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and dangerous voyage and through many strange and unwholesome climates. Extend to us, I beseech Thee, Thy fatherly protection and love in the land where we now dwell, and among the perils to which we are now liable. Give us health, strength, and peace of mind; give us friends in a strange land, and favour in the eyes of those around us; give us so much of this world's good as Thou knowest to be good for us; and be pleased to give us grace to love Thee truly, and constantly to praise and bless Thee, through Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen."

CHAPTER VIII

CALCUTTA AND LOWER BENGAL

1824

...

No less than a century and a quarter had passed, when Heber entered on his bishopric, since King William's charter of 1698 had for the first time imposed this provision on the East India Company-"We will and appoint that the said. Company, and their successors, shall constantly maintain a minister and schoolmaster in the Island of Saint Helena, and also one minister in every garrison and superior factory which the same Company, or their successors, shall have in the said East Indies, . . . and shall also, in such garrisons and factories respectively, provide or set apart a decent and convenient place for Divine Service only, and shall also take a chaplain on board every ship. . . We do further will and appoint that all such ministers shall be obliged to learn within one year after their arrival the Portuguese language, and shall apply themselves to learn the native language of the country where they shall reside, the better to enable them to instruct the Gentoos that shall be servants or slaves of the same Company, or of their agents, in the Protestant religion. . . . And we do further will and direct that the said Company and their successors shall, from time to time, provide schoolmasters in all the said garrisons and superior factories where they shall be found necessary."

But in spite of the provision that whenever a chaplain. died he should be at once succeeded by one taken from

1 Charters granted to the East India Company from 1601; also the Treaties and Grants from the year 1756 to 1772, pp. 220, 221.

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