anonymous letter, addressed to the captain, warning him at his peril to proceed with persons who were unlicensed by the Company. Upon this, they returned to shore, and Mr. Carey hastened to London, in the deepest distress. Even Fuller quailed at the news, and wrote, "We are all undone." The result, however, proved that it was a providential interference, and intended for good. Mr. Thomas was the most cheerful of the party, though he had reason to suspect that one of his former creditors occasioned this severe disappointment. The interval before the sailing of another vessel, in which they secured a passage, was employed in a visit to Mrs. Carey, with a view to try once more and persuade her, with the rest of the family, to accompany them. She, however, resolutely persisted in a refusal, and they departed for Northampton. Mr. Thomas, still anxious for his friend, determined even yet to return and make a final effort. In utter despondency, Mr. Carey endeavoured to dissuade him; but he was resolved; and, after renewing his appeals with reiterated urgency, enjoyed the high satisfaction of prevailing. On June 13th, 1793, all embarked together in the Kron Princessa Maria, a Danish East Indiaman. In the early morning of their departure, one of them addressed a London minister in the following emphatic words: "The ship is come; the signal made; the guns are fired; and we are going with a fine, fair wind. Farewell, my dear brethren and sisters, farewell! May the God of Jacob be ours and yours, by sea and land, for time and eternity!"

It is unnecessary to record the incidents of the voyage. With the exception of a storm off Cape des

Aquilas, the most southern part of Africa, in which they were for a short time in extreme danger, the course to their "desired habitation" was agreeable. Mr. Thomas employed himself on a translation of the book of Genesis into Bengalee. "Brother Carey," says he, "helped me out in passages which I could have made nothing of without him. So let the goldsmith help the carpenter, and the carpenter the goldsmith, that the work of God be done." They arrived in Balasore roads on the 7th of November, and on the 10th went on shore, when Mr. Thomas preached at a bazaar, or market. He was heard with great attention for three hours, and a repetition of the visit earnestly solicited. On the 11th, they proceeded to Calcutta. A Hindoo, named Ram Boshoo, whom Mr. Thomas believed to have been converted by his instrumentality, on a previous visit to India, waited for them on their arrival; but, to their grief, they found he had been bowing again to idols. Mr. Carey soon saw reason, however, to entertain a good opinion of him; and, some time afterwards, engaged him as a moonshi, or interpreter. Another convert, also, called Parbotee, who had adhered firmly to his profession, demands more than a passing notice; the following account of him is condensed from Mr. Thomas's narrative of his own labours in India.

Parbotee was a man of title, a brahmin, a thorough devotee to the Hindoo laws and superstitions. When he heard of the new Shaster, or Bible, he was much displeased; and required another brahmin, Mohun Chund, who had been conversing with Mr. Thomas, to wash his clothes, on account of the defilement. When this individual gave his hookah, or pipe, to Parbotee,

C

the latter emptied the water out of it, which is a kind of formal disgrace, and a forerunner to losing caste. This being done before witnesses, was a dishonour to Mohun Chund. About two in the morning, however, Parbotee, in the greatest distress of mind, called him up, and desired to hear the gospel, and to be prayed for. They then repaired to the house of Boshoo, where they spent their time till daylight, in reading, praying, and singing. He did not then go to his usual ceremonies; and, on repeated inquiry, it was found that he had had a remarkable dream, which seemed to be of the nature of a Divine admonition. The issue was, he confessed and forsook sin, and professed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. Thomas records a prayer which he offered on one occasion on a journey, just as Parbotee, Mohun Chund, and Boshoo were about to proceed with him along the river, by which they were traversing the country; and it is worthy of admiration for its simplicity and fervour.

"I performed the rites of the Ganges; I called this good. I worshipped wood and stone; I called this good. I heard the Shasters of men, that are all false and vain; I called this good. Lord, I am a most wretched creature to this day; I know nothingnothing! I have spent all my days in wickedness, and have not obtained the least knowledge of God. O put far from me these evil things! O make them depart far from me! I have hearkened now to thy word; I will hear them no more. I will not the least regard the idols of wood and stone any more;-vanity, lies! Lord, I will hear no more at all these Shasters of the Hindoos; they are false and vain. Wretched sinner!

Save me! O save, save, save me! Give-give-O give -give, O Lord! Give me to know-hell-what? heaven-what? Without the blood of Christ, I shall never be saved. Without the flesh of Christ, I shall never live. Lord, what is the meaning of this? I know not what it is. How can I get the blood of Christ? O teach me! I will do any thing thou sayest. Caste! what? Home! what? Friends! what? Life! what? What is any thing? All is nothing; but thee. I want no money; I want nothing but thee. a wretched sinner I am! O tell me thy way! me by moonshi; tell me by the sahaib!* going to Calcutta. Many, many wicked things are there. O keep us all while we stay there!

O what

O tell

We are

"O that I had but love! O that I had but faith! O that I had forgiveness! O that I had but those things which thy people have! Like them-O give me like them! O Lord, how many evil things are in my mind every day! I am a wicked, blasphemous wretch. I have shame in me-wicked shame before the people, and wicked fear of men. Far, O far away from me, put far away my sins! Forgive me; and teach me what I shall do! I will do any thing. O that I did but know what to do! O give-give-give, Lord! What shall, what can I do ?"

*Sir. He meant Mr. Thomas.

CHAPTER II.

FROM THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, TO THEIR SETTLEMENT AT SERAMPORE.

AFTER the arrival of the missionaries in Bengal, they were in great perplexity respecting a place of residence. Three weeks were occupied in the arrangement of their secular affairs in Calcutta, when they proceeded to Bandell, a Portuguese settlement, about thirty miles distant. The inhabitants of that village consisted of catholics and mahometans, but multitudes of Hindoos lived in the populous vicinity. These listened with much attention to the addresses of Mr. Thomas, and were full of inquiry about the way to heaven. Apparently there was no opening for usefulness in Calcutta ; but at the earnest solicitation of several brahmins and pundits, and with a view to his own profession as a surgeon, he rather determined upon remaining there; while Mr. Carey agreed, for the present, to accept of gratuitous accommodation in the garden-house of a banian at Maniktulla. The reason he assigns for leaving Bandell, is, that it was impracticable to live there as he thought missionaries ought, in association with the people among whom they labour. Having been informed that he might obtain jungle land, rent free, for three years, at or near Deharta, thirty-two miles eastward of the city, whither he had sent a trusty old native to make inquiries, he applied to Mr. Thomas, to whom was