PREFACE.

WHEN, in compliance with the request of the Executive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary Union, and of the widow of the late Dr. Judson, I undertook to compile the following Memoir, I supposed that a large amount of his correspondence and other writings would be easily accessible. In this respect, however, I was entirely disappointed. From peculiar views of duty, Dr. Judson had caused to be destroyed all his early letters written to his family, together with all his papers of a personal character. Mrs. Ann H. Judson, from prudential reasons, during their captivity in Ava, destroyed all his letters in her possession. Manuscripts were also consumed by the burning of Mr. Stevens's house in Maulmain. Dr. Judson's correspondence with Dr. Staughton perished by the shipwreck of a vessel on the passage from Philadelphia to Wash

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ington. Last of all, his letters to his missionary brethren in Burmah were lost by the foundering of the ship which was conveying them to this country. My materials, therefore, consisted chiefly of his official correspondence, much of which had been published in missionary periodicals. To these I have been able to add such letters as had escaped destruction, together with very valuable reminiscences from the pen of Mrs. Judson. Enough, however, has been preserved to present his missionary character with remarkable distinctness. His opinions on many subjects can never be recovered, but the record of his deeds is beyond the reach of both fire and flood.

My grateful acknowledgments are due to the secretaries of the American Baptist Missionary Union, the Rev. Solomon Peck, D. D., and the Rev. Edward Bright, D. D., for the facilities which they have afforded in the prosecution of my labors. They have placed at my disposal every paper on their files which could add to the interest of the Memoir, and have rendered

me efficient aid in every part of my undertaking.
To Dr. Bright especially I am under great obli-
gations for superintending the press, when, from
circumstances beyond my control, I was unable
to perform this labor myself.

To the Rev. Rufus Anderson, D. D., the senior
secretary of the American Board of Commission-
ers for Foreign Missions, I am greatly indebted.
Not only has he caused to be copied for my use
every paper in his possession relating to the con-
nection of Dr. Judson with that society, but he
has at all times granted me the aid of his em-
inent abilities and profound acquaintance with
every department of missionary service.

Whatever value this Memoir may possess
must be ascribed, in no small degree, to the
assistance which I have received from Mrs.
Judson. She arranged for me all the letters
and papers, furnished me with information which
no other person could possess, and has com-
municated notes and reminiscences which will
be found to be among the most interesting por-
tions of the work.

I should do injustice to my own feelings
were I to close this preface without recording
my obligations to the publishers, Messrs. Phil-
lips, Sampson, & Co. Their arrangements have
been characterized by great liberality; their
promptness and punctuality have left nothing
to be desired; and the interest which they
have taken in the publication can only be ap-
preciated by those whose duty it is to labor
in this sometimes harassing vocation. An ac-
knowledgment of my obligations is also due to
the gentlemen of the Boston Stereotype Foundry,
for the fidelity and taste with which they have
carried forward their part of the work.

In the humble hope that these volumes will
throw some valuable light upon the subject of
Christian missions, and thus serve the cause to
which the life of Dr. Judson was devoted, they
are submitted to the candid consideration of the
Christian public.

BROWN UNIVERSITY, August 5, 1853.

CONTENTS

OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

PARENTAGE.

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CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

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LIFE IN COLLEGE.
ENTERS THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT ANDOVER,

TIONS. ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSION- .

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