language, it was thought probable that the Missionaries would be able to enter upon their labours immediately, so that no delay would be occasioned while they were acquiring the languages of the Natives. Should the Gospel, by the blessing of God, succeed at Surat, it might be extended thence through all the north-western parts of India, Cabul, Candahar, Persia, and Arabia.

sionaries

India for

the pur

pose.

2. For these reasons the Society were induced to Two Misundertake a Mission to this place; and two young sent to men, Dr. Taylor and Mr. Loveless, were appointed to carry the design into effect. We have seen that the attention of Mr. Loveless was diverted to Madras, and that Dr. Taylor proceeded to Bengal2, where he was detained, by a domestic affliction, sickness, and other causes, longer than he intended. While with the Baptist Missionaries at Serampore he made some progress in the study of Mahratta, Hindoostanee, and Persian; and the Brethren having no medical man among them, he endeavoured to repay, in his professional attention to their families, some of those obligations under which their hospitality and friendship had laid him.

arrives at

3. At length he sailed for Bombay, where he One arrived early in 1807. Dr. Kerr had given him a Bombay. letter of introduction to the Chaplain, who received him courteously, and entertained him with hospitality; but he refrained from entering into conversation with his guest on the objects of his Mission. The subject was new at Bombay; and the authorities looked with too much suspicion on a Missionary, especially one not in connexion with the Church of England, for the Chaplain to commit himself while unacquainted with the intention of the authorities under whom he was placed.

4. Dr. Taylor wrote to Dr. Kerr on the 8th of His

(2) Book x. chap. v. Madras, s. 1.

prospects.

II.

CHAP. February, and, after mentioning his arrival and reception, referred to the prospect before him in these discouraging terms:-"Although in this part of India, Surat and the Guzerat present a fine field for Missionary labours, I am afraid that the time for occupying it is somewhat distant. It is my intention, when writing to the Society by the ships which sail in about a fortnight, to request them to send out only two more Missionaries at present to Bombay, and to recommend them to direct their principal efforts towards Madras."

In the following June he wrote to the same kind friend and counsellor in a little better spirits-" My situation here is not so free and unincumbered as I could wish it to be, but I am not certain that it is so hopeless as you have heard. On my arrival there was certainly a very strong and general prejudice against Missionaries; and this may, in some measure, still continue; but Providence has raised up two friends, one especially, Sir James M'Intosh (the Recorder), whose rank and learning render his patronage very powerful; and through their means I have been introduced to others. Whatever may be the sentiments of some of them concerning the object on which I came to Bombay, I am convinced they would be extremely happy to serve me as an individual. This, when you consider the disadvantage under which a Missionary must appear when personal prejudices are unfavourable towards him, will be viewed as a matter of some consequence, and as a presage of more solid benefits to the Mission."

"The restraints imposed on me at present are attended with very little worse effect than that of discouraging the mind in contemplation of futurity.” "I have but little apprehensions of being sent home. I think this is too bold a measure to be adopted without the strongest necessity; and I can scarcely imagine such a necessity to occur while

Missionaries act with prudence and circumspection."1

appoint

5. For a time Dr.Taylor diligently studied the lan- He accepts guages of the country-Sanscrit, Mahratta, Guze- a medical rattee, and Hindoostanee-with a view to engage ment. in the translation of the Scriptures; but before he had acquired knowledge enough to commence the work, he was induced to relinquish the Mission, and accept a medical appointment under Government. This was a great disappointment to the Directors of his Society, who could not refrain from the expression of surprise at his taking such a situation" without the consent of his brethren," "and without consulting, or even apprising" the Directors "of a measure so important, till long after it had taken place." They had for some time been seeking a suitable colleague for him, in compliance with his earnest requests, and had at last accepted a young man for the Station; but he was so disappointed and discouraged by Dr. Taylor's abandonment of the Mission, that he declined going to Bombay, and soon after relinquished the service of the Society.

menced at

6. These unfavourable circumstances led to the Mission suspension of this Mission till the year 1815, when comthe Society made another attempt to accomplish Surat. their design for Western India. They sent out two young men, Mr. John Skinner and Mr. William Fyvie, with instructions to proceed to Surat as soon as practicable. They arrived at Bombay on the 9th of August 1815, and were received in the most friendly manner by the Governor, Sir Evan Nepean. Mr. Skinner proceeded in a few weeks to Surat, where he arrived on the 16th of September, and took up his abode with Mr. C. C. Aratoon, the Armenian convert associated with the Baptist Missio

(') Transcribed from the original Letters.

CHAP.

II.

Missionaries call for aid.

naries of Serampore', who rejoiced to receive a fellow-labourer in the same arduous work. Mr. Fyvie followed shortly after. The Brethren lost no time in applying their minds to the study of the Guzerattee language, impatient to speak to the vast multitudes around them "the wonderful things of God." They also commenced two English Schools, one for Europeans and East-Indians, the other for Natives desirous of learning that language. Mrs. Fyvie also opened a School for English and EastIndian females, but was at a loss, for some time, for want of an assistant. Every Sunday morning the Missionaries preached publicly to the soldiers, and in the evening, in their own house, to all who were disposed to hear. The attendance on both occasions was considerable; and they soon had reason to believe that some of their auditors were seriously impressed by the Truth.

7. About a twelvemonth after their arrival the work had so increased on their hands, that they became anxious for more assistance. Besides the city of Surat, they had extended their views to Baroach and Narbudda on the north, and to Cambay, at the upper end of the gulf. As each of these places required two Missionaries, at least, the Directors of the London Society resolved to augment the number of labourers as soon as practicable; but they were not able to send any before the following year.2

(') Book xi. chap. ii. s. 18. C. C. Aratoon spake of a new sect of Hindoos at Surat," which," he says, "sprang up about sixteen years ago, and is said to comprise 100,000 persons. They affirm, that every religion is equally acceptable to God. Another sect, called Baboojee, exists at Surat: it is not numerous: they sing hymns, far superior to the Heathen hymns: they equally oppose Idolatry and Mahomedanism."

(2) Society's Reports: 22d, p. 15. 23d, pp. 18, 19.

two Mis

away.

1. In the last Chapter of the Baptist Mission in Arrival of Bengal, mention was made of the arrival of six sionaries. Missionaries in Calcutta from the American Board Ordered of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and also of the orders issued by the Bengal Government for their immediate departure from the country. Two of them, Messrs. Samuel Nott and Gordon Hall, after some difficulty, escaped to Bombay, where they arrived February 11, 1813. But a peremptory order followed them, commanding Sir Evan Nepean to send them off to England by the first opportunity. On receiving this intimation, they presented a Memorial to the Governor, setting forth the simple object of their Mission, and explaining the circumstances which had brought them to Bombay. This Memorial was kindly received and considered by the Governor, who permitted them to remain, pending a reference to Calcutta, assured them of his disposition to show them every favour in his power, and wrote to the Governor-General in their behalf. This communication appears to have satis

(3) This Chapter is drawn up chiefly from the Reports of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 18111817. Also from the Memoir of the Rev. Gordon Hall, the founder of the Bombay Mission.