A heart of flesh! Her father asked her where she thought she should go if she died-she said, Where God pleases to take me.' He said, 'Do you think you are a sinner?' she replied, I know it, my dear papa; but Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' —— Her poor father is almost worn out with fatigue; and the stroke to him is so severe, that he is at present inconsolable. To me this is a threefold trial. I loved the dear child, and deeply feel the stroke; it revives the recent loss of my Mary Ann; and I do most deeply feel for my husband." This extraordinary child could read three languages, and converse in them, viz. English, Bengalee, and Hindoostanee.

One only child now remained to them; but it pleased God to require the surrender of this also. On February 27, 1812, it devolved on Mr. Peacock to transmit to Serampore the tidings of this heavy stroke; and, at the same time, to inform them, that the bereaved father was laid up with a fever, while his afflicted partner, in an ill state of health, was almost overwhelmed with anxiety and fatigue.

About this time the fire took place at Serampore, a calamity, which gave an opportunity for Mr. Chamberlain to show that he was not so absorbed with his own sufferings, as not to sympathize in the distress of his brethren: he says, in condoling with them, "We have had an affliction, of which we thought something before we heard this distressing news; but now I feel all my sorrows overwhelmed and lost in this melancholy event."

Shortly after these events, Mr. Chamberlain experienced trials of a nature somewhat similar to those at Cutwa, although arising from a different cause. He was prohibited from preaching in the Fort. This prohibition originated in the misbe

haviour of a Roman Catholic, who pleaded in justification of his disobedience, the liberty which he supposed was granted to those calied Methodists. In the meantime, however, prospects of usefulness among the natives were extending, and things began to wear a pleasing aspect. But clouds and darkness are round about God. In the midst of all that was encouraging, an order of Government arrived, commanding him to be sent down to the Presidency. He instantly returned to the metropolis, under a guard; but, through the kindness of the Agra magistrate, as a prisoner at large. His journey therefore, like those of the Apostle of the Gentiles, afforded many opportunities of preaching the gospel. In the month of October, he arrived at Calcutta, and, on presenting himself at the police, nothing was said to him, but that “he was at liberty!" In conjecturing what could have been the cause of so arbitrary and harsh a proceeding, Mr. Chamberlain's Biographer appears to think it arose from his baving once entered the Fort on business, after the prohibition was issued, which, it was afterwards stated, be was not at liberty to do without a pass from the staff officer. Mr. Peacock continued to occupy the station at Agra alone till 1816.

On Nov. 9, 1812, Mr. C. having well furnished himself with various religious books and tracts, commenced an itinerating journey, in which he appears to have experienced much satisfaction; but, on arriving at Berhampore, on the 23rd, he received a letter, requiring him to return, and enter on a new and very important undertaking.

Before Mr. Chamberlain was removed from Agra, he had receiveda letter from a gentleman, who had married the granddaughter of the Begum of Sirdbana, requesting him to undertake the tuition of his son.

sionary should be. No abuse, no language which could in any way injure the sacred service he was employed in, escaped his lips. Having finished his allotted portion, on every part of which he commented and explained, he recited a short prayer, and concluded the evening by bestowing his blessing on all assembled." His congregation amounted in number to about eight thousand, and the same writer says, "They sat around, and listened with an attention which would have reflected credit on a Christian audience. On the Missionary's retiring, they every evening cheered him home with,May the Padree (or priest) live for ever!" It was during this visit that some Testaments were circulated by Mr. C. which were afterwards discovered to have wrought so wonderful an effect on about five hundred people, that they used statedly to assemble to read and converse. Purumanunda, a native preacher, who was with Mr. Chamberlain, having discovered their place of rendezvous, went thither, and the following conversation took place between him and an elderly man. "Pray, who are all these people? and whence come they?" "We are poor and lowly, and we read and love this book." "What is this book?" "The Book of God." "Let me look at the book." On opening it, he perceived it was a gospel in Hindoostanee; many copies were in the possession of the party: some printed, others written by themselves from the printed ones. He pointed to the name of Jesus, and asked, "Who is that?" "That is God! he gave us this book." "Where did you obtain it?"" An angel from heaven gave it us at Hurdwar Fair." "An angel?" Yes, to us he was God's angel; but he was a man, a learned pundit. The written copies we wrote ourselves." "These books

teach the religion of the European sahibs. It is their book; and they printed it in our language for our use." "Ab, no! that cannot be, for they eat flesh." The preacher explained, and added, "God gave it long ago to the sahibs, and they sent it to us."

But thongh such was the fruit and effect of Mr. Chamberlain's ministry on these idolaters, and so unexceptionable a testimony had been borne to him, some unknown individual, influenced by what motives it is difficult to conjecture, lodged a complaint against the Missionary for preaching at the Fair. Government, on receiving the information, wrote to the Begum to dismiss him. Every effort was made to obtain permission for him to stay; but the decree having gone forth, no entreaties, even from the Begum herself, could prevail. What must have been the feelings of this man of God, when thus once more called to return, to the Presidency! He says, "It is discouraging to the husbandman to work upon a field, and then leave it to the beasts of the forest to tread it down and destroy it. It seems to me that I am always on the forlorn hope of the Mission; nevertheless, if Jehovah be on my side, I need not fear what man can do unto me." Having obtained permission of Goverument to settle in the Lower Provinces, he proceeded up the river on the 20th of September, 1815 Having visited Digah and Buxar, he at length decided on taking up his residence at Monghyr. He was in all respects satisfied with this station, the last he was destined to occupy as a Christian Missionary. As soon as he was recovered from a cold, which had settled on his chest, and greatly afflicted him, he commenced his work with vigour and regularity, experiencing much assistance and great success. Among other instances of his usefulness,

may be mentioned the first native convert at Monghyr, Hingham Misser, whose baptism, at the close of the year 1817, created a great stir; the whole neighbourhood being filled with wonder and consternation to see so respectable a Brahmun perform such a deed of Christian heroism. The aged Brindabun and this new convert encouraged him much, by their devotedness to the gospel of Christ.

In the year 1818, it was evident Mr. Chamberlain's constitution was yielding to the repeated attacks of disorder, with which he had been afflicted. Letters, dated April, state, that from the commencement of the year, he had been almost laid up, and for a whole month had done nothing. He says, "I delight in the work of Translations, and have my heart set upon the completion of the two versions for the work of God, (viz. the Brij and Hinduwee.) But my heart fails me. If my cough continue, what can I do?" Again he writes, "My disorder has had some asthmatic symptoms, and some that incline to consumption of the lungs, in an incipient state. Two or three days I feel better, and have a comfortable night or two; then a violent paroxysm brings me down almost to the dust. I bless the Father of mercies for his goodness to me in this long affliction: he affords me many mercies every day?" Having been advised to try change of air, in October, he says, "I am broken down under eight months of sickness. I seem to care but little for this world. Its pleasures, prospects, amd comforts are little to me. The Doctor is sending me to the Sand Heads. A budgerow is now at the ghaut, and if I can get it, I shall proceed (the Lord willing) on Monday for Calcutta." The effects of the excursion to the Sand Heads were such as to give great hopes of his recovery. He was for some time

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enabled to resume his avocations; but his anxiety to finish his Translations before the lamp of life went out, were too great to allow him time to regain his strength. Every extraordinary exertion threw him back, and incapacitated him for doing what he wished. Thus he continued to struggle with his complaint, like a drowning man with the watery element, till he sunk at last beneath its pressure.

In October, 1819, it became necessary to try another visit to the Sand Heads, but on his way to Calcutta he took cold, and was reduced to a most distressing condition. When, by slow degrees, he was somewhat recovered, he sailed, and was again much refreshed at sea. This excursion was also very serviceable; but its good effects were destroyed by over exertion. He could not rest when he thought anything could be done for the salvation of souls. Every village he passed gave him new grief, if he could not enter it and preach to the natives. Before he reached Monghyr he was seized with a violent diarrhoea; by this, though relieved from cough, he was reduced to extreme debility. Under these eircumstances his biographer states, that he continued preaching five or six times a-week, and doing a little every day at his translations. On the first Sabbath of September, 1821, he was obliged to relinquish his morning service, both in English and Hinduwee. It greatly added to his affliction, and hastened the final termination of his labours, that on this day also Brindabun expired. Mr. C. spoke at his grave in Hindoostanee in the afternoon, and preached a funeral sermon in English in the evening, from John xi. 11. "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." At the close of the service he administered the Lord's Supper. All the week after he continued to grow

worse. The next Sabbath he made another attempt to preach, and this was the closing scene of his public labours: he never preached again. He resolved once more to try the river air, but his doctor thought it indispensable that he should proceed to the Cape. On the 16th of October, he thus closes his earthly' correspondence: "My disorder presses me down to such a degree, that little around interests or affects me. Now and then, for a few minutes, I gain a breath or two of life, and it is very sweet and pleasant; but, alas! languor and death like living are my constant attend ants. In such a case what can I do? The doctor is hurrying me off to sea. The will of the Lord be done."

A passage to England having been taken for him on board the Princess Charlotte, he was accompanied by his wife and child, and Mr. Yates, to the ship. A desire not to put the society to more expense than was absolutely necessary, and not to leave the station entirely destitute, had previously determined him on proceeding alone; though, alas! he could ill spare the only earthly comforts he had left; They remained with him on board about a week, the vessel having been unexpectedly detained. During this time the noise and confusion occasioned his feeling worse,

three weeks, and then expired. He was one morning found dead in his bed by the young man who attended him. He died on the 6th of December, 1821, and his remains were committed to the deep, in lat. 9. 30. N. long. 85. E.

Nothing is known of the last days of his life, the young man who waited on him having been drowned on his return to India. When the intelligence reached India, in a letter from the Cape, the late Mr. Ward preached his funeral sermon from 1 Cor. xv. 10. "By the grace of God, I am what I am: aud his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." These words, which that distinguished missionary, Mr. Ward, considered so appropriate, as characteristic of his deceased brother, the biographer of Mr. Chamberlain has inscribed as a motto in his title page. A few of his friends erected a tablet to bis memory in the Baptist Chapel, Circular Road, Calcutta, containing this inscription:

Sacred to the Memory

of

MR. JOHN CHAMBERLAIN,

who,

after having devoted, with unabated zeal and indefatigable labour,

nearly twenty years of his life,

the Heathen in India,

died

on his passage to England for the recovery
of his health,
December 6, 1821,

in lat. 9. 30. N. long. 85. E.
near the Island of Ceylon,
Aged 44-5.

"Be ye followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises."

The very valuable volume, from which this Memoir has been extracted, is dedicated by Mr. Yates,