Chapter XV: Letter XV: Canton, (China,) Dec. 13, 1831

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,‑‑I told you in the last letter about Dr. Morrison, and the commencement of the mission to China. I will now give you some account of Dr. Milne, and the missions among the Chinese, established out of China. The missionary stations established among the Chinese, residing or settled abroad without the Chinese empire, may be reckoned five in number. They are at the following places namely: Malacca, Penang, Java, Singapore, and Siam. I wish you to look out all these places on the maps, and learn from your geographies all you can about them. This will assist you very much to understand and remember what you read about the missions.

The Rev. William, afterwards Dr. Milne, with his wife, arrived at Macao in China, the 4th of July, 1813, just at the time as before stated, when Dr. Morrison had finished the translation of the New Testament. A day or two after his arrival, he was ordered by the (then) Portuguese Governor of Macao, to leave the place immediately. He did so, and came up to Canton. Here he resided for several months, enjoying that hospitality among the heathen, which had been denied in a Christian colony.

Macao is a small town. You will see it on your maps, situated 70 or 80 miles south of Canton. It is the only European or foreign settlement in China. The Portuguese have lived there two or three hundred years.

Dr. Milne remained about six months; in the mean time, with the assistance of his friend, Dr. Morrison, he got 2,000 copies of the New Testament, and 15,000 Christian tracts, printed in Chinese. These he put on board a ship, in which he embarked with 450 Chinese emigrants, all bound to Java. Dr. Milne was a very active man on board ship; and at Java, wherever he went, he was delighted to give away tracts and Bibles. He loved to do good to all men, as he had opportunity. From Java, he went to Malacca, which place afterwards became his home, and the seat of the Anglo Chinese college, of which he was the first principal. From Malacca, he returned to China, conferred with Dr. Morrison about the mission, and then, with Mrs. Milne, returned to Malacca, which place was not only their home, but also their _grave_. The one died in 1819, Mrs. M., the other, in 1822. They left behind them four or five children, to mourn their loss. Dr. Milne, his wife, and their little daughter Amelia, and two infant twin boys born on their passage down the Chinese sea, arrived at Malacca, May 21, 1815. This was the commencement of the mission at Malacca. Schools were opened‑‑children collected and taught‑‑books printed and circulated. The Bible was read, and the poor had the gospel preached to them‑‑preparations were made for the college, and its foundation laid, November 11, 1818.

Malacca, you will see by reference to your maps, is not far from China, Cochin China, Siam, and many islands where great numbers of Chinese reside. It is also a healthy place, and under a great and good government. These and other considerations induced Drs. Morrison and Milne to resolve on the mission, and the establishment of the college. At the outset, Dr. Morrison gave $4,000 for the benefit of the college, and up to the present time, has been its chief support, and the Lord has blessed and prospered the work. The number of Chinese students in the college, has usually been about 30. The regular course of studies occupies six years. The aboriginal inhabitants of Malacca and the adjacent regions are called Malays. For this people also, schools have been established and supported, and they prosper. Many thousands of Bibles and tracts have been printed and sent out from the college, and these have gone far and wide, the silent messengers of the truth of God. The Rev. Samuel Kidd, of the London Missionary Society, is now principal of the college. Penang, or the Prince of Wales Island, you will see by referring again to your maps, is situated off the west coast of the peninsula of Malacca‑‑you will find it about the 6th degree of north latitude. It is a beautiful situation, and has a good government. The number of Chinese is about 8 or 10,000, 14 or 15,000 Malays. There are also Siamese and Burmese. This mission was begun in 1819. It has now two missionaries with their wives; the Rev. S. Dyer for the Chinese, and the Rev. T. Beighton for the Malays. These missionaries are very devoted, and are doing great good. They have a number of schools for children, where they teach them daily out of the Holy Scriptures, of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ; and by the books which the children receive, much good instruction is conveyed to the parents. But I have not time to give you all the particulars of this and the other stations of the straits.

The same year, namely 1819, the mission was begun in Java. The seat of this mission is at Batavia. The elevated island of Java, presents some very fine tracts of country. Batavia itself is unhealthy, but a few miles out of the town where foreigners generally reside, the country is delightful, and the climate agreeable. The Rev. W.H. Medhurst is the missionary at the stations. He and Mrs. Medhurst have been very abundant in their labors, and as their labors multiply, their zeal and their success increase. Mr. Medhurst has travelled in various parts of Java and the neighboring islands, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and scattering in every direction the good seed of the word of God.

Another mission was commenced this same year, 1819. This was at Singapore, an island situated in the straits, not far distant from the south‑eastern extremity of the peninsular of Malacca. At this station, from the commencement to the present time, there have been laborers both for the Malays and for the Chinese. The Rev. C.H. Thompson for the Malays, and the Rev. J. Tomlin for the Chinese. These missionaries have travelled and scattered abroad the word, especially in Siam, where Mr. Tomlin has made two or three visits‑‑where I suppose he now is with my good friend the Rev. D. Abeel. In the establishments of all these missions, Dr. Milne took a very lively interest. He entered _into_ the business with this whole soul. He expected great things, he attempted great things, and he accomplished great things. At the age of 20, he determined to become a soldier to serve abroad in Immanuel's wars, undertaking to destroy Satan's kingdom. He prepared himself for the conflict, buckled on his armor,‑‑at 27, entered on the field of battle, served with courage and fidelity 10 years, and then, worn out by useful toils and hard service, died on his post.

Children, farewell; in the next I will tell you of Leang Afa.

Your true friend,
E.C.B.

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