object indeed. This affliction is heavy

O may I

bear it like a christian, and may it be of benefit to me! Farewell, my dear sisters.

'I

I was forty-four years of age last Friday.

His

Yesterday, our venerable brother, Peetumber Singh, died, triumphing in the Lord. Our brethren were singing a hymn by him when he died. reason was in full exercise to the last, and he appeared to feel the sentiments of the hymn in his dying moment. He has been a very honourable member of the church. His conversation on his death-bed was very encouraging and edifying. He frequently observed, that he had obtained the peace which Paul wished in the introduction to all his epistles.

"Within this fortnight past, several have appeared, in Calcutta and its neighbourhood, to be inquiring in earnest, what they must do to be saved. Krishnu is down here, and has his hands full with going to visit and converse with them. Seven persons in one village appear to have been awakened, by receiving small pamphlets, and the consequent conversation arising therefrom. Three or four of them appear anxious for

baptism. This village, Ram Checadnopore, is just opposite to Calcutta, on the other side of the river. Two in Calcutta seem to be in earnest; of one of them I have scarcely any doubt. Yesterday, four more persons, whom I had never seen before, attended our Bengali worship, in Calcutta, and staid till night conversing, full of anxiety, about salvation: how it may end, I cannot tell.

'Is it not possible to do much more in England? Money must be turned into this channel. Would not an annual meeting in some central part of England, say London, be of use, to call the public attention more to this point? The annual meetings of our pædobaptist brethren have this effect. Ought not more ministers to be engaged in the active part of the society? I see that the whole rests on a few: brother Fuller, yourself, Dr. Ryland, and one or two more. Were you to die, who would be found that would take equal interest in the active parts of the work?

'Some new sources of income are opening here. The council of the college have petitioned government for an enlargement of my salary, and some of the gentlemen feel much interested therein. One of them told me that he had spoken personally to Lord Cornwallis about it. The college and the Asiatic society have agreed to allow us a stipend of three hundred rupees per month, to assist us in translating and printing the Sunscrit writings, accounted sacred or scientific. We have begun the Ramayunu, the most ancient poem in the Sunscrit language. Sir John Anstruther showed me, to-day, a letter which he, as

president of the Asiatic society, and by desire of the college, intends to address to all the learned societies and bodies in Europe, to recommend the work. The three hundred rupees per month is independent of the sale of the books. The copy will be ours, and all profits on the sale. The Sunscrit text will be printed on one page, and the translation, with notes, on the other.

'You may, perhaps, wonder that I write no more letters; but when you see what I am engaged in, you will cease to be surprised. I translate into Bengali, and from Sunscrit into English, viz., the Ramayunu. I have also begun an attempt at translating the Veds. I must collate copies; every proof-sheet of the Bengali and Mahratta scriptures, the Sunscrit grammar, and the Ramayunu, must go three times, at least, through my hands. A dictionary of the Sunscrit, which is edited by Mr. Colebrooke, goes once, at least, through my hands. I have written and printed a second edition of my Bengali grammar, wholly new worked over, and greatly enlarged; and a Mahratta grammar; and collected materials for a Mahratta dictionary. Besides this, I preach twice a week, frequently thrice, and attend upon collegiate duties. I do not mention this, because I think my work a burden, it is a real pleasure; but to show that my not writing many letters is not because I neglect my brethren, or wish them to cease writing to me. The truth is, that every letter I write is at the expense of a chapter of the bible, which would have been translated in that time. W. CAREY.'

MR. CAREY TO MR. FULler.

'December 10th, 1805.

'MY DEAR BROTHER,

*

**

'This has been the most prosperous year that the mission has yet seen; we baptized thirteen natives in the last month, viz., October, and the first Sabbath in November, and five more last Lord's-day, December 1st. I think about thirty-five or thirty-six have been baptized within the year; nor do I know of any season in which so many other propitious circumstances have combined in favour of the work.

Two obstacles have hitherto stood in the way, if we had had the men; viz., want of money to support them, and the difficulty of getting permission from government. I trust that both of these are in a fair way of being surmounted. Our friend, Mr. Udney, is now first member of council, and, in consequence of the absence of the governor-general, Sir G. Barlow is now vice-president and deputy-governor. I went to breakfast with him a few days ago, and took the opportunity to mention our design to him, adding, that it was our wish, if possible, to fix our brethren as missionaries, and not as traders. I told him that we did not wish to conceal a single step that we took from government, but that, as things stood, we were subject to innumerable hinderances from the magistrates of the districts, who, in obstructing us, would be only doing their duty, as things now stand. I mentioned a recent

circumstance, in which the judge of the city of Dacca forbad brother Moore and my son William from distributing books, though the people were so eager to get them, that they were obliged to moor their boat out from the shore to prevent its being sunk by the crowd. Mr. U, in a very friendly manner, desired me to state every thing we wanted in a private letter to him, and said that he would privately communicate with Sir G. Barlow upon the subject, and then give me his best advice. I have no doubt but government will give us all the liberty they can. The other difficulty, I trust, will be removed also.

Another propitious circumstance will, I trust, enable us to do more. The British and foreign bible society sent a letter to Mr. Udney, wishing him, Rev. Messrs. Brown and Buchanan, brethren Marshman, Ward, and I, to form a committee to cooperate with them in this country. In consequence of this, brother Marshman drew up a memorial, which was much approved, showing the practicability of translating and publishing the bible here, for a comparatively small sum. From this, Mr. Buchanan drew up an address, which was immediately forwarded to the governor-general, and is intended to be circulated all over India, to get subscriptions for this work, and I doubt not of its success. This will, if obtained, take off the heavy expense of translating and printing, and enable us to employ the money in spreading the word when printed. We have mentioned the following languages, viz., Sunscrit, Bengali, Hindusthani, Mah