Under date of January 18, 1818, Mrs. Judson writes that they still live quietly, unmolested by government, and that they receive much respect and affection from the Viceroy and his family.  She had some opportunities of private religious conversation with the Vicereine, to whom she presented a translation of Matthew’s Gospel and a catechism.  Still the heart of the lady appeared unaffected, though she ordered her daughters to be instructed in the new catechism.  The inquirer who was mentioned as having afforded Mr. Judson such lively satisfaction, had been appointed to a government in a distant province, so that they saw little of him, but were gratified to learn that his interest in religious books still continued.

CHAPTER IX.

DISTRESSING EVENTS.—­MR. JUDSON’S ABSENCE FROM RANGOON.—­PERSECUTION OF MR. HOUGH.—­HIS DEPARTURE FOR BENGAL.—­MRS. JUDSON’S HEROIC FORTITUDE.—­MR. JUDSON’S RETURN.

We have now to relate some distressing events connected with the mission, which for a time threatened its very existence.

Mr. Judson having decided to commence a course of public preaching to the natives, thought best to secure the assistance of a native convert from the province of Arracan, who spoke the Burman language, to assist him in his first public efforts.  He therefore embarked for that province, leaving Mrs. Judson to continue her efforts with the females under her instruction; while Mr. and Mrs. Hough were to prosecute the study of the language.  He intended to be gone but three months, but at the end of that period, when his return was daily expected, a vessel from Chittagong, the port to which he had sailed, arrived at Rangoon, bringing the distressing tidings, that neither he, nor the vessel he sailed in had been heard of at that port.  Letters received by Mrs. Judson from Bengal, also brought similar intelligence.

While the missionaries left in Rangoon were in this state of fearful alarm and suspense, Mr. Hough received an order to repair instantly to the Court House with a threat, that “if he did not tell all the truth in relation to the foreigners, they would write with his heart’s blood.”  This message spread consternation among the native teachers, domestics and adherents, some of whom heard that a royal order had arrived for the banishment of all foreign teachers.  Mr. Hough was detained at the court-house from day to day on the most flimsy pretences, ignorant of the language, and with no one to intercede with the government in his behalf, for it was contrary to etiquette for a woman to appear before the Viceroy, his family being absent.  Mrs. Judson being at length convinced that the petty officers of government were acting in this matter without authority, and for the purpose of extorting money from Mr. Hough, with the intrepidity that always marked her character, “taking her life in her hand”, went boldly to the palace with a petition for his release.  The Viceroy immediately granted it, and commanded that Mr. Hough should receive no further molestation.