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MEMOIRS
or
THE LIFE AND LABOURS
OF
ROBERT MORRISON, d.d.
F R.8., M.R.A^., MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY A8IATIQUE OF PARIS, au.lic.
COMPILED
BY HIS WIDOW;
WITH
CRITICAL NOTICES OF HIS CHINESE WORKS. BY SAMUEL KIDD,
AWB
9n fljppenWx contammg Original 9o<umento.
'* lie being dead yet speaketh."— H^. xii. 4.
IN TWO VOLUMES, VOL. II.
LONDON : LONGMAN, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.
MDCCCXXXIX.
THOMS,
PKIWTKK AND •TltKKOTTPra. Ig, WARWICK •QOAKR«
LONDON.
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.••
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 11.
PERIOD IV.
PBOM THE FOUNDING OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE, TO
HIS BETTTRN TO ENGLAND.
A. D. 1819—1822.
SECTION VI.
Page
1820. — TraniUtion of the Bible completed.—Correfpondence, Do- mefltic, Religious, and literary.— State of the Poor in China, v^ —State of the Poor among the Portngnese.— Dispensarj at Macao.— Letter to J. Reyner, Esq.— Letter to M. Remnsat. — Ditto to Principal Bairdi— Return of Mrs. Morrison to China. — Letter to W. Alers Hankey, Esq.— Letter from Colonel Far- quhar. — Extracts from Letters to Relatives.— Laws and Statutes of the Anglo-Chinese College, with its Deed.— Letter from the RcT. W. Milne.— Rules of the College.— College Studies — \y^ Works Printed at the Malacca Press.—Mr.Maijoribanks' opinion of the College. — Letter from the Select Committee. — Ditto from the Rct. W. Milne — From Messrs. Leddige and Son — and J. Livingstone, Esq. on Botany.— From Dr. Worcester. — From Dr. Proudfitt.-D. W. C. Olyphant, Esq — From Rct. Mr.
1821. — Death of Mrs. Morrison. — Letter from D. W. C. Olyphant, Esq. Milne — From C. R. Crommelin, Esq — From Rev. Alexander Ross — From Sir George T. Staunton — From the Rct. G. Burder 1 — 97 — From the British and Foreign Bible Society— From the Lon- don Missionary Society— The Presentation of a Bible to Dr. Morrison by the American Bible Society, — Letter from the ReT. H. Bingham — From Petror Rickards, Esq., GoTemor of Port St. Peter and St. Paul— From Robert Ralston, Esq.— From the American Board of Foreign Missions — From the Rev.W, Milne — From Dr. Marse— From Rct. W. Jinks — From Earl Amherst— From Sir George T. Staunton — and from the Hon. J. Hayne 98—137
IV CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
SECTION VI.
A. D. 1822—1824.
Page .)822. — ^Remarki on Homicide.-rHomicide8 at Lintin.~Sir J. Urm- \^ ston*s Testimony of Dr. Morrison's Talents.— His Children depart for England. — Letter to Mr. James Morrison— From Rer. Dr. Milne, with Answer to ditto — From Mr. 6. Huttmann, communicating the Death of the Rev. Dr. Milne. — Letter to the Bible Society — ^To the Religious Tract Society— .To Mrs. S. — To Mrs. James Morrison. — An Address \^ to the Foreign Christian Community in China.^Letter from Mr. Mortlock—From Mr. 6. F. Mathison.— From Sir 6. T. Staunton, Bart., with Reply. — Fire at Canton. — Letter to the London Missionary Society. — Review of the first Fifteen Years of the Mission, addressed to "W. A. Hankey, Esq.— 138 — 190 1823 — Visit to Malacca. — Singapore Institution Founded — Spee5h on that occasion. — Voyage to Malacca. — Letter to Nelson Hull, Esq., respecting Chinese Gambling, with Answer to ditto — From Sir Stamford Raffles — From 6. F. M. on | the Opium Trade — ^To Mr. J. Morrisonr-To Joseph Rey- ner, Esq.— From Sir T. S. Raffles— From J. Crawford, Esq.
— From Rev. D. Collie From Sir J. B. Urmston.— Letter
addressed to the Treasurer and Secretary of the London Missionary Society— Letter from J. A. Maxwell, Esq.^ From Colonel Farquhar — From Sir 6. T. Staunton, with Reply to ditto.— Letter addressed to the President and Select Committee. — ^Extracts of a Journal of a Voyage to England.— Letters from the Rer. A. Faure, and the Rev. John Phillip 191-249
PERIOD V.
FROM HIS ABRIYAL IN ENGLAND, IN 1824) TO HIS DEATH, IN 1834.
A, D. 1824—1826.
SECTION VIII.
1824. — ArriTsl in England.— Letter to the Rev. Dr. Clunie, relating to his Chinese Library — From Sir George T. Staunton. — Dr. Morrison presented to George the Fourth. —Letter
CONTENTS OP VOLUME II.
Page
from Robert Peel, Esq. -J^m the Rer. Charles R. Sumner.— Hii reception by the Hon. East India Company. — Letter to Sir George Staunton, Bart. — Visit to Newcastle.— Present at Public Meetings.— Addressed by J. Butterworth» Esq. — AnniTcrsary of the Bible Society. — Letter from the Rct. T. S. Grimshaw. — ^The Moral Condition of the Chines^re^n ^. benerolent regard to the affairs of others. — Exercises at the Anglo-Chinese College. — Visit to Paris.— Letter from Sir G. T. Staunton, Bart, relating to his Chinese Library.— Visit to Ireland and Scotland. — Suggestions to the London Mission- ary Society « — Letters to Joseph Tam,and JosephReyner,Esqs. — The number of Works cUstributed at Malacca. — On the Study of the Chinese Language at the Universities.— His Marriage.— Letter from Lord Amherst. ... 251 — 296
1825. — Proposal for a Philological Society. — Formation of the Lan- guage Institution. — Chinese Miscellany compiled. — Elected Fellow of the Royal Society. — ^Visit to Sir Geo. Staunton. — Letter to W. Alers Hankey, Esq. — Remarks on Apathy towards the Literature of China.— Remarks by an anony- mous Writer. — Letter from the London Missionary Society. — Letter from Joseph Tarn, Esq. ; from M. Remusat ; from the Bishop of Llandaff ; from Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke ; and from the Rot. C. R. Pritchett The Resolution of the Re- ligious Tract Society, and Language Institution. — Letter from the Rer. W. A. Hallock— From H. Townley— From Sir G.T. Staunton, Bart.— From Thomas Seaward — and from T. Phillips. — Miscellaneous Remarks. . • 297 — 33 1
1826. — Farewell Address at Hoxton, on leaving England. — Ditto at GraTesend. — Letter to Sir George T. Staunton, on receinng from him a Taluable Inkstand 332—344
SECTION IX.
From 1826—1834.
1826. — Embarkation for China. — Engagements during the Voyage. — Landed at Maderia. — ^Mutiny on Board. — Letter to W. A. Hankey, Esq. — Landed at Anjier. — Interview with Mr. Med- hurst. — ArriTal at Singapore, State of the Institution. — Met the other Trustees of the Institution. — Arrival in China. — Interview with Leang-Af&, ^and his Conversation on the Christian Religion. — Letter to the Chairman of the British and Foreign Bible Society. — Ditto to the Treasurer and Com- mittee of the Religious Tract Society. — General Observations. — Private Journal. — Inundation in Hoonan Province.— Sub- scriptions to the College. — Kidnapping in China 345—376
VI CONTENTS OF VOLUME 11.
Page
1827.— Part of his Books burnt. — Opinion on the Greek and Roman Poets. — The ' Canton Register ' commenced. — Private Jonr- nal resumed. — ^The Select Committee's Address to'the Conrt of Directors recommending the Anglo-Chinese College. — On Christian Devotedness.— Letter to Thomas Fisher, Esq. — ^To the ReT. A. Brandram — From T. Fisher, Esq. — and Arom the Rer. Robert Bum. — Remarks on the Singapore Insti- tntion. — Letter addressed to the Rev. Messrs. Collie and Kidd. 377—400
1828. — Private Journal resumed. — Letter from the American Board
of Missions. — Extracts from Leang-Af&'s Letter Letter to
Sir G. Staunton, Bart. — and to the Editor of the Asiatic Jour- nal.— ^The Japanese Translators render his Dictionary into their Language.— Letter to Mr. James Morrison. — Private Journal resumed. — ^Visits two dying Officers 40 1—4 16
1829. — Reflections on the New Year. — ^The Murder of a French Crew. — Dr. Morrison succeeds in Liberating Tsae-kung- chaou, who was accused of Murder. — Grateful acknowledg- ment of the latter.— X.etter to Sir George T. Staunton, Bart. — Proposal to engrave Mr. Chinnery's Portrait of Dr. Mor- rison.— ^Third Part of the Vocabulary of the Canton Dia- lect finished. — Letter to T. Fisher, Esq 417_431
1830. — Baptism of Kew-Agong. — Arrival of two American Mission- \^ aries in China. — Letter from the American Missionary Board. Letter from Lord Bexley. — Professor Newman's Visit to China.— Letter to Sir G.T. SUunton, Bart.— To the Rev. A. Brandram. — Hostility evinced by M. Klaproth. — J. F. Da- vis, Esq.'s Letter to M. Klaproth 432—442
1831. — Leang-Aii Baptizes three persons. — Letter to T. Fisher, Esq. — The Select Committee's Letter to Dr. Morrison, as Presi- dent of the College at Malacca, and Reply to ditto. — Letter to the Rev. D. Abeel. — Ditto from T. Manning, Esq. — Ditto to the Editor of the Asiatic Journal 443 — 457
1832.— Letter to the Bible Society.— Ditto to the Tract Society.— Private Journal. — Baptism of Choo Seeg-sftng. — Chinese Repository commenced. — Letter to W. A. Hankey, Esq. — State of the Protestant Mission in China 458 — 474
1833. — Secular Affairs. — ^Works Printed by Dr. Morrison at Macao. — Miscellaneous Chinese Tracts.— Suppression of Dr. M. 's Publications. — Notes on the Committee's Letter.— Freedom ^ of the Press.— Narrative. — Letter to T. Fisher, Esq. — Jour- nal.— Letter to the Tract Society. — Ditto to the American Tract Society.— Reply from the Rev. W. A. Hallock.— De- parture of his Family. — Journal. 475 51)2
1834.— Letter to Sir George T. SUunton, Bart— Ditto to W. Alers Hankey, Esq. — Ditto from Charles Marjoribanks, Esq. — Journal. — Last Sermon. — Lord Napier's arrival in China. — His Majesty's Commission read. — Dr. Morrison accom-
CONTEXTS OF VOLUME II. Vll
Page panies Lord Napier to Canton — His last Illness. — His Death. ^^'^ — Farther Particulars, in a Letter from Mr. J. R. Morrison to Mrs. Morrison. — Ditto from the Rev. Edwin Stevens. — His Interment. — Inscription on his Tomb. — ^Testimonies of Respect for Dr. Morrison's Memory 503—540
APPENDIX.
A General Scheme of the Ultra-Ganges Mission Union 1
Roles of the Fund for Widows and Orphans of the Ultra Ganges Mission . . 5 Thoughts on the Condnct of the Chinese Government towards the Ho- norable Company*s Servants at Canton 7
Narrative of the Affair of the Topaz, while at Lintin 10
An Account of the Fire of Canton, in 1822 33
An Address to Seamen 39
Proposal for Bettering the Moral Condition of Sailors in China 43
Explanation of the Term ' Church.' 46
Critical Notices of Dr. Morrison's Literary Labours, by Professor Kidd.
MEMOIR,
&c.
PERIOD IV.
FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE TO
HIS RETURN TO ENGLAND.
Section VI.
FROM 1818—1822.
Translation of the Bible completed. — Correspondence, Domestic, Religions, and Literary. — Alphabetic Part of the Dictionary finished. — Dispensary at iMacao. — Return of Mrs. Morrison to China. — Massacre of Europeans at Manilla. — Missionary's Report. — Death of Mrs. Morrison — Death of Dr. Milne. — The Dictionary completed. — Lintin Affair. — Fire in Canton.
Up to the present period we see the subject of these memoirs pursuing, with unwearied assiduity, the great objects proposed to him by the originators of the Pro- testant Mission to China. Its language was acquired — a complete Chinese and English Dictionary, con- sisting of three quarto volumes, compiled — and an entire translation of the Sacred Scriptures into the language of upwards of three hundred millions of the human race, completed. Had human applause, or literary reputation, been the end aimed at in these achievements, Dr. Morrison's ambition might have been fully gratified by the celebrity which his labours acquired him in every part of the civilized world. He might also have rested, after years of mental toil,
Vol. il b
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TRANSLATION OF THB [1819.
or employed his leisure in the lighter or more agreeable pursuits of general knowledge; but he *had not so learned Christ' — ^to promote whose glory, was his sole aim — and to whose grace, he ascribed all the success which crowned his labours— ever expressing the deepest humility on account of his own ^ unprofitableness/
The circumstance already mentioned, of the seizure of the types by the oflScers of the Chinese government, excited some apprehension lest, at any future time, such interference might be carried to greater lengths, and thus cause the removal of the press altogether from Macao. Dr. M. therefore resolved to finish those parts of his Dictionary, which would be of most essen- tial use to the European student, and afterwards pro- ceed with the other parts embraced in his original plan, as circumstances would admit. As any disqui- sition on Dr. M.'s literary labours would be very unsuitable from the writer of this narrative, even though competent for such a delicate task — ^it is thought desirable to introduce a synopsis of his Chi- nese publications, by one, highly qualified for the un- dertaking. Whilst, on that work which is to shed its beneficial influences over millions of mankind till the day of final restitution, Dr. Morrison's own senti- ments are given in a letter addressed to the Directors of the Missionary Society, dated
"Canton, Nov. 25th, 1819.
^^ Fathers and Brethren,
" By the mercy of God, an entire version of the books of the Old and New Testaments, into the Chinese language, was this day brought to a conclu- sion.
^^ On the 12th instant, Mr. Milne finished a trans- lation of the Book of Job, which, together with the Historical Books of the Old Testament, he selected
1819.] BIBLE INTO CHINBSB. 3
for his share of the work. The books that were wholly my own translation are these : —
|
BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. |
||
|
1. Genesis. |
10. Isaiah. |
19. Jonah. |
|
2. Exodus. |
11. Jeremiah. |
20. Micah. |
|
3. Leviticus. |
12. Lamentaiions.21. Nahum. |
|
|
4. Numbers. |
13. Ezekiel. |
22. Habakkuk. |
|
5. Kuth. |
14. Daniel. |
23. Zephaniah. |
|
6. Psalms. |
15. Hosea. |
24. Haggai. |
|
7. Proverbs. |
16. Joel. |
25. Zechariah. |
|
8. Ecclesiastes. |
17. Amos. |
26. Malachi. |
|
9. Canticles. |
18. Obadiah. |
|
|
BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. |
||
|
Gospel according i |
to JEpistles. |
h}pistle8j §rc. |
|
27. Matthew. |
31. Hebrews. |
36. 2nd John. |
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28. Mark. |
32. James. |
37. 3rd John. |
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29. Tiuke. |
33. 1st Peter. |
38. Jude. |
|
30. John. |
34. 2nd Peter. |
39. The Book of |
|
35. 1st John. |
Revelations. |
"The other books of the New Testament I edited, with such alterations, as, in my conscience, and with the degree of knowledge of the Chinese language, which I then possessed, I thought necessary. I added the verses according to the English Testament, in a form which had not been devised in Chinese before, and which, without breaking the text into parts, answers well the purpose of reference.
" I always stated explicitly to you that the Chinese MS. in the British Museum, a copy of which under the Missionary Society's care, I procured, was the foundation of the New Testament in Chinese, which I completed and edited.
B 2
4 TRANSLATION OF THE [1819.
" The first volume, viz. the Acts of the Apostles, which I printed as an essay of what could be done, from the above-named MS., written by some pious missipnary of the Romish Church, was burnt by a native Roman Catholic of some education in this country, because he thought the translation mine, and heretical. Another person from England, who was acquainted in a degree with Chinese, and who sup- posed that the Testament was wholly mine, said, it would have been desirable that the translation should have been done by a Roman Catholic Missionary ; and a third person, in a different part of the world, ' has condemned me, because so much of the MS. remains. Had it been my wish to make the whole translation appear as originally my own, I could have altered much more, with as little trouble as I took to decide on retaining what I did ; but that was not my object, nor is it the object of your society to enter into the question, by whom the Bible is rendered into the languages of mankind, but in what manner, and to aid in publishing the best versions that can be procured.
" When traduced, either by those who undervalue divine Revelation, and, ^ not daring to avow their prin- ciples, complain of the inaccurracy of translations,' or
* on the other side,' by opinionated men who * give liking to nothing but what is framed by themselves,' I can
* rest secure — supported within by the truth and in- nocency of a good conscience, having in this work walked in the ways of simplicity and integrity, as be- fore the Lord.'
" If Morrison and Milne's Bible shall, in China, at some subsequent period, hold such a place in reference to a better translation, as Wickliff 's or Tyndale's now hold in reference to our present English version, many
1819.] BIBLE INTO CHINESE. 5
will for ever bless God for the attempt; and neither the Missionary Society, nor the Bible Society, will ever regret the funds they have, or shall yet expend, in aid of the object.
" It is not yet 500 years since Wickliff 's bones were dug up and burnt, chiefly because he translated the Scriptures ; and it is not yet 300 years since Ty ndale was strangled by the hands of the common hang- man, and then burnt, for the same cause. The alleged inaccuracy of Wickliff 's and of Tyndale's translations, was the ground of cavil with all those who were ad- verse to any translation of the Sacred Scriptures ; and it is but 277 years since the English Parliament de- creed, that * all manner of books of the Old and New Testaments, of the crafty, false, and untrue translations of Tyndale, be forthwith abolished, and forbidden to be used and kept.'* "If such things occurred so recently, more modem translators need not be sur- prised if their works are censured or condemned.
" Granting that many had the talent to do better than we have done, yet few appear to have had the will ; and I will be bold to say, there are many who could not have done so well at a first attempt; how- ever, for what is actually well done, to God be all the praise. This boasting is extorted by past occurrences, and not by a present anticipation of censures yet to come.
" King James's translators were fifty-four in num- ber, and rendered into their mother tongue, in their native country, under the patronage of their prince. Our version is the work of two persons, or at most of three (including the author of the MS.), performed in a remote country, and into a foreign and newly acquired
* D'Oyly and Mant's Bible.
6 TRANSLATION OF THE [1819.
langui^e, one of the most difficult in the world, and the least cultivated in Europe. The candid judge of men's works will not foi^et these circumstances, when he decides on the character of the present trans- lation. As to opinions which natives may give of the work, the following things should also be consi- dered.
'^The Chinese language possesses much ancient literature, which has been, for many centuries, the constant study of a body of privileged men, under the appellation of the learned, and who have polished and wrought up the language to a high degree of what they deem an elegant conciseness, and a richness of classical quotation and allusion ; so that the written style of the learned is nearly as different from the plain spoken language of the people, as the language of ancient Rome is different from the modem dialects of Europe. In consequence of this, the learned in China are extremely fastidious in respect of style, and loathe whatever is not classical Chinese. They are moreover ignorant of the rest of mankind, and of science ; and are self-conceited in an extreme degree, and view whatever is not consonant to their experience in sentiment or manner as outlandish and barbarous. This self-conceit induces them to *love darkness,' even in matters of history, * rather than light,' when its tendency is to reduce them, not to an inferiority, but merely to an equality with other nations.
" Translation is in its infancy in China. None of its own literati study, in order to translate. The Court itself seems to have some difficulty in preserving a competent number of translators into the Manchow Tartar language. The religious books of the Bud- hists, which are miserably done, and of the Romanists, some of which are elegant, are the only works they
1819.] BIBLE INTO CHINESE. 7
have rendered into Chinese ; for the scientific books printed under the direction of the Jesuit Missionaries, were not translations of any whole treatise, but works containing! generally, European ideas, composed in Chinese by natives.
"The SuhrhwOy or * vulgar talk' of the Chinese, which is always despised by the literati, does not mean Mow vulgar expressions,' but common lan- guage, in contradistinction froib an elevated, classical, and recondite style, which style is intelligible only to persons of education.
"The learned of China think, as the learned of Europe thought in darker times, that every respect- able book ought to be written in a sort of Latin, not in the vulgar tongue. Choo-foo-tsze indeed departed from this practice in his philosophical essays, for new ideas cannot be communicated so well as by the simplest langui^e. Classical phraseology, concise as the Chi- nese is, can do little more than revive old ideas.
" To put the Book of God into such a style, either out of compliment to the learned, or to exhibit one's oMm classical attainments, seems to be acting over again the us^e of the Egyptian priests, who, it is said, expressed their doctrines by hieroglyphics, intelligible only to themselves, or to a small sect of the initiated ; or as it is said that other priests did in the Rhenish translation of the New Testament into English, in which they retained many eastern, Greek, and Latin words, and introduced so many difficult expressions, that they contrived to render it unintelligible to the common people.* This censure is perhaps too severe; but the principle that plainness and simplicity are requisite in a biblical translation is fully recognised.
* D'Oyly and Mant's Bible.
8 TRAlfSLATION OF THE [1819.
" The duty of a translator of any book is two-fold i first, to comprehend accurately the sense, and to feel the spirit of the original work ; and secondly, to ex- press in his version faithfully, perspicuously, and idio- matically (and, if he can attain it, elegantly), the sense and spirit of the original.
" For the first part of this duty, a Christian student will be much more competent than a heathen trans- lator generally is ; for the second part of the work, of course, a man who translates into his mother tongue (other things being equal) will much excel. Till those who are now heathen literati, cease to be heathens, these qualifications will not easily be found, in tolerable perfection, in the same individual.
"That the first is of more importance than the second, is, I believe, true ; for no elegance of composi- tion can atone for a misunderstanding of the sense of the sacred page ; whereas a degree of uncouthness in the style of any writing destroys not the sense. Some think that the doggerel version of the Psalms used by the Church of Scotland, is a better translation of the sense of that divine book than the most elegant that ever was attempted. And I know, by much expe- rience in commercial and political translation, that a very inelegant written version of a foreigner, will en- able a native student to comprehend very clearly the sense and spirit of the original, and also much better than a verbal statement of the meaning can.
" By these remarks, I mean to convey it as my opinion, that a less pure and idiomatic translation, made by a Christian missionary, of a sound judgment and moderate acquirements, is likely to convey the sense of divine revelation better than a translation made by the most accomplished pagan scholar, who has not studied the sacred writings, and who, if he
1819.] BIBLE II9T0 CHmESE. 9
possessed the adequate knowledge, in consequence of his dislike of the subject, rarely brings mind enough to the work, to comprehend clearly the sacred text. Not to mention the influence of his pre-conceived pagan notions in his composition, and the dishonesty which generally characterizes most heathens, I think any of the Chinese I have ever seen, would slur the work over in any way, or, if they were more zealous, would affect to amend the sense of the original, when it did not comport with their previous opinions.
" In my translations, I have studied fidelity, per- spicuity, and simplicity; I have preferred common words to rare and classical ones ; I have avoided tech- nical terms, which occur in the pagan philosophy and religion. I would rather be deemed inelegant, than hard to be understood. In difficult passages I have taken the sense given by the general consent of the gravest, most pious, and least eccentric divines, to whom I had access.
" In the first part of my duty, viz. ascertaining the sense of Scripture, I have used the English public version ; the Original Scriptures ; Montanus's Version ; the Vulgate ; the French ; the Septuagint translation ; Thompson's translation of the Septuagint ; Dr. Camp- bell's Gospels and Dissertations ; Dr. Doddridge's New Testament and Works ; Macknight's Epistles ; Scott's Bible ; Dr. Lowth on Jeremiah ; Bishop Lowth on Isaiah ; Bishop Patrick on Proverbs ; Bishop Newcome's Minor Prophets ; Dr. Clarke's Commentary ; Henry's Com- mentary, occasionally ; D'Oyly and Mant's Bible on Leviticus and Numbers ; Poole's Synopsis, sometimes ; Douay Bible on Leviticus and Numbers ; Editors of Calmet on Canticles ; Parkhurst's Lexicon ; Buxtorf 's Lexicon.
" In the second part of my duty, viz. rendering the
10 TRANSLATION OF THE [1819.
sense of the Scriptures into Chinese, my helps were, British Museum MS« ; several Roman Catholic works in China, MS. Dictionaries of Chinese; and Native Teachers of the langui^e.
** To the task, I have brought patient endurance of long labour and seclusion from society ; a calm and un- predjudiced judgment ; not enamoured of novelty and eccentricity, nor yet tenacious of an opinion merely because it was old; and, I hope, somewhat of an accurate mode of thinking, with a reverential sense of the awful responsibility of misinterpreting God's word. Such qualifications are, perhaps, as indispensable as grammatical learning in translating such a book as the Bible.
'^ I have made no departure, in any remarkable de- gree, from the sense of the English version ; which circumstance, I judge more satisfactory to the friends of the Bible in England, than if I had affected to make < a new translation' or < an improved version; immediately and solely from the originals, and in- dulged a disregard of old and approved translations.
'^ It is my opinion, that an union of European Christian translators, and of native students, who have some years attended to European literature, in con- junction with the study of the Christian religion, is most likely to produce the best translation into Chinese ; and on this ground, I beg to recommend to the patronage of the friends of the Bible, the Anglo- Chinese College now building at Malacca, intended expressly for the reciprocal cultivation of Chinese and European literature, and the general diffusion of Christian knowledge.
'^ To have Moses, David, and the prophets ; Jesus Christ and his apostles, using their own words, and thereby declaring to the inhabitants of this laud the
1819.] BIBLB INTO CHmESE. 11
wonderful works of God^ indicates, I hope, the speedy introduction of a happier era in these parte of the world; and I trust that the gloomy darkness of pi^an scepticism will be dispelled by the day-spring from on high, and that the gilded idols of Budh, and the numberless images which fill the land, will one day assuredly fall to the ground, before the force of God's word, as the idol Dagon fell before the ark.
'^ These are my anticipations, although there ap- pears not the least opening at present. A bitter aversion to the name of our blessed Saviour, and to any book which contains his name or his doctrine, is felt and cherished. However, that does not induce me to despair. I think of Britain, what she was, and what she now is, in respect of religion. It is not t300 years since national authority said, that Hhe Bible should not be read openly in any church (by the people), nor privately by the poor ;' that only ^ noble- men and gentlemen, and noble ladies and gentle- women, might have the Bible in their own houses.' I remember this, and cherish hope for China.
*' Tyndale, while he was being tied to the stake, said, with a fervent and loud voice, in reference to Henry the VIII., * Lord, open the king of England's eyes ;' and his prayer seems to have been heard and an- swered. Let us be as fervent in a similar petition in reference to the Sovereign of this empire.
" In the apostle's words I conclude this long letter. * Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.' " I am, &c.
" Robert Morrison."
Dr. Monison's beloved friend and coadjutor Milne, was at this time zealously engaged in his duties at
12 CORRESPONDENCE. [1819.
Malacca, superintending the building of the College, assisting in the translation of the Scriptures, com- posing religious tracts in Chinese, editing the " Indo- Chinese Gleaner," &c. &c. Between him and Dr. Morrison there subsisted the most unreserved confi- dence, and although their characters were very dis- similar, they united their energies in promoting the one great object, to which their lives were alike de- voted. They "were brothers in heart;" hence the familiar style used in their epistolary correspondence. Some extracts from Dr. Milne's letters may serve to exhibit the difficulties attendant on their peculiar circumstances.
TO THE REV. DR. MORRISON.
" Dear Robert, '* Malacca, Nov. 26, 1819.
" Your long letter of various dates, from April 8th to Sept. 10th, came on the 21st instant by the Asia. It seems to express all the variety of the writer's feel- ings, affected more or less by various communications from England, and Malacca, during the long interval. This transparency of soul, where the core of the heart is exhibited, is the life and soul of friendship. In reading so interesting a letter, dictated by such evi- dent fidelity and kindness, I was alternately de- pressed and elevated, ashamed and encouraged. — I wish you would number by figures 1, 2, 3, those points in your letters that require particular answers. — I shall now begin to answer your's — when it will be finished, I know not.
" 1st. It was to be expected that such men as B— — would not approve of giving the College a predominant tendency to religion. To have made it a mere literary institution, would have been rather out of our way as missionaries.
1819.] FROM THB REV. W. MILNE. 13
" 3rd. * Retrospect.' — No doubt many things in it would not please every body. Among the gentle- men in China^ it would not be liked — ^the world will not like it — ^it has too much religion for them. It is too cold and worldly, to be much esteemed by warm- hearted Christians. However, I cannot help it; a man must either write according to his own views, or not write at all. I earnestly wish it were done, and out to seek its quarters. I am prepared in some mea- sure to expect that the * Gleaner' will meet with con- tempt, or neglect. It is not learned enough for the learned — ^it is not religious enough for the religious — it is not worldly enough for the worldly — ^it is not elegant or eloquent enough for the elegant and elo- quent— missionaries, book-makers, lovers of mankind, students of human nature, will bear with its imper- fections.
" 18. Your ^ Chinese congregation (ten to sixteen)' is larger than ours. The Lord render his word effectual.
" 19. ^ Chin^ the Fokeen man,' is a smoker of opium ! He of course will find eight to ten dollars per month very inadequate. He once promised fair to be a Christian — ^when in affliction, he destroyed his idol — ^when restored, gave loose to ill habits.
" 20. * Write next to Lee, my man, telling him that he must not think of leaving Malacca ; that you wish him to be first Chinese teacher in the College.' I have been mentioning these things to him. He is a steady little man, and free from open vice.
" 21. * Type deteriorated.' It is very true. The reasons are, First, — We have but one good type-cutter here, Awan. The others are but so so; three, are apprentices : it is better to employ such on the Maga- zine, than in the Scriptures. Second, — Nobody to
14 CORRBSPONDENCS. [1819*
pay that attention to the detail of business which so much of it requires.
"22. The commission of the Prayer Book and Homily Society, will be attended to as early as pos- sible, but we really haA^e so much in hand ; I wish you had sent the blocks already cut.
" 23. * Why are we not successful in conversions V very important question. What occurs to me is, 1st, — We have too much work to do, and often there is little time, and little pains bestowed on our discourses, and tracts and publications. Truth is brought before the minds of sinners in a defective and oold manner. 2nd. — No time for dealing with sinners personally and privately, and praying with them, and watch- ing the favourable seasons of teaching them. 3rd. — Perhaps we have cause to be humbled that the work is not more matter of conscience and serious prayer with us. 4th. — Sad disunion of late, which restrains the influence of God's grace. When we cannot find in our hearts to bear with each other, and forgive each other, God will not bless us. * * *
" Thus I think I have not omitted any thing in your long letter.
" The cholera morbus has visited Malacca. On the 2nd instant, sixteen persons died : two funerals have just passed our door to-day in course of the last two hours. Seven funerals passed our door the other day ; Klings and Malays have chiefly sufiered yet. Two of our domestics have died of the cholera, and one more has been very ill. Our lives are in his hand ; living and dying may we be his.
" I liked your letter to the Union very much. Such letters do great good. I rather think it will be liked by all. " Yours ever,
" W. Milne."
1819.] 8TATB OF THB POOR IN CHINA. 15
In order to comply with Professor Beard's request respecting the state of the poor in China, Dr. Morri- son employed the peculiar facilities which his situa- tion afforded, to obtain all possible information on the subject. The following communication made to him by the late Dr. Livingstone, one of the surgeons be- longing to the Company's establishment, though pub- lished in the ' Qleaner,' may be new, and interesting to many readers at the present time.
TO THE REV. DR. MORRISON. " My dear Sir, "Macao, 1819.
" The following hints, which I informed you were hastily written without premeditation, for the purpose of serving you as a memorandum whilst you answer to the queries of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, you had the goodness to say that you thought they might be useful in their present shape : I therefore return them to you without any material alteration, and place them with much pleasure at your disposal.
" Your's very sincerely,
" John Livingstone.''
" In China, sudden and unforeseen calamities, such as a river breaking its embankment, fire destroying a vil- lage, and the like, often reduce a whole kindred to a state of extreme poverty, and oblige them to beg, for which they get a public license. In all other cases, where disease is not the cause of pauperism, it seems to be the practice in China, for the able part of the family to support their poor or reduced relatives.
'^ The remaining classes of paupers are such as are diseased. These may be divided into two large classes.
16 CORRESPONDENCE. [1819.
viz. the clean and the unclean. The first class compre- hends ; Ist, the blind ; 2nd, the lame ; 3rd, the deaf and the dumb. The unclean class consist of lepers.
« The number of blind poor in China is astonishingly great. I have not been able to obtain any thing even like an approximation of the exact proportion to that of the whole population. The best informed appear not to know, or perhaps they are unwilling to tell ; for they generally say that they come from another part of the country, &c. Some of them learn to perform on musical instruments, and to recite tales, for which they receive payment, and therefore may be consi- dered as subsisting by their industry; but a greater proportion of them go about as conmion beggars, fre- quently in companies of ten or twelve, in which case they are attended by a guide ; more generally two or three go together, and guide themselves along by means of long sticks, by which they seem to feel their way.
"The blind and lame sit in the streets and highways, and implore the charity of the compassionate. Le- prosy is a dreadful calamity in China. It dooms the wretched sufferer, even should he recover, to remain for ever an outcast from his relatives. This class is exceedingly numerous, and crowds the streets and highways. They are seen in considerable numbers near the residence of Europeans at Qanton. A cold winter night is usually destructive to many of these miserable beings. They might easily be restored to health, yet, in the superstitious notion of the Chinese, it would not restore them to any of the comforts of social intercourse, not even to work.
" In Canton and other large towns, establishments exist for supplying the destitute, aged, blind, lame, &c., with maintenance.
1820.] STATE OF THE POOR IN CHINA. 17
" No divisions similar to our parishes exist in China ; nor indeed any other unless for police regulations, and these have not connected with them any establish- ment for the support of the poor.
" Their places of religious worship are made occa- sionally merely the places from which alms are distri- buted, and we have reason to suppose, more from ostentation than true charitable motives. The Man- darins of the district sometimes also distribute from their temples, the allowance to the destitute, aged, blind, &c., but no charitable fund seems ever to be connected with any of their temples, considered as a religious establishment ; yet it seems to be a sentiment pretty universally diffused, that charitable deeds are pleasing to Heaven, and that they may deprecate im- pending wrath : accordingly, on certain days charita- ble donations are made of money, more frequently of rice. In a country where the necessaries of life are commonly very cheap, and where a little rice, a little pork, or fish and vegetables, enable the poor to make even a comfortable meal, it will be readily understood that the condition of the poor is far from bad. Even the leper seems, from the nature of his infirmity, to obtain supplies of food with facility, and he seems to bow to his hard fate with a degree of resignation.
" These remarks apply, perhaps, generally to the southern or warmer provinces of China. In the northern division, where rice is not cultivated, and where the winters are severe, the poor suffer much greater hardships. In proof of this it may be stated, that the northern beggars often find their way even to
Macao.
The Chinese pagan population of Macao is com- monly calculated to be from 35,000 to 40,000 ; the Christian population comprehending the Portuguese ;
Vol. n. c
18 STATE OF THE POOB [1820.
the Chinese in the dress of Portuguese ; mixtures of these in every degree with the original settlers from Europe, India, Africa, and the neighbouring Philip- pine and Malay islands, is under 5000. From Timor, and the Portuguese settlements in Africa, about 100 slaves arrive annually. From these various sources, during 250 years, the present mixed race of Macao has sprung. They have divided themselves into two classes ; Ist. — ^Those of foreign descent ; 2nd. — ^The Chinese descendants. The first preserve all the pride and consequence of the first settlers. More real worth will be found amongst the second class. Each class contains a very few respectable merchants and ship-owners. Excepting such emplojrments as are absolutely necessary for the outfit and mani^ement of their ships, every other branch of industry is left to the Chinese, even to the management of house- hold affairs. From this view of the Christian in- habitants of Macao, a people without manufactures, arts, or industry, it will be expected that pauperism of a peculiar description must result; accordingly we have the incongruous phenomenon of beggars without humility appearing in silks and lace, with sword and cocked hat, asking charity for the love of God, and telling you, God will pay !
This may appear a singular case in the grand pro- blem of charity. It may require explanation. The early missionaries were well provided with the means of meliorating the condition of the Neophytes, and the encouraging circumstances attending their first success, procured for them ample means of building stately churches, and connecting Avith them ample charitable funds. From these, supplies would be readily obtained, and perhaps the missionaries, not contemplating the possible failure of these funds, were
1
820.] AMONG THE POIITUGCESE. 19
treless in inculcating habits of industry. This is more probable, as the uiimber of saints' days on which it is not lawful to do any kind of work, without special permission, are so many aa greatly to impede every kind of labour ; and I have been informed that there is scarcely a day throtighout the year on which they may not have a religious excuse for neglecting their worldly concerns. On the other hand, the Chinese have very few religious hinderances ; a few days of festivity about tlie new year, and of altendante on the [tombs of their ancestors, being nearly their only inter- .Tuptions to labour. Thus, were the Christians ever so industriously inclined, they could not enter into any successful competition with the Chinese pagans. Hence, they seem from the first to have been dis- couraged from making any effort. They learn to do nothing.
The funds for the support of the poor are dilapidated very considerably of late, from causes which it would be paiuiiil to state. Were it not that a quantity of rice necessary to supply the absolute wants of nature is in general very easily procured, many must starve ; as it is, perhaps no part of the world contains a species of pauperism so greatly and so deservedly wretched ; since it arises from the extinction of that principle of shame which is perhaps the best preventative of idle- ness, the parent of poverty,
■" Perhaps, too, from the same source arises that low and degraded sentiment which aeenis to view female purity with indifference ; it cannot be in lower estima- tion than here. Again, if we consider the degree of this virtue as a correct test of the state of all that is digni- fied, of all that is noble, of all that is virtuous in the character of man, — the utter inapplicability of any of these appellations to the degraded beings of tliis place, c 2
20 LETTER FROM DR. LIVINGSTONE. [1820.
will show a result equally melancholy— equally true. These remarks do not, of course, apply to the superior ranks ; some might be mentioned whose general con- duct would do honour to any society.
From the pen of the same Gentleman is the follow- ing account of another benevolent project of Dr. Mor- rison's for the ameliorating the bodily sufferings of the poor around him. — It was addressed to Dr. Milne, to be inserted in the * Gleaner.'
« Sir, *' China, Sept., 1820.
" I have observed, in the public streets and markets, both at Canton and Macao, for several years, many recent and dried vegetable substances exposed for sale, as medicines, which had never been received into any European Pharmacopoeia ; and have learned, that the demand for them was considerable ; and con- sequently, that they were necessary to the real or imaginary wants of the Chinese.
" Their stalls contain many articles not to be found in the shops of the Chinese Apothecaries, which are, therefore, not necessary to the regular Chinese practice ; yet it occurred to me, that their extensive use in Chinese domestic medicines, gave them a sufficient claim to my attention; but several difficulties, par- ticularly my ignorance of the Chinese language, made me defer at that time any attempt to investigate, whether they might not supply something in addition to the means now possessed, of lessening human suffer- ing in the West.
" Some time afterwards I communicated my difficul- ties to my friend. Dr. Morrison, who kindly promised me his assistance. He has done more. He has purchased a Chinese Medical Library, consisting of upwards of 800 volumes, with a complete assortment of Chinese
I I
DISPENSARY IN MACAO. 21
Medicines ; and has engaged a respectable Cliinesc Physician and Apothecary, with the occasional attend- ance of an Herbalist (whose complete stock be pur- chased for my inspection ), to explain the properties of the various articles which he (the Herbalist) collects and sells.
" In addition to this, the same gentleman instituted a Dispensary some mopths ago, for supplying the Chinese poor with advice and medicines, which he superintends himself from one to two hours every morning, I have also been able to give pretty constant attendance, and have had an opportunity of observing the details of Chinese practice, in from about ten to iifteen cases daily.
'* A residence of twelve years m Macao, and the occasional observation of some of the more important cases, which a population of about forty-five thousand inhabitants, and the crowded neighbouring villages, could supply, had rather served to convince me of the great difficulty I had to encounter, in comprehending rightly the meaning of Chinese patients, when stating their complaints, than to supply me with such a familiar acquaintance with their popular notions re- garding disease, and the effects of remedies, which is so very necessary towards obtaining just views either of their diseases or medical practice.
On these points I found Dr. Morrison's sentiments accorded exactly with my own ; and altliough he is familiar with the colloquial idiom of tlie Chinese, in the ordinary intercourses of life, and reads iheir polite Literature, he clearly comprehended, that it was ne- .cessary for us to investigate Chinese Medical Systems, ,nd attend long and carefully to the business of the Dispensary, before we could form a just estimate of Chinese medicine, or to explain correctly its tech- nicology.
22 M£D1CAL PRACTICE [1820.
" To surmount these difficulties will require consider- ably more time and attention^ than we have yet been able to bestow. We have, however, made some pro- gress. Your pages are not the proper place for a pro- fessional detail, and it is obviously necessary to defer any such for the present. I shall, therefore, confine myself now to such observations as I conceive may find a place in the ^ Indo-Chinese Gleaner.'
^' I am happy to say, that Dr. M.'s Institution has already done much good — much human suffering has been relieved. Upwards of 300 patients have made very grateful acknowledgmente for renovated health. Some have been dismissed without much benefit, and some without any. — Of these some have recovered under the European practice. No death has yet occurred. I am happy to give this testimony to the general success of the Chinese practitioner, whom Dr. M. has been so fortunate in selecting to superintend his Dispensary. He acquits himself as an intelligent, amiable man. To venereal patients he conducts himself with some severity, and generally refuses to prescribe for them. This branch of practice, he assures us, is commonly declined by the regular practitioners. It is in the hands of Barber-Surgeons, who use a singular preparation from quicksilver, cinnabes, and arsenic, externally. — He says, he never employs mercury — adding, that his patients often stipulate with him, that it shall not enter into the medicines which he pre- scribes for them ; from which it may be inferred, that this powerful metal is both used and abused. It was known in China long before we had any notice of its use in the medical practice in Europe.
" To lepers he shows a most childish aversion. He starts from them with alacrity. I have at times witnessed his conduct to poor lepers. When Dr. M. remonstrated, he excused himself by telling us, if he
I
1820.] IN CHINA. 23
touched tliem, he would be shunued himaclf, nor would any one come to the Dispensary. I am fully aware of tlie difficulty which we shall experience in conquering this absurdity.
"About half our cases are chronic, stomacli, pectoral, and bowel complaints; a few cases of chronic rheu- matiam. A great proportion of our acute cases, our doctor arranges under their general term, Shang Han, ' Injured by the cold,' which seems to comprehend, 83 species, all the diseases which originate in checked perspiration, whether by exposure to March miasmatic cold, damp air, &c. Its species yaries with the season of the year. I am only at present able to enumerate the fever from cold, conjective fevers, dysentery, in- termittent and remittent fevers, and rheumatisms.
" The Apothecaries' shops in Canton contain about 300 medicines, which are in common use ; yet Le Seen-aang informs us, that about thirty only are abso- lutely necessary in practice. An eminent physician in Canton uses chiefly one medicine — rhubarb. Hia name is Wang, ' a king,' and, in allusion to his prac- ce, he is called ' The Rhubarb King.'
*' 1 have long entertained an opinion that, upwards of two thousand years ago, the Chinese were greater proficients in medicine than any of the nations of the West; yet, while but few improvements have been introduced, an abundant crop of errors, similar to the astrological medicine of Europe, has been allowed to spring up, in the highest degree ridiculous, and which has greatly deteriorated every department. This remains unchanged ; yet, I am happy to add, these errors do not seem to impede its usefulness in the hands of a discreet able man.
" Besides our commercial intercourse, which is not way* favourable to friendly sentiments between man
24 CHARITIES AMONG [1820.
and man, we have hitherto had little or no opportunity of establishing with them those friendly reciprocations of beneficent acts which must ever constitute the firmest bonds of social intercourse. Such attempts as this, seem calculated speedily to produce the best results. The scheme is Christian, and it therefore must succeed.
" To conclude, I am certain we have, in the short time in which the Institution has existed, fully proved, that we are both able and willing to do them much good ; and that both they and we have much useful information to impart to each other. "J. L."
Although several literary and scientific men, as well as 'Dr. Livingstone, were contributors to the ^ Indo-Chinese Gleaner,' still its chief supporters were Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne. It is also but justice to mention the benevolent purpose to which any over- plus arising from its sale, was appropriated — ^viz.
"To the Fund for Widows and Orphans of Mis- sionaries belonging to the Ultra-Ganges Missions, and for such of their brethren on this side of the Cape of Good Hope, as shall subscribe to that Fund, and contribute papers to this publication."
" Charities among the heathen. — ^That is, to feed, clothe, and educate such heathen orphans and poor children, as may be placed under the care of the Ultra-Ganges Missions; and to assist widows, the aged, deaf, dumb, blind, and lame ; and such other heathen, or converts from among the heathen, as have no relatives, nor strength to labour, or are persecuted, or otherwise deprived of the means of support."
Happily for the progress of Dr. Morrison's literary and religious pursuits, during this and the preceding year, an unusual degree of tranquillity subsisted
1820.] THE HEATHElf. 25
between the Chinese^ and the foreign commercial i^ents — BO that he was enabled to prosecute with un- ceasing energy those plans which were calculated, either directly or indirectly, to dispel darkness and error — and diffiise the blessings of Christianity, and general knowledge, throughout those vast regions. His correspondence — ^varied as it was — was also ren- dered subservient to this end — and his letters, although generally written upon the announcement of a ship being despatched, and with a rapidity almost in- credible to those who had not witnessed it — ^yet so fully exhibit the prevalent feelings of his heart, and the passing events of the moment, that a few are in- troduced as the best substitute for a journal or diary, which for some time had been discontinued. .
TO JOSEPH REYNOR, ESa
"Canton, China, January 7th, 1820.
" My much esteemed Friend,
"In November 'last I received your letter dated January 20th, 1819. I sincerely regret the causes which induced you t6 defer writing to me ; but we are not left uncared for by our heavenly Father. Afilictions, either in one form or another, are more or less the lot of all. My domestic trials, I judge not light : though the anxieties of commerce are unknown to me. This is the last day of my thirty-seventh year : thirteen years I have spent in this country — The last five my family and I have lived in opposite sides of the globe, and, what I regret much is — ^the many arrivals from England which bring me no ac- count of my family.
" You desire me to suggest what may be useful to our cause. Next to the light of God's countenance shining on a missionary's mind, the civilities of Chris
26 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
tians at home keep up his spirits, especially when he is beginning his career. All the new missionaries complain to me of being dispirited. It was my feel- ing also at first. # # • I know how much every one has to do in his own domestic affidrs, and in the gratuitous affairs of the Society: still all the home Machinery is nugatory without the active ser- vices of your missionaries. Do believe me that it is of vast importance to be, as a society/jery friendly to them — I would suggest a committee of two or three gentlemen to attend to the petty wants of young missionaries — I am not pleading for myself.
" With respect to small sums of money (and this mercantile people here call every thing less than 10,000 dollars a small sum), it is difficult to procure interest, unless you can lend it certainly for twelve months.
" I have, however, added something to our College funds by interest. But what is necessary for the current expenses of the year, for Malacca — Commis- sions,* &c., I cannot obtain interest. The liberal contributions of the Tract Society are most usefully expended in aiding Mr. Milne's Monthly Tracts. The seed thus sown, will, I doubt not, eventually pro- duce an abundant harvest.
" You will find that I have completed the Sacred Scriptures in Chinese, with Mr. Milne's help ; may God's blessing rest upon them, and make them like the book of the Lord found by Hilkiah, probably 800 years after it was put by Moses in the place where the High Priest found it. ( 2 Kings xxii. 8 ; Deut. xxxi. 26.)
" Our venerable friend Dr. Bogue, in his sermon on the death of the late Mr. Hardcastle, seems to underrate
* Printing materials.
27
I
^H830.] TO J. REYNOR, ESQ.
^Hlooks as a means of converting tlte heathen nations. 1 ^Kee no occasion for this jealousy : our Saviour uees, I think, various means. MissionarieB, and books, and col- leges also are useful : though none of the means of sal- vation are without their defects. Books lie unheeded — Missionaries become careless or immoral — Colleges degenerate : where is there perfection on earth ! Es- tablishments become merely secular associations, and Congregational churches and Independent ministers become selhsh and proud. Alas ! for fallen man.
"I trust, my dear Sir, that you will aid the College ^y your counsel in the meetings of the Directors. They cannot, consistently with the original plan of the Institution, have the sole control. I trust they will not make difficulties. We are, perhaps, more able to judge what is practicable than those whose experience has been in any different circumstances.
*' How long it shall please God to bear with the idol- atry, and lewdness, and injustice which prevail in this country, none can tell; but, judging by the declara- tions of the Prophets in reference to the western na- tions, it would appear to me ripe for judgments. There has been much suffering in the neighbourhood of Pe- king from the rivers overflowing their banks. Two millions of taels are ordered for the immediate work necessary to bring back the ri\'er to its course. Many thousands, some say more than 100,000 people jje- rished. I have not yet seen the person you introduced. Present my kind regards to Mrs. Reynor and the children. May we all be kept by divine power through grace and faith to eternal salvation. " Vour'fl affectionately,
" K. Morrison."
28 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
TO M. REMUSAT. " Sir, " Canton, China, Jan. 7. 1820.
" Your two letters of November, 1818, one of which you forwarded by my friend Mr. Hankey, have both come to hand. The copy of your iji ^, which you presented to me, I have received, and return you my best thanks for it. I have an assistant who is a ^ ^ graduate, and who has looked over the Chinese part of your work ; the printing of which is very correct and very neat. In page 20 the final ^ is superfluous, and in page 155, ^ is printed for ^. In page 32, the translation of M. ^ 4^ R^ &c., is incorrect. In- deed, you have, I believe, given "un contre-sens,** similar to that which, in page 142, you justly charge Mr. Marshman with, in the sentence J^^^ j^ ^
i|g^. In the Alphabetic Dictionary, which goes from me to England, and a copy of which I hope will be sent to you, you will see the use of ^ -^ i^^ and ;^ ^ 4^ , &c.* You know that M -^ ^ ^ means * there is nothing greater than heaven j' so 1^ ^ 4^ ^ means Uhere is nothing more apparent (to a man himself) than what he does in darkness.'
" The volume is exceedingly neat, and it is a valua- ble addition to our European catalogue of books on Chinese.
" Agreeably to your request, I enclose you a list of the prices of those .books which you desire to purchase. Some of them are not to be had in Canton, and the expense of embarking them is not included.
*^ The ;5 ^ I. have called in my Dictionary a cor- undum stone ; but Mr. Reeves, a Fellow of the R. and L. S., resident here, thinks, with you, that it is a spe-
1820.] TO M. REMUSAT. 29
cies of lapis nephiticus, or jade stone. He has never seen it red, but a mixture of green and white — some- times entirely white. The Chinese, however, use ■^ yg for any valuable stone. The ^ ]^ yB ^^ consider a cornelian stone. Mr. Reeves has sent spe- cimens to England of the -^ ^, in order to take the
opinions of persons there. He also has sent to Sir Joseph Banks a good many dried plants and seeds, to which he has for several years paid attention, although the Chinese are very reluctant to assist him in what they deem * idle curiosity.' However, if you send us a list of those plants contained in the ]^ "^ ^ Q
which you have ascertained, with the Linnsean names, we shall do our best to add to the number. I say tre, for I must be much indebted to Mr. Reeves' aid.
" I am much obliged to you for giving publicity to my publications on the continent. It is some encou- ragement to go onward when one finds that one's la- bour is not quite in vain in rousing the attention of Europe to the literature and best interests (I mean religious and moral interests) of this part of the globe.
" It was new to me that the credulous unbelievers of Europe began to cherish hope from our ignorance of the Manchow Tartars. That is a stale trick of theirs, to argue from our ignorance, and to believe most firmly whatever they choose to suppose, in oppo- sition to our Sacred Scriptures.
" Your researches in the Manchow Tartar language acquire, from this circumstance, a degree of import- ance of which I was not aware. I wish you could find time to render the Bible into the Manchow. I am not aware that it is yet done ; and it would be a work worthy of your pious King.
30 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
"Wishing you the blessings of God Alniighty, through our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
" I remain, dear Sir,
" Your's sincerely,
^* R. Morrison.''
TO principal baird.
" Rev. Sir, " Canton, China, Jan. 7, 1820.
" I have seen the young person, Mr. C, whom you introduced to me, and I am glad to hear from the person who is his senior as surgeon on board, that Mr. C. conducts himself with great moral propriety.
" Respecting the poor in China, I last season wrote some answer to your questions through Dr. Waugh. To these I have little to add. In the province of Peking, the government has this summer been called upon to exert itself for the poor. — Most extensive in- undations took place in consequence of heavy rains in Tartary; and very many lives were lost; and those who escaped with life, were deprived of the means of support. The first act of the Emperor was to declare the land-tax in those districts, either wholly or in part remitted — ^to give a small sum of money, about the value of a crown, to each individual — to erect houses for the gratuitous distribution of boiled rice made into a thin gruel — and to bsue from the Board of Revenue two millions of taels for the defraying the expense of restoring the rivers to their proper channels. This is a specimen of what the government does for the poor in extraordinary cases. They also give a license to beg, to persons who suffer from drought or inundation, &c.
" For those who have relations able to support them, there is no provision, and the establishments for the
Haffi< ext
tO(
tol for
do
To rRINCIPAL BAraD. 31
destitute old and blind, and lepers, are attended to carelessly, as in every country where it is merely an
cial duty that is performed, and where there is
entire want of the spirit of individual benevolence. A great part of the money given to the sufferers in extraordinary cases, is appropriated by those appointed to distribute it. The poor man in China has to look to his relations for support. There is no tax in China for the support of the poor. As to the number of poor
able to support themselves in China, I know of no leans by which data coidd be procured to make a
ilcniation.
" I thank you for the two copies of the printed paper. I wiah you had sent me a few more. My friend Mr. Livingstone is, I understand, sending to your museum this year, two or three Chinese human skulls; they were the heads of some unhappy men who were decapitated for robbing an American vessel in Macao roads. I shall probably procure a few trifles for you, and send them by Mr. Clarke. Your late provost's son, Mr. Marjoribanks, is going from China this season to Edinburgli, and has kindly engaged to do what he can for our Anglo-Chinese College at ^MalBcca. He takes with him some printed statements the object of the Institution. Should you and he live to meet, I beg you to grant him some assistance by your influence in Edinburgh. Our College would unite the concerns of time, and of eternity — of the body and of the soul of men— the redemption of which from the guilt and power of sin, is so infinitely im- portant.— The best blessing of a minister of Christ is seal of God's approbation in the conversion of
lany — may this be your'a.
■ " I remain your's faithfully,
" RoDEBT Morrison."
32 PUBLICATIONS IN CHINESE. [1820.
The following extracts from the Missionary Society's Report, notice some of those labours which are pieissed over in silence by Dr. Morrison in his more general correspondence : —
" In the last report it was stated that Dr. Morrison's health had begun to suffer from repeated attacks of severe indisposition : the Directors are happy in being able now to state , that, having retired to Macao, with a view to its restoration, he was enabled, afler a short absence from Canton, to return to that city, and resume his important labours, with his accustomed assiduity and vigour.
"Of the few natives whom Dr. M. is still privi- leged to address, he speaks favourably ; especially of their attention to his discourses, and their reveren- tial behaviour during the devotional parts of divine worship.
" Dr. M. had also completed the Alphabetical por- tion of his Chinese Dictionary, which is foimd very useful among the Chinese students at Canton, and he hopes will prove equally so at Malacca.
" Among his greater and more laborious occupations Dr. M. had yet found time to execute works of a less important character. A small treatise, entitled, * De- tached Remarks, intended to settle the Phraseology used in Chinese Discourse, and to contrast the prin- ciples of the Budh, Mahometan, and Confucian sects, with those of the True Religion,' had been drawn up by him, and printed at the Malacca Mission press. Dr. M. has also published a small book, called ^A Voyage round the World;' designed to enlarge the minds of the lower classes of the Chinese in respect to mankind generally, and to introduce among them a knowledge of the essential truths of Christianity. To this pamphlet is annexed a map of the world, in which
1820.] MRS. Morrison's return to china. 33
Judea is designated as the country ' where Jesus, the Saviour of the world was bom.'
"Four hundred copies of the translations of the Morning and Evening Prayers of the Church of Eng- land, and of the Psalter, as divided in the Prayer Book, have been printed and bound up together in volumes. The Committee of the Prayer Book and Homily Society have ordered 2000 copies of this work for distribution in the East.
" Mrs. Morrison, whose health is much improved, embarked with her two children on the 23rd of last month (April), on board the Marchioness of Ely, Captain Kay, on her return to China."
On the 23rd of August, Dr. Morrison, after a sepa^ ration of nearly six years, had the happiness of being re-united to his family. On sojourning a few weeks with them at Macao, he had to resume his official duties in Canton, from whence in November he writes the following to his brother in London : * Tell them ( relatives ) that my wife and children were well when I heard from them. I have so much writing they must excuse me if they get short letters, or none at all. I am really wearied beyond measure by daily writing for the Dictionary, &c. &c. &c. • * * You need not send me the parliamentary debates ^ain, I have no time to read them; any small work that excites much notice, you may send, and children's books. I am this year so much occu- pied, I hope you will excuse my writing at great length either to you or to my sisters. Do you write a line from me to inform them that I am in my usual health. * * * I am much discouraged ; may my mind be brought to a greater degree of hum- ble reliance on the blessing of God. * * * The
Vol. II. V
34 CORRESFONBEXCE. [1820.
omperor of China, called Kea-kingj died on the 2nd of September last; his son has ascended the throne by the title Taou-kwangj which means * reason's
glory!'
" There has been a massacre of the English, French, and Danes at Manilla — about thirty-seven persons — an occurrence which has shocked us much.
<^ I am grieved that our mission makes so little actual progress — ^pray for us. Farewell, my dear brother, " Your s aifectionately,
" R. Morrison.''
TO W. ALERS HANKBY, ESQ. " My dear Sir, *' Canton, China, December 14, 1820.
^^ I forward to you some letters of an unpleasant nature, which I tliiuk should be considered * in your secret department, for * * * I know not that the disagreement of the society's servants should be made public any more then the dissentions which some- times occur in families.
^^ The letter to me from Colonel Farquhar is satis- factory. Permit me to request of you to endeavour to procure from the society a specific donation of one or two hundred pounds, or whatever they may think proper to give at present to the College. Do you think that nothing can be done in opening a sub- scription for it? We do not require much, but the professors or teachers should have some allowance, and more students I believe on the foundation, could be procured, if we had the means.
* These letters refer to the conduct of some young men sent out to assist in the mission at Malacca and Pinang, who chose to act in opposition to Dr. Mine, and to the principles laid down by the Union of the Ultra-Ganges Mission.
1820.] HOMICIDE. 35
" What view of Christianity our new emperor will take, is not yet known. The commander-in-chief at Peking has afforded him an opportunity, hy seizing four poor men (harhers), a cross, and a catechism, and reporting the transaction to his majesty, with an affirmation that the culprits would not renounce the ^Europen religion,* as he calls it. This occurrence appeared in tlie Peking Gazette a few days ago ; hut I have not yet seen the emperor's answer.
" We have had an unpleasant case of homicide committed here by an officer of one of the Company's ships firing i}i a rash manner to intimidate the Chi- nese, by which he killed a waterman. It was speedily arranged by the Chinese government, that a man who committed suicide, should be considered the person who fired the shot !
" My family is, through God's mercy, in good health, at least when I last heard from them, for although we lived so many years in different hemispheres, we are again already separated.
" May the Lord bless you, and be gracious to you, and give success to your endeavours to spread the gospel. Farewell. *' Your's sincerely,
"R. Morrison."
FROM COLONEL FARQUHAR TO DR. MORRISON. " Dear Sir, " Singapore, October 20th, 1820.
" Permit me to return you my most sincere thanks for the truly kind and most valuable letter you did me the favour to write, under date the 11th of June last.
" I cannot but feel the most lively gratification, that my very humble endeavours to promote the interests of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, should have
d2
36 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820
been received bo very favourably by its respected founder; and have only to regret, that the means within my reach of being more essentially useful to an institu- tion so highly interesting and important, should have been so circumscribed. I however trust, that it may please God, at some future period, to render me more deserving of the encomiums you have had the good- ness to pass on the present occasion, as well as of the honour my most esteemed friend Mr. Milne has really conferred on me, by placing my name amongst the Vice Presidents of the College.
"Mr. Milton continues very industrious, and his school for Chinese and Malays is getting on extremely well. We are greatly indebted to him for his clerical services, which he has offered on all occasions with the utmost readiness.
" This settlement is daily increasing in population and commercial importance, and if permanently re- tained by us, will no doubt become a place of the first consequence to the eastward. Should Sir Stamford Raffles visit Singapore, before I take my departure, you may rest assured, I shall not fail to make him acquainted with the sentiment expressed in your letter, and I am fully satisfied that he will render every as- sistance and support in his power to the mission established here, as I believe few men feel a more lively interest in the general success of the society than he does.
" With sincerest wishes for your health, happiness, and prosperity,
" I remain with the greatest esteem,
" Your very faithful friend and servant,
(Signed) " Wm. Farquhar."
1820.] MAS8ACRB AT MAKILLA. 37
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS TO A RELATIVE.
" Canton, December 4th, 1820.
" I left Macao in order to come up here on Thurs- day last. The occasion of my coming is an unplea- sant one, an officer belonging to one of the Company's ships, rashly fired a gun or fowling-piece and killed a Chinese, a young man the owner of a boat ; and this of course has been noticed by the Chinese government. The officer, it is alleged, belonged to the * London f and all commerce with her is inter- dicted till the officer be delivered to justice. It is said he has absconded, and where the proceedings will end, cannot at this time be known. • • • •
" There has been a very shocking massacre of from thirty to forty Europeans of different nations of Eu- rope, and of about eighty Chinese, at Manilla. The perpetrators of this cruel act were the native Manilla people. The pretext was a supposition that foreigners had introduced the disease called cholera morbus, which had prevailed extensively, and was very fatal. Alas! how much suffering there exists in our guilty world. Happy they whose hearts are changed, and who are fitted for a better state, where there shall be nothing to hurt, nor to annoy, to all eternity. * *
" Would that I could tell you of a Christian church gathered together from amongst this idolatrous peo- ple, and that our baptized countrymen had more of the spirit of true religion I ***** •
"Without economy and punctuality in worldly matters, we shall soon lose both competence and re- spectability of character. ******
" I am often rather low-spirited about the want of success in our Ultra-Ganges Missions. I fear I don't
38 C0RRE8P0NDENCB. [1820.
spend enough of time upon my knees in prayer to God our Saviour, that his kingdom may come. To pray and to neglect means, as well as to use means and neglect prayer, are both 'ivrong.
" Dec. 6th. — A man on board one of the Company's ships committed suicide on the 3rd instant, and the purpose of the Chinese government is, to consider him the murderer, and so end the legal proceedings.
" Dec. 9th. — Tliis strange mode of preserving the forms of law has been absolutely carried into effect, and I have the prospect of being enabled to resmne my usual labours, which have been interrupted for some days by this very unhappy case.'* * • •
Although frequently depressed from seeing so little fruit of his labours, Dr. Morrison was not left altoge- ther without encouragement, as would appear, from one and another giving evidence of being turned from " darkness to light." A few of these instances were re- corded in his letters to the British and Foreign Bible Society, from which they are extracted: —
" A native printer,* who was some time since baptized by Mr. Milne, has composed and printed a paraphrase on several parts of the New Testament ; the reading of which, he found more edifying to his mind than any other books printed by us. He has since been called to suffer for righteousness' sake. Here I hope the word of God, which formerly edified him, will still support his mind. He has, I believe, truly felt the power of divine truth, and is an example of the utility of the Bible in this idolatrous country.
" During the past year, I have not been able to dis-
* Leang-Afa.
1820.] DEATH OF THE EMPEROR KEA-KING. .39
tribute any portion of the Scriptures in China. The emperor Kea-king, under whose reign the Christian religion was, by an express decree, declared illegal, was suddenly removed to another world in September last ; whether his successor will be as inimical to it, must be determined by time. It is, however, gratify- ing to see that so many thousands of Chinese,* who are not under the influence of these prohibitory decrees, have now an opportunity of reading the gospel in their native language.
" The governor of Ockotsk has gratefully acknow- ledged the receipt of those copies of the Scriptures which I sent to that unfrequented part of the globe.
"The Chinese sailor, who some years ^o wrote out for the type-cutters my first edition of the New Testament, athough long since out of my employ, and at that time feeling rather an aversion to Bible truth, appears now to believe that the religion of Jesus is from heaven, which is some encourage- ment. We have prepared the seed, to which, when extensively sown, we hope Ood will not deny his blessing."
The Anglo- Chinese College being finished, and a few native youths having been received on the foun- dation, with two persons of European extration, who commenced a course of study under the tution of the Rev. Mr. Milne, Dr. Morrison drew up a code of laws and statutes, for the regulation of the Institution ; besides a deed of grant ; copies of which, are here ap- pended in order to afford ample information respect- ing this interesting Institution.
* Resident in Siam, Cochin-China, and the Malayan Archipelago.
4Q LAWS AND STATUE^ [1820«
LAWS AND STATUTES OF THE AN0L0-GHINE8E COLLEGE.
" There shall be a College Council.
" I. The College Council shall consist of the Presi- dent of the College, the resident Principal, and the Professor of Chinese.
"It is understood that, the Principal has the direction of the ordinary daily concerns of the Col- lege ; but in any affair of importance to the Institu- tion, or in any new case that may arise not pro- vided for by previously existing laws; or, in such cases as may hereafter be specified, the Principal is required, by this statute, to confer on the subject with the Professor of Chinese.
"II. In any case of serious misconduct on the part of any Student, the measures to be adopted shall be considered by the College Council, and their deci- sion carried into effect by the Principal, in ordinary cases ; and in particular cases, by such member, of Council as may be appointed.
" III. When the President is residing at the College, he shall be Chairman of the Council.
" IV. When a difference of opinion shall arise amongst the members of Council on any subject, the President and either of the other members of the Council concurring, shall decide the question. If the second and third members of Council shall differ in opinion with the President, and the case does not require immediate decision, it shall be deferred six or twelve months; reconsidered in the mean time; if practicable, the opinion of some of the Trustees be taken, by a joint or separate application of the Presi- dent and the other two members.
" If the question require inunediate decision, the President's opinion shall be adopted, and each party
1820.J OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE. 41
make minutes of the reasons of their opinions, to be referred to one or more of the Trustees, whose votes, joined with either party in the Council, shall make a final decision.
"V. In case of the President being absent, the Principal and Chinese Professor shall form a Council, and confey on every important subject. The Princi- pal may, at any time, require a meeting ; and the second member of Council is also allowed to request one. If desired, the reasons must be minuted by the Principal, and referred to the President.
'* It is to be hoped that there will be a general con- currence of opinion ; but when a difference of opinion shall arise, if immediate decision be not necessary, the case shall be deferred, and represented jointly, or separately, to the President, whose opinion, on either side, shall decide the case. When immediate decision is required, the Principal's opinion shall be adopted for the time being, and a representation, known to both parties, be made to the President; or in the event of the office of President being vacant, to a Trustee, whose connexion with the College has con- tinued longest.
" VI. Should the Principal insist on the immediate decision of a case which the second member of Coun- cil thinks it right to defer, the second member is, by this statute, permitted to enter a protest on the minutes of the Council.
" VII. After the death of the founder, the appoint- ment of European officers to the College shall be made by the Trustees. The appointment of Native professors, or masters, shall be made by the College Council.
" VIII. The periodical statements to the public concerning the College, shall be drawn up by the
42 LAWS AND STATUBS [1820.
College Couucil. As often as practicable, those who have been Students in the College, shall be appointed as Masters ; and, whenever they are equally well qualified for the vacant office, they shall be pre- ferred to other candidates.
" IX. When there is no specific and sufficient rea- son to the contrary, the European officers of the In- stitution shall fill the vacancies which may occur by seniority. The Council and Trustees shall judge if the alleged reason be sufficient or not.
^^ X. Students shall be admitted by the consent of the College Council. When a difference of opinion exists, the Council shall come to a decision in the manner above directed.
"XI. The consent of the College Council shall be necessary to authorize the Principal to expel any Student.
" XII. Gross and open immorality persisted in, shall be a sufficient cause for expelling any Student.
" XIII. A continued and obstinate neglect of pre- scribed studies, shall be a sufficient cause to expel a Student.
"XIV. A wilful, pertinacious, disobedience to the rules of the College, shall be a sufficient cause for expulsion.
" XV. One of the European officers of the College shall always be present at morning and evening prayers.
" XVI. It shall be the duty of the officers of the College to cherish, at all times, a paternal feeling of kindness to the Students ; to set an example of pa- tience, moderation, good temper, and assiduity; and to avail themselves of every opportunity to inculcate lessons of morality and true piety; considering the religious and moral instruction of the Students, as no
1820.] OP THE ANGLO-CHINESE CX)LL£G£. 43
less intended by the Anglo-Chinese College, than their intellectual education.
" XVII. The European officers of the College to be Trustees by virtue of their office.
" XVIII. The Trustees shall not be fewer than five. Vacancies (after the death of the founder) being filled up by ballot amongst the existing Patrons, Officers, and Trustees.
" XIX. Patrons shall be supplied in like manner.
BY-LAWS OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE.
I. At the College table the conversation shall, by the Principal, be turned as much as may be to topics of general utility ; in which it is expected that those present will support him. It is desired that characters of persons (whose characters are not already subjects of history) shall not be introduced, lest even praising some, should induce detraction, or evil speaking, of others.
IL On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, the general good behaviour of the Students, and observa- tion of the Rules of the College, shall be superintended by the Principal ; and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the Chinese Professor shall superintend the Students for the same purpose. On Sundays, the Principal and Professor shall take this duty alter- nately.
III. The Officers of the College shall have a choice of apartments, in the order of the rank they hold ; and Students, who may live in the College, shall, generally, have a choice according to seniority of connexion with the College. In special cases, the Council shall have the power of allotting what apartments they please.
44 LAWS AND STATUES [1620.
ADMISSION OF NATIVE STUDENTS ON THE FOUNDATION.
All Students who enter the College must have a good character.
Native Students must remain three months on pro- bation, before they are regularly received into the College. If, after a trial of three months, they are considered suitable persons, they shall be received, on condition that they remain six years.
LECTURES
Must be attended three times a day ; viz., at nine in the morning ; four in the afternoon ; and at eight o'clock in the evening.
The Chinese Students are expected to attend prayer in Chinese, morning and evening, every day in the week ; and to be present to hear a Sermon in the Col- lege-hall on Sundays.
ALLOWANCES TO NATIVE STUDENTS ON THE FOUNDATION.
They receive for the first year, three rupees month- ly ; for the second year, five rupees ; for the third and fourth years, six rupees ; for the fifth, seven rupees ; and for the sixth year, eight rupees. Two suits of a College dress annually.
TUITION.
They shall be taught to read and understand the Chinese Classics ; to read and understand the Chris- tian Scriptures ; to read and write the English lan- guage. History, Geography, the Use of the Globes, Logic, Moral Philosophy, Theology — Natural and Re- vealed, &c.
PREPARATORY SCHOOLS.
The Charity Schools of the London Missionary So- ciety at Malacca, of Chinese lads, contain on an averc^e about one hundred. These schools are visited
1820.] OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE. 45
by the Officers of the Anglo-Chinese College ; and they, although not originally designed to do so, serve the purpose of preparatory schools from which to select youths for the College.
ADMISSION OF STUDEJ^rPS SUPPORTED BY THEIR FRIENDS.
Any person desirous of educating a Chinese youth, from the age of 12 to 18, may support him at the Anglo-Chinese College for one hundred Spanish dol- lars a year. Clothes, washing, and a servant, if one be required, are not included.
An European youth may be supported at the Col- lege for £100 per annum. For this sum he will be sup- plied with food, lodging, washing, and education. Clothes are not included. If a servant or horse be required, the Student must find them himself.
The Managers of the College will engage to board, lodge, clothe, and educate a destitute Chinese youth ; or a fatherless, or orphan lad, for £25 annually.
ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE.
PATRONS.
Lieutenant^Colonel Farquhar, Resident of Singapore, §rc., §rc. ; the Hon. E. Phillips, Governor of Pinang ; the Hon. J. Erskine, Member of Councily Pinang; and subsequently. Sir George Thomas Staunton, Bart., &;c., &;c.
TRUSTEES.
Robert Morrison, D.D. ; W. Alers Hankey, Esq., Treasurer of the London Missionary Society ; the Rev. George Burder, Secretary of the London Missionary Society ; C. W. Crommelin, Esq., G,ml Service j Ben- gal; Lieut.-Col. W. Farquhar ; D. S. Napier, Esq.
European Officers of the College are Trustees by virtue of their office.
46 LAWS AND STATUES, &C, [1820.
OFFICERS OF THE COLLEGE. 1. A PRESIDENT.
He may or may not be resident at the College, but, whether present or absent, he is to be considered the head of the Institution, and to take precedence accord- ingly. His duty is to promote the general welfare of the College in every department.
2. A RESn)ENT PRINCIPAL.
Salary, per annum £100
College Table 100
Native Steward 25— £225
3. A PROFESSOR OF CHINESE.
Salary, per annum . . . ; £100
A TREASURER.
A LIBRARIAN, AND KEEPER OF THE MUSEUM. 4. A NATIVE CHINESE MASTER.
Salary, 66 rupees per month.
Any immorality, generally condemned by Christian churches, shall incapacitate Europeans from holding offices in the Anglo-Chinese College.
And Native Masters and Teachers shall be, when practicable, correct moral men, according to the opinions of their own nation.
The duty of the President of the College is, to pro- mote the general welfare of the Institution ; and, when present at the College, to teach such departments of knowledge as may seem to him expedient.
The Principal has the ordinary general superin- tendence of the College concerns ; and is to teach the Native Students the English language. Geography,
1820.] ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE DEEP. 47
the Use of the Globes, Arithmetic, and Book-keeping; History, and such other branches of knowledge as circumstances may direct.
The Professor of Chinese is to teach the Chinese language to European Students ; also to teach the Natives Logic, Theology — Natural and Revealed ; Ethics, or Moral Philosophy ; and to assist the Prin- cipal, as circumstances may require, and his time permit.
The Chinese Master is to teach the Chinese Classics ; the reading of the Sacred Scriptures, and other books on the Christian Religion, in the Chinese language ; to assist Foreign Students in learning Chinese ; and to teach Chinese writing to Native and to Foreign Students.
As the College progresses, the mechanical and che- mical Sciences, Natural History, Botany, &c., will, it is hoped, be taught ; also Geometry, and the higher branches of the Mathematics. The plan of the College does not exclude any branch of human knowledge ; nor any one of the circle of the sciences.
ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGE DEED.
" I, Robert Morrison, D. D. of the University of Glasgow, having been sent to China in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seven, by a Society of Christians, meeting in London^ and composed of members of various British Churches, for the pur- pose of learning the Chinese language, rendering the Sacred Scriptures into the said tongue, and composing an English- Chinese Dictionary, with the ulterior view of the diffusion of the Christian Religion in China, and the Extra-Ganges nations ; and having, in the year 1818, nearly brought these several works to a conclusion, my mind was led to pray to God for direc-
48 ANGLO-CHINESE COLLEGB DEED. [1820.
tion, and to meditate on what further means could be used to bring about the final object of my Mission.
" The Divine Providence having increased my per- sonal property in a small degree, I determined to ap- propriate One Thousand Pounds sterling to found a College, to be called the Anglo-Chinese College, the object of which should be the cultivation of English and Chinese literature, in order to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"As the above preamble shows, the cultivation of literature is not to be considered the final object of the Institution, but attended to as a means of effectu- ating, under the blessing of God's Holy Spirit, the conversion to the faith of Christ of the Extra-Ganges nations, who read or speak the Chinese language ; so, on the other hand, the College must never be consi- dered as a mere dwelling-house for Christian mission- aries, but as a place devoted to study, with apartments only for the Principal of College, and such other per- sons engaged in tuition, or the appropriate studies of the College, as it can accommodate with rooms.
" Having entrusted the building of the College to the Rev. William Milne, my first associate in the Chinese Mission, and we, unitedly, having laid our views and wishes before the public, soliciting their pecuniary aid, and they having confided in the sincerity of our in- tentions, and deemed our object laudable, and deserv- ing the pecuniary aid of Christians — all monies re- ceived from the donors and subscribers (whose names are written in the College record) are to be considered as appropriated solely and inalienably to the objects stated in the preamble.
" The College, then, and its funds, shall never be di- verted from the original object, stated in this deed, by any authority whatever ; whether by the will of the
Bieso.
K"] COLLEGE D££l>. 40
Founder, or of the first Principal of the Anglo-Chineae College, the Rev. William Milne ; or of any Trustees hereafter to be appointed.
" May He, on whose shoulders is the government of the world — who has all power in heaven and on earth L— recognise this offering, humbly designed to operate ns a means of bringing many sinners to obedience and liappiness ; and may He secure the performance of this Deed. To His Providence the Anglo-Chinese College is reverently committed ; and may the whole Eastern hemisphere be soon filled with the glorious light of His gospel, and be taught to ascribe to Him the glories of creation ! Amen, and amen !
"Since neither Doctor Morrison nor Mr. Milne, al- though the Founders of the Institution, have any power to alienate either the building or the funds ot the Anglo-Chinese College, so, as long as they adhere to the original object of it, as stated above, it is but equitable and seemly that the first-named should be a perpetual Trustee, and the last-named perpetual Prin- cipal, during their lives.
" The Honourable the East India Company's Pinang Government having granted, at the request of Mr. Milne, a piece of ground in Malacca, to the Mission- ary Society (usually called the London Missionary Society), and that Society having, at the request of Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne, allotted part of that ground to be the site of the College; the ground, as ivell as the building and funds (already or hereafter to be received) cannot be alienated from the aforesaid object of the College.
" All books given by Dr. Morrison, and various o+ber donors (whose names are recorded), to the Anglo- Chinese College Library, shall be inalienable. Vol. u. k
50 COLLROE DEED. [1820.
'^ I will not anticipate the failure of the object for which these grants have all been made, and therefore I shall not insert any reservation of my personal pro- perty, in case of the object failing ; nor stipulate that in case of such an event occurring, it shall revert to my heirs and successors. I have a firm reliance on the Divine Providence.
^^ But should it happen that circumstances render it impracticable to conduct the studies of the College at Malacca, €he premises shall, in that case, be sold, and the College be removed to some other place in Extra- Ounges India. No merely local difficulties shall put an end to the Institution. If it be stopped in one place^ from any unforeseen cause, let it be re-com- menced in another.
" The records of the College shall always be open to the inspection of the local Christian authorities in the place where it may be situated ; and annually, at least, a statement of its affairs, whether showing its progress or its decline, shall be laid before the Christian public in a printed document.
" To the Spiritual Church of Christ on earth — ^to the learned, the scientific, and the opulent, and also to poor and unlearned Christians — ^to those who, next to their own salvation, desire the happiness of their fellow- creatures, of every nation and of every tongue, the Anglo-Chinese College is, by this Deed, respectfully commended.
" In case of a failure of Trustees, appointed according to the constitution of the College, or the demise of Mr. Milne, its temporary management shall devolve on the senior member of the Chinese department, and the acting committee of the Ultra-Ganges Missions ; and in case of the failure of regularly appointed Trustees,
1820.] ^ COLLEGE DEED. 51
and of such senior member and committee, the manage- ment of the College shall devolve on the above-named Missionary Society in London.
" Sealed) signed, and delivered, at Canton, in China, where no stamps are used, this twentieth day of March, A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty.
(Signed) " Robert Morrison.
" In the presence of us, who have hereunto set our names, "J. B. Urmston,
'* Chief for all afiairs of the Honourable East India Company in China.
"J.Reeves."
a
In addition to the above, Mr. Milne drew up Rules and Regulations for the College Library," which was to consist of European and Foreign Books, MSS., Maps, Charts, Drawings, and Philosophical Apparatus ; to which was to be attached a Museum of natural and artificial curiosities. The Library was not at fij*st very extensive, but it has since been con- siderably increased by valuable grants of books, &c., from Dr. Morrison, and various other donors.
A copy of the regulations was accompanied by the following official note from Mr. Milne : —
TO THE REV. DR. MORRISON, FOITNDER OF THE ANGLO- CHINESE COLLEGE, AND ONG OF THE TRUSTEES.
«* Anglo-Chinese College, Sept. ISth, 1820.
" Rev. Sir,
" I have the honour to forward herewith, for your inspection, a statement relative to the Anglo- Chinese College Buildings, &c., which I trust will prove satisfactory to you, and the supporters of the Institu- tion generally; and tend to maintain your undimi-
E 2
52 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
niflhed attachment to the establishment of which you are the parent, and chief supporter.
^^ I remain. Rev. Sir, your humble servant,
" William Milne,
** Principal of the Anglo-Chinese Coll^ey and n ^' Member of the Managing Committee.*'
It may be briefly mentioned here, that the College building is a plain substantial edifice, 90 feet in length, and 34 in breadth, with a verandah back and front, supported by pillars; it is, 103 feet long, and 162 wide. The interior is arranged suitably to the nature of the climate, and the character of the objects to which it is appropriated. On each side, are arranged the Chinese and English printing offices, schools, and apartments for native masters, workmen, &c. The situation is favourable to health and study, being surrounded by a piece of ground. The front, which faces the sea, is shaded by a row of senna trees ; and it is cooled during the day by the sea breezes, and during the night by the land breeze, which regularly sets in.
Mr. Milne's first attempts to introduce the blessings of education were strongly opposed by the prejudices of the people, who could scarcely be persuaded but that political designs, not benevolent motives, led foreigners to instruct their children gratuitously; so that, in order to overcome their indifference to the intellectual state of their of&pring, it was found neces* sary to grant a monthly allowance of money, equiva- lent to what their sons could earn by manual labour, as an inducement to secure their attendance on the means of bettering even their physical condition. This, for several years, greatly increased the necessary ex- penses of the Institution ; but for the last few years, the system has been discontinued, as prejudice has
10.3 KBOM TMK HEV. W. M1LN£. 03
►een overcome, and the benefits of education have
►een more fully appreciated. The following letter from Mr. Milne, describing the
ygtem of tuition he adopted for liis pupils at this
lerly stage of the Institution, showa also the zeal »ith which he dbcliarged the duties of hia important pituation : —
TO THE REV. DB. MORRISON. " Dear Robert, " Mslacca,Sept. 20th, 1820.
•'Tiie Essays of your boys and young men are favourable specimens of improvement in Christian knowledge. The College students write exercises on Saturdays, but the specimens are yet far inferior to your lad's. The people about me like the Heang-heuu, *^ Village Discourses,' better than any thing I have yet written, so they say ; this affords me some encourage- ment. I should like to know if your people can make them out.
" N. B. I have not a single copy of your Tour of he World, though hundreds ought to have been here. Any, many calls for it, and not a single copy ; what I pity ! Can you not get a hundred copies sent to us 1 " N. B. I feel myself extremely ignorant of the ■oper method of College management. Can you not [ve me pome information? I will tell you my pre- sent plan, and then you will be able to tell me what ia wanting ; but you must not put off the subject by say- ^^fig you know not, you have better means of enquiry Kan I.
^K " I. Then. The lessons are read in the hall, where is a round (oblong rather) table, about which all the party sit on chairs, and I sit on a chair not any higher lan the others. '* IL The*fir8t lesson is before breakfast, at seven
54 RULES OF THB COIXSOB* [1820.
o'clock, when the higher class reads the Shoo-king, ex- plained by Lee ; when I generally ask him questions on the meaning, partly for my own information, and partly for theirs. Afah, Ajaou, and Gno, are in this class.
^' III. After breakfast, exactly at nine, Bone and Fleming repeat the Yew-heo, and Chun and Chuen, the Sze-shoo. The Yew heo, or Catechism, they trans- late ; this lesson is short.
" IV. At twelve all meet, when the higher class reads aloud the morning lesson, from the Shoo-king, and the second class reads the Ming sin paou keen, and translates it. I correct their translations and the pronunciation, with the Teacher's help, who is always there. The second class analyzes a character each, then the whole practise two characters according to the tones, and the four students in the second class write some characters in sand with the finger. At the writing, some of the Teachers attend ; I am only now and then present.
"V. At eight in the evening, Chun and Chuen repeat again the Yew-he6. The others are variously employed.
" VI. On Monday, the second class, instead of read- ing the mid-day lesson, learn to write on paper with the Teacher, and at twelve exhibit specimens of their hand ; then I make them write before me, that re- marks may be made on their sitting, holding the pen- cil, &c.
" VII. On Saturday, the lesson at mid-day of both classes is omitted, when the second class all exhibit written Chinese exercises, which I correct, and Bone goes likewise over the English Grammar.
" VIII. On Friday, the second class reads over, and
RULES OF THE COLLEOB. 6o
fetranslates, all they had read and tranalpted through ihe other days of the week.
' IX. Five days in tlie week I exjilaiii tlie gospel of Matthew iu order to Afah, for his information as a I student, for about twenty or thirty minutes. ^L " X. Afl they all attend the usual exercises of reli- ^Kion, there are no particular services for them yet.
" XL I hegan last year to give those that attended some idea of the English language, two or three sen- tences per day, intending, as soon as they had about a hundred words or ao, to give them the language in order ; but finding it too much for my strength, I asked Medhurst to do it, which he did for some weeks in the spring and summer, and suddenly left it off. Since then I have not been able to resume it, but I intend to do 80 next month. I have spoken to Fleming, and I think, if he take pains, the best way to secure his constancy to it, will be to allow him your premium for his services.
" XII. The students do not repeat much, nor do
^miiiey recite in the whining Chinese way as yet, tliough
^K confess myself very partial to that system.
^f " XIII. Occasional information of a geographical
', kind has been given, but no stated lectures, which,
however, must now be attempted, as well as something
in history ; but as my strength }ias limits, and many
other things press hard on me, I must go on to things
by degrees.
"Now, as tuition is in fact every thing, I wish all the information you can give, or procure, either from Chinese Colleges or European, as to the manner in which I ought to conduct myself among them — how to address them — what is decent and proper in such I Institution as this — as to my seat among the stu- jents, intercourse with them, furniture of the rooms.
Sa COLLEGE STUDIES. [1820.
arrangement of the study, discipline, forms of entrance, departure, &c. &c. In short, on every subject of this kind ; for you know that I have had but imperfect opportunities of informing myself on many points, and it is perhaps better for both, that my defects in this way be supplied by yourself than by any other.
" Yours ever.
The above system of tuition varied as education pro- gressed, and as the number of students increased in the College, until 1828. Since which period the following course of instruction has been pursued, with little va- riation, to the present time.
'^ As the primary objects of the Institution are the cultivation of English and Chinese literature, the la- bours of the students are divided between the acquisi- tion of these respective branches of knowledge ; and nearly an equal proportion of time is allotted to each. The first class has studied Geography with the use of the Globes, and is now going through a course of lectures on the principles of Astronomy. Some of them have attended to Mathematics, in which they have proceeded to the third book of Euclid. Part of a Catechism on miscellaneous subjects, containing a general outline of Astronomy, Geography, Morality, &c., has been translated by them ; and one of them, who has now left, had commenced the study of general history. This class is employed at present in trans- lating portions of Joyce's Scientific Dialogues into Chinese. The boys are accustomed to render verbally out of one language into the other, are rigidly exer- cised in parsing, and required to give the correspond- ing terms in Chinese of each word or phrase, as it occurs, and to furnish the appropriate rules of syntax ;
ttl
COLLEGE STUDIES. 67
a portion of their time is employed in writing, and in studying arithmetic : they have committed to me- mory Murray's Abridgment of English Grammar, and are going through his exercises on rules for parsing.
'* They also write English translations of Chinese works, and have some of the best of their own booka read and explained to them by a Native Teacher.
" The boys of the second class study Chinese rather more closely than those of the first : they are occu- pied in writing, in arithmetic, in learning colloquial sentences of Chinese and English, and in translating alternately from one language into the other.
'* The junior classes are employed on the elementary parts both of Chinese and English ; they are daily ex- 'ercised in turning Chinese into English, and vice versa, and in committing to memory easy sentences of English with a Chinese translation. All the stu- dents are early taught to distinguish the different parts of speech, and to assign to each word its specific mean- ing in the other language. It is rather unfortunate, that for the grammatical terms in the English there are no corresponding ones in the Chinese. Words in the latter, answering to verbs in the former, are indeed designated as living characters, and those which cor- respond to substantives as dead ones ; but then, by merely changing the position of a word, it may be- come any other part of speech. Position, not con- cord or government, is the distinguishing peculiarity of the Chinese language ; and hence it is obvious that there must be considerable difficulty in accustoming a China-man to arrange the parts of speech accurately, ,nd attend to an exact collocation of those particles, hich, in English, are necessary to the sense as well as to perspicuity, but which are seldom used in Chinese except for the sake of euphony.
58 WORKS PRnVTED AT [1820.
^^ Religious instruction is daily communicated to the students. They all attend the reading of the Scrip- tures and prayer in the College, before they com- mence their studies. They learn, during the day, select portions of Catechisms, or other books on reli- gious subjects, are made acquainted with sacred his- tory, and are taught the principles of the Christian religion as these are laid down in the Scriptures. They all attend Divine Worship on the Sabbath, when service is performed in their own langui^e. The Chinese workmen voluntarily attend with them ; and some of them with great regularity. Service is con- ducted in the Mission Chapel on the Sabbath forenoon, and in the College Hall morning and evening."*
• The religious instructions by Dr. Milne, and his suc- cessors, have been blessed to the conversion of several of the Teachers, Printers, and Students, among whom should be especially noticed, the faithful Evangelist Leang-Afa, whose sincerity has stood the test of per- secution, and who continues, to the present day, a mo- nument of that grace which could alone keep him from falling.
From the Anglo-Chinese College press, have issued several works of importance. Besides the Gleaner and Chinese Magazine, already noticed, there have since been published Fremare's Notia lingusB SenicsB, the MS. of which was presented to the College by Viscount Kingsborough, with £1500 to defray the printing of it; Mr. Collie's translation of the Chinese classical book, called The Four Books ; Dr. Morrison's Notices Concerning China, the Domestic Instructer, a work consisting of four volumes in Chinese ; also the Sacred Scriptures, Religious Tracts, &c. The number of Students in the Establishment have varied from
ri820.]
THE MALACCA PRESS.
69
I
twenty to sixty. To this very imperfect sketch, may be added a Notice of Malacca, by a gentleman of high Intellectual attainments and enlightened principles, who visited the College about the year 1828 or 1829; it wae intended for a Periodical work tlien being pub- lished by the gentlemen residing in China ; the writer Iwaa the late Mr. Charles Maijoribanks, President of the Select Committee, and M. P. for Perth. I " Malacca was one of the first European possessions ID Asia, being captured by the Portuguese a very few ^ears after the successful voyage of Vasco de Gama, I rouad the Cape of Good Hope. It is not imagined that they did much to improve the moral condition of |i the natives. We are told by St. Francis Xavier, who I^Visited it, that 'the excess and number of their vices ^Hdistinguished the Christians from the unbelievers.' ^HThe Dutch, who succeeded the Portuguese at Ma- ^^Utcca, it is probable, were even more remarkable for ^Hihe extent of this distinction. The remains of some of I^^its former martyrs, repose within the walls of the old church on Malacca Hill ; it was first a Roman Catholic, then a Protestant place of worship and burial, and it is now a picturesque ruin. Jesuit Apostles of the East, some of whom are styled Bishop of Siam, China,
» Japan, sleep, side by side, with burgomasters ; but as the tombs are exposed to the elements, the records of the deeds of these missionaries and merchants are fast fading away ; and when it is considered how little im- provement in the condition of their fellow-men in the eastern world, we see the obliterating hand of time I upon their monuments with less sorrow and regret. I Let every passing stranger visit the old church; it is a 1 dtuation of much beauty and useful iustruction.
' It is satisfactory to see this interesting settlement
60 MIL MABJORIBANKS' OPINION [1820^
of Malacca once more subject to the English Goyem- ment. The old fort, the joint work of the Portuguese and Dutch, was one of the strongest in ABia ; but on its first capture by the English, the fortifications were blown up, which, from their solid strength, was no easy task. But there are buildings at Malacca more inter- esting to a stranger then either old forts or churches ; first and foremost of these, is the Anglo-Chinese C!ol« lege.
^^This well regulated institution owed its origin and foundation to the Rev. Dr. Morrison, whose pro- found and extensive knowledge of the Chinese lan- guage has secured to him deserved celebrity. He, with great liberality, appropriated a large sum for the build- ing of the College, which has since been supported by voluntary contributions, and has also received the countenance of the Company's government, though by no means to the extent which its great and import- ant objects deserve: it is an Institution, the merits of which are too little known, and the advantages likely to arise from it too little appreciated. By some it is thought unworthy of attention, because it is of Mis- sionary origin. It is believed, that such illiberal views are fast fading away, and whatever differences may exist in religious creeds, it is hoped, that an Institution so much calculated to improve and humanize a por^ tion of our species, will be considered deserving of every encouragement by men of liberal and enlight- ened minds. The gentlemen who have successively presided over the Anglo-Chinese College have been distinguished for simplicity of life and benevolence of disposition, independently of the peculiar acquire- ments of the Malay and Chinese languages which qualified them for their duties. I speak from a per- sonal knowledge of the man, when I affirm that the
1820.] RESPECTING THE CiiLLEOE. 61
late Dr. Milne, for several years Principal of tlie Col- lege, with more Christian humility than most men, combined the love of science and learning with the enthusiasm of religion, and anxiously devoted his time, and sacrificed his life, in the cause in which he was engaged. The late Mr. Collie, who is also gone to receive his reward in a better world, is said to have spoken Chinese with the pronuncia- tion and idiom of a native. Let not the pride of "Western learning regard with contempt an institu- tion founded and directed by such men. Let un- worthy jealousies be laid aside, and let it be gener- ously considered, that if the well-being of our fellow men in this world, and their eternal welfare in another, be accomplished, the hands by which the good work is done is a matter of comparative indifference. The object of the Anglo-Chinese College is the instruction of Chinese boys, who would otherwise receive no in- struction at all : they are taught their own and the English language and elements of useful science. No profession of religious belief is required on enter- ing the Institution, nor are compulsory means in any way employed with a view to conversion. Such of them as evince any inclination, receive every encou- ragement to become Christians ; if otherwise, they still acquire a useful and moral education. When I visited the College, it contained upwards of thirty Students. Were its funds greater, its opportunities of doing good would necessarily be more extensive. It was a source of much gratification to hear nearly every one of those hoys reading with fluency the Bible in the Chinese and English languages. Many of them wrote elegantly hoth Chinese and English, and had attained consider- able proficiency in Arithmetic, Geography, the use of the Globes, and general history. Thus does a son of a
62 MR. MARJ0R1BANK8* OPimON [1820.
Malacca peasant derive an enlightened education, denied to the son of the Emperor of China.
^^ Mr. Kiddy now Principal of the College, appears to take a lively and sincere interest in those under his charge. He considers their capacity fully equal to that of European children, and many of them are most anxious and desirous of instruction. It is a source of regret that there are not sufficient funds to extend the building, so as to enable the boys to remain in the College during the night, as the houses of their parents are often far from being places where morality is to be acquired ; but when the sphere of usefulness of this excellent establishment is more generally known, it is hoped provision will be made against this defect. Many Chinese, who have been educated at the College, have entered into different pursuits of life, and the superior advantages which they have been seen to possess over their less fortunate countrymen, have greatly increased the popularity and reputation of this institution. Many are employed by merchants, and as clerks in public offices ; and where there is an extensive Chinese popu- lation, their combined knowledge of their own with the English langui^e, in addition to their good con- duct, has eminently qualified them for such situations. I went into the shop of a Chinese retail merchant, at Malacca, which was conspicuous for its well-ordered neatness ; he said to me, in the most correct idiom, ^ I have had the good fortune to be educated at the Col- lege under Dr. Milne, for whose memory I have the greatest respect, and, I assure you, I have derived great advants^e from the instruction he gave me.' I asked him if he had a family, he answered, ^ as yet only one son.' I expressed a hope that he might have many more, and that he would give them the same educa- tion he received himself, and that they might turn out
HE9PECTINO TIIK COLLEGE. 63
as respectable men as their father. He anwsered, * I hope you may be as fortunate in your children.' Upon asking him if he followed up his studies, he said he waa very fond of English reading, and that he gene- rally ^vTote down passages which pleased him ; that, if I chose, he would show me his common-place book. From a drawer, in his Chinese cabinet, he took out a thick manuscript volume. Amid receipts in Chinese and English for different chemical mixtures, as well for cookery as medicine, were extracts from Confucius and from English standard works. Among other pieces of poetry, I observed Cowper's well-known linea to his mother's picture, which lie said he got by heart from thinking them very beautiful. This was a Chinese retail shop-keeper, a dealer in tea, tobacco, and snuff; nor did I discern any thing in his superior information which in any way disqualified him for the duties of his situation. I afterwards understood Lthat he was frugal, industrious, and prosperous. He I said it was not his intention to go to China. ' I dis- like,' he added, ' its arbitrary government.' How much must ideas and feelings, such as these, diffusing them- selves however gradually through the Chinese public mind, tend to dispel the prejudice of ignorance, and to break down the great wall of Chinese jealousy and restriction. The means are still imperfect and inade- ■ quate to the end, but even now there is a library and fcpriuting press attached to the College, and a newspaper in the Chinese language, has been lately printed. May these apparently small beginnings not be de- spised, but receive the powerful assistance of govern- ment, as well as the aid of private benevolence. I was on a rocky, and now almost barren bland of the Hebrides, where Dr. Johnson exclaimed, ' We are now treading that illustrious soil which was once the Umii-
64 A LETTER FROM [1820.
narjr of the Caledonian regions, whence savi^e clans and roving barbarians derived the light of knowledge and the blessings of religion/ May Malacca prove the lona of these regions, and long resemble it in every thing but its ruins/'
Upon the retrenchments which followed on Lord Wm. Bentick's appointment to the Government of India, the annual allowance of 1200 dollars made by the East India Company was withdrawn from the College, but the writer of the preceding detail, with the other members of the select committee, in the most prompt and generous manner, made up the deficiency unsolicited. The manner in which their resolution was made known to Dr. Morrison, may be seen by the following letter : —
TO THE REV. DR. MORRISON, PRESIDENT OF THE ANGLO-
CHINESE COLLEGE AT MALACCA.
" Sm, *' British Factory, Canton, Jan. 7th, 1831.
" We have to acquaint you, that we have learned, with much regret, that the allowance, which had been made by the Pinang Government, of 100 dollars per month to the College over which you preside, had lately been withdrawn. We have considered it our duty to make the same grant for this current year in the name of the East India Company, having recom- mended its continuance to the Court of Directors, and entreated their further countenance and support to the Institution. We have ourselves a firm conviction of its excellence. We believe it to be eminently calcu- lated to diflbse the light of knowledge and of useful instruction through the most remote possessions of Great Britain, and to assist in removing those preju- dices, which have so long fettered the public mind of
1820.] THE SELECT COMMITrSE. 65
this country, subjected it to the influence of an exclu- sive nationalty, and induced it to regard with indif- ference every thing foreign to its established usages and literature.
"By the means of liberal education so readily afforded to the natives of England as well as China, in the learning and languages of either country, we consider the intercourse between the subjects of the two empires will be materially facilitated.
" Wishing the Anglo-Chinese College every pros- perity, and believing that it is an Institution which requires only to be more generally known, to have its important objects universally appreciated, " We remain. Sir,
" Your most obedient Servants, (Signed) " Charles Marjoribai^ks,
" J. F. Davis, "J. N. Daniell, « T. C. Smith."
The Anglo-Chinese College has not of late years met with that degree of support which it merits from the benevolent public, and were it not for the annual allowance of <;9'1200, first made by the East India Company's factory in China, and since continued by Her Majesty's Government, the Institution must ere this have fallen to the ground ; for dear as its interests were to the heart of its founder, it is believed, that the only aid it receives from the British public, is a small sum raised by an Association in Manchester, formed in 1824, by the Rev. Dr. Clunie, whose un- remitted efforts to promote its welfare, show not only his sense of the importance of the Institution, but also prove his attachment to the memory of his departed friend.
Vol. il f
66 ARRIVAL OF [1820.
Agreeably with the request of Dr. Morrison and Mr. Milne, several missionaries were sent out by the London Missionary Society to Malacca and the surrounding stations, which were denominated the Ultra-Ganges Mission. For the maintenance of order, and co-operation among the members of the mission, they formed a Union, in which certain principles of government were agreed to, and signed by each. As this Union is occasionally referred to in Mr. Milne^s letters, a copy of its rules, &c., will be appended to this volume, for the reader^s information. From these letters it would appear, that a spirit of dis« affection and insubordination in some of the junior members of the mission, was a source of much trouble and anxiety to Mr. M., and he expresses his feelings on the subject to his friend, in the most unreserved manner, deprecating a system which he considered contrary to the principles that govern other ecclesias- tical, or political bodies, whose agents are qualified by practical knowledge of their affairs, before entering on the legislative department of them; whereas, in this instance, young men just arrived from England, ignorant of the difiiculties which their predecessors had to overcome, and without due regard to the pre- judices of the people among whom they were to labour, immediately began to act independently of their seniors in the service, and in violation of those regulations by which they had consented to be governed. The arrival of a printer at this time, afforded timely assist- ance to Mr. Milne, and tended to cheer his mind under his various duties and trials. His letters are so illustrative of his character, and of the peculiar circum- stances in which he was placed, that several extracts from them are here given.
1820.] A PRINTER AT MALACCA. 67
TO THS REV. DR. MORRISON, " Dear Robert, " Malacca, Sept. 30th, 1820.
" Mrs. M. and child have left this aftemoon for Pinang — ^but Mr. G. H. Huttmann has just arrived to take charge of the printing, so that I trust we shall be ere long on a fully better footing than before. His instructions, a copy of which I will send you, place him more entirely under my direction than any for- mer one ; he seems willing to fall in with existing rules ; and I trust next number you will see * Anglo- Chinese* is in its usual place. I have now him, Flem- ing, and Bone,* all of whom I trust are wishing to help — ^they declare so, and on our own principles too, which is something. But though I feel glad of this, as a seasonable relief, yet they will not be able to do much for some time, nor will I, any more, lay stress on * man, who is but a worm.' I enclose a copy of a letter to Mr. Huttmann, which he requested, and a copy of which I have sent home; and I trust the Society will see from it, what our aims and wishes are, and that it will operate against the ill-natured remarks which have been circulated against us. I have not written any thing to the Society about these vexations, but mentioned to Mr. Bogue that I wished T. were removed to another station, for I fear he has been the abettor of these things. M. also talks of going away, which, but for Mrs. M.'s sake, I should have no objection to. But what will you think when I tell you that he has clandestinely seized on the Malay matrixes, and taken privately out of the office several cases of types 1
" Huttmann is quite disgusted, and feels himself in-
* Persons of European extraction.
F 2
68 LETTERS FROM [1820.
suited by this clandestine method of removing the very chief means by which he was to render him- self useful. I really have not words to express my sense of this mean piece of conduct. And more, the portable press which Thoms sent down for the
Malacca Mission, M. has taken with him to Pinang.
• ••••••
" To T. I have yet said nothing, as I fondly hope his own mind will induce him to restore the things he has taken away. I have placed the office and people entirely under Huttmann, as I have no fear but he will take care of all that is actually in it. Fleming takes the schools, and Bone will assist in making up parcels, circulating tracts, transcribing letters, &c.
" Two more brethren are on their way out. The Lord, in mercy to us and his cause, grant they may be men of peace !
" I send a copy of my letter to the Directors, which please to forward to them. They have very kindly permitted me to go to the Cape, or to Europe, for my health. You will see from what I have written, that it is not likely I shall go, unless I be obliged.'' • • •
FROM THE SAME.
" Dear Robert, " October 20, 1820.
" I send you a rough copy of my ^ Treatise on the Soul,'* not having had time to revise the transcript, or to point it. I beg you to take the trouble to read it, and offer your corrections and remarks.
" Some time past our Governor said to me, * Mr. Milne, I know very well the utility of your objects ; but some of your own friends (or countrymen, I do not
* In Ghmese.
1820.] TUB REV. DR. MILNE. 69
remember which) have tried to injure your cause in the eyes of our government* here, intimating that your College was connected with the East India Com- pany's government, and supported by it, and had to effisct its secret designs ; but I pay no attention to such insinuations, knowing that they proceed, perhaps, from a little jealousy.' These, if not the very words, were the substance of what he said, and which induced me to put in that clause in the printed statement about the College being unconnected with political bodies.
" Now, who could this silly, lying informer be ? I will not dare to say who, as I am not certain ; but
it was only yesterday that seriously told Hutt-
mann as follows : ^ Don't think that I wish to poison your mind, but attend to this, — ^ Morrison and Milne's schemes are at bottom political : there is nothing they aim at, but to wrest the whole concerns out of the Society's hands, and put them into those of the Com- pany. I see very well how it will be — I see through the mask — ^they will no doubt succeed — ^they will get money. Morrison got 4000 dollars for something, I believe, going to Peking.' Huttmann : * My instruc- tions refer me to Mr. Milne, and I am ordered by the Directors to promote the Gleaner. I don't see, when Mr. Milne and Dr. M. promise to devote the profits of the Gleaner to objects so much of a Missionary nature, they can have any different object in view.' T. * Well, mark what I tell you— don't say afterwards that no one informed you. As for their Gleaner, it will be paid for — ^they will get paid (meaning from the Company) for ilr— oh ! yes — ^they will be happy to take you also into their pay — and they will pay you too, if you like to give up the Society's objects.' Hutt*
* The Dutch GoverameDt.
70 LSTTERS FROM [1820.
mann came away quite didgusted, and with an impres- sion exceedingly against T. You must see, Robert, from this attempt to poison a young man's mind against us, that the sooner we get rid of this person the better. I do wish he would remove, or that we had power to suspend him entirely. What have we to look for while he remains under the influence of that spirit ? " W. MiLNB.**
from the same. ^^ Dear Robert,
" Your's of December 9th, 15th, and 20th, came to hand yesterday by Mr. Matheson, accompanied by various translations from the Peking Gazette ; Reeves' Astronomical Appendix to your Dictionary ; some American papers and pamphlets ; Bogue's Essay ; papers for the Gleaner and Magazine; Carlisle on Grammar Schools ; Peking Gazettes ; and, as I under* stand (for it is not yet come on shore), a box of tea, for which accept my best thanks. This is, I believe, alL I am exceedingly pleased with part of your let* ter, about your school and labours, which seem to have been very abundant, and, I hope, blessed of God.
^^ Now for the letters : on my old plan, the answer must go— 1st. As to accounts. When the College is finished, I intend to keep the detail of its accounts myself, as they will not be complicated for some years. The other accounts I have given the detail of to Mr. Medhurst ; all I do is, to sign bills drawn on the Trea* surer.
" 2ndly . * Psalters and Prayers.' I think we shall not be able to get them ready before Midsummer ; however, we'll try. I think they will be considerably below i dollar per copy, but I do not know for certain.
" 3rdly. Yes. To the best of my information, the
1620.] THB REV. DR. MILNE. 71
chief part, if not the whole, of the Serampore Chinese version, has been done by * Lazart's hands'— our's, by our own.
" 4thly. * Translations not sent up.' No ; though I have three men at work daily, they are not all tran- scribed yet. I hope in spring to send you up some part ; the Book of Job, at least. We are now printing your Daniel, and forward to the end. Daniel, Le says, is very smooth and good as to style.
" fithly. * Promised to advance 50 dollars to Afah's father, when he should go on board.' You have acted most prudently in this.
"6thly. *You ought to have something for the trouble you have had with die College.' No, Robert, I should feel very unhappy at the idea. I have been for some time thinking to subscribe a small sum, but I find I cannot just now. If, when it shall be com- pleted, my services be so fortunate as to be approved of by you, and the other founders of the Institution, this will be more than recompence to me.
" Query — Did I not, last season, write to this effect ? * I think the Missionary Society will be more willing to consent to my remaining in the College, if the In- stitution would support me entirely, which would allow more time for the duties as a Missionary. I conceive that, from a variety of circumstances, about 1200 dollars per year would be necessary.' I wrote to you to this effect : now, Robert, why have you not answered this 1 I have three ways of accounting for your silence, first, that the proposal did not meet your approbation; and that, as courtiers do, you thought it best to answer by total silence. But then this is so unlike your frank and honest way of dealing wiA me that I cannot give place to it. Therefore I think, secondly, that my letter has failed to reach
72 LETTERS FROM [1820.
you ; or, thirdly, that your answer to me has passed on to India. However, I will thank you to give your opinion on the subject; not that I am under any anxiety, or in any difficulty at present on that head, but still I wish to know your sentiments. To * adhere to the College T Yes, so I do, and so I hope I will to the end. You are, my dear Robert, more afraid of my leaving Malacca than you have any reason for. You will, perhaps, be pleased to know that at the close of 1819, I wrote down in my private journal to the following effect : * From many considerations, it seems to me that Malacca is the proper place for me. I have some opportunities every week of teaching the heathen orally — ^have two periodical works under my direction, by attending to which, I may attain to a considerable influence over public opinion in China, and Europe, and India, for the i^rtherance of the gospel. My habits are sedentary — ^my plans of writing in Chinese are extensive, and I require a retired situation. The College seems to promise such a sphere of usefulness as I have long desired. In this place I enjoy, in some degree, the confidence and respect of the English, Dutch, Chinese, and Malays. My Chinese writings may be helpful to my brother missionary.* Such were my reflections on the 1st of January, 1819.
" Ever your's,
« W. Milne."
FROM THE SAME.
« Dear Robert, " Nov. 3rd, 1820.
" I have just received, vik Pinang. 1st. The lac- quered box, containing the College seal. 2nd. living- stone's letter for the Gleaner. 3rd. Your own letter on the state of the poor among the heathen. 4th. I think by B.'s letter of to-day, that they really
THE REV. Da. MILNE. 73
,(tiiough not said in so many words) disapprove of M.'s rash step. Yet I know not — -they have said nothing, and 1 am resolved to ahide by the last general letter to them, of which you have a copy. 5th. The honourahleW. E. Phillips, Governor of Pinang, wrote roe to-day, and subscribes fifty dollars to the College. 6th. Poor Fleming has, within these two days past, manifested some symptoms of a partial derangement! 7th. There are two Chinese who have come for private instruction for some time, I think they are almost per- suaded to he Christians ; one of them is Ahung, who went with me as printer to Java ; the other is a Fo-keen man, who has five or six children and a wife. What shall I do if they wish to submit to baptism, while their evidences of genuine conversion may be at best but probable 1 Give me your whole heart on this subject. Do you think that a father, whose whoIe[_family might be brought under the gospel by his baptism, might be received, while you cannot see all the evidence of Bound conversion desirable about him i Should Afah continue steady in his profession, and in the pur- suit of knowledge, and in his desire for usefulness, for a year or two longer, would it be advisable to or- dain him before his return to China, that he might be qualified to administer Christian ordinances in case of your death, or in case of any converts being ob- led who could not come to you for baptism 1 He ks of returning next summer, but I hope he may be persuaded to remain a little longer. Do take this into serious consideration. What a mercy and com- fort would it be for us to be able to send from our little College, in course of two or three years from its commencement, a native preacher, tolerably fitted for the blessed work of preaching the gospel 1 Do, dear rBobert, assist me in these points by your advice.
74 LETTERS FBOM [1820.
You see I am almost left alone. I can expect coun- sel from none in these parts but yourself. I wish what we do to be as it were a joint act. Tell me your whole mind about the baptism and ordination. 8th. I have employed at the College expense^ a Malay Teacher for five dollars per month, pro tem-^ fore. I think we must have such a person attached to it permanently. T. will not, I think, do any thing unless we consent to alter our plans, which we cannot be so unwise as to do. Indeed, I should object to have connexion with one who has been the occasion of so much trouble to us. * * * •
'^ Another lad of fifteen years of age has been offered to the College, and there is now one on probation. Would you like to see twenty poor lads of from ten to eighteen years old supported and taught by the College 1 Will this be perfectly accordant with the object 1
" The Directors have kindly permitted me to go to South Africa or Europe for my health, but I have written them that ^ I cannot at present, except in a case of life and death, leave this station.'
^^ If you send a workman, send him here. We are just now about to begin the Pra3rer8.
" Your's ever,
" W. MiLNB."
"Postscript.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO. THE COLLEGE.
" 1st. Walton's Polyglot Bible, in 8 vols, folio, a most valuable and scarce work, I think, worth about £80. By Mr. Hankey.
^^ 2nd. Several other valuable books from friends.
^^ Srd. A donation by lieutenant-Colonel Farquhar of 150 dollars. Ditto by G. W. Mackenzie of 50 dollars*
1820.] THB REV. DR. MILNE. 75
^' 4th. Mr. Ball's donation of £50 worth of Euro- pean books.
" ThuSy dear Robert, you will see from the Society's attention to the Printing of the Gleaner — from these contributions to the College — and from Huttmann's seasonable arrival — that we have yet some encourage- ment in going forward. The sale of the whole Gleaner in England down to last December, left only about one pound sterling in our favour after clearing duties, 80 that from Europe we have not much to expect ; I, however, received 67 rupees from Batavia the other day, for the sale of some — a place where I expected scarcely any would be sold. Whole sets are, I find, now and then called for : these will, in time, go a good way to clear the debt now lying on the work. The papers on Chinese Medicine will, 1 am quite sure, increase the number of our readers. But what a wretched transcriber you have got ! Do not, I beg of you, trust them entirely to such ; for these papers will, if we can get them correct, raise the character of the writer, if possible, and of the Gleaner also. They are among the best, the very best we have yet got. I rather think, from various letters, that the College will become a favourite with a considerable portion of the public. I congratulate you on dear Mary's return : the Lord give her health and strength. I beg my kindest regards to her and to the dear children. Mrs. Macalister dined with Mrs. M. on board, and has given me the most pleasing accounts both of Mary and the children. But was it not bad policy to bring them out so soon) Give me some news about them. I think I see you with them hanging about you at table, as my little ones used to do. We shall soon, I trust, be able to set to work with your Lectures. That
76 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
you may do good to the souls as well as to the bodies of them, is the prayer of " Youths ever,
Although the great objects which engaged Dr. Morrison's attention for many years, left him no leisure for scientific pursuits, or the cultivation of general literature, himself — still, they did not lessen his sense of their importance, as may be inferred from the prominence which they hold in his general plan of the College, and from the readiness with which he aided others in the prosecution of knowledge, as well as the efficient support which he afforded, not only to the Gleaner, but several other periodical publica- tions all through life ; even private applications like the following, ever received the utmost attention he could give them.
FROM MR. LODDIGES TO DR. MORRISON. " Rev. Sir, " Hackney, near London, Jan. 12th, 1820.
"We hope you will excuse the liberty we have taken, in addressing ourselves to you, to whom we must be entire strangers.
' "Our profession has long been to collect plants from every possible part of the world. These we pro- pagate and again disperse where they may be wanted ; on this account we are anxiously desirous of obtaining correspondents in as many places as possible, particu- larly in that most productive country in which you are exercising your valuable labours. We could not think of any more eligible person, to whom to apply. As the striking and beautif^il works of the Almighty Creator, in the vegetable kingdom, must often have engaged your attention, and possibly you may have
1820.] FROM MIL LODDIOES. 77
been led^ by way of an innocent and delightful recrea- tion^ to the examining and culture of them, as has our excellent friend. Dr. Carey of Serampore, with whom we are in regular correspondence, and from whom we have received many interesting plants.
" We should be much obliged to you, if you would have the goodness to collect for us, fresh ripe seeds, or nuts, of the different kinds of palms, twenty or thirtjr nuts of each kind, also any of the native or wild trees and shrubs. As soon as they are gathered, they should be mixed with about three or four times their bulk of moist common earth, and the whole rammed down into a close cask or box. When this is quite fuU, it should be headed tight, and shipped as soon as possible for London, directed to
" C. LODDIOES AND SoNS,
" Hackney, near London.
*^ To be kept in a cool airy place, not in the hold.
" In return for the trouble we are thus giving you, we are most ready to send you any thing in our power from this country, either seeds, plants, or whatever we can procure, from time to time, that may be desirable to you. We beg to say, that it is only in the view of midcing you full compensation, that we would think of applying to you, as in this way we doubt not that the correspondence might be conducted on principles mutually advantageous.
" Praying that the Divine blessing may constantly attend you, in your most important work, we remain,
" Rev. Sir, " Your most humble Servants,
" C. LODDIGES AND SoNS."
" p. S. Should it be wholly inconvenient for you to comply with our proposal, it would greatly oblige
78 CORRB8FONDENCB. [1820.
US if you would give our letter to any person, with whom you may he acquainted in your neighhoui^ hood, who might feel inclined to attend to its con- tents."
The following letters relative to the same suhject, published in the Gleaner, are illustrative of the pre- ceding remarks.
TO THB REV. R. MORRISON. " My Dear Sir, " Macao, Feb. 12th, 1819.
" A few days ago, I sent to Canton a paper which I intend to lay before the Horticultural Society of London, on the subject of Chinese Botany. The objects which I had chiefly in view were to explain the causes which have hitherto retarded the introduc- tion of Chinese plants into Europe, and to point out a plan which I conceived might be more successful ill future.
^^ I have since received the general plan of an In- stitution, now forming at Malacca, under the superin* tendence of our friend, in which I am delighted to see that it is intended that European literature and science will be made accessible to the natives of China; and as a Botanical Garden is included in the plan, I cannot but suppose that Botany is one of the sciences intended to be taught at the Anglo-Chi- nese College ; that translations of Chinese Botanical works will in due time follow; and that, in all human probability, Europeans will be indebted to the judicious and spirited exertions of the senior member of the Ultra-Ganges Mission, for full information re- specting the vegetable productions of China.
" The missionaries of the church of Rome, who have been able to penetrate into some places, have some-
1820«] FROM J. UYINQSTONB, ESQ. 79
times supplied notices on Botany. From tiiese, Euro- peims have formed a very high estimate of the Bota- nical riches of China, and a corresponding desire has been pretty generally excited to have them added to the stores of the western world.
** Kempfer and Thunberg have given us respectable works on the Botany of Japan. Louraro has written pretty, fiilly on the vegetable productions of Cochin- China. He has also taken notice of some of the plants which are to be found in the neighbourhood of Macao and Canton: and Osbeck did wonders during the short time he remained at Canton, in describing tiie plants which he saw there. With these comparatively unimportant exceptions, the Botany of the very ex- tensive and highly interesting regions, to which the Protestant Ultras-Ganges Mission proposes to extend its beneficent labours, is yet unexplored.
^^ To you, it is not necessary to dwell on the causes which have so long retarded the advancement of our Botanical knowledge, since they are the same which have hitherto prevented the glad tidings of salvation from being heard amongst the unhappy natives of China. At this moment, no hopes can be entertained that the severe restrictions which the peculiar jealousy of the Chinese Government has interposed against the foreign traveller (whatever his object may be) will be removed. So, to those who do not think that the end justifies the means, and who therefore scorn to make any clandestine attempt, no research can be extended beyond the neighbourhood of Canton. All our ex- pectations of being able to gratify the lovers of Horti- culture and Botany, must greatly depend on the mea- sures which you may think proper to adopt at the Anglo-Chinese College.
80 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
" I have proposed, that a properly qualified gardener shall be sent by the Horticultural Society to China, with the means of forming a suitable establishment here, where he may collect plants by means of native assistants, and which may, from time to time, be trans- ported to England.
^^ Could these assistants be instructed at Malacca in the principles of European Botany, and be supplied with some elementary books in their own language, their usefulness might be wonderfully extended.
" To impart to willing Chinese, European literature and science, is a noble conception. Should you suc- ceed, it can scarcely be doubted, that the more noble and peculiar object of your Mission will soon after- wards be fully accomplished. I delight to contem- plate the difi\ision of general knowledge from the Malay Peninsula, over the wide and extended Chinese empire. I think I see Botany take the lead of the heavenly train, whilst our pure theology, with a slower but infinitely more majestic march, soon afterwards spreads itself over the land.
" Surely nothing can be wanting to secure a con- sunmiation so desirable, and so devoutly desired by most, but union of effort : I would therefore call on all the admirers of literature — all the lovers of science — all the friends of the human race — ^who view, with becoming reverence, the stupendous scheme of human redemption, to aid, by every means in their power, the furtherance of your noble plans, which I know have been formed on the most exalted philanthropic prin- ciples, and cannot but be productive of the greatest good.
^^ I have only to add on the present occasion, that my best, though humble assistance, is entirely at your
1820.] ON CHINESE BOTANY. 81
command^ and that you have my hest wishes and most fervent prayers for the complete success of your great design. I remain, with the greatest regard, " My dear Sir,
" Your's very sincerely,
"John Livingstone."
TO JOHN LrVINGSTONE, ESQ. " My Deab Sir, " Canton, China, Feb. 16, 1819.
" I have read with much interest and satisfaction, youT very lucid statement* of the causes which have hitherto impeded the successful cultivation of Chinese Botany, and the transmission of Chinese plants to Europe : at the same time that you point out a prac- ticahle mode of prosecuting the subject more success- fully in future.
" To obviate the hindrance which arises from all Europeans being prohibited from travelling in China, you express an opinion, * That the Chinese themselves are very capable of being suflGiciently instructed in the principles of Botany, for all the material purposes of assistants.* In this opinion I most perfectly coincide : and to qualify natives for the purpose of Botanical assistants, is within the plan of the Anglo-Chinese College, though it may be some years before an effi- cient attention can be given to this interesting branch.
** I shall forthwith supply the College with Chinese books which treat of plants. I will also request the superintendent of the infant College, to select a native Chinese to receive, as soon as there is any one able to
* Contained in your letter to the Horticultural Society of London.
Vol. II. G
82 CORRESPOMDENCB. [1820.
instruct him in Botany, the requisite infonnation to fit him for the purpose of a Botanical assistant in China. The carrying this commencement to its ulti- mate object, will depend on the co-operation of Chris- tian philosophers and philanthropists in Europe, and other parts of the world.
"The works of the Almighty are vast, and are studied by all those who fear him. Although the study of his stupendous work — ^human redemption — be the immediate object of Christian missionaries; the Work of Creation, which is celebrated even by those blessed spirits who enjoy the beatific vision in heaven,* forms also a part of their study. It is in this view of the case, that the Anglo-Chinese College, and the Ultra-Ganges Missions, feel themselves fully justified in bestowing all the attention to literature and science which their immediate pursuits, and their health and pecuniary means, will admit of.
" In addition to the steps which I have above stated, and which I will endeavour to undertake immediately, I would beg to suggest a measure to you, which you do not advert to, and which, if you approve of it, you may notice to the Horticultural Society.
" It is, to send a young man of moral habits, and possessed of Botanical knowledge, to the Anglo- Chinese College, to study there the Chinese lan- guage, and to pay that attention to the translation of scientific Botanical books into Chinese, which the avocations of missionaries leave no time for.
" Although not myself a Botanist, I am a devoted friend to it, and every scientific pursuit ; and shall at all times be happy to lend that assistance which my
♦ Kev. iv. 11.
1820.] FROM PR. WORCESTER. 83
residence in China, and my knowledge of the lan- guage, may enahle me to do ; lamenting only that so little comes within the sphere of my acquirements, and the power of my means. " I remain, dear Sir,
" Your's very sincerely,
" R. Morrison."
From the period of Dr. Morrison's visit to America, on his way to China, till his death, he kept up a con- stant correspondence with many of the leading charac- ters in the churches of that country, hy whom his labours and person were held in the highest estima- tion. During this year he received a communication from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, " That he was unanimously elected, by ballot, to be a Corresponding Member of the Board." This communication was accompanied by the following official and private letters from the Rev. Dr. Wor- cester:—
'' Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.A. March, 1820.
" Rev. a3«d Dear Sir, " In communicating to you the document on the next pc^e, I fulfil an oflGicial duty in which I have great satisfaction. The pleasure will be still greater, not to me only, but to all the members of the Board in whose behalf the communication is made, when we are assured that you do not decline the appointment therein certified, and are authorized permanently to enrol your name among our respected Corresponding Associates. With great and affectionate respect, ** Rev. and dear Sir,
" Your brother in the Gospel, "S. Worcester, Cor. Sec. A.B.C.RM."
G 2
84 CORRESFONDENCS. [1820.
FROM THE SAME. " Rev. Sir, ** Salem, Mass., U.S.A. March, 1820.
" Though my name is unknown to you, I bless the God of all grace that your's has long been dear to me, and to many on this side of our common globe. In his sovereigm wisdom he has assigned to you a conspi- cuous situation, and a great work. His hand has guided, and upheld, and protected you, because he has promised to give his Son the mighty empire of China for a possession ; and it is his pleasure that the way should be prepared, by the communication, to its unknown millions, of his lively oracles. To be the instrument for such a purpose is indeed a high dis- tinction ; and I doubt not, beloved Sir, that many a time and often, while you have been wondering why it should be so, the sentiment has risen spontaneously from the bottom of your heart, * I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who hath counted me worthy.' And well you may thank him ; and well may unnumbered hearts and tongues, on earth and in heaven, unite with you in the grateful acknowledgment. The genera- tions to come will thank him, and the praise will not cease in eternity.
" Persuaded, however, that even China does not fill your heart, and that the grace of the same mighty Redeemer, as displayed in this hemisphere, and the operations, though comparatively limited, which are here going forward under his direction, and for the advancement of his salvation and kingdom, will not be uninteresting to you — I take leave to send along with this a small package, comprising a Gazetteer of the United States, Missionary Reports, Magazines, &c., which I hope will not be unacceptable to you. From these publications you will learn more than I could tell
1820;] FROM DR. WORCESTER. 85
yon, of what we are, and what we are doing in this coiintTj. Diminutive as we are, we are stretching out our hands to the east and to the west — to India on the one hand, and to the Sandwich Islands on the other ; and we almost imi^ne that ere long we shall encom- pass the globe, and join hands with you in China, as already we feel that our hearts are joined with your's.
** Possibly, dear Sir, it may, some time, be in your power to show kindness to our brethren whom we have committed, under Providence, to the winds and waves for conveyance to the Sandwich Islands. I beg to commend them to your Christian regard, as brethren of excellent spirit, and greatly beloved in the Lord. Any communication which you shall find it convenient to make them — any favour which you can show them — will gladden their hearts, and confer an obl^ation on many.
** Amid the multiplicity and urgency of your en- gagements and avocations, you can have little leisure to bestow on new and far distant correspondents ; but should you, after receiving this, ever happen to con- nect me in your thoughts with the cause which is dearest to your heart — and I would hope also to mine — I can assure you that a sentence with your signature will be very precious to me ; and happy shall I be, should it ever be in my power to promote in any way, or in the least degree, either your work or your joy. It is delightful to feel that, though at opposite points of the earth, and personally unacquainted, we may every day meet before the Lamb, in the midst of the throne— the blessed centre of union to all on earth and all in heaven who dwell in God — and pray for one another, for the church in all parts of the world, and for the nations and people in the shadow. Shall we
86 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
not so meet ? With sincere gratitude, and love, and respect, " I am, Rev. and Dear Sir,
" Your brother in the gospel,
" S. Worcester. " Rev. Robert Morrison, D.D.^
FROM DR. PROUDFIT.
" My Dear Brother, *' New York, May 15, 1820.
" Although we have had never the pleasure of seeing each other in the flesh, yet I often read of you, and, I trust, pray for your protection and prosperity in the important cause in which you are employed. I take the liberty of sending you two volumes of sermons, chiefly because several of them have been preached before societies which contemplate the diffusion of the gospel among the benighted nations of the earth. Accept of them as a tribute of unfeigned respect from one who never expects to see you in the present world, but often anticipates the pleasure of spending an eter- nity in the company of the redeemed from every cli- mate and kindred. It will afford me much pleasure to receive a letter from you, which you may forward to the care of Divie Bethune, Esq., New York,
" I take the liberty of introducing to your Christian confidence and affection, Mr. Olyphant, an elder of Dr. Mason's, who can give you full information re- specting the American churches. Let us pray for each other ; and consider me as your brother in the faith and fellowship of the ever living, ever loving, Jesus. "Alexander PRouDFrr.
" To the Rev. Dr. Morrison.*'
With Mr. Olyphant, the gentleman above intro- duced. Dr. Morrison formed a lasting fnendship and
1620.3 FROM D. W. C. OLYPHANT, ESQ. 87
correspondence. Mr. O.'s commercial establishment in Canton has ever been conducted on Christian prin- ciples, having the distinguished honour of being the only one which has admitted of no transactions in that prohibited *drug** so detrimental to the lives and morals of the population of China. Mr. Olyphant has also set a noble example of what may be effected by a Christian merchant, in conveying the " pearl of great price" to those whose sole object is to " buy and sell, and get gain." His ships first conveyed the American Missionaries to China, free of expense ; and to his influence and liberality they owe their continu- ance in Canton to the present time. Upon Mr. O.'s first arrival in China, he addressed the following letter to Dr. Morrison, who was then at Macao : —
FROM D. W. C. OLYPHANT, ESQ. " Rev. Sir, "Canton, Oct. 15, 1820.
" It is three weeks since I landed here from New York, bringing with me the packages for you, which the bearer of this will hand you. I hoped to have delivered them to you myself, with the enclosed, at Canton ; but I learn it is not your intention to reside here. My objects are commercial, succeeding Mr. Scott in the situation which he held here ; but I trust I know something of the love of God in Christ, and am not insensible to the responsibility which rests upon the professors of His name, to extend the know- ledge of it. If you come to Canton, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you ; if that is not your pur- pose, I hope you will make use of me if I can in any way serve you in thp. blessed cause for which you have laboured her©
♦ Opium.
88 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
" May you ere long see of the fruit of your doings for this henighted people ; and that the kingdom of our dear Redeemer may soon come to them, will, I humhly trust, prove to be the heartfelt desire of
" Your obedient Servant,
" D. W. C. Olyphant,
" French Factory, Na 1.
" Dr. Morrison, Macao."
FROM THE REV. W. MILNE.
s
** Clay bang, near Malacca, "March20,1820.
" Dear Robert, " I came out with the children to visit this " Bo- chim** this morning, being the anniversary of my be- loved Rachel's death. Yes, in the room where I now sit, about twelve months and three hours ago, I heard the "silver cord" snapt asunder — "the heart-strings break" — ^with a sound similar to that which the break- ing of a watch-spring occasions, when the chain sud- denly unfurls itself. I will not be positive about being right in the interpretation of the above passage of Scripture, but it came very vividly to my mind, and has often done so ei^nce. To be a few moments or hours away from bustle is a great privilege ; but an evil heart follows me every where. No train of out- ward circumstances, of whatever nature, can of them- selves sanctify our thoughts : all this must come from above. It is, however, an unspeakable blessing to be able to reflect with delight on the character and hopes of departed friends. This blessing I enjoy ; though, when I think of my own exceeding great errors and failings in conjugal and relative life, I feel shame, and self-loathing, and humiliation. Ah ! Robert, " while I was ■ busy here and there, she was gone ;" but no regret can bring the dead back, and though, while a
1820.] FROM REV. MR. MILKE. 89
dear friend lives, we may try to do our duty to the utmost, and feel little self-reproach, yet, when death removes that friend for ever beyond the reach of our intercourse, we feel as if we could not forgive our- selves, though perhaps conscience may not bring heavy
charges, relative to the great essentials of duty.
» # # * •
"You have mentioned, I think three times, an offer made by Dr. Cracknell to procure a literary de- gree for any person* connected with the College. As you seem to refer chiefly to me, I state in reply, that what you wrote to him on that subject could not be improved. There is only one way in which I should feel perfectly easy to accept of such an honour, were it offered to me, namely, for assiduous application to Chinese studies ; nor should I think any such honours worth accepting for mere distinction's sake. If it were likely to promote my object, or to be of any service to the College, I should not refuse it, if it came with credit. • # # # #
" The diploma, with the tin box and University seal, I have looked at, and showed it to the others, as a curiosity which few are favoured with a sight of. I shall carefully send it on by the first secure hand. The enclosed letter you will perceive I have opened and read.
" The Lord bless you, dear Robert ; and your's,
" W. Milne."
The following letter from a gentleman in the Ben- gal Civil Service is inserted, as the writer subsequently visited Malacca and became one of the Vice Presi-
♦ *• In 1820 the University of Glasgow, having heard of the pious kbours of Mr. Milne, on proper testimonials being given as to his character and theological attainments, conferred on him the degree of Doctor in Divinity.*' — Morrison's Life of Dr. Milne.
90 CORR£SPOND£MCS. [1820.
dents of the Anglo-Chinese College, as well as a warm friend to its objects.
FROM C. R. CROMMELIN, ESQ. " My Dear Sir, " Canton, October 4th, 1820.
" You will have been rather surprised to hear of my determination, please God, to depart at so early a period from this country ; but as I felt my health, under God's goodness to me, to be as fully restored as I should have hoped for at my time of life, and as inaction is to me the worst of punishments, I per- mitted myself to follow, what, from the feelings of my mind, appeared to me the leading of Providence, and I trust in a few hours to be on my way to Whampo.
" From you I will not conceal that I have every reason to expect to rise, soon after I may arrive, if in mercy I am preserved, in Calcutta, to the high station I once before looked forward to. Pray for me, my dear Sir, that I may be enabled, in probably the last but most momentous scene of my public life, to do my duty to my God, my fellow-creatures, and myself; an Aye or a No may influence the welfare of thousands ; may God give me wisdom, true wisdom to guide me, his faith to strengthen me, and his arm to support and protect me ; I shall want all, for weak is the aid of man alone.
"My unexpected departure will leave my book and picture objects unattained ; the latter, Mr. Reeves has kindly undertaken to complete for me ; the for- mer, I must depend on your friendly aid to carry into effect. My wish still is to procure a selection of such books as may be esteemed curious, and worthy of be- ing presented to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta ; in- deed, the situation I may possibly be placed in, as a member of that institution, will add to the wish I
p
I
FROM C. R. CROMMELm, ESQ. 91
originally entertained, of aiding both its library and museum with the books you may have the goodness to purchase for me. I am desirous of obtaining a few notices relating to the subjects treated of in them, and you will much oblige me, at your leisure, by adding this trouble to your attentions to me. Every expense attending their transmission, as well as the purchase cost, Mr. Berry lias received my instructions to reimburse you ; your trouble and loss of time, I must remain your debtor for, but not an ungrateful one.
" If I can in any way prove useful to the interests, comfort, or convenience of your family, or any of your friends, during my residence in Bengal, it will in truth afford me pleasure to do bo, and I trust you will not hesitate to apply to me. God bless you and yours, my dear Sir : may health and peace of mind he your portion. Make my best respects acceptable to Mrs. Morrison, and give my love to your dear children. " Your's most truly,
" C. R. Crommelik."
The following letters from Europe close the corre- spondence for the present year.
FROM THE REV. ALEXANDER ROSS. "My Dear Sib, "Aherdeeii,November4th, 1829.
'* I had the pleasure of duly receiving your very kind letter of the Slst of October, 1818. Accept, Sir, of my most grateful acknowledgments for your atten- tion in sending me the Chinese books you were so good as select for me. They have proved a very valuable acquisition, and without them I should have been obliged to abandon the study of the language. I have not been able of late to devote so much time to Chinese as I could have wished. For two sessions I have been acting as Assistant to the Professor of Greek,
92 CORRESPOND ENCB. [1820.
in Marischal College, and this employment has neces- sarily occupied a considerable share of my attention. I have, however, with the assistance of the part of your Dictionary already published, and the work of De Guignes, read carefully a considerable portion of the Lun-yu and of San-tsze-king, of which there is a translation in your Horae Senicse. I feel more de- lighted with the study the farther I advance, and I do not yet despair of being able to make some little pro. gress. The language certainly possesses very great claims on attention, and, I doubt not, will amply repay the time and labour necessary for the attainment of it. The Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca promises to be productive of the most beneficial results in enlarg- ing our knowledge of China. Mr. Milne was good enough to send my father a copy of the * Statement,' which both he and I read with the most lively in- terest. An institution of this kind will form an 8Bra in the history of our intercourse with that singular nation. It will, it is to be hoped, have the effect of making us better acquainted with the literature of China, and, what is of infinitely greater importance, it will serve to promote the knowledge of the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ amongst its numerous inhabit- ants. My father and I shall do all that we can in collecting subscriptions for so excellent an institu- tion.
"Mr. Philip has left this for the Cape of Good Hope, where, as you will have heard long i^o, he is to act as Superintendent of the Missions. I hope the Lord will bless his labours. His whole heart seemed to be devoted to the good cause, and I doubt not but that he will be found well qualified for the important situation to which Providence has called him. Our Bible and Missionary Societies in this place are pros-
1820.] FROM REV. ALEXANDER ROSS. 93
pering, but we have sustained a great loss by being deprived of Mr. Philip, who was, unquestionably, one of our best speakers. Great things are doing at pre- sent for the cause of the Redeemed*. What a blessing it is, that while there exists such a delightful spirit amongst Christians to vie with one another in their eagerness to promote the cause of religion in the world, there should also exist, amongst the heathen, such a willingness to receive the * engrafted word, which is able to make them wise unto salvation.' While travelling in Holland, during the summer of 1817, I learned an interesting fact relating to the Jews, which I have no doubt will give you pleasure. It may be relied on as most authentic. Some gentle- man, in the passage boat between Amsterdam and Utrecht, happened to meet with several Jews. The conversation turned upon the weather, which was then very unfavourable, and one of the Jews observed, that it was a punishment upon the Christians for their disrespect to the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. * And what do you care about the Messiah ? ' replied one of the gentlemen, ^ are not you Jcavs ? ' * Sir,' replied one of them, * we believe in Christ as firmly as most Christians; we have been long separated from the Synagogue, and meet together by ourselves to pray and to read the New Testament. Our number is very considerable in Amsterdam.' ^ But why,' rejoined he, Mo you not come forward, and join some Chris- tian community 1 ' * Sir,' replied the other, ' your prac- tice and your profession are so much at variance, that we are better by ourselves.'
" I take the liberty of sending you by Mr. Perry, (who goes to China as Assistant Surgeon to an India- man), * Home's Introduction to the Critical Study of the Bible,' and ^ Moral Sketches,' a new work lately pub-
94 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
lished by Miss Hannah More ; of both of which I beg your acceptance.
" CJould you spare a few moments from your im- portant studies, I should esteem it a very great favour to hear from you. Any information about your trans- lationsy or respecting the spread of the gospel, will be peculiarly interesting. My prayers are with you, and hoping you will excuse the trouble I have given you,
" I remain your's,
" With the greatest esteem,
^^ Alexander L. Ross.*'
from sir george t. staunton, bart.
'' Portland Place, Apnl 13th, 1820.
" Dear Morrison, "I have just had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 9th, and I am much obliged to you for the two accompanjdng numbers of the Gleaner, which I shall read with interest. The next arrival from China will, I hope, bring us another number of your Dictionary. The present peaceful state of our relations with the Chinese must be favourable to your prose- cution of your great work, and although Chinese literature certainly excites but little interest in this country, most people are sensible of the value and importance of the formation of a good Dictionary, with a view to many objects, besides such as are purely literary. The nature of the pursuits which I have entered into since I have been at home, have drawn me entirely from my Chinese Books ; but the wish of some of my friends, and the good disposition of Mr. Murray, the bookseller, have induced me to determine on publishing a small collection of Trans- lations, that has lain these eight years in my desk unheeded. They will form only a small octavo
f
I
1820.] FROM SIR GEORGE T STAUNTON, DABT. 95
volume, so that whether the public read them or not, will not much signify. They are not idle in this re- spect in France. Mr. Klaproth sent me, lately, a most laborious supplement, in folio, to M. De Guignes' Dictionary, and Abel Rerausat has favoured me with a copy of bis Translation of a Chinese account of Cambodia, written in the 12th century.
" I do not think the latter any great acquisition to literature. I have congratulated my good friend Urmston on his succession to the Chiefship. I augur well of his administration. His prudence, and concilia- tory manners, and his judgment in employing the talents of those about him, each in his proper sphere, will, I hope, secure to him a pleasant and peaceful reign. Our new monarch here, I am sorry to say, is not so fortunate. You will see the newspapers filled with accounts of riots and conspiracies, and although the vast majority of the nation, I am satisfied, is sound and loyat, yet it is painful and distressing to see the extent to which the lower orders have been deluded and demoralized.
" I am very glad to hear you speak favourably of your new chaplain. It is of great importance that the person who fills such an office should be worthy of it. It would, otherwise, be better omitted ; but a sensible and truly pious man will have always much good in his power. I am willing to hope that reli- gious sentiments are, on the whole, gaining ground. On visiting the cottages on a small purchase I lately made in Hampshire, I was pleased to see that they were all furnished with religious books, and had none of a contrary tendency.
'* I am, dear Morrison,
*• Very truly your's,
"George Thomas Staunton."
96 CORRESPONDENCE. [1820.
FROM THE REV. GEORGE BURDER.
"London, April 17th, 1820.
" My DEiR Friend and Brother,
" I feel peculiar satisfaction in sitting down to write you a letter, which, I trust, will be delivered to you by the hands of Mrs. Morrison, from whom you have been so long separated. I rejoice in the prospect of your being together again ; and may your God long spare you together, as true yoke-fellows in the cause of Christ, and in the education of your dear children.
" Your last letter gives us most abundant cause of joy and thankfulness. The Translation of the Holy Book of God into the language of hundreds of millions, now living, and hereafter to live, in China and neigh- bouring countries, is now finished ! That Herculean task is at length completed! To him alone, who gave the power to effect this great work, and who alone can render it effectual for its intended purpose — the illumination and renovation of human minds — to him alone be the glory, now and for evermore. But, my dear friend, we ought not, we will not, we do not, forget the laborious agents whom he has been pleased to employ for this end: we thank him for you, and for your helper, Mr. Milne. We bless God, who has continued your lives in a sultry climate, maintained your mental and corporal powers, and spared you to see the completion of your great labour. The Trans- lators of king James's Bible had a feast when they finished that work, to denote their joy and gladness on the important occasion, and though neither you nor we assemble our friends for the purpose of bodily gratification, on the finishing of the Chinese Bible, yet we rejoice together, and may I not say, with * a joy unspeakable and full of glory,' for we cannot believe that your great labour in this good work shall be in
1821.3 FBOM THB REV. JOHN BURDER. 97
Tain in the Lord, but that generations yet unborn shall rise up to bless Qod for the Holy Scriptures in the Chinese language, and to bless him, too, that he raised up a Society in England who sent Morrison, and af- terwards Milne, to produce the volume. May the God whom you have thus served, bless you and your's with all Bible blessings, in time and to eternity.
" Your observations on translations in general, and on your's in particular, are just. Never mind what opponents say ; the work is done, and Qod will bless it, nor will he forget this work of faith and labour of love when he will render to every man according to his works. Bless God, my dear Sir, that ever you were bom, and bom again, and enabled to effect this work : you have lived to good purpose in having lived to publish a Chinese Bible. Thank God, and take courage.
**Your other works are important, though not equally so. May the Lord spare you to finish the Dictionary, and your other projected plans fo public utility ; and may you see the prosperity of the Anglo- Chinese College, and of the whole Ultra- Ganges Mission.
** We think of sending out, as soon as possible, two additional missionaries to Malacca, in order that two of those already there, and who may be already ac- quainted with the Malay tongue, may go to the new- settlement at Sincapore, a station which seems to us, as to Mr. Milne, of great probable importance.
" Grace and peace be multiplied towards you, and may you long live to diffuse most widely the sweet savour of the knowledge of Christ in the east. " So wishes and prays,
^' Your afiectionate brother in Jesus,
"George Burder.
Vol. II. H
98 CORRESFOirDENCB. [1820.
**P.8. We have just heard, by a gentleman who called lately at Malacca, that Mr. Milne appears to be in a bad state of health, and that it may be ex- pedient for him to take a voyage to Europe, or at least to the Cape. So valuable a life must be taken care of, and I am persuaded the Directors cannot object to any measure which may be deemed neces- sary for that purpose."
The proverbial instability of earthly happiness has, perhaps, seldom been more strikingly exemplified than in the experience of the subject of iJiese memoirs dur- ing the present year ; but who has not felt the truth of these beautiful lines
** The brightest things beneath the sky. Give but a flattering light; We should suspect some danger nigh. When we possess delight "
Only a few short months restored to the enjoyment of domestic happiness, with every prospect of its con- tinuance— ^when, alas! in a moment the scene became overcast, and the hopes which the morning's sun dawned on, were blighted ere the shades of evening set in.
The circumstances attendant on this sudden cala- mity are briefly, but affectingly traced by Dr. Mor- rison, in the following letter to his father and mother- in-law : —
TO JOHN MORTON, ESQ., AND TO MRS. MORTON.
''Macao, China, June 12, 1821.
" My Dear Father and Mother, " My beloved Mary, from the last time of her arrival in China, enjoyed remarkably good health — seldom
1821 J DBATH OF MRS. MORBISON. 99
or ever requiring medical aid. We were pleasantly ritoatedi and had a piece of ground before our house hy the seandde in Macao, where we and the children walked happily together almost every evening. We then, after our evening prayers, sat down round a table; all occupied in something useful, or amusing. My Mary was occupied innocently and pleasantly in making clothes for her expected babe ; and got all her house in order most comfortably. Yet, amidst all this, she never went to rest, nor rose to work, without read- ing considerable portions of her Bible ; and since she came out to China, she read, I believe, the whole of Milner^s Church History, which she found edifying. ^^Mary had a strong sense of religion, an ardent love to her Saviour, and a full conviction of the un- certainty and insufficiency of all temporal enjoyments. She therefore rejoiced with trembling. We often said to each other, that we must take care not to set our hearts on earthly things; for we were too happy. As she approached the time of her confine- ment, she said that sometimes she felt fear. Fear, I know, is salutary, and I never said, * Don't be afraid' — but I said, ^ Trust in God ;' and I daily alluded, in my prayers, to our being prepared for all God's will con- cerning us. In my secret prayers, I besought of God, that she might be the living mother of a living child. Latterly, Mary felt more resignation, and less fear. During a month or six weeks past, she, four or five times, rose up suddenly, just when falling asleep, and said, she felt a sensation of suffocation, and sometimes had a slight retching ; but it went off almost imme- diately ; and in the morning she felt quite well. On the night of the 8th of June, she had a profuse per- spiration and some pains, which she apprehended in- dicated the approach of labour ; but in the morning
11 2
100 CORRESPONDENCE. [1821.
she was tolerably well, and worked all Saturday, getting ready little things, rejoicing, trembling, hop- ing, fearing. On Saturday evening, she sat up rather late, putting away all the work for Sunday, and read- ing her chapter, which she never omitted. During the night, a profuse perspiration came on ; and about half-past seven in the morning, whilst dressing, a purging and vomiting attacked her. She took a little breakfast, but looked very pale. At ten, I wrote to Mr. Livingstone, to prevent his going to church. He came most kindly, almost immediately. Mrs. L. came too. The symptoms continued ; Mary's strength fast failed. A difficulty of breathing came on. She asked Mr. L. and me also, if there appeared danger 1 I did not conceal it. She raised her eyes to heaven, and looked resigned. She was too weak to speak much. A cold sweat diiSused itself over her ; below her eyes, became black. Mr. Pearson was called in by Mr. L. Every means was tried. I prayed to God for Mary. She appeared somewhat relieved and easier. She told me at three j9. m., that she was better ; I feared much. I sent in the children to kiss her. She was too low to notice them. Throughout the day she had a strong thirst. * Congee! more congee ! '* was her cry when she could speak. About eight p. m.j Mr. L. thought delivery had advanced, and gathered fresh hopes. We remembered her recovery on a former occasion, and hoped she would get through this. The purging went off, but the vomiting continued. About half-past nine, the retching was shockingly intense — and when I held her dear head during the fits, her suffering was indeed great ; but when she laid her weary head back on the pillow, she said, she had ^ no pain.' They tried to encourage her with the hope of
* Drink made of rice. .
1821.] DEATH OF MRS. MORRISON. 101
delivery, but she cried, * I have no pains/ The retch- ing continued. Mrs. Livingstone, Mr. L., myself, and four^ female servants, were standing by, assisting as much as one frail mortal can assist another. About ten o^clock, Mary's breathing became difficult; the difficulty increased, and the retching continued ; and finally, about half-past ten, after a severe fit, she threw her head back, and without any distortion in her features, with her head on my arm, the heart and lungs ceased to act. Mary died ! and our little babe, alas! found a grave in its mother's womb. O, my Ood, what shall I say! Thus ended our darling Mary's short and afflicted life.
'' I bless God for the assured hope that she is in heaven — ^thather departed spirit has reached the haven of eternal rest. But for my dear motherless children, who are weeping around me, I would forego my own happiness on earth, and resign my Mary to go be- fore me, from the storms of this tempestuous world. The idea of leaving my dear Mary in her frequently enfeebled state, made death terrible to me. Qod gave her, at last, a season of health, and peace, and comfort, and inclined her heart to improve it well. Yet, oh, how great the disappointment ! Oh, what a stroke ! In every part of the house are memorials of Mary's inno- cent and laudable anxieties and preparations, and those fond anticipations which mothers only know.
" On Sunday, Mr. Livingstone never left the house, but about five minutes; and he remained hours by the side of Mary's couch. Mrs. L., Mr. L., and Mr. Pearson did what was necessary to the remains, and left the house about twelve p. m.
" On Monday, I wished to inter Mary out at the hills, where our James was buried ; but the Chinese would not let me even open the same grave. I dis-
102 OORRESPONDENCB. [1821.
Uked burying under the town walls, but was obliged to resolve on doing so, as the Papists refuse their burying ground to Protestants. The want of a Pro- testant burying ground has long been felt in Macao, and the present case brought it strongly before the Committee of the English Factory, who immediately resolved to vote a sum sufficient to purchase a piece of ground, worth between three and four thousand dollars ; and personally exerted themselves to remove the legal impediments and local difficulties ; in which they finally succeeded. This enabled me to lay the remains of my beloved wife in a place appropriated to the sepulture of Protestant Christians, denied a place of interment by the Romanists. '
^^Mr. Livingstone, Mr. Pearson, the President, and Committee of the English Factory, Mr. Urm- ston. Sir W. Fraser, &c., bore the pall. All the gen- tlemen of the Factory, also Counsellor Pereira, Sir A. Ljoungstedt, the Russian Consul, and other foreigners in Macao, attended the funeral. Mr. Harding, Chap- lain to the Factory, read the funeral service at the grave ; and the whole detail of the funeral was con- ducted with decency and rei^pectability by the Eng- lish servants of the Factory. Rebecca, John, and I attended their dear mamma to the tomb; we were loath to forsake her remains. Our Chinese domestics and teachers also, voluntarily accompanied the funeral.
" Our Mary was much esteemed by all who ever conversed with her. She had an excellent understand- ing, and a well-principled heart. Mr. and Mrs. Mo- lony have to-day joined in a letter of condolence, say- ing, that in their voyage out, they had an opportunity of ascertaining Mrs. Morrison's Christian disposition, and were then much comforted by her society.
^^ Thus, my dear Father and Mother, I have given
1821.] DEATH OF MBS. MORRISON. 103
you a brief outline of this sad and afilictive occur- rence. I will not say, * Grieve not.' Oh, no ! I have shed many tears for Mary. Let us shed many tears of affectionate remembrance, for she was worthy of our love ; and * the finger of God' often * touched ' her, as it did him, who of old was the most afilicted of mortals. But she is now beyond the reach of all evil ; where there is neither sickness, nor pain, nor death. Yet, to me, oh ! what a dismal blank has her demise occasioned ; and to our children, what a loss ! I can as yet form no plans respecting them. Rebecca al- ready sees the difficulty, and has asked me whether I will go to Canton or not. She was satisfied with the reasons which guide me. ^God will provide.' We know not what may occur, before it is necessary for me to leave Macao. Thus, therefore, at present, I must resign the subject. Farewell! The Lord him- self support your mind, if this find you in life, to mourn the death of your beloved daughter, and my darling wife. Farewell !"
" Sunday, June 17. — ^To-day every person in the English Society, on account of Mary's death, appeared in mourning at church. Mrs. Livingstone has pro- mised to take care of Kebecca, during the winter, and I will, if spared, take John with me to Canton. Mrs. Molony and Mrs. Plowden have also offered to do what they can for Rebecca. Mrs. Molony has further offered to take her to England, when she goes in 1822 ; but I have not determined what to do re- specting her. I wish she could be serviceable to the heathen."
In a letter to the Secretary of the Missionary Society, on the same afflictive occasion, he says : —
" My son John, if God spare us both, I mean to
104 CORRESPONDENCE. [1821.
bring up as a Chinese scholar; and pray and hope that his heart may be influenced by ^ the God of the spirits of all flesh/ to become a preacher of Christ^s gospel to the Chinese.
** I purpose, by God's grace, to be more and more devoted to the good cause ; but God alone can give success to the labours of Christian missionaries. May we all be earnest in prayer for the Divine blessing, for * the time is short that we have to labour.' "
From the resident families in Macao, Dr. Morrison received all the attention which friendship or respect could dictate on this melancholy occasion — and the zeal, and promptitude with which the Select Committee obtained a piece of ground for a suitable cemetery at the expense of JEIOOO, was no slight proof of iheir sympathy and esteem. But soothing as human sym- pathy certainly is, — ^yet, under heavy afiliction, it is only the hand which inflicts the stroke, that can effiBctually pour the balm of consolation into the wounded mind, and He who is at all times the refuge and strength of his people, they find, in an especial man- ner, to be " a very present help in trouble." Still, such was the efiect of this sudden bereavement, that Dr. Morrison's health and spirits sufiered considerably for some time, which accounts for the blank in his general correspondence during the remainder of this year, as he only wrote to his immediate kindred and family. However, he resumed his oflBicial duties at the usual season, leaving his daughter under the care of his kind friends. Dr. and Mrs. Livingstone, at Macao, and taking his son with him to Canton, until the depar- ture of the Company's ships would enable him to send both of his children to England, which event took place early in the ensuing year, leaving him once
1821.] TO THS REV. DB. MORRISON. 105
more to pursue his various labours in solitude — ^but If ith unabated diligence. Besides the duties of his civil appointment, and the completion of his Dictionary, he was occupied with works of minor importance ; yet all bearing on his primary object: and at no period did he remit his efforts to communicate religious in- struction to those of the natives, who could be induced to attend them.
The joy which the translation of the Bible into Chinese diffused throughout the religious world, mani- fested itself in such strains of Christian sentiment, as well as gratitude, towards the agents who effected the work, that many of the following letters, received about this period, could scarcely fail of exerting a cheering influence on the minds of those to whom they were addressed. May others also be stimulated by them, to attempt great things in the same cause !
They are presented to the reader more according to their subjects, than as it regards the order of their dates.
FROM D. W. C. OLYPHANT, ESQ., CANTON.
" My Dear Sir, " Sabbath, June 24th, 1821.
" I received your note of the 19th, with the enclo- sures confirming the report, which had reached us at Canton, of the affliction which it has pleased our Heavenly Father to visit you in bereaving you of the dearest of earthly comforts. I feel how heavy your loss is, and I sincerely sympathize with you. But as you have taught others, so I trust you now experience it as your privilege to know, that though called to weep, it is not as those who are ignorant of the truth that * Jesus hath abolished death.' When you look around you and behold the thousands that are igno- rant of this truth, and know nothing of its consolations.
106 OFFICIAL LETTER [1821.
and compare your lot with theirs, your heart must rejoice even *in trihulation/ I pray for you, that the goodness of God in Christ may be present with you and support you, and that you may see that, though he hath Humed his hand upon you,' he hath done it in very faithfuhiess. He * moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform/ Labouring in the service of your Lord and Master, in a land destitute of Christian society, he hath taken from you that friend more especially dear to you, as the one with whom you could take sweet counsel in the ways of the Lord. It seems strange. But your loss is her gain, and it shall be yours. Your heart covets bless- ings for the poor heathen. Perhaps this trial was needful for you that they might reap the benefit. May your grief be turned into joy in their salvation. I have not much to offer. I sincerely sympathize with you and your bereaved children ; not forgetting you or them at a throne of grace, where I trust you find abundant consolation.
" I remain, dear Sir,
^* Sincerely your's,
" D. W. C. Olyphant."
TO THE REVEREND DRS. MORRISON AND MILNE» AT CANTON
AND MALACCA.
'' British and Foreign Bible Society House, ''Earl Street, London, Jan. 26, 1821.
^^ Reverend Gentlemen, " I have the satisfaction of replying in the name of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society, to Dr. Milne's favour of the 3rd of August, and to Dr. Morrison's favours of the 14th and 25th of November, and the Srd of December, 1819, on the subject of the Chinese Scriptures ; the principal purport of all which
1821.]] FROM TH£ BIBLE SOCIETY. 107
isy that the canonical books of the Old and New Testament have been completed; that the last grant of jE 1000 of our Committee has been drawn for, and the printing of the whole Bible in the Chinese lan- guage is in progress. They further communicate details of the mode adopted to render the version as correct as possible under existing circumstances; of the prospect for a new revised edition of the whole ; of the disinterested manner in which the Com- mittee's grants are applied to the work, exclusive of any chaises for your personal services and support ; of openings at Java, Pinang, and Sincapore, for dis- tributing Chinese Scriptures to advantage ; of hopes to profit by the trade to Ochotsk, for distributing the Scriptures in the Loo-choo Islands, and even in Japan; of the martyrdom of a pious printer at Canton; of Dr. Milne's family affliction. I need not tell you, that our Committee takes the deepest interest in all these communications, and whilst they rejoice in the actual and prospective progress of a work which, under the blessing of the Almighty, may become the means of converting the most powerful nation of idolaters in the universe to Christ, they admire the virtues, (of Him who will be glori- fied in his saints,) which adorn the instruments of his grace, employed in this great undertaking; — they sympathize with their sufferings and difficul- ties, and feel it their duty, as stewards of the boun- ties of a Christian public for the Propagation of the Word of God, to assist them with all their might. As a proof of such being the effect of your interesting Keports, I have the satisfaction to an- nounce to you, that, by a resolution, unanimously passed at the Meeting of our Committee of Novem- ber last, and confirmed by a subsequent general
108 OFFICIAL LETTER [1821.
Meeting of the same, a fresh grant of one thousand pounds sterling, has been placed at your disposal, for the furtherance of the multiplication and dis- tribution of the Chinese Scriptures.
"For this sum you may, as heretofore, draw on the Treasurer, at thirty days' sight, whenever you deem it necessary ; only with this difference, which I beg you will please to observe, that the bill must be drawn on John Thornton, Esq., No. 10, Earl Street, Blackfriars, with a letter of advice affixed to the bill, and a separate letter of advice directed in the same manner as the bill, to Earl Street.
" Of the Mongol Tartar Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John (all that has hitherto been completed), printed at St. Petersburg, six copies at present are sent for the use of yourselves and fellow-labourers. It is, undoubtedly, of great consequence, and extremely desirable, that Dr. Milne should not absent himself from the sphere of his labours without the greatest necessity. You are, I think, perfectly right respecting the duties of a father ; and the observation is just, that Christians ought to care for the children of those who labour for the cause of the gospel, who on that account have not the means of making the necessary provision for their o&prings. I am firmly persuaded, that he who guideth the hearts, as the water brooks, will not fail to dispose those of his children who have the means, to supply the needful as soon as the case is made known to them. I trust, if any thing of the kind is requisite for Dr. Milne's family, those whose duty it is to bring the case forward will not fail of Buccess.
" We cordially join in your prayers for the con- tinuance of your lives, in order to the completion of the arduous task you have in hand. — Independent of
1821.] FROM THE BIBLB SOCIETY. 109
the incalculable good that may be done to the Chinese nation, by a complete version of the Scriptures in their native tongue, the production of copies of your translation has already gained for our Institution many friends, and even fellow labourers, from among those who formerly were entirely indifferent on the sub- ject of Scripture dissemination, if not hostile to the ob- ject itself. The learned in Europe had their curiosity excited to the highest degree, when the completion of the Chinese New Testament was announced ; and whilst some doubted of the truth of these news, they have been astonished and scarcely trusted their own eyes, when they could hold a copy in their own hands, and purchase it for their own libraries. The whole Bible will, in this way, produce a most powerful effect. — The printer whom you mention as having been called to suffer for r^hteousness^ sake, as he is on the one hand a kind of first fruits of the effect of the Scriptures in the Chinese langus^e, gives on the other not dubi- ously to understand, that the Lord would not grant to the publication of private meditations, how pious so- ever they may be, that protection, which he vouchsafes to the publication of his own word. I am led to this reflection by the circumstance you mention, that this man found more edification in his own compositions than in the Scriptures themselves, or Tracts of your composition. Standing here, as it were, on an eminence from which the progress of the w^ord of God in the whole world may be observed, I have not unfrequently perceived that the simple distribution of the Scriptures, with the absence of all attempts at proselytism, has met with less obstruction, and ultimately been more effectual in enlightening those who were involved in the darkness of superstition, idolatry, and infidelity, than attempts made, with the same views, by the dis-
110 OFFICIAL LETTER [1821.
tribution of religious books, where the Scriptures had not yet been spread; or by preaching i^ainst the errors of those churches which have perverted their meaning, and neglected or prohibited their perusal. It is remarkable, that the Lord has in our days so paralyzed the prohibitory decrees of Rome, that wherever an attempt to enforce them is made, a greater desire to read the Scriptures is excited, and Providence interferes in order to facilitate its gratification. Strike ing examples of this kind afford, at present, the coun- tries of Spain, Naples, and some parts of the newly revolutionized provinces of New Spain in America. Before another twelve months shall have elapsed, I hope our reports will have those vacancies filled up which these countries hitherto left in them. These countries, from a natural consequence of the state of spiritual oppression under which they have so long been groaning, are, at this moment of political revolu- tion, greatly tormented by the contention between superstition and infidelity, while the wisest and best among these nations begin to see that there is no hap- piness to be acquired without a return to pure religion —to the written word of God, as the only source of it. Some of the most excellent among the Spanish clergy are at present occupied in printing the Scrip- tures in the langui^es 6f their country, without note or comment, and I need not tell you, that their appli- cation for help has not been in vain.
" Now, in this country, every attempt to convert the inhabitants to a Protestant church would be impossi- ble, the supreme court of legislation having sentenced to death every man who attempted to change the re- ligion of the country. To distribute a Catholic ap- proved version of the Scriptures is not, nor indeed can be considered, as such an attempt; and when the
1821.3 FROM THE BraLE SOCIETY. Ill
Scriptares shall have been spread and read through this country, we may rely on the promise of him who gave the word, that they shall not return void, but eflEect that change of the heart, which its knowledge by faith in Christ Jesus, produces.
" In France, upwards of 40,000 copies of De