“Our affairs here go on in one uniform course of public grumbling, and private discontent. All who are touched by the retrenchments of Government, think they have cause to complain, and the army are certainly hardly used. But I try to have little to say in these matters. Missionary matters and education, supply sufficient employment without going into politics. We would fain make faster progress, but sickness, and obstacles arising from climate, hinder us; and we must be content to follow the course of Providence, and not to force it.

“You will have heard through Sherer, that we have become part of the Bishop’s household. I find his conversation very improving: he is naturally cheerful, and our intercourse is easy and agreeable. A part of his plan is to constitute his Archdeacons, his commissaries, and to delegate to them the details of the respective Archdeaconries. I continue, therefore, a Bishop in partibus still, and having such opportunities of reference to the Bishop on all occasions, I am not likely to commit the interests of the church. The only point on which I differ from the Bishop, is on the policy of allowing Missionaries to engage in English duties. This is a far easier employment, than proper missionary work, and it is, moreover, a misapplication of Missionary funds. It will also prevent, I fear, the East India Company, from contributing as they ought, to the support of a ministry for their christian subjects.

“I scarcely know what part of our history here will most interest you. The abolition of Suttee will no doubt be heard of all over Europe. The last year presented a return of 800 widows, and upward, consigned to the fire in this presidency. Of these upwards of 600 took place in Bengal; so that in this one province the strength of the practice lay. A considerable sensation has therefore been felt in Calcutta, but no where else. At Benares, Suttees have been even prevented, and the poor widow (glad no doubt) retired quietly home, saying, Such was her fate. What has been said against the abolition in Calcutta, has been chiefly by some of the most wealthy. They are not, however, united; arguments pro and con are discussed among themselves, with great freedom, and no little acrimony, and they exhibit the spectacle of a family divided against itself. I wish you were more of a politician. We require on the renewal of the East India Company’s charter, that some further expression of public opinion should be shown, on the subject of christian education. Years ago, Mr. Wilberforce obtained that 100,000 rupees should be appropriated towards the moral improvement of this people by education. The said sum is indeed appropriated, but it is to Mahomedan and Hindoo learning, such as it is: now what is required is, that Christian education should also have a share of the public support.”

“We have been now nearly a month in the Bishop’s house. Our mode of life is as follows: prayers at eight o’clock, when the bishop sometimes expounds; and again, also, at half past nine o’clock in the evening. We breakfast after prayers; have tiffin[152] at two o’clock, dinner at half past six or seven. One evening, (Friday) any person who is not afraid of the Bible, is welcome to come in at eight o’clock, and after tea the Bishop reads and expounds, and dismisses us with prayer. In the season of Lent, the Bishop catechizes in the Cathedral, on Wednesday mornings, and preaches in the evening on Fridays. He is frequently at the Thursday evening lecture. He visited lately with me at Burdwan, and takes a lively interest in Missions; preaches in Bishop’s College Chapel, on Sunday evenings, to the few students and others, and enters much into the affairs of that institution. A Chapel is commenced at the free school, and a Mariner’s Church at the custom-house is preparing, and the building of a Church at Howrah is in progress. A form of an association for the better observance of the Lord’s day has been drawn up by the Bishop, and sent to the Chaplains, and all the dissenting Ministers; and yesterday, sermons were preached in all the Churches and Chapels here, on the duty of sanctifying the Sabbath. From these particulars, you will judge what spirit he is of. In our habitual intercourse he is cheerful, communicative, and instructive; and hitherto, all has gone on very happily, with every promise of continuing to do so. Among the changes the Bishop has brought about is, the establishment of charitable committees connected with each church. They have been in operation above a month, and promise much good, both from the prevention of imposition, and the right appropriation of charity.

“The Hindoo College is working faster than its present supporters wish. The youths are growing up free-thinkers; and lately, some of them partook of a feast with one of the infidel christian teachers. The thing got wind, and the parents (one a Brahmin) became alarmed. An inquiry was set on foot, and the thing hushed up, but a strict injunction issued, that religion in any shape should not be mentioned to the pupils. It has occurred to me that these high and rich Hindoos, may soon find themselves obliged to urge the Government to pass a regulation, that loss of caste may not deprive individuals of property. A pro-suttee party is set on foot. Radah Cant Deb and others being members. They call themselves the Dhurm Soubah (which, as you have been so so long away, I may translate for you) “the righteous association;” but they have already fallen out about a treasurer: and strong recriminations are published, which promise little co-operation among them.

“O how greatly do we need steady good men at Mirzapore. The situation of the mission-premises is becoming more and more important. All the modern reformed Hindoos reside in that quarter; and a man of fair attainments and attractive character placed there, might become a mighty instrument of good. Well: no doubt the right person will be forthcoming in the right time.”

“In reviewing the past year, much cause, both for humiliation and for gratitude appears. In my own experience, a sense of defect and failure cannot but be felt. I can see nothing accomplished either in a public or private view. Nothing have I attained but to know more deeply that I am nothing, and must be indebted wholly to grace: yea, to grace pardoning grievous despite, leaping over opposition, and ‘carrying off the prey,’ without corresponding effort on my part to fall in with grace. In public I attempted [to establish] a school for the country-born. The scheme was too large; and, in yielding this point to N——, my own folly appears. I failed also with Howrah, through the opposition of unreasonable men. But both these objects are likely to be attained by the Bishop: and in this ‘I rejoice.’ Let good but be effected, and ‘I will rejoice.’ Other schemes I had in mind for the furtherance and establishment of the gospel, which are approved by the Bishop; especially the plan of endowments, in which I hope something may be accomplished. I have been much tried in respect of Mirzapore. Expectations from the school baffled and likely to fail, from the failure (for so it is in fact) of R. Missionary prospects much clouded, from the lack of instruments. Yet doubtless the working is advancing, and the gospel is spreading. These are matters of much thought with me.... If I could, with propriety, withdraw to a quiet missionary station, my mind would have what at all times seems best for it; but to withdraw from a post to which I have been called, without a clear dispensation leading to it, would embitter such a plan. I see nothing for it, but patiently to abide in my present situation, and to wait till affairs indicate what I ought to do. May I only be preserved from giving offence in my public or private capacity; and may I have grace to improve opportunities of working in the service of the gospel!”

“I wrote to you some time since respecting a project for a school in this city. We are still busy about it, and not without hopes of succeeding in establishing it. Great obstacles, however, occur. Our Government just now is too much on the Utilitarian system; which seems to mean, ‘That every one must do the best he can for himself, seeing that no aid is to be afforded.’ One thing this will work, which for this country will prove beneficial, whatever it may prove to Old England—it will render this country independent of England. It is well, certainly, that the resources of this country, both individual and general, should be called forth, and with a little forbearing care, they might for ages be auxiliary to the mother-country; but by refusing present aid, unkind feelings are called forth, and where no obligation is conferred on the one hand, no gratitude is felt on the other.”

“Nothing further has occurred here worth remarking, except that a master has unexpectedly turned up for the Grammar-School. Pray do you ever think of India in a political point of view? How the charter is constituted, or whether it can be altered for the better? We seem to want some attention from home; and I would fain hope we shall get it now the charter is again to be discussed. We are under the regulations of the Government as to abode. If one would establish a school, or promote education in any way, we are liable to be banished to England, if Government should not happen to like our project; and, if it does, we must ask leave to pay the expences out of our own pockets, for not a Rupee will Government give: and yet in this presidency alone, seven millions sterling are drawn annually from the land, and as much more from monopolies of salt, and opium, and from certain duties! Is none of this to be laid out otherwise than to promote increased dividends in Leadenhall Street?”

“June 17, 1830.

“Our increased acquaintance with the Bishop renders us more at home with him, and we see more to admire in him. He is by far best suited for this appointment of any who have occupied it. With more practical knowledge of men, and of parochial matters than any of them, he has large views of usefulness; and, with perfect propriety of language, states them to Government. Had we a man who had any fixed views of Government at the head of affairs, something effectual might be accomplished for the religious welfare of India, but when —— is on one hand, and —— on the other, of Government, what can be expected but fancies and crudities? And such seem most of the public acts at present.

“I may mention to you that in a Report on Ecclesiastical affairs lately made up by the Finance Committee, the employment of missionaries generally, without regard to class, and Roman Catholic priests, was recommended, to prevent increase of chaplains; and the principle broadly affirmed, that Government is not bound to supply the means of grace to any besides the European troops, to which the charter binds them. This gave opportunity to state other views and principles, which must have surprised certain persons not a little. You need not be surprised, should you hear of the Bishop’s arrival in England a few months hence; as it is quite evident, that should the Home Government depend on the information derived from this quarter, nothing will be done for us in an ecclesiastical point of view; and twenty more years of this miserable system [will] be perpetrated, which can only end in confusion almost irremediable.”

[146] Chief Justice.

[147] “On the state and prospects of the country.”

[148] The allusion is to that legislative alliance with Popery which marked the year 1829.

[149] Theron and Aspasio, Dialog. vii.

[150] The text selected on this occasion was 2 Cor. iv. 5; the purpose of the preacher was to shew 1st, “What is the subject-matter of a faithful minister’s teaching;” and 2nd, what “His object and aim in his labours.”

[151] The edition of 1829.

[152] Luncheon.