to take advantage for my voyage up the country. My journey, alas! will not be so pleasant as I anticipated, since, on the concurrent representations of all our medical advisers, my wife and children remain behind, and we shall be separated for half a year at least.

Dacca will be the first place I shall visit; there is a Church to consecrate there; a good many candidates for confirmation, and some Greek Christians with whom I wish to get on the same amicable terms as I am with their countrymen at Caleutta. Nor am I insensible to the desire of seeing one of the most ancient and singular cities of India, and of obtaining a nearer view of the Sunderbunds, the main stream of the Ganges, and the yet mightier Megna.

I held my first visitation this morning at six o'clock, to avoid the heat of the day. We had the first fruits of the Gentile Church in India, in the person of Christian David, a black catechist in Ceylon, and a pupil of the celebrated Schwartz, whom, at the desire of Sir Edward Barnes, I admitted to Deacon's orders. The poor man, who had journeyed to Calcutta, via Madras, to obtain them, is really a very clever, and at the same time a most simple and artless creature. He knows no Latin, but speaks English, Tamul, Cingalese, and Portuguese fluently, and passed a good, though a very Indian and characteristic, examination. He is to dine with me to-day to meet the Company's Chaplains and Church of England Missionaries, as usual

on visitation days, and the business being in some degree the triumph of the episcopal cause in the east, I have also asked the Protopapas of the Greeks, the Archimandrite of the Armenians, with certain of their subordinate monks from mount Sinai and Nakitchavan. It will be an odd party, but the fact is that I have been sometimes tempted to flatter myself with the hopes of effectually "reconciling" them. At least I think it not impossible for the Church of England to acquire a sort of inflence over their minds, separated as they are by a vast interval from their own ecclesiastical superiors, which may enable us to do them much good, and to convey much valueable instruction to them, which they otherwise would be very slow to receive from us.

Adieu, dear Wynn,

believe me ever

your obliged and affectionate friend,

REGINALD CALCUTTA.

God bless you once more! In proportion as friends drop off, those who are left become doubly dear. I have mourned for poor Puller sincerely, but what should I do for you?

MY DEAR LOVE,

TO MRS. R. HEBER.

On the Chundnah, June 28, 1824.

We are still in this labyrinth of rivers, and likely to be several days yet before we reach Dacca. Mr. Master, however, has kindly forwarded your packets to me, and I write back by his Dâk-boat, which, being small and light, will be there on Wednesday. Thank you for your interesting letter. I never recollect seeing your hand-writing with more or so much delight as now, since it arrived quite unexpectedly, and I had no hopes of hearing of you before the end of the week.

The stream of all these rivers, or nearly all, has been against us; and we had in one place a bar of sand to cut through, which has made our journey very tedious, though through a country, generally speaking, as beautiful as groves and meadows can make it. You will, I hope, ere this, have received my second packet of Journal; and the third I will send from Dacca. We are both, I think, gaining health fast.

If you and my dear children were with me, I should enjoy this way of life much. Our weather has been, generally, good, and all has gone on well.

This course has, certainly, been a long one; but I am, on the whole, not sorry that I preferred it.

It has shewn me a part of Bengal not usually traversed by Europeans, and decidedly, I think, the most beautiful. We have had, indeed, no more adventures like our "audience" at Sibnibashi, but I have some things to send which I trust will amuse you, and I have had opportunities of making four large drawings.

Your affectionate husband,

REGINALD CALCUTTA.

TO MRS. R. HEBER.

Dacca, July 10, 1824.

Poor Stowe has had a very severe recurrence of dysentery. He complained of it in some degree on Saturday, so that I left him wind-bound in the pinnace, rather than expose him to the chance of a wetting by taking him on in the jollyboat to Dacca, an expedient to which I myself resorted on that day, in order to be in time for church on Sunday. On Sunday evening he arrived, but so ill that we had some difficulty in getting him out of his cabin to Mr. Master's house.

I am quite well, except that my shins, which I could not help exposing to the heat of the sun in the little boat, were both burnt in the same way as if I had been sitting before a great fire.

Dr. Todd, the principal surgeon in the station, has considered Stowe as in some danger, but today his opinion is more favourable. Pray tell his sister, (though I hope it is almost needless) that he has, and shall have from me, as great attention and tenderness as a brother can shew. I sit in his room as much as I can, with my books and writing; I read to him when he is able to attend, and we converse from time to time, while he has more liking for the tea, egg-wine, &c. which I make for him than for what his nurse prepares.

I have had the Confirmation this morning; about twenty-nine persons attended, all adults.

Assure Miss Stowe that her brother shall, in no case, be hurried; and that I will not leave Dacca till he can accompany me, or, should so long a journey be thought too much for him, till he is actually out of all danger, and able to return to Calcutta with safety and propriety.

Adieu!

REGINALD CALCUTTA.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES W. WILLIAMS

WYNN.

Dacca, July 13, 1824.

MY DEAR WYNN,

I sent a few days since an official letter to Mr. Courtenay, announcing the intention of Arch