34
Letter from B. J. Bettelheim.
JAN.
China in behalf of this mission. At any rate I cherish the hope that some missionary society will be willing to come to our assistance, for it appears our little Society has exhausted its strength in giving birth to this mission, and we are now left here like a forsaken orphan cast upon the wide world, without means of communication, without advice and direction, yea, without support. What a mercy not to be without God, without a Savior and Comforter in such circumstances. Let me, however, be clearly understood. Much as I desire that the missionary world should look into a case of unparalleled destitution and grant us its sympathies, nothing is farther from my mind than to base my appeal on such insignificant grounds. It is the mission, the cause of the Cross, yea, and the hopes of the Cross, which unless soon and effectually suocored, must inevitably sink, that makes me feel my nothingness and come forward to plead for God and truth, and for those precious souls, those four immortal souls, in whom it has pleased God to kindle a spark of this heavenly life, and who should not be left without further Christian nurture.
In pursuing this narrative, I must waive the plan of particulariza- tion, on which I intended to go on; time has failed, and would again fail me for such a method. A brief summary, which after all I think may best please you, is as much as I can engage for.
Sir Thomas Cochrane's visit was over, but its consequences were not. All that had been gained by the firmness and perseverance of a French Admiral, was lost by the blunder of an English Admiral. Though we had not advanced much with government, and had only obtained the means for a little locomotion, as we could get horses, boats and carriers, wherewith we could easily outmanœuvre the native sloth of the spies, yet it was our all, and since Sir Thomas' visit it was lost. How could it be otherwise? Horses were ordered for officers belonging to his ship and refused; but nothing was said in the matter. Government grew bolder, and complained that too many officers went ashore, and the admiral found it wise to restrict them to a small number-six, I believe, were daily to be permitted the pleasure of a ramble. These are concessions of the very nature of Japanese restrictions on foreigners, and unless we desire to encourage them to continue in this oppressive course, we should never yield, or by no means quietly yield. I know there is Russia, Austria, Rome, and several other states in Europe, were we must submit to the trouble of passports, and curtailments of the exercise of our limbs. I know what China was, and still is in this respect towards the western barbarians. We submit to these and other restrictions laid on us because we must