and die among them; and it is our daily prayer that it may please God to enable us to continue there. Farewell to the comforts and conveniences of civilized life,-farewell to refined christian society!— We shall enjoy these comforts no more! But we think it will be a good place to grow in grace, to live near to God, and be better prepared to die. O my dear parents and sisters, how little you know what you enjoy in your quiet homes, with all the comforts of life! How little you know how to prize dear christain society, as you have never been deprived of it! How little you can realize of the toils and perplexities of traversing the ocean, and how little you can know of the solid comfort of trusting in God, when dangers stand threatening to devour! But these privations, these dangers and toils, these comforts are ours,-and we rejoice in them, and think it an inestimable privilege that our heavenly Father has marked out for us this path in life. "Rangoon, July 30, 1813. "In the land of darkness and the shadow of death, I again take my pen, my dear parents and sisters, to communicate some of the dealings of Providence, both merciful and afflictive. We staid at Madras only a fortnight, when we embarked on board a Portuguese vessel for this place. I had procured a European woman servant to go with us, as it was not thought prudent to go without one. She went on board two days before us, and when we went on board she appeared in perfect health. We had but just entered the ship when she fell on the floor, apparently in a fit. We made every possible effort to recover her, but she gasped a few times and died! The exertion I made to recover her, together with the shock my frame and feelings received at her sudden decease, brought me, also, near the gates of death. I indeed thought the time of my departure was at hand, and that all my toils and perplexities were ended. I had no physician, no medicine, and no attendant but Mr. Judson. Add to this, we were in a small dirty vessel, which was kept in continual motion by the violence of the wind and sea. Perfect ease and quiet seemed absolutely necessary to my recovery; but these it appeared impossible to obtain. But all things are possible with God; and we were never so sensible of his care and protection, as at this time. In the midst of our darkness and distress, and when we had given up all hope of my recovery, our captain informed us that we were close to the Andaman Islands, and that we could escape being driven on to them in no way but by going through a narrow channel between two of them. We were in much danger, but the vessel was almost perfectly still, as we were in smooth water, as soon as we entered the channel, the wind being broken by the islands. Thus I obtained that ease and quiet which but a few moments before seemed impossible to obtain. We were three weeks on our passage, and when we arrived, I was not able to walk, nor had I even left my bed for half an hour. We felt very gloomy and dejected, the first night we arrived, in view of our prospects; but we were enabled to lean on God, and to feel that he was able to support us under the most discouraging circumstances. The next morning I prepared to go on shore, but hardly knew how I should get to Mr. Carey's house, as there was no method of conveyance, except a horse, while I was not able to ride. It was however concluded that I should be carried in an arm chair; conse quently when I landed, one was provided, through which were put two bamboos, and four of the natives took me on their shoulders. When they had carried me a little way into the town, they set me down under a shade, when great numbers of the natives gathered around, as they had seldom seen an English female. Being sick and weak, I held my head down, which induced many of the native females to come very near, and look under my bonnet. At this I looked up and smiled, at which they set up a loud laugh. They again took me up to carry, and the multitude of natives gave a shout which much diverted us. They next carried me to a place they call the custom house. It was a small open shed, in which were seated on mats several natives, who were the custom house officers. After searching Mr. Judson very closely, they asked liberty for a native female to search me, to which I readily consented. I was then brought to the mission house, where I have entirely recovered my health. We felt a great disappointment in not finding Mr. Carey at home, as we were previously acquainted with him, having seen him in Calcutta. He was ordered up to the capital by the king, to vaccinate some of the royal family. Mrs. Carey is a native of the country, though of European extraction. She speaks very little English, but is very kind, and does every thing to make us comfortable. The house is large and convenient, made wholly of teak wood; but the inside is unfinished, and the beams and joists all bare. It is, however, the largest and handsomest house in all Rangoon. "As it respects our food, we get along much better than we expected. There is here no bread, butter, cheese, potatoes, nor scarcely any thing that we have been in the habit of eating. Our principal food is rice, and corried fowl, and fowls stewed with cucumbers. But we are blest with good health, and good appetites, and feel, that instead of murmuring, that we have no more of the comforts of life, we have great reason to be thankful that we have so many. There are no English families in Rangoon, and but one French family. There is not a female in all Burmah with whom I can converse. Two or three French gentlemen, who speak English, constitute the whole of our society. We devote our time almost entirely to the acquirement of the language, which we find difficult. But with hard labour and perseverance, I doubt not but we shall be able to write, read, and speak it, in two or three years with ease. The country presents a rich, beautiful appearance, every where covered with vegetation, and if cultivated, would be one of the finest in the world. But the poor natives have no inducement to labour or raise any thing, as it would probably be taken from them by their oppressive rulers. Many of them live on leaves and vegetables that grow spontaneously, and some actually die with hunger. Every thing is extremely high, therefore many are induced to steal whatever comes in their way. There are constant robberies and murders committed; scarcely a night but houses are broken open, and things stolen. But our trust and confidence are in our heavenly Father, who can easily preserve and protect us, though a host should encamp about us. I think God has taught us by experience, what it is to trust in him, and find comfort and peace in feeling that he is every where present. O for more ardent, supreme love to him, and greater willingness to suffer in his cause! "Rangoon, Aug. 8, 1813. "I again take my pen, though I have nothing new to communicate, yet I feel a pleasure and satisfaction too great to be neglected, in writing to those dear friends whom I never expect to see again, till I meet them in the eternal world. I know every thing respecting us will be highly interesting to you, therefore I am particular to write every little incident. As Mrs. Carey has the whole care of the family, being familiar with the language, and having several servants at her command, I am free from every concern of this nature, and can devote all my time to study. We rise at six in the morning, commence study at seven, breakfast at eight, and after breakfast have family worship. We then go to our study, and attend to the language closely, till half past one, when we dine. We generally exercise for half an hour after dinner, then attend to our study again till near sunset, when we take a walk, either out among the natives, or in our verandah; take tea at dark, after which we have family worship, then study till ten, at which hour we retire. I go to bed feeling as much fatigued as any farmer can after a hard day's work. I find it no easy thing to acquire a foreign language; and though our teacher says we gain rapidly, yet we can hardly perceive that we make any advance. It is a most beautiful, easy language to write, but very difficult to read, or pronounce. "Our teacher is a good natured, intelligent man. He sits in a chair by us, or will eat with us, the same as an American. When he first came, he paid very little attention to me, appearing to feel that it was rather beneath him to instruct a female, as the females here are held in the lowest estimation. But when he saw I was determined to persevere, and that Mr. Judson was as desirous to have him instruct me, as himself, he was more attentive. "From our first embarking for India, we have at times had our eye on this empire, as our final residence; but we have been repeatedly discouraged by the dreadful accounts we had of the ferocity and bar barity of the natives, together with the many privations we must suffer among entire heathen. Several missionaries have made an attempt to reside here, but have been discouraged, and left without effecting any thing. And some of these missionaries, we had reason to think, possessed much more piety and devotedness to missions than ourselves. No wonder then we were discouraged. But after our heavenly Father had severely tried us, in causing us to be driven from place to place, he shut up every other door, and at last made us feel willing to take our lives in our hands, and come to this heathen land to spend the remainder of our days. But will you believe me when I say we are cheerful and happy? Though we find the government and people just as we expected; though we find ourselves destitute of almost all those sources of enjoyment to which we have been accustomed, and are in the midst of a people, who at present are almost desperate on account of the scarcity of provision; though we are exposed to robbers by night and invaders by day, yet we both unite in saying, we were never happier, never more contented, in any situation, than the present. We * It is contrary to cast for a Hindoo to eat with a Christian. feel that this is the post that God hath appointed us, that we are in the path of duty, and in a situation, which, of all others, presents the most extensive field for usefulness. And though we are surrounded with danger and death, we feel that God can with infinite ease preserve and support us under the most heavy sufferings. "But for these feelings we are indebted wholly to the free, rich, and sovereign grace of our Redeemer, and still dependent on him for a continuance of them; for it is not three months since, that I looked at this situation with all that dread and horror which you can imagine. It is our daily prayer that we may be continued here, and made a blessing to the poor Burmans, who are daily perishing for lack of knowledge. But we mourn our unfitness to be engaged in the great work of communicating religious knowledge to the dark, benighted mind of a heathen. Our only hope is in God. We know that he can bless his own truth to the salvation of sinners, though it may be communicated in ever so broken a manner, and by the meanest of his creatures. We rejoice that this great, this powerful God is our Father and our Friend, and has opened a way of access for us sinners, and has commanded us to open our mouths wide, with the promise that he will fill them. He hath also said that he will give the heathen to his Son for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. We cannot but hope the glorious day is drawing near, when this promise will be fulfilled; and that among other heathen nations, Burmah, cruel, avaricious, idolatrous, Burmah, will say to Jesus, What have I any more to do with idols? come thou, and reign over us. O my dear parents and sisters, pray for us, that we may be humble, prayerful, and entirely devoted to the cause of Christ. Pray for these poor people, who have altars and temples in high places for the worship of the prince of darkness. They are immortal like ourselves, they are bound to the same eternity with us, and like us are capable of enjoying or suffering endless happiness or eternal misery. "Aug. 25. As I have a good opportunity of sending to Calcutta, I will now finish this, and direct it to be sent by the first ship which sails for America. But I know not that it will ever reach you. I would write letters to all my friends, if I thought there was much probability of their ever reaching home. It is now a year and a half since we left America, and we have not received a single letter, or heard any thing from any of our friends. How would it rejoice our hearts to receive a large packet of letters from our native country! O do not forget us in your prayers; go to God often on our account, and pray for spiritual blessings on us, and on this people. Mr. Judson joins with me in all my requests and wishes. He will write to his parents, therefore he has not time to write to you. "Your affectionate daughter and sister, Mr. Judson to Rev. Mr. Emerson, of Beverly, Mass. "DEAR BROTHER, "It is nearly a year since I wrote to America, my last being forwarded by brother Rice. I have had no opportunity of conveyance since that time; nor have I any at present. I intend to send this to F England, hoping that on its arrival the war may have terminated, or that it may find a conveyance in some dispatch vessel. "We have been here about six months; have been living in the mission house with brother Felix Carey's family, but expect in a few days to take a house within the walls of the town, on account of the bands of robbers, which infest all the country, and which have lately become very numerous and daring. Our situation is much more comfortable than we ever expected it would be in such a country. We enjoy good health, and though deprived of all congenial, christian society, are very happy in each other; I think we frequently enjoy His presence, whose smile can turn the darkest night to day, and whose favour is the fountain of all happiness. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,” said our departing Saviour; and the faithfulness of his words we richly experience. "In all the affairs of this government despotism and caprice are the order of the day. The present viceroy of this province is a savage man. Life and death depend upon his nod. He is very large in stature; and when he stalks about with a long spear, every body shrinks from before him. I called on him once, but he scarcely looked on me. Nancy waited on her Highness and was much better received. This man however is about to be recalled to Ava, and it is doubtful whether he will return. During the interim we expect all things will be in confusion, and this is one reason why we desire to get within the walls. "My only object is at present to prosecute, in a still and quiet manner, the study of the language, trusting that for all the future "God will provide." We have this consolation that it was the evident dispensation of God, that brought us to this country; and still farther, if "the world was all before us, where to choose our place of rest," we should not desire to leave Burmah. And our chief anxiety is that brother Rice may not be able to join us again. But even this we desire to leave in his hands, who doth all things well. We cannot express our longing to hear once more from our country. "Your affectionate brother in the Lord Jesus, “A. JUDSON." BAPTIST MISSION IN THE EAST. THE measures of the Board intended to diffuse the knowledge of christianity in the east, have originated in so close a connexion, and must ever sustain so intimate a union of object, with the operations of our English brethren in India, as to render it pleasing and proper to present some account of their excellent establishment. This will be done to best advantage by re-printing, as published by the Society in England, a “Brief Statement of the Baptist Mission in the East." "THIS undertaking had its origin amongst the churches of the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire Association. On June 3d, 1784, at the Association at Nottingham, it was agreed to hold a prayer-meeting for the general spread of the gospel on the evening of the first Monday in every month. In this prayermeeting Christians of other connexions, denominations, and countries soonunited, and continue to unite to this day. |