“Friday evening, Sept. 5th. I read a portion of the church prayers, and addressed an exhortation to the boys at the Asylum. There are about two hundred half-caste boys educated there, and maintained by public subscription. Dr. Ker is Superintendent; and Mr. L. is acting Master. During our stay at Mr. Torriano’s, our apartment was a tent comfortably fitted up, where Mr. T. generally (his son V. always), comes morning and evening to join in worship. The fort is a most complete structure, seemingly defying the power of man to take it: the buildings within it are very sumptuous. The Black Town far exceeds my expectation, in the commodiousness of its houses, and in their structure; but the streets are narrow; and the dust and filth in them render the town exceedingly unwholesome. I do not find the heat by any means so oppressive as I expected: morning and evening it is as cool as summer in England. I frequently walked several miles. The Europeans are, in general, very averse to the idea of evangelizing the natives. The chaplains consider it as a hopeless case; and others look upon it as needless and impolitic. I lament that my mind was not more affected with the stupid idolatry of these depraved people. Their pagodas abound; and their attention to them might shame people of purer principles; whilst their depraved morals show that their religion is confined wholly to externals; and that they are incapable of communion with a holy God. These considerations ought to impress me more. O the unconquerable hardness of this stupid heart! Yet, blessed be God, who has reconciled my mind more to the work of the ministry here; and has influenced me to prefer the honour which cometh of God, more than the favour of men. I think I am more determined than ever on publishing salvation to these ignorant heathen. I have to lament that my mind seldom experienced any sensible comfort in God, whilst on shore: deadness and oppression overspread my soul for the most part; yet, I do not recollect, except on one occasion, that I attempted to shun the reproach of the cross; and, in general I was enable to introduce serious subjects. “Sunday, Sept. 7th. Came on board the Alexander, in consequence of the Asia being ordered round by Penang, to take troops to Bengal: much heaviness of mind on account of the state of those around me....