“Persons whose intercourse with the natives relates merely to temporal concerns, can have little idea of their peculiar habits and prejudices. It is thus that I account for the very incorrect reports respecting the religious state of the natives of India, and which have been published in England by some who resided years among them. I have even known men of real piety, whose situations led them to much intercourse with the natives, for mercantile and other temporal purposes, express it as their opinion that nothing less than a miraculous interposition could convert them to Christianity. I account for this from the circumstance, that they find such a disposition to chicanery and imposition, in the natives, as requires the exercise of a degree of authority and even of severity, in men dealing with them, which is unknown in England.... From having lived always under an absolute, military despotism, the natives of India, beside that natural propensity to selfishness, which in them is uncontrolled, are cautious how they offend their superiors; and such they consider Europeans of almost every rank. They must have had much proof of the forbearance and gentleness of a white man, before they will ask questions on any subject, further than he appears disposed to answer; and they will be cautious how they answer to his questions, lest they should unintentionally offend.... This servile spirit does not give place entirely, even on conversion. It renders much patience and tenderness necessary in dealing with new converts, no less than with the unconverted. They have very little idea of an option being allowed them in things indifferent; and will often appear hesitating and indecisive, when their only fear is offending their superiors. So that the impossibility of benefitting, or improving the moral state of the different classes of [native] Christians, is asserted by many of the British, equally with the impossibility of the conversion of the Heathen.” [85] The youth of European descent so often mentioned in Mr. Corrie’s correspondence. He accepted a clerkship of some kind in the Company’s service, in preference to becoming a missionary. [86] Native judge. [87] In a letter addressed about this time to the correspondents in Calcutta of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East, Mr. C. recommends them ‘to advise with the society, as to the ordination of native ministers, without which,’ he adds, ‘the Sacraments cannot be regularly administered, nor any permanency looked for in this work.’ [88] A native physician. [89] The Bigoh or Bigga is less than an English acre.