314 BRITISH SOCIAL SYSTEM. 



fourteen pounds. When the object, howeveT, became 

 known, it met with extensive approbation, and contributions 

 were received on a scale so liberal as to enable the society 

 to emracre two gentlemen as missionaries. The choice, by 

 peculiarly good fortune, fell upon Messrs. Thomas and 

 Carey. "The formeT hud made several voyages to bengal 

 as a suraeon, in the course, of which he became known to 

 Mr Chrules Grant, who afterward acquired great influence 

 in Indian affairs, and who, duly appreciating his character, 

 exhorted him to devote himself to the task of converting 

 the Hindoos. After considerable hesitation he resolved to 

 follow this course, and entered with the utmost alacrity 

 into the views of the society. His colleague, Mr. Carey 

 of Leicester, had long felt a deep zeal for the conversion 

 of the heathen, which he manifested both in his conversation 

 and discourses : be was actuated also by an ardent desire 

 of geographical knowledge, and possessed a great facility 

 in acquiring Ian. 50 that he was pointed out as un- 



usually well qualified lor this arduous destination. He and 

 Mr Thomas, on being introduced for the first tune as col- 

 leagues in this philanthropic design, could not refrain from 



shedding tears. f ., OQ 



The missionaries arrived in Bengal about the end ofHM. 

 They were at first considerably discouraged by the difficul- 

 ties which beset their path, particularly in respect to pecu- 

 niary resources. In 1794, however, they were engaged to 

 superintend two indigo manufactories, farmed by a Mr. 

 Udnv near Matilda, which at once afforded funds, a point 

 of contact with the natives, and the means of gmng em- 

 ployment to the converts. They laboured several years with 

 much zeal but slender success, when, in 1799, Messrs. 

 Marshman, Ward, Brunsdon, and Grant, entered the Hoog- 

 lev in an Amerk 1- Finding some obstacles to 



landing at Calcutta, they took up their residence at beram- 

 pore, where their two predecessors were induced to join 

 them- and the mission assumed that form under which it 

 has since proved so effective. They entered into an agree- 

 ment to throw all their funds, public and private, into a gen- 

 eral stock, to keep a simple table in common, and after a 

 moderate allowance for other domestic purposes, to devote 

 the surplus to the great objects of their undertaking. Mr. 

 Carey, who had now acquired an extensive knowledge of 



