Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 3.djvu/396

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [io- s. in. APRIL 29, 1905.

Suevic - English word Angil - isc became "^Englisc," i.e., eenglish, and that the first vowel of that word suffered correption before the Norman Conquest, and the word became Inglish in pronunciation, which, consequently, is correct. A. ANSCOMBE.

4, Temple Road, Hornsey, N.

PATRICK GORDON, THE GEOGRAPHER:

PETER GORDON.

(See ante, p. 283. )

GORDON'S ' Geography ' seems to have had a great influence. For instance, Henderson in his 'Life of Ferguson,' the astronomer (p. 20), mentions that it was useful to that self-made worthy. Its popularity is shown by the fact that in 1730 (nearly forty years after its publication) "a Lover of the Mathe- maticks" thought it worth his while to publish a sort of commentary on it in the shape of a 'Mathematical Miscellany ' (Dublin), the first part of which consisted of " an essay towards the probable solution of the forty-five sur- prising paradoxes in Gordon's ' Geography.' "

One of the most interesting features in Gordon's ' Geography ' was his missionary project. The British Museum copy of the work is annotated in an old-fashioned hand with the remark :

"The proposal is an historic Document having preceded the promotion of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts. Alas ! for the slothf ulness.of the dignitaries of the Church of England."

The Proposal is as follows :

A Proposal for the Propagation of the Blessed

Gospel in all Pagan Countries. By what hath been briefly said in the Third Part of this Treatise concerning the state of Religion in .all Countries of the World, it may sufficiently appear in general, That the Christian Religion is of a very small extent, if exactly compared with those many and vast countries which are wholly overspread with gross Idolaters, numerous Maho- jnetans, and many others, who either know not, or ' (at least) own not the Blessed Messiah. But more particularly, this great and sad Truth doth farther appear by the following calculation, ingeniously made by some, who dividing the inhabited World into 30 parts, do find that

19 of them Blind and Gross Idolaters.

6 of them Jews, Turks and Saracens.

2 of them Those of the Greek Church.

i n ( f kor Those of the Church of Rome.

Protestant Communion.

Thus Christianity, taken in its largest Latitude, bears no greater proportion to the other grossly -false Religions than 5 to 25. This melancholy con- sideration doth force me to bewail the woful neglect of the best part of the Christian Church, for not being so diligent, as others are, in endeavouring to abolish Heathenish Idolatory, and that most lament- able Ignorance, which as yet overshadoweth so

great a part of the inhabited World. I am not ignorant of that commendable Society, of late estab- lished at London (under the name of the Company for the Propagation of the Blessed Gospel), and which was singularly encouraged by the famous Mr. Boyl, now deceased : I also know that their progress in such a noble design is not yet so con- siderable as might be wisht, and that chiefly for a reason which I'm truly ashamed to declare, and no true Christian can read without blushing, namely. Unchristian nnconcernedness of many term'd Christians, and the less (than lukewarm) Zeal of the generality of men to be any wayes instrumental in promoting so good and so great a design. It's undoubtedly well known, that the effectual per- formance of such a work as this would require a far greater Stock of Money than what is already contributed by the aforesaid Company (it being now impracticable to make solemn Missions, or qttalifie men for them without considerable Charges) and yet such a Fond [stc] of Money might be so easily raised, that none could reasonably complain of the burden should the following Proposal be so happily made as to meet with a due reception.

Did every Freeholder of the Three Kingdoms advance only for one Year the Five Hundredth part of his Yearly income : Did those Merchants of this great City (who are particularly concern'd in our Foreign Plantations, and dayly imploy great multitude of Pagan Slaves in their Service) allow the Two Hundredth part of one year's gain : And finally did the Clergy of the Three Kingdoms (whose Zeal in such a matter would probably transcend others) appropriate to this pious use One Hundredth part of their Yearly Revenues. I say, did Priest, and People thus unanimously Combine together in carrying on this most Christian Design ; what an easie matter were it in a short time to raise such a Fond of Money, that the Annual Interest thereof might sufficiently serve to send Yearly some pious and able Divines into all quarters of the World. And since Rational Methods might be taken to have sufficient Pagan Tongues taught in this our own Island ; a considerable part of the aforesaid Money might be like wise imployed to educate a competent number of young Students of Theology in these Foreign Languages, which number being still continued, would serve (as a choice Nursery) to afford a constant supply of able men, who might yearly go abroad, and be sufficiently qualified as at their first arrival to undertake that great work for which they were sent.

Great Sirs, Pardon this Proposal here offer'd to the serious consideration of those whom it chiefly concerns ; and give me leave to declare unto you, how infinitely it would tend to the Glory of God, the good of his Church, and honour of our Nation, did we sincerelv endeavour to extend the limits of our Saviour's Kingdom with those of our new Dominions ; and to spread the true Reformed Religion as far as the English Sails have done for Traffick. With what anxiety of Mind, and fatigue of Body, do we pierce into the remotest Countries of the World? And all to heap up a little White and Yellow Earth, or to purchase some things (call'd Precious by Man) which (abstracting Human Fancy) do differ nothing from common Pibble Stones ; and yet what a supine neglect doth attend us in doing that which would bring more honour to our Holy Religion, and prove at last more profit- able to our selves than the actual possession of all the Treasures in the Universe. What a lamentable