incident will be read with interest. On one occasion as he was trudging along the streets with a parcel of books for the Duke of Grafton, he became suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness. The fit of depression seems to have been occasioned by the sight of Westminster Hall. Overcome with grief at the thought that perhaps there was nothing before him but a life of drudgery, he put his parcel upon the ground and sat down and sobbed ; but gazing around, the memorials he saw inspired him with new courage, and mastering his grief, with a braver spirit he resumed his load. In the light of his subsequent history such a scene is surely full of pathos.

In the year 1791 he His choice was a most

He held his situation at the Holborn bookseller's but for a short time, and then for some years appears to have assisted his father as a weaver. The return to the religious associations in which he had been trained helped to develop his Christian character; and he began to exercise his gifts as a local preacher in the surrounding villages. married Hannah Shepherd. happy one; a fact which the missionaries at Serampore had abundant reason in the future to acknowledge. Three years after his marriage he undertook the management of a school in connection with the Broadmead Chapel at Bristol. This step brought him into connection with Dr. Ryland; and his scholastic duties permitting, he was enabled to attend the classes at the Academy. His progress as a student was most satisfactory. The reading of the "Periodical Accounts of the Missionary Society" induced him to consider whether he ought not himself to become a missionary. He was encouraged by Dr. Ryland, and was eventually accepted by the Committee.

Such was the early history of the two men, William

Ward and Joshua Marshman, who were now to become so closely associated with Carey.

It may be added that Marshman became the father-in-law of General Havelock, who has been often styled, in a political sense, "the Saviour of India."

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CHAPTER VI.

T will be seen from the foregoing chapter, that whilst Carey's missionary principles remained unaltered, circumstances considerably modified

their application. Instead of making their abode in a compound of some six primitive mat huts, the missionaries found a home in a "large house in the middle of the town," purchased from a nephew of the Danish Governor. But though such a locale had never entered into their dreams, and was contrary to their wishes, and though future events abundantly justified the wisdom of their action, the missionaries at once instituted a manner of living, and displayed a devotion of spirit which were in perfect accord with the simplicity and purity of their original ideal. They constituted themselves, with their families, a Christian brotherhood. "They were of one heart, and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."

They were no doubt encouraged to enter into this

fellowship, not alone because of the New Testament precedent, but from what they knew of its practical working in the Moravian settlements. Most delightful were the disinterestedness, the humility, the affectionate esteem, and the whole-hearted consecration, which characterised the Serampore home.

In the "Periodical Accounts" we meet with this entry in Ward's Journal: "January 18th, 1800. This week we have adopted a set of rules for the government of the family. All preach and pray in turn; one superintends the affairs of the family for a month, and then another; brother Carey is treasurer, and has the regulation of the medicine chest; brother Fountain is librarian. Saturday evening is devoted to adjusting differences, and pledging ourselves to love one another. One of our resolutions is that no one of us do engage in private trade; but that all be done for the benefit of the Mission."

How pleasantly these rules worked, may be gathered from a further entry, after some seven months' experience of them: "About six o'clock we rise: brother Carey to his garden; brother Marshman to his school at seven; brother Brunsden, Felix, and I to the printing-office. At eight the bell rings for family worship; we assemble in the hall; sing, read and pray. Breakfast. Afterwards, brother Carey goes to the translation, or reading proofs; brother Marshman to school, and the rest to the printingoffice. Our compositor having left us, we do without; we print three half-sheets of 2000 each in a week; have five press-men, one folder, and one binder. At twelve o'clock we take a luncheon; then most of us shave and bathe, read and sleep before dinner, which we have at three. After dinner we deliver our thoughts on a text or question; this we find to

be very profitable. Brother and sister Marshman keep their schools till after two. In the afternoon, if business be done in the office, I read and try to talk Bengalee with the brahmin. We drink tea about seven, and have little or no supper. We have Bengalee preaching once or twice in the week, and on Thursday evening we have an experience meeting. On Saturday evening we meet to compose differences and transact business, after prayer, which is always immediately after tea. Felix is very useful in the office; William goes to school, and part of the day learns to bind. We meet two hours before breakfast on the first Monday in the month, and each one prays for the salvation of the Bengal heathen. At night we unite our prayers for the universal spread of the Gospel."

To this pleasing record we may add the opening sentence of a letter sent about this date to the Society at home: "We bless God, that as a family we ex-. perience His goodness in continuing, and we hope increasing, a spirit of unanimity and brotherly love amongst us. We trust we can say we are of one mind, and that our desire is to strive together for the furtherance of the Gospel, and the conversion of the heathen around us."

Five years later the original rules were developed into a form of agreement, which it was resolved should be read publicly at every station at their three annual meetings, viz. :-on the first Lord's Day in January, May, and October. We question whether any document was ever published evincing a finer religious sympathy, a loftier spiritual ideal, a more Christlike compassion and devotedness, or a bolder faith in God than this agreement of the Serampore fraternity. It is far too copious to allow

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