At attended him, nor did this symptom immediately decrease when the fever subsided. Soon after his recovery, he sailed for Madras, where he arrived late in February, and was received with great kindness by Sir Thomas Munro, and by all the members of the Madras Government. For his intended visitation the Bishop, with his accustomed indifference to personal comforts, had only applied for the services of a Native Doctor in case of illness among his escort and servants; but the Government not only appointed one of the best Surgeons on the Madras Establishment to attend on him, but directed the Town Major to provide every thing for his comfort and accommodation which the heat of the weather would permit ; notwithstanding, a feeling, prophetic of the fatal event, seems to have existed in Sir Thomas Munro's mind; for he more than once expressed an earnest wish that "the Bishop's visitation might not end ill." He left Madras on the 13th March 1826, with cordial feelings of attachment to the inhabitant, and increased interest in this important portion of his diocese. On the 17th he arrived at Pondicherry. after an intensely hot march, and found tents pitched on a burning sand about a mile from the town. On the 18th reached Cuddalore, and left it on the 21st, making a night's run to Chillumbra. On the 25th he arrived at Tanjore, which he left on the 30th of March, and reached Trichinopoly on the 1st April. On Sunday the 2d April, the morning after his arrival, he preached at the Government Church; in the afternoon he confirmed 42 persons. As soon as he returned home from the performance of this duty, he complained, for the first time, of a slight head-ache and general feeling of languor. daybreak on the fatal 3d of April, he went to the Mission Church in the Fort, where services were performed in the Tamul language, after which he confirmed 15 Natives in their own language; and again delivered his address on confirmation; he afterwards went to the Mission House and examined into the state of the schools. On his arrival at home (Mr. Bird's house) before he took off his robes, he went into Mr. Robison's room, and sitting down by his bedside, entered with energy into the concerns of his Mission. His interest had been much excited by all that he had seen. He spoke with sorrow of the poverty which the house displayed, and remarked how necessary it was for the Bishop to have regular reports from every mission in India, that he might at least know the wants and necessities of all. He then retired into his own room, and, according to his invariable custom, wrote on the back of the address on confirmation, Trichinopoly, April 3d, 1826. This was his last act; for immediately on taking off his clothes, he went into a large cold bath, where he had bathed the two preceding mornings, but which was now the destined_agent of his removal to paradise. Half an hour after, his servant, alarmed at his long absence, entered the room and found him a lifeless corpse! Every means to restore animation which human skill or friendship could suggest, was resorted to; but the vital spark was extinguished and his blessed spirit had then entered upon its career of immortality, and perhaps was at that moment looking down with fond pity on the exertions of those who would fain have recalled it to its earthly habitation, to endure again the trials and temptations of the world it had quitted. His mortal remains were attended to the grave with the highest honours, and followed by the tears of the inhabitants of Trichinopoly. They rest on the north side of the altar in St. John's Church. The government of Madras also ordered a marble to be placed over his grave and a Mural Tablet to be erected to his memory in St. John's Church at Tichinopoly, with the following Inscription : Monuments are erected to his memory also in Madras, Bombay, Colombo, in the Parish Church of Hodnet (and in the Bishop's College of Calcutta). A marble Statue was also erected under the Eastern Portico of St. John's Cathedral, Calcutta, and has been recently removed to that of St. Paul's in Chowringhee. The following lines are copied from the Tablet erected in the Bishop's College Chapel. M. S. viri admodum Reverendi Reginaldi Heber, S. T. P. Dioeceseos Calcuttensis Episcopi Alterius Scriptoris perelegantis et suavissimi Gentium et morum investigatoris curiosi Poetæ eximii Hujus regionis incolæ atque indigenæ etiam ethnici Nunc repentinæ morte abreptum Natus inter anglos salopienses, Obiit Trichinopoli in Provincia Madrassensi, III. non Aprilis A.D. MDCCCXXVI. Etatis XLIII. Episcopatus III. BISHOP J. T. JAMES. John Thomas James, D.D. late Bishop of Calcutta, was born on the 23rd January 1786, at Reigby, in Warwickshire, and was the eldest of eight children, which Dr. James had, by his second marriage with Arabella, daughter of William Caldecott, Esq. He received the rudiments of his education at Reigby School, under the immediate eye of his father; till, at the age of twelve, he was placed on the foundation at the Charter-house, by the late Earl of Dartmouth, one of the Governors of that Institution, where he soon won the good opinion of the head master, Dr. M. Raine. Besides distinguishing himself in the several studies of the School, he here began to show considerable talent for drawing, and in 1803 the first prize medal was awarded to him, by the Society for the encouragement of Arts and Sciences, for a drawing of Worcester Cathedral. His own inclination, at this time, was to go to sea, and he showed great fondness for every pursuit connected with naval tactics; but at the earnest wish of his mother, he forbore to indulge the inclination, and soon began to turn his mind to that profession, in which he afterwards attained so high a rank. After he had been selected to deliver the annual oration at the Charter-house, in May 1804, he was removed to Christ's Church, Oxford, where he entered as a commoner; but had scarcely begun to reside there, when the death of his father deprived him, at once, of his best instructor and ablest guide. He soon after was examined for his B. A. degree, and continued to reside at Christ's Church, where he was deprived of his books and drawings, and indeed of all that he possessed, by an alarming fire! It may be worth mentioning, as characteristic of Mr. James, that, bereft as he was of all his little property, so soon as he found that the flames were extinguished, he calmly set down and made a sketch of the fire, from which he afterwards finished a large drawing! After proceeding to the degree of M. A. in 1810, he became a tutor in Christ's Church, till an opportunity occurred of indulging his wish to see foreign countries. In 1813, he went to the continent, and on returning back to England, Mr. James published his travels in one volume, of which three editions were called for in succession. At the wish of his friends he published a series of views taken during his tour. In 1816 he visited Italy, and soon after his return, was admitted to Holy orders, resigning his studentship at Christ's Church, on being presented by the Dean and Chapter to the small vicarage of Flitton. Here he followed those literary pursuits, to which he had become deeply attached, and published "the Italian Schools of Painting," the success of which work led him to publish in 1822 "the Flemish, Dutch, and German Schools ;" he had it in contemplation to proceed to the painters of the English School, and also those of France and Spain; but his attention was now engrossed by a more serious subject. In consequence of the daring attacks of infidels upon Christianity, he published a volume entitled "the Semi-sceptic, or the common sense of religion considered." In 1823, he married Marianne Jane, fourth daughter of T. Reeves, Esq, to whom alone, during his illness in India, he was indebted for all the earthly comfort that smoothed his bed of suffering in the last hours of his life. In 1826, when the intelligence reached England that the see of Calcutta had become a second time vacant by the lamented death of Bishop Heber, an invitation was transmitted to Mr. James to fill that highly responsible situation. Upon receiving the offer, he at first declined it; but being afterwards strongly advised to reconsider his objections, he determined to consult the best medical advisers as to the fitness of his constitution for enduring the climate of India. Finding that two able Physicians, who were acquainted both with his constitution and the climate of India, coincided in opinion, that there was nothing in the state of his health which ought to deter him from going to that country, he felt that he could no longer answer his own conscience if he declined a post on account of its danger, and therefore made up his mind to accept it. The University of Oxford paid him the compliment of conferring on him the degree of D.D. by Diploma, and on Whit-Sunday, June 3d, he was consecrated Bishop of Calcutta. On the 9th July he quitted London with Mrs. James, and leaving their two elder children under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, set out for Portsmouth. On Friday, January 17th, 1827, the vessel on which he had embarked, arrived off Kedgeree, and was riding at anchor there when the long-wished for steamer was seen making her way towards it. Archdeacon Corrie, Dr. Mill, Mr. Eales and Mr. Abbott, were on board to pay their respects to their new Diocesan, as were also Mr. W. Cracroft, Mr. A. Prinsep and some other private friends, who accompanied the Bishop and his family on board the Steamer amidst the waiving of hats and salutes; as soon as they landed, the Bishop was immediately conducted by the aid-de-camp of the Governor General to the Government House, where he was most kindly welcomed by Lord Amherst. The next day, being Sunday, the whole party with gratified hearts went to the Cathedral, where the Bishop was received by the Archdeacon and Clergy and enthroned with the usual ceremonies in that seat which was shortly to be again vacant by his decease. The business of the Diocese, at all times too much for the charge of one Bishop, had fallen into most extensive arrear during the vacancy of the See; many important cases had been awaiting the Bishop's arrival, and he found that they embraced matters of no ordinary delicacy and anxiety. To these, he immediately directed his whole attention; leaving the arrangement of his household and domestic affairs to Mrs. James. The first object which engaged his attention was the advantage which would arise, if each of the Company's chaplains could have some particular district assigned to him, within which it should be his duty to visit the sick and perform all parochial duties:-for this purpose, he divided the city of Calcutta into three ecclesiastical districts, the new Church in Fort William making a fourth. The benefit arising from these divisions was obvious to all, and was promulgated, with a plan of the districts annexed, under the sanction of the Governor General, in a Gazette extraordinary April 3d, 1828. On the 10th of March the Bishop appointed Mr. Robinson, Chaplain to the late Bishop Heber, to the vacant Archdeaconry of Madras. This was the only piece of preferment which it fell to his lot to bestow. The time had now arrived when the Bishop was to commence the visitation of his Diocese, and he had decided to commence with the Presidency of Bengal; which alone he expected would occupy him for eight or nine months. Arrangements for this purpose were made with all possible expedition, because, since his arrival in India, he had undergone repeated attacks of illness, and was much weakened by their force. Dr. Nicolson seemed to think that great benefit might be expected from the bracing air of the river; accordingly, on the 24th June, the Bishop left Calcutta for the Upper Provinces. On the 16th July, he reached Bhaugulpore and felt the passage favorable to the recovery of his strength, while pursuing his journey, "In hope and not in fear," as he often expressed to her in whose affectionate confidence every feeling of his heart reposed. About noon the Bishop was this day so ill, that he could not land till the evening; he was then, with difficulty, moved on shore to the house of Mr. Nisbet, the Magistrate. The pain in his side had increased with such alarming violence that it excited the worst apprehensions; medical assistance was promptly and vigorously engaged. The doctors urged an immediate return to Calcutta, but it was not till Wednesday July 23d, that the Bishop and Mrs. James returned to their pinnace and began to retrace their voyage, when they reached the metropolis on Thursday the 31st (a council-day) just in time to send in a letter to the Government before the Council broke up; the Governor General and Lady William Bentinck immediately sent to offer the use of Government House, which was near the river; but Dr. Nicolson came on board and wished him to remain on the pinnace, desiring however that no time should be lost in getting out to sea; Penang was considered the best place for the present, until the patient had recovered strength sufficient for a voyage to England. On Wednesday the 6th August, the Bishop left Chaundpaul Ghaut, proceeding to the H. C. Ship "Marquis Huntley," which was then lying in Saugor Roads and ready to proceed on her voyage to China; on the evening of Saturday the 9th of August, the party reached the "Marquis Huntley," and his Lordship was soon comfortably placed on a sofa in the cabin; his spirits were raised by finding himself at sea; he was free from pain; he thought he was certainly better, and for some days the hopes of all around him were raised; but the shivering fits which shortly came on, followed by violent perspirations and the most distressing hiccups, convinced Dr. Spens, and others that he was really getting worse. On Thursday the 21st a great and unhappy alteration had taken place, though he still thought himself better. Mrs. James, seeing this, made up her mind, with the fortitude which became her, to the trying task of communicating to him the awful truth. Great was her agony in this afflicting hour; but her sobs were suppressed for the sake of him whose slumbers she was watching. It was his delight, that she should regularly read to him some portion of the Scriptures every morning. She at length disclosed to him the delusiveness of his hopes, and the reality of his situation. After a momentary pause, he thanked her most warmly, and said, "If it is so, my hope and my firm faith is in Jesus Christ!" He afterwards determined that they should receive the Holy Sacrament together the next morning; and at intervals, in the course of the evening, calmly gave directions about his papers; and having instructed Mr. Knapp, to add a few lines which he directed to a document relating to the Bishop's College, with great effort he held the pen, while his hand was guided to make his signature to it; having so done, he observed, "now every thing is off my hands." The next morning, August 22nd, 1828, he received the Sacrament with Mrs. James, at the hands of Mr. Knapp, and afterwards made many Christian reflections on the state of the soul, while strength remained for utterance, but now, only in a low whisper. As evening came on, it was evident he was sinking, and that the hour which was to close his useful and active life, was drawing near. The feet became cold and the eyes dull, the hands refused any longer to answer the grasp of affection, he sunk into a dose, and at nine o'clock quietly resigned his spirit into the hands of his Creator and Redeemer. It was thus in the second year of his consecration for the government of the Indian Church that Bishop James departed. His mind was, by nature, quick and vigorous; and to the acquirements of a scholar and a highly cultivated taste in the fine arts, he added a large stock of general information, the result, not only of private study, but of much travel in foreign countries, and acute observation of human Such accomplishments, united with sound judgment, most conciliating manners, and the more sterling recommendations of real Christian benevolence, and a warm and generous heart, readily won for him the esteem and regard of all who knew him, and made him the chosen adviser, not of his family only, but of the entire circle of his friends. nature. BISHOP TURNER. It is due to the memory of this excellent Prelate, and may not be unacceptable to those who feel an interest in the progressive improvement of British India, to take some notice of the events by which that progress has been marked during the brief period of his Episcopate; events in the accomplishments of which he himself took so prominent a part. That period did not exceed one year and seven months, of which eight only were passed at Calcutta, and yet, during this short space of time, he originated so many useful and benevolent measures, that brief as it was, it must always be viewed as an important era in the history of this settlement. The object of these remarks being merely to give an account of what has taken place since his Lordship's arrival in India, it would, in some degree, interfere with the plan to enter on a detailed review of the earlier occurrences of his life. It will therefore be sufficient to observe, that he completed his education at Christ's church, Oxford, where he gained the notice and friendship of Dr. Cyril Jackson, then the distinguished Dean of that College. He was afterwards selected by the Lord Chancellor Ellenborough, as Preceptor to an only son, with whom he resided some time at Eton, and travelled over much of Europe. At the period of his appointment to India, Dr. Turner was rector of Wilmslow, a large manufacturing Parish in Cheshire, and chaplain to his brother-in-law, the Bishop of Chester. In these situations he acquired that experience in the art of education, that knowledge of the operation of charitable Institutions, and that zeal for the sacred duties of the profession to which he belonged, the beneficial application of which has, since his death, called forth from the different religious, charitable and philanthropic Associations of which he was the head, the most grateful acknowledgments. One of the first things which struck the late Bishop, on his arrival in India, was the indispensable necessity of taking steps to encourage a due observance of the Lord's-day, among the christian community. Having only recently quitted a part of the world where that observance is enforced by law, he thought it incumbent on him at least to invite the voluntary practice of it in Calcutta, and by that means prevail, if possible, with its christian inhabitants, generally, to set an example, which the Government itself, yielding to the force of public opinion, might perhaps eventually be brought to imitate. He was aware that his predecessors, Bishops Middleton and Heber, the one officially and the other privately, had endeavoured to prevail on the Government to enforce such observance in the Public Departments, although without success; but thought that an application from the christian community at large, after agreeing to conform to it themselves, might be more effectual. With this view, he circulated a paper, inviting all sincere christians to declare that they would personally in their families, and to the utmost limits of their influence, adopt and encourage others to such measures as might tend to establish a decent and orderly observance of the Lord's-day; that, as far as depended on themselves, they would neither employ, nor allow others to employ on their behalf, or in their service, on that day, Native workmen and artizans in the exercise of their ordinary calling; that they would give a preference to those christian Tradesmen who were willing to adopt this regulation, and to act upon it constantly and unreservedly in the management of their business, and that they would be ready, when it might be deemed expedient, to join in presenting an address to the Right Honourable the Governor General in Council, praying that orders might be issued to suspend all labour on public works upon the Lord'sday, as well as all such business in the Government offices, as could without embarrassment to the service, be dispensed with. The expressions used in this paper, are those of the acts of the British Parliament which is in force on the subject. The declaration, as already stated, was framed only for christians, and especially for those who are convinced of the duty of attending to christian obligations. Its purpose was to invite and to encourage the voluntary practice of those observances which in England are enforced by law. Christian individuals were expected to pursue a christian object on christian principles; and yet this measure, so strictly in accordance with what his situation as head of the established Church in India rendered it proper in the Bishop to adopt, was met by a portion of the community professing themselves christians, with a degree of hostility and misrepresentation for which no difference of opinion, as to mere expediency of the course proposed to be pursued for effecting an object so desirable in a christian point of view, can we conceive, be considered by any reflecting person, as a sufficient apology. When warned which he previously was, of the obloquy that would, probably, be cast upon him for the attempt, he replied, that personal considerations of that sort would never deter him from doing his duty. He persevered, and the result proved the anticipation to have been too well founded. He had, however, the satisfaction of knowing that notwithstanding the hostility and misrepresentations in question, the object in view, namely, the due observance of the Lord's-day, was, even here, extensively promoted by the measure, and at one of the sister Presidencies, his endeavours for the same purpose were, afterwards, still more successful. The next important step taken by Bishop Turner was the formation of the District Charitable Society. There was already in Calcutta a charitible fund for the relief of distressed Europeans and others, established in the year 1800, chiefly by the exertions of the late Rev. David Brown, which continued to be administered by the select vestry of St. John's Cathedral; but however well adapted the vestry may have been, for the distribution of the charitable funds of Calcutta some years ago, the number of European Paupers had multiplied to so great an extent, that it had become necessary to provide for the more full investigation of the cases of applicants for relief. Frauds, the most gross, were practised on the public with such facility, that impostors, speculating on the benevolence of the community and making as it were mendicity a trade, have, it is understood, found no difficulty in procuring from money lenders, advances, proportionate in amount to the probability of success, which the acquisition of certain leading names to their applications for relief, justified a reasonable expectation of ultimately obtaining. To remedy these inconveniencies, some comprehensive arrangement was obviously required, and at the Bishop's suggestion, the Society alluded to was established. It consists of several subordinate committees, corresponding in number with the Ecclesiastical Districts into which the town is divided, and of a central committee of superintendence. Of this committee any individual subscribing 100 Rs. per annum becomes a member. The former are charged with the distribution of the funds, the latter determine the principle on which the distribution is to be made and dispose of cases specially referred to them for consideration. It is only necessary further to add, that the Society has met with the most cordial support, both from the Government and the community, and that its operations are progressively increasing, both in interest and importance. To the frauds, above alluded to, it has put an effectual check, by affording all, to whom applications may be preferred for relief, the means of ascertaining by reference to the Central Committee, or to the committee of the District in which they reside, the character and circumstances of the applicants, and of procuring immediate succour for them if necessary. It is almost superfluous to add that the operations of such a Society, so constituted and so supported, can be viewed in no other light than as a benefit to the community-a benefit for which it is originally indebted to the late Bishop, as appears from the following resolution proposed by the Honorable Sir Edward Ryan, at a meeting of the Central Committee, held on the 18th July 1831, and carried unanimously. "That this Committee have received with feelings of the deepest regret, the distressing intelligence of the demise of their highly respected president, The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Calcutta, and in the painful record of this melancholy event desire to express their grateful sense of those zealous and benevolent exertions which induced the formation of the District Charitable Society, and of that kind and unremitting attention with which its operations were ever regarded by His Lordship." The providing additional accommodation for public worship was the next object that engaged the D Bishop's attention, and arrangements were accordingly brought forward by him, through which no less than three churches have been added to the settlement. First, the Church at the Free School, which not only enables the whole of the children of that establishment to attend public worship on the School premises, but has proved of great convenience to the whole of the neighbourhood in which it is situated; next, the Mariner's Church near the strand, for affording the opportunity of divine service to seamen belonging to ships in the river; and lastly, the Church at Howrah, which cannot fail to be of the most extensive convenience to the numerous inhabitants residing in that quarter. These arrangements were all effected without any expense to Government. He But it was not the spiritual interests of Christians alone, that occupied Dr. Turner's attention. felt the deepest concern in the operations of Missionary establishments generally, and in all proceedings set on foot for the purpose of disseminating christianity among the Natives. For the furtherance of the views of the Calcutta Church Missionary Society, of which he was the Patron, he was earnestly engaged in divising plans and making arrangements, when his last illness overtook him. The Diocesan Commitees of the Society for Promoting Christian knowledge and of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, have recorded their grateful sense of the attention paid by him to the interest of these bodies, and at the annual meeting of the Calcutta Auxiliary Church Missionary Society, held in the old Churchrooms on the 26th of July 1831, the following resolution was passed unanimously: "That this meeting receives with deep regret the sad and mournful intelligence of the irreparable loss which the Society has sustained by the demise of the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, the zealous patron, and steady friend and advocate of the Missionary cause, and begs to record the grateful sense which it entertains of the distinguished services rendered by his Lordship, both in the plans suggested, and the labours undertaken to promote the interests of that cause, during the short period he was spared." But the measures from which the greatest benefits may be expected to be derived, are those introduced by the Bishop to improve the system of public instruction, and which, had he been spared to see them carried into effect, would in all probability have realised, on that head, as much as is attainable in this distant quarter. With him originated the Infant School;-the first which was ever instituted, at least in this part of India, and the whole expense of which was borne by him till his death. In the Christian Intelligencer for October 1830, this Institution is spoken of as follows : "It is highly gratifying to see the facility with which some of the children add and substract by means of the Abacus, and the progress the elder ones have made in reading, writing, and needle-work, is quite surprising. Indeed altogether the scene is highly interesting. Every humane heart must rejoice to see so many infants snatched like brands from the fire,' and placed in an Institution where their innocent and tender minds will be trained up in the fear of the Lord, and in habits of order, cleanliness, and usefulness. The Bishop of the Diocese has, we think, done much for the rising generation in establishing this interesting Institution, and we trust the example will be followed not only in all the Parochial districts of Calcutta, but likewise in other large towns, and also in the other Presidencies of India." The plan of the High School (now St. Paul's School) was likewise arranged by him. He drew up the proposal for establishing it by proprietary shares, engaged for it the services of an able Rector, regulated the course of instruction to be pursued in it, and when opportunity offered, gave it the benefit of his own personal superintendence. The nature of this Institution, and the system of education pursued were fully explained at a meeting held for the purpose on the 2d of August, 1831, at which the Honorable Sir C. E. Grey took a leading part, and to which the following resolution was carried unanimously:"That this meeting receives with deep regret the melancholy intimation of the decease of their late respected Chairman, the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, whose zeal in promoting the cause of education upon the only principles which can render it beneficial to mankind; whose unwearied labours in forwarding the best interests of all around him, and whose amiable dispositions, unassuming manners, and easiness of access, must cause his decease to be considered as a heavy calamity to the community at large, and to this institution in particular, which has in his death to deplore the loss of an able, experienced, and warm friend; and they take this opportunity of recording their grateful sense of the services he had rendered the graduated system of which he thus laid the foundation, and which was intended, by means of the Infant School, the Free School, the High School, and Bishop's College, to provide for the intellectual wants of infancy, childhood, youth and opening manhood, would have left nothing in this respect for the Christian community to require; but his views, as already stated, were not confined merely to the community; he saw in the state of things which had already been effected, an opening through which Christian instruction might be successfully imparted to the natives; and as he was convinced that no other description of education would ever render them what it is desireable they should become, namely, well-principled, well-informed, and wellconducted members of society, he was therefore determined to avail himself of every favorable opportunity that offered for directing their views to this object." Before proceeding to Benares, in June 1830, he visited the different native schools and colleges in which so much progress has been made in the acquisition of European literature and science, and he was greatly surprized and delighted with what he saw. On his return from his primary visitation of the other Presidencies, several of the students waited upon him, and testified the strongest disposition to cultivate the most cordial communication with him. He had purchased, at a considerable expense, various astronomical and mathematical instruments, for the purpose of assisting them in the prosecution of their studies in the higher branches of those sciences, and he was in hopes that the minds of the native youth, who might thus by degrees collect themselves around him, would, in the progress of these pursuits be led to look "through nature, up to Nature's God." But these hopes he was never permitted to realize, and all that remains to be said is little more than a recital of what took place at the closing hours of his life, and which, by those who reflect, that their own last hour must, sooner or later, likewise arrive, cannot fail to be studied with advantage. It is not our intention to dwell on any thing that took place during his visitation at the other Presidencies. Suffice it to say, that he quitted Calcutta for Madras on the 18th September 1830; from Madras he |