Whilst on a journey, at about ten or eleven of he fell into the company of a years age, minister, whose attention was strongly attracted by his intelligent enquiries and remarks. Although a stranger, he could not refrain from informing himself what line of life was designed for the interesting youth. His parents answered, that as he evinced no great disposition to be employed in his father's farm, they should probably bind him apprentice to some country tradesman, perhaps a druggist. The stranger replied, "I think he is destined to a higher and more important profession; and if you will entrust him with me for a year or two, I will give him the preparatory attention necessary to his passing through a grammar-school, which may fit him for college, and lead to his entering the church."

The parents, struck with this liberal proposal, were soon induced to acquiesce. And young David resided under the private tuition of his new friend at Scarborough, till he removed to Hull, to attend the excellent public grammar-school then under the care of the Reverend Joseph Milner.

A mutual attachment was formed between the master and scholar. Mr. Brown continued

to consult his judgment, and confide in his experience and piety for guidance, under many important circumstances of his life: and an affectionate correspondence was maintained between them while Mr. Milner lived.

Mr. Brown proceeded to the university of Cambridge, and was entered at Magdalen College. He felt deeply attached to the society and pursuits which engaged his attention there. Though much interrupted, from severe illness, he prosecuted the usual studies preparatory to entering the Church: but from which he was most unexpectedly called off, by a remarkable and unforeseen offer made him of going to India.

It is not intended to dwell upon the interesting promise of his youth and early manhood, or to describe any traits of his character and conduct previous to his quitting England; since it is, as a clergyman devoted to labor in the East, that he is principally to be considered. In the course of this Sketch, however, some incidental information respecting his short career in his native land, will be supplied, principally through the medium of his own memorandums: and little need be added to his statement of the leading events, which

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which carried him from his beloved country, and kindred, for the kingdom of heaven's sake.

This introductory part may therefore be appropriated in the first place to a general and very rapid survey of his character and whole career and then, to the notice of some detached minute particulars, which will cast light upon the spirit of his conduct and example, in the important posts he filled in India.

A naturally sanguine temperament and high flow of spirits, which appear to have characterized his early youth, softened down, under the influence of serious piety, to a well directed and persevering zeal for promoting the knowledge of the gospel. His religious faitn had not darted suddenly into his mind, as the ray of heavenly light which overthrew an opposing Saul; but rather, as the least of all seeds, had grown with his growth, and strengthened with his strength, under the fostering influence, by God's good providence, of pious relatives, and early religious instruction; together with a succession of the means of grace as he approached to manhood. On

this

this subject the following recollections have been found among his papers.

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Thy goodness, like the sun, dawned on my early days. A godly grandfather, who poured out many prayers for me; parents who attended to the instruction given them by the ministers of God; early acquaintance with the Reverend Messrs. Jesse, Stillingfleet, Milner; -mercies all flowing from my God!"

He uniformly considered himself under the over-ruling direction of Divine Providence. Hence, while the end he had in view was unchanged, he was remarkably free from an excessive attachment to any mode of attaining that end. Hence, he was free too from all murmuring or desponding thoughts, if plans were frustrated, on which he had entered with his accustomed earnestness, for the furtherance of christian knowledge. A series of what would have been to persons of a different spirit, insurmountable disappointments, generally served only to turn his attention to other means of effecting the same purpose. Nor was he ever heard to regret that any circumstances, in his religious or worldly concerns, had taken a direction contrary to his previous wishes and expectations.

His faith was founded on the unchanging word of God, and by no means on the state of his own frames or feelings; for these were often of the most gloomy and discouraging nature. No believer could think lower of himself, and higher of the Redeemer, than did Mr. Brown; who, but for the energy of his faith, must have fallen into utter despondency: but the sure mercies of God in Christ were again, and again, made light and life to his soul.

His faith was an appropriating faith; his religion a personal religion: and he taught from the pulpit, and in the family, that religion was a subject that must come home to every man's bosom, and the concerns of it must be transacted between God and his own soul, exactly as if he were the only sinner existing in the world, and as if the Lamb of God had been offered up an atonement for him alone.

His singleness of eye, kept him perfectly consistent in his purpose throughout the whole of the chequered and trying circumstances of his life. His temper, naturally sanguine, led him to encounter and surmount difficulties: and he was endued with a steady perseverance, unshaken by every obstacle, and with a courage to endure, which formed the basis

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