about daylight we made the Isle of St. May; we are now very near it. The captain talks of sending a boat ashore; we are just within sight of St. Jago, where he talks of dropping anchor. I hope I shall be able to convey this to you from one of these Islands, but from which I am not yet certain. I have the happiness to inform you that we are all at present in the enjoyment of a good degree of health. We have none of us had any sickness worth mentioning. These light afflictions which are but for a moment will work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. There is nothing in this world worth living for. There is nothing desirable to the Christian in this land of the curse, this state of sin and imperfection. I wish to live only for God, to promote the interest of my dear Redeemer. How necessary is watchfulness and prayer in every step through life, but when I view my own short-comings, I have reason to be ashamed and confounded before God. I long to be delivered from the burden of sin, and to be sanctified, body, soul and spirit throughout. I hope, sir, that you and all my dear Christian [friends] will pray for me and for us all that we may be found faithful unto death. The work is great and arduous, and I feel myself weaker than a bruised reed yet through the help of God, I trust I shall be enabled to persevere even unto the end, and then when called to depart this life, I hope to be with Christ, which is far better. When I sat down to write, I little thought of saying so

much about myself and especially of running on in this strain to such a degree, but you will excuse my freedom. Tho' I am writing to an Elder, a Superior and in one sense a Stranger, yet I am writing to a Friend, and a Brother, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

We

The circumstances attending our voyage hitherto We have had are in general of a pleasing nature. good weather in general, except one heavy storm the 6th of June, about midnight. The Captain is quite a gentleman. He behaves exceeding kind to us. have had preaching every Sabbath since we have been out, sometimes once, and sometimes twice; we have preached two or three times on deck on Lord's Day mornings, the capn calls all hands to attend. We are never hindered from attending to any religious duty. We were likely to put back again to some port in The ship America a few days after we came out. sprung a leak, and they were obliged to keep the pumps working every hour; this continued several days, and the leak increased, but they found it out and stopt it themselves. I must close; the boat is just going ashore. I intend writing also to Mr. Smith, but time will not permit, for which I am sorry. I'll endeavour to embrace the next opportunity. Give our kind love to all the dear friends in York, espy. to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. As I have no opportunity of writing to England, if you would write a few lines to any of

our friends the first opportunity, you would much oblige, your humble servant,

P. S.

RICHARD MARDON.

While I was writing this, Mrs. Mardon wrote a few lines to her friends, which I have taken the liberty to enclose in this, which I would thank you to send to England by the first conveyance.

KETTERING, Aug. 1, 180

MY DEAR BROR.

We are all

I recd. yrs. of June 12 a day or two ago. greatly obliged by the kindness of our brethren in New York to the Missionaries. We feel it, and we rejoice that others feel it a work which in all its operations expands and unites the hearts of Xns. We also rejoice to hear of the work of God in your country, tho' some things attending it have rather stunned us; but in most instances of the kind there has been a mixture of chaff among the wheat in order to try men. I think our churches (I mean the baptists) are low in general. Those about the midland counties have suffered heavy losses by the removals of Carey from Leicester, Ryland from Northampton, Pearce from Birmingham, Morris from Clipstone and Blundel from Arnsby. These were our most able and active ministers; and though four out of the five are labouring in other parts of the vineyard, yet the general connection hereabouts feel their

loss. I think the churches in the West of England have been of late in the most thriving condition. An Antinomian doctrine and spirit has almost ruined a great number of our churches in Norfolk, Suffolk, Yorkshire, &c.

We consider the mission to Bengal as the most favourable symptom attending our denomination. It confirms what has been for some time with me an important principle, that where any denomination, congregation, (or individual) seeks only its own, it will be disappointed, but where it seeks the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, its own prosperity will be among the things that will be added unto it. I have seen great zeal for what among us is called the dissenting interest; and in such hands the dissenting interest has died. Had they sought more to make men Christians, they should in most cases have been dissenters of their own accord. In fact I see that in those congregations where the main object is what it should be, there religion flourishes. The same may be said of baptists. If the first fruits of our zeal be laid out in making proselytes to that denomination, however right the thing may be in itself, the Lord will frown upon us and leave us. But if we be mainly employed in making men Xns, we need not fear but they will be baptists. It is of great consequence to pursue things according to their importance, making that a first concern which is first, and that a Second which is secondary. In seek

ing the salvation of others a man will find his own. He who is exalted as head over all things obtained that glory by denying himself for the sake of others.

I was delighted yesterday in reading some of our last intelligence from the East, down to Dec. 1803. A Dialogue founded on facts-drawn up with only a little variation in phraseology by bror Ward.

Boodheesa, one of the Xn natives was born a Mussulman and brought up to farming; but afterwards became a Byraggee, a kind of holy beggar. Being instructed by his new Goroo, or teacher he left his friends and employment, and set off begging, and repeating the forms of his new cast. In this way he did many acts incredibly difficult and painful. Hearing a little of the gospel he came three days journey to Serampore; heard more; was inclined to wait for further instruction; and was at length baptised, accounting all his hard-acquired holiness but "dung that he might win Christ and be found in him." On leaving Serampore he resolved to return to his house which he had forsaken on becoming a Byraggee. When he

arrived he stood at the door, and as soon as they saw him they all with weeping invited him in. He told them he could not go in, as he had lost Cast, and he did not wish to give them sorrow without their consent. O Come in my Son," said the Mother (a very old woman, weeping) "why do you stand at the door?"