“Well, Abigail, here we are safe in Calcutta harbour, and almost stunned with the noise of the natives. Mr. Judson has gone on shore, to find a place for us to go to. This city is by far the most elegant of any thing I have ever seen. Many ships are lying at anchor, and hundreds of natives all around. They are dressed very curiously in white, hanging loosely over their shoulders. But I have not time to describe any thing at present. We have plenty of fruit on board. The bananas are a very delicious fruit; they taste much like a rich pear.
“Thursday. Harriet and I are yet on board the vessel, and have not been on land. Mr. Judson did not return last night, until the evening, and had not gained permission from the Police office to live in the country, consequently we could not go on shore. Mr. J. and Mr. N. are gone again to-day, and what will be their success I know not. The East India Company are violently opposed to missions, and have barely given liberty to their own countrymen to settle here as preachers. We have nothing to expect from man, and every thing from God. I think I never have felt more confidence in God, to protect and direct this mission, than this morning. If he has any thing for us to do here, he will doubtless open a door for our entrance; if not, he will send us to some other place. We have given ourselves to him, devoted ourselves to his service, and have every reason, from past experience of his goodness, to still trust and confide in his goodness. O my dear sister, what a source of happiness and comfort, that God reigns, even on these heathen shores of darkness and wretchedness. Captain Heard has just come on board, and given us a very polite invitation to go to the house he has procured for himself on shore. The politeness and kindness of this man have been remarkable. Throughout our passage, he has treated us with every possible attention, and made it much more comfortable than it otherwise would have been. O, live near to God in a Christian land, and think, feel, and pray much for the millions who are perishing for the want of the knowledge of a Saviour. So little time as we have to live in this world, must be improved to the best advantage. We shall soon meet in the eternal world, and then the more we have done for Christ, the happier we shall be.”
Notes
* Boswell’s Life of Johnson.
* At the late centennial celebration of the settlement of Salem, in 1628, Judge Story, in his Address, spoke in suitable terms of Lady Johnson, a daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, who accompanied her husband among the first settlers of Salem, and died soon after her arrival.
* Judge Story’s Address.
† Illi robur et æs triplex
Circa pectus erat, qui fragilem truci
Commisit pelago ratem,
Primus. Horace, L.I. Car. III.
Sure oak and three-fold brass surrounded his heart, who first trusted a frail vessel to the merciless ocean. Smart’s Translation.
CHAPTER IV.
Difficulties with the Bengal Government—Sail for Isle of France—Death of Mrs. Newell.
On the 18th of June, 1812, the missionaries landed at Calcutta, where they were met and welcomed to India, by the venerable Dr. Carey. He immediately invited them to Serampore, to reside in the mission family, until the other missionaries, in the Harmony, should arrive.* They accordingly stayed one night in Calcutta, and the next morning they took a boat, and went up the river, fifteen miles, to Serampore. Here they were received with the utmost kindness by the mission family. Mrs. J. speaks, in warm terms, of the piety, industry, economy, and order, which distinguished the operations at that great missionary establishment. Messrs. Carey, Marshman, and Ward, then resided there with their families. Dr. Carey was employed in translating the Scriptures ; Dr. Marshman, his wife, and son, taught a male and female school. Mr. Ward superintended the extensive printing establishment.
The following letter of Mrs. J. contains some interesting particulars :
To her Sister.
“Serampore Mission-House.
“I have left your letter, my dear sister M., until the last, to continue my narrative to the family. I concluded A.’s with saying, Captain Heard had just invited us to go to his house. Mr. Judson came on board with an invitation from Dr. Carey to spend the night with him. I got into a palankeen—Mr. Judson walked to the house. It was with considerable fear I rode, as the streets were full of natives and English carriages. Those who carried me went so much faster than Mr. Judson, that I soon lost sight of him, and did not know where they would carry me. They, however, stopped before a large stone building, which I soon found to be Dr. Carey’s house. We were directed up a pair of stairs, through one or two large rooms, into his study. He arose, shook hands with us, and gave us a cordial welcome to this country. His house is curiously constructed, as the other European houses are here. There are no chimneys or fire-places in them, the roofs are flat, the rooms twenty feet in height and proportionably large. Large windows, without glass, open from one room to another, that the air may freely circulate through the house. They are very convenient for this hot climate, and bear every mark of antiquity. In the evening we attended meeting in the English Episcopal Church. It was the first time of our attending meeting for above four months, and as we entered the church, our ears were delighted with hearing the organ play our old favourite tune, Bangor. The church was very handsome, and a number of punkies, something like a fan several yards in length, hung around, with ropes fastened on the outside, which were pulled by some of the natives, to keep the church cool. We spent the night at Dr. Carey’s, and were rejoiced to find ourselves once more in a house on land. Very near the house, is a charity school supported by this mission, in which are instructed two hundred boys and nearly as many girls. They are chiefly children of Portuguese parents, and natives of no cast. We could see them all kneel in prayer time, and hear them sing at the opening of the school. It was really affecting to see these poor children, picked up in the streets, learning to sing the praise and read the word of God.
“While at Dr. C.’s, we saw a wedding procession pass. The bridegroom was carried in a palankeen, with flowers in his hands, and on his head. He appeared to be about ten years of age. The procession were dressed in uniform, with large branches of flowers, and instruments of music. The Hindoos are frequently married when children, the contract being made by their parents. In the afternoon, we left Calcutta, for Serampore, having previously received an invitation from the Missionaries to reside with them, until our brethren arrive. We were met at the water side by Messrs. Marshman and Ward, who led us to the house, and introduced us to their wives. They received us very cordially. The school kept by Mrs. Marshman consists almost entirely of the children belonging to the mission, and European young ladies. They are taught various kinds of needle-work, embroidery, &c. and study the languages. Mrs. Marshman’s eldest daughter, fourteen years of age, reads and writes Bengalee and English ; and has advanced some way in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The three families live in separate houses, but all eat together, in a large hall, in the mission house. The bell rings at five in the morning, for the boys to arise for school. Again at eight, for breakfast. Immediately after breakfast, we all assemble in the chapel, for prayers. Begin with singing a hymn, in which most of the children join ; read a chapter in the Bible, and conclude with prayer. On the Sabbath, they have worship in English, from eleven till one : in Bengalee, for the natives, in the afternoon, and in English again, in the evening. Monday evening they have a religious conference for the native brethren and sisters. Tuesday morning an hour is spent in explaining passages of Scripture ; Thursday and Saturday evenings, in conference meetings. These Missionaries are eminently pious as well as learned. The garden is as far superior to any in America, as the best garden in America is to a common farmer’s. It consists