BEFORE three months, my residence in India had produced changes in my plans and relations which totally revolutionized all anterior arrangements. The sure and fatal arrow had smitten one of fairest mould and warmest heart, in whose life

and happiness I had hoped for much of enjoyment and all needful cooperation. The event was unlooked for, and came with a crash upon the energies and resources of my constitution, to sustain which, in a strange land and among foreigners or strangers, more of philosophy or resignation than I possessed, was required. Painful, and perhaps unwise brooding upon the dark and mysterious separation, had ultimately, such influence upon the mental frame, and the capabilities of my body, that changing scenes and various occupations were deemed expedient. A lovely, a fragile, and delicate flower remained-it had been the sweetest rose-bud from a parent stem prematurely cut down. To nurture and water it, and, if possible, rear it, as a tender and fragrant plant, continued for a year of months the object of parental and widowed solicitude. It may be a weakness in a father to confess how the heart clung to this dear child, and allusions to it here may seem misplaced : it may appear as if the oak depended on, rather than supported, the parasitical tendril. But he was the image and only living memorial, of one whose sympathies, affections, and associations had been dear as life itself. He had been left, five hours old, to my only care, by "my late espoused saint;" by her who, I believed, was now "vested all in white, pure as her mind." My earliest dreams, my midnight watchings, and often sleepless nights, had been consecrated as vigils beside his pillow. Many fond hours were devoted to minister to, almost to adore, this fair and truly beauteous child; while his cherubic infancy inspired the delusive hopes that my son would become a substitute for his mother, so far at least as a companion, to occupy the affections, and preserve them from the entire void, which bereavement had produced. A few more weeks, however, and the flower was cut down and withered. Ere the fragrance of the sweet plant had passed away, his remains were deposited beside the beloved and now mouldering mother. They are my richest inheritance in the dust of India; and, were my years multiplied a hundred fold, the spot where they rest would continue sacred; nor do I fear but all that was mortal of them shall become immortal, and their corruption shall become incorruptible and glorious-the grave is only a temporary veil to the love, sweetness, goodness which shone in their person!

These two bereavements had more than a casual influence on my future course. I lingered round the scene, rather than wrought in it, as I had hoped to do: the place was endeared as a mausoleum; and often the desolate and heart-stricken went "to the grave to weep there." Familiarized with the person of death, rather than only a sojourner in the valley of his shadow, I was not reluctant to take my place in his bed, beneath the clods of the valley; and yet this was not right: there are "twelve hours in the day," and it is then that men ought to work. It was my duty to think more of the dying than of the dead; and, to rouse

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myself from this stupor, plans of activity in the region round about were devised and adopted. The claims of my countrymen in neighbouring stations, as well as of such Hindoos as I could hold intercourse with, were considered; and itinerancies to contiguous and more remote villages and cantonments were undertaken. Circumstances led me to cherish a desire to do good among the military ranks, and to seek their religious improvement. Opportunities most favourable to the indulgence of this disposition occurred, and I embraced them. In this path of duty, which became also a path of pleasure, the highest of all rewards was enjoyed in the attached gratitude of those who shared my affection, and in the instances of success which attended renewed efforts. Besides the barracks in Fort St. George, military and invalid stations were situated contiguous to the Presidency. The Mount, Poonamallee, Tripassore, Wallajahbad, and Arcot, were occupied by British troops or invalids; while detachments of native troops, officered by Englishmen, garrisoned the same places, or other contiguous stations, as Palaveram, Vellore, Arnee, and Cuddalore. To such places I made repeated visits, and either in them, or neighbouring stations, as Conjeveram, Chingleput, or Chittore, remained sometimes for a week or weeks, as the sphere of duty appeared to require. Some of these excursions I shall by and bye describe.

The modes of travelling were various, according to the time I intended to remain. My journeyings

in this land were never merely to visit or see the antique ruins, the picturesque grandeur, or the strongholds, which might attract the antiquarian, the man of refined taste, or the soldier. There were no stage-coaches; many of the roads were unsuited to wheeled carriages; and I never travelled in such oriental state as to sit upon an elephant, or have my luggage carried by camels. Occasionally have I met these useful and sagacious animals with their loads, and admired their docility and submission. My shorter journeys were performed in a bandy, or covered gig, drawn by a single horse: if I went to a greater distance, and expected to return in a few days, my horse and his keeper sufficed for the way; but if I designed to spend some weeks on the tour, then the palanquin and native booies, or bearers, were required. This equipage has been already described, and is so familiarized to the English reader, that more than a few words is unnecessary to convey an idea of a travelling palanquin and its furnishing. Behind the cushion, against which the shoulders recline, there is a space which may be occupied with a few changes of linen, or rather cotton, and almost all a man's travelling apparel may be thus designated. There is room enough along the sides to stow away a few volumes of such literature as is most valued. At the foot is placed a shelf deep enough to receive a writing desk, a dressing case, two or three minor matters, a knife and fork, and one or two other conveniences or indispensables for the