“We are in hopes of reaching Madras in nine weeks from this time; so that before you receive this, which comes by way of St. Helena, I shall, by the divine permission, be in India. Indeed, on this element, in a peculiar manner is the apostle’s limitation to be attended to, ‘If the Lord will, we shall do this or that.’ My dear friend will be ready to fear that an account of our spiritual voyage is to be excluded from this paper. Would that I could gladden your heart with tidings of a large fleet steering for the haven of everlasting blessedness; but on this subject my materials are scanty, though, blessed be God, some news of this kind I can send you.... We have twenty-two youths on board, going as cadets to India: of these a few allow me to talk freely and familiarly on the best subjects; the others treat me with civility, though sometimes they are shy of my company. One I sincerely hope is pious, though very volatile in his disposition: another attaches himself very much to me, and is much separated from his companions. These are the most promising among us, ‘the gleaning grapes, one or two, on the top of the uppermost boughs.’ I have distributed several Testaments, and other books; but observe no increase at present.... “My thoughts lead me now to Dewsbury, where I fancy I behold my dear friend and his dear partner, happy in each other, and happy in the love of Jesus; but not without some thorn, to remind them that their God has a more complete happiness in store for them. You will not need assurances that my daily prayers ascend on your behalf; nor need I ask you to believe that words cannot express the interest I feel in your welfare. May the richest blessings of Providence and of grace descend upon you both; and may you bring much honour to the ways of truth, by your lives and conversation, till, full of days, and full of grace, like shocks of corn in harvest, you be gathered into the heavenly garner! I long to be publishing glad tidings of salvation to poor Indians, and am daily studying their language for this purpose: an Asiatic on board helps me in acquiring the pronunciation, and in return, receives instruction in the New Testament: he evidences a teachable disposition; laments the folly and idolatry of his countrymen, and I trust will one day become a witness against their abominations.” But to return to the Journal:--