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CHAPTER VIII.

VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

T was not to be expected that the Serampore labours would be allowed to proceed without political interference. Though individuals of position and influence had befriended the missionaries, public sentiment both at home and abroad was prejudiced against their enterprise. Carey and his colleagues, therefore, felt it necessary to exercise the greatest prudence; but with all their careful endeavour not to give offence, serious difficulties arose, threatening not only the existence of the press, but of the Mission itself.

In the year 1806 two native regiments mutinied. who were stationed with European soldiery at the fortress of Vellore in the Madras Presidency. The Sepoys massacred several officers and a number of men. Various causes were assigned for this outbreak -ultimately, one purely military was accepted as the true cause; but for some time the incident was utilised for party purposes, and opponents of the missionary enterprise were not slow to discover a

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connection between the mutiny and the presence of missionaries in the country. Representations were accordingly made to the authorities that for the sake of keeping the peace, and even preserving the British possessions, it was imperative to keep a close watch upon the men at Serampore, to restrict their operations, and should it be desirable, to command their absolute deportation.

This anti-missionary spirit so far prevailed that when two additional brethren, Messrs. Chater and Robinson, arrived in Calcutta, they were not permitted to proceed to Serampore. Carey, hearing of the detention, applied at once to the Justices of the Peace for an explanation; and was informed that the Governor-General, Sir George Barlow, had expressed a wish that he (Carey) should not interfere with the prejudices of the natives by preaching to them or distributing books or pamphlets amongst them; that his colleagues were to observe the same line of conduct; and further, that the converted natives were not to go into the country to spread Christianity amongst the people. Carey, hearing this, inquired if the communication had been made in writing, but the Justices of the Peace could not reply in the affirmative. It was evident, however, there was grave need for the wisest caution. That Carey felt a crisis had arisen is seen by the manner in which he described the difficulty of the position: "We are much in the situation," he wrote to the Committee of the Society, "in which the apostles were when commanded not to teach nor preach any more in this name! They, it is true, replied, 'Whether it be right in the sight of God to obey you rather than God, judge ye.' Would it be right or not for us to make the same reply in the first instance? On the one hand our prospects of

success are obscured, and those opening doors for usefulness, which a few days ago engaged our attention and animated our exertions, are shut by this cruel message; the consequence is that souls are perishing on every side, and we are forbidden to administer the remedy which God has put into our hands. To act in open defiance of the wish of the Governor-General might occasion a positive law against evangelising the heathen, and at once break up the Mission, which has been settled at so great an expense. On the other hand, it is probable that even if we yield a little to the present storm it may soon blow over, and we may not only enjoy our present privileges, but obtain the liberty which we have so long wished for. We, with the advice of our best friends, have for the present chosen the latter line of conduct."

But these adverse circumstances had no power to daunt their courage or shake their faith, for Carey continued: "We are not doubtful respecting the final success of the Gospel in these countries, though greatly distressed at the present occurrence. Our hope is in God. We trust that this will be a peculiar subject of prayer with us, and we shall endeavour to improve the privileges yet remaining. The cause is God's, and will never be deserted by Him; though He may permit temporary obstructions to arise."

But through representations which were made to the magistrates, especially by Mr. Brown, the chaplain, the work at Serampore, with certain restrictions, was allowed for a time to continue as usual. The anti-missionary party were not, however, disposed to let their opposition cease. Eagerly watching for any pretext that might arise, they were not tardy in bringing before the notice of the GovernorGeneral, Lord Minto, who had succeeded Sir George

Barlow, a certain publication in the shape of a Persian tract which had inadvertently issued from the Serampore press. Carey was peremptorily summoned before the Chief Secretary to the Government, and the Secretary in the Secret and Political Department. The tract in question reflected violently upon the religion of Mohammed. Upon being interrogated, Carey replied that he was not aware of the publication of the sentiments to which objection was taken; that abuse was not a weapon of which he approved ; that he would undertake to suppress the obnoxious pamphlet; and further, that he was quite willing to submit all the Serampore publications for the inspection of the Government.

When Carey returned to Serampore, he found upon inquiry that the objectionable strictures had been furtively inserted by a Mohammedan moonshee who had been employed as a Persian translator, and who, it was thought, could have been safely trusted.

On behalf of the missionaries, the Danish Governor forwarded an explanation to the authorities with expressions of regret for the inadvertence. But the members of the Government, who were hostile to the Mission, did not intend to let the matter come thus easily to an amicable end. They employed spies to attend the meetings of the missionarics, and to secure copies of the pamphlets distributed amongst the people. Upon information thus obtained and laid before the Supreme Council, an official communication was despatched to Carey, which went as far as to prohibit the services held in Calcutta, and requiring the removal of the press to that city. Carey on receiving it was righteously indignant. The Governor of Serampore, under whose protection the

missionaries were living, felt himself insulted, and assured them of his continued friendship.

After much consultation and prayer it was thought best to pursue a conciliatory line of action; and it was therefore resolved to draw up a memorial for presentation to the Governor-General, and previously to seek an interview with his Lordship. The result justified the manner of procedure, for the order requiring the removal of the Press was revoked; the Government simply accepting Carey's condition that all publications should be submitted for approval. "Blessed be God," wrote Carey to Fuller, "all things now continue to be quiet with us! Our deliverance has been great; and it may be said with propriety, that God has stretched forth His hand against the wrath of His enemies, and that His right hand has saved us."" Seldom," he further wrote to Sutcliff, “has a more remarkable interposition been known, and seldom has a deliverance been more evidently an answer to prayer. We were all overwhelmed with distress; but I am persuaded that we all felt a reliance upon God such as we have scarcely witnessed before."

But though the missionaries thus rejoiced in what they felt to be a signal interposition on the part of God, the hostility was not silenced. Hostile AngloIndians not only did their utmost to keep alive the opposition in India, but to increase prejudice in England. Pamphlets were circulated in this country, especially those which were written by a Mr. Twining, Major Scott Wearing, and Col. Stewart. To these pamphlets, full of misrepresentation, calumnies, and appeals to base and unfounded fears, Mr. Fuller replied in his own trenchant style. Whilst these controversies were being waged it became increasingly evident that as the time drew near (1813) for the