To the Editor of the Dean Sim,—I enclose a translation of a letter addressed to me by a French Priest at Yang-kuan. The inundation, which he describes, has destroyed a great deal of property, owned chiefly by hum-"ble villagers, many of whom are starve ing. A subscription has been raised here by Foreigners, but our community is so small that the $200 or $300 we can collect will not go far enough,—and I shall be glad if our Shanghai friends will assist. Yang-kuan is a village, 30 miles south of this port, containing about 400 souls, half of them Roman Catholics. Although a Protestant myself, I can, from experience, speak to the fact of there being much greater order and civilization in this and other villages, under the care of French-Priests, than where their influence is not known, T have been acquainted with some of the Fathers for more than ten years, and believe that none can be more self-denying than they are; for they live like natives, far away from any chance of seeing fellow Europeans; and I may safely calculate, that the salary of one English Missionary will maintain fen Roman Catholic pari. Our worthy Consul (Mr. Adkins) would no doubt receive any subscriptions which may be added to the fund under his care.
Yours truly, Newchwang, L4th Aug., 1871.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.