the life of william carey-第74章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ight be expected that some of them would reside for years together； as do the owners of estates in the West Indies。 While Britain shall remain what she now is； it will be impossible for those who have once felt the force of British attachments； ever to forego them。 Those feelings would animate their minds； occupy their conversation； and regulate the education and studies of their children； who would be in general sent home that they might there imbibe all those ideas of a moral and intellectual nature for which our beloved country is so eminent。 Thus a new intercourse would be established between Britain and the proprietors of land in India； highly to the advantage of both countries。 While they derived their highest happiness from the religion； the literature； the philanthropy and public spirit of Britain； they would； on the other hand； be able to furnish Britain with the most accurate and ample information relative to the state of things in a country in which the property they held there constrained them to feel so deep an interest。 The fear of all oppression being out of the question； while it would be so evidently the interest not only of every Briton but of every Christian； whether British or native； to secure the protecting aid of Britain； at least as long as two…thirds of the inhabitants of India retained the Hindoo or Mussulman system of religion； few things would be more likely to cement and preserve the connection between both countries than the existence of such a class of British…born landholders in India。〃
It is profitable to read this in the light of subsequent eventsof the Duff…Bentinck reforms； the Sepoy mutiny； the government of the Queen…Empress； the existence of more than three millions of Christians in India； the social and commercial development due to the non…officials from Great Britain and America； and the administrative progress under Lord Curzon and Lord Minto。
There is one evil which Carey never ceased to point out； but which the very perfection of our judicial procedure and the temporary character of our land assessments have intensified〃the borrowing system of the natives。〃 While 12 per cent。 is the so…called legal rate of interest； it is never below 36； and frequently rises to 72 per cent。 Native marriage customs； the commercial custom of 〃advances；〃 agricultural usage； and our civil procedure combine to sink millions of the peasantry lower than they were； in this respect； in Carey's time。 For this； too； he had a remedy so far as it was in his power to mitigate an evil which only practical Christianity will cure。 He was the first to apply in India that system of savings banks which the Government has of late sought to encourage。
At a time when the English and even Scottish universities denied their honorary degrees to all British subjects who were not of the established churches； Brown University； in the United StatesJudson'sspontaneously sent Carey the diploma of Doctor of Divinity。 That was in the year 1807。 In 1823 he was elected a corresponding member of the Horticultural Society of London； a member of the Geological Society； and a Fellow of the Linn鎍n Society。 To him the latter year was ever memorable； not for such honours which he had not sought； but for a flood of the Damoodar river； which； overflowing its embankments and desolating the whole country between it and the Hoogli； submerged his garden and the mission grounds with three feet of water； swept away the botanic treasures or buried them under sand； and destroyed his own house。 Carey was lying in bed at the time； under an apparently fatal fever following dislocation of the hip…joint。 He had lost his footing when stepping from his boat。 Surgical science was then less equal to such a case than it is now； and for nine days he suffered agony； which on the tenth resulted in fever。 When hurriedly carried out of his tottering house； which in a few hours was scoured away by the rush of the torrent into a hole fifty feet deep； his first thought was of his garden。 For six months he used crutches； but long before he could put foot to the ground he was carefully borne all over the scene of desolation。 His noble collection of exotic plants； unmatched in Asia save in the Company's garden； was gone。 His scientific arrangement of orders and families was obliterated。 It seemed as if the fine barren sand of the mountain torrent would make the paradise a desert for ever。 The venerable botanist was wounded in his keenest part； but he lost not an hour in issuing orders and writing off for new supplies of specimens and seeds； which years after made the place as lovely if not so precious； as before。 He thus wrote to Dr。 Ryland：
〃SERAMPORE； 22nd December 1823。
〃MY DEAR BROTHERI once more address you from the land of the living； a mercy which about two months ago I had no expectation of； nor did any one expect it more than； nor perhaps so much as； myself。 On the 1st of October I went to Calcutta to preach； and returned with another friend about midnight。 When I got out of the boat close to our own premises； my foot slipped and I fell； my friend also fell in the same place。 I however perceived that I could not rise； nor even make the smallest effort to rise。 The boatmen carried me into the house； and laid me on a couch； and my friend； who was a medical man； examined my hurt。From all this affliction I am； through mercy； nearly restored。 I am still very weak； and the injured limb is very painful。 I am unable to walk two steps without crutches； yet my strength is sensibly increasing； and Dr。 Mellis； who attended me during the illness； says he has no doubts of my perfect recovery。
〃During my confinement； in October； such a quantity of water came down from the western hills； that it laid the whole country for about a hundred miles in length and the same in breadth； under water。 The Ganges was filled by the flood； so as to spread far on every side。 Serampore was under water； we had three feet of water in our garden for seven or eight days。 Almost all the houses of the natives in that vast extent of country fell； their cattle were swept away； and the people； men； women； and children。 Some gained elevated spots； where the water still rose so high as to threaten them with death； others climbed trees； and some floated on the roofs of their ruined houses。 One of the Church missionaries； Mr。 Jetter； who had accompanied Mr。 Thomason and some other gentlemen to Burdwan to examine the schools there； called on me on his return and gave me a most distressing account of the fall of houses； the loss of property； the violent rushing of waters； so that none； not even the best swimmers； dared to leave the place where they were。
〃This inundation was very destructive to the Mission house； or rather the Mission premises。 A slip of the earth （somewhat like that of an avalanche）； took place on the bank of the river near my house； and gradually approached it until only about ten feet of space were left between that and the house； and that space soon split。 At last two fissures appeared in the foundation and wall of the house itself。 This was a signal for me to remove； and a house built for a professor in the College being empty； I removed to it； and through mercy am now comfortably settled there。
〃I have nearly filled my letter with this account； but I must give you a short account of the state of my mind when I could think； and that was generally when excited by an access of friends； at other times I could scarcely speak or think。 I concluded one or two days that my death was near。 I had no joys； nor any fear of death； or reluctance to die； but never was I so sensibly convinced of the value of an ATONING Saviour as then。 I could only say； 'Hangs my helpless soul on thee；' and adopt the language of the first and second verses of the fifty…first Psalm； which I desired might be the text for my funeral sermon。 A life of faith in Christ as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world； appeared more than ordinarily important to my mind； and I expressed these feelings to those about me with freedom and pleasure。
〃Now； through the gracious providence of God； I am again restored to my work； and daily do a little as my strength will
