gland was dispelled by accounts from China, which made it clear
that he must proceed thither and go through with the expedition.

_May 28th.--Seven A.M._--This will be a sad letter to you, and I write
it with a heavy heart, though we have much to be thankful for in the
issue of this adventure.... I trust that Providence reserves for us a
time of real quiet and enjoyment. I go to China with the
determination, God willing! to bring matters there to a speedy
settlement. I think that this is as indispensable for the public as
for my own private interest. Gros is of the same opinion. I still
hope, therefore, that with the change of the monsoon we may be wending
our way homewards.

[Sidenote: Missionary station.]

_June 3rd._--Nothing has occurred to mark the lapse of time except a
visit we paid two days ago to a place called Ballagam, some ten miles
from here. It is a missionary station, built by the money of the
Church Missionary Society, or by funds raised through the Society. It
is situated on rising ground, and consists of an excellent bungalow
for the missionary, a church, and a school. A good part of the
building is upon an artificial terrace supported by masonry, and must
have cost a great deal of money. It appears that at one time, while
the work was going on, and cash was abundant, the congregation of so-
called Christians numbered some 400. It is now reduced to thirty
adults and about fifty children. The European missionary has left the
place, and it is in the hands of a native missionary. It gave me a
lively idea of the way in which good people in England are done out of
their money for such schemes.

_June 4th._--This morning I was awakened by the appearance of Loch in
my room, carrying a bag with letters from England. I jumped up and
opened yours, ended on the 10th of May. Your letter is a great
compensation for our shipwreck and delay, and it is at once a strange
coincidence and contrast to what happened on the last occasion. Then
your first letters to me were shipwrecked, and delayed a month in
reaching me. This time I have been shipwrecked myself almost in the
same place, and I have got your dear letter a month sooner than I had
anticipated. How differently do events turn out from our
expectations!... I suppose we shall get off to-morrow, though the
steamer for China is no