Ever reaching forward, however, he was on his guard against, as he
said, making the means the end. Languages were his pleasure, but a
pleasure held in check as only subservient to his preparation for the
ministry. He did not mean to use them to the acquirement of
academical honour nor promotion, nor did he even rest in the
intellectual delight of investigation; he intended them only as keys
to the better appreciation of the Scriptures and of the doctrines of
the Church, unaware as yet that the gift he was cultivating would be
of inestimable value in far distant regions.

In February, while Sir John Patteson was in London, his son James was
the cause of much alarm, owing to a mistake by which he swallowed an
embrocation containing a large amount of laudanum. Prompt measures,
however, prevented any ill effects; and all danger was over before
the letter was sent off which informed Coley of what had happened;
but the bare idea of the peril was a great shock to one of such warm
affections, and so deeply attached to his only brother. He wrote the
two following letters to his father and sisters on the first impulse
on the receipt of the intelligence:--


'Shrove Tuesday.

'My dearest Father,--I believe I speak truly when I say that I never
in my life felt so thoroughly thankful and grateful to God for His
great mercy as I did this morning, on reading of dear Jem's danger
and safety. He is less accustomed to talk about his feelings than I
am, in which I see his superiority, but partly because our tastes are
in several respects different, chiefly because of his exceeding
amiability and unselfishness. I am sure we love each other very