“A gracious Providence who has followed us with goodness and mercy all our days, has prospered me thus far. You will bless God with me, who upholds me in perfect health ... a most surprising change seems to have passed upon my constitution, so that I feel very little inconvenience from the heat. Last year I was obliged to have recourse to medicine to keep me from fainting; now, though the hot winds have been blowing some weeks, I feel active and cheerful as when with you. A sigh of regret at our separation often, indeed, interrupts my joys, and sends me with tears not unfrequently to your Father and my Father, to your God and my God. O, praise to a precious Redeemer, through whose love and grace so lasting an union has been brought about, which swallows up even natural ties, or rather rivets them by an indissoluble bond! All painful idea of separation and distance is lost in the consideration of that better country, where we shall meet to part no more for ever!

“You will rejoice to hear that the word of God is not without increasing witness among the soldiers. Eighteen attended the sacrament of the Lord’s supper on Easter-day, most of whom are serious and attentive; and many are regular at our evening worship, where they attend voluntarily. Among their wives also great attention continues to be paid; and knowledge, at least, is increased. The Brahmin whom I baptized came up (from Benares) last Sunday; and after attending worship in Hindoostanee, expressed much delight. He proposed, as a doubt, what would once have been an article of faith with him:—‘Sahib, you have been so little while in this country, and [yet] know the language so well, I think you must have been a Hindoo before you were born in England, and, therefore, your fresh language came to you so quick again.’ A fortnight since, I baptized a woman, who is evidently seeking sincerely the kingdom of God. Yesterday, she expressed her gratitude for instruction, by saying, ‘I am a poor woman, and have nothing to offer to Sahib in return for his favour, except three fowls which I shall send to-morrow, if he will please to accept them.’ On my saying, God has given me plenty, she said, ‘True,’ but it is my duty to lay my neck beneath Sahib’s feet.’ The language of the common people is, indeed, full of compliment; but none of them show a disposition to give any thing away, except in some instances where grace seems to open their hearts. Another, the wife of an European, who seems the best Christian of them all, on my noticing a little dog, sent it to me next day, begging my acceptance of it. To excuse myself, I said it was too young, and she is now keeping it for my sister, and takes great pains in teaching it to beg, &c. that my sister may be amused with it when she arrives.”

“April 25, 1808.

“The heat of the climate induces a despondency entirely unknown to you. I perceive plainly that this despondency not a little infected my mind most of the last hot weather; which was, perhaps, increased by continued ill health. I have been enabled, however, to hold fast my integrity; nor ever have handled the word of God deceitfully; nor has the word been without witness. A great increase is now made to my evening congregations, which are my only joy, they coming voluntarily; and on Wednesday next, I begin a weekly lecture.... I am, through mercy, now in perfect health, and usual spirits; and see it ‘good for me to have been in trouble.’ My present mode of passing my time will give you, perhaps, pleasure, certainly amusement. On an average I do not dine from home above once a week, and seldom see any of my equals here, except a family, who, I hope, are pious, though their progress is slow. From morning (five o’clock till eight) I attend to my own private affairs, with a little exercise: then till three or four, learn the native languages; when every day, either some of the natives come to me to read the Scriptures, or I attend some place of meeting for that purpose. Mr. Martyn writes to me weekly: he is preparing a copy of the gospels in Hindoostanee for the press; this will be an invaluable acquisition: the one we have is so learned as to be unintelligible to the vulgar for the most part. I have altered [the version of] St. John’s Gospel which we use. The Acts of the Apostles especially delight the native teacher: I have told you of ——; you would be surprised to see the effect it has upon him; and the eagerness by which it is heard by others. I feel it to be too little regarded by myself, and am too apt to consider the divine manna a common thing. I send my father by these ships the history of a Brahmin’s conversion, whom I lately baptised.[41] I baptized a woman a fortnight since; and several of the soldiers’ native wives. Sinners are plainly under good impressions; but, Oh! the patience and perseverance necessary to deal with them!

“Dr. Buchanan is on his way home: whatever he may publish will give you a true and clear insight into religious affairs here; except that you can have no idea of the magnitude of the work of conversion, unless you were here.”

“May 14th. Yesterday morning, I went to Wheatley’s hospital. The Dhobee[42] only seems truly in earnest: he said that since he first heard the word, his heart had been much taken with it; that the more he hears it, the more he esteems it; and that he is happy in it. ‘Jesus Christ,’ he says, ‘is the creator and preserver of all things, who will take him to God’s presence; or if not, His will be done: yet he will serve Him; and has forsaken Satan’s works, and will return to them no more. Satan’s works are worshipping stones, poojah, &c. &c.’ Here one of the bystanders said, ‘Satan’s works are also lying, stealing, &c. &c.’ To-night Anselmo[43] is ill. On my speaking to him, he said, ‘Whether well or ill, I am always begging for pardon of sin from Jesus Christ: I am not deserving of it, but am worthy of hell; yet, as He died for sinners, God for His sake will hear me: this is my constant hope; but now, indeed, I need more grace and support.’—Praise God for these things. O for patience and perseverance in the Lord’s work!

“Secrole. July 25th. According to leave obtained, and notice given, I came down on Friday evening with the view to perform divine service yesterday. On Saturday morning, I waited on the general, who received me with the most chilling coolness. He told me that he had nothing to do with divine service, or the artillery-men; and that he should not interfere: he had heard nothing of divine service, except from my application. Mr. ——, who had been forward for my coming down, on hearing of my arrival flew quite off, and said, ‘they could do as well now as before, without divine service,’ he, however, came yesterday morning. A congregation of at least sixty assembled; and after service, Mr. A. thanked me, and said he hoped they should give me encouragement to come amongst them oftener. Afterwards, the Brigade Major came with a message from the general, (who did not come to church) saying, that I was ‘at liberty to come and go as I pleased, but the artillery-men and officers could not be permitted to attend so far from the lines, for fear of the natives seizing the guns whilst they were at a distance: if the court-house were used to assemble in, or a place of worship erected near the lines, he should have no objection; but all this was to be kept a secret.’ Well: blessed be God, who hath opened a door here for His word! Had there been no obstacles thrown in the way, it would have been unusual. Satan never yet freely and without a struggle, resigned his dominion. O Lord, I have no might or skill to resist this great enemy; neither know I what to do; but mine eyes are towards thee! In the morning service, I was sadly amazed by the presence of so many of the great ones of the earth; but after the service commenced, these feelings vanished.

“Aug. 24th. On Monday I went to Mirzapore, where I saw an old Fakeer, the most wretched victim of superstition I have met with. He has been a great traveller, and by the strange noises he utters, and the inhuman appearance he puts on, causes the people to take him for some great one. He struck me as strongly under Satanic influence. I endeavoured to gain from him some idea of his creed; but could not. Narsingha, who is celebrated in the Bhagavat Geeta,[44] is his titular deity, whom he considers equal to the other gods. I am confounded at the thought that, from the conduct of the English present, I was prevented warning him as I ought of his danger.

“Aug. 31st. Yesterday was spent at Ghazeepore; much talk about religion, and religious people; but little religious conversation. In prayer, I have been sometimes enabled to make my ‘requests known with thanksgiving;’ but have felt great backwardness to the public services of the Church. ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner!’ for that I suffered the rain to prevent me from going to the evening worship; and that when I have spoken unto the men, it has been in a cold and indifferent manner! I see in Robinson[45] of Cambridge (whose life I read yesterday) how far a person, and even a minister of religion may go, and yet be as ‘sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.’”

[37] Printed in the Proceedings of that Society, vol. i. p. 179, and seq.

[38] Head.

[39] The Chief Deity.

[40] The substance of this account was afterwards printed in the Missionary Register, vol. i. p. 317, and seq.

[41] See above pp. 110, &c.

[42] A Native washerman.

[43] Formerly a Roman Catholic. See below p. 125.

[44] A poetical Exposition of the doctrines of a particular school of Hindoo Theology. It forms an Episode in the Maha Bharat, one of the great Hindoo Poems, and has been translated by Wilkins. An abstract of it is given in the Quarterly Review, Vol. 45.

[45] An Anabaptist preacher, celebrated in his day for his extreme opinions, both as respected politics and religion; who, after having written a ‘Plea for the Divinity of Christ,’ rejected Christianity and died a Socinian.