over the hills and valleys of Macao environs and was much refreshed in body and soul by it, for such a friendly Christian man is an excellent companion in such a tramp. We inhaled the delicious odor from many cultivated shrubs and flowers, as we loiterers advanced on our way; till finally we passed through the front yard of the large gray granite temple, where Hon. Caleb Cushing drew up and arranged the treaty between China and the United States in 1844. It is a retired, romantic spot by the sea-side, called the Mong ha temple; the hideous gods are covered with red paint and heavy gilding, but it was not considered irreverent or indecorous, on the occasion of the signing of the treaty - to have all these idols removed to another part of the building to give more space for the assembly. The banian trees of more than 200 years in age - had acquired a vast size, and the branches or roots were closely interlaced giving a broad somber shade, most acceptable in the burning heat of a summer day. Ten or twelve priests reside in this cloistered abode. I met two of them and presented copies of the Lord's Prayer in Chinese, which they readily received with bows and "many thanks;" they were affable and treated us very courteously. Not far from the temple we saw at the road-side, the corpse of a young child which had probably been thrown out by some inhuman parent as not worth the expense of burial. Doubtless you have heard that cruel infanticide is common in China. There are many cases of it, but yet not to so great an extent as some suppose, we however see sad sights like this more frequently than we could desire. As we came down to the sea shore it was quite dark and ourselves very weary. Another charming walk with Mr. Morse was to the "Ringing Rocks" in a deep rocky cleft between two high hills; when the huge mass is struck with metal, it gives forth a clear, sonorous ring that falls pleasantly on the ear in this quiet romantic little valley. Brother Vrooman returned to Canton on Tuesday, I assisted him to pack and to get his things on the steamer. Mr. Vrooman has been in deep grief and affliction on account of the death of his wife. I find that another ladyMrs. Brewster - of our mission has been spoken for by Rev. Charles F. Preston, a minister of the Presbyterian Mission. She is the third lady that has left our A. B. C. F. Mission to marry those who belong to another tribe. But they are in and of Israel, so that there is no cause of complaint. I suppose Brother Pratt has received the paper I sent him giving an account of the success attending Commodore Perry's expedition. We are so thankful that Japan can no longer be an unknown country. The Chinese secretary or teacher who accompanied Dr. Williams, has written an interesting account of the United States Japan expedition, which was translated into English and published in the Hong Kong Register. Here is an innocent cause for joy and gladness, for we trust the word of God will find a place in that land. December 9, 1854, I left Hongkong in the ship "Comet" with my good friend Mr. Morse and Willie; Dr. and Mrs. Happer with four children. When you have been rolled about, and tossed about for many days out of sight of land, there is a lesson to be learned in such a situation that can never be learned on land. God's power and majesty are impressed, on one's mind; while man's littleness and weakness is proved beyond a doubt. It is good to my heart to be assured that my plans, movements, ways and even steps are regulated by an All wise Creator. It is good to know that His powerful hand supports me in danger and difficulty. I am but a child before him. My safety and pleasure is to hold fast, 66 keep close to the side of my heavenly guide with heart filled in ascriptions of praise, which I desire to act upon the prosaic thoughts and duties of every-day life. The passengers have agreed to have social worship in the cabin morning and evening; Mr. Morse, Dr. Happer, and myself conducting it in turn and laboring for souls. The Comet" anchored in Batavia Roads six or eight miles from the town; this is one of the finest harbors in the world. The island of Java belongs to the Dutch and is so productive as to be styled the "Granary of the East." Batavia the capital is the Queen of cities; like the towns of old Holland is beautiful, strong and has fine canals, bridges and avenues; it is well protected by its Dutch garrison. Nothing strikes me so forcibly in the brilliancy of the surroundings at Batavia, of being in a civilized country as the rumbling of carriage wheels and the crack of the driver's whip Small pretty carriages are constantly passing drawn by one or two small nimble ponies. The ship commences loading here and then proceeds to Samarang to take in the balance of her cargo after which we go to Bremen in Germany. By this arrangement my route homewards will be more circuitous than I at first anticipated but I do not regret the change. We had a most interesting trip of ten days to the volcano which Mr. Morse and myself much enjoyed. The ascent was made on horseback up the steep sides of the mountain to the immense crater. We were filled with astonishment at the spectacle. The fumes of sulphur were oppressive, but we watched with much interest for a long time the flamy stream of the combustible brimstone as with thick clouds of smoke it shot up from its fiery bed. It was strange to view such a chaos around us on the mountain summit from the convulsions of Nature, while far below were the thriving forests with dark green glossy foliage, with many plantations of sugar-cane and lovely villages in the distance. There are thirty-eight volcanoes on the island though only a few are in an active state. Sourabaya and Buitenzorg are beautiful places. When we returned to our temporary home we felt fully recompensed for all our fatigues by the marvelous works of God as seen in the volcanic changes. We had never before witnessed such a phenomenon as the stream of burning sulphur nor been exposed to an atmosphere so suffocating with the pernicious odor. Our abiding place for some time to come is a large clipper of 1836 tons; her quarter deck is one hundred and five feet long which affords a fine promenade for the passengers. Captain Gardiner is from Connecticut, he first came to China twenty-three years ago, in 1831. From Bremen I shall go to Hamburg, Amsterdam and after a stay of a few weeks in Holland I will proceed to old England. It will be interesting to see the country of dykes, where even the very soil is disputed by the Ocean" though claimed by the patient Dutchmen. My health is already much improved. We expect on the whole to have a pleasant, prosperous passage with good cheer and good company. 66 March 1855. "You will see by the papers the account of the taking of Shanghai by the Imperialists. The city fell into their hands almost as quietly as it did into the hands of the rebels sixteen months before. We were not aware of the fact until breakfast time the following morning. On going towards the city hundreds of the soldiers might be seen getting over the walls as best they could, laden with plunder. Several of the rebels were caught, taken into the camp, immediately decapitated, disemboweled, their livers sold for a dollar a piece, and the heads sent down to the city, where they were suspended by the hair and tail from a bamboo and served to decorate the walls. Can you imagine a more brutal act? The city itself presents a scene of desolation more easily imagined than described. Toward the east and north sides, the houses are completely riddled by the shot from the French frigate, and about half of the city is burned to the ground by the rebels, who had laid trains of gunpowder and set fire to it in several places before they decamped. Where the French had effected a breach in the walls they had made most formidable preparations to receive the enemy, having fortified a large building formerly used as a pawnbroker's shop, by piercing holes through the walls and pasting white paper over them, so that, to the eye, they presented nothing but a blank wall. Between this and the walls is an open space, which was thickly studded with man traps, consisting of round wooden cylinders buried in the ground, having spikes of bamboo placed all around, pointing downward; so that when a man got his leg in, there was no getting it out again the bamboo bent to the leg but prevented its retreat. These traps were carefully covered with turf. Around various defences were built, so that they could have kept the enemy at bay for a considerable time. The Imperialists owe the capture of the city to the French having so effectually cut off all supplies, for of themselves they never could have accomplished it. The troops are now nearly all disbanded or sent off to Nankin and the walls are dismantled, every gun having been taken away. "It is said that 70,000 rebels have been publicly executed at Canton within a year. Torture and decapitation still proceed with fearful celerity at this place. The Potters' sheds, for many years standing at the inland entrance of the execution ground, have been pulled down, so that it is now possible to place five hundred malefactors in rows, with sufficient room for the headsmen to pass between each file and perform their work without incommoding each other. The crosses too, which used to be put up as occasion required, are now fixed permanently, in the rear of the little joss-house at the entrance of the golgotha. There was a grand butchery last Sunday, when Kana-sien, said to have been chief of the besieging force at the north of the city last year, was cut into two hundred pieces. They commenced with the finger joints, the victim living till his members were divided into numerous pieces. Five hundred poor wretches were also decapitated at the same time. Kana-sien was not taken in arms: he was arrested when he was ploughing in a field, having taken to labor of this kind in the hope of eluding his pursuers, bent on his capture by the offer of large rewards. He was carried to the execution ground after refreshments had been received seated in an elegant sedan-chair; he was dressed in his richly embroidered robes of mandarin splendor. The insurrection at Canton has been virtually suppressed, and trade at length is reviving. There was a great slaughter among Chinese fleets in the Gulf of Petchelee by the British government sloop of war. The vessels destroyed were pirates of the worst kind. Captain Vansittart, who commanded the expedition, delivered over to the Mandarins, to certain torture and death, forty-six Chinese who surrendered to the British flag.' Lane Seminary, Ohio, April 18, 1856. **** Twelve days have passed since my ordination and the mild Spring is advancing rapidly here. It is time for me to turn my steps Eastward, and prepare for resuming my duties and pleasant labors in China. Rev. Dr. Beecher's youngest son James is now appointed Seaman's Chaplain for Whampoa, China. He sails with his family on the 25th of this month from New York in the ship "Wild Pigeon" owned by Messrs. Olyphant & Sons. This is the seventh son of Dr. Beecher who has become a preacher of the Gospel. Dr. Beecher said he designed and dedicated them all to that work when they were infants. Rev. Dr. Scudder did the same with his sons. Would that many more fathers would do likewise. *** Prayer for God's Guidance in Prospect of a new Relationship in Life. I thank Thee O Heavenly Father for Thy kind care and guidance in every scene of my past life. Thou hast treated me better than I deserved. I thank Thee for the acquaintance of the lady whom I have chosen to be my wife, and who as far as I am able to judge is a suitable companion for me. Be pleased O Lord to bless her with growth in piety. Grant her every qualification which she needs as the wife of a messenger for Christ to the heathen people of a foreign land. May her heart be filled with love to Jesus, with pity for the idolatrous heathen and her unconverted acquaintance. Grant her health and strength of body, and direct her what means to use for preserving health and prolonging life. Free her from the power of temptations to ungodliness, whether they arise from former habits, education or social influence. Enable her to be prudent in the management of her affairs, to maintain a filial fear of the Lord, and practice all those virtues described by Thy Holy Spirit in Proverbs 31st and other portions of Thy word so applicable to her situation. May she consecrate to Christ the talents of knowledge, skill, acquaintance and opportunities to do good which Thou hast entrusted to her. If it please Thee grant her a long life to be spent as a servant of Christ for the Chinese. May Thy Holy Spirit be ever granted her to sanctify her heart and guide in duty. May she constantly cherish a prayerful mind, and unshaken trust in the Word of God. May she have joy and delight of heart in doing her share of the labor to bring forward the Millennium. As to myself grant O Heavenly Father that I may love her as Christ loves his. church. Eph. 5, 25. May I guard, defend, cherish and comfort her as occasion requires. May I be kind and tender to her, forbearing all harshness and prizing her as a valuable jewel entrusted to my care. May I have a kind regard and Christian affection for her sisters and kindred. May her example be such as to encourage them in supreme love to Christ. May our intimate relationship be only for mutual help and not a hindrance in the love and service of God. May it be for the increase of Christ's friends and decrease of the number of his enemies. From all foolish, silly, unprofitable and unholy conversation, O Lord preserve us. From unwise and indiscreet plans, O Lord preserve us. From the desire for a great name or the honor of our fellow-men, O keep us. From compliance with any manners, fashions or customs which spring from unsanctified minds and hearts, O keep us. From all sluggishness in Thy service and prayerlessness, good Lord deliver us. From all inordinate carnal affections and fleshly lusts, good Lord deliver us. Lord Jesus, we present ourselves before Thee as penitent transgressors. Take us we beseech Thee, and ever lead us in paths of wisdom, peace and usefulness. Let our affections be supremely and firmly turned to Thee, Thy kingdom and eternal life in mansions where Jesus dwells. We know that our bodies must die and turn to dust. We know that we must give an account to Thee each for himself of the deeds we do while in the body. May this thought keep us humbleminded and watchful. Whether the days Thou dost grant us here on earth be few or many, give us the victory over sin and fear of death through our Lord Jesus Christ." Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in Heaven. Grant that while we plead for others, we may be sealed with the King's own signet as true servants of God, Grant us the teachings of thy grace to make us wise unto Salvation that we may honor Thee with our body and spirit which are thine. Let us daily carry with us enough of the bread of life, in our own souls, that we may give to those who are in need of divine food. And now dear Father, we bring the tithes of grateful loving hearts into thy storehouse and look for Thy blessing. In Jesus name I humbly present my petitions. With thanks for many past mercies and trusting Thee for the future. O hear and answer as seemeth good in Thy sight O Lord my God -- Amen and Amen. Cincinnati June, 15th, 1856. Married. On July 22, 1856, at Cherry Hill, Albany, N. Y., by the Rev. Duncan Kennedy, D.D., the Rev. Samuel W. Bonney, of Canton, China, to Miss Catharina Visscher, youngest daughter of the late General Solomon Van Rensselaer, deceased. CHAPTER XIII. VOYAGE TO CHINA. Mrs. Bonney's (75 years old) Parting Advice to her Children, Samuel and Catharina. Your Mother here, in much affection sends, Which fears to give, and scorns to take offense, If one speak rashly, in an angry fit, The other must be deaf, and silent sit. Never lose sight of what the Scriptures say, The man should rule in love, the wife obey. Let all dissensions in the closet end, Nor ever bring them up, before a friend. Your mutual duties study, when alone, And when with others, prove your hearts are one, How different from the world believers live, Careful attend God's word every day, Nor suffer trifles, to create delay: Duties performed, in proper time and place, Add to religion, a superior grace. |