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East India Company, not satisfied with having banished the missionaries from British territory in India, succeeded, by their influence, in throwing so many difficulties in the way of the embarkation of new missionaries on British ships sailing direct for India, that it soon became expedient for the missionaries to make their way first to the shores of America, and from thence to take vessels to India; and thus it happened that John Chamberlain and his wife, instead of sailing from an English port to India direct, came first to New York, intending to sail thence for India; but it would appear the city on the Schuylkill was in those early days a more desirable shipping point than Manhattan Island, and both for the sake of the continuity of the narrative and as illustrating the minor difficulties that lay in the way of missionary activity in those days, the following letters are inserted:

PHILA., July 16, 1802.

DEAR SIR:

Yours of the 14th Inst. respectg Mr. Chamberlaine came to hand yesterday. In the evening, I had a visit from good Capt. Wickes, who informed me that he had no thoughts of going to India himself, but that a vessel, a Capt. Davy, would sail from this port for Calcutta, the beginning of next month. One of the owners concerned is Mr. Robert Ralston, a very religious manthe Capt. and ship's company will probably be as is usual

-this Mr. Chamberlaine must expect.

A worthy young man, a neighbour of mine, Dr. Robt. Davidson, is to go as Doctor and Surgeon of the Ship-by whom Doctor Staughton and myself propose writing to Messrs. Carey, &c. as the vessel is bound directly for Calcutta. Capt. Wickes recd. some time ago a few lines from Dr. Fuller mentioning Mr. Chamberlaine, and means to interest himself this Day with Mr. Ralston, the Captain, &c. on his and Mrs. Chamberlaine's behalf— and will either this evening or tomorrow inform me more particularly, when I shall again address you and let you know the result. The business is in good hands.

At present we are under some apprehensions of the yellow fever. It was brought to our City, the northern part of it, by the St. Domingo Packet. I hope God will be better to us than our fears and deserts. Should it prevail, I propose taking my family out of town, probably to Burlington, as Mrs. Rogers draws near the time of child-bed confinement. Should the fever prevail, of which you will be seasonably apprised, Capt. Wickes says that Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine need not enter the City, but take shipping at Chester, Marcus Hook, or New Castle, as the case may be. In all which country we have several Baptist friends, probably Mr. Chamberlaine may make it convenient to journey via Burlington. I am well assured that Dr. Staughton will be glad to see him, and I know, if I am fixed there, I shall.

Rev. Mr. Milledoler, for whom I preached last Lord's Day and of whose church Capt. Wickes is a member, is now in N. York on a visit. As he corresponds with one of our Missionaries at Serampoor, I am not sure which of them, I should like that he was introduced to Mr. Chamberlaine. Mr. Milledoler is an Evangelical Preacher. Religion appears to be on the revival among us and all around us. Oh, for greater effusions of God's Holy Spirit.

Very affectionately yours in a dear Redeemer,

WM. ROGERS.

DEAR SIR:

PHILA., July 17, 1802.

I wrote you yesterday morning by Post on the subject of Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine's passage to Calcutta. At noon good Capt. Wickes called on me again, having seen Mr. Ralston, Capt. Davy &c. They have agreed to take them on the following terms, viz; as the cabin will be occupied by the officers of the ship for sleeping, the owners will cause a private room to correspond with the cabin by a door from the steerage to be fitted up for Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine as a lodging room and place of retirement, solely for their use; they are to eat in the cabin with the officers of the ship and to have free ingress and egress out of it whenever they

choose, the only exception being that of lodging. The passage money must be paid before they sail, 400 dolls. each, and their names to be immediately forwarded to Mr. Ralston, that is, provided they go with Capt. Davy, in order that they may be entered on the Role De Equipage.

You had better after this address Mr. Ralston altogether on the subject, as I shall probably be out of Town, and Mr. Ralston having affectionately consented to it. Direct your letter thus,

Robert Ralston, Esq.,

Merch't.,

Philad'a.

I am credibly informed that Capt. Davy is a moral and agreeable young man. Our neighbor, Dr. Davidson, is generally esteemed so; however, should anything occur on the passage of an unpleasant nature there will be Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlaine's own room.

Don't you think, if they conclude upon going with Capt. Davy, that they had better come on as soon as convenient, at least as far as Burlington; by stopping there, they will learn the State of Phila. Dr. and Mrs. Staughton will be glad to see them, and should the fever prevent their visiting Phila. I can recommend them to some of our Religious friends at Marcus Hook or Wilmington.

I have taken rooms in Dr. Staughton's newly purchased house in Burlington, where I propose moving

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