June 3, 1853.  To Dr. Anderson.

“In March last one of the members of our church, Chheng-choan, requested that he might be sent in company with the colporteur on a trip to the city of Chiangchiu to preach the Gospel and distribute tracts.  He said that his heart was very ardent to go and make known the Gospel.  He was willing to give the time and bear his own expenses.  He is a native of the city of Chiangchiu.”

“They made two visits, one in company with Rev. W. C. Burns.  Many of the people requested them to establish a permanent place.  Houses were offered them for rent.  A few days after their return to Amoy two men who had been much interested in their preaching came down and spent several days with us in order that they might learn the way of the Lord more perfectly.”

“On the 3d of May we called a meeting of the male members of our church, to take into consideration the subject of immediately sending two of their number to Chiangchiu, to commence permanent operations.  The members were unanimous in the opinion that the Master had opened the way before us, and was calling us to go forward.  It was decided that if two men qualified for the work would volunteer, they should immediately be sent.  It was then suggested that if two more men were ready perhaps it would be well to appoint them for the region north of us, to carry the Gospel to the villages and towns between Amoy and Chinchew and see whether the way might not be open to begin operations in that city.  Chinchew is an important city near the seacoast, about one-third of the way from Amoy to Foochow.  The suggestion concerning the appointment of men for Chinchew was new to us.  Everything seemed favorable for adopting the new suggestion.  Four men immediately offered themselves for the work, two for Chiangchiu, and two for the region of Chinchew.  They were men whom we thought well qualified for the work, probably just the men we would have chosen.

“The evangelist U, and the colporteur Lotia, left Amoy on their mission to Chiangchiu, May 12th.  A few days after their arrival, about midnight on the 17th of May, the insurrection broke at Chiangchiu, which interrupted their labors.  The evangelist thought that quiet would soon be restored and therefore resolved to remain a few days.  The people rushed upon the insurgents, wrested their arms from them, and slew many of them.  The insurgents finding themselves overpowered attempted to flee.  The gates of the streets were closed against them.  The people along the streets attacked them by throwing missiles from the tops of the houses.  All strangers in the city were in great danger of being suspected and treated as insurgents.  The evangelist in leaving the city was seized by some of the mob.  Some said he was one of the insurgents, others said he was not.  He succeeded in making his escape to the house of a friend outside of the city walls.  The colporteur made his escape over the wall of the