_December 25._--Preached, with much comfort to myself, on 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,' etc. Mr. Brown on 'Let your light so shine before men,' etc. The whole sum collected about seven thousand rupees. At night Mr. Thomason on 'Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.' This day how many of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity are rejoicing in His birth. My dear Lydia remembers me. _December 31._--Had a long dispute with Marshman, which brought on pain in the chest. He opened the year 1811 by preaching for the new Calcutta Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society his published sermon on Christian India and the Bible, to be read in the light of his own translation work hereafter. He thus on the same day committed himself to the future in the spirit of St. Paul: _1811._--The weakness which has come upon me in the course of the last year, if it should not give an entire new turn to my life, is likely to be productive of events in the course of the present year which I little expected, or at least did not expect so soon. I now pass from India to Arabia, not knowing what things shall befall me there; but assured that an ever-faithful God and Saviour will be with me in all places whithersoever I go. May He guide and protect me, and after prospering me in the thing whereunto I go, bring me back again to my delightful work in India. It would be a painful thought indeed, to suppose myself about to return no more. Having succeeded, apparently, through His blessing, in the Hindustani New Testament, I feel much encouraged, and could wish to be spared in order to finish the Bible. FOOTNOTES: [32] _The Life of Mrs. Sherwood_ (chiefly autobiographical), edited by her Daughter. London, 1854.