blessed my endeavours to ease this dear friend's heart of his heavy burden. August 19. Our situation on board the Gillespie has become more pleasant. We resolved to be very strict in our hours of devotion, social and private; to avoid all trivial conversation, and not to countenance profaneness by a look of complacency, and to improve every opportunity of introducing religious conversation at table. This kind of life, though it has undoubtedly excited ridicule, has nevertheless procured us respect. When we are present, swearing and cursing are laid aside, and we have not so much reason, as formerly, to say with a saint of old, "Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesheck, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." Mr. H- the passenger, is a Calcutta gentleman. He has undertaken this voyage on account of ill health, is a sensible man, and apparently very obliging. He wonders much at our entertaining the idea of converting the Hindoos. He is positive that never one will be converted, for it is impossible that a Hindoo should ever change his religion. He attends Dr. -'s church, and is his sincere admirer. This Dr. is as great an opposer of missions, as perhaps ever existed. When we first arrived at Calcutta, a pious female said to him in company, well Dr. hear that some more are you not rejoiced to missionaries have come to U Bengal?" "I am so greatly rejoiced, Madam," answered he, "that I wish every one was driven out of the country." "And their arrival gives me so much joy," returned the lady, "that I wish from my heart, that Bengal was filled with them." August 20. O how do I long for the society of dear Christians. O my dear mother, prize your devout acquaintance, value the society of the dear children of God. August 23. Another sacred day has come. My heart welcomes its approach. But I shall not be joyful with the dear saints in God's house of prayer. Well let me consecrate, in a solitary manner, these sacred hours to him, and the kind moment will come, the glad morning will shortly dawn, when I shall engage in the sweet work of praise, with all the blood-washed throng in my heavenly Father's kingdom. Sabbath evening. This has been a good Sabbath to me-worship in the cabin. While engaged in worship, a Portuguese accidentally fell overboard. He was an excellent swimmer, and by putting the vessel about and throwing out ropes he was merci. fully saved from a sudden death, and probably from an awful eternity. This release from death much affected my mind. It led me to feel the importance of praying fervently for the conversion of these wretched creatures. I can do nothing but pray for them, and compassionate their wretchedness. Oh that I could talk their language. Spent the afternoon in reading, singing, and praying together. August 24. Winds and waves seem to be united against us. It is now three weeks since we left Calcutta, and we have made no progress in our voyage. The wind is ahead, and we are beating about without getting forward. But Providence has undoubtedly a particular design in thus disappointing our hope of speedily arriving at the place of our destination. "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice." If he August 27. The wind has become more favourable. We make a degree a day. I hope to reach the Isle of France in good health. But I feel no anxiety about that. I know that God orders every thing in the best possible manner, and that he who takes care of the ravens, will not forsake his own children in the hour of affliction. so orders events, that I shall suffer pain and sickness on the stormy ocean, without a female friend, exposed to every inconvenience-shall I repine and think he is dealing hardly with me? O no. Let the severest trials and disappointmeuts fall to my lot, guilty and weak as I am, yet I think I can rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation. August 29. It was discovered this morning that the vessel had sprung a leak. No immediate danger is apprehended; we shall therefore proceed on our voyage, and in about a fortnight, touch at a little island, and there repair the vessel. I have just laid aside Cowper's poems. These pathetic lines have wrought affectingly upon my feelings. "Ye winds that have made me your sport, Convey to this desolate shore, Some cordial endearing report, Of the land I shall visit no more; "My friends, do they now and then send, Though my friends, I am never to see." August 30. The leak increases so fast that it is thought necessary that something should be done immediately. The vessel is much shattered, and the captain says he knows not what may be our fate the next hour. They agree to put the ship about, and make the nearest land on the Coromandel coast. August 31. When disappointed in our worldly expectations and hopes, how soon is the language of that holy man of God, the afflicted old Jacob, adopted; All these things are against me. But the thoughts and ways of the Lord, are not like ours? Why has he brought upon us this misfortune, after suffering us to be tossed about with contrary winds, for such a length of time? Why we are obliged to return in the way we came, almost as far back as The language Calcutta, we can give no reason. of true christian faith and submission will be, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. September 8, 1812. Coringa, (on the Coromandel coast, about 400 miles from Calcutta.) Bless the Lord, my soul, who healeth all thy diseases, and redeems from death and the grave. On the evening of the 31st ult. I was seized with a violent complaint, the common disorder of this hot and unhealthy country. So great was my distress that I was wholly confined to my bed. Speaking comparatively, I never knew pain before. Saturday, the 5th inst. we arrived at this place. Full of bodily anguish, I was under the necessity of leaving my bed, getting into a small boat, and going six miles to land. The captain went with us to the house of Mr. W., Master Attendant, the only English family in this place. I was laid on a couch, and every possible attention was shown me by Mrs. W. but they could not accommodate us with lodgings. We were therefore obliged to go to the house of a Portuguese in the neighbourhood, a kind of tavern. My couch, though hard, was truly welcome to my tired, aching body. To-day, the 8th, have been able to sit up most of the day. Hope the Lord will restore my health before the departure of the ship.-Begin to look around me a little. Find myself surrounded by |