"T must write a few lines just now to let you know how things have been going with us at Shunchingfa. I think most of you know that we succeeded in getting into a house about @ month ago. The first few days after entering, we had large numbers of Visitors until our strength was exhausted trying to tell them something of the Gospel. A break came through my having to visit Paolin. In the meantime the gentry of Shunching had represented to the Taotai that the we had taken was not conveniently situated, and as some of the owners family objected to our possessing it, would he use his influence to induce us to take another. which they would assist us to mortgage. We consented to do this, and I went back to Shunching to see the negotiations carried out. However Thad not been long there before I saw that they had no real intention to carry out their own proposal, but wanted rather to usent completely. Most outrageous rumours gain time to perfect their own plans to turn
against us, and the people were urged to were circul ated in the city and country drive us out, June 23rd was no, sonal holiday. Great crowds of country people flocked into the city to enjoy the sights. The natives thought this a good opportunity. to carry out their purple, lwo days before, a man was sent out to beat a gong announcing that we were to be driven out on the feast day. Hearing of this I went to see the magistrates, They said I must be mistaken, as they thought the beating of the gong had to do with the feast regulations. Straightway all negotiations about the house ceased. "Thursday afternoon the people came in for the festival, and as their numbers increased they became bolder and quite uncontrollable. Finding a room in our house belonging to the landlord locked, the crowd burst into it, and among other things found a bundle of children's old clothes. With these some fellows rushed out shouting "Dead children!" I saw now it was time for us to look after our own safety, and, calling to my companion, I told him we must get out ur it would be too late, I was standing on the doorstep of my room, and before leaving I addressed our, parpose in being" th Having to the crowd in a few words telling them of
pass down a long, narrow alley from our door to the street, it was no easy thing to get clear, and but for the help of the yamen runners, we might have been injured. Coming into the street, we found a great crowd around the door who greeted our appearance with yells of "Beat them!" "Kill them!" and a shower of stones. We walked quietly at first towards the prefect's residence, but finding the stones hard to ward off, and that some men were running; round to intercept us we had to run for it, ulpotey reaching the yom with the howl-attempt to pass the official door, so we were ing mol following. however they did not safe. After demolishing our house, the infuriated mob rushed to the Roman Catholic remises, and razed them to the ground. fortunately no one was much injured. My old helper Liu was beaten, but his injuries are not serious, Friday morning we were escorted out of the city in the early dawn, and brought round by small roads to Pao-lin, where we shall remain till things are settled for our return. The end of this uufortunate affair will, we trust be our secure settlement in the city of Shunching."
MESSRS, EVANS AND JENNINGS, the missionaries who were in residence at the mission station at the time, have passed through a very trying ordeal, as did Dr. and Mfrs. Pruen and Family who happened to arrive on the spot just as the disturbance was going on. The latter were travelling to Paolin by boat, and called in at Shunchin, on the way.' Fortunately they escape without suffering more injury than a severe shock is likely to occasion them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.