“The school-room being too small to contain the Native congregation, and encouraged by the Committee’s[102] approbation of my wish to build a larger house for their accommodation, I desired Mr. Bowley to look out for a proper spot to build upon. A house and premises, contiguous to the barracks, the owner refused to dispose of to us; and this led us to fix upon a spot about two hundred yards further from the barracks, and on two sides bounded by the Native town. The possessor, Mr. Turnbull, was applied to for it, and he begged Mr. G. Robinson to go up and fix a price on it. Mr. R. accordingly went with me last week and valued the premises at 500 Rupees. On this being reported to Mr. Turnbull, he generously wrote, saying, that he begged I would accept the ground for the purpose intended. This, I hope, is a token for good, and may be taken as an encouragement to proceed.... I think there will be no difficulty in raising 4 or 5000 Rupees for our intended church.” Mr. Corrie had the happiness to find that these anticipations were not premature, for on a subscription paper being put into circulation, the Marquis of Hastings was pleased to head the list of contributions by a donation of 1000 sicca rupees, towards building a church at Chunar. Encouraging, however, as was this improved state of feeling in favour of missionary labours, there remained abundant scope for the exercise of christian zeal. In a letter, addressed to his brother about this time, Mr. Corrie writes from Benares:-- “In a neighbouring district (with the magistrate of which I am well acquainted) during the last year, two widows were burned on an average every month; six lepers were buried alive, or drowned, by their friends; and not less than one hundred persons destroyed themselves by drowning, in fits of passion, under the idea that their ghosts would haunt the offending party. Such being the strength of passion in them, you will not be surprised that murders are exceedingly frequent: and, what is worst of all, their religion encourages these excesses.... The progress of the gospel is slow, but advancing. The unholy rivalry of some who differ from us in modes of worship is a stumbling-block to a few; and it grieves me to be often obliged to spend my time and my breath in proving the lawfulness of infant-baptism, and the propriety of baptism by sprinkling. Satan thus divides, but he shall not finally prevail.” It was now the will of God to exercise the faith and patience of His servant, by a no less severe affliction than the death of an only son. How great this trial proved to Mr. Corrie, will be seen from his letter on that occasion-- TO MRS. MYERS. “April 9, 1818.