to God, all unholy and polluted as I am, and beg that he will sanctify me, and make me more engaged in his blessed service. We are now near the place of our destination—just ready to enter a strange land, where all are unknown to us, and we to them; and where we shall at once be exposed to the influence of an unhealthy climate. We know not the manner in which we shall be received, nor the place of our final residence. All the future is involved in dark uncertainty. But God is good in bringing us into circumstances, where we are compelled to trust in him. God is every where, and is ever ready to hear our cries, and succour us in our distresses.”
To her Sister.
“At Sea, June 16.
“My dear Sister A——,
“Instead of beginning to fill your letter immediately after we sailed, I have left it to begin to fill it when our voyage is nearly completed. I have written to mamma and sister E. the particulars respecting my voyage thus far ; consequently, it is unnecessary for me now to say any more. Day before yesterday, we came in sight of land, after being out only one hundred and twelve days. We could distinguish nothing on land except the towering mountains of Golconda. Yesterday morning, we were nearer land, and could easily discover the trees on the shore. Some appeared to be placed regularly in rows, others were irregular and scattered. The scene was truly delightful, and reminded me of the descriptions I have read, of the fertile shores of India—the groves of orange and palm trees. I likewise thought it probable, that these shores were inhabited by a race of beings, by nature like ourselves, but who, not like us, are ignorant of the God who made them, and the Saviour who died for them. Yesterday we saw two vessels. One was a large ship, and the captain thought it to be a British man-of-war, as she was lying still till we came up with her. As soon as she hoisted the flag, we found her to be an American. We had high hopes of her being the vessel in which the other Missionaries sailed. With impatience we came up with her. She hailed us, and wished to know our longitude. Our captain asked her name, and where she was from, and to our great disappointment we found she was not the Harmony. You have no idea how interesting the sight—a vessel at the side of us, so near we could hear the captain speak—for he was the first person we have heard speak since we sailed, except what belong to the ship. The other was an English vessel—she spoke with us to-day. We are now at anchor in the Bay of Bengal, and dare not go any farther to-night, as we have not yet got a pilot. Every thing before us is uncertain. Whether we shall ever again be on land, or where we shall live, is known only to our heavenly Father.
“Monday. We have been very anxious this morning to get a pilot. At length a vessel was seen at a distance, and it proved to be a pilot vessel. He has just this moment come on board, with his two servants. One of them a Hindoo. He exactly answers the description we have had of these poor benighted creatures. He looks as simple and feminine as you can imagine. What an alteration would a belief in Christianity make in such a degraded creature. If we have a favourable wind, we hope to get to Calcutta to-morrow. O how soon will our labours in the mission begin ! Yet we are happy, the time is so near when we may begin to labour for Christ in a pagan land.
“Tuesday. Last night was the most dangerous, and to me, by far the most unpleasant we have had. The navigation here being dangerous, on account of the sand-shoals, the pilot came to anchor before dark. The sea was high, and kept the vessel in continual motion. About ten, the mate came down, and told us the cable had parted, and the anchor gone. I thought all hope of our safety was entirely gone, and immediately began to enquire into my preparedness for an entrance into another world. The thought of being shipwrecked was exceedingly distressing : and I could not but think the providence of God would preserve us on account of this infant mission. In him I confided, and he preserved us. They got the ship under way; and the pilot being well acquainted with the shoals, we met with no difficulty. I slept none at all, in consequence of the continual noise, and profane language on deck. The captain has never used any profane language since we have been with him ; but the pilot, much more than we have ever heard before. But the scene is now truly delightful. We are sailing up the river Hoogly, a branch of the Ganges, and so near the land, that we can distinctly discover objects. On one side of us are the Sunderbunds—[islands at the mouths of the Ganges.] The smell which proceeds from them, is fragrant beyond description. We have passed the mango trees, and some large brick houses.
“Wednesday. I have never, my dear sister, witnessed or read any thing so delightful as the present scene. On each side of the Hoogly, where we are now sailing, are the Hindoo cottages, as thick together as the houses in our seaports. They are very small, and in the form of hay-stacks, without either chimneys or windows. They are situated in the midst of trees, which hang over them, and appear truly romantic. The grass and fields of rice are perfectly green, and herds of cattle are every where feeding on the banks of the river, and the natives are scattered about, differently employed. Some are fishing, some driving the team, and many are sitting indolently on the banks of the river. The pagodas we have passed are much handsomer and larger than the houses. Notwithstanding the scene is so pleasant, on account of the works of nature, yet it is truly melancholy when we reflect, that these creatures, so numerous, so harmless, have immortal souls, and like us are destined to the eternal world—and yet have none to tell them of Christ. I suppose the natives that live on these shores, for many miles, have never seen a Missionary. I should be happy to come and live among them, in one of their little houses, if it was as large a field for usefulness as some others. There are many English, elegant seats near the shore. We are within four or five miles of Calcutta. When we get there I will write you again. O what reason have we to be thankful, for so pleasant, so prosperous a voyage. There is seldom a voyage so short as ours—we have not yet been out four months. I hope God will make us useful, and keep us near to himself.”
“Well, Abigail, here we are safe in Calcutta harbour, and almost stunned with the noise of the natives. Mr. Judson has gone on shore, to find a place for us to go to. This city is by far the most elegant of any thing I have ever seen. Many ships are lying at anchor, and hundreds of natives all around. They are dressed very curiously in white, hanging loosely over their shoulders. But I have not time to describe any thing at present. We have plenty of fruit on board. The bananas are a very delicious fruit; they taste much like a rich pear.
“Thursday. Harriet and I are yet on board the vessel, and have not been on land. Mr. Judson did not return last night, until the evening, and had not gained permission from the Police office to live in the country, consequently we could not go on shore. Mr. J. and Mr. N. are gone again to-day, and what will be their success I know not. The East India Company are violently opposed to missions, and have barely given liberty to their own countrymen to settle here as preachers. We have nothing to expect from man, and every thing from God. I think I never have felt more confidence in God, to protect and direct this mission, than this morning. If he has any thing for us to do here, he will doubtless open a door for our entrance; if not, he will send us to some other place. We have given ourselves to him, devoted ourselves to his service, and have every reason, from past experience of his goodness, to still trust and confide in his goodness. O my dear sister, what a source of happiness and comfort, that God reigns, even on these heathen shores of darkness and wretchedness. Captain Heard has just come on board, and given us a very polite invitation to go to the house he has procured for himself on shore. The politeness and kindness of this man have been remarkable. Throughout our passage, he has treated us with every possible attention, and made it much more comfortable than it otherwise would have been. O, live near to God in a Christian land, and think, feel, and pray much for the millions who are perishing for the want of the knowledge of a Saviour. So little time as we have to live in this world, must be improved to the best advantage. We shall soon meet in the eternal world, and then the more we have done for Christ, the happier we shall be.”
Notes
* Boswell’s Life of Johnson.
* At the late centennial celebration of the settlement of Salem, in 1628, Judge Story, in his Address, spoke in suitable terms of Lady Johnson, a daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, who accompanied her husband among the first settlers
