first Bishop, and being a man as sensitive as he was firm, it tried him
severely. His entreaty was constantly for more men; and in order to
obtain a ministry beyond that which the East India Company would provide
for, he occupied himself in procuring the foundation of Bishop's College,
close to Calcutta, a seminary where young men, both European and native,
could receive a good theological and classical education, and be prepared
for Holy Orders. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge granted
5,000_l._ for the purpose, and private subscriptions came in, until on
the 15th of December, 1820, the Bishop was enabled to lay the foundation-
stone of an institution that has, now for half a century, admirably
answered its purpose.

It has long been found that Christianity cannot take root without a
native ministry, and Bishop Middleton was most anxious to ordain such
catechists of Schwartz's training as were ready; but he found great
technical difficulties in the way, since the ordination form in the
Prayer Book left no opening for persons who, not being British subjects,
could not be expected to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy; and,
moreover, it was not certain what language ought to be used with men not
speaking English. The arrangement of these difficulties hindered him
from ordaining Christian David, the godson and pupil of Schwartz, and a
subject of Tanjore, on his visitation to the Presidency. This good man
met him, together with the minister of Palamcotta, bringing a deputation
about thirty in number. The minister was an exceedingly dark man, with a
very interesting countenance. Addresses, interpreted by Christian, were
made on either side, and the thirty sang a psalm of thanksgiving in
Tamul. They were only a small deputation, for there were several
Christian villages in Tinnevelly, with churches built of unburnt brick,
and roofed with palmyra leaves, where the English Liturgy was used,
having been translated into Tamul by David.

At Tanjore, the Bishop was received in the most friendly manner by
Serfojee, who came down from his throne to welcome him, and caused Mrs.
Middleton to be conducted to visit the ladies of his zenana. He
conducted the Bishop into his library, which contained books in various
European languages; also on medicine and anatomy, this being his
favourite study, to assist him in which he had an ivory skeleton. He
returned the visit in great state, with six elephants, two o