of a very ancient stone bridge). Just on the top of the last t in gotta is the situation of Kidderpore. Your letters may be directed to us, as they always have been, at Malda, or at Dinagepore: we shall be sure to get them.

'Before this time I think you must be tired with reading such a letter as this, about nothing but things temporal. I much wish I could say any thing calculated to gratify the friends of vital godliness; but respecting myself I have nothing interesting to say; and if I had, it appears foreign to the design of a mission for the missionaries to be always speaking of their own experiences. I keep several journals, it is true, relating to things private and public, respecting the mission, articles of curiosity and science; but they are sometimes continued and sometimes discontinued: besides, most things contained in them are of too general or trivial a nature to send to England, and I imagine could have no effect, except to mock the expectations of our numerous friends, who are waiting to hear of the conversion of the heathen and overthrow of Satan's kingdom.

'I therefore only observe, respecting myself, that I have much proof of the vileness of my heart, much more than I thought of till lately: and, indeed, I often fear that instead of being instrumental in the conversion of the heathen, I may some time dishonour the cause in which I am engaged. I have hitherto had much experience of the daily supports of a gracious God; but I am conscious that if those supports were intermitted but for a little time, my sinful dispositions

would infallibly predominate. At present I am kept, but am not one of those who are strong, and do exploits.

'I have often thought that a spirit of observation is necessary in order to our doing or communicating much good; and were it not for a very phlegmatic habit, I think my soul would be richer. I however appear to myself to have lost much of my capacity for making observations, improvements, &c., or of retaining what I attend to closely. For instance, I have been near three years learning the Sunscrit language, yet know very little of it. This is only a specimen of what I feel myself to be in every respect. I try to observe, to imprint what I see and hear on my memory, and to feel my heart properly affected with the circumstances; yet my soul is impoverished, and I have something of a lethargic disease cleaving to my body. I feel no pain, or decay of strength, but an abundant inclination to sleep, attended with a great sense of weariness, even when I have not walked a mile. I know that this country requires more sleep than a colder one; and a sleep in the afternoon, especially in the hot season, relieves me more than any thing. Indeed, without it I could not do anything. My inertness of mind may be in some measure owing thereto, though many other causes contribute to it. Perhaps my sinful propensity to ease and negligence, added to sameness of society and employment, and the few opportunities I have of varied religious discourse, may act powerfully to the injury of my soul.

'At no time have the affairs of the mission appeared

more gloomy, in point of success, than at the present. Yardee has not only left Christ, but seems to have forgot the very things about which he so pleasingly conversed. Sookman sometimes talks about religion; but after so many disappointments, I almost fear to hope. Hurry Charon appears in a more promising situation than any other. It is, however, with difficulty that we can converse with him, because his pronunciation is very mumbling and indistinct. He is a very poor man, involved in worldly difficulties, which depress him much, and yet he walks consistently. No one has appeared to be awakened this year, or even to have been stirred in the least degree.

'The school is promising, and God has provided means to carry it on another year. Mr. Parr, of Dinagepore, a gentleman I have often mentioned, sent me a note a little time ago, informing me that it was the wish of the gentlemen there to contribute to the support of our school, and desiring me to preach a sermon and make a collection for that purpose, the next time I went to that place. This I did on the 15th instant. I preached from Luke vi. 36: 'Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.' The collection amounted to two hundred and thirty-four rupees, or about thirty pounds. Blessed be God, another school is also set up in that town in imitation of ours, which I hope may be useful.

'The translation is nearly finished. I am now about the twelfth chapter of 1 Chronicles, which is the last book I expect to translate. Brother Fountain has got 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles to go through,

when the whole will be completed. Brother Fountain's part of the translation is Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles; brother Thomas's, Matthew, Mark (ii.—x.), Luke, and James. All the rest is mine, as also the correction

of the whole.

"This work has been long in hand, yet has engrossed very much of our time: when it is finished, we shall be more at leisure for itinerant labours. I had a letter, a month ago or more, informing me that the types and furniture for printing would be finished in about eight days; so that I conclude they are coming up by this time; but at any rate, brother Fountain, who is going to Calcutta, to meet our brethren, Ward and Brunsdon, and a female companion for himself, will bring them up.

'Though we have had no success among the heathen or Mahommedans this year, yet we have reason to rejoice in the conversion of Mr. Cunninghame, registrar of the court, and assistant to the judge at Dinagepore. I look upon this as the greatest event that has occurred since our coming to this country. He has a soul far above the common size. His coolness and consistency are very great, and his understanding commands respect from all.

I am

'Oct. 16. On looking back, I see that it is now twelve months since I wrote to you before. ashamed, and can make no better excuse than that I frequently intended it, and indeed began this long ago, as you will see. I have, however, had more engagements, and far less leisure, this year, than ever I

had before. And now, the affairs of the mission press harder than ever, as we are just removing and erecting new houses for ourselves to live in. The whole of the management of these temporal concerns has hitherto fallen on me. I have to find money, and to lay it out, which require much attention and care.

If our brethren arrive as expected, we must erect four dwelling-houses, a house for worship and social concerns, and another for printing. We have laid the expense of these buildings at two hundred pounds sterling, for which we must draw on the society; also for the expenses of a pundit and a writer, whom I have hitherto kept at my own expense, amounting to about eighteen rupees, or forty-five shillings, per month. I have expended my own money on Kidderpore, and my salary from Mr. U. is ceasing, which obliges us to this step. The two servants mentioned are absolutely necessary to the translation, therefore they cannot be discharged. Brother F. and myself have consulted about our situation, and have concluded that it is absolutely necessary to draw for the expense of erecting our habitations, and desirable that the settlement should clear its own debt by its produce. If the mission can but be established, I am content.

'I would communicate something on the natural history of the country, in addition to what I have before written; but no part of that pleasing study is so familiar to me as the vegetable world. This, however, may not much entertain others; I shall therefore say something of the quadrupeds.'