the life of william carey-第86章
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educated natives be reached； and the Brahmanical class especially be permanently influenced。 Only thus could a theological institute be satisfactorily conducted to feed the native Church。
On 10th October 1800 the missionaries had thus written home：〃There appears to be a favourable change in the general temper of the people。 Commerce has roused new thoughts and awakened new energies； so that hundreds； if we could skilfully teach them gratis； would crowd to learn the English language。 We hope this may be in our power some time； and may be a happy means of diffusing the gospel。 At present our hands are quite full。〃 A month after that Carey wrote to Fuller：〃I have long thought whether it would not be desirable for us to set up a school to teach the natives English。 I doubt not but a thousand scholars would come。 I do not say this because I think it an object to teach them the English tongue； but； query； is not the universal inclination of the Bengalees to learn English a favourable circumstance which may be improved to valuable ends？ I only hesitate at the expense。〃 Thirty years after Duff reasoned in the same way； after consulting Carey； and acted at once in Calcutta。
By 1816； when； on 25th June； Carey wrote a letter； for his colleagues and himself； to the Board of the American Baptist General Convention； the great idea； destined slowly to revolutionise not only India； but China； Japan； and the farther East； had taken this form：
〃We know not what your immediate expectations are relative to the Burman empire； but we hope your views are not confined to the immediate conversion of the natives by the preaching of the Word。 Could a church of converted natives be obtained at Rangoon； it might exist for a while； and be scattered； or perish for want of additions。 From all we have seen hitherto we are ready to think that the dispensations of Providence point to labours that may operate； indeed； more slowly on the population； but more effectually in the end： as knowledge； once put into fermentation； will not only influence the part where it is first deposited； but leaven the whole lump。 The slow progress of conversion in such a mode of teaching the natives may not be so encouraging； and may require； in all； more faith and patience； but it appears to have been the process of things； in the progress of the Reformation； during the reigns of Henry； Edward； Elizabeth； James； and Charles。 And should the work of evangelising India be thus slow and silently progressive； which； however； considering the age of the world； is not perhaps very likely； still the grand result will amply recompense us； and you； for all our toils。 We are sure to take the fortress； if we can but persuade ourselves to sit down long enough before it。 'We shall reap if we faint not。'
〃And then； very dear brethren； when it shall be said of the seat of our labours； the infamous swinging…post is no longer erected； the widow burns no more on the funeral pile； the obscene dances and songs are seen and heard no more； the gods are thrown to the moles and to the bats； and Jesus is known as the God of the whole land； the poor Hindoo goes no more to the Ganges to be washed from his filthiness； but to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness； the temples are forsaken； the crowds say； 'Let us go up to the house of the Lord； and He shall teach us of His ways； and we will walk in His statutes；' the anxious Hindoos no more consume their property； their strength； and their lives； in vain pilgrimages； but they come at once to Him who can save to 'the uttermost'； the sick and the dying are no more dragged to the Ganges； but look to the Lamb of God； and commit their souls into His faithful hands； the children； no more sacrificed to idols； are become 'the seed of the Lord； that He may be glorified'； the public morals are improved； the language of Canaan is learnt； benevolent societies are formed； civilisation and salvation walk arm in arm together； the desert blossoms； the earth yields her increase； angels and glorified spirits hover with joy over India； and carry ten thousand messages of love from the Lamb in the midst of the throne； and redeemed souls from the different villages； towns； and cities of this immense country； constantly add to the number； and swell the chorus of the redeemed； 'Unto Him that loved us； and washed us from our sins in His own blood； unto HIM be the glory；'when this grand result of the labours of God's servants in India shall be realised； shall we then think that we have laboured in vain； and spent our strength for nought？ Surely not。 Well； the decree is gone forth！ 'My word shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it。'〃
India was being prepared for the new missionary policy。 On what we may call its literary side Carey had been long busy。 On its more strictly educational side； the charter of 1813 had conceded what had been demanded in vain by a too feeble public opinion in the charter of 1793。 A clause was inserted at the last moment declaring that a sum of not less than a lakh of rupees （or ten thousand pounds） a year was to be set apart from the surplus revenues； and applied to the revival and improvement of literature and the encouragement of the learned natives of India； and for the introduction and promotion of a knowledge of the sciences among the inhabitants of the British territories there。 The clause was prompted by an Anglo…Indian of oriental tastes； who hoped that the Brahman and his Veda might thus be made too strong for the Christian missionary and the Bible as at last tolerated under the 13th resolution。 For this reason； and because the money was to be paid only out of any surplus； the directors and their friends offered no opposition。 For the quarter of a century the grant was given； and was applied in the spirit of its proposer。 But the scandals of its application became such that it was made legally by Bentinck and Macaulay； and practically by Duff； the fountain of a river of knowledge and life which is flooding the East。
The first result of the liberalism of the charter of 1813 and the generous views of Lord Hastings was the establishment in Calcutta by the Hindoos themselves； under the influence of English secularists； of the Hindoo； now the Presidency College。 Carey and Marshman were not in Calcutta； otherwise they must have realised even then what they left to Duff to act on fourteen years after； the importance of English not only as an educating but as a Christianising instrument。 But though not so well adapted to the immediate need of the reformation which they had begun； and though not applied to the very heart of Bengal in Calcutta； the prospectus of their 〃College for the Instruction of Asiatic； Christian； and Other Youth in Eastern Literature and European Science；〃 which they published on the 15th July 1818； sketched a more perfect and complete system than any since attempted； if we except John Wilson's almost unsupported effort in Bombay。 It embraced the classical or learned languages of the Hindoos and Mohammedans； Sanskrit and Arabic； the English language and literature； to enable the senior students 〃to dive into the deepest recesses of European science； and enrich their own language with its choicest treasures〃； the preparation of manuals of science； philosophy； and history in the learned and vernacular languages of the East； a normal department to train native teachers and professors； as the crown of all； a theological institute to equip the Eurasian and native Christian students； by a quite unsectarian course of study； in apologetics； exegetics； and the Bible languages； to be missionaries to the Brahmanical classes。 While the Government and the Scottish missionaries have in the university and grant in aid systems since followed too exclusively the English line； happily supplanting the extreme Orientalists； it is the glory of the Serampore Brotherhood that they sought to apply both the Oriental and the European； the one as the form； the other as the substance； so as to evangelise and civilise the people through their mother tongue。 They were the Vernacularists in the famous controversy between the Orientalists and the Anglicists raised by Duff。 In 1867 the present writer in vain attempted to induce
