Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 109

86

Letter from B. J. Bettelheim.

FEB.

of the gospel of peace, mild, patient, forbearing, an Abdiel, who in all afflictions, knows for whom he endureth shame, and by whose grace; and yet one who has a forehead of adamant, and can stand reproaches, for all the house of Lewchew is impudent and hard-hearted. If such men are sent here, utriusque artis periti, men who trim their way to seek love, and yet like Jeremiah, are born men of strife and contention to the whole earth, I will joyfully sit at their feet, be guided by their counsel, and quickened to increased activity by their zeal and example.

5th. The mission imperatively requires the aid of an educated Chi- nese, who understands his own language, and can speak the court dialect fluently. No missionary can get along among this people with- out a good assistant in Chinese, for even the common people under- stand that character, and he will often wish to show them a book. There is also much writing to be done with compradores and with the authorities; so much, in fact, in my own case, that I have been oblig- ed to give up writing out accounts with my purveyors, and am afraid I must curtail my correspondence with government, though that is now the only channel open for influencing those in power. Some dispatches occupy me an evening and forenoon in composing, inscrib- ing in my copy-book, and writing out a fair copy to be forwarded.

6th. In my present position, I feel the want of a European servant to look after many things, which require and consume my time; and what if, as a last resort, all native assistance be forbidden us by the rulers? Yet this necessity would be less, if a missionary brother and his family came to our aid.

7th. Friendly exertions with merchants, whose ships now fret all waters, must not be neglected; and I am sure some can be found who will allow their captains to turn in here. Lewchew is in a queer location it is true, and a position somewhat further north or south, would have placed Napa in the course of ships bound to Canton or to Shánghái; but placed as she is, let us beg benevolent merchants whose ships sail between Shanghái and Sydney, Canton and San Francisco, or China and the West coast of the Americas, to have them touch here. 'The laying open the gold in California may be regarded as a design of Providence to push gold seekers between Asia and America upon Japan and the isles afar off. There are resources enough in Lewchew to make it an object with western nations to keep a lookout here, and I hope commerce will soon come to the help of Christianity.

8th. No efforts should be spared to induce England and the United States to send their ships, and survey these waters more minutely. Surveying ships in this neighborhood, and a man of war in this