these considerations, we resolved to get a place, if possible, in the most populous part of the native city. We mentioned this to our Pundit, and he immediately directed us to a spot in Doorgapoor, which we think, of all others that we know, most eligible for our purpose. After due consideration, we took it for five years, at the rate of 200 rupees annually: -some part of it, which we do not want, we have let again; which will considerably reduce the sum. We immediately commenced building our house upon it, and it is now almost finished: this, together with a place of worship, and other little accommodations, will cost about 1000 rupees, or £125. This place is about four miles from our residence; and if we are succeeded in our work, it will prove an important Missionary station. But you will be led to inquire, how is it to be supplied? Respecting this, we have been in some doubt. At first, we thought are destitute of moral principles; so that instead of arguing from these, as we have always been accustomed, we have, with great difficulty, in the first place to establish them. For instance, they commonly maintain that sin in God and us is not the same thing, because he is above law; and if sin enters into him, it is consumed like fuel in the fire; and thus they take away the malignity of sin, and reduce it to a mere circumstance:-in fact, they make God himself the author of all sin as well as holiness; for, say they, "We live and move in him, it must be He, therefore, that impels us to every thing we do," and on this principle many do not fail openly to declare, that they themselves are God. From this you will perceive, that there are many obstacles in the way of communicating religious ideas to their minds; yet we begin to see some regularly attend, and listen to better instructions; we begin to hear the name of Christ pronounced in what-it would be best for us to reside at it alever direction we go, and oftentimes by many who we should have supposed had never heard it; and we should gladly hail the day in which the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing beneath his wings, and scatter the whole of these dark clouds of superstition and idolatry. We have at present but three places of worship, in which we preach five or six times every week. Several American gentlemen have come forward very liberally, and have subscribed as much as will build nearly two more, and in the course of about a fortnight more, we hope to be taking steps about building them: (they requested the chapels to be called by one or other of the following names, Nazareth, New Bethlehem, Zion, or Jordan.) This leads us to notice another very important step that we are now taking in this department of labour. We have had frequently to lament our not being more intimately associated with the natives. Af. ter preaching we had some who have followed us, wishing to inquire more about this new way, who, when they have come into the European part of the city, and seen its bustle and confusion, have made some excuse and gone back. We have also felt, on being called to preach to them, the necessity of entering fully into their modes of thinking and speaking. These considerations suggested to us the propriety of renting some ground, and building a house something like the natives' houses, that they might come to us freely, and without suspicion, and that we might have a place to give them while they remained with us as inquirers; and also accommodate those who could give us some assistance in preaching. From ternately, for a week or a month at a time; afterward, we were inclined to think it might be better for one of us to reside there constantly; we found, however, upon mature reflection, that both these plans had their peculiar disadvantages, and we therefore resolved on a medium between them ;-viz. that Adam, Carey, and Yates, should supply it alternately for half a year at a time; and the lot being cast, it came to Adam to take the first half year. Should this step be succeeded, it may be highly desirable in the course of time to take another of a similar nature. If you consider the extent of the population that lies before us, you will readily see the necessity of adopting some such plans. The number of idolaters in this city is nearly equal to the population of London; and suppose, even in its present enlightened state, that there were not to be found in London six men to supply its spiritual wants, whe would not consider that there was a dreadful famine of the word of life. This is the case here, for instead of six, there is scarcely-one amongst us who is capacitated to preach with effect to the Heathen; and even were we all so, what would five or six Missionaries be in a field where a million of souls are perishing for lack of knowledge? The sickle (we mean the word of life in the Benga lee language) has been put into our hands; the field (Calcutta and its environs) is laid open before us; and the language of Divine Providence seems to be, "enter and labour." We have attended to this voice, and now we must continue till by faith and patience a blessing is secured. The prosecution of plans like that we are now attempting will be at tended with considerable expense, because in addition to the money laid out in the commencement, we have another house establishment to support, which, though it will be nothing like the expenses of keeping house amongst the Europeans in Calcutta, will be something considerable. active of the natives, we know that he can do scarcely any thing when left alone, and without the presence of an European cannot preach openly, particularly in Calcutta. We hope, if constant attention is paid to him, he will prove a useful man. We mentioned to you in our last something about a long itineracy during the winter months which are now just past. Owing to the great expense that would have been incurred by it, and to our undertaking the station at Doorgapoor, we were unable to accomplish it; nevertheless, we have not relinquished the idea of it, but keep it in view as a very desirable thing whenever it is practicable. Till the station demanded the whole of our attention, Carey, Yates, and Adam made weekly itineracies alternately for about two months, during which time many books were distributed to those who could read, and the gospel was preached to many hundreds of the people. There is a Telinga Pundit, a Brahmin, who has been for some time past studying the English language with Penney, concerning whom we have reason to hope that he is seeking after salvation. Should he become a decided character, it will be with much pleasure that we shall inform you of it, at a future opportunity. Since we last wrote to you we have been visited by brother Chamberlain, who came down on account of the ill state of his health. While he was with us he seemed considerably better, and his trip down to Saugor appeared to have done him much good; but we have been extremely sorry to hear since his departure to Monghyr that he has been considerably worse, and that he is by no means out of danger. While he was in Calcutta, we had the highest expectations that he would perfectly recover. He preached for us several times in Bengalee at our places of worship, and was heard with the greatest attention. He expressed his great satisfaction at the steps we had taken in native work, parti- | cularly at our commencing the Doorgapoor station. His affliction is peculiarly trying to his spirits, and he says every village that he passes gives him new grief, because he cannot enter it and preach to the natives. So wondrous are As it regards native schools, we have the ways of God, that we are sometimes to inform you, that we have resigned the called to submit to his will, in abstaining one at Similya to the Calcutta School Sofrom that by which alone we think his will ciety, as the Committee of that Society can be promoted. We are persuaded that have selected its neighbourhood for the you will unite with us in praying that his scene of their operations, and as it was life may he spared and his health restored; too distant from us to receive that regular that he may for many years to come superintendence which was necessary to preach the Gospel to the heathen, and in its prosperity. We have, since we last this work be crowned with abundant suc-addressed you, built a new School-room at cess. The house built for native inquirers, a part of the city called Sheldah, very which is not far from our residence, is near one of our residences, which contains partly inhabited by Panchoo, the nephew above fifty children, and which is placed of Sebuk Ram, whom we have employed under the patronage and supported by the as a native preacher to assist us in preach- funds of the Calcutta Female Juvenile ing at home, and to accompany us in our Society for the establishment and support itineracies. He had his mind first seriously of Native Schools,-a Society lately impressed by some conversation he had formed for our encouragement in this with Eustace Carey and J. Peters, since branch of our Missionary work. which time he has manifested much diligence in his attention on the means of grace, and zeal in recommending the word to others. Should it be asked, why we employed him so soon? we reply, because we shall have him under our own immediate care, aud attend him whenever he preaches, so that we can both correct and encourage him in his work; besides which it brought him into immediate usefulness, and saved him from contracting some habits that would have been disagreeable. We should have thought it very wrong to have employed him and left him alone; for though one of the boldest and most We are now likewise building another School-room close to our Molunga place of worship, being desirous to ascertain whether the proximity of a school to a place where the Gospel is preached will prevent the attendance of the children. Should this experiment succeed, we have reason to hope that the introduction of the Scriptures and other religious and moral works may be readily effected. Our school at Intalie is proceeding as usual; the numbers have suffered no diminution. Besides these three schools connected with our European establishment the American Gentlemen, whose gene rosity we have before mentioned, as it regards places of worship, bad subscribed a sum for the erection of a School-room in the neighbourhood of our Native Station, A respectable native, however, with whom they were connected in business, expressed his wish to erect the school-room at his own expense. A request so interesting was of course immediately granted, and he is now erecting the building. The sum subscribed by the American gentlemen will therefore be applied to meet the permanent charges of superintendence, &c. In the printing-office, in consequence of an increase of business, we have added two new presses to the one we mentioned in our last as being in operation. We have likewise purchased of the Serampore Brethren, a fount of small Bengalee. Since our last communication we have printed (independently of work for the Bible and School-book Societies) at the expense of the Calcutta Baptist Missionary Society, 2000 copies of the Life of Futick, and 2000 of the first part of the True Durshun, or General View of the Christian Religion, both mentioned in our last as ready for the press, together with 1200 of a tract by Brother Chamberlain, entitled "The Mind's Reflection," in Bengalee verse. Nearly one-half of these tracts, we have reason to believe, are now in circulation. We are now preparing in Bengalee, an Address on the Sufferings of Christ, two or three tracts in continuation of the True Durshun, and the Harmony of the Gospels. Brethren Carey and Yates are now about to study Hindostanee, which will very much facilitate the accomplishment of an object we have long desired, viz. the translating of most of our Tracts (as they issue from the press in Bengalee) into Hindostanee. We intend to print them in the Persian character for distribution in Calcutta, and in the Deva Nagree for Hindostan; for. printing in the latter of which characters, the Branch Society at Digah have appropriated the greater part of their contribution to the funds of the Calcutta Auxiliary Missionary Society. Brother Chamberlain has furnished us with a tract in Hindostanee, which we shall print as soon as a fount of Persian we are cutting is ready. The first part of the True Durshun too is translated into Sanscrit, and will be printed when we receive a fount of Deva Nagree which we have ordered from Serampore. We would here as Missionaries express our obligation to various Societies for the assistance they have afforded us in our great work;-to the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society for Gospels and Testaments; to the Calcutta School-Book Society for Tables, books, &c. necessary in Bengalee Schools; to the brethren of Serampore, and the Independent Brethren at Calcutta for their liberal exchange of tracts; and especially to the Calcutta Baptist Auxiliary Missionary Society, whose Annual Report we hope to forward to you in a few months, when you will be able more distinctly to trace its operations. Brother Lawson is continuing his labours in the English department, and will send accounts to you respecting them at convenient intervals. And now, dear Brethren, we must conclude. We should have rejoiced to send you accounts of great success, but we have none to communicate. We are not however discouraged, and we hope that you will not be so either. If the delay of success render us more diligent and more dependent on Divine blessing, it will be extremely beneficial. We feel we hope more attached to our object than ever; and though we have reason to lament a deadness in Divine things, and an apathy to the salvation of the heathen very inconsistent with the value of our own souls or of theirs, yet we have begun a warfare with the empire of Satan in this country, which we hope not to relinquish till death, nor till some signal' success shall have been granted, indicative of the eventual overthrow and complete destruction of his at present uncontrolled power. We desire still to labour, assured that success is certain, and that the kingdom of our Lord shall eventually embrace the world. Encouraged by these reflections we bid you farewell, affectionately soliciting an interest in your prayers, and assuring you that we remain, Your very affectionate Brethren, JOHN LAWSON, SURAT. Extract of a Letter from Carapeit-Chator Aratoon, to Mr. Ward, written after his return from Serampore, and dated June 1, 1818. AFTER leaving Agra with a party of five companies of sipahees, and a company of irregular cavalry, who were under Captain Barker of the second battalion, 12th regiment of N. I. carrying treasure from Agra for the army, on my way to Surat, I tried to get a proper opportunity of writing to you, to let you know where I was, and how gracious Providence was to me; but when I had the opportunity to send you a letter by a proper channel, I was so much entangled that I was unable. I had opportunity twice, once while I was with Major-General Donkin on the 8th of March, near a very large and ruined village called Toda; and the other was on the 24th, when I was with Major H. Bellingham, near to Rampoora. These gentlemen asked me if I had any letters to send to Serampore, and promised to send them with the greatest pleasure; but I was hindered by various difficulties, which every new traveller must expect to meet with. After all, I had to take care not to lose the proper opportunity to proclaim the word of life, and distribute books and tracts to the people of those parts, which was my first and great design; but now I hope soon to write you a long letter, in which you will find much more than in this, since it has pleased our gracious Lord to bring me once more to Surat. I proclaimed the word of God on my way, I mean from Agra to this place, and also distributed all the scriptures and tracts that I had with me. Now I beseech you to pray to flim, who is able to give to those that heard and received the scriptures from me, a spirit of inquiry; that he may change their hearts and give them a new heart, and renew within them a right spirit; that the Lord may lift up the marvellous light of his countenance upon their dark minds, saying, Let there be light; then their minds will receive true light; then they will see and know what is the true and what is the false; then they will see the danger of their state, their need of that true Saviour unto whom the gathering of the people shall be; then he will turn them, and they will be turned unto him, and they will forsake their evil ways, and sing the new song of the Lamb of God; then the morning stars once more shall sing together, and all the sons of God shall shout for joy. O I beg you to increase, I pray you to augment the number of preachers in Hindoost'han. I entreat you to delay not, if possible. the two last sabbaths, the Pontifex maximus of Batavia, a very stiff Arab, was at brother Diering's house at the time of worship. I supposed he came to oppose, or to trouble us with hard questions; however we were glad to see him, for we love to meet our opponents, as we have then some chance of victory. It is also pleasing to observe, that many of the Musulmans will receive tracts, and then ask for the scriptures. One of the Dutch dragoons attends English worship at my house every sabbath evening. I first discovered this poor man, by going out one evening to distribute a few Dutch tracts among the soldiers. He received the few I offered him very gladly, and immediately addressed me in English, telling me, that he had been in the English service, and in England, and that he should be very happy to find some English place of worship. I of course invited him to my own house, and he has regularly attended ever since. A few weeks ago, he requested me to administer the Lord's supper to him. I told him my objec tions, and in the course of the conversation, I learned something more of his history: I am, says he, a Jew, born at Gothenburgh, in Sweden, but I was baptized in England, by a minister in the establishment, about three years ago, and here is a certificate to that effect. I read the certificate, and found it even Letter from Rhughoo, the Native Reader placed under the care of Brother Fowles. You will accept the best thanks and love of Rhugboo. I entreat you to pray for me, because I am a very sinful man, so sinful that there is not such another. I am desirous of doing the work of God; and that I may never be lazy, pray for me, that I may live in hope. The work in which I am to be engaged is very difficult: unless Christ gives his Spirit to man, man can do nothing; but we must preach the glad tidings, and teach the Extract of a Letter from Mr. Robinson, to I am very happy at Mr. Fowles's. I people pray to the Lord Jesus Christ. BATAVIA. Dr. Carey, dated June 9, 1818. OUR brother Diering always spends the intervals of worship, on a Sabbathday, in going from place to place; and on read the word to others here twice a day in Hindoost'hanee, and many come to hear. When I go to the villages many people want to come to me, but I have no place to entertain them. List of Manies received by the Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, from August 1, to November 1, 1819, not including individual Subscriptions. FOR THE MISSION.. L. s. d. Little Wild-street, Part of a Collection, by the Rev. John Edwards.... 14 0 0 Chelsea, Collection at the Rev. Owen Clarke's, by the Rev. Wm. Ward Legacy of William Walmsley, Esq. ..... Duty+220 £200 Watford, Auxiliary Society, by J. J. Smith, Esq. ... 17 6 8 180 0 0 6 19 9 6 0 0 50 0 0 0 180 0 15 2 11 Legacy of Mrs. Catharine Maddocks, late of Nantwich,£200 ..... Hertford, Auxiliary Society, by the Rev. Mr. James .. 81 10 0 20 0 0 Ilford, Missionary Association, Half-year, to Nov. 1, by Rev. Mr. Smith 14 Oxfordshire Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Thomas Parsons, Treasurer, viz. Abingdon. Hook Norton Collections and Donations received by the Rev. W. Ward, at Ipswich, Pontyrhydrum, Subscriptions & Penny Society 14 14 0 Stirling Missionary Society, by the Rev. Mr. Smart |