To return to the course of events in India. Amidst all his missionary, biblical, and literary labours, Dr Carey never lost sight of the material interests of the country. The encouragement afforded by Lord Hastings to every plan for advancing the interests of the country, induced Dr Carey at this time to propose the establishment of an Agricultural Society in Calcutta, of which he drew up the prospectus in the month of April 1820. It exhibited that clear and practical view of the question which marked all the productions of his pen, of which it may be taken as a fair sample with regard both to matter and style, which was simple and unadorned. Soon after the circulation of the prospectus, he convened a public meeting at the Town-hall of all those who felt an interest in the subject, but the attendance was limited to three European gentlemen besides Dr Marshman and himself. Not discouraged by this appearance of apathy to the object, he said he thought the meeting sufficiently strong to make a beginning; and with the same energy of spirit which he had manifested at the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, voted one of their number into the chair, and inaugurated the Agricultural Society of India. Such was the feeble origin of an institution which now embraces hundreds of members, European and native, in every province of India; and which, during the last forty years, has been one of the most vigorous and successful agencies of improvement in that country.