The members of the infant church at Goamalty had a large portion of affliction during this summer. Mr. Mardon for some time lost the use of his speech. He and Mrs. Mardon were both very ill for a long time, and obliged to leave the station for the sake of medical assistance. The natives wept on their departure. There was also much affliction among them, so that for the greater part of the season they were unable to engage in any active labors. "But to shew," as Mr. Mardon says, "that success does not depend on the strength and exertions of poor mortals, the Lord hath wrought among the the Heathen for his great name's sake!" They begun with seven. Mr. Ephraim Burford who had joined e church at Serampore in 1806, being engaged in the indigo business in the neighborhood of Goamalty, removed his communion to them, and on Lord's day, June 19th, four were baptized, viz. Mr. Johnson an assistant in the indigo works, and three natives, which made their number twelve. Mr. Mardon also speaks of several more of whose conversion he entertained great hopes, and of two persons in particular who had died, and whose death was attended with some circumstances peculiarly affecting.

One was a byraggee of the name of Subhasingha of the Rajpoot cast, who was going on a pilgrimage to the temple of Juggernaut Mr. Mardon observing him to stop under a tree at Goamalty, and being unable at that time to speak much himself, requested Kreeshno Dass to go and speak to him. He accordingly went, and in conversation told him of the sufferings and death of Christ for the salvation of sinners. This poor man seemed to feel the subject as suited to his case. He said "he would take Christ for his refuge, and instead of prosecuting his journey to Juggernaut, would stop and hear more of the word of God, believing that by this his soul would be purified." "On hearing this," says Mr. Mardon, "Kreeshno came to me almost in raptures to know what he should do. I requested him to take the man to his house, and instruct him in the way of salvation. I went over shortly after and spoke to him a little myself. He was very attentive. In the course of the day the native brethren especially Kreeshno, conversed with him freely, and in the evening directed their prayers particularly on his behalf. He ate with them without hesitation, making nothing as it would seem of his cast! The next morning he threw off his

1

poita and necklace, as useless things! His body was in a very weak state. Next morning he appeared as usual, but in a few hours lost his speech, and seemed to be in pain. About three in the afternoon, surrounded by us all, he died. May we not hope that this was a brand plucked out of the burning!"

Another was a Hindoo, an inquirer after the way of salvation, whose name was Heeradee. "Nearly two months ago (says Mr. Mardon in a letter of September 6) he was bitten by a mad jackall in the corner of his mouth. It is only a week yesterday since I heard of it, when the natives brought him hither to get some medicines for him. On Monday last he began to feel the effects of the bite, and concluded he should die. Mrs. Mardon went over twice to see him. He was very earnest in prayer, not only for himself, but also for the church, that the Lord would pour out his blessing upon it. He was much in prayer the ensuing night. Yesterday he began to be enraged. The native brethren were afraid to come near him. Mr. Johnson visited him repeatedly. In the evening he and Mr. Burford were obliged to tie him down to the bedstead. This morning he appeared much the same. At intervals, however, the fits would leave him, and his reason return, and those seasons he would improve by prayer, or by talking about Jesus. He had the use of his reason it seems at last, for he expired with prayer upon his lips, between eight and nine o'clock this morning! He has left a widow and two

children."

During this year Mrs. F. Carey and Mrs. Chater, being very unwell at Rangoon, it was thought necessary for them to go to Serampore. On May 14th, they and their children, arrived. After a while Mr. Felix Carey followed them, Towards the latter end of the year, he and Mrs. Chater returned to Rangoon, leaving Mrs. F. Carey at Serampore. In December, after being delivered of her third child, she died Mr. Chater, who by reason of these fictions, was left alone for some time, was making progress in the language, in which he was assisted not only by his teacher but by the kindness of a Mr. Babasheen, an Armenian gentleman, in office under government, and who discovered much interest in the settlement of the missionarics in the country. Besides this, Mr. Chater began building a dwelJing house and a place of worship, towards the expenses of

which he obtained a handsome collection from among the

merchants.

The Armenian brother, Carapeit Chator, after visiting Jessore in company with Sebukram, was sent to reside among the brethren in that district.

The

At Serampore twelve were added in three of the summer months; and Deep Chund who had fallen into idolatry, came back with contrition, and was restored to the church. account which he gave of the occasion of his fall, the state of mind under it and the effects of several visits from his brethren, together with a letter from the church, were very affecting.*

The Danish clergyman at Serampore being dead, a question was moved among the inhabitants who should succeed him? The majority expressed their wish, that the missionaries might be permitted to do so. A petition was accorddingly presented to the Governor-General for the purpose, and which being granted, the parish church has from that time (about September) been occupied by some one of the brethren. They accept of no pecuniary reward for their services.

Towards the latter end of September there was a second examination of the lads engaged in the study of the Chinese language, held at Serampore; at which were present the Vice President of the Asiatic Society, with several other European gentlemen, who expressed their satisfaction in very strong terms, and their conviction that nothing but perseverance was necessary to the complete acquisition of the Chinese language Rewards were presented to the lads.

In October they say, "almost all the increase which the Serampore church has lately received, has been from CALCUTTA. The opening of the new chapel is anxiously looked for by many. Our brother Oaky of that city; whose father is or was a member of the Baptist church at Kingstanley in Gloucestershire, died this month in the blessed hope of everlasting life In a letter dated Nov. 29th they speak of having stationed Kreeshno (the first Christian convert) at Calcutta, where he is constantly employed in preaching and conversing about Christ, sometimes to natives, and sometimes to Europeans. They also mention their having access to the prison (the jailor and his wife

* See the particulars in the Periodical Accounts No. xix, p. 549.

having joined the church) and also to the dispensary, at both which places there is great opportunity of addressing the afflicted and miserable people.

No particular review of the events of this year has been received, but in a letter from Mr. Ward, dated Jan. 12th, 1809, he says "Brother Robinson is going up to form a station on the borders of Bootan, though on the Company's territories. He goes alone, but sister R. will soon follow him. If this succeed we shall have ten missionary stations, viz.

Bootan, Robinson; Dinagepore, Fernandez; Saddamahl, William Carey; Goamalty, Mardon; Miniary, Moore; Cutwa, Chamberlain; Jessore, Carapeit Chator; Serampore, Carey, &c. Calcutta, Carey, &c. Rangoon, Chater, and F. Carey.

The Shanscrit Testament is out, the last volume of the Bengalee Bible, with another volume of the Ramayuna; the Orissa New Testament I hope will be out in March; the new chapel in Calcutta (70 feet square) was opened on January 1st, and last Lord's day we baptized in it: several others are coming forward; Mrs. Carey is unwell, all the rest of us are well. The publications in England against the mission have created no alarm here. Lord Minto received the Shanscrit New Testament very graciously.

Mr. Marshman, in a letter dated the 14th of the same month, says, "things with us are through mercy well: we are full of encouragement and hope."

In the autumn of 1808, a brief memoir of the translations having been printed, Mr. Fuller visited the north of England and Scotland to collect for them. The liberality with which the friends of Christ of all denominations, in Scotland especially, came forward in support of this important object, may be seen by the appendix, to No. xviii, of the Periodical Accounts. It exceeded every thing which had gone before it, in the three preceding visits of 1799, 1802, and 1805, and affords a pleasing hope, that the work will not stop for want of support.

The following is a List of Persons baptized in Bengal, belonging to the church of Christ at Serampore, and the other churches formed from it.