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in Bombay； wrote of a similar assault by Mr。 Thomas Twining on the Bible Societies； that it 〃must excite general indignation。 The only measure which he could consistently propose would be the infliction of capital punishment on the crime of preaching or embracing Christianity in India； for almost every inferior degree of persecution is already practised by European or native anti…christians。 But it fell to Southey； in the very first number of the Quarterly Review； in April 1809； to deal with the Rev。 Sydney Smith； and to defend Carey and the Brotherhood as both deserved。 The layman's defence was the more effective for its immediate purpose that he started from the same prejudice as that of the reverend Whig rationalist〃the Wesleyans； the Orthodox dissenters of every description； and the Evangelical churchmen may all be comprehended under the generic name of Methodists。 The religion which they preach is not the religion of our fathers； and what they have altered they have made worse。〃 But Southey had himself faith as well as a literary canon higher than that of his opponent who wrote only to 〃please〃 his patrons。 He saw in these Methodists alone that which he appreciated as the essence of true faith〃that spirit of enthusiasm by which Europe was converted to Christianity they have in some measure revived； and they have removed from Protestantism a part of its reproach。〃 He proceeded to tell how 〃this Mission； which is represented by its enemies as so dangerous to the British Empire in India； and thereby； according to a logic learnt from Buonaparte； to England also； originated in a man by name William Carey； who till the twenty…fourth year of his age was a working shoemaker。 Sectarianism has this main advantage over the Established Church； that its men of ability certainly find their station； and none of its talents are neglected or lost。 Carey was a studious and pious man； his faith wrong； his feelings right。 He made himself competently versed in Latin； Greek； and Hebrew。 He is now probably a far more learned orientalist than any European has ever been before him； and has been appointed Professor of Sanskrit and Bengali at the College of Fort William。〃 Then follow a history of the Mission written in a style worthy of the author of the Life of Nelson； and these statements of the political and the purely missionary questions； which read now almost as predictions：
〃The first step towards winning the natives to our religion is to show them that we have one。 This will hardly be done without a visible church。 There would be no difficulty in filling up the establishment； however ample； but would the archbishop； bishops； deans； and chapters of Mr。 Buchanan's plan do the work of missionaries？ Could the Church of England supply missionaries？where are they to be found among them？ In what school for the promulgation of sound and orthodox learning are they trained up？ There is ability and there is learning in the Church of England； but its age of fermentation has long been over； and that zeal which for this work is the most needful is； we fear； possessed only by the Methodists。。。
〃Carey and his son have been in Bengal fourteen years； the other brethren only nine； they had all a difficult language to acquire before they could speak to a native； and to preach and argue in it required a thorough and familiar knowledge。 Under these circumstances the wonder is； not that they have done so little； but that they have done so much； for it will be found that； even without this difficulty to retard them； no religious opinions have spread more rapidly in the same time； unless there was some remarkable folly or extravagance to recommend them； or some powerful worldly inducement。 Their progress will be continually accelerating； the difficulty is at first； as in introducing vaccination into a distant land； when the matter has once taken one subject supplies infection for all around him； and the disease takes root in the country。 The husband converts the wife； the son converts the parent； the friend his friend； and every fresh proselyte becomes a missionary in his own neighbourhood。 Thus their sphere of influence and of action widens； and the eventual issue of a struggle between truth and falsehood is not to be doubted by those who believe in the former。 Other missionaries from other societies have now entered India； and will soon become efficient labourers in their station。 From Government all that is asked is toleration for themselves and protection for their converts。 The plan which they have laid for their own proceedings is perfectly prudent and unexceptionable； and there is as little fear of their provoking martyrdom as there would be of their shrinking from it； if the cause of God and man require the sacrifice。 But the converts ought to be protected from violence； and all cramming with cow…dung prohibited on pain of retaliation with beef…tea。
〃Nothing can be more unfair than the manner in which the scoffers and alarmists have represented the missionaries。 We； who have thus vindicated them； are neither blind to what is erroneous in their doctrine or ludicrous in their phraseology； but the anti…missionaries cull out from their journals and letters all that is ridiculous sectarian； and trifling； call them fools； madmen； tinkers； Calvinists； and schismatics； and keep out of sight their love of man； and their zeal for God； their self…devotement； their indefatigable industry； and their unequalled learning。 These low…born and low…bred mechanics have translated the whole Bible into Bengali； and have by this time printed it。 They are printing the New Testament in the Sanskrit； the Orissa； Mahratta； Hindostan； and Guzarat； and translating it into Persic； Telinga； Karnata； Chinese； the language of the Sieks and of the Burmans； and in four of these languages they are going on with the Bible。 Extraordinary as this is； it will appear more so when it is remembered that of these men one was originally a shoemaker； another a printer at Hull； and a third the master of a charity…school at Bristol。 Only fourteen years have elapsed since Thomas and Carey set foot in India； and in that time have these missionaries acquired this gift of tongues； in fourteen years these low…born； low…bred mechanics have done more towards spreading the knowledge of the Scriptures among the heathen than has been accomplished； or even attempted； by all the princes and potentates of the worldand all the universities and establishments into the bargain。
〃Do not think to supersede the Baptist missionaries till you can provide from your own church such men as these； and； it may be added； such women also as their wives。〃
Soon after the Charter victory had been gained 〃that fierce and fiery Calvinist；〃 whose dictum Southey adopted； that the question in dispute is not whether the natives shall enjoy toleration； but whether that toleration shall be extended to the teachers of Christianity； Andrew Fuller； entered into rest on the 7th May 1815； at the age of sixty…two。 Sutcliff of Olney had been the first of the three to be taken away25 a year before； at the same age。 The scholarly Dr。 Ryland of Bristol was left alone； and the home management of the Mission pass