After the service of reading and prayer, and all had gone to their daily employments, I was conducted by the superintendent of the workmen, C. A. Goodrich, through the several apartments of the office. Though I had received and disbursed, in no stinted supplies, the productions of the establishment, which was in its infancy on my leaving Jaffna, I was not expecting to find it so greatly enlarged. It was a pleasing spectacle, viewed merely as a house of industry, where each one was busily employed as though working by the job, and silently attending to his own business. On seeing them thus laboriously employed, I could not but think that we had given the thousand headed hydra, caste, a sore thrust, and severed at least one other of its heads. The persons employed are mostly virlalas, men of high caste and high notions. If we had formerly put such tools into their hands as they now use, they would have been alarmed lest it was our intention to degrade them to the carpenter, or shoemaker's caste. But as no one had ever heard of losing caste by attending to the printing business, young men of education and good standing in society are quite ready to enlist in the service."

To show the extensive influence of this establishment, and its consequent importance as a means of usefulness, the mission says,

"The influence of our labors in connection with the press extends over the whole Tamul country. We send the same number of Scriptures to the continent as are distributed in Jaffna, and twice the number of tracts. Besides being sent to the Madura mission, our tracts are sent to Nega patam, Combaconum, Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Salem, Coimbatoor, Palamcottah, Nagercoil, and Madras."

1

MISSION TO SIAM.

BANKOK.-Charles Robinson, Dan B. Bradley, M. D., Nathan S. Benham, Jesse Caswell, H. S. G. French, Asa Hemenway, and Lyman B. Peet, Missionaries; Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Bradley, Mrs. Benham, Mrs. Caswell, Mrs. French, Mrs. Hemenway, and Mrs. Peet; and Miss Mary E. Pierce, Teacher.

In this country.-Stephen Johnson, Missionary.

(1 station; 8 missionaries-one of them a physician and one a printer, and 8 female assistant missionaries;-total, 16.)

The company which sailed in the Arno arrived at Singapore Oct. 23d. The hopes of the Committee that the ship would proceed to Siam, were not realized, and the missionaries were obliged to wait for some other opportunity. The names of Mary E. Peirce and Judith M. Taylor, two unmarried females who went out as teachers, were accidentally omitted in the last Report. Miss Taylor, while at Singapore, was united in marriage to Mr. Minor, of the Ceylon mission, as has been mentioned already. In December Miss Pierce obtained passage, with Messrs. Caswell and Hemenway and their families, for Bankok, where they arrived Jan. 1st. It is found to be practicable for American or English vessels to beat up against the monsoon from Singapore to Bankok in less time than three weeks. At the latest dates from Singapore, Messrs. Benham, French and Peet were still detained there. Mr. French, who sus

tains to his mission the two-fold relation of preacher and printer, was usefully employed in learning to cut punches, with the aid of Mr. North. The brethren were also studying the Siamese language, though under many disadvantages for want of competent teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins, and Doct. and Mrs. Tracy have returned to this country, with the approbation of the Committee, and, at their own request, have been released from their connection with the Board. The former arrived March 20th, in the 'Arno,' and the latter March 28th, in the Oneida.'

In the early part of last year, Messrs. Robinson and Tracy went, with the approbation of the government, to reside at Anghin, about two days sail from Bankok, on the upper part of the eastern side of the bay. The place was thought to afford an eligible site for a health station. But though more healthy than Bankok, their expectations were not fully realized. The station was relinquished, at the request of the prah klang, who assigned the excited state of the nation, in consequence of the attempts made to suppress the opium trade, as the reason for their return to Bankok. It is still uncertain whether the government will consent to permanent stations at a distance from the metropolis.

The mission continues to make useful contributions to geography. The Siamese have joined their neighbors in China in efforts to arrest the destructive influence of opium; and it is worthy of notice how this war upon the intoxicating drug by the heathen rulers of these heathen people-embracing perhaps half of the heathen population of the globe-is simultaneous with a similar struggle on the part of the most civilized and christian nations of the world, to save themselves from a similar evil from the use of alcoholic liquors. It is surely a reform, both here and there, necessary to the rapid and extensive triumphs of the gospel. By request of the king, 10,000 copies of his proclamation against the introduction, sale and use of opium, were printed at the mission press. This was the first official document of any kind ever printed by the government, and it shows the opinion of the king, and of his highest and most experienced officers as to the reading capacity of the people, that so many copies should have been ordered.

After having made several ineffectual attempts to introduce the vaccine matter, Doct. Bradley determined to resort, if possible, to inoculation as a means of arresting the destructive ravages of the small-pox among the people of Siam. The success and importance of this movement require that something more than a passing notice should be taken of it. This will be done in Doct. Bradley's own words.

"Dec. 10th, 1838. Commenced writing a treatise on the benefits and mode of inoculation for the small pox, with a view to present it to the king of Siam. It has occurred to me that inoculation for the small pox might become an incal

culable blessing to this people, in the absence of vaccination, which, in consequence of the many fruitless attempts to introduce it, has been rendered almost hopeless of ever being realized in Siam. I intend, after I shall have written this treatise to the king, to write and publish one of a similar kind for the physicians of Siam. The king has quite recently sent several of the royal physicians to visit me, for the purpose of being taught how to inoculate. It appeared that he had been informed of the successful inoculation of the children of the missionaries and several of the Siamese, and had thus had his hopes excited that inoculation might afford some important relief from the small pox, than which there is no other disease so destructive of life among the Siamese. The small pox rages among them four or five months every year. The season of its reign is in November, December, January, February, and March. It is almost impossible to find a family of some years standing in Siam, that has not suffered from this terrible disease the loss of some two or three lives. A very large majority of the Siamese are thickly pitted, and very many have either lost their eyes, or had them greatly injured by the same disease. Well may the king take a lively interest in any plan that promises to afford relief from this awful and perpetual scourge. The prah klang has uniformly manifested great interest in all the experiments which I have from time to time made with the vaccine virus. The king has sent to me several of his slaves, conducted by his physicians, for the purpose of having me inoculate them with the small pox, that he may have an ocular proof of the benefits of the plan. Prahnaiwai, the first son of the prah klang, sent for me today to inoculate his own child. He had previously tried me in the case of a child of his relative.

"13. Two of his majesty's physicians extraordinary visited me to-day. They call themselves my pupils, and entreat me to prepare for their use a variety of medical and surgical books. They more especially request that I will write a treatise on midwifery. These persons are indeed my pupils in learning the art of inoculation. They are sent by the express command of the king, as they say, that they may prepare themselves to inoculate in the royal family, and the families of the noble peers.

17. Had six of his majesty's physicians at my house making inquiries concerning inoculation for small pox. I took occasion to show them some of our anatomical plates, with which they were greatly interested, and led to cherish most exalted ideas of the wisdom and skill of foreign physicians. They renewed their request that I would speedily prepare a work on midwifery. It may now be my duty to devote the amount of time which I have been accustomed to spend in the practice of medicine and surgery, to writing and publishing of suitable books for the instruction of the Siamese physicians. Probably the good which I may in this way do will be much more extensive and lasting, than that of treating the diseased.

"18. In company with my brethren, I visited the prah klang in the morning, and presented to him the treatise on inoculation for the king. All communications from foreigners to his majesty must take this route. The prah klang being in haste to make his usual morning visit to the royal palace, had not time to examine it, and therefore appointed that we should see him on the next day.

"We called on the prah klang according to appointment. He had read the treatise and was pleased with it, and promised that he would soon present it to the king. Mrs. Tracy presented him at the same time a large variety of rare exotic garden seeds, which were received with much thankfulness.

"20. Five of the royal physicians spent nearly all the forenoon with me, seeking medical instruction. They brought more lads from the king for inoculation. One of the number took a copy of the Spiritual Songs to the king's palace yesterday. His majesty discovered it, and inquired whence it came, and required a part of it to be read in his hearing. This physician informed me, that the king expressed much pleasure in hearing it read. He also informed me that his majesty is very much encouraged by the success of my experiments in inoculation.

"24. Chou Nuam, a younger brother of the king, visited me last evening. His title is Father of Doctors. He is about thirty years of age, short of stature and very corpulent, and resembles much the king. His object in visiting me was to inform himself on the subject of inoculation.

"27. Wrote a treatise on vaccination and inoculation for the Siamese doctors with the hope of printing it in a few days. The Lord has opened this door of usefulness in a very remarkable manner.

"31. The Paw Maw, Father of Doctors mentioned in my journal of the 24th, called upon me again. His object was to read my treatise on inoculation. Having read it with much apparent pleasure, he asked many questions touching things not explained in the treatise, evincing a studious and active mind. He wished to qualify himself for inoculating. The prah klang sent for me to visit him, which I did. He engaged me to inoculate in his family as soon as he could procure good virus. This is certainly indicative of increasing confidence in the missionaries.

"Jan. 4th, 1839. Inoculated in the family of the prah klang six children, three grandchildren, and three inferior wives. I trust that the Lord will, by this means, give us favor among the millions of this people, and promote the cause of the glorious gospel in Siam. I feel that I have assumed great responsibility, but I will cast my cares upon the Lord who careth for his children.

"10. Was yesterday called to inoculate some fifteen or twenty more little ones connected with the family of the prah klang, and to-day to perform a similar service for the children of the prah klang's brother, Pysipipat.

"12. Chouchahum sent for me to inoculate his children and some other persons within his palace. I have just published the treatise on vaccination and inoculation, and find it to be a very great aid to me in communicating instructions on these subjects. I leave copies in the families and strictly enjoin that the directions therein given shall be obeyed. The tract is already in very great demand, and is read and understood with perfect ease. We have printed 500 copies.

"14. The prah klang sent to me a physician to take lessons in the science of inoculation, that he may qualify himself to go with the blessing to Bangpsoi. Had some fifteen or twenty applications from physicians for the treatise on inoculation. Learned that the prah klang is delighted with the result of inoculation in his own family.

"16. Had many visits from physicians, the first in this kingdom. Choufah sent for me to see his little son, aged about four months, whom he had just before had a royal physician inoculate. He was afraid that it was not done properly. This son is to him the 'all in all.'

"17. Paw Maw called again for further information. He informed me that more than one thousand persons had already been inoculated by the king's personal physicians, and innumerable others by the physicians of the common people; and that not one untoward circumstance has occurred among them all.

"19. Saturday. Have spent a large portion of time this week in inoculating in the families of the rulers, princes, nobles, etc. etc., and in instructing Siamese physicians on this subject. My hopes are greatly raised that the Lord will make this work the occasion of vast good to this people. Inoculation is now the all-engrossing topic of conversation in Bankok and the country, from the king to the beggar. Several thousands have been inoculated with perfect success. As yet not one death has been heard of from inoculation, while small-pox in the natural way is very mortal. I cannot but regard this as a very remarkable fact. Methinks I can distinctly discover the hand of our Lord and Savior in this work. It seems to me that it is a special answer to the prayers of his servants; and that God will make this in some signal manner subserve the interests of his cause in Siam. When were more happy results from inoculation ever known?"

In May, Doct. Bradley writes as follows:

"You will be pleased to learn that inoculation has proved to be a great blessing here. The hand of the Lord has most evidently been in the work; for never before, I believe, have such happy results been realized by this mode of relief against the destructive effects of that disease. What is very remarkable is, that the disease, when had in the natural way, has this year been peculiarly destructive of life. But many hundreds of persons have been inoculated, in the royal family and the families of the nobles and rulers, without even one death. Many thousands of the people were inoculated in the months of January and February, with but one or two deaths among them all. As the hot season came on, inoculation was perceived to be attended with some untoward circumstances and increasing mortality. The work was consequently suspended until after the hot season. The king of Siam was all engaged in extending the blessing among his subjects, and manifested a mind far more benevolent and noble than reputation had given him. About the last of March he was pleased to give substantial testimony of his gratitude for the blessings of inoculation. To some thirty or more chief physicians, most of whom had been my pupils in acquiring the knowledge and skill on this subject, and had taken an active part in the work, he gave a royal bounty. To some he gave one chang, (eighty ticals or about $48,) to some two changs, to some three, and four and five. Probably the whole amount of the royal premiums on that occasion was not less than $3,000."

In this acknowledgment the paramount claims of the missionary were not overlooked by his majesty. By the hands of the prah klang, he sent Doct. Bradley a present of 240 ticals, with the following message:

"His sacred magnificent majesty would present this sum of money to thee, the American doctor, as a testimony of his unfeigned gratitude for thy very benevolent services in teaching the royal physicians the art of inoculation, and thy success in bringing into Siam this great boon which has already saved many lives."

To this, Doct. Bradley returned a suitable reply, informing the king that he should devote the royal gift to defraying the expense of treatises on subjects connected with medicine and surgery.

The good which the mission has thus been the means of confering incidentally on the inhabitants of a populous country, should be gratefully acknowledged. Who can tell the number of lives that will be saved in a single generation? The confidence reposed in the missionary physician, while his missionary character was well known to all ranks, shows that no decided prejudice has yet arisen in the minds of the rulers against the mission. The history of this affair exhibits the humanity of the king and the docility of the people to good advantage, as it does also the native medical faculty.

Measures have been taken to acquaint Doct. Bradley with the recent experiments, by which it has been proved that the genuine vaccine matter may be obtained by inoculating the cow with the small-pox.