RESIDENCE AT CAWNPORE.
After Mr. Martyn had taken his departure for Calcutta, the clerical
duties connected with Cawnpore devolved upon Mr. Corrie. Some idea
of the varied and laborious nature of those duties will have been
gathered from the foregoing correspondence, and will have been
sufficient to explain the anxiety with which the arrival in India of
additional Chaplains was made the subject of enquiry. Not the least
fatiguing portions of a Chaplain’s duty were the long journeys he
was repeatedly called on to make, for the purpose of solemnizing
marriages between Europeans, and administering the Sacrament of
Baptism to their children. Two journeys of this kind Mr. C. had
to undertake within a month after he had been in the sole charge
of Cawnpore:--one into Bundelcund, the other to Coel, distant at
least 200 miles up the country. In the latter journey Mr. C. was
accompanied by a young friend; and under date of Nov. 20, remarks,
“COEL. Arrived here this morning, to marry a couple. I have
reason to be thankful that my pride, and angry feelings
have been more in subjection towards the servants this
journey. I have, however, to lament one instance of undue
anger; but, in general, their perverseness has not caused
the impatience and excitement as on former occasions; ‘be
not high-minded, but fear:’ ‘by faith ye stand.’ During the
journey to Mynpoorie, G., expressed, on the whole, true
christian conduct, love of the word of God, and prayer, and
often feeling impressions of his own unworthiness before
God, and the need of the Holy Spirit’s grace, to perfect
him in holiness; which, also, on Sunday evening, he spoke
of, as if he felt their comforting and sanctifying power.
May the Lord God, the Saviour, confirm, strengthen, and
establish him!
“At Mynpoorie, the proposition for public worship was
readily entertained, and most of the station, (in all
fifteen,) attended at the judge’s house on Sunday. I
preached on the benefit of the scripture history, with some
boldness, and comfort to myself; and there was a great
attention given; and afterwards two baptisms.”
It would seem from circumstances noticed in his Journal, that
in consequence of his declining to take part in some frivolous
amusements that were going on at Coel, Mr. Corrie did not meet
with that kindness and social regard which he might naturally have
expected; and his affectionate spirit seems to have been somewhat
deeply wounded.
“O my God!” he observes, “I bless thee that thou didst
deign to look upon me, and to call me to the adoption of a
son, through the grace of Christ! I have said unto my soul,
‘The Lord is my portion in the land of the living.’ Why
should a soul its thirst bemoan, who has a fountain near?
I would not take one step backward to conciliate their
[favour.] ‘Let them return to thee, but return not thou
to them.’ [Jerem. xv. 19.] My soul adores the divine will
in this command. No more would I go to the world. I have
observed much of late, what Newton expresses in the hymn,
‘Prayer answered by crosses.’ I have been desiring to be
more dead to the world, and the Lord has been pleased to
make it bitter to me.”
His Journal then proceeds:--
“Agra, Nov. 26th. Arrived here yesterday morning from Coel.
In the morning, on viewing the magnificent remains of this
city, I was not duly sensible of the vanity of earthly
glory. O that my mind were always alive to the vanity of
present things, in comparison of eternal!
“In consequence of orders from Colonel B., the European
artillery, to the amount of four hundred, attended divine
service in the dewan. I stood on the marble slab which was
occupied formerly by the vizier, when handing up petitions
to the emperor, in the balcony above. Many of the officers
attended; I preached from Malachi iii. 18. I much fear they
did not understand me, but a general attention was given:
in the afternoon, I went out to Nonilla, and baptized
three children; several of the young officers attended,
and kneeled down very devoutly. My heart rejoiced, and was
raised to God for a blessing upon them. To all appearance,
they are such as our Lord, in the days of his flesh, would
have loved; my soul desires their salvation. Oh, that the
Lord would take them effectually in hand! Oh, the depth
of divine wisdom and knowledge! Alas, that these engaging
forms of human nature should be slaves of sin, and so,
objects of the divine displeasure. Just and righteous
are thy ways, O king of saints! Oh, how I ought to praise
God for the acceptance He gives me among men who yet are
by no means conformed to His word! Oh, may the good Lord
make them willing and obedient, that they may be blessed
with all spiritual blessings in Christ; and, may all their
kindnesses be returned a hundred fold into their bosoms!”
Some further particulars of Mr. Corrie’s journey up the country, as
well as of his flock at Cawnpore, are found in the following letter.
TO THE REV. H. MARTYN.
“Cawnpore, Dec. 21, 1810.
“I returned last night from Muttra and Agra, and found
your’s of the 3rd instant.... If I were in Calcutta, I
should vote against your preaching every week. If you
will not take rest, dear brother, come away back, and
understand, if you can, from those in power, if I am to be
permitted to remain with you here, or not. At Agra there
will be little labour among the Europeans; some good, I
suppose, might be done among the native christians. I this
time visited the Roman Catholic place. The premises are
large, but every thing going to decay from the covetousness
of Angelo. There is a church of one long room, the roof
arched, at the east end a round recess, like the Mosques of
the Mahomedans, and a picture of the Virgin with a child
half as large as herself, over the high altar. At Agra
we had no public worship on Sunday; there was nobody in
garrison, and the Artillerymen were a far way off. Colonel
M. sent after me a draft for 1600 rupees!!! I suppose he
meant to try, whether a mighty bribe would not prevail to
draw me from our purpose.[70] I returned it with thanks,
and have heard no more of the matter. I have been with
Captain P. who commands the 53rd, and he will send to
desire the Regiment to be marched to Church on Sunday. I
hear from C--, that the society continues to walk in the
fear of the Lord, and are, I hope, multiplying in number.
Some new members are to be admitted to-night, I do not
know how many. I regret to hear, the man of the 8th. you
remember, has been behaving ill since I was here, yet there
is one it seems, who is disposed to come out from among
them. He has been often with C--, so I shall go down as I
intended and fixed with the schoolmaster of the 8th. though
the above man was the first encouragement, and must now be
kept at a distance. I should not forget to tell you, of
dear Harrington’s continued stedfastness, and attention
to the men when I am absent, which is no doubt one reason
of their consistency. S. has invited the religious men to
a dinner on Christmas day. They must be greatly comforted
by these circumstances, no longer constrained to hide
themselves through fear of man. We are all well, blessed be
the Lord our Saviour. May you increase in strength of body,
and be strengthened with all might by the Spirit in the
inner man. Love to all the saints. All here wish you grace,
mercy, and peace.
“I shall proceed with all care with Mirza. There is no
fear of any further inconvenience. I have resisted; he
has submitted; we are now as before. I have not seen him
to-day, but will, (D. V.,) write fully about him in a few
days.”
Letters which Mr. Corrie addressed to Mr. Martyn and Mr. Brown
respectively, a week later than the preceding date, give a pleasing
account of the state of the congregation at Cawnpore; and supply,
also, a specimen of the difficulties with which the earlier
Missionary labourers in India had to contend, in their efforts to
secure translations of the Word of God into the native languages.
TO THE REV. H. MARTYN.
“Cawnpore, Dec. 26, 1810.
“Yesterday divine service was appointed at eleven. Few of
the soldiers came, but the body of the church was entirely
filled with the gentry. Colonel and Mrs. W. came, and
brought many of the officers of the 8th. The civilians too,
were all present. We had upwards of fifty at the Lord’s
table:--three complete tables. Among them the above and
Dr. M., Captain and Mrs. E., Mr. G. S. and Harrington of
the 53rd, with many of the soldiers beside the society....
There were three more admitted to the society on Friday
night. On Sunday one part of the 53rd were marched to
Church. At two, I therefore went to the school-room of the
8th, and about thirty came. One of them has lately been
several times to the Church: several of them were disposed
to be attentive. S. had a number of the religious men at
dinner. Harrington dined with us, and after dinner we went
over and staid awhile at S.’s. It was a very happy time....
Mr. G. has been reading Newton on the Prophecies, and
has now Edwards on Redemption. This, with his attendance
yesterday, and general sobriety, looks well. Captain G. and
P. are both unwell; E. is better: I fear his impressions
are gone; B. has been unwell too; perhaps you do not know
him, he is an acquaintance since you left. Indeed, I have
seen them almost all, but have not been at the mess.
“Yesterday I baptised my little boy by the name of Osman
Daniel.[71] The child afterwards was reading the Gospels
almost all day. I have not shewn your _muvishtee_ to
Fitrut. He has got to the end of Joshua, and does on an
average more than two chapters a day. Beside that without
your reviewing his work, it will be but little worth; and
if he were doing it by task work, it would be still more
incorrect. The first discontent he shewed was only the
usual policy of an Indian to try how far his influence
extended; I took no notice of it, but positively refused
his demands; and for two or three weeks made no inquiry
after him, on which he came entirely into the old plan. He
comes every day, and we translate a collect or two: and in
this way I shall have the Prayer book, as well as the Bible
translated. We have begun a little work of Mrs. Sherwood’s
also, in the manner of the Pilgrim’s Progress, which I tell
him, he shall receive some gratuity for doing. This seized
upon him instantly, and he would fain have taken the book
with him; but I would not allow that, lest the greater work
be hindered.”
Mr. Corrie’s private reflections on the religious services mentioned
above, were as follow:
“25th. [Dec. 1810] A large attendance at church, and above
fifty attended at the Lord’s table. O may their souls be
nourished by grace divine! My own heart all the morning
unfeeling and hard, during the whole of divine worship;
and at dinner on going to S.’s. to see their party of
godly men, and joining in a hymn with them, my soul melted
under a sense of the Lord’s grace and love to me. O may
this impression remain; and may its constraining influence
attend me! Prepare me for my evening work, O Lord the
Spirit, Amen!”
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, Dec. 26, 1810.
“I send enclosed a letter to Martyn; if he is gone to sea,
you will peruse it, and send it after him. The account of
Fitrut and the translation, you are concerned in, as much
as he is, and I shall give you an account of our progress
from time to time. We are all here very busy in one way or
other, but with all our bustle we should not be missed if
taken away from the face of the earth. I trust, however,
some seed is sowing, that may spring up another day. The
half-caste lad, I have had now a year, during which,
not one instance of misconduct has come to my hearing.
Yesterday he seriously devoted himself to the work of a
Missionary, after a free choice, on my part, given him, to
be a writer, or any thing else, I could serve him in. He
has begun to-day to learn Latin from Lieut. Harrington,
who is teaching one of the officer’s sons, and an orphan
European boy, Latin. He is now about eighteen; he is
reading and writing Persian too, and learning to translate
into Hindoostanee his native tongue. The other native boys
make considerable proficiency. I keep a strict hand over
them.”
On the first day of the new year, Mr. Corrie again wrote to Mr.
Martyn, but it was chiefly about private matters. The letter,
however, to Mr. Brown, which enclosed that to Mr. M. is of more
general interest.
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, Jan. 1, 1811.
“I send another note for Martyn. He tells me you must
wait for paper from England before you can print the
Hindoostanee. The late arrivals in our department are not
favourable specimens of their labours at Cambridge and
Leadenhall street. They are frightened, I fancy, by the
Twinings,[72] &c.: but yet what can they do if men will
not offer themselves? During my late journeys in these
parts, I observed the idol-temples and the mosques, in
most places falling to decay, and with little appearance of
being frequented. Here and there a rich underling of some
of the Company’s servants has retired and built a pagoda
to commemorate his ill-gotten wealth; but in general,
the spirit and fury of idolatry does not appear. I have
thought much, if the time were but come for the labourers
to enter in, the gospel would not fail to be attended to.
But where are the labourers? At best, I was never but an
under-servant, and now my hands are full of Europeans:
and the Company’s Chaplains will always be so, unless
there were more of them. May we have more of the spirit of
prayer, that the Lord may ‘give the word,’ and then ‘great
shall be the company of the preachers!’
“I have very little comfort in the work of the ministry
among the Europeans. I consider it always a secondary
consideration, yet how to be doing it more for the heathen,
I know not. At Agra, I suppose there may be greater
opportunities; but Martyn will not hold up many months
under the duties of this station, so I hope to be continued
with him.”
The following extract from his Journal informs us of Mr. Corrie’s
private occupations and purposes:--
“January 2nd, 1811. I am much occupied in reading Greek,
and other exercises, tending, I hope, to mutual benefit
with H., but let me not deceive myself in fancying it all
duty, when it is all so agreeable. The children have made
considerable progress during the past year: as much as I
could expect. James has begun Latin, under the express idea
of becoming a teacher of others: and may he have grace to
give himself willingly to this work! I am very much taken
up with schemes for the furtherance of the gospel; but
little is yet done. The Europeans require more time and
labour than I have to give [to them.] Blessed be God for
some success among them. O may they [who fear God] increase
in number! During the year, my proficiency has been very
scanty: some knowledge of the history of this country, some
proficiency in Hindoostanee; the Hindoostanee catechism:
these are my chief employments, beside my ministry among
the Europeans. I purpose to be more in the study of these
languages, more in writing sermons, more attentive to
the children; to translate the Pilgrim’s Progress, the
Prayer book, and any other work that may be useful to the
children. Lord, direct my steps, and make me an instrument
of good for Jesus’ sake, Amen!”
It will be recollected that, in consequence of a sermon which Mr.
Brown preached on New-year’s day, 1810, an important effort was made
to supply the Christians of Tanjore with Bibles. Encouraged, it would
seem, by the success which attended that effort, Mr. Martyn, whilst
in Calcutta was induced to occupy Mr. Brown’s pulpit on the 1st of
January, 1811, for the purpose of making “An appeal on behalf of
900,000 Christians in India who were in want of a Bible.” This Sermon
not only produced a lasting effect on those who heard it delivered,
but having been printed and widely circulated, called forth among the
Europeans in India, a strong feeling of sympathy in behalf of the
native Christians, and contributed mainly towards the formation of
an Auxiliary Bible Society in Calcutta. It is to these circumstances
that allusion is made in the following letter; although the Auxiliary
Society was not actually formed till the 21st of February.[73]
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, Jan. 28, 1811.
“I am much pleased with the idea of an Auxiliary Bible
Society. I wonder the thought had not occurred before. When
we receive Martyn’s sermon I hope we shall be able to get
you help from this [place]. I have mentioned the sermon
in several places, and it will be read here with great
eagerness. We have no support from our new General: he sets
but a very indifferent example to the community, whilst
he is quiet and civil enough in private. ‘To the poor the
gospel is preached,’ and they receive it, though not in
great numbers.
“I have had five long journeys since November, and expect
to go to Bareilly next week to attend two marriages. At
the other end of the cantonments I have lately begun to
assemble the Light Dragoons on a Thursday evening. At first
many came, and a few still continue to attend. Most of our
Hymn-books are distributed, and numbers of the Bibles, but
few of the New Testaments....
“I am at present in very good health, and strong to labour.
We have service three times on Sundays, and on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday evenings. The distance between the
two European regiments, makes double labour, but (blessed
be God!) it is not labour in vain. And whilst there is no
service that could well be dispensed with I can do nothing
better than patiently ‘spend and be spent,’ while strength
remains. Even now the hospitals are sadly neglected, but
the godly men, and especially Harrington, supply the lack
with great diligence.”
Of the journey to Bareilly (about 170 miles distant from Cawnpore)
there is a short notice in Mr. C’s Journal, dated,
“February 21st. I have had a journey to Bareilly. H. went
with me to Futtyghur. I have reason to bless God for
preservation from angry tempers during the journey, and
for the much sweet converse I had with H. In riding along,
our manner was to read a sentence from a book, and to
converse upon it; or sing a hymn. In this way weariness
was prevented, and my heart often burned within me. Let me
however watch and pray that the things which I have wrought
be not lost. O, may I never be suffered to faint or grow
weary in the heavenly way! My inward frame and spirit is
sadly prone to this. I have to drag this ‘body of sin’
along with me. How often would my spirit sit down to rest;
or, wearied with the constant load, yield to the death!
Lord, preserve and uphold me to the end! Amen.”
During the two months following the date of this extract, Mr. Corrie
was chiefly occupied with the ordinary clerical duties at Cawnpore.
Besides these however, he did not cease to employ himself in urging
on the translation of the Old Testament into Hindoostanee, which
Mirza Fitrut had commenced under the superintendence of Mr. Martyn;
and Mr. C’s correspondence about this time shews him, also, to have
been actively engaged in furthering the objects contemplated by the
Calcutta Bible Society, and in collecting subscriptions for it. Thus
in a letter to Mr. Brown, Mr. C. observes,
“April 8, 1811.
“I wrote to Fitrut on the receipt of your last. He sends
word, that he is unwell, but will come over soon. I expect
him daily, but suppose he will raise obstacles. The copy
of Martyn’s sermon which Mr. T. sent me, has not been at
home a day since it arrived. Applications from all hands
are daily made for it. The people are astonished at the
_number_ of Christians in India. Whilst they have been
objecting to conversion, behold a harvest is already
gathered! I have the promise of many subscriptions,
chiefly, indeed, from those who have not much to give; but
till I can tell them all about you in Calcutta, I know not
exactly on what ground to ask for subscriptions.”
And, again, in a letter to Mr. Brown, during the same month:--
“By Fitrut’s desire I send you the enclosed. Before it
arrives, you will have determined on his request. He is
now ready to set off, but that I do not choose absolutely
to promise the increase of salary he wishes for. In the
meantime, he is going on translating, and he comes every
morning for an hour or two, to superintend my translations
also. No _banghy_ has yet arrived with sermon &c., but Col.
P. has written to Lieut. L., assistant commissary here,
requesting his aid and exertions for the Bible Society. He
sent a sermon and a copy of the proceedings, &c.[74] Mr.
Lumsdaine, accordingly, is getting subscriptions from his
friends. The general has given 200 rupees, and the plan of
the society is generally approved. The public attention
has been greatly excited, and our friends here thought it
advisable to give the subject all the publicity possible;
so yesterday, I gave notice from the pulpit, that on Sunday
next, I shall preach a sermon on the subject of the Holy
Scriptures, and state the views of the society lately
formed in Calcutta, in aid of the British and Foreign Bible
Society in London, &c. I had before waited on Mr. L. and
agreed to act in concert. Thus, more advantage to the cause
is likely to arise than we ever hoped for; we want only
copies of proceedings, &c., to gratify the attention thus
far excited, before it subsides.
“The religious men of the 53rd., I understand, mean to
give each a month’s pay. They say, they have before been
called upon for a month’s pay, to help to carry on the war,
much more will they contribute ‘to the help of the Lord
against the mighty.’ I have great reason for thankfulness
for the acceptance the word of God has among us. The church
is usually crowded in the part allotted to the gentry,
and our societies increase considerably. Even the wild
Irish Roman Catholics of the 8th Light Dragoons, pay great
attention, and the Thursday evenings attendance increases.
A sergeant, his wife, and several others of them, appear in
good earnest seeking salvation. The Company’s Europeans are
the least attentive, and indeed, with a few exceptions, the
Company’s officers are the least constant at church. I have
a Hindoostanee congregation of nine, every morning, and am
going through the Epistles with them. The half-caste lad
I have mentioned, has began to read to them. He continues
to give good hope that his heart is in the work; and the
children also, continue improving. I am often greatly
exhausted from the frequent public services, and feel often
much inward weakness. Should I ever be relieved from this,
I would try to get to sea for a few weeks, just recruit
strength, and prevent the frame from giving way entirely.
I have many thoughts about Benares; if you send the copies
of proceedings to E., I fear he will never distribute
them. You should send some to Robinson. I am desirous to
see the proceedings of Martyn, when you can spare his
letter. You cannot suppose how widowed I feel from his
absence.... Mr. Y. tells me there is a Bible Depository in
Calcutta. Who has the charge of it? I have been applied to
for information about it, but could give none.... To-day,
I have a letter from Martyn dated 19th March, ‘Bombay,’
containing extracts from Simeon, on _not_ taking fees, far
more pointed than his cautions to P.”
But assiduously occupied as Mr. Corrie thus appears to have been in
furthering every plan that promised to yield moral benefit to his
fellow-men, he was nevertheless alive, at the time, to the importance
of watching over the state of religion in his own soul. On the
anniversary of his birth-day he writes:--
“April 10th. This day I am thirty-four. It was the night
I heard of my mother’s death, February 1798, that I first
remember my resolutions made to be religious. Till the
summer of 1801, I went on sinning and repenting, as I
thought; but quite ignorant of the author and finisher of
salvation. In the latter end of that year, my views of
scripture truth became more distinct; and, since then,
I have gone on my way, ‘looking unto Jesus;’ but every
year has brought me, it should seem, only experience
of my own depravity. True, I have experience of ‘the
Lord’s mercy,’ too, in that I am ‘not consumed;’ and the
fulness, freeness, and efficacy of the ‘fountain opened’
to purify my guilty soul is so fully known to my soul,
and my own hope in that ‘blood shed for the remission
of sins,’ so stayed, that my own guilt does not dismay
me, as it otherwise might well do: at the same time, one
propensity after another to evil starts up so unavoidably,
that doubtless, my soul is ‘full of wounds, and bruises,
and putrifying sores:’ to Thee, therefore, O divine
Physician, do I turn my fainting eyes. I come to Thee for
healing, that it would please Thee to cast the salt of
Thy grace into this impure fountain, that the streams may
be purified from the noxious qualities, which now render
unfruitful the whole field of the soul. O Lord, I pray
that the overflowings of sin may be restrained; teach me
to watch and pray; quicken me to diligence in this work,
and service; enable me to ‘give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine;’ to ‘give myself wholly to them,
that my profiting may appear’ in the edification of thy
people, through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!”
“June 10th. This day nine years ago, I was ordained a
deacon; and on the twelfth of June, two years after, a
priest. I have sinned grievously in respect of personal
holiness; and, during the last year, also, I fear, as
much as ever. I know not what to do against my strong
foe, ‘whose name is legion.’ The Lord knows I purpose
perpetual enmity with every sin; and, I think, if it were
the will of God to take away every disposition to evil,
I should rejoice; but, at the same time, should require
such measures of grace to keep me humble, as seem out of
the way of God’s usual method to bestow. Indeed, when I
feel such a disposition to self-importance in a very short
time, if my evil dispositions are quiet, what devilish
pride should I not be puffed up with, if my heart were
freed from corruption. Blessed be God, I can say, that no
sin hath dominion over me; yet do I not justify myself:
though I am often surprised, and get a spiritual fall, yet
the enemy cannot keep me down: by faith I rise, by faith I
stand; and ‘in the Lord have I righteousness and strength.’
I have been at Cawnpore about a year; and since October
have had the whole charge: ten are added to the (religious)
society since then; and several are enquiring after the
ways of godliness. Some of the light dragoons, (especially
sergeant R.) are, I hope, seriously impressed. Gracious
God, I praise Thee for these fruits! I have to mourn my
unprofitableness among the better sort. I think I am not
suited to do good by much visiting, and, therefore, stay
at home. I have been employed a great deal in translating
for the children; and Nicholas is very hopeful: these in
all are six, besides those who came yesterday. God of all
grace, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give me a
larger portion of the Holy Spirit’s grace: make me holy
in body, soul, and spirit; ‘holiness becometh thy house.’
O Lord, my soul is athirst for holiness. Teach me how to
preach holiness through the Spirit, and by the Saviour!
But, I am forbidden by the doctors to preach, on account
of this liver. May I pray the more for the souls around
me: O for a spirit of grace and supplication! To Thee, O
Lord, have I dedicated myself; at thy table, yesterday,
did I give myself away to Thee; and, though the watchful
enemy robbed me of part of the benefit, yet, I know, thou
hast accepted me: Thou didst sit at thine own table; it
was a season of refreshment to many, as well as to myself;
about fifty attended; in the evening, a large congregation.
I hope soon to establish worship for the Hindoostanees;
James, I trust, is fully bent on this work, though he has a
good deal of youthful levity about him. Lord, bless all my
flock, my dear family, and friends! Bless my soul, O Lord,
and let my soul praise Thee at all times!”
The following letter to Mr. Simeon, whilst giving a general outline
of the religious condition of Cawnpore, as presented during Mr.
Corrie’s ministrations at that station, explains also, the lofty,
self-denying principle on which both Mr. Martyn and himself had
decided to waive the accepting of any fee for the celebration of
marriages, &c.
“Cawnpore, June 4, 1811.
“As your Indian friends are, at this time, widely
separated, I shall not be likely to trouble you with
repetition of intelligence from this quarter, and I know
you will take part in the hopes and fears attending the
work of the ministry in this place. You will, I hope, hear
from Mr. Martyn himself from Persia; the last I heard of
him was from Bombay, March 19th. He had benefited little,
or nothing, from the change. Since his departure, I have
had much encouragement in my work. I began with a very
discouraging impression of my unfitness to stand up in
his place, but the word delivered in weakness, has been
attended with power to several. Ten have been added to the
religious society, and several are on probation, in one
of the European Regiments; in the other, some good has
been done, and even from among the Company’s Artillery-men
(surely the most hardened against all good, of any set of
men I ever saw) five are become regular attendants at the
Lord’s Table. We might have hoped for more abundant fruit;
but that it was the Divine will I should be laid up a third
time with the liver, and obliged to desist from all labour
but the Sunday’s duty. I am now so affected with mercury,
that I cannot appear next Sunday, but I am happy to say,
that for several days the pains have left me, and I trust
the disease has subsided. I hope the life, thus repeatedly
renewed to me, will be more than ever devoted to the work
of the ministry, for truly I find no life like living to
Christ. His service is perfect freedom and a great reward!
“My absence from the Irish regiment has been most felt;
as in the English regiment, one of the officers, a nephew
of the late Dr. Elliston of Sidney College, has supplied
my lack of service, by reading &c., having ‘first given
himself unto the Lord.’ We have every Wednesday evening
a party of friends, who take sweet counsel together. It
consists, when altogether, of a Lieutenant of Dragoons
and his wife, the Paymaster of the 53rd and his wife, an
Assistant Surgeon, the above Lieutenant, my sister, and
a young lady who is living with her; we sometimes have
beside, another Surgeon and his lady, who have been brought
up among religious people; an officer on the staff here,
and, now and then, a friend from the country; and there are
others, who approve and are hopeful, though they do not yet
care to come out from the world. When we thus happily meet,
we are encouraged to think, the whole world must speedily
bow before the word of the Lord; but, alas, we return again
with the complaint of Melancthon. The multitude, alas,
tread heedlessly the broad way!
“You will know of the formation of an Auxiliary Bible
society in Calcutta. It has raised ‘no small stir about
that way.’ Here we have had good success, but the enemy
also has been at work. My application to the Commander
of one of the corps here, was yesterday returned, with
many concessions as to the purity of our motives, but
representing this new association as the most dangerous
thing imaginable, and praying me, and others, to desist
from promoting the objects of it. In two entire regiments,
out of the five, we have been thus hindered, but blessed
be God, we have a majority, even in point of numbers. One
undeniable benefit has arisen from it, even to the English;
for after a sermon I preached on the subject, April 28th,
we had a greater number of applications for English Bibles,
than for many months together before.
“During this month my school of Christian boys has
increased to nine. I hear them myself twice a day, and
find they learn even quicker than many English boys. Some
of the parents, seeing how desirous I am to retain these
children at school, plague me not a little for money to
support themselves also, saying they must otherwise remove
to some other place, and take their children with them. The
Christian man I left at Chunar, has within these few days
arrived here, having left his charge. The house I fitted
up, is still used for public worship by the Europeans, but
no one pities my poor black flock, so they are again left
in the wide wilderness. A few of them, who have, I trust
been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted
of the good word of God, attend the service in English,
though they understand nothing of what is said, yet they
hear the name of ‘_Jesu Kreesht_,’ and, that, they say,
‘is pleasure.’ At this place there are many Christians of
Portuguese descent, but, in language and manners, quite
Hindoostanees. Through two of my Christian people, who,
I trust, are real Christians, a desire has been excited
among them for hearing and reading the Scriptures. The
youth I have mentioned, of European descent, is with me
still, and very promising. I hope to establish worship in
Hindoostanee, in a month’s time, for the above native
christians here, and to make this lad officiate. If I were
able to officiate myself, I would not set him so forward
yet, but our friends here advise that, considering the
difficulty of again putting affairs in the train they now
are, we had better secure the present opportunity, and
hope and pray that the Lord will be with us, till Martyn’s
return, when he will find the way he had prepared, somewhat
carried forward, and may enlarge it after, as he judges
proper. He had addressed himself to the multitude at large
who used to assemble every Sunday evening, on his lawn,
till his health and strength were exhausted. My health and
strength have been brought nearly as low, though I have a
stronger constitution to renew upon; so I set the above
servants to work at the houses of individual Christians,
and now hope to establish a small congregation from among
them, against our brother’s return.
“From Bombay, M. sent me a part of a letter of your’s, on
the subject of fees, which he desired me to consider. I
beg leave to state a few particulars on that subject for
your information. First, all in the army, below the rank of
Captain, are obliged to use the strictest economy, in order
to maintain a family. A Captain may live without care,
but, if it be considered that he must send his children to
England for education, it will be easily believed, that
every married military man, who has a family, is likely to
be poor to the end of his service, with the exception of a
few, who get staff-appointments, and they are almost the
only ones who are ever able to return home. When we are
sent for to a distance, the expences of travelling are paid
by the parties, which usually costs from forty to sixty
pounds. It is usually the younger officers who marry, for
the old ones almost all live in sin: and indeed from the
above circumstances, together with the few opportunities of
religious instruction, most of the young ones too; and some
have told me plainly, that they could get nobody to marry
them, and if they could, they had not money to give, as
was usually expected by the Chaplains. For these causes,
from the first, I wished to decline being an obstacle in
the way of any. Sometimes young men marry the daughters of
old Indians by native mothers, but though the father could
often give a fee in this case, he has himself sacrificed
conscience to money, and thinks any one would do the same,
and how are we to convince him to the contrary, but by
refusing his money? The civilians who marry, are also
usually of the younger part, and have nothing to spare
without borrowing, which they can do indeed too easily.
The elder civilians are altogether as preposterously paid
to excess, and indeed there are very few of them, who are
not in consequence, so vain, and carry themselves so high,
that I know not how we can shew them the folly of trusting
in these things, but by refusing the opportunities of
obtaining them. On this head, there will he difference of
opinion, but my humble judgment is, to renounce the fee,
to convince them by all possible means, that a man’s life
consisteth not in these things. In so doing, we are not
injuring our successor, because he has a sufficiency of
income for all the purposes that his station in life can
require. I suppose you do not care whether we be able to
keep a carriage, or not, if we should ever return; and
suppose we save but enough to pay our passage to England,
the retiring pension is an abundant provision for our
necessities. I suppose, that even a chaplain marries, and
has children, then even he has plenty to educate them,
though his usefulness here may be thereby confined, and
in what situation would it not be so? I see no motive for
receiving fees that ought to be entertained a moment, but
that of taking them to give to the poor, and such has been
the state of things among the British here hitherto, that
the mention of such a motive would have excited derision,
as mere hypocrisy. It has never been conceived, that a man
came to India, except to make money. After all, dear Sir,
we have no such thing as a regular fee; we are military
chaplains, and the general could order us to officiate, in
any part of the district, there being no legal impediment:
_you_ can recover the accustomed offering by law; _we_ have
no law on the subject, nor do the soldiers ever, on any
occasion, offer a fee. We have indeed custom on our side,
but it is a custom that has made the name of Chaplain an
offence. Would government but appoint a regular supply of
Chaplains, and let any reasonable fee be appointed, for
occasional duties, as a part of their subsistence, it would
be well. O, I wish that some of the young men around you,
did but see the different stations of India, where numbers
of their countrymen are actually falling into the jaws of
infidelity and deism, for the want of some one merely to
remind them of the customs and opinions of their native
land. They come out boys; they leave the Sabbath and public
worship behind them; they straightway fall into sinful
habits, and grow to argue for that, which they would once
have blushed to mention. But what, if the young clergy
knew, and pitied, and were willing to come over and help
us, what could they do whilst the way is shut against them?
Consider, this district contains, I know not the exact
number, but I know twelve subordinate stations, at each
of which, there will be from twenty to forty English and
native Christians in the Company’s service; at Allahabad,
one hundred miles to the east, there are about two hundred
Europeans alone; at Futtyghur eighty miles to the west,
there are at least as many, and at Bareilly not much less
than a hundred. To these places, the Chaplain of Cawnpore
must go, to celebrate marriages, for this is the only
duty he cannot be dispensed with for; but as to all other
religious services, they are left entirely destitute, and
from the long habits of indifference they have been in, it
is not always, even when we do go, that we can have public
worship. O, dear Sir, ought the immense revenues of this
fruitful land to be wholly appropriated to the purposes of
merchandize! Ought the souls of our own countrymen, not to
speak of the natives, to be weighed in the balance against
bales of silk and cotton! Surely this system will have an
end!
“Mr. Thomason was so kind as to send me some Christian
Observers, with the paper war with the Christian
Advocate.[75] These are exceedingly interesting to us, and
you cannot confer a greater favour, than by forwarding to
this country, supplies of Christian Guardians, Eclectic
Reviews, Christian Observers, &c. We can lend them about,
they are read with avidity, and excite much conversation
about religious books.
“I hope this will find you renewed in the outer, as well as
in the inner man. The Lord can send by whom he will, but
my soul would mourn to hear, that that candlestick, which
was the means of guiding me into divine light and peace,
was removed from Cambridge. May your latter days, dearest
Sir, be more blessed than the former, and when heart and
strength shall fail, may you have the assurance in your own
soul, that God is the strength of your heart, as well as
the portion you have chosen for ever!
“If there were to be a quantity of copies of the Christian
Guardian sent out yearly, they would be eagerly purchased
by the religious soldiers, and would be highly useful. The
Christian Observer is above their modes of thinking.
[70] Mr. Martyn and Mr. Corrie had agreed to decline
all fees for the solemnizing of marriages, &c. The
reasons for their decision on that matter are given
at length in a letter to Mr. Simeon, dated June 14,
1811.
[71] A little boy who was rescued from death, during a
famine, and brought up by Mr. C.
[72] Twining was the name of the gentleman who was for
expelling all Missionaries from India. See above p.
119.
[73] History of the Bible Society, vol. ii. pp. 108, and
seq.
[74] The Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society printed 1000
copies of the first six Reports of the Parent
Society, for circulation in India.
[75] Dr. E. Pearson, Master of Sidney Sussex College,
Cambridge, between whom and Mr. Simeon, some
Pamphlets were exchanged on the subject of Mr.
Simeon’s preaching.