John Cauldwell, as to whom Dr. Ryland inquired. The receipts of the Society for that year amounted to $626.84, and it was resolved to employ a Missionary, a resolution which was carried into effect, the Rev. Charles Lahatt being appointed Missionary for the Society. In the meanwhile the English Society was preparing to send out additional Missionaries, and their coming was announced in a letter from Andrew Fuller, the first Secretary of the English Baptist Mission Society. DEAR SIR:- BRISTOL, Dec. 5, 1803. As four young men, and their wives and a child, are likely to be a while in your City in their way to Bengal, we take the liberty to recommend them to your brotherly kindness, persuaded from your former conduct towards our bror Chamberlain that you will willingly give them every assistance in your power. Their names are Richard Marden, John Biss, William Moore, and Joshua Rowe. They and their wives are members of baptist churches, and have walked as becometh the gospel. Each of the young men has preached in our churches with good acceptance. They will advise with you, Mr. Collier, Mr. Jno. F. March, and Ezekiel Robins, Esqr., on whatsoever they may need advice. To these gentlemen we have been recommended by Dr. Rogers of Philadelphia. We will thank you to present our christian love and introduce our brethren and sisters to them. They will show you their instructions, and be thankful for your advice and assistance in carrying them into execution; especially in directing them to a suitable place or places during their stay in your City, where they might be at a moderate expense, and in the negotiation of a draft on the society. Our Society will be much obliged to you and your friends for their assistance. I am Affecy yrs., ANDREW FULLER. All of the four named had been pupils of John Sutcliff in Olney, and were evidently warmly received by the friends of the Mission in New York. It is unfortunate that none of Rev. John Williams' own letters are in existence (as far as the editors are aware), and, consequently, the history of the New York days can only be conjectured. The young missionaries seem, however, to have made many friends during their stay in America, and many kind inquiries were made about them. From a short letter from Dr. Ryland under date of June 14, 1804, it would seem that the voyage from England to America must have been a long and, perhaps, dangerous one, and that apprehensions were felt as to their safety, for he writes: "I have but a few minutes time to write a line just to thank you and your friends for all the kindness you have shown to our dear Missionaries. The news of their safe arrival was like life from the dead, for we began to despair of ever hearing of them. May the Lord increase your usefulness and bless you abundantly." The same mail that brought this letter from Dr. Ryland must have brought a letter also from John Rippon bearing the same date, in which much interest is expressed in the mission of Mr. Holmes to the Indians, and indeed, this interchange of information as to the various forms of Christian work in which the correspondents on both sides of the sea were severally interested formed one of the strongest ties between the English and American societies. The next letter in the correspondence is one from Richard Marden, written on the ship Sansom, off the Cape Verde Islands, and contains the narrative of his voyaging thus far. It is followed by a long and most interesting letter from Andrew Fuller. DEAR SIR: SHIP SANSOM, CAPE VERD ISLAND, May grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and yours continually. Most gladly do I embrace this opportunity of writing to you a few lines thus far on the passage, which I hope will not be in vain. Yesterday we made the Isle of Bonavista and passed it by. This morning |