admiration of Europeans, a consistent gospel sermon, with fluent language, and in that place where two years before he was an idolator-this is the Lord's doing, and is marvellous in our eyes!

October 30th. Heard from brother Chamberlain to-day, who has been greatly disappointed by the departure of a man, respect., ing whom he had expressed the strongest hopes, that he was under divine awakenings. How necessary is it, that a missionary should be careful to avoid a sanguine way of writing; and that you should not print any thing of this kind too hastily, upon the testimony of a young missionary. The frequent disappointments we have encountered, makes us earnestly concerned to avoid this fault, into which we may have fallen in time past.

November 5th. This evening Ram Rotton and Chand were married at our house: we had a room full of spectators.

November 7th. We reached Sooksaugur this afternoon. Petumber's wife talks encouragingly: she conversed with me from behind the door: she is not so familiar as some of our native sisters. Indeed, I have always been for breaking in, by degrees, upon that excessive modesty of the native sisters, and not to drag them out into view in public worship, fearing that breaking up old habits of modesty should make them impudent. Oh, a missionary ought to be the most prudent and candid man in the world! One day, as brother Carey was going to the Bengalee school, two women were talking about Komul, Gokool's widow: one of them said to the other, "Phoh! what need has she of a veil, after she has shaken hands with a white man?"

November 8th. This day we got as far as Srinagur. Some of the brethren, not waiting at the place of rendezvous, walked on till night, as far as Lokphool. I rode from Sooksaugur in a palanquin: we had come by boat to Sooksaugur. I got a place to sleep at a musselman's, who is a kind of police officer. With this man and another, in the presence of several more, I had much con. versation. He seemed to place a great deal of sanctity in their corporeal ablutions, and to be surprised that we did not practice the same. The other man denied that we had the true book, called "The Angel." He says, that the true book is among them, and that Eman took away all the faults, and made a perfect copy of it. So assured are the musselmen of their being in the right, that they utterly despise both christians and idolators. I have heard the like of the Turks; and see by Park's travels, that this is the very soul of musselmanism in Africa. However this man was very kind in other respects; I suppose because I

was an Englishman, of the same nation as the governor of the country. He procured me milk, &c. and wished to get me a dinner.

November 9th. This afternoon I got to Lokphool. In the way I distributed some papers, and talked; but do not find a disposition among these people to receive the gospel. They talk fairly, and call us brethren; but they do not like baptism, because in this case they would infallibly lose their cast. They say, they cannot see what good baptism does any body. Their conduct also is far from being christian: they discover a great degree of pride and quarrelsomeness, and cannot submit heartily to the selfdenying commands of Christ. I talked to them as faithfully as I could, and warned them against deceit and delay. The children in the school. eight or ten in number, seemed pretty forward, and were able to repeat most of Dr. Watts's second catechisms, and some rhymes of eight pages, written by Petumber Singgu. Sitting in the school-room, when the boys had done, I talked as solemnly as I could, from the line in the hymn which they had just been singing: "Full salvation by the death of Christ." When I had done, one man cried out, "After all you have said, Sahib, my mind does not turn." I reminded him that now he was well; in a little time he would be on a sick bed; then his note would be changed.

November 11th. Lord's day. People have been coming all day long, and we talked in turns. Krishno Presaud talked well. The young man Golook, who teaches school here, is, I trust, in a hopeful way. His father is the landholder of many villages round: he came to see me, bringing his second and third sons with him. Golook's family are of the writer cast: they were rich people formerly, under the Hindoo Rajah; but he, in expensive poojahs, erecting idol temples, marrying monhies, &c. (in honour of Ram) failed in paying his revenues to the company, and they sold him up. Golook's father seemed to have a good deal of confidence in us, and was very anxious that his son might get service with us: he recommended Golook to go to Serampore with me. Golook will go; but his father is not aware that he will be baptised and lose cast. However, Golook seems to have counted the cost, and is determined, as he says, to embrace the gospel, let the consequence be what it may: he seems now not to care much for riches. If he should be baptised, and can be reconciled to his father and family, much may be expected, with the blessing of God; as all these villages are under the influence of his father. At any rate, in this case, persons will have less fear of getting a

livelihood in this quarter. The school here is reduced much: they say there are eight or ten children. Many came some time ago, but somebody told them that one of us would come and carry them all to Serampore; and on hearing this they ran away. In the evening I was a good deal moved with compassion towards the people assembled. At the close of the conversation, Hawnye prayed, and I after him; and in this way we dismissed them. Afterwards I took Golook aside, and talked with him: he declares his determination to come to Serampore next month, and be baptised.

November 13th. I have heard of a curious circumstance, which has just taken place here. Some wag (I suppose at Calcutta) has seen the goddess Kalee in a dream, who ordered him to publish, that in all places, three days after receiving notice, all people should perform her worship. He wrote letters, charging every person receiving a copy, to publish the news in his own village, before he should either bathe or eat, on pain of incurring the ire of Kalee! In this way, copies are spreading all over the country, and the women and children are hastening to the temples to worship Kalee. All the country is moved; while the arch rogue at Calcutta is laughing at the credulity of his countrymen!

November 14th. This morning early, we left Arendah for Bishoohurry, and arrived at the latter place about noon. I think I perceive, that visits of this kind, when we can stay a day or two at a place, are likely to be very useful. This evening Buxoo, a brother, who is servant with us, and Soroop, went to a market in the neighbourhood, where they were discovered to be Yesoo Khreestare Loke, (Jesus Christ's people). The whole market was all in a hubbub: they clapped their hands, and threw dust at them. Buxoo was changing a rupee for cowries, when the disturbance began; and in the scuffle, the man ran away with the rupee, without giving the cowries.

November 15th. This day I got to Lokphool again. Krishno Presaud and I had much close work with two or three of the heads of them. They deny eternal punishment; dislike baptism; but would like to rise up against the brahmins. They think Christ's death is true; but they say, in consequence of it, at the the day of judgment, all will be free.

November 24th. This day Hawnye and Ram Kaunt returned from their village. They relate that our brother Fotick, who lives in the same village, was lately seized by the chief Bengalee man there; dragged from his house; his face, eyes, and ears clogged with cow-dung, his hands tied; and in this state confined

several hours. They also tore to pieces all the papers, and the copy of the testament, which they found in Fotick's house. A relation of these persecutors being dead, they did not molest Hawnye and Ram Kaunt; but the townsfolk would not hear about the gospel: they only insulted them for becoming christians.

I now suspect that some whom we baptized, joined us from mercenary motives: hence their conduct is marked with irregularities. However, I trust, we have a good number who are really changed. Indeed, when one of our Hindoo friends, whose temper, &c. has given us a good deal of uneasiness, had his mind greatly alienated from us for a season, he never abandoned his belief in Christ, but kept up family prayer, &c. constantly. Old Petumber, Krishno Presaud, and Ram Rotton appear to walk most steadily; and the two former have a good knowledge of divine things. Petumber has read the testament over again and again. Krishno Presaud has read it over twice, I think, in a regular way. Next to these in rank, are Bydenaut, Rama Kaunt, Hawnye, Ramanund, Ram Mohun, Sheetaram, Koobeer, &c. Of several others we have good hopes; of some we have many fears; and others, though not yet excluded, give us much sorrow.

None of our native brethren are learned: Petumber is the best. Krishno is our Bengalee hymn-maker. Young Fernandez is the life of our Bengalee singing: the rest of us cannot sing Bengalee hymn-tunes worth a straw; and Bengalee hymns to English metres will not do; they cannot learn them well. The person who makes a Bengalee hymn, makes the tune also.

W. W.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN TO MR. MORRIS.

Cutwa, Octocer 13th, 1804. THIS is a time of great confusion and disorder. The Hindoos are mad upon their idols, and are now worshipping the wicked Doorga. I was engaged all the afternoon of yesterday in disputation with several Hindoos, about their idols and their poojahs. After exposing the infamous character of Doorga, and Gonga, by a reference to their history, I assured an old brahmin, who waxed warm in the debate, that were such characters now living, they would certainly be hanged; yea, verily, all of them, without exception! The altercation being ended, I had much conversation with him respecting the gospel; and he said that he had never heard such things before. I gave him some tracts, and he came again yesterday. I read to him the narrative of our Lord's feeding the five thousand, and of his walking on the sea;

and the old man confessed that these were the works of God. I then rehearsed the ten commandments, which he highly approv ed, but objected to the killing of animals, especially the cow. The Hindoos often mention this as an instance of great cruelty, though they can speak of burning a woman alive as an act of superior holiness!

October 15th. Yesterday morning I saw a man gathering flowers for the idol; and as several brahmins were present, I said to him, Has your idol any eyes; can it see? Has it a mouth; can it eat? Why then do you bow down to it, and spread rice and flowers before it? Worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, and forsake these lying vanities. Did he not make these flowers; and can you show him one that he does not see? Reproach not your Maker with such idle vanities. The brahmins heard attentively, took some papers, and professed to believe, that there is but one God. At worship, an aged woman, with her two grandsons, came to hear the word. She paid great attention, and expressed her joy with many tears, much in the following words. "Oh what happiness to hear such good words! I gained much instruction by hearing yesterday. I am ignorant; I am wicked; I know nothing; I will stay, and hear these good words; Oh what happiness; to-morrow I will bathe in that tank, and will go to Gonga no more!"

I wish that I could inform you of the turning of many of these poor Hindoos to the true and living God; yet it affords me unspeakable satisfaction to be able to speak to them of the things which belong to their everlasting peace. I feel, however, such a want of love and compassion to the souls of men, in all I say and do, as fills me with confusion and astonishment. Alas, missionary sins are no common sins! and who can tell how awful is his doom, who, while preaching life to others, himself is lost! Pray for me, that I may find mercy of the Lord in that day!

J. C.

A BRAHMIN'S REASONS FOR BECOMING A CHRISTIAN. Taken from a small work lately issued from the missionary press, at Serampore, near Calcutta.

Q. Could you not be saved in the way of the Hindoos?

A. No, for I tried it, and was still the slave of sin.