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 MRS CHARLOTTE SUTTON 
 ^Missionary to India
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON, 
 
 A MISSIONARY TO ORISSA, 
 
 EAST INDIES. 
 
 ORIGINALLY COMPILED BY REV. J. G. PIKE, NOW RE- 
 VISED AND ENLARGED BY HER HUSBAND. 
 
 " Bright, early, transient, 
 Chaste as morning dew, she sparkled 
 Was exhaled and went to heaven." 
 
 BOSTON: 
 GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, 
 
 59, Washington Street. 
 
 1835.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1835, 
 
 By GOULD, KENDALL & LINCOLN, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
 Press of John Putnam.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE writer of this edition of the Memoirs of his late be- 
 loved wife, is not without apprehension, that it may, by 
 some persons, be thought that we have already a redun- 
 dancy of biographical works. His answer is, that while 
 he hopes the work may be generally useful, there is a 
 considerable class of Christians in America, with whom he 
 has some influence, that are very little acquainted with 
 books of this description; added to which, he is afraid 
 that he shall neglect his duty to the lovely object of this 
 Memoir, if he misimproves this opportunity of making her 
 virtues known. He has long contemplated publishing a 
 brief memoir of her history, but feelings of delicacy have 
 hitherto prevented him. He has been accustomed to re- 
 gard her with feelings of chastened awe, as a choice speci- 
 men of that divine beauty to which Christian influence is
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 capable of elevating the fallen children of men. He does 
 not, however, suppose that strangers to her can ever enter- 
 tain those feelings towards her, which one united to her in 
 the endearing relationship of husband, must possess. But 
 he trusts that such a glimpse of her character may be 
 seen through these brief fragments of her history, as may 
 serve to endear the cause of ChrUt, and stimulate the 
 reader to seek after that piety which in her, shone with 
 such sacred splendor. 
 
 Although she was spared to the writer for so brief a 
 period, and her early removal blighted the spring and 
 prospects of his early life, yet he has never ceased to feel 
 grateful to God for his permission to enjoy her society, 
 even for so short a time. Nothing he has ever met with, 
 has so deeply convinced his mind of the reality and divin- 
 ity of our blessed religion, as its influence in forming the 
 character of Charlotte Sutton. If such could be one of 
 its lowly followers, what must its divine Author have been ? 
 
 While the writer was collecting materials for this me- 
 moir, in far distant India, the Rev. J. G. Pike, author of 
 Persuasives to Early Piety, &c., with whom she was in- 
 timately acquainted, prepared, for the periodical connect- 
 ed with the English General Baptists, the substance of the 
 following account, which has since been republished and 
 extensively circnlated in England. Since the writer's so- 
 journ in this country, the fact above alluded to has seemed
 
 to call for a revised and somewhat enlarged edition of the 
 work. These additions chiefly consist of letters, some 
 particulars of her life, extracted from her private diary, 
 not known to Mr. P., and some notices more especially 
 referring to the time of the writer's union with her, inter- 
 spersed with reflections which are inserted by especial re- 
 quest. 
 
 This little book is commended to the careful perusal 
 of the young, especially of youthful females, with an ear- 
 nest prayer that it may foster those virtues, and cherish 
 those graces in their hearts and lives, which so eminently 
 adorned Charlotte Sutton.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Introductory remarks Early life of Mrs. Sutton 
 Address to youth Her conversion Baptism 
 Correspondence 9 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 
 Her cheerful and active piety Missionary spirit- 
 Correspondence Extracts from her diary, during 
 the year 1822 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Her views of missionary labor Extracts from her 
 diary Prospects of becoming a missionary 
 Correspondence until her marriage 66 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Ordination of Mr. S. Taking leave of friends 
 Correspondence Embarkation and voyage to 
 Madeira, Cape of Good Hope, &c 100 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Arrival in India Journey to Cuttack Remarks 
 on missionary labor, schools, &c. Her sickness 
 and death Reflections 156 
 
 Poetry 209
 
 MEMOIR, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Introductory Remarks Early Life of Mrs. Button 
 Address to Youth Her Conversion Baptism 
 Correspondence until the close of 1821. 
 
 FEW truths are felt more impressively by a 
 thoughtful and pensive mind, than the decla- 
 ration, that "the fashion of this world pass- 
 eth away . " Its scenes of public agitation and 
 excitement soon close, and the busy actors 
 vanish. To the calmer scenes of domestic 
 life, the same solemn assertion applies. We 
 visit places, endeared to our best feelings by 
 the recollection of those who once dwelt 
 there, but they are gone. The spring still 
 blooms as fair, the flowers are as sweet, the 
 fields as green, the air as balmy, the sun as 
 bright, as in departed years; but they who 
 1
 
 10 MEMOIR OF 
 
 once enjoyed these pleasing scenes, have done 
 with sun, and fields, and flowers, and bloom- 
 ing spring, and dreary winter. We visit the 
 house of prayer, hallowed by the remembrance 
 of holy delights enjoyed within its walls in 
 former years; but the crowd that then glowed 
 with sacred love, has dispersed; many voices 
 that sung the Saviour's praise, are silent in 
 death; many a countenance often recognized 
 with pleasure, is now beheld no more. Our 
 departed friends have furnished impressive 
 proofs of the truth of the solemn sentiment to 
 which our departure will soon add further 
 confirmation. "The fashion of this world 
 passeth away." 
 
 With views of this description, the Chris- 
 tian, however, delightfully mingles the cheer- 
 ing persuasion that they who have died in 
 Jesus, rest in heaven. This confidence com- 
 municates to a pious mind, holy and exalted 
 pleasure, when tracing the records of departed 
 piety. It is true, the voice that sang the 
 Saviour's praise is no more heard on earth, 
 but the now happy conqueror, "in a nobler, 
 sweeter song," extols his power td save. The 
 blooming flower of youth has withered, the 
 " human face divine" has gathered blackness, 
 1*
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 11 
 
 and is blasted by the touch of death; but the 
 immortal spirit now shines in the presence of 
 God; bright with the glory, and lovely with 
 the beauty of heaven. The house of prayer 
 has lost its frequent and delighted visitants; 
 but they have entered a house not made with 
 hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 
 " They hear tlie new and everlasting song, 
 In the blest kingdom meek of joy and love. 
 There entertain them all the saints above, 
 In solemn troops, and sweet societies, 
 That sing, and, singing, in their glory move, 
 And wipe the tears forever from their eyes." 
 
 With that happy number, there is every 
 reason to believe that the pious subject of the 
 following brief memoir now abides. The in- 
 formation collected in this memoir is chiefly 
 derived from her diary, and from her letters, 
 evidently written in the confidence of friend- 
 ship, and doubtless without the least expecta- 
 tion that part of them would subsequently 
 appear before the eye of the public. 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte Sutton was the oldest daugh- 
 ter of Mr. James Collins, of Wolvey, War- 
 wickshire, England. She was born at Smock- 
 ington, near Hinckley, Feb. 1, 1801. We 
 have nothing of peculiar interest to record of
 
 12 MEMOIR OF 
 
 her earlier years. From her childhood, she 
 possessed an unusually cheerful, engaging, 
 and affectionate disposition. To her parents 
 she was loving, dutiful, and kind; submissive 
 to their instructions, and often a comforter in 
 times of trial. Her father, after her death, 
 observed that when under afflictive circum- 
 stances, he especially felt her loss; as conso- 
 lation administered by her had enabled him 
 to bear many burdens with more patience than 
 he otherwise should have done. As a sister 
 and a friend, she was truly amiable and affec- 
 tionate. Living as she did, in a retired vil- 
 lage, her opportunities for literary acquire- 
 ments were much more limited than she 
 desired, but she lost no opportunity of im- 
 proving to the utmost the advantages within 
 her power. She was fond of reading; and, 
 possessing naturally considerable strength of 
 mind, her intellectual attainments were of a 
 very respectable character. 
 
 Her parents were both professors of reli- 
 gion, and members of the G. Baptist church 
 at Wolvey, where she, of course, had an op- 
 portunity of attending with them, and thus, 
 from a child, was made acquainted with the 
 way of salvation. She has often mentioned
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 13 
 
 to the writer, that she was early the subject 
 of serious impressions, but that her natural 
 gaiety of disposition led her to trifle with those 
 gracious influences which were operating on 
 her mind, and to put off seeking religion in 
 earnest, until some more convenient season. 
 
 Her first convictions of sin appear to have 
 been made by learning and repeating Dr. 
 Watts' excellent hymns for children. The 
 one commencing 
 
 "Almighty God, thy piercing eye 
 Searches all nature through," &c. 
 
 appears to have been especially useful to her. 
 For several years, however, she seems to 
 have shaken off all serious feelings, and 
 plunged into the midst of the vanities and fol- 
 lies of the pleasure-loving world. During 
 this period of her life, she was unusually ex- 
 posed to company, where her handsome per- 
 son and vivacity of disposition often proved a 
 snare to her. It was while travelling over 
 this treacherous ground, that her attention to 
 the important concerns of her soul was excited 
 by a sermon on the "Barren Fig Tree." 
 From this time, until her decided conversion, 
 she appears to have alternated betwixt the 
 world and Christ; now the subject of pungent
 
 14 MEMOIR OF 
 
 conviction, and now losing her serious im- 
 pressions, by a sinful indulgence in the vani- 
 ties of the world. 
 
 In a letter to a friend, written in 1823, she 
 thus refers to her early experience: 
 
 " You say that you were getting rather se- 
 rious before you came into Warwickshire, 
 and that afterwards you became thoughtless 
 and trifling, but that you now see religion in 
 a new light. Does not this, my dear friend, 
 teach you, has it not taught you, the fallacy 
 of making resolutions in your own strength? 
 I trust it has, and hope that the new light in 
 which you see religion, will discover unto 
 you, that without Christ, you can do nothing, 
 but that through him you can do all things. 
 Perhaps no one has been taught the ineffi- 
 cacy of self-sufficiency more effectually by 
 experience, than myself; for long, very long, 
 did I resolve and re-resolve, but still my res- 
 olutions failed, and I still farther hurried into 
 immorality and vice, till, by the grace of 
 God, every false refuge was taken away, and 
 thus was the way prepared for the grateful 
 reception of salvation by grace. But this 
 grace, my dear friend, which brings salvation, 
 teaches us, that, denying ungodliness and
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 15 
 
 worldly lusts, we must live soberly, righteous- 
 ly and godly in this present evil world; and, 
 unless it produces such fruit, we have no rea- 
 son to believe that we possess it." 
 
 It is probable this little book may be read 
 by many young persons, who are in the state 
 of mind referred to in Charlotte Button's his- 
 tory. Allow me, then, my dear young friends, 
 to press upon you the importance of decision. 
 You may easily perceive how dangerous was 
 the situation of the beloved object of this me- 
 moir. How often has she expressed her de- 
 vout thankfulness to God, that he did not here 
 abandon her to her folly, or cut her down as 
 a cumberer of the ground. Circumstanced 
 as she was, it is wonderful that she did not form 
 some worldly connexion which would have pre- 
 vented all her future usefulness, and perhaps 
 have occasioned the eternal ruin of her soul. 
 But while you see, in her case, how critical 
 is indecision on the great subjects of religion 
 in early life, do not forget to apply this mo- 
 mentous consideration to yourself. O do not 
 trifle with religion. Do not grieve God's 
 Holy Spirit, by stifling serious impressions. 
 Listen to the kind inviting voice of your 
 heavenly Benefactor. "Wilt thou not, from
 
 16 MEMOIR OF 
 
 this time cry unto me, My Father thou art the 
 guide of my youth? " How interesting is the 
 attitude which the great God assumes towards 
 you. He is willing to be your best friend, 
 your counsellor, your guide to present and 
 eternal bliss. A bare permission to seek the 
 counsel of some wise, experienced, benevo- 
 lent friend, would be, by every judicious 
 youth, esteemed a privilege. How much 
 more should it be so esteemed when God in- 
 vites you to seek his guidance. 
 
 " He, Lord of all the worlds on high, 
 Stoops to converse with you; 
 And lays his radiant glories by, 
 Your friendship to pursue." 
 
 Choose, then, my young friends, the blessed 
 God as your portion now. Youth is the time 
 when you especially need religion. It is your 
 choosing time. You are setting out in life, 
 and what you are in youth, you will probably 
 be forever. Few, very few are converted 
 after they have passed thirty years, com- 
 pared with the number who are led to Christ 
 before they are twenty. I beseech you, then, 
 as you value your present and eternal wel- 
 fare, to seek religion now. 
 
 While Charlotte Collins was thus treading
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 17 
 
 the slippery paths of youth, she was happily 
 thrown into the society of a pious aunt, a few 
 years older than herself. To her kind in- 
 structions and affectionate solicitude, Char- 
 lotte was deeply indebted, and ever after re- 
 tained for her the warmest friendship and 
 liveliest gratitude. From the following let- 
 ter, it appears that this estimable woman was 
 the instrument employed by divine grace, in 
 leading her to make that choice which fixed 
 her happiness for time and for eternity. The 
 conversion of Miss Collins was not one of 
 those striking cases, which resemble the open- 
 ing of the windows of the soul at the noontide 
 of life, and letting in the full blaze of the Sun 
 of Righteousness; but rather itmight be com- 
 pared to the gradual rising of the heavenly 
 luminary in the morning, dispersing the shad- 
 ows of night, and moving imperceptibly onto 
 perfect day. 
 
 TO MRS. s. 
 " My dear aunt, 
 
 I am glad you was kind enough to manifest 
 in your letter, a care for my soul, the want of 
 which, on former occasions, has always 
 caused a backwardness in me to speak on this
 
 18 MEMOIR OF 
 
 subject to you in our epistolary correspond- 
 ence, though I have often regretted the loss 
 of that Christian communion which should 
 have been held with you, in preference to 
 any other person living. It was to your in- 
 structions, under the grace of God, that I was 
 brought to a knowledge of the truth, or, at 
 least, that caused first impressions, and such 
 as, (blessed be God for it,) wore off", only to 
 return with double force. But, by the grace 
 of God, I am what I am. I must tell you that 
 at this time, I am neither on the mount, nor 
 yet in the valley; but though his face does 
 not shine with that peculiar lustre into my 
 soul, I can still say, ' He hath loved me, and 
 given his life for me,' and he tells me, for my 
 comfort, that none shall pluck me out of his 
 hand. What a consolation is this, and how 
 little do I deserve such gracious treatment: 
 it is only because his compassions fail not, and 
 because his mercies are new every morning: 
 but, alas! I cannot always thus praise him, 
 though he is the same yesterday, to-day, and 
 forever. My own heart condemns me, and I 
 know he is greater than my heart, and know- 
 eth all things. Often hath he said, "I will 
 heal thy backslidings and love thee freely.''
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 19 
 
 Then, my soul saith, ' I -will bless the Lord 
 at all times;' whereas, when my prospects 
 have been darkened by sin, my love has 
 grown cold towards my Redeemer and my 
 God, and that love which has no parallel in 
 earth or heaven, has brought little or no grat- 
 itude for it." 
 
 In a hastily written note to the same val- 
 ued friend, she also remarks, 
 
 '' We are all quite well a blessing which 
 demands our warmest gratitude; but, alas! 
 we are more engaged for the world than for 
 God. I can only stay to thank you for the 
 many useful lessons I have received from 
 you? and crave an interest in your prayers. 
 I hope you will not forget to communicate 
 that good to others, which you have bestow- 
 ed on me ; for who can tell but it may some 
 day produce a good effect, though for a long 
 time it may appear to be quite choked by the 
 follies of youth." 
 
 It is reasonable to believe, that, when in 
 eternity the triumphant followers of the Lamb 
 retrace their course below, two days of their 
 earthly existence will, beyond all others, ap- 
 pear deserving of being remembered with 
 never-ending gratitude and joy one, the day
 
 20 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that brought them to their Saviour's feet, the 
 other, the day when, while God looked on 
 with approbation, and foolish men, perhaps, 
 with scorn, they, in baptism, owned the 
 Lord Jesus as their Redeemer, their Sover- 
 eign, and their God. In 1821, Charlotte 
 Collins thus avowed the solemn transactions 
 that had passed in private between God and 
 her soul, and ratified the sacred surrender 
 which she made of her interests and herself 
 to the great Redeemer. The following let- 
 ters, addressed to her most intimate youthful 
 friend, refer to both these events, as well as 
 to those interesting exercises which charac- 
 terize the young convert: 
 
 TO MISS E. G. OF ASHSY. 
 
 "Feb. 1, 1822. 
 
 " I am hastening on to tell you why I have 
 begun this to-night, without a design to fin- 
 ish. It is this : to-day, I am twenty-one 
 years of age. Your own mind will supply, in 
 how many instances this era of a person's life 
 is hailed with transporting joy; while in oth- 
 ers, perhaps, it is forgotten, and the mercies
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 21 
 
 which, till that time, have crowned our worth- 
 less lives, are 
 
 ' Forgotten in unthankfulness, 
 And, without praises, die.' 
 
 As it respects this world's good, it is true I 
 have no more cause to rejoice this day than 
 another; but when I look back on life, spent 
 as mine has been, I am astonished at the 
 sparing mercy of God. When I consider the 
 length of years that I quenched his Holy 
 Spirit, which has not ceased to strive with me 
 from a child, and said, in my heart, ' I will 
 not have this man to reign over me,' may I 
 not justly say, 
 
 ' Why was I made to hear his voice, 
 
 And enter while there's room; 
 While thousands make a wretched choice, 
 
 And rather starve than come 1 ' 
 
 " O my E , help me to praise so good 
 
 a God; for how many millions of his crea- 
 tures, more worthy than I, (if aught in crea- 
 ture worthy is,) have lacked those good things 
 with which I have been hitherto so bountifully 
 supplied ! Yes, even those who have tasted 
 that the Lord is gracious. O that this con- 
 2
 
 22 MEMOIR OF 
 
 sideration might lead me afresh to consider 
 the source of every temporal as well as 
 spiritual mercy and favor ! And, surely, 
 while I remember, that almost, if not quite, 
 nineteen years out of twenty-one have been 
 spent voluntarily in the service of sin, I 
 should be continually humbled before my God, 
 and be always desirous of spending and being 
 spent for Him and his cause. But alas! how 
 few returns of love hath my Creator found! 
 
 " I thank you for the hint about the Home 
 Mission: to human appearance, it is impossi- 
 ble to do anything; but beginning this where 
 I hope we begin every undertaking, at -a 
 throne of grace, who can tell? I rejoice to 
 hear you inquire about the best things. I 
 cannot say that I am seated so high on the 
 mount of heavenly affection and zeal as I 
 could wish, nor have I lost this body of sin 
 and death. But blessed be God, I am not 
 walking in darkness; no, his word and Spirit 
 in some measure bear witness still; by grace 
 I am enabled to view some faint resemblance 
 between myself and a justified sinner through 
 the Lord Jesus." 
 
 2*
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOX. 23 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "March 5, 1821. 
 
 " I hope I do not undervalue the privilege 
 of an epistolary correspondence with a Chris- 
 tian friend; but, to tell you the truth, I would 
 rather enjoy oral communication with you; 
 and I shall now feel much more confidence 
 and pleasure in soliciting your company than 
 when I should have invited you from a feast 
 to a fast. O how I long for the time when 
 we shall meet to part no more. I sometimes 
 think, that our minutes would glide more 
 sweetly, and our spiritual enjoyments be in- 
 creased, by a frequent meeting on earth. 
 But, I may think again, we are liable to 
 error in our judgment, and perhaps those mo- 
 ments, instead of being employed in assisting 
 each other in our heavenly journey, would 
 be spent in trifling and idle conversation. 
 
 You talk of your heart, my E ; why I 
 
 might suppose you had been drawing a picture 
 of mine: I am sure you marked its very fea- 
 tures. But though these hearts of ours are 
 such, by nature, as often cause us to groan; 
 yet how sweet are those moments in which 
 we come with broken spirits before Him: no 
 tears are so sweet as those of penitence and
 
 24 MEMOIR OF 
 
 gratitude. O may God, according to his loving 
 kindness and tender mercy, grant we may 
 ever come in such a manner as to receive his 
 Spirit, to help our infirmities. 
 
 "I felt a pleasure in reading your kind prayer 
 for me: my dear girl, do not forget me at a 
 Throne of Grace: we know the righteous cry, 
 and the Lord heareth; and though we have no 
 righteousness of our own to boast of, we are 
 made the righteousness of God in him 
 (Christ); a privilege for which we can never 
 be sufficiently thankful." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "June 23, 1821. 
 
 You paint your own heart, my dear E , 
 
 in dark shades: I wish fairer colors would 
 picture mine; but alas! alas! I may add to 
 all yours, that out of it proceeds only evil, 
 and that continually. I am sometimes afraid 
 I am sinning, that grace may abound; but 
 God forbid. Sometimes I tremble lest my 
 faith should prove a dead faith, though at 
 other times I am saying, Who shall be able 
 to separate me from the love of God in Christ 
 Jesus? Thus you see, I find a chequered 
 path.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 25 
 
 " Accept my best thanks for your kind ad- 
 vice: be assured it was not only acceptable, 
 but seasonable; for I do hope, ere long, to 
 enjoy the privilege of Christian fellowship; 
 though at times I have been ready to give 
 up all thoughts of it, lest I should walk un- 
 worthily, or not hold out to the end; but 
 when I hear Him say, He is a sun and a 
 shield, I am ready to think, how can I stum- 
 ble with such a light, or be conquered with 
 such an armor? 
 
 With respect to the performance of the 
 ordinance,* I do not feel intimidated, and I 
 hope I shall never feel ashamed of that Gos- 
 pel which alone is the power of God to sal- 
 vation." 
 
 In a subsequent letter she writes to the 
 same correspondent, " I had the felicity of 
 joining the despised followers of the blessed 
 Jesus, on Sunday last, August the 5th, 1821. 
 I would engage, if possible, your prayers 
 for me, that I may go on in the strength of the 
 Lord." 
 
 The next letter was written by Miss Collins 
 to her friend, Miss G., after being disappoint- 
 
 * Baptism.
 
 26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 
 
 ed in the enjoyment of a visit from the latter. 
 It also refers to the exercises of her mind on 
 the day of her baptism. 
 
 " August 22, 1821. 
 "My dear E. 
 
 "To say that I felt no disappointment, 
 would be false, or that I could' repress the 
 flowing tear; such was my weakness. Well 
 might Blair say, 
 
 ' Friendship! mysterious cement of the soul, 
 Sweet'ner of life, and solder of society.' 
 
 " Though I should think the author himself 
 rarely realized more painfully his assertion 
 than I did on that occasion which called it 
 to mind. 
 
 "But, notwithstanding this trial, (for such I 
 dare say we both considered it,) it may afford 
 us consolation that we are not the foot-balls 
 of blind fortune, though Solomon says, ' Time 
 and chance happen to all men.' But be this 
 as it may, blessed be God, we have one sure 
 basis, and I trust I felt, in the midst of dis- 
 appointment, a sweet satisfaction, that how- 
 ever these minor blessings may elude our 
 grasp through life, still there is fulness of
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 27 
 
 joy, and pleasure flows for ever more at God's 
 right hand; and seeing he hath not spared 
 his only begotten Son, may we not expect 
 every other good? 
 
 " You ask me to pray for you, my dear. 
 Alas, if we were not told to confess our faults 
 one to another, and pray one for another, we 
 should be ready to say, What good can this 
 do? But I have thought this injunction 
 was not in vain; for I sometimes feel more 
 heart to pray for another than for myself. O 
 wretched stupidity, awful depravity, that 
 freezes our hearts and renders them so cold 
 as to feel no spark of love glowing in them 
 towards Him who hath loved us, and given 
 himself to die for us, no desire for those 
 blessings which he alone can bestow, and 
 without which we.are miserable beyond de- 
 scription. But, tell me, my E., are you ever 
 in such a frame as this? O may our good 
 and gracious God preserve us from it, and 
 give us hearts to pray always, without fainting. 
 That day, the day on which I had dwelt 
 with peculiar pleasure previous to the time, 
 I began with sorrow of heart; the distressing 
 forebodings of leaving and denying my Master, 
 of being of the number who draw back
 
 8 MEMOIR Of 
 
 unto perdition ; and, most of all, of being left as 
 was Hezekiah, to try all that was in rny wick- 
 ed heart, almost overwhelmed me, until he 
 kindly said, None shall pluck thee out of my 
 hand, with many other similar promises. O 
 precious truth! glorious promise! But not 
 even this raised my enjoyment equal, either 
 to my inestimable privilege, or to my anxious 
 expectation." 
 
 One of the first effects of the Gospel on 
 the heart, is to produce a tender anxiety for 
 the eternal welfare of our friends, our rela- 
 tives, and those by whom we are immediately 
 surrounded. On a heart so affectionate as 
 that of the subject of this little book, this 
 effect was strikingly manifest. Miss Collins 
 had two sisters nearly of her own age, and 
 never perhaps were sisters more affectionately 
 attached to each other. Living as they did 
 so much together, we have not many written 
 memorials of her efforts for their salvation; 
 those efforts, however, were daily made by 
 personal converse, and by fervent prayer. 
 The following note written on occasion of 
 some afflictive providence when on a visit is 
 a specimen of her correspondence with them. 
 Others will be hereafter inserted.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 29 
 
 ' ' My very dear Sister, This is indeed an 
 untimely note, be not however alarmed 
 either at its appearance or contents. All is 
 well! for godliness (and this I hope by the 
 grace of God, I have,) with contentment, is 
 great gain, and has the promise of the life 
 that now is, and of that which is to come. 
 Come now my girl, and tell me what you 
 want more than this? Why truly nothing, 
 for it is only the uncertainty of an hereafter 
 being spent in heaven or hell, that makes 
 us miserable. What simpletons must we be 
 then who live in continual agitation, for I am 
 sure from past experience that there is no 
 peace to the wicked. 
 
 I meet with many invitations, but I find that 
 in mixing with the world, I am too apt to mix 
 with the spirit of the world. I must go to 
 see the Miss Hillyards; we have made out 
 the kinship. It was observed the other day, 
 they are singing girls, I dont know whether 
 they are praying girls, and I know where 
 there is a reading girl, I wish I knew that 
 she was a praying girl. O my dear Sally, 
 why will you so lightly esteem that dear Re- 
 deemer who shed his blood, for you. Only 
 behold him now waiting to receive you. He
 
 30 MEMOIR OF 
 
 stands with open arms. Angels would rejoice 
 the saints on earth too would esteem it an 
 inestimable privilege to own you their sister, 
 friend, and fellow-traveller but to tell you 
 the joy it would create in my heart is impos- 
 sible. You know that I love you very dear- 
 ly, and my dear, I long to take you by the 
 hand, to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, here 
 below '-that we may never be separated. 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 C. COLLINS." 
 
 We shall conclude this first chapter of the 
 memoir, and the first year of Charlotte Col- 
 lins' visible connection with the flock of 
 Christ, with extracts from two letters written 
 to an aged Christian pilgrim. They will 
 exhibit her restless anxiety to walk as be- 
 cometh the Gospel, and to adorn the doctrine 
 of God our Saviour in all things, 
 
 TO MRS. D. OF COVENTRY. 
 
 "October 11, 1821. 
 
 " When I last (and first.) had the pleasure 
 of perusing a letter from you. I flattered my- 
 self that I should enjoy a continued corres- 
 pondence with one for whom I felt no com-.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 31 
 
 mon regard; and whose kindness and anxiety 
 for my spiritual welfare increased this flatter- 
 ing expectation. But alas! although I have 
 earnestly requested it, I have hitherto been 
 disappointed. Perhaps you will be ready to 
 say, I need not wish to trouble you; that I 
 have my directory, and to that I must look. 
 But you will remember, my dear friend, the 
 testimony and directions of a traveller, who, 
 for years has been steering his course by this 
 directory, will undoubtedly cast a light upon 
 the path. And sometimes when the cloud of 
 unbelief, or the blacker cloud of conscious 
 guilt, intercepts our light from the Sun of 
 Righteousness, a friendly traveller may inform 
 us whether this dismal road (which I some- 
 times think untrodden by the real Christian,') 
 can lead us into the presence of the Most 
 Holy God. I know that the Lord Jesus 
 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness 
 to every believer; and blessed be God, I 
 can sometimes rejoice in this assertion. How 
 wonderfully are his precious promises adapted 
 to every part of our experience. When we 
 find our strength great in the Lord, we, with 
 confidence, look forward, and anticipate his 
 gracious requirements, feeling conscious of
 
 32 MEMOIR OF 
 
 our acceptance with him. But when, on the 
 contrary, we view those gracious require- 
 ments, and feel no strength equal to their 
 performance, how often does a finished, a 
 complete salvation present itself, or some good 
 promise, which enables us to bear up under 
 these infirmities, and directs us to wait on 
 the Lord, that our strength may be renewed. 
 " Do pray for me, my dear Mrs. D , that 
 my conduct may ever be such as shall adorn 
 the doctrine of God, my Saviour, in all things. 
 I feel that I am, a poor imperfect creature, 
 and without the promised strength of Him 
 who has overcome the world, and who can 
 and will impart strength for us to overcome 
 it also: what must I do? where could I flee? 
 Thus you see a gracious Saviour obviates 
 this difficulty. But then here is a greater. 
 I doubt I shall one day or another forget to 
 seek this promised aid." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " My dear Mrs. D. Since I first had the 
 pleasure of seeing you, but little time has 
 elapsed in which you have had no share 
 in my thoughts, and though I am sensible 
 that with you the short fatigue of life will 
 soon be ended, and that its tempestuous
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 33 
 
 winds will only serve to waft your soul to its 
 Redeemer, yet experience and your kind 
 communication teach me that whatever has a 
 tendency to raise our grovelling hearts from 
 earth to heaven to give us a higher tone of 
 religious feeling, will ever be acceptable and 
 necessary while treading this chequered path. 
 This conviction leads me to offer for your 
 perusal the little book sent herewith, and may 
 the God of heaven grant you a peculiar nearness 
 to him, that when death in his grim terrors 
 shall appear, you may Jcnotv in whom you 
 have believed, and find that you are more than 
 a conqueror through him that has loved you. 
 "My time will not admit of my saying much, 
 and I well know that you have tried a faith- 
 ful God too long to distrust, or I should say, 
 ' he is faithful who hath promised.' It is. a 
 wintry season of the year, but blessed be 
 God, it has not been a winter with my soul. 
 I trust all is still well though so unworthy 
 as I am. You cannot conceive how visible 
 the hand of the Lord has been in his dealings 
 with me, and I do think hot a person in the 
 world has such cause for gratitude if it were 
 possible, I would tell you, and I am sure you 
 would be well convinced that he ' careth for 
 us,' and that he will (if we commit our ways 
 3
 
 34 MEMOIR OF 
 
 unto him,) condescend to direct our path.' 
 But shall I say it has been a smooth path that 
 has taught me this blessed truth, no, it has 
 been (to my weakness,) a path of trials, and 
 I can now adopt every word of the poet when 
 he says, 
 
 'Trials make the promise sweet; 
 Trials give new life to prayer; 
 Trials bring me to his feet, 
 Lay me low, and keep me there.' 
 
 Thus we see all things shall work together 
 for good to them that love God. That we 
 may be found of that number, and at length 
 be numbered with the Morning Stars of heaven, 
 is the prayer of 
 
 Yours affectionately, in our Redeemer. 
 CHARLOTTE COLLINS."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Her cheerful and active Piety Missionary Spirit 
 Correspondence and Extracts from her Diary dur- 
 ing the year 1822. 
 
 No sooner had Charlotte Collins experi- 
 enced the saving efficacy of the Saviour's 
 grace, than she appeared at once and forever 
 to adopt as the great governing principle of 
 her life, that henceforth she should live, not 
 unto herself, but unto HIM who died for her 
 and rose again. Cheerfulness and activity 
 were eminently the leading traits in her 
 piety. 
 
 Religion was, in her, far from being ac- 
 companied with any of that formality of 
 demeanor, or forbidding reserve, which too 
 much characterizes some Christian females. 
 Her natural temperature was cheerfulness.
 
 36 MEMOIR OF 
 
 The rosy hue of health bloomed on her cheek, 
 good nature sparkled in her eye, and ani- 
 mated her whole countenance; while her 
 frankness of disposition and readiness to 
 oblige, accompanied by the plastic influence 
 of divine grace, rendered her a lovely speci- 
 men of youthful piety. Charlotte was not 
 merely a welco'me guest, but a favorite in 
 every Christian family that she visited. Nor 
 were these advantages lost upon her. Ac- 
 customed as she was to regard genuine piety 
 as of supreme importance, she estimated the 
 conduct and pursuits of men by their influ- 
 ence on eternity. Whenever she saw any 
 thing inconsistent with this one thing need- 
 ful, she seldom failed to speak a word in sea- 
 son. If circumstances threw her into the 
 company of females, whether acquainted or 
 not, she would watch, with the eyes of Argus, 
 for the best opportunity of introducing reli- 
 gion. If conversation took an unprofitable 
 turn, she would commonly propose some ques- 
 tion that might direct it into another channel. 
 If the ties of relationship or acquaintance 
 sanctioned a correspondence, she usually ad- 
 vanced some cogent arguments to excite seri- 
 ous consideration. These, it must be admitted,
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 37 
 
 are very rare qualifications, but which the 
 subject of this memoir possessed in a degree 
 which has often been noticed with admiration. 
 In one instance, at least, her affectionate 
 remonstrances, and pious solicitude, were 
 blessed to the recovery of a near relation from 
 the destructive follies of youth, and of lead- 
 ing him to a serious regard to religion. And 
 although she experienced the sorrow of losing 
 him at the early age of seventeen, yet she 
 had the happiness of knowing that he $ied in 
 the Lord. 
 
 But, perhaps the principal advantage re- 
 sulting from her urbanity of manners, was the 
 ready access it gave her to the cottages of 
 the poor. Here she shone with peculiar ex- 
 cellence. It was to her at once a dutiful 
 and delightful employment, and she was well 
 qualified to engage in it. Few, if any, are 
 the cottages, within the neighborhood of 
 Wolvey, that Charlotte has not visited, either 
 to converse with its inmates on religion, to 
 distribute her books, or to administer to their 
 necessities. And, it may be added, few are 
 those, whether old or young, who will not 
 cherish with affection the memory of her 
 name. A most interesting proof of the general
 
 38 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 
 
 regard which was entertained for her, was 
 exhibited by the universal solicitude felt when 
 it was first rumored that Charlotte Collins 
 would probably become the wife of a Mis- 
 sionary to India. And when, a few months 
 ago, the writer revisited her native village, 
 after an absence of more than ten years, he 
 found her memory as fragrant as though she 
 had left it but yesterday, nor was her name 
 often mentioned without being accompanied 
 by a blessing and a tear. 
 
 There are many professors of religion, 
 whose whole spiritual energies are exhausted 
 upon themselves: they spend their days in 
 watching the emotions of their own hearts, 
 or- in luxuriating in a kind of sickly senti- 
 mental reverie. Their piety seems to be of 
 little benefit to a world perishing in sin and 
 misery around them. Either from some per- 
 verted notions of religion, or from some sinful 
 modesty and distrust of themselves, they 
 never actively engage in the glorious course 
 of benevolence, to which the Gospel invites 
 them. Miss Collins was very far from be- 
 longing to this class. A knowledge of the 
 existence of ignorance and misery, was 
 enough to awaken her tenderest feelings, and
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 39 
 
 call forth all the energies of her sympathizing 
 soul. Though situated in a small, obscure, 
 and generally very poor village, and her 
 time much engrossed with domestic employ- 
 ments, she found opportunity for the exercise 
 of her benevolence, to a very considerable 
 extent. 
 
 One of her first and most interesting em- 
 polyments was in the Sabbath school. Her 
 heart seemed to be bound up in the welfare 
 of her little charge. H'ow diligently and 
 successfully she labored to promote its 
 interests, her companions in this good work, 
 and her esteemed pastor, could gratefully 
 testify. By her exertions, chiefly, a book 
 society was established for the benefit of her 
 ignorant neighbors, and for the members of 
 the church. She was a warm advocate of 
 the Bible and Tract societies. Not a visitor 
 or passing stranger escaped her, when she 
 had an opportunity of distributing her tracts 
 or books. If soldiers or other travellers 
 were passing through the village, she would 
 levy her contributions on her friends and 
 neighbors all round the country, to supply 
 them with some religious tracts or pamphlets. 
 Many a sick bed has witnessed her pious
 
 40 MEMOIR OF 
 
 efforts, both for body and soul; and, for her 
 assistance in this labor of love, she kept a 
 private fund out of her little income. I find, 
 too, from her correspondence, that she was 
 invited to become the almoner of the bounty 
 of others in this benevolent undertaking. 
 
 But it was in missionary exertions, if pos- 
 sible, more than in any thing else, that she 
 seemed to live. Her prayers, her hopes, 
 her labors, all seemed to centre here. She 
 seemed to drink in the missionary spirit in 
 her conversion. Every missionary publica- 
 tion, within her reach, she read with avidity; 
 every missionary service within her neigh- 
 borhood was, if possible, attended by her, 
 and shared in her prayers and her purse; 
 while every opportunity, at home and abroad, 
 was embraced with eagerness, to recommend 
 her favorite <5bject. She obtained, from the 
 Secretary of the Missionary Society to which 
 she belonged, and from other sources, papers 
 and publications, which she distributed, in 
 order to increase the missionary flame. She 
 also became one of the first collectors of its 
 funds. Many of her esteemed fellow-labor- 
 ers in this holy cause may have furnished 
 larger sums to the treasury of the society,
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 41 
 
 but perhaps no one, under such discouraging 
 circumstances, and with so little leisure, has 
 done more for its interests than Charlotte 
 Collins. 
 
 The following extracts from some of her 
 letters, will show that, some time before she 
 had actually joined the Christian church, she 
 commenced her efforts to advance the Re- 
 deemer's kingdom; and that she was not 
 content to labor alone, but employed her in- 
 fluence to enlist others in the sacred cause. 
 
 TO MISS E. p. 
 
 " Aug. 16, 1820. 
 
 " I have had an opportunity of visiting an 
 old friend, from whom I have obtained a va- 
 riety of tracts; and, among them, is an 'Ad- 
 dress to Christian Females.' Now, a little 
 commendation, and especially among ladies, 
 goes a long way. Perhaps a few of them 
 distributed among my neighbors, might in- 
 fluence them to be more active. On Mon- 
 day, I went to Warrenhouse, hoping to find 
 
 Mr. P , which, had I been so fortunate, 
 
 would have saved Mr. G the trouble of 
 
 writing. But, in so good a cause, why should 
 I say trouble ? However, I will promise him
 
 42 MEMOIR OF 
 
 one thing; that is, he shall not work without 
 being paid for it: Jesus Christ will pay for 
 ALL." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Sept. 17, 1820. 
 
 " I have received, unexpectedly, from 
 Barton, upwards of two dozen quarterly mis- 
 sionary papers, with a number of those you 
 mentioned; all of which will be fewer than I 
 could distribute. I do not say that I have 
 more subscribers than these would serve, but 
 we do not want to prevail on those who are 
 already willing. I, with you, consider this 
 employ an honorable one indeed, and only 
 wish that collectors and subscribers would all 
 be actuated by sincere love to Christ, and an 
 earnest desire to enlarge his kingdom. May 
 this, my dear E., ever be our motive; and, 
 the more we find of his love to us, (and O 
 may this knowledge increase daily) the more 
 desirous let us be of doing something for him. 
 I think we shall not easily forget those en- 
 gaged as missionaries at a throne of grace. 
 When we remember that it increases our 
 spirituaj. communion with God, and you know 
 how to piSze that, O how should this inspire
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 43 
 
 our hearts with gratitude ! While an earthly 
 king would disdain to familiarize himself 
 with his most loyal subjects, the King of 
 kings deigns to hold fellowship with rebels; 
 for such we were once, and I often think I 
 am little better now; though I trust I would 
 not willingly live in open hostility to my God 
 and Saviour. But, could you look into my 
 heart all the hours of the day, I am afraid 
 you would too often find the vanities of the 
 present world, and all the follies of time, oc- 
 cupying a great share; and, seeing the 
 Searcher of hearts knoweth all these things, 
 we may justly wonder how he who cannot 
 look upon sin, but with the greatest abhor- 
 rence, can grant his Holy Spirit to those 
 who ask it, were we not assured that we are 
 made the righteousness of God in Christ. 
 
 While many cavil at the word impute, it 
 may suffice us to know, that whether we 
 have wisdom or righteousness, sanctification 
 or redemption, it all flows to us through the 
 death and merits of our blessed Redeemer; 
 and I know you will join with me in singing 
 grace! grace! and ' to him that hath washed 
 us in his own blood, be all the glory.'
 
 44 MEMOIR OF 
 
 The people at W I hope will be more 
 
 united, I mean the church. Mr. Greene gave 
 them a pretty round lesson, and made a cap, 
 that so exactly fitted your poor friend, that 
 she was obliged to wear it, as one sent by a 
 friend that knew her better than he did." 
 
 " HolcotMill, Dec. 7, 1820. 
 
 " Dear and honored Parents^ . 
 
 " I fully purposed writing last week, but a 
 slight indisposition prevented. Colds, I think, 
 have received a commission to overtake me 
 successively; for I have scarcely been free 
 from one since my arrival in Northampton- 
 shire. 
 
 I think I may tell you now, that I have 
 nearly completed my round, but not quite; 
 so cannot say positively when you may ex- 
 pect me; but, if I should not be at home to 
 dine with you this Christmas, I am pretty sure 
 nobody will keep me until another. 
 
 I feel quite concerned about my quarter- 
 age, but hope Sally will run round for me 
 me this once. She will probably recollect 
 most of the subscribers' names, and also, 
 that yesterda^, i. e. the 6th' of this month, 
 was the time when it should have been col-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 45 
 
 lected. I think my account is locked up, 
 but this will not signify to the givers. Be 
 sure to think of the AVhythebrook people, and 
 lose nothing through taciturnity. ' Spare to 
 speak, spare to speed,' always. 
 
 " The account of your scholars pleased me 
 much. I have now in hand upwards of 400 
 for this cause. Oh, my dear girl, let us re- 
 member the perishing millions. You cannot 
 tell how I long to see you, and place in your 
 hands some of our missionary papers. Ours 
 is but an infant cause; but, blessed be the 
 Lord, it prospers. Pray for us, and for the 
 cause of our Redeemer. 
 "Your affectionate sister in the Redeemer, 
 
 C. COLLINS." 
 
 In 1821, Messrs. Bampton and Peggs, the 
 first missionaries sent out by the General 
 Baptist Missionary Society, proceeded to 
 India. The ordination of the former took 
 place at Loughborough, on May 15th. The 
 day was one of peculiar solemnity, and 
 heart-thrilling emotions. Charlotte Collins 
 attended the solemn services. Her impres- 
 sions were deep, and her attachment to the 
 cause of Missions strengthened to a desire 
 4
 
 46 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to consecrate herself to its interests. A 
 young man, of respectable character and 
 circumstances, had previously sought her 
 hand; but, on her return from the ordination, 
 she absolutely declined receiving his address- 
 es. Then, and for some years afterwards, 
 she had no prospect of devoting herself to 
 missionary services, but appears to have 
 formed a determination not to enter into any 
 connection, however flattering, as to worldly 
 circumstances, which would permanently bind 
 her to her native land. In the following let- 
 ter, there appears to be an allusion to the 
 circumstances mentioned above, as well as a 
 description of her inward conflicts. 
 
 TO MISS G. 
 
 Sept. 30, 1822. 
 
 " You acknowledge the receipt of my last, 
 before you finished yours. How far this 
 proved an answer to the first part of your let- 
 ter, my memory will not at this time supply; 
 but I think it would give you some idea of 
 
 what I said to Mr. J , in reply to his; I 
 
 shall therefore begin with telling you that I 
 
 was repaid by my dear aunt S s, I must 
 
 not say without the first great Cause, for this
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 47 
 
 would be rapidly striding towards the shores 
 of infidelity, and, without the interposition of 
 Infinite Grace, would soon land us there. O 
 how do I hate the heathenish terms luck, 
 chance, fortune, &c.; and have cause to do 
 so, for these in conjunction with a depraved 
 heart have too often robbed the blessed God, 
 who is the giver of every good and every per- 
 fect gift, and who giveth us richly all things 
 to enjoy, of that gratitude (for temporal bless- 
 ings) which is his just due; and have often 
 deprived me of that degree of faith which dis- 
 covers the dispensations of a kind and gra- 
 cious God in every circumstance; and which is 
 more desirable than tongue can express. 
 
 " I think with you that Mr. J appears 
 
 in earnest: as to any thing more I am as 
 much puzzled, perhaps, as yourself; only 
 with you I know that nothing is too hard for 
 an Almighty power, though to every outward 
 appearance we may venture to say that no- 
 thing seems half so improbable; and he can 
 and does make use of a weak vessel, that the 
 excellency of the power may be of God. I 
 dare not presume to dictate to Infinite Wis- 
 dom, or perhaps I should ask a situation re- 
 plete with spiritual advantages and blessings,
 
 48 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and be ready to excuse myself from any ac- 
 tivity in his service, by pleading inability; 
 but, may he enable us to give up ourselves 
 to him; for he is, by far, better acquainted 
 with the motives from which I act, than I am, 
 or can be; for, alas! I feel such a complica- 
 tion of motives, that I feel no satisfaction but 
 in this, that God is acquainted with me: he 
 knows me altogether, and 'who is he that 
 saith, and it cometh to pass, if the Lord com- 
 mandeth it not ? ' 
 
 " I am doing little or nothing for the mis- 
 sion, but I trust I shall never forget we have 
 such a cause, nor that we have brethren and 
 sisters exposed to all the trials and difficul- 
 ties attaching themselves to the office of a 
 missionary." 
 
 We now insert a few extracts from her dia- 
 ry, taken from the first six months of the year 
 we are now contemplating. In the early part 
 of this year, she was called to undertake the 
 domestic management of the residence of a 
 gentleman, whose estates were partly farmed 
 by her father and uncles. In this new em- 
 ployment, she found herself deprived of .many 
 privileges which she had enjoyed in her 
 father's house; added to which, she was much
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 49 
 
 exposed to the uncongenial society of those 
 that knew not God. To these circumstances, 
 many of the complaints in her diary refer. 
 
 " Dec. 21, 1821. How little do we discover 
 of God, in his ordinary blessings, as though 
 these were from some other source. May 
 the blessed God give us hearts of thankful- 
 ness and praise, lest we provoke his anger. 
 This has been a peculiar season, but ' we re- 
 ceive good at the hand of God, and shall we 
 not also receive evil.' The few last weeks, 
 my mind has been more than usually affected 
 with the importance of Christian missiona- 
 ries. Oh that the good Lord of the harvest 
 would raise up and send forth laborers into 
 his vineyard. I am informed our funds would 
 support two more. Oh may God direct our 
 friends in their choice, that they may be men 
 after his own heart. Our dear brethren and 
 sisters, B. and P. left, May 26, 1821, in com- 
 pany with our beloved friend and brother, 
 Mr. Ward. Oh may their arrival tend to 
 strengthen the weary, and comfort the feeble, 
 if such there are in India; and may the arms 
 of their hands be made strong by the mighty 
 God of Jacob. Surely, I will not forget to 
 pray for them. Surely, there are some more 
 4*
 
 50 MEMOIR OF 
 
 importunate at a throne of grace than we are, 
 as a people; for alas! few besides our dear 
 minister, seem to feel for them; and, even 
 when we meet professedly to remember them, 
 almost every thing else is thought of more 
 importance. Oh gracious God! pour upon 
 us the spirit of grace and supplication, for 
 thou hast declared, ' I will be sought unto.' 
 
 " 23. This is the Lord's day, but oh how 
 divided has been my heart! how often is the 
 poet's language my own, 
 
 ' Oft I frequent thy holy place, 
 And hear_almost in vain.' 
 
 11 25. What have I now to record, except 
 that it is of the Lord's mercy that I am not 
 consumed. Oh when shall I be freed from 
 sin, and swallowed up in love to Christ. Have 
 becen speaking, to night, of a call to the work 
 of the mission. My soul felt somewhat alive 
 to the cause; and, fearless of every thing 
 but the disapprobation of my God, and, 
 looking forward in my Saviour's promised 
 strength and protection, surmounted even the 
 foaming billows. Oh for a greater portion of 
 faith. "Pis that which stopped the mouths 
 of lions, and turned to flight the armies of the
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 51 
 
 aliens; and, without this, it is impossible to 
 please God. 
 
 " 29. A multiplicity of engagements have 
 succeeded each other, and many times, I 
 doubt not, I have been careful and troubled 
 about many things, almost forgetting that 
 one thing alone is needful. The mission, 
 the mission is still upon my mind. How im- 
 portant the work! how few, in all respects, 
 adapted to it! O Lord, raise up among us 
 men after thine own heart, who will endure 
 hardship as good soldiers, and increase, in 
 thy unworthy dust, an increasing zeal, that 
 she may not spare to speak for thee and thy 
 cause; and, by a conformity to thy will, adorn 
 the doctrine of God in all things. 
 
 " Jan. 5. A prison, with the assurance of 
 being God's, yea, and a floating prison is de- 
 sirable, if assured that our eye is single. Oh, 
 when shall I possess a more lively dependence 
 on the mercy of God, through Christ, and feel 
 assured that I am his servant, by having re- 
 spect unto all his commands. 
 
 " 13. A week has elapsed, and no time 
 has been found to record the dealings of a 
 gracious God with me, although I have been 
 sweetly favored with his love, through Christ
 
 52 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Jesus, and through grace enabled to rejoice 
 in it. O, what felicity do those miss, who 
 know not God and his Son Jesus Christ, 
 whom to know is life eternal. 
 
 " Had an interview with a lover of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. -How dearly do I prize 
 all that love him. Come, ye worldlings, tell 
 me where you will find your comfort? What 
 can be compared to this to love and serve 
 the Lord, who gives grace and glory, and 
 withholds no solid good from upright souls? 
 Tell me, also, if ye will not have him for 
 your best friend now, where will you flee, 
 when he comes to judge the world in right- 
 eousness? O, believe in him, serve him, and 
 take him as your friend now, a friend for- 
 ever; for it is he alone who is the sinner's 
 day's-man. He alone is worthy; in him 
 alone has the ever blessed God declared him- 
 self ever well pleased. Gracious Lord, help 
 thy unworthy dust to love thee more and 
 serve thee better. 
 
 "22. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and 
 forget not all his benefits.' I have nothing 
 to lament but sin, and living too far from my 
 God. Encircled with friends, O may I never 
 orget my dear, very dear sisters, surrounded
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 53 
 
 by heathen, and perhaps, at times, almost 
 ready to exclaim, ' O, when shall these see 
 the light? ' Lord, support them, their part- 
 ners, and raise up and send more laborers 
 into the farthermost corners of the earth. 
 
 "Feb. 1. This day, I am twenty-one years 
 of age, nineteen of which has been spent en- 
 tirely in the service of the devil. Look back, 
 O my soul, with astonishment and gratitude; 
 astonishment, that the Lord bore so long with 
 thy stubborn and rebellious will so long 
 suffered thee to grieve his Holy Spirit, which 
 has not ceased to strive with thee from a 
 child; and, with gratitude, that he hath made 
 thee willing to be his that the great love, 
 wherewith he hath loved thee, has constrained 
 thee in any measure to love him in return. 
 Strive to love him more and serve him better 
 O my soul for 
 
 " Why was I made to hear his voice, 
 And enter while there's room." 
 
 Be all the praise to the exceeding riches 
 of his grace Amen. 
 
 " March 9. Much time has elapsed since I 
 last wielded my pen on spiritual subjects, and 
 now perhaps it will be much longer ere I 
 again resume it. Oh what must, what can I
 
 54 MEMOIR OF 
 
 do? If I felt satisfied that I am now in the 
 path of duty I would endeavor to be calm and 
 thankful, but how long shall I sojourn in Me- 
 sech and dwell in the tents of Kedar, with 
 those whom my soul hateth. Oh my fellow 
 Christians, you know not what it is to be 
 separated from your delights, the house and 
 people of God; but, gracious Father, if this 
 be thy means of sanctificatiorj, cause, Oh 
 cause me to say, 'Thy will be done,' and 
 enable me so to ad that" the enemies of 
 God may not only find no cause to blaspheme, 
 but to love religion for its influence sake. 
 
 " 12. Still much cause for thankfulness ; not 
 so much to fear from my situation, as from a 
 corrupt heart, out of. which procee.ds only 
 evil, and that continually; and which would 
 fain embrace the creature and creature com- 
 forts, forgetful of its Creator. O my God, 
 preserve me from loving the" gift more than 
 the Giver. 
 
 "17. Have been reading that more mission- 
 aries are wanted. O glorious assertion! 
 Dear Lord, raise up and send more faithful 
 laborers into thy vineyard the qualifications 
 necessary are ''sterling piety, good temper, 
 and diligent activity.' Who is sufficient for
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 55 
 
 these things ? O my Saviour, pardon the 
 proud and impure thoughts which often rise 
 and swell this ignorant and depraved heart: 
 teach me thy will concerning me, and erase from 
 my heart an anxiety which may be displea- 
 sing to thee; nevertheless, may none of thy 
 saints give thee rest until Jerusalem become 
 a praise in the whole earth. Enable us all to 
 act a faithful part with souls wherever we 
 may be placed, and may our ' light so shine 
 that men may see our good works and glorify 
 our God.' 
 
 " Jlpril 4. Another month of my fleeting 
 life is gone since entering on my much 
 dreaded situation; but blessed be the God of 
 Israel: who ever trusted in him and was con- 
 founded? He hath often told me that he 
 could cause even my enemies to be at peace 
 with me; but now he hath taught me the 
 truth of his word by the fulfilment of it. 
 i Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not 
 all his benefits.' How unworthy am I of 
 such attention from the adorable Jehovah, 
 but I am lost here: when I see him as he is, 
 I'll praise him as I ought. 
 
 " We would entreat thee for those whom 
 thou hast in thy kind providence bereaved,
 
 56 MEMOIR OF 
 
 (referring to the death of Mr. Pegg's child, 
 in India.) Cause it to be, if it please thee, 
 instrumental of good to souls: but more es- 
 pecially would we thank thee that thou hast 
 stayed the proud waves in behalf of our dear 
 brethren and sisters hast allowed them in 
 much mercy to reach almost their wished 
 abode. We would hope thou hast not spared 
 them in vain. May their lives be afresh de- 
 voted to their God. May they go on their 
 way rejoicing that they are thought worthy 
 to preach the glorious gospel to benighted 
 heathens; aad may they ever be determined 
 to know nothing among the people but Jesus 
 Christ and him crucified. 
 
 "Have been reading the life of Mrs. Newell. 
 How do I sink in my own esteem when com- 
 paring my life with hers my love to God 
 with hers. Blessed God, make this a means 
 in thy hand of humbling this proud heart be- 
 fore thee, and O may it preserve me from 
 that presumption which has too often perva- 
 ded and occupied this deceitful heart. O 
 that thou wouldst raise up and send teachers 
 after thine own heart, that shall, under thy 
 guidance and in dependence on thy strength, 
 be wise in winning souls to Christ; follow
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 57 
 
 with thy blessing the labor of all thy faithful 
 ministers, especially those in foreign lands: 
 but, if for wise ends thou shalt withhold that 
 success which they desire, may they enjoy 
 the comforting assurance that the faithful ser- 
 vant shall be rewarded. 
 
 " May 12. O how long have I neglected 
 this pleasing employment, and sufely by this 
 neglect have learned that this simple manner 
 of recording one's infirmities is not altogeth- 
 er in vain. The Lord only knows the deceit- 
 fulness of this vile heart: this day has been 
 our charity sermon, and O, my God, may I 
 never cease to remember it with deep humili- 
 ty and repentance. Shame may justly take 
 hold upon me. I have been among world- 
 lings, but they could not know that I had 
 been with Jesus. Have joined with them in 
 their vain conversation almost without re- 
 straint, but the cause is in myself. I have 
 spent the morning of this day without implor- 
 ing his watchful eye to keep, his strong arm 
 to withhold from sin; and yet I bless and 
 praise the Lord he does not chastise accord- 
 ing to my desert, but graciously assures me 
 that ' his mercy endures forever.' O my 
 God, deliver me from wearying thee with 
 5
 
 58 MEMOIR OF 
 
 my iniquities, and O if it be thy blessed will, 
 let this be the last time. Hide me, O rather 
 hide me in the grave, than suffer me thus to 
 deny thee thus mingle with the world in so 
 base a conformity to it insult thee in thy 
 house of prayer, and thus cause thy enemies 
 to blaspheme the holy name by which thy 
 sinful'creature is Called. 
 
 11 July 7. Feel my conscience less afflict- 
 ed with sin than usual. How is it, O my Sa- 
 viour, that I feel no sorrow for it, and arn 
 hardly conscious of it even when it rages in- 
 tolerably in my breast. O my Lord, open 
 thou my eyes, and while I know that ' the 
 thought of foolishness is sin,' may I feel it 
 to be so, and fly from it as from the face of a 
 serpent. Dear Lord, embitter sin to me, or 
 embitter those comforts of life which lead to 
 sin, rather than suffer me to enjoy them at 
 the expense of holiness of heart, without 
 which no man .shall see the Lord. Have 
 this day sat down at thy table and among thy 
 people; would be thankful for this privilege. 
 Surrounded by them that know thee not. O 
 preserve me from a sinful conformity." 
 
 Thus did Charlotte Collins " keep her 
 heart with all diligence," and struggle on to
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 59 
 
 glory. We will conclude this section of her 
 Memoirs by inserting a few letters of a mis- 
 cellaneous character. 
 
 " Hollcott Mill, Jan. 14, 1822. 
 " My dear and honored Parents, 
 
 ' ' Seeing you did not manifest any great de- 
 gree of anxiety to hear from me immediately 
 after my arrival, I have deferred writing till 
 the present, and now, blessed be God, my first 
 communication may justly be { goodness and 
 mercy have followed me all my days,' for, not- 
 withstanding I am surrounded with, disease 
 and death, I am preserved in health, and I sup- 
 pose it is unnecessary to add (to persons so 
 well acquainted with my natural disposition) 
 that as it respects temporal concerns I am 
 contented and happy; for 'having food and 
 raiment,' I ought and hope God will ever en- 
 able me to be content. In spirituals, how- 
 ever, it is not so; no, nor indeed do I wish it; 
 for I hope I shall never, never rest satisfied 
 till I awake in, his likeness freed from sin, 
 from every thing displeasing to my God and 
 Saviour, and capable of serving him with all 
 my given powers. Last Lord's day I feft 
 how great a sacrifice I had made when I re-
 
 60 MEMOIR OF* 
 
 mained a spectator, but not a partaker of the 
 emblems of my Redeemer's, my dear Re- 
 deemer's death. Did not you, my dear 
 mother, remember me, when sitting around 
 the sacred board, and surrounded by almost 
 all your Christian friends, except her who 
 most needs every assistance to raise her cold 
 heart from earth to heaven, or to strengthen 
 and renew her love to him who so loved her? 
 O my dear mother, I feel daily and hourly 
 my want of love to the dear Redeemer. ' You 
 that love the Lord indeed, tell me is it thus 
 with you.' 
 
 " I have not begged any money yet: this is 
 bad news; but while the disposal of hearts is 
 with the Lord, I hope I shall not fall into 
 guilty distrust, nor yet rest so satisfied as not 
 to care whether any or more help to build the 
 house of God. My kind love to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hall. I hope I ever shall ' esteem him 
 very highly in love for his work's sake.' You 
 will remember, I dare say, the anxiety we all 
 felt about twelve weeks ago, and the cause of 
 it. I hope now we shall be abundantly 
 thankful that we are not left as sheep without 
 a shepherd, and daily remember him at a 
 throne of grace, that he may be a teacher af-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 61 
 
 ter God's own heart, feeding the people with 
 knowledge and understanding. I find I am 
 quite spoiled for hearing; and if the apostle 
 means, when he says, ' Know no man after 
 the flesh,' that we are not to feel more partial 
 to one of God's servants than another, I must 
 cry ' Guilty, guilty.' " 
 
 TO MR. W. T. 
 
 " May 26, 1823. 
 
 " I think you perceived that my last was 
 written almost with an intention to find out 
 whether or not you could pronounce Shibbo- 
 leth in the language of Canaan, and, blessed 
 be God, the result was satisfactory. O my 
 dear W., how justly may we admire the dis- 
 tinguishing grace of God; what cause of 
 thankfulness have we? I should dearly love 
 to enlarge on the goodness of God to us in 
 particular, but forbear, merely because I 
 know we may not think alike on this subject, 
 and therefore you may charge me with a wish 
 to enter on controversial subjects, and I can 
 assure you nothing is farther from my mind 
 than this. I mention this that we may in all our 
 correspondence, endeavor, as much as possi- 
 ble to avoid it; for from two heads, so little 
 5*
 
 62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 furnished with theological tenets as ours, we 
 can expect but little advantage to accrue from 
 such procedure. "I often think that it is an 
 unspeakable privilege that Christians are en- 
 couraged to pray for each other; and perhaps 
 it is owing in a measure to this, that affec- 
 tion is the prominent trait of the Christian's 
 character; for ' by this shall all men know 
 that ye are my disciples,' &c. And if ever 
 you or I have prayed for friends, we know 
 from experience that we have not risen from 
 our knees without new feelings towards them. 
 I hope you do not forget me in your ap- 
 proaches to a throne of grace, for no one has 
 more need of your prayers: especially re- 
 member that I am surrounded with a cloud 
 of eye-witnesses of my conduct, watching 
 for every occasion to blaspheme the holy 
 name by which we are called. O my dear 
 W , we stand in need of great grace to walk 
 consistently in the eyes of the world. We 
 are both young, but it is our unspeakable 
 privilege that the blessed God has made pe- 
 culiar promises to such. May we ever be 
 the objects of his special care." 
 
 The following letter was addressed to a 
 young man, who, shortly after, died of con- 
 sumption.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 63 
 
 t My dear J , I was much surprised to 
 
 hear of your very serious indisposition, hav- 
 ing understood it to be nothing more than a 
 temporary illness arising from cold. We 
 however, have an assurance that ' afflic- 
 tions come not by chance.' This should re- 
 concile us under them, even if we should al- 
 ways be sufferers and losers by them. But 
 blessed be God, this is not always the case, 
 and it affords me inconceivable pleasure to 
 hear that it is not so with you. ' How un- 
 searchable are the ways of the Almighty!' 
 What can you and I render unto the Lord for 
 his infinite goodness and mercy unto usl 
 
 " But perhaps, my dear J , you may, 
 
 under existing circumstances, be the subject of 
 much discouragement and many doubts. You 
 may feel discouraged, because you have not 
 a greater portion of divine knowledge ; and 
 your apparently short career will necessarily 
 deprive you of making any acquisition there- 
 in; but this, you may remember, is not es- 
 sentially necessary to salvation. No; for 
 however refined the ideas may be, however 
 clear our views, or extensive our knowledge 
 of the glorious plan of salvation, they will not 
 afford us one plea in the sight of God. No:
 
 64 MEMOIR OP 
 
 all the plea we shall or can have, must be, 
 that ' Jesus Christ came into the world to 
 
 save sinners.' And you, my dear J , with 
 
 your scanty knowledge, can offer this avail- 
 ing plea. Your evidence of being a child of 
 God, through faith in Christ Jesus, may be 
 dark, but do not feel discouraged at this. It 
 may please God, in his infinite wisdom, to 
 suffer you to remain in doubts, till your latest 
 moments. Nevertheless, your salvation is 
 as secure, (if- you are enabled to accept the 
 Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and de- 
 pend on him, as a sacrifice with which God 
 has declared himself well pleased,) as though 
 you could live and die triumphantly. For my 
 own part, I have no wish to die in triumph. 
 No: I shall be well satisfied, if he enables 
 me to say, ' Though he slay me, yet will I 
 trust in him.' And I pray God to enable 
 
 you, my dear J , to exercise faith in the 
 
 mercy of God through Christ Jesus; for not 
 he that rejoiceth, but he that btlieveth in Christ 
 shall be saved. And it is said, 'The Lord taketh 
 pleasure in them that fear him, in all them 
 that hope in his mercy.' 
 
 " If he take us out of the world before we 
 have any opportunity of acknowledging and
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 65 
 
 confessing him in the world, ' it is Christ that 
 justifies: who is he that shall condemn?' 
 and, if he spare us in this world, it is in the 
 midst of snares, of allurements, and of tempta- 
 tions ; and it must be a great degree of grace, 
 which can preserve us from the evil that is in 
 the world. I hope you will not forget to pray 
 for me, that I may adorn the doctrine of God 
 my Saviour in all things; that I may walk 
 circumspectly before this people, and thus 
 convince them that there is something more 
 in religion than a mere name. 
 
 "In a little time, my dear friend, I shall 
 follow you into the valley of the shadow of 
 death; but even there, we need fear no evil, 
 if we have the staff of life (Jesus Christ) to 
 support us; and we know that, as Christ is 
 risen from the dead, so we shall rise; and 
 he has said, that where he is, there shall we 
 be also. And now, my dear John, farewell. 
 May we meet again with those whose names 
 are written in heaven, to ascribe unto him 
 who hath loved us, and washed us from our 
 sins in his own blood, everlasting .praise. I 
 am your affectionate cousin, 
 
 CHARLOTTE COLLINS."
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Her views of Missionary labor Extracts from her 
 diary Prospects of becoming a missionary, and 
 correspondence until the time of her marriage. 
 
 THOSE friends of Miss Collins who were 
 best acquainted with her, had long entertain- 
 ed an opinion that she was intended by Prov- 
 idence to engage personally in the work of 
 spreading the Gospel among the heathen. 
 The extracts already made from her letters 
 and diary have shown, that, although until 
 near the close of the year on which we are 
 entering, (1823) there did not appear to be 
 the least probability of her entering upon the 
 work, yet her mind was deeply exercised re- 
 specting it. It may, therefore, not be unin- 
 teresting to furnish a few extracts from her 
 correspondence with her confidential friend, 
 relating to her views on this subject.
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 67 
 
 Aug. 10, 1821. 
 
 TO MISS E. G. 
 
 " The missionary reports reached us with 
 your letter. They are cheering indeed. O, 
 my E., I seldom cast my eye over the dark 
 places of the earth, but I am almost ready 
 tacitly to reproach my Master for having 
 withheld from me those abilities, without 
 which, though with a soul wanned with love 
 to God; and a heart, wholly, if possible, de- 
 voted to him and his service, and ready and 
 willing to engage, in the strength of the Lord, 
 to labor in any corner of his vineyard, we 
 should remain in those dark corners compar- 
 atively useless. Thus, we see, that even our 
 zeal, unless tempered aright, needs forgive- 
 ness." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 "March 28, 1823. 
 
 <{ The mission, and going as a missionary, 
 are words which have frequently assailed my 
 ears from different quarters lately. I do not 
 mean to say by this, that I am likely ever to 
 be one; though, if twenty doors were open 
 for me to become the wife of a missionary, I 
 hope the Lord would teach me to refuse them,
 
 68 MEMOIR OP 
 
 unless I could be a faithful missionary myself, 
 so far as my circumstances and qualifications 
 would allow. For I should think that a 
 woman going merely as the companion of a 
 man, to gratify his fancy or ajffection, would 
 render her a burden to society; and this 
 would perhaps hold good a burden on the soci- 
 ety a reproach in the eye of the public and, 
 what is worse than all, she might ultimately 
 prove a curse on her husband's labors." 
 
 It would be well if missionaries of both 
 sexes were to act upon the ideas advanced in 
 the above extracts. Doubtless, there are 
 many aspirants for this sacred office, who 
 entirely mistake their own character. Some 
 suppose if they could only be landed on some 
 heathen shore, they should burn with a ser- 
 aph's zeal to effect the salvation of the de- 
 graded idolaters; but who, alas! do nothing, 
 or next to nothing, for the salvation of souls 
 at home. Others have invested the subject 
 with some romantic notions, and think nothing 
 more is necessary than a restless desire, 
 they know not why, to go; while a third class 
 among females have no ideas connected with 
 the work, beyond being the wife of one who 
 goes far hence to preach the Gospel. Char-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 69 
 
 lotte Collins belonged to neither of these 
 classes. She was a missionary at home; and, 
 before she consented to become a missionary 
 abroad, she endeavored to count the cost, to 
 estimate her qualifications for the arduous 
 work, and to investigate, with godly jealousy, 
 the motives which impelled her forward. 
 We insert one other letter on this subject. 
 It appears to have been written after Mr, and 
 Mrs. Lacey's embarkation for India, whose 
 ordination took part at Longboro,' but \vhich 
 she was disappointed in attending. 
 
 TO MISS E. G. 
 
 " You will think it a little strange, (and 
 I have no doubt feel for me, too,) when I tell 
 you that, until your letter, reached me, I had 
 not so much as heard that the ordination had 
 taken place. I had missed seeing our month- 
 ly publication, and no person had named the 
 circumstance ; so I was tantalizing myself 
 with the possibility of being there, and enjoy- 
 ing the company of one. I so dearly love. 
 Judge, then, of my disappointment. But we 
 may now indulge a hope that by the ' good 
 hand of their God upon them,' they are uni- 
 ting with our other dear friends (and perhaps 
 6
 
 70 MEMOIR OF 
 
 many others, who haVe like occasion for grat- 
 itude) in admiring the skill of that omnipotent 
 Pilot, who has thus safely conducted them to 
 their desired resting-place, and who will ul- 
 timately conduct all his travellers, whether 
 by land or by sea, to the haven of eternal rest. 
 
 "How important, my dear E., that we so 
 walk with God, as daily' to obtain increasing 
 evidence that this rest will be ours! while 
 this evidence receives an additional sweet- 
 ness from the confident hope of there meeting 
 our now absent friends, and uniting to adore, 
 throughout eternity, the matchless grace which 
 has made us heirs together with Christ .Je- 
 sus. 
 
 " I am very much indebted to you for your 
 good opinion of me, but which, in justice to 
 myself, I am obliged to say, you must re- 
 tract, on a better acquaintance with me. 
 But, that I hope to be in that station I should 
 best adorn, is true; and I am sometimes wil- 
 ling to think, notwithstanding my partiality, 
 which is not very inconsiderable, that I would 
 not uplift my hand to decide it. The good- 
 ness and the faithfulness which the blessed 
 God has manifested towards me, on past oc- 
 casions, compel me to say, ' 
 
 I'll praise him fur all that is past, 
 And trust him for all that's to come.'
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 71 
 
 " O that this language had, on .all occasions, 
 been unfeignedly mine. But alas! it is, and 
 I am sensible it is, the hardest thing in the 
 world to know one's self. I hope I feel 
 thankful that you have engaged to pray for 
 me: it is a great mercy to have a heart to 
 pray, and a still greater to have no less a 
 being than the eternalJehovah to pray unto." 
 
 Under the date of July 24, 1 823, she writes 
 in her diary, 
 
 " I have just read that our dear brother 
 Ward (that highly valued and dearly beloved 
 servant of Christ,) breathed his last on the 
 7th of March. He is gone to his reward. 
 Dear Lord, let not his place be vacant. May 
 it be filled by one equally holy, zealous, 
 and humble. And oh that this afflictive prov- 
 idence may be made subservient to thine own 
 glory. Thy hand is not waxed short." 
 
 To her friend, Miss W , of H., she 
 
 wrote as follows: 
 
 " Sept. 8, 1823. 
 
 " To hear that you are so zealously affect- 
 ed, in so good a cause (the Bible Society) as 
 the one you have espoused, has, I hope,
 
 72 MEMOIR OF 
 
 called forth my best feelings, both towards 
 the cause itself, and those engaged in its be- 
 half. If ever I feel averse to my present sit- 
 uation, it is only because it denies me those 
 pleasures which many of my Christian friends 
 so largely enjoy; but then a second reflec- 
 tion may and ought to check this rising dis- 
 content. For aught I know, it may arise 
 from the Satanic principle, pride; and, un- 
 doubtedly, he who ' searches the heart, and 
 tries the reins,' knows what is best for me; 
 and, perhaps, in boundless, though to me un- 
 known mercy, withholds from me that which 
 he sees would call forth, in this depraved 
 heart, the basest motives, and thus cause me 
 to love the praise of men more than the praise 
 of God. These reflections, my dear friend, 
 will at times check dissatisfaction, though the 
 secret hope still lives, that one day the Lord 
 will appoint me another place; but, whether 
 here or there, what he appoints is best. And 
 perhaps he never appoints the Christian a 
 place, but he calls upon him or her to be a 
 special light to those around. That I may be 
 such, do not, my dear friend, forget rne at a 
 throne of grace. We have our Master's in- 
 junction to pray for each other, and we know
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 73 
 
 not what blessings accrue from such an affec- 
 tionate interest in each other's welfare.". 
 
 Thus carefully did Charlotte Collins pro- 
 ceed in her Christian course. She had a 
 firm faith in the superintending providence of 
 God. Her Bible she made the man of her 
 counsel; and on its precious promises did she 
 rely for support and consolation. She never 
 seemed desirous of running before she 
 was sent, but patiently and prayerfully wait- 
 ed the intimations of God's will concern- 
 ing her. She was remarkable for a close in- 
 vestigation into her motives, and for faithful 
 dealing with her own heart. The time, howev- 
 er, was at hand, when her way was to be made 
 plain before her face. In the autumn of this 
 year, (1832) her acquaintance with Mr. Sut- 
 ton commenced. They had been, previously 
 to this time, entire strangers to each other. 
 His attention was directed to her, by her 
 zealous advocacy of the great principles of 
 benevolence with some of her young friends, 
 at a party where he was an occasional guest. 
 Mr. S. was at this time pursuing studies pre- 
 paratory to his engaging as a missionary, and 
 made a proposal to her to become the com- 
 panion of his days. Her agitation, and per- 
 6*
 
 74 MEMOIR OF 
 
 plexity, and self-suspicion, on this occasion, 
 were extreme. 
 
 We copy a few extracts from her diary 
 during this important era in her life. 
 
 "Nov. 26. Well may it be said 'How 
 unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways 
 past finding out,' for truly the Lord's dealings 
 with me are mysterious, though in infinite 
 wisdom. Long has my mind been (with re- 
 gard to temporal things) satisfied that my 
 path was straight and ordered by the Lord. 
 But now, alas ! I know not what to think. 
 Another way presents itself, and one which I 
 feel confident could not easily have been 
 brought about by human invention. I know 
 not what to do; I am only afraid of my 
 treacherous heart, lest that should deceive 
 me with any inclination contrary to the will 
 of God. I would be neutral, but cannot; for 
 the voice declares a woe to them that are at 
 ease in Zion. Fain would I relinquish all 
 thoughts of it, but dare not; for an inclination 
 to such a work, the opinion of others, and 
 an almost open door demand my thoughts. I 
 fear on the one hand lest a love of indolence, 
 or the creature should be my motive; and, on
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE iUTTON. 75 
 
 the other, I scarce dare think, lest the am- 
 bition of being thought a public character, or 
 any other motive equally base should influ- 
 ence me. Oh my God, while I am professing 
 my sincerity, be thou graciously pleased to 
 make me sincere. Thou alone knowest the 
 baseness of this vile heart: only make mine 
 eye single to thy glory, and then lead me 
 where thou wilt, whether to India's sultry 
 climes, or elsewhere; it matters not to thine 
 unworthy dust. 
 
 "Dec. 9. Unsettled and dark, and shut out 
 from free communion with my God. But I 
 know ' his hand is not shortened,' &c. I am 
 now afraid that the Lord is dealing with me 
 as with Job, and has suffered Satan to present 
 this specious allurement to try my integrity. 
 Oh my dear Lord and Saviour, save me in, 
 or deliver me from this trial. Leave me not 
 to my own heart, lest I dishonor that holy 
 name by which I am called, and cause the 
 enemies of God to blaspheme. 
 
 "11. Destitute of gratitude to God, and 
 blind to his infinitely glorious perfections. O 
 when wilt thou be pleased to open mine eyes, 
 and cause thy beauties to pass before me? In 
 thy light, let me behold light.
 
 76 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " 15. Still in an agitated state of mind 
 felt much disappointed on reading a letter 
 from my dearest female friend. I expected 
 to have her serious advice, on what I consid- 
 er the most serious subject; but she cannot 
 enter into my feelings, and could she, it 
 would then be impossible to know the base- 
 ness of this vile heart, and to discover its re- 
 al motives." 
 
 The difficulties of Miss Collins were con- 
 siderably augmented about this period by 
 the marked attentions of a minister of the 
 Gospel in a neighboring town. He was a 
 worthy, good man, but much her senior in 
 years, and in other respects not a congenial 
 companion for her. Still his general excel- 
 lence of character could but command esteem, 
 and when he manifested a serious disposition 
 to make her his wife, served to increase her 
 perplexity. To this, there is an allusion in 
 her confidential correspondence with her bo- 
 som friend. 
 
 TO MISS E. G. . 
 
 "Dec. 26, 1823. 
 
 "Your inquiries are not more free than 
 welcome, nor are they troublesome: I only
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 77 
 
 wish I could see you, I would then communi- 
 cate to you every thing relative to the circum- 
 stances to which you refer; for I have no 
 wish to hide any thing from the more discern- 
 ing part of mankind in general, much less 
 from a Christian friend whom I feel I love, 
 and who, I doubt not, would implore, with 
 fervency and affection, that divine guidance, 
 without which our steps are darkness. I 
 have truly been in trouble, and such as I nev- 
 er before experienced, however, not in such 
 a degree. The Lord has engaged to direct 
 our path if we commit our way unto him; but 
 
 alas! my dear E , such is my insincerity, 
 
 pride of heart, and in short, such a complica- 
 tion of iniquity seems to pervade this breast, 
 that after all my pretended anxiety, (and of 
 late it has been very great,) to ascertain, if 
 possible, the will of the blessed God concern- 
 ing me, and all my pretended submission to 
 his blessed will, I greatly question whether I 
 ever have in reality, i. e. without any will of 
 my own, committed my way unto him. I 
 hope I can say, my desire, my earnest de- 
 sire has been, and still is, to do so^; but oh! 
 ' the heart is deceitful above all things and 
 desperately wicked: who can know it?'
 
 78 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " You must know, dear E , that some 
 
 time ago my mind was very peculiarly exer- 
 cised with regard to the mission: why it was 
 so, I was then, and still am at a loss to say. 
 I was willing to attribute it to any thing rath- 
 er than to the operation of the Spirit of God 
 upon my mind, from a consciousness of my 
 utter inability for so great a work. But in 
 spite of this persuasion, though it afforded rue 
 innumerable pleas, perhaps all which self- 
 love, supineness, or a gainsaying mind could 
 invent; yet these objections were still silenc- 
 ed when at a throne of grace; and I, unwil- 
 ling as I was, compelled to say, c Send. Lord, 
 by whom thou wilt send.' But this anxiety 
 had considerably increased, owing perhaps, 
 to my continued acquaintance with my wor- 
 thy friend H . But notwithstanding this, 
 
 you know if the other appears evidently a call 
 in providence, am I to please or to deny my- 
 self? but here comes my difficulty, while one 
 supposes that all which is requisite is ' a dis- 
 position to the work, and an open door;' an- 
 other questions whether the preponderance 
 should not be given to natural affection. The 
 latter of these reasoners well accords with 
 my own sluggish inclinations; but then my
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 79 
 
 own reflections are something like the follow- 
 ing: ' Ought I, after what had previously pass- 
 ed in my mind, and the renewed reflections 
 which such a proposal necessarily brought, to 
 dismiss it without endeavoring to ascertain, if 
 possible, the will of Jehovah in it?' Does 
 not this event, in connection with my own 
 views and feelings on the subject, go very 
 far to prove that it has not been all a delu- 
 sion, and the effect of a proud, vile heart, as I 
 have often suspected it has been? and as 
 there appears to be but one bar in the way, 
 and this of my own placing, my next inquiry 
 is, ' May not even this be opposed to what 
 the Lord requires of me?' And on the other 
 hand, I am thinking all this anxiety and rest- 
 lessness of mind has never been of the opera- 
 tion of the Spirit of God; that it is permitted 
 as a temptation to try what is in my heart. 
 That this event may be ranked among the 
 ' chances which happen unto all men;' or 
 that the disposition to listen to any thing of 
 the sort, proceeds only from fickleness or in- 
 consistent mutability; or, in short, from any 
 motive inferior to the love of Christ. I find 
 I have nothing to doubt but myself. Jeho- 
 vah is faithful; and I hope I can heartily
 
 80 MEMOIR OF 
 
 adopt the language of David, ' Search me, O 
 God,' &c. From this slight sketch, you will 
 have some faint idea of the agitation of my 
 mind; but the ' half has not been told;' per- 
 haps, till now, I never suspected that so much 
 iniquity was bound up in this vile heart. O my 
 
 dear E , do pray for me, that God would 
 
 preserve me in uprightness of heart; for to 
 such there ariseth light out of darkness; do 
 accept my thanks for your sympathetic feel- 
 ing." 
 
 Having endured much perplexity, Miss 
 Collins became at length convinced that duty 
 required from her the consecration of herself 
 to the service of the heathen. No sooner 
 had light began to shine upon her path, than 
 her heart was filled with the liveliest emotions 
 of gratitude. From this time her diary and 
 letters abound with sentiments of exalted pie- 
 ty, and manifest how fast she was ripening 
 for that heavenly world to which her Lord 
 was about to call her, almost before she had 
 commenced her work as a missionary of the 
 cross. 
 
 Extracts from her diary. 
 
 " Dec. 29. Forever blessed be the Lord 
 God of Israel; let his praise be sung from
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 81 
 
 one end of the earth even unto the other. He 
 hath again graciously permitted a vile wretch 
 to order her cause before him. I have at 
 times enjoyed some liberty in | rayer, and 
 hope I now feel in some degree deliverance 
 from my own will. I feel a great compla- 
 cence towards S , and unison of soul un- 
 speakable in the work to which he is desig- 
 nated; this is why I felt afraid. But oh my 
 God, thou knowest my desire is to walk after 
 thy directions: whether here or there, deign 
 thou to guide me. 
 
 " 30. Blessed be God who hath gracious- 
 ly unloosed my soul and enabled me once 
 more to adopt the language of the 103d Psalm. 
 Oh how long have I been laboring under the 
 basest ingratitude, and though sensible of it, 
 could neither feel it as my worst foe, nor suf- 
 ficiently anxious to be delivered from it. 
 
 ' O for a heart to praise my God, 
 A heart from sin set free.' 
 
 " I still feel, when at a throne of grace, 
 that I cannot, dare not forget the important 
 cause in hand, for though I leel conscious it 
 would be sending an idolater to instruct the 
 heathen, yet am I to choose by whom the 
 Lord shall send? ' Lord, send by whom thou 
 7
 
 82 MEMOIR OF 
 
 wilt send ; but if thy Spirit go not with us, car- 
 ry us not up hither.' 
 
 " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
 not all his benefits. He has enabled me this 
 day to give myself unto prayer, and in an- 
 swer thereto, graciously assures me that my 
 ' righteousness shall be as the light.' What 
 wondrous condescension to one so vile. My 
 righteousness is as filthy rags, but Christ is 
 made to us wisdom and righteousness. O let 
 me stand approved in him, and in the sight of 
 the world, as his servant. 
 
 "Jan. 1, 1824. This has been a daylong 
 to be remembered, I hope, with gratitude. 
 Have felt an unconquerable impression that I 
 shall probably never spend another new 
 year's day in this place, perhaps not on earth. 
 From what this has proceeded, I cannot tell; 
 but it has led me to a throne of grace with 
 more than usual importunity, that the Lord 
 would preserve me from a presumptuous use 
 of the gracious promises with which he has 
 been pleased to favor me in the prospect of a 
 probable event, and from a distrust of his 
 faithfulness and goodness. O how short the 
 passage from faith to presumption, and from 
 a prudent distrust to downright infidelity. O
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 83 
 
 blessed Lord God of Israel, thou knowest our 
 ignorance, our unbelief, and every other de- 
 ficiency and sin. 'Remember that we are 
 but dust,' and be pleased to make straight 
 paths for our feet, and enable us to walk 
 therein without gainsaying. This thou hast 
 promised to do. O suffer me not to distrust 
 this gracious promise, for I know that all 
 power belongeth unto thee. 
 
 "2. Have this day been enabled to look 
 to the ever-blessed God in the endearing and 
 precious character of a 'heavenly Father.' 
 O the unspeakable privilege of feeling God to 
 be our friend! it is this, and this alone sup- 
 ports my mind, and allays the anxiety I feel 
 under his providential dealings with my soul. 
 Am still afraid that with all my pretensions to 
 integrity, and after all my continual appeals 
 to the Searcher of hearts, that I may yet have 
 other motives than the glory of God in view. 
 So many things crowd into this vile heart, 
 that the soul receives a bias therefrom before 
 it is aware, and leaves me unprepared to say, 
 ' Thy will be done.' O that thou wouldst, 
 most gracious God, in this particular, with- 
 hold me from sinning against thee. It is said 
 of one, ' He did that which was right in the
 
 84 MEMOIR OF 
 
 sight of God, but not with a perfect heart.' 
 O suffer not this awful case to be mine. 
 
 11 Feb. I. JMy birth day. Was invited to 
 spend this day at home with my beloved pa- 
 rents and sisters, when the improbability of 
 spending another together on earth spread 
 mutual endearment among us, but the inter- 
 vention of strangers interfered with our com- 
 forts, and allowed me but a partial enjoy- 
 ment of the day in a spirit of devotedness. 
 
 " 9. Blessed be the God and Father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who has manifested him- 
 self to an unworthy worm as he does not unto 
 the world has graciously shown me a meas- 
 ure of my wants, and enabled me to impor- 
 tune a supply of them has kindly granted 
 me a sweet sense of my nothingness, unwor- 
 thiness and insufficiency. O what can equal 
 such a feeling? not the possession of worlds. 
 O for an increasing value of this inestimable 
 blessing that God and Christ may be all, to 
 whom be never-ending praises! 
 
 "11. Have heard that some cavil, and 
 one of these a professor of religion. O Lord, 
 if it be from want of love to thy cause, fill his 
 soul with the love of Christ; but if on account 
 of the worthlessness of thy unworthy dust,
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 85 
 
 help her to receive it as a stimulus to self-ex- 
 amination, and as a cause of humiliation be- 
 fore thee. O that thou wouldst preserve me 
 from casting a stumbling-block in the way of 
 others; thy dust is not worthy, but ' Jesus 
 Christ is worthy,' and thou canst accept our 
 services through the Beloved." 
 
 The two next letters appear to have some 
 reference to what is hinted at in the last ex- 
 tract from her diary. 
 
 "I could neither do justice to myself or to 
 Sutton, to decide by report, and report which 
 I was obliged very much to question, from 
 what Sutton said to me. Your Charlotte, 
 accordingly, took a more direct method than 
 sifting reports, for writing to P herself. He 
 very kindly assured her that nothing sanc- 
 tioning such report had ever escaped his lips; 
 that all he knew of Sutton was decidedly fa- 
 vorable, and that if I wished to know any 
 thing more, to write with the utmost freedom. 
 
 " Through the goodness of the Lord I am 
 now able to review the steps taken in this im- 
 portant affair with equal satisfaction; I think, 
 my dear girl, I can now enter into your sus- 
 picions and feelings: the former you may now 
 7*
 
 86 MEMOIR OF 
 
 relinquish, the latter you must not indulge. 
 
 0, my E , under what infinite obligations is 
 the most unworthy of the unworthy continu- 
 ally laid, while nothing but pride and ingrati- 
 tude pervade this wretched heart. What am 
 
 1, that the peculiar favor of Heaven should 
 rest upon me ? Surely this is grace ; free, sove- 
 reign, boundless grace. O that my soul 
 could be one continued theme of gratitude 
 and praise! It is not yet determined to which 
 quarter of this vast globe we shall be destin- 
 ed, and I hope we mutually endeavor to cher- 
 ish a spirit of acquiescence; though I think 
 we both feel a predilection for the east: 
 there are many things, however, to balance, 
 and we should be lost to know which will pre- 
 ponderate. The principal of those for the 
 east are, the aggravating idolatry and the as- 
 surance that their idols shall perish in the 
 day of visitation; while for the west, the gall- 
 ing chains of tyranny seem to prepare the 
 hearts of some for the reception of that yoke 
 which is easy, and th.e burden which is light; 
 and therefore we may inquire, Is not this a 
 set time to favor this people from on high? 
 Notwithstanding these thoughts, we each of us 
 feel happily satisfied that the decision will be
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 87 
 
 made by those who love the Redeemer and 
 his cause; and who, possessing every source 
 of information, cannot fail to judge aright, or, 
 at least, to give such judgment as no interest- 
 ed individual ought to call in question." 
 
 TO MR. J. R. 
 
 "Jan. 31, 1824. 
 
 " My dear brother, Encouraged by your 
 affectionate example, and wishing to culti- 
 vate a oneness of spirit with every one who 
 loves the Lord Jesus Christ, I venture thus 
 familiarly to address you. 
 
 " Thanks will but faintly express to you 
 the gratitude I felt on receiving your kind 
 letter, and the pleasure I feel in attempting 
 a reply to your kind inquiries. Your first 
 question is one which has long agitated my 
 mind; and though I hope I can say it is the 
 love of Christ that constraineth me, I often 
 doubt whether other motives may not be 
 cherished under this plausible pretext; and in 
 this case, I can only adopt the language of 
 David, ' Search me, O God, and know my 
 heart.' &c. You next inquire, have I been 
 to a throne of grace ? I trust, my dear sir, I 
 can say I have: it was this which gave rise
 
 88 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to my present views, and I hope I may say 
 this is where they have been almost daily 
 fostered. That the Lord should employ so 
 insignificant an individual, is not less surpris- 
 ing to me than to my friends; and surround- 
 ed by thousands, as I am, whose worth and 
 qualifications for such an important work, are 
 unspeakably superior to mine, argues a de- 
 gree of unjustifiable presumption ; but the 
 apostle's declaration that ' not many wise, 
 not many mighty, not many noble are called,' 
 but that God hath chosen the foolish, the 
 weak, and the base things of the world, Sac. 
 reconciles me to this apparent presumption, 
 and convinces me that ' our sufficiency is of 
 God.' Your next inquiry is, have I counted 
 the cost? To this I can only say, I hardly 
 think this is possible: perhaps no views but 
 what arise from experience, can give a true 
 estimate of a life, which must, in a great 
 measure, partake of all the difficulties and 
 privations encountered by the great apostle 
 of the gentiles. It is true that feeble nature, 
 unsupported by the mighty promises of God, 
 looks on these things with dismay; and when 
 contemplating the almost innumerable ties 
 which bind to home, to country, and friends,
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOPf. 89 
 
 but more especially to the tenderest of pa- 
 rents, and most affectionate sisters, with 
 whom perhaps a mortal was ever blest, is 
 ready to say, 'It is too much: the debt is 
 more than can be paid!' But when on the 
 other hand, we view the infinite obligations 
 under which we are to the Redeemer, as the 
 purchase of his blood; that we are not our own, 
 and therefore bound to render our service for 
 the advancement of his glorious kingdom; 
 that he makes our obedience the criterion of 
 our love to him, and assures us, that if we 
 prefer any thing before him and his cross, we 
 are not worthy of him ; and at the same time 
 promises every thing which is necessary to 
 support, under such privations as may de- 
 volve upon us in the path of duty; with these 
 considerations, and confiding in the care of 
 Christ, I hope I can say with the apostle, 
 ' None of these things move me, neither 
 count I my life dear unto myself.' 
 
 " You will yet inquire, in your own mind, 
 But how do you know that it is your duty to 
 go? The word of God does not say you 
 should go. It does not; and on this account 
 I have felt a hesitancy, which nothing short 
 of the evident leadings of Providence has re-
 
 90 MEMOIR OP 
 
 moved. Circumstances, with which the pub- 
 lic, in general, must be unacquainted, and 
 consequently which can only satisfy my own 
 mind, or the minds of those who could ful- 
 ly enter into the views, the feelings, and 
 other things have combined to produce this 
 decision. 
 
 " The bearer is waiting. Shall be glad to 
 hear from you at any time: begging your 
 prayers that God in all things may be glori- 
 fied, I remain in everlasting bonds, your af- 
 fectionate sister, C. COLLINS." 
 
 With the two following letters we close this 
 chapter of these Memoirs. They are nearly 
 the last specimens that we can insert of the 
 correspondence of Miss Collins with her 
 youthful companions. We would invite es- 
 pecial attention to the spirit of exalted piety 
 which breathes through these letters, particu- 
 larly the last of them. The piety of Miss 
 Collins was not, however, let it be remem- 
 bered, only seen in her correspondence, it 
 was embodied in her life and conduct. She 
 was a living epistle, read and known of all 
 men. Our beloved young readers may see 
 in this Memoir, the advantages of youthful
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 91 
 
 friendships based on piety, and cherished by 
 a correspondence, such as has been present- 
 ed to their notice in this book. Christian 
 friendship and Christian correspondence, 
 were to Charlotte Collins sources of perma- 
 nent advantage, and the most refined pleas- 
 ure; and such she endeavored to render them 
 to others. Happy would she have been, had 
 her circumstances allowed her to command 
 that leisure which many of our young readers 
 enjoy. See to it, beloved young friends, that 
 you make a wise improvement of it, and es- 
 pecially see to it that your correspondence be 
 of a wise, pious, and profitable description, 
 that if it should at a future day pass before 
 your own eye, or the review of the public, no 
 blush of self-condemnation may overspread 
 your countenance. 
 
 " Smockington, Feb. 24, 1824. 
 " My dear friend, If you are determined 
 to contend that ' actions speak louder than 
 words,' all attempt to reconcile you to my 
 long silence must prove abortive. I am sen- 
 sible of my apparent ingratitude, but as I do 
 not in reality feel conscious of it, shall venture 
 to offer as an apology that, for several days we
 
 92 MEMOIR OF 
 
 were not without company a circumstance 
 which obliged me to forego many things 
 which would have been pleasing, and among 
 the rest the pleasure of returning you an an- 
 swer. 
 
 "In the first place, allow me to thank you 
 for your friendly address, and to assure you 
 that I feel our friendship to be one which I 
 trust will never fluctuate with the vicissitudes 
 of time and earthly things; but having for its 
 foundation the ' Friend of sinners,' will 
 abound more and more until consummated 
 in his glorious presence. Notwithstanding 
 this, however, it appears we must submit to a 
 suspension of this endearing friendship during 
 our journey through this world of sorrows; 
 (you doubtless know that I refer to rny proba- 
 ble station in India,) but may I not hope that 
 though mountains rise, and oceans roll be- 
 tween us, we shall, nevertheless, be united 
 in one spirit, and not unfrequently, in this 
 spirit, meet at the throne of our heavenly 
 Father, importuning for each other, every 
 needful good. You observe that a 'retreat 
 is not a conquest;' it is not, but this is the 
 victory which overcometh the world, even 
 your faith. O precious promise! and rich
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOiV. 93 
 
 unfathomable grace! which enables us to be- 
 lieve such promises, while to thousands they 
 are no more than a dead letter, and the 
 whole prophecy is a sealed book. Truly it is 
 not of ourselves, but of the grace of God. 
 You say you had received much spiritual 
 strength another pledge, my dear friend, of 
 the faithfulness and goodness of an unchange- 
 able God; and O, if past experience did not 
 painfully teach us the contrary, we might be 
 ready to suppose we should never, never for- 
 get, nor feel ungrateful for such inestimable 
 privileges; but alas! our ungrateful hearts 
 have no sooner enjoyed the gift, than the 
 Giver is forgotten. 
 
 " I am glad to hear you are blessed with a 
 companion; (give my kind love to her,) may 
 you prove a blessing to each other. I have 
 sometimes thought the Lord in mercy with- 
 holds a friend; for when the mind is of a so- 
 cial turn, we are too apt perhaps to commit 
 our cares to an earthly friend, forgetful of 
 him who has said, ' Cast all your care upon 
 him, for he careth for you.' You say you 
 have much to encounter. O remember that 
 chastisement is the criterion of your heaven- 
 ly Father's love, Heb. xii. 6; and so far as 
 8
 
 94 MEMOIR OF 
 
 experience has taught me, I can heartily 
 adopt the language of Pearce: 
 
 ' More the treacherous calm I dread, 
 Than tempests bursting o'er my head.' 
 
 My dear friend, whatever we may think of a 
 smooth path, a trial would, I believe, soon 
 convince us that it is not desirable. 
 
 11 You will, I think, feel some little interest 
 in the great and unexpected event before al- 
 luded to, and perhaps will anxiously inquire 
 further particulars; but I must leave this till a 
 future day. If spared, I hope to be in North- 
 amptonshire in a few weeks; but unless you 
 will favor me with a few lines previous to 
 that time, I shall suppose you are withhold- 
 ing what the Pope pretends very liberally to 
 grant, and on this account shall not give you 
 a call. I have requested only a few lines, but 
 shall retract the expression, and beg you will 
 favor me with a letter as long as your pa- 
 tience itself. You talk about not daring to 
 write, &c. I feel half inclined to scold you 
 for such unseasonable stuff, for I am confi- 
 dent of this, if any apology is necessary, it is 
 on my part; and when writing to a friend, a 
 sister, I expect that Christian affection will 
 supersede the rod of the critic, or else I as-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 95 
 
 sure you, I should not send out such scrib- 
 bles as this, written with little time and less 
 thought; for I am surrounded with different 
 persons, variously employed at this instant, 
 and conversing on subjects equally various 
 as their employments. 
 
 " I would just observe, however, that such 
 has been my perplexity of mind during these 
 last four months, such my engagements from 
 new and renewed correspondence, that I felt 
 but little inclination to write, except where 
 absolutely necessary; this will account for 
 my silence lately, but you will not suppose 
 from this that I shall consider an epistle from 
 my friend a trouble: the Lord has graciously 
 delivered me out of many difficulties which 
 have perplexed my mind, and wounded my 
 feelings, so that now, notwithstanding the 
 heart-rending prospects before me, I feel 
 comparatively at liberty, while these pros- 
 pects are rendered tolerable by that compre- 
 hensive promise, ' As thy day is, so shall thy 
 strength be.' This, you know, my dear Bet- 
 sy, is sufficient for every purpose through 
 life; and he is faithful who has promised, and 
 now what shall I say more. I would fain fill 
 my paper quite across, but dare not, lest you
 
 96 MEMOIR OF 
 
 should not be able to make out my scrawl. 
 Never cease to pray for your unworthy, but 
 affectionate CHARLOTTE COLLINS." 
 
 TO MISS G . 
 
 " Feb. 15, 1824. 
 
 "My dear E , I am writing now in compli- 
 ance with a former promise; but why, my 
 dear girl, do you begin to exercise the ten- 
 derest feelings of my soul? can you not yet 
 view it at a distance ? The time is not yet 
 determined. This is my constant endeavor, 
 or I could never see my relations with any 
 comfort. Father ' and mother scarce ever 
 meet me but with tears. But you will sup- 
 pose that this endeavor does not always suc- 
 ceed in allaying the feeling; but, blessed be 
 God! faith can surmount those things, at 
 which feeble, unassisted nature trembles and 
 revolts, and I feel graciously supported with 
 this all-comprehensive promise, ' As thy day 
 is, so shall thy strength be,' &.c. This you 
 know, my dear E., is sufficient for every pur- 
 pose. ' O for an overcoming faith!' But 
 faith is not all I feel I want. No, I want love 
 to Christ; to feel increasingly the value of 
 his mediation; and to be devoted to him in
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 97 
 
 the highest degree ; for without this, it will be 
 to little purpose that we be honored with a 
 place as laborers in his vineyard; for zeal 
 alone would be liable to fluctuation with the 
 success of our labor, while the love of Christ, 
 duly appreciated and felt, would stimulate us 
 to renewed exertions, even though no fruit 
 of our exertions should appear. Such, my 
 dear girl, I feel may be our lot. Yes, it may 
 please the God of love never to allow us one 
 hope, save in his unfailing promises; but 
 even under this trying dispensation, what a 
 consolation would it be to know that the re- 
 ward is for the faithful servant, independent 
 of success; while a consciousness of our 
 nothingness and our ignorance of what might 
 be best for us, ought to silence every mur- 
 mur, and reconcile us to our heavenly Fath- 
 er's will. I am sure we should not be thus 
 afflicted, (for truly it would be great afflic- 
 tion,) unless for our profit, and the Searcher 
 of Hearts only knows what necessity there 
 would be for such correction. Perhaps an 
 undue self-complacence, a reliance on our 
 own strength, a thirst for applause, prefer- 
 ring the praise of men to the praise of God, 
 .or a thousand other things, almost unthought 
 8*
 
 93 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of by us, may creep in, and thus oblige, if I 
 may so speak, the blessed God to withhold a 
 blessing from us, lest we should lightly es- 
 teem the Rock of our salvation. O my dear 
 E , I think I could be satisfied and thankful 
 under these gloomy appearances, if blest with 
 the communion of my God and Saviour; a 
 nearness of soul to him, and an undiminished 
 attachment to his glorious cause. My 
 thoughts are now almost unremittingly em- 
 ployed on this beloved work. 
 
 " I hope, God willing, to visit you before I 
 am tied by the finger. I cannot promise that 
 you will not be troubled with another as well 
 as myself, for S is very anxious to know 
 when I shall be at A , implying, I think, a 
 wish to meet me there, if practicable. 
 
 " The hope that a painful separation may 
 be blessed to the good of some soul dear to 
 me, has not unfrequently crossed my mind; 
 and I trust it has not been useless already. 
 I never had such a pleasing evidence of gen- 
 uine piety in my dear mother, as lately. We 
 must endeavor, daily, to cherish the fond hope 
 of meeting on far better shores; and let this 
 supersede the thought of parting. When 
 you and I, my dear, review the way in which
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTO.V. 99 
 
 the Lord has led us, what cause for un- 
 bounded gratitude; for while many are called 
 to part, whose endearments equal ours, either 
 without hope on either side, or with hope 
 enjoyed but by one; we are blest with mu- 
 tual, and I trust a good hope through grace, 
 of meeting and enjoying each other's compa- 
 ny forever and ever. And sometimes I think 
 the hope of meeting my dear friends at the 
 end of time, will be an additional inducement 
 to quit, with unreluctant feelings, this tene- 
 ment of clay. I may not be permitted to 
 reach that long-sought place; but in this 
 case, would you repine? I trust 1 should not, 
 except for the sake of souls ; for I trust I 
 should be able to say, ' To me to live is 
 Christ; to die is gain.' 
 
 " I am now pretty generally addressed ei- 
 ther with unusual friendship, or with evident 
 marks of a contrary feeling ; but of the latter, 
 very little has hitherto been my lot. The 
 kindness of the Smockington folks exceeds 
 description, and they never speak of my leav- 
 ing them but with tears. Bless the Lord, O 
 my soul."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Ordination Taking leave of friends Letters Dia- 
 ry Voyage to India. 
 
 ON June 18, 1824, Miss Collins was mar- 
 ried to Mr. Amos Button, then about to pro- 
 ceed to India. On Wednesday, the 23d of 
 the same month, his ordination took place at 
 Derby. The ordination service was peculiar- 
 ly solemn. On that interesting occasion, Mrs. 
 Sutton, in all the bloom of youth, and in the 
 adornment of female loveliness and Christian 
 piety, appeared by the side of her husband 
 before the crowded and much affected assem- 
 bly. She appeared tranquil and cheerful, 
 and during a few days spent at Derby, much 
 endeared herself to many whom she will meet 
 no more till they meet in heaven. She then 
 returned for a short and final visit to Wolvey.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 101 
 
 The period for the departure of Mr. Button 
 and his amiable partner from their native 
 land now rapidly approached, and as the is- 
 sue proved, she was about to leave her long- 
 beloved home, to revisit it no more. As this 
 important, and, to a heart so affectionate as 
 Mrs. Sutton's, trying time approached, hej 
 piety appears to have glowed with a stronger 
 flame, and to have shone with a brighter lus- 
 tre. The writer, (Mr. P.) from observing 
 the state of her mind, at this interesting pe- 
 riod of her life, has been reminded of one of 
 the most beautiful of the comparisons of mod- 
 ern poetry, in which its author describes the 
 final departure of a pious female from this 
 transitory state. 
 
 " But she was waning to the tomb, 
 The worm of death was in her bloom; 
 Yet as the mortal flame declin'd, 
 Strong, through the ruins, rose the mind. 
 As the dim morn, when light ascends, 
 Slow in the East, the darkness rends; 
 Through melting clouds by gradual gleams, 
 Pours the mild splendor of her beams; 
 Then bursts in triumph o'er the pole, 
 Free as a disembodied soul ; 
 Thus, while the veil of flesh decay'd, 
 Her beauties brighten'd through ilie shade. 
 Charms which her lowly heart conceal'd,
 
 102 MEMOIR OP 
 
 In nature's weakness were reveal'd ; 
 And still tli' unrobing spirit cast 
 Diviner beauties to the last; 
 Dissolv'd its bonds, and clear'd its flight, 
 Emerging into perfect light." 
 
 Thus the piety of Charlotte Sutton seemed 
 to brighten when leaving her native land, and 
 when traversing the mighty deep. This is 
 pleasingly apparent in her confidential com- 
 munications to her beloved friends. 
 
 TO MISS G . 
 
 " Wolvey. 
 
 11 My dear girl, It is now Friday morning-, 
 and we are yet at Wolvey, but expect to 
 leave to-morrow night, unless we have or- 
 ders to the contrary. Mother is tolerably 
 well while we are with her, but I tremble for 
 her when we shall leave. I know you will 
 accept this as the last token of love which I 
 shall have an opportunity of offering while in 
 our dear native country ; but I trust it is not 
 the last which will be afforded ; no, we will not 
 be so distrustful, though I see no reason for 
 dissatisfaction, even though this should be 
 the case; for if a soul is benefited, and God 
 is thereby glorified, who has a right to com- 
 plain? This we know, the Christian has not;
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 103 
 
 and this is what I ever wish to feel; then 
 come life, come death, still we shall say, the 
 Lord has done all things well. If it be the 
 Lord's will, I could like to live many years 
 as a laborer in his vineyard; but if the ado- 
 rable Master, on reviewing his servants, and 
 appointing their work, should find your friend 
 an intruder, it will be an unspeakable bless- 
 ing to receive a pardon, and die. 
 
 " I want to say many more things to you 
 on this head, but as I have other things to 
 
 say, must attend to them. Miss W is 
 
 now here, and has been expressing her anx- 
 ious wish that you would favor her with a let- 
 ter. Now, my dear girl, will you accept of 
 her as a friend, in lieu of your Charlotte? I 
 am sure you will find her much more intelli- 
 gent, and consequently a more desirable cor- 
 respondent. I do not mean to say she will 
 supplant me in your affections: I trust the tie 
 which binds our hearts is indissoluble, and 
 however it may link us with others, will still 
 retain its strength. 
 
 11 We had a more than ordinary meeting 
 last Sunday night at Wolvey, when Sutton 
 preached his farewell sermon. A great num- 
 ber of Hinckley friends were here, and man-
 
 104 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ifested unusual interest; in short, this was the 
 case with the whole congregation: I never 
 saw the place so crowded before on any oc- 
 casion: many could not obtain admittance. I 
 
 ought to tell you that Mr. F is more 
 
 than kind; we paid him a visit on Monday, 
 when he would not spare us out of his pres- 
 ence at all, and to-morrow we are to dine 
 with him again: he has ordered us a very 
 handsome present of books in London, and 
 offers letters of introduction to his friends." 
 
 At length the hour arrived in which she 
 was to take her last farewell from most of her 
 relatives and friends her last farewell; for, 
 as Cowper observes, where she is 
 
 Adieus and farewells are a sound unknown." 
 If the friends who parted from her then, 
 meet her in heaven, they will part no more. 
 The following account of the parting scene 
 was sent by a friend who was present at the 
 time, to another of Mrs. Button's friends. 
 
 " My esteemed friend, From the pungen- 
 cy of feeling which appeared to pervade your 
 breast, when you dropt the hand and caught
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 105 
 
 the last glance of our affectionate Charlotte, 
 I hasten to relieve your anxiety as to the con- 
 cluding scene. I met them at Smockington, 
 a little time previous to their departure by 
 the coach, and witnessed a scene which I ex- 
 pect ever to contemplate with melancholy 
 pleasure. After speaking, for. a short period, 
 to the many who were present, on the sub- 
 ject of her departure, she proposed the sing- 
 ing of a hymn, which she gave out by two 
 lines at a time, and set the tune: 
 
 " Bless'd be the dear uniting love, 
 That will not let us part."/ 
 
 After this she sat down, and taking her sister 
 
 S upon her knees, in a tone of superior 
 
 affection, she addressed her on the most im- 
 portant of all subjects, with a magnanimity I 
 shall never forget. The distressed girl lay up- 
 on her breast in a state of indescribable feel- 
 ing, and never left till the arrival of the mail. 
 Here we all took the last, last look, the last 
 
 sad farewell, whilst S , locking her arms 
 
 over the neck of her sister, reiterated the ex- 
 clamation, ' J shall never see her more!' 
 They were compelled to be separated, and 
 with a firm step, a cheerful sentence, a tear- 
 less eye, she entered the coach, which hur- 
 9
 
 106 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ried her from the spot: she waved her hand- 
 kerchief from the window, till they reached 
 the summit of the hill, and immediately dis- 
 appeared. We stood motionless for a while, 
 and every face but that of Charlotte's was 
 covered with tears. Our next meeting will 
 be at the tribunal! There is something mo- 
 mentous indeed in the consideration! Othat 
 it may be with joy. May the God of Char- 
 lotte be our God; and if he be, we may as- 
 suage our grief. Christianity gives a dignity 
 to friendship which nothing else can inspire, 
 and points us to other, to purer scenes 
 where adieus and farewells are never heard 
 again." 
 
 After leaving Wolvey, Mr. and Mrs. Sut- 
 ton passed several days in London or its 
 neighborhood, waiting for the sailing of the 
 Euphrates, in which their passage was taken. 
 Here she saw her father once more, and 
 sent the following simple, but exquisitely 
 touching note to her mother. It sufficiently 
 explains itself, but must reach every heart 
 that loves the Bible. 
 
 " Dear Mother, I promised you my Bible, 
 though I confess I did so very reluctant- 
 ly; but the fact is, I cannot spare it. I am
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 107 
 
 afraid you will think this unkind, but what 
 can I do? The thought of parting with it, I 
 can truly say, is more painful than any thing 
 I ever experienced. I think I could spare 
 any thing you could ask rather than my Bi- 
 ble. You know, my dear mother, it has 
 been, and it is now, my dearest earthly treas- 
 ure. It has been to me a most faithful com- 
 panion; which has, at all times, and on all oc- 
 casions, administered advice and consolation; 
 and when I recollect, in how many trying cir- 
 cumstances, it has yielded me support and 
 comfort, I feel that we are inseparable. I 
 know you will think this a weakness, and so 
 it is; and you would think it more so if you 
 could enter into my feelings. But I cannot 
 say more, only let me know that you are sat- 
 isfied without it." 
 
 In this Bible was found written after her de- 
 cease. 
 " My dear Mother, 
 
 " ^7 gi y i n g y u this Bible, I am giving you 
 what the blessed God has often made to me 
 more than my necessary food; and now that 
 it may convey to you every needful good, is 
 the prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate daughter, 
 
 C. SUTTON."
 
 108 MEMOIR OF 
 
 After much tedious delay, as to the sailing 
 of the Euphrates, several friends accompa- 
 nied the missionaries to Gravesend, expect- 
 ing there, in one of the cabins of the vessel, 
 to commend them to God, and then to part. 
 This satisfaction, however, was denied them: 
 wrong information had again been given res- 
 pecting the time of the ship's departure, nor 
 had she reached Gravesend, after another 
 disappointment something similar to this: at 
 length, quite suddenly, they were directed to 
 go on board, and the Euphrates sailed. 
 
 The following memorandum of her embark- 
 ation was found among her private papers, 
 and the letter addressed to Miss Goadby con- 
 tains some farther notices of the same subject, 
 with an account of her feelings in view of her 
 important undertaking. 
 
 ..,:'. 
 
 "Aug. 5. This is with me a memorable 
 day. It is three years this day since I was 
 permitted to join myself to the Lord's people 
 on earth, and to-day, for the first time in my 
 life, am quiting my native shores, and bid- 
 ding a last adieu to England. Have this 
 morning taken a final farewell of our dear 
 brother James, our last English friend. Now, 
 blessed God, be our especial friend."
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 109 
 
 TO MISS G- 
 
 " Euphrates, Aug. 27, 1824. 
 
 '.''My dear E , 
 
 " As I hope for an opportunity of forward- 
 ing a few lines to England for one friend and 
 another, my E must be one of the num- 
 ber. The sickness has hitherto prevented that 
 variety so conducive to gratification. But to 
 
 you, my beloved E , I would premise that 
 
 / shall purposely omit the recital of recurring 
 incidents; and for this reason, there will be 
 many, among my necessary correspondents, 
 to whom little else would be acceptable; and, 
 circumstanced as I now am, you will not won- 
 der that I should want one dear friend, to 
 whom I can tell the dealings of the Lord with 
 my soul, and who can participate in the joys 
 and sorrows arising from such dealings; and 
 
 whom, my dear E , shall I select but her 
 
 who has hitherto been, in some measure, a 
 sharer of them, and whose affection convinces 
 me she would gladly sacrifice any little self- 
 ish gratification which might arise from im- 
 mediate communication to oblige her Char- 
 lotte? But I might add, that I fully expect 
 you will see every thing which may be writ- 
 ten to my beloved parents and sisters: it is my 
 9*
 
 1 10 MEMOIR OF 
 
 earnest request that nothing may prevent a 
 growing intimacy between you and them. 
 " " Have you heard of the manner in which 
 we left England, or rather the circumstances 
 attendant on leaving? We did not, as we 
 fully anticipated, leave accompanied by 
 friends, owing to the repeated delays of the 
 ship. Our friends, who kindly accompanied 
 us from London and Edmonton, were obliged 
 to leave us, (and what was to me far worse,) 
 without mutual commendations to the God of 
 all mercies: this was to me a hard case, (it 
 was what our other friends enjoyed.) Our 
 friends from Sevenoaks, who came the fol- 
 lowing day, were obliged to leave us in the 
 same way, and when the time arrived for de- 
 parture we were alone, except our dear broth- 
 er J , who did not leave us till the ship 
 
 was under weigh, when we parted with mutu- 
 al sorrow. But this was not all the gloom: 
 my dear S. was taken ill the night previous to 
 coming on board, and continued so for several 
 days; the complaint proved to be a gathering 
 in the head: he was at length relieved by the 
 application of leeches and a great discharge 
 of matter; but almost before this was effected 
 I was confined to my bed with sickness.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE. SUTTON. Ill 
 
 "It is now upwards of three weeks since 
 we set sail: this is the first day I have been 
 able to walk without assistance. This afflic- 
 tion, my E , you will expect has tried my 
 
 patience ; yes, and blessed be God that it has. 
 I felt very unwilling to relinquish my own 
 will at first, and I found many urgent pleas 
 against being thus dealt with, especially that 
 of losing time, as I had proposed to myself to 
 devote the first part of it to acquiring prepar- 
 atory information: another was, that it was 
 rendering me useless while appearances of 
 usefulness were probable, there being on 
 board two native women to whom I could 
 have access: a third was, that as my Sutton's 
 comforts were necessarily diminished by my 
 illness, he might become impatient: but these 
 specious arguments were as often rejected as 
 proposed; and my gracious Teacher led me 
 to see that they were, in fact, nothing better 
 than Juggernaut himself. This reconciled 
 me to a renunciation of them, and ever since 
 I have been saying, Do unto me what seem- 
 eth good unto thee. I would be any thing or 
 nothing so that thou art glorified. 
 
 " Our comfort on board exceeds what we 
 expected; the Captain's* kindness is beyond 
 
 * Capt. E. Meade; since died at pea.
 
 112 MEMOIR OF 
 
 expression; we have with us two or three 
 persons among the passengers who speak 
 Hindostanee, and our surgeon, (who is an af- 
 fable young man,) is studying it: this will in- 
 duce us to have a try at it: and what will you 
 say to my presumption, if I tell you I am not 
 without the distant hope that we may raise an 
 additional school in an additional language. 
 I dare not think of so much, if it could not be 
 said, l I can do all things through Christ,' 
 &.c. Do not delay writing after receiving 
 this, and direct ' Mission House, Serampore,' 
 the information to be confined to ministers 
 and churches, or whatever concerns the 
 cause of our Redeemer. 
 
 " I perceive, my E , that it is not my 
 
 blessed Master's intention that my path 
 should be too smooth. At this I rejoice, not 
 because afflictions are joyous, or because I 
 consider myself better able to bear them 
 than others, but because I have never yet had 
 one trial for which I have not had abundant 
 cause for gratitude ; and I believe I never shall 
 have unless the Lord, in righteous judgment, 
 should permit them to have a very different 
 effect from what they have had hitherto; for 
 ' trials make the promise sweet,' and always
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 113 
 
 'give new life to prayer.' This is the cause 
 why I could always adopt the language of 
 Pearce; 
 
 ' More the treacherous calm I dread, 
 Than tempests bursting o'er my head.' 
 
 Do you ask whether, on account of this dis- 
 covery, I wish myself released from the ser- 
 vice of my Lord, and again enjoying the 
 loved society of Christian friends in England? 
 I reply no, my Ellen; no! On the contrary, 
 I feel increasing satisfaction to think I am in 
 the path of duty; then what else can be ne- 
 cessary to render me completely satisfied! 
 This is all I wanted, and having this I am 
 graciously delivered from one foreboding 
 fear as to myself. This is a great mercy. I 
 wish I could feel sufficiently thankful for it; 
 for when looking forward to the vast, and 
 apparently insupportable trials of a Martyn, 
 a Brainerd, or ethers who have gone, I al- 
 ways feel that I have only a life to lose; only 
 a body to be tormented by men, and my ado- 
 rable Master has engaged to take all the 
 care upon himself, and to afford me strength 
 equal to my day. Thus supported, who can 
 faint? The Lord knows I am not worthy to 
 be ranked among Missionaries; but I do ear-
 
 114 MEMOIR OF 
 
 nestly desire the cultivation of his spiritual 
 vineyard among men, and if he condescend 
 to employ and make me useful, my nothing- 
 ness will not prevent. But the necessity of 
 divine teaching is absolute: and if we might 
 not expect it, who with abilities so slender as 
 your Charlotte, might persevere. The study 
 of language appears a dry employment, and 
 what would neither fill our mouth with praises 
 or petitions; but experience tells me that the 
 latter never fail to facilitate our engagements. 
 I hope, therefore, this will furnish a prayer 
 for my Ellen also; for it is his prerogative, 
 whose the mind is, to enlarge it. I know we 
 are too apt to attempt a light burden in our 
 own strength. This may be the reason why 
 we sometimes stumble sooner under a light 
 than a heavy one. I long to say much more 
 to you, but must forbear. Pray for us, my 
 dear, for wisdom to direct, zeal to persevere, 
 and grace to deny self; for how many ways 
 there are to sin, no living mortal knows." 
 
 Wherever the power of true piety is felt, 
 its happy possessor cherishes sincere concern 
 for the eternal welfare of others. This con- 
 cern frequently appears in the correspondence 
 of Charlotte Sutton.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 115 
 
 TO MRS. J. C . 
 
 " My dear Aunt, 
 
 " I hope you will accept this as the best 
 token I shall be able to offer you of my con- 
 cern for your welfare, and the last testimony 
 of my love. It is probable that no opportu- 
 nity will be afforded us of meeting again, 
 until we meet before the Judge of heaven and 
 earth, there to hear a final decision, either 
 t Come, ye blessed ; ' or, ' Depart, ye cursed.' 
 Under such circumstances, my dear Aunt, 
 what must I write? what shall I say? what 
 that will bear perusal on your part, and re- 
 flection on mine? I dare not do less than 
 remind you of the amazing love of Christ. 
 A theme which I hope will never cease to 
 warm my heart, and which I hope will be- 
 come increasingly dear to every person whom 
 I love, but most especially to those for whom 
 I bear the tenderest affection. To represent 
 fully to you the love of Christ would be im- 
 possible. It is true we may see by his own 
 word what he has] done for us; but can we, 
 my dear Aunt, tell what he is now doing, 
 seeing that it is entirely owing to his gracious 
 intercession, that we are still spared to pursue 
 our various employments? and much less can
 
 116 MEMOIR OF 
 
 we tell what he will do for us throughout 
 eternity. He has said, ' Where I am, there ye 
 shall be also;' and if, when we next meet, 
 we are found to be his followers, I doubt not 
 but we shall joyfully exclaim, ' Behold how 
 he loved us!' and with the Apostle we shall 
 doubtless add, ' His love which passeth 
 knowledge.' But if, my dear Aunt, we can 
 be so ungrateful as to forget this, our best 
 Friend, while we live here; if we can lose all 
 thoughts of his goodness, and bury our own 
 souls in this world and its concerns, we can- 
 not reasonably expect the continuance of that 
 love which the adorable Friend of sinners is 
 now manifesting towards us. Noiv he in- 
 vites, ' Come unto me;' now he pleads with 
 his heavenly Father, ' Spare it this year 
 also.' But for how many years his patience 
 may be thus exercised we cannot tell: it is 
 possible that if, on his next visit, he find no 
 fruit, he may say, 'Cut it down; why cum- 
 bereth it the ground?' 
 
 " Time, and my limits, forbid me to say 
 more; but knowing that we are accountable 
 to our great Master for the use or abuse of 
 his great name and abundant love, let me 
 once more entreat you to remember him, who
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 117 
 
 has loved us, even unto death; who is still 
 waiting to be gracious, and who has engaged, 
 when we have done with this world, to take 
 us to himself. And now, my dear Aunt, as 
 I have no hope of seeing you until we meet 
 before that dear Friend, of whom we have 
 been speaking, may I hope that it will be our 
 greatest care so to meet, that we may never 
 part again. May I hope that you will pray 
 for your unworthy friend, nay, constantly 
 bear her upon your mind before God, that he 
 may be pleased to accomplish his own pur- 
 pose by so weak an instrument. 
 
 Adieu, from your affectionate 
 
 C. SUTTON." 
 
 The voyage of the Euphrates was long and 
 tedious, but during its continuance several 
 opportunities were afforded to Mrs. Button, 
 of writing to her beloved relatives. In them 
 she furnishes a lively description of the situ- 
 ation of herself and companions, and an ani- 
 mating view of her own hopes and spiritual 
 comforts. 
 
 10
 
 118 MEMOIR OF 
 
 TO MISS E. C 
 
 "My dear Betsy, 
 
 "I have been saying this thing to one, and 
 that to another, and now I must have a word 
 with you. I sometimes fancy I see you here 
 very full of glee, taking off sailors, or else 
 studying mischief. We have plenty of com- 
 pany on board, there being about 104 per- 
 sons; nearly sixty of thorn are Lascars, or 
 Indians, two black women, thirty sailors, 
 and five cabin passengers besides ourselves, 
 the three mates and the Captain. Our pas- 
 sengers are a Captain Y , and his son. 
 
 Dr. T., Mr. L., a Spanish gentleman, and 
 Master E. We have no lady on board ex- 
 cept myself. Among our sailors, there is a 
 butcher, a sail-maker, and two carpenters: 
 and about the cab ! n is a steward, an oblig- 
 ing man, George, the captain's servant, Na- 
 zario, the Spaniard's man, Ram, (a Hindoo,) 
 the Doctor's man, and Bob, the cabin boy. 
 You will think we have a laughable medley, 
 and truly we have. Some time ago, the 
 Captain sent George, to an Auctioneer's to 
 fetch a catalogue, when he returned with cap 
 in hand to inquire " Please Sir, had I better 
 take a wheelbarrow for it?"
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 119 
 
 11 The transition being easy from one kind 
 of stock to another, I shall next begin with 
 hogs: we have an old one, of the feminine 
 description, a great number of young ones, 
 which make very excellent pork, a cow which 
 yields the richest and best milk I ever tasted, 
 twenty or thirty sheep, which are folded in 
 a long boat over the first part of the ship, 
 where the butcher, whose job it is to attend 
 to all the stock, feeds them and waters them 
 from a glass bottle, out of which they drink 
 as eagerly as any old tippler; upwards of 
 130 fowls, almost as many ducks, and a great 
 number of geese. There are on board a 
 great number of hams, and of dried neat's 
 tongues; great quantities of salt fish, rice, 
 potatoes, carrots, greens, pumpkins, fruit, 
 wines of all kinds, and spirits. We do not 
 get fresh fish, except that we have had plenty 
 since we have been at Madeira. The other 
 day the rnen caught a large shark and several 
 young ones, and yesterday, what they call a 
 shovel-nosed shark; its eyes were very large 
 and fixed at the extremity of its long ears: it 
 had a frightful appearance. 
 
 " By the time you get this we oi.tJl proba- 
 bly be a great way on our journey; and now
 
 120 MEMOIR OF 
 
 my Betsy, I think I see you with your head 
 
 against S , and both of you inquiring, 
 
 ' Don't you want to see us, and your dear 
 father and mother? and are you quite happy 
 in your new undertaking?' To the former, I 
 must reply, I should love to see you all, but 
 then I would not return and leave my new 
 undertaking on any account: no, my Betsy, 
 I wish, much rather wish, you would both 
 follow me on the same errand, or that I could 
 see you walking in a path which would, in a 
 little time, land us on one spot, some happy 
 spot, where would be no sickness to mar our 
 pleasure, and no separation to wound our 
 united hearts. Say, my Betsy, will you not 
 walk in this way, that whether you should 
 be first called from England, or I from India, 
 one may stand ready to welcome the other to 
 the abodes of love and peace? 
 Your dear 
 
 CHARLOTTE." 
 
 Madeira, Sept. 11, 1824. 
 " My dear Sally, 
 
 " The name of this month reminds me of 
 times, and seasons, and I fancy that I see 
 you busily running here and there to inquire
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 121 
 
 what game, and how much was killed yester- 
 day, and what the day before; but I do not 
 envy you, though my present situation affords 
 me much less variety than the above inqui- 
 ries and their accompaniments yield you. I 
 purpose telling you a little about this place, 
 but you must not consider it a description. 
 You know I have not enough of the fanciful 
 about me, to describe in glowing colors what 
 deserves only to be shaded, and such I appre- 
 hend is the desert of Madeira when compared 
 with Old England. We went on shore, on 
 Friday, 3d inst., after being tantalized with 
 the most romantic scenery imaginable, all the 
 previous day : the mountains rising to the 
 height of 3 or 4 miles, the tops of which on 
 the brightest days, appear enveloped in 
 clouds, present no appearance of being im- 
 pervious by their foliage, all being barren 
 except where the vine is cultivated, or where 
 there is a spontaneous growth of fruits, or 
 flowers. There is no grain of any kind 
 grown upon the island; they get good pota- 
 toes, fine onions, and fruits of the most deli- 
 cious kind, as citrons, oranges, pomegranates, 
 quinces, figs, pines, peaches, pears, melons, 
 bananas, apples; and spices, chillies and 
 10*
 
 122 MEMOIR OF 
 
 tomatoes; but their peaches are very inferior 
 to what we get in England, and their apples 
 not so good, owing to a want of cultivation. 
 Perhaps, it may be accounted for, thus; the 
 English families, (and there are several,) 
 resident on the island, have but. one object 
 in view, that is, the acquisition of wealth. 
 Consequently, they are icine, and not fruit 
 and flower merchants, and the Portuguese 
 are too indolent to do any thing that may be 
 left undone. It is true, that the hedges are 
 composed of myrtle, geranium, scarlet fusch- 
 ia, roses, the passion, and other flowers 
 of the finest tints and scents, while the Cas- 
 sia, the verbena, the hydrangia, japonica, 
 and many others, which only arrive to dwarf 
 plants in England, grow here to large spread- 
 ing trees. Evergreens are plentiful and 
 some of them of the twining kind; and fine 
 grapes of all sizes, and of the finest colors. 
 
 You will imagine Madeira a little para- 
 dise; but no, any person with any taste for 
 the elegant, or with only the rudiments of 
 order impressed on his mind, would feel him- 
 self surrounded by a wilderness, or mass of 
 confusion, almost every thing beside the vine 
 being left to nature's cultivation; and obser-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 123 
 
 vation teaches us that her bestowments are 
 principally confined to the useful and beau- 
 tiful, leaving the ornamental for her hand- 
 maid "art." The vine here is paid par- 
 ticular attention to, and affords the chief 
 employment and sustenance of the inhabit- 
 ants. It is trained over head with bamboos, 
 laid across, which serve to support and expose 
 it to the sun: this fruit is so plentiful that we 
 can purchase three or four pounds for 6d. 
 Lemons 6d. per dozen; oranges and figs, 
 equally cheap. But I think you have had 
 fruits and flowers enough. Now for manners 
 and customs: the first thing which attracted 
 my attention on shore was, the leathern bot- 
 tles, made of sheep and goat skins, and re- 
 taining the exact shape of the animal, so that 
 you might more easily imagine yourself 
 among sheep themselves, than among bottles 
 of wine, (only you must conceive them to be 
 of Portuguese extraction, viz., having no 
 wool, and dark brown skins.) It is a re- 
 markable fact, that on the whole island, there 
 is not a carriage of any description, the only 
 thing which is used to convey their pipes of 
 wine from place to place, is a small sledge 
 not exceeding a foot and half in breadth, and
 
 124 MEMOIR OK 
 
 six feet in length, drawn by a couple of bul- 
 locks, yoked together, and driven by unfeel- 
 ing wretches, with nails fixed into large 
 sticks with which they goad the poor animals, 
 in the most barbarous manner. You will 
 wonder at this manner of conveyance, in a 
 celebrated place, like Funchall; but the fact 
 is, the place is situated on the side of moun- 
 tains lying as before described some miles in 
 ascent, so that you constantly travel up hill 
 or down; and the streets are exceedingly 
 narrow, and rough paved, while a large gut- 
 ter, paved for the purpose, lies exactly down 
 the middle of each street, filled with a con- 
 stant stream of water, issuing from the moun- 
 tains, which would prevent any wheel from 
 crossing. But though these water courses 
 render the road impassable for any descrip- 
 tion of carriage, they appear to be of peculiar 
 service to the inhabitants, any person being 
 able, with very little difficulty, to turn a suffi- 
 cient quantity of the water into his house, 
 for every domestic purpose. The mode of 
 travelling for gentlemen is confined to mules, 
 ponies, or asses: the first are most common, 
 and a sketch of our visit, on Wednesday last 
 would, if I could give you a just one, convey
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 125 
 
 to you much novelty attendant on this mode 
 of travelling. It is customary here for the 
 merchant sending out by any ship, to invite 
 the captain, and all his passengers, to their 
 beautiful villas. Accordingly, we visited a 
 Mr. Gordon, on our arrival in Funchall, and 
 took tiffin (lunch) with him; and Wednesday 
 last, was -appointed for visiting him at his 
 country house, called the Mount, about 3 or 
 4 miles up the country. The morning came, 
 and seven of us prepared to go, but the gen- 
 tlemen all thought it advisable for me to go in 
 a palanquin, while they had each of them a 
 nag. I am at a loss to describe my palan- 
 quin, so as to give you an adequate idea of 
 its construction, being more simple for a 
 conveyance than any thing you can imagine: 
 fancy then, that you see a coffin, made just 
 long enough to admit your sitting upright, 
 with your feet resting against the bottom, a 
 pillow to sit upon, the sides being instead of 
 boards, little round staves of wood, or iron, 
 painted green, being made a little longer just 
 round the head, to admit of your resting your 
 back, then you will see at once, a Funchall 
 palanquin. This little coffin, (for from its 
 shape, I could compare it to nothing else,) is-
 
 1 26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 suspended from a beam, about 12 inches 
 round, and ab >ut 8 or 10 feet long, and borne 
 on the shoulders of two men. A light cov- 
 ering of chintz, is thrown over the beam, 
 which reaches to the ground on each side, 
 and covers the whole vehicle, and passenger 
 altogether; but the greatest inconvenience to 
 large heads, and large bonnets, must neces- 
 sarily accrue, the beam being too 1 w to admit 
 of the former, without inconvenience, and 
 much less the latter. I, however, laid my 
 bonnet across my lap, half drew my covering, 
 and wafting my thoughts to Wolvey, could 
 not forbear a smile, and sometimes a hoarse 
 laugh, at being dangled in all directions for 
 right wing or left, back or face had each an 
 equal claim, (with r y bearers,) to travel first. 
 Nor had our gentlemen a less droll excursion, 
 it not being enough to have a nag; but every 
 rider must have a man, who, holding by his 
 horses' tail with one hand, and carrying a 
 large stick and nail in the other, w th which 
 he continually goads the beast, appears to 
 answer the purpose of whip and spurs, only 
 you will observe no rider can go his own 
 pace, but must go just when, where, and how 
 his driver pleases; and this is as fast as the
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 127 
 
 animal can travel, while the perspiration 
 streams off the unfortunate fellows behind, in 
 torrents. I should think not many of the 
 steps we went, were less steep than Temple 
 Hill, and. many parts much steeper. Yet 
 my half dozen of companions, who started 
 after me, and who I expected would accom- 
 pany me, travelled with such velocity, as to 
 arrive nearly an hour first, at Mr. Gordon's. 
 I intended to give you some further par- 
 ticulars, but must close my letter abruptly. 
 Your ever dear, 
 
 CHARLOTTE:." 
 
 Madeira is a heathenish island; our spirits 
 were stirred within us, at seeing the people 
 wholly given to idolatry. Popery is here 
 only solemn mummery and mockery. The 
 people are kept in a state of the most deplo- 
 rable ignorance, and poverty. Two thirds of 
 their time is taken up with saints days, and 
 papistical fooleries, so that all the work done 
 oil the island in a week, might be done easily 
 in two days. On Sabbath morning, the peo- 
 ple go to hear mass, and in the evening 
 attend theatres, and balls. We saw a bill, 
 headed by a rude painting, of a bear and
 
 128 MEMOIR OF 
 
 dogs, stuck up in several places on the prom- 
 enade, announcing that, on Sunday evening, 
 there would be a bear dance, and bear fight, 
 at a public room in a catholic college yard, 
 in the midst of the students for the ministry. 
 Admittance 2s. each. 
 
 TO MR. AND MRS. C- 
 
 "JYbr. 1824. 
 " Honored and beloved Parents, 
 
 " We rejoice that opportunity after oppor- 
 tunity presents itself, of dropping you a line 
 during our voyage, which we did not expect, 
 but which we know will be as pleasant to you 
 as to us. We are now within a few hundred 
 miles of the Cape of Good Hope, and hope 
 to reach it in two or three days, where we 
 shall probably be detained a week, or perhaps 
 more; this will tend to lengthen our voyage: 
 in, short, we have now given up all hope of 
 less than a six months' Voyage, as it is now 
 the llth of November, and we are not more 
 than 8000 miles from England, a distance 
 thought to be scarcely half way. Perhaps 
 several reasons might be given as induce- 
 ments for the captain to call at the Cape; in 
 the first place, it is not out of the way; he
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOiV. 129 
 
 has property there; there is a probability of 
 getting more passengers; the possibility of 
 being short of water, (a circumstance much 
 dreaded on board,) from our long voyage, 
 and great consumption, as not less than 100 
 gallons are consumed daily; but the princi- 
 pal reason is owing to a defect discovered in 
 the main-mast, which might endanger our 
 safety if not repaired; this has arisen from 
 the heavy sea, and a peculiar kind of loading, 
 which cause her to roll from side to side, in 
 a most unpleasant manner, so much so, that 
 we can neither sit, stand, nor lie, at times, 
 without holding; we are generally lashed to 
 the table, while we dine, and with difficulty 
 preserve the dishes, (as sailors say,) from 
 going adrift; notwithstanding, however, we 
 have hitherto been preserved in safety, and 
 without any occasion of alarm. I had a fall 
 from one side of the cabin to the other, but 
 received no further injury, than a fright and 
 a bruised arm, which were soon forgot- 
 ten. I cannot suppose, my dear father, that 
 you have forgotten your request, nor have I 
 neglected my engagement; but as latitudes, 
 and longitudes, are little understood by me, 
 and good and bad winds would not communi- 
 11
 
 130 MEMOIR OP 
 
 cate any information to your beloved chil- 
 dren, I apprehend you will not consider it a 
 failure in my promise if I dismiss daily ac- 
 counts from a log-book, by conveying to you 
 its particulars, where any have occurred, 
 and giving you an outline of our own pro- 
 ceedings for one day, which will serve for all 
 days, except when slight sickness, extra mo-* 
 tion of the vessel, or some other cause, made 
 a little deviation. My S. keeps a regular 
 journal, which you will be sure to see; there- 
 fore, I think this method best; but if this do 
 not meet your wishes, you have only to say, 
 and I will endeavor to oblige you, though I 
 think it is probable, that when a variety of 
 events are occurring, it may be necessary for 
 me to record them; but here you must sup- 
 pose every day is nearly the same, brings 
 constantly the same scenes, the same per- 
 sons, the same conversation, and I might 
 justly add, to the praise of our companions, 
 and captain, the same comforts and unre- 
 mitting kindness. Thus, my father and 
 mother, you' see goodness and mercy still 
 follow us: we want nothing but more grati- 
 tude. But to my promise after leaving 
 Madeira we passed the Cape de Verd Islands,
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 131 
 
 and saw one of them called Saint Antonio, 
 supposed to be 7,500 feet high. Towards 
 the latter end of this month, when between 
 the tropics, we found it exceedingly hot, the 
 thermometer sometimes rising as high as 
 eighty-eight, or ninety degrees^in the shade. 
 About this time we were visited with squalls, 
 viz. a great deal of wind and rain, a sight 
 not. very comfortable to the timid, and I 
 should think, enough to fright n an unpar- 
 doned sinner. But here again the goodness 
 of our God was manifested to us; we were 
 kept in perfect peace, and not the shadow 
 of a fear was permitted to cross our minds; 
 and not unfrequently we sung, 
 
 This awful God is ours, 
 Our Father and our Friend.' 
 
 " During the month of October several 
 sharks were caught, and a kind offish called 
 boneta, which in appearance resembles beef; 
 several dolphins were also caught: this is a 
 beautiful fish, both to the eye and to the 
 taste: we sometimes saw, here and there, a 
 solitary bird called the Cape Pigeon, another, 
 Mother Carey's Chicken; and these last few 
 days, we have seen a great number of birds, 
 among which is the albatross, a very beauti-
 
 132 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ful bird and very large; it has been known 
 to measure twenty-four feet, from point to 
 point of the wings. Having no other trifles 
 of this kind to relate, I shall now tell you how 
 we spend our time. After rising in the 
 morning, about six o'clock, we try at collect- 
 ing a few sentences in Hindoostanee, and 
 sometimes take a peep on deck; at eight we 
 breakfast, after which we pace the deck 
 probably for twenty minutes or half an hour, 
 when ,we return for prayrs; after reading 
 and prayer, which, probably occupies about 
 an hour, my little black scholar attends to 
 spelling, reading, repeating a few verses, 
 which we try to imprint on his mind, and 
 then help him to sing them; this beguiles 
 another hour; he sometimes writes, and gen- 
 erally before breakfast, attends to fetch wa- 
 ter, clean shoes, &.c., when he repeats a short 
 prayer. But .for. the remaining part of the 
 day my S., with his books and pen, gene- 
 rally seats himself in the cuddy, and I em- 
 ploy myself in a similar way, until about 
 three, when we dine; after which, and look- 
 ing about a few minutes above, we return to 
 our employ; at six we are called to tea, after 
 which time we generally walk until candles
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 133 
 
 are lighted, when we again seat ourselves 
 in the cuddy, for reading, until about nine, 
 when Jonah comes in to perform his part, 
 and we, after reading and prayer, retire to 
 rest. You will not suppose that we have no 
 variation; we have different books, different 
 conversations; sometimes we read together, 
 sometimes sing, and sometimes review the 
 way which the Lord has led us, and admire 
 and bless the providence which has not only 
 united our hands but our hearts. Yes, my 
 dear mother, if one is more blessed than 
 another in an affectionate husband, it is your 
 Charlotte. I sometimes think his attention 
 multiplies the occasions of carefulness, for 
 he often finds them, where I see none. 
 I have been on the whole tolerably well since 
 leaving Madeira. I feel little or no anxiety 
 about my health; in fact, my S. makes it his 
 constant care to prevent this. Whether life 
 or death await us can be of little conse- 
 quence, if we be found waiting for the 
 coming of our Lord. I have especial reason 
 to be thankful for being freed from the 
 terrors of this enemy ; I would not boast, 
 but through my dear and adorable Redeem- 
 11*
 
 134 MEMOIR OF 
 
 er's strength and 'merits, I hope, not only 
 to meet him undismayed, but to welcome 
 his appearance as the porter who must open 
 for me the door of my Redeemer's kingdom, 
 and introduce me to his presence. I know, 
 my dear mother, that these remarks may 
 cause a painful thought; but let it be but 
 momentary ; rather let it lead you into the 
 more immediate presence of a gracious God 
 in thankful adoration of his abundant good- 
 ness to such unworthy creatures, and there 
 learn to say, Thy will, O God, be done; for his 
 time is always best, and no matter which 
 traveller first arrives, if the other is fast fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 " We think and talk of you, all by turns: 
 we are as happy, as we wish to be in this 
 world, we only want more of the Spirit of 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 C. SUT-TON." 
 
 ' v "_ 
 
 The little black scholar, alluded to in this 
 letter, was a poor destitute Portuguese boy, 
 born in Calcutta, belonging to. one of the 
 Lascars on board. Mrs. Sutton felt a lively 
 interest in this child, and expected he would
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 135 
 
 be made over to her, as her own; but he was 
 beguiled away from us, when we reached 
 Calcutta. The following extracts from let- 
 ters written by Mrs. Sutton and her husband, 
 referring to him, may not be uninteresting. 
 
 Mr. S. writes. We have engaged to in- 
 struct a little Indian lad, of Potuguese ex- 
 traction. Poor fellow, he appears to be in 
 a most deplorable condition; his shirt seems 
 not to have been washed since he left India, 
 while he is most starved for want of common 
 support. We have been exhibiting our skill 
 in tailoring for him. His shirt, as black as 
 his skin, we have exchanged for a new white 
 one, and his filthy course jacket is supersed- 
 ed by one of striped jean: we have also given 
 him a white cotton night-cap, in the place of 
 his very dirty one. ' Fine feathers make 
 fine birds.' In his case, the improvement 
 made in his appearance, is surprising. As 
 for himself, he did not seem to know which 
 leg to set first. His fine black eyes sparkled 
 with delight, while he gratefully made his 
 acknowledgments. It would indeed have 
 done you good to see him skip down the ves- 
 sel, in order to display his new attire, while
 
 136 MEMOIR OF 
 
 for myself, I could not suppress the tear of 
 gratitude, that we were in any degree enabled 
 to contribute to the comfort of one of the de- 
 luded children of darkness. 
 
 The Captain has kindly charged his stew- 
 ard to furnish him with victuals every day, 
 while we hope to teach him to read for him- 
 self the way of life and peace. 
 
 Mrs. Sutton wrote respecting him: 
 
 " Our little boy, improves very fast in 
 reading, we look upon him as a peculiar 
 charge, and hope he may serve the cause of 
 Christ. ,His ability and genius are of a su- 
 perior cast, and though we are sometimes 
 pained to see in him the characteristics of 
 the native (levity and falsehood,) at others 
 we are pleased with his remembrance of the 
 instructions given. I was one day about to 
 use a card, on which was printed the tenth 
 commandment, which he had occasionally 
 re ad; when, looking very seriously at me, he 
 exclaimed, ' Ma'am no cut this, this God's 
 Jesus Christ's words, book.' I need not 
 tell you that the card was instantly laid aside, 
 myself condemned, and Jonah's reproof com- 
 mended. On another occasion, he set up for
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 137 
 
 a teacher, and in two days only, taught a 
 poor black woman all the alphabet; but grow- 
 ing tired of his office, he recommended his 
 'Missa,' who he said would 'teach her 
 read Tesamen and Bible, and say prayers;' 
 but on her wishing to decline prayers; he 
 replied, ' You say prayer, must, or God no 
 love you.' ' 
 
 In addition to the little boy, Mrs. Sutton, 
 took great pains with the two poor native 
 women referred to. Her husband thought 
 this a happy ornen of the zeal and ardor with 
 which she would long engage in similar work 
 in India. But her Lord had otherwise de- 
 termined. We now insert a few more ex- 
 tracts from her diary written during the voy- 
 age to the Cape of Good Hope. 
 
 11 Aug. 27. Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
 and forget not all his benefits. He healeth 
 all thy diseases; he forgiveth all thine iniqui- 
 ties. How shall I recount the goodness of 
 God to my soul. This is the first day of being 
 able to use my pen, after a long and tedious 
 affliction, but one which has been abundant- 
 ly blessed to my soul. He afflicteth not
 
 138 MEMOIR OF 
 
 willingly, but for our profit. Have enjoyed 
 a sweet nearness to my God in prayer; and 
 I now feel that I have lost my own will in 
 whatever may be his. O my God, keep me 
 near to thee. 
 
 "29. The Lord's day, but no opportunity 
 of going with his people to the house of God. 
 Very unwell this morning; but was able, with 
 assistance, to go on deck, and heard my S., 
 from the Barren Fig Tree. The scene was 
 a novel one to me; and the Lord enabled me 
 to pray that we might be faithful. 
 
 " Sept. 2. My health indifferent; but, on 
 the whole, rather better. Anxiously looking 
 out, all day, for cur desired haven: enjoyed 
 the view of Madeira's romantic cliffs, and 
 thought, but for the hope of doing some good 
 to others, I could have wished myself alone, 
 except my God, in the midst of them. 
 
 " 12. A return of the best of days, and a 
 review of the past week, might justly fill me 
 with shame, so little gratitude have I felt; 
 though, at times, I have been relieved of my 
 sickness. Surely, he does well to afflict. 
 ' I will bear the indignation of the Lord, 
 because I have sinned against him.' Went 
 to hear a ' blind teacher, ' but met with a
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 139 
 
 dear Christian friend. This revived our 
 souls, and we could not sufficiently crowd 
 the little time we spent together in songs of 
 gratitude and praise. May this timely and 
 interesting meeting never be forgotten by us! 
 
 " 19. The return of another blessed Sab- 
 bath. My mind wandered to my dear friends 
 in England; and, under any other circum- 
 stances, would have sighed to be with them; 
 but, blessed be God, he teaches me that my 
 business is not with time nor the things 
 thereof. O may my will be constantly lost 
 in his. I want no good beside. My S. 
 preached on deck this day. I thought him 
 more impressive than formerly. The audience 
 very attentive, though the motion was so 
 great, I was obliged to hold by ropes. 
 
 " 20. Our little Jojiah formed, for the first 
 time, a part of our family, when calling on the 
 God of Israel. Enjoyed sweet enlargement 
 of soul at a throne of grace, and was enabled 
 to say, in the prospect of a continued trial, 
 ' Thy will be done.' Lord, keep me near 
 unto thyself. 
 
 "21. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Some 
 faint relish for divine things. O my soul, I
 
 140 MEMOIR OF 
 
 charge thee cherish nothing else while in this 
 vale of tears. 
 
 "23. Through mercy, my health tolera- 
 ble; and the Lord appears to be giving me 
 the desire of my heart. Were joined, at 
 evening worship, by the steward and George. 
 
 "24. Did not feel sufficiently thankful for 
 the renewed mercies of our God, but spent a 
 comfortable hour in the evening. Did very 
 little at Hindoostanee.- 
 
 "25. Spent the morning in reading Hen- 
 ry's Commentary. Enjoyed a pleasing, and, 
 I trust, a profitable conversation with my 
 beloved S. We have lately been favored 
 with some such opportunities. O God, deign 
 to bless them to our spiritual benefit. May 
 they be the means of stirring up to more self- 
 denial and persevering zeal. 
 
 "26. The return of another blessed Sab- 
 bath. Spent the. morning in a prayerful, but 
 rather confused state of mind, while the after- 
 noon witnessed nothing but sloth and forget- 
 fulness of God. Loitered our time on deck, 
 the day being exceedingly hot, and spent a 
 little time in prayer, but with confused ideas. 
 Wisdom cometh only from above.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 141 
 
 "30. Read Henry's Commentary; but 
 finding my health too uncertain to attend to 
 Hindoostanee in the evening, was obliged 
 to take the morning opportunity. Read mis- 
 sionary accounts. The account of. Ward and 
 Marshman's voyage filled me with sorrow and 
 regret, that we were so far behind in our exer- 
 tions; for our advantages, though hot equal to 
 theirs, are abundant. Lord, increase our zeal. 
 
 "Oct. 1. Graciously indulged with the 
 presence of our Redeemer, though still the 
 subject of the vilest thoughts. 
 
 " 2. This morning, engaged with my S. 
 in social prayer. Found it a good opportu- 
 nity. Was mercifully delivered from embar- 
 rassment and formality, (i. e. in a great 
 measure; but our best performances, even 
 when we trust we have the Spirit's aid, will 
 not bear a presentation, but in the name of 
 Christ. O precious name!) but soon felt the 
 suggestions of that accursed pride which never 
 leaves me. O, to be freed from this vile foe. 
 
 "3. Sabbath morning. Rose early and 
 bathed. Felt my soul wander to, and unite 
 with our dear friends in England; but trust 
 we enjoyed the presence of our adorable Lord, 
 and held sweet communion. That two or 
 12
 
 142 MEMOIR OF 
 
 three are within the promise, often comforts 
 us while destitute of many ; but yet I could 
 wish to join my beloved brethren and sisters 
 around his own table. To see the Lord in his 
 sanctuary, is a soul-cheering sight : thought 
 my S. prayed with unusual fervency. Could 
 each say, there is nothing we desire besides 
 thee. 
 
 "6. This day, when standing by the bed 
 of an afflicted Portuguese, was concerned to 
 hear her complain of, and accuse the Almigh- 
 ty with doing wrong. Felt jealous for the 
 God of Israel, and could not help exclaiming, 
 Lord, hasten the time when all thy creatures 
 shall acknowledge that ' though darkness and 
 clouds may be round about thee, righteous- 
 ness and judgment are the habitations of thy 
 throne.' The motion so great that I was 
 unable to keep my head off the pillow. This 
 encouraged slothfulness, O Lord, guard me 
 from sin. ...Jf> ' 
 
 *' 11. The Lord graciously allows and en- 
 ables me to plead with him for myself and 
 others; sometimes with importunity, especial- 
 ly for our Jonah. Blessed be God, that we 
 cannot be too importunate; but I ought rath- 
 er to say, blessed be God, who has inclined
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 143 
 
 me to approach him. O let my first petition 
 be, Lord, teach me to pray. 
 
 " Every anecdote I read of beloved friends, 
 who are gone before, teaches me more and 
 more the necessity and utility of this blessed 
 privilege. There is no evil from which a 
 watchful, prayerful frame will not in a great 
 measure, preserve us; but alas! such is the 
 depravity of this vile heart, that this very 
 duty is always mixed with sin, and prayer it- 
 self seems more especially to precede temp- 
 tation. 
 
 "15. When contemplating the character 
 of the Hindoos, and viewing all human efforts 
 as totally ineffectual to meet, much less to 
 overcome diabolical superstitions, my soul 
 rejoices that all power is with our Almighty 
 Saviour; that when he works, none can let. 
 It is here I shield my feeble'head, here hide 
 my unworthiness and insufficiency, and glance 
 at probabilities only in, the strength of the God 
 of Israel. Weak in body this day. 
 
 " 1G. Again my bodily health renewed, 
 through the abundant mercy of my God; but 
 I feel no anxiety. Come life or come death, 
 if he appoint, I know it will be best. Bless 
 ye the Lord, at all times, all ye his people; 
 for our God is a refuge for us.
 
 144 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " 17. A return of the Lord's day. My S. 
 preached on deck : saw one of the sailor 
 boys affected to tears. Could not help hoping 
 and praying. Lord, deepen conviction. 
 
 " 18. Still feel desirous of sanctification. 
 Blessed be God for this desire. It is one of 
 the good and perfect gifts which cometh from 
 above. Lord, be pleased to increase it, and 
 to thy name be all the glory. 
 
 " 22. With the pious Baxter, I wish never 
 to feel anxious about the dealings of God with 
 me and mine ; and why should I ? since I 
 can bear testimony, he has never yet failed 
 me of all he has promised, nor has he once 
 erred in all his various dealings with soul or 
 body. Then, ' bless the Lord, O my soul.' 
 
 " 23. Still anxious that my concern should 
 be confined to myself. Self needs all the 
 eyes we have all the care we can bestow, 
 to guard it from robbing the blessed God. 
 
 " 24. Feel anxious that Jonah should, in 
 some way, serve our blessed Master. My 
 S. preached on deck this morning. He some- 
 times requests my prayers. It shall be this, 
 and this repeated that he preach not himself, 
 but CHRIST JESUS the Lord. Sent letters home. 
 
 "31. My S. preached on the character of
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 145 
 
 the blessed God, as given by himself to Mo- 
 ses. O how oft have I, by rebellion and in- 
 gratitude, put his ' long suffering ' to the test. 
 
 "Nov. 1. Our hands fully employed to- 
 day, and our ' only great end,' too far out of 
 sight. In the evening, endeavored to unite 
 with our beloved friends in England, in call- 
 ing upon our adorable Master, for the spread 
 of his own dear cause. We found it good to 
 be so employed. It was a melting opportunity 
 both to myself and my S. 
 
 "2. Still engaged in worldly concerns. I 
 find they have a tendency to divert the mind 
 from God. How much more is due (if we 
 may so speak) to those, who while they are 
 diligent in laboring, are fervent in spirit, than 
 to us, who, favored with all these advantages 
 are living at such a poor dying rate. 
 
 <( 3. Feel not all that intenseness of desire 
 to praise and glorify God to be freed from 
 sin, and live above the world, as I could wish. 
 Quicken me,O my God, according to thy word. 
 Overtaken in sin, PRIDE, that most easily be- 
 setting sin, gained the ascendency before I 
 was aware. For this my soul smarted. My 
 Master was gracious, and again manifested 
 his long suffer ing. O how long shall I weary 
 12*
 
 146 MEMOIR OF 
 
 him with sin, and make him to bear with my 
 iniquities! 
 
 " 11. These few last days, have been pre- 
 vented from using a pen, by the constant and 
 violent motion of the ship, but during this 
 time goodness and mercy have followed me: 
 have felt much pleasure and gratitude in re- 
 viewing the way by which the Lord has led 
 me, and especially in finding the views and 
 feelings of myself and my beloved husband 
 assimilating more and more daily. Met with 
 a remark in Baxter, which my S. says should 
 be written in gold, ' If thy meditations tend 
 to fill thy note book with- notions and good 
 sayings concerning God, and not thy heart 
 with longings after him and delight in him ; 
 for aught I know,*thy book is as much a Chris- 
 tian as thyself. " Saints Rest. p. 268. 
 
 A few days after the last record in her 
 diary, and which was indeed the last she wrote 
 during the voyage, she arrived at the Cape 
 of Good Hope. Here, as in other places, 
 Mrs. Sutton much endeared herself to a 
 number of Christian friends. From this place 
 she wrote several letters to her friends in 
 England, but the following, addressed to the
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 147 
 
 brother of Mr. S. is the only one that has 
 come into the possession of the writer. 
 
 " Cape of Good Hope, JVbr. 23. 
 "My dear James, 
 
 " By the good hand of our God upon us, 
 we arrived safely at this place on the 14th 
 inst. and are staying at the house of the Rev. 
 Doctor Philip, from the London Mission- 
 ary Society, by whom, and his amiable part- 
 ner, we are treated with the greatest at- 
 tention and hospitality. On some accounts 
 we regret this delay in our voyage, on others 
 it may be for the best. It may, however, 
 afford us satisfaction, that we were brought 
 here by an unavoidable" circumstance, and 
 should excite our gratitude, that while we 
 were permitted to see danger, we were pre- 
 served from feeling its effects. A few days 
 before my S. began this, we had been tossed 
 about with heavy seas, and at length we found 
 it had so much impaired our mainmast, that it 
 would not bear sail; on this account the Capt- 
 tain determined on putting into the Cape for 
 repairs, and a most providential circumstance 
 it appears for him. Many persons are in the 
 habit of visiting the Cape for their health,
 
 148 MEMOIR OF 
 
 from all parts of India, and these frequently 
 find great difficulty in getting back, so few 
 outward bound ships being allowed to call, 
 on account of its dangerous port, or perhaps 
 for want of insurance, which is only obtained 
 for certain parts of the year. It happens that 
 no ship has been here for these last nine 
 months; the consequence is, a great addition 
 to our number. I suppose it will not be to 
 our convenience. We have given up our fine 
 airy cabin, not by constraint, but by choice; 
 for besides its being an object to accommodate 
 as many as possible, we felt we ought to con- 
 sider it so, to the Captain; as he obtained 
 readily for the adjoining one, (which Mr. L. 
 gave up) 500: the Captain in return, o.bliges 
 us by every accommodation in his power. 
 We expect ten or eleven cabin passengers, 
 beside children and servants, perhaps not less 
 than 25 in all. We are sorry to find the Cape 
 a receptacle of vice and villany, deposited 
 chiefly by the English, for we understand that 
 the Dutch, with all their characteristic vul- 
 garity and indelicacy, far excel the others 
 in morality. It is a degrading statement, 
 that amidst a population of 25,000 of almost 
 all nations, Englishmen should be the Worst;
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 149 
 
 but so it is. Here are two established 
 churches, called the Lutheran, and the Dutch; 
 a chapel for the Dutch, and another built by 
 Dr. P., in the midst of opposition, for the 
 English, a number of Mahomedan mosques, 
 and a 'Mother of Abominations.' Schools 
 are increasing in number, a Bible and Tract 
 societies are formed. The interior of the 
 country, is sharing the attention of the wise 
 and good, and Missionaries are waiting and 
 watching for openings to different stations; 
 one of these, a Mr. Robson, is with Dr. P. ac- 
 quiring the necessary language, and expects 
 to proceed to Latakoo, a distance of 7 or 800 
 miles. The others, Witworth and Snowdell, 
 from the Wesleyan Society, intend journeying 
 in another direction as soon as practicable. 
 This is a faint sketch, and the last part seems 
 to throw a gleam of light on the first ; but alas ! 
 it is but a gleam, for darkness still covers this 
 part of the world, and gross darkness the 
 people. 
 
 " A weekly market for slaves is still tolerated 
 at this place, and the abominable and horrid 
 practices to which these poor creatures are 
 compelled by their masters and mistresses, are 
 such as would shock the feelings of the most
 
 150 MEMOIR OF 
 
 depraved of the human species: they cannot 
 be told. The Wesleyans are exceedingly 
 friendly. My S. has preached for them twice. 
 We expect to leave here in two or three days, 
 and our passage will perhaps be about two 
 months longer, so that by the time you get 
 this, we shall have reached Calcutta, from 
 which place we hope again to address you. 
 You will receive this we hope, by a dear Chris- 
 tian friend bound to England from Madras; 
 a man who like the apostle has been abundant 
 in labors. Mysterious is the providence which 
 obliges him to quit his post, but the Lord's 
 ways and thoughts are not as ours: let us, my 
 dear brother, constantly pray for submission 
 to the Divine will, for we know not what is 
 before us; and feel unceasing gratitude that 
 our burthen shall never be greater than our 
 strength, nor our temptation such from which 
 there will be no escape. O my brother, help 
 us to praise the God of all our mercies. Good- 
 ness and mercy encompass our every step, and 
 infinitely exceed our highest praise. 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 C. SUTTON." 
 
 A few extracts from a letter of Mr. Sut- 
 ton, are inserted to carry forward the account
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 151 
 
 of the voyage, until the Euphrates reached 
 India. 
 
 "Dear Brothet, 
 
 " Having been, by the gracious hand of our 
 God, conducted in safety to this land of deso- 
 lation and death, I will attempt a brief ac- 
 count of our mercies by the way. We left 
 the Cape on the last Sunday in November, 
 and made Saugur the 13th February, Sunday 
 afternoon. Notwithstanding our voyage has 
 been a very long one, it has been remarkably 
 pleasant, and one coatinued scene of mercy. 
 Of our Captain, and his attention to us, we 
 cannot speak too highly: he was anxious 
 every day to promote our comfort, and indeed 
 that of -all his passengers: we felt a mutual 
 regret at parting. Our ship's company con- 
 sisted of 17 adults, most of them connected 
 with the East India Company, and four chil- 
 dren, which together with servants, and sail- 
 ors, made about 140 persons: out of this large 
 number, many of them old people, not one 
 died, nor did we meet with any serious acci- 
 dent, excepting the poor boy at the Cape.*) 
 
 * A poor boy who cut the wrong rope of a boat, that was 
 hanging over the ship's quarter, and was in consequence 
 precipitated into the sea, and drowned.
 
 152 MEMOIR OF 
 
 We were treated with universal respect, and 
 received from the passengers many tokens of 
 kindness and friendship. Our religious priv- 
 ileges were very great and very many, con- 
 sidering that we were on board a ship. We 
 had preaching regularly all the way on Lord's 
 day morning, at which all the passengers 
 and most of the sailors attended. It was 
 highly gratifying to witness the very serious 
 attention that was manifested, while the 
 cleanly appearance of the men, and neat trim 
 of the vessel, reminded us of the day of rest. 
 Every rope was coiled up, and all business 
 laid aside which was not absolutely necessary 
 to be done. On these occasions, I conduct- 
 ed the service, with the exception of singing, 
 in the same way as in England. The morn- 
 ning service employed from an hour, to an 
 hour and a quarter. Beside the morning ser- 
 vice, we had another in the cuddy, on an 
 evening, when I usually read a chapter, and 
 then addressed my hearers from some portion 
 of it, for about twenty minutes, and conclud- 
 ed with prayer: these opportunities have often 
 been productive of very serious feelings ; 
 some have often been seen to weep, both 
 sailors and passengers and particularly
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 153 
 
 , of whom we feel disposed to hope the 
 
 best; in short, the very great attention, always 
 observed, was very encouraging. In addi- 
 tion to these Sabbath-day privileges, we had 
 a very comfortable social prayer-meeting, 
 every evening, in the cabin of Mrs. B. one 
 of our passengers from the Cape, a lady dis- 
 tinguished in India, (as well as her husband,) 
 by exalted piety > active, benevolence, and 
 extensive influence. 
 
 Of Mrs. B. it would be difficult to say too 
 much; her love for religion, is not confined 
 within the walls of the Church, but like the 
 fructifying river it spreads, and enriches, and 
 beautifies wherever its influence extends. 
 While I am paying this just tribute of respect 
 to her character, I cannot but feel grateful to 
 our heavenly Father, for furnishing us with 
 such a friend. Our party at family prayer, 
 consisted of Mrs. B. and her brother, a Mr. 
 T., Judge and Magistrate in Bengal, Mr. and 
 Mrs. P., a servant of Mrs. B. , my dear wife, 
 and myself. I trust that all, with the excep- 
 tion of the servant, are sincere seekers after 
 salvation. Respecting our labors, we can 
 say, our merciful God has not entirely with- 
 holden his blessing upon them, among our- 
 13
 
 154 MEMOIR OF 
 
 selves, and those alluded to above. We have 
 experienced many seasons of refreshing from 
 the presence of the Lord, and occasional 
 heart-felt views of our depravity, and unwor- 
 thiness, which have driven us closer to our 
 atoning Saviour.. O how precious are such 
 seasons! Among the sailors, though we 
 cannot but feel deeply so little is done, yet 
 we have not labored altogether in vain. Of 
 one, we have much pleasure in saying, we 
 believe him to be really converted to, God : 
 his conduct has been very exemplary, and 
 gives us much reason for thankfulness. Sev- 
 eral others are jinder serious impressions, and 
 feel fully satisfied of the necessity of a change 
 of life and heart; their language respecting 
 their unfavorable situation is truly affecting: 
 a ship's forecastle, is a hell upon earth. Oh, 
 a sailor needs great grace, but Christ is suf- 
 ficient; I fear lest their ungodly companions 
 should seduce them, and rob them of those 
 desires, which, if encouraged and nourished, 
 with God's grace, and daily prayer, would 
 lead them to joy and peace, unspeakable and 
 full of glory. I could not forbear weeping 
 at leaving them in such desperate circum- 
 stances. Oh that God may be with them.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 155 
 
 and mature the work, and at least snatch 
 some as brands from the burning. Who can 
 tell we may hope and pray, for with God 
 nothing is impossible. I preached to them the 
 last Sabbath, from " And now, brethren, I 
 commend you to God, and the word of his 
 grace," &c. And in the evening from "Be 
 faithful unto death, and I will give thee a 
 crown of life. " They were affecting seasons. 
 Oh, that the seed sown on board the Euphra- 
 tes, may be productive of an abundant har- 
 vest, wherever those who received it may be 
 placed.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton in India Journey to 
 Calcutta Remarks on Missionary Labor, School?, 
 tyc. Correspondence Diary Sickness and Death 
 of Mrs. Sutton Reflections. 
 
 Well has a Christian poet observed, that 
 
 . [Long do they live, nor die too soon, 
 Who live till life's great work is done. 
 
 This sentiment was strikingly illustrated in 
 the subject of this brief memoir. Charlotte 
 Sutton worked while it was called to-day. 
 It is true, that a great part of her life she was 
 placed in .'very unfavorable circumstances, 
 and where the sphere of usefulness was far 
 too limited for her active benevolence. Yet 
 still she accomplished much, much more than 
 many have done with far greater advantages. 
 Enough, we trust, has been said to justify this
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOX. 157 
 
 remark, and to show how fast she was ripen- 
 ing for holier employments, and a far more 
 extended sphere of usefulness, in the heaven- 
 ly world. 
 
 On Feb. 20, 1825, Mrs. Sutton and her 
 husband landed at Garden Reach, at the hos- 
 pitable residence of Mr. B , a few miles 
 
 below Calcutta. While passing up the 
 Hoogly, a branch of the river Ganges, which 
 flows close by the city of Calcutta, they 
 observe, ' we felt extremely anxious to get to 
 our journey's end, and engage in our great 
 work. Every thing presents a strange ap- 
 pearance; men, beasts, trees, and even the 
 grass and fruits, remind us we "are very far 
 from happy England. We were very soon sur- 
 rounded by crowds of natives, ' with their 
 naked bodies, and almost unintelligible jar- 
 gon. We thought for a moment, with some- 
 thing like dismay, Are those the creatures 
 among whom we are to labor ? O, my dear Sir, 
 it is very difficult to maintain those feelings 
 of tender compassion towards them with which 
 we left England ; their abominable idolatries, 
 their duplicity, their ingratitude, their deter- 
 mination to cheat, to lie, to steal, with every 
 species of wickedness, disgust the mind and 
 13*
 
 158 MEMOIR OF 
 
 harden the heart, until we eftn feel as well 
 as remember, they are immortal creatures, 
 for whom the Saviour shed his blood, and that 
 so much the more as they are desperately 
 wicked, they stand in need of the sanctifying 
 effects of the gospel. It is little conceivable 
 by those who dwell among Christian society, 
 what a tendency the conduct of the natives 
 has to disgust the mind, and blunt the best 
 feelings of the Christian. Oh that we may 
 always feel for the poor depraved Hindoos, as 
 Missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ ought 
 to feel. In passing up the Hoogly, we were 
 struck with astonishment at the vast popula- 
 tion on its banks: we had heard Of swarms 
 of natives, but we had never conceived of 
 them; they are literally innumerable. But 
 ah, they know not God, neither do they de- 
 sire to know but the time shall arrive when 
 all these of India shall come. The country 
 presents a very interesting appearance; the 
 trees are very beautiful and numerous, and 
 the crowded villages are seen in every direc- 
 tion seated in the midst of beautiful and fruit- 
 ful groves; here and there an idol's temple is 
 just discernible, and the din of poojah (wor- 
 ship,) breaks upon the ear, and reminds us
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 159 
 
 we are in a Heathen land. How pleasant 
 is the thought, that this moral wilderness 
 shall become a fruitful field, and in the place 
 of idol temples, shall be seen the temples of 
 the living God. It will be so, and this is all 
 our hope; without this belief, a Missionary 
 would immediately turn round, and leave 
 India to perish in her sins. The Jackals 
 make a horrible noise all night, and at first 
 lead you to suppose some dreadful murder is 
 committed. The Musquitoes are still more 
 annoying; at first, however, we escaped un- 
 hurt, but now they make sad work with us. 
 One of the most disgusting scenes you meet 
 with in passing up the Hoogly, is the dead 
 bodies floating down with the tide, while the 
 kites and vultures are tearing them to pieces 
 as they move along: this, however, is not so 
 common as formerly, as there are boats em- 
 ployed to sink them, especially near Calcutta. 
 We reached Garden Reach, about five miles 
 from Calcutta, on Saturday, the 19th of Feb- 
 ruary, and went ashore to our kind friend's, 
 Mrs. B's. 
 
 In the afternoon I went up to Calcutta, 
 leaving Mrs. S. at home, and soon found the 
 Brethren Pearce, Yates, Lawson, Tenney, 
 
 -
 
 160 MEMOIR OF 
 
 &.c. of the Particular Baptist denomination; 
 (but here Particulars and Generals are the 
 same.) It would 3>e difficult to state the joy 
 and affection with which they received me, 
 and welcomed me to India. We mingled our 
 feelings of gratitude together for a little while, 
 and then I returned to Garden Reach. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sutton met with a most cor- 
 dial reception from their beloved fellow labor- 
 ers both at Calcutta and Serampore. Al- 
 though their stay was limited to within two 
 weeks, yet .in this brief space Mrs. S. much 
 endeaed herself to many of the brethren and 
 sisters at each of these places. This was 
 very pleasingly manifested by the very affec- 
 tionate manner in which her death was 
 spoken of, and her character referred to in 
 their different publications, and by their let- 
 ters of condolence to her husband. The fol- 
 lowing letter to her parents, contains some 
 brief particulars of her history, until the time 
 of her arrival at Cuttack, the principal Mis- 
 sionary station in Orissa. 
 
 TO MR. AND MRS. C- 
 
 Cuttack, March 18, 1825. 
 My beloved Father, Mother, and Sisters, 
 " I feel partly obliged to address you all
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 161 
 
 together, lest I should not find time, under 
 present circumstances, to write you sepa- 
 rately: you will not, I think, impute it to a 
 decreasing regard for you; no, a separation 
 like ours has no tendency to this, though, 
 blessed be God, such have hitherto been his 
 unspeakable mercies to us, that we cannot 
 complain of having forsaken friends, for he 
 continues to show himself our best Friend, by 
 comforting our hearts and enabling us to 
 rejoice exceedingly in our present circum- 
 stances and prospects, by keeping us in some 
 degree sensible of his goodness, and looking 
 for our happiness in him alone; and the 
 friends who have been raised up to serve 
 us in every possible way, exceed enumera- 
 tion. Now, to you, my beloved parents and 
 sisters, who feel so tenderly for my welfare, 
 this must be gratifying news. O, tell me, 
 will you not ascribe it to the good hand of 
 our God upon us? will you not say, with 
 David, ' Bless the Lord, O my soul?' But I 
 must tell you a few particulars. Our dear 
 brother Reeves leaving us so hastily at the 
 Cape, prevented you hearing further from us 
 then. We stayed with Dr. Philip, and his 
 good wife, nearly a fortnight; when we again
 
 162 MEMOIR OF 
 
 set sail, accompanied by ten new passengers, 
 five ladies and five gentlemen, besides chil- 
 dren and servants, I suppose in all nearly 
 thirty persons. We then gave up our fine 
 airy cabin, as we could not feel comfortable 
 to keep it, while the Captain could obtain 
 500 for its use; with such numbers on 
 board, so much extra cargo 1 arid provisions, 
 we were confined for want of room, you may 
 suppose, and in consequence of the heat, 
 which was very often greater than the hottest 
 summer-day in England, and my situation, 
 you will suppose my exertion was very little, 
 compared with what I had formerly been ac- 
 customed to: it is true I did a little with my 
 needle. 
 
 " I must tell you of one in particular, a 
 lady, of whose 'genuine piety, kindness, and 
 high respectability and influence, it would be 
 
 difficult to say too jnuch, Mrs. B ; she 
 
 was, mother, a benefactress and Christian 
 friend to me; I regularly slept in her cabin 
 to avoid the heat of my own, and almost daily 
 she was sending me something, besides em- 
 ploying herself for hours in the day for me. 
 Thus you see, my dear mother, how a good 
 and gracious God can and does raise us up
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 163 
 
 friends, even before we need them. O may 
 he ever preserve us from losing sight of the 
 Giver in the gift. 
 
 " Our passage from the Cape was long: in 
 twelve weeks we landed at the residence of 
 
 Mrs. B , which was about four miles on 
 
 this side Calcutta. On Saturday, Feb. 20, 
 my S. went with Mrs. B. , in her car- 
 riage, to Calcutta that evening, but I was not 
 allowed to stir; he met with Pearce, Yates, 
 Lawson, and other dear brethren in Calcutta, 
 who received him joyfully, and were as anx- 
 ious for our removal to Calcutta, as Mrs. 
 
 B could be for our remaining with her; 
 
 notwithstanding this, however, we were only 
 permitted to be driven there on the Sunday, 
 in their close carriage for fear of the sun, 
 and to return to dinner. 
 
 " On Monday we went to Calcutta, where 
 we saw the afore-mentioned brethren, their 
 dear wives, and Dr. Marshman; on Tuesday 
 the bungalow was sent from Serampore, and 
 by five or six o'clock in the evening we 
 were safely landed at the hospitable Mission 
 House. I cannot pretend to tell you half 
 the affection, and joy, and general satisfac- 
 tion with which we were received: every one
 
 164 MEMOIR OF 
 
 bid us welcome, and considered us at home; 
 we could not, however, consider ourselves 
 so, while at such a distance from our more 
 immediate colleagues : our first anxiety, 
 therefore, was directed to our manner of 
 travelling, the distance being two hundred 
 and ninety miles, and the season unfavor- 
 able for going by water; and, on the other 
 hand, the losing so much time by the way, 
 with many other disadvantages, caused us 
 very many perplexities, especially as my 
 dear S. was determined to take no step 
 which was opposed to my mind, or would 
 endanger my health, nor would he be per- 
 suaded to leave me behind amidst all these 
 difficulties. My S. so'on found a plan which 
 so far answered all the objections of friends, 
 that we proceeded on our way without hesita- 
 tion as to the path of duty; and by the good 
 hand of our God upon us, we are safely lodged 
 beneath the roof of brother and sister Lacey, 
 with whom we consider ourselves quite at 
 home. Brother Lacey met us about 100 miles 
 on the way v you may conceive something like 
 the joy we mutually felt; our brethren ap- 
 peared to feel it especially, for, having had 
 information of our leaving England three
 
 MIlS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOJV. 16.5 
 
 months before our arrival, they began to doubt, 
 of our safety. You will want to know more 
 things than I can possibly stay to tell you; 
 but I must be brief. I need not say any 
 thing about our comforts; they far, very far, 
 exceed any thing which we had anticipated 
 or desired. I assure you the first petition 
 which arose from my heart was., that we might 
 be delivered from SELF; for, considering the 
 circumstances under which we arrived in a 
 heathen land, self appeared to be the most 
 likely idol. O, let me beg of you constantly 
 to pray for us, that in the midst of such great 
 and innumerable mercies, we may ever be 
 preserved from indulging ^elf, from depending 
 on self; but that we may learn to deny our- 
 selves and take up our cross, not living after 
 the flesh but after the Spirit. The God of 
 nature has not left India an unfinished part of 
 his creation, but has furnished it with every 
 requisite for the temporal wants of its resi- 
 dents; and nothing, I apprehend, but the 
 artificial wants of the pampered European, 
 renders one. article essentially necessary in this 
 highly favored land. 
 
 " Brother Peggs is living about two miles 
 distant; brother Bampton about fifty miles 
 14
 
 166 MEMOIR OF 
 
 away, but he and his good wife are coming 
 hither to partake of the general joy; they 
 appear to form indeed one happy family, and 
 we hope never to diminish their degree of 
 happiness. 
 
 li But a word for ourselves; you will neces- 
 sarily feel anxious for our mutual affection 
 and happiness. I would, rny beloved parents, 
 with exalted feelings of gratitude to our heav- 
 enly Father, acknowledge that our cup of 
 blessing both in and with each other, constantly 
 overflows. My dear S. is much more than I 
 ever expected in the relations of Husband 
 and Christian; in short, I feel that I am utter- 
 ly unworthy of such a friend, and can only 
 ascribe it to the continued goodness of God 
 that I am thus abundantly blessed. I need 
 not tell you that God has given me the de- 
 sire of my heart in permitting me to rest on 
 heathen shores; but my faith is not yet at an 
 end." 
 
 The period for Charlotte Sutton's depar- 
 ture from this world, now drew on apace. 
 How ripe she was for a better, has been 
 pleasingly evidenced in her confidential com- 
 munications to her nearest relatives. The 
 few letters written by her after this time
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 167 
 
 breathe the same spirit of piety ; intermingled 
 with remarks respecting the country or the 
 people to whose welfare she had devoted her- 
 self. 
 
 TO MR. AND MRS. C . 
 
 " My beloved Parents, 
 
 " Knowing, as I do, the interest yon feel 
 in the most trivial things which concern or 
 befal us, I cannot take up my pen but with 
 mingled feelings of satisfaction and regret; 
 regret, because in this far distant land we find 
 it impossible to gratify you individually, or 
 even collectively, with a recital of daily oc- 
 currences. 
 
 " You will perceive, from the sketch given 
 you, that we have hitherto enjoyed an almost 
 uninterrupted series of blessings; but, per- 
 haps, the greatest of these has been, and con- 
 tinues to b>3, that union of soul, (and I may 
 add, of sentiment) and heartfelt tenderness 
 towards each other, which renders us the 
 happiest of the happy. This inestimable 
 blessing did not attend our union of hands, 
 nor did we enjoy it for nearly, if not quite, 
 the first two months after our marriage ; each 
 party felt the burden an almost insupportable
 
 168 MEMOIR OF 
 
 one, but neither could ascertain the real cause ; 
 at length, however, we were brought to look 
 beyond an earthly source, for this desirable 
 enjoyment, and, blessed be God! it was not 
 long withheld; we could soon mutually praise 
 him, that he had not suffered us to find hap- 
 piness in any thing inferior to himself; for 
 could we have done this, we should, instead 
 of looking uporteach other (as I trust we now 
 do) as a loan from the hand of our heavenly 
 Father, who constantly retains the right of 
 recalling at pleasure, have forgotten the 
 Giver, and a resumption. of his own, might 
 have given rise to all the rebellious feelings 
 of which our ungrateful hearts are capable. 
 
 " You will not, I hppe, my dear parents, 
 for so I must call you, feel more concerned 
 for the safety of your children in this incon- 
 ceivable (for such it is to you) climate, than 
 accords with your knowledge of the superin- 
 tending care and goodness of a gracious God, 
 even though I should tell you a little about 
 it. It appears the seasons are divided into 
 three, the cold, the wet, and the hot: it is 
 now said to be only the commencement of 
 the latter, and while I am sitting without a 
 great part of my dress, the perspiration is
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTOtf. 169 
 
 dropping from every part of me, except pre- 
 vented by a sponge. No European can ex- 
 pose himself to the sun, even for five minutes, 
 without endangering his constitution, and 
 probably his life. You must suppose that this 
 necessarily cramps the exertions of Mission- 
 aries in this country, and on this account I 
 felt some disappointment; but the custom of 
 very early rising, and going out before the 
 sun rises and after he sets, in some measure 
 makes up for it. But t'.ie hact is not the only 
 annoyance of the little kind, (for so we must 
 call things connected only with the body,) the 
 insects are exceedingly troublesome. While 
 sitting round a light in the evening, you are 
 surrounded with musquitoes, flying bugs, 
 hornets, grasshoppers, beetles, and various 
 kinds of flies; while on the wall you see lizards 
 in all directions, and not unfrequently the 
 thatch of the Bungalow contains serpents, 
 rats, mice, squirrels, and other vermin." 
 
 On April 2d, the day but one before she 
 became a mother, she wrote a letter to a 
 friend in England; but thinking it too small, 
 she began another on a larger sheet. This 
 she was not permitted to finish. The sheet 
 of paper on which it was begun, conveyed 
 14*
 
 170 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the painful information of- her early depar- 
 ture. 
 
 In the former of these last efforts of her 
 pen, after speaking of the Hindoos' listless- 
 ness and inattention to the glorious Gospel, 
 as enough to damp the warmest zeal, if not 
 supported by a firm dependence on the pro- 
 mises of a faithful God, she proceeds - 
 
 "Missionaries often need the prayers, the 
 united fervent prayers, of all Christians, and 
 though we -do not covet starvation for these 
 frail bodies, yet, I would say, if the friends 
 of Missions feel obliged to withhold one, let 
 it be their money, rather than their prayers. 
 I would urge this the more, because we are 
 exhorted, under certain circumstances, to 
 take no thought for the former, but never so 
 with regard to the latter. No! but the uni- 
 form declaration amounts to ASK, ASK, 
 ASK;; ' Pray ye the Lord of the harvest/ 
 'I will be inquired of for these, things,' 
 ' Ask of me, and I will give thee,' &.c. &c." 
 
 In the letter she commenced, but finished 
 not, the same subjects are referred to more 
 fully.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON". 171 
 
 " Callack, April 2, 1825. 
 "My dear Brother, 
 
 " I arn taking an early opportunity of com- 
 plying with your kind request, not because I 
 feel more competent to such a correspondence 
 than my dear sisters, but because I feel it to 
 be an additional privilege to the many already 
 bestowed by the God of providence on an in- 
 dividual so unworthy as myself. 
 
 "My dear Button has, I believe, given 
 you an outline of every thing connected with 
 our voyage, our landing, and visit to Calcutta 
 and Serampore; but the half of our mercies 
 yet remain untold; in fact, it would be im- 
 possible to convey to you an idea of the favors 
 which awaited us in every direction, espe- 
 cially from the affection with which we were 
 received by all our dear brethren and sisters 
 of every name ; all bid us welcome to this 
 land of darkness, and assured us of their need 
 of assistance: this assurance did not, however, 
 appear so evident in Calcutta and Serampore 
 as it does at this place; for both those highly 
 favored spots now contain much Christian 
 society, compared with other parts of India. 
 Many plans are already adopted for the spread 
 of Christianity ; others are rising into notice,
 
 172 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and receive a support from the public which 
 I certainly never expected to witness on my 
 arrival in India; but the long hidden leaven 
 has fermented, it continues to ferment, and 
 blessed be God for this evidence, that it shall 
 do so until the whole lump be leavened. 
 
 " I must confess that my ignorance of the 
 state of society here, or, perhaps I might say, 
 the impossibility of entering fully into the ob- 
 stacles arising from the native character, in 
 its present degraded, or rather depraved state, 
 an oppressive climate, but above all, from that 
 inconceivably strong hold of satan, caste, had 
 allowed me to form very different notions of 
 Missionary pursuits from what I find to be 
 really practicable. The first and last of these, 
 give rise to the most painful feelings imagina- 
 ble, for every one assures us that there is no 
 possible method of gaining the affections of 
 the Hindoos. No, a stranger to the God of 
 love, he offers no sacrifice even to his gods 
 but what fear or mercenary motives suggest; 
 it is therefore unreasonable to expect that he 
 will listen to man from better motives, or give 
 the faithful Missionary credit for more disin- 
 terestedness than he feels in his own breast. 
 Consequently, the more condescension, (if
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 173 
 
 we may use the word) kindness, and equality, 
 we endeavor to show, the more we appear to 
 be despised by them, and suspected of mere 
 duplicity; while the last mentioned source of 
 obstacles shuts us out of their houses, excludes 
 us from that familiarity which is so desirable, if 
 not essential, to the communication of a know- 
 ledge of the love of Christ, withholds their 
 dear little ones from our immediate tuition, 
 and, if we were to look no farther than human 
 probability, excludes the hope of being at all 
 useful to this benighted people. This, my 
 dear Sir, you will think, is a gloomy picture; 
 but, doubtless, you have reviewed it many 
 times, and have as frequently seen and felt its 
 gloom removed by the faithful promises of an 
 almighty and unchanging God. For my own 
 part, and I trust on the part of my Button also, 
 I can say, our hope is in God, and our ex- 
 pectation from -him; and, dark as are the pros- 
 pects for the present, we still hope that he 
 will condescend to glorify himself among the 
 heathen by his umvorthiest creatures, that 
 the excellency of the power maybe seen, felt, 
 and acknowledged to be of him. I feel that 
 this would be an unspeakable honor, but how 
 far such a feeling, if gratified, would consist
 
 174 MEMOIR OF 
 
 with a willingness to be anything, or nothing, 
 that God might be glorified, my treacherous 
 heart cannot decide; our constant petition 
 must therefore be, < Thy will be done.' O! 
 the unspeakable privilege of being permitted 
 to cast our care upon him, and invited to com- 
 mit our way unto him, assured that he will 
 direct our path." 
 
 Missionaries on their first arrival in India, 
 are very incompetent to form a correct opin- 
 ion as to the state of the heathen, and the 
 best modes of conducting missionary opera- 
 tions. Many of the plans which they had 
 formed in Christian countries, they find to be 
 entirely impracticable, and many of their 
 fondest anticipations are exposed to bitter dis- 
 appointment. The whole face of society is 
 at the very antipodes of what it is in their 
 native land; while ignorance of the language 
 prevents that intercourse with the natives, 
 which might serve to correct their views. 
 From these considerations, we think that all 
 communications from novices in missionary 
 labor should be received with caution. Many 
 of our accounts of foreign countries, are writ- 
 ten by those who have merely made a hasty
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 175 
 
 tour through the land, or perhaps have only 
 made a voyage to one or two of the principal 
 sea-ports. From such works we may indeed 
 gather some general acquaintance respecting 
 the countries on which they treat, but it is 
 obvious that the acquaintance of the authors 
 being so very superficial, must expose them 
 to the liability, at least, of many mistakes. 
 These remarks, are as applicable to the ac- 
 counts of Missionary labor as to any other. 
 Much confusion and contradictory statement 
 has doubtless arisen from this source. It 
 should, however, be remarked, respecting 
 India, and many other large countries, that 
 there is so much variety to be found in dif- 
 ferent sections of the country, that what is 
 true of one place, and one portion of the peo- 
 ple, is entirely inapplicable to other places 
 and persons. 
 
 The subject of these memoirs has once or 
 twice expressed her disappointment arising 
 from the state of Hindoo society, and the 
 general character of missionary labor, so far 
 as females are concerned. Had she, how- 
 ever, been permitted to live a few years 
 longer, she would have found that many of 
 the obstacles which then presented them-
 
 176 MEMOIR OF 
 
 selves, would be gradually removed, and 
 while some of the doors of usefulness which 
 she had anticipated were still closed, others 
 of perhaps still greater usefulness would be 
 thrown open. At the time of her arrival in 
 India, and for several years afterwards, the 
 Orissa Missionaries had not been cheered 
 with a single convert. Now there is at the 
 Cuttack station alone from 40 to 50, most of 
 whom are heads of families. Two native 
 preachers have been publicly ordained; na- 
 tive schools have been established to a great 
 extent, the native Christians are intermarry- 
 ing among themselves, and a considerable 
 colony of baptized and nominal Christians is 
 growing up. The general aspect of the mis- 
 sion has become very promising, and would, 
 to one glowing with a concern like Mrs. Sut- 
 ton's to do good, present a delightful field of 
 usefulness. The writer would not be unmind- 
 ful of his beloved colleagues in India, who 
 have with so much diligence and success 
 labored in this field: still there is room for 
 many laborers of similar characters and quali- 
 fications. 
 
 Boy's schools, and in many places girl's 
 also, may now be established in India, to an
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 177 
 
 indefinite extent, and the writer would sug- 
 gest to those individuals whom Providence has 
 placed in independent circumstances, whether 
 it be not their privilege to go out to India, 
 and take the superintendence of these schools. 
 Persons who have property sufficient to sup- 
 port themselves, and who have no children, 
 would find this a field of labor where they 
 might do much to advance the kingdom of 
 Christ. 
 
 The expense of these schools, is compara- 
 tively trifling. A considerable portion of this 
 expense might be obtained from the friends 
 of native education in India; the books would 
 be partly, if not entirely, furnished by insti- 
 tutions established for this purpose in India. 
 What is chiefly wanted is superintendents. 
 Had we these, the whole country might soon 
 be brought under Christian instruction. 
 
 The labor of a missionary, consists in pre- 
 paring and translating tracts and the scrip- 
 tures, in distributing them, in establishing and 
 occasionally superintending schools, and es- 
 pecially in preaching the Gospel to those who 
 call at his house, or in the native chapel, 
 bazaar, and at the numerous festivals which 
 usually call together a large assembly of peo- 
 15
 
 178 MEMOIR OF 
 
 pie. The principal labor of the female mis- 
 sionary is, at present, the daily superintend- 
 ence of the schools, and to help forward in 
 the Christian life, the native female convert. 
 While it is still the case, that the state of 
 Hindoo society prevents access to the houses 
 of the people, yet there are many ways by 
 which an intelligent enterprizing female, 
 whose heart glows with a desire to do good, 
 and who is enriched with suitable gifts, might 
 find means of making known the Gospel to 
 Hindoo women. At the female schools, the 
 mothers of the children frequently attend as 
 spectators, and in the country places, this is 
 the case in the boys' schools. In some, per- 
 haps many cases, a female missionary might 
 gain access to the court-yards of Hindoo 
 houses, and collect a considerable congre- 
 gation of the neighboring women. While at 
 many of the large festivals, an assembly of 
 native women might be collected in a tent 
 specially devoted to that purpose. The 
 writer feels persuaded, that many females 
 whom he has seen in America, might thus 
 make known the Gospel to a very considera- 
 ple extent among the degraded females of 
 India. But this is work from which the cus-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 179 
 
 toms of Hindoo society exclude male mis- 
 sionaries. Women are very seldom seen in 
 our congregations in the bazaar, or the native 
 chapel; nor are they permitted to be present 
 at the conversational parties of the men. The 
 only prospect of their having the Gospel, is 
 from such laborers as have been referred to, 
 or from what their husbands and relatives 
 choose to tell them, on their return to their 
 houses from our preaching opportunities. 
 
 Charlotte Sutton was eminently qualified 
 to be the instructress and benefactress of her 
 benighted sisters in Orissa. She looked for- 
 ward to the time, when she should engage in 
 active labors for their benefit, with the most 
 intense and holy ardor. Doubtless, had she 
 been spared, she would have entered with 
 avidity into the modes of making known the 
 Gospel to the females of India, as above sug- 
 gested. God had otherwise determined res- 
 pecting her, and the field is now still clearer 
 and wider for those on whom her mantle may 
 fall, to enter and cultivate. Happy, happy 
 day for India, when her now ignorant and 
 superstitious and degraded daughters shall 
 receive and embrace that life-giving, en- 
 lightening and ennobling Gospel, which the
 
 180 MEMOIR OP 
 
 Saviour has commissioned his disciples to 
 make known to every creature. Surely our 
 Christian sisters have not yet done all their 
 duty, all that they can do, and will do towards 
 bringing the Gospel home to the houses and 
 hearts of the female Hindoo. 
 
 But. we must hasten on to the close of 
 these memoirs of Mrs. Sutton. The follow- 
 ing note is perhaps the last my beloved wife 
 ever penned; it was written .to Mrs. Marsh- 
 man, of Serampore and printed in the 
 " Friend of India." The Editor, after speak- 
 ing very highly of her qualifications as a mis- 
 sionary, and her piety, proceeds 
 
 "A note received from Mrs. Sutton her- 
 self, after her arrival at Cuttack, confirms 
 this view of her case, while it fully shows the 
 pious and happy state of her mind. After 
 affectionately acknowledging the little atten- 
 tions she had received, she proceeds ' But 
 this acknowledgment will not, I am pretty 
 sure, be sufficient to satisfy your kind con- 
 cern for my safety; and, blessed be God, his 
 constant care and continual goodness enable 
 me to add, all is well! Yes, my health and 
 spirits remain unimpaired by our much- 
 dreaded journey; and, except a little fatigue
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 181 
 
 and soreness from the constant shake of the 
 palanquin, no ill consequence has ensued. 
 Our dear brother and sister Bampton arrived 
 here yesterday, to our great joy; and I as- 
 sure you, we received from them a hearty 
 welcome. We expect to be stationed with 
 them at Pooree, brethren P. and L. being 
 here. This arrangement will secure our 
 friends at Serampore and Calcutta a tolera- 
 ble share in our recollection; for, I suppose, 
 many things must necessarily be obtained by 
 their kind assistance. This selfish necessity 
 may sometimes occasion you and our other 
 friends a line or two, which article, you will 
 remember, I should hesitate to promise from 
 any superior motive. But, to be serious, my 
 dear friend, if there was not one subject on 
 which the Christian could speak with pleas- 
 ure, and dwell without exhausting, I know 
 not what could be a source of communication 
 in this unproductive clime. We could not 
 tell of this and that heathen having cast his 
 idols to the moles and to the bats. No, we 
 must wait for this. But there is one subject 
 which even now calls for our united recollec- 
 tion, our fervent gratitude and humility; I 
 mean the love of God in Christ Jesus. This, 
 15*
 
 1 C 2 MEMOIR OF 
 
 my dear sister, is bestowed upon us in such 
 an endless Tariety of ways, and so constantly, 
 that we are apt to lose sight of it. Nay, even 
 while we are professing to receive blessings 
 as from the mercy and goodness of God, we 
 lose sight of the channel through which they 
 are conveyed, namely, our adorable Re- 
 deemer. I have felt much pleasure from the 
 force of this truth: ' They that trust in the 
 Lord, shall be as mount Sion, which cannot 
 be moved.' Blessed be his name, he enables 
 us to trust in him." 
 
 " My dear brother P , 
 
 " Little did my Charlotte think, while pen- 
 ning these lines, that severe affliction would 
 render her incapable of finishing your letter. 
 But that gracious Being, who has always 
 shown himself, to us especially, too wise to 
 be mistaken, and too good to be unkind, sees 
 fit that it should be so. 
 
 " Again, my dear brother, I resume my pen 
 to finish this epistle, but what shall I say? 
 When I began the above lines, a few days 
 ago, little did I think that ere I concluded 
 this letter, my dear, my beloved, my amiable 
 Charlotte would be no more. It was but the
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 183 
 
 day before she died, I determined on letting 
 you know of her illness; but I had not then 
 the least conception that her disorder would 
 prove fatal ; but now, before this reaches you, 
 your friendly heart will have sympathized 
 with her bereaved partner, and your eye will 
 have dropt the tear of affection over the 
 memory of my happy Charlotte. I will not 
 complain: the Lord gave her to me, and in 
 mercy he has taken her away. He has done 
 me no wrong; she was his much more than 
 mine: hush, then, my distracted passions! it 
 is the Lord, let him do what he will with his 
 own. O! Sir, if I were to think of my loss 
 alone, it would sink me to the grave. She 
 was the wife of my youth, the delight of my 
 eyes: we seemed formed for each other; we 
 loved each other with the most ardent affec- 
 tion; our days seemed to pass away and leave 
 us every evening still more attached. But 
 we were too happy we long had thought we 
 were too happy for earth. Our sky was too 
 fair to remain long unclouded; and, for the 
 last two months especially, we both antici- 
 pated some heavy trial, and prepared our 
 minds for it; but little did I expect so severe 
 a stroke as this: yet, from the prospect of my
 
 184 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Charlotte becoming a mother, she had had a 
 foreboding that it would prove the means of 
 her removal, and she often wished to talk upon 
 the subject, but I could not bear the idea, 
 and always discouraged it. Yet when we did 
 contemplate the event as possible, she always 
 expressed herself with singular confidence 
 that God would do every thing well. 
 
 '* Her spiritual enjoyments were often of a 
 very elevated description; notwithstanding 
 hsr situation, and our circumstances on board 
 ship were far from being favorable to spi- 
 rituality of mind, and our being often deprived 
 of each other's help in spiritual exercises, yet 
 when we could unite, her mind has often been 
 so much under the influence of heavenly feel- 
 ings, especially when contemplating the love 
 and glory of Christ, that we have lain awake 
 nearly the whole of the night. Dear departed 
 saint, she was prepared for heaven. Her 
 love was too ardent to be long away from the 
 Lord she loved. Oh how sweet is the memory 
 of those precious seasons! I feel their in- 
 fluence now; and feel fresh desires to be 
 with her, to renew our delightful subject in 
 heaven. 
 
 " My Charlotte was far from being an or-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 185 
 
 dinary Christian. Of her desire to do good, 
 and dcvotedness to the work in which she was 
 engaged, it may be sufficient to extract a 
 passage from a letter, sent for her since her 
 
 death, by Mrs. B , a lady distinguished 
 
 in India by her rank, piety, and active be- 
 nevolence. You will remember she was a 
 passenger from the Cape. She writes, ' I 
 often think of the earnest, simple spirit of 
 devotedness to your work, which appeared 
 to animate you on board ship, and I do hope 
 you will favor me occasionally with some 
 account of your progress in your most arduous 
 undertaking; and may that blessing rest on 
 your labors, which can alone render them 
 productive of the good you so anxiously de- 
 sire to be the instrument of conveying to the 
 souls of your fellow-creatures.' 
 
 " That good, perhaps, may be accomplished 
 by her death, which, in her life, she was not 
 permitted to see. Harriet Newell, though 
 dead, yet speaketh; and so will my Charlotte 
 wherever her living voice was heard. 
 
 " On the 4th of April, she was safely de- 
 livered of a fine healthy babe. All went on 
 very well till the 12th, when she sat up a 
 greater part of the day. (This is not prema-
 
 186 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ture in India. The native women often stand 
 up to their neck in water the third day, owing 
 to the climate.) On that day, our first letter 
 arrived from England. It was from Wolvey ; 
 and the hopes it excited in behalf of some 
 dear members of the family having become 
 acquainted with the Saviour, were too much 
 for her weak state of body. Her spirits were 
 raised too high. She sang, and prayed, and 
 praised; for her mind was very spiritual. In 
 the evening she unthinkingly opened a drawer, 
 to get something for the baby: it injured her, 
 and alarmed her very much. This was fol- 
 lowed by hysteric fits, accompanied by de- 
 rangement: she was very violent all night. 
 Before she quite lost her senses, she exhort- 
 ed us all, with amazing fervor, to self-denial, 
 devotedness, and affection towards each oth- 
 er. She repeated, with great earnestness, 
 ' Let the world know I do not regret my 
 choice!' and, during the night, she evinced 
 great anxiety for the salvation of her family 
 and connections. The subject of the letter 
 dwelt repeatedly on her lips; and often she 
 
 would exclaim, with delight, ' My dear S 
 
 is become a Christian! ' &c. &c. She talked 
 a good deal about J F , and said she
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 187 
 
 should see him in heaven with brother P- 
 
 On one occasion, when we thought she was 
 dying, she laid herself straight on the bed, 
 and bid us all farewell. It was more than I 
 could bear; and I exclaimed, 'My Charlotte! 
 my Charlotte! I cannot spare you yet! ' But 
 she seemed hurt at what I said, and replied, 
 ' My Sutton, are you not a Christian? ' The 
 next day, she was better; and the Doctor 
 assured us she was not in the least danger; 
 the complaint was very common in India, and 
 never fatal. On Friday she was sensible for 
 some hours, and we had the most delightful 
 season I ever remember; she seemed just re- 
 turned from heaven with all its happiness. 
 We never had such a delightful day, and on 
 iny telling her, I could cheerfully part with 
 her, if the Lord should see fit to take her, 
 the last tie to earth seemed removed, and we 
 prayed, and wept, and rejoiced, and parted 
 till we should meet in eternity. We both felt 
 so much swallowed up in God, that death ap- 
 peared the most welcome event of which we 
 could conceive. She said she thought the 
 Holy Spirit had been explaining Scripture to 
 her rnind, from one end to the other. She 
 never saw it so clearly, and fully, and en- 
 couraging in her life.
 
 188 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " On Sunday she was again sensible, and 
 so much better, that I was enabled to leave 
 her to preach at the Baptism; but she sunk 
 again, though we still thought her gradually 
 recovering. She used to sit up in bed and 
 sing^ so cheerfully, you would have thought 
 her the happiest being on earth, though quite 
 deranged. 
 
 " On the 1st of May, we removed her to 
 Pooree, for the beneh't of the Doctor's at- 
 tendance, milder climate, and sea bathing. 
 For a time she seemed to revive, and we 
 thought her so much better, that I prepared 
 our bungalow, and hoped to remove very 
 soon into it. But, alas, I little contemplated 
 so severe a change: she had been much more 
 composed for two or three days, and we 
 thought it favorable; but, alas, it was a 
 treacherous calm. On Saturday, I began to 
 finish the annexed letter, thinking to tell you 
 she was recovering; but the next day, saw 
 all my hopes wither away. 
 
 " On Sunday morning, about five o'clock, 
 as we were preparing to bathe her, we found 
 her very low and poorly. I wrote a note to 
 the Doctor, and he came before six o'clock, 
 but she got much worse: he gave her seve-
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 189 
 
 ral stimulants, which revived her, and she 
 ate some sago; but still she sunk again, her 
 hands and feet grew cold and clammy. 
 About ten o'clock the Doctor lost all hope, 
 and communicated the sad news to me. I 
 will not dwell upon my feelings; she still ate 
 sago, and took camphor mixture very freely, 
 but continued to sink, and seemed inclined 
 to sleep; at intervals she seemed quite sen- 
 sible: she knew Doctor Stevin and called him 
 by name, and all of us. At half-past eleven 
 she inquired the time. Soon after brother 
 Bampton asked if she trusted in Jesus Christ; 
 she replied hastily, ' To be sure I do! ' 
 About four she said, ' The Lord has made 
 peace for us! ' or, ' Has the Lord made 
 peace for us? ' she now appeared gradually to 
 lose her hold on time. About five she turned 
 to me with a sweet smile and said, ' My Sut- 
 ton, I am beautifully happy! ' I inquired 
 what made her so happy; but reason fled 
 again, and she spoke no more that we could 
 understand. At eleven o'clock I perceived 
 a change, and called to brother and sister 
 Barnpton, who had just left me. She sunk 
 very fast; a lew minutes beu;ru hall' past 
 eleven, she turned to me and smiled; I called 
 16
 
 190 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to her to speak to me once more, but she 
 could not. At half-past eleven she turned her 
 eyes away, and breathed her last, so gently 
 that we could not tell for a minute that she 
 was gone she left a smile on her counte- 
 nance, beautifully and strikingly illustrative 
 of her happiness. Thus peacefully died my 
 Charlotte, and the next day hid her from my 
 eyes forever. O that our end may be as 
 blest as hers! Brother Bampton officiated 
 at the grave. 
 
 " Although the burning sands of Pooree 
 cover the dear remains of my Charlotte, yet 
 her spirit is not there. No; it is with the 
 Lord she loved. She is happy, infinitely 
 happier than earth could make her. She 
 was prepared for Jieaven: it was noticed by 
 many, especially in Calcutta. Then why 
 should I complain? Her living voice still 
 seems to say, Weep not forme. Why should 
 you weep? I have finished my course; I 
 have obtained the crown. I cannot come to 
 you, but you will come to me: in a very little 
 while, the day of life will close, and you too 
 will be called to come up hither to be with 
 Jesus. Blessed hope! It cheers even now, 
 this aching heart, it smooths this care-worn
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 191 
 
 brow, it is enough, O Lord, only glorify thy 
 name, and I will praise the hand that took 
 my love away. I cannot add more. 
 
 A. BUTTON." 
 
 While o'er the faithful dead we mourn, 
 
 The angel guards attend ; 
 Soft, on their downy pinions borne, 
 
 Their upward course they bend. - 
 
 Sweet, as to heaven they haste away, 
 
 The new-born spirits sing 
 O Grave ! where is thy victory ? 
 
 O Death ! where is thy sting ? 
 
 Wide open flies the pearly gates, 
 At God's high signal given ; 
 
 While all the blest fore-runners wait, 
 To welcome them to heaven. 
 
 Hark ! what euraptur'd melody 
 
 Bursts on my ravish'd ear ; 
 Another soul is saved, they cry, 
 
 Another crown prepare. 
 
 Now now the ransomed myriads thronj 
 
 Their Saviour to adore ; 
 They join the new the holy song, 
 
 The song, that ends no more.
 
 192 MEMOIR OP 
 
 The following brief observations on the 
 state of her mind, are extracted from her 
 diary: they are the last the beloved writer 
 was permitted to record. They were written 
 under much indisposition of body, amidst the 
 cares and anxieties necessarily connected 
 with our arrival in India, and travelling from 
 place to place. The last sentence recorded 
 here is probably the last she ever penned, 
 viz. "Lord! raise me from earth toheaven." 
 
 Feb. 19, 1825. Landed on the shore of 
 India at the house of a dear good lady 
 (Mrs. B.) Found myself surrounded with 
 grandeur, and contrasted our circumstances 
 with those of many, more worthy than our- 
 selves, who have preceded us. Felt some 
 degree of gratitude; enjoyed sweet freedom 
 at a throne of grace, and was enabled to plead 
 for grace to preserve me from every improper 
 wish and gratification. 
 
 Sabbath morning. Went to Calcutta, and 
 heard Brother Lawson preach, but enjoy- 
 ed very little spirituality of soul. In the 
 evening my S. addressed us from " the Lord 
 is good,"&.c.; it was a sweet season, and my 
 heart replied, I know, I feel he is.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 193 
 
 21. Left the hospitable roof of our dear 
 friend, somewhat disturbed in mind from tri- 
 fling causes, and wordly-mindedness.* In 
 
 the evening spoke to Sister P of the 
 
 way in which the Lord had led us; but my 
 wretched heart felt more complacency in it- 
 self, than gratitude to God. Oh the wonder- 
 ful patience of my God. 
 
 22. Went down to Serampore, fatigued 
 in body and somewhat fretful in mind, a sure 
 consequence of minding earthly things while 
 so graciously invited ^ to set our affections on 
 things above. 
 
 23. Visited good Dr. Carey. Felt thank- 
 ful that God had permitted me to enjoy this 
 much wished for-favor. Found him in excel- 
 lent spirits, and trusting in God to accomplish 
 wonders in India. (Dr. Carey seemed to 
 feel a very peculiar interest in Mrs. Sutt6n.) 
 
 24. 25, 26. Still at Serampore, found 
 friends exceedingly kind, but had no oppor- 
 tunity of holding sweet counsel with any one 
 on the best of things. 
 
 27. Heard a dear native convert preach 
 
 * The bed-room had been broken into, and robbed during 
 the night. 
 
 1G*
 
 194 MEMOIR OP 
 
 to, and pray with, his swarthy brethren. I 
 felt inexpressible sensations, in taking one 
 and the other of those by the hand, who had 
 been brought out of heathen darkness into 
 the light of the Gospel. Though our words 
 were unintelligible to each other, our hearts 
 were not. I rejoiced in the hope of meeting 
 them above, where we shall unite in one song 
 with Him, who has loved us and washed us in 
 his own blood. 
 
 30. Talked much of the care of a gracious 
 God with regard to our anticipated journey, 
 but felt very little. I sometimes wonder that 
 such hypocrisy is not visited with hot displea- 
 sure; but it is because his compassions fail 
 not, that I am not consumed. 
 
 March. 1 to 7. Blest with journeying mer- 
 cies, but my soul very dead towards my God 
 and Saviour. 
 
 8. Brother Lacey kindly met us at Bela- 
 sore, 100 miles from Cuttack. Here we rest- 
 ed for a day, but we regretted much that no 
 opportunity offered of uniting to praise the 
 Lord for his goodness. 
 
 10. Halted at a bungalow, a small thatch- 
 ed house for the accommodation of travellers. 
 We prayed, and sung praises to God. Bro.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 195 
 
 Lacey addressed the Palkee bearers in Oris- 
 sa: they listened attentively. My heart re- 
 joiced that his tongue was so soon unloosed 
 among the heathen. 
 
 12. Beheld our beloved Brethren and 
 Sisters at their own home, and felt somewhat 
 discouraged by their accounts of the state of 
 the heathen, which appeared almost to ex- 
 clude the possibility of being useful. 
 
 13, 14. Blessed be the God of mercies, 
 was enabled to spread my complaints before 
 him. I felt refreshed as a giant with new 
 wine, and could cheerfully say, tl Thy will be 
 done; only glorify thyself. " 
 
 21. My frail body is a source of trouble, 
 but the Lord has granted me sweet serenity 
 of mind for this I desire to feel thankful. 
 
 24. Feel the risings of pride to be most 
 abominable. Oh, if my dear sisters could 
 see my vile heart, they would, instead of re- 
 ceiving me with the smile of affection, detest 
 and hate me. 
 
 27. A continuance of this diabolical feel- 
 ing. Thus, if my Lord indulge me with a 
 portion of his good spirit, my vile heart takes 
 occasion therefrom for spiritual pride, and I
 
 196 MEMOIR OF 
 
 am saying to others, ( Stand by; I am holier 
 than thou.' 
 
 30. Enjoyed some liberty in prayer, but 
 find my first petition must be Lord, make my 
 soul sincere. 
 
 Jlpril 2. Feel less disposition to pray and 
 meditate on the words of my God. I am 
 living the life of an unawakened soul. 
 
 3. Unable to attend Brother Peggs, (at 
 whose house our English worship is held on 
 the sabbath.) But alas! I feel but little wish 
 for it, although it is the first time since our 
 arrival, that our brethren and sisters have 
 met, to commemorate the love of our dear 
 Redeemer. " Oh my Saviour! why this dead- 
 ness? Why this stupidity of soul? Why no 
 more longings after thy presence, and a sense 
 of thy love? Oh, be with them assembled 
 around thy table: may they be refreshed, and 
 may thy unworthy worm be humbled in the 
 dust before thee. Lord raise me from earth 
 to heaven." .... 
 
 Such is the last record from the pen of 
 Charlotte Sutton. Precious memorial of her 
 faith and love! Her complaints of heaviness 
 may be at once accounted for, when it is 
 observed, that the hour of nature's sorrow
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 197 
 
 had even then commenced with her. That 
 hour was long and trying, but before the light 
 of another morning she had passed it, to all 
 appearance, in perfect safety. The child 
 too was well, and gratitude, fervent gratitude 
 to God, warmed the heart of both Charlotte 
 and her husband. Will the reader pardon 
 the insertion of a private record of the writer's 
 feelings, which he never expected would be 
 perused by any other eye than his own. 
 
 Monday, 4th. " Bless the Lord oh my 
 soul, and all that is within me, bless his 
 holy name. After a distressing night, my 
 dear wife, being in trouble upwards of 20 
 hours, was safely delivered of a healthy boy, 
 and both are likely to do admirably. How 
 can I praise my Lord for this deliverance? 
 my faith began to sink, but thou didst not 
 forsake me, nor her. How shocking to my 
 whole frame was the contemplation of a dying 
 wife! I could not endure it, and God has 
 had mercy on me. Now, O Lord, may my 
 dear Charlotte become more decidedly thine, 
 and may the little one thou hast given us, be 
 sanctified from his birth, and become a child 
 of Jesus. Thou knowest it is the height of 
 our desires for him, that he may be employed
 
 198 MEMOIR OF 
 
 for thee, and that when our frail bodies are 
 in the dust, he may be spreading the glorious 
 Gospel of the Saviour among the deluded 
 inhabitants of Hindoosthan.* 
 
 5. This evening our dar Brother and 
 Sister Bampton left us for their station at 
 Pooree. The thought steals across my mind, 
 that after a few more meetings and partings 
 we shall meet to part no more. 
 
 " When shall the time, dear Lord, appear, 
 That we shall mount to dwell above; 
 
 And sit, and stand, among them there, 
 And see thy face, and sing thy love." 
 
 Oh for more watchfulness, for, in Orissa 
 especially, the son of man cometh when we 
 think not." 
 
 Little did the writer of these remarks think 
 how prophetic they were, in relation to the 
 dearest object of his earthly love. But such 
 was the will of an all-wise God. He had 
 given her the desire of her heart in permit- 
 ting her to land on heathen shores, and now 
 he was about to call her to himself. Her 
 last prayer was about to be answered, in his 
 removing her from "earth to heaven." No 
 
 * The child died between 5 and 6 months after its mother.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 199 
 
 language can describe the disappointment 
 which that removal occasioned, not only to 
 her bereaved partner, but to her beloved as- 
 sociates in missionary labor. We had hoped 
 much from her. Perhaps never did a female 
 enter India, apparently so well qualified to 
 benefit her degraded sex, in that unhappy 
 land. But God's ways are not as our ways, 
 nor his thoughts as our thoughts. We may 
 indeed say under such afflictive dispensations, 
 (our Saviour has taught us to do so,) O my 
 Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from 
 me; but, we should also add, nevertheless, 
 not my will but thine be done. His will is 
 always best. Infinite wisdom cannot err, 
 nor unbounded goodness be unkind. Our 
 gracious Lord is infinitely more concerned 
 for our welfare, and for the welfare of his 
 cause, than we can be. In the most emphatic 
 sense he watches over the tenderlings of his 
 flock for good, and 'tempers the blast to the 
 shorn lamb.' What base ingratitude then to 
 distrust his tender care, or arraign the deal- 
 ings of his providence. 
 
 " Hush every angry passion, then, 
 
 Let each rebellious sigh 
 Be silent at his sovereign will, 
 
 And without murmurs die."
 
 200 MEMOIR OF 
 
 The day on which she departed was the 
 15th of May. It was, as may have been ob- 
 served, the Sabbath; though, from her pe- 
 culiarly afflictive situation, it was in a great 
 degree a Sabbath of gloom: but how bright 
 is that eternal Sabbath, which now shines 
 upon her sainted spirit! And though amidst 
 the idolatrous desolations of Pooree her 
 mortal remains were left to moulder in the 
 dust, yet from that dust will she arise: 
 
 "Thut cheek shall wear a fairer hue 
 
 When risen from the yielding sod; 
 Those eyes shall speak, in softer blue, 
 Love, in the Paradise of God." 
 
 Short as was the period of Mrs. Sutton's 
 sojourn in India, yet her worth was highly 
 appreciated there. A Baptist brother at 
 Calcutta observed 
 
 " I assure you we have very seldom indeed 
 seen a female, in our view, more adapted for 
 
 usefulness in this country than Mrs. S , 
 
 and we felt towards her, and her husband, 
 the highest regard and esteem. We therefore 
 affectionately sympathize with you in the 
 loss you have sustained a loss, we feel, to 
 the general interests of Christianity in this 
 country. But he who knows best, and feels
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 201 
 
 most deeply, the necessities of his Church, 
 has removed her; and we humbly hope, he 
 will raise up many more with equal zeal, 
 affection, activity, and faith, to supply her 
 place." 
 
 Mr. Peggs, in a letter recently addressed 
 to the writer, remarks, 
 
 " I trust I shall never forget Lord's-day ? 
 March the 13th, when our mission family 
 were at my house, and we had worship at 
 noon in my study. There were brother and 
 sister Bampton, brother and sister Lacey, 
 brother and sister Sutton, Sunder, Abraham, 
 and Mrs. Peggs, and myself. That dear 
 woman, whose early death we lament, was 
 much interested with this interview; I well 
 recollect her attention to poor Abraham, and 
 the very important advice she gave him 
 not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliev- 
 ing wife. 
 
 " In Orissaand Bengal, the memory of our 
 valued sister is 'as ointment poured forth.' 
 There was a vivacity, activity, sweetness, 
 simplicity and piety in her, that were very 
 pleasing. On arriving at Serampore in Au- 
 gust, 1825, I heard her spoken of in terms of 
 much respect, and her death was greatly re- 
 17
 
 202 MEMOIR OF 
 
 gretted. I know the spot near the detested 
 temple of Juggernaut, where the first martyr 
 to our Mission is. But I correct myself; my 
 first-born was the first martyr, and Cuttack 
 our first station in Orissa, the spot where we 
 first took possession of that land of our in- 
 heritance. Our beloved sister has not lived 
 nor died in vain. The cause of Missions is 
 endeared, when embalmed by the martyrdom 
 of departed friends; and shall this cause de- 
 cline in our estimation, affection and support ? 
 Visit the sandy grave of departed friends ire 
 the Mission field, and think, Has life been 
 laid down in, "this cause ? For this cause 
 have Apostles, Confessors, and 'the noble 
 army of martyrs' labored and ' resisted unto 
 blood,' yea, has 'the Captain of bur sal- 
 vation ' ' poured out his soul unto death: * 
 and shall I 'sit still,' and not go up ' to the 
 help of the Lord, to 'the help of the Lord 
 against the mighty? ' What pious heart, 
 what zealous mind, but must exclaim, as res- 
 pects the promotion of the cause of Christ, 
 both at home and abroad, ' If I forget thee, 
 O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her 
 cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my 
 tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 203 
 
 prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.' 
 Ps. cxxxvii. 5, 6. O may the great Head of 
 the Church, who watches the ashes of his 
 saints, ' till all that dust shall rise,' when he 
 looks down upon the ashes of our sister, en- 
 tombed near the Temple of Juggernaut blast 
 the system of Idolatry pursued within its 
 walls banish British support of its cruelties 
 and obscenities, and, in the morning of the 
 resurrection, give our dear sister to arise, 
 amidst myriads of believing Oreahs; whose 
 eyes have seen, in successive ages, the deso- 
 lations of that horrid shrine of idolatry 
 
 c O'er which the plough hath pass'd, and weeds have 
 grown.' " 
 
 It is not unlikely that this brief memoir of 
 the amiable and pious Charlotte Sutton may 
 excite in the minds of the readers some such 
 reflections as the following: How mysterious 
 it seems that one so well qualified for exten- 
 sive usefulness, should be removed just as 
 she was entering upon her work, especially 
 as there are so few well qualified laborers in 
 the vast heathen field. And then, how sad 
 that one so young, so lovely, so pious, should 
 be cut off in the very morning of her days; 
 and perhaps sympathy for the bereaved hus-
 
 204 MEMOIR OF 
 
 band, may induce the further thought, how 
 desolate, and smitten, and blighted his bloom- 
 ing hopes and prospects must have been. 
 On such reflections as these, the writer wishes 
 to offer a few observations. 
 
 He acknowledges that all this is perfectly 
 natural, and what has occupied his mind, per- 
 haps a thousand times; but he begins to see 
 that such thoughts are far too superficial. 
 God, he believes, intends to teach us some 
 useful lessons, as well as administer whole- 
 some rebuke in these afflictive dispensations. 
 He intends to make us feel our entire depend- 
 ance on him; that he governs and will govern, 
 and that great and glorious effects on immortal 
 minds, are not to be brought about, just when 
 and how, and by whom men please. At the 
 same time, by such events as these, he speaks 
 to our cold and lifeless souls, in a way that 
 obliges us to regard him. God will employ 
 effectual measures to awaken his people to 
 duty; and if those already employed will not 
 suffice, he will go yet farther, and call louder 
 and louder, and strike harder and harder, un- 
 til we hear and obey. 
 
 1st. As it respects the removal of promising 
 laborers from the field, when the number is
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 205 
 
 so small, he would remark that this appears 
 to be God's way of obtaining more. I know 
 this seems paradoxical; but this is not the 
 only paradox connected with the salvation of 
 souls, to say nothing now about the fact, that 
 in all religious matters, before we can rise 
 high, we must be brought low; before we can 
 become strong, we must become weak. I 
 would say, Look at the fact of sending mission- 
 aries abroad, being conducive to the spread 
 of the Gospel at home! And yet it is an un- 
 deniable fact, that the more money, and men, 
 and labor we expend on foreign missions, the 
 more our own churches flourish and increase 
 in numbers and piety. But how, it will be 
 asked, does the removal of our most promising 
 laborers tend to procure more? I answer 
 that as to the case already mentioned, we 
 have the facts to prove that it is so, wheth- 
 er we can explain how it is so, or not. 
 This much, however, we can easily see, that 
 whenever a faithful, zealous, well qualified 
 laborer goes forth, he exerts a happy influence 
 wherever he goes, he excites some attention 
 to the great work; but when such a man or 
 woman is removed it excites a vast deal more, 
 it awakens thought, and feeling and effort. 
 18*
 
 206 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Mr. Skinner, a Baptist missionary on the 
 coast of Africa, died, and his wife and child, 
 all in a few days. As soon as the news ar- 
 rived, his father offered to go and occupy his 
 son's post, and he is gone, and several others 
 are about to follow in consequence. 
 
 Harriet Newell was a kindred spirit to 
 Charlotte Sutton, they often have been, and 
 probably often will be mentioned together. 
 Young and pious, and eminently qualified as 
 she was, she did not live even to enter upon 
 missionary ground. But was Harriet Newell's 
 life lost to the cause of missions? No, she 
 has been the mother of a large family of mis- 
 sionaries, and she has breathed her quicken- 
 ing spirit on thousands of souls, who are help- 
 ing on the work throughout the whole Chris- 
 tian world. And similar doubtless, will be 
 the happy influence of the life and death of 
 Charlotte Sutton. That influence already 
 begins to be exerted and felt upon India. 
 
 A second reflection as likely to arise in the 
 mind of the reader is, " How sad, that one so 
 young, so lovely, so pious, should be cut off" 
 in the morning of her days." It is sad, it is 
 awful, but it is also an exemplification of 
 Divine truth, that all flesh is grass, and the
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 207 
 
 goodliness thereof as the flower of the field. 
 And this is calculated to operate most benefi- 
 cially on the thoughtless souls of men. It is 
 fitted to bring sinful neglectors of their souls 
 to attend to them. And this has been done 
 by the death of the beloved subject of these 
 memoirs. The writer has, in his own family, 
 had the happiness of baptizing, since his re- 
 turn, two of the sisters of Charlotte, and his 
 brother, the husband of one of them, his father 
 and mother, and her father and mother; and 
 several others, that he has become acquainted 
 with, have been much blessed in their souls 
 since her death. In this view, her death is an 
 incalculable blessing. 
 
 But in the removal of such a lovely charac- 
 ter from the stage of life in the beginning of 
 their days, there is another most important 
 end accomplished. It is that of setting Chris- 
 tians to work while it is called to-day. We are 
 naturally indolent creatures, and Christians 
 especially, exhibit unutterable folly by their 
 slothfulness and covetousness in the cause of 
 God. But such awakening providences as 
 these, convince them it is time to be up and 
 doing, that what they do they must do quick-
 
 208 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ly. If such well qualified laborers as we refer 
 to, were permitted to live to a good old age, 
 then death would be expected as a thing of 
 course; and instead of stimulating to action, 
 it would tend to lull them to sleep on the 
 sluggard's couch. 
 
 Then again, as it respects the dear departed 
 objects of our love and admiration; if these 
 observations be correct, it is not so hard a 
 lot for them as our murmurings would imply. 
 God has thus answered their prayers, and 
 wishes, and exertions to be useful. And if 
 their exalted piety fitted them for heavenly 
 blessedness, our thoughts of that blessedness 
 must be low and grovelling indeed, if we do 
 not 'think that to die is gain. "If ye love 
 me,',' said the Redeemer, "ye would rejoice 
 because I said I go to my Father." And 
 surely if we viewed the matter aright, we 
 should do so with respect to the pious objects 
 of our tenderest affection. 
 
 But it was also observed, that as a third re- 
 flection, the reader of these memoirs, might, 
 in his sympathy for the bereaved husband and 
 motherless babe, advert to his withered heart, 
 and the sad wreck which had been made of 
 his fondest hopes and brightest prospects.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 209 
 
 Ah! this is touching a chord, which vibrates 
 through his inmost soul. No language can 
 describe the deep-rooted agony of his heart. 
 But the writer does not wish to re-open those 
 sources of sorrow. We may, however, re- 
 mark that God has not placed us in this world 
 merely that we may luxuriate in the sweet 
 society of his creatures. No, he intends to 
 fit us, if we are his, for higher, nobler, never- 
 ending pleasures in his immediate presence, 
 and where too, these sweet sharers of our 
 bliss on earth, shall be ours forever. The 
 writer can see mercy, unspeakable mercy, 
 as well as chastisement, in this visitation tiom 
 his hand. 
 
 The babe was too young to feel its loss. 
 Never can the writer forget his anxious feel- 
 ings when carrying his infant in his arms, 
 through that dreary night, when the mother 
 was removed to Pooree, and also on another 
 similar occasion after her death. Ye youth- 
 ful parents! you will best conceive what fear- 
 ful forebodings, as to what might be his future 
 character, and above all his future destiny, 
 occupied his mind; and how earnestly the 
 prayer was put up, that God would make him 
 a child of his. God has heard that prayer,
 
 210 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and removed the child from the evil to come, 
 to never-ending good. 
 
 But perhaps it ought to be added, that 
 while God disappointed the fondest hopes of 
 the writer in one View, he by this very means 
 answered his best prayers, and fulfilled his 
 best desires. It is taken for granted, that 
 every sincere Christian wishes beyond all 
 things else to promote the glory of God. 
 Now, by removing the wife of the writer, he 
 has introduced him to a field of labor, which 
 in all probability he would otherwise never 
 have entered; and thus, if present prospects 
 are realized, have brought a whole section of 
 the Christian church, which has been hitherto 
 entirely inactive, into the missionary vineyard, 
 and furnished a number of laborers for that 
 very province where it was hoped that the 
 subject of these memoirs would have labored. 
 Thus " God is his. own interpreter." 
 
 Still let us not make an improper use of 
 these remarks. It is true, after all, that it is 
 our sinfulness, and earthliness, and unfaith- 
 fulness that makes such procedure necessary 
 on the part of God; and if we would not lose 
 more of our beloved friends, and best qualified 
 laborers, at such an untimely hour of their 

 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE BUTTON. 211 
 
 lives, we must avert the calamity, by seeking 
 after higher degrees of holiness, by living 
 more like Christians, by being more liberal, 
 prayerful, and devoted, by being more atten- 
 tive to God's milder voice; in one word by 
 seeking to " glorify God in our bodies and 
 our spirits which are His." 
 
 While we would thus attempt to trace the 
 hand of God, in the removal of the beloved 
 object of these memoirs, from her field of 
 labor, and from her brightening prospects on 
 earth, let us not overlook the many useful 
 lessons, which her whole character as a 
 Christian might teach us. We especially 
 commend to the attention of the reader, those 
 suggested by the original compiler of this 
 little history. 
 
 Here let the young behold the excellence 
 and incalculable worth of early piety. It 
 was religion that rendered Charlotte Sutton 
 what she was, so amiable in life, so lovely 
 in death. It was religion^ the religion of 
 the cross, that enabled her to contemplate 
 with such calm composure the solemn reali- 
 ties of eternity, which stripped death of its 
 sting, and life of its charm! Under the in- 
 fluence of divine grace she had chosen the
 
 212 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 good part: her hope rested on the atoning 
 Saviour; and she looked forward with desire 
 to the dwellings of endless rest and peace. 
 How different were her feelings, her prospects 
 and her comforts, from theirs who trifle with 
 redeeming love; who have no true piety, and 
 consequently no Saviour; no heavenly Fa- 
 ther; no hope but delusion; no eternal home 
 but hell; whose life is vanity, whose death 
 perdition! Blessed was the day that brought 
 her to the Saviour's feet, for then her true 
 happiness for time and eternity began. O 
 let the reader think, Is similar blessedness 
 mine ? 
 
 Let the Christian behold in this memoir 
 another illustration of the excellence' of the 
 Gospel. Compare Charlotte Sutton with the 
 poor benighted Hindoo woman; the former, 
 while as a pardoned penitent, trusting in 
 Jesus, glowing with a divine love and a holy 
 benevolence, which might burn without dis- 
 paragement of his excellence in an angel's 
 breast, and following after a purity and 
 holiness of character like that of her exalted 
 Lord; the latter, degraded, debased, a stran- 
 ger to the sublime feelings of the Gospel, 
 esteeming impurity religion, admiring and
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 213 
 
 extolling obscenity in the midst of myriads 
 before her idol's car. The former, in life, 
 peaceful and resigned; in death, if disease 
 forbids triumph, yet safe: the latter, in life, 
 without one solid hope; in death, agonized 
 by doubt and terrified by fear: the former, 
 when death is passed, admitted to those re- 
 gions of holiness, for which atoning blood and 
 sanctifying grace have qualified her happy 
 spirit: the latter, laden with impurity, idola- 
 try and crime, driven to the world of guilt 
 and woe! What causes the mighty, the eter- 
 nal difference? the former knew the Gospel, 
 the latter knows it not Charlotte Button was 
 A CHRISTIAN, the poor Hindoo is an idolater. 
 What a motive is here for diffusing the Gos- 
 pel! that Gospel so lovely in its triumphs, 
 so glorious in its eternal effects! Let the 
 Christian love the Gospel, and pray for more 
 of her spirit, who, like Newell and Judson, 
 laid down her life in its hallowed cause. 
 
 18
 
 214 MEMOIR OF 
 
 A friend, who highly esteemed her, has 
 written some elegiac lines on her decease. 
 Perhaps the insertion of them may not be 
 uninteresting. 
 
 Dear Christian pilgrim, much beloved, adieu! 
 For thou hast left earth's transitory strife, 
 And far hast soar'd above the ethereal blue, 
 To blissful mansions of eternal life. 
 
 Ah thou art dead! yet what was death to thee! 
 No king of terrors shrouded with dismay; 
 Death was thy guide to immortality, 
 To thy loved Lord, and heaven's unclouded day. 
 
 In thee, religion's lovely charms combin'd; 
 Her heavenly graces, deck'd thy rising soul; 
 Those graces fair, for brighter worlds design 'd 
 O'er thee, display 'd in this, their sweet control: 
 
 Charms of immortal growth, whose deathless prime 
 Attracts, delights, the blest angelic eye ; 
 Whose budding morning was thy span in time, 
 Whose blooming noon is God's eternity. 
 
 Oh thou wast good! in thee, by Heaven inspir'd, 
 Dwelt Christian sweetness and celestial love; 
 And glowing hope, by blissful visions fir'd, 
 And faith that panted onward still to move. 
 
 While heavenward moving, loving and belov'd, 
 Poor India's sorrows pierc'd thy tender heart, 
 Her moans of misery, which thy pity mov'd, 
 Bade thee from country, friends, and kindred part.
 
 MRS. CHARLOTTE SUTTON. 215 
 
 Serenely leaving England's joys behind, 
 Careless of death, prepar'd for grief and pain; 
 Far didst thou go, to bless poor lost mankind; 
 To thee to live was Christ, to die was gain. 
 
 Where Jugunnatha's victims rave and die, 
 Thy pulse grew still, thy ransom'd spirit fled; 
 Perhaps the first, that through the azure sky, 
 Ascended from that desert of the dead. 
 
 Ah! thou art gone! yet not for ever gone, 
 Dear saint, to us, by God in kindness given; 
 Not lost, though from thy lov'd connections torn, 
 But gone to join far happier friends in heaven. 
 
 No more shall sickness blast thy lovely bloom; 
 No more shall death sit pallid on thy brow, 
 Uufading glories, thy dear form illume; 
 From earth remov'd, thou art an angel now. 
 
 No burning tear shall linger on thy cheek, 
 
 No sigh disturb the raptures of thy soul, 
 
 No voice to thee in sorrow's accents speak, 
 
 No sunbeams scorch, no tempests round thee roll. 
 
 Oh do we dream, or art thou gone indeed! 
 Could none Imtnanuel's faithful follower save! 
 Ah! is our Charlotte number'd with the dead! 
 Has she become the prisoner of the grave! 
 
 Alas! she has : yet then her heaven-born soul, 
 For nobler scenes, for endless scenes design'd, 
 Soar'd where no years a wasting torrent roll, 
 And left its mould 'nag tenement behind.
 
 216 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Left it a moment Hark! The Archangel's voice 
 The trumpet sounds Earth's firmest columns bow 
 The Judge descends Captives of death rejoice ! 
 Forsaken grave, where's thy dear pris'ner now 1 
 
 No more a mould'ring tenant of the tomb, 
 She meets her Lord, in glory's perfect blaze; 
 Her Lord conducts his lov'd disciple home, 
 And wond'ring angels on her beauties gaze. 
 
 Dear sainted friend, rest till that blissful morn : 
 In peace and intermediate glory rest! 
 Soon, vast eternity on us will dawn; 
 Then may we meet in dwellings of the blest! 
 
 Let western lands their Harriet* admire, 
 And her bright graces fire the raptur'd mind; 
 While we to catch our Charlotte's zeal aspire, 
 Her life, her death, as pious as resign'd. 
 
 * Mrs. Harriet Newell.
 
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