Page:Madras in the olden time Volume 1.djvu/324

298 The next entry explains itself.

“Wednesday, 15th January, 1696. This day being appointed for the solemnity in memory of our late deceased sovereign Queen Mary. In the forenoon a Company with Drums and Colours covered with black, and Pikes trailing, attended the President and Council to Church, where Mr. Richard Elliot preached a sermon suitable to the occasion, all the Right Hon’ble Company’s servants and the English inhabitants being met in decent mourning, and the principal parts of the Church covered with black. About twelve o’clock, the flag being lowered at half mast, the Fort began to fire at St. Thomas’s Point, and continued by half minute glasses from Charles Point, River Battery, Caldera Point, York Point to the batteries towards the sea, from where the ships in the roads took it, and ended the firing about two o’clock.”

This chaplain who preached on this occasion died a few months afterwards. The Company were apprised of the event in a general letter to the Court dated 19th October, 1696. “The Reverend Mr. Richard Elliot died here on the 17th instant. He hath left his books to the Library, and 250 Pagodas to the Church. He hath been the instrument of great good in this place. Mr. Lewis (the co-chaplain) hath not so firm a health that he can go through the necessary service of the Church, and the frequent instruction of children and slaves, which he performs here both on Sundays and week-days,”

The following notice is historical.

“Monday, 20th January, 1696. The Mahrattas