
 " Whatever you, dear madam, or your children, have 
 lost by the death of our friend, God is able and willing to 
 make it up. 
 
 " When we give our hearts to him, we promise that wo 
 will be pleased with the ways in which he leads us. 
 
 " When our friends are called away, we arc to remember 
 
236 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 that they are with the Lord ; and that it is our happiness 
 to be disengaged from the world, and to become heavenly- 
 minded. May the death of our deceased friend move our 
 hearts to look upwards, and to be prepared for the coming 
 of our Lord ! 
 
 " God, who is the friend of widows and the father of 
 the orphan, will, no doubt, take care of you and your 
 children. Put your trust in him, and all will be well, 
 
 "The commission which you have been pleased to send 
 me by the Rev. Mr. Brown, I have executed as well as I could, 
 and have got a pleasing promise which I hope will be fulfilled. 
 God knows a thousand ways of supplying our wants, 
 though it seem very difficult to us how to comprehend it. 
 He is called the hearer of prayer. Let your heart be con- 
 fident when you lay your wants before him. Trust in him, 
 and you will never be confounded. May Jesus be your 
 wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ! Let 
 us not glory in anything below; but in him who is the 
 source of all our blessings. 
 
 " Commending you and your dear children to the care, 
 protection, and blessing of a reconciled God, I am sin- 
 cerely, 
 
 " Dear Madam, 
 " Your afi'ectionate friend and humble servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 On the 2d of November Swartz arrived at Tanjore, after 
 an absence of several months. Mr. Psezold thus describes 
 his reception : — 
 
 " I could not remain unmoved when I saw how the 
 Christians, great and small, parents and children, thronged 
 around this beloved teacher, every one trying to get nearest 
 to him, and be the first to greet him with — ' Sir ! God 
 be praised.' The scene was rendered the more affecting by 
 Mr. Swartz himself being unable to refrain from tears of 
 
 joy." 
 
 Towards the close of this year Mr. Swartz condescended 
 to take what, with him, was an unusual step. He had 
 been alluded to in the British House of Commons by a 
 
HIS LAST TEARS. 237 
 
 gentleman who did not hesitate to ridicule as visionary the 
 idea of the conversion of the Hindoos. Not for bis own 
 sake, but in vindication of the cause of missions, Swartz 
 sent to England, addressed to the Secretary of the Society 
 for Promoting Christian Knowledge, a letter, " than which," 
 says Dr. Buchanan, "no Christian defence has appeared in 
 these latter ages more characteristic of the apostolic sim- 
 plicity and primitive energy of truth." 
 
 This letter is as follows : — 
 
 " Tnnjore, Fehrnnry 13, 1794. 
 
 " Reverend and dear Sir, — As his majesty's 74th Regi- 
 ment is partly stationed at Tanjore, and partly at Vallam, 
 six English miles distant from Tanjore, we commonly go 
 once in a week to Vallam, to perform divine service to four 
 companies of that regiment. 
 
 " When I lately went to that place, the 210th number 
 of a newspaper, called the Courier, Friday evening. May 24, 
 1793, was communicated to me. 
 
 " In that paper I found a paragraph, delivered by Mr. 
 Montgomery Campbell, who came out to India with Sir 
 Archibald Campbell, in the station of a private secretary, 
 wherein my name was mentioned in the following manner. 
 
 " ' Mr. ]\Iontgomery Campbell gave his decided vote 
 against the clause, and reprobated the idea of converting 
 the Gentoos. It is true, missionaries have made proselytes 
 of the Parriars ; but they were the lowest order of people, 
 and had even degraded the religion they professed to em- 
 brace. 
 
 " ' j\Ir. Swartz, whose character was held so deservedly 
 high, could not have any reason to boast of the purity of 
 his followers : they were proverbial for their profligacy. 
 An instance occurred to his recollection perfectly in point. 
 He had been preaching for many hours to this caste of 
 proselytes on the heinousness of theft, and in the heat of 
 his discourse had taken off his stock, when that and his 
 gold buckle were stolen by one of his virtuous and enlight- 
 ened congregation. In such a description of natives did 
 the doctrine of the missionaries operate ? Men of high 
 
238 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 caste would spurn at the idea of changing the rehgion of 
 their ancestors,' 
 
 " As this paragraph is found in a public paper, I thought 
 it would not displease the honourable Society to make a 
 few observations on it ; not to boast (which I detest), but 
 to declare the plain truth, and to defend my brethren and 
 myself. 
 
 " About seventeen years ago, when I resided at Trichin- 
 opoly, I visited the congregation at Tanjore. In my road, 
 I arrived very early at a village inhabited by collaries (a 
 set of people who are infamous for stealing) ; even the 
 name of a collary (or better, kallar), signifies a thief. 
 These collaries make nightly excursions in order to rob. 
 They drive away bullocks and sheep, and whatever they 
 can find, for which outrage they annually pay fifteen hun- 
 dred chakr, or seven hundred and fifty pagodas, to the 
 rajah. Of this caste of people many live in the Tanjore 
 country ; still more in Tondiman's country ; and likewise 
 in the nabob's country. 
 
 " When I arrived at one of those villages, called Puda- 
 loor, I took off my stock, putting it upon a sandbank. Ad- 
 vancing a little to look out for the man who carried my 
 linen clothes, I was regardless of the stock, at which time 
 some thievish boys took it away. When the inhabitants 
 heard of the theft they desired me to confine all those 
 boys, and to punish them as severely as I pleased. But I 
 refused to do that, not thinking that the trifle which I had 
 lost was worth so much trouble. 
 
 " That such boys, whose fathers are professed thieves, 
 should commit a theft, can be no matter of wonder. All 
 the inhabitants of that village were heathens ; not one 
 Christian family was found therein. Many of our gentle- 
 men, travelling through that village, have been robbed. 
 The trifle of a buckle I did not therefore lose by a Christian, 
 as Mr. Montgomery Campbell will have it, but by heathen 
 boys. Neither did I preach at that time. Mr. Campbell 
 says that I preached two hours. I did not so much as 
 converse with any man. This poor story, totally misre- 
 presented, is alleged by Mr. M. Campbell to prove the pro- 
 fligacy of Christians, whom he called, with a sneer, 'virtuous 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 239 
 
 and enlightened people.' If he has no better proof, his con- 
 clusion is built upon a bad foundation, and I shall not ad- 
 mire his logic : truth is against him. 
 
 " Neither is it true, that the best part of those people 
 who have been instructed are Parriars. Had Mr. M. Camp- 
 bell visited even once our church, he would have observed 
 that more than two-thirds were of the higher caste ; and 
 so it is at Tranquebar and Vepery. 
 
 " Our intention is not to boast ; but this I may safely 
 say, that many of those who have been instructed have left 
 this world with comfort, and with a well-grounded hope of 
 everlasting life. That some of those who have been in- 
 structed and baptized have abused the benefit of instruc- 
 tion, is certain. But all sincere ser^^ants of God, — nay, 
 even the apostles, have experienced this grief. 
 
 " It is asserted that a missionary is a disgrace to any 
 country. Lord ^Macartney and the late General Coote 
 would have entertained a very different opinion. They, 
 and many other gentlemen, know and acknowledge that the 
 missionaries have been beneficial to Government, and a 
 comfort to the country. This I am able to prove in the 
 strongest manner. Many gentlemen, who live now in 
 England and in this country, would corroborate my as- 
 sertion. 
 
 " That the Rev. Mr. Gericke has been of eminent service 
 at Cuddalore, every gentleman, who was at that place when 
 the war broke out, knows. He was the instrument, in the 
 hands of Providence, by which Cuddalore was saved from 
 plunder and bloodshed. He saved many gentlemen from 
 becoming prisoners to Hyder, which Lord ^Macartney kindly 
 acknowledged. 
 
 " When Negapatam, that rich and populous city, feU 
 into the deepest poverty by the unavoidable consequences 
 of war, ;Mr. Gericke behaved like a father to the distressed 
 inhabitants. He forgot that he had a family to provide 
 for. Many impoverished families were sujiported by him ; 
 so that when I, a few months ago, preached and adminis- 
 tered the sacrament in that place, I saw many who owed 
 their own and their children's lives to his disinterested 
 care. Purely this, my friend, could not be called a dis- 
 
240 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 grace to that place. When the honourable Society ordered 
 him to attend the congregation at Madras, all lamented his 
 departure. And at Madras he is esteemed by the Go- 
 vernor, and many other gentlemen, to this day. 
 
 " It is a most disagreeable task to speak of one's self. 
 However, I hope that the honourable Society will not look 
 upon some observations which I am about to make as a 
 vain and sinful boasting, but rather as a necessary self-de- 
 fence. Neither the missionaries, nor any of the Christians, 
 have hurt the welfare of the country. 
 
 " In the course of the late war the fort of Tanjore was 
 in a very critical condition. A powerful enemy was near ; 
 the people in the fort numerous ; and not provision even 
 for the garrison. There was grain enough in the country, 
 but we had no bullocks to bring it into the fort. When 
 the country people formerly brought paddy into the fort, 
 the rapacious dubashes deprived them of their due pay. 
 Hence, all confidence was lost ; so that the inhabitants 
 drove away their cattle, refusing to assist the fort. The 
 late rajah ordered, — nay, entreated the people, by his 
 managers, to come and help us ; but all was in vain. 
 
 "At last the rajah said to one of our principal gentle- 
 men : ' We all, you and I, have lost our credit ; let us try 
 whether the inhabitants will trust Mr. Swartz.' Accord- 
 ingly he sent me a blank paper, empowering me to make a 
 proper agreement with the people. There was no time for 
 hesitation. The sepoys fell down as dead people, being 
 emaciated with hunger. Our streets were lined with dead 
 corpses every morning. Our condition was deplorable. I 
 sent, therefore, letters, everywhere round about, promising 
 to pay every one with my own hands, and to indemnify 
 them for the loss of every bullock which might be taken 
 by the enemy. In one or two days I got above a thousand 
 oxen, and sent one of our catechists and other Christians 
 into the country. They went at the risk of their lives, 
 made all possible haste, and brought into the fort in a very 
 short time eighty thousand kalams. By this means the 
 fort was saved. When all was over I paid the people (even 
 with some money which belonged to others), made them a 
 small present, and sent them home. 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 241 
 
 "The next year, when Colonel Braithwaite, with his 
 whole detachment, was made prisoner, Major Alcock com- 
 manded this fort, and behaved very kindly to the poor 
 starving people. We were then, a second time, in the 
 same miserable condition. The enemy always invaded the 
 country when the harvest was nigh at hand. I was again 
 desired to try my former expedient, and succeeded. The 
 people, knowing that they were not to be deprived of their 
 pay, came with their cattle. But now the danger was 
 greater, as the enemy was very near. The Christians con- 
 ducted the inhabitants to proper places, surely with no 
 small danger of losing their lives. Accordingly they wept 
 and went, and supplied the fort with grain. When the 
 people were paid, I strictly inquired whether any of the 
 Christians had taken from them a present. They all said, 
 ' No, no ! As we were regularly paid we offered to your 
 catechist a cloth of small value, but he absolutely re- 
 fused it.' 
 
 "But Mr. M. Campbell says that the Christians are profli- 
 gate to a proverb. If he were near me, I would explain to 
 him who are the profligate people who drain the country. 
 When a dubash, in the space of ten or fifteen years, scrapes 
 together two, three, or four lacs of pagodas, is not this ex- 
 tortion a high degree of profligacy ? Nay, Government was 
 obliged to send an order that three of those Gentoo du- 
 bashes should quit the Tanjore country. The enormous 
 crimes committed by them filled the countiy with com- 
 plaints ; but I have no mind to enumerate them. 
 
 " It is asserted that the inhabitants of the country 
 would suffer by missionaries. If they are sincere Christians, 
 it is impossible that the inhabitants should suffer any 
 damage by them ; if they are not what they f)rofcss to be, 
 they ought to be dismissed. 
 
 " When Sir Archibald Campbell was governor, and ]\Ir. 
 M. Campbell his private secretary, the inhabitants of Tan- 
 jore were so miserably oppressed by the manager and the 
 Madras dubashes, that they quitted the country. Of course 
 all cultivation ceased. In the month of June it should 
 commence ; but nothing was done, even at the beginning 
 of September. Every one dreaded the calamity of a famine. 
 
 R 
 
242 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 I entreated the rajah to remove that shameful oppression, 
 and to recal the inhabitants. He sent them word that 
 justice should be done to them, but they disbelieved his 
 promises. He then desired me to write to them, and to 
 assure them that he, at my intercession, would. show kind- 
 ness to them. I did so. All immediately returned ; and 
 first of all the kallar (or, as they are commonly called, col- 
 laries), believed my word ; so that seven thousand men 
 came back on one day. The other inhabitants followed 
 their example. When I exhorted them to exert them- 
 selves to the utmost, because the time for cultivation was 
 almost lost, they replied in the following manner: — 'As 
 you have showed kindness to us, you shall not have reason 
 to repent of it : we intend to work night and day, to show 
 our regard for you.' ^ir Archibald Campl)ell was happy 
 when he heard of it ; and we had the satisfaction of having 
 a better crop than the preceding year. 
 
 " As there was hardly any administration of justice, I 
 begged and entreated the rajah to establish it in his coun- 
 try. ' Well,' snid he, ' let me know wherein my people are 
 oppressed.' I did so. He immediately consented to my 
 proposal, and told his manager that he should feel his in- 
 dignation if the oppression did not cease immediately. 
 But as he soon died, he did not see the execution. 
 
 " When the present rajah began his reign, I put Sir 
 Archibald Campbell in mind of that necessary point. He 
 desired me to make a plan for a court of justice, which I 
 did ; but it was soon neglected by the servants of the 
 rajah, who commonly sold justice to the best bidder. 
 
 " When the Honourable Company took possession of 
 the country during the war, the plan for introducing justice 
 was re-assumed ; by which many people were made happy. 
 But when it was restored to the rajah the former irregu- 
 larities took place. 
 
 " During the assumption, Government desired me to 
 assist the gentlemen collectors. The district towards the 
 west of Tanjore had been very much neglected, so that the 
 water-courses had not been cleansed for the last fifteen 
 years. I proposed that the collector should advance five 
 hundred pagodas to cleanse them. He consented, if I 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 243 
 
 would inspect the business. The work was begun and 
 finished, being superintended by Christians. All that part 
 of the country rejoiced in getting one hundred thousand 
 kalams more than before. The inhabitants confessed that, 
 instead of one kalam, they now reaped four. 
 
 " No native has suffered by Christians ; none has com- 
 plained of it. On the contrary, one of the richest inhabit- 
 ants said to me, ' Sir, if you send a person to us, send us 
 one who has learned all your ten commandments.' For he 
 and many hundred natives had been present when I ex- 
 plained the Christian doctrine to heathen and Christians. 
 
 " Tlie inhabitants dread the conduct of a Madras du- 
 bash. These people lend money to the rajah at an exor- 
 bitant interest, and then are permitted to collect their 
 money and interest in an appointed district. It is needless 
 to mention the consequences. 
 
 " When the collaries committed great outrages in their 
 plundering expeditions, sepoys were sent out to adjust 
 matters, but it had no effect. Government desired me to 
 inquire into that thievish business. I, therefore, sent 
 letters to the head collaries. They appeared. We found 
 out, in some degree, how much the Tanjore and Tondi- 
 man's and the nabob's collaries had stolen, and we insisted 
 upon restoration, which was done accordingly. At last all 
 gave it in writing, that they would steal no more. This 
 promise they kept very well for eight months, and then 
 they began their old work ; however, not as before. Had 
 that inspection over their conduct been continued they 
 might have been made useful people. I insisted upon 
 their cultivating their fields, which they readily did. But 
 if the demands become exorbitant they have no resource, 
 as they think, but of plundering. 
 
 " At length some of the thievish collaries desired to be 
 instructed. I said, ' I am obliged to instruct you ; but I 
 am afraid that you will prove very bad Christians.' laeir 
 promises were fair. I instructed them ; and when they 
 had a tolerable knowledge I baptized them. I then ex- 
 horted them to steal no more, but to work industriously. 
 After that I visited them, and, having examined their 
 knowledge, I desired to see their work. I observed with 
 
244 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 pleasure that their fields were excellently cultivated. 
 ' Now,' said I, ' one thing remains to be done. You must 
 pay your tribute readily, and not wait till it is exacted by 
 military force ; which, otherwise, is their custom. Soon 
 after that I found that they had paid off their tribute 
 exactly. The only complaint against those Christian col- 
 laries was, that they refused to go upon plundering expe- 
 ditions, as they had done before. 
 
 "Now, I am well aware that some will accuse me of 
 having boasted. I confess the charge willingly, but lay all 
 the blame upon those who have constrained me to commit 
 that folly. I might have enlarged my account ; but, fear- 
 ing that some characters would have suffered by it, I stop 
 here. One thing, however, I affirm, before God and man, 
 THAT IF Christianity, in its plain and undisguised form, 
 
 WERE PROPERLY PROMOTED, THE COUNTRY WOULD NOT SUFFER, 
 BUT BE BENEFITED BY IT. 
 
 " If Christians were employed in some important offices, 
 they should, if they misbehaved, be doubly punished ; but 
 to reject them entirely is not right, and discourageth. 
 
 " The glorious God and our blessed Redeemer com- 
 manded his apostles to preach the Gospel to all nations. 
 The knowledge of God, of his Divine perfections, and of 
 his mercy to mankind, may be abused ; but there is no 
 other method of reclaiming men than by instructing them 
 well. To hope that the heathens will lead a good life, with- 
 out the knowledge of God, is a chimera. 
 
 " The praise bestowed on the heathens of this country 
 by many of our historians, is refuted by a close (I might 
 almost say a superficial) inspection of their lives. Many 
 historical works are more like a romance than history. 
 Many gentlemen here are astonished how some historians 
 have prostituted their talents by writing fables. 
 
 " I am now on the brink of eternity ; but to this mo- 
 ment I declare that I do not repent of having spent forty- 
 three years here in the service of my divine Master. AVho 
 knows but God may remove some of the great obstacles to 
 the propagation of the Gospel? Should a reformation take 
 place amongst the Europeans, it would no doubt be the 
 greatest blessing to the country. 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 245 
 
 " These observations I beg leave to lay before the 
 honourable Society, with my humble thanks for all their 
 benefits bestowed on this work, and sincere wishes that 
 their pious and generous cndeavouis to disseminate the 
 knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, may be beneficial 
 to many thousands. 
 
 " I am, sincerely, 
 " Reverend and dear sir, 
 " Your affectionate brother and humble servant, 
 
 " C. F. SWARTZ." 
 
 This valuable document shows, that if the missionary 
 did not devote much time to labours of the pen, it was 
 not fiom any want of ability, but only because the simple 
 preaching of the Gospel was, in his eyes, both more inte- 
 resting and more important. The grand termination of all 
 his labours seemed never for one moment forgotten. Thus, 
 in the same year, 1794, to a friend in England, he writes : — 
 
 " Whether I shall write again is uncertain. Our time, 
 our life, is in the hands of God. One thing is certain, 
 namely, that we must die. But if we die in the Lord, 
 united to Jesus, interested in his atonement, and actuated, 
 at least in some degree, by his Spirit, and having a well- 
 grounded hope of everlasting life, all is well ; death has 
 lost his sting, that is, his power to hurt us. blessed 
 eternity ! 
 
 " You know, my dear friends, that I have loved you. 
 I love you still. My love \vas not founded on a selfish in- 
 terest. No, I wish to see you in a happy eternity. There 
 we shall praise him who has redeemed us with his blood, 
 and sanctified us with his Spirit. 
 
 " Wherever we are, we are tempted by the world — by 
 the fine, polite world, above all. ' Love not the world,' its 
 proud, ambitious, covetous, and sensual conduct. Love 
 Him who laid down his life for us. 
 
 " Remember me to Colonel and Mrs. F. Tell them that 
 I wish to be with them, in the house of my heavenly 
 Father. I am now on the brink of eternity. Oh ! when 
 shall I see God and praise him for ever? when shall I 
 
246 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 be perfectly wise, lioly, and happy 1 when shall I live for 
 ever ? " 
 
 Writing to the London Committee at the beginning of 
 1795, Swartz expresses the anxiety of himself and his bre- 
 thren to afford to the catechumens the fullest instruc- 
 tion in the doctrines of Christianity previously to their 
 baptism — " the missionaries," he observes, " being convinced 
 that pious conduct could not be expected without competent 
 knowledge. After baptism, instruction is renewed at all 
 convenient opportunities ; and whenever the holy sacra- 
 ment is administered, the communicants attend some days 
 before, that their increase or decrease in knowledge may 
 be known. To persons resident at a considerable distance, 
 a catechist is sent to instruct them, and to observe their 
 moral conduct." 
 
 Sattianaden, he informed the Society, had been sent to 
 Ramanadapuram, where some heathens had expressed a 
 desire to be instructed. In that work he was to be em- 
 ployed for some time, and then to return to his station at 
 Palamcotta. In the course of the year the small-pox had 
 raged violently at Tanjore, by which fifty members of the 
 congregation had been swept away. Recourse, however, 
 having been had to inoculation, many lives had been saved. 
 
 Still, on taking a survey of all the circumstances of 
 the mission, he could not but feel much sorrow. One 
 worthy brother at Tranquebar, Mr. Koenig, who had during 
 twenty-seven years been in charge of the Portuguese con- 
 gregation, had died, reducing the number of the Danish 
 missionaries to two. Mr. John had been ill, and Mr. Pohle 
 was unwell. " We intreat God," he adds, " to send new 
 labourers into his vineyard." 
 
 In April of that year, to his friends Mr. and Mrs. Duffin, 
 he writes : — 
 
 " As my friend Mr. KohlhofF has given you an account 
 of his present welfare, I will add something concerning my 
 own health. I praise God for his mercy which he has be- 
 stowed uj)on me. Though I am now in the sixty ninth 
 year of my age, I still am able to perform the ordinary 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 247 
 
 functions of my office. Of sickness I know little or nothing. 
 How long I am to say so, my Creator and Preserver knows. 
 My only comfort is the redemption made by Jesus Christ. 
 He is, and shall be, my wisdom. By him 1 have received 
 the salutary knowledge which leads me to the favour of 
 God. He is my righteousness. Bv his atonement I have 
 pardon of my sins ; being clothed Hi his righteousness, my 
 sins will not appear in judgment against me ; they are 
 blotted out by the atoning blood of Jesus. He is likewise 
 my sanctification. In his holy life I best learn the whole 
 will of God, and by his Spirit I shall daily be encouraged 
 and strengthened to hate every sin, and to walk in the way 
 of the commandments of God. He is, and I hope he will 
 be, my redemption. By him I shall be delivered from all 
 evil, and made eternally happy. 
 
 " Let others glory in what they please : I will glory in 
 Christ Jesus, the only and perfect author of all happiness. 
 Should I presume to rely on my own virtue, I should des- 
 pair. Though I heartily wi.sh to obey God, and follow the 
 example of my Saviour ; though I will endeavour, by the 
 grace of God, to subdue my inclination to sin ; yet in all 
 this there is, and ever must be, imperfection ; so that I 
 dare not stand upon so rotten a ground. But to win 
 Christ, and to be found in him, in life and death, and even 
 in the day of judgment, was St. Paul's wish ; this has been 
 the wish of all genuine Christians ; this shall be mine as 
 long as I breathe. This was not a peculiarity in St. Paul's 
 character. Ko ; he admonishes all to follow him in this 
 point. This close adherence to Christ will not make us 
 indolent in the pursuit of holiness. It will rather impel, 
 strengthen, and cheer us in the work of true and Christian 
 holiness. St. Paul wished to be made like unto the death 
 of Jesus, which is the summit of true holiness. 
 
 " As this, perhaps, may be my last letter to you, 1 
 cannot but entreat you to follow St. Paul, that excellent 
 pattern of true goodness. By doing so, you will easily 
 withstand and overcome the temptations of a vain world ; 
 you will live and die in peace ; and at last be received into 
 glory. 
 
 " We have known one another a lon<r time on earth. 
 
248 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 May we know one another in a blessed eternity, where sin 
 and sorrow never shall disturb us ! "Watch and pray, that 
 ye may be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of 
 man, your Redeemer." 
 
 In January, 1796, in his annual report to the London 
 Committee, Mr. Swartf gave an interesting retrospect of 
 the preceding year. He and his brethren, he observed, 
 had experienced the mercy of God in preserving their lives, 
 when they seemed to be in danger. Mr. Joenicke had been 
 afflicted with a bilious disorder, the consequence and effect 
 of the hill fever, which never entirely left him for three 
 years, though he had sometimes been tolerably well, so as 
 to go through the duties of his ofhce. Mr. Kohlhoff con- 
 tinued most faithfully to assist him. He had himself en- 
 tered into the seventieth year of his age, and still found 
 himself able to perform his various duties — preaching every 
 Sunday, catechising every day, and in the afternoon visiting 
 Christian families, and instructing them in the obligations 
 of religion. 
 
 During the last year twenty-nine heathens had been 
 instructed and baptized, twenty-four Eoman Catholics had 
 been received into the congregation, and thirty-seven child- 
 ren, born of Christian parents. 
 
 He continued to encourage poor Christian widows in 
 spinning ; and the young girls, after an hour's catechising, 
 were employed in knitting stockings. Old people, who 
 were unequal to hard labour, he intended to en-^^age in the 
 cultivation of cochineal, for which purpose ho had planted 
 opuntia in great abundance, and they were then just about 
 to begin that useful work. 
 
 " Unable," he says, " to walk very far, I visit the Christ- 
 ians in two streets near the church. Having catechised 
 them, I accustom myself to explain the principal doctrines 
 of Christianity. This done, I question them respecting 
 their employments, and inspect their work, and at the close 
 of the day we have evening prayer. The catechists visit 
 and instruct Christians resident at a distance, and converse 
 with the heathens in the adjacent towns and villages, and 
 on their return they read their diaries.'* 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 249 
 
 There were twelve catcchists maintained at Tanjore, 
 Ramanadapurnm, and Palamcotta, to whom monthly salaries 
 were paid, amounting in the whole to 60^. per annum. Sat- 
 tianaden received a salary from the Society ; the catcchists 
 were paid by Swartz. The orphan school, in which fifteen 
 native boys were instructed, fed, and clothed, required 
 about 401. per annum to support it. 
 
 " As the Honourable Company," observes this generous 
 man, " has hitherto allowed me something, I look upon it 
 as a donation to the mission. My colleague, Mr. Jcenicke, 
 has a share in it. Besides, when he travels into the coun- 
 try, I pay the expenses— I think myself bound to do so. 
 If the honourable Society could assist us to defray those 
 extraordinary expenses, we should rejoice, and be very 
 thankful for such a bounty." Two English schools had 
 been established at Ramanadapuram, and one at Palam- 
 cotta, by young men who had been instructed at Tanjore; 
 and these schools were sup[^lied with books from the mis- 
 sion stores. Sattianaden, he adds, had sent his diary to 
 Mr. Jocnicke, who, as soon as his health would permit, in- 
 tended to transmit an extract from it to the Society. He 
 concluded by expressing his humble and respectful thanks 
 for the continuance of their kindness to them and to the 
 mission. 
 
 The Society, with prompt liberality, having taken into 
 consideration the preceding statement of the extraordinary 
 expense incurred in the service of the Tanjore mission, in 
 the year 1795, transmitted to Swartz 60^., with a request 
 that he would furnish an estimate of the whole amount, 
 and of the balance remaining unprovided for, on account 
 of which this allowance was made. 
 
 To a friend in London the excellent missionary wrote, at 
 the commencement of this year, " It is a sincere pleasure 
 to me to hear that my letter, together with my remarks on 
 the mission, have been read to the honourable Society, 
 and received their approbation. My earnest wish is, that 
 the remarks may prove conducive to the good of the mis- 
 sion." He then adds the following important and inte- 
 resting observations. 
 
 " A missionary must guard against being cast down 
 
250 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 and dissatisfied ; for this, especially here, is as poison to 
 the body, and highly pernicious to the soul ; because 
 thereby faith, love, and hope, decrease, nay, absolutely 
 perish : and when the people remark that such an one is 
 discontented, it is an impediment in the way of his labour- 
 ing on their souls ; from which, nevertheless, our comfort 
 ought to arise. Whenever I meet with anything disagree- 
 able, I go and catechise for an hour. This employment 
 sweetens every bitter to nie. No missionary must give 
 way to complaining. We must be witnesses for our Lord, 
 and not converters merely. One could wish indeed that, 
 as three thousand souls were converted by Peter's sermon, 
 a visible, abundant blessing might rest on our labours. 
 Meanwhile, sowing has its season, and reaping has its sea- 
 son : and, moreover, it might still be a question, whether^ 
 with such great success, we should hold fast humility of 
 heart. The best way is to labour diligently, and then to 
 pray that God would bless our labour. 
 
 " The Tanjore inhabitants are much given to heathen- 
 ism ; and yet many assert (I know not how it comes into 
 their minds) that the whole land will still embrace Christ- 
 ianity. God grant it ! "* 
 
 In June, 1796, writing to the London Committee, Mr. 
 Swartz mentions with gratitude " God's preservation of his 
 life and health to the extent of nearly seventy years, and his 
 ability still to go through his work in church and school, 
 even without being much fatigued." Mr. Kohlhoft", he said, 
 continued faithfully to assist him in the several duties of the 
 mission. Mr. Joenicke had been to Ramanadapuram, not 
 merely to inspect the congregation, but also to superintend 
 the rebuilding of a new church at that place, the old one 
 having fallen down. He had suffered much from the hill 
 fever, but then found himself better. He observes that 
 they stood in need of a much greater number of books than 
 they usually received, particularly for the schools, and then 
 afiectingly adds, " As I grow old and weak, and the work 
 is great and extensive, I heartily w^ish that a new labourer 
 could be sent out to assist us." 
 
 Writing to Dr. Schultz, he says, " I have just risen from 
 * Dean Pearson's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 307. 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 251 
 
 an examination of the school-children, after having pre- 
 viously finished catechising. Such examinations we have 
 once a-month, and it is in many respects an advantage to 
 have them frequently ; but particularly because the school- 
 master is thus encouraged to fulfil his duty faithfully. We 
 examine their reading, writing, and arithmetic ; and hoar 
 them repeat by heart the principal texts and a hymn." 
 In another letter he mentions that they were also taught 
 to sing sacred melodies. 
 
 Referring again to his valuable plan of preparing cate- 
 chists and schoolmasters, he says, " I have selected from 
 the school ten lively boys, whom I daily instruct in the 
 doctrines of Christianity, and church history, as well as in 
 the method of explaining the principal passages of Scrip- 
 ture. I allow them each a small sum monthly, to prevent 
 the necessity of their applying to other labour for support. 
 Not that w^e expect that eveiy one of them will be fit to be 
 employed in church offices ; but they are thus previously 
 instructed, and their abilities as well as conduct are in the 
 way of being proved. Those of whom we entertain hopes 
 of usefulness we send with the catechists into the country, 
 in order to afford them some assistance." This, as he men- 
 tions in another letter, was read to the people, when the 
 catechists became fatigued with speaking to them. " May 
 God endue them," adds this pious and venerable man, " with 
 his Spirit, sanctify their hearts, and make them useful to 
 the benefit of the congregation, and the glory of his name !" 
 
 The 8th of October was Swartz's birthday. He writes 
 on that day to the same friend, as follows : — 
 
 " Tnnjnrc, Oct. 20, 1798. 
 " Ebenezer ! hitherto the Lord has helped me. To-day 
 I entered upon my seventy-first year. the riches of his 
 grace, compassion, and forbearance, which I have expe- 
 rienced during seventy years ! Praise, honour, and adora- 
 tion, are due to a gracious God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost, for the numerous proofs of his al)ounding grace. 
 Who am I, poor wretched sinner, that thou hast led me 
 till now ? my God, forsake me not in my old age, but 
 let me record, for the encouragement of others, the mercy 
 
252 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 which has spared, pardoned, and comforted me ; and may 
 they be induced to put their trust in thee ! 
 
 " I am still able to go through the labour of instructing 
 both young and old, without being over-fatigued. This duty 
 is so great a refreshment to me, that I heartily praise God 
 for continued health and strength to declare to heathens 
 and Christians his name, who has sent Christ as a Saviour, 
 and made him ' cur wisdom and righteousness, sanctifi- 
 cation and redemption.' Let worldlings boast as much as 
 they please ; my boast is in the Lord, from whom alone 
 Cometh my salvation." 
 
 In another letter he adverts to the declension of the 
 churches in Germany, and consequent difficulty of pro- 
 curing a supply of missionaries ■• — 
 
 " Our circumstances are rather depressing, but the Lord 
 is never at a loss for means. He can send forth labourers 
 into his vineyard. Alas ! the faithful labourers are few. 
 
 " The present condition of the churches in Germany is 
 truly deplorable. They have invented a gospel to which 
 St. Paul and the other apostles were entire strangers. 
 Many reject the doctrine of the atonement, and of the 
 sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 " I have now attained my seventieth year. Hitherto 
 the Lord has preserved and protected me. I cannot any 
 longer undertake distant excursions to the heathen ; but 
 am still able to perform my ordinary functions, both in 
 church and school. I also pay occasional visits to such 
 Christians as are dispersed in the vicinity, for which I 
 humbly praise God. I have till now personally instructed 
 all those who wished to be baptized, or to receive the holy 
 supper. 
 
 " How much longer God may permit me to occupy my 
 station is known to him alone. ' My times are in his 
 hands.' He has heard my unworthy prayer, that I might 
 not become quite useless in old age. I consider it one of 
 my highest privileges that I can still daily proclaim his 
 name, both among Christians and heathens. A few months 
 ago, I seemed standing on the borders of eternity, being 
 suddenly seized with a painful oppression on my chest. 
 
HIS LAST YEARS. 253 
 
 I consider it as a summons from my Lord to hold myself 
 in readiness, at whatsoever hour he may come." 
 
 To his friend Mrs. Chambers he writes, at the opening 
 of 1797, on the subject of her children, and adds : — 
 
 " I rejoice particularly at your delight in abstaining 
 from the fashionable ways of tlie world. How is it possible 
 to preserve faith, love, and hope, in the dissipations which 
 are in vogue 1 Our days arc soon gone. Eternity is at 
 hand. What will a poor worldling at last feel when, 
 leaving the world, he finds himself destitute of a lively 
 hope of a blessed eternity I 
 
 " But how comfortable is the end of a genuine disciple 
 of Jesus ! Adorned with his righteousness, justified and 
 absolved from sin, having the joyful testimony of the 
 Spiri. of God, he quits the world with divine comfort. 
 
 " How animating the words of our blessed Saviour, 
 ' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 
 and I will give you rest !' None but the Kedeemer is able 
 to give us that desirable blessing. Having obtained mercy, 
 pardon, and peace with God, well may we take his yoke 
 upon us. His commandments are then not grievous ; his 
 discipline, and even sufferings, are salutary, promoting our 
 internal peace of mmd. 
 
 " ]\Iay you, dear madam, and your dear children, walk in 
 the light of his countenance ! May God always grant you 
 righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." 
 
 At the same date, writing to the London Committee, 
 Mr. Swartz reports, that through the divine mercy, Mr. 
 KohlhofFand himself had been preserved in the enjoyment 
 of health and strength, for which he humbly praised God. 
 He particularly mentioned Mr. Joenicke as indefatigable 
 in his missionary labours. He reported that in ihe Tamul 
 school, in which fifty boys and ten girls were educated, 
 two of the senior boys were instructed, not only in the 
 doctrine, but also in tlie evidences of Christianity, in order 
 to their being hereafter employed as schoolmasters and 
 catechists. The provincial schools at Taujore and Cum- 
 bagonam were continued as before. As a proof of their 
 
-rsiO.^*vWi:»^->tf\^ 
 
 254 LIFE OF C. V. SWARTZ. 
 
 caution in the admission of the native Christians to divine 
 ordinances, " when the holy sacrament," he observed, " is 
 administered, we admit no more than thirty or forty at 
 one time, that we may be able to ascertain the knowledge 
 of the communicants ; but that all may have an oppor- 
 tunity to re 'eive, it is administered four or five Sundays 
 successively." 
 
 To his friend Dr. Schultz he writes, in the same year : — 
 
 " Up to this day, I have still been enabled to fulfil my 
 labours. I am now at Vallam. There are three com- 
 panies of English soldiers here, who have requested me to 
 give them a word of exhortation once or twice this month. 
 
 " Mr. Kohlhofi" is well, and unwearied in his labours. 
 He has a meeting for worship every evening with the 
 Europeans in the fort of Tanjore. God has his own people 
 among them, who esteem it a blessing to have the word of 
 salvation preached to them. Seventy or eighty regularly 
 attend. In the church without the fort I have a similar 
 meeting, every morning and evening." — " The Gospel has 
 continued to be fully preached in Tanjore, and the villages 
 around. To the ten youths whom I selected for the pur- 
 pose, I explain at large the doctrines of Christianity, with 
 the evidences for them out of the Old and New Testa- 
 ments, so as to enable them to perceive the reasons of 
 their faith distinctly and convincingly." 
 
 " We labour in the congi'egation, and see in many the 
 fruits of our labour. But truly the hindrances to the work 
 of the Lord are not few. Still, if only some are gained, 
 our labour is not in vain. God can make all grace abound 
 to us ; to him we commend ourselves and his work." 
 
 In another letter we have a striking proof of his constant 
 and disinterested anxiety for the missionary cause. 
 
 " Early this morning I happened to meet with a letter 
 
 of my late pious friend , which he addressed to you 
 
 in 1788, and which was then forwarded to me. He says 
 in it — ' Ought not my son to be a missionary 1 how 
 ardently do I pray that God will not forsake his work, 
 now that he has opened to our times a wider field than 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS. 255 
 
 heretofore ! If God cause his Spirit to rest on both my 
 sons, they shall hereafter prove active labourers in his 
 vineyard.' 
 
 " Now if this son of my deceased friend have natural 
 gifts, and grace, — if he have a desire to preach Christ 
 among the heathen, I beg you to send him out at my 
 expense. And if I should be called away by the Lord 
 before his arrival, my brethren will make it good out of 
 the property I leave. The mission is my heir. Our hope 
 standeth in the Lord, who made heaven and earth. ]\Iay 
 he be merciful to us, and promote his work to his own 
 glory ! 
 
 " I feel my weakness more and more — how long the 
 Lord will yet preserve and use me rests with him. My 
 times are in his hands. May he be merciful to me, and 
 grant me at last a blessed end ! Amen." 
 
 On the 4th of September he wrote his last letter to the 
 Committee in London, in which he acknowledged the receipt 
 of the secretary's letter for that year, together with the 
 usual stores and presents, salaries and gratuities, for all 
 of which he assured the Society of his brethren's sincere 
 thankfulness. " God," he continued, " had graciously pre- 
 served their lives and health, so that he was still able to 
 go through his accustomed work, though with less vigour 
 than heretofore. He added, that should his life be pro- 
 longed, he intended to give a full account of the mission 
 at the end of the year ; and concluded with a prayer, that 
 God would prosper the work of their revered superiors." 
 
 That "blessed end," to which he had been constantly 
 looking forward for several years past, was now at hand. 
 In October, 1797, his last illness came on, and in February, 
 1798, Mr. Gericke, in a letter to the Society, communicated 
 the painful and afflicting intelligence that ^Mr. Swartz had 
 been, for three months past, dangerously ill, and was. not 
 expected to preach again, his illness having affected not 
 only his bodily strength, but al>^o his memory. 
 
 He did not at first apprehend that it would prove fatal ; 
 but appeared to entertain a wish and expectation of re- 
 covery. 
 
256 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " When I spoke to him on the subject," says Mr. 
 Joenicke, in a letter to one of his brethren, " and expressed 
 a hope that God might yet restore him to health, he said, 
 ' But I should not be able to preach, on account of my 
 teeth.' I replied, ' If you only sit here as you do at pre- 
 sent, and aid us with your counsel, all things would go on 
 quite differently from what they would if you were to 
 leave us.' But when I next saw him he said, as soon as I 
 entered, ' I think the Lord will at last take me to himself.' 
 I spoke to him a great deal on the subject, but he remained 
 silent, settled some pecuniary matters with me, and gave 
 me some money for Palamcotta. All this troubled me 
 much. I prayed and wept ; could get no sleep for several 
 nights, and lost my appetite and strength ; for various 
 thoughts, how things would go on after his departure, made 
 me very wakeful. The physicians say there is no danger 
 as yet ; but it now appears to me that our dear father will 
 soon leave us. if God would graciously strengthen him, 
 and spare him to us yet a little while ! If he depart to 
 his rest, what shall we both do 1 " 
 
 In his next letter, Mr. Gericke communicated the fol- 
 lowing interesting particulars of the last sufferings, and of 
 the patience, resignation, and hope, of the revered and 
 venerable missionary. 
 
 "That great and good man," he writes, "had often 
 spoken to me of his death. When he mentioned any pro- 
 vidential circumstances that had attended him in life, he 
 had been accustomed to add, • And so God will show me 
 mercy at the end ;' and we have great reason to praise 
 Him for the mercies our father and brother experienced 
 during the last days of h^s abode upon earth. When I 
 arrived at Tanjore, he was in perfect health of body, 
 though his recollection failed him. During the few days 
 in which I went to see our brother Pohle, at Trichinopoly, 
 he had been afflicted with a mortification in his left foot, 
 which for years past had occasionally been painful. On 
 my return I was fearful that this would prove fatal. We 
 were thankful, however, to observe, that the jDower of 
 recollection had almost fully returned. The mortifica- 
 tion also was checked, and shortly after removed ; and 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS. 257 
 
 the last days of his hfe became some of his best. He 
 frequently conversed with Christians and heathens, who 
 visited him, in the same easy and agreeable manner he 
 had been accustomed to when in health. He affectionately 
 exhorted every European that visited him to the earnest 
 care of his soul. He prayed, and he praised God. He 
 desired us to pray with him ; and though he must have 
 felt much ]-)ain (which was evident from his groans, when 
 left alone, in the hope of getting rest), yet when we heard 
 him speak with others, or pray, it was with as much ease 
 as if he had no pain. 
 
 " Respecting the mission, he made the following em- 
 phatic observation. ' I hope the work will continue ; but 
 you will suffer much in carrying it on : he who will suffer 
 nothing is not fit for it.' Of his own congregation, by 
 which he chiefly intended those who lived on either side of 
 his garden, and attended his hours of daily devotion, he 
 said, what it would be well if those who expect too much, 
 or, at least, too hastily, from heathen converts, would bear 
 in mind, — 'There is a good beginning in all. If others 
 say. There is nothing perfect ; I say, Look into your own 
 hearts.' " 
 
 Another friend, Mr. Ccemmerer, thus describes his state 
 in his illness : — 
 
 " In November of last year we received distressing 
 accounts of the illness of our revered father Swartz. A 
 cold laid the foundation of this severe illness, which none 
 could have encountered without sinking under it, unless 
 blessed with such a sound constitution as his was. Both 
 Mr. Joenicke and Mr. Kohlhoff were kept in constant appre- 
 hension of his speedy dissolution, and the former was 
 really ill from agitation and grief. I\Ir. Pohle hastened to 
 Tanjore, and remained several weeks there. I also had 
 determined immediately to pay him a visit, but was de- 
 tained by the inundations, and a multiplicity of pressing 
 engagements, till the commencement of the new year ; 
 when I entered upon the journey, and reached Tanjore in 
 the morning of the 8th of January. Mr. Swai'tz was still 
 
258 LIFE OP C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 asleep. A good appetite and a sound sleep had mate- 
 rially aided the recovery of his bodily strength. 
 
 " After Mr. Swartz had been informed of my arrival, he 
 inquired the cause of my having undertaken so long a 
 journey. 'It is once more to see you,' was the answer. 
 ' Why so 1 ' said he ; ' there is no cause for uneasiness 
 about me. I am very well indeed.' When I expressed to 
 him my joy and satisfaction that God had helped him thus 
 far, he rephed, smihng, ' God is good. If we were left 
 destitute of his help, what should we do 1 We poor worms 
 of the dust, — our times are in his hands ; he alone can pre- 
 serve or destroy life. Hitherto he hath endured our man- 
 ners with truly paternal tenderness ; hath spared us in the 
 midst of all our sins and provocations, and crowned us 
 with loving-kindnesses and tender mercies.' When I asked 
 him whether he had suffered much during his late illness, 
 he intimated that he had, comparatively speaking, suffered 
 but little ; ' but suppose I had,' he added, ' a sinner ought 
 never to complain of having suffered much.' On the 
 evening of the same day I attended the meeting for prayer, 
 held by him in his large convenient chamber, at which the 
 catechists, the schoolmasters with the children, and many 
 native Christians, used to assemble. I placed myself by 
 his side. He himself gave out the hymn and set the tune. 
 He then read a chapter from the Gospel of St. Matthew, 
 catechized the children with such intelligence and con- 
 nexion, and addressed them on the happiness to be enjoyed 
 in communion with Christ, in so cordial and edifying a 
 manner, that I could not refrain from tears. After this 
 he knelt down, and offered up a prayer in Tamul, dis- 
 tinguished by such, purity of style, fervour of soul, and 
 humility of mind, that I was filled with wonder and 
 admiration. 
 
 " After all was ended, I still remained with him for an 
 hour. In his conversation he touched upon the infinite 
 condescension and mercy of God in Laving called him to 
 the office of a missionary, which he represented as the most 
 honourable and blessed service in which any human being 
 could possibly be employed in this world. ' True/ he 
 
HIS LAST ILLNESS. 259 
 
 added, ' a missionary must bear the cross ; but this, my 
 brother, is sahitary : the heart is thereby drawn nearer to 
 God ; we are kept humble ; without such trials the self- 
 willed and proud heart of man would soon exalt itself. 
 The good we receive at the hand of God far exceeds the 
 evil. When I consider all the way which God hath hitherto 
 led me, the distresses from which he hath delivered my 
 soul, and the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and 
 long-suflfering, I feel compelled gratefully to exclaim, ' The 
 Lord be magnified !' Believe me, it is a privilege and hap- 
 piness far beyond all description to enjoy in Christ the 
 remission of sin. Ah ! how much hath my Saviour done 
 for such a poor sinner as I am ! Look at this poor Christ- 
 ian (he pointed to one sitting at the gate), how poor he is 
 in the things of this world, whilst I have every needful 
 supply, and even many a comfort ! What is my supe- 
 riority over him ? Suppose he should have committed 
 one thousand sins, I am conscious of having committed 
 ten thousand, and yet my God still bears with me. And 
 should I ever think myself entitled to despise a poor man 
 like this?' 
 
 " If this be the feeling and the language of a man who 
 has led the most exemplary life even from his youth, and 
 proved a blessing to thousands, what shall I say — my 
 God! 
 
 " His character is held in such general estimation, that 
 all he says produces a blessed impression upon the minds 
 of the people. When, a few weeks after his dangerous 
 attack, he went again on Christmas-day to the church, 
 which is built in his garden, an universal joy diffused 
 itself all over his congregation : they ran up to him — every 
 one wanted to be the first in testifying to him his joy and 
 gratitude ; he could scarcely make his way through the 
 crowd. During his illness many thousand prayers and 
 sighs had ascended to heaven for his recovery. 
 
 " On the evening of the 9th I took my leave of him. 
 He pressed my hand, and said, ' I will detain you no 
 longer, my brother ! set out on your journey in the name 
 of God, and may he be with you. As to myself, I 
 commit all my concerns to our gracious God. Whether 
 
260 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 I live, I live unto tlie Lord ; or whether I die, I die 
 unto the Lord.' To my question, whether he would charge 
 me with any commission to the missionaries in Tranquebar, 
 he replied, ' Salute the brethren most cordially. The God 
 of peace be with them. Not knowing how long it may 
 please God to preserve our lives, let us be up and doing. 
 Though we should not always be privileged immediately 
 to see the success of our labours, let us still persevere, so 
 long as God may allow us to work in his vineyard.' " 
 
 The following extract of a letter from Mr. Holtzberg 
 affords an additional testimony to the piety and resigna- 
 tion of the dying missionary : — 
 
 " We are at present much depressed at the prospect of 
 our soon losing that faithful servant of God, our revered 
 father Swartz. On the day of my arrival his feet began to 
 swell, and his illness is increasing from day to day. He is 
 entirely resigned, and patiently endures every suffering. 
 I have just left him, weak in body, but so cheerful and 
 happy in his mind, that I scarcely could persuade myself 
 he was so near his dissolution. He expounds passages of 
 Scrii^ture, and explams hymns, with ease, liveliness, and 
 energy, as if he were addressing a congregation from the 
 pulpit. The Lord do with him as it seemeth good in his 
 sight. He just now expressed himself thus : ' my God ! 
 should it please thee to let me remain in my present state 
 a little longer, be it so, if only thy name is glorified ; but 
 if thou shouldest take me to thyself, let it be done for the 
 glory of thy great name ! ' "* 
 
 Mr. Gericke continues the narrative up to its final 
 close : — 
 
 "I returned to Tanjore from a short journey I had 
 made to Trichinopoly, on the 7th of February (1798), and 
 found that Mr. Swartz's foot had become very bad, and full 
 of black spots, which continued to increase. The physician 
 had begun to employ the bark as a poultice. As we ex- 
 pected the dissolution of our beloved brother every hour, 
 
 • Dean Pearson's Memoirs vol. ii. p. 357. 
 
THE CLOSIXG SCENE. 261 
 
 the other brethren besought me to remain with them, and 
 help them to bear the burden. To me it was, indeed, a 
 great blessing, to witness in our dying friend an animating 
 example of faith, of patience, and of hope. When spiritual 
 and heavenly things were the subject of conversation, 
 — when he prayed, exhorted, comforted, or spoke of the 
 repose and peace of mind which he enjoyed by the mercy 
 of God through Christ, no failure in his powers of recol- 
 lection could be perceived. He often introduced a text of 
 holy Scripture or a verse of a hymn, which were very ap- 
 propriate ; and always in the language of those to whom 
 he alone addressed himself. Until the previous Friday 
 evening he often said, that he did not consider his end so 
 near ; and that it would not take place until after much, 
 suffering. But after that, he sometimes said, ' I shall now 
 soon depart to my heavenly Father.' Being asked, whether 
 he had the hope that, after his death, the kingdom of God 
 would be further extended in this country, he replied, 
 ' Yes ; but it will not be without affliction and trouble.' 
 At another time, when he was asked if he had anything to 
 say concerning his congregation, he answered, ' Exert your- 
 selves, that they may all go to heaven.' When one re- 
 marked with joy, his patience and contentment, he re- 
 plied, 'Human affliction is universal, and I really suffer 
 very little ;' often repeating, in German, 'The faithful God 
 helps us out of trouble, and chastens us with tenderness. 
 How would it be if he should deal with us according to our 
 sins ? But in yonder heavenly country there will be no 
 pain, and this we owe to the Lord Jesus.' 
 
 " To his native assistants, who faithfully attended him, 
 he was very grateful, and often said, ' For these poor 
 people's sake, who certainly do all they can, we ought not 
 to complain much, lest we should render their attendance 
 more burthensome.' 
 
 " On the morning of the 10th, his tongue was parched, 
 furred, and black, attended with strong spasms of the 
 stomach, and an impeded respiration. At his desire we 
 offered up a prayer, and thought that it would be the last. 
 Towards evening, however, there was a favourable change, 
 and the fever was much abated. Early on the following 
 
262 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 day, Samuel, the physician (probably a native practitioner), 
 came ; who, however, did not attend the patient in a 
 medical capacity, but only assisted in raising him, and 
 applj'ing the embrocations, and who had, the day before, 
 announced to me his approaching death. He said, 'The 
 Lord has done wonders; the symptoms which yesterday 
 indicated his approaching dissolution have now disap- 
 peared.' The English physician, also, when he examined 
 the foot, said, he was astonished at the unexpected im- 
 provement, and added, that he now no longer feared that 
 his patient would die of the mortification, though his 
 recovery was not to be expected. 
 
 "On the 12th, in the afternoon, I intended to set out 
 on my return. On taking leave of him, he said, ' Remem- 
 ber me affectionately to all the brethren, and tell them from 
 me, never to lose sight of the main object, and strictly to 
 maintain the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. I 
 shall now soon depart to the Lord Jesus. If he will re- 
 ceive me, and forgive my sins, and not enter into judgment 
 with me, but deal with me according to his tender mercy, 
 all will be well with me, and I shall praise him. He might 
 reject us for our very works' sake, because sin cleaves to 
 them all.' He thanked God for permitting him to leave 
 the world in the midst of his faithful brethren, and that I 
 had been brought to visit him during his last illness, and 
 to commend him to Jesus, as the only Saviour, as the 
 resurrection and the life. ' Now,' he added, ' pray yet 
 once again.' I knelt down, in company with Dilr. Kohlhoff, 
 who had entered in the meanwhile, and adapted my prayer 
 to the subject of the hymn, ' To thee alone. Lord Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
 " After applying fresh poultices to the diseased foot, he 
 was removed into another room. It was then that we first 
 perceived his extreme debility ; and that he appeared much 
 nearer to his dissolution than he had been on the preceding 
 Sunday. Again, therefore, T was detained. 
 
 " In the afternoon, he conversed much with Mr. 
 Joenicke. In the evening, I came to him with the phy- 
 sician, whom he distinctl}^ recognised, and said to him, 
 ' Let us all take care that none of us be left behind !' He 
 
THE CLOSING SCENE. 263 
 
 expressed much gratitude to the physician for his attend- 
 ance, and also thanked us his brethren, and the native 
 assistants. These last did everything in their power with 
 the greatest readiness ; love to their paternal teacher made 
 all easy to them ; and every instructive word that he ad- 
 dressed to them they cauglit up with the greatest avidity, 
 and delighted to be about him. The physician was much 
 affected, and intreated me not to leave the patient now 
 that he was so weak. 
 
 " This evening he suffered more than before ; for the 
 lifting him up and moving him, and even the sitting and 
 lying in bed, were extremely painful to him. But his 
 patience, resignation, earnestness in prayer, and fervour of 
 gratitude in the midst of pain and exhaustion, never 
 abated ; not a complaint was heard ; sighs only testified 
 what he endured. I said to him, among other things, 
 ' God grant that we may, in our last conflict, be able to 
 await our end in such peace, and in such a happy frame, 
 as, to our consolation and joy, are imparted to you!' 
 'May he grant it,' he rejoined, 'in the richest abundance !' 
 All our hearts were moved by the affectionate energy with 
 which he uttered these words. 
 
 "In the night of the 12th ?ic had, during the inten^als 
 of pain, a little sleep ; and in the forenoon of the following 
 day he fell into a kind of stupor, and his pulse was very 
 feeble. When he awoke he spoke, indeed, but only a few 
 words could be understood, though he appeared to compre- 
 hend all that was said to him. We expected that thus he 
 would slumber away ; but at noon, on the 13th, he revived 
 again. We sung the hymn, ' Christ is my life,' when he 
 began to sing with us, spoke very humbly of himself, and 
 extolled his Redeemer, and wished to be dissolved and to 
 be with Christ. ' Had it pleased him,' he said, * to spare 
 me longer, I should have been glad : I should then have 
 been able to speak yet a word to the sick and poor ; but 
 his will be done ! May He but in mercy receive me ! 
 Into thy hands I commend my spirit ; thou hast redeemed 
 me, O God of truth ! ' After this the native assistants 
 sung the last verse of the hymn, ' head, so full of bruises,* 
 — in which he frequently joined. He then rested a little ; 
 
264 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 after which he desired to be raised up, and unexpectedly 
 he opened his lips, from which had issued so much instruc- 
 tion and consolation, and thus expired in the arms of his 
 faithful and attached native fellow-labourers about four 
 o'clock. 
 
 " Veiy affecting were the weeping and the sobs of the 
 people, in both the Christian villages on each side of the 
 garden, which were heard during the whole night. The 
 distress, that now their instructor, their comforter, their 
 guardian, their benefactor, their counsellor, their advocate, 
 was no more, was universal. Not only we, the congrega- 
 tions, the schools, and the missions, but the whole country 
 has lost a parent. Every one who knew him bewails him. 
 
 " On the day following, between four and five in the 
 afternoon, we committed his body to the grave we had 
 made for him in the garden. Serfojee, the Tanjore prince, 
 whose guardian he had been, came to see him before the 
 coffin was closed, bedewed him with his tears, and accom- 
 panied him to the grave. The native assistants asked per- 
 mission to bear the corpse ; but as Europeans had been 
 appointed the day before, it was declined. We commenced 
 a hymn on our way to the church, but the lamentations 
 of the people drowned the voices. There was singing in 
 the church before and after the interment, and when the 
 Europeans had retired the natives themselves began a 
 hymn, and awaited an address from me ; but I could 
 hardly utter even a few words, and was obliged to summon 
 up all my resolution to read the service. The servant of 
 the deceased stood near me, and said, almost as if fainting, 
 'Now, he who was the desire of us all is gone !' The ex- 
 clamation went to my heart ; but this is not the language 
 of one, but of many, old and young, great and small, near 
 and afar, Christians and heathens. 
 
 " When I had disrobed I repaired to the prince, who 
 remained still in the neighbourhood, and endeavoured to 
 comfort him. The chief servant of the widow of the 
 former king also begged me to visit and comfort her ; but 
 she resided too far oif. On the following morning we all 
 waited on the physician, and thanked him for the kind 
 attention which he had shown to our departed brother in 
 
HIS INTERMENT. 265 
 
 his last illness. Having been appointed trustee to the 
 affairs of Mr. Swartz I then examined his papers, and found 
 that the mission at Tanjore, together with the poor, and 
 the several institutions attached to it, were made the heirs 
 to his property. In the afternoon I conversed for an hour 
 with the assistants, and prayed with them. In the even- 
 ing the Tamul congregation assembled in the church, and 
 wished to hear a sermon. I chose the words of Jacob on 
 his death-bed, — ' Behold, I die ; but God will be with you.' 
 I introduced many things which the deceased had said con- 
 cerning the congregation, and his hope that the kingdom of 
 Christ would advance in this country. I exhorted them to 
 cultivate the dispositions by which their late friend and 
 teacher, whose grave was then visible before them, had 
 been so eminently distinguished. On the following day I 
 again prayed with the brethren, and departed. Thus this 
 excellent man, who has been so important to the mission, 
 is no more. Oh, that his piety may animate all who are 
 engaged in the same blessed work ! May God assist and 
 support the missionary cause, and fulfil the prayers so often 
 presented to him on its behalf by this his devoted servant, 
 for the extension of the kingdom of Christ in the Eastern 
 world ! " 
 
 " Such," observes Dean Pearson, " was the calm and 
 peaceful, yet triumphant departure of this distinguished 
 missionary. The circumstances which attended his death 
 were precisely those which might have been anticipated, 
 from the uniform tenor of his life. The one had been 
 eminently pious and consistent, exemplary and holy ; the 
 other was accompanied by those evident tokens of the 
 Divine presence, and those bright beams of divine consola- 
 tion, hope, and joy, with which the Heavenly ]\[aster, 
 whom he had so long and so faithfully served, seldom fails 
 to irradiate ' the chamber where the good man breathes 
 his last.' 
 
 " The loss of so excellent and valual)le a person, who 
 had, during nearly half a century, occupied so conspicuous 
 a place in the sphere in which he moved, could not but be 
 deeply felt by all who had either witnessed or participated 
 
266 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 in the important benefits of which he had been, in various 
 ways, the instrument or the author. His missionary 
 brethren, his native converts, the Society which he had 
 so faithfully served, and upon whose Christian efforts he 
 had reflected so much honour, the Hindoo prince, of whom 
 he had been the most disinterested and able guardian and 
 friend, and the East Indian Government, both at home 
 and abroad, to whom he had been so cordially attached, 
 and whose best interests he had so zealously and effec- 
 tively strengthened and promoted, all vied with each other 
 in the expression of their regret and sorrow at his re- 
 moval, of their admiration and love of his singular excel- 
 lencies, and of their grateful veneration for his memory. 
 
 " The feelings of his immediate colleagues and friends 
 at Tanjore and Trichinopoly have been already expressed, in 
 the pious and affectionate memorials of Mr. Gericke and 
 Mr. Kohlhoflf. His brethren at Tranquebar, who, from his 
 early connexion with that mission, always regarded him 
 with peculiar esteem and love, in their letters to their 
 European friends mentioned his death ' as an almost irre-- 
 parable loss,' and sympathised deeply on the occasion with 
 their brethren of the English mission, as they all con- 
 sidered him more as a father than a brother. ' Many 
 tears,' they write, ' had been shed for his death throughout 
 the country, by Europeans and natives, and even by the 
 rajah of Tanjore, who looked up to Mr. Swartz with filial 
 reverence, and for his sake showed much kindness to the 
 missionaries and Christian congregations in that country. 
 They praised God that he had not been taken from them 
 on a sudden, but gradually, and in so edifying a manner.' 
 
 " On Mr. Gericke's return from Tanjore, he passed a 
 few days at Tranquebar, when he and his Christian brethren 
 there ' mutually encouraged each other to follow the high 
 example that had been set them by Mr. Swartz.' 
 
 " ' Our loss," he writes, a few months afterwards, ' is his 
 gain ; but there are thousands of Christians, IMahomedans, 
 and heathen in India, both high and low, rich and poor, 
 who will deeply lament his death ; and in Europe also 
 many will most sincerely regret it. The Lord Jesus grant 
 that we may as entirely and unreservedly follow him, our 
 
HONOURS TAID TO HIS MEMORY. 267 
 
 divine Head and Master, as our dearly beloved brother 
 did ! may he not take his Holy Spirit from us ; but 
 impart it both to our congregations and to ourselves in a 
 still richer measure, yea, ' exceeding abundantly,' as Swartz 
 expressed it shortly before his death ! We cannot but 
 anticipate much tribulation, both from without and from 
 within. The presence and influence of a man of Mr. 
 Swartz's stamp and established character proved a more 
 powerful protection to us than the patronage and support 
 of kings.'" 
 
 His pupil and friend, the Rajah of Tanjore, gave a re- 
 markable proof of his gratitude and veneration for his 
 deceased counsellor. Mr. Gericke writes : — 
 
 " I beg leave to send you a letter from Serfojee, Maha 
 Rajah of Tanjore, and to recommend its contents to the 
 Society. No son can have a greater regard for his father 
 than this good H 
 for his memory." 
 
 The letter of the Rajah is as follows : — 
 
 " To the Honourable Society for Promoting Christian 
 Knouiedge. 
 
 " Honourable Sirs, — I have requested of your mis- 
 sionaries to write to you, their superiors and friends, and 
 to apply to you in my name, for a monument of marble, 
 to be erected in their church that is in my capital and 
 residency, to perpetuate the memory of the late Rev. 
 Father Swartz, and to manifest the great esteem I have 
 for the character of that great and good man, and the 
 gratitude I owe him, my father, my friend, the protector 
 and guardian of my youth ; and now I beg leave to apply 
 to you myself, and to beg that, upon my account, you will 
 order such a monument for the late reverend missionary, 
 Father Swartz, to be made, and to be sent out to me, that it 
 may be fixed to the pillar that is next to the pulpit from 
 which he preached. The pillars of the church are about 
 two cubits broad. 
 
268 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 " May you, Honourable Sirs, ever be enabled to send to 
 this country such missionaries as are like the late Rev. Mr. 
 Swartz ! 
 
 " I am, Honourable Sirs, 
 
 " Yours, faithfully and truly, 
 
 " Serfojee Eajah." 
 
 This request was complied with ; but the Directors of 
 the East India Company were equally anxious to mark 
 their sense of the personal value and excellence of the 
 departed missionary. 
 
 They also sent out a splendid monument, from the 
 studio of Bacon, which was erected in St. Mary's Church, 
 Fort St. George. In fact, no missionary in modern times 
 has desce'nded to the grave with such honour as did 
 Christian Frederic Swartz. 
 
 His life had been unostentatious and frugal. On him- 
 self he had spent merely what was necessary to preserve 
 life. And as it was impossible, in his later years, to avoid 
 the reception of presents and allowances for his public 
 services, Swartz not only, for many years, sustained a great 
 part of the cost of the missions, but a residue had accu- 
 mulated, which he had to bequeath by will. This docu- 
 ment is consistent with the whole tenor of his life. It 
 runs thus : — 
 
 " In the name of God. 
 
 " Into Thine hands I commend my spirit ; thou hast 
 redeemed me, thou faithful God ! "Wherein I have sinned 
 (and I have often and greatly sinned against thee), forgive 
 it graciously for the sake of the reconciliation-sacrifice of 
 Christ Jesus my Lord, and let me find mercy. Grant me, 
 for Christ's sake, a blessed departure out of this sorrowful, 
 and a blessed entrance into that joyful, life. Amen. 
 
 " As I know not how soon God may call me hence, I 
 therefore make this my last will in the presence of God, 
 and with full deliberation. 
 
 "As the house in the greater fort, as well as that in the 
 little fort, together with the church, and certain houses in 
 the garden without the fort, were erected out of the money 
 
HIS WILL. 269 
 
 which was assigned me monthly by the Company, so I look 
 on them, as I ever have regarded them, namely, to be the 
 houses of the mission. 
 
 " All moveables and books shall be assigned over to my 
 successors for the good of the mission, to be all used as 
 long as they are serviceable, and not to be sold, 
 
 "As I have not spent my monthly salary from the 
 Company, but (except what I have devoted to the erection 
 of several buildings) have suffered it to accumulate, and 
 assigned it over to my two trustees, namely, my beloved 
 brother, Mr. Gericke, and my friend, Mr. Breithaupt of 
 Madras, so such sum shall also be employed for the benefit 
 of the mission ; but in such manner that my successor 
 here at Tanjore, and the missionary who shall carry on the 
 work of God for the conversion of the heathen at Palam- 
 cotta, shall receive for themselves the annual interest of 
 one hundred pounds sterling (that is to say, fifty pounds 
 each), because the fifty pounds which they receive from the 
 honourable Company is barely sufficient. Should they, 
 however, receive of the Company a monthly augmentation, 
 then they have no right to receive also the fifty pounds 
 bequeathed by me. This is, in that case, to fall into the 
 mission or the poor chest. 
 
 " It is hereby my earnest desire, that those missionaries 
 who take upon themselves the work of God in Tanjore and 
 Palamcotta, should employ the interest which remains to 
 assist and help themselves, as they find it necessary. Per- 
 haps the Tanjore mission may employ two-thirds, and that 
 at Palamcotta one-third of the interest, for the use of the 
 schools and churches. 
 
 " As my relations have no claim on what I devise and 
 have set apart to the mission ; therefore I bequeath to 
 them one hundred star pagodas, as a testimony of my 
 affection, which the children of my sister are to divide 
 among themselves in equal portions. 
 
 " The two gold watches that have been given me shall 
 be sold, and the money be distributed to the i)oor. 
 
 " As a token of my affection, I bequeath to Joseph, my 
 former servant, thirty star pagodas. 
 
 " With respect to the garden without the fort, belonging 
 
270 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 to the mission, I wish that, if possible, the gardener may 
 be supported out of the income. What remains over, can, 
 without further reckoning, fall to the missionaries and the 
 school-children. 
 
 " The few utensils of silver which I possess, I leave to 
 Mr. Kohlhofif, as a token of my hearty love. 
 
 P.S. — "As my former servant Joseph, on account of 
 his ill-conduct, ought not to receive the thirty star pagodas 
 destined for him, I bequeath them to the servant who shall 
 be in my service at the time of my death, provided he 
 behave himself tolerably well. 
 
 " Christian Frederic Swartz." 
 
 On this subject Mr. Gericke writes : — 
 
 " His temporal property he had already, many years 
 before his death, made over to the mission at Tanjore 
 and Palamcotta, and the congregations and institutions be- 
 longing to them ; and for that purpose appointed me as 
 trustee, and I had joined Mr. Breithaupt with myself in 
 the deed. He, therefore, in his will, mentions no executor, 
 that it might thereby be known that the whole was already 
 the property of the mission, and no longer belonged to Mr. 
 Swartz. As he received an allowance from Government, 
 from which he was enabled to defray all the expenses in- 
 curred at Tanjore and Palamcotta, he allowed the interest, 
 and often his salary likewise, to fall into the mission 
 capital. No one will, therefore, wonder that he should 
 have been able to accomplish so much towards the out- 
 ward support of the mission." 
 
 Such was this great missionary: — "A man," says Mr. 
 Poezold, "not only endowed with great natural abilities, 
 but also possessed of extraordinary courage and intrepidity 
 of mind. He was adorned with the strictest integrity, and 
 the most genuine piety and unshaken confidence in God. 
 In respect to the cause of missions in our part of the 
 world, he might be justly styled a second Luther. For 
 nearly fifty years he served his divine Master in the barren 
 fields of the heathen world, labouring with indefatigable 
 
HIS CHARACTER. 271 
 
 zeal, cheerfully bearing the burden and heat of the day, 
 and not unfrequently exposing himself to the terrors and 
 dangers of the night. He was the benefactor, friend, pro- 
 vider, and father of thousands of the destitute and forlorn, 
 both among Christians and heathens, in days of prosperity 
 and adversity, in seasons of war, and in times of peace. 
 He was honoured by all who knew him. All the pecuniary 
 grants made to him by Government in grateful acknow- 
 ledgment of important services, most cheerfully and gene- 
 rously rendered by him, were never employed for any 
 selfish purposes, but freely consecrated to the glory of God, 
 for the benefit of the missionary cause, and for the relief of 
 the poor and needy ! " 
 
 " I used to suspect," says Bishop Heber, " that, with 
 many admirable qualities, there was too great a mixture of 
 intrigue in his character ; that he was too much of a po- 
 litical prophet ; and that the veneration which the heathen 
 paid and still pay him, and which, indeed, almost regards 
 him as a superior being, putting crowns and burning lights 
 before his statue, was purchased by some unwarrantable 
 compromise with their prejudices. I find I was quite mis- 
 taken. He was really one of the most active and fearless, 
 as he was one of the most successful missionaries, who 
 have appeared since the apostles. To say that he was dis- 
 interested in money is nothing ; he was perfectly regard- 
 less of power, and renown never seemed to affect him, even 
 so far as to induce an outward show of humility. His 
 temper was perfectly simple, open, and cheeiful ; and in 
 bis political negotiations (employments which he never 
 sought for, but which fell in his way), he never pretended 
 to impartiality, but acted as the avowed, though certainly 
 the successful and judicious agent, of the orphan prince in- 
 trusted to his care, and from attempting whose conversion 
 to Christianity he seems to have abstained from a feeling 
 of honour. His other converts were between six and seven 
 thousand, besides those which his predecessors and com- 
 panions in the cause had brought over." 
 
 " Yet of the extent," says Dean Pearson, " to which 
 his character and his services were held in admiration and 
 
272 LIFE OF C. F. SWARTZ. 
 
 reverence, the pious missionary himself was utterly and 
 unaffectedly unconscious. Neither in his public nor in his 
 private correspondence can the slightest trace be discerned 
 of any feeling of self- complacency. His history affords a 
 striking and encouraging illustration of the truth of that 
 general principle of the conduct of Almighty God towards 
 mankind, — ' Them that honour me I will honour ; ' and of 
 that corresponding declaration of our Lord and Master, — 
 ' If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.' It 
 was verified in the respect and confidence which his name 
 inspired, both in India and in Europe, in the esteem and 
 affection of the wise and good, in the signal blessing which 
 accompanied his labours, and in the veneration with which 
 his memory is everywhere cherished. 
 
 " Honoured, however, as he was, both in his life and in 
 his death, he was still in this world, to adof)t the beautiful 
 language of the son of Sirach, ' like the morning star in 
 the midst of a cloud,' which intercepted and partially ob- 
 scured his rays, and deprived him at once of his native 
 lustre, and of his unimpeded influence and power. But 
 he kindled in the south of India a light which has been 
 continually growing brighter and stronger, and is hastening, 
 as we devoutly trust, to a more complete and 'perfect 
 day ; ' while he is already, to the eye of faith, exalted 
 * among the children of God,' above the brightness of all 
 earthly glory, and shall ere long ' shine forth like the sun,' 
 in full and unclouded splendour, ' in the kingdom of their 
 Father.' " ^ 
 
 * Dean Pearson's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 453 — 455. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LONDON: 
 Printed by G. Barclay, Castle St. Leicester Square. 
 
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