William Carey, Calcutta, to the Revd John Williams, New York, 15 November 1803.

My dear Bror in Christ

         Having an opportunity of writing by the return of Mr Smith and Family to N. York I can not let it pass without asking you how you do? And how affairs are going on in America at large, and at N. York in particular; Having at this time written to several Correspondents at Philadelphia and other places in America all that I can say about ourselves can be only like the dull repetition of a twice told tale. I shall therefore be very short upon that head, and enquire about the American Mission; Do the Societies go on with courage? Are they countenanced by the public? Do persons fit for, and devoted to the Work offer themselves as Missionaries? How does dear Bror Holmes & his colleagues? What success have they had among the Indians? Is any thing done towards translating the Bible into the different Indian Languages? Do the Indians begin to attend to the duties of civilized Life? Are Schools set up and well attended among them? &c. &c. &c.

         I hope that the glorious Work in the Western & Southern States is still continuing, and will continue. Are the impressions in general permanent or not? We are to expect that the blossom will prove abortive in many instances, but after every deduction is not the Harvest great? What says the World to this work? What say Infidels to it? I suppose they will scoff but cannot resist its evidence. Has this glorious Work spread into any more of the States? Has it contributed at all to the destruction of that disgrace of America, and every civilized Nation. The Slave Trade? We have heard some time ago that the House of Assembly in Jamaica has prohibited the instruction of the Negroes, and their religious meetings. This is a very lamentable circumstance, for there are many of our Brethren there; It is undoubtedly the duty of us all to wrestle hard with God in Prayer for their deliverance. There can be no doubt but the hand of God will fall heavily on those Islands whose trade and even existence is supported by Robbery, Oppression, Cruelty, Persecution, and Murder. The Lord will judge his People, and when he maketh inquisition for Blood will not forget the sighing of the poor and needy. I hope and trust in God that the persecution of our dear brethren there will not last long. May their persecutors be converted and not destroyed.

         We are all in Health through the interposing goodness of the Lord our God; and the affairs of the Mission are in a promising state rather than otherwise. The number of Natives baptized in twenty six, two of whom have departed this Life, and left a sweet savour behind them. We have had some occasion to exercise disciple, but upon the whole our Friends give us much pleasure, and we account them our Glory and Joy. This part of the World has sustained a great Loss by the death of dear Mr Gericke Missionary at Vepery near Madras; he has been a Father in Israel for many years, and his [paper torn] or rather the Success of the Gospel in the southern part of India has lately been uncommonly great as last year in a Journey which he made to the south he baptized and formed into Churches about 4000 persons who had then through the instrumentality of native teachers & Catechists rejected heathenism and embraced Christianity; about a Week before the account of his death arrived, ^letters from him^ informed us that the work was still going on, and that he was preparing for another Journey to those parts, but how wonderful are the Ways of God. He died Oct. 2nd last, and there is now no one to succeed him. My paper is filled. Pray for us. Write to us, and be assured of the Xn Love of

                                 Yours Affecty

                                             Wm Carey

Calcutta

Novr 15. 1803

Address: Rev. J. Williams | New York –

Postmark: none

Text: John Williams Letters, RG no. 1207, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta. For Christian William Gericke (1742-1803), see previous letter.