CHAPTER XI.

THE REDOUBTABLE MRS. WILSON: A HINDUSTANI WOMAN OF PLUCK.

THE following is what Mr. Leonard reported about her in his

letter to Mr. Ward dated the 5th March 1811:-
:-

66

"Our friend Mrs. W. of the Fort, who invited the missionaries to preach at her house, paid a visit yesterday with some others for the first time. I was greatly gratified by the zealous spirit which she evinced as well as by her anxiety to join the Church. She has hitherto waited to see if the Lord would bless her endeavours to draw her husband into the right way. See what a blessing this native woman seems to be to her European husband. She was, if

I mistake not, a Hindoo before he took her as a slave of the vilest description. The man was Sergeant of Artillery in the late War under Lord Lake and had an active part in most of the bloody conflicts of the time. This woman's attachment to her partner was so strong that she accompanied him in the heat of every battle and often lent him a hand when exhausted and supplied his place at the guns! In one of these actions Mr. W. received a musket ball about the temples which penetrated nearly through his skull carrying a part of the brass hoop on his head along with it. He instantly dropped down to all appearances dead. She, however, neither lost her fortitude nor her affection even in that trying moment, when, in addition to the situation of her partner, the shots were falling like hailstones about her own head, she took him upon her back with the intent of performing the last friendly office, that of burying him and carried him clean out of the scene of action. It pleased God to restore him, and, to make the most grateful return he conceived himself capable of, on his recovery, he made her his wife."

The following is Krishna Pal's own account of the conversion of this remarkable woman under his preaching ::-

66

Worship was performed at the house of Mr. Thomas Kaitan (or, Cytano). Mrs. Wilson used to come, but did not give her mind to what she heard. One day I read and preached from the 8th Chapter of John, about the woman taken in adultery. Mrs W. had formerly lived an improper life with an European. The words of our Lord to this woman 'Go and sin no more,' impressed Mrs. W. Through this word God turned her mind and she has since been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."

The date of her baptism cannot be traced as not infrequently the record runs: "Two Hindustani women baptized," without any names being given.

And now for the sequel regarding the removal of the restrictions through her instrumentality. Mr. Leonard in his letter of 18th March 1811 wrote:

She said "When the Europeans and natives came to our house at the usual hour, not doubting but that they would hear the Word from the minister whose turn it was

allow anything

to remonstrate, was sad news

to come, I informed them that all was at an end. The Colonel had ordered my husband to discontinue the meetings and, on pain of his displeasure, not to of the kind in future. It was of no use the order must be complied with. This indeed to those who had come expecting to hear the Word of God, as fully appeared by the tears both of Europeans and natives who were particularly affected by the short interview and prayer with Mr. Marshman. They supposed that this would have been the last opportunity they would have of meeting together. Knowing that I was engaged in the cause of my Saviour and trusting to Him for success, I this morning came to the resolution of waiting upon the General to make known my distress. I found him engaged in a conversation with two Officers but my business was too urgent to admit of much ceremony or delay. I therefore begged a hearing, which the General very kindly granted and invited me to take a chair and come out of the heat of the sun. This I objected to, telling him I was the wife of a poor man, and therefore could not think of accepting of such an honor, and that neither the heat of the sun nor even being burned to death appeared a matter of any consequence when compared with the business I had come about.

the

I then told him the story of the meeting at my house from the beginning to the present time. He asked me who preached there. I answered the missionaries. But (says he) you do not all understand English sufficiently to benefit much by their preaching. I told him that most of us understood a little, and that discourses were very plain, and agreeable to the Scriptures, and besides this that we were amply blessed by being provided for even in case of our not understanding English, as the Bible was translated into Bengalee, and was expounded once a week, in addition to English preaching twice. It pleased God to grant me favour in the sight of the General. He not only smiled all the time, but expressed his hearty approbation of what I had narrated,

granting full permission to continue the meeting, and promising that no one should interrupt it. I felt at a loss for words to express my sense of this favor. The business, however, was not yet finished. The Colonel knowing nothing of my petition, nor of the General's answer, I suggested the necessity of his being informed of it. This the General commanded me verbally to make known to him. I submitted to him, however, whether a few lines from himself would not better establish what he had so kindly granted. He then wrote a note requesting the company of the Colonel at Headquarters. This happily completed my wishes, as I had now an opportunity of hearing the Colonel's objections. I found these to be grounded on a surmise that the soldiers met to get liquor, and that my husband procured it for them. This I soon cleared up to the satisfaction of both the General and the Colonel. The latter then stated another objection, much more unexpected than the first, viz., that he supposed the missionaries and myself received money. To this I answered that a house as large as that which I then stood in (Headquarters) with a thousand rupees a month would be considered of no value when compared with the news of salvation through a Crucified Redeemer, which I heard preached in my house:-That my husband and myself now resided in a house under his control, and were receiving a salary of thirty rupees per month in his gift, for all which we felt thankful to him, but that if he were determined to shut out the Word of eternal life we should as freely resign his favor as we at first received it. After the latter of these remarks the two gentlemen retired and conversed a few minutes out of my hearing. After this they came and told me to continue the meetings, without the least apprehension of being interrupted in future. I then expressed my fear that at some distant period, if they should be out of the way, some other superior Officer might interrupt us, but both the General and the Colonel passed their word that I might be easy on that head, and that the late interruption was purely the effect of a misunderstanding."

CHAPTER XII.

THE STORY OF THE CONVERSION OF MICHAEL CARMOODY, A SOLDIER

OF THE 24TH REGIMENT, AS TOLD BY HIMSELF.

THE following letter was sent by Carmoody to Dr. Carey on the 26th March 1812. It is taken from the Periodical Accounts and is given in extenso as it would lose in force if curtailed. will speak for itself:

REVEREND SIR,

It

Situated as I am in the Army and not allowed the liberty of waiting upon you to speak the sentiments of my mind, I take the liberty of relating to you part of my past and present state of mind respecting Divine things. I am descended from Roman Catholic parents, and was always a strict observer of the rules and customs of the Romish Church. On my arrival at the Cape four years ago, I had some conviction that I was not in the right way. My prayer to God at that time was that I might be directed to some Roman Catholics. I did not disclose my thoughts to any one, but would have done so, could I have met with a Romish Priest, whom I very diligently sought wherever I went, but it would seem from the subsequent dealings of the Lord with me, that He determined that I should not see any of them till I had been brought into the right way. I fasted every Friday, and, unknown to anyone, I used to go to the mountain at the Cape to pray that I might be directed right: and though I could not read at this time (and if I had been able I durst not open the Bible), I continually carried in my bosom my Romish Prayer-Book, thinking there was some virtue in it. I sometimes also secretly travelled through the streets of Cape Town in hopes of meeting with a Priest and used to listen at the houses I passed, if I could hear any masses. Shortly after this I fell ill and was sent to the Hospital. I was during this illness much troubled in mind, as I was certain I was in an unprepared state. I therefore earnestly prayed that God would not take me away amongst strangers, where I could not obtain a friend to teach me Divine things, nor yet a Priest to confess to.

The thought that the judgments of the Lord were now at hand with me greatly alarmed me, and I was also much dejected at the idea of dying in a strange land, away from my parents and my friends. When nearly restored to health I was distressed in

mind at going yet further from home, and especially into a heatheu land. After recovery I came out of Hospital, and though a wretched sinner seeking salvation, was overcome by the temptations of Satan, and fell into the inexcusable sin of drunkenness. After I got sober, and had considered that I had but lately experienced the sparing mercy of God, my convictions became stronger daily: and I looked upon my past transgressions as ingratitude of the worst kind. When our regiment left the Cape for Bengal I was on board the Astell Indiaman where I experienced a fresh instance of the gracious dealings of the Lord. We were ordered to be drawn up for engagement* with the French Frigates; and I had such horror and dread as I never felt before, not that I feared to die for my King and country, but because all my open and secret sins were brought to my mind, and especially my recent fall at the Cape. I expected to be judged of God, whom I dreaded to meet as I was now certain I was not in the right way. But the Lord in His abundant goodness, delivered me from the awful scene of battle with only a slight wound. After the battle we landed at Madras, where I again searched in vain for a Romish Priest. It would seem that it was ordained by the God of our salvation that Fort William should be the place where I should first hear the glad tidings of salvation, not from Priests of the Mass, but from the faithful ministers of the Gospel. Nothing more occurred worthy of remark until my arrival at Fort William which was in September 1810. Here I again began to search for a Romish Priest and happening one day to see the Bazar Serjeant's wife with beads round her neck, I was greatly rejoiced in meeting at last with a Roman Catholic and felt sure a Priest could not be far off. I immediately went up to her, and asked her if I could see a Priest and she consented to send for one into the garrison. How she mistook a minister of the Gospel for a Priest of the Mass I cannot say, but instead of such a Priest as she faithfully promised to send for, the Rev. Mr. Ward and Mr. Leonard came over on Friday evening. I was not able to be present on this occasion: but I rejoiced to hear that they intended to renew their visit on the Friday following, which still left me some hope of meeting with a Priest of my profession. I communicated with a glad heart the cause of my rejoicing to a great number of my

*This engagement took place on the 3rd July 1810, when the three Indiamen Windham. Ceylon and Astell were bringing the men of the 24th Regiment from the Cape. The Astell was the only one that escaped, the other two being captured by the French. It was thought at the time that the Astell also had been captured but she made good her escape at night. For full details of this engagement see pp. 60-62 of Volume XII of the Asiatic Annual Register for the year 1810-1811.