for, in the arrival of foreign troops, consisted our only hope of deliverance.

on a flat cake, baked for the purpose, and buried it in a bowl of rice; and in return, he communicated his situation on a piece of The war now dragged on heavitile, on which, when wet with wa- ly on the part of the Burmans ; ter, the writing became invisible, and though the King and Goybut when dried perfectly, legible. ernment continued to supply BunBut after some months' experience doolah with what he required, yet we found that the most conveni- their confidence in him was shakent as well as safest mode of wri-en, and their hopes far from santing was to roll up a chit, and put it in the long nose of a coffee-pot in which I sent his tea. These circumstances may appear trivial, but they serve to show to what straits and shifts we were driven; it was a crime of the highest nature, to be found making communications to a prisoner, however nearly related.

Second Army march for Rangoon.

Bundoolah departed from Ava, in all the pomp and splendour imaginable; commanding an army of between 40,000 and 50,000 men; he was to join the Prince Thar-yar-wa-dee, who had marched some months before, at the head of an equal number. The first two or three reports of the invincible General, were of the most flattering nature, and were joyfully received by the firing of cannon. Now-Rangoon was surrounded by Burman troops then -the fort of the Pagoda was taken; and guns and ammunition sufficient for the Burman Army, should the war continue ever so long and next-his Majesty might expect to hear, that not a white face remained in Rangoon! But no such report ever came the cannons ceased to fire on the arrival of a boat--and soon it was whispered about that the Burmans were defeated, and thousands of them killed, among whom were many officers; and that Bundoolah and the few that remained had fled to Donaboo. With what anxiety did we listen for the report"The English are advancing!"

guine.

The news at length came, that the English Army were advancing, and that they were within twenty miles of Donaboo. The town was all confusion, and the Queen began to send away, to a more secure place, her immense treasure.

Situation of the Prisoners.

It was now the first of March, the commencement of the hot season; which, in Ava, is peculiarly severe. The white prisoners were all put inside of the common prison, in five pair of irons each; and where they were so crowded with Burman thieves and robbers, that they had not sufficient room to lie down. There were at the time near a hundred prisoners, all in one room, without a window or hole for the admittance of air, and the door half closed. I again applied to the governor of the city to allow the Missionaries to be removed to their former place, or at least to let them remain outside of the door during the day. I offered him money, and promised to reward him handsomely when in my power; but all in vain. The old man shed tears at my distress; but said that it was not in his power to comply with my request, for his orders were from a high quarter; he had even been commanded to execute all the white prisoners in private ; and, to keep them in close confinement, was as little as he could do.

He ordered, however, that they should be allowed to go outside of the door, to eat their rice;

and, when inside, be placed as near the door as possible. I was afterwards informed, from good authority, that the Queen's brother, Mentho-gyee, had ordered the Governor to destroy the white prisoners; but that the Governor, fearing they might be required by the King, dared not obey.

The situation of the white prisoners was now wretched in the extreme. The heat during the day was dreadful indeed, the confined air deprived them of inclination for food, and their whole appearance was more that of the dead, than of the living. I daily visited the Governor, and continued to entreat him to pity the foreigners sometimes he appeared to feel for us, and seemed half inclined to listen to my request; but the fear of Mentho-gyee, doubtless pre

:

was to manifest his inveterate

hatred to every foreigner; and those who had for eleven months escaped confinement, now fell into his merciless hands, and were thrown into prison. Among the number was Mr. Lonoogo, a Spanish Gentleman, who had for twenty years been high in the King's favour, and had done all in his power to alleviate the sufferings of the Death of Bundoolah, the Burmese foreign prisoners; but he was now among them.

vented.

General.

It was now reported that the foreign troops had reached Donaboo; and was whispered about that Bundoolah was dead. No one at first, ventured to say this openly; but the report was now conveyed officially to his Majesty, who was mute with disappointment, while the Queen smote her breast and exclaimed, "Ama, Ama!" What was to be done now? Where could another General be found, and from what quarter could troops be raised? The Prince and Woongyees at the Burmese Camp, had intimated the necessity of making peace; but this was too humiliating to be thought of for a moment. "What!" said one of the Woongyees at Court, "shall we allow it to be recorded in a future history of the country, that our glorious King made a peace with strangers, and gave them part of his territory? No, we will die first!"

Dr. Judson's Sickness.

Mr. Judson had now been in close confinement, and in five pair of fetters, for a month; and with anguish indescribable, I saw him sinking under the weight of his sufferings. He was taken with a high fever. My distress and entreaties now prevailed with the Governor of the city to give a written order to remove Mr. Judson from the common prison into a little bamboo room, six feet long and four wide. I also obtained an order to give him medicine, and visit him whenever I wished. I had removed into the Governor's compound, and was living in a bamboo house where the thermometer daily rose to 106; but thought myself happily situated to be near the prison, and allowed to visit Mr. Judson, who began now to hope that he should recover from the fever, as his situation was SO much better than before.

Prisoners removed.

from Government to follow Mr. Judson, with my little Maria, who was then only three months old; and, with one Bengalee servant, set out on my journey. We reach

merapoorah; and were informed that the Prisoners had been sent off two hours before to Oung-penlay (a place similar to Botany Bay,) whither I immediately followed. I found Mr. Judson in a most wretched state. He had been dragged out of his little room the day before: his shoes, hat, and clothes, excepting his shirt and pantaloons, had been taken from him, and in his feeble state of health, and in the hottest part of the day, had been literally driven ten miles with a rope tied round his waist. His feet were torn in such a manner, that for six weeks he was unable to stand. He was nearly exhausted with pain and fatigue, when a servant of Mr. Gauger's who had followed his master, took from his head his turban, gave part of it to Mr. Judson, who hastily wrapped it about his feet, which enabled him to proceed without sinking. He and Dr. Price were now chained together; and, with the other prisoners, put inside of a small wood prison almost gone to decay. We afterward were inform

But new and dreadful trials were yet before us. I had gone in one morning to give Mr. Judson his breakfast, and intended spend-ed the Government house at Uming a few hours, as usual, when the Governor, in great haste, sent for me. I was agreeably disappointed, on appearing before him, to find that he had nothing in particular to communicate, and that he was uncommonly kind and obliging. He had detained me a long time, when a servant came in hastily, and whispered that the foreign prisoners had all been taken out, and he knew not where they were carried. Without speaking to the Governor, I ran down stairs into the street, hoping to catch a sight of them; but they were beyond the reach of my eye. I inquired of all whom I met, which way the white prisoners were gone; but no one knew: I returned again to the Governor, who declared that he was perfectly ignorant of their fate; and that he did not know of their being taken out of prison till a few moments before. This was all false; as he had evidently been detaining me, to avoid witnessing the scene that was to follow. He also said, with a meaning countenance, You can do no more for your husband: take care of your-ed that the Pagan Woongyee had self." This was a day never to be forgotten. I retired to my little bamboo house, and endeavoured to obtain comfort from the only true source; but my mind was in such a distracted state, that I could not steadily reflect on any thing. This one thought occupied my mind to the exclusion of every other that I had seen Mr. Judson for the last time, and that he was now probably in a state of extreme agony. In the evening I heard that the prisoners were sent to Ummerapoorah; but what was to be their fate was not yet known. The next day I obtained a pass MARCH, 1827.

sent the foreigners to this place, with a design to sacrifice them, in order to secure success in his contemplated expedition: but the King, suspecting him of treasonable intentions, caused him to be executed before he had time to accomplish his designs.

I here obtained a little room from one of the jailors, where I passed six months of constant and severe suffering. Mr. Judson was much more comfortably situated than when in the city prison, as he had only one pair of fetters; and, when recovered from his fever and wounds, was allowed to

10

walk in the prison enclosure. But || and Government felt the necessity

of taking some measures to prevent their arrival in the capital. They had several times refused to listen to the terms which Sir Archibald Campbell had offered; but they now saw that there was no other hope for the preservation

I was deprived of every single convenience; and my health, which had enabled me to bear severe trials hitherto, now began to fail. I was taken with one of the country disorders; and, for two months, was unable to go to Mr. Judson's prison. Our little Ma- of the "golden city." Mr. Jud

ria, who had just recovered from the small-pox, was near starving to death, as I could neither obtain a nurse nor a drop of milk in the village.

Our merciful Father preserved us all, through these dreadful scenes; and, at the expiration of six months, an order arrived for the release of Mr. Judson, and I was allowed to return to our house in town.

son was daily called to the palace, and his opinion requested in all their proceedings; and the Government finally entreated him to go as their Ambassador to the English Camp. This he entirely declined; but advised their sending Dr. Price, who had no objection to going. Dr. Price being unsuccessful in his mission, on his return Mr. Judson was taken by force, and sent with him again. Sir Archibald had before this de

The King was much in want of an interpreter, and, from self-manded us, together with the othish motives, had given orders for er foreign prisoners; but the King the release of Mr. Judson, who had refused, saying, "They are was immediately conducted to the my people, let them remain.” Burmese Camp, then at Wialown, We then did not venture to exwhere he remained six weeks press a wish to leave the country; translating for his Majesty: he fearing that we should be immediwas then sent back to Ava; and ately sent to prison; Mr. Judson as a reward for his services, order- communicated our real situation ed back to the Oung-pen to prison to the General; who with all the but before the order could be ex- feelings of a British officer, now ecuted, I sent* Moung Ing to demanded us in a way that his MajKoung-tong, who was now high in esty dared not refuse; and, on office, and had for a long time the 21st of February, after an immanifested a disposition to help prisonment of nearly two years, us; and begged that he would inwe took our leave of the " golden tercede for Mr. Judson, and pre- city" and all its magnificence, vent his being sent again to pris- and turned our faces toward the on. Koung-tong complied with British Camp, then within forty my request, offered to become se- miles of Ava. curity for Mr. Judson, and took him to his house, where he was kept a prisoner at large nearly two months longer.

British Hospitality.

No one can conceive our joy, when we had safely passed the Burman Camp; for then we felt, indeed, that we were once more free, and out of the power of those whose tender mercies are cruel. The British General received us with all that kindness and hospitality for which your countrymen are

every comfort during a fortnight's residence at the camp, and kindly sent us on to Rangoon in his gunboat. We deeply feel the kindness of Sir Archibald Campbell, for, under the directions of Providence, he has been the means of delivering us from the iron grasp of the Burmans. May God reward him an hundred fold, and prepare him for the future enjoyment of heaven!

so far famed, provided us with || I almost daily introduce religious subjects to my own teacher. He says he dare not deny the truth of our religion, but he is still more afraid to say the Boodhist system is not true. Formerly he insisted that the difference between the two religions is small; but lately he has given up this point. He seems however to be as little affected with the doctrines of the Bible as if they were mere speculations which in no way involve the happiness or misery of the soul.

Rangoon, March 22, 1826. We have safely arrived in Rangoon, and once more find ourselves in the old Mission house! What shall we render to the Lord for all his mercies!

You will see from the publick prints the Treaty of Peace. We intend going to one of the places retained by the English Government, and endeavour once more to collect a little Church around

us.

Mah Men-lay and her sister we found at Prome: they are as pious as ever, and will follow wherever we go.

Burmah will yet be given to Jesus for his inheritance! We are not discouraged, but think our prospects brighter than ever. We shall have as many schools as we can support at Mergui or Tavoy, to which places the Burmese population are flocking in crowds.

EXTRACTS FROM MR. WADE'S

JOURNAL.

June 13. Received a packet of letters, together with several numbers of the Magazine, Herald, &c. by the ship Pagoda. Most of the letters were from our friends in and about Hamilton; they refreshed our hearts exceedingly. We were delighted to hear that the Lord was pouring out his spirit upon the churches in their vicinity, and in some other places, in a wonderful manner. When shall we see such displays of divine grace in these heathen lands?

June 17, Saturday. Brother Boardman and myself preach in Circular Road Chapel alternately, of a Sabbath morning, and frequently we are called upon to preach in other places, so that always one, and sometimes both of us has one or two sermons to

preach every Sabbath. Saturday evenings we spend together in prayer, singing, and religious conversation. We also submit to each other's inspection the skeletons of the sermons which we have prepared for the Sabbath. Calcutta, May 25, 1826. Had This practice has been continued a long conversation with brother from the time of brother BoardBoardman's Burman teacher on man's arrival; we have found it a the subject of religion; he was very happy expedient to promote perhaps a little more disposed to personal piety, brotherly love, hear than usual, and assented to union of feeling and sentiment, most of what I said; but I fear it particularly on those points which was all to no purpose; truth does we make the subjects of not profit unless it gains the af-versation and prayer, while our fections of the heart, as well as interest in those subjects is greatthe assent of the understanding. ly increased; and as the skeletons

con