of the aboriginal Chinese, and such
constitute the inhabitants of Canton, of the coasts and of the isles, who
understand the language in which your Testaments are printed. If you
wish for readers you must seek them amongst the masters of Pekin and the
fierce hordes of desert Tartary; but what means do you possess for
introducing them to Tartary or Pekin?' I stated in a former letter that
the town of Kiachta, upon the northern frontier of China, appeared to me
to be in many respects a suitable head-quarters for any person on whom
might devolve the task of endeavouring to supply the Mandchou Tartars
with the word of life in their own language. I am still of opinion, and
so are many individuals much more experienced than myself, that if a
passport could be obtained from the Russian Government, the Bible Society
would do well in despatching an agent to Kiachta, to see what might be
done at, or rather from, that place in the great cause. Kiachta is
little more than 800 miles from Pekin, and not more than half that
distance from Manjuria; he might therefore, trusting in the Lord, not
unreasonably hope to be able to penetrate to the Tartar of the capital
and the desert. True it is that his undertaking would not 'come within
the limits of safe and prudent speculation.' But is it possible for a
plan to come within the limits of safe speculation, which has in view the
conversion of the Tartar? Far be it from me to advise that the entire
stock of Testaments be hazarded in such an enterprise; 200 is the extreme
number which should be ventured, the others shipped for England, for a
seizure upon the agent and his books would be no improbable event. I am
a person of few words, and will therefore state without circumlocution
that I am willing to become that agent. I speak Russ, Mandchou, and the
Tartar or broken Turkish of the Russian steppes, and have also some
knowledge of Chinese, which I might easily improve at Kiachta, half of
the inhabitants of which town are Chinamen. I am therefore not
altogether unqualified for such an adventure. Were the attempt to be
made, the winter of the ensuing year would be the proper time for
starting, because the book will not be ready before next spring, and the
expenses of a summer journey would be enormous.

A few days since, upon taking leave of Prince Abbas Khoulgi, who has
departed from this place to his patrimonial territories, near the
Caucasus, I presented him with a Testament in t