A THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lenox and Tilden 26567 ENTERED, According to Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by CANFIELD AND ROBINS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Connecticut. STEREOTYPED BY F. F. RIPLEY, PREFACE THE ensuing Memoir was composed at the request of the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society. The subject of it was their first and principal agent, by whose instrumentality they sought to confer the blessings of the gospel upon the heathen world. To perpetuate some memorial of his character and labors, appeared a just tribute of their esteem for him; whilst it of fered a suitable occasion for renewing the recollection of those events and incidents which marked the origin and early progress of the institution whose affairs they administer. The office of biographer was devolved upon me, it is presumed, from my relationship to Dr. Carey, and from my supposed intimate conversancy with the history of their Eastern Mission. I have endeavored, throughout the work, to exhibit the Christian and the missionary, rather than the philosopher and the scholar. The materials to which I had access were more applicable to this purpose; and it appeared, also, that a work so prepared, would be more accordant with the purposes of such a Society. Dr. Carey has been made, as much as possible, his own biographer. I might have taken the original documents, and have woven them into a tissue of my own; and, instead of transcribing naked details and references, personal and incidental, have invested them with a style more brief, general, and covert. But I conceive that the design of such a work is to describe character, and to commemorate labors. To do the former, it is requisite, not only to point out its leading constituent elements, but also to mark well the external providential discipline under which they have been consolidated, wrought up, and moulded to their ultimate consistence and perfection. And to appreciate the labors of an individual, we must not only know their nature and their magnitude, but the peculiar trials under which they are commenced and prosecuted. All that I can desire is, that the volume may commend itself to the candid and Christian reader, as a whole, without presuming that each part, in detail, will command his approval. And if, when such exceptions are taken, and such deductions made, as those to which I am conscious it may be thought liable, it be found of any religious utility, my labor will be well compensated. Camberwell, May 14th, 1836. E. C. CONTENTS. Page. His own account of his early life-memorial from his sis- Editorial remarks-Various circumstances connected with Review of difficulties attending the commencement of the Baptist Mission-Rejection of the missionaries from the Earl of Oxford, and the consternation it occasioned- Brief account of the voyage, by Mr. Thomas-Remarks by the editor-Selections from Mr. Carey's journal— 1. The unusually trying circumstances of Mr. Carey, while in the neighborhood of Calcutta-Letter to Mr. Sutcliff- His removal into the Sunderbunds-The timely hospi- talities he receives-Subsequent dejection and perplexi- Mr. Thomas's account of his visit to Malda-Invitation of himself and Mr. Carey to remove thither-Mr. Ca- Improvement in Mr. Carey's secular circumstances-com- Letter to his sisters-Letter to the Society-Letter to Mr. Pearce-Brief notice respecting him-Letter to his sis- ters-Letter to the Society-Remarks on secular em- |