| Description | Is better in health and able to stay on in India; Dawson is still in Madras; "he seems a man of sterling piety and I have no doubt will exert himself in his mission - but we cannot but suspect his abilities - He is by no means exactly the man we could have wished - Pray remember, India is not commonplace - Here a missionary is and must be scrutinized and tried by many shrewd and unfriendly observers, and encounter on the part of the heathen to whom he is sent, a vast deal of the wisdom of serpents, with its subtlety and venom - and for this Mr. D. appears lettle qualified - Heavy in appearance and of a bad pronunciation, he is very slow and confused in speech, and has a sad deal of the vacuity of a deaf man, whether silent or in conversation - Really he is the very dullest of all the missionaries we have in the country - Pray be a little more choice in your selection or we shall be sadly outdone by the Londoners and Methodists"; quotes letter from Hill [84]; at first T. was angry, but then it seemed "a raving of impotency"; Mr. Garron, having seen the letter recommends that the committee should apply to the Court of Directors to be very explicit in their instructions to their governments respecting missionaries, and to be very careful in the wording of their indentures concerning the missionaries place of residence; the governor is bound by the legislation of the Court of Directors "shame, shame upon the Society and the Court of Directors to presume to be wiser and more powerful than the Right Honourable Hugh Elliott"; T. is glad that the governor's opposition has had no effect on the attitude of Col. Munro; ground in Madras for a church has been purchased for £400 from a Moslem; Rhenius wants a small organ and a good-toned bell; Norton writes for a church bible and prayerbook. |