elevation and dignity, combined with great Christian simplicity in her manner and language. She received her first abiding religious impressions at the age of nineteen, from attending the daily prayers, at Westminster Abbey. By his marriage, Mr. Thomason of course lost his fellowship. He continued, however, to instruct as a tutor, mainly for the purpose of refunding the money which had been advanced to him for his education.

Remembering what a sum had been expended upon himself, calling to mind the wants of young men involved in those anxious exigencies which he had experienced, he resolved to repay the whole of what had been advanced for his support; and long before he left England, these noble resolutions were fulfilled to the very utmost. Having saved above four hundred pounds, not to exonerate himself from the burden of an obligation, but to enjoy the luxury of performing what is lovely and of good report, he replaced the money in the hands of the managers of the Elland institution, with a willing consciousness that a debt still remained that could not be cancelled."

In 1805, two circumstances revived in Mr. Thomason a missionary spirit, which he had long before cherished. One was a review which he undertook for the Christian Observer, of Nott's Bampton Lectures, which necessarily led to a close consideration of Wesley's and Whitefield's devotedness in their Saviour's service; the other circumstance was the intended departure of Henry Martyn to India. It was not, however, till the spring of 1808, that definite arrangements could be made for him in India, nor the entire concurrence of some of his friends secured. Mrs. Thomason, who had been decidedly averse to the project, so as not to hear of it without tears, now counted it a privilege and an honor, to be exposed in such a cause.

In June, 1808, Mr. Thomason sailed with his family in the Travers for Calcutta. They had a singularly pleasant voyage, till they had nearly reached the shores of HindoosMr. Thomason thus describes their wonderful preser

tan.

vation from shipwreck.

"Early in the morning of the 7th, we approached Cape Negrais. Soundings were made, which left us no room to apprehend any immediate danger. At half past four they were twentyone fathoms; which, being certified to the captain, he immediately came on deck, and gave orders for heaving the ship to

The words were scarcely pronounced, when the ship struck upon a rock. At this time the Earl Spencer was so near, the captain hailed and cried out, they were amongst breakers. The Earl Spencer providentially escaped, and actually passed over the reef without striking, but our own ship, notwithstanding every exertion, continued to strike with violence. The first shock brought down the mizen top-mast; the wind then blowing fresh. In a moment a cry of distress was raised, which was heard by the Spencer, and which it very soon appeared was not made without reason. The passengers and all the ship's company were soon upon deck, and saw with the deepest anguish the danger in which they were. I had previously gone down and informed Mrs. Thomason that the ship had struck, and that none but God could save us. The heeling of the ship was now tremendous, and the blows continued, till the rudder was broken with an awful crash, that seemed to portend that the ship should immediately go to the bottom. Who but those who have actually borne a part in such scenes can conceive the dreadful sensations thus produced. We endeavored to commit ourselves to the mercy of God, and then Mrs. Thomason snatching up our dear J. followed by Mrs., with O- —, repaired on deck. Here the confusion was extreme. Through the mercy of God the wind soon modcrated; a circumstance which gave time to take proper measures for saving the crew. The main-mast was first cut down, which fell over the side. After, the fore-mast was cut away, and we were thus left a mere hull, which was momentarily coming to pieces; at this critical juncture, the cutter unfortunately went a-drift; the jolly-boat was dispatched after it, and in the mean time the crew were all employed in clearing and launching the long-boat. This was a long and difficult operation, but as all our lives depended on its success, the men exerted themselves to the utmost. Before they had fairly raised it from its place the ship's back was broken, and at this moment I felt that nothing but a miracle could save us. I lifted up my heart to God, and exhorted Mrs. Thomason to do so too. I committed myself and all my concerns to Him. Meanwhile, a squall of wind and rain caused the ship to beat violently; we all stood on the deck drenched to the skin, looking with anxious impatience to the launch of the long-boat. The ladies and children having been roused suddenly from their beds, were wet and half naked, and most pitiable objects. I ran down into my cabin to secure something from the wreck which I might preserve, if saved from destruction, as a memorial. In vain I sought in the confusion of the moment for my pocket-bible; at length, hastily snatching up my Hebrew psalter, with a volume of the Greek Testament, and my mother's last and valued present, the Golden Treasury, I put them into my bosom, and flew to my dear Mrs. Thomason and the children on the deck. In passing through the cabin to the

ladder, it was painful to hear the rushing of the water in the hold, and to see the decks giving way, and the boxes floating about on all sides. Arrived on the deck, I remained with my dear B, and had the pleasure of seeing the long-boat launched into the water. The captain then called for the ladies, who were one by one conveyed into the boat by a rope. The gentlemen followed, and the crew, to the number of ninety-one : more could not be admitted with safety. In the cutter were eighteen, in the jolly-boat eleven."

Through the mercy of God, after having been three hours. and a half in the boat, they reached the Earl Spencer, a ship which sailed in company.

The second Sabbath, after landing at Culcutta, Mr. Thomason commenced his ministry at the old church. Having made considerable progress in Persian during the voyage, he gave himself, in addition to his ministerial employments, to the study of Hindoostanee and Arabic. So favorably were his labors in the church regarded, that in six months it was found expedient to enlarge the house. Mrs. Thomason mentions the joy of meeting Martyn on the 3d of November,

1809.

He

"Dear, dear Martyn arrived, and we had the unspeakable delight of seeing his face. The agitation I felt during the whole morning was such as I never experienced in India. Joy and sorrow alternately. Joy to see him, sorrow for the occasion. In three or four weeks he leaves us to go to sea for his health. is much altered, is thin and sallow, but he has the same loving heart. No tongue can tell what a refreshment the sight of him has been to us. I should be thankful to be his nurse if he would remain with us; but one would wish him to try every means, hoping that God may yet spare him for a few years.-Martyn and I are both writing under the same roof."

Mr. Thomason continued in his labors of love without serious interruption for several years. In addition to his church at Calcutta, and his translations, he was appointed by the governor general to perform stated service at his own country residence at Barrackpore, to accompany him as chaplain in a journey of state through the provinces, and to draw up and submit to the government a plan for the education of the Indian population. When Mr. Thomason left England for India, it was his fixed intention that the step should be final. He would have persisted in this resolution, if, in the year 1825, it had not been too apparent that Mrs.

Thomason's health was gradually declining, and that the only human hope of her restoration was to be found in exchanging a sultry climate for the invigorating air of her native land. On her account solely, he commenced the homeward voyage in October. On the 26th of March, 1826, Mr. Thomason communicated to his son in India, the intelligence of her death, or rather "her translation into life."

"About midnight on Good Friday, she was seized with the agonies of dissolution, which were greatly protracted; she did not breathe her last till near ten o'clock the following morning. About ten minutes before ten on Saturday morning, her spirit took its flight. O the unutterable anguish of this sad-sad scene; sad to us-but she has joined the innumerable company of glorified spirits and angels-she died in the Lord. Three days before her death, she expressed to me a strong hope that God would raise her up to be a comfort to her husband and children; but what if it should please him to dispose otherwise,' I said; ' then,' said she 'his will be done!' She added expressions of dependence on her Saviour, but complained that her heart was dull and sluggish. Conversation was highly injurious, I could only read with her at intervals, with a few words of prayer. To a question whether the Saviour comforted her, she said, 'he does.' Her countenance indicated that she was much exercised in prayer. On Saturday evening her precious remains were committed to the deep. The evening was still, and all was solemn; the service was read by dear S- whose brotherly tenderness and sympathy I cannot adequately describe. Being myself overwhelmed by the bereavement, I was unable to perform that last service; but I saw from a distance the coffin dropped into the sea, and heard the words,' We commit her body to the deep, to be turned into corruption, looking for the resurrection of the body (when the sea shall give up her dead) and the life of the world to come through our Lord Jesus Christ, who at his coming shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.' O, my beloved boy, I cannot tell you the consolation afforded by that hope. I earnestly trust it will be as a healing balm to your own heart. I felt comfort in the thought that the whole Christian world were celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ. She was committed to the deep on Easter even, when we commemorate the Saviour's lying in the grave, thus consecrating it as the place of repose for his faithful followers, previous to the great and joyful day of resurrection."

On his return to England, he commenced the pastoral charge at Cheltenham. In 1828, he was again involved in

a severe internal conflict, respecting the expediency of returning to India. "How could the version of the Hindoostanee Old Testament be perfected in England," was the consideration which induced him again to embark. According to the unanimous advice of his friends, he once more entered into the marriage state, becoming connected with Miss Dickenson of Liverpool. It was a step which greatly promoted his happiness. In June, 1828, he left England forever. He returned to India to die. Soon after he reached Calcutta, it was determined that a voyage to the Mauritius was expedient. But this measure proved wholly unavailing. On Sabbath, June 21, 1829, twelve days after landing in the Isle of France, his earthly tabernacle was dissolved, and his spirit numbered amongst the just made perfect.

"On Sunday he had a very suffering day, but his mind was composed, he was quite sensible his end was approaching, and his frequent prayer was for patience: yet indeed he was an example of patient suffering: towards the evening I perceived evident signs of approaching dissolution, and therefore requested a Christian friend to be with me at the closing scene; he can bear witness with myself, to the firm faith and strong hope which disarmed death of its sting, and shed a holy quiet and peace around.

"Many sweet expressions we heard from his dying lips, in the midst of severe bodily agony, such as the following: This is a dark valley, but there's light at the end.' 'Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.' 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' 'Lord, give me patience, may patience have its perfect work.' 'When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.' About three o'clock in the morning, he inquired what time it was, and when told, he replied, I thought I should have been far away before this.' He complained of a sharp pain in his heels, and also at the back of his head, which reminded of the first great blessed promise vouchsafed to fallen man. He seemed to watch the progress of death as it advanced up his cold legs. He asked why there was not a candle in the room, on being told there was, he said, 'Oh, then, I am losing my sight, for it appears dark.' After a slight convulsion, I saw his change was near, and said to him, 'The Lord is coming quickly,' he replied with a smile, I hope so.' Shortly after this his heart ceased to beat, his spirit fled, and he entered the joy of the Lord."

"The rank which Mr. T. occupied as an oriental scholar and translator of the Scriptures was very high. In Persian, Arabic, Hindoostanee, and Hebrew above all, his erudition has seldom