Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 2.djvu/112

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406
FRANCIS BUCHANAN, M.D.


an account of the College of Fort William ; and the University of Glasgow conferred upon him the degree of D. D.

In May, 1806, he undertook a journey to the coast of Malabar, and returned to Calcutta in 1807. lie paid a second visit to Malabar, and powerfully assisted in procuring a version of the Scriptures into Malayalim. In March, 1808, he undertook a voyage to Europe. Second prizes of L. 500 each were offered by him to Oxford and Cambridge; and in pursuance of his proposals, sermons were preached at both universities.

In September, 1803, Dr Buchanan undertook a journey into Scotland, where he had the gratification of finding his mother in good health. He preached in the episcopal chapel at Glasgow, and mentions that the people came in crowds to hear him, "notwithstanding the organ," He observed a more tolerant spirit among the different orders of religion in Scotland than what formerly prevailed. On his return, he preached, at Bristol, his celebrated sermon, "The Star in the East," which was the first of that series of able and well-directed efforts by which, in pursuance of a resolution formed in India, he endeavoured to cherish and extend the interest he had already excited for the promotion of Christianity in the east In spring, 1809, he spent some days at Oxford, collating oriental versions of the bible. He next paid a visit to Cambridge, whore he deposited some valuable biblical manuscripts, which he had collected in India. The university honoured him with the degree of D.D. About this period, he preached regularly for some time in Wilbeck chapel, London, after which he retired to Kirby Hall, in Yorkshire, the seat of his father-in-law, Henry Thompson, Esq. His health now began to decline, and as he was advised by his physicians to study less unremittingly, he formed the idea of uniting the recovery of his health, and some share of continued usefulness, by travelling to the Holy Land, and endeavouring to re-establish the gospel on its native ground. This design, however, he never executed. Various paralytic affections, which, one after another, fell upon his frame, admonished him that the day of active exertion with him was past. He was nevertheless able, within the course of a few years, to publish the following works: 1, Three Jubilee Sermons; 2, Annual Missionary Sermon, before the Church Missionary Society, June 12, 1810; 3, Commencement Sermons at Cambridge; 4, Christian Researches in Asia; 5, Sketch of an Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India; G, Colonial Ecclesiastical Establishment.

He had been twice married, but survived both of his spouses. He ultimately went to reside at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, to superintend a Syriac edition of the New Testament, Here he died, February 9, 1815, while his task was still incomplete, at the early age of forty-eight. The exertions of this amiable and exemplary man in propagating the Christian religion in India, will long keep his name in grateful remembrance, among all to whom the interests of religion are in the least endeared.

BUCHANAN, Francis, M. D. author of Travels in the Mysore, a History of Nepal, &c. was born at Branziet, in Stirlingshire, February 15th, 1762. He was the third son of Dr Thomas Buchanan of Spital, who afterwards succeeded as heir of entail to the estate of Leney, in Perthshire, and Elizabeth Hamilton heiress of Bardowie, near Glasgow. As a younger brother he was, of course, destined to a profession. He chose that of his father; and after the finishing the elementary parts of his classical education with considerable credit, at the Grammar School of Glasgow, he commenced his medical studies at the university, where he remained till he had received his diploma. Glasgow college has always enjoyed a high reputation for literature and ethics ; but, with the exception, perhaps, of the department of anatomy, its fame, as a medical school, has