the life of william carey-第92章
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remain in the hands of the College Council； but in order to admit of the due representation upon the Council of the various evangelical bodies which may co…operate； the present members of Council have； with the hearty concurrence of the Baptist Missionary Society's Committee； approved the suggestion that application should be made to the Indian Legislature for powers to enlarge its membership。
The Honorary Secretary of the College Council； A。 H。 Baynes； Esq。； 19 Furnival Street； London； E。C。； will be glad to supply further information； or to receive contributions towards the Fund for the endowment and equipment of the College。
In view of the conditions at present existing in India； this appeal should be of interest not only to friends of Christian missions； but to philanthropists generally； for a Christian University； conducted on the broad and catholic principles laid down by Carey； supplementary but in no way antagonistic to the existing Universities； will be a most effective instrument for permeating the political and social ideals of the youth of India with the spirit of Christ。 This is a matter that deeply concerns； not only the Missionary； but also the statesman； the merchant； and all true friends of India of whatever race or creed。
In all the romance of Christian Missions； from Iona to Canterbury； there is no more evident example of the working of the Spirit of God with the Church； than the call of Carey and the foundation of Serampore College under Danish Charter and British treaty； making it the only University with full powers to enable the whole Reformed Church in India to work out its own theological system and Christian life。
CHAPTER XVI
CAREY'S LAST DAYS
1830…1834
The college and mission stripped of all their fundsFailure of the six firms for sixteen millionsCarey's official income reduced from ？560 to ？00His Thoughts and Appeal published in EnglandHis vigour at seventyLast revision of the Bengali BibleFinal edition of the Bengali New TestamentCarey rejoices in the reforms of Lord William Bentinck's GovernmentIn the emancipation of the slavesCarey sketched by his younger contemporariesHis latest letters and last message to ChristendomVisits of Lady William Bentinck and Bishop Daniel WilsonMarshman's affection and promise as to the gardenThe English mail brings glad news a fortnight before his deathHis last SabbathHe diesIs buriedHis tomb among his convertsHis willThe Indian press on his poverty and disinterestednessDr。 Marshman and Mack； Christopher Anderson and John Wilson of Bombay on his characterHis influence still as the founder of missionsDr。 Cox and Robert Hall on Carey as a manScotland's estimate of the father of the Evangelical Revival and its foreign missions。
The last days of William Carey were the best。 His sun went down in all the splendour of a glowing faith and a burning self…sacrifice。 Not in the penury of Hackleton and Moulton； not in the hardships of Calcutta and the Soondarbans； not in the fevers of the swamps of Dinapoor； not in the apprehensions twice excited by official intolerance； not in the most bitter sorrow of allthe sixteen years' persecution by English brethren after Fuller's death； had the father of modern missions been so tried as in the years 1830…1833。 Blow succeeded blow； but only that the fine gold of his trust； his humility； and his love might be seen to be the purer。
The Serampore College and Mission lost all the funds it had in India。 By 1830 the financial revolution which had laid many houses low in Europe five years before； began to tell upon the merchant princes of Calcutta。 The six firms； which had developed the trade of Northern India so far as the Company's monopolies allowed； had been the bankers of the Government itself； of states like Haidarabad； and of all the civil and military officials； and had enriched a succession of partners for half a century； fell one by onefell for sixteen millions sterling among them。 Palmer and Co。 was the greatest； the house at one time played a large part in the history of India； and in the debates and papers of Parliament。 Mr。 John Palmer； a personal friend of the Serampore men； had advanced them money at ten per cent。 four years previously； when the Society's misrepresentation had done its worst。 The children in the Eurasian schools； which Dr。 and Mrs。 Marshman conducted with such profit to the mission； depended chiefly on funds deposited with this firm。 It suddenly failed for more than two millions sterling。 Although the catastrophe exposed the rottenness of the system of credit on which commerce and banking were at that time conducted； in the absence of a free press and an intelligent public opinion； the alarm soon subsided； and only the more business fell to the other firms。 But the year 1833 had hardly opened when first the house of Alexander and Co。； then that of Mackintosh and Co。； and then the three others； collapsed without warning。 The English in India； officials and merchants； were reduced to universal poverty。 Capital disappeared and credit ceased at the very time that Parliament was about to complete the partial concession of freedom of trade made by the charter of 1813； by granting all Carey had argued for； and allowing Europeans to hold land。
The funds invested for Jessor and Delhi； the legacy of Fernandez； Carey's first convert and missionary； his own tenths with which he supported three aged relatives in England； the property of the partner of his third marriage； on whom the money was settled； and who survived him by a year； the little possessed by Dr。 Marshman； who had paid all his expenses in England even while working for the Societyall was swept away。 Not only was the small balance in hand towards meeting the college and mission expenditure gone； but it was impossible to borrow even for a short time。 Again one of Dr。 Carey's old civilian students came to the rescue。 Mr。 Garrett； grandson of Robert Raikes who first began Sunday schools； pledged his own credit with the Bank of Bengal； until Samuel Hope of Liverpool； treasurer of the Serampore Mission there； could be communicated with。 Meanwhile the question of giving up any of the stations or shutting the college was not once favoured。 〃I have seen the tears run down the face of the venerable Dr。 Carey at the thought of such a calamity；〃 wrote Leechman； 〃were it to arrive we should soon have to lay him in his grave。〃 When the interest of the funds raised by Ward in America ceased for a time because of the malicious report from England that it might be applied by Dr。 Marshman to the purposes of family aggrandisement； Carey replied in a spirit like that of Paul under a similar charge： 〃Dr。 Marshman is as poor as I am； and I can scarcely lay by a sum monthly to relieve three or four indigent relatives in Europe。 I might have had large possessions； but I have given my all； except what I ate； drank； and wore； to the cause of missions； and Dr。 Marshman has done the same； and so did Mr。 Ward。〃
Carey's trust in God； for the mission and for himself； was to be still further tried。 On 12th July 1828 we find him thus writing from Calcutta to Jabez：〃I came down this morning to attend Lord W。 Bentinck's first lev閑。 It was numerously attended； and I had the pleasure of seeing there a great number of gentlemen who had formerly studied under me； and for whom I felt a very sincere regard。 I hear Lady Bentinck is a pious woman； but have not yet seen her。 I have a card to attend at her drawing…room this evening； but I shall not go； as I must be at home for the Sabbath； which is to…morrow。〃 It soon fell to Lord William Bentinck to meet the financial consequences of his weak predecessor's administration。 The College of Fort William had to be sacrificed。 Metcalfe and Bayley； Carey's old students whom he had permanently influenced in the higher life； were the members of council； and he appealed to them。 They sent him to the good Governor…General； to whose sympathy he laid bare all the past and present of the mission's finance。 He was told to have no fear； and indeed the Council held a long sitting on this one matter。 But from June 1830 the college ceased to be a teaching； and became an examining body。 When the salary was reduced o
