Siam.

LETTER FROM MR. PEET, BANGKOK, 30TH JULY, 1841.

week, two, and even three weeks at a time, let the missionary say what he will. Mr. Robinson's teacher last year was called away by his master and retained three weeks, to carry his beetlebox, while on a journey into the coun

Encouragements to Labor among the try. This is rather rare, and it is so

Chinamen.

WITHIN the kingdom of Siam the Chinese are very numerous; many coming there for purposes of trade, others to reside for a few years, and others to spend their lives there. These are especially numerous in the city of Bangkok, where they constitute a large portion of the population. Of the circumstances favorable to missionary labor among them, and the promise of encouraging results, Mr. Peet remarks

chiefly, if not wholly, because the profit is less.

The wats or temples furnish another item in the civil relations of the Siamese which baffle the efforts of missionaries laboring among them to a great extent. These are institutions established and patronized by the king himself, for educating the male population, and perpetuating the national religion. The priests and the boys under their instruction are daily fed by the people. The wats are visited regularly once a year by his majesty, and supplied by his munificence with cloth for the priests, money, and all other necessary articles. Thus Siam is made to abound more with free schools, than any other people with which I am acquainted, and these schools are accessible to the little boy, the youth, the man of mature strength, and to the aged sire. In view of the above statements you will readily see why it is, that the members of both missions, belonging to that department, have as yet utterly failed to establish a permanent school among the Siamese. It has not been owing to a want of effort or zeal on the part of those concerned, but to the force of circumstances.

The circumstances under which attempts had been made to gather a school for the Siamese, and with how little success, are here mentioned. Mr. Peet then proceeds—

1. Their civil relations give more hope of success to a missionary to them, than to the Siamese, though in name lords of the soil. A Chinaman who comes to reside in this kingdom is subject to a capitation tax once in four years of between three and four dollars. In case of war, or other calamities, calling for an increase of revenue, he is liable to be taxed according to the pleasure of the king. In reference to owning land, paying rent, obtaining license to buy and sell, etc., he is subjected to the same regulations as the Siamese. The Chinese buy their wives if they have them at all. Their wives, therefore, and their children belong to them exclusively, and cannot be enslaved, except in case of debt or crime. They are also free as to their religion, education, and choice of employments. They have little to do with government, except to obtain certain monopolies from which they often derive a great profit. Rice, oil, fish, pork, ardent spirits, and many other arti- What now are the facts respecting cles are sold exclusively by Chinamen, Chinese? I trust you will excuse me, for which privilege large sums are an- if I here introduce the results of my nually paid to government. Thus most own humble efforts, since they are referof the cash in this kingdom is to be red to for the purpose of illustrating the found in the coffers of his majesty, or main proposition. After devoting my in the hands of Chinamen. But it is the time pretty much exclusively to the privilege of every Siamese in the land to study of the Chinese language and the have some one whom he calls his nai, or distribution of tracts, for some ten master, whose business it is to assist and months from the time of our arrival here, defend his servant, when petitioned, and I suggested to the brethren my desire who also has a legal right to direct his to establish a Chinese boarding-school servant in respect to his time, business, for boys, which met with their entire and even religious sentiments. Children approbation. In less than six weeks we hold the same relation. Thus the teach- had a school established containing from ers of the brethren here studying Siam- ten to twelve scholars. The location ese, are all under the direction of their was an out-house to a Chinese temple, nais, who occasionally call them away, as I had no school-room as yet connectand retain them in their own service, aed with our premises. It was, however,

understood, that I intended fitting a room under my house, and having a permanent boarding-school; but as yet, the school was only a day-school. About this time a Chinaman came to me of his own accord, and wished me to take his three sons into the boarding-school, saying that he lived near the theatre; that he wished to have his boys protected from its influence; and that he would give me a writing securing the boys to me for three or four years. I consented. He was true to his word. In a few days he gave me the document, executed in fine style, and in accordance with the usages and customs of the Chinese. The amount of the contents of this instrument is, first, an acknowledgment of the favor; second, an|| humble request that his boys may be taught Chinese, the "lingmo sinsai," foreign teacher's language, customs, and religion; third, that he, the father, will not interpose or direct as to any one of these particulars; and, fourth, that he will not attempt to take his boys away for three or four years, without my consent; and then adds his name. Soon after another boy was secured after the same formula. We have thought it not best, at present, to have any more boys bound to us, that we may be at liberty to make a selection and trial of those who hereafter may offer themselves before they are thus secured.

and their priests by thousands. Chinese priests remain most of the time about their temples, there being no provision made for their support by government. They live principally of the gifts presented at the temple, obtained at weddings, funerals, etc., while the Siamese priests pour forth from their wats by thousands every morning, and like the locusts of Egypt, spread themselves over the whole land, patrol every nook and corner, and visit almost every house. They do this, too, under the high favor and patronage of the king and all of his officers.

3. That the intellectual character of the Chinese is, in general, superior to that of the Siamese, I believe is acknowledged on all hands. If to have possession of nearly all the commerce, to monopolize all the principal articles of trade at home, and to furnish all the principal productions of art used among a people, are proofs of the mental superiority of one class over another, then the Chinese of this kingdom must be regarded as belonging to the former class. But I conceive it is unnecessary for me to add particulars, under this head, or even under the following.

4. Their physical resources give far more promise to the missionary to them, than is found among the Siamese. From the facts already presented, if in accordance with truth, which I firmly believe them to be, it is plain that we may expect more by way of immediately furnishing a native agency among the Chinese, than among the Siamese; that the agency of the former will be better qualified and more efficient, than the latter; and so far as their civil relations, religious institutions, and ample means for supporting and promulgating Christianity among the many millions of this

These facts go to show that pupils can be obtained among the Chinese; that schools can be permanently sustained among them; and that discipline and instruction in these schools, may be as thorough as in the same class of schools in America. Another fact of much importance is, that Chinamen here, who are able to purchase wives, are generally the most intelligent and influential class of people here. By get-people are concerned, the Chinese have ting their children under our influence, we can reach them, the very bone and sinew of the whole body of this population. I confidently expect to see the time, should our school be sustained, when, through the influence of these boys upon their parents, our Sabbath exercises will be attended by very many of such persons.

far higher claims upon our efforts than the Siamese. It will be allowed on all hands, that the papists, with the experience of many centuries in promulgating the doctrines of that church in heathen lands, are not wanting in enterprise to discover, zeal to occupy, or skill to cultivate the most promising fields. They have been here some two hundred 2. The customs of the Chinese here years, but have directed their efforts alfavor the efforts of a missionary to them, most exclusively to the Chinese, and acabove those of the Siamese. The Chi- cording to their own account, with much nese have but few temples and few success. They have long had extensive priests, probably not a dozen Chinese intercourse with China. They see that temples in this city, and probably less this valley is capable of sustaining an than one hundred priests; while the immense population, probably fifty, Siamese reckon their wats by hundreds,haps a hundred times its present num

per

ber; that Chinamen annually come here || still prevents his speaking to any great by thousands, purchase wives and settle; extent, without considerable embarrassthat the king and his nobles and officers ment. We have now prosperously comhave multitudes of women, while there menced a Chinese boarding-school of are tens of thousands of common Siam- nine boys, which number can be readily ese who have no wives, no children, increased, if we can have funds. We passing their lives in the priesthood, or have also the refusal of a most eligible as servants, the will of whose masters location for our department at the lower it is, that they should not be encumber- end of the great Chinese bazaar, coned with wives and families; and that the taining many thousands of Chinese, a Siamese, as a nation, will soon be swal-quiet retired spot, a little distance from lowed up and their identity lost. Now to have a corps of well-trained native helpers to meet these circumstances, is a consideration of no small importancethe very thing which the papists are now doing. But what are protestants doing in this field? Alas, what shall we say in defence of our wisdom, our zeal, our love for Christ and for immortal souls for whom he died!

Conclusions Need of more Missionaries

for the Chinese Department.

the bustle of business, and will furnish room for three dwelling-houses and a school-house, which will answer also for a chapel.

Now, in view of the above facts, and in view of the previous history of this department of our mission, I do most sincerely hope, and not only myself, but every member of this mission, that, if it is in the power of the Committee, they will send two good men to join us in this department as soon as may be. I say two, not because more, even scores may not be profitably employed in Siam, Now in view of facts already stated, but because it is such a number, as with touching the character and institutions the blessing of God, will enable us to of the Siamese and of the Chinese, the continue on with a little advance, and to decrease and certain extinction of the retain the ground which we may from former as a nation, and the rapid in- time to time receive. I am well aware crease and overwhelming population of that it is not in the power of the Comthe latter, what are the comparative mittee to multiply at will either men or claims of the two people upon protes- funds for this work. They can only aptants? The fact that such a knowledge prize the christian community at home of the Chinese language may be obtain- of the situation of things abroad, of the ed, "as will answer many useful and im- trials, success, hopes, and prospects of portant purposes," without "extreme dif- brethren in the enemies country, and ficulty," ought to encourage missionaries conscientiously distribute the funds conto go forward, and Christians at home tributed among the different missions. to sustain them in their work. The fact This done, their duty is done. And if, that Dr. Morrison, after twenty years when in possession of the facts repectcontinued health and successful study, ing our situation, the churches are unwas unable to "master the language," willing to increase their bounty, so as to ought to teach us that our main reliance send to our aid two, or at least one more for human means to convert the Chinese, laborer for the perishing thousands of must be upon native agency. The Chi-Chinamen in Siam, then our duty is nese themselves must furnish the men and the money, both of which no heathen nation now under heaven is so well prepared to do as that nation.

Till recently we have labored alone in the Chinese department of this mission, when Mr. Johnson and wife arrived to join us. But alas! we had hardly set our eyes upon Mrs. Johnson, ere health faded from her countenance, like the bloom of a plucked flower, her spirit had left its clayey tenement, and her lifeless corpse was before us. So sudden, so unexpected was the event, that we are often led to exclaim, Is she gone! Mr. Johnson deeply feels this afflictive stroke of divine providence. His voice too,

plain. And we hope by divine grace to be found faithful in the discharge of it-to patiently continue our efforts for the good of this people till our change come, and we are called to rest from our labor.

The bearing of labors for the Chinese in Siam on the Chinese empire itself, is an important consideration. Those residing in Siam, in the way of trade or for other purposes, are often visiting their native country, and may thus become the means of diffusing the christian knowledge imparted to them to thousands of their countrymen whom a missionary could not approach.

PROCEEDINGS AT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD.

A special meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was held in the city of New York, commencing on Tuesday the eighteenth day of January, 1842, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. The sessions for business and also the meetings for devotional services and addresses, were held in the Central Presbyterian Church, in Broome Street.