Memoir of Buchanan
Dateca. 1824–1828
abstractA composition written while a student at Dartmouth. It provides a brief memoir of Claudius Buchanan (1766-1815), who played an important role in opening India to Christian missions in the early nineteenth century.
RepositoryMcCord Stewart Museum
Call NumberMitchell Family Fonds P044/A,3.1
Persistent Identifier
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virgil Geor. B 4
Orpheus descent
into hell, and attemp
to regain
Orpheus descent
into hell, and attemp
to regain
Memoir of Buchanan
It is pleasing to servey the life and character
of those men, who have been raised by devine
Providence to adorn the circles of science and
religion; not only because they deserve to be
kept in perpetual remembrance; but because
the contemplation of their virtues and talents,
may inspire the mind to persue those im
provements, for which they were distinguished.
Among these men, Buchanan holds a conspi
cuous place. A name, that can never sink into
neglect or forgetfulness, while there is a lover of
science, or a friend of religion. The fascinating
gayesty of an extensive Metropolis, indeed, joined
to the inexperienced of youth, covers his earlier
8 years with a degree of obscurity; yet from the
time he became a subject of victorious grace,
to the taking of his exit from earth to heaven,
we may trace much to admire, much to imitate.
2 Soon after his conversion, he entered the Univer
sity of Cambrige, under the patronage of a
benevelent friend. While there, his gentle
and unasuming demeanor procured him the
esteem of the faculty, and at the same time
deligence and application repeatedly crowned
him with the honours of the institution. His colle
giate studies being finished, he entered
the established church, and soon after was appointed chaplain to one of the Presi
dencies in India. His indefatigable labour
in the ministry, and his unweary exertions
to introduce the bible among the Hindoos
have raised his character in the esteemation
of good men of every order. Nor was it alone
in the service of religion, that his zeal was
seen. He felt the importance of introducing
1inglish literature, among the English population
of the east, and thus prepare the way forkno
knowledge to spread among the Hindoos.
With him originated the design, which brought
into existance the College of Fort Williams
in Bengal. His usefulness in bringing
this institution into existence, and his emmin
ant qualifications to be one of its presiding
officers, is spoken of in high terms by that
illustrious friend of India, Lord Weslesly.
With what fidelity, and to how much profit he
discharged the duties of his station in that
college, many of the servants of the east
India company can testify to this day.
He made unwearied attempts, and succeeded
beyond his expectation, to promote a taste,
for eastern literature, among his countrymen
in India and at home. The libraries of the
English Universities were enriched with
ancient manuscripts, collected from differant
parts of the east and presented by him.
of those men, who have been raised by devine
Providence to adorn the circles of science and
religion; not only because they deserve to be
kept in perpetual remembrance; but because
the contemplation of their virtues and talents,
may inspire the mind to persue those im
provements, for which they were distinguished.
Among these men, Buchanan holds a conspi
cuous place. A name, that can never sink into
neglect or forgetfulness, while there is a lover of
science, or a friend of religion. The fascinating
gayesty of an extensive Metropolis, indeed, joined
to the inexperienced of youth, covers his earlier
8 years with a degree of obscurity; yet from the
time he became a subject of victorious grace,
to the taking of his exit from earth to heaven,
we may trace much to admire, much to imitate.
2 Soon after his conversion, he entered the Univer
sity of Cambrige, under the patronage of a
benevelent friend. While there, his gentle
and unasuming demeanor procured him the
esteem of the faculty, and at the same time
deligence and application repeatedly crowned
him with the honours of the institution. His colle
giate studies being finished, he entered
the established church, and soon after was appointed chaplain to one of the Presi
dencies in India. His indefatigable labour
in the ministry, and his unweary exertions
to introduce the bible among the Hindoos
have raised his character in the esteemation
of good men of every order. Nor was it alone
in the service of religion, that his zeal was
seen. He felt the importance of introducing
1
of the east, and thus prepare the way for
knowledge to spread among the Hindoos.
With him originated the design, which brought
into existance the College of Fort Williams
in Bengal. His usefulness in bringing
this institution into existence, and his emmin
ant qualifications to be one of its presiding
officers, is spoken of in high terms by that
illustrious friend of India, Lord Weslesly.
With what fidelity, and to how much profit he
discharged the duties of his station in that
college, many of the servants of the east
India company can testify to this day.
He made unwearied attempts, and succeeded
beyond his expectation, to promote a taste,
for eastern literature, among his countrymen
in India and at home. The libraries of the
English Universities were enriched with
ancient manuscripts, collected from differant
parts of the east and presented by him.
He held correspondance with men of learning
in many parts of the east, and finaly took an ex
tensive journey at his own expense, to
effect the same great object. The repeated
prizes that he gave from his own income,
for essays on the religion, and literary
improvement of the east, show how deeply
he felt the importance of the object.
Finishing his labour in India, he returned
to England, keeping near his heart still,
the temporal and eternal welfare of the
East. Among the labours that he undertook
after his return, was to superintend the
printing of a version of the New Testament
for a branch of the Syrian Church. A work
that he was not permited to see accomplish
in many parts of the east, and finaly took an ex
tensive journey at his own expense, to
effect the same great object. The repeated
prizes that he gave from his own income,
for essays on the religion, and literary
improvement of the east, show how deeply
he felt the importance of the object.
Finishing his labour in India, he returned
to England, keeping near his heart still,
the temporal and eternal welfare of the
East. Among the labours that he undertook
after his return, was to superintend the
printing of a version of the New Testament
for a branch of the Syrian Church. A work
that he was not permited to see accomplish
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