REV. G. SMITH'S SECOND REPORT,
&c. &c.
REV. G. SMITH TO THE SECRETARIES.
MY DEAR BRETHREN,
Hong Kong, China, March 25, 1845.
Our friend Mr. M'Clatchie, embarked for Shan- ghai on the 20th of February, in company with three American Missionary Brethren, the Rev. Messrs. Loomas, Culbertson, and Dr. Macgowan, and their wives, who proceed with him only as far as Chusan, on their way to Ningpo, their Station.
I hope, (D.V.) to embark in the beginning of April for Chusan, with the favourable change of monsoon, whence I proceed for a few weeks to Ningpo, to make personal observations of its degree of eligibility as a Missionary Station. Thence I expect to depart in time to rejoin Mr. M'Clatchie at Shanghai about Midsummer.
Before I leave Hong Kong, I wish to place on record my present views in reference to our Mission in China. I do not regret the lengthened residence here; as the extensive intercourse with the Missionaries and others, and the view of actual Missionary operations here, are calculated to enable me to take more correct and enlarged views of the principles which should guide our undertaking than I should have been qualified to form if I had gone at an earlier period direct to any particular Station without such advantage. Even prior to completing the exploratory tour, such has been the uniform tendency of the information and advice I have received, and the independent conclusions I have been led to form, that I think it will not be premature in me at once to give a sketch of the plan, principles, and site, of establishing the Mission in China, which I am led to submit to the wisdom and experience of the Committee for their judgment. View- ing, in all its comprehensive bearings, the probable influence
230