They must be of mild, accommodating tempers, to live peaceably in a common family like ours; and they must not only be such who appear hearty in the mission, but such who will not account it a hardship to be subject to rules in all their conduct, and who will have no views of personal aggrandizement; but yet will labour diligently for the public stock. I believe one of our family rules, which forbids any member of our family to enter into business on his private account, has done more than any thing towards preserving our peace; and I hope it will, in no instance, ever be broken in upon. This cuts off all ambitious schemes, and yet secures industry in the body. Perhaps we may have no further occasion for help from England at present; a circumstance now on the tapis will determine this.'

The circumstance alluded to, is his connexion with the college of Fort William, now about to be established by the Marquis of Wellesley; the account of which being much clearer in a subsequent letter, the notice of it in this is omitted.

On Friday last, the faith of our dear friend Krishnu and his family was put to a severe trial, under which they have acted as becomes Christians indeed. It is the custom of the Hindus to marry their children very young. In pursuance of this custom, Krishnu's daughter had been married some years ago, to a man at Calcutta. The girl, about thirteen years old, appeared under a deep sense of the importance of

eternal things, and when her husband demanded her, some time ago, declared her dislike to living with a heathen; and the governor of this place, hearing her disposition, refused to let him take her away. On Friday last, she was a very little way from her father's house, when she was seized by the husband and some others, and violently carried away. We went to the governor, and represented the matter. He had been informed of it by the watchmen; but they, to cover their own negligence, had reported that she was taken from without the borders of the Danish dominions. I got a proper officer, and soon ascertained the falsehood of the report. But presently a report was spread that the girl was murdered on the road. The governor wrote a letter to the master of police in Calcutta, and I did the same; and her father went down, where he found her alive; and the girl deposed before the magistrate, that she had voluntarily embraced christianity, or, in her own words, that hearing of the love of Christ, she had, of her own accord, given herself up to him. While I am writing, a very polite letter is come in from the master of the police at Calcutta, informing me that he has taken every method in his power to secure to the young woman the free exercise of her religion, but that a change of religion cannot dissolve the marriage-union. I perfectly coincide with this opinion, and have been inculcating it on the whole family from the first day that the girl was carried off, and I hope not without success, though Krishnu appears very disconsolate. I say, who can tell but her going thither may prove the sal

vation of some in that family.

I shall certainly

ask the master of the police for leave to visit and strengthen her.

'I have given a number of letters, from Mr. Gericke to me, to brother Marshman, that he may get them copied in the school. They will do you good, and show you much of the state of religion on the coast; but I almost fear they will not be ready to accompany this. I think you should not print his letters as letters from him to me, but rather throw them into another form, as articles of intelligence from me respecting that mission it may hurt his feelings to see private letters to me printed. Mr. Edmonds, from the Cape, is arrived, and was at our house yesterday; we told him that we could not receive him as a missionary unless he had proper credentials, but we must treat him as a christian.

'Yesterday I received yours of January 3rd, by the hand of Mr. Short, who very unexpectedly arrived here. I was astonished to see him, yet gratified. I do not know the reason of his coming, but suspect that he finds it difficult to live in England. He went down to Calcutta to-day, so that I have yet had

scarcely any opportunity for conversation. He is tolerably well.

'I am delighted with the life of dear brother Pearce; but never was I so ashamed of myself.

my dear brother, I really think that I never had any thing in me worth calling either love to God or love to man! I appear to myself to have never possessed concern for the heathen, tenderness of conscience, faith, zeal, or anything worth calling a christian grace! I am humbled and astonished! God is as ready and willing to communicate to me, as to him ; my wants are greater than his, because my heart appears to be naturally more unimpressible; and yet am placed in a situation which needs incomparably a greater share of the Spirit of Christ than any situation in England can do.

I

for

'I know you will sympathize with me, and pray me, when you read this and I wish I had a heart to pray more for myself. Providence appears to put me in such situations as require the greatest abilities, the maturest judgment, and the most patient and persevering spirit. You have, I trust, heard before now that God has given us some from among the heathen, and some from among Europeans and others. have baptized, since the last day of December, five Hindus, the last of whom, a man whose name is Gokul, was baptized June 7th. We hope for another or two. These give us much pleasure. Yet we need great prudence, for they are but a larger sort of children, compared with Europeans: we are obliged

We

to encourage, to strengthen, to counteract, to advise, to disapprove, to teach; and yet, to do all so as to retain their warm affections.

'The manner in which our Hindu friends recommend the gospel to others is very pleasing. They speak of the love of Christ in suffering and dying, and this appears to be all in all with them. Their conversation with others is somewhat like the following. A man says, 'Well, Krishnu, you have left off all the customs of your ancestors; what is the reason?' Krishnu says, 'Only have patience, and I will inform you. I am a great sinner. I tried the Hindu worship, but got no good: after a while, I heard of Christ, that he was incarnate, laboured much, and at last laid down his life for sinners. I thought, What love is this! And here I made my resting-place. Now say, if anything like this love was ever shown by any of your gods? Did Doorga, or Kalee, or Krishnu die for sinners? You know that they only sought their own ease, and had no love for any one.' This is the simple way in which they confront others; and none answer except by railing, which they bear

can

patiently, and glory in.

'We sent you, some time ago, a box, full of gods and butterflies, &c., and another box, containing hundred copies of the New Testament in Bengali. These boxes were sent to the ships, bills of lading obtained, &c.; but afterwards were returned, with two sloop-loads of goods, for want of room. Mr. Mc. Clintock, the gentleman who kindly undertook to ship them, informed me that the idols were gone on board