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so bad, and in some respects worse than that of any other person in the world. My coldness in the ways of God; success little; carnality great; yet were I to do nothing but complain, it would add greatly to my criminality. If there are all these pull-backs, and so much opposition, what is the inference but this, that we ought to use so much the more diligence to make our calling and election past all doubt; and if the days are evil, let it be remembered that this is an argument for using the more circumspection and care that we may redeem the lost and misspent time of our past lives. Let me recommend Ps. xxxiii. 1 to you for your consideration, and it will appear that it is comely to change your voice, and unite with the ransomed of the Lord in songs of praise to God and the Lamb.

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The translation of the scriptures I look upon to be one of the greatest desiderata in the world, and it has accordingly occupied a considerable part of my time and attention; and through great mercy, the New Testament is now so near completion that I hope to have the translation and first revision of it finished by the end of March. This journey will, it is true, hinder the revision, but will procure me much information respecting it, which may be equally useful to the mission.

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"Your affectionate brother, 'W. CAREY.'

'MY DEAR BROTHER,

"Mudnabatty, December 20, 1796.

'With respect to myself and all my own affairs, I have but little to say. We are all well, through great mercy, and in our station at Mudnabatty, where we have been now three years and upwards. We have four fine children, who are now all well; indeed, though we live in one of the wildest parts of the country, yet we all enjoy remarkably good health and spirits.

'My work as a missionary is not so successful as I wish; and yet I trust we are neither of us (I or Mr. Thomas) without seals to our ministry: though so great is the difficulty of losing caste for the Lord Jesus, that none have yet avowed his name by an open profession, and joining us as a church of Christ. We have a church consisting of four members, in full communion, and one (Mr. Fountain) at present an occasional communicant. I have hope of seven natives, and some others appear to be a little upon the inquiry. Indeed, I am much encouraged, and have no doubt but they will all, in some little time, make an open profession, and cast off their old professions.

'The whole of the New Testament, and part of the Old, are translated, except a very few chapters of the Acts of the Apostles; and I have reason to suppose that the translation is free from gross errors which will at all affect the sense. It is still going on, and should my life and health be preserved, I trust it will

be completed in the space of two more years, that is, the whole of the sacred scriptures, which will be a blessing that you, who live in a land enlightened with the gospel, cannot possibly estimate; indeed, the difference between a people who have only the common light of the gospel, and one who have not, is incredible, were you to witness the foolish fears, gross superstition, meanness of mind, and abundance of vice, which reign triumphantly in a country devoted to the service of Satan, and immersed in the awful ignorance of heathenism.

'Not that the natives of this country are ignorant of many useful arts. They are very good book-keepers; many of them speak Persian well; many others Sanscrit; and many are very good workmen at various trades and businesses, as weavers, smiths, carpenters, bricklayers, and the like; but I speak of the state of their minds and country. Here are no new publications, nor have been for hundreds of years; yet they have numbers of books, most however in foreign languages, as Arabic, Persian, and Sanscrit, which of course are only read by the learned; and the art of printing not being in use, all kinds of books are very dear and difficult to be obtained. I have not in all this time found one perfect book, though I have detached parts of several, and have begun to learn the Sanscrit language.

'We must not expect, I suppose, ever to see each other in this world any more. I account this my own country now, and have not the least inclination

to leave it, though repeated experience proves to me that I have nothing to expect in it but a bare living. Yet even this is as much as I ever did expect, or indeed wish for, except for the sake of being more extensively useful. But I am well satisfied, and only mention this to rectify a mistaken opinion of our having grown rich in India, perhaps originating from my mentioning what might probably be our income. We are neither rich, nor in situations equal to what mine was at Leicester, considering the great losses we have met with from large floods, and the amazing expense of servants necessary here.

"Your affectionate brother,
'W. CAREY.'

SECTION V.

LETTER TO MR. FULLER-JOURNEY INTO BOOTAN-LETTER TO MR. FULLER-
ASPECT OF THE MISSION, CONVERSATION WITH A BRAHMUN-DISCOURAGEMENTS

-DESCRIPTION OF FRUITS, &c.-
-LETTER TO MR. SUTCLIFF-LETTER TO

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY-ANOTHER TO THE SOCIETY-LETTER TO MR.

FULLER-THE ARRIVAL OF NEW MISSIONARIES.

To MR. FULLER.

'Mudnabatty, March 23, 1797.

'MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,

'I received yours of May 2, 12, 13, 26, Sept. 1, and Oct. 11, ult., a few days since, for which I very sincerely thank you. The contents are both pleasing and painful. It rejoices my heart much to hear of our brethren in Scotland having so liberally set themselves to encourage the mission; and that on two accounts, independent of the pecuniary assistance which they afford. First, the unequivocal proof that it affords of their heartily coinciding with the mission plan; and secondly, the amazing assistance which must be derived to the work in answer to their prayers. The acquisition of a new multitude of helpers, all pouring out their requests to God for success on our undertaking, does not a little encourage my heart to proceed in the pleasing work. Want of success is very discouraging to me in one point of view, as I fear it may operate to the tiring out the

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