pense as one, if this method be pursued. I then earnestly entreat the society to set their faces this way, and send out more missionaries. We ought to be seven or eight families together; and it is absolutely necessary for the wives of missionaries to be as hearty in the work as their husbands. Our families should be considered nurseries for the mission; and among us should be a person capable of teaching school, so as to educate our children. I recommend all living together, in a number of little straw houses, forming a line or square, and of having nothing of our own, but all the general stock. One or two should be selected stewards to preside over all the management, which should, with respect to eating, drinking, working, worship, learning, preaching, excursions, &c., be reduced to fixed rules. Should the above-mentioned natives join us, all should be considered equal, and all come under the same regulations.'

In the work of missions, especially in the educational department, as much depends upon the endowments and devotedness of females, as upon those of their husbands. The work of female education in India is conducted entirely by the wives of missionaries, or by such pious females as are sent out under the auspices of different institutions for that purpose. A Society is now in operation, consisting of ladies of piety and evangelical sentiments, without regard to denominational peculiarity, for selecting and affording protection, and, if needed, support, to ladies who are deemed suitable for the work, and are disposed to

consecrate their talents for the literary and religious improvement of their own sex in China and the East. Its designs and its principles well entitle it to the approbation and cordial support of the religious world. The usages of society in eastern countries are such as to bar access to the female population, except by their own sex; and when women are converted to the faith, their religious principles and conduct require a constant vigilance, and wisdom, and condescension in their superintendence, different from, and far beyond, what men either can or will bestow.

"The utility of this community of goods in the beginning of the gospel church here, will be obvious, by considering the following things: 1. Our finances being small, it will be necessary to live economically; but one set of servants will do all the work for the whole, if thus organized, when, if otherwise, every separate family must have the same number as would be necessary for the whole if united: and, if God converts the natives, they would in time supersede all want of servants, being partakers of the public stock, and therefore bound to labour for the public benefit. 2. Education of our own and converted heathens' children is a very important object, and is what might, if followed by a divine blessing, train up some of them to be useful preachers or other members of the mission themselves. 3. The example of such a number would be a standing witness of the excellence of the gospel, and would contribute very much to the

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furtherance of the cause of Christ.

4. Industry

being absolutely necessary, every one would have his proper work allotted him, and would be employed at his post; some cultivating land, some instructing, some learning, some preaching, and the women superintending the domestic concerns.

'In order to this, I recommend about one or two hundred biggahs to be cultivated for the mission, which would produce most of the articles necessary for them and their cattle; that all these people should not come at one time, but one or two families in a year, or in two years or so. But as brother T., for obvious reasons, could not join this family, and for others as obvious to me would not, except he had the sole direction, in which case all would fail, and as there is a far greater probability of his being torn from the work than not, we are in immediate want of more, say one family more, of missionaries; and I entreat the society to send them, as the only way of keeping the mission together: but pray be very careful what stamp missionaries' wives are of.

"Should this place be continued to me, I recommend the seat of the mission to be here; and my income and utensils will be immediately thrown into the common stock. Or any part of Bengal would do; though the north is most agreeable, and will produce wheat, a very necessary article: the heat also is more moderate. Should we go south, the neighbourhood of Nuddea is most eligible; but I fear too near Calcutta. All provisions also are much cheaper in the north; and by keeping a small boat,

which can be bought for thirty rupees, two persons may travel any where at a time. Cultivation, and all except superintendence, must be performed by natives.

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'Expense. The number of servants kept would fall under two hundred rupees per month, I think about a hundred and thirty: and the expenses of clothing and articles of furniture would be near one hundred for the number mentioned. The table might be well supplied for all above mentioned, for one hundred rupees at furthest, I think for sixty; but say the utmost. Now, if eight families were distinct, their monthly expenses could not, with the utmost frugality, come under one thousand rupees per month the whole of this would only be four hundred, and the produce of the land would be to lessen even that; so that we should receive from the society for such a number £30 per month, or £360 per annum, till we were able to say we could do with less. It would be a great saving of even this, if the society were to send £50 a year of this in woollen cloths, light shoes, strong stockings, hats, and garden seeds this £50 would save the mission about £100 or £150 a year. Having said thus much, I recommend it to your serious consideration. The calculations may all be depended on.

'Translating the bible. I have, through the good hand of my God upon me, now nearly translated all

the New Testament.

I have begun the seventh chapter of Revelations, and all the other is translated

except the Acts of the Apostles, which I left to Mr.

T. He has not, however, touched it scarcely; the gospel by Luke is all he has done in translating since he came into the country. I have a Pundit, who has, with me, examined and corrected all the epistles, to the second of Peter; we go through a chapter every day. The natives, who can read and write, understand it perfectly; and as it is corrected by a learned native, the style and syntax cannot be very bad. I intend to go through it again, and, as critically as I can, compare it with the Greek Testament; but wish to have a Greek Concordance sent by the very next conveyance. I expect the New Testament will be complete before you receive this, except a very few words, which may want altering on a third and fourth revisal. I have made much use of Doddridge's Family Expositor in the work, and now wish the printing to be thought of. It will be at least two years, now, before communications, &c., respecting printing, will arrive from England; in which time every correction may' be certainly put to it. I was in hope of printing it at my own expense; but the unfavourable situation of these works for the production of indigo, has kept me incapable of doing that. I thought of going to Calcutta and ascertaining the expense of printing, but cannot go now. Mr. Thomas, however, has ascertained that some years ago paper and printing here must amount to two anas a sheet, or about fourpence English. Owing to the largeness of the types, the number of sheets could not be less than thirtyfive, or two hundred and eighty pages, quarto. Suppose ten thousand copies were printed, as they must