Adele, and paid for it as early as the 17th of September, at which time we were expecting the Adele to sail in a few days, though she did not till about the middle of the following month.

During our delay at Calcutta, the causes of which we have now explained, we were led by observation to believe, that our fears had been premature: for we found Missionaries, who had been ordered away no less positively than ourselves, nevertheless residing quietly in Bengal; and we ascertained the same to be true of others in India We therefore began to hope, that, had we pursued a different plan, we might have been allowed to go to the place, which our inquiries should incline us to choose. Several reasons at length inducing us to desire to go to Ceylon, rather than to the Isle of France, we prepared the annexed petition, No. 2; but, lest we should presume too much on the indulgence of government, we at the same time pursued our arrangements, intending, should that petition be rejected, to proceed, according to our original plan, to the Isle of France. The petition, when delivered at the Police, was carried by the clerk to Mr. Martin, who was on the opposite side of the room, and who replied, through the same clerk, that it was unnecessary to present that petition, and that he would give us a pass at any time.' The question was asked by Mr. Hall, 'Should we go to Ceylon, instead of the Isle of France, would that be equally acceptable to government?' and was answered in the affirmative.

The petition was withdrawn; and we did all in our power to obtain a passage for Ceylon. But before we could obtain one, we were summoned to the Police, and our reasons were demanded for not having gone to the Isle of France. Our reply was, that we had been endeavoring to go thither, till we had learnt from the Police, that a pass might be obtained equally well for Ceylon; and that we were then seeking for an opportunity to depart for that island. We did not at this, or at any other time, say, at the Police, nor to any person whomsoever, that our delay of going to the Isle of France was for want of opportunities. Nor could we have said this without obviously appearing to many, who well knew our proceedings, to be totally destitute of every principle of honor and religion.

Notwithstanding all our efforts, we found no opportunity of going to Ceylon; nor could we hope for one, we were told, earlier than the January fleet. In the mean time, it had been suggested to us, that Mr. Martin would probably give a general pass from Bengal, without specifying any particular place. We supposed, from what he had said respecting his giving a pass, that a pass from him, and not a formal permission from government, was a regular deparWhether such a pass could be obtained we did indeed doubt; but we were encouraged to make the attempt in the confidenec, that to fail could not injure us, and that, should we succeed,

ture.

See No. 2, at the close of this Memorial.

in the voice of the police we should have the voice of government; particularly as the police had been the only organ of government

to 118.

Our application succeeded; and on the faith of our passes "to depart on the ship Commerce, capt. Arbuthnot," we proceeded to make our arrangements; esteeming it a great favor that we had obtained permission to depart, though it gave us no right of remaining in the place to which we intended to go. Our friends expres sed their happiness at our success;-among whom were some, in whose judgment we thought it safe to confide.

The passes now in the hands of R T. Goodwin, Esq.,* were obtained on the 10th of November, with the expectation that the ship would sail in four or five days. On Saturday the 13th, a part of our baggage was put on board. On Tuesday morning, the 16th, we paid our passage to the captain's agent, and, in the afternoon of the same day, we were unexpectedly summoned to attend at the Police, which we did the next morning with Messrs Rice and Judson, who had received a like summons. We then received a communication from government, stating, that on account of our having failed to go to the Isle of France, we were considered as having forfeited all claim to the further indulgence of government; and directing the Police to correspond with the Marine Board, concern. ing the provision for our departure for England, on the fleet under despatch. The fleet, we were informed, was to sail within five days, which would allow no more than three days to prepare for a voyage to England.

After reading the order, Mr. Nott mentioned to Mr. Martin his circumstances, and asked, whether the order of government would interfere with his previous arrangements, and prevent his departing according to his pass? The reply was "Certainly; the order of gov ernment is positive." Mr. Martin then mentioned the opportuni ties there had been of going to the Isle of France, which had been neglected; and added that he had always told him, that he would have to go to the Isle of France or England. Neither of us, Lowever, had heard our going to England mentioned before.

We were directed by the person who went with us from the Police, to give information should we change our place of resi dence; and were also advised by him to write to Mr. Martin concerning our families, as they had not been noticed in the orders of government. This advice, however, we did not follow, as we immediately formed the plan of making the annexed address to the Right Honorable the Governor General.

Concluding from the unexpected orders, that, if we applied, we should not perhaps be permitted to proceed to Bombay, we resolved to attempt to obtain liberty to go to Point de Galle, where the captain was so obliging as to promise to put us on shore, With these views we prepared the petition, No. 3.†

VOL. X.

• Mr. Goodwin is chief magistrate of police at Bombay.
† See No. 5, at the close of this Memorial.

After this paper had received the approbation of some of our friends, we went on Thursday morning to Barrackpore, for the purpose of presenting it to his Lordship. The Hon. Mr. Elliot, his Lordship's private secretary, upon reading the first sentence observed, that as it related to an order in council, his Lordship would not receive it in his private capacity. We mentioned the urgency of the case, and requested him on that account to deliver it; but he refused, and advised us to hand it to the secretary to whose department it belonged. We left him without his probably Knowing who we were, and returned to Calcutta.

Having found upon inquiry, that the meeting of the council was postponed till after the time appointed for the sailing of the fleet, we did not hand our petition to the secretary, according to the Hon. Mr. Elliot's advice; but resolved to embrace the doubtful but only alternative of embarking on the Commerce, according to our previous arrangements and our passports, should we find, that the captain had reported us to the police as his passengers and ob. tained the port-clearance for biz ship. Upon inquiry we found that he had not. We therefore delayed our embarkation till Friday noon, when the captain showed us bis certificate, (which he can doubtless now show,) that he had reported us to the police, agreeably to the orders of the Governor General in Council; and like. wise told us, that the ship was cleared out at the custom-house, and would probably sil the next day. We then completed our arrangements and went on board the same day. Till we went on board we were either at our known place of abode, or moving pub. licly about Calcutta on our "necessary business. We did not give information of our going on board to the Police, because our having obtained a pass, and the captain's having reported us on that very day as his passengers, furnished them, we supposed, with sufficient means of knowing where we were.

Though both the captain and the agent had told us, that the ship would sail the next day, yet she remained at her moorings till Monday morning, when we proceeded down the river. We imputed our not being sent for to the intention, and not to the ignorance, of the Police.

On this statement of the circumstances of our leaving Calcutta we beg leave to remark, that we did diligently endeavor to obtain an audience from government till it appeared that no audience could be obtained before too late an hour;-that considering cur passes, and particularly the captain's report to the police, which was made after the same police had communicated the orders of government to us, we did consider ourselves as acting with regu Jarity, and presumed, when we found ourselves suffered to proceed, that the police, as we were now manifestly on the point of having Bengal, were not disposed to carry their inquiries any further.

Though we had not succeeded in presenting the above-mentioned petition to Lord Minto, we still intended to stop at Ceylon, supposing that a fresh departure from that island might be taore favorable to our reception in Bombay, than to arrive directly from Ben

gal. But as Bombay continued to be the place of our desire;-as the government of Bengal had suffered us to proceed, while considering us, as we supposed, bound to Bombay;-as we met with a long and unexpected delay on the coast;-and as our funds were low, we concluded to proceed directly to this place.

We beg leave to express our fears, that some appearance of inconsistency in us may have arisen from a mistaken connexion of us with our two brethren; from whom we lived at considerable distance apart; with whose plans we were unconnected; and from whose business at the Police ours was generally distinct and different. Your Excellency will readily perceive, that such a connexion, though the conduct of cach, severally, might be explained, would give an appearance of inconsistency to both.

The above we declare to be a full statement of our conduct, in relation to the government of Bengal; the truth of which is known to many of our friends, with whom our conversations have beeu frequent and particular. That we have acted with integrity, we have the testimony of our own consciences. That we have guided our affairs with discretion, we will not say. But if the above statement exhibit indiscretions, we hope they will appear to be such as have arisen, not from rashness and obstinacy, but from an honest zeal in what we considered as laudable objects, and from the ignorance of strangers in a strange land. Above all, we hope, Right Honorable Sir, that our intentions will appear to have been good, and our conduct such as not to have cast a deserved reproach upon our holy religion, nor to have destroyed our character as ministers of Jesus, in the interests of whose church we believe your Excellency to feel deeply concerned.

Having said these necessary things, respecting our characters and conduct, we beg your Excellency's further indulgence, while we submit at large the objects we desire to pursue in this place.

Our great and general object is the diffusion of Christian know]edge and Christian morals. In attempting this, we should consi-ler our first step to be the acquisition of the language of the country, which, in a tolerable degree, we suppose, must occupy the greatest part of our time for two or three years. During this time we should hope to be useful, by the instruction of schools composed either of European or hali-cast children,† or by teaching the English language to the natives themselves. While engaged in the acquisition of the language, we should hope to be useful in our intercourse with the people, particularly the lower classes; giving religious instruction to such as should be inclined to receive it; and, finally, should we be allowed to remain, it would be our intention to do all in our power to forward the translation of the Scriptures into the Mahratta language; and, perhaps, should our lives be spared, into the Guzeratice likewise; with the hope that by em fccbie endeavors some might be ipduced to embrace them as the word of

Messrs. Rice and Judson. En.

Our readers may not all be informed, that half-cast children are doc, que of whose parents is a European, the other a indoo, Es.

life, and become partakers of the unsearchable riches of Christ, which are such an inestimable blessing to Christian countries.

This statement we cheerfully submit to your Excellency, hoping that our conduct has not forfeited, and that our object claims, your Excellency's indulgence; and that we shall not be under the painful necessity of relinquishing an object, in which so many Christian friends are so deeply interested..

With sentiments of the highest respect,
Right Honorable Sir,

We are your Excellency's most obedient,
and most humble servants,

GORDON HALL,
SAMUEL NOTT,

No. 1.

To the Honorable the Governor General, in Council.

WE, the Undersigned, passengers lately arrived on board the American ship Harmony, having received an order to depart out of the country on board the same ship, beg have to state, that agreeably to our intention, stated at the Police on our arrival, of leaving the Company's dominions, we request liberty to depart, by the earliest opportunity, for the Isle of France; and therefore that the Harmony may not be refused a clearance on our account.

LUTHER RICE,
GORDON HALL,
SAMUEL NOTT.

Calcutta, Aug. 21, 1812.

No. II.

To the Right Honorable Lord Minto,† Governor General, in Council.

Tur Undersigned, having been detained by sickness and other causes from going to the Isle of France, as permitted about two months ago, and now wishing to depart to Ceylon, beg permission to pass out of the Honorable Company's dominions to that island. GORDON HALL, SAMUEL NOTT.

Calcutta, Oct. 17, 1812.

No. III.

To the Right Honorable Gibert Lord Minto, Governor General.

THE Undersigned, having read at the Police the orders respecting their going to Engfand, wherein they are said to bave forfeited all claim to the further indulgence of government, by not having gone to the Isle of France, beg leave to solicit your Lordship's attention to the causes of their delay, and to their present circumstances.

As early as the middle of September, and as soon as they had recovered from the sickness into which they fell on their arrival, they engaged their passage on the ship Adele, bound to the Isle of France, which was to sail in the course of that month, but was detained til sometime after the date of the enclosed petition.

* This petition was published in the Panoplist for Jan. 1813, p. 373; but as it is short, it is republished here for the sake of preserving the connexion.

† Lord Minto administered the government of Bengal for six years. His term of fice expired sometime in 1813, and he sailed for England probably in December Mist. Late English popers mention his death soon after he reached home, aged 53, About the year 1788, then Sir Gilbert Elliot, he was an active member of the British House of Commons. He is succeeded, in the government of the Company's dominions, bu Lord Moira, known as Lord Rawdon in the American revolutionary war.

See No. II.

ED. PAN: