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Letter from Mr. Judson at Rangoon.

277 thank the Board of Foreign Missions for the notice they have taken of me, and accept with gratitude the appointment to be their missionary; assuring them that I derive from this new connexion much encouragement, and additional inducements to be diligent and faithful in missionary services. Nor would I forget to be grateful for all favours that have been shown my beloved brother Rice, and for the many friends that have come forward to pas tronize him in every part of the Union. We have sometime, during his long absence, and our ignorance of his situation, been ready to fear that he would be unable to rejoin us, and be forced to direct his attention to some other sphere of Christian labour. But our hopes are now revived; and especially since we have received intelligence of peace, we are daily expecting his welcome return.

A slight sketch of our movements, particularly at the time of our coming to Rangoon, I now submit. After a mournful separation from brother Rice at the Isle of France, in March, 1813, we remained there about two months, waiting for a passage to some of the eastern islands, not venturing at that time to think a mission to Burmah practicable. But there being no prospect of accomplishing our wishes directly, we concluded to take passage to Madras, and proceed thence as circumstances should direct. We arrived there in June, and were immediately informed of the renewed hostilities of the Company's government toward missionaries, exhibited in their treatment of the brethren both at Serampore and Bombay. We were, of course, reported at the police, and an account of our arrival forwarded to the supreme government in Bengal. It became, therefore, a moral certainty that as soon as an order could be received at Madras, we should be again arrested, and ordered to England. Our only safety appeared to consist in escap. ing from Madras before such order should arrive. It may easily be conceived with what feelings I inquired the destination of vessels in the Madras Roads. I found none that would sail in season, but one bound to Rangoon ! A mission to Rangoon we had been accustomed to regard with feelings of horror. But it was now brought to a point. We must either venture there, or be sent to Europe. All other paths were shut up; and thus situated, (though dissuaded by all our friends at Madras,) we commended ourselves to the care of God, and embarked the 22d of June. It was a crazy old vessel. The captain was the only person on board that could speak our language, and we had no other apartment than what was made by canvass. Our passage was very tedious. Mrs. Judson was taken dangerously ill, and continued so until at one period I came to experience the awful sensation which necessarily resulted from the expectation of an immediate separation from my beloved wife, the only remaining companion of my wanderings. About the same time, the captain being unable to make the Carnicobar island, where it was intended to take in a cargo of cocoanuts, we were driven into a dangerous strait, between the little and great Andamans, two savage coasts, where the captain had never been before, and where if we had been cast ashore, we

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Letter from Mr. Judson at Rangoon

should (according to all accounts) have been killed and eaten by the natives. But as one evil is sometimes an antidote to another, so it happened with us. Our being driven into this dangerous but quiet channel brought immediate relief to the agitated and exhausted frame of Mrs. Judson, and conduced essentially to her recovery. And in the event, we were safely conducted over the black rocks which we sometimes saw in the gulph below, and on the eastern side of the islands found favourable winds, which gently wafled us forward to Rangoon. But on arriving here other trials awaited us.

We had never before seen a place where European influence had not contributed to smooth and soften the rough features of uncultivated nature. The prospect of Rangoon as we approached was quite disheartening. I went on shore just at night to take a view of the place, and the Mission-house; but so dark, and cheerless, and unpromising did all things appear, that the evening of that day, after my return to the ship, we have marked as the most gloomy and distressing that we ever passed. Instead of rejoicing, as we ought to have done, in having found a heathen land, from which we were not immediately driven away, such were our weaknesses that we felt we had no portion left here below, and found consolation only in looking beyond our pilgrimage, which we tried to flatter ourselves would be short, to that peaceful region where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. But if ever we commended ourselves, sincerely and without reserve, to the disposal of our heavenly Father, it was on this evening And after some recollection and prayer, we experienced something of the presence of Him who cleaveth closer than a brother; something of that peace which our Saviour bequeathed to his followers a legacy which we know from this experience endures when the fleeting pleasures and unsubstantial riches of the world are passed away. The next day Mrs. Judson was carried into the town, being unable to walk, and we found a home at the Mission-house, though Mr Carey was absent at Ava. We soon began to find that it was in our hearts to live and die with the Burmans. We gradually became reconciled to the place; and from a conviction of the superior importance of this to any unoccupied station, and a hope that, notwithstanding the frightful accounts we had received, we should find it practicable to remain, we were induced to pitch our tent. We applied very soon to the study of the language; and in this we have been closely engaged to the present time, a period of about two years, so far as Mrs. Judson's health and my numerous interruptions have permitted.

The Burman empire (so called) comprises the former kingdoms of Arracan, Ava, and Pegu, whose sovereigns have been displaced by the celebrated Alompra, the founder of the present dynasty, or by successors. This, and some adjacent countries, have sometimes been termed Indo-Chinese nations, as situated between India proper and the empire of China. The emperor is an absoJute monarch. He is regarded as the sole lord and proprietor of

to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions.

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life and property in his dominions; and without the concurrence of any, his word is irresistible law. Under an unenlightened government, perfectly despotic, every thing is, of course, very precarious. It therefore becomes a missionary in this place to be peculiarly prudent and cautious. One unadvised step might excite some ill-grounded suspicion, and plunge all in ruin.

Rangoon, which together with the adjacent country is governed by a viceroy, is situated on one of the outlets of the Great Irrawaddy river, about thirty miles from the sea. It is the port to which Europeans most frequently resort, and contains a population of about 40,000.* Some of the inhabitans are of Portuguese extraction, and have two or three churches and priests. The Armenians also have one church. There are only four or five English or French people, and not one settled family. The Mission-house is built about half a mile north of the town, in the midst of woods. We are surrounded on all sides with pagodas, or rather monuments, (some of immense structure,) raised in memory of Guadama, the last Boodh, or deity.

The first Protestant missionaries who visited this country were Messrs. Chater and Mardon, of the Serampore connexion, in the year 1807. Mr. Mardon, after a trial of a few months, declined engaging, and Mr. Chater was joined by Mr. F. Carey. Some time after, Messrs. Pritchett and Brain arrived from the London Society. Mr. Brain died, and the other missionary, after a year's residence, removed to Vizagapatam. Mr. Chater remained four years, and had made considerable progress in the language. A copy of his translation of Matthew, in his writing, is now with me; a part of which, revised by Mr. F. Carey, has been printed at Serampore. How far he had proceeded in the other Gospels, I do not exactly know but at length he relinquished the Mission and removed to Columbo in Ceylon. Some time before my arrival, a young man belonging to the church in Calcutta had joined Mr. Carey; but after a few months he also quitted the place. When I arrived, Mr. Carey was at Ava, whither he had been summoned by the empeAfter his return I had some connexion with him for about a year, though he was at Rangoon but very little. At one time I had some thought of accompanying him to Ava; but a merciful God ordered otherwise. He left us a year ago with his family. Since that he has accepted an appointment under the Burman government, and announced to me and the brethren at Serampore, that he has relinquished the ministry. He is now in Bengal. Whether he will ever do any thing in a missionary way is quite uncertain. Brother Ward, however, has just written to me that they hope to get Matthew through the press before Felix leaves. Thus of seven missionaries who have visited the country in about as many years, I am the only one remaining. I have at present no hesitancy concerning the path of duty. We have long been thankful that God has brought us to this place. The field of ia

ror.

*Not 20,000, as I by mistake. wrote elsewhere..

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Letter from Mr. Hough at Serampore.

bour is very great, and the prospect of usefulness as good as can be expected in such a country and under such a government. The hearts of all are in the hand of God, and here is all our hope.

I have hitherto received pecuniary supplies from the Serampore brethren, whose kindnesses have laid us under great obligations, and whose communications have been peculiarly grateful to us in our solitary situation.

In the preceding i have mentioned some things which are already well known; but thought it not improper in my first communication to the Board to state them in connexion.

Mrs. Judson has lately returned from a voyage to Madras, which she took in quest of medical aid, and is greatly benefited She unites with me in expressions of gratitude and respect to our honoured patrons. I remain, Rev. and dear sir,

Your missionary and servant for Jesus' sake,
A. JUDSON.

Rev. WM STAUGHTON, D D. Cor. Sec.

of the Baptist Board of Missions.

1040

Extract of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Hough to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, dated Serampore, June 4, 1816.

REV. AND DEAR BRETHEN,

ta.

We came to this place the third day after our arrival at CalcutWe were met by the whole mission family with the utmost cordiality, and have been very comfortably and happily situated.

Since I have been here two letters have been received from brother Judson; the first in April, informing Dr. Carey that he wished to have some small tracts printed, and inquiring whether it could be done at Serampore. It was instantly advised by the brethren that it be done at Rangoon, and that a press, types, paper, &c. be taken round with me. The circumstance of the arrival of such a letter just at the time of my coming out, has in some measure strengthened me to pursue the way in which I before walked with some trembling. The brethren have begged our acceptance of a press, as a gift.

The second letter from brother Judson was dated the 7th May, and received the last of the month; it consists of the language of grief and affliction, having a few days previous buried their only son, eight months old. They continue to be in health.

To maintain a station at Rangoon is attended with considerable expense, but considered to be a very important one. For if the Cross of the Redeemer can be substantially planted there, of which there is at present a prospect, the benefits of it will undoubtedly be diffused far into the interior of the country, and the country of China may not improbably, in the lapse of a few years, feel the influence of the Gospel extending from the two points, Serampore and Rangoon. Should the Lord incline the hearts of the rulers of Burmah to be favourable, or even indifferent to the undertaking, it requires only inflexible determination and perseverance on our part to surmount the common barriers of Paganism." By our God

Newark Mite Society.

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we can leap over a wall;" and now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord."

Dear brethren, "pray for us ;" and while this favour is solicited, it is not to put you in remembrance of us, believing from the heart that you cannot forget us, but to tell you that we feel as though your prayers, and those of all praying people, would help us much in the work of the Lord.

Yours in missionary bonds,

GEO. H. HOUGH.

THE NEWARK MITE SOCIETY

Held their first Annual Meeting on Monday the 30th of June; at which time the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Archibald Woodruff, Presid nt; Calvin S Crane, Vice-President; William Garthwait, Secretary; William Muna, Treasurer. DIRECTORS. Caleb P. Wilson, Benjamin Olds, William W. Miller, George Carter, Calvin Baldwin, Benjamin Leveridge, Martin Moses.

Voted, That the thanks of the Society be returned to "A friend of the heathen," for the liberal donation of twenty-five dollars.

The following is an extract from the Report made to the Socieety by C. S. Crane, late Secretary.

Fellow Mortals!

We are called this day to contrast the situation of a people enjoying all the rich blessings of the Gospel of peace and pardon, with those of benighted nations who are bound under the iron fetters of ignorance and superstition;-an American Town, in which the worship of the one living and true God is known; where Bibles, sacraments, prayer meetings, and sanctuary opportunities are multiplied; with Heathen villages, in which there is not a temple dedicated to the worship of Him who is King in Zion. Did our munificence extend only to relieve their temporal wants, to cultivate and enrich their neglected minds, and to meliorate their degraded condition, by imparting to them more fully the blessings of civilized life, it would claim our liberal charity. But we fix our hopes on a more glorious object, the salvation of their souls. All Christendom is engaged in the same interesting cause. Kings and Princes forget their former party feelings, which have given rise to bloody wars, and unite in this first and most praiseworthy of all achievements.

The special object to which the funds of this Society are to be exclusively appropriated, is the education of Heathen children in India.

Reason and experience remove all doubt as to the propriety of this attempt.

From the Treasurer's account the following statement is taken. Received by subscription, $104 97. By donation, $14 50. One hundred dollars have been forwarded to the Treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

The present number of members belonging to this Society is about 190; and the sum due on subscription upwards of $100.

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