powers of the West, England, France, Russia and the United States on the other, furnish matter for devout thankfulness to God. The prayers of some now bowing before the throne above, and of many still bearing the heat and burden of the day, are answered. A wide breach has been made in the wall of exclusiveness, which so long interposed a formidable barrier between the heralds of salvation and the perishing millions of this empire.

"We are not so sanguine as to suppose, that no obstacles lie in the path to the full attainment of the privileges above indicated. Imperial edicts cannot change the disposition of the masses, nor secure the integrity of officials. In planting the standard of the cross in regions hitherto unexplored, we must expect opposition and danger; must be prepared for exhibitions of contempt and hatred. Families, especially, will have to encounter rooted prejudice and aversion. But it is our deliberate opinion that the time for the occupation of the interior has now come, and that all difficulties will vanish before the power of faith and love.

"If, however, our right to enter in and take

possession of the whole land, in Christ's name, were allowed for the moment to be doubtful, there is still ground for an appeal to the churches to send us reinforcements, in this fact, that nine new ports, three on the coast, three on adjoining islands, and three on the great river Yang-tszkiang, are certainly opened to trade, and of course to the propagation of Christianity.

One

of these is in the extreme North, on the coast of Manchuria, with the climate of New England; another in the extreme South, on the Island of Hai-nan, with the climate of Cuba; and the rest are between these limits, presenting a variety of climate adapted to every sort of physical constitution, and a difference of population suited to every grade of mental culture."

Soon after the foregoing was written, Mr. Aitchison was again called to a double sorrow, the death of his venerated father-in-law, and of his new and valued friend, Mrs. Burdon, in whose house he had found a pleasant home. Of both these events he tenderly speaks as follows:

DEATH OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW.

203

[To L. R. A.]

"SHANGHAI, Sept. 1, 1858.

"MY DEAR L.:-Your letter, containing the sad intelligence of our beloved father's death, reached me day before yesterday. His end,

so free from pain and anxiety, befitted the calm and holy life he led, and singularly accorded with his often expressed views in regard to the most desirable mode of making the transition from earth to heaven.

"In contemplating all the circumstances of his departure we can hardly grieve. Why should we? Not surely for him who has reached that haven of rest toward which we are all steering, who has already vanquished the foes against which we are still struggling. Nature, I know, claims her right to weep. Let our tears, however, be mingled with thanksgiving for that grace which shone so conspicuous, even to the happy termination of that protracted pilgrimage. Let faith soar above the grave where the dust reposes, in the sure hope of a glorious resurrection, to that bright abode where the spirit already lives in the presence of God. What we misname death

is in reality but the entrance into life, it is the portal of immortality.

*

'Is that a death-bed where the Christian lies?

Yes, but not his 'tis death itself that dies.'

"And now, my dear L., I must tell you what a terrible blow has fallen on this house since I last wrote-Mrs. Burdon is dead. She passed away on the morning of August 16th, after (I may almost say) but a single day's illness. Her disease was a mild form of cholera. * * *

"She fell into a stupor about four hours before her death; but up to that time had continued in a calm and peaceful frame of mind, expressing the fullest confidence in the Redeemer, and the most perfect acquiescence in his will. Thus was the bridal succeeded by the burial in the short of a few months. space

*

*

*

"In Mrs. Burdon I have lost a most affectionate and gentle sister, and the Chinese a friend whose place will not soon be made good. But God has taken her; and he knows what was for her good, for ours, and for the good of this poor heathen people. In this, as in all other events, his will be done."

EXPLORATIONS NORTHWARD.

205

CHAPTER XV.

Explorations North-Disturbed State of the Country-Again in Soo-Chow.

AMONG the excursions made by Mr. Aitchison after his return from Ping-Hoo, was one toward the north, with the design of reaching Tsi-nan, the capital of Shantung, a province whose population is 28,000,000. His faithful friend, Mr. Burdon, was his companion. "Our immediate object," says Mr. Aitchison, "is to explore the region for the benefit of missionary families who meditate a settlement in the interior, and to effect such a settlement for ourselves if we find it practicable. Two other brethren purpose to accompany us, at least a part of the way, Mr. John and Mr. Lee, both of the London Missionary Society." They started on the 5th of October, 1858, but found the country in so unsettled a condition that they were not able to proceed far. At every town they were carefully scrutinized by