sides, and beating against the ship, and the men upon them in every part to unrig them and let them loose. All on board have uniformly declared they never saw any thing like it, and at one time we concluded she was going to the bottom. Our ship is about 130 feet long in the keel, burthen about 600 tons; she was mounted on the top of a sea which could not be less than fifty or sixty yards in height, from which she descended head-foremost, almost perpendicular, or quite as nearly so as the roof of a house. I saw her going, and with others concluded she could not recover it. I had but a moment to reflect; I felt resigned to the will of God; and to prevent being tossed overboard by the motion, caught hold of what was nearest to me. The plunge was dreadful. Her bow-sprit was under water, and the jib-boom, which is fastened to the bow-sprit, was carried away. But, in a moment, she recovered the plunge, and mounted upon another sea, without shipping a hogshead of water. At last, we cleared the wreck, and set our main-sail, which kept the ship a little steady. In four days after this, we had a violent gale; but, except the uncomfortable rolling of the ship, we sustained no damage. It took us up eleven days to repair our loss; and, only two days after that, a violent squall carried away our new main-top mast. Our fore-top mast was weak, and would not bear a gallant-mast, so that we were forced to put up a tung mast, for the main-top mast; and as the ship was victualled for four months only, and we had but little water left, we determined to go into the Mauritius to refit but strong northerly winds were very prevented our going that way. With care we came to this place. The rains have supplied us with plenty of water; and, except a black woman and child, who ill when they came on board, and died off the Cape of Good Hope, and the carpenter, who, by his great exertions in our misfortunes, caught cold, to which a pleurisy succeeded, followed by the scurvy, of which he died when we were within six days' sail of Bengal, we have had good health. Our infant has thrived more than if it had been on land, and the children are as well satisfied. 'We have not been entirely destitute of religious opportunities. Family worship has been constantly attended, and every Lord's-day we had preaching twice in our cabin. Our congregation consisted sometimes of six people besides our own family: they consisted of Holsteins, Norwegians, Danes, English, Flemish, and French; or rather, one of each. With respect to religious persuasions, they were lutherans, papists, and calvinists. We had some very pleasant seasons; but have been of no use, that I know of. Many private seasons I have enjoyed of great pleasure, and have a growing satisfaction in having undertaken this work, and a growing desire for its success; though I feel so much barrenness, and so little lively continual sense of divine things upon my mind, that I almost despair of ever being of But in geany use. neral I feel a pleasure in the thought that Christ has promised to be with his ministers until the end of the world, and that as our day is, so shall our strength be. I have often felt much pleasure in recollecting the times of public worship in the churches in England, and reflecting that hundreds, if not thousands, are now praying for me. You will also easily believe that my friends have not been forgotten by me on these occasions. Your ten o'clock in the morning is our four in the afternoon, there being six hours difference of time between you and us. 'Mr. Thomas has laboured indefatigably in translating the book of Genesis, which he has now accomplished. We expect in a few days to join Ram Boshoo and Parbottee. 'I hope the society will go on and increase, and that the multitudes of heathen in the world may hear the glorious words of truth. Africa is but a little way from England; Madagascar but a little way further; South America, and all the numerous and large islands in the Indian and Chinese seas, I hope will not be passed over. A large field opens on every side, and millions of perishing heathens, tormented in this life by idolatry, superstition, and ignorance, and exposed to eternal miseries in the world to come, are pleading; yea, all their miseries plead as soon as they are known, with every heart that loves God, and with all the churches of the living God. Oh, that many labourers may be thrust out into the vineyard of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the gentiles may come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Him! 'You will do us very great service, if you send us a Polyglott bible (there is one at Collis's) by the next conveyance. Ram Boshoo is a good Persian scholar, and it will certainly help us much. If you can get a copy of the gospels in Malay, it will be a help to us. I would wish you to send all that are published of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, and Sowerby's English Botany, from 77 Curtis, and No. 31 Sowerby. Continue sending them regularly, and deduct what they cost from my allowance. Whatever is published of note in England, especially among the baptists, I hope you will be sure to send; and, in return, I hope we may be able to send you tidings that will rejoice your hearts.' 'November 14. 'After beating about, and being driven back by currents for nearly a month, we arrived in Balasore roads, on the 7th instant, and on the 10th Mr. Thomas and I began our labours. We came in a ponsowah from the ship, and at slack water we lay to at a bazar or market, when Mr. T. preached to the people. They left their merchandise, and listened for three hours with great attention. One of them prepared us a dinner, which we had on a plantain-leaf for dish and plates; and instead of knives and forks, we used our fingers. When we left them, they desired us to come again. 'Poor Ram Boshoo was waiting for us, but, to our grief, has been bowing to idols again.* He was forsaken by European christians, and discarded by Hindus, and he says, 'I was very ill; nothing to support me or my family: all said Mr. T. would not return. I knew the roman catholics worshipped idols; I thought that I had seen but a small part of the bible; This was a Hindu who, Mr. Thomas hoped, was converted by his labours when before in India. perhaps the worship of images might be commanded in some part of it; but it was for a piece of bread, and I still love christianity the best.' I have 25th. Ram Boshoo still keeps close to us. engaged him as a mounshi. I am also much pleased with his conversation. We also hear that Parbotee stands well, and that he and Mohun Chund are coming down to us. We are, to-day, making application to the governor, for uncultivated lands to settle upon; which, if we can obtain them, will be an asylum for those who lose caste for the gospel's sake. I have had several conversations with a Brahmun who speaks English well, and, being unable to defend himself against the gospel, intends to come attended by a pundit, and try the utmost of their strength. 'Having so many letters to write, I must leave off. We are all well. The climate at this, which is the cold season, is not disagreeable, except it be the great difference between the heat of day and night, which is often ten degrees; but the heat is quite tolerable. Mr. T. will give an account of proper articles of trade to send out; and as our families are so different, and I have the expense of a mounshi too, I hope the society will settle the proportion between us. The more I know, the more I love him. He is a very holy man; but his faithfulness often degenerates into personality: though not to me, for we live in the greatest love. My family is well. All join in love to you, your people, all ministers and christians that you see or write to, and the society especially. "To Mr. Fuller. 'I am yours, most affectionately, |