ield of work there opening. On the last
journey of his life he also visited Rangoon, and there consecrated the
church, finding the clergy hard at work and numerous converts.

During the year 1856 he had many attacks of illness, more or less severe;
and in December, in going across the room in haste, he struck himself
against a wooden screen, and was thrown down. His thigh was broken, and
his age was such that great fears for his life were entertained, but he
recovered, and was able to pray with, cheer, and comfort the many anxious
hearts at Calcutta during the dreadful days of the Indian mutiny of 1857,
when the churches he had consecrated were stained with the blood of the
worshippers.

But there was no cause for despondency in the attitude of the converts.
The districts where Christianity had been so widely diffused remained
tranquil, and the Christians in the cities where the mutineers were
raging did not apostatize; but, unless they could conceal themselves,
suffered with the whites. There was a great day of fasting and
humiliation appointed by him for the 24th of July, 1857.

That day Bishop Wilson preached his last sermon. The text was from
Habakkuk i. 12. "Art Thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy
One? we shall not die. O Lord, Thou hast ordained them for judgment;
and, O mighty God, Thou hast established them for correction." Calcutta
was then trembling under the tidings of the horrors of Cawnpore, the
death of Sir Henry Lawrence, and the siege of Lucknow; and no one knew
what peril might be the next. Slaughter seemed at the very gates, when
the old man stood forth to console and encourage, but yet to give warning
strong and clear that these frightful catastrophes were in great measure
the effect of our sins, our fostering of heathenism, our recognition of
caste, and were especially a judgment on the viciousness and irreligion
that had been the curse of English life in India. It was in open
Christianity alone that he beheld hope.

The day was observed by all the clergy, but the Governor-General for some
reason declined to make it official, and, only when the worst of the
danger was over, appointed the 4th of October as a fast-day. The Bishop
arranged the services, but was too unwell to attend them. This was the
beginning of his last illness; and though he held an ordination some
weeks later, these latter weeks were all sinking, and increasing
feebleness. A sea-voyage was twice attemp