“Jan. 7, 1813. We have been at sea nearly six weeks, and are within a week’s sail of the Isle of France. It is a long passage, but we have had contrary winds, and much rough weather, and shall arrive at the place in the worst season of the year, on account of the heavy winds and hurricanes which are frequent at this season. There are four passengers besides ourselves, and the captain’s wife. None of them in the least seriously inclined. We three have worship twice every Sabbath, and prayers in our room every evening. The other passengers spend their Sabbaths on deck in playing cards and chess, and trifling conversation. It is very trying to us to see the Sabbath profaned in such a way. But we cannot prevent it. Though they treat us with respect, yet I presume they consider us as superstitious, enthusiastic, unsocial creatures. But we know it is our great business to serve our Heavenly Father, and prepare for usefulness among the heathen. In order to do this, we must take those methods which make us appear contemptible in the eyes of the men of this world.
“We continue to attend to the French language. Find nothing difficult about it. I shall finish this when we arrive.
“17. Saturday. We have, at last, my dear parents, arrived at the Isle of France. We are now anchored in the harbour, and hope to go on shore in the morning. But O how have our hearts been wrung with anguish this evening in hearing that Harriet is dead ! Alas ! she has soon ended her missionary life—she is early released from her toils and labours. Happy girl ! you will suffer no more—your tears are wiped away, and your soul is made pure in the blood of Jesus ! We have had no particulars of her death ; but I have conjectured much. I have anticipated much pleasure during my passage, in meeting her with her little babe, But our Heavenly Father, who doth all things well, hath ordered otherwise.
“Sabbath morning. Brother Newell has just come on board, and appears disconsolate and heart-broken. He has borne his sorrows alone, having no Christian friend to comfort him. He has given us the particulars of Harriet’s death, which I will here insert ;
Soon after they left Calcutta, in consequence of contrary winds and storms, the vessel was found to be in a leaky, sinking condition, which obliged them to put into Choringa to repair. Before the vessel got in, Harriet was seized with the bowel complaint, which was extremely distressing in her situation. She however was considerably recovered before they put to sea again, and was in hopes of getting to the Isle of France before she was confined. But they again had contrary winds, which made their passage so much longer, that she was confined on board the vessel. She was safely and very comfortably delivered of a little girl, a fortnight before the vessel arrived. She was much better for a few days than she had been for weeks before ; and the child was perfectly well, and appeared as likely to live as any child. In a few days a storm came on ; and as she and the infant were much exposed to the wet weather, they both took cold, which speedily terminated the life of the infant, and threw Harriet into a consumption, of which she died, on the 30th of Nov. She thought herself in a consumption from the first of her illness, and endeavoured to be prepared to meet the king of terrors. She had her reason perfectly to the last moment of her life. She felt no fear of death, but longed for its approach. The day before she died, her physician told her she would not continue another day. She lifted up her hands, and exclaimed, ‘O glorious intelligence !’ She took a formal leave of Mr. Newell, and delivered to him messages to her friends with the greatest composure. She frequently mentioned in her sickness that she had never repented leaving her native country, and that the consideration of having left it for the cause of Christ, now afforded her great consolation. She died in a happy, composed frame, without a struggle or a groan. Her body now lies, solitary and alone, in yonder heathy ground. No marble monument* is erected to speak her worth, no common gravestone to tell the passing stranger, Here lie the remains of one, who, for the love of Christ and immortal souls, left the bosom of her friends, and found an early grave in a land of strangers. But angels will watch her dust, even in this benighted land ; and at the resurrection of the just, it will be reunited to her immortal spirit, which, no doubt, is now in the full enjoyment of her God.
Notes
* The Harmony arrived six weeks after the Caravan.
* Burman Mission, pp. 18, 19.—Messrs. Nott and Hall obtained a passage for Bombay, and sailed thither about November 20,
* A monument has since been erected over her grave, by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
CHAPTER V.
Mr. and Mrs. Judson, and Mr. Rice, become Baptists—Mr. Rice returns to America—Mr. and Mrs. J. sail for Madras—Arrive at Rangoon.
We have deferred, until this time, any account of the change of opinion respecting Baptism, which Mr. and Mrs. Judson and Mr. Rice experienced soon after their arrival in India. The event is interesting in itself, and in its consequences ; for it resulted in the establishment of the Burman Mission, and in the formation of the Baptist General Convention in the United States. The great Head of the Church seems to have made this a leading event in that series of causes which aroused the Baptist churches in America, to the duty of engaging in Foreign Missions.
The progress of this change in the opinions of Mr. and Mrs. J. will be related, without comment, in their own words. It is due to them to prove, undeniably, that it was the result of a thorough and deliberate investigation ; that it was a simple obedience to the power of what they believed to be the truth ; and that it cost them sacrifices of feeling and of interest, of which persons less pious would have been incapable. From Mrs. Judson’s journal and letters a few extracts will be made, which will sufficiently establish these points :
“Isle of France—Port Louis, Feb. 14, 1813.
“I will now, my dear parents and sisters, give you some account of our change of sentiment, relative to the subject of Baptism, which took place about this time. Mr. Judson’s doubts commenced while on our passage from America. While translating the New Testament, in which he was engaged, he used frequently to say, that the Baptists were right in their mode of administering the ordinance. Knowing he should meet the Baptists at Serampore, he felt it important to attend to it more closely, to be able to defend his sentiments. After our arrival at Serampore, his mind for two or three weeks was so much taken up with missionary inquiries and our difficulties with government. as to prevent his attending to the subject of baptism. But as we were waiting the arrival of our brethren, and having nothing in particular to attend to, he again took up the Subject. I tried to have him give it up, and rest satisfied in his old sentiments, and frequently told him if he became a Baptist, I would not. He, however, said he felt it his duty to examine closely a subject on which he had so many doubts. After we