to himself is infinite gain. Though sudden, his death was glorious he died in the work of God, with his soul fired with an ardent desire and zeal for the enlargement of his church, and the Divine glory. For some time before his death, it appeared that he had no desire to live, but to see the gospel established in Asia. He frequently observed, that he had given up his life to Asia; and it is astonishing with what assiduity he pursued his object. Though near 67 years of age, in a short time he acquired such a knowledge of the Portuguese language, that he had written many sermons, and translated many hymns: this work he was engaged in but yesterday, and he is now enjoying his reward. Thus did he

"His body with his charge lay down,

And cease at once to work and live,"

About 6 o'clock this morning the captain sent for brother Clough, and communicated to him information of the death of Dr. Coke, which had been first discovered by the servant, upon his entering to call the Doctor at half past five, which was his usual practice. He was found lying upon the floor in a lifeless state. Brother Clough immediately opened the melancholy subject to brother Harvard in a prudent way. Upon the first mention of the distressing circumstance, brother Harvard could scarcely receive the information; but at length being prevailed upon to believe it, he hasted to the cabin of the late Doctor, when, alas! he found the fact to be mournfully certain. The corpse of the Doctor, which had been moved from the floor, was laid upon the bed it appeared but little discomposed: a placidity rested upon his countenance; his head appeared turned on one side. The surgeon, after examining the body, gave it as his opinion, from the Doctor's habit of body, that his death might have been produced by an attack of apoplexy. It is supposed, that he rose in the night to reach something that he wanted; and, the stroke coming upon him, he fell in the posture in which he was found by the servant: this must have been about midnight, as, when discovered, the body was quite cold and stiff. It is evident that the Doctor must have had an easy death; since neither Captain Birch nor Mr. Harvard heard any struggling or noise, which they would undoubtedly have

done had there been any, as each of their cabins immediately joined with the Doctor's, and were only divided from it by a very thin wainscot partition.

Captain Birch very kindly offered a boat to proceed to the Melville, and brother Harvard wrote a note to the brethren on board that vessel, to prepare their minds for the scene which awaited them. When the note was read, all were as though thunderstruck; the brethren felt as 'if they were electrified even to stupidity, and could scarcely believe what they read. While thus exercised, sometimes gazing on the note, and then speechless looking at each other, the surgeon of the Lady Melville entered their cabin, with a letter from Captain Birch to Captain Lochner, stating that Dr. Coke was dead. All their fears were now realized, and they hastened to their brethren on board the Cabalva; our meeting on this occasion may be more easily conceived than expressed. After consulting together it was resolved to apply to Captain Birch for the preservation of the mortal remains of our departed father in the Lord. Brothers Ault and Clough waited upon the captain; he heard them with great attention, but stated difficulties so many and so insuperable, that after maturely weighing the subject, we all concluded that it was most proper to desist. Captain Birch wished us to pursue our own plan, with respect to the interment of our venerable friend, and politely sent a note, desiring to know how we intended to proceed, stating his desire to shew every respect to the memory of so worthy and excellent a man.

At five o'clock in the evening the corpse was committed to the deep; this was a most solemn and affecting time, the captain, the passengers, and the whole of the ship's company, shewed him every respect; the deck was crowded on the occasion; a large, thick deal coffin had been made, and holes left in the bottom. The body was placed therein, and being nailed up, was laid on the leeward gang-way starboardside, respectfully covered with signal flags. The awning was spread, the soldiers drawn up in a rank on deck, the ship's bell called together the passengers and crew, and all seemed struck with silent awe. Four cannon balls had been placed in the coffin, decently tied up in as many bags, and placed two at the head and two at the feet of the corpse. Brother Harvard read the burial service, brother Ault then

delivered an address suited to the subject, in which he spoke of the character, respectability, and general usefulness of the Doctor, and of the happiness of the righ teous dead; and from the sudden and unexpected dissolution of one who was but yesterday in life, took occasion to shew the necessity that lay on each individual to make a speedy preparation, and stand in constant readiness for death. Brother Lynch then read the 51st hymn, on the 53d page, Hark! a voice divides the sky, &c. and concluded with an appropriate prayer. The whole of the service was interesting and impressive, and the solemnity of the occasion appeared to be felt by all present; some were visibly affected may the impressions issue in their salvation! The corpse of the Doctor was committed to the deep, South lat. 2 deg. 29 min. East long. 59 deg. 29 min. to wait the resurrection of the just.

As we have no doubt but every information respecting so valuable and worthy a man will be acceptable, we copy brother Clough's account of the Doctor, which embraces chiefly the latter part of his life, from the time of his leaving London. Brother Clough being much with him, had an opportunity of knowing much of the Doctor during his short stay at Portsmouth, and on the voyage. The propagation of the knowledge of Christ in Asia was a subject which had rested on the mind of our late venerable father for more than 20 years, but (according to his own account,) he received a stronger and clearer evidence of the will of God on this subject, in May, 1813, and was then more especially convinced of the absolute necessity of adopting immediate measures to hasten that important period, when the heathen shall be given to our Lord Christ. His zeal, fortitude, and patience (in contending with difficulties which invariably stood in the way of so important an undertaking, from the above period till he left London,) are too well known by many in England to render any further information necessary.

BROTHER CLOUGH'S ACCOUNT OF DR. Coke.

1813.-Dec. 10.-We left London and proceeded to Portsmouth, where we were to embark. I have seldom seen the Doctor more lively and happy than he has been

un

this day; he considered this as the commencement of his mission, and the thought that he had so far succeeded in obtaining the consent of Conference, with six missionaries to accompany him, (and that these were all either gone or on their way to Portsmouth,) afforded him speakable pleasure. His happy soul would frequently break forth in loud praises to God, who had thus far opened his way to the East. When he had collected his little party at Portsmouth, and they were all assembled round him, he lifted up his heart and hands to God, and broke forth in the following language: Here we are, all before God, now embarked in the most IMPORTANT, and most GLORIOUS Work in the world. Glory be ascribed to his blessed name, that he has given you to be my companions and assistants in carrying the gospel to the poor Asiatics; and that he has not suffered PARENTS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, or the DEAREST FRIENDS, to stop any of you from accompanying me to India. At this time he seemed as though he had not a dormant faculty about him, every power of his soul was now employed in forwarding the work in which he had engaged.

We stayed several days in Portsmouth before 'we went on board, during which period his whole attention was fixed upon his work, and he was unwilling to attend to any that was not connected with it: from morning to night his eye was fixed upon it, as the eye of the racer who continually keeps the prize in view. He would frequently address himself to me, in language like the following:-Brother Clough, what we are now doing I am certain is for God; and therefore what our hands find to do in this cause, let us do it with all our might. Here I might mention a circumstance which took place between us, a little before we left London. As we were travelling in a coach, upon some business relative to the Asiatic work, in one part of our conversation, I presented a small paper for him to read, which was not altogether connected with the subject in hand; Brother, said the Doctor, I beg your pardon, but excuse me, I am dead to all things but Asia. Though I wished him to read the paper, yet I admired his unremitting zeal in so holy a cause. I confess, it was one of the most powerful and instructive lessons to me, and necessary to be observed in my future life and conduct. I need not add any thing more about 3 U

17.

him; while at Portsmouth, there were several who had the opportunity of observing his conduct, both in public and private, who are better able to do justice to such a combination of talent, holiness, and zeal.

Early on the morning of Dec. 30, 1813, the signal guns were fired from our commodore, for the fleet to unmoor. I hastened to the Doctor, to inform him of it; upon receiving this intelligence, be exceedingly rejoiced. The long-wished-for period was arrived. I collected his remaining scattered articles; meantime a servant of Captain Birch's arrived, leaving a note for the Doctor, containing information that our ship unmoored at 7 o'clock in the morning, and was then under weigh to St. Helen's. After the Doctor had made the necessary arrangements, he took his leave of his friends at Portsmouth, with that feeling and affection characteristic of his regard for them: yet with that fortitude of spirit, which pourtrayed a mind convinced of the necessity and importance of his absence from them;-whilst they, as a people who had interest in the court of heaven, offered up their prayers to God, that his aged and venerable servant might, though in the evening of his days, so shine in Asia, as to introduce the glorious morning star of the gospel in these benighted regions.

When we had arrived safe on board, I was ready to conclude that every anxious thought had taken its flight from the Doctor; I procured the carpenter to fix up his bed; after he had taken proper refreshment he retired to rest, and slept as comfortably as though he had been on land. The next morning he rose, and commenced his usual practice, as one amidst busy multitudes alone; he wrote several letters to send by the pilot to land, when he left the ship. The ship's company began soon to notice him as being a singular character. When we came to the Bay of Biscay, and had to contend with gales of wind, and tempestuous seas, the Doctor seemed alike unmoved, and pursued his labours of prayer, study, reading and writing, with as much settled composure of mind, as though he had been on land. Now it was that the Doctor, who had been to the present a suspected. person, began to gain the good opinion, attention, and even respect of all of the passengers. His polite and easy address, his attainments in literature, were conspicuous traits in his character, and these, together with