1820 WILLIAM CAREY & SERAMPORE. Group of Autograph Items, "Expect Great Things. Attempt Great Things!"

A wonderful assemblage of three important Serampore related missionary items. They're all great, but the third is just a show-stopping little piece of history.

1. A fine little prospectus of the Serampore Mission of William Carey, William Ward, etc., detailing the work, mentioning important donors, and ending with mechanisms for supporting the mission. This was produced and circulated by William Ward when back in England during 1820, concurrently with the included letter from William Ward. Two sides. Very good. Remains of having been tipped into an album on left side. Folds.

2. A wonderful 1p ALS by William Ward addressed to Dr. Ramsey, c/o James Pringle of Edinburgh.

London. Feb 20, 1820.

"My dear Dr.

I was very glad to receive your welcome letter dated the 5th Jan and more so to hear of your good health - & still more as that you had married a good wife & were looking toward India. Ah! I should be glad indeed if I could have your company & that of your dear partner; but I am compelled to go by the way of America to collect for the College. Well, God willing, we shall be cast together again at the Mission House, Serampore, & you perhaps will be stationed at Calcutta or Barnackpore. You will say, were it so, we should see each other seldom. Well, it is true; let us then carry our views a little higher. There is a brighter and a better world - for eternity is there written on all enjoyments . . . The Lord bring us safely there. We have met like travellers at an inn. We have past a pleasant night together. We start by different roads - but, blessed be God, it is to the [ended at the same] heavenly & eternal home.

The news for Serampore is mixed. The work goes on - translations spread - schools prosper - 20 natives baptized in a few months - the first Burman baptized at Rangoon, & the first ***** at Java - On the other hand, Mr. randall is dead, Mr. W. **** also dead. Eustace & Yates have been unwell. My health is, I hope, considerably consolidated. E expect to be in Scotland the last week in March. &c.

Ever Remain,
W. Ward.

3. A simply wonderful 2pp extensive letter written to William Carey, dated Liverpool, Sept 20th, 1820. 

"My dear Brother Carey,

Your welcome letter of the 24th reached us three days ago, and rejoiced the hearts of Mr. Hope, Mr. Anderson, and myself, who were there together. Mr. A andmyself having arrived at Liverpool three days before from a most delightful and soul-cheering tour thro' Ireland of a month. Brunsdan and Lucy were there still in the shop at Holy Head. I have not therefore seen them yet; but if I can do anything for him by way of reocmmending him among our numerous friends I will most gladly do it. I rejoice that the Lord has prserved you in health and my dear Hannah [probably Hannah Marshman], and all the other dear friends with you, which I infer from your saying nothing about their health as you would certainly have mentioned it had any one of you been ill. 

Let me intreat you my dear brother to dismiss every anxious thought about supplies for the stations - and every other part of your work indeed. The Lord will surely provide them. Resume all your ancient faith and largeness of expectation. Do you forget that you are serving the same God who enabled you once to make this the theme of your sermon, "Expect great things; attempt great things!"? Were your ideas of his power to give just at that time? Certainly they were, except that they were ten thousand times balance the truth. And is his hand now shortened or has his ear become heavy? Has he given us all he can give? No, my dear brother, be assured that all he has given us is but a mere beginning, a few drops before the copious shower. We need of his grace to bless our efforts to the ************ of the poor natives around, to bless them of the brethren at the stations - and in that to bless us every way; and shall we desair? No, let us open our mouths wide and he will fille them. 

Let me now beg you to give of ourselves not from all your lack, and to take care above all things of your health - I ***** I shall be enabled to bring you help in every way."

The present letter is unsigned and may be lacking an address panel with the closing of the letter, but substantially complete. 

I was personally moved, thinking of so many I love who have been many years in the Lord's work, who often face discouragement,  . . . to hear William Carey being exhorted with his own now famous works of faith and exhortation, to know he shared in what we experience, . . . quite moving indeed. 

The final two are joined at the hinge, though originally separate. Could be released from each other, but would need to be done with care.