CAWNPORE--COEL--RETURN TO CALCUTTA.
The illness which Mr. Corrie mentions in the foregoing letter, as
having ‘obliged him to desist from all labour, except the Sunday
duty,’ now continued to increase upon him; so that, in the beginning
of July he was not only laid aside from duty, but confined to the
house. From his Journal it appears, also, that he suffered greatly
from the exhaustion consequent on fever; and that he was much
harassed by impatience and a nervous irritability of temper. Added to
this, Mr. C., states himself to have been distressed by the ‘mournful
view,’ which his mind took ‘of the desolate state of professing
Christians in India, scattered as sheep upon the hills.’ With the
hope, therefore, of recruiting both health and spirits, he spent a
fortnight or more on the river. His correspondence at the same time,
shews that the pressure of bodily sickness did not prevent Mr. C.,
from occupying his mind with plans for the permanent welfare of India.
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, July 11, 1811.
“Since I wrote to you, I have been entirely laid aside.
A fever seized me, and I thought I was following Des
Granges;[76] but after some days, through divine mercy, it
left me, exceedingly weakened, so that although now, in my
own opinion, able to officiate in public, those about me
will not let me.
“I had a letter from Martyn, dated 24th. April, at Muscat.
He gets no stronger, I fear; but you will have heard from
him yourself: I begin greatly to wish him back again. Since
I have been confined to the house, Mr. Sherwood and Mr.
Harrington have, in turns, read to the people in church of
an evening. I am much gratified by this help; it relieves
my mind greatly. At the same time the numbers fall off. The
_preaching_ of the Cross is the usual means of salvation. I
am well aware that none of my sermons can be compared with
those they read, in point of composition, &c. and yet the
people go to sleep under them; and those who shewed some
love begin to ‘wax cold.’ I wish, therefore, to renew my
public work, that ‘through the foolishness of preaching,’
some may believe and be saved.
“My Moonshee, as you will expect, is on the way to
Serampore, he left this [place] near a fortnight ago.
Fitrut alarmed him greatly at last, by telling him that
he knows Sabat is his great enemy, and that nothing but
disgrace and loss of character will ensue to him. Fitrut
is himself gone to Lucknow, he is at work on the Psalms,
having passed by Esther and Job; he has given in as far as
the 37th. The translation is, in general, very excellent.
I hope that the Psalms, when properly corrected, will be
printed separately; no good will be done to any extent,
till the Scriptures are printed; therefore, God be thanked
for the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society! Y. told me of the
opposition to the measure at Madras. ‘It must needs be that
offences come, but woe to that man by whom they come.’ I
expect there will be a ‘Hue and Cry’ raised by the opposers
at home to this society: but it is founded on a rock.
“I have been thinking much about a representation being
made to somebody or other at home, (perhaps the Archbishop
of Canterbury), on the subject of the want of Chaplains
in India. As everything is in a state of tranquillity
here, and the revenues [are] flourishing, perhaps it
might be attended to. At Allahabad there ought to be a
Chaplain, and at Futtyghur, and at Rewaree and Kurnaul.
At Allahabad there are always two companies of Artillery,
and a large society besides; and at Rewaree, and Kurnaul
about the same. At Futtyghur, one company, and a large
society of Commissioners, Civilians, &c. And at Benares,
there is certainly need of a chaplain; there should also,
at Cawnpore and Chunar, be one King’s chaplain, at least
at each station, or an additional Company’s chaplain. I
am told how little likely such a representation would be
to produce the desired effect, but there is no saying. If
you, the senior, were to draw up and sign something of this
kind, and send it to the juniors for their signatures,
it appears to me, it would certainly be attended to,
especially if the King should recover, and the present
ministers remain in office.
“15th. on the river. I have been so out of spirits as not
to be able to write to you as I could wish, so delayed
sending off this. I ought not however to detain the
Society’s money. I fear a voyage to sea will be necessary
to get me quite well. I was reduced so much that the
doctors made me leave off mercury; but they talk of making
me begin again to use it, three times a day. They say,
there is little or no danger in the complaint; it may be
so, but I would have my ‘loins girded about’ and my ‘lamp
burning.’ I lament the falling off of the people at church,
whilst I rejoice I am much comforted by the faith and love
of the helpers supplied to me.”
But notwithstanding the means used by Mr. Corrie for the recovery
of his health, it pleased God still to afflict him. The medical men
accordingly continued to prohibit his performance of any public duty
for at least six weeks or more. During this cessation from duty, he
took advantage of a summons to marry a couple at Coel, to perform
the greater part of the journey to that place by boat on the river,
and purposed to spend a short time at Coel for the benefit of change
of air. Many days, however, had not passed over before Mr. C. took
cold, and his ‘frame began to sink and his spirits to languish.’
He therefore decided on returning to Cawnpore, and proposed taking
Agra in his way, having been engaged to solemnize a marriage there.
But before he reached Agra, the fever returned upon him with great
violence, so that he was detained on the road and reduced to a state
of extreme debility. Some account of this journey is given in a
letter.
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Coel, August 27, 1811.
“I made a journey by water to this neighbourhood, and then
by _dawk_ to this place. We convened the settlement for
public worship on Sunday, and had evening service with the
family. They are very kind to me, and I hope I help to
remove the prejudices of some against the cause we wish to
serve, by bringing before them sometimes the other side of
the question about missions. The commanding officer here is
an intelligent man; he favours the Bible Society, as you
will know. I have lent him a copy of Martyn’s Hindoostanee
New Testament: he says that he will have it copied and sent
to the Portuguese, drummers, &c. He is somewhat acquainted
with Persian and Arabic, and expresses himself gratified by
what he has seen of the translation.
“I ought to have written to Moonshee before this, but for
a month I have not been near a post-office, except just in
passing Futtyghur. I am greatly benefited by change of air,
and hope my little flock are suffering no lack, through the
kindness of Harrington and Sherwood. But I fear staying
away longer than needful, and am now anxious to be at
Cawnpore.
“Agra, Saturday, 31st. I have had a severe attack of
illness, which laid me up on the road to this [place]. A
whole day I was in a wretched Bazaar, and learned something
of the value of home and friends to a sick man. But my mind
was undisturbed.
“Lord, I believe thou hast prepared,
Unworthy though I be,
For me a blood-bought, free, reward
A golden harp for me.”
“I am confined to Colonel Bowie’s quarters, and was only
just able last night to marry the young people. I am sorry
to find the Bible Society has been so little encouraged
here; but I cannot go out to see people on the subject. The
surgeon here tells me, I must go to sea.”
Yet after a few days repose, added to God’s blessing on the kind
attentions of his host at Agra, Mr. Corrie was sufficiently recovered
to allow of his proceeding on his journey, and before his arrival at
Cawnpore he found himself much recruited in strength. As, however,
he seems now to have been convinced, that his illness was chiefly to
be attributed to the frequency of his preaching; Mr. C. considered
it to be his duty to resolve to be more careful in that respect for
the future. Still, with reference to that matter he remarks in his
Journal:--
“I trust it is with a single eye to future usefulness that
I purpose to be more careful of my health, and to be less
engaged in preaching.”
But when he was again settled among his flock at Cawnpore, Mr. C’s
purpose to be “less engaged in preaching,” was but partially carried
into effect. He writes, for example, under date of
“18th. Sept. [1811.] I have been thinking of three
separate courses of sermons. First, for Sunday mornings:
to begin with man’s ruin; justification; illumination;
separation from the world; progress in the ‘fruits of the
Spirit.’ Secondly, for the Wednesday evenings: a view of
the church of Christ; its establishment; progress; and
final triumph in the world, notwithstanding the opposition
of Satan: a course from Matt. xvi. 18., on the plan of
Edward’s History of Redemption. Thirdly: to translate into
Hindoostanee, to be read by James to the Hindoostanees, a
Commentary on Genesis i: on the original state of man; the
fall; the promise in succession, on to the history of our
Lord in the gospels.”
And, again, in a letter:
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, Oct. 10, 1811.
“I could put twenty copies of the New Testament into
immediate use, and we go on very lamely without them.
Writing is slow, incorrect, and expensive. Nothing will be
done to purpose, till we get printed copies in abundance.
Three of the pious soldiers are learning Hindoostanee,
that they may, as they say, be able to exhort the heathen.
One of them is a superior young man, and very humble and
unobtrusive. He has long wished to be able to talk with the
Brahmins at a certain pagoda, near the river, where he goes
often; and purposes reading the New Testament to them, when
he can get one.[77]
“The Lord adds to us one by one, according to his promise.
Since my return, three have joined the society, and all
walk orderly. Our Hindoostanee worship was well attended
last Sunday. Moonshee Fitrut is come back from Lucknow; he
yesterday gave me the 21st. chapter of Proverbs, the Old
Testament is completed so far. I have given him a place of
abode on the premises, and done every thing to induce him
to go on quietly. This work will, I hope, be done in three
or four months; and, please God to spare Martyn to put the
finishing hand to it, will be the greatest work, as to
utility, ever accomplished on this side of India.
“Beside my other employments, I have now to translate
from Henry’s Commentary on Genesis, which serves as a
Hindoostanee sermon on Sundays. I know nothing else you
will desire to hear of, from this [place.] The miserable
squabbles which disgust the world at this place, I am happy
to know little about. Happy privilege to be ‘redeemed from
a vain conversation,’--to be delivered ‘from the present
evil world!’ O, for more power to proclaim aloud the year
of release! My strength increases, but not a third in the
way of public duty is done, that might be done. I preach
twice on Sundays, and on Wednesday evening; and meet the
society on Fridays. I hope to begin my weekly meeting with
the Dragoons on Thursday next: but I believe it would
be right for me to leave off, in that case, my present
Wednesday evening engagement. But the three hospitals are
sadly neglected; I can only visit those who are very ill.
I dare not preach in the wards: my breast and side are on
fire this morning, from last night’s exertion. Yet, the
cold season being set in, increases my strength, and I have
no expectation but of doing well enough, until the heat
commences again.
“We have had lately a remarkable instance of the freeness
and fulness of redeeming love, in the case of a soldier’s
wife, who died here. I am collecting a few particulars
which I may send you.”
The “particulars” here referred to, do not occur in Mr. C’s
correspondence or Journal; but a notice of an interview he had with a
dying soldier a short time before the preceding letter was written,
may not be omitted:--
“Yesterday evening I went to the hospital, to visit J. He
has been ill some time. He considers himself in a decline,
and indeed, seems to be so; he began by saying, that ‘he
felt very composed in his mind, looked upon the world as
done with, and no longer any thing to him, and would be
happy, if it were the Lord’s will to take him to Himself.’
I asked him when he supposed the Lord began to make him
a partaker of His grace? He said, ‘it was at Chunar he
first began to consider, and there he became somewhat
enlightened, but lately his mind had become more confirmed
and strengthened.’ Not wishing him to be deceived, I
reminded him of some improprieties since he left Chunar:
he acknowledged ‘that he had been often led astray, and
found his heart often going wrong; but for these things
he was heartily sorry, and hoped by the grace of God to
prevail against them: indeed, for some months past, he had
been more alive to religion than ever.’ I asked him the
ground of a sinner’s hope towards God: he replied with some
cheerfulness, ‘only the Lord Jesus Christ.’ I asked what he
expected Christ would do for him: he said, ‘to save him,
and make him a partaker of salvation with the saints in
glory.’ I pointed out the meaning of the word ‘saint,’ and
asked him ‘if he considered that Christ, if he saved us,
would make us holy, and that heaven was the enjoyment of
a holy God, and therefore, a happy place.’ He said ‘that
even now he was happy only when sin was subdued within
him; and to be freed from sin in heaven, would be complete
happiness.’”
Amid labours such as these, Mr. Corrie writes:
TO THE REV. J. BUCKWORTH.
“Cawnpore, Oct. 30, 1811.
“I am recovering from an illness, that has nearly laid
me aside, ever since the 24th of April last. The Lord my
healer, I hope I may say, renews my spiritual strength, as
the outer man is brought low. It was brought on by undue
previous exertion. I trust I am taught that this is not the
Lord’s will. Without a miracle, we cannot hope our flocks
will be fed with the bread of life after our decease; to
abide with them is, therefore, most desirable, and to use
the means for preserving health to minister among them,
necessary.
“You will have heard of the establishment of an Auxiliary
Bible Society in Calcutta. Doubtless the night has passed
away, and the true light is now arising upon India. Mr.
Martyn is gone for change of air, hoping to recover
health, and, perhaps, avoid the threatened beginning of
a consumption: he was at Shiraz, in Persia, on the 26th
of June; and is at work on a Persian translation of the
New Testament. His translation of the New Testament into
Hindoostanee, is just put to the press; we greatly long for
this work to appear. You know, he was assisted by a learned
native,[78] who passed six years in England, and is well
acquainted with the English language also. The translation
of the Baptist missionaries into Hindoostanee, is really
too defective to be useful to any extent. You will not
accuse me of depreciating their labours: ‘I speak the truth
in Christ.’ I have the greater part of their work. The
Christians about me lay it aside, and prefer the parts of
scripture they have of Martyn’s translation.
“The above [mentioned] learned native is living on our
premises, and goes on translating the Old Testament; in any
difficult passage he consults me about the meaning. He has
translated to Isaiah, and is now engaged on that book. This
work, please God to spare Martyn to come back to correct
it by the Hebrew, will be a glorious work for Hindoostan
Proper. This part of India is still without a translation,
except that of the Baptist missionaries. Two of these
missionaries have gone to Agra: I was there lately and saw
them; they had not then got quite settled. The natives
of that quarter are very independent and fierce in their
manners, the Mahomedans especially. You have heard of the
population of India, but can have no idea of its immensity
unless you saw it; so that a man may visit I cannot tell
how many villages of three hundred, four hundred people and
upwards, in a circle of six or eight miles: there seems,
therefore, little need of itinerating according to your
idea of the word; but you may think to how little an extent
all that the whole of the missionaries now in India can do
is likely to be felt. Yet the day, I am certain, has dawned
that will never set till all India shall see the glory of
the Lord.
“Of my own proceedings, I have little to say; my native
school consists of ten; four of whom can say the whole of
Watts’s scripture catechism (but indeed one of the four
has just left me to go to his friends who live far away).
I read the scriptures and prayers in Hindoostanee with
them in the school-house every morning, and am helped
greatly in these exercises, by the youth I have mentioned,
of European descent. Since September, we have had worship
in Hindoostanee; in church on a Sunday afternoon, fifty
or sixty native Christians sometimes attend, and usually
thirty or forty; my own people have learned to sing
translations of psalms and hymns to English tunes: they are
very fond of them, though I know the poetry is very poor: I
hope an Indian Watts may be raised up ere long, to regulate
the psalmody of the Indian church.
“You would wish to know what success I perceive in the
midst of our labours. Of the Europeans, about fifteen or
sixteen have been added to our society during the last
year: of the natives, I cannot speak so certainly. One
servant of our own has been piously inclined sometime,
and I hope he is now a decided character; and one, whom
you would call a footman, who used to have all the vanity
and foppery of that class at home, is become attentive,
not only to his employment, but serious in worship, and
diligent in reading at leisure hours. I have a particular
regard for this youth, and shall greatly rejoice in his
turning to God: he is married, has good natural talents,
is of a pleasing appearance; and though one is often
short-sighted and deceived, I fancy he would make a good
missionary, if he had a heart to it, which I often pray may
be granted him.
“I must not forget to tell you how happy I am at my beloved
sister’s having commenced a school for native christian
girls. She has so far mastered the language as to be able
to read Hindoostanee easily, and to understand it pretty
well. The little girls work as little girls do at home, and
say a lesson, and learn the Assembly’s shorter Catechism,
which I translated long ago, and by frequent corrections
have got nearly worthy of printing. These things were
hardly ever thought of for women in this country: now and
then among the Mahomedans, a woman is found who can read,
but I have not heard that this is ever the case among the
Hindoos.
“At leisure hours, I am abridging Milner’s Church History,
and have finished the first two centuries, and even
translated about half the first: the scholars I have had so
long are growing great lads, and want something now beyond
mere school-books: one is a promising boy, and the others
are as children at that age usually are.”
The expectation which this letter shews Mr. Corrie to have
entertained of his recovery from the illness, under which he had been
suffering during the preceding six months, turned out not to be well
founded. Although he had latterly been somewhat more attentive to
his health, yet the disease of the liver now returned upon him with
increased severity, and altogether laid him aside from public duty.
Yet in a letter to Mr. Simeon, dated early in November, 1811, Mr. C.
writes:--
“One expression in it [a letter from Mr. S.] has brought
before me an entirely new train of ideas respecting my duty
in the ministry. You express thankfulness, that you are
enabled to do the little you do now, compared with former
exertions. I perceive it is an inexpressible favour to be
employed in the Lord’s service at all; and instead of being
uneasy at not being able to do more, I ought to be thankful
for some health, and inclination to do something; and when
health is withdrawn, it is as much a duty to _suffer_, as
in health to do, the Lord’s will. Alas! I seem to arrive so
slowly at proper views of divine things, that opportunity
is gone before properly understood.”
With reference to a friend, who after having decided on going to
India as a chaplain, changed his mind, as the time for his leaving
England approached, Mr. Corrie adds:--
“Mr. L’s family I know, and regret that he has withdrawn
his hand from the plough. It is true, that the pain of
separation from relatives, and dear, dear Britain, can
be known only to those who have endured it; but truly an
hundred-fold recompense attends it. No one can understand
the pangs I endured, at times, between the time when first,
in your rooms, the idea of carrying the gospel to heathen
lands took possession of my mind, and the period of my
leaving England. Yet dear as all the places, persons, and
privileges enjoyed at home still are, I would not return to
them on any consideration I am at present acquainted with.
Here the light of the glow-worm even is splendid, so gross
is the surrounding darkness; and every stone put into moral
order is so much rescued from chaos.”
The following extract from Mr. C.’s Journal will explain the nature
of the communings which he held, at this time, with his own heart:--
“Sunday, Nov. 17th. I am prevented this day from
[attending] public worship. O, that I were more alive to
the importance of the ministry, and more fitted for the
sacred duties of it. I do not lament, as I ought, the
interruption of any duty, nor am humbled, as I ought to be,
under the mighty hand of God. I think that the world and
the fear of man have less hold, [of me] but am afraid it
is more from a spirit of misanthropy than faith. I see the
folly of natural men: I feel the best of creatures [to be]
miserable comforters; I fear I despise them, rather than
look above them to God. How deeply do I perceive and feel,
that nothing but the power of God can make me ‘a right
spirit,’ or ‘create in me a clean heart.’ May the Almighty
God, the Lord, whose office it is to quicken the souls of
men, renew my whole body, soul and spirit, and command a
blessing upon those around me, who all need his influence
as much as I do myself; some to be converted, some to be
guided in the narrow way; one and all to be fitted for
heaven!”
The continued absence of Mr. Martyn from India, induced the
government to appoint another chaplain to Cawnpore, without, however,
superseding Mr. M. This, therefore, left Mr. Corrie at liberty to
proceed to Calcutta, for the purpose of recruiting his health. As,
however, it was not unlikely that the new chaplain might think it his
duty to confine his ministrations exclusively to the Europeans at
Cawnpore, it became desirable to provide for the carrying on of those
missionary operations for the instruction of the native christians
and others, which had been originated by Mr. Martyn. The idea of
training up a class of scripture-readers for that purpose, presented
itself to the mind of Mr. Corrie and his friends at Cawnpore: and
in this they seem to have anticipated a project to the same effect
which had been about that time adopted by the Society for Missions
to Africa and the East, at the suggestion of their corresponding
committee in Calcutta.[79] With this purpose in view, therefore, Mr.
and Mrs. Sherwood had for some time been learning the language of the
country, and had been teaching a class of natives and half-castes to
read the Hindoostanee, that these might become readers of the word
of God to their heathen, as well as to their christian brethren. It
was with reference to this, among other matters connected with his
removal from Cawnpore that Mr. C. writes
TO THE REV. D. BROWN.
“Cawnpore, Dec. 3, 1811.
“I do now purpose, D. V. to bend my course to Calcutta,
at the close of the cold weather; which will be just two
months from this. A constant head-ache oppresses me, and
makes it necessary to avoid the violence of the hot winds;
but I could not be better even in England, at this season,
than here; and till E. arrives, I cannot move; and he will
not be here till relieved by the Chaplains from below.
Your letter of yesterday rejoiced us all exceedingly--the
reading scheme I had determined to pursue, to the utmost
of my ability. We had prevented your views on the subject,
by measures for continuing the gospel here. One of the
Christian youths that has been with me almost five years,
has been induced of his own accord to offer himself to
this work. He seems truly pious, and labours indefatigably
to qualify himself to teach others. He is about twenty
years of age, and under the management of the Sherwoods
will be one of your first readers. Another of the boys is
better qualified than the above, but is not old enough; he
gives every evidence of seriousness. Another of the boys
is as forward in learning; but I have no hope at present,
that his mind is at all under the influence of what he
learns. I have seen no occasion for any Committee for the
management of this affair. Take the whole management of it
yourself; especially as the less that is said of it among
the English the better. No one can find fault with me, or
any individual, for supporting readers; but the Alarmists
would be up in arms, if they heard of supplies from home,
appropriated to such a purpose.
“I know not how to account for the story of the Pilgrim.
I was asked about such a book by some Natives, when I was
at Chunar: I think it must be a work of a former Roman
Catholic Missionary, of whom I have heard, and who seems
to have been a true Evangelist. I know the Christians of
Bettiah have a book, written in the way of a Dialogue, in
which the errors of the Brahmins are refuted. The Pilgrim,
by Mrs. Sherwood, I translated in part, but Fitrut got so
angry with it at last, he would not go on; and the copier,
who is a Hindoo, said he should be obliged to give ten
rupees in a feast to the Brahmins, to atone for his fault
in writing such a book.... Fitrut is to-day employed on
Isaiah lxiii. He has for some time been very much out
of humour; a perfect comment on the apostle’s words,
‘hateful and hating.’ I let him fume, till his ill-humour
is evaporated, when he becomes humble. He has been in
to-day, to beg he may go with me to Calcutta. ‘In heaven or
in earth, he has none but me to depend on; and he cannot
be happy if I leave him behind.’ I told him I have no
authority to take him down, and no boat-hire to give him.
He said, ‘he would pay his own boat-hire, if you should not
see fit to give it him, when he got to Calcutta.’ I told
him, ‘he must not expect anything of the kind:’ and so he
left me. The Roman Catholic Priest is over from Lucknow,
and seems greatly altered from last year. He now professes
to be desirous his people should be taught to read the
Scriptures; and I hope we shall get something established
under his inspection. It is true he has little appearance
of serious religion; but he affects at least great
indifference to the sign of the cross, &c., and may serve
as a drawer of water for the temple-service. He has taken
away a copy of Genesis for himself, which, he says, he will
read and expound in church.”
And in another letter to Mr. Brown, of somewhat later date, Mr. C.
observes:--
“We have been expecting to hear from you about the reading
system, and especially we have been longing for news
about the printing of Martyn’s Translation. Mr. E. is on
his way to this place, and will be here about the 10th
proximo. The work we wish to carry on will, I fear, suffer,
especially among the Light Dragoons. There is a little
leaven evidently implanted there; some of them begin to
assemble for reading and prayer; but they are only as
children beginning to walk, and I see no one to take them
by the hand: but the Lord will provide. We are got into
a plan that promises well, if pursued. I say _we_, for
you know my helpers of the 53rd; and Mrs. D. of the Light
Dragoons, has been induced to offer herself to superintend
the school of the Light Dragoons. I have added questions
and scripture proofs to the Church Catechism, which the
children are getting off. At Christmas, we had the children
of both regiments at church, to be catechised, and my
sister gave them tea and cake. We had several to see them,
and it was the most festive day that has been known here.
I am sure I have never felt so attached to any place as
this; yet it appears to me that I should not remain here.
The Hindoostanee worship will be carried on under the
inspection of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood. The youth I mentioned
labours diligently to qualify himself for instructing the
children and women, and appears more and more devoted to
the work in spirit and in truth. At this time there are
on these premises (i. e. on Sherwood’s farm) about twenty
children learning to read the Hindoostanee gospels. We are
greatly perplexed for books for them, though no time has
yet been lost with them.
“I am beginning to pack up Martyn’s books; but have not
disposed of his house yet. Indeed I am loth to think he
will not come back to this place; you well know how much
the funds of the Bible Society may suffer if there be
no one here to recommend the subject: and, indeed, the
disposition of the British in these parts, in general,
towards the evangelization of India, will be no little
affected by the opinions held at this large station. This
makes me greatly desire Martyn’s return hither. But have
you, or has any one in Calcutta, heard from him lately? We
have begun here to lose our care for the objects of his
journey, in the care for himself.”
Respecting the progress of the translation, Mr. C. adds:--
“Fitrut left me about New-year’s-day, for Benares, and
parted by no means friends. He was at Lucknow, July,
August, and September: in October he came back and went
on well with his work till November 20th, he then came to
say, he wished to go to Benares, I begged him to finish
Isaiah, of which only a few chapters remained. He wanted
to borrow money also, which I refused, as I know he is not
in want, but has many hundred Rupees out at interest. He
went on sullenly till the end of the year, doing only the
few remaining chapters of Isaiah. I wished him to have 100
Rupees for forty chapters, which he refused: so at length I
was obliged to say, ‘I should expect the whole to be done
in four months’. He then asked, if his salary was not to
be continued till Martyn’s return? I told him, if he would
stay and help me in my Catechisms, &c., his pay should be
continued, but that I could not think of going on in the
trifling way he had been doing lately. He then talked of
applying personally to you, with a vast deal of nonsense
about sharing in the profits of the Translation, &c. I told
him, you had not sent for him; that he must not expect
boat-hire, or any indulgence from you: and thus we parted.
I have sent him this month’s salary through Mr. Robinson,
but hear nothing further of him or of his Translation. I
have got the whole of the Old Testament from him to the end
of Isaiah, and bound up in small volumes.
“You will by this time have heard of or seen Mrs. H. They
were here the first Sunday in the New-year. I preached on
the uncertainty of life, not knowing she was in church.
The subject affected her greatly, but she was in a most
heavenly temper of mind. I fear her end is near. May my end
be like hers! O, how little can the world spare such lovely
examples of piety; but he who gave her as a light for a
season, can raise up other more numerous instruments to
shew forth His praise.
“When we shall be able to leave this I cannot say. I have
five months’ leave of absence from the 10th of February.”
But before Mr. Corrie left Cawnpore, a portion of his European
congregation was called into active service, by some disturbances
in Bundelkund. It was on the day before Christmas-day that he
parted with the soldiers who were members of “the society,” so
often mentioned; and in recording this circumstance, he adds that
many of them were persons whose “light so shone before men,” that,
he trusted “glory was brought to God thereby.” He seems to have
been much depressed in spirit on the occasion; and was made more
deeply sorrowful by the intelligence which reached him early in the
following February, that some of his military friends had fallen in
an unsuccessful attempt to gain possession of Callinger, an extensive
hill-fort, about 150 miles from Cawnpore. Mr. C’s first impulse, on
hearing of this disaster, was to proceed direct from Banda, (where
he then happened to be) to the scene of action, for the purpose of
attending to the wounded men; but being unable to obtain any “help
for the journey,” he reluctantly returned back to Cawnpore. He states
himself, however, to have “felt as if he had neglected his duty; or,
at least, had been sadly deficient in Christian love.” He, therefore,
writes, on the 11th. Feb. 1812:--
“I had prepared all to set off into Bundelkund on Monday
[Feb. 9.] when news came of all being settled.
“God grant that the impression made on some may be
lasting! And, O, may I have grace to give myself to follow
the Lord fully, and to be ready to every good word and
work! I have been considering my unprofitableness this
morning, and have much reason for deep humiliation.”
And under date of Friday, Feb. 13th. Mr. C. observes:--
“From the conversation in the Society this evening, it
appears that most of the men had their minds exercised with
thoughts of death during the late march. A. H. sent word
‘that his mind was more refreshed with the considerations
of the grace of God, and love of Christ, than ever he
experienced before; that one morning especially, whilst
marching along, he felt such a hatred and weariness of sin,
that the hope of being speedily removed from the seeing,
hearing, and feeling of it, was highly agreeable to him.’
Here was real and rational courage.”
The chaplain who had been appointed to supersede Mr. Corrie at
Cawnpore, having arrived toward the end of February 1812, and entered
on the duties of the station, Mr. C. made immediate arrangements for
his journey to Calcutta. He lingered for a short time in the hope of
being able to see some of the soldiers who were expected back from
Callinger, but failing in this, he left Cawnpore on Friday the 28th
of February, having first placed four native youths and a native
Christian reader under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood. The
young person of European descent, of whom mention often occurs in
the preceding Journal and letters, accompanied Mr. C. to Calcutta,
in order that he might there follow out the study of Greek and
Latin, with a view to his being afterwards employed as a missionary.
Respecting the religious condition of the native congregation which
Mr. C., left at Cawnpore, he observes, under date of March 1, 1812:--
“In September last, we began Hindoostanee worship,
which has been attended sometimes by fifty or sixty,
but irregularly, and generally by about twenty-five. I
have read among them Genesis, with the Gospel of St.
Matthew. Left Goon[80] reading Exodus, and the Acts. I had
translated Henry’s Commentary on many parts of Genesis,
which is left with Mrs. S. Some of the women had learned
more or less of the shorter Catechism, and one the whole
of it, and had been baptized and married: several of the
people manifested great concern at my coming away. I ought
to feel more thankful, and may well have great searchings
of heart on my own account. I have done much duty as to
_quantity_, of late; but have much cause for humiliation in
respect of the formal manner of doing it. O Lord! enliven
me, and let me be enabled to profit by this journey! Enable
me to be a witness for Thee in every place; and to fit
myself for further usefulness by due observation of Thy
providences! Restore me to health, if it be Thy will, that
I may shew forth Thy praises!”
As Mr. Corrie was now passing through the scenes of his former
labours, some portions of his Journal are subjoined.
“March 8. Above Mirzapore, last night, when on shore, I
observed a Brahmin at his devotions, and wished to enter
into discourse with him. After some questions, I asked him,
‘What benefit he expected from his devotions?’ Another
Brahmin answered, ‘What but that Narsingha should supply
food to fill his belly.’ I observed, ‘that many who never
made _poojah_[81] were supplied with food:’ He said, ‘If
any would make _poojah_ he might serve us, and we would
provide for him; but they that lived there by themselves
made _poojah_, and Narsingha provided for them.’ But I
asked, ‘In the world to come what do you expect from your
devotions?’ To this he answered, ‘Who knows what will be in
the life to come?’ One of my Dandees on this said, ‘Sahib
asks about your Shasters and your religion: he is a Brahmin
among the English as you are: he marries, says his prayers,
and gives to the poor as you do, if not, why should he
enquire about your religion, who else of the English would
enquire?’
“15th March. I have to-day been officiating to the
congregation in the new Church at Secrole: on going, had
felt thankful for being permitted to worship in this place,
and prayed that it might be indeed a house of prayer. O
may the Lord grant a blessing to his own truth, and bring
many sons unto glory at Chunar! On Wednesday, had public
worship at Church for the English and Hindoostanee; many
attended. I was grieved at the spirit manifested by Mr.
----and others there. The bitterness of their spirit is
what I lament, and their contempt of all subordination. O
may my own soul be more attentive to obey my Lord in spirit
and in truth! I seldom enjoy nearness to God: I do not walk
closely with him, but suffer company, reading, and undue
indulgence of myself to interfere with time of devotion.
Lord, I beseech thee to enable me to lay aside every
weight, and to run, looking unto Jesus!
“Sunday, March 22nd. At Chunar, Serjeant Williams’ wife,
on my asking her if she yet knew the way of acceptance
with God, answered, ‘It is through Jesus Christ: He is,
indeed, himself the way; and I continue day and night in
the consideration and expectation of his mercy.’ At Buxar,
an old woman who seems in a dying state, on my asking her
how sin could be forgiven, said, ‘Surely in no way but
through the Lord Jesus Christ; He took our nature upon
him, and endured suffering and death for our sins, and now
through the mercy of God we shall be saved.’ I asked her
what she thought of the employment of heaven? She said ‘She
should there see the Lord Jesus, and love and worship him
for ever; and that those who do not love and worship him on
earth cannot enter heaven.’”
In a letter to Mr. Brown, dated 6th. of April, after mentioning
several of the foregoing particulars respecting the state of things
at Chunar and Buxar, Mr. Corrie adds:--
“During the short stay I made at Gazeepore, I could find
never a vestige of dear Martyn’s labours. One man expressed
great love for his former pastor, but lamented that all are
fallen into decay. Perhaps the latent spark may again be
lighted up, if they again come under ‘the joyful sound;’
but, O, what are they doing at home, that none are found to
come and help us?”
The recurrence of his birth-day was not forgotten by Mr. C. as an
occasion for self-examination and thanksgiving.
“April 11th. Yesterday, I was thirty-five years old; the
day did not pass unnoticed, though I fall sadly short in
the spirit with which I would serve God at all times. I
praise Him who hath kept me wonderfully of late, so that
though I am conscious of many falls, yet he hath raised me
up, and restored my soul, and made me watchful: I have
devoted myself anew to the Lord my Saviour, and hope my
conscience witnesses truly that to me to live is Christ,
though in no one duty do I live as I ought: the heathen
especially I would live and die with. I praise God who
renews my bodily strength: to Him would I surrender myself.
O give me to live more simply by faith in Jesus, and to
live a life of closet communion with the Father and the
Son!”
In a like happy and watchful spirit, Mr. C. continued to pursue his
journey:--
“Sunday, April 19th. During the last week, I have been
in the Muta-bangha Nulla,[82] the shore on either side
presents a gaudy, flattering view; I have in general been
enabled to keep in mind the harbour of eternity, and trust
to attain to the desired haven through the abounding grace
of God the Saviour. This morning I was a good deal favoured
in prayer; may the savour of thy grace, O Lord, remain with
me! O how much to be desired are thy courts: how happy the
men who, with joyful experience of thy grace are always
praising Thee: one day, O Lord, in thy heavenly sanctuary,
O how will it blot out the remembrance of all the trials
and conflicts attending this militant state.
“Tuesday. From the very winding course of the stream,
we are not yet at Chinsurah: I hope to reach there this
forenoon: yesterday I was unable to attend to any thing,
and am much the same to-day: the journey thus finishes
miserably. I forget mercies in a manner that ought to
humble me exceedingly, and become in consequence, a prey to
temptation. Instead of being thankful for preservation &c.,
I kick against the hand that upholds me, so that I must
close with acknowledging it to be ‘of the Lord’s mercy that
I am not consumed;’ and ‘what shall I render unto the Lord?’
“22nd. Arrived yesterday about four at Chinsurah, and
passed the evening with Mr. Forsyth: learned many
gratifying particulars from him respecting the progress of
the gospel; and had much profitable conversation on the
signs of the times. O may I have that preparation of heart
which is from the Lord, that my journey may not be in vain!
Thanks to the Lord, who healeth my bodily infirmities; and
I trust, my spiritual ones also. O may I have grace to give
myself wholly to him!”
[76] The missionary mentioned in p. 49, and who died of
fever at Vizagapatam, July 12, 1810. Hough’s History
of Christianity in India, vol. iv. pp. 265, &c.
[77] After relating this circumstance, in a letter to
Mr. Simeon, Mr. C. adds, “The Edinburgh Reviewers
need not be alarmed, for he is a man of superior
understanding, as well as superior piety, and will
neither profane the temple, nor insult the Brahmins.”
[78] Mirza Fitrut.
[79] Proceedings of the Society for Missions to Africa
and the East, Vol. iii. pp. 238-242, 426.
[80] A native Christian reader.
[81] Worship.
[82] One of the channels which connects the Ganges with
the Hooghley.