ed, we proceeded up the river, doubtful whether we should be able to pass the situation of another customhouse officer, about twelve miles further, without some detention. The officer did not even board us. Here, as at Paknam, are batteries on each side of the river, one of which is very extensive, with a collection of native huts in their vicinity. On Friday morning, I left the junk at anchor a few miles below Bankok, and came in a small boat to the house of our former patron and friend, Mr. Silveira.

CHAPTER XII.

SIAM.

.

My second residence in Siam consumed between five and six months. The object which hastened my departure from the Straits, before there could be a rational hope of the restoration of health, was the supplying of the Chinese junks, about returning to the empire, with Christian books. It appeared so doubtful whether, even if I remained longer at Singapore, I should not be eventually compelled to try a change to a cold climate, that I felt determined, rather to hazard the experiment upon my health, than to suffer an opportunity of such extensive usefulness to pass unimproved. With the blessing of the Lord, striking, and encouraging in many respects, I arrived in time to furnish about fifty junks, bound for China, and Hainam, its dependency, with the Scriptures and Christian books. The delay of a week would have lessened this number materially. Nearly thirty had already sailed, and the rest were hastening away with the greatest dispatch. The mornings and evenings of nearly three weeks were thus employed, at the close of which time a return of debility confined me to in

door labors, and even these received but a superficial attention.

The most hopeful circumstance, concerning the mission, is the number of attendants upon our Sabbath services. For the greater part of the time, between twelve and twenty Chinese have been present,-few indeed, contrasted with the myriads, who cling with madness to their idols, but encouraging when compared with the past. Our auditory has been gradu. ally increased by a species of management, which, had I remained, would probably have swelled it to a large congregation. In conversing with the numerous applicants for medicine, I told such as I thought could well attend, of our Sabbath services, and appointed that day and hour for them to come for a fresh supply of medicine. Many who commenced their attend. .

. ance through these means, became too much interested in their new pursuit to discontinue. Beside this, about half a dozen have enjoyed the benefit of daily worship and catechetical instruction. The effect has been, that the majority have had their ideas on the doctrines of Christianity greatly enlarged, and a few have manifested such a power of the truth upon their hearts, as Í sincerely hope may prove to them the dawn of an eternal day. These have rejected their idols, and established the daily worship of the true God.

I have not ventured to baptize any, and consequently denominate none of them converts. The most hopeful have lived too far to bring them under such a course of instruction as seems important, where the mind is just emerging from gross darkness, and where

the light itself. shines so dimly. I expected soon to leave the place, and feared that a change of circumstances might produce a change in their impressions and conduct; and what was more controlling to my own judgment, I knew that if they were the children of God, they would remain such—if not, the administration of this rite might prove a source of delusion to their own minds, and of scandal to those around them. The person who was baptized by my predecessor, Gutzlaff, appears to know the truth in the love of it. He has renounced all the absurd notions and customs sanctioned by their religious creeds, and blended with the renown of their ancient moralists—an evidence of mental renovation, which can be estimated only by those who know how the Chinese plume themselves upon the parade of this knowledge, and with what difficulty they are made to abandon it as absurd.

The Siamese were much more reserved than before, probably at the suggestion or command of those who begin to open their eyes upon the consequences of intercourse with us, and tremble for the doom of their gods and temples. A fabric of idolatry, so extensive and consolidated as the prevailing religion of Siam, based upon the interests of a vast body, quite a nation of priests, supported by the superstition, the pride, and, of course, the power of the kings, the princes and the whole community, cannot be expected even to totter upon the application of so slight a force as we have brought to bear against it. This remark is made to guard against the impression of many, that the ruling powers of Siam, and the com