Samuel was born in a village in the district of Jaffna, about the year 1794. The early part of his life appears not to be remarkable. His natural disposition was quick and impetuous; and this, probably, from his youth exposed him more to temptation, and afforded more frequent occasion for the exhibition of the evils inherent in human-nature. His intellectual powers were good; his intelligence and understanding being of a superior order to the generality of those in similar circumstances of life. His caste was of the lower kind; but his father was Headman or Petty Chief of part of the Tribe, with some skill as a Native Doctor. Samuel, though a Horsekeeper, from his general knowledge of that animal, his acquaintance with its diseases, and his skill in its treatment, &c., may be ranked among the first of that class. He could read with tolerable ease, and usually wrote a part of the Sermon which he heard preached.

From his youth to the time of his being employed at Nellore, he discovered largely the enmities of the natural heart to divine things, and a pre-eminence in idolatrous pursuits. He had lived ten years with the Collector of Jaffna, and, during that time, had received some instruction from the Rev. C. David: but his mind seems to have been exasperated rather than softened by these means, and he continued the leader, among his relations and neighbours, of Devil Worship, riotous sinful amusements, and in the performance of idolatrous ceremonies and sacrifices.

During this unprofitable and sinful period of his life, besides his customary gifts to the Pandarams of the Temple, when calling at his house, and the freApril, 1830.

quent practice of incantations to appease the anger of evil deities, he often made vows at a Temple of Pulliar (Ganesa) which he attended, performing poojah—— a ceremony including the gift of rice and fruits to many Brahmins and Pandarams. On one occasion, when one of his children was ill, he performed a Mothakam, the ceremony of presenting to the Temple the gift of a cake made of silver: on another, he assisted in building a flight of steps leading down to a Tank near the Temple which he frequented, by giving money and bringing stones from a distance, and in other ways personally aiding. To the same Temple he also gave a cow; and, at the request of the Temple Attendants, who pleaded poverty, he himself kept it, giving them its daily milk. This continued till his profession of Christianity, which immediately put a stop to their unlawful gains; and he received the milk of his cow for his family with thanksgiving to God.

As a mark of his anxiety to secure the favour of some deity, he at another season, in order to obtain health for his children, had recourse to a large Catholic Church at Kealy, about 20 miles from Jaffna, which is greatly celebrated for its alleged miraculous gift of health to its votaries. To the Priest of this Church he presented a small silver sword and shield, as an offering to St. James, the Tutelar Saint, of whom there is an image placed on the Church, sitting on horseback, armed with those instruments. From these and similar actions, Samuel, like many thousands of his poor deluded countrymen, thought himself rich, and increased in goods, and having need of nothing. But how great the contrast, when the Lord was pleased to open the

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eyes of his understanding, and impart to him, as it were, an additional sense; and when he felt himself to be a debtor of a thousand talents, with nothing to pay.

On his first coming to Nellore, we had considerable difficulty with him, on account of his heathen views, his attachment to caste, and his aversion to the doctrines of the Gospel. When earnest ly addressed on the state of his soul, he discovered great unwillingness to hear; and when we persevered, however affectionately, he became angry. After he had become a subject of Divine Grace, he sensibly felt and acknowledged his guilt in this respect; and begged forgiveness of some of the Teachers, to whom he had at times unkindly or hastily replied. He was certainly, at that period, an exceedingly unpromising character, and might have been considered as the most unlikely at the Station to be brought into the Kingdom of God. But with the Lord all things are possible; and, not unfrequently, to the thoughts and views of men, order is reversed-the last becomes first, and the first last. Thus, indeed, to poor Samuel did He wonderfully manifest His long-suffering and grace, as an example for the encouragement of many others.

After hearing for some time the blessed truths of Christianity, and becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Heathenism, it was not without much inquiry and examination and many conflicts and struggles that he cast aside its lying vanities and embraced the blessed hope of the Gospel. As a mark also of his sincerity, on his becoming a Christian, he had frequent conversations with the Gooroo or Chief at the Temple which he previously attended, shewing him the folly and sin of Heathen Customs, and exhorting him to leave them for the great salvation of God.

From his previous habits, as thus described, and the natural energy of his character, as his mind gradually opened to the truths of Christianity and he took upon him its profession, the transformation of his character and conduct appeared the more manifest and wondrous. It was to all who observed him-and to none more so than to his immediate friends and neighbours-an evident change from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. He entered on a new state of existence: he lived in a new world: old things had passed away: behold! all things had become new.

On the 12th of March 1826 he was baptized; and immediately afterwards dedicated himself to the Lord, at His holy Table. From that time his advance in the divine life, like the sun, became clearer and stronger: he might be read and known of all MEN as an Epistle of the Saviour. He searched the Scriptures daily, with diligence, prayer, and earnest concern to be taught of God and guided into all truth. When holding religious conversation with him, I have frequently been much surprised at his attainments in Scriptural Knowledge in so short a time; and the general correctness of his views, in doctrinal experience, and practice, led me to exclaim, "Whence had this man all this knowledge?" During the three years of his Christian Pilgrimage, a considerable portion of his time was daily passed in reading, meditation, and prayer. He felt the promises of the Gospel were made to character, and he was diligent in business: I trusted to him more than to any other servant, and never had occasion to regret it. He was fervent in spirit also, serving the Lord. When his work was performed, he was to be seen with the Sacred Scriptures or a Tract in his hand, reading to others or by himself.

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At the appointed Means of Grace, he was always to be found in his place, in a solemn and devout frame waiting the commencement of the Service; and when attending me to the Fort Church on the Sunday or other occasions, he constantly had his Testament or some Tracts with him, that he might lose no opportunity of reading and conversing with those whom he might meet. much was it on his mind, and in his heart, to persuade his fellow-sinners to be reconciled to God, that since his death it has been observed of him, he was more like a Catechist than an ordinary servant. It was truly his meat and drink to do the will of God; and highly gratifying and encouraging has it been to my mind, when, entering the pulpit, a slight glance towards the south door has discovered him beneath some tree at a distance, with a little group around him, fervently addressing his countrymen on the same blessed theme on which I was about to plead with mine. At the School Family Prayers he was a regular attendant, though in the morning they commenced soon after 6 o'clock; and, we have since learnt, that he habitually rose with his family, and, by lamplight, read the