any price.
The dollar, now worth about three shillings, had risen to a value of
eight-and-ninepence, and the prospect for one with only a small income
of English money was dark indeed. However, I had three letters of
introduction, and counted on counsel and help, especially from one of
those to whom I had been commended, whose friends I well knew and highly
valued. Of course I sought him out at once, but only to learn that he
had been buried a month or two before, having died from fever during the
time of my voyage.

Saddened by these tidings, I inquired for a missionary to whom another
of my letters of introduction was addressed; but a further
disappointment awaited me--he had left for America. The third letter
remained; but as it had been given by a comparative stranger, I had
expected less from it than from the other two. It proved, however, to be
GOD's channel of help. The Rev. Dr. Medhurst, of the London Mission, to
whom it was addressed, introduced me to Dr. Lockhart, who kindly allowed
me to live with him for six months. Dr. Medhurst procured my first
Chinese teacher; and he, Dr. Edkins, and the late Mr. Alexander Wylie
gave me considerable help with the language.

Those were indeed troublous times, and times of danger. Coming out of
the city one day with Mr. Wylie, he entered into conversation with two
coolies, while we waited a little while at the East Gate for a companion
who was behind us. Before our companion came up an attack upon the city
from the batteries on the opposite side of the river commenced, which
caused us to hurry away to a place of less danger, the whiz of the balls
being unpleasantly near. The coolies, unfortunately, stayed too long,
and were wounded. On reaching the Settlement we stopped a few minutes to
make a purchase, and then proceeded at once to the London Mission
compound, where, at the door of the hospital, we found the two poor
coolies with whom Mr. Wylie had conversed, their four ankles terribly
shattered by a cannon ball. The poor fellows declined amputation, and
both died. We felt how narrow had been our escape.

At another time, early in the morning, I had joined one of the
missionaries on his verandah to watch the battle proceeding, at a
distance of perhaps three-quarters of a mile, when suddenly a spent ball
passed between us and buried itself in the verandah wall. Another day my
friend Mr. Wylie left a book on the table after luncheon, and returning
for it about five minute