Memoir and Correspondence of the Late Robert Cathcart

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. Unexpectedly appointed to Gangam. Reflections on it. State of country. Meets a friend. Attends him during his illness and death. Reflections. Delicate employment. Anxieties about it. Successful termination. Out again on duty. Illness. Death. Character by Mr Taylor, missionary at Belgaum. Mr Cathcart's time, which he was employing so diligently, was now indeed to be short. He was unexpectedly ordered away on a particular service to the district of Ganjam, about seven hundred miles to the north of Madras. This removal was much against his feelings; but, ready to go wherever God led him, he never sought to alter the decision of his superiors. The fever mentioned in one of the preceding extracts had weakened him considerably; and he had never entirely recovered from its effects. He was always averse to these sudden changes of the stations of the civil servants of Government, thinking it injurious to the service, by removing them from places just when they began to understand the wants of the natives, and to be able effectually to conduct the details of the 152 REFLECTIONS ON APPOINTMENT TO GANGAM. Cutchery. These repeated changes in Mr Cathcart's case, however, arose solely from the sense entertained of the ability and efficiency of his services. He says: --March 11, 1834.--My Beloved Mother, --It is a long time since I took up my pen, various causes have rendered me indisposed to writing. My removal to the northward was most unexpected, but the hand of God seemed in it, and that satisfied us. And adds: --There is but one thing needed to make all pleasant, and that is communion with our heavenly Father. O may it be ours more and more abundantly. How gracious have been all the Lord's dealings with me; may his service be more the joy of my heart, ...