^^ PRINCETON, N. J. *^ 
 
 Purchased by the Hamill Missionary Fund. 
 
 BV 3269 .C3 A37 1892 
 Carey, William, 1761-1834 
 Serampore letters 
 
WILLIAM CAREY. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS 
 
 Being the unpublished corre- 
 spondence of William Carey 
 and others with John Williams 
 
 1800-1816 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 LeIGHTON. AND MORNAY WiLLIAMS 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 
 
 Thomas Wright 
 
 New York Chicago Toronto 
 
 Fleming H. Revell Company 
 
 Publishers of Evangelical Literature 
 
Copyright, 1892 
 
 BY 
 
 LEIGHTON AND MORNAY WILLIAMS 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 'T'HE introduction of Mr. Wright presents very clearly 
 the English setting of the letters included in this 
 collection, and the notes which have been interspersed 
 among them give sufficient explanation to form a con- 
 tinuous narrative. A word, however, may be premised 
 here as to the special interest of the letters in connec- 
 tion with the centennial of the Baptist Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 The letters throw a new and unexpected light on 
 the American connection with the Serampore Mission 
 of the English Baptists. The obstacles placed in the 
 way of the English missionaries by the East India 
 Company made it necessary for them to make the voy- 
 age by way of America, and they were thrown on the 
 hospitality of their American brethren. A regular 
 correspondence thus sprang up between the society at 
 home and the Serampore missionaries, carried on from 
 this country mainly by Dr. William Rogers, of Phila- 
 delphia, and the Rev. John Williams, of New York. 
 A warm friendship seems thus to have grown up be- 
 
iv PREFACE, 
 
 tween the brethren on both sides of the sea, a friendship 
 which, in the providence of God, proved of no little 
 benefit to the Baptists in this country. The letters 
 furnish also important evidence of indebtedness to the 
 Knglish brethren in the commencement of work in 
 America, as will be seen by the letter from William 
 Carey to John Williams announcing the conversion of 
 Judson to Baptist views. The letters have a third 
 source of interest in the evidence which they afford of 
 the active missionary sympathies and efforts of the 
 New York churches at this early period. The credit 
 of the formation of the Missionary Union has hitherto 
 been given almost exclusively to the Baptists of Mas- 
 sachusetts ; but it will appear from these records that 
 the earliest missionary society in this country was 
 formed in New York City, and that of that Society 
 John Williams was a Director and Dr. Carey a corre- 
 spondent. Before the date of Judson' s departure for 
 India a Baptist Society had also been formed in this 
 city in connection with the Baptist Association ; and 
 even before the formation of the Society the Associa- 
 tion itself had supported the Rev. Klkanah Holmes as 
 a missionary to the Indians. In this work of Mr. 
 Holmes, Carey seems to have felt the deepest interest. 
 When the Baptist Missionary Society was formed in 
 New York, John WilUams became its first president, 
 and John Cauldwell, a deacon of his church, was 
 elected its treasurer, and later the first treasurer of the 
 
PREFACE. V 
 
 Missionary Union. We have thus the evidence of a 
 share in the origin of the Missionary Union on the part 
 of the New York brethren fully as large as that rightly 
 claimed by those in Boston. But after all, perhaps the 
 chief interest of the letters to the general reader will be 
 found in the vivid portraiture which they bring before 
 us of the man to whom, under God, the work of mod- 
 ern missions is most largely indebted, as his character 
 is presented unconsciously to himself in the thoughts 
 and feelings to which he gives expression in these 
 letters to a friend whom he had never seen, but whom 
 he knew to to be like-minded in faith and purpose. 
 From the example which they afford of wide, unselfish 
 interest, and a firm, unshaken faith and determination, 
 we may well glean lessons of the highest value to our- 
 selves, as well as a juster appreciation of the narrow 
 resources and deep draughts on faith out of which this 
 great work has grown. 
 
 Our grateful acknowledgments are due to the friends 
 who have aided in this compilation, especially to 
 Thomas Wright, Esq., and to Sir William Thomas 
 Lewis. 
 
 It is proper to state that the letters are given as they 
 were written, and that in all cases the spelling of native 
 names has been left unchanged. 
 
II,I,USTRATI0NS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Wii^WAM Carey Frontispiece. 
 
 SuTcwFF's House, Oi^ney ...... 2 
 
 Baptist Chapei* at Oi^ney — Sutci,iff's Tomb in 
 
 Lfft Foreground 12 
 
 The River Ouse, near Oi.ney 26 
 
 Baptist Church in Fayette Street, New York . 56 
 
 Oi^NEY 74 
 
 John Wii.i,iams 94 
 
 Andrew Fui,i<er . .106 
 
 Fac-simii,e of Letter of Carey Announcing Ar- 
 
 rivai, of Adoniram Judson 142 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 THE EARLY DAYS OF THE GREAT MISSION- 
 ARY MOVEMENT. 
 
 'T'HE year 1892, the centenary of the foundation of 
 the Baptist Missionary Society, is a fitting time 
 to take some note of the humble twig from which has 
 sprung the magnificent growth of Foreign Missions — 
 a growth, moreover, which, notwithstanding its noble 
 proportions, is as nothing compared with that vastness 
 whereunto, under God, it will doubtless hereafter 
 attain. 
 
 To whom belongs the honor of first pressing the 
 claims of the heathen on the Christianity of this coun- 
 try it is difiicult to say, but it must be remembered that 
 in the spring of the year 1784, at a meeting of the 
 Northamptonshire Baptist churches, it was agreed, on 
 the motion of the Rev. John Sutcliff of Olney, to set 
 apart an hour on the evening of the first Monday in 
 
 I 
 
2 THE EARL Y DA YS OF THE 
 
 every month for social prayer for the success of the 
 Gospel, and to invite Christians of other denominations 
 to unite with them in it. The measure thus recom- 
 mended was eagerly adopted by great numbers of the 
 churches, and so marked a revival of religion ensued 
 that it was afterwards regarded by the associated min- 
 isters and the missionaries as the actual commence- 
 ment of the Missionary movement. 
 
 The Rev. John Sutcliff, who was born at a place 
 called Straithey, near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, in 
 1752, was trained for the ministry at Bristol College, 
 then under the care of the Revs. Hugh and Caleb 
 Evans. A paper containing ' ' a view ' ' of Mr. Sutcliff 's 
 studies during one year, and the letter in which, when 
 about to leave college, he thanks his tutors for ' ' all 
 favours conferred upon him," are in the possession of 
 Sir William Thomas I^ewis. Mr. Sutcliff was tall of 
 stature, being over six feet ; and another distinctive 
 feature of his personal appearance was a very decided 
 Roman nose, which was responsible for several amusing 
 anecdotes. A Baptist minister of my acquaintance re- 
 lates them with great unction, but as so much depends 
 upon the way they are told, I shall make no attempt to 
 reproduce them here. Mr. Sutcliff lived in a large 
 house adjoining the chapel. It was owned by and the 
 residence of a Mrs. Andrews, a member of his congre- 
 gation. The house is still standing, though much 
 altered. A stone near the roof is thus cut : 
 

 U 
 
GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT. 
 
 V6\\ 
 
 It was in 1776, at an association meeting at Olney, 
 that Sutcliff became acquainted with Andrew Fuller, 
 and they were fast friends during the rest of their lives. 
 Bom in i754at Wicken, near Ely, Fuller, who was thus 
 two years Mr. Sutcliff 's junior, had, in 1775, been or- 
 dained to the pastorate of the church at Soham. But 
 both he and his people were ' ' very unhappy. The 
 place was truly a Bochim ! ' ' Three of the letters 
 written by Fuller to Sutcliff are in the possession of Sir 
 W. T. lycwis. In one, dated 13th of March, 1781, Fuller 
 "admires " Sutcliff 's *' thoughts on divine Jealousy," 
 and happily remarks, in connection with the import- 
 ance of searching the Scriptures : ' ' We have undoubt- 
 edly many excellent bodies of Divinity extant, but none 
 perfect. Notwithstanding the numerous and elaborate 
 productions of the pious and the wise through succes- 
 sive ages, scripture still remains and will remain an 
 unexplored deep." On August 15th of the same year 
 Fuller wants Sutcliff 's thoughts on the question : In 
 what manner may we now unwan'ajitably expect divine 
 directio7t ? In another letter he recommends his friend 
 to " Read the Bible, not with a sj^stem before your 
 
4 THE EARL V DA YS OF THE 
 
 eyes, but as a little child, with humility and prayer ' ' ; 
 and Sutcliff 's letters in reply were in a similar strain. 
 In 1 782 Fuller removed from * ' Bochim ' ' to Kettering, 
 where he found himself separated from his friend Sut- 
 cliff, and also from another of his friends, Ryland of 
 Northampton, by only a few miles. 
 
 For the furtherance of his motion of 1784 Sutcliff in 
 1789 republished Jonathan Edwards' work entitled 
 ' ' An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement 
 and visible union of God's people in Extraordinary 
 Prayer," which, according to the title-page, was 
 '' Printed at Boston in New England 1747, Reprinted at 
 Northampton in Old England 1789." After stating 
 that he does not consider himself answerable for every 
 statement the book contains, Mr. Sutcliff concludes his 
 preface in the following beautiful manner : "In the 
 present imperfect state we may reasonably expect a 
 diversity of sentiments upon religious matters. Each 
 ought to think for himself ; and every one has a right 
 on proper occasions to show his opinion. Yet all 
 should remember there are but two parties in the world, 
 each engaged in opposite causes ; the cause of God and 
 of Satan ; of holiness and sin ; of heaven and hell. 
 The advancement of the one and the downfall of the 
 other must appear exceedingly desirable to every real 
 friend of God and man. If such, in some respects, en- 
 tertain different sentiments and practise distinguishing 
 modes of worship, surely they may unite in the above 
 
GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT, 5 
 
 business. Oh for thousands upon thousands divided 
 into small bands of their respective cities, towns, vil- 
 lages, and neighbourhoods, all met at the same time 
 and in pursuit of one end, offering up their united 
 prayers like so many ascending clouds of incense before 
 the most High." 
 
 " This publication," says Fuller, '' had a very con- 
 siderable influence in originating that tone of feeling 
 which in the end determined five or six individuals to 
 venture, though with many fears and misgivings, on 
 the mighty undertaking of founding the Baptist 
 Missionary Society. ' ' 
 
 Our eyes next turn to the remarkable William Carey. 
 Bom at Hackleton in Northamptonshire of poor 
 parents in 1761, Carey was at the age of fourteen ap- 
 prenticed to the shoemaking, and for many years his 
 life was a continuous battle with poverty. Being 
 determined to improve his mind, however, this did not 
 deter him. He got hold of some books and soon we 
 find him studying the Greek Testament. The preach- 
 ing of the Rev. Thomas Scott and other divines of the 
 neighborhood led him to serious thoughts, and the 
 perusal of a work by the Rev. Robert Hall, senior, con- 
 vinced him that it was his duty to proclaim to others 
 the Christ he had found for himself. Consequently in 
 the year 1780, when he was only nineteen, he made his 
 appearance in one of the village pulpits, and preached 
 his first sermon. 
 
6 THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 
 
 An important event to Carey was the meeting of the 
 Northamptonshire Baptist Association at Olney in 1782, 
 for then it was that he first heard the Rev. John (Dr.) 
 Ryland preach. The text was ''Be not children in 
 understanding." Says Carey ; "I, not possessed of a 
 penny, that I recollect, went to Olney. I fasted all day 
 because I could not purchase a dinner ; but towards 
 evening, Mr. Chater, in company with some friends 
 from Earl's Barton saw me, and asked me to go with 
 them, where I remember I got a glass of wine." Pre- 
 viously Carey had been attached to the Established 
 Church, but during this period his views on the subject 
 of baptism changed, and accordingly he was immersed 
 by Dr. John Ryland in October, 1783. Having now 
 become intimate with the Rev. John Sutcliff, Carey 
 began to show himself more frequently at Olney, and 
 by and by joined Mr. Sutcliff s church, his chief 
 reason for doing so being because he could not see with 
 the people of Hackleton, who were hyper- Calvinists. 
 After his name in the Hackleton church-book are the 
 words — 
 
 '* W^ent away without his dismission." 
 
 Mr. Sutcliff put a Ivatin grammar into his hand, and 
 through his help Carey began to read the Scriptures 
 in Greek and Hebrew. 
 
 There are six entries relating to Carey in the Baptist 
 church-book at Olney. The first relates to his admis- 
 
GREAT MISSIOiVARY MOVEMENT. 7 
 
 sion to the church there, and the last to his dismission 
 to the church at Moulton in Northamptonshire, of which 
 he became minister in 1787. He had for some time 
 been married, and a young family was growing up 
 around him, consequently seeing that his congregation 
 could only raise him ;^i6 a year, it was necessary to 
 keep on with the shoemaking as well. For a time, too, 
 he kept a school, and it was while perusing Cook's 
 Voyages and teaching his pupils geography that the 
 great project of his life was formed, for no sooner had 
 he become acquainted with the spiritual degradation of 
 the heathen than he felt desirous of communicating 
 the Gospel to them. As he sat in his little workshop he 
 turned his eyes every now and then towards a large map 
 suspended on the wall, on which he had rudely repre- 
 sented the spiritual condition of the various countries, 
 and as much information as he had been able to gather 
 regarding the national characteristics and the popula- 
 tion. In this workshop, as Mr. Wilberforce afterwards 
 said in the House of Commons, the poor cobbler formed 
 the resolution to give to the millions of Hindoos the 
 Bible in their own language. 
 
 Very few of Carey's ministerial friends gave him any 
 encouragement, but among those few was one who was 
 a host in himself, namely, the Rev. Andrew Fuller. 
 
 When Mr. Fuller first heard Carey's proposal he was 
 so startled by the novelty and magnitude of it that his 
 feelings resembled those of the infidel courtier in Israel 
 
8 THE EARL V DA YS OF THE 
 
 who cried, "If the I^ord should make windows in 
 heaven might such a thing be ? " 
 
 At a meeting of ministers held about this time at 
 Northampton, Carey suggested as a topic for discussion, 
 the duty of Christians to attempt the spread of the 
 Gospel among the heathen ; when Mr. Ryland, senior, 
 sprang to his feet exclaiming, *' Young man, sit down ! 
 When God pleases to convert the heathen. He will do 
 it without your help or mine ! ' ' Neither daunted nor 
 discouraged by repulses, Carey embodied his views in 
 a pamphlet, which he showed to Mr. Fuller, Dr. 
 Ryland, Mr, Sutcliflf, and Mr. Pearce of Birmingham, 
 and they advised him to prepare it for publication. 
 Meantime, in spite of his industry — for he still worked 
 at shoemaking, — his family were almost- starving ; for 
 many weeks they had nothing but bread, and only a 
 scanty supply even of that. Now, in a greater degree 
 than it had ever been, his indomitable energy was in 
 requisition ; but difficulties seemed only to spur him 
 onward and he carried everything before him. Neither 
 poverty nor disease, neither the discouraging remarks 
 of his friends nor the unsympathetic conduct of his 
 wife, had any effect on his tenacity of purpose, or if 
 effective at all they only strengthened it. 
 
 At first Sutcliff and Fuller had counselled deliberation, 
 but in April, 1791, in their lectures at the Association 
 at Clipstone, they expressed themselves as eager for 
 instant action as was Carey. Both the lectures or 
 
GREA T MISSION A R V MO VEMENT. 9 
 
 sermons bore upon the meditated mission to the 
 heathen, SutcHff's subject being ''Jealousy for God," 
 from I Kings xix., 10. 
 
 After the meeting Carey, with almost agonizing 
 earnestness, pressed immediate action, urging that some- 
 thing should be done that very day towards the for- 
 mation of a society to propagate the Gospel among the 
 heathen. 
 
 The ministers recommended him to publish his 
 "Thoughts," and soon afterwards his pamphlet 
 appeared under the title of An Inquiry into the Obli- 
 gations of Christians to Send the Gospel to the Heathen, 
 The next Association was held at Nottingham on the 
 30th of May, 1792, and Carey was appointed to preach. 
 His sermon on this occasion has ever since been remem- 
 bered as having laid the foundation of the Baptist Mis- 
 sionary Society. He took for his text : '* Enlarge the 
 place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtain 
 of thy habitations. Spare not ; lengthen thy cords and 
 strengthen thy stakes ; for thou shalt break forth on 
 the right hand and on the left ; and thy seed shall in- 
 herit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be 
 inhabited." From this text he deduced and enforced 
 the two principles which were embodied in the motto 
 of the Mission, " Kxpect great things ; attempt great 
 things." And such ardor did he put into his discourse, 
 and so ably did he expound his views, that the minis- 
 ters at length came to the resolution that * ' a plan should 
 
lO THE EARL V DA YS OF THE 
 
 be prepared against the next ministers' meeting for the 
 establishment of a society for propagating the Gospel 
 among the heathen." "If," said Dr. Ryland, *' all 
 the people had lifted up their voice and wept as the 
 children of Israel did at Bochim, I should not have 
 wondered at the effect; it would only have seemed 
 proportionate to the cause, so clearly did Mr. Carey 
 prove the criminality of our supineness in the cause of 
 God." At the next meeting, which was held at Ket- 
 tering on the 2d of October, 1792, in the house (which is 
 still standing) of Mrs. Beeby WaUis, the question of 
 establishing a Missionary Society was discussed ; and 
 all objections having been overruled by Mr. Carey's 
 energy, a society was constituted *' to convey the mes- 
 sage of salvation to some portion of the heathen world. ' ' 
 <::^ In other words, the Baptist Missionary Society was 
 ^ formed, the first of our great societies that Mve done 
 so much towards spreading Christianity in foreign 
 lands. The committee of five ministers which was 
 appointed consisted of Andrew Fuller of Kettering, 
 John Ryland of Northampton, John Sutcliff of Olney, 
 Reynold Hogg of Thrapston, and William Carey. The 
 first subscription amounted to ^13, 2s. 6d., a surpris- 
 ingly small sum when we think of the thousands of 
 pounds that have since been collected. And yet, 
 trifling as were the incipient resources, no sooner was 
 the subscription paper filled up than Mr. Carey offered 
 to embark for any country the Society might select. 
 
GREA T MI SSI ON A R Y MO VEMENT. 1 1 
 
 His mind was fired with enthusiasm, but at the same 
 time he was fully aware that great difficulties would 
 have to be encoimtered. 
 
 Subscriptions now began to come in apace, and the 
 committee soon found themselves in possession of a 
 considerable sum. 
 
 The question now was where the proposed Mission 
 should be established. Carey, who had drunk deep 
 draughts from Cook's Voyages, thought of Ota- 
 heite ; Pearce, who had been reading about the recent 
 kindness of their king to the shipwrecked crew of the 
 Antelope, suggested the Pelew Islands. But just at 
 this moment a gentleman named Mr. Thomas returned 
 from Bengal, who had repeatedly written thence to the 
 leading Baptist ministers in England, giving an account 
 of his conferences with the natives. 
 
 *' We found," says Dr. Ryland, "that he was now 
 endeavouring to raise a fund for a mission to that 
 country, and to engage a companion to go out with 
 him. It was, therefore, resolved to make some further 
 inquiry respecting him, and to invite him to go back 
 under the patronage of our Society. ' ' Although a man 
 of real piety, Mr. Thomas had been '* guilty of many 
 faults, many weaknesses, and many failures " ; but 
 the result of the inquiry proved on the whole satisfac- 
 tory, and it was resolved that Carey and Thomas should 
 proceed to India together. 
 
 "It is clear," said Andrew Fuller to Carey, ** that 
 
12 THE EARL Y DA YS OF THE 
 
 there is a rich mine of gold in India." "" And I will 
 go down," returned Carey, "if you will hold the 
 ropes." 
 
 The following entries occur in the newly discovered 
 diary of Samuel Teedon, the Olney schoolmaster. The 
 year is 1793 : 
 
 ** March 24 Sunday ' I went and heard Mr. Storton 
 at Mr. SutcliiBPs meeting give a very affecting acct. of 
 the progress of the Gospel among the hindows 
 (= Hindoos) under the ministry of Mr. Thomas and 
 that he and Mr. Gary were to be here and soon embark 
 for their mission after a collection.' 
 
 " March 26 Tuesday I went to Mr. Sutcliff^s meetg. 
 and heard Mr. Gary preach the Missionary to go to the 
 Hindos (= Hindoos) with his Son about 10 years of 
 age, a collection was made I gave ^d. it amounted 
 almost to ^10. The lyord prosper the work." 
 
 It is deeply interesting to recall this scene in the 
 quaint old meeting-house. The enthusiastic preacher 
 in the tall narrow pulpit against the long back wall ; 
 the cumbrous galleries and the old-fashioned square 
 pews before him crowded with eager listeners — the 
 deep and perpendicular-backed pews with their doors 
 fastened by wooden buttons and their backs of green 
 baize and rows of brass-headed nails ; the large-faced 
 clock whose solemn tickings filled up the pauses in 
 the sermon ; the candles in their wooden blocks dotted 
 about on the tops of the pews ; and the noiseless-footed 
 
GREA T MISSIONAR V MO VEMENT. 1 3 
 
 brother, whose duty it was, moving hither and thither 
 with the snuffers. The old chapel is still standing, 
 and has been but little altered. 
 
 The sermon which Carey preached, and which poor 
 Samuel Teedon listened to, was from Rom. xii., i : 
 " I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that 
 ye present your bodies a living sacrifice," etc. ; and 
 after the sermon he gave out the hymn commencing — 
 
 " And must I part with all I have, 
 Jesus, my Lord, for Thee ? 
 This is my joy, since Thou hast done 
 Much more than this for me " — 
 
 pronouncing with great emphasis the first four words 
 of the second verse — 
 
 ** Yes, let it go : — one look from Thee 
 Will more than make amends 
 For all the losses I sustain, 
 Of credit, riches, friends." 
 
 All difficulties having been surmounted, Mr. Carey 
 and his family and Mr. Thomas embarked in the Kron 
 Princessa Maria, a Danish Indiaman, on the 13th of 
 June, 1793. 
 
 The commander of the ship. Captain Christmas, 
 " one of the most polite, accomplished gentlemen, who 
 ever sustained the name of a sea captain," treated them 
 with every kindness. With one of the passengers, a 
 Frenchman, and *'the most presumptuous and hard- 
 ened Deist ' ' he had ever seen or heard of, Carey 
 
14 THE EARL Y DA YS OF THE 
 
 engaged in disputes almost daily. His arguments with 
 the Frenchman, whose dernier ressort was * * to turn all 
 into badinage," availed nothing ; but with the crew, 
 Danes and Norwegians, amongst whom was * * much less 
 irreligion and profanity " than among English sailors, 
 he had more success. Near the Cape the ship got into 
 such a violent sea that it was thought every moment 
 she would go to the bottom. When he thought of his 
 own "barrenness" and the mighty work that lay 
 before him, Carey's courage almost failed him, conse- 
 quently he always felt peculiarly happy during the 
 times when he knew public worship was going on in 
 England, and in the reflection that ' ' hundreds if not 
 thousands " were praying for him. It is very charac- 
 teristic of him that in this his first letter from Bengal he 
 should ask Fuller "to send me all that are published 
 of Curtis' s Botanical Magazine and Sowerby's English 
 Botany, and to continue sending them regularly, & 
 deduct what they cost from my allowance. ' ' 
 
 At Calcutta Carey met with fresh difficulties and 
 troubles : in the first place, Mr. Thomas, by his impru- 
 dence, dissipated their money as soon as it came in ; 
 again, the government were hostile, and he was in 
 constant fear lest he should be sent back to England ; 
 his wife, too, gave him additional trouble, and was 
 constantly upbraiding him with their wretchedness ; 
 and, to crown all, his family were attacked by sickness. 
 Driven almost to distraction by these accumulated 
 
GREA T MISSIONAR V MO VEMENT. 1 5 
 
 troubles, he removed to the Sunderbunds, where he 
 took a small house and cultivated a piece of land for 
 the support of his family. 
 
 Early in 1 794 his prospects brightened. He had an 
 invitation to take charge of an indigo factory near 
 Malda, which he reached on the 15th of June ; and 
 here he passed more than five years of his life, free from 
 pecuniary anxieties, preparing himself for more ex- 
 tended labors, and devoting his whole income, after his 
 family had obtained a bare subsistence, to the great 
 cause that lay so near his heart. Had he not worked 
 for his living he and his family would have starved, 
 for the money sent from England, all put together, 
 amounted thus far to only a small sum. Towards the 
 close of 1799 he relinquished his appointment at Malda, 
 where his principal attention had been devoted to the 
 translation of the New Testament into Bengalee, and 
 took up his residence in Serampore, which was in the 
 possession of Denmark. 
 
 At home the committee were doing their utmost to 
 serve the Mission, especially Pearce, Fuller, and Sut- 
 cliff. On Fuller devolved the duty of traversing the 
 country for funds, on Sutcliff that of preparing fresh 
 students for the Mission field. After his marriage in 
 1794 Mr. Sutclifi" moved from Mrs. Andrews' to the 
 house in the High Street now numbered 21, and this and 
 the next one (No. 23) constituted his seminary. Both 
 houses have since been considerably altered. 
 
l6 THE EARL V DA YS OF THE 
 
 Altogether there were thirty-seven students educated 
 at Olney, twelve of whom were specially trained for 
 and entered the Mission field ; and in connection with 
 these labors we have the authority of Mr. Fuller for 
 stating that in all that Mr. Sutcliff did "he saved 
 nothing, but gave his time and talents for the public 
 good." 
 
 In May, 1799, Carey was joined by the new mission- 
 aries, Marshman, Ward, Brunsdon, and Grant. After 
 a short time Grant, Brunsdon, and Thomas were cut 
 off by death. Grant died on the 31st of October, 1799, 
 Brunsdon on the 3d of July, 1801, Thomas on the 13th 
 of October of the same year. Thus the number of the 
 missionaries was reduced to three, but they were joined 
 in 1802 by another, namely, John Chamberlain, from 
 Mr. Sutcliff' s academy at Olney. At Serampore, where 
 they purchased a piece of ground, built a house, and 
 established schools, they received the kindest possible 
 treatment from the governor, Colonel Bie ; indeed, had 
 it not been that Serampore was at that time in the 
 possession of Denmark, and had not the Colonel 
 accorded them his protection, it is very doubtful 
 whether the Mission could have stood its ground — so 
 hostile, at first, were the Kast India Company and the 
 Knglish government authorities. A boarding-school 
 established by Mr. Marshman had great prosperity and 
 yielded an income of a thousand a year ; and the per- 
 sistent study of the vernacular languages of India at 
 
GREA T MISSIONAR Y MO VEMEN T. 1 7 
 
 length brought lucrative employment to Carey. The 
 governor-general, Marquis Wellesley, had taken upon 
 himself the responsibility of founding a college at Fort 
 William, in which the junior servants of the East India 
 Company might undergo a regular course of training 
 for the public service ; and his choice fell upon Carey 
 as the most fit person to fill the chair of Professor in 
 the Sanskrit, Bengalee, and Mahratta languages. But 
 it was not the object of the missionaries to make money 
 for themselves ; each took for his personal expenses 
 the smallest siim he could, and the rest was devoted to 
 missionary purposes. Out of his income of /" 1,000 
 Marshman took for the support of himself and family 
 only ;(f 34 a year ; Carey, out of his legitimate income 
 of ;^6oo, was satisfied with £\o a year ; whilst Ward, 
 who did such important service by superintending the 
 printing of the translations that were constantly being 
 issued, would take only ;^2o. 
 
 On the 28th of December, 1800, Carey had the privi- 
 lege of baptizing his first Hindoo convert, Krishnu, 
 who a few days previously had openly renounced 
 his caste, by sitting down at the table of the mis- 
 sionaries. "Thus," says Mr. Ward, ''the door of 
 faith is open to the Hindoos, and who shall shut it ? " 
 
 On the 7th of February, 1801, Carey received from 
 the press the last sheet of the Bengalee New Testa- 
 ment, the fruition of the ** sublime thought which 
 he had conceived fifteen years before." The work 
 
1 8 THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 
 
 had been pressed on with such diligence that, in 
 spite of numerous diflSculties, it was printed within 
 nine months. 
 
 The first convert of the kayust, or writer caste, 
 which ranks immediately after that of the Brahmins, 
 was Petumber Sing, baptized at Serampore on the 
 first Sunday in 1802 ; the first Brahmin convert, the 
 amiable and intelligent Krishnu-prisad, who before 
 his baptism trampled on his poita, or sacred thread, 
 to indicate his rejection of Hindooism. 
 
 In 1803 four more missionaries were ready to em- 
 bark for India, namely, John Biss, Richard Mardon, 
 William Moore, and Joshua Rowe, all four of whom 
 had been prepared for the Mission field by Mr. Sut- 
 cliff at Olney. The British government, however, 
 distrustful of missionary enterprise, had placed so 
 many restrictions on the carriage of missionaries by 
 English ships that it was found better to send the young 
 men first to America, whence they could set sail for 
 India. A letter from the Rev. Andrew Fuller, dated 
 December, 1803, commends them to the Christian 
 hospitality of John Williams, pastor of the Fayette 
 Street church, in New York. " They and their 
 wives," writes Mr. Fuller, ** are members of Baptist 
 churches, and have walked as becometh the gospel. 
 Bach of the young men has preached in our churches 
 with acceptance." This appeal to the hospitality 
 of the American churches was not made in vain, and 
 
GREA T MISSIONAR V MO VEMENT. 1 9 
 
 not only so, but the visit of the missionaries to New 
 York was the means of causing all earnest Christians 
 of that city to take a real interest in the welfare of 
 the missionary cause, and to help it on in pecuniary 
 and other ways. Thus the interference of the British 
 Government was really a blessing in disguise. The 
 missionaries set out from New York in the ship San- 
 som with a captain who was ' ' quite a gentleman ' ' ; 
 on July 4, 1804, they had got as far as Cape Verd 
 Island, and in due time they reached Madras. On 
 the 4th of February, 1805, Moore and Rowe sailed 
 for Bengal, leaving Biss and Mardon to follow them 
 later on. On December 16, 1806, we learn that Biss 
 was down with illness, and it was found that the 
 only way to bring about his recovery was to send him 
 back to England. 
 
 *' At the beginning of 1804," writes Mr. Marshman, 
 * ' the missionaries laid before the committee the plans 
 which they had been gradually maturing for the trans- 
 lation and publication of the Scriptures. They stated 
 that there were at least seven languages cturent in 
 India, — the Bengalee, the Hindoostanee, the Ooriya, 
 the Teloogoo, the Kurnata, the Mahratta, and the 
 Tamul, and they considered it practicable to make a 
 translation of at least the New Testament into some, if 
 not all, of these languages. This proposal exactly 
 coincided with Mr. Fuller's large views, and he intro- 
 duced it to the public notice by making a tour through 
 
20 THE EARL Y DA VS OF THE 
 
 the northern counties of England and through Scot- 
 land — travelling 1,300 miles and preaching fifty ser- 
 ious. ' ' 
 
 The principal portion of the translating was per- 
 formed by Carey, who, in 1805, published his grammar 
 of the Mahratta language. 
 
 In 1806 ground for a mission chapel was purchased 
 in the I^all bazaar in Calcutta, and a temporary bunga- 
 low, or thatched house, was erected on it. A chapel 
 was afterwards built on the spot. 
 
 In the same year the work that the I^ord seemed to 
 have begun in the heart of a Mussulman who lived 
 near Dinagepore gave great delight to Carey, who says : 
 " Whenever he comes to sees us he joins us in family 
 prayer. He lately demolished an Kedgah — a wall 
 with steps along one side of it on which people sit to 
 read the Koran — built many years ago upon his own 
 little estate." 
 
 It was Carey's custom to distribute great quantities 
 of tracts every time the people met together to 
 honor "the idol Juggemath, near Serampore." The 
 Brahmins used ' ' to tear them to pieces, and thro' 
 them about the road," but many were carried 
 away by the worshippers, and were the means of 
 doing good. 
 
 Among the kind friends who rendered most accept- 
 able aid to the missionaries was Dr. I^eyden, the 
 renowned Orientalist, formerly the friend and literary 
 
GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT. 21 
 
 associate of Sir Walter Scott ; and Mr. Thomas Man- 
 ning, the friend of Charles I^anib. 
 
 The chief work of Carey's life was the translation of 
 the Scriptures into the languages of the East, and his 
 philological labors were immense. His Mahratta 
 grammar was followed by a Sanscrit grammar in 1806, 
 a Mahratta dictionary in 18 10, a Punjabee grammar 
 in 181 2, a Telinga grammar in 18 14, and a Bengalee 
 dictionary in 1818 ; these are only a few of the 
 important products of his pen. 
 
 While God was blessing the labors of the mission- 
 aries abroad, he was prospering the work of the brethren 
 in England. Internal bickerings, which had for some 
 time troubled the denomination, quickly ceased, for 
 people could not fail to see the folly of squabbling over 
 minor differences of religion, when whole continents 
 were without the word of God. The life they sought 
 to impart to India came back in a double life from 
 Heaven to themselves. As Andrew Fuller put it in 
 his letter to Mr. Williams of August i, 1804, " where 
 any denomination, congregation (or individual) seeks 
 only its own, it will be disappointed, but where it 
 seeks the kingdom of God and His righteousness, its 
 own prosperity will be among the things that will be 
 added to it." 
 
 Among the passions of his youth that clung to Carey 
 all through his life was the love of flowers — or rather 
 the love of plant life, and we often find him sending to 
 
22 THE EARL Y DA YS OF THE 
 
 his friends in Kngland for flower seeds or bulbs. His 
 delight on beholding an English daisy springing up, 
 not having seen one for thirty years, is described in 
 one of his letters. It was this incident that gave origin 
 to the well-known lines of James Montgomery, com- 
 mencing : 
 
 *' Thrice welcome, little Knglish flower." 
 
 Writing to Mr. Williams on November ii, 1801, 
 Carey, after sending his love to a Captain Hague, says : 
 '' Tell him when he comes to India again, not to for- 
 get his promise to me to furnish the Garden of the 
 Mission House with some American Productions." 
 
 In 1806 the New York Baptist Missionary Society is 
 supposed to have been formed, and the Rev. John 
 Williams was the first president. 
 
 In 1 814 occurred the death of Mr. Sutcliff. 
 
 For some time Mr. Sutcliff had been in a declining 
 state of health, but on the 3d of March of that year, 
 whilst on a visit to London, he was seized with a violent 
 pain across his breast and arms, attended with great 
 difficulty of breathing. It took him two days to get 
 home, and it was soon found that the illness was 
 serious. 
 
 The last sermon he preached was on Sunday after- 
 noon, February 27th, from Job xiii., 5, 6: "I have heard 
 of Thee by the hearing of the ear, ' ' etc. Only once 
 more was he seen in his accustomed place, and that 
 
GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT, 23 
 
 was on one Sunday afternoon in May, when he rode up 
 to the meeting-house to administer the ordinance of 
 the Lord's Supper. 
 
 ** The last time I visited him," says Mr. Fuller (who 
 frequently during his friend's affliction had ridden over 
 to see him), " was on my way to the annual meeting. 
 Expecting to see his face no more, I said, on taking 
 leave, ' I wish you, my dear brother, an abundant 
 entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ ! ' At this he hesitated ; not as doubting his 
 entrance into the kingdom, but as questioning whether 
 the Xerm. abundant were applicable to him. 'That,' 
 said he, ' is more than I expect. I think I understand 
 the connection and import of those words — "Add to 
 your faith virtue — give diligence to make your calling 
 and election sure — for so an entrance shall be minis- 
 tered imto jovl abu7idantly y I think the idea is that 
 of a ship coming into harbour with a fair gale and full 
 tide. If I may but reach the heavenly shore, though 
 it be on a board or broken piece of the ship, I shall be 
 satisfied.' " 
 
 Andrew Fuller died on May 7, 1815, having sur- 
 vived his friend and fellow-worker only one year. His 
 motto had been that notable verse. Proverbs iii., 6: "In 
 all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct 
 thy paths." With the reliance he had on the wisdom 
 and guidance of God, allied to his own indomitable 
 energy, no wonder he accomplished so much for the 
 
24 GREAT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT. 
 
 great cause that was so near his heart. Almost his last 
 words were, *' I wish I had strength enough." " To do 
 what, father ? ' ' inquired his daughter. He replied, 
 "To worship, child." 
 
 Dr. Carey died on the 9th of June, 1834, in the 
 seventy-third year of his age, and was buried at 
 Serampore. 
 
 Meantime a fresh generation of missionaries had 
 sprung up, and among those who continued to preach 
 the Gospel to the heathen were several of Carey's sons. 
 Other bodies of Christians too had founded Missionary 
 societies and sent ministers into various parts of the 
 world. The I^ondon Missionary Society was founded 
 in 1795, the Church (of England) Missionary Society in 
 1799, the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 181 7. The 
 interest Americans showed in the good work has 
 already been alluded to, and the agents of their various 
 organizations are still doing, as they did in Carey's 
 time, very eiBfective work in many fields. 
 
 THOMAS WRIGHT. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 A FTER the full and picturesque account, which Mr. 
 Wright has given in his introduction, of the events 
 which led to the sending forth of William Care}^ and 
 his associates in 1793, it may seem almost unnecessary 
 to add any words as to the men and the district from 
 which they came. And yet, for American readers at 
 least, some little account of the town of Olney may not 
 be amiss. To those accustomed only to the busy, 
 bustling streets of some city in the Western world, 
 Olney would scarcely seem to deserv^e the name of 
 town, consisting, as it does, for the most part, of one 
 long, broad street, which even its accomplished and 
 ardent eulogist, Mr. Wright, admits to be somewhat 
 deserted ; but in the days when Cowper was living in 
 Olney, and Carey cobbling away in his little shop in 
 the neighboring hamlet of Hackleton, Olney must have 
 been even less an attractive place than it is to-day. Its 
 roads were, if we are to believe William Cowper, by no 
 means desirable ways of traffic and travel, and the long 
 bridge which spanned the marshes between Olney and 
 
 25 
 
26 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Bmberton has become classic in our literature for its 
 " wearisome but needful length." 
 
 The surroundings of the town of Olney, familiar as 
 they have become to those who love the story of Wil- 
 liam Cowper and his life, and picturesque as they may 
 appear when in the summer-time the meadows are 
 green with verdure and the hedge-rows bright with 
 flowers, could scarcely have been of the most healthful 
 character ; at least, in the days of which we write. 
 To-day Olney is a healthful and beautiful village ac- 
 cording to the estimate of those most competent to 
 judge, but a century ago it was noted for the number 
 of low fevers that were prevalent among its inhabitants, 
 and perhaps the true explanation of that general tone 
 of despondency which marked more than one of John 
 Newton's parishioners is to be found in the malarial 
 character of the surroundings of the town rather than 
 in the moral and intellectual tone of Newton's teaching, 
 which, his enemies said, drove his people mad. Be 
 that as it may, however, it was not a very wealthy nor 
 a very wise community which was embraced within 
 the confines of Olney parish in the closing years of the 
 last century, and yet it is to this little town of Olney 
 that we must look for the men who instituted and who 
 moulded the great missionary movement which has 
 spread to almost every country, and the beneficent re- 
 sults of which can be measured by no statistics of the 
 census gatherer. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 2^ 
 
 The researches of Mr. Wright have disclosed the fact 
 that in 1672 John Bunyan obtained an indulgence for a 
 meeting to be held in Joseph Kent's bam in Olney, and 
 under this indulgence there came into being the little 
 Christian Church which has come to be known as the 
 Baptist Church in Olney. Of this Church Rev. John 
 Sutcliff became pastor in November, 1775, and, ten 
 years later, William Carey united with the same 
 Church as a member. When Sutcliff commenced his 
 pastorate at Olney, John Newton had been for some 
 eleven years the curate of the parish church of Olney, 
 and, for a somewhat shorter period, the poet, William 
 Cowper, had been an inmate of the tall brick house 
 facing the market-place in Olney, which, while it 
 boasts no special architectural beauties, was then con- 
 sidered the finest house in town. Newton, however, 
 left Olney in 1780, some five years before Carey united 
 with the Baptist Church at Olney, and in 178 1, Thomas 
 Scott, the Commentator, succeeded to the curacy of 
 Olney Church. In his charming little work, The 
 Town ' of Cowper^ Mr. Wright has pointed out the 
 strange associations that existed between all of these 
 great men, and the way in which John Newton influ- 
 enced the character of each of the others. Newton, he 
 says, was the bosom friend of Cowper, the spiritual 
 father and friend of Scott, the adviser and warm ad- 
 mirer of Carey, and the kindest relations existed be- 
 tween him and Sutcliff during the five years they were 
 
28 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 contemporaries at Olney. Yet it was not to John 
 Newton, but to John Sutcliff, that the honor came of 
 being the first of Christian men to propose the setting 
 apart an hour on the evening of the first Monday in 
 each month for social prayer for the success of the 
 Gospel, and to invite Christians of other denominations 
 than his own to unite in it ; and to this suggestion, 
 under God, it may be truly said, is due the inception 
 of modern missions. The way in which the succeed- 
 ing steps were taken which preceded the sending out 
 of Carey and Thomas on the 13th of June, 1793, have 
 been sufficiently stated by Mr. Wright in his introduc- 
 tion, and without further preface we place before the 
 reader the first letter of the first Missionary of the 
 Baptist Mission Society, written to Andrew Fuller, 
 the first Secretary of that Society : 
 
 TO THK SOCIKTY FOR THK PROPAGATION OF THK 
 GOSPKI. AMONG THE) HKATHKN. 
 
 Bay of Bengai. 17th Oct 1793. 
 DEAR BRF^THRKN. 
 
 Twice before this time have I written in expectation 
 of an Opportunity to send to you — but was dis- 
 appointed, once was in the Bay of Biscay, by the Fri- 
 gate which convoyed us out, but when she parted with 
 us the sea run too high to send out a boat — and again 
 we expected to put in at the Cape of Good Hope, but as 
 
SERA M PORE LETTERS, 2g 
 
 there was a prospect of arriving at Bengal, before the 
 Change of the Monsoon we did not put in there, or 
 any where else ; thus far through the mercy of God, 
 however we are safe arrived, and all in good health ; 
 thinking that we shall be pretty much engaged after 
 our arrival, I begin my letters here. 
 
 The whole of our stay in England is known to you, 
 and all that befel us there, we waited at Dover till 
 Thursday Morning the 13th June, when we were called 
 up, and saw the ship lying off the Harbour, about five 
 oclock, we came on board, where we met with the 
 greatest civility — which has continued till this day — 
 the ship is called Kron Princess Marie, commanded by 
 Capt J. Christmas an Englishman, whose own is the 
 ship and Cargo ; — and who is one of the most polite, 
 accomplished Gentlemen, who ever sustained the name 
 of a Sea Captain — He immediately ordered the great 
 Cabin to be separated, that we might be well accomo- 
 dated — so that we have a large cabin half the width of 
 the ship with Sash Windows & the sides papered be- 
 sides a smaller one — Mr Thomas likewise has a cabin, 
 and tho' we went for so small a sum (all the other 
 passengers having paid 100 guineas each) yet no kind 
 of distinction has been observed, but we have all met 
 with the same kind treatment. — Four more Passengers 
 are with us in the ship, two of them English, and two 
 of them French men — One of the French men is the 
 most presumptuous hardened Deist that I ever saw or 
 
30 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 heard of; I have almost every day been engaged in 
 Disputes with him, but to no purpose his dernier res- 
 sort is to turn all into Badinage — his credit however 
 has sunk very much in the ship upon that very 
 account — The Captain is a man of very extensive read- 
 ing but never meddles with anything that is written 
 upon Religion. He is half brother to Lady Langham of 
 Cottesbrooke the men are Danes & Norway men and 
 if there is no religion among them yet there is much 
 less irreligion and Prophaness than among the Eng- 
 lish. Our first mate is son of the Superintendent of a 
 district of Norway and from all that I can learn there 
 is more real Godliness among the Established I^uther- 
 ans of those countries than in the English Establish- 
 ment. They seem to be more upon a level with the 
 Scots — but toleration is more extensive there than in 
 England for no civil Penalties or disabilities are im- 
 posed upon any people for Religion. 
 
 Our voyage has been on the whole very agreeable 
 and pleasant tho' we have had some rough weather, 
 and have experienced many great deliverances. June 
 the 13 Sailed from Dover. 15th in the Bay of Biscay 
 24 fell in with the Trade wind, 25 passed the Island 
 of Madeira, 27th passed Palma one of the Canaries and 
 saw Gomara and Fera, but could not get a sight of 
 Teneriff. Saw Flying fish — 29 passed the Tropic of 
 Cancer— the heat by the Thermometer 72° July 2. Be- 
 calmed between the Cape Verd Islands and Africa heat 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 31 
 
 86° 2ist passed the line Augt ist passed the Tropic of 
 Capricorn and on the 20th were off the Cape of Good 
 Hope, Our Course was by the Islands of Trinidada, 
 Saxenburg, Tristham de Cunhas and then from Lat 
 27 S lyong 29 W straight to the cape, hitherto our 
 voyage had been very prosperous and nothing of a dis- 
 tressing Nature had happened, but in the morning of 
 the 26th we had a very distressing accident — [There is 
 a bank, extends, into the sea from Cape des Aquitas, 
 the most southern part of Africa for about eighty 
 Ivcagues South — upon which runs a strong current and 
 which when it meets the wind raises the sea in a very 
 tremendous manner — We were in S. Lat 38° and 
 thought ourselves secure from that Danger, but about 
 one in the morning I was awakened by the violent 
 rolling of the ship — and found stools tables &c rolling 
 about the Cabin— and presently Pots, Glasses & every- 
 thing in the ship which was not secured were Crashing 
 at once. 
 
 I arose and put all to rights in our Cabin, was just 
 got into bed again when Mr Thomas came to the 
 Door, and told me that we had carried away our Fore, 
 and Main Topmasts ; I begged my wife & children 
 to keep in bed for fear of having their bones broken 
 and went upon Deck — where the scene was shocking 
 indeed — The night (tho' very providentially the moon 
 shone) the Sea like Mountains beating the Ship in all 
 directions, the masts, yards. Sails & Rigging hanging 
 
32 SiSERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 over the sides and Beating against the ship, and the 
 men upon them, in every part to unrig them and let 
 them loose, all on board have uniformly declared that 
 they never saw anything like it, and one time we con- 
 cluded that she was going to the bottom — Our ship is 
 about 130 feet long in the Keel, her Burden about 600 
 Tons — she was mounted on the top of a sea which could 
 not be less than 50 or 60 yards in height from which 
 she decended head foremost almost perpendicularly, or 
 quite as near it as the roof of an House : — I saw her 
 going — and concluded with others that she could not 
 recover it, had but a moment to Reflect, felt resigned 
 to the Will of God — and to prevent being tossed over- 
 board by the motion caught hold of what was nearest 
 to me — ^the plunge was dreadful ; her Bowsprit was 
 under water — and the Jibboom which is fastened to the 
 Bow Sprit carried away — but in a moment she recov- 
 ered the Plunge, and mounted upon another Sea, with- 
 out shipping an Hogshead of water — at last we cleared 
 the wreck, and set our main sail which kept the ship a 
 little Steady — in four days after this we had a violent 
 gale ; but except the uncomfortable rolling of the ship 
 we sustained no damage — it took us up eleven days to 
 repair our loss — ] and only two days after that, a vio- 
 lent squall carried away our new Main Topmast Our 
 fore topmast was weak, and could not bear a Gallant 
 mast, so that we were forced to put up a Jury mast for 
 the main Topmast, and as the ship was victualled for 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 33 
 
 only four months, and we had but little water left, 
 the Captain determined^o go into Mauritius, to refit — 
 but strong Northerly Winds prevented our going that 
 way. With care we came this place the rains have 
 supplied us with plenty of water — And except a black 
 woman and child who were very ill when they came on 
 board and died off" the Cape of Good Hope, and the 
 Carpenter, who, by the very great exertions which he 
 was obliged to make on account of our misfortunes, 
 caught cold, which was succeeded by a pleurisy and 
 followed by the scurvy of which he died when we were 
 within six day sail of Bengal — we have had good 
 health — our infant has thrived more than if it had been 
 on land, and the children are as well satisfied. 
 
 We have not been entirely destitute of Religious 
 opportunities. Family worship has been constantly 
 attended to, and every lyord's day we have had preach- 
 ing twice in our cabin. Our congregation has some- 
 times consisted of six persons besides our own family — 
 they consisted of Norway & Holstein men, Danes, 
 English, Flemings, Bz, French, or rather one of each ; 
 with respect to religious persuasion they were Luther- 
 ans Papists and Calvinists — we had some very pleasant 
 seasons, but have been of no use that I know of. Many 
 private seasons I have enjoyed of great pleasure, and 
 have a growing satisfaction in having undertaken 
 this work ; and a growing desire for its success ; 
 though I feel so much barrennesss, and so little of 
 
34 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 that lively continual sense of divine things upon 
 my mind that I almost despair of ever being of any 
 Use ; but in General I feel a pleasure in the thought 
 that Christ has promised to be with his Ministers to 
 the end of the World, and that as our Day is, so shall 
 our strength be. I have often felt much pleasure in 
 recollecting the times of Publick worship in the 
 Churches in England, and reflecting that, now perhaps, 
 Hundreds, if not Thousands are praying for me ; you 
 will also easily believe, that my Friends have not been 
 forgotten by me on these occasions. — Your lo oClock 
 in the morning will be our 4 in the afternoon, there 
 being 6 Hours difference of time between you & us. 
 Mr Thomas has laboured indefatiguably in translating 
 the Book of Genesis which he has now accomplished, 
 in short we are now expecting to join Ram Boshee, 
 & Parbotee in a few days.] 
 
 I hope the Society will go on and increase and that 
 the multitudes of Heathen in the World may hear the 
 Glorious words of Truth — Africa is but a little way 
 from England — Madagascar but a little further, South 
 America, and all the Numerous and lyarge Islands in 
 the Indian & Chinese Seas, I hope will not be passed 
 over, a large field opens on every side and millions of 
 perishing Heathens tormented in this life by means of 
 Idolatry, Superstition, and Ignorance, and subject to 
 eternal Misery in the next, are pleading. Yes all, their 
 miseries plead, as soon as they are known, with every 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 35 
 
 Heart that loves God ; and with all the Churches of 
 the living God ; — O that many labourers may be thrust 
 out into the Vineyard of our lyOrd Jesus Christ — and 
 that the Gentiles may come to the Knowledge of the 
 Truth as it is in him. You will do us very great ser- 
 vice if you send us out a Polyglot Bible, (there is one 
 at CoUis's) by the next conveyance ; Ram Boshee is a 
 good Persian Scholar, and it will certainly help us much, 
 if you can get a copy of the Gospels iri Malay it will be 
 an help to us, and I wish you to send me all that are 
 published of Curtis' s Botanical Magazme a.nd Sowerdys 
 English Botany ^om No- 77 of Curtis and No 31 of 
 Sowerby — and to continue sending them regularly, and 
 deduct what they cost from my allowance. Whatsoever 
 is published of note in England, especially among the 
 Baptists I hope you will be sure to send and I hope 
 that in return we may be able to send to you tidings 
 that will rejoice your hearts. 
 
 Nov 1 6th. After beating about and being driven 
 back by currents for near a Month we arrived in Bala- 
 sore Roads on the 7th inst and on the loth Mr T and 
 I began our labours — we came in a Ponvowah from the 
 ship — and at slack water we lay to — at a Bouar or 
 Market — where Mr T preached to the people they 
 left their merchandise immediately and listened for 
 three hours with great attention — one of them pre- 
 pared us a dinner — which we eat — a Plaintain leaf was 
 our Dish & Plates — and instead of Knives & forks we 
 
2,6 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 used our fingers — when we left them, they desired us 
 to come again — Poor Ram Boshee was waiting for us 
 but to our great grief he has been bowing down to 
 Idols again — he was forsaken by European Christians 
 and discarded by Hijidoos — and he says I was very 
 ill of a Flux — nothing to support me or my family — 
 All said Mr T would never return — I knew that 
 Roman Catholics worshipped Idols. I thought I had 
 seen but a small part of the Bible, perhaps the wor- 
 ship of images might be commanded in some part of 
 it which I had not seen, I hesitated, and I complied 
 but it was for a piece of bread, but I still love Chris- 
 tianity much the best. 
 
 25. Ram Boshee still keeps close to us, I have 
 engaged him now as my Moonshee — and am often 
 much pleased with his conversation, we also hear that 
 Parbotee stands well, and that he and Mohem Chune 
 are coming down to us — we are today making ap- 
 plication to the Governor for uncultivated I^ands to 
 settle upon which (if we can obtain them) will be an 
 asylum for those who lose cast for the Gospels sake. — 
 I have had several conversations with a Brahman who 
 speaks English well — and being unable to defend him- 
 self against the Gospel, He intends to come attended by 
 a Pundit and try the utmost of their strength. — having 
 so many letters to write I must leave ofi" — We are 
 all well — the climate at this (which is the Cold Season) 
 is not disagreeable, except it be the great difference 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 37 
 
 between the Heat of Day & night — which is often lo 
 Degrees — but the heat is quite tolerable — Mr T will 
 give an account of proper articles of Trade to send 
 out, and as our Families are so different, and I have 
 the expence of a Moonshee too — I hope the Society 
 will settle the proportion between us — The more I 
 know the more I love him — He is a very holy man 
 — but his faithfulness often degenerates into Personality 
 (tho' not to me for we live in the greatest Love) which 
 may account for the difference between Mr Grant & 
 him. My family is well, all Join in love to you, your 
 people ; all ministers, and Christians that you see & 
 write to, & the Society especially 
 
 I am Yours most ajGfectly. 
 
 W Carboy 
 
 MR FUI.LER 
 
 Dec. i6th. 
 
 Since writing the above, we have been near a month 
 at Bandel a Portugese settlement, we have given up 
 our intentions of applying for Waste I^ands at Present, 
 on account of the Danger from the Tigers, and the 
 expense of Cultivation — ^but we are now going further 
 up the country perhaps to Nuddea, Cuiiva, Gowr^ or 
 Maloa, but as it is uncertain which — I must wish you 
 to direct all I^etters to either Mr T or me — to be left 
 at the Post Office Calcutta till called for. 
 
 We have frequent Opportunities of addressing the 
 Hindoos, and their attention is astonishing — lastl^ord's 
 
38 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 day we went, and Mr Thomas preached to near two 
 Hundreds of them at Saa-Gunge a village near us — 
 they listened with great Seriousness, and several fol- 
 lowed us to make further enquiries about what is the 
 way to Heaven, and how they should do to walk therein 
 — every place presents a pleasing prospect to us of suc- 
 cess — and we are of one mind and one soul — ^pray for 
 us — we duly remember you — and the prosperity of the 
 
 Society lies very near our Hearts 
 
 W Carey 
 Rev A. FUI.I.KR 
 
 Kettering 
 
 Northamptonshire 
 
 There is a peculiar interest attaching to this letter to 
 those who read it in the light of the events that have 
 succeeded its writing, and it is not difficult for the 
 imagination to picture the varying emotions with 
 which it must have been received by the friends of 
 Carey in England, and by those who, far from being 
 his friends, had looked upon his embassy as the wildest 
 and most dangerous of chimeras. To the hostile critic 
 there was not a little in the letter to furnish material 
 for jest and ridicule. The quaint phraseology, the 
 almost child-like expressions of wonder at the new 
 sights and terrors of the sea, the exaggerated estimates 
 of the immensity of waves fifty or sixty yards high, 
 were easy subjects for the perverted ingenuity of the 
 satirist, and it is scarcely remarkable that these letters 
 
SERAMPOKE LETTERS. 39 
 
 and the similar ones that followed should have seemed 
 to men like Sydney Smith only the vaporings of igno- 
 rant and diseased zeal. But to those who had, like 
 Andrew Fuller, come to know more of the deep pur- 
 pose that dominated the life of William Carey and of 
 that passion for souls which mastered all his activity, 
 the apparent crudities must have vanished away, and 
 the only feeling that could have been left in the mind 
 must have been one of profound admiration for the man 
 who, without stopping to count the cost, and with 
 scarcely any intelligent apprehension of the perils and 
 dangers that he had to incur, had flung himself reso- 
 lutely into the vanguard of what all but he and a few 
 like-minded associates must have regarded as the most 
 forlorn of hopes. But to-day, as we read the narrative, 
 when a century has gone by, and the writer and his 
 critics have all passed, leaving words only to be their 
 judges, there can be little doubt as to what the verdict 
 of history shall be, and the most merciful judgment 
 that will be likely to be passed upon the critic will be 
 that of Carey on poor Ram Boshee — that he knew no 
 better. 
 
 The letter that follows owes its chief interest to the 
 fact that it was written from Debarta, where, for a little 
 time, the missionaries hoped they might find the oppor- 
 tunity of establishing a station within the Company's 
 territory. But events proved that the judgment of the 
 natives, as Carey records it, that '' Englishmen are 
 
40 SERA M PORE LETTERS. 
 
 worse than Tygers ' ' was not altogether out of the 
 way, for it was Englishmen and not tigers who drove the 
 little missionar}^ colony from English territory to seek 
 a harbor on Danish soil ; and the next letter which we 
 present to the reader, signed by all of the five mission- 
 aries, and dated at Serampore April 25, 1800, gives the 
 account of the formation of the first Baptist Church in 
 India, and of the foundation of the first permanent 
 mission undertaken by the Society to the Hindoos. 
 
 DebarTa Feby 15th, 1794. 
 MY DEAR FRIKND 
 
 I do not expect that you will receive this till some 
 time after the other letters, the last ships being hast- 
 ened away upon account of the numerous Privateers 
 fitted out from Mauritius. On this account also I shall 
 not be able to write to so many of my friends in Eng- 
 land as I wished, being even uncertain whether even 
 this will arrive at Calcutta soon enough for the ships. — 
 Nor have I anything of importance to communicate 
 more than I have already written — except that Mr T 
 is now settled in his profession at Calcutta — where he 
 pursues the Mission also, and I have taken a few acres 
 of Land at Hasuabad near this place ; which is about 
 40 miles East of Calcutta upon the River Juboua — I am 
 now at the house of a Mr Short, a Servant of the 
 Company, who generously invited us all, tho' before 
 entirely unknown to him, to stay at his house till we 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 4I 
 
 have erected one of our own ; and which I am now 
 engaged in. The Walls will be made with mats 
 fastened to Posts of Wood, and the roof with Bamboo 
 and Thatched ; In this work the neighbouring inhabi- 
 tants yield me a little assistance, and a great number 
 of people, about four or five hundred families intend to 
 come and reside in our neighbourhood, this is princi- 
 pally occasioned by Moonshee telling them that I am 
 not like the other Englishmen, but that I shall be like 
 a Father to them, the Country is an excellent soil, but 
 has lately been deserted almost upon account of the 
 Tygers, and other Beasts of prey which infest the 
 Place ; but all these are afraid of a Gun, and will be 
 soon expelled — this people therefore are not afraid 
 when an European is nigh — but have kept from other's 
 because they think Englishmen worse than Tygers ; 
 We shall have all the nesscessaries of Life except Bread 
 for which rice must be a substitute — Wild hogs, Deers 
 & Fowls are to be procured by the Gun & must 
 supply us with a considerable part of our food, and in 
 the woods' — there are Rhinoceros's which are good food, 
 but is dangerous going after them for fear of Tygers — 
 the greatest inconvenience I find is that of our being 
 separated so far, and having so much of my time neces- 
 sarily taken up in procuring provisions, and cultivating 
 my little Farm. When my House is built however I 
 shall have much more leisure, than I now have, and 
 shall have daily opportunity of conversing with the 
 
42 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 natives and pursuing the work of the Mission ; There 
 is certainly a large field here for usefulness, much 
 larger than you conceive, both amongst the Hindoos, 
 and Mussulmen. They are very numerous very in- 
 quisitive, and very attentive to the Gospel ; when I can 
 so far know the I^anguage as to preach in it, I have no 
 doubt of having a stated Congregation ; and I much 
 hope to send you some more pleasing accounts than at 
 present I can. I can so far converse in the I^anguage 
 as to be understood in most things belonging to Eating 
 & Drinking, Buying, and Selling &ct and my ear is 
 somewhat familiarised to the Bengalic Sounds. 
 
 It is a language of a very singular Construction 
 having no Plurals except to Pronouns; and not a 
 singular Preposition in it — but the Cases of Nouns and 
 Pronouns are almost endless, all the words answering 
 to our prepositions, being put after the word and form- 
 ing a new Case ; Excepting these irregularities I find 
 it an easy Language. 
 
 I never felt myself more happy in any undertaking 
 than this and tho' I never felt the loss of Social Re- 
 ligion so much as now yet a consciousness of having 
 given up all for God, is a support and the work with 
 all its attendant inconveniences is to me a rich reward. 
 
 I hope the Society still prospers and think they would 
 do well if they would still keep their eye towards 
 Africa or Asia — these countries are not like the wilds 
 of America where long labour will scarce collect sixty 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 43 
 
 people to hear the word, for here it is almost impossible 
 to go out of the way of Hundreds and Preachers are 
 wanted a thousand times more than people to preach 
 to, there are in India the Mahrattas Country, and all 
 the Northern parts to Cashmere, and not a soul that 
 thinks of God aright. I have been mentioned to Gov- 
 ernment, by a person high in office, and utterly 
 unknown to, and unthought of by me, as a proper 
 person to send to Tibet, and Assam, to make dis- 
 coveries which they have much at Heart. Should this 
 take place, it would open a new and wide door for 
 usefulness in a Country, remote from the Knowledge 
 of European's ; but at present many obstacles are in 
 the way, all these nations are afraid that the English 
 have designs to subjugate them as they have Bengal — 
 — however there is work enough here or any where else 
 in this Country. 
 
 My wife & two Children have been very ill indeed 
 of the Bloody Flux I believe occasioned by the Cold 
 nights, succeeding to Hot Days. The Thermometer 
 differing about 15 or 20 degrees between day & night — 
 but they are mercifully recovered. 
 
 I hope you will send me an account of every thing 
 Important in the Churches, — especially Leicester, — my 
 love to all Ministers — all Christians, your own people, 
 &c. [especially remember me to Mrs Wallis, Mr Gotch 
 — Timms, Hobson, &ct for I dont know where to stop 
 — Inform Mr Hogg, that it is impossible to send him 
 
44 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 the small Quantity of Sugar he mentioned to me with- 
 out it which neither himself or me could approve 
 of. I have enclosed the wings of a Flying fish which 
 flew on board our ship, they may be acceptable as a 
 Curiosity] 
 
 You must not expect my Journal till next year. I 
 regularly keep one which I intend then to Transmit. 
 [My particular love to Messrs Ryland, Sutcliff & 
 Morris 
 
 I am yours very afifectly. 
 
 Wm CarKy 
 [Direct to me or Mr T at Calcutta to be Left at the 
 
 Post Office] 
 Revd. A FuIvI.:er 
 Kettering 
 Northamptonshire 
 
 SORAMPOOR 
 
 25th April 1800 
 
 DKARI.Y BKI.OVKD BRETHREN 
 
 • Scarce any thing gives us more pleasure than thus to 
 write to you, except it be the reception of letters from 
 you. Letters which (some of us at least can say) have 
 often rejoiced our hearts ; not merely as expressions of 
 your regard for Us^ but as conveying to us the pleasing 
 Intelligence of the Growing Interest of our LORD in 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 45 
 
 those parts of the world which you are more conversant 
 with than ourselves. 
 
 We have agreed to write /^«r Public letters (at least) 
 every year ; to be drawn up by each Brother in Rotation 
 and signed by the Whole. [The last was written the 
 latter end of February or beginning of March. From 
 that time to the Present we have dwelt in the Midst of 
 noise ; the sound of Axes & Hammers. 
 
 But now our Business of this kind is drawing to a 
 close : The House & Premises we thought good to 
 purchase, were well worth the price we paid for them. 
 But to accomodate them to so large a Family, or 
 rather to so many Families as we consist of, has occa- 
 sioned considerable labour & expense. We have 
 built a schoolhouse — a Verandah on the South side of 
 the Dwelling House in order to break off the violence 
 of the Sun, and to serve as a lodging room for the 
 Scholars we hope to have. Besides these a long train 
 of Expenses have occurred in paper for Printing &c &c. 
 We have already drawn on you for £2>2^ "ii "6 in the 
 manner following. — ) 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 In favour 
 
 of Captain Passmore 
 
 600 
 
 Do *' 
 
 " Mr Dexter . 
 
 . 
 
 25 
 
 Do " 
 
 " Mr Dickson 
 
 . 
 
 172-4-6 
 
 Do " 
 
 " Mr Powell . 
 
 . 
 
 7-7- 
 
 Do '• 
 
 " Mr Dalton . 
 
 • 
 
 25 
 
 ^829 '' II " 6 
 
46 SERAMPORE LETTERS. • 
 
 This Sum is all expended : Nor is it in our power to 
 Negociate any more Bills at present. A kind friend 
 however has just lent us looo Rupees at 6 per cent in 
 half the Coys Interest. 
 
 You will please therefore to send us Relief as soon as 
 possible. Send as much money as you can, not only 
 that our Wants may be releived, but that we may put 
 it out to interest. On the first of May the school will 
 be opened from wch we hope to derive considerable 
 assistance and so lighten your Burdens. We cannot 
 indeed tell how it may succeed, but from the kindness 
 of friends, we have much reason to hope that it will 
 prosper] 
 
 Though we have had much business upon our Hands 
 since we have been at this place, our Hearts have not 
 been taken from the one grand Object. 
 
 We have gone on Translating & revising the 
 Scriptures — Preaching the Word — and Learning the 
 Language. Brother Ward assisted by Brother Bruns- 
 don has been busily employed in Printing Hymns & 
 Copies of the Commandments. They are now printing 
 a Book for the use of Schools, compiled by Bror 
 Marshman ; intended more immediately for our own 
 school, but which we hope will be acceptable in others. 
 Upon examining the Bengalle T3rpes it is found that a 
 few Pholas are wanting. These we hope to have com- 
 plete in a week or ten day's from this time, and then to 
 
SERA M PORE LETTERS. 47 
 
 begin printing the Holy Shastro of our God, which in 
 due time shall bring Human ones into contempt. We 
 find now that we must not only Print Books but Bind 
 them also. We cannot deliver the Bible out in an un- 
 bound state, nor indeed anything else that we may ever 
 Publish. 
 
 Besides we have many books amongst us ruining for 
 the want of Binding — This business we intend to have 
 done in our own House, for wch you will please to send 
 the articles mentioned in the inclosed Paper. We trust 
 Brethren, that we have great reason to Bless our GOD 
 for bringing us to Serampoor. The attention that has 
 been paid to us, seems to be a token for Good, that the 
 lyORD will establish us, and make us useful. We have 
 Public Preaching in English every lyord's Day morn- 
 ing, wch is attended by the Governor and many other 
 Europeans in the Place. Brethren Carey & Fotmtain 
 preach also morning & evening in the streets of 
 Serampoor & the adjacent villages. Brahmins have 
 been put to shame while other Casts have heard the 
 word with attention. Many come to dispute with Bror 
 Carey. Some for Instruction — others to enquire the 
 time of worship. A Free school is building for the na- 
 tives, which has given pleasure to most who have 
 heard thereof. 
 
 As a family we live together in peace, and increase 
 in L,ove to one another. The Eord has been good to 
 
4^ SERA MP ORE LETTERS. 
 
 each of us in preserving our Health. Dear Sister Bruns- 
 don gets stout & well. The children are all remark- 
 ably healthy. The small pox being very prevalent at 
 Calcutta, we have had them Innoculated, and they 
 have now recovered therefrom. They had it so lightly 
 as scarce to make them ill. In consequence of all the 
 goodness we have experienced, and the pleasing pros- 
 pects before us, we consecrated yesterday as a day of 
 Thanksgiving, as also to the taking into the Church 
 the Brethren & Sisters lately arrived. The business of 
 the Day was conducted in the following Manner. — 
 
 Met at 6 oclock in the morning, when Bror Ward 
 began by reading the 23rd and 103rd Psalms, after wch 
 he read out a hymn and Prayed. All the Brethren fol- 
 lowed in the same excercises. This meeting lasted two 
 hours — Met again at 10/ oclock, Bror Fountain began 
 by reading ist Timothy 3rd. Singing & Prayer. 
 After this the Dismissions of the Brethren & Sisters 
 from their respective Churches were read by Bror Carey, 
 and the Right Hand of Fellowship given to each by 
 him & Bror Fountain as a token of acceptance. 
 
 Agreed that Sister Brunsdon (having left England 
 before she had an opportunity of procuring her Dismis- 
 sion from I^airford Church) have Communion with us 
 at the I^ORD's table till her Dismission arrives. 
 
 Agreed that Bror Carey be the Pastor of this Church 
 & Brethren Fountain and Marshman the two Deacons. 
 
SERA MP ORE LETTERS. 49 
 
 Agreed that the Ordinance of the I^ords Supper be 
 Administered to us the first Sabbath in every Kalendar 
 Month. — After this business the Brethren related the 
 manner in which they were brought to the Knowledge 
 of the Truth. 
 
 Bror Carey concluded in prayer. Met again at 4/ 
 oclock p.m. Brother Marshman read the "Address 
 of the Committee of the Baptist Society " delivered May. 
 7. 1799. — A lyCtter from Bror Pearce of Birmingham — 
 And an address by Brother Booth of I,ondon. 
 
 May the lyORD impress their sentiments on our 
 Minds. Bror Carey concluded in prayer. — During this 
 meeting the following Address was voted to the Gov- 
 ernor of the Settlement. 
 
 " To the Honourable Colonel Bi^. 
 
 "Sir. 
 
 " Having set apart this day in our family to return 
 thanks to GOD for the establishment of our Missionary 
 Settlement in this country, we could not but recollect 
 the many gracious, and important favours which we 
 have received at your hands. We have prayed, and 
 shall not cease to pray that our Heavenly father may 
 pour his most sacred Benediction upon you, and long 
 make you a blessing to the World. We hope our Con- 
 duct will always show that our Gratitude is sincere and 
 that we aim at being truly the Disciples, of him who 
 exhibited a perfect pattern of Universal obedience. 
 
so SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 "Accept, Sir, our fervent, and united Acknowledg- 
 ments ; in which we know our Society in Kngland 
 would be very happy to concur. 
 We are, Sir, 
 
 Your most affectionate & 
 obedient Servants 
 
 Wm. Care;y 
 Wm. Ward 
 John Fountain 
 Dani,. Brunsdon 
 Joshua Marshman" 
 
 Met again at 8 oClock in the evening for more Public 
 worship. Bror Forsyth, a Paedo Baptist missionary 
 (whom we had previous invited) engaged in Prayer. 
 Brother Carey afterwards preached an Animating 
 sermon from Romans 12. ver 12th '* Rejoicing in Hope.'* 
 
 This morning the above address was presented to 
 the Governor. He was considerably affected by it, and 
 assured the Brethren who waited upon him, that it 
 gave him great pleasure to have us in the Settlement. 
 
 He has again and again declared that he would do 
 every thing in his power to promote our Welfare. We 
 hope the Society will never forget in their Prayers, the 
 Man who shows so much kindness to us. 
 
 Were you also to vote him an Address of thanks it 
 would be well received. 
 
 Yesterday's pleasure was considerably heightened 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. $1 
 
 by the Arrival of English lyCtters for Bretheren Carey, 
 Ward, & Briinsdon. We did not forget you in our 
 prayers, nor could we refrain from Blessing God for 
 your great and constant care of us. The Zeal & 
 Generosity of our Scotch Brethren is surely beyond 
 example ! Pray let our United Thanks be presented to 
 them. One circumstance however was a matter of grief 
 to us vizt. The Capture of the Ship Duff. We will not 
 cease to pray for the dear Missionaries on Board her, 
 that the I^ord their God may prosper them wherever 
 they go. This is our Joint prayer — May the Kingdom 
 of our lyORD come with Power. 
 
 We are Dear Brethren 
 
 in endless affection 
 Yours 
 
 Wm. Carky 
 J. Fountain 
 J. Marsh MAN 
 W. Ward 
 D. Brunsdon. 
 
 The two letters here given, with the preceding one, 
 furnish a brief epitome of the history of the Mission 
 up to the time when the correspondence began which 
 it is the chief purpose of this little book to set forth. 
 But before proceeding to introduce that correspond- 
 ence, it may be well to give a hasty sketch of the man 
 who was largely instrumental in bringing the new 
 
52 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 missionary movement into prominence in the Ameri- 
 can churches ; and to do this, it is necessary to go 
 back again to a little Knglish hamlet less known even 
 than the quiet town of Olney. 
 
 On the somewhat barren and rocky slopes of the 
 range of hills whose loftiest summit is the peak of 
 Snowdon, in North Wales, nestles the little village of 
 Y Garn, and near that hamlet lies the farm known for 
 generations as Plas I^lecheiddior. Exactly when the 
 old farm-house was built no one seems to know, and 
 speculation is still rife as to the meaning of the name. 
 Some have suggested that it signifies the ** Place of 
 the Ivied Rock"; others, that it simply means 
 *' Pleasant Place" ; but family tradition has it that 
 the true meaning is, "The place where lor hid him- 
 self ' ' ; and till recent years a rude niche was pointed 
 out in the wall of the stone farm-house, where the 
 fabled lor was said to have taken refuge in some dire 
 local disturbance. At this old farm-house, which had 
 for some hundred and fifty years been in the possession 
 of his forefathers as peasant farmers, there was born 
 on the 8th of March, 1767, John Williams, a sturdy 
 Welsh lad, but with a lameness from birth which un- 
 fitted him for the agricultural pursuits of his father 
 and kinsfolk. It was his father's desire that he should 
 prepare himself to enter the ministry of the Estab- 
 lished Church ; but not finding himself in sympathy 
 with that Church, he at first determined to acquire a 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 53 
 
 trade, and, for that purpose, took up his residence in 
 the not distant town of Carnarvon. Having, however, 
 become converted at about the age of nineteen, he de- 
 termined to study for the ministry, and a few years 
 later, leaving the Independent Church, with which he 
 had first united, he was immersed, and became a mem- 
 ber of the Horeb Baptist Church at Garn. Shortly 
 after this he was called to the pastorate of that 
 Church, and remained their pastor for some years. 
 But in the summer of 1795, he determined to leave 
 Wales and take up his residence in the United States, 
 a resolution which he carried into effect, reaching New 
 York July 25th. Within a fortnight after his arrival, 
 his younger brother, who had accompanied him, sud- 
 denly died, and Mr. Williams himself was prostrated 
 by illness. The history of the days that followed, and 
 of the settlement of Mr. Williams as pastor of the Fay- 
 ette Street Baptist Church, is best given in the lan- 
 guage of his gifted son and successor in the ministry, 
 Rev. William R. Williams, D.D., who was his bi- 
 ographer. As the biography has, however, long been 
 out of print, a short extract from it will not be out of 
 place : 
 
 '' He had left his native soil, his family, and his 
 friends, to find in a foreign land, and among a people 
 of strange language, a grave for the companion of his 
 voyage, a beloved brother. He began to doubt if he 
 
54 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 had not rashly ventured where God had not called 
 him ; and this consideration seemed to raise his feel- 
 ings, which were naturally acute, to a pitch of intense 
 agony. It was but the prelude and the promise of 
 after usefulness ; it was in a manner the parting blow 
 of the adversary — the struggle in and by which, his 
 heavenly Father was girding and exercising him for 
 his appointed task. In his distress he prayed that one, 
 though but one, soul might be granted to him in 
 America as the fruit of his ministry and the proof of 
 his calling ; and when he arose from the bed of sick- 
 ness, he arose, if possible, more anxiously earnest than 
 ever, in the work of his heart. He had intended to 
 have settled in some neighborhood inhabited by Welsh 
 emigrants, and in his mother language to have contin- 
 ued his ministerial labours ; and with this view, his 
 attention had been directed to Beulah, in Pennsylva- 
 nia, and Steuben, in New York. In Welsh he deliv- 
 ered his first sermon in America. It was preached in 
 the meeting-house then occupied by the Rev. John 
 Stanford, in Fair Street. 
 
 " The Baptist church in Oliver (at that time Fayette) 
 Street, was then composed of about thirty members, 
 of whom, however, only twenty could be found, who 
 met in a small unfinished wooden building, about 
 thirty feet square, without galleries, and seated with 
 benches instead of pews. This church permitted him 
 and his countrymen occasionally to use their place of 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 55 
 
 worship for service in their own language. They also 
 encouraged Mr. W. to attempt the acquisition of the 
 English language, a request with which, after some 
 hesitation, he complied, and began to preach in Eng- 
 lish for one part of the Sabbath, on the other part still 
 continuing the use of the Welsh. Through every dis- 
 advantage, the English brethren saw a deep and fer- 
 vent piety, and a native vigour of mind, which greatly 
 delighted them. They had made several attempts to 
 procure a supply, but were unable to find one in all 
 respects suitable. They now began to fix their hopes 
 upon the young stranger, and at length, after a trial 
 of nine months, Mr. Williams became, on their unani- 
 mous request, their pastor on the 28th of August, 1798. 
 In the summer of this year, the yellow fever com- 
 menced one of its most dreadful attacks upon the city 
 of New York. Mr. W., among others, was early 
 seized with the contagion, and his life was despaired 
 of. But the decisive conduct of his physician proved, 
 under God, the means of his recovery, and he again 
 appeared with new zeal among the people of his 
 charge. Encouraged by the attention which he ex- 
 cited, in January following the little church substi- 
 tuted pews for benches. But they grew, and the place 
 soon became too strait, and in 1800, the meeting-house 
 was enlarged to sixty by forty-three feet, and galleries 
 were added. In the course of years this place also 
 became insufficient ; and in little more than twenty 
 
56 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 years after his first settlement, Mr. W. saw raised the 
 third meeting-house, the present edifice, a large stone 
 building, sixty-four by ninety-four feet." 
 
 The building referred to as having been erected in 
 1800 is that shown in the accompanying sketch, taken 
 from an old print in Valentine's Manual, the only 
 source now available for a view of the old church. It 
 was here that John Williams labored ; and in his 
 ministry in the city he came into contact with many 
 other representatives of various Christian denomina- 
 tions, in whose work he took an interest second only 
 to that he felt for the work among his own people. 
 
 The New York Missionary Society, an inter-denomi- 
 national Society, seems to have been formed at least as 
 early as 1796, and from the earliest list of its oflEicers 
 now to be found (those for 1799), it would appear that 
 Dr. John Rodgers was President, and the Rev. John 
 M. Mason, the friend of Alexander Hamilton, was the 
 Secretary. With the work of this Society Mr. Williams 
 seems to have made himself early familiar, and in the 
 report of the Society at the annual meeting in April, 
 1 801, Mr. Williams' name appears on the list of Direc- 
 tors. To this report there is appended a letter signed 
 by William Carey and dated Serampore, October 15, 
 1800. It is, of course, impossible to say at this date 
 through what channel this letter was forwarded to the 
 New York Missionary Society ; but it seems natural to 
 
|,;,»iM 
 
 t IV'.-, o^ 
 
 1 ' ^ 'ISO ':eL]S H 'i ■ 
 
 mfff 
 
 '7^ 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 57 
 
 conjecture that it was forwarded along with the letter 
 next placed before the reader and addressed to John 
 Williams by Dr. Carey in the year 1800. Before 
 setting out this letter, however, it may be well to 
 allude to the work which had been done by the New 
 York Missionary Society. As already stated, this 
 Society was inter-denominational, and seems to have 
 directed most of its attention to mission work among 
 the North American Indians. This work had been, it 
 would appear, largely carried on among the Chickasaw 
 Indians, but it soon became evident to the Directors of 
 the Association that other work might be done, and 
 how the work came to be done will, perhaps, best be 
 shown by a short extract from the report of the Direc- 
 tors already referred to, in 1801 : 
 
 * ' Their first imdertaking having been thus far coun- 
 tenanced by the I^ord of the harvest, and their resources 
 being by no means exhausted, the Directors felt it their 
 duty to turn their eyes to some other quarter which 
 might invite a new mission. An event, which they 
 cannot but account providential, pointed out the North- 
 western Indians, especially the Tuscarora and Seneca 
 nations, as the most proper objects of their next at- 
 tempt. The New York Baptist Association, who were 
 already known to some Indian tribes, wishing to carry 
 still farther among them the light of the knowledge of 
 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, but desti- 
 
58 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 tute of the requisite means, recommended the Rev. 
 Elkanah Holmes, one of their number, as a suitable 
 Missionary. In this gentleman, who had formerly ex- 
 perience of similar service, the Directors found those 
 solid, evangelical principles, that zeal for the salvation 
 of the Heathen, that natural sagacit}^ and disposition 
 for enterprise, and that acquaintance with Indian char- 
 acter and custom, which rendered him peculiarly fit 
 for the contemplated mission. They accordingly took 
 him into the employment of the Society, and having 
 furnished him with special instructions, set him apart 
 to his work by solemn prayer. 
 
 *' This Mission being designed, both by Mr. Holmes, 
 and the Directors, rather as a Mission of experiment, 
 than a permanent establishment, he was employed for 
 six months ; but not so limited by his appointment as 
 to prevent his spending a longer time in making ex- 
 cursions of inquiry among the remoter tribes. For his 
 compensation, while engaged in this labour of love, the 
 Directors have voted a salary at the rate of 375 dollars 
 per annum, beside his travelling expenses. 
 
 * ' All the accounts which have been received from him 
 and of him, are singularly gratifying. The Brotherton 
 and New-Stockbridge Indians, contributed their assis- 
 tance with a promptness and fervour truly Christian. 
 Their addresses to Mr. Holmes breathe a spirit which 
 ought to shame the languor, and quicken the efforts 
 of those who have enjoyed superior privileges." 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 59 
 
 This extract explains the allusion in the letters that 
 follow to the Rev. Blkanah Holmes and his work among 
 the Indians ; and it was probably some allusion to the 
 work of the New York Missionary Society which induced 
 Dr. Carey to send to Mr. Williams with his letter a 
 copy of the Gospel by Matthew for presentation to this 
 Society. However that may be, one thing is certain, 
 that either in the early part of the year 1800 or, possi- 
 bty, in the closing months of the preceding year, John 
 Williams addressed a letter to William Carey giving 
 some account of the work of the New York Missionary 
 Society among the North American Indians, and in- 
 vited correspondence as to the work that Dr. Carey was 
 doing in India. In reply to this letter Carey penned 
 the following : 
 
 MY DKAR BROTHKR. 
 
 The Honour you have done me in writing to me in 
 connection with Brethren Thomas and Fountain in- 
 duces me to write to you. 
 
 I can also assure you that it is with great pleasure I 
 embrace the opportunity of corresponding with the 
 friends of our Lord Jesus in your distant part of the 
 World. One of our Brethren viz, Brother Fountain, 
 was removed from us to the church above on the 20th 
 August last ; his affliction (a dysentery) was very 
 painful, but his hope was full of immortality and his 
 death bore a testimony to the truth of the Gospel 
 
6o SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 which was very encouraging to the spectators and 
 left a sweet savour of the excellence of Gospel 
 truth. 
 
 In the last year our Number was augmented by the 
 coming of four new Missionaries from England ; they 
 came in the American ship ' ' Criterion ' ' of Philadel- 
 phia commanded by that excellent man Capt. B. Wickes 
 a man whose name is always spoken of with the utmost 
 respect by all our Brethren, and whose piety was ad- 
 mired by them all. You will be informed from Eng- 
 land I expect, before this reaches you, that Brother 
 Grant died very soon after his arrival ; the others, viz, 
 Brethren Marshman, Ward and Brunsdon with myself 
 and our wives and children form a common Family, and 
 live in the utmost harmony ; we love one another and 
 are as the heart of one man in our Work. Our habita- 
 tion is now at Serampore, a Danish settlement about 14 
 Miles from Calcutta, at which place we have purchased 
 a House for the Mission, and enjoy the protection of that 
 Government. The situation which I was in before, viz, 
 Mudnabutty was near 400 Miles north of this place. I 
 trust our going there as it appeared absolutely neces- 
 sary at the time we went has not been altogether in 
 vain. We could not have lived there longer, or if we 
 had could not have carried on our operations with the 
 freedom we now can, and it is highly probable that we 
 should not have been suffered to work our printing 
 press in so distant a part of the company's dominions, 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 6 1 
 
 though we should have said nothing about politics, it 
 being our constant rule to keep clear of that rock. 
 
 We have a press and types for the Bengalee language 
 and are printing the Bible. We began first with the 
 New Testament and have finished the four Gospels and 
 begun to compose the Acts of the Apostles, several 
 small tracts, poems, hymns, etc. have also been printed 
 in that language and dispersed. This part of the 
 country is very populous and as full of idolatry as it 
 can hold. Capt. Hague will inform you of this from 
 what he has seen. He was here, and went out with 
 us one evening when we went out to preach to the 
 heathen. I suppose that no people can have more 
 completely surrendered their reason than the Hindoos. 
 In all matters of business and every thing relating to 
 this world, they are not deficient in knowledge, but in 
 all things relating to religion, they are apparently void 
 of all understanding. Their books abound with the 
 most abominable stories, and the characters of their 
 gods are drawn in colour so black that even the father 
 of wickedness himself would scarcely own. The Hin- 
 doos are not fond of hearing in detail the vices of their 
 gods, yet so devoted are they to their old customs, that 
 they constantly adore characters the most detestable. 
 It is not to be thought that the moral character of a 
 people should be better than that of their gods. Men 
 made themselves idols after their own hearts, and there- 
 fore to look for good morals among idolaters is the 
 
62 SERA M PORE LETTERS. 
 
 height of folly. The conduct of the Hindoos but too 
 fully proves the truth of this observation, for they 
 are literally sunk into the dregs of vice. 'T is true 
 they have not the savage ferocity of American Indians 
 but this is abundantly supplied with a dreadful stock 
 of low cunning and deceit. Moral rectitude makes no 
 part of their religious system, therefore, no wonder 
 that they are sunk, nay wholly immersed in all manner 
 of impurity. 
 
 Within a few months past the gospel of Matthew 
 and other small pieces have been circulated among 
 them, this is the introduction of a thing, a light 
 entirely new, and has evidently awakened the fears 
 of many of the Brahmans. Public disputes with 
 them also in the streets, and any place where we 
 meet with them and always in the hearing of the 
 common people have in some measure excited them 
 to reflect, but at present it has been of no use except 
 to make them try to avoid disputes with us and to 
 excite a laugh against them among others who are not 
 permitted to read for themselves. I have no doubt but 
 in the end the God of all grace will exert His almighty 
 power and vindicate His authority and establish the 
 glory of His own name in this wretched country ; our 
 labors may be only like those of pioneers to prepare the 
 way, but truth will assuredly prevail and this among 
 the other kingdoms of the earth shall assuredly see the 
 salvation of our God. I doubt not but a few more 
 
SERA M PORE LETTERS, 63 
 
 years will show Brahmans renouncing their cast, be- 
 lieving in Christ and throwing their idols to the moles 
 and to the bats. 
 
 You can scarcely form an idea of the pleasure we all 
 felt in receiving your letter and the very pleasing 
 accounts of what our lyord is doing in your parts. We 
 hope you will take every opportunity of dropping us a 
 letter, and shall endeavor to reply to your correspond- 
 ence at all times ; as to your letters finding us, the 
 Captain who brings them has only to do as Captain 
 Hague has done, send a man on purpose or come him- 
 self or on receiving a note any of us would wait on 
 him. 
 
 I wrote the above about two months ago, but did 
 not close the letter because I thought something might 
 transpire before the sailing of Captain Hague which I 
 should be glad to communicate. The ship will sail in 
 a few days, I therefore close this by informing you that 
 I have reason to hope the Lord has been working 
 among the Hindoos ; one has given himself to the 
 church, and we hope to baptize him in a very few days. 
 Four more, viz. two men and two women appear truly 
 wrought upon and give us hope that this is the first 
 fruit of an approaching harvest. I hoped that Captain 
 Hague might have been a spectator of their baptism, 
 but he will go before it can take place. I, however, 
 hope to be able to send an account of it to Dr. Rogers 
 of Philadelphia, who has favored us with his corre- 
 
64 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 spondence and I trust you will hear the news from 
 him. The Philadelphia ship will not sail till a month 
 or two later. Dear Brother, what shall I say more — 
 pray for us and write to us by every opportunity, news 
 from your distant part of the world will rejoice our 
 hearts, above all inform us of the success of dear Mr. 
 Holmes and any other missionaries among the heathen. 
 Tell us the news of your churches and send any trifling 
 publication. We have received some intelligence from 
 America of European concerns before we heard it from 
 Europe. 
 
 We have sent two copies of the gospel by Matthew 
 in Bengallee at the end of which are some other little 
 tracts, hymns, etc., in that language, which we have 
 dispersed, we beg your acceptance of one copy and also 
 that you will present the other in our name to The New 
 York Mission Society as a token of our sincere union 
 with them in the great object of their undertaking. 
 I am, very affectionately yours, 
 
 Wm. Carey. 
 Serampore, Dec. ^th, 1800. 
 
 It can scarcely be necessary to add many words of 
 comment upon this most interesting of letters. The 
 very manner of its composition was such as to give it 
 an intrinsic interest which few other letters in the 
 whole correspondence could possess. Written, most 
 of it, before any direct result was manifest of the seven 
 
SERA MP ORE LETTERS, _ 65 
 
 years of labor, it yet breathes no spirit of discontent or 
 of despair, but gives a comprehensive view of the 
 field and treats of the difficulties to be met and over- 
 come with a wise foresight as far removed from hope- 
 lessness as it is from over-sanguine anticipation. Then 
 comes a break in the narration ; for two months it is 
 laid aside, and when the writer again takes up his pen, 
 the Mission was no longer without a convert. Krishnu 
 Pal, the first convert of modem Christian Missions in 
 India, is the one referred to by Dr. Carey in the close 
 of this letter. To the members of the Christian 
 Church in England and America he is, perhaps, more 
 generally known as the first native Evangelist, and the 
 author of the familiar hymn translated by Dr. Marsh- 
 man, and beginning with the lines : 
 
 " O thou, my soul, forget no more 
 The friend, who all thy miseries bore." 
 
 The correspondence thus commenced was actively 
 carried on from that time, the next letters from Dr. 
 Carey being dated respectively November 11, 1 801, and 
 June 15, 1802. 
 
 MY DEAR BROR. 
 
 An opportunity now offers for me to write you a few 
 lines by my much esteemed friend Capt. Wickes of 
 Philadelphia, and tho' I have but very little to say, 
 yet I must say that little. 
 
66 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Since the separation of Capt. Hague from this 
 place (by whom I wrote to you) we have been visited 
 with the loss of two Missionaries hy Death, viz : Bror 
 Brunsdon, who died last July, and Bror Thomas, the 
 first Missionary to this country, who died Oct. 13th 
 last ; by these and the preceding deaths of Brethn 
 Grant and Fountain, all in little more than two years, 
 we are now reduced to three persons, who are men 
 capable of action, and should be much discouraged 
 had not our gracious I^ord appeared for us in such a 
 manner as to revive our hearts and encourage us 
 amidst these scenes of Mortality. 
 
 The God who thus removed four of our Brethren in 
 two years, has within the last year given us six from 
 among the Heathen who have made an open profession 
 of his Name by Baptism, and are now members of our 
 Church, and also two others, one my eldest son, the 
 other a gentleman bom in China. These are added to 
 our Church, besides whom we hope for some who are 
 not joined to us* . . . gone to our lyord above, a 
 woman who appears to have been savingly converted 
 under a very heavy affliction of which she died, since 
 that her husband has also been apprehended by Christ 
 and gives us great pleasure. My second son and an- 
 other young man also afford us very lively hopes, so 
 that we glory in the midst of our afflictions. 
 
 The I/)rd has also provided in other things beyond 
 
 * Part of the letter torn away. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 6/ 
 
 our utmost expectations, so that we are supplied 
 with all things necessary for this Life ; besides our 
 school which has exceeded our hopes, providence 
 has opened a way which was least expected of any- 
 thing in the world. I was without any idea of 
 such a thing ever taking place when I was chosen 
 professor of the Bengalee and Sangskrit Languages 
 in the College of Fort William ; a circumstance of 
 which I had no expectation till I was applied to by 
 the Provost to know if I would accept it, and which 
 with the advice of my brethren I did. I trust that I 
 am not put into this situation without some especial 
 end to be accomplished thereby. One benefit I already 
 see, viz : a door opening for me to visit some of the 
 native Portuguese who are Roman Catholics, but when 
 afflicted I have found access to some of them, and 
 hope the introduction may contribute to the eternal 
 salvation of some of them, for they are indeed a peo- 
 ple sitting in darkness and the Shadow of Death, as 
 ignorant or perhaps more so than the Heathen, and 
 universally despised by people of all ranks and 
 descriptions. 
 
 I long to hear from you how do you do ? How does 
 the Work of God go on with you ? I am glad to find 
 that there are many revivals still in difierent parts of 
 your highl}" favoured land. If Capt. Hague is in your 
 neighborhood, give my love to him, and inform him of 
 our circumstances ; he will feel somewhat interested 
 
68 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 therein. Tell him when he comes to India again not 
 to forget his promise to me to furnish the Garden of 
 the Mission House with some American Productions. 
 
 Farewell, my dear Bror. Pray for us that we may 
 be faithful to the end and that the word of the I^ord in 
 our hands may be quick, and powerful, sharper than a 
 two edged sword, so that its glorious effects may be 
 seen in the destruction of Sin and Superstition and in 
 the erection of the Kingdom of our glorious Redeemer 
 in this I^and of Darkness and the Shadow of Death. 
 My love to all who love the I^ord Jesus Christ in sin- 
 cerity, I am 
 
 Very affecty Yours, 
 
 Wm. Carby. 
 
 CoivivEGK OF Fort Wii<i.iam, 
 Nov. II, 1801. 
 
 Dkar Brothe^r : — 
 
 I was very agreeably surprised by the arrival of 
 Captain Hague, and by the favor which he brought us 
 from yourself and other friends at New York. Be 
 assured that I and my colleagues very highly esteem 
 your correspondence. 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our I^ord Jesus 
 Christ, for the abundant mercy afforded by him to the 
 inhabitants of America. Two thousand baptized in less 
 than a year ! I am astonished, I am filled with hope 
 and joy, my heart is enlarged, and I expect that very 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 69 
 
 soon the kingdoms of this world will become the king- 
 doms of our lyord and of his Christ ; and may it soon 
 be accomplished. 
 
 The prospect around us is very different. We are on 
 every side surrounded with heathens and Mahomme- 
 dans, who are deaf to the voice of reason, of Scripture, 
 and of God. This very day many thousands of people, 
 I suppose near a million, have met for the mean pur- 
 pose of washing a piece of wood ; or, in other words, for 
 the purpose of bathing a wooden idol, near Serampore, 
 whose name is Juggernaut, which signifies " The Lord 
 of the World." Perhaps such a congregation never 
 met together to hear a gospel sermon since the world 
 began. This very idolatry, however, is probably sub- 
 servient to the spread of the gospel, for several who 
 came from a great distance and have only heard of us, 
 have come to beg a New Testament or some small 
 pamphlet, which we of course, are glad to give. 
 
 When we look around upon the multitudes who care 
 nothing about God, who are given up to every vice, 
 and to every lust, we are filled with distress, and some- 
 times yield for a season to discouragement ; and in- 
 deed it is a melancholy reflection when we meet 
 thousands of people on the Road, to think that there is 
 not among them a single person concerning whom we 
 can reasonably entertain the smallest Hope that he is 
 acquainted with the Grace of God in truth : But when 
 we look on the other side, we are constrained to say ; 
 
70 SERA M PORE LETTERS. 
 
 " What hath God Wrought ? " Eighteen months ago we 
 should have been in raptures to have seen an Hindoo 
 eat at our Table ; now eating with us, is become so 
 common, that it is difficult to find room sometimes for 
 those who come. Nine Hindoos have been baptized, 
 of whom seven walk so as to be an honor to the Gos- 
 pel ; and we expect to baptize an Hindoo and a Mus- 
 sulman more before Capt. Hague leaves this place, 
 besides these four or five others are desiring to join our 
 Church, concerning whom we wish for a little more 
 satisfaction. They, however, appear to be seriously 
 enquiring ; and I doubt not, but they will be brought 
 forward in a little time. Some who have come and 
 rejected cast have returned again to their own rela- 
 tions ; and others have come several days Journey to 
 hear the word of God. Indeed, I have reason to be- 
 lieve, that a great work of God has been wrought 
 among us ; and trust it will continue, and greatly in- 
 crease. Some among the Portuguese and Mussulman 
 are also enquiring, what they must do to be saved f 
 
 Deism is very prevalent among Europeans here, yet 
 I have the greatest reason to believe that God is carry- 
 ing on a Work among them. We have two Evangelical 
 Clergymen of the Church of England ; and I am much 
 mistaken if I have not perceived a more than ordinary 
 unction attending their Preaching lately. Several per- 
 sons of great abilities have been brought decidedly to 
 trust in Christ; and to appear on his side. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 7 1 
 
 Both myself and brethren are much delighted with 
 the New York Mission Society. May the God of 
 Abraham bless their efforts abundantly. If you see 
 dear Brother Holmes or his colleagues give our very 
 cordial love to them, and through them to the believing 
 Indians. We shall be much gratified with anything 
 curious relating to any of them, or indeed with only 
 knowing their names. The name of the person who 
 was our first-fruits unto Christ is Krishna, who has 
 seen three others of his family received into the church, 
 his wife, his daughter, and his wife's sister. 
 
 I must conclude, and indeed feel that I have tired 
 you with this long detail. I thank you for the circular 
 letter of the different associations. Do continue to 
 send them, as they afford us much pleasure, and a 
 knowledge of the state of the churches gives us a pe- 
 culiar interest in them, and excites us to pray for them. 
 Dear brother, pray for us, and especially for your very 
 unworthy but 
 
 Affectionate brother in Christ, 
 
 WlIvLIAM Carky. 
 Cai^cutta, June 15, 1802. 
 
 This last letter of Dr. Carey's comes with a strange 
 force to those who read it after the lapse of so many 
 years and with the knowledge of the events which have 
 taken place since its writing. He who should, to-daj^ 
 attempt to write the history of Christian missions, 
 
72 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 would scarcely think of looking to North America as 
 the portion of the world in which to find a great in- 
 gathering of the church ; rather would he go to those 
 barren fields of which Carey writes, and the very terri- 
 tory known to our fathers as the ' ' Lone Star Mission' ' 
 where, year after year, the word had been preached 
 and the seed sown, but the laborer had seen no whiten- 
 ing harvest. Among the Telegus at Ongole and Nel- 
 lore he would find ingatherings greater in one day than 
 those over which Carey rejoiced as the result of a year's 
 labor ; and yet as we read the letter we may almost 
 catch the echo of a yet earlier account of a more ancient 
 mission : 
 
 * ' Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of 
 " the church which was in Jerusalem, and they sent 
 *' forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch, 
 * ' who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, 
 ** was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose 
 *' of heart they would cleave unto the Lord, for he was 
 " a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of 
 *' faith." 
 
 They tell us that the days of inspiration are over, and 
 that with the passing from earth of the last of the 
 apostolic band there passed also the last lingering rays 
 of that light else never seen on land or on sea, but, to 
 some at least, it seems as if the Spirit which animated 
 and energized the church at Jerusalem was the same 
 ever-present and ever-potent Spirit which guided the 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 73 
 
 councils and blessed the labors of the churches in Eng- 
 land and America and far India in the days of Carey 
 and his associates, and will in our day work the like 
 results in the hearts and lives of men of like faith and 
 like courage. The ingatherings in America, whose 
 Pentecostal fervor and extent kindled the heart of Wil- 
 liam Carey in 1802, are the work of the same Spirit 
 which in later years has gathered thousands into the 
 churches at Ongole and Banza Manteke, and the inter- 
 change between home and foreign missions is, after all, 
 but the refluent tide of a mighty ocean over which 
 broods that divine Spirit, which at the creation moved 
 upon the face of the waters, till from the darkness there 
 came the light. 
 
 News did not travel as fast in the opening years of 
 the century as it has done since the days of the sub- 
 marine cable ; and it was not until 1802 that the Eng- 
 lish brethren seemed to have learned of the correspond- 
 ence between Mr. Williams, representing the New 
 York Missionary Society, and Dr. Carey ; but in that 
 year the following letter was sent and received : 
 
 May Stti, 1802. 
 
 Dear Sir: — 
 
 We see by the Magazines you have had some cor- 
 respondence with our dr Bror Carey at Serampore. A 
 young man who is going with his wife to join them is 
 obliged to go to New York to get passage. We recom- 
 
74 
 
 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 mend him to your cordial friendship, as one whom we 
 think to be a partaker of the right missionary spirit. 
 Receive them, therefore, accordingly, my dear Bror, 
 and if they want any assistance in a pecuniary way, 
 you may be assured that Bror Chamberlaine's drafts 
 will be punctually paid by the Treasurer of the Society 
 in England. 
 
 They can tell you many particulars of the last news 
 from ye East Indies, as well as what concerns our- 
 selves. I must only subscribe myself in haste, 
 Your cordial Bror, 
 
 John Ryi^and. 
 
 To explain the allusion to Mr. Chamberlain, it is 
 necessary to travel back again to Olney and to the Bap- 
 tist Church of which John SutclifiF was pastor there. 
 Mr. Sutcliff was not satisfied with confining his labors 
 simply to his pastoral ofiice, but at his house (first that 
 of which the kindness of Mr. Wright has furnished a 
 view and later a larger edifice on the main street of 
 Olney), he had been in the habit of training young 
 men for the Christian ministry, and after the formation 
 of the Missionary Society, he trained not a few for the 
 Mission field. Among the students thus trained by 
 him was John Chamberlain, formerly a farm-laborer of 
 Braunston, who had married Hannah Smith, a member 
 of Mr. Sutcliff' s church ; and this is the '' Bror Cham- 
 berlaine " alluded to in John Ry land's letter. The 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 75 
 
 East India Company, not satisfied with having banished 
 the missionaries from British territory in India, suc- 
 ceeded, by their influence, in throwing so many difficul- 
 ties in the way of the embarkation of new missionaries 
 on British ships sailing direct for India, that it soon 
 became expedient for the missionaries to make their 
 way first to the shores of America, and from thence to 
 take vessels to India ; and thus it happened that John 
 Chamberlain and his wife, instead of sailing from an 
 English port to India direct, came first to New York, 
 intending to sail thence for India ; but it would appear 
 the city on the Schuylkill was in those early days a 
 more desirable shipping point than Manhattan Island, 
 and both for the sake of the continuity of the narrative 
 and as illustrating the minor difficulties that lay in the 
 way of missionary activity in those days, the following 
 letters are inserted : 
 
 Phii^a., July 16, 1802. 
 Dkar Sir : 
 
 Yours of the 14th Inst, respectg Mr. Chamberlaine 
 came to hand yesterday. In the evening, I had a visit 
 from good Capt. Wickes, who informed me that he had 
 no thoughts of going to India himself, but that a ves- 
 sel, a Capt. Davy, would sail from this port for Calcutta, 
 the beginning of next month. One of the owners con- 
 cerned is Mr. Robert Ralston, a very religious man — 
 the Capt. and ship's company will probably be as is usual 
 
76 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 — this Mr. Chamberlaine must expect. A worthy 
 young man, a neighbour of mine, Dr. Robt. Davidson, 
 is to go as Doctor and Surgeon of the Ship — by whom 
 Doctor Staughton and myself propose writing to Messrs. 
 Carey, &c. as the vessel is bound directly for Calcutta. 
 
 Capt. Wickes reed, some time ago a few lines from 
 Dr. Fuller mentioning Mr. Chamberlaine, and means 
 to interest himself this Day with Mr. Ralston, the 
 Captain, &c. on his and Mrs. Chamberlaine' s behalf — 
 and will either this evening or tomorrow inform me 
 more particularly, when I shall again address you and 
 let you know the result. The business is in good hands. 
 
 At present we are under some apprehensions of the 
 yellow fever. It was brought to our City, the northern 
 part of it, by the St. Domingo Packet. I hope God 
 will be better to us than our fears and deserts. Should 
 it prevail, I propose taking my family out of town, 
 probably to Burlington, as Mrs. Rogers draws near the 
 time of child-bed confinement. Should the fever pre- 
 vail, of which you will be seasonably apprised, Capt. 
 Wickes says that Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine need not 
 enter the City, but take shipping at Chester, Marcus 
 Hook, or New Castle, as the case may be. In all which 
 country we have several Baptist friends, probably Mr. 
 Chamberlaine may make it convenient to journey via 
 Burlington. I am well assured that Dr. Staughton 
 will be glad to see him, and I know, if I am fixed there, 
 I shall. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, *JJ 
 
 Rev. Mr. Milledoler, for whom I preached last 
 I/)rd's Day and of whose church Capt. Wickes is a 
 member, is now in N. York on a visit. As he corre- 
 sponds with one of our Missionaries at Serampoor, I am 
 not sure which of them, I should like that he was 
 introduced to Mr. Chamberlaine. Mr. Milledoler is an 
 Evangelical Preacher. Religion appears to be on the 
 revival among us and all around us. Oh, for greater 
 effusions of God's Holy Spirit. 
 
 Very affectionately yours in a dear Redeemer, 
 
 Wm. Rogers. 
 
 PhiIvA., July 17, 1802. 
 Dkar Sir : 
 
 I wrote you yesterday morning by Post on the sub- 
 ject of Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine' s passage to Cal- 
 cutta. At noon good Capt. Wickes called on me 
 again, having seen Mr. Ralston, Capt. Davy &c. 
 They have agreed to take them on the following terms, 
 viz ; as the cabin will be occupied by the officers of 
 the ship for sleeping, — the owners will cause a private 
 room to correspond with the cabin by a door from 
 the steerage to be fitted up for Mr. and Mrs. Cham- 
 berlaine as a lodging room and place of retirement, 
 solely for their use ; they are to eat in the 
 cabin with the officers of the ship and to have 
 free ingress and egress out of it whenever they 
 
y2> SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 choose, the only exception being that of lodging. 
 The passage money must be paid before they sail, 
 400 dolls, each, and their names to be immediately 
 forwarded to Mr. Ralston, that is, provided they go with 
 Capt. Davy, in order that they may be entered on the 
 Role De Equipage. 
 
 You had better after this address Mr. Ralston alto- 
 gether on the subject, as I shall probably be out of 
 Town, and Mr. Ralston having affectionately consented 
 to it. Direct your letter thus, 
 
 Robert Ralston, Esq., 
 Merch't., 
 Philad'a. 
 
 I am credibly informed that Capt. Davy is a moral 
 and agreeable young man. Our neighbor, Dr. David- 
 son, is generally esteemed so ; however, should any- 
 thing occur on the passage of an unpleasant nattue 
 there will be Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine's own room. 
 
 Don't you think, if they conclude upon going with 
 Capt. Davy, that they had better come on as soon as 
 convenient, at least as far as Burlington ; by stopping 
 there, they will learn the State of Phila. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Staughton will be glad to see them, and should the 
 fever prevent their visiting Phila. I can recommend 
 them to some of our Religious friends at Marcus Hook 
 or Wilmington. 
 
 I have taken rooms in Dr. Staughton' s newly pur- 
 chased house in Burlington, where I propose moving 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 79 
 
 my family in the course of a week or 10 days ; whenever 
 ill the course of providence I may meet with Mr. and 
 Mrs. C. I will render them every assistance in my power. 
 The ship is to sail the very beginning of next month. 
 Capt. Wickes informs me that the passage from Lon- 
 don to Calcutta is 100 guineas, so that something very 
 considerable will be saved in going from Phila. 
 Very affectionately yours, 
 
 Wm. Rogers. 
 
 The following letters from John Chamberlain and Dr. 
 Carey record the events of the voyage and disembark- 
 ation, both being dated March 2, 1803. After a 
 somewhat detailed account of the voyage which would 
 scarcely interest the reader, Mr. Chamberlain continues : 
 
 We had to beat up the Bay of Bengal against the 
 Monsoon, which was rather tedious, but on the whole 
 was in this respect very much favored. On the 20th 
 of Janry. we took a Pilot on board and on the 22nd we 
 saw the land, and going up the river we ran aground 
 and were in a very impleasant situation for three tides, 
 the ship laying on her beam ends. We started all our 
 water and on the 26th early in the morning we were 
 afloat again without any damage. About 10 o'clock 
 we had the joy to see Bro. Ward who had been in- 
 formed of our arrival by a letter I wrote and sent by 
 post and came down to meet us. About 10 miles below 
 Calcutta we left the ship and accompanied Bro. Ward 
 in his boat. Bro. Carey met us at the water's side, and 
 
8o SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 took US to his apartments in the college where we were 
 refreshed. The next morning we reached Serampore and 
 were received by Bro. Marshman and the sisters with 
 christian salutations. Brought to the conclusion of our 
 voyage we thanked God and rejoiced in his goodness. 
 We rejoiced to find the work of the lyord prospers 
 beyond our expectations. Two Hindoos, one a Brah- 
 man, and the other a Byragge were baptised a few days 
 before our arrival, the other was baptised last Sabbath 
 day week. Sixteen Hindoos have been baptised of 
 which number 14 are chtirch members. Of the other 
 two, one is dead, and one is suspended. Our church 
 consists of 27 members. Jehovah hath done great 
 things, whereof we are glad. I,ast Sabbath day even- 
 ing a Hindoo bror. spoke in the name of the I^ord 
 Jesus much to the satisfaction and astonishment of the 
 Brethren. I did not understand him, but it gave me 
 pleasure to see the desirable sight. This is the first 
 time that a Hindoo has preached in such a public and 
 regular manner. His discourse was nearly an hour 
 long. His name is Petumber Shinge, an old man, of 
 a very venerable appearance. God hath done great 
 things in him, and it is our prayer and our hope that 
 he will also do great things by him. We have assisted 
 him in building a house at a place called Sook Saugor 
 about 30 miles above us, where he has gone to live and 
 to preach the words of life. God be with him. Our 
 Bror. Krishna will, we hope, be very useful in the work 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 8 1 
 
 of the Lord. His is truly a christian family. It may 
 be said that he has a church in his house. All inquirers 
 go to his house where they are entertained and in- 
 structed in the way of salvation. Our Bror. Krishna 
 Persad, a young Brahman, gives us great hopes. May 
 God raise up preachers from among the natives to 
 carry on his work. 
 
 In Bengallee I as yet make very little progress. 
 Being much engaged in the school I cannot attend to 
 it so much as I otherwise should. If God preserves 
 my life all that is very difficult will be soon overcome. 
 I much like the Bengallee singing. 
 
 Now my dear brother farewell. Probably I may 
 write to you again soon. May God bless you and 
 yours. May the church prosper over which God hath 
 made you an overseer. May you see it flourish. May 
 the glory of the Lord be seen upon you and upon all 
 the societies of the faithful in Christ Jesus in N. Y. and 
 in all the U. S. Please to present my christian love to 
 Doctor Rodgers, Messrs. Miller, Obeel, &c., &c. My 
 dear partner unites in love to sister W., and hoping 
 that God has helped her safely through and given you 
 to rejoice in his goodness. Write to us often. Tell 
 us largely of your welfare. Pray for us. 
 We rest, 
 
 Most affect' ly yours, 
 
 J. & M. Chambkrlain. 
 
 Serampork, March loth, 1803. 
 6 
 
82 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 My D:eAR Bror. 
 
 I received your kind favour by the arrival of our 
 dear Bror. Chamberlaine, who with his wife arrived 
 here in good health to the great joy of us all. I trust 
 that we shall find them to be real blessings to the Mis- 
 sion. The kind treatment which they received in 
 America calls for our unfeigned gratitude. I trust that 
 you are often remembered in our addresses to the throne 
 of Grace. 
 
 Divine mercy is making large conquests in your 
 favoured land, and I doubt not but you are all encour- 
 aged to labor with double ardor in the great work. I 
 doubt not but many will speak evil of it, and perhaps 
 there may be mixtures of human passions, and sympa- 
 thies. Yet I most sincerely wish that such a work 
 was taking place in India, and that we could see Brah- 
 mans, Mussulmans and Deists falling before the word 
 of God. 
 
 I find that either success or want of it may prove a 
 snare. For the first seven years of my being in this 
 country my mind was often almost dried up by dis- 
 couragement and want of success. I then felt spiritless, 
 and went to the work like a soldier who only expects 
 to be defeated. Since that more success has attended 
 the work, and divine favour has compassed us about 
 on every hand, yet I have remained in a most sinful, 
 unmoved, dispirited and ungrateful. I have all along 
 looked too much to myself instead of having my ex- 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 83 
 
 pectations wholly fixed on the L^rd. I now see and 
 lament my sin, but my soul is as it were confined to a 
 prison and I find it impossible to feel, to hope, and to 
 rejoice like others of the children, and ministers of the 
 L^rd. I trust you will pray to God in my behalf that 
 I may be strengthened with strength in my soul, and 
 that I may go in the strength of the I^ord and make 
 mention of his righteousness, of his only. 
 
 A most glorious work of Grace has been lately car- 
 ried on near Cape Comorin in the Peninsula of India, 
 2700 have been baptised by the native ministers, be- 
 sides about 1000 by Mr. Gericke, a pious missionary 
 there, and all in the space of a few months. At pres- 
 ent Bengal is a vast Wilderness, full of every thing 
 hurtful, and discouraging, tho' not entirely without 
 appearances of the Lord's gracious power. We have 
 baptised 16 Natives, oneof whom was afterwards mur- 
 dered (I suppose by thieves). The word has had a 
 wide circulation, and I think that the number of en- 
 quirers increases. We have people come to us firom a 
 great distance to hear about the way of Life, and [re- 
 ceived] one on whom the Lord appears to have fastened 
 convictions which we trust will end well. One man 
 was baptised last Lord's Day and two a few weeks ago. 
 
 My many avocations oblige me to write short letters, 
 and I am generally obliged to infringe on the hours 
 of sleep to reply to the kind letters of my friends. I 
 hope however that my shortness will not discourage 
 
84 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 you from writing, or from writing long letters. I es- 
 teem the receipt of letters from my friends, as one of 
 the greatest privileges with which I am favoured by 
 the lyord. Send all the accounts of the work of God 
 that you can. This is an incumbent duty, being the 
 way by which you may strengthen the brethren. I/3ve 
 to all your friends. 
 
 I am 
 Very affecty., 
 Yours 
 
 Wm. Carejy. 
 CaIvCUTTa, 2 March, 1803. 
 
 A correspondence having been now commenced with 
 members of the Knglish Society, the exchange of 
 letters and news would seem to have become more 
 frequent, and the following letter from Dr. Ryland is 
 interesting as showing the difficulties attending trans- 
 port in the days of which we write. The ''John 
 Cauldwell ' ' referred to, if unknown to good Dr. Ry- 
 land, is abundantly familiar to the Baptists of America, 
 and we shall meet with him again in the history of this 
 movement. 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 We have lately heard better news than ever from 
 our dear brethren in Bengal, with whom I find you 
 have been so kind as to correspond. It is a sad 
 disappointment, however, that no copies of the N. 
 Testamt. or even of so much as of the book of Matthw. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 85 
 
 have yet arrived in England, except one sent by a pri- 
 vate hand to Mr. Morris, which he sent to Edinburgh 
 and I have one copy of a N. T. and two copies of 
 Matth. given me by a gentleman who had bro't them 
 from Inda for himself. 100 copies of the N. Testa- 
 ment were sent to a ship and receipts obtained of their 
 lading, but the ship being too full they were returned 
 and buried undr. loads of goods at Calcutta for 10 
 months, then they were sent by way of America by 
 Captn. Hague, but where Captn. Hague resides in 
 America we have never been told, nor have we yet 
 heard of the books. I rec'd. a letter lately from Bror. 
 Carey, sent by America and so to Waterford in Ire- 
 land, on the outside of which was the followg. inscrip- 
 tion. "New York Deer. 25, A packet is this day 
 forwarded to you via I^ondn Your most obt. servt. 
 John Cauldwell." But no mention was made of the 
 name of the ship by which it was forwarded, nor have 
 I ever heard of the parcel. These are very sad disap- 
 pointments indeed. All this is of little int. to you Dr. 
 Sir, but, if you know Mr. Cauldwell or Captn. Hague, 
 I shall be extremely obliged to you to tell them how 
 much I regret these misfortunes. May Grace, Mercy 
 and peace be wth. you. 
 
 I am, Dear Sir, 
 
 Your cordl bror., 
 
 John Ryi^and. 
 North Street, Bristoi<, 
 March 5, 1803. 
 
86 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 The next letter from William Carey shows, in no 
 small degree, the breadth of his mind and the uni- 
 versality of his sympathy. To most men the sphere 
 of their own activities bounds the horizon of their 
 hopes and of their desires ; but not so with the men to 
 whom the race has owed its greatest debts of gratitude. 
 With them, as with John Wesley, no parish can be 
 adequate but the world ; and such a man was William 
 Carey. Deep as was his interest in the progress of 
 missions in Bengal, he abated no jot of interest in the 
 progress of Christian work in other quarters of the 
 globe, and his anxiety to learn of the success of the 
 efforts of Elkanah Holmes among the North American 
 Indians, and of the results of efforts to overthrow the 
 slave-trade in the West India Islands, is no less indica- 
 tive of the wide sweep of his observation than his warm 
 tribute to the work of Mr. Gericke in another part of 
 India and in connection with another mission is indica- 
 tive of the extent of his Christian charity : 
 
 My dkar Bror in Christ. 
 
 Having an opportunity of writing by the return of 
 Mr. Smith and family to N. York, I can not let it pass 
 without asking you how you do, and how affairs are 
 going on in America at large, and at N. York in par- 
 ticular. Having at this time written to several corre- 
 spondents at Philadelphia and other places in America 
 all that I can say about ourselves can be only like the 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 8/ 
 
 dull repetition of a twice told tale. I shall therefore 
 be very short upon that head and enquire about the 
 American Missions. Do the Societies go on with cour- 
 age ? Are they countenanced by the public ? Do per- 
 sons fit for, and devoted to the work offer themselves 
 as Missionaries ? How does dear Bror Holmes and his 
 colleagues ? What success have they had among the 
 Indians ? Is any thing done towards translating the 
 Bible into the different Indian I^anguages ? Do the 
 Indians begin to attend to the duties of civilized life ? 
 Are schools set up and well attended among them ? 
 &c., &c., &c. I hope that the glorious work in the 
 Western and Southern States is still continuing, and 
 will continue. Are the impressions in general per- 
 manent or not ? We are to expect that the blossoms 
 will prove abortive in many instances, but after every 
 production is not the Harvest great ? What says the 
 World to this work ? What say Infidels to it ? I sup- 
 pose they will scoff but cannot resist its evidence. Has 
 this glorious work spread into any more of the States ? 
 Has it contributed at all to the destruction of that dis- 
 grace of America, and every civilized nation, the Slave 
 Trade ? We have heard some time ago that the House 
 of Assembly in Jamaica has prohibited the instruction 
 of the Negroes, and their religious meetings. This is 
 a very lamentable circumstance, for there are many of 
 our Brethren there. It is undoubtedly the duty of us 
 all to wrestle hard with God in Prayer for their deliver- 
 
88 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 ance. There can be no doubt but the hand of God 
 will fall heavily on those Islands whose trade and even 
 existence is supported by robbery, oppression, cruelty, 
 persecution and murder. The I^ord will judge his 
 People, and when he maketh inquisition for Blood will 
 not forget the sighing of the poor and needy. I hope 
 and trust in God that the persecution of our dear 
 brethren there will not last long. May their persecu- 
 tors be converted and not destroyed. 
 
 We are all in health through the interposing good- 
 ness of the lyord our God, and the affairs of the Mis- 
 sion are in a promising state rather than otherwise. 
 The number of Natives baptised is twenty-six, two of 
 whom have departed this Life, and left a sweet savour 
 behind them. We have had some occasions to exer- 
 cise discipline, but upon the whole our friends give us 
 much pleasure, and we account them our Glory and 
 Joy. This part of the World has sustained a great loss 
 by the death of dear Mr. Gericke Missionary at Vapery 
 near Madrass ; he has been a Father in Israel for many 
 years, and his * ... or rather the success of the 
 Gospel in the Southern parts of India has lately been 
 uncommonly great, and last year in a journey which 
 he made to the South he baptised and formed into 
 churches about 4000 persons who had then through the 
 instrumentality of native teachers and catechists re- 
 * Part of the letter torn away. 
 
SEE AM PORE LETTERS. 89 
 
 jected heathenism and embraced Christianity. About 
 a week before the account of his death arrived, letters 
 from him informed us that the work was still going on, 
 and that he was preparing for another journey to those 
 parts, but how wonderful are the Ways of God, — he 
 died Oct. 2nd last, and there is now no one to succeed 
 him. My paper is filled. Pray for us. Write to us, 
 and be assured of the Xn. Love of 
 
 Yours Affecty 
 
 Wm. Carey. 
 
 Cai^CUTTA, Nov. 15, 1803. 
 
 Before proceeding further with the correspondence, 
 it may be well to advert to the work of Elkanah 
 Holmes among the American Indians. A plain man 
 himself, and not gifted, as his correspondence seems to 
 show, with many of the graces of eloquence, Elkanah 
 Holmes yet had a marvellous power of winning his 
 way among the Indians of North America, and it 
 would have been well, indeed, for our nation could 
 most of its embassadors to the Indians have gone in the 
 spirit of Elkanah Holmes, and have met with the re- 
 ception which he appears to have met. There is a 
 strange dignity and beauty in the following address 
 presented to Mr. Holmes in the name of the Seneca 
 nation, by Red Jacket, the celebrated Indian chief, on 
 Monday, October 20, 1800 : 
 
90 serampore letters. 
 
 " Fathkr, 
 
 * ' We are extremely happy that the Great Good 
 Spirit has permitted us to meet together this day. We 
 have paid attention to all that you spoke to our ears 
 at our last meeting. We thank the Great Spirit who 
 has put it into the minds of the Great Society of friend- 
 ship at New York to send you to visit us : — we also 
 hope that the Great Spirit will always have his eyes 
 over that Good Society, to strengthen their minds to 
 have friendship towards the poor natives of this island. 
 We thank the Great Spirit that he has smoothed your 
 way, and has protected you through the rugged paths, 
 and prevented any briers or thorns from pricking your 
 feet. As you came on your way to visit us, you called 
 on our Brothers the Oneidas, and Muhheconnuks, and 
 Tuscaroras, who were well acquainted with you. We 
 thank them for the pains they have taken in sending 
 this good talk with wampum : (at the same time hold- 
 ing the talk and wampum in his hand) ; we are con- 
 vinced that what they say of you is true, that you 
 come purely out of love to do us good, and for nothing 
 else ; and that there is no deceit in your business, or 
 in the good people that sent you. 
 
 ** Father, we now request you to speak something 
 to us about Jesus Christ, and we will give attention." 
 
 He then addressed his people and requested them to 
 give good attention to what Mr. Holmes was about to 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 9I 
 
 say, and make no noise, but behave in a becoming 
 manner. Mr. Holmes then proceeded and endeavored 
 to preach Christ to them. When he had concluded, 
 Red Jacket arose and made the following speech to 
 him, after consulting the chiefs : 
 
 " Father, we thank the Great Good Spirit above for 
 what you have spoken to us at this time, and hope he 
 will always incline your heart and strengthen you to 
 this good work. We have clearly understood you, and 
 this is all truth that you have said to us. 
 
 *' Father, we believe that there is a Great Being 
 above who has made heaven and earth and all 
 things that are therein ; and has the charge over 
 all things : who has made you Whites as well as us 
 Indians : and we believe there is something great after 
 death. 
 
 *' Father, what you say about our loving the Great 
 Spirit we know to be truth, as he has his eyes over all 
 things, and watches all our movements and ways, and 
 hears all we say, and knows all we do. 
 
 " Father, we Indians are astonished at you Whites, 
 that when Jesus Christ was among you, and went about 
 doing good, speaking the good word, healing the sick, 
 and casting out evil spirits, that you white people did 
 not pay attention to him and believe him ; and that 
 you put him to death when you had the good Book in 
 your possession. 
 
92 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 "Father, that we Indians were not near to this 
 transaction, nor could we be guilty of it. 
 
 ' * Father, probably the Great Spirit has given to you 
 White people the ways that you follow to serve him, 
 and to get your living : and probably he has given to 
 us Indians the customs that we follow to serve him, 
 (handed down to us by our forefathers) and our ways 
 to get our living by hunting : and the Great Spirit is 
 still good to us to preserve game for us : and Father, 
 you well know you white people are very fond of our 
 skins. 
 
 *' Father, you and your good people know that ever 
 since the white people came on this island, they have 
 been always getting our lands from us for little or 
 nothing. 
 
 * ' Father, perhaps if we had had such good people 
 as you and your society, to have stepped in and ad- 
 vised us Indians, we and our forefathers would not 
 have been so deceived by the white people ; for you 
 have the Great and Good God always in your sight. 
 
 ' ' Father, we repeat it again — we wish you and the 
 good people of your society to make your minds per- 
 fectly easy, for we like what you say, and we thank 
 the Good Spirit for their good intentions, and that they 
 have sent you to visit us. 
 
 ' ' Father, you do not come like those that have come 
 with a bundle under their arms, or something in their 
 hands, but we have always found something of deceit 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 93 
 
 under it ; for they are always aiming at our lands ; but 
 you have not come like one of those — you have come 
 like a father and a true friend, to advise us for our 
 good. — We are convinced that there is no snare in 
 your business. We hope that our talk to you at this 
 time will be communicated to your good society at 
 New York, and that the Good Spirit will protect you 
 and them in this good work that you and they have 
 undertaken — and we expect that the bright chain of 
 friendship shall always exist between us — and we will 
 do everything in our power to keep that chain bright 
 from time to time." 
 
 Mr. Holmes seems to have given reports of his work 
 among the Indians not only to the New York Mission- 
 ary Society, but to the New York Baptist Association, 
 in whose early Minutes many references appear to his 
 work ; thus in the Minutes for 1802 it is recorded that 
 an affectionate letter from the Mohheconnuk nation of 
 Indians at New Stockbridge was received, containing a 
 grateful acknowledgment of the reception of the books 
 sent them in the preceding summer ; and it was per- 
 haps no unnatural outgrowth of this interest in the 
 work of Elkanah Holmes that, apparently in the year 
 1806, the New York Baptist Missionary Society was 
 formed and John Williams installed as its first Presi- 
 dent. In 1807 its membership is stated at 112; and 
 among its list of twelve Directors we note the name of 
 
94 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 John Cauldwell, as to whom Dr. Ryland inquired. 
 The receipts of the Society for that year amounted to 
 $626.84, ^^^ it was resolved to employ a Missionary, 
 a resolution which was carried into effect, the Rev. 
 Charles I^ahatt being appointed Missionary for the 
 Society. 
 
 In the meanwhile the English Society was preparing 
 to send out additional Missionaries, and their coming 
 was announced in a letter from Andrew Fuller, the 
 first Secretary of the English Baptist Mission Society. 
 
 Bristoi*, Dec. 5, 1803. 
 Dkar Sir : — 
 
 As four young men, and their wives and a child, are 
 likely to be a while in your City in their way to Ben- 
 gal, we take the liberty to recommend them to your 
 brotherly kindness, persuaded from your former con- 
 duct towards our bror Chamberlain that you will will- 
 ingly give them every assistance in your power. 
 
 Their names are Richard Marden, John Biss, William 
 Moore, and Joshua Rowe. They and their wives are 
 members of baptist churches, and have walked as be- 
 cometh the gospel. Bach of the young men has 
 preached in our churches with good acceptance. They 
 will advise with you, Mr. Collier, Mr. Jno. F. March, 
 and Kzekiel Robins, Esqr., on whatsoever they may 
 need advice. To these gentlemen we have been recom- 
 mended by Dr. Rogers of Philadelphia. We will 
 
JOHN WILLIAMS. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 9$ 
 
 thank you to present our christian love and introduce 
 our brethren and sisters to them. 
 
 They will show you their instructions, and be thank- 
 ful for your advice and assistance in carrying them into 
 execution ; especially in directing them to a suitable 
 place or places during their stay in your City, where 
 they might be at a moderate expense, and in the nego- 
 tiation of a draft on the society. 
 
 Our Society will be much obliged to you and your 
 friends for their assistance. 
 
 I am Affecy yrs. , 
 
 ANDR:ew Fui,i,KR. 
 
 All of the four named had been pupils of John Sut- 
 cliff in Olney, and were evidently warmly received by 
 the friends of the Mission in New York. It is unfor- 
 tunate that none of Rev. John Williams' own letters 
 are in existence (as far as the editors are aware), and, 
 consequently, the history of the New York days can 
 only be conjectured. The young missionaries seem, 
 however, to have made many friends during their stay 
 in America, and many kind inquiries were made about 
 them. From a short letter from Dr. Ryland under date 
 of June 14, 1804, it would seem that the voyage from 
 England to America must have been a long and, perhaps, 
 dangerous one, and that apprehensions were felt as to 
 their safety, for he writes : ** I have but a few minutes 
 time to write a line just to thank you and your friends 
 
96 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 for all the kindness you have shown to our dear Mis- 
 sionaries. The news of their safe arrival was like life 
 from the dead, for we began to despair of ever hearing 
 of them. May the Lord increase your usefulness and 
 bless you abundantly. ' ' The same mail that brought 
 this letter from Dr. Ryland must have brought a letter 
 also from John Rippon bearing the same date, in which 
 much interest is expressed in the mission of Mr. 
 Holmes to the Indians, and indeed, this interchange 
 of information as to the various forms of Christian 
 work in which the correspondents on both sides of the 
 sea were severally interested formed one of the strong- 
 est ties between the English and American societies. 
 
 The next letter in the correspondence is one from 
 Richard Marden, written on the ship Sansom, off the 
 Cape Verde Islands, and contains the narrative of his 
 voyaging thus far. It is followed by a long and most 
 interesting letter from Andrew Fuller. 
 
 Ship Sansom, Cap^ Verb Isi^and, 
 July 4, 1804. 
 Dkar Sir:— 
 
 May grace, mercy and peace from God our Father 
 and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and yours con- 
 tinually. Most gladly do I embrace this opportunity 
 of writing to you a few lines thus far on the passage, 
 which I hope will not be in vain. Yesterday we made 
 the Isle of Bonavista and passed it by. This morning 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 97 
 
 about daylight we made the Isle of St. May ; we are 
 now very near it. The captain talks of sending a boat 
 ashore ; we are just within sight of St. Jago, where he 
 talks of dropping anchor. I hope I shall be able to con- 
 vey this to you from one of these Islands, but from 
 which I am not yet certain. I have the happiness to 
 inform you that we are all at present in the enjoyment 
 of a good degree of health. We have none of us had any 
 sickness worth mentioning. These light afflictions which 
 are but for a moment will work out for us a far more ex- 
 ceeding and eternal weight of glory. There is nothing 
 in this world worth living for. There is nothing desir- 
 able to the Christian in this land of the curse, this 
 state of sin and imperfection. I wish to live only for 
 God, to promote the interest of my dear Redeemer. 
 How necessary is watchfulness and prayer in every step 
 through life, but when I view my own short-comings, 
 I have reason to be ashamed and confounded before 
 God. I long to be delivered from the burden of sin, 
 and to be sanctified, body, soul and spirit throughout. 
 I hope, sir, that you and all my dear Christian [friends] 
 will pray for me and for us all that we may be found 
 faithful unto death. The work is great and arduous, and 
 I feel myself weaker than a bruised reed yet through 
 the help of God, I trust I shall be enabled to perse- 
 vere even unto the end, and then when called to depart 
 this life, I hope to be with Christ, which is far better. 
 When I sat down to write, I little thought of saying so 
 
 7 
 
98 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 much about myself and especially of running on in 
 this strain to such a degree, but you will excuse my 
 freedom. Tho' I am writing to an Elder^ a Superior 
 and in one sense a Stra7iger, yet I am writing to a 
 Friend, and a Brother^ for we are all one in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 The circumstances attending our voyage hitherto 
 are in general of a pleasing nature. We have had 
 good weather in general, except one heavy storm the 
 6th of June, about midnight. The Captain is quite a 
 gentleman. He behaves exceeding kind to us. We 
 have had preaching every Sabbath since we have been 
 out, sometimes once, and sometimes twice ; we have 
 preached two or three times on deck on lyord's Day 
 mornings,, the capn calls all hands to attend. We are 
 never hindered from attending to any religious duty. 
 We were likely to put back again to some port in 
 America a few days after we came out. The ship 
 sprung a leak, and they were obliged to keep the 
 pumps working every hour; this continued several 
 days, and the leak increased, but they found it out and 
 stopt it themselves. I must close ; the boat is just 
 going ashore. I intend writing also to Mr. Smith, but 
 time will not permit, for which I am sorry. I '11 en- 
 deavour to embrace the next opportunity. Give our 
 kind love to all the dear friends in York, espy, to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Smith. As I have no opportunity of writing 
 to Kngland, if you would write a few lines to any of 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 99 
 
 our friends the first opportunity, you would much 
 oblige, your humble serv^ant, 
 
 Richard Mardon. 
 P. S. 
 
 While I was writing this, Mrs. Mardon wrote a few 
 lines to her friends, which I have taken the liberty to 
 enclose in this, which I would thank you to send to 
 England by the first conveyance. 
 
 Kettering, Aug. i, 180 
 My dejar Bror. 
 
 I reed. yrs. of June 12 a day or two ao:o. We are all 
 greatly obliged by the kindness of our brethren in New 
 York to the Missionaries. We feel it, and we rejoice 
 that others feel it a work which in all its operations 
 expands and unites the hearts of Xns. We also re- 
 joice to hear of the work of God in your countr>^, tho' 
 some things attending it have rather stunned us ; but 
 in most instances of the kind there has been a mixture 
 of chaff among the wheat in order to try men. I think 
 our churches (I mean the baptists) are low in general. 
 Those about the midland counties have suffered heavy 
 losses by the removals of Carey from lycicester, Ryland 
 from Northampton, Pearce from Birmingham, Morris 
 from Clipstone and Blundel from Arnsby. These were 
 our most able and active ministers ; and though four 
 out of the five are labouring in other parts of the vine- 
 yard, yet the general connection hereabouts feel their 
 
100 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 loss. I think the churches in the West of England 
 have been of late in the most thriving condition. An 
 Antinomian doctrine and spirit has almost ruined a 
 great number of our churches in Norfolk, Suffolk, 
 Yorkshire, &c. 
 
 We consider the mission to Bengal as the most fa- 
 vourable symptom attending our denomination. It 
 confirms what has been for some time with me an im- 
 portant principle, that where any denomination, con- 
 gregation, (or individual) seeks only its own, it will be 
 disappointed, but where it seeks the Kingdom of God 
 and his righteousness, its own prosperity will be among 
 the things that will be added unto it. I have seen 
 great zeal for what among us is called the dissenting 
 interest ; and in such hands the dissenting interest has 
 died. Had they sought more to make men Christians, 
 they should in most cases have been dissenters of their 
 own accord. In fact I see that in those congregations 
 where the main object is what it should be, there reli- 
 gion flourishes. The same may be said of baptists. 
 If the first fruits of our zeal be laid out in making 
 proselytes to that denomination, however right the 
 thing may be in itself, the I^ord will frown upon us and 
 leave us. But if we be mainly employed in making 
 men Xns, we need not fear but they will be baptists. 
 It is of great consequence to pursue things according 
 to their importance, making that a first concern which 
 is first, and that a Second which is secondary. In seek- 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. lOI 
 
 ing the salvation of others a man will find his own. 
 He who is exalted as head over all things obtained that 
 glory by denying himself for the sake of others. 
 
 I was delighted yesterday in reading some of our 
 last intelligence from the East, down to Dec. 1803. A 
 Dialogue founded on facts — drawn up with only a little 
 variation in phraseology by bror Ward. 
 
 Boodheesa, one of the Xn natives was bom a Mussul- 
 man and brought up to farming ; but afterwards be- 
 came a Byraggee, a kind of holy beggar. Being 
 instructed by his new Goroo, or teacher he left his 
 friends and employment, and set off begging, and 
 repeating the forms of his new cast. In this way he 
 did many acts incredibly difl&cult and painful. Hear- 
 ing a little of the gospel he came three days journey to 
 Serampore ; heard more ; was inclined to wait for fur- 
 ther instruction ; and was at length baptised, account- 
 ing all his hard-acquired holiness but ' ' dung that he 
 might win Christ and be found in him." On leaving 
 Serampore he resolved to return to his house which he 
 had forsaken on becoming a Byraggee. When he 
 arrived he stood at the door, and as soon as they saw 
 him they all with weeping invited him in. He told 
 them he could not go in, as he had lost Cast, and he 
 did not wish to give them sorrow without their consent. 
 
 '* Come in my Son," said the Mother (a ver>^ old 
 woman, weeping) ''why do you stand at the door ? " 
 
I02 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Boodheesa. "" No Mother, I cannot come into the 
 house. You will lose your cast, for I have eaten with 
 English people." 
 
 The Mother, brothers and wife. ' ' Well, but cannot 
 you come in ? " 
 
 Boodheesa. ** No, I will not come in, but if you will 
 come and sit out, I will tell you what I have done, and 
 why I have done it." 
 
 The Family. *' Come then, let us go and sit in the 
 Cow-house. ' ' 
 
 Boodheesa (sitting with his friends round him in the 
 cow-house). " You all know that I have never done 
 any thing but for the best. It was to seek my good 
 that I became a Byraggee, and therefore you may be 
 sure that what I have now done has been to secure my 
 salvation." 
 
 Mother. *' Well, my Son, let us hear." 
 
 Boodheesa. ' ' You know that I have wandered up 
 and down in search of the true way. I forsook the 
 world. I became a Byraggee. I have obtained my 
 food by begging. I have repeated the name of God 
 continually. I have visited different holy places I have 
 performed the Bromha Sadon.-t^ I have performed the 
 SoorjaSadon, and for 12 months, 12 hours every day 
 fixed my eyes on the blazing orb, till I became blind, 
 and my face, as black as ink, was dried up. You know 
 * Worship paid to Bromha. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. IO3 
 
 that I then performed the Chuudro Sadon * to recover 
 my sight, and to obtain some fruit for my soul. Be- 
 sides this, I have done other very severe and terrific 
 acts, called holiness ; but all was in vain. I continued 
 a slave to sin, and my mind was destitute of happiness. 
 At length I heard of there being a new way preached 
 at Serampore. I have been there, and have heard glad 
 tidings, that Jesus Xt. came into the world, and bore 
 the punishment due to sinners. This is a great word, 
 and it has filled my soul with hope and joy. Hence I 
 have laid aside the proud thought of making amends 
 for my own transgressions. I make my refuge in his 
 death, and consider all my own holiness as a heap of 
 sin. I have been baptised in his name. If I can be- 
 lieve in him, and obey his command, I shall get over 
 my everlasting ruin. If you can unite with me in be- 
 coming the disciples of Xt., then I shall find my home, 
 my mother, my brother, my wife, and a Saviour all 
 at once ; but if you cannot, then I will abide by my 
 Saviour, and go every where proclaiming his name. 
 If I die in this work, under a tree, or any where else, 
 verily it shall then be well with me. ' ' 
 
 Mother. '* My son, I am now become old. In 
 looking round me I see only you and your brother and 
 sisters. I see no world below but you. If you have 
 
 * The worship of the Moon, by fixing the eyes upon its 
 shadow as seen in the water, and repeating a munter &c. 
 
I04 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 found this good news, well, Let your brother go with 
 you and see and believe and if he find things so, and a 
 Saviour has died for us, why may not we be baptised 
 and share in your benefit ? ' ' 
 
 Sadu^sa (the brother). *' I will go to Serampore 
 with you. I had thought of staying at home, and of 
 remaining unmarried to nourish my mother till her 
 death ; and then of becoming a Byraggee, that having 
 left the world, at death I might obtain salvation. But 
 now I will go with you, and hear about Yesu 
 Khreest." 
 
 Mother, "Well, Son, let us go in. You must eat 
 with us. Why should you stay out ? Are you then 
 of a different cast from your own brother ? ' ' 
 
 They leave the cow-house, and at the voice of 
 maternal love, at the call of yr gospel, and in spite of 
 the interdictions of the infernal cast, they eat and drink 
 together, saying one to another, * ' Let us now go even 
 unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to 
 pass, which the Lord hath made known to us ! " 
 
 I have copied the above as a sweet morsel for you 
 and the dear Xn. friends about you. I am obliged to 
 you for your favourable reception of what I have 
 written, and your wishes for me to write more. My 
 hands are very full with Missionary labours. I have 
 been out on that business the two last months. I be- 
 lieve our funds are now more than exhausted for the 
 first time. But the bills from New York will be duly 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. IO5 
 
 honoured. I have been lately preparing for the press 
 an Octavo Volume of Expository discourses on the 
 book of Genesis. It may however be a year ere it is 
 out. It has been my practice to expound a chapter 
 every Ms. day forenoon, for the last 14 years. This 
 volume will be a part of those expositions. I wish I 
 cd. get time to write Dr. Rogers. Remember me 
 affectionately to Mr. Miller, Mr. Mason and all those 
 dear friends, Smith, Cauldwell, &c., &c., whose houses 
 and hearts were opened to our dear young people. We 
 had many fears for them, but we bless God that hither- 
 to he hath helped us. 
 
 I am 
 
 Yr. affecte. bror., 
 
 A. FuLI^KR. 
 
 This letter itself is a most remarkable one, exhibit- 
 ing, as it does, two elements in the founders of this 
 new mission which are seldom to be met, a wonderful 
 breadth of view on the one hand, combined with a deep 
 and clear insight into the character of individuals on 
 the other. The churches have scarcely yet risen to an 
 apprehension of the true spirit of Catholicity which 
 breathes in the opening words of Fuller, and surely he 
 would be a rash man who would lightly undertake to 
 analyze with more of beauty and truth the feelings of 
 the new convert than has been done in the simple dia- 
 logue with which the letter concludes, and which was 
 
I06 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 the work of William Ward, the third in the great trio 
 of the Serampore missionaries. Nor is the letter inter- 
 esting only from the religious standpoint. The types 
 of Hindoo character presented in the dialogue, and in 
 many similar episodes from Ward's pen, are rapidly 
 passing away, and are being replaced by a strange 
 amalgamation produced by the mingling of Eastern 
 and Western civilization. Whatever else England has 
 done for India, she has not developed the native 
 character, and such examples of that character as are 
 to be found in this letter and in the pages of Ward's 
 famous work on the Hindoos are rapidly coming to 
 have a unique value as presenting a type of a civiHza- 
 tion that has passed, or is passing, rapidly away. 
 
 It is to be regretted that the correspondence here 
 given contains but one letter from John Sutcliff, and 
 that a very brief and not a very important one. As it 
 is the only one, however, it is here presented to the 
 reader : 
 
 Very Dkar sir ; — 
 
 I seize an opportunity of sending by Mr. Harding, 
 a line to express my gratitude, and that of many here, 
 for your kindness to our young friends at New York. 
 Owing to a weakness in my right hand, I can write 
 but little ; but, perhaps, we could now and then ex- 
 change a line, an association letter &c. , it would afford 
 me pleasure to receive any thing of this kind. Per- 
 
ANDREW FULLER. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. \Oj 
 
 haps you may sometime have a friend coming to Lon- 
 don, who would leave a small packet for me at the 
 Rev. Mr. Button's, 24 Paternoster Row. Has any 
 person defended the work in Kentucky, against Ran- 
 kin's Review ? Have seen Rankin, and should rejoice 
 to see any judicious piece in defense of the work. 
 
 One of our friends mentions the kindness of a Mr. 
 Whithington. If he ever lived in Manchester, I knew 
 him, & Mrs. W. 
 
 With best wishes for your usefulness and comfort, I 
 
 rest 
 
 Yours most cordially, 
 
 John Sutci^iff, 
 Ol^NEY, Augt. 29, 1804. 
 
 The next letter in the series, from Joshua Rowe, one 
 of the young missionaries who came out in 1803, takes 
 up the narrative at the point where Mardon had 
 left it. The good ship Sa7isom reached Madras in 
 safety, and the letter records the fortunes of the little 
 party after their landing, and with that from Richard 
 Mardon himself, brings the narrative down to the close 
 of the year 1805 : 
 
 Serampore, Octr. 3rd, 1805. 
 My dear bro. Wili^iams : 
 
 Have just been informed by Bro. Marshman, who is 
 come from Calcutta, that there is a ship going to sail 
 for N. York in a few days. I suppose the shortness of 
 
I08 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 the time alloted me will confine the limits of the pres- 
 ent correspondence to one letter, and I am persuaded I 
 owe that to you. Hope long before this my New York 
 friends have received the profiles, &c. that I sent from 
 Madras by the return of the Sansom. Many of them 
 are a letter in debt to me. A few months since, I reed, 
 some pamphlets, &c. from my friend, Mr. Cauldwell ; 
 also, a share in a letter ! I had no idea, while in N. Y. 
 that paper was scarce, if I had, I wd. have left him a 
 quire. 
 
 From the supposition that our letters from Madras 
 have been received, I shall say nothing respecting our 
 voyage in the Sansom. During our residence at 
 Madras, we experienced much kindness from Europe- 
 ans. We had an opportunity of preaching, in the 
 house in wh. we lived, every lyord's Day, and often on 
 week days. In general, we were pretty well attended. 
 Hope the seed sown will take root. Some of us w^ere 
 invited to stay. They went so far as to make three 
 subscriptions, one to help defray our expenses while 
 there, another to build a Chapel, and another for a 
 standing fund, the interest of which was to go tow- 
 ards our support if we would remain ; some indi- 
 viduals also came forward with considerable offers, 
 on condition of our continuing. These circum- 
 stances had much weight on my mind, being so- 
 licited to stay. After considering the design of our 
 coming out, and also of there being a Mission already 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. IO9 
 
 established there, we answered their solicitations in 
 the negative. 
 
 Am sorry that I have but little to say respecting the 
 flourishing state of religion at Madras. The death of 
 Swartz and Gerick will be severely felt. They were 
 truly apostolic Missionaries. There are two Mission- 
 aries here, Mr. Paezold and Dr. Rottler (from Tinqui- 
 bar). From all I cd. see and hear, money is the great 
 idol of the former, but the latter (Dr. R. of Tinquibar) 
 I sincerely love as a Missionary. Hope the Lord will 
 raise up more faithful servants, and thrust them forth 
 into his vineyard. 
 
 We had to wait a long time for a passage, and after 
 all were obliged to leave Brethn. Mardon and Biss be- 
 hind. About the 4th of Feby. last, Bro. Moore and 
 self sailed for Bengal, and in about 15 days arrived at 
 Calcutta, after a narrow escape from a French Frigate. 
 
 We found our friends here well, except the affliction 
 occasioned by the death of Mrs. Chamberlain. Am 
 very happy in my present situation. Have my hands 
 full of work, which is so various that I cannot here 
 particular mention them. Since my arrival, Bro. 
 Carey has baptized 10 persons, 3 of whom were natives 
 and 2 Europeans. Expect that Bro. Carey will bap- 
 tize 4 or 5 more, next Lord's Day. Bro. Moore has 
 been to Dacca to distribute tracts. Bro. Biss is going 
 to live near Dinegapore, and Bro. Mardon is going into 
 the Jassore countr>\ There is a chapel going to be 
 
no SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 erected by subscription in Calcutta, for the use of all 
 who preach. Bro. Carey continues at the college. Is 
 publishing a Sanscrit Grammar and Mahratta Diction- 
 ar)\ The Brethren have engaged, under the patron- 
 age and support of the Asiatic Society and College 
 Council, to translate and print some of the Hindoo 
 Shasters. The Ramyun is the first selected, and will 
 take 3 or 4 years to accomplish. Hope the Bible 
 will soon be completed in the Bengalese. The trans- 
 lation of the scriptures into several of the eastern lan- 
 guages is also going on. We have had two or three 
 inquiries within this day or two. Petumber Singe is 
 dead ; he died triumphing in God. Most of our native 
 brethren give us much pleasure. Many of them 
 preach. Upon the whole, we have much reason for 
 thankfulness. 
 
 Am glad to hear of the increase of your church. 
 Often think of you, often pray for you, often anticipate 
 the meeting above. Brethren and Sisters, did they 
 know I was writing, would cordially unite with Mrs. 
 R. and self in love to you, Mrs. W. and all our N. Y. 
 friends. 
 
 Most affectionately yours, 
 
 Joshua Rowk. 
 
 It is not for want of a will that I have not written 
 more. I am in hope of giving you a little more by Mr. 
 Cauldwell. Hope you will write me the first opportu- 
 nity. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. Ill 
 
 Serampore, Deer. 26tb, 1805. 
 
 Revd and dkar Sir : 
 
 A fair opportunity now presents itself to send you a 
 little news from India which I can by no means let 
 slip. I wish I had time to write more of my friends in 
 New York, but I must beg to be excused for the 
 present. 
 
 Two of our Brethren, J. Maylin and J. Fernandez, 
 Junr, Ksqrs, who are members with us in full com- 
 munion, have taken a passage in the William Penn of 
 Philadelphia on their way to England, and expect to 
 sail in the course of a few days. They intend at 
 present to travel from Philadelphia to New York in 
 order to procure a passage direct to Bristol ; it is prob- 
 able, therefore, that you will receive this letter at 
 their hands. As they are both entire strangers to 
 America, it would be of great service to them to know 
 where to light on a Christian Friend. Provision of 
 this kind, however, will be made by some of the senr 
 Brethren who are writing to different Friends in Amer- 
 ica, and I believe to you. Should you, or any of the 
 Friends of Christ in New York be favoured with their 
 company I think you will not only find it pleasant but 
 profitable, as they will be able to tell you many partic- 
 ulars of the state of affairs in this part of the globe, and 
 especially what the I,ord has done for us, and for his 
 church in this place. And indeed we may say with 
 the Psalmist, ' ' the Lord hath done great things for us, 
 
112 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 whereof we are glad. " 'T is true, when we look around 
 on the multitude that our eyes are called daily to be- 
 hold who are involved in heathen darkness and super- 
 stition, bowing down to idols and trUvSting in gods that 
 cannot save, there is enough to make our hearts ache, 
 and to excite every tender emotion of the mind ; but, 
 on the other hand, when we reflect on the success with 
 which the I^ord has crowned the Mission, we have 
 reason to rejoice and shout for joy. I don't know how 
 many Hindoos have been baptised and joined our 
 Church from the first, but since our arrival at Seram- 
 pore, in May last, I suppose about 30 have joined us. 
 We had the pleasure to see 10 in one day publicly avow 
 their attachment to the Redeemer by being baptised in 
 his name. A pleasing sight ! The I^ord will carry on 
 his work in spite of all opposition. He is making in- 
 roads in Satan's Kingdom. It begins to totter, and 
 must finally fall, for Christ must reign till he hath put 
 all enemies under his feet. 
 
 The Lord has blessed several of our native Bren with 
 ministerial gifts, and others are promising. We have 
 a Missionary Station at Cutna, about 90 miles to the 
 north, superintended by Bror Chamberlain. Bror Fer- 
 nandez, senr, who resides at Dingapore, is publishing 
 the gospel in that neighborhood. We expect him here 
 in a few days. Bror Biss is going with him. We have 
 several native Bren at Jessore, more to the east. We 
 have taken some steps towards forming a station there, 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 13 
 
 which we hope soon to accomplish. I expect to reside 
 there. I am sorry I have neither time nor room to en- 
 large, but I hope this defect will be supplied by our 
 Bren. We are all well and happy. Mrs. M. unites in 
 love to you and Mrs. W. with all our Xn Friends. 
 I remain yours in the best of bonds, 
 
 R. Mardon. 
 
 By the kindness of Sir W. T. lycwis we are enabled 
 to present also a letter addressed to the English Society 
 by six Missionaries and giving a more general account 
 of the work at Serampore. 
 
 DKARI^Y BKIvOVKD in our lyORD 
 
 Considering you as being one with ourselves, and as 
 equally sharing in our sorrows and our joys, we feel a 
 pleasure at the return of the Season for our quarterly 
 correspondence. We have reason to complain a little, 
 on account of not regularly receiving your quarterly 
 communication. Twelve months, if not more, have 
 elapsed since we received the last public letter from 
 you ; notwithstanding that the Fleet, and many extra 
 ships, have arrived from England. 
 
 It is our desire to impart every thing interesting ; 
 altho' when we view the vast importance of the work 
 in which we are engaged, the many circumstances, 
 which have occurred, and the disqualifications we pos- 
 sess, when compared with the greatness of the under- 
 
114 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 taking, we are constrained to impart anything of a 
 pleasing nature, with fear and trembling. 
 
 As a family, God has laid us under great obligations, 
 by his tender dealings towards us. The greater part 
 of 2is have been laid under his afflicting hand. Bror. 
 Biss has an attack of the I^iver Complaint 
 
 He has undergone one salivation, and is now enter- 
 ing upon another ; we hope he has received much 
 benefit from the first and that this will effectually re- 
 move the complaint. 
 
 As a Church, we have been exercised with various 
 feelings. We have been under the painful necessity of 
 excluding John, Golamee and Anunda for conduct un- 
 becoming the Gospel. Our Brother Seeboo of Jessore 
 died in April last. He was at his own house among 
 his heathen relations, therefore we know but little, 
 respecting the state of his mind at the hour of dissolu- 
 tion. Our Brother Bykunta was at his house a short 
 time after his death. His widow told him that a few 
 days before her Husband's death, he refused to repeat 
 the names of the Heathen Gods, when desired to do it 
 by some of his heathen neighbours. 
 
 He recommended it to her to embrace the Saviour 
 and expressed his desire that she would go to Seram- 
 pore to be instructed in the way of life. May God 
 seal this, his dying advice upon her heart as we trust 
 he did that of our departed Petumber Sing. Our na- 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. II5 
 
 live Brethren & Sisters at Ram Krishnoopore, have 
 had to encounter much opposition, and some of them 
 are now reduced to very destitute circumstances. When 
 we behold the Christian fortitude which they have 
 manifested in the midst of their distress, we are con- 
 strained to acknowledge that the Hand of God is with 
 them. 
 
 Amidst all our painful exercises, we are refreshed by 
 pleasing occurances. 
 
 We have felt happy in being enabled to restore Roop, 
 Mohun, and Goluk Mohun's wife, to church fellow- 
 ship. Mrs. Kphraim Burford whose father is a mem- 
 ber of the church under the Pastoral care of Mr. Booth ; 
 Ram Nul an Hindoo from Mirzapore ; Dazee ; our 
 Bror Rogunath's wife ; Mohun a carpenter, who now 
 lives at Serampore ; and Manick of Jessore, have given 
 themselves up to the Church. 
 
 With respect to the Mission in general many things 
 have occurred, which afford us much encouragment. 
 At Present we have four enquirers, Bhyrub a person 
 from Krishnonagoi Punshanum from the district of 
 Mahmoodshye ; Ram Yeebum from Calcutta, and 
 Saneteram from Chitagong. 
 
 There is much in them of a pleasing nature, and we 
 hope that the hearts of some of them are turned unto 
 the Lord. 
 
 Several other persons have occasionally visited us. 
 
Il6 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 These circumstances tend to establish our faith in 
 that precious promise, "The word of the Lord shall 
 not return void. ' ' 
 
 Our dear Bro' Fernandez still continues abounding 
 in his labours of Love, and is not without hope that 
 the Lord is owning them for good. 
 
 The Lord seems to have begun to work in the heart 
 of a Mussulman, who lives near Dinagepore, whose 
 name is Turrickulla. Bro' Fernandez sayes, in a letter 
 lately received from him that he still continues to give 
 him hope. " When ever he comes to see us he joins us 
 in family prayer. He lately demoUshed an Kedgah" 
 (a wall with steps along one side of it on which people 
 sit to read the Koran) built many years ago upon his 
 own little Estate. 
 
 By this act, and his inclination to the Christian Re- 
 ligion, he has raised some enemies. The school is 
 still continued. Our native brethren Galak and Fu- 
 tick, are gone to Dinagepoor, and from their present 
 activity, promised to be useful in making known the 
 word of Life. Bidya-nath left us with them but has 
 deserted them and we fear has deserted the cause too. 
 Krishnoo Pawl also accompanied them for the purpose 
 of itinerating about Guamalty, Malda Ragmahl &c. He 
 was kindly received by our European friends at these 
 places, and his labours seem to have been very accepta- 
 ble. He has now returned. 
 
 Bro' Chamberlain has had many opportunities of 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. II7 
 
 preaching the word & distributing tracts to numbers 
 of people from different parts of the Country. He gives 
 us a pleasing account of Kangalee, whose assistance is 
 very useful to him when itinerating. He has some 
 hope respecting a person of the name of Seeboo Roy, 
 who has been to see him several times and manifests a 
 concern about the Gospel. Kangalee has been to visit 
 Grididor who we fear is gone back into the world. He 
 was very ill, but seem to have little concern about his 
 soul. 
 
 The people at Cutwah are much prejudiced against 
 the Gospel, in consequence of which, several of the 
 most promising children have been taken from the 
 school. 
 
 Several of our Jassore brethren are now at Seram- 
 pore. Krishnoo has taken a journey thither to enquire 
 into their state and to preach the word to them. He 
 found some of them very low, being much discoiuraged 
 on account of the opposition they have met with, since 
 the Gospel has been more generally made known 
 there. 
 
 The school at Bishoo Hurry is for the present given 
 up. Krishnoo returned with an enquirer or two. 
 
 Our English Congregation at Calcutta continues in 
 nearly the same state as usual. A piece of ground is 
 purchased in a populous part of the city, for the pur- 
 pose of erecting a Chapel. At Present a temporary 
 place is erected for preaching in Bengalee. 
 
Il8 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Our Bro' Juggunnath is stationed there that he may 
 converse with people and distribute tracts. 
 
 Our brother Krishnoo Dap of Ram Krishnoopore, is 
 also engaged in Calcutta in the same work. 
 
 Great numbers of natives flock to this place. The 
 Purchase of the ground has nearly exhausted the sub- 
 scription. We hope the lyord will provide. 
 
 We have had opportunities of circulating tracts, 
 pretty extensively. Two of us with some native 
 brethren, have been at a large assembly of natives at 
 Sooksanger, met for the purpose of worshipping Gunga. 
 Great numbers received the tracts with apparent eager- 
 ness, and many swam after the boat for them, when 
 they came away. We have also distributed a consid- 
 erable number at the annual resort of the people, to the 
 idol Zuggunath, near Serampore. Some of the Brah- 
 mans, and others who are influenced by them, tear the 
 tracts which they have received, to pieces, and throw 
 them about the road ; but we rejoice in the hope, that 
 many of them are carried away by those who may 
 perhaps read them, and pray that the blessing of God 
 Almighty may attend them. 
 
 Proposals have been sent to different parts of 
 this country, and published in the Newspapers, for 
 translating the Scriptures into the Shanscrit, Bengalee, 
 Hindoostanee, Persian, Mahratta, Guzerattee, Orisa, 
 Carnata, Telinga, Burmah, Assam, Bootan, Tibet, 
 Chinese, and Malay I^anguages. About 15 thousand 
 
SERAMPOKE LETTERS. 1 19 
 
 rupees have been subscribed for this purpose, which is 
 lodged in a bank at Calcutta. 
 
 We need your Councils your prayers, and your 
 effectual support; and we assure ourselves that you ever 
 bear us upon your hearts. May the best of Blessings 
 return into your own bosoms ! 
 
 If God pour out his spirit ' ' this wilderness will soon 
 become a fruitful field. The little one shall soon 
 become a thousand and the small one a strong nation." 
 On this rests all our hope. 
 Dear Brethren 
 
 We remain Yours 
 
 In everlasting bonds, 
 W Carey 
 J. Marshman 
 W Ward 
 J Biss 
 W MooRK 
 J RowE 
 F. Carey 
 
 Serampore, 
 
 June 24th, 1806. 
 
 A short letter from Richard Mardon and another 
 general letter to the Society are also placed before the 
 reader (the latter by the kindness of Sir. W. T. I^ewis), 
 being the record of the Mission up to the summer of 
 1807. 
 
120 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 SeramporK, Deer. i6, 1806. 
 
 My dkar Sir: — 
 
 Once more I embrace an opportunity to tell you what 
 is doing, and how the Lord is dealing with us in this 
 part of the world. He has of late tried us, and is in- 
 deed still trying us in various respects. But this we 
 know, that what he does is always best ; he is too wise 
 to err, and too gracious to be unkind. The greatest 
 trial at present is the restriction of our labours among 
 the natives. We are shut up and cannot go forth. The 
 great men seem to be afraid that evangelizing the 
 heathen will alienate their hearts from them. Did 
 they know what true Christianity means, they would 
 be of a very different opinion. I trust the I^ord in his 
 providence will soon open a way for the more uni- 
 versal extension of the word of life among these dark 
 and benighted nations. The work is his, and he will 
 carry it on in his own time and way. For this let us 
 earnestly pray. O lyord, let thy kingdom come ! 
 
 Bror Biss has for a long time been under the afflict- 
 ing hand of God with a complaint of his liver. Vari- 
 ous means have been tried for his recovery, but hitherto 
 without effect. He is now in Calcutta under the care 
 of Dr. Hare. His opinion is that the only remedy 
 which Bror Biss can take for the preservation of his 
 life, is his removal to a colder climate, and that his re- 
 maining in Bengal another hot season would terminate 
 his life. We are, therefore, using all diligence to pro- 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 121 
 
 cure a passage for him and his family to England. Bror 
 Moore is now in Calcutta for this purpose. The most 
 probable mode of conveyance will be by way of Amer- 
 ica if we can procure a passage by any of the American 
 ships that are now in port. You may probably see him 
 once more in New York. If so, he will be able to give 
 you more intelligible information of the state of this 
 Mission, perhaps, than any of us could do by writing a 
 whole volume. This is a great affliction to us both as 
 it respects the loss of our Brother's usefulness in this 
 country, and also the heavy expense that will fall upon 
 the Mission in sending him to England, which under 
 present circumstances, must sink us very low. How- 
 ever, we must submit to the will of God, and we ought 
 to do it cheerfully. 
 
 Notwithstanding these things, we have abundant 
 reason for thankfulness for the privileges we enjoy. 
 The work of the Lord is still going on. Several of our 
 native Bren are itinerating in different parts of the 
 country, making known the word of life, and Bren 
 Carey, Marshman and Ward are busily engaged in 
 translating and publishing the Scriptures. When this 
 is accomplished, India will enjoy a blessing indeed. 
 May the Lord teach the inhabitants how to prize it. 
 There is a spirit of hearing and inquiry manifested in 
 different parts of the country. We have 2 or 3 native 
 bren in the neighborhood of Malda, who preach to 
 great multitudes and the natives solicit their attend- 
 
122 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 ance. I visited that neighborhood last summer with 2 
 native brethren, and was much encouraged. 
 
 Bror Chamberlain is labouring abundantly about 
 Cutna, and there is reason to hope not without success. 
 At Calcutta, the face of things wears a very pleasing as- 
 pect. We intend as soon as an opportunity offers, to 
 make an attempt to send the gospel into the Empire of 
 Burmah. Bror. Chater and I are appointed to engage 
 in it. We are now waiting for a conveyance. The Lord 
 has lately sent several eminently pious and zealous 
 ministers of the church of England into this country, 
 in which we greatly rejoice. He will carry on His 
 work. The perusal of the most recent accounts that 
 have arrived of the state of religion in America grati- 
 fied me very much. I long to see more. Mrs. M. 
 unites in love to yourself, Mrs. W. and all our kind 
 friends in N. Y. 
 
 I remain, yours affectionately, &c. 
 
 R. Mardon. 
 
 To THK SOCIKTY 
 
 SERAMPORE, Jmie 25th, 1807. 
 
 Very dear Brethren. 
 
 With pleasure we embrace an opportunity of renew- 
 ing our quarterly correspondence, & of communicat- 
 ing to you a few things which have taken place among 
 
 us since our last. We are still called upon, as in 
 
 times past, to mingle our prayers & our sorrows with 
 yours. We do not as yet behold any remarkable out- 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 23 
 
 pouring of the Spirit nor many instances of conversion 
 to God, yet we trust that the work of the Lord is going 
 forward in some degree among us. 
 
 In the course of the last quarter 7 persons were add- 
 ed to the Church by baptism. On the 5th April 2 Na- 
 tives were Baptized, Fukeerehund, a person who came 
 hither from Sadhkalee in the District of Krishnee- 
 nagur, & Bhanumutty sister to Futeek, who is a 
 member of the church at Dinagepore. On the 3rd of 
 May were baptized 5 more, 4 of whom are members of 
 one family residing at Calcutta, Mr Derozia, his wife 
 & 2 Daughters. They have a long time attended the 
 preaching of the Gospel there. Mr and Mrs Derozia 
 are far advanced in years. The other person is a Mr 
 Oakey, sergeant in the army, who resides in Fort Wil- 
 liam. His father was a member of the Baptist Church 
 at Kingstanley near Stroudwater in Gloucestershire. 
 
 Bror. Chamberlain has also baptized 3 persons at 
 Cutna one of whom is a Koolin brahman, who has 
 14 wives, Vindyabon, a Byragee, & Kangalee's sister. 
 
 April 4th. Neeloo & Unna who had been several 
 months under suspension were again restored to Church 
 fellowship. Neeloo has since then been excluded. 
 
 May 3rd. We were under the painful necessity of 
 excluding Bhyrrel & Bhagvat for improper conduct. 
 
 April 20th. Three Brethren, Ram Mohun, Konnie, 
 & Kristno Dass were set apart to the office of Deacons. 
 
 May 31st. Ram Mohun was set apart to the work 
 of the ministry 
 
124 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Our Bror Balukram, after a lingering illness, which 
 he seemed to bear with much resignation, quitted these 
 mortal shores on the 13th inst. & we trust is arrived 
 safe in glory. 
 
 April 20. Our Bren. at Jessore formed themselves 
 into a church, & appointed Sheetaram & Koobeer 
 to the office of Deacons. At present they have no 
 pastor — Since the formation of the Church, Kristno 
 and Ram Mohun have visited them alternately, and 
 administered to them the ordinance of the lyord's sup- 
 per. They must necessarily, under present circum- 
 stances be visited monthly by some Bror. from Seram- 
 pore. 
 
 Brother Fernandez has lately made a preaching tour 
 into the northern parts of Bengal. He preached in 
 several large villages and markets. ' ' Many people ' ' 
 he says "heard the word with great attention." He 
 intended to extend his circuit to the Boundary of the 
 British Dominions, but as some parts of country are 
 much infested by robbers he was persuaded to return. 
 He intended, after his return to take another tour for 
 about a fortnight but was prevented by sickness. His 
 last letter informed us that he had been very ill but 
 was recovering. May the Lord prolong his life to a 
 very distant period, for much usefulness in his Church. 
 
 In our last letter we informed you of the Departure 
 of Bren. Mardon & Chaler to Rangoon, for the sake 
 of avScertaining the practicability of forming a Mission 
 Station there. We have now to inform you of their 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 25 
 
 return to Serampore. They left Rangoon April 17th 
 & arrived here May 23rd. They obtained a passage, 
 free of expense, by a ship belonging to two European 
 gentlemen at Rangoon. Their report relative to the 
 object of the Mission, particulars of which have already 
 been sent to England, encourages us to hope that the 
 lyord will open a door for the Introduction of the Gospel 
 into that Empire. 
 
 Bror. Wm. Carey, Junr and 5 Native Brethren 
 Kristno, Kristno Dass, Sebukram, Jagemaut, «& Go- 
 vendhar returned from an itinerant journey to Malta 
 on the 9th of April. In almost every place which they 
 visited the people came crowding around to hear the 
 word of life, and very often some went away much 
 affected. In the course of their journey they visited 
 Mudnabatly, also Serasing & the neighbourhood 
 around. On their return, they stopt several days at 
 Cutwah, & accompanied Bro. Chamberlain to Au- 
 gradweep, a place where he laboured abundantly to 
 introduce the Gospel. They spent two days there in 
 talking to the people & met with a little opposition 
 
 Only Kristno and Sabukram accompanied Bror. 
 
 William to Malta. The other 3 Bren. had been itiner- 
 ating in that neighbourhood some time before. 
 
 A Petition has lately been presented to Government 
 signed by 1 16 of the inhabitants of Calcutta for permis- 
 sion to erect a chapel there for the use of Protestant 
 Dissenters which was granted. The walls of the 
 Chapel are raised ready to receive the roof. In the 
 
126 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 course of a few months we hope it will be finished and 
 opened. Our American friends have given us a fresh 
 instance of their liberality, and of the interest which 
 they feel in the diffiision of Gospel light among the 
 Heathen, by sending out an additional supply 2,400 
 dollars to forward the oriental translations. 
 
 To-day we have received an account of the arrival of 
 5 boxes from England. 
 
 This dear Brethren is the substance of what has 
 taken place among us in the course of the last 3 months. 
 O that we could tell you of Multitudes of the Heathen 
 crying out "Men & Bren. what shall we do?" We 
 long to see a Pentecost but we must wait the I^ord's 
 appointed time. 
 
 Dear Bren. pray for us. Pray that the word of the 
 lyOrd may have free course in India. We need your 
 prayers and all the help that you can render us. 
 We remain 
 
 Dear Brethren 
 
 Yours in the Gospel of Christ, 
 W Carky 
 J Marshman 
 WWard 
 R Mardon 
 W Moork 
 J Chatkr 
 J RowE 
 Wm Robinson 
 F Carky 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, \2J 
 
 P. S. When Capt Wickes was here he mentioned 
 accidentally to Bror. Ward his having incurred a con- 
 siderable loss by the laying in of stores for our Bren. 
 Chater & Robinson &c. as what he had charged the 
 Society did not reimburse him. Though this was 
 mentioned in free conversation without the view of ob- 
 taining anything from the Society yet we thought that 
 Capt. Wickes had rendered too many services to the 
 Mission of Bengal for us to be willing that his family 
 should suffer thereby. 
 
 We therefore pressed him to give us an account of 
 the extent of his loss, but we could by no means pre- 
 vail upon him, & we were at last constrained to give 
 up pressing him further, after getting him to promise 
 that he would make known the thing to the Society, 
 viz, we suppose if you press him to it. 
 
 We leave these facts with you knowing that your feel- 
 ings & ours towards this dear man are the same. 
 
 Revd. A. Fui.i<KR, 
 Kettering, 
 
 Northamptonshire, 
 England. 
 
 The next letter written by Ryland, in the summer of 
 1807, ser\^es to present one effect of Christian missions 
 which is, perhaps, not as often dwelt upon as it might 
 properly be, — the strong bond that it furnishes between 
 Christian nations united in missionary effort. Already 
 the mutterings of v*'ar were heard, and while it was not 
 
128 SERA M PORE LETTERS, 
 
 till i8i2 that the resort to arms was actually had be- 
 tween England and America, not a few in both coun- 
 tries were eagerly fomenting the growing discontent ; 
 but among those who, like John Ryland and John Wil- 
 liams, were chiefly concerned for the extension of the 
 reign of Him whose chosen title was ''The Prince of 
 Peace," no prospect of war between Christian nations 
 could be anything but saddening, and far as their 
 effort and influence went, the bonds of union were 
 strengthened. 
 
 28tli Augt., 1807. 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 A young man called on me this week, who says he 
 is a member of your Church, and enquired if I had any 
 thing to send to you or other friends at New York, and 
 tho' I am now uncommonly hurried by some extra 
 business, I was unwilling to let him go, without send- 
 ing you a line. I hope the work of the I^ord is going 
 on in your neighbourhood, and other parts of the 
 United States ; and I pray God to prevent any discord 
 from taking place between the two countries. All 
 war is dreadful ; but especially that between Protestant 
 States, and above all between people .sprung from the 
 same stock, and united by so many ties as ought to be 
 felt between Englishmen and Americans. But, alas ! 
 we are all miserable sinners, and the God has raised 
 up in both countries many who begin to feel as saints, 
 yet they themselves are imperfect, and have but little 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 29 
 
 influence in regulating the concerns of nations. We 
 can only sigh and cry for the madness of others around 
 us, and pray God to check their selfish passions, and 
 inspire them with an abhorrence of bloodshed. Well 
 may the whole Creation wait with earnest expectation 
 for the manifestation of the sons of God, in hope that 
 the Creation itself shall be delivered from the bondage 
 of corruption in the glorious liberty of the Sons of 
 God. How is every part of this visible universe now 
 abused by the sin of man ! and how little do even the 
 Children of God look at prest like what thc}^ should be, 
 or even like what they shall be, in the latter day of 
 glory. We are much obliged to our American 
 Brethren for their generous co-operation in favor of 
 our East Indian Mission, and the kindness shown to 
 those who have passed by the way of the United 
 States to Serampore ; as well as for their late kind- 
 ness to poor Mrs. Biss. May the I^ord abundantly 
 reward them, for what they have done for disciples in 
 the name of disciples of Jesus. We are just planning 
 a mission to Jamaica, where some coloured Brethren 
 have been useful to a considerable degree, but are ex- 
 posed to great oppression for want of having any Euro- 
 pean to take their part. I have this week heard of a 
 renewed attempt to deprive them of all liberty of con- 
 science, by a most iniquitous and oppressive ordinance 
 of the Magistrates of Kingston, but we hope our Gov- 
 ernment will interfere again in their favor. We apply 'd, 
 9 
 
130 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 a year or two ago, with some good effect, and obtained 
 the disannulling of an act of the Assembly. But the 
 prest attempt is much worse than the former. 
 
 Brother Fuller was here about 3 weeks ago, at our 
 annual meeting, when he preached the sermon before 
 the Education Society, and spent about a week with 
 us. A remarkable work of grace has been going on 
 at Beckington, about 20 miles off, under the Ministry 
 of a very worthy man of the name of Hinton. Great 
 additions were made to his Church last year, and many 
 more are under concern since. 
 
 But we seldom seem to fish with a net, as you have 
 often done in America. It is very uncommon, I mean, 
 for an awakening to seem to run through a town or 
 a village. The most singular case to those I have read 
 of, in your country, was the awaking at Sheepshead in 
 lycicestershire near 30 yrs. ago, when my dear friend 
 Guy was first settled there. We s'd. bless God, how- 
 ever, that his work goes on at all. Oh that it may 
 extend itself widr. in every direction, both here and 
 with you. Wishing much of the presence and blessing 
 of our adorable I^ord, 
 
 I remain. Dear Sir, 
 
 Your cordl Bror. 
 
 John Ryi^and. 
 
 As the correspondence of the Serampore missiona- 
 ries with the churches generally in America increased, 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, 131 
 
 the number of their letters to those who had been first 
 their only correspondents, of course, diminished ; and 
 during the years between 1809 and 18 12, but few letters 
 seem to have been received by Mr. Williams. Three 
 of these, from Dr. Carey, Joshua Rowe, and John 
 Chamberlain, respectively, furnish the narrative of 
 events at the mission station of Serampore during 
 those 3^ears. Bnt that the interest of the churches in 
 America had not flagged is shown by the fact that in 
 1 8 10 still other missionaries arrived from England, 
 making their way to India by way of the United 
 States, and brought with them commendatory letters 
 from Andrew Fuller. Of this little group of mission- 
 aries, Messrs. Johns and Lawson, with their wives, and 
 a Miss Chafl&n, no very full record is now obtainable. 
 One, at least, of them, Mr. I^awson, seems to have been, 
 for a time, a student under Sutcliff at Olney, but of the 
 rest of the party no definite information has been re- 
 ceived. The three letters, therefore, above referred to, 
 must serve as the record of these years. 
 
 My dkar Bror. 
 
 I reed, yours by our Brethren who lately arrived 
 here in safety from America. A letter from you is 
 always to me a welcome treat, and I therefore hope 
 you will not be sparing in your correspondence, even 
 though I should prove but a poor correspondent in 
 return. I am sure that if you rightly judge of my 
 
132 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 engagements you will easily pardon a short letter, and 
 if you rightly judge of my wants, you will always 
 favour me with a long one. 
 
 I have written repeatedly to different correspondents 
 in America nearly all that concerns the present situa- 
 tion of the Cause of our Redeemer in India, and 
 scarcely know what to add, as scarcely anything new 
 has turned up since I wrote my last letter to America. 
 Small, and feeble as our Redeemer's interest in this 
 country now is, we have the greatest reason to rejoice 
 in what the lyord has done. I believe the number bap- 
 tized this year in our churches amounts to fifty-six, 
 and by the end of the year I trust it will be about 
 sixty. There are five churches now organized in 
 Bengal, and one in the Burman Empire, and two 
 stations occupied where churches are not yet formed. 
 One of them is on the borders of Bantan, and formed 
 for the express purpose of introducing the Gospel into 
 that country. A Brother is going in a few days to 
 carry the word of life to Oorissa. In short we have 
 the utmost reason for encouragement, and for further 
 exertion in the cause of our lyord Jesus. 
 
 The translation and printing of the word of God 
 goes forward as fast as it can reasonably be expected 
 to do. The entire Bible is printed in the Bengalee 
 language, and a second edition of the Pentateuch is in 
 the press. In Sangskrit the new Testament is printed, 
 and the old Testament nearly to the end of Kxodus. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. I 33 
 
 In the Oorissa language, the New Testament, one vol. 
 of the old Testament, viz, Job. Canticles is printed, 
 and to about the Xly. ch. of Isaiah of the next vol- 
 ume. In Hindoothannes, the N. Test, is printed to 
 the I Epis. of Corinthians, and the whole Bible trans- 
 lated, except the Pentateuch, and from i Kings to 
 Esther. In the Mahratta language the New Testa- 
 ment is printed to Acts IV, and the translation of 
 the whole Bible considerably advanced. The whole 
 N. Test, is nearly translated into the Chinese language 
 and I expect that the gospel by Matthew will be 
 printed by the end of the year. The whole of the 
 Chinese scriptures must be printed by wood plates, 
 and not by moveable types like other languages ; of 
 course the labour of engraving these plates is very 
 great. We have twelve workmen constantly employed 
 in this department alone. The whole N. Test, and 
 part of the old are translated into the language of the 
 Sacks, and the printing in that language is begim. 
 The whole N. T. and part of the old are translated 
 into the Telinga language, and into the Thurnata, 
 but the printing is not yet begun. It is necessary for 
 you to know, in order that you may estimate the diffi- 
 culty of this work, that there is a different character 
 used for each of these languages, except one, so that 
 we have to cast types for all of them, and except in 
 two or three instances our types are the first ever cast 
 for these languages, so that we have not only the 
 
134 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 languages to acquire in a critical and grammatical 
 manner, but we are also obliged to attend to every letter 
 and even to the minutest stroke in each letter. We 
 have to fix the orthography of each language on 
 rational and grammatical principles, and to correct all 
 the errors which copyists make, who have no rule of 
 spelling but their own fancy. 
 
 We began about three years ago to print the N. Test, 
 in the Gosjeratti language, but relinquished it on 
 account of some circumstances which then turned up. 
 The copy lies by us, but the printing has not yet been 
 resumed. The translation into the Burman language 
 is begun, but the printing has not yet commenced ; 
 it probably will be soon begun, as we have cast types 
 in that character. To these we hope soon to add 
 the language. 
 
 My paper is expended, and my time gone, excuse my 
 
 abrupt conclusion. Pray for us, and believe me to be 
 
 Very aflfecty yours, 
 
 W. Carky. 
 Cai^cuTTa, 7 Deer. 1809. 
 
 SERAMPORE, Dec. 19th, 1809. 
 My dbar Brother Wii^IvIAms : 
 
 I received yours of May last by brother Gordon ; and 
 beg you to accept my warmest thanks for the soul 
 reviving information it contained. The intercourse 
 between this and America has been suspended so long, 
 that it is quite a treat to receive a letter from you. I 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 35 
 
 often think of my dear friends at New York and feel 
 the savor of those happy moments I have spent in com- 
 muning with them. We have received the liberal con- 
 tributions made by our friends at New York, on ac- 
 count of the translations, and feel exceedingly thankful 
 for them. The prosperity of the church of which you 
 are the pastor, gladdens my heart. Give my warmest 
 love to all who are the members of it. If I could go to 
 New York as easy as I can go to Calcutta, I should 
 certainly indulge myself with the pleasure of spending 
 next Sabbath day with you ; but since this cannot take 
 place, let us be looking forward to the time when we 
 shall meet in the realms of eternal days. It is time for 
 me to have done with these expressions of affection 
 towards you, and go on to a subject in which you will 
 feel yourself more particularly interested. 
 
 You have no doubt heard of what has taken place in 
 England, relative to Missions ; as also the impediments 
 we have met with in this country. I am happy to 
 inform you that these things, which to human appear- 
 ance were insurmountable, appear rather to have for- 
 warded the cause than to have impeded it. It is easy 
 for God to bring good out of evil. It was principally 
 owing to these impediments that we thought of send- 
 ing a Mission to Rangoon in the Burman Empire. 
 Brethren Chater and Felix Carey are settled there. 
 God has hitherto favored them in a remarkable man- 
 ner. Those in power have shewed them much favour. 
 
136 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 They have built a Mission house and a number of Euro- 
 pean traders who reside there, have subscribed some- 
 thing handsome towards defraying the expense. They 
 have made considerable progress in the language, and 
 expect soon to send us something to print. Although 
 that Government is exceedingly arbitrary, yet it toler- 
 ates all kinds of religion ; and those who are public 
 teachers of any religion are allowed privileges which 
 are denied even to those who fill high stations under 
 Government. There is no cast among the Burmans, 
 they will eat or drink with an European and are devoid 
 of many of those prejudices which so much fetter the 
 natives of this country. Upon the whole, our brethren 
 are greatly encouraged to go forward, and surely, we 
 have reason to hope that God will abundantly bless 
 their undertaking. Remember them in your addresses 
 to a throne of grace. It is a matter of great thankful- 
 ness that God has sent his gospel to this populous 
 country. The cause of Christ prospers in Bengal. We 
 are extending our missionary exertions, and God is 
 from time to time, adding unto his churches. Oh ! 
 that they may be such as shall be saved with an ever- 
 lasting salvation. About 57 have been baptized this 
 year, at Serampore, Calcutta, Dingapore, Goamalty 
 Jessore and Berhampore. Twenty-seven of this num- 
 ber were baptized at Berhampore, and belong to His 
 Majesty's 22nd Regiment which is now lying at that 
 military station. These persons had long formed a 
 religious society, and were at length convinced of the 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 37 
 
 truth of believers' baptism by reading their Bibles. 
 When they found that Brother Chamberlain, whose 
 station is a day or two's journey from Berhampore, was 
 a Baptist, they solicited him to baptize them. At first, 
 by the influence of a clergyman who resides there, their 
 head officer interfered, in consequence of which their 
 baptism was postponed for some time; but at length 
 they have been permitted to follow their I^ord in his 
 appointed way. Bro. Chamberlain often visits them ; 
 he is now gone thither, and expects to baptize two or 
 three more. There are two or three among them who 
 have gifts for public speaking, and when they have no 
 other means, they give a word of exhortation. It is a 
 pleasing thing to see so many pious men in a Regiment 
 of Soldiers. Would to God there were so many in 
 every Regiment. We have an Armenian brother set- 
 tled in Jessore. He has lately been set apart to the 
 work by the laying on of hands. In the course of the 
 last six weeks, he has baptized several natives. Last 
 Ordinance Sabbath, he administered the Lord's Supper 
 to eleven persons besides himself. Many are inquiring 
 respecting the gospel in Jessore, and I hope God has a 
 great work to do there. In Bheerboom several of the 
 natives have renounced their gods, and are enquiring 
 about Christ and his salvation. May the Lord lead 
 them in the right way. Brother Mardon is still at 
 Goamalty. Some months ago he met with much 
 encouragement, but now the interest there is very low. 
 He has baptized several, two or three of whom, we 
 
138 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 hope, have died in Jesus. One or two have left him, so 
 that at present the church there is in a low state. It is 
 a delightful thought that God can and we have reason 
 to hope, will revive his work there. Brother Moore has 
 been sometime at Miniary, but is now on his way to 
 Bankipore, near Patna. He intends setting up a school 
 at this place as a means of supporting the station. 
 Brother William Carey, Junr. resides at Sadamahl, near 
 Dingapore. Brother Carey has the happiness of having 
 two of his sons missionaries. Oh ! that God may raise 
 up the three boys which he has given me to be pillars 
 in his church, when I am laid in the silent grave. We 
 are just going to send Brother John Peter, a member of 
 the church at Calcutta into Orissa, as a missionary. 
 Since we opened the chapel at Calcutta, which was in 
 January last, the congregation has doubled. Many 
 have been added to the church, and others are coming 
 forward. A few months ago, brother Carey was dan- 
 gerously ill ; but blessed be God he is now perfectly 
 recovered. 
 
 I have only time to add that Mrs. Rowe unites in 
 love to you, Mrs. Williams, and all the dear, dear 
 friends at New York. 
 
 I am, My dear brother. 
 
 Most affy. yours, 
 
 J. RowK. 
 P. S. 
 
 I enclose you a specimen of our translation. The 
 brethren have forwarded a number of these works to 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 1 39 
 
 Dr. Staughton, to send to you. They beg you, when 
 you have gratified your friends with a sight of them, to 
 present them to any public body you may think proper. 
 The same works have been sent to Doctors Staughton, 
 Rogers and Baldwin, for the same purpose. You will 
 therefore, please to be careful not to present them to 
 any to whom the other gentlemen send them. We have 
 also sent to Dr. Staughton a Memoir containing an ac- 
 count of the progress of our translations, and the monies 
 received and expended, which you will no doubt see. 
 
 Since writing the above, Bro. Ward has reed, a letter 
 from Bro. Chamberlain, by which we find that he has 
 baptized nine more of the soldiers, in the 22nd, and 
 that there are 3 others seriously examining the subject. 
 
 SERAMPORE, Octr. 28th, 1812. 
 
 My dear Bror. 
 
 It is a long time since I wrote to you. Your affec- 
 tionate letter, which came to hand a few months ago 
 reminded me of my great neglect of a very kind friend. 
 But apologies are useless. 
 
 I thank you for your remembrance of me. I am not 
 worthy of your notice, but the work in which I am 
 engaged is worthy of all honour. I have not forgotten 
 my dear Brethren and Sisters at New York ; I have 
 frequently rejoiced to hear of your prosperity. Blessed 
 be the God of all grace who has kept you as his own 
 people and gladdens you with success in his work. 
 
 You have heard of my leaving Bengal and of my 
 
140 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 going to Agra. This will inform you of my removal 
 thence and of the probability of my settling again in 
 Bengal. I was sent down under an arrest by orders of 
 the Government, but on what account, I know not. 
 Government gives no accounts of matters. A word is 
 law here without any assigned reason. Had I by any 
 imprudence brought this upon myself, I should have 
 been distressed, but being conscious of innocence, my 
 heart has rather exulted in this unfavorable event than 
 been discouraged by it. When will the rulers of the 
 earth be wise ? In this country they are exceedingly 
 jealous of that which would be their stability, and 
 foster that, which, if God do not graciously prevent 
 will, it is very probable, be their overthrow. Nothing 
 is opposed in this country but true Christianity. Hindoos 
 may burn their poor women, drown one another, bury 
 one another alive, with impunity, if not with approba- 
 tion. Musselmen and Hindoos have their temples and 
 mosques supported by the Government, and Roman 
 Catholics are assisted and permitted to do what they 
 please. A drunken, proud, tyrannical man, or a 
 whoremonger may be a chaplain to their stations, but 
 a Protestant missionary is to be driven about, and sus- 
 pected of everything that is wicked, and the pious and 
 zealous clergyman is persecuted and despised. Yet 
 blessed be God, truth triumphs in the midst of these 
 unfavorable circumstances, and we rejoice in hope of 
 seeing its success more abundant, and more conspicu- 
 ously glorious through the opposition which it meets. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, I4I 
 
 At Agra, we had much family affliction. Our three 
 children were removed from us by death, but we have 
 abundant cause to praise the Father of mercies for his 
 goodness to us. We had a pretty school and a small 
 congregation of Europeans to which I preached, and I 
 hope not in vain. Just before our departure, I baptized 
 one and had we continued, probably some more had been 
 baptized before this time. There were several respect- 
 ing whom, we have a pleasing hope that the I^ord 
 Jesus has been manifested to them, through the Holy 
 Spirit's blessing on the means of grace. The transla- 
 tion of the New Testament into the Hinduwee, I was 
 enabled to begin, and the four Gospels are nearly fin- 
 ished for printing, and a great multitude of the natives 
 heard the word of salvation. Our journey, we hope, 
 will not have been in vain, in which many parts of the 
 N. T. were distributed in many places, and many 
 people heard the gospel. A missionary has this to 
 encourage him that in the cause of Truth no great effort 
 shall be lost. Its success may not be apparent, but it 
 shall have its weight in the opposition to the cause of 
 the Evil One. 
 
 I have spent many a pleasant half hour with our new 
 Bren. and Sisters, whom the good hand of God has 
 brought to us, in conversing about America. We are 
 glad to hear of you and your prosperity. Remember 
 me affectionately to my kind friends Smith and Caldwell 
 and Broughton, who, I am informed is with you. It 
 would have afforded me much pleasure to have had a 
 
142 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 line from him and his family. Present my thanks to 
 them for their former kind regards to me. I shall be 
 much gratified to hear from them frequently. 
 
 I would most cheerfully fill this sheet, were I not 
 quite jaded with letter writing. Present my love to 
 your Bren. in the Gospel who may have known me. 
 Mrs. C. unites in regards to your spouse. Peace and 
 prosperity attend you at home and abroad. 
 I am, 
 Yours in the bonds of the Gospel, 
 
 26th Octr. J. Chambe;ri,ain. 
 
 President Madison's war message was sent in June 
 I, 181 2, and on the i8th of June war was declared with 
 Great Britain. All the efforts of those who, on both 
 sides of the sea, had deprecated war were in vain, and 
 the inevitable conflict came ; but even the actual exist- 
 ence of hostilities could not destroy the bands which 
 knit together the hearts of those united even by a more 
 sacred tie than that of country ; and in the very month 
 of October, when Decatur was winning his victories on 
 the ocean, and those who spoke the same language and 
 sprang from the same mother-stock were waging fierce 
 warfare, William Carey, at Serampore, was writing to 
 John Williams in New York a letter which was to be 
 the signal for a new campaign of peaceful but more 
 glorious conquest, in which England and America, no 
 longer foes, were to be generous rivals. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. I43 
 
 In June, 1810, Adoniram Judson, a young theologi- 
 cal student at Andover Seminar>', had, with a few of 
 his associates, prepared a memorial which they pre- 
 sented to the Association of Congregationalist ministers 
 meeting at Bradford, in Massachusetts. In this memo- 
 rial they asked the advice of their elders in the min- 
 istry as to their own engaging in the work of foreign 
 missions, and, as a consequence of the memorial, the 
 Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was 
 formed ; and on the 19th of February, 181 2, Messrs. 
 Judson and Newell, with their wives, sailed from Salem, 
 Massachusetts, for Calcutta, to be followed by Messrs. 
 Hall and Nott, with their wives and Mr. Rice, who 
 sailed from Philadelphia on the 24th of the same month. 
 The story of that eventful voyage is best told in Dr. 
 Carey's own words : 
 
 My dkar Brothkr : 
 
 It is a long time since I wrote to you. My ntuner- 
 ous avocations must be my apology, and indeed this 
 apology is the true one, for want of will is not the 
 cause. I shall, however, now write you a short note 
 to make amends for my long silence, and request a con- 
 tinuance of your correspondence. 
 
 You as well as myself are acquainted with the cir- 
 cumstances of five brethren having been sent from 
 America to begin a mission in .the East. They have 
 all safely arrived at this place. Government, however, 
 
144 SERAMPORE LETTERS, 
 
 have absolutely refused to let them stay here, and have 
 peremptorily ordered them to leave the place, and not 
 to settle in any country belonging to Great Britain or 
 her allies. We have tried our interest, but have 
 succeeded no further than to gain permission for them 
 to go to the Isle of France, to which place Brother and 
 Sister Newell went before the arrival of the other three. 
 It soon appeared that the mind of Brother Judson had 
 been much employed upon the subject of believer's 
 baptism, and in a little time after his arrival he and 
 Sister Judson wished to be baptized, with which we 
 complied, and they were both baptized publicly 
 at Calcutta in the name of the blessed Trinity. I 
 inquired of Brother Judson what could have induced 
 him to take this step, to which he replied that on his 
 voyage he thought much of the prospect of meeting 
 with us at Serampore. He knew that we were Bap- 
 tists, and supposed that he might probably be called to 
 defend infant baptism among us. This led him to ex- 
 amine the evidence for it ; and the further he proceeded 
 in this examination the clearer the evidence for baptiz- 
 ing believers only, and that by immersion, appeared. 
 He frequently conversed with Mrs. Judson upon the 
 subject, which was the occasion of her thinking as he 
 did upon that ordinance. Since his baptism he 
 preached a very excellent discourse upon the ordinance, 
 which we intend to print, with an account of the 
 change in his views in his own words. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. I45 
 
 Since his baptism I hear Brother Rice has been 
 thinking closely upon the subject, and to-night I was 
 informed that he had made up his mind to follow our 
 I^ord in his ordinance. He disputes the matter with 
 his other brethren, and it is difficult to say what will 
 be the effect of his conversations. 
 
 Now, what is to be done with these brethren ? They 
 expect to be discarded by the Board of Commissioners 
 for Oriental missions. We shall advance them tem- 
 porary supplies, but we are not able to invite them to 
 become missionaries for the Baptist Mission Society 
 without first writing to England and receiving our 
 brethren's consent. Our brethren Judson and Rice 
 would also be glad to be American missionaries. 
 
 Cannot our Baptist brethren in America form a mis- 
 sionary society, either auxiliary to our society in Eng- 
 land or distinct from it, as may appear most eligible, 
 and take these brethren as their missionaries ? I believe 
 they are men of the right stamp. They intend to settle 
 eventually on the Island of Java, but must first go to 
 the Isle of France on account of the orders of govern- 
 ment. One of our brethren is also going thither, viz, 
 to Java. We will give them advice and everything 
 else within our power. 
 
 I think this circumstance opens a new scene of duty 
 to our Baptist brethren in America ; and though I am 
 persuaded that their proper sphere of action is among 
 the Indians of North and South America, and in the 
 
146 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 West India Islands, yet this extraordinary call should 
 not be lightly passed over. 
 
 The Lord is still carrying on his work, about twenty 
 persons are now expecting to join the church at Cal- 
 cutta and to be baptized in a month or two more. 
 I am very affectionately yours, 
 
 W. Carky. 
 Cai^ut^a, Oct. 20, 1812. 
 
 But a few days could have elapsed after the receipt 
 of this letter when the following overture was received 
 from the brethren in Boston : 
 
 Boston, March 23, 1813. 
 Dear Brother : — 
 
 By the arrival of the Reaper in this port, last Satur- 
 day, from India, letters have been received from sev- 
 eral of our friends in Calcutta, particularly from Mr. 
 and Mrs. Judson, Dr. Marshman and Mr. Rice. The 
 latter, like Mr. Judson, has been constrained to ex- 
 amine the subject of Christian baptism, and has come 
 to the same result. He was not baptized on Oct. 22, 
 but expected to be soon. 
 
 This change of sentiment, he has stated (as he 
 informs us) to Dr. Worcester, the Secretary of the 
 Board of Commissioners for foreign missions. He has 
 also concluded by the advice, or in concurrence with 
 the Baptist brethren at Serampore, to go with Mr. 
 Judson to the Island of Java. Dr. Marshman and 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS. 14/ 
 
 both of the above brethren unite in urging the forma- 
 tion of a Baptist mission society in this country, in 
 order to take up those brethren, and direct and sup- 
 port them independently of our English brethren, or 
 as an auxiliary to the Baptist society in England. 
 
 Dear brethren, the events which have taken place in 
 relation to the foregoing missionaries, are highly inter- 
 esting and important. The voice of divine providence 
 in them seems loudly to call for our speedy attention 
 and assistance. We have already two societies formed, 
 as you will perceive by the accompanying circular, 
 which have this objective view. But, dear brethren, 
 we want your advice and assistance. We would 
 gladly engage all our churches throughout the United 
 States in this great work of sending the preached 
 gospel among the heathen. The difficulty seems to 
 be, in part at least, to fix upon a proper plan. Can 
 you devise and propose any plan for forming an Ex- 
 ecutive Committee, with sufficient power to carry into 
 effect our united efforts ? There must be somewhere a 
 common center, a general treasury into which all the 
 money in whatever way raised may flow. We have 
 no anxiety whether this deposit should be in Salem, 
 Boston, New York or Philadelphia, provided we can 
 only fall upon a plan that will unite all hearts. 
 
 The society in Salem have already collected more 
 than I500, and have voted one-half for the support 
 of Mr. Judson and the other for the translation. 
 
148 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 Our infant society in Boston has almost without any 
 effort received subscriptions to the amount of nearly 
 $400. It will soon be increased, no doubt, to several 
 hundreds more. 
 
 Will you, dear brethren, give us your advice on the 
 following points, viz : 
 
 1. Will it be best at present to request our Baptist 
 brethren in England to take these young men under 
 their patronage and to consider us only as an auxiliary 
 society ? 
 
 2. Shall we attempt to appoint and support them 
 ourselves ; if so, who shall appoint them ? 
 
 We cannot doubt but the subject must impress you 
 in a similar manner as it does us, and hence hope for 
 your cordial co-operation. We hope your late efforts 
 in raising money for repairing the loss at Serampore 
 by the late fire will not discourage you in the present 
 undertaking, as we will most cheerfully advance the 
 first necessary installment. We are, dear brethren, 
 very respectfully yours in the gospel of a precious 
 Saviour, 
 
 Thos. BAI.DWIN, 
 lyUCIUS BoiyivKS, 
 To Dani.. Sharp. 
 
 Revd. Jno. Wii.i<iams, 
 '' Jno. Stanford, 
 
 ArCHIBAIvD MACI.AY, 
 
 Daniki. Hatt, 
 Cornelius P. Whycoff. 
 
SERAMPORE LETTERS, I49 
 
 With this letter closes our narrative of the inception 
 of missions among the Baptists of America. The 
 succeeding steps in the formation of the Triennial 
 Convention, which has developed into the Baptist Mis- 
 sionary Union, are matters of familiar history and need 
 no further repetition here ; but a word or two of review 
 may not be out of place. 
 
 Perhaps to the cultured reader who has glanced 
 through the letters here presented, the prevailing feel- 
 ing will be one of astonishment at the simplicity of the 
 men who wrote these letters, and at the unostentatious 
 character of those who received and acted upon their 
 suggestions. Certainly, it was a plain, almost an 
 illiterate, company who inaugurated this mighty move- 
 ment ; but we have no farther to seek than to the little 
 band of Galilean fisher-folk to find the elements of 
 power and of permanence. Of the work of those first 
 eleven, it was said that, when their enemies '' per- 
 ceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, 
 they marvelled," and it will not be strange if such 
 marvelling should be aroused by the boldness of others 
 who, in later days, had learned the same lesson with 
 Peter and John, and, like them, ' ' had been with Jesus. ' ' 
 Without great resources, without the advantages of 
 education, save as it was gained by slow and painful 
 self -culture, without the influence of friends, except as 
 they were won by the example of noble and self-sacri- 
 ficing lives, without the patronage of the great, and in 
 the face of the opposition, not only of the infidel and 
 
I50 SERAMPORE LETTERS. 
 
 the scoffer, but also of the nominal church, these men 
 wrought their work for God and for humanity. There 
 was no glamour of romance about their lives ; the 
 homes from which they came were peasant homes — 
 ' * apostates from the loom and renegades from the 
 anvil," their courtly critics called them ; and even 
 when the patient industries of their lives had won for 
 them something more of rank, the associations of their 
 early days were still called up in taunting scorn. 
 ' * Was not Dr. Carey once a shoemaker ? ' ' said a 
 young British officer, who had just met him at a social 
 gathering in India. " No, sir," said Dr. Carey, quietly 
 turning on the questioner, ' ' only a cobbler. ' ' But it 
 was this very power of simplicity and readiness to 
 accept just the station and just the portion which their 
 Master had assigned them, that gave to these modem 
 Apostles their power, and that gave to their work its 
 permanence ; and from the simple story of their lives 
 comes back to us that refrain of mingled rebuke and 
 encouragement which the prophet heard from the 
 angel's lips : " Not by might nor by power, but by my 
 spirit, saith the I^ord of hosts." 
 

 Date Due 
 
 Ap/5'4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 ^ f 
 
 
 
 
 • /■ '^■'' 
 
 
 
 
 /: i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 >/^ V : .^ t 
 
 
 
 
 •tHt- • ■ M' 1 
 
 
 
 
 facuIIy 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 k 
 
 
 
 .nj«i 
 
 tm4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 •« 
 
 ^ii^,,-^^^^- 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 '■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sa I : 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 - ■- • 
 
 
 
 
 ^