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evening he himself arrived at Kettering, and fully acceded to all that was proposed to him.

The committee then resolved to support him and Mr. Carey, with their families, to the utmost of their power, till they should be able to support themselves.

The next step was to calculate the expense of sending them out, and to obtain the means of defraying it. The expense was estimated at 5001. which sum required to be raised in about three or four months. To accomplish this the committee frankly stated to the religious public their plan, requesting that so far as it appeared to be deserving of encouragement, they would encourage it. Letters also were addressed to the most active ministers of the denomination throughout the kingdom, requesting their concurrence and assistance. The result was, that more than twice the sum which had been asked for was collected; yet, when the work was finished, the actual expense had so far exceeded the estimate, that there were only a few pounds to spare. One principal cause of this was the circumstance of Mr. Carey's whole family, with Mrs. Carey's sister, being induced to accompany him. At first it was supposed that Mr. Carey would go out with only his eldest son, and with a view of returning; but when things came to a crisis, Mrs. Carey consented to go with him, provided her sister would accompany her; and this circumstance, though it added to the expense, yet upon the whole was considered as favorable to the object.

On March 20, 1793, a meeting was held at Leicester for prayer, and the solemn designation of the missionaries. At this meeting Messrs. Fawcett of Hebden Bridge, Hopper of Nottingham, Mills of Sheepshead, Biundel of Arnsby, Staughton of Northampton, Morris of Clipstone, Yates of Leicester, Bruin of Glen, Trinder of Northampton, Wilson of Olney, and Hobson of Walgrave, were added to the committee.

Our brethren set sail on June 13, 1793, on board the Princessa Maria, a Danish Indiaman. After their departure we had time for reflection. In reviewing the events of a few preceding months we were much impressed. We could scarcely believe that such a number of impedimentshad in a short time been removed. The fear and trembling which had possessed us at the outset, had insensibly given way to hope and joy. Upborne by the magnitude of the

object, and by the encouraging promises of God, we had found difficulties subside as we approached them, and ways opened beyond all our expectations. The thought of having done something towards enlarging the boundaries of our Savior's kingdom, and of rescuing poor Heathens and Mahometans from under Satan's yoke, rejoiced our hearts. We were glad also to see the people of God offering so willingly; some leaving their country, others pouring in their property, and all uniting in prayers to heaven for a blessing. A new bond of union was furnished between distant ministers and churches. Some who had backslidden from God were restored, and others who had long been poring over their unfruitfulness, and questioning the reality of their personal religion, having their attention directed to Christ and his kingdom, lost their fears, and found that peace which in other pursuits they had sought in vain. Christians of different denominations discovered a common bond of affection; and instead of always dwelling on things wherein they differed, found their account in uniting in those wherein they were agreed. In short, our hearts were enlarged; and if no other good had arisen from the undertaking, than the effect produced upon our own minds, and the minds of Christians in our own country, it were more than equal to the expense.

SECTION II.

The arrival of the Missionaries in India, and their settlement in the neighborhood of Malda.*

After many anxious thoughts about our brethren, letters were received on July 29, 1794, informing us of their safe arrival, and containing a few particulars, as to their difficul

The

* "The province of Bengal is larger than Great Britain. great rivers Ganges [the Hindostanee name of this river is Pudda or Padda. It is also named Burra Gonga, or the Great River, and Gonga, the River, by way of eminence. This explains the phrase, "bathing in Gonga," which often occurs in the Periodical Accounts.] and Burrampooter, [the name in Sungskrit is Brahmapooter, i. e. the son of Brahma.] with their numerous branches and adjuncts, intersect the whole country, in such a wonderful variety of directions, that except round Burdwan, Birboom, &c. every place is situate within thirty miles of some navigable stream; and generally within a third part of that distance. Thirty thousand boatmen are always employ. ed by this inland navigation,

The rivers in Bengal are extremely variable in their course or

ties and their prospects. They met with Ram Boshoo soon after their arrival; but found to their grief that he had not kept himself from idols. The letters, upon the whole, contained as much encouragement as could be expected. We afterwards learned, however, that for the first three or four months, Mr. Carey was reduced to great straits and trials. Through a number of occurrences, which he could not prevent, the investment, which was taken out for their immediate support, was sunk; and he, with his wife and family, in a foreign land, were utterly destitute of the means of subsistence. Taking his family with him, he went about forty miles east of Calcutta in a boat. On Feb. 6, 1794, he stop ped at Dehatta, the residence of the late Charles Short, Esq. who afterwards married his wife's sister, and whose gener

channel, owing to the nature of the soil, which is that of sand or black mould: nothing so coarse as gravel being found nearer the sea than (Oudanulla) 400 miles up the Ganges. This noble river receives, in its course through the plains, eleven rivers, some of which are equal to the Rhine, and none smaller than the Thames, besides as many of lesser note. About 300 miles from the sea the Delta of the Ganges begins. The two westermost branches, viz. the Cossimbazar and the Jellinghy rivers, unite and form the Hoogly. The for. mer is almost dry from October to May, and the latter is unnavigable for two or three of the driest months; therefore the only subordinate branch of the Ganges (except the Hoogly) which is always naviga ble, is the Chundnah, separating at Moddapour, and terminating in the Hooringotta river.

"The hot season begins with March, and continues to the end of May. The rainy season continues from June to September. By the latter end of July all the lower parts of Bengal, contiguous to the two great rivers, are overflowed to an extent of above 100 miles in width, nothing appearing but villages and trees.. Embarkations of every kind traverse the inundation; while husbandry and grazing are both suspended! The periodical rains and intense heat produce a luxuriance of vegetation unknown in Europe; and the rich variety of the vegetable creation delights the eye of every spectator.

"The lower part of the Delta, called the Sunderbunds, which is one hundred and eighty miles broad next the sea, is equal in extent to the principality of Wales. This tract is completely enveloped in woods, and so abounds with tygers and other wild beasts, that all attempts to clear it have been yet in vain! Here salt is prepared, equal to the consumption of Bengal and its dependencies; while those who make it are in constant peril of their lives, as the tygers not only appear on the margin, but often, in the night time, swim to the boats lying at anchor in the middle of the river.

"SERAMPORE, the Seat of the mission, is about 15 miles north of Calcutta." L. & E. edition of the Narrative, p. 82.

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osity and kindness, in a time of such extremity, ought neverto be forgotten.

In this neighborhood he built him an house, or tert, and thought of taking land, and of cultivating it for his support: but early in March he received a letter from Malda, inviting him to go, with his family, and take the oversight of an indigo-factory, belonging to Mr. U. His colleague also, Mr. Thomas, who had stopped at Calcutta, under an idea of supporting himself by his profession, received, a little before, a similar invitation. Circumstanced as they were, they could not but consider it as an interposition in providence in favor both of them and their object, and accordingly complied with it.

This undertaking however occasioned some reflections at home, chiefly among these who were not so fully acquainted with the terms on which the missionaries left their country, which were, that they were to be supported by the society till they should be able to support themselves. Conscious as they were of acting from the purest motives, the fears which were entertained by some lest they should get entangled in worldly pursuits grieved them. The strain in which Mr. Carey wrote in his journal at the time, is suffioiently expressive of his disinterested regard for the mission. "What is there," says he, "in all this world worth living for, but the presence and service of God? I feel a burning desire that all the world may know this God, and serve him. Oh, how long will it be ere I shall know so much of the language of the country, as to preach Christ crucified in it! I am resolved to write to the Society, that my circumstances are such that I shall not need their future support, and to devote a sum monthly for the printing of the Bengalee Bible."

Mr. Carey was not able to set off for Malda till May 23, 1794. While thus detained he seems to have felt much from the want of Christian society, and of being able to preach to the natives; and yet to have been greatly supported. "I seem," says he, in his journal of April 8, "to be cast out of the Christian world, and am unable yet to speak with any advantage to the Heathens. I have no friend to stir up, or encourage me in the things of God. The infidelity of Europeans grieves me. They tell me that the conversion of the natives is impossible. In England I should not be discouraged by the sayings of unbelievers; but here I have

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no Christian friend to sympathize with me, nor am I able to make the trial by preaching the gospel. All my hope is in God. Without his power no European could possibly be converted, and his power can convert any Hindoo. When I reflect that HE hath stirred me up to the work, and wrought wonders in preparing the way, I can hope in his promises and am encouraged and strenghened."

It was observed, that under all the trials of the first year, our dear brother, in his communications to the Society, made the least of them; and was much more concerned lest they should be discouraged, than for any thing which he himself endured.

Arriving at Malda on June 15, he found himself in very agreeable society. Next day he preached twice in English, and his friend and colleague, Mr. Thomas, met him. His pleasure was great on this occasion, being heightened by the recollection of the last six months. "I feel," said he, "as if released from a prison, and restored to the joys of Christian fellowship. Surely the Lord is not thus making room for us, and removing every difficulty out of the way, without some gracious designs towards us."

Mr. Carey then accepted the superintendence of an Indigo factory at Mudnabatty, and Mr. Thomas of another at Moypauldiggy, both in the neighborhood of Malda; and covenants were granted to them by the British government. Letters were then sent to England expressing great pleas ure in their being able to decline at present any further assistance, and hoping that the funds of the Society would be employed in another mission.

On the arrival of these letters, a meeting was held at Arnsby, April 7, 1795. The question was put respecting another mission, and which was thought by all present to be desirable. At the same time two young men, Mr. Jacob Grigg, and Mr. Jas. Rodway, had offered themselves as missionaries, and were considered as suitable persons. The committee therefore resolved on another mission to Africa, in the neighborhood of Sierra Leone. In the autumn of 1795, the missionaries left England; but through the indiscretion of one of them, and the ill health of the other, the undertaking failed.

The Rev. Mr. Hogg, finding his situation inconsistent with the treasurership, proposed to resign it. The committee thanked Mr. Hogg for his past attentions, and chose in

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