Chapter X: Calcutta

On the 24th of April 1812, Mr. Corrie arrived in Calcutta, and took up his abode with Mr. Thomason. He found his friend Mr. Brown in a very debilitated state of health. During the preceding six months, Mr. B’s strength had been manifestly failing; but now his illness had assumed so threatening an aspect, that a sea-voyage was recommended as the only human means, that promised to ward off the danger of death. Mr. Brown accordingly consented to make trial of that remedy; and having expressed a great desire that Mr. Corrie should accompany him in the voyage, the two friends left Calcutta early in May, and on the 14th of that month, embarked on board the Dover Castle, with the intention to visit Madras. The first effect of the sea-air was beneficial to both. Respecting his friend, Mr. Corrie observed:--

“Mr. Brown, since his coming on board is much recovered,
though still very weak. He has, at times a great deal
of his former wit, and sound sense in conversation.
He observed, that he had generally found considerable
scrupulosity attended with little understanding, and some
defect in morality.”

This record is dated on the 17th of May: and on the 30th, Mr. Corrie writes:--

“Many events have taken place since writing the above,
which I would remember. We lay at Saugur till the 23rd.
during that time I was much occupied about Mr. B. and
cabins, &c. I had time, however, to get near some of
those around me; our discourse was all upon religion: on
the 23rd., we weighed anchor, and went down to the first
buoy: on Sunday the 24th, owing to the confusion attending
heaving the anchor, &c., we could not have worship. I
employed myself most of the morning in reading Paley’s
Sermons. Mr. B. was too ill to attend to any thing; about
2 o’clock on that day, as Mr. B. and I were talking, we
perceived the ship to touch ground; and, after two or three
scrapings of that kind, fairly stick fast: all appeared
alarmed on deck; the masts were ready to go over-board,
and the decks began to heave: during this time the rudder
broke off: in about half an hour we were carried into deep
water, but obliged to anchor, the ship being unmanageable:
she was found to leak, and all hands ordered to the pumps:
on her first striking, Mr. B. quietly observed, “It is the
Lord, let him do as seemeth him good;” then quietly putting
on his clothes, we came up into the captain’s cabin, and
remained there all the time: on Monday, we attempted to
float up with the tide, but the wind failing, the ship went
toward the sand, and the anchor was lost: in consequence of
this all became dismayed, and it was recommended that the
Colonel and Lady Elizabeth Murray, with Mr. B. and myself,
should go on board the pilot schooner; we went accordingly,
but here great troubles awaited us. Mr. B. fainted through
fatigue; and as there was only one private cabin, he would
not take it, but remained on deck the whole of that day
and night, and till the evening of Tuesday, when we were
taken on board the Baring: here we had a quiet night, and
next day Mr. B. appeared quite revived; but the following
night, having got chilled in his sleep, he arose very
unwell, and from what I observed, I first began to think
he would not recover: on Friday, we got up to Fulta, where
Mr. B. again appeared better, but having been worse during
Saturday night, he resolved to come to Calcutta on Sunday,
where he now is, in a very weak state, at Mr. Harrington’s.
During all these changes, I have felt little of either
hope or fear, pleasure or pain; the plague of a hard heart
has seized me. God grant me never to think well of myself,
till I can feel more of his hand in my daily history! This
insensibility began on going on board the yacht, where my
retirements were interrupted, and my time broken up; being
hourly with Mr. B., and constantly on the watch to wait
upon him, destroyed my time on board; and now, O Lord,
I would return to Thee, do thou quicken me, as thou art
wont! I found the evening prayers in church very grateful
on Sunday, and the sermon suitable. God! I thank thee for
these visits: O enable me to remember them thankfully!
The general temper of Mr. B. was deep humiliation; the
penitential psalms he said were just suited to him, and
often he praised God for his word, and for the record of
his dealings with his saints: often he said, ‘the Lord’s
will is best; His way is best, His time is best; He doeth
all things well!’ He said, ‘a man does not know the
wickedness of his heart till he grows old:’ he had been
more sensible of Satan’s attacks during the last two years
than at any period of his life: the Office for visiting
the Sick he often read, and expressed his feeling of how
suitable it was.”

Fatigue and exposure to the weather, added to the want of sustenance proper for an invalid, so worked upon the exhausted frame of Mr. Brown, that notwithstanding all that medical skill and the attention of friends could do for him, he closed his mortal career within about a fortnight of his return to Calcutta. As regarded Mr. Corrie, his health still required that he should try the efficacy of a sea-voyage, and therefore he made arrangements for embarking for the Isle of France, at the beginning of July. In the meanwhile, however, he was occupied in various clerical duties, and paid the last tribute of affection to his deceased friend, Mr. Brown, by a funeral sermon preached in the Presidency church. With reference to this and the circumstances connected with his intended voyage, Mr. C. remarks:--

“Diamond Harbour, ship Bengal, merchantman, July 5, 1812.
Since my last memoranda, how many striking events have
occurred, and how little, alas, improved!

“On the fourteenth of June, Mr. B. departed this life.
I have learned, from this event, the absolute necessity
of keeping the mind in a humble, waiting posture. Lord,
may I watch and pray, and have patience to endure, that
I may inherit the promises. I have had frequent public
ministrations; amongst others, preached on the twenty-fifth
in the new church, a funeral sermon for Mr. B., it had the
effect of removing prejudice from the minds of some; the
enmity of ---- is too apparent, but he can go no further
than permitted. O Lord, look in mercy on the congregation
at the new church, and take not the light of thy truth
from them! The frequent calls into the heat, with many
interruptions, rendered it needful for me to seek change,
and behold I am here, I think by the will of God. I hope
to get rid of the disease of the liver, but the failure of
my lungs, I am conscious of, will not be so easily repaired.

“I am in the Lord’s hands. Agra seems on all accounts best
fitted for me, presenting less labour among Europeans, and
more opportunities of schools, &c. among the natives. Lord,
bring me thither, if it be thy will!

“July 12th. I have been detained here beyond my
expectations; my mind generally at peace through Jesus
Christ. I have humbled myself, and renewed my repentance,
and trust I am at peace through the blood of sprinkling.
During the week have had many conversations with P.; and, I
hope, with good effect; he has been extracting the passages
that refer to Justification, and said last night, he is
determined to give the subject thorough consideration. In
prayer I have had more freedom than on shore, and have been
led, from reflecting on God’s care of his church, to pray
for the enlargement of it in India.”

Whilst detained on the shores of India, Mr. Corrie received a letter from Mr. Buckworth, which called forth the following reply:--

“July 20, 1812.

“A letter of your’s without date, reached me yesterday, and
delighted me much. I have had many apprehensions respecting
your continuance in this ‘vale of tears:‘--fears for myself
and for your flock and family, not for yourself. I trust
that as it is better for us that you should remain; you
will be given to us for a season longer.

“You and I have both erred in excess of labour; we know
who hath said, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice.” I do
not, however, regret having done what I could. It is here,
I trust, we do not presume in expecting pardon for our
iniquities; and though we might have served our generation
more effectually by simple dependence on the promised
blessing, on quiet unconsuming labour, we may hope when
our head is laid low, others shall enter into our labours.
The prospect in this land is indeed very discouraging on
this head. Government continues its determined opposition
to every thing tending to bring the light of the Gospel
before the heathen. It is now, also, a melancholy
consideration that so many of their native subjects,
bearing the Christian name, are left to ‘perish for lack of
knowledge.’ Would to God something might be done on this
subject in the new settlement of the Charter! Surely the
religious public at home, will make an effort to bring the
circumstances of the Indian Church before Parliament.

“I am highly gratified by the account of your young
friends who have devoted themselves to missionary labour.
‘Say unto them, be strong, fear not.’ How earnestly do I
wish a way were opened for them to this land; how gladly
would I hail them as brethren; but, unless they could
come in some way accredited from home, such is the state
of things here, I could not serve them much. There is
no hindrance cast in my own way, but such as the Gospel
meets with every where; but what I mean is, that very
little could be done to procure the consent of Government
to their stay, unless they had leave from home. By the
Charter, the Company ought to have schoolmasters as well
as Chaplains for their European regiments; could none of
the London friends procure schoolmasters to be sent here?
Mr. Thomason is greatly in want of an assistant in the old
church, Calcutta; could not one of your young friends get
ordained, and come over to us? Whilst Mr. Brown was alive,
Mr. Thomason had help; now he stands alone in Calcutta.
Besides, the ‘Society for Missions to Africa and the East,’
want to send a missionary to Ceylon, a most important field
of labour. I would urge their coming to this land, if a
way were opened, in preference to Africa, because here the
natives are not sanguinary, and the land is under European
government; and also, because though I have lost my health,
and others also, yet I think another who should follow my
advice might here live to the age of man, notwithstanding
the difference of climate. Mr. Desgranges destroyed
himself; ‘the zeal of God’s house ate him up,’ I think may
be said of this member of Christ, in his measure; and the
same of beloved and honoured Martyn. Notwithstanding the
opposition of Government, a work is working in this land,
which the despisers wonder at, and know not how to resist.
The public sentiment appeared gloriously on the foundation
of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society; even those who
oppose officially, saying they obey orders from home,
cannot resist the Christian argument in behalf of the many
already baptized. Missions have uniformly been discouraged
by the British government here, yet we find ten or twelve
thousand converts among their subjects; and now many, very
many of our British fellow-subjects here are awakened
seriously to their own state, and to a sense of the duty
we owe them. Some young officers, I know, have schools in
their own house, where they educate the native christian
children they find about them. At every European station,
there are some of these children. One married officer and
his lady have collected about twenty, and pray with them in
Hindoostanee every morning. Let these considerations, my
brother, excite a spirit of prayer for us here; among your
young brethren, at your quarterly meetings, make mention
of our affairs, that we may have a place in your joint
supplications; and God grant that some of them may be led
to offer themselves to the help of the Lord!”

Then, after mentioning some particulars respecting the state in which he left his flocks at Cawnpore, Chunar and Benares, and which have already been related, Mr. Corrie proceeds:

“What a dreary waste from Benares to Calcutta! There are
indeed, several worthy individuals in that place; but

“The sound of the church-going bell
These beautiful plains never heard;
Never sighed at the sound of the knell,
Nor smiled when a sabbath appeared.”

“Mr. Martyn is in Persia; I heard from him, dated March
20th from Shiraz; he had finished a copy of the New
Testament, and of the Psalms, in Persian, and was employed
on the book of Daniel: he purposes going into Arabia, to
prove specimens of Arabic translation, before his return.
I baptized four converts a few days ago, the fruits of a
Native brother’s labours, who possesses good ministerial
abilities, and promises great usefulness. Of the Baptists,
I may speak in a body. Their chief success is in Calcutta,
where some, in most months, are added to them. They have
some brethren at Agra; some at Dinapore, or Patna (which
are close together,) but I hear of none persuaded by
them except a young officer, who was awakened by some
means at a distance from Christian society, and having
none that he could advise with, wrote to them; and from
one step to another seems now disposed to join them. He
has been persuaded to pause. Their labours in Chinese
and Sanscrit are valuable, because they have proper helps;
but their other productions are inferior. Of those who
have joined them in Calcutta, it is no disparaging of
their individual worth to say that they are mostly of
inferior rank. I hesitate not to say, they prevail by legal
considerations for the most part; and I lament that their
prejudices against the Church of England will not suffer
them to take one step beyond their own narrow enclosure.
But may the work of the Lord, as far as it is His work,
prosper in their hands, no less than in ours: and may we
all be found one in Christ Jesus! For myself, I write this
on board of ship in Saugur roads, at the entrance of the
river leading to Calcutta. I am going to sea on account of
a liver-complaint, which has afflicted me now upwards of
three years, and does not give way to medicine. I am told,
it has not yet injured my constitution, but ministerial
labours completely counteract the effects of medicine, so
that I can only hope for a cure from rest and change of
air. I feel it a duty to try these; and for this purpose
came down from Cawnpore.”

Scarcely had Mr. Corrie put to sea, when he again had to encounter the perils of the deep. Writing on the 31st July, he remarks:--

“On the 27th it began to blow a gale, which continued the
whole day with great violence: and though its violence
abated in the evening, it has been blowing weather ever
since. Yesterday, we were obliged to heave overboard
370 bags of rice, it having got damaged from the water
we shipped continually, and gave the ship so great a
lurch that we were afraid she would sink, the pumps not
being able to keep her clear. On Monday especially, our
danger was apparent, and my mind was at first a good deal
discomposed. I retired to my cabin, and on a review could
say that I have not wasted my health in self-pleasing, that
however mixed my services have been with sinful motives,
yet the furtherance of the gospel has been my chief aim,
and now I am here seeking renewal of strength, much against
my own inclination; but at the urgent importunities of
friends: and if it please God to restore me, I intend no
other work or way but to serve Him in the gospel of his
Son. Such reflections encouraged me to draw near with
faith to God in Christ. I was favoured with freedom of
access, and by prayer and thanksgiving, was enabled to
‘cast my burden on the Lord,’ and to hope for and expect
the preservation afforded. I, at the same time, devoted
my body, soul, and spirit anew to the service of God my
Saviour; and I do now renew that dedication, and purpose
through thy strength, O blessed Saviour, to know nothing,
and follow after nothing, but the knowledge of my Lord
Jesus Christ, and the diffusion of his blessed truth.

“August 3rd. The wind still boisterous, and often stormy;
this destroys our comfort with the poor attendance we have
on board. I endeavour to improve my mind by reading and
conversation with ----, who seems to come more and more
into true notions on religion; may grace be vouchsafed him,
that he may feel their importance, and rest upon them!
During yesterday and to-day we have been returning to
nearly our former way; the wish of putting into some port
has been much present with me, and the hope of being able
to return, without going to the Isle of France, has made
me too anxious. O Lord, give me grace to be submissive to
thine appointments! I know not what is best: thou, Lord
well knowest: O direct, controul, and support my soul!
The sight of the raging sea, which at times made me feel
powerfully the presence and majesty of God, ceases to have
that effect: because others apprehend no danger, I am ready
to conclude there is none, and so live without that looking
unto Jesus which is my duty and my privilege. O Lord,
though to human apprehension danger is not nigh; yet my
life is in thy hands, and thine are all my ways; and in the
practice of these words I desire to live and die. Amen!”

Owing to this stormy weather, contrary winds, and a strong current, the ship made but little way, for after a fortnight’s sailing, Mr. Corrie found himself no further on his voyage than the Cacoas islands. The captain then decided to retrace their course somewhat, with a view to getting to the westward, and that object was accomplished so far that toward the end of August, the ship was slowly working her way down the coast, and on the 6th of September entered the Vizagapatam roads. It appears however, from Mr. Corrie’s Journal, that the prospect of a long and tedious voyage, and the consequent uncertainty as to the time when he might get back again to India, often ‘filled his mind with painful anxiety.’ The return, too, of former pains in his side, he regarded as being chiefly occasioned by ‘the want of regular food and exercise.’ These and other considerations weighed so powerfully on his mind that for some time previously to coming within sight of the coast of India, he had decided to abandon the voyage to the Isle of France, and to ‘disembark at whatever port the ship might put in.’ On reaching Vizagapatam he carried that purpose into effect. This place had then been occupied for about eight years as a central station by the London Missionary Society; and was, moreover, a place of much interest to Mr. Corrie, as being the scene of the labours and death of Mr. Desgranges, who is so feelingly mentioned in the foregoing letter to Mr. Buckworth. Here, therefore, Mr. Corrie remained for more than a fortnight in the house of Mr. Pritchett, the London Society’s missionary. During his stay at Vizagapatam, Mr. C. notes on

“September 20th. This day six years I arrived in Calcutta:
I scarcely know what to say or think of the time gone by. I
feel myself an unprofitable servant. My coldness in prayer;
my want of love to the Bible; my generally reading other
books in its stead, oppress me with a sense of guilt. The
favour shown me here is very humiliating, being so much
more than I deserve. O God, give me grace to know and do
thy will, and to delight in thy law!”

Mr. Corrie’s departure from Vizagapatam is noticed as follows:--

“September 23rd. On board the ship Union, leaving
Vizagapatam. Arrived here on the 6th, wrote to Mr.
Pritchett, and went on shore by invitation, in the evening,
to their family worship. I have been hospitably entertained
ever since, at the mission-house, though owing to the
lowness of the place, and consequent heat, I should have
preferred a higher situation. I have observed in general
that the missionaries are men of true piety, and of more
candour than I expected: they receive ten pagodas per month
from Government (a pitiful sum,) for which they officiate
as Chaplain to the station; but do not baptize or marry.
They have public worship in the court-house on Sunday,
and at the house on top of the hill; the attendance is
generally good.[83] I officiated at the latter place the
two Sundays I was there. On Sunday last I administered the
Lord’s Supper to twelve; and last night married a couple;
baptized eight children, and preached in the court-house in
the evening, and afterwards administered the Lord’s Supper
to six....

“Though the missionaries are doubtless good men, yet I
see decidedly the advantage men who have been brought up
from youth with attention to learning, have over them. I
suggested a native Christian school, and it will, I expect,
be adopted; and according to my views of the subject, will
supply a door of entrance among the heathen. May I remember
their Christian love, and be excited to imitate it! May the
remembrance of the attention shown me operate to render me
more anxious to deserve it!

“September 24th. Last night we were obliged to come to
anchor off Vizagapatam. This morning a slight breeze
sprung up; and we are now, 4 a. m. losing sight of
hospitable Waltere. My heart, ever cleaving to creatures,
viewed Mr. P’s house several times during the day, with
regret at leaving it.... I know, O Lord, that thy salvation
is life eternal, and that in thy light alone does light and
joy appear to the soul. O Lord my God, lift upon me the
light of thy countenance for the sake of thine Anointed!”

The following are also extracts from Mr. C’s Journal:--

“Sunday, 27th Sept.--This has been a most unprofitable day;
the temper of those on board seems more removed from the
christian temper than any thing I have seen. A contemptuous
disregard of every thing sacred reminds me continually of
the caution not to cast pearls before swine; yet let me not
suffer sin upon my neighbour unreproved. I have attempted
to pray, and have gone over the usual subjects; but, alas,
with little heart: it occurred to me the increased number
of names I have to mention ought to make me mark more
decidedly the power of God towards me.

“October 6th,--Below Kedgeree. During the last week, I was
occupied a good deal with some writings of Madame de Stael;
and could not but be thankful for more comfortable views of
religious truth than she can afford: I felt how absolutely
absurd all her theories of happiness are, and how insane
her most exemplary characters. At the same time, I felt a
fear lest any foolish pride of sentiment, or fine feeling,
should tempt me to forsake the fountain of living waters,
and was led to pray with some fervency for a more simple
regard to the word of God, and more attention to it. On
Sunday, the 4th, we fell in with a pilot, and yesterday
evening anchored in Saugur roads. To-day, we are at anchor
below Kedgeree light-house. I have felt much thankfulness
for a safe return to this land. I know not whether or not
my side is well, but feel that I am weaker than formerly;
easily affected by the heat, and do not soon recover from
the use of medicine. I have, however much reason to adore
the love and kindness of God my Saviour, that this land,
once the land of banishment to me, is become a land of
promise. I return to it not by constraint, but as a home:
there are sisters, brothers, and dear friends in the Lord,
to whom my soul cleaves, and to whom I am welcome. O my
God, surely I owe thee myself, my soul and body!--I have
owed to thee my days; thou hast delivered me from the
great deep, and my soul shall praise thee! My work among
the British, my native schools and teaching, to these
employments I consecrate my days.”

On the evening of Thursday the 8th October 1812, Mr. Corrie reached Calcutta, and on finding that Mr. Thomason was laid aside from duty, by an attack of illness, Mr. C. undertook the services at the Old Church for a few weeks, until his friend should be convalescent. It was not his desire, however, to remain long absent from his own station, now that his health had been in a great measure restored to him, and he, therefore, made preparations for proceeding to Agra. But before leaving Calcutta, Mr. C. was united in marriage to Elizabeth, the only child of Mr. W. Myers, a gentleman whose name has already occurred in these memoirs as among the friends of the Rev. D. Brown. Respecting Miss Myers, the observation of Mr. Thomason was, in reference to her marriage with Mr. Corrie, that she was ‘one who entered into all his missionary views, and was indeed a help-meet for him.’ It was now, also, that the Christian friendship which subsisted throughout after-life between Mr. Corrie and Abdool Messeeh, may be said to have commenced; for the sincerity of Abdool’s profession of the gospel having by this time been well proved, it was decided that he should accompany Mr. Corrie to Agra, as a Scripture Reader and Catechist. An outline of the history of this remarkable convert to the Christian faith, was drawn up at the time by Mr. Corrie,[84] and has been frequently reprinted; so that it would be superfluous, in this place, to do more than to supply such a brief sketch of Abdool’s earlier life, as may serve for the elucidation of some particulars respecting him, which are given below. It will be remembered, then, that Abdool was a native of Delhi; but that when arrived at man’s estate he accompanied his family to Lucknow; being all the while a zealous Mahomedan. From thence he removed to Cawnpore, where he was so impressed by the preaching of Mr. Martyn, that he became a candidate for baptism, accompanied Mr. M. to Calcutta, and was, after due probation, admitted into the church of Christ, by Mr. Brown, on Whit-Sunday, 1811. From that time until he joined Mr. Corrie’s family, Abdool lived in Calcutta or the neighbourhood, suffering much opposition from the Mahomedans, but being the instrument of much good to many of his countrymen.

At the latter end of November 1812, Mr. and Mrs. Corrie took leave of Calcutta for Agra, Abdool with several Christian native children occupying a boat by themselves. Abdool employed himself during the journey in teaching the children to read, &c., and in composing hymns to native measures. These he was in the habit of singing with the children and servants when the party came to anchor for the night. As also, the journey from Calcutta occupied many weeks, it was customary to remain at anchor throughout every Sunday that occurred on the way; and on those occasions Abdool used to collect together the boatmen and others on the banks of the river, and explain the scriptures to them. On many occasions, too, he maintained arguments with Brahmins and Romanists on subjects connected with their respective superstitions; but, as copious accounts of those disputes are given in the printed journal of Abdool’s proceedings, it is not considered necessary to repeat them. The result usually was to call forth much hostility to Abdool, and to expose him to personal danger. Thus, from Cawnpore, 17th Feb. 1813, Mr. Corrie writes to his brother-in-law:--

TO J. W. SHERER, ESQ.

‘We expect to leave this about the 25th; we should have
gone before now, but that Abdool Messeeh is gone to
Lucknow to visit his family, and will not return until
the 24th. I was not for his going, nor did he intend to
go, but on his writing from Allahabad, a brother and
nephew of his came over here, and received him with
much affection, and told him, that his father, mother,
another brother and three sisters, with their children,
had determined on coming over, if he would not go to see
them; professing also, that all his family wish to become
Christians together with him. There has been a great stir
at Lucknow about his conversion. A crowd assembled one
night about his father’s house and demanded that he should
openly renounce Abdool, or they should suspect him also of
becoming a Christian. He and the brothers said, they would
not renounce Abdool, who had always behaved kindly, and now
wrote to them with great affection. A tumult ensued, which
required the interference of the Cutwal; and the report
was carried to the Nabob’s son, if not to the Nabob. The
great men took the part of Abdool’s family, and reproved
the others; but under these circumstances, I did not think
it advisable for Abdool to go over, nor would he but for
the desire manifested by his family to cleave to him. This
made him determined to run all risks, and also because his
sisters’ husbands threatened to forsake them, if they came
over here; and Abdool argued it was not right for him to be
the cause of their disobeying their husbands, so he would
go to them. Indeed his whole conduct manifests a great deal
of discretion and good sense, though no superiority in
understanding; so that I fear nothing from indiscretion,
and have sent a servant of my own with him, and hope the
Lord will be his defence.

In a letter, however, which Mr. Corrie addressed soon after this to Lieutenant (now Captain) Peevor of H. M. 17th foot, he states that Abdool “was obliged to retreat privately,” from Lucknow, the rage of the Mahomedans was so great against him. Yet it appears that “his father, mother, two brothers and two nephews, had all professed their readiness to embrace the gospel,” and that the nephews returned with Abdool to Cawnpore.

[83] From the period of their first arrival at
Vizagapatam, the Missionaries seem to have been in
the habit of conducting public worship according to
the ritual of the church of England; and proceeded
to translate the English liturgy into the Teloogoo
language.

[84] Missionary Register, vol. i. p. 261-266.