Eleven oarsmen waters, but soon A favoring breeze

Here and there is a tomb cut out of the granite. A boat belonging to Russel & Co. came alongside to convey me to the city. strike their oars into the blue they drop them with a shout. had arisen, and filling the yellow sails it soon brought us to our wharf. Obtaining a chair we passed through a crowded street, very narrow and paved with stone. Merchants were very busy on each side, and appeared to have a great variety of business. Suddenly, turning under an arch, we rise by a long flight of stone steps to the house of Mr. Maclay. The family were absent, but in a few minutes came home from church.

Weary, wan, ghost-like, 20,000 miles and more from home, the sight of an American, a brother, a minister was almost too much for me. I was at home. Here was brother Maclay, as kind as a natural brother could be, and Mrs. Maclay, as considerate as a sister or a mother; here was a fireside where the Bible was read, and happy Christian children joined in the songs of Zion. It was an overcoming joy, and the silent tears stole down my wan cheeks as I sat back in my chair and leaned my head against the wall.

X.

OUR CHINA MISSION.

N this chapter I propose to give a view of

IN

our China Mission as I found it in the year 1865, touching missionaries, mission property, location, and general prospects of usefulness.

The mission force is as follows: Rev. Mr. Maclay and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Sites, and the Misses Woolston. The latter are sisters in charge of the girls' orphanage; sensible, neat, devout, well educated, and thoroughly devoted to their work. Mr. Sites is a man of imposing appearance, good attainments, ardent piety, strong attachments to the Church, and full consecration to his mission. He exceeds the expectations of his friends in the facility with which he acquires the Chinese language, and the influence he exerts over the people. Mr. Baldwin is scholarly, and has a mind keen, rapid, well fitted for the literary labor of the mission. Mr. Gibson is an able missionary,

and it is greatly to be regretted that the failing health of his wife should render it necessary for him to return. Mr. Maclay, the superintendent, is worthy of his place. He has a quick, welleducated, and well-disciplined mind, and to habits of business and a heart for his work, he joins correct judgment and a strong will. Yet, with his great firmness he has great kindness, and he avoids all parade of authority. Careful investigation proves his administration to have been judicious throughout. Of the happy wives-now in health and in the prime of life-of these good men, I need only say, May God long preserve them to his Church! One brother, (Martin,) who was active in the mission when I started to it, was in his grave when I arrived. The cholera carried him off, and one of his children with him. His widow was in the mission, inquiring what was God's will concerning her, and had just concluded before I left to return to the United States. The last words of brother Martin were, "Tell my friends at home that it pays to be religious."

It will be a satisfaction to the Church to know that our missionaries are comfortably situated. They have good houses and furniture, and are amply supplied with the necessaries and comforts of life. The number of servants usually em

ployed by a missionary in China is five; namely, cook, waiter, cooly for rough work, washerman, and nurse. Each receives $3.50 per month and boards himself.

There is in the city, besides the missionaries, a considerable Christian society, consisting of a number of English, French, and American officials and merchants, and several very respectable physicians.

The native force in our mission last year was as follows:

NATIVE HELPERS.-Hu Iong Mi, Tang Ieu K'ong, Hu Po Mi, Li Iu Mi, Ling Ching Ting, Li Tai Sing, Yeh Ing Kwang, Li Seng Mi, Hu Sing Mi, Ngu Siu Mi, Hu Hieng Mi, Li Cha Mi.

CHAPEL KEEPERS.-Li Taik Ong, Ting Neng Seng, Ung Sing La, Ting Neng Taik, Sie Chai Mi, Ung Sieu Mi, Wong Heng T'ung, Ngok Hing Liong, Wong Taik Kwong.

SCHOOL TEACHERS.-Wong T'ai Hung, Ling Kie Ping, Ting K'aik K'ung, Tang K'eng Ming, Ting Ka Ch'ung, Sie Chung Chung.

The work, for the present, is divided into circuits as follows:

I. Nantai circuit, with three appointments; namely, Tienang Tong, in the southern part of the city of Foo Chow, and two out-stations; namely, Changlok and Yeuping. At the first brother Hu Po Mi has been laboring. The latter

is a prefectural city, where we have been seeking to gain an entrance, though under much opposition and difficulty.

II. South Ta Chau circuit, with the following appointments: Ching Sing Ting, (in the city,) Lien Kong, (a neighboring city where native helpers have been employed,) Mingan, (a city between the other two, which is occasionally visited, and where books and tracts are distributed as opportunity offers.)

III. North Foo Chow circuit, containing Eaststreet Church, in the city, and no other appointment, although the missionary organized a class at Tien Iong, twenty-five miles distant, and visited, in company with brother Sites and some other native helpers, the district cities of Kucheng, Long Wong, and many other places new to Protestant missionaries.

IV. Western circuit, consisting of Ngukang, Yeh Iong, and other adjacent places. The missionary has been very enterprising, making excursions with native helpers, preaching and distributing books and tracts, and has opened a new place of preaching; namely, Minchiang.

V. South Nantai circuit, consisting of Sieu Liang, in the suburbs of Foo Chow, and the Hokch'ang district, south of the city. In both places a chapel is found.