Memoir of Buchanan

To servey the lives of those men, whom divine
Providence has raised, to adorn the circles of
science and religion, is pleasing; not only
as they deserve to be kept in perpetual re
membrance; but because the contempla
tion of their virtues and talents tend to inspire after
those improvements to which they had attained.
These are lights in the mental firmament to lead
the footsteps of those ascending the ruged hill of
science, or mounting to the peaceful abode
of mount Zion.

arrived attained *. Among those the bright luminaries of
science and peity, that have arisen
in these latter days, to despel the darkness of ignorance the name of Buchanon
may be mentioned as holding a
conspicuious place. A metiur Luminary indeed
whose course was short but whose light
was briliant. Which, though not seen
in its orbit pursueng its course in this changing world, yet can never set
into the obscurity of neglect and forget
fulness, while there is a lover of sciense of ed or a [friend]
religion. Althoug the inexperience of
youth, and the fascinating charms gaity of an
extensive Metropolis, caused his earlier years
to be spent in comparative uselessness, yet
from that time, in which by devine grace he was
brought to himself, to the time that his spirit
tooks its flight to the peaceful realms, of bliss we behold
much in him to admire, and worthy to imitate.
While at the University of Cambridge, whithere
he was supported by the benevolence of friend,
his upright, unasuming, and gentle demea
nor secured to him not only the approbation by but the love and respect of the President
and faculty while his deligence and close application
to collegiate investigations secured to obtaind for him
the repeated honours of the University Institution. Having re
fenished his collegeate course and; taken order in
established church of England, he received
and accepted an appointment to the chaplaincy of
one of the Presidencies in India. His inde
fatigable labour in the work of the Ministry,
And the his unweary exertions to introduce the
Bible among the Hindoos, have placed his
name praise in all churches of every order.
But he did not conceive that ignorance
was the mother of devotion, or a good intro- con-
ducer ductor to emminance and usefulness,.
No, for he saw and he felt, that a good edu
cation would be servisible to an individual
in any station, and indispensable in of
some situation. Consequently he early
conceived the Idea, and rendered all the
assistance in his power, toward the establish
ment of the College of Fort william in
Bengal. His usefulness in bringing this
instution into existance, and his emminant
qualifications to be one of its presiding
officers, is testified to in commending terms
by that illustrious friend of India, Lord
Wellesly. He was apointed vice provost of this College, and at the same time
Proffs. of the Latin and Greek languages,
and of English Classics. With what fideli
ty, and to how much profit d he discharge
the duties [den bring] upon him of his station, many
of the servants at the east India Com
pany can testifiesy to this day.

He was anxious to excite a taste for eastern lite
rature among his countymen in
India and at home. To this end, he
made unweary exertion in collecting
ancient manuscripts, many of which,
he caused to placed be deposited in the libraries of the
English Universities. He held corespon
dance with men of learning in many parts of the
east; and finally took an extensive
tour, at his own expence, for the accom
plishment of the same great object.
Through the english universities, he spent
large sums of money, as prizes for the best
essays of on the religious, and literary impro
vement of India. Having fenished his work
in India, he returnd to his native coun-
try, where we find, that their temperal and
spiritual good laid still near his heart. And
to the very day of his death, he was
engaged, in superintending the prin
ting of a version of the Testament, for
a branche of the Sry Syrian Church.

Such was the man, in whom we say, much
is seen worthey of imitation. For surely
if close application to study; Disinteres
ted benevolence; and devotedness to honour
of God, and the welfare of men be are worthy
of imitation, then Buchanon presents
with an illustrious example. He did
not indeed estonish the world, with production
merely litel litirary, but he possesed
sound learning, which he devoted to
cause of God, and the good of men.
And the honour of this society will
stand higher, should she send into
the world many men of this stamp
and of this character.

For the
Social Friends;
Nomber 2.
Edward Mitchell