o be sure, is but a bamboo cottage, with
a thatched roof, but is a palace compared with most of the native huts
around us. But you know a large house is by no means essential to
happiness. Food and clothing sufficient, with the presence of God, are
all that is absolutely necessary. Could a man have in addition, one
confidential friend, who sympathized in all his joys and sorrows, and
with whom he could enjoy all the endearments of social life, he might be
happy indeed--and such a friend, such a wife I have, in my beloved
Sarah. I fear I shall never be able to discharge the obligations I feel
toward you for conferring on me so great a blessing."

Mrs. B. also writes to some acquaintances, "Unite with me, my respected
friends, in gratitude to God, that he has preserved us through the
dangers of a long voyage, and permitted us to land upon a heathen shore.
Oh may this renewed assurance of his kind care, teach me confidence in
his promises, and fill me with ardent desires to be constantly employed
in his service.

"Our voyage was remarkably pleasant, our suffering from sea-sickness was
much lighter than we had anticipated; our accommodations, though by no
means handsome, convenient and comfortable as we could desire. Our table
was well furnished with the necessaries, and many of the luxuries of
life. Capt. Sheed, and the other gentlemen on board, treated us with the
greatest kindness, and appeared solicitous to make our situation
agreeable. In the society of Mr. Blaikie, the supercargo, we took much
delight. He is a gentleman of eminent piety, belonging to the
Presbyterian denomination. We had evening devotions in the cabin, ...
when the weather allowed we had divine service between decks on the
Sabbath. A precious privilege!

"While at sea, my time was spent in a very agreeable, and I hope not
unprofitable manner.... The principal books I read besides the Bible,
were the life of Parsons, Lowth's lectures on Hebrew poetry, part of
Fuller's works, and of Jones' Church History. Supposing the study of the
word of God well calculated to prepare my mind for the missionary work,
I directed my chief attention to that. We had one very interesting
exercise,--during the week several of us collected as many passages of
scripture as we were able, upon a subject previously named; and on
Sabbath eve, we compared our separate lists, and conversed freely upon
the doctrine or duty concerning which we had written. In this manner we
discus