aloud, as is the custom of women in this country upon such occasions. Being asked why she did not, she answered: What use is that? I sit, and think of what he said to me.' Poor woman! She has lost her instructer and guide; and as the women of her cast are not permitted to have any communication with men, except those of their own family, she is in danger of being henceforth a prisoner in the strong hold of Satan.

"Our friends accompanied us part of the way: we then sat down, and conversed together: afterwards we prayed, and took leave of each other. Since my return from Cutwa, several inquirers have come from different parts of the country, some of whom afford me much hope."

An account of his labours for the next month was sent in a letter to England, which, when printed, was thus prefaced by Mr. Fuller:-" Mr. Chamberlain, in a letter, begun Feb. 14, and concluded March 15, 1807, communicates some interesting particulars. He appears to be very diligent, and God seems to be blessing his labours. He speaks of the Lord giving them great favour in the eyes of the people at Dewangunje, a market town in the neighbourhood. He, Kangalee, and Deepchund, often go thither, and placing themselves beneath the shade of a large tamarind tree, collect successive congregations from sunrise to sunset. The reader is presented with the following extracts.

"On Lord's day, a man, whose name is Poban Dass, of the weaver cast, came to hear the word. He had walked several miles this morning. His neighbours and his son have begun to persecute him.

"22nd. The numbers who heard the word to-day at Dewangunje, and the seriousness with which they seemed to be impressed, were very encouraging. I have scarcely seen any thing equal to it in Bengal. Poban Dass came to us, and Kangalee went with him to his house. He appears to bear persecution well.

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24th. Yesterday several came to hear the word. Poban Dass, and another man with him, arrived soon after sunrise. They must have left home ere the stars had disappeared. He is ignorant in address; but, I hope, God hath taught him

something of true knowledge. This morning, as Deepchund and I were walking into another part of Dewangunje, we met a Brahmun, who was coming to hear the word. He has been here before, but we had doubts of him. He first heard at another place, about a month ago; since which, it seems, he has never been easy. He now appears as a brand plucked out of the burning. We are greatly encouraged to hope concerning him. He reads the holy book' all day long; meditates, weeps, and almost forgets to take his food. As he and Deepchund read from the twelfth to the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, I endeavoured to instruct him by expounding it. Within two days he has read from the beginning thus far, and his understanding and reception of divine truth exceed any thing I have witnessed. To see a man, covered with grey hairs, after spending nearly fifty years in the study and practices of heathenism, now reading with avidity the narrative of our Saviour, and weeping as he reads, with all the tenderness of a little child, is very affecting. His name is Mookharjya.

"March 3.-The old Brahmun still continues reading the gospel. He read through Matthew in five days, and was much affected; while I was preaching on 1 Pet. ii, 21—25. on the character and sufferings of Christ, he was nearly all the time in tears. Poban Dass, and his little son, were there. His ideas are very confused; but he seems to be sincere and determined, as far as he knows.

"13th.-I and two of the native brethren have been out five days to a great assembly. We fixed up a little shed under a tree, where we were constantly employed, and had but little time during three successive days, either for sleep or refreshment. Much interesting conversation passed, and many tracts were distributed. Since last year we can perceive knowledge is greatly increased. The common people hear gladly.

"On our return, we found Mookharjya,* shaved, and ap

*This man was somewhat deranged, Rigorous attention to idolatrous ceremonies often so far induces this state of mind, that the per son, with all the aid and consolation of the gospel, never perfectly

recovers.

parently another man; as in appearance, so in mind. Great is my joy in him. He has gotten nearly through the Acts of the Apostles.

"Komal, a sister of Kangalee, is here, and appears to be a sincere inquirer. She wishes to be baptized.

"Lord's day, March 15.-Our little church being to meet together, Komal and Mookharjya gave us an account of their conversion. That of Komal was very affecting and satisfactory. She first heard the word from Kangalee's wife, her sister; and her mind has been brought to embrace the gospel by degrees. Her husband makes no opposition to her baptism, but has himself appeared much affected all day. Mookharjya made a full renunciation of all attachment to the Hindoo system, an unreserved confession of sin, and an unequivocal declaration of his faith in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and of his desire to be obedient to his commandments. In the after. noon they were both baptized. A number of people came together on the occasion, who all behaved with decency. One man shed tears. It has been a happy day."

In this manner Mr. C. continued his exertions for the three months following. In July he was taken ill of a fever; and being laid aside from his work, and having no kind partner to sooth his sorrows, and administer to his comfort, things appeared to him in a gloomy light. In this state he wrote to the brethren at Serampore, informing them of his situation; and towards the close of the month, Mr. and Mrs. Mardon went up to his assistance. They found him better than he had been, and continued with him several months, during which there was no want of employment in administering to the bodies and souls of men. A portion of medical and surgical knowledge was there perceived to be of great importance to a missionary.

This sickness lasted some time, and rendered a little relaxation necessary: he therefore took a trip to Serampore for the establishment of his health, which was made useful to him. After his return, he addressed to the brethren there the following letter, dated Nov. 2nd, 1807.

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'Since I came home, I feel perfectly well, and have been out on foot to the towns around, preaching the word of life

five days, three of which I was at Dewangunje market, where we had a great number of attentive hearers, a continual congregation for three or four hours together, to which I was enabled to preach with scarcely any intermission during the whole time, with great pleasure, and with little fatigue to my body. If it please the Lord to give me strength, I promise my feet little compassion for some months to come. O that my soul may hereafter be kept in a preaching frame, that I may preach the crucified Saviour to the perishing heathen, with that spirit which the beloved Paul expresses, Gal. ii. 20. 'I am crucified with Christ!'

“As we were returning, I heard some of the people saying, that a woman was about to eat fire;' and at the ghaut, the dhol, or drum, was sounding the death-peal, and beyond, the murderers were preparing the pile. Some of them called out to me in triumph; but I was seized with such horror, that I could not see the dreadful sight: I testified to the Brahmuns at the pile against the horrid design, and assured them that they would find a God, who would punish such murderers in an awful manner. This brought on me a gloom, which I have not yet got over. O the dark places of the earth, how full are they of the habitations of cruelty! How dreadfully, how deplorably does superstition harden man's heart! The people laughed at the idea of the poor creature's wallowing in fire, and called it a show! O Saviour, convert these unfeeling Brahmuns! From observation, and conversation with several, I have great reason to fear that this horrible custom is very prevalent here. They make nothing of it, nor are they at all affected with it. O God, pardon the sin, and

abolish the horrid rite!

“Since I came up, we have given away five or six of Luke and the Acts. A few have been to hear at our house, who appeared inquisitive, and desirous of knowing the way of truth; but at present hope appears at a distance, and I feel at times much discouragement, when I reflect how evidently the Holy Spirit is removed from us, and from me especially.

"Here is at present a good stock of selections from the Testament to give away; but when one of our assemblies comes, I expect that we shall find them few enough. I think

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that you will do well to send up as many as you can, 1000 at least, before the great day at Augradeep. What if you were to print the Gospel of John and his first Epistle, to distribute by themselves? What if the narrative of our Lord's miracles were arranged and printed, to distribute, with a few remarks explanatory or exhortative; and the Sermon on the Mount, with the Ten Commandments, and our Lord's summary of them; some of the most striking parables and discourses in the New Testament, and the most pointed passages in the Scriptures against idolatry? Perhaps these would be more to the purpose, and more pleasing to God, than all the tracts we may print and disperse. God loves to honour his word, and a few leaves of the Bible may prove the means of saving souls.

J. C.

In December he felt his disorder return, as may be seen by his next letter, dated January 9, 1808.

"In the last month, I have felt my disorder return on me very heavily, which has, I fear, impeded me much in the work. We have been to Dewangunje market and the neighbouring villages several times, and many have heard the word with attention. At the great tamarind tree some have appeared much affected, especially one old man, the last two market days before yesterday. Few have called to hear the great cry is, 'What shall we eat? Make rice cheaper, and then we will hear.'-We have appointed the first Sabbath after the full moon for the administration of the Lord's Supper here, judging it to be more convenient than the first Sabbath in the month, as it is with you. But few of the common people are acquainted with our months. In the last month, the ordinance was thus administered. The brethren Kangalee and Brindabun, and the sisters Kangalinee and Komul, were present."

On the 12th of January, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson set out for Cutwa, to assist Mr. Chamberlain for a few months; and he says, they greatly enlivened the scene of his domestic comfort, and were to him a great relief. The following account, dated March 4, 1808, though signed by them both, appears to have been written by Mr. Robinson.