intrusted the little money they possessed, for assistance; but found that through his inconsideration and improvidence, all was expended. He determined, therefore, to borrow five hundred rupees, and retire into the wilderness alone. His temporal necessities now began to press heavily on his spirits. Repeated applications to his friend were in vain, and he felt himself indeed a stranger in a strange land. In these circumstances, however, he pursued his purpose of translating the Scriptures with unmitigated ardour; and finding himself capable of conversing intelligibly with his moonshi, or interpreter, he writes, on the 21st of January, “we are determined to begin correcting the translation of Genesis to-morrow."

The offer of a bungalow at Deharta, belonging to the East India Company, till he could provide a residence, induced him, at the beginning of February, 1794, to make preparations for his departure. Behold, then, this devoted servant of Christ launching forth in a little boat, scarcely knowing, like Abraham, whither he went, all but totally destitute of the means of subsistence, uncheered by the sweet associations of friendship, uncountenanced by the ruling authorities, carrying with him a reluctant family who thought it hard to be forced from Calcutta, guided only by a native, (Ram Boshoo,) through the salt rivers and lakes, and partly along a river of the Sunderbunds, the habitation of fierce animals, prowling for their prey;-behold him, intent, not on the acquisition of wealth or fame, but solely in a voluntary expatriation to the distance of fifteen thousand miles from his native land, to rescue the wretched children of men from idolatry and vice;

and more than willing to labour, to suffer, or to die, for their salvation! What is the glory of ambition to this sublimity of benevolence?

As the family party proceeded up the Jubona, they found themselves not only desolate, but in utter destitution. Their strength was exhausted, and their provisions failed. At this critical juncture, a gentleman was seen walking along the banks of the river, with a gun in his hand for amusement. The guide, Ram Boshoo, said that a house which they saw, was built after the English fashion, and inhabited by an English gentleman. This led Mr. Carey to think of calling there. At this moment, the gentleman in question, who was the very English resident described by their guide, perceiving the boat, which he saw was occupied by Europeans, approached, and invited the whole party to his mansion. He was frankly informed of their missionary object; but, though he had no sympathy with it, having no regard for religion, he hesitated not to offer them accommodation; and this he gratuitously continued, and on the most liberal scale, for some months, till they could make arrangements for themselves. All were deeply affected with this providential interposition; and the name of Charles Short, Esq. was ever afterwards, and justly, held in grateful remembrance.*

Mr. Carey had been expecting to find land at Hash

* This occurrence is related, with slight circumstantial differences, by Mr. Fuller, in a small fragment of an intended history of the mission; but the writer must adhere to the narrative he has given as correct, having had repeated opportunities of verifying it. Mr. Carey's sister was afterwards married to Mr. Short.

nabad, but obtained it very near, at Collahtullah, a pleasant situation, with a fine soil. In this locality, he began to erect a house of an humble description; and was soon much encouraged by being informed that the favourable representations of his moonshi had induced four or five hundred families to think of taking up their abode in his vicinity. The situation was close to the Sunderbunds, the dread of whose fierce inhabitants, the tigers and other wild animals, had before driven the population to a distance; but the anticipated residence of an European, induced them to think of returning to that deserted neighbourhood. As soon, therefore, as the language was acquired, an opportunity for useful exertion seemed likely to present itself, both among Hindoos and mussulmen.

Some time afterwards, another situation invited a settlement, which seemed far preferable to a precarious subsistence in a desolate wilderness. The reasons for a removal were satisfactory to the mind of Mr. Carey, not to say that the call was imperative. A friend of Mr. Thomas, George Udney, Esq., had removed from Calcutta to Malda. A domestic affliction having befallen him, Mr. Thomas hastened, with characteristic ardour, to pay him a visit of sympathy, though at the distance of some hundreds of miles. This led to the renewal of an intercourse that had been suspended by partial estrangement. Mr. Udney had just begun the erection of two indigo factories; and not having been

At a subsequent period, they visited this country, when the author became intimate with them, and Mrs. Short afterwards joined the church at Clipstone, of which he was then the pastor.

able to find any persons to superintend them, a proposal was made that Mr. Thomas should take one under his direction, and Mr. Carey the other. By this arrangement, ample provision would be made for the supply of their temporal necessities, and an extensive field afforded for their evangelical labours; each, moreover, would be placed in a situation of direct influence over more than a thousand persons. Accordingly, on the 23rd of May, Mr. Carey proceeded to this distance of 300 miles, which required three weeks to accomplish; and, in June, took up his abode at Mudnabatty; while Mr. Thomas went to reside within seventy miles, at Moypauldiggy, the other factory. This neighbourhood was little more than a hundred miles from Thibet. It was supposed that their respective factories would furnish shelter for any person who might lose caste by the reception of the gospel; and that they might be able to aid the mission by devoting their incomes to its support. These views were sustained by the committee at home, who, however, united caution with their consent, in the following resolution, that, "though, upon the whole, we cannot disapprove of the conduct of our brethren, in their late engagement, yet, considering the frailty of human nature in the best of men, a letter of serious and affectionate caution be addressed to them."

At this period, the life of Mr. Carey was embittered in consequence of a malady which had long afflicted his wife, and which was now increasing to a state of absolute mental derangement. His eldest son was ill during several months; and his third son died. He suffered, also, himself, from two attacks of intermittant fever.

In a letter, dated Jan. 6th, 1795, Mr. Carey com

municated to the Society the assurance of his being able to afford pecuniary aid to the missionary undertaking; and the additional intelligence that he could preach the gospel to the natives, in their vernacular idiom. Already had he visited five villages, where all the inhabitants, though, indeed, they were not numerous, had attended his ministry; and the sphere of exertion was continually enlarging. He refers, also, to twenty Europeans, who were friendly, and disposed to unite in their worship. An attempt was made to establish a school; but many difficulties were encountered, in consequence of the natives removing their children on the slightest occasion.

The journals of Mr. Carey, during the year 1795, show that both he and Mr. Thomas persevered in the diligent discharge of their duties, though uncheered by much success. He mentions, however, addressing large assemblies, and expresses peculiar pleasure that many attended who were not their own workmen, and who might, therefore, be presumed to be under other influence than mere motives of self-interest. They had now constituted a christian church. It had only four members, indeed, themselves and two Europeans; but they were full of faith that, even in these dreary wastes of idolatry, the little one might become a thousand. The most that could yet be said of the natives was, that a youth of eighteen, named Cassinut Mookhurgee, a brahmin, evinced deep concern about salvation; and this had continued uninterruptedly for three months. The labours of Carey, however, were not so local as might be imagined. He occupied a district of about twenty miles square, within which, besides occasional