A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE AND LABORS OF THE REV. ADONIRAM JUDSON, D.D. BY FRANCIS WAYLAND, PRESIDENT OF BROWN UNIVERSITY. To preach the gospel in the regions beyond. 2 Cor. x. 16. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. BOSTON: PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY. LONDON: NISBET AND COMPANY. 1853. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by EMILY C. JUDSON, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York. STEREOTYPED AT THE BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY WOOD CUT AND BOOK PRINTER, PREFACE. WHEN, in compliance with the request of the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and of the widow of the late Dr. Judson, I undertook to compile the following Memoir, I supposed that a large amount of his correspondence and other writings would be easily accessible. In this respect, however, I was entirely disappointed. From peculiar views of duty, Dr. Judson had caused to be destroyed all his early letters written to his family, together with all his papers of a personal character. Mrs. Ann H. Judson, from prudential reasons, during their captivity in Ava, destroyed all his letters in her possession. Manuscripts were also consumed by the burning of Mr. Stevens's house in Maulmain. Dr. Judson's correspondence with Dr. Staughton perished by the shipwreck of a vessel on the passage from Philadelphia to Wash 3 ington. Last of all, his letters to his missionary brethren in Burmah were lost by the foundering of the ship which was conveying them to this country. My materials, therefore, consisted chiefly of his official correspondence, much of which had been published in missionary periodicals. To these I have been able to add such letters as had escaped destruction, together with very valuable reminiscences from the pen of Mrs. Judson. Enough, however, has been preserved to present his missionary character with remarkable distinctness. His opinions on many subjects can never be recovered, but the record of his deeds is beyond the reach of both fire and flood. My grateful acknowledgments are due to the secretaries of the American Baptist Missionary Union, the Rev. Solomon Peck, D. D., and the Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., for the facilities which they have afforded in the prosecution of my labors. They have placed at my disposal every paper on their files which could add to the interest of the Memoir, and have rendered me efficient aid in every part of my undertaking. To Dr. Bright especially I am under great obligations for superintending the press, when, from circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to perform this labor myself. To the Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., the senior secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, I am greatly indebted. Not only has he caused to be copied for my use every paper in his possession relating to the connection of Dr. Judson with that society, but he has at all times granted me the aid of his eminent abilities and profound acquaintance with every department of missionary service. Whatever value this Memoir may possess must be ascribed, in no small degree, to the assistance which I have received from Mrs. Judson. She arranged for me all the letters and papers, furnished me with information which no other person could possess, and has communicated notes and reminiscences which will be found to be among the most interesting portions of the work. |