Dinagepore March 15th, 180g.

"The Rev. Mr. Gerickè, a Miffionary upon the coast of Ma labar, writes to a friend in Calcutta, that he has lately baptized 2700 perfons on the coaft. This is indeed the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous in our eyes. The Miffion at Serampore is not without fuccefs, for our little Church is by the divine bleffing increasing. Mr. Carey has lately baptized two Hindoos, one of them a Brahmin, the first of that caft that has embraced the gospel.

Calcutta Aug 31, 1802.

From Mr. Carey a principal Miffionary in India.

A most encouraging circumftance has lately occurred, and which has much strengthened our hands. About 3 months ago, three muffulmen came from a distance to hear the gofpel, and requested that one of us would pay them a vifit; which we promised them to do after the rainy feafon, when the paffages by water would be open. About fix weeks fince, one of them deputed by the reft, came again, to conduct any of us who would go. Brother Marshman was the only one who could undertake fo long a journey, and a better could not have been chofen for the purpose.

The place where they live, is in the diftrict of Jeffore near the river Jsamuty. On his arrival he found about 200 persons who have for feveral years rejected their cast. They are Musulmen and Hindoos, formerly of various cafts. They were convinced of the folly and wickednefs of both the Hindoo and Muffulman faith, but confeffed that they were ignorant of what was right; and hearing of us, they were very defirous of knowing the gofpel. Brother Marshman's reception among them exceeded all expectation. Many were gathered together, ready to hear the word when he arrived, having had previous notice; and they did it with a kind of pleasure and eagerness feldom feen in this country. They defired us to write to them and to vifit them-promifing to vifit us when they can. In fhort a hopeful profpect prefents itself. In returning home, Brother Marfhman got intelligence of another body of Hindoo diffenters whom he determined to vifit. He did fo; and found that at another place about a day's journey nearer home, there are at least 2000 perfons who have publicly renounced their caft. They received him with great pleasure, and were defirous of feeing him again.

The late opening in the Eastern part of the country more than balances all our diftreffes. They have a Society of upwards of 200 perfons, who have rejected all worship of Idols, and all honor to Mahomet; and what is more, they reject many of the vices which

other natives practice with an unblushing countenance. Since they have known us, the whole body of this people have received the Bible as the word of God: They meet together to read it and to pray; and intend to erect a place for themselves where they can meet for worship. They now alfo call themselves chriftians and esteem us as their brethren. We really hope that fome of them are truly converted; and all of them whom I have seen, appear to be feriously inclined. I trust that e'er long they will have a gospel church formed among them. I was furprised to fee with what facility they could turn to any place of scripture: they did not feem to be more at a lofs to find a paffage, than a perfon would, who had been accustomed to the Bible all his days. The doctrine of the Trinity is peculiarly abhorred by the Muffulmen; and these people held a council, which lafted three days, to confider whether this doctrine could be admitted or not. It ended with an univerfal acknowledgment of it; yet leaving it as a mystery, in the fame manner as christians do in general."

Another from the same.

CALCUTTA, October 6, 1803. The number of our church members is now 39, and we are in hopes of receiving another native by baptifm before long. Of this number 25 are natives.-The fure promifes of the word, the all fufficiency of the divine power, the energetic zeal of the Lord of Hofts, and his ufual way in providence feem to encourage our hopes, and excite us to perfevere in the work. This country is extremely populous, the vast numbers of perfons in Calcutta alone, must exceed your ideas. I fuppofe that few streets in London are fuller, if fo full of people, as the streets of this town; yet in all this place, and indeed in the country, I fear the number of truly converted perfons will scarcely exceed 100 It is truly a melancholy thing, to go along the streets and meet thousands of people, without being able to indulge the hope that fome of them may be converted people. Here the harveft is great and the labourers are few indeed. O may the Lord of the harvest speedily fend labourers into this harvest. Surely it is not too much to hope that God will raise up gifts among the converted natives, and among the youths who are educated under us, and who are likely to spend their days in this country. We hope in, and bend our attention to, this defired object; but must wait till the allwife God give the bleffing. We have a second edition of the Bengalee New Testament in the Prefs. The first edition will, in all probability, be difpofed of before this is printed off. I think we have given away about 40 copies a month ever fince it has been published.—The accounts from America have

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gladdened our hearts; and not only encouraged us, but other Evangelical Minifters in this country; and we have fome times hoped that the fpirit may thus be poured out upon India, or rather this part of India, for a work fomewhat fimilar was carried on upon the coast (of Malabar) last year, under the miniftry of the Rev. Mr. Gerikè and fome native laborers in thofe parts.-Some thousands rejected heathenifm, broke and destroyed their Idols, fitted up the old Temples for chriftian worship, and were formed into gospel Churches. They have fince had great perfecution; but the Lord has preferved them faithful to himself."

Alfo from Mr. Carey.

CALCUTTA, October 25 1803.

Yesterday I had the pleasure to baptize a Brahman who is from Affam, and is the first fruits of that country to the Lord. This is the 26th person whom we have baptized from among the heathen; and we have reason to say, that with the exception of two perfons, all of them give us pleasure in a greater or lefs degree; and are accounted by us as the excellent ones of Bengal. Of thefe perfons two have been removed by death. The first was murdered, fuppofed by thieves-but the other, left a sweet favour behind him: I never recollect to have feen more of the chriftian exhibited on a death bed, than in the cafe of this man-his steady hope in Christ-the chearfulness of his mind till the last, and the favour of evangelical truth, which he constantly discovered in his talk, through an illness of near three months, have left a deep impreffion upon the minds of all those who furvived him. His name was Gokool.*

It is time now to be up and doing. The time is fhort. Souls are precious-opportunities multiply, and every opportunity of doing good to others, either by fpeaking or writing, or by any other me

*

By another letter dated 17 October Mr. Carey fays. Gokool died of a lingering disease, a hectic fever, and we had many opportunities to fee his whole carriage during his affliction, and in the article of death, which was highly fatisfactory, and beautifully marked with a calm and firm reliance on Chrift. Gokool was by nature a man of the most violent paffions and no ed for turbulence and every thing hateful, before his converfion. If any thing could mark the efficacy of divine grace, I think the latter part of his life did, and efpecially his death. We had purchased a burying ground, but a few days before, in which he was interred. A vast number of people attended, and we have reafon to hope that the impreffion made on them was not unfavoura ble to the gofpel. There are two more Hindoos, concerning whom we hope well. I expect to baptize one of them next Lords day, who is a Brahman from the extreme part of Bengal, or rather belonging to an independant Rajah on the North East of Bengal,

thod, has a loud voice to us all. May we be enabled to make ufe of these seasons, to the honor and glory of our God."

Serampore, November 17, 1803.

"God, I believe will carry on his work in this country; the leaven is already at work. Many are thinking and fome are converted. Succefs indeed at prefent is not greatly apparent, but we truft that Jehovah will arife fpeedily and build up Zion, and appear in his glory."

The following is an Extract of a Letter, from Mr. Gerikè himself, dated Vaparry, Jan. 18th, 1803.

I wrote to you laft from Seringapatam; fince that time I have experienced great hardships, and alfo fingular mercies. When in my journey, I came near to the extremity of the peninfulas, I found whole villages waiting anxiously for my coming, to be further instructed and baptized. They had got acquainted whith our native priest in that country, and the catechifts and christians; and had learned, from them, the catechifm, which those who could write copied, to learn it themselves, at their leisure.

When they heard of my coming, they broke their Idols to pieces, and converted their temples into chriftian churches; in which I instructed and baptized them; in some about 200, in others near 300; formed them into christian congregations; procured for them Catechists and school-masters; and made them choose, in each place, four elders. Thefe examples awakened the whole country; and when I was about to leave it, the inhabitants of many more villages fent meffages to me, begging me to remain a couple of months longer in their country; and to do in their villages, the good work I had done in thofe of their neighbours. Since that, there have been instructed and baptized 2700 people more, and 18 congregations more have been formed. Among these new converts, are several Chiefs, all very zealous; and one of them travels about, preaching the gofpel. Since my return, fome of the heathen of that country, old enemies, have stirred up a perfecution against them. By a letter fince, from that country, I am informed of the good news, that the perfecution had abated in several places; and that the christians who had been confined, had been honorably acquitted."

Serampore O. 11. 1803.

"There has not been any great work apparent here, but yet it has been evidently progreffing. Since our arrival II natives have made a profeffion of christianity by baptifm. Among whom are three Brahmans. These have been collected not by our endeavours; but evidently by the gracious providence of God. Some have heard from others others have obtained information from papers; and others have accidentally called, as they paffed by and heard the words of life from our brethren; and thus have been led to enquiry, which we hope has ended in their thorough converfion to God. It must be remarked that not one of these people belonged to Serampore, but all came from a distance, and fome widely a part from each other. From the Eaft and from the Weft-and from the North and from the South will God gather in his elect, and fhew that it is not by might nor by power, nor by an arm of flesh, but by his own spirit, that his work is to be accomplished. Brother Krishno is perhaps the most useful in this way. Inquirers are entertained at his houfe and he fpends much of his time in converfing with them, for which he is eminently qualified. He is an experienced chriftian, and a very valuable and useful man. He is the firft Brahman who was baptized. He is gone with brother W-to Dinagepore. Brother W-writes fome very pleafing things concerning him-one is, his proficiency in fpeaking and difputing with the natives. has been pleased to remove our brother Gokool by death, from the church militant, to the church triumphant; of this he gave abundant teftimony both during a lingering illness and in the article of death. His hope was wholly in Chrift and fupported by this, he paffed through the valley of the fhadow of death and feared no evil. We have been vifited by fome people from a place about 500 miles distant, called Lockfeel, who have given us great hope. They had been here before; and our brethren have at different times vifited them. They are intelligent people, much above the common rank. They read well and try to understand all they read, are devoted enemies to Hindooifm and Mahometanifm, and very great adepts in difputation on these points. They fay that their minds are made up refpecting christianity-they are fure that it is the true and right way; and in it alone, they expect pardon, and depend wholly on the death of Christ for falvation. Some thing of a worldly nature hinders them from making a public profeffion by baptifm, which gives us forrow and damps our rifing expectations."

God

Schools are inftituting in many parts of the country for English, Portuguese and Hindoo children, and the Bible, with many other pious Books, is printed in the Bengalee, Hindostanee, Perfian and Maharata languages,