He was the pioneer of Protestant Missions to China. Born on the 5th January, 1782, ho received the elements of an ordinary education, and was for some time employed in a mechanical pursuit, He early developed a love of learning, and the way hap-Buy opened for te prosecution of a course of study in the neighbourhood of London, It was there he began to feel an interest in missionary work, and circumstances led him to set his heart on China as the sphere of his future Iaborus. With this in view, he became acquainted with a Chinamin of some education, who gave him his first insight into the language with which afterwards he became so fami He had also the opportunity of studying and copying several MSS. of patts of the New Testament, which were found in ti British Museum, together with a Latin and Chinese Dictionary lent him by the Royal Society. OF these works he diligently availed himself, and was thereby so. far qualified for the work that Lay before him, departure for China, it was found neces When arrangements were made for hia sary for him to sail by way of America, as tue East India Company in those days would not allow avy ouo in the capacity of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.