I am sorry to find that it is a long time, and much longer than it ought to have been, since I wrote to you last. The only reason is, that I have had to go through much affliction. Mrs. Carey has been very ill at times, and I have not been well. Our beloved father has also been removed to a better state, and one or two others connected with the family. In such things, and at different times, has the Lord seen fit to afflict us; but the Lord is good, and his strokes are lighter than we have deserved; yea, all his ways are mercy.

I am happy to say that since I wrote last the work of the Lord has been going on as usual. I think I have baptized eleven persons, some belonging to the Christian families, and some from the heathen. The Mella's have also been visited, and the surrounding villages as usual; great numbers of tracts and books have been distributed; people upon the whole have been very attentive. The native preachers are out almost every day, and are well received. I have now two inquirers; an Hindoo woman and a Mussulman man; how they may turn out I cannot say.

You will be gratified to hear that we have been meeting with some little more encouragement of late. A short time ago I had the pleasure of baptizing seven persons; three young men, and four young women. They are all of Christian parentage. One young woman (a Miss W.) is the daughter of the head English writer at this station. After finishing her education in Calcutta, she returned with us to Beerbhoom, about three years ago; and was then a very thoughtless girl, but for some time past she seems to have undergone a decided change of mind. She has been in the habit of attending our English worship on Lord's day and Thursday evenings; and occasionally at other times. These opportunities, together with reading of religious books and tracts, and occasional converse with us, appear to have been blessed to her. I trust she has made a sincere profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that she will continue to walk in him. All the others belong to our native Christians, and have given us reason to hope well concerning them. Two of the young men having received a superior education, may therefore be expected to be of more eminent service in this land of darkness.

You will also be happy to learn that one of the highest or monitor class girls of the Central School, from conviction of the Christian being the only true religion, has given up her caste as a thing in her estimation of no value, and cast in her lot with the followers of Christ. A short time ago, when she first made known her intention, Mrs. W. examined her respecting her motives; she said that our shasters were good, and our people were good; and that she could not live among her relations, who were idolaters and drunkards, &c. When Mrs. W. again asked her whether she thought she would be better off by becoming a Christian, the girl replied that she was already sufficiently well provided for, and that her sole intention in becoming a Christian was to obtain salvation. The first time she came with the intention of giving up her caste (which was just as the noise of the doorga pooja commenced), her parents dragged her away, and watched her narrowly for a few days, during which period she had no opportunity of making her escape; but as soon as their vigilance relaxed a little, she improved the first opportunity granted her of regaining her liberty. Her father threw away all her books and tracts, and is highly displeased with me for having betrayed the trust he had reposed in me. The girl is about sixteen years of age, and is pretty well versed in the gospels and scripture history. She has been latterly under a Christian teacher, and was employed as a monitor, which accounts, in part, for her having remained so long in the school. Another girl, belonging to the same class has a good mind, we hear, to follow her example, but has not as yet been able to muster sufficient resolution. May the Lord draw her and many others to himself, with the cords of his divine love!

Our three schools (Bengalee boys', Bengalee girls', and English school) were all lately examined by the ladies and gentlemen of the station, who, I am happy to inform you, expressed themselves highly gratified with the progress the children and youth had made during the year; particularly with that of the higher classes of the English school: one class, in the course of six months only, having made themselves perfectly masters of the principles of English Grammar. I am inclined to hope much from the English school. As for the two Bengalee schools, on account of what has lately taken place, I am afraid they will be much diminished for some time, especially the girls' school.

To aid me in the great work of preaching the gospel among the heathen, I have now four native assistants, for whom I draw 25 Rs. in addition to my salary of 150 Rs. per month. They are out daily, morning and evening, in the neighbouring villages, preaching and distributing tracts. They tell me that prejudice is fast declining, and that they have had repeated proofs of the tracts they give away having been read. I always take one of them with me, in my daily visits to the bazar of this place, when we have generally a pretty good congregation of attentive hearers. The season for our more distant excursions is now approaching, and will allow us to extend on all sides our hitherto confined labours. May the Lord assist us faithfully and fully to make known his glorious gospel among those who are perishing for lack of knowledge, and make us the savour of life unto life, unto many precious souls! "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few."

Since I wrote you last, I have drawn up another tract in Javanese, under the title, "The Son of God in the World." 1500 copies have been printed of it, as we had no more paper for a larger edition. A translation of this tract has been sent to the committee of the Tract Society. It is true the prohibitions, as to a free circulation of tracts among the native inhabitants of this island, have not yet fully been removed, although several applications have been made on this subject to the men in power. And this is rather a disappointment and an impediment to a more extensive communication of the principles of the gospel at large; yet a goodly number of tracts have found their way, notwithstanding, among the people. The power of darkness in this country appears so great, that it would quite dishearten me, were it not for Him who is with and in us, who is more powerful than he that is in the world. When I shall have the pleasure to see that this general darkness of ignorance as to divine things, and of superstition and sinful lusts, shall give way to the light of truth and godliness, is not for me to say; under present circumstances, this period seems to be still afar off. It would seem, however, as if the truth of the gospel was gaining ground: now and then instances appear of this. Last Sunday, when I went out among the natives, to take a New Testament to one who had asked me for it,—and when I had preached the gospel to two small companies of people, and was still walking about for some more,—I came to a house in which I saw several persons sitting together. I entered, and began a conversation on religion. One of them expressed soon his Mussulman sentiments, on the power and glory of Mahomed; that he was the person to whom we had to look, as he bore all things. I asked him, in return, if Mahomed were so powerful, how it came that he, even at this moment, was still lying in the dust? from which it was evident, added I, that he was no more than any common man. A young man who was present, and who had read some of the tracts, then took up the subject with him, and told him that Jesus was the All-powerful, which was evident from his having left the grave, and ascended to heaven, and would come again at the last day to raise all the dead from their graves. I wanted to apply the subject further to the consciences of the hearers, particularly to that of the first man, by proving that all men are in a most lamentable condition on account of their sins, and needed therefore an Almighty Saviour to save them. But this man had so much to tell, like one of old, of his own goodness, that all further reasoning with him on the subject seemed to be in vain.

With all the weakening effects of the climate on my constitution, and which I have particularly felt already for some time on my lungs, God has enabled me to go out four or five times every week into the native villages; and although my endeavours do not produce the desired effects, yet I cannot persuade my mind that all the precious seed sown in this way will be lost.

You will perhaps have heard of the dreadful event, before this, which has happened to two American missionaries, Messrs. Manson and Lyman, in Sumatra, among the Battas, now about two months ago. These good men went thither to explore the country. They fell in with a troop of wild Battas, on one of their excursions, who fired at them, and over-powered them. Mr. Lyman was wounded by a shot. They then began to cut off his arms and his legs, and ate him up. While they were doing this, he petitioned the cannibals to spare his brother Manson alive; but the following day he was cut to pieces and eaten, as also the interpreter whom they had brought with them. Their wives were still at Batavia when the news of their husbands arrived.

Sumatra is still in a state of war; yet Padang, where Mr. Ward lives, seems to have been always safe. I have not had any letters from Mr. Ward for a considerable time: as far as I can hear, he is still well.

Since I last addressed you I have seen more of our mission field than I had ever before an opportunity of visiting. We found it not only gratifying, but profitable, thus to visit our brethren, who all appear to be faithfully labouring in the vineyard of Christ. From them we received much kindness, and returned home, after an absence of six weeks, with improved health and increased desire to labour for God, from witnessing what he is doing by his servants. Such intercourse, occasionally enjoyed, could hardly fail to promote brotherly love, stimulate to exertion, and strengthen our confidence in God, as we behold the triumphs of his truth.

In my last I mentioned the desire manifested by many in Mr. Knibb's congregation to obtain the Scriptures, and the large attendance on religious worship. The same may be said of Montego Bay, and, in proportion, of other stations I had the privilege of visiting. I spent one sabbath at Lucea, and intended going to Savannah la Mar, but was prevented by the rain. Of the interesting services at Montego Bay and Falmouth, which took place on the 7th and 14th of this month, on laying the corner-stones of the new chapels, I need not write, as our brethren at those stations will send you all the particulars. On our way home we passed through Stewart Town, Brown's Town, and called at Jericho, brother Clarke's residence and principal station. I should have mentioned that we spent a night with brother Coultart; and in every place we were refreshed in seeing or hearing of the grace of God. I have more than once expressed my conviction that God is about to do some great work in this land. In this opinion I am confirmed by what he is doing. We know that He does nothing in vain; therefore to any person at all observant of Divine Providence, it must manifestly appear, that God's thoughts are thoughts of good and not of evil concerning the inhabitants of this country. Look at the noble gift of his word which he has recently sent to the people! Upwards of 40,000 copies of the New Testament and Psalms, now circulating, like so many streamlets of the water of life, through the whole length and breadth of the land! Then there is the desire to read, and to possess the word of God; the spirit of hearing, which prevails in almost every part of the island; the great accession of spiritual strength in the arrival of new missionaries—Episcopal, Methodists, Baptists, and Independents; and the preservation and increase of good men on the island. Mr. S., the rector of Lucea, mentioned a fact worth recording: that, during his residence in the colony of sixteen years, he had not lost, by death, one of his evangelical friends, which was the same as saying that not one had died; for he is a truly pious man himself, and consequently is acquainted with all the good men in the church throughout the island. He further stated, that several clergymen, who had never before manifested any concern for the spiritual welfare of the people, were now coming out as active and laborious helpers in the good cause. Surely, my dear Sir, these are signs of the times not to be overlooked.

Graaff Reinet, January 20, 1835.

My dear Mother,

As I cannot help thinking, that when news from this colony arrives in England, you will feel some anxiety about our state, I must tell you that we are plunged into the greatest distress and trouble by internal war. The Caffres have made an attack on the whole line of frontier, burning and destroying every thing before them, and murdering, in the most barbarous manner, the unhappy residents. They have done incalculable mischief; and should they not soon be stopped, the destruction of the colony is inevitable.

On the 24th of December, 1834, we were made uneasy by a commando being called out to assist against the Caffres. But this was soon followed by the most distressing accounts I ever read. They first proceeded to murder all the men (and in some cases whole families), to plunder all the cattle, and burn the dwellings.

On the 26th, news arrived from my dear children in Graham's Town, viz. A——, my eldest son, and G——, who, with her husband (Mr. D. Mahoney), were in the utmost anguish, his father and brother-in-law having been murdered under the following melancholy circumstances:—Mr. Mahoney, sen., had a fine farm near Graham's Town. His son-in-law, Mr. Henderson (a truly respectable young Scotchman, married to Mr. M.'s only daughter), had gone out with his wife and sweet family to spend the Christmas at the farm, and were to have been joined by my dear children and Mr. D. Mahoney. On the Monday preceding Christmas-day, Major O'Reilly advised Mr. M. sen., rather to bring his family into Graham's Town, as some cattle had been stolen, and the Caffres appeared in a disturbed state. He determined to follow this advice, and on Wednesday morning started for Graham's Town with his wife, their two grandchildren, Mr. Henderson, and a slave servant, Mr. M. sen. following the waggon himself on horseback. They had not gone more than a mile, when they were attacked by about twenty Caffres, who began stabbing poor Henderson: he had fifty assagais in his body! and the poor father shared the same fate. The old lady escaped with one child, and the slave woman with the other; and after wandering about, separately, thirty-one hours on foot, without food or water, having lost their way, they at length met at Graham's Town.

This was only the beginning of sorrows; for every day's tidings are more dreadful. Graham's Town is totally surrounded, and every farm either destroyed or deserted. The most barbarous murders are continually committed.

January 2nd. Our tidings are truly appalling. My poor children cannot come out to us. E—— is now near her confinement. Her dear little babe, with my son ——, are obliged to sleep in the church, or in flat-roofed houses near it, as they all concentrate, in order to be the better protected. All the men are under arms. This village has been stripped also. The few who remain are formed into patrols.

The Caffres have extended themselves over the whole line of frontier from Uitenhage to the Winter Field. Somerset has been also in the same state of danger. Fort Beaufort, Wiltshire, Caffer's Drift, Gualana, Bathurst, and Salem, have been left to their mercy, having remained as long as resistance was of any avail. Those who are spared have escaped only with life: in short, I can give you no adequate description of our present distress. The outcry for provisions is grievous: no supplies can be sent in by the farmers; they have it not, nor could they send it in if they had. We have had no market here since December 22. The Bay, I believe, has as yet escaped. We hear that the governor and troops are on their way to the frontier. May God grant them success! On Sunday, Jan. 4, all the places of worship were closed till 9 o'clock at night. In St. George's church, the galleries being filled with women and children, and the body with the men (under arms), the minister read the thirty-seventh of Isaiah, and commented upon the most striking passages. I assure you my spirits sink within me when I reflect on the probable consequences. Oh, how much you have to be thankful for in happy England! Pray for us, that, amidst all the wreck of time and fortune, our minds may be stayed upon God. Believe me, without the consolations of religion I should be totally cast down; but although clouds and darkness are round about us, yet it is the Lord that reigneth. True, indeed, these dispensations of his providence are dark and mysterious. Why so many valuable lives are cut off, and such a dreadful blow is given to our poor countrymen, after fifteen years' hard labour, we know not. Many of the missionaries have been in the greatest danger. We have not heard of the murder of any of them; but all the English who lately traded with the Caffres have been murdered but one, who came out, and told the fate of the rest. He states that one who was sitting at breakfast with a missionary was dragged out and killed before his eyes. They have told the missionaries they may go if they will: they do not appear to intend to destroy them.

The cattle they have already captured is beyond all belief. I wish we could get away as far as Cape Town: I shall never feel at peace on the frontiers again. My school had been very good, and I fondly hoped to be a little more comfortable; but we are again reminded that this is not our rest. The reflection on my last birthday was, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped me." On the retrospect I have much to be thankful for, and much cause to be humbled under his mighty hand. As to ourselves, we have not much reason to wish many days to be added to our lives; but we have still a large family dependant on our exertions, having yet seven to provide for. At all events, I trust I shall be resigned to the Lord's will.

Since writing the above, another post has arrived. We have received news of the arrival of Colonel Smith. The Governor and troops have embarked for Algea Bay. He has placed us under martial law. Are you aware what that entails? No lights after 8 o'clock. If any disregard be paid to orders, or disaffection evinced, you must be tried by court-martial—flogged—or even shot! Our little village is as yet unattacked. Our streets are regularly patrolled. No shops are open but butchers' and bakers'—provisions are dreadfully dear—no money to be obtained—no courts of law open—no licenses have been granted this year, so neither beer, nor wine, nor spirits can be sold—and in the midst of all this distress my dear husband's health is visibly wasting. If, in addition to all my other troubles, he is to be removed, I know not how I shall be able to bear up, as I shall be totally destitute. Oh, that I was near enough to hear one word of consolation from your lips! I do now feel bitterly where I am—truly banished.

Farewell, my dearest mother, pray for your afflicted daughter.