of affliction to wean us from the world. He answered, "I have a wife, a daughter, a son-in-law, &c. I have tried to induce them to embrace the gospel by presents, and by persuasions; but they refused. I am therefore weaned from them all. I can only pray for their salvation. This is the only way in which I can now manifest my love to them." He considered it, he said, as a great honor that God had given him the respect of all his brethren.

He spoke with respect of Kristno Presaud, as the person who amongst all the native brethren, most adorn the gospel. He lamented many things amongst them. Many of the brethren were now standing round the bed, and hearing him, to whom Mr. Ward recommended the dying advice of the venerable man as most weighty and solemn.

The next day Col. Bie died, much respected and lamented as a Governor. A great part of the night preceding his death, he was said to be praying most fervently to the Savior. The poor natives said at his interment, Never shall we see another such a master."

On June 2d, Kangalee, a byraggee from the neighborhood of Cutwa, and Caleb Hiorns, brother of Mrs. Rolt, lately arrived from England, were baptized. The former had heard of the gospel, and had been seeking after some person to give him further information, when he met with Bydenaut, who told him all he wished to know, and brought him to Serampore. He was greatly affected when speaking before the church. On the 15th Shectaram arrives with two of his neighbors; Bykonta, of the writer cast, and Lochon, a husbandman. On the 22d they were both baptized. On July 7th, Mr. Joseph Malin, an Englishman, who has long resided in the upper provinces of India, having lately embraced the gospel, is baptized.

On August 4th, Kobeer arrives, bringing with him Beeshonaut, a neighbor of his, about thirty five years old, who is earnestly desirous to find the way of life. All the native brethren, (who know the Hindoo character much better than Europeans do) think well of him. On the 18th he is baptiz ed. These successful labors of Kobeer, Sheetaram, &c. gave the missionaries to perceive more and more the importance of encouraging native preachers. Kawnye preached well the same day.

About four years ago Mr. Ward, being on a visit at Calcutta, went with Kristno to a village called Ramkreeshnopore, on the other side of the river, opposite Calcutta.

Here they left a number of small tracts and a New Testament; declaring, it seems, that, "the Testament was for the use of the whole village,and that he who could read the best, should keep it, and read it to all who wished to hear it." Till now

the effects were unknown. Kristno, on revisiting the vil lage, meets with a byraggee, who tells him that the books have been read, and that several persons are convinced by them.

On the 21st of August, Petumber Shingo died. “A little before his departure," says Mr. Moore, "he called the brethren who were at hand, and desired them to sing Kristno's hymn, Salvation by the blood and righteousness of Christ, And while they were thus engaged, the tears of joy bedew ed his placid face; and in this happy frame of mind he breathed his last!" "He has been," says Mr. Carey, "a very honorable member of the church. His conversation on his death bed was highly encouraging and edifying. He frequently observed that he had obtained the peace which Paul wished in the introduction to his epistles." Kristno, who visits Ramkreeshnopore, or as they call it by contraction, Kreeshnopore, is greatly delighted to see the effects of the New Testament and the tracts. He tells of ten or eleven persons at and in the vicinity of Calcutta, who are inquiring, "How they may obtain the fruits of Christ's death." He is surprised at the knowledge they have obtained. The next morning after the interment of Petumber, two persons came to the house, who, from what they had heard and seen, were much impressed in favor of the gospel. The name of one of them was Goluk, a young man from Calcutta. After visiting the mission house most days, on the 27th he came to abide with them.

On Sept 1st Bhagvat, a young brahmin. and Felloo, the mother of Fotick, whom he had brought with him from Jessore, are baptized. About the same time the relations of Gulok are using all means to induce him to relinquish Christianity. Mr. Ward, after much conversation with them, told them that they could not take him away by force; and that they ought not, if they could. On leaving them he said to Goluk, "Here are four of your relations, and you have a mother also at Serampore. If you choose, you may go with them; but if not, go with me." They allowed this

*See a memoir of him in No. xviii. Per. accounts.

was fair. The young man then said, "He would not go with them, but with Mr. Ward," who accordingly took him to the mission-house; and on the 15th, he was baptized.

During this month, Mr. Moore, Mr. Wm. Carey, and three of the native brethren, set out on a missionary tour through the country to Dhacca, where, being interrupted by a collector, and afterwards by a magistrate, they were obliged to desista On their return they called on a congregation of Hindoo Catholics, with whom they conversed freely, and offered them a New Testament; but the priest being absent, they dare not receive it. Though there did not appear to be any thing like true religion amongst these people, yet the missionaries could not but observe a difference as to their manners, when compared with those of the heathen natives. They took well all that was said to them, and expressed their gratitude for the visit. They were invited in return to visit Serampore, should any of them be coming that way.

On the 6th of October, the brethren, Marshman and Ward, were chosen co-pastors with brother Carey; and the brethren Mardon, Biss, Moore, Rowe, Kristno, and Kristno Presaud, were set apart to the office of deacons. During this and the two following months twenty-one persons were baptized, seven of whom came from Kristnopore, and were the fruits of the New Testament and tracts which were left at that village. One of them, named Kristno Dass, referring to Mr. Ward's having declared concerning the Testament, that "It was for the use of the whole village, and that he who could read the best should keep it, and read it to all who wished to hear it," said, "He had got it, and that the reading of it had changed his ideas, made him leave off idolatry, and put his trust in Christ." The Testament was produced, and was nearly worn out by reading. Ten out of the twenty-one were baptized on November 3d. "A solemn seriousness," says Mr. Biss, "pervaded the company. Some who seemed to know nothing of the power of religion, nevertheless shed tears." At the Lord's Supper there was great joy through the whole church, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord.

In the autumn of this year, Captain Wickes being in Lon don, the committee sent by him a thousand guineas which had been collected in England, Scotland, and Ireland, towards the translations of the scriptures into the eastern lan

guages. On the Captain's arrival in America, he expressed a wish in the public papers that the friends of religion in his country would add something to it. The result was, that by the generous exertions of the different denominations, the original sum was considerably more than doubled, and sent in dollars to Serampore.

1806. In November, 1805, the secretary received a letter from Rob. Ralston, Esq. of Philadelphia, informing him that Capt. Wickes would in the spring following sail in a ship of his for Holland; after which he would touch at London, in his way to Bengal; and that if we had any persons or goods to send, he would take them free of charge as to passage or freightage. The society having two young men on probation, Mr. Chater, and Mr. Robinson, availed themselves of this kind offer to send them out. On April 12th they set sail for Serampore.

Early in January, Mr. Maylin and Mr. Fernandez, jun. set sail for England by way of America. Mr. Fernandez, sen. came down at this time to take leave of his son, and brought with him two natives who wished to be baptized. Their names were Nund kishore and Hedurum. On the 26th they were baptized. On the 27th, a new church was formed for Dinagepore. Several of the members who resided in that part of the country, with Mr. and Mrs. Biss, were dismissed from the Serampore church for this purpose; and who chose Mr. Fernandez for their pastor.

A young man, of the name of Burford, grandson of a baptist minister of that name, a predecessor of Mr. Booth, heard Mr. Ward at Calcutta: and being deeply impressed with a sense of his sins, came to Serampore and opened his mind to Mr. Ward. He wept much, A few days after this, he seemed to find rest for his soul in the doctrine of Christ, which was recommended to him.

The principal events of the first six months of this year are the following-Ground for the new chapel at Calcutta, in a place called the Lol Bazar, is purchased for 7250 rupees; and after investing it in the hands of ten trustees, a shed or temporary mat-house is erected for present use-Proposals for subscriptions to the translation of the scriptures into the eastern languages are publicly advertised, and by June 14,000 rupees are subscribed-Mr. Biss has a dangerous liv er complaint-Seéboo, a native brother in Jessore, dies; and, contrary to his own desire, is burnt after the manner of idol

aters. He dies declaring his faith in Christ, and recommen ded his wife to believe in him-Some are excluded for immorality; but others are received almost every month. Out of about forty, received within a year, four or five appear suspicious characters-The native preachers are very active, and in general very acceptable-The shed is opened in Cal cutta, and many resort to it: some hearing with great atten tion, others mocking and loading both the missionaries and the native Christians with reproach-The converts at Kristnopore suffer much from their heathen neighbors; but bear all with patience and fortitude. During this period there appear to have been fourteen persons baptized; among whom were Mr. Ephraim Burford, the young man above mentioned, and three more from Kristnopore, the village where the New Testament was left, and read. Upon the whole, things at this time wore a very promising appearance. "We have," says Mr. Marshman, in a letter of August 18th, "the utmost reason for thankfulness with regard to the whole of our affairs. In no period has the mission appeared more

promising.

About the same time an extraordinary church meeting was called, in which the native brethren were given to understand the importance of their entering with all their hearts into the great object of the mission, and using all proper means to promote the salvation of their countrymen; and that as they could not support their families while engaged in this service, the church would allow them for the time which was so employed. Of these itinerating excursions of the native brethren there are two journals, printed in No, xvii, of the Periodical Accounts, for a specimen: the one of Deep Chund, and the other of Kristno Dass, both in the true spirit of Christianity.

But it was the will of God in the midst of these opening prospects to try them, and that in a way to which they had not been accustomed.

On August 5th, Mr. Moore writes from Dinagepore, that on their arrival at that city, a servant of the magistrate came to the boat demanding their names, occupation, and place of residence; to which they readily made answer, declaring also the object of their journey. The result was they were required to return to Serampore.

"On the 23d of August, the brethren, Chater and Robinson, with their wives, arrived in the ship Benjamin Franklin,