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CHAPTER III.

VISIT TO BRISTOL.

THE RAJAH'S DEATH, AND INTERMENT.

EARLY in the month of September, 1833, the Rajah RAMMOHUN ROY arrived at Stapleton Grove, near Bristol, accompanied by Miss HARE, the daughter of his late esteemed friend, Mr. DAVID HARE, of Calcutta, who then resided with her uncles in Bedford Square; he was attended by his two Hindoo servants, RAMHURRY Doss and RAMROTUN MUKERJAH. His son, RAJAH RAM Roy, was already at Stapleton Grove, as we learnt from the letters in the preceding chapter.

The annexed sketch gives a view of the house from the garden side. A grove of fine old trees leads by a carriage drive from the Porter's Lodge to the front entrance.

Stapleton Grove is an agreeable and commodious mansion, which might well be selected as an example of an English gentleman's country residence. It had belonged to Mr. MICHAEL CASTLE, a highly esteemed

Bristol merchant, and one of Dr. CARPENTER'S congregation. On the death of that gentleman, and shortly after that of his wife, Mrs. CASTLE, Dr. CARPENTER undertook the charge which they had requested him to fulfil of being one of the guardians of their only child, a young lady of great promise, confiding unreservedly in his excellent influence, and good judgment in directing her.

As neither Dr. CARPENTER'S professional engagements, nor the nature of his own establishment, authorised his seeking the privilege he would so greatly have valued of receiving his distinguished friend in his own house, it had been arranged soon after the Rajah's arrival in England, that whenever he was able to visit Bristol he should take up his adode at Stapleton Grove, where Miss KIDDELL and Miss CASTLE esteemed it a high honour to receive him, and would do all in their power to render agreeable his stay in the neighbourhood.

After his exciting life in London, the Rajah was doubtless glad of the quiet of a country life, and we do not hear of his having made any public appearance, or sought for gaiety or places of amusement, during his too brief abode near Bristol. But almost every day, if not daily, he and Dr. CARPENTER had friendly intercourse, either at Stapleton Grove or at Dr. C.'s residence in Great George Street, and it is needless to say that increased acquaintance with the illustrious stranger tended only to increase the affection, admiration and respect, already felt for him.

In the House of Prayer where Dr. CARPENTER offici

ated, Lewin's Mead Chapel, the Rajah worshipped on two successive Sundays, the last he was to spend on earth in the public services of religion.

"On the first," says Dr. CARPENTER, "I addressed this congregation from words in the 18th chapter of the First Book of Kings; where, after the solemn sacrifice on Mount Carmel, and the proof from heaven that Jehovah is God alone, the Prophet of the Lord, after sending for six times in vain, received at the seventh, the report of his servant, 'There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a man's hand.' In that discourse I adverted, with earnest respect, to the recent death of Mr. WILBERFORCE, who had lived to see the seal put to the accomplishment of purposes to which the greatest labours of his life had been directed; and it was my intention, when I again preached in the morning, to continue the subject, by adverting to various other facts in the divine government, where great and effectual and lasting good was begun in circumstances which called for the faith as well as the hopefulness of the servants of God; in some of which it seemed as if nothing were achieved or even effectually commenced;--all contributing to cheer the wearied disappointed heart under difficulties and opposition, and affording abundant encouragement to 'the patience of hope and the labour of love'." *

On the next Sunday, Dr. C.'s colleague, Rev. R. B. ASPLAND, officiated; he says in reference to it, "I had to speak in behalf of Manchester New College. The

*This sermon, "The Prophet's Cloud," is in the volume of Dr. CARPENTER'S printed discourses.

appeal interested him, and he sent me by Mr. ESTLIN a kind message, intimating his purpose of seeing me, and sending through me a contribution to the College. He did not live to fulfil his purpose."

The work of the Hindoo Reformer had long been known in Bristol, and about eight years before, his services in the cause of philanthropy and religion were in an especial manner brought forward to this congregation, when an appeal was made to it, answered with even more than its wonted liberality, to assist in the establishment of Unitarian worship in the capital of British India.

His appearance, then, in Lewin's Mead Chapel was warmly welcomed, and is recollected by many with deep interest. He intended visiting other places of worship, as he had done in London, his spirit being truly catholic. It will be remembered that seventeen years before, the Rajah had first worshipped with Christians in the family of EUSTACE CAREY, and received from him a copy of Watts's Hymns; little did that gentleman know how that volume would be treasured. "It was a common practice with the Rajah," says Dr. C., "as he went to public worship, to read some of Dr. WATTS's Hymns. for Children; and he frequently dwelt with great and earnest interest on the verse,

"Lord! how delightful 'tis to see

A whole assembly worship thee:
At once they sing, at once they pray;

They hear of heaven and learn the way."

Several persons well known in the literary world had

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