CHAPTER X.

PROTESTANT MISSIONS TO CANTON.

MISSION PROJECTED—WANT OF INFORMATION-MORRISON APPOINTEDSAILS FOR CANTON-MODE OF LIVING THERE-PIOUS BREATHINGSEXTREME CAUTION— MARRIAGE AND APPOINTMENT-RELIGIOUS SERVICES PRINTING COMMENCED-ADVERSE EDICT-ARRIVAL OF MILNE -VOYAGE TO JAVA-NEW TESTAMENT COMPLETED-BAPTISM OF A CONVERT-GENESIS PRINTED REMOVAL OF MILNE EMBASSY TO PEKING-OLD TESTAMENT COMPLETED-CHARACTER OF THE TRANSLATION- · DICTIONARY FINISHED-MORRISON VISITS ENGLAND-PRESENTED TO THE KING-RECEPTION BY THE SOCIETY-RETURNS TO CHINA-LABOURS OF A-FAH-HIS LETTER-BAPTISM OF TEEN CHING —A-GANG-AND CHOO TSING-DEATH OF MORRISON-PERSECUTION OF AFAH-PROCLAMATION OF THE MAGISTRATE-AFAH'S ACCOUNT

CONCLUSION.

FROM the era of the reformation to the commencement of the present century, protestant Christians attempted nothing for the evangelization of China. A work of such magnitude, called for a variety of talent and a length of labour, which could not have been supplied by individuals; and the energies of an associate body were necessary to grapple with difficulties so vast, and to carry on operations so protracted.

The London Missionary Society, was the first protestant institution that considered the wants and claims of China. In the year 1805, the directors turned their thoughts toward that empire, and came to a resolution to attempt a translation of the Holy Scriptures into the Chinese language. The immense population of China,

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and the deplorable darkness in which they were involved, led the fathers of the society to arrange a plan, for bringing the light of divine truth to shine upon the moral gloom; but they felt satisfied, that in order to do the work effectually, the individual undertaking it should be well grounded in evangelical doctrine, and thoroughly acquainted with the language of the country. Their views were at first directed to Penang, which being a free port, and having a colony of Chinese emigrants settled on it, afforded a good opportunity for cultivating the language, and for labouring among the people. If a blessing should attend the design, native agents might be raised up, and the Gospel extended by their instrumentality into the heart of the celestial empire. As a collateral object, the Malay nations might be attended to, and religious tracts prepared and circulated, for their benefit. It is singular, that at that early period, the plan should bave been suggested, which has in a great measure formed the basis of the society's operations ever since. The scheme was, however, at that time, only in embryo; and little was done towards the accomplishment of the design.

The difficulties in the way, were great: and among the foremost was, the want of information. The country and its inhabitants were, in a great measure, unknown; and though the Romish missionaries had sent home voluminous accounts of that region, yet their statements had not obtained much circulation, or credence with the British public. The wondering style in which some of them wrote, and the very wonderful things they related, -unsupported by the collateral evidence of our own countrymen, led many to doubt their judgment, and some their veracity; so that their accounts made but

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little impression. The gentlemen connected with Lord Macartney's embassy, were none of them acquainted with the Chinese language; and were therefore unable to add much to what the Jesuits had communicated. Indeed, many doubted, whether the native tongue ever could be attained by foreigners: not considering that the catholic mission to that country had been carried on for more than two hundred years; during which time, the language had not only been acquired, but many treatises on religion and science composed, which had been understood and esteemed by the natives.

In the year 1806, two missionaries, Messrs. Brown and Morrison, were appointed; and directed to turn their attention to the study of the language, assisted by Yong-sam-tak, a native of China, then in England. Some acquaintance with the mathematics, and with the medical art, was also thought necessary; and, as age is venerable in China, it was judged adviseable to request Dr. Vanderkemp, then in South Africa, to join his younger brethren, in this important undertaking. Mr. Brown, soon declined the mission; and Dr. Vanderkemp, "could not feel it his duty to leave Africa, till God should call him out of it, as evidently as he had called him into it." Thus, the devoted Morrison was left to undertake the work alone; and, considering his character and talents, it was well that the task of commencing so delicate and difficult an enterprize devolved on so pious, persevering, and prudent a labourer. "His talents," says Dr. Milne, "were rather of the solid than the showy kind; fitted more for continued labour, than to astonish by sudden bursts of genius; and his wellknown caution fitted him for a station, where one false

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step, at the beginning, might have delayed the work

About this time, it was discovered that there existed in the British Museum, a Harmony of the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles, translated into Chinese, by some catholic missionary; this assisted the young student in acquiring the language, and was of some service, in preparing his subsequent translations. A manuscript Latin and Chinese dictionary was, likewise, obtained, from the Royal Asiatic Society; and thus every facility afforded for the prosecution of the undertaking.

Whilst these movements were going on in England, a simultaneous effort was made, in Bengal, for the attainment of the same object. Mr. Johannes Lassar, an Armenian gentleman, born and educated in Macao, had been appointed professor of the Chinese language, in the college of Fort William, in Calcutta, and engaged in the preparation of a version of the Scriptures from the Armenian into the Chinese. This production was distinguished more for its native style, than for its accuracy; indeed, it was hardly to be expected, that a person, ignorant of the original Scriptures, and destitute of biblical learning, should be able to produce a version, at once faithful and idiomatic.

In the month of January, 1807, Mr. Morrison was sent forth, not to Penang, as was at first intended, but to Canton, by way of America. In the instructions afforded him, the directors expressed their satisfaction at the zeal he had displayed in acquiring the rudiments of the language, and ventured to hope, that he would succeed better under superior advantages. They suggested, that he might make himself useful, as a mathematician,

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and a teacher of English, whilst employed in acquiring the Chinese tongue; after which it was intended, that he should form a dictionary, and attempt a translation of the sacred Scriptures.

On his arrival at New York, our missionary soon found a vessel proceeding to Canton. During his short residence in the United States, however, the object he had in view, so recommended itself to Mr. Maddison, American Secretary of State, that that gentleman gave him a letter of introduction to the then consul at Canton, which afterwards proved of great service to him.

He arrived in China, September the 4th, 1807, and had no sooner landed in Macao, than his object was discovered by the Romish clergy. Proceeding to Canton, he lived in a lower room, in a very retired and economical manner. A lamp of earthenware afforded him light, screened by a volume of Matthew Henry. He adopted the dress and manners of the natives; allowing his nails and hair to grow, eating with the chopsticks, and walking about the factory in thick Chinese shoes. In this, as he afterwards acknowledged, he meant well, but he judged ill; for, in the first place, the confinement and hard fare injured his health; then, his singular habits deprived him of the associations of his countrymen; and lastly, his intercourse with the natives was hindered rather than promoted by it. Had he been residing entirely among the Chinese, far separated from Europeans, the adoption of the native costume might have prevented immediate observation, and conduced to permanent settlement; but in Canton, where there is a marked difference between the Chinese and Europeans, the attempt to unite such opposite classes, only excited the animadversions and suspicions