"We did not apprehend, until last Monday, that war was declared against the Burmans. The most credible information which we could obtain, assured us, that all grievances were amicably settled. But on Monday last, information came, that a number of ships were at the mouth of the river. Government iminediately ordered every person in Rangoon who wears a hat, to be taken prisoners, which was accordingly done. In the course of the succeeding night, Mr. Hough and myself were chained, and put into close confinement, under armed keepers. In the morning the fleet was in sight of the town, and our keepers were ordered to massacre us the moment the first shot was fired upon the town. But when the firing commenced, our murderers were so effectually panic-struck, that they all slunk away into one corner of the prison, speechless, and almost breathless. The next shot made our prison tremble and shake, as if it would be immediately down on our heads. Our keepers now made for the prison door; we used every exertion to persuade them to remain, but all to no purpose; they broke open the door, and fled. In a few moments after, the firing ceased; and we expected the troops were landing, and that we should be soon released; when horrible to relate, about fifty Burmans rushed into the prison, drew us out, stripped us of every thing but our pantaloons; our naked arms were drawn behind us, and corded as tight as the strength of one man would permit; and we were almost literally carried through the streets upon the points of their spears, to the seat of judgment, and were made to sit upon our knees, with our bodies bending forward, for the convenience of the executioner, who was ordered that

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moment to behead us. None of us understood the order but Mr. Hough; he requested the executioner to desist a moment, and petition the Yawoon (the chief magistrate) to send him on board the frigate, and promised to use his influence to prevent any further firing upon the town. The linguists seconded the proposal, and pleaded that we might be reprieved for a few moments.

"The Yawoon answered, If the English fire again, there shall be no reprieve:' and asked Mr. Hough if he would positively promise to put an immediate stop to the firing, which you will recollect had been discontinued from the time that our keepers in prison had fled. At this moment several shots were sent very near us: the government people fled from the seat of judgment, and took refuge under the banks of a neighbouring tank. All the others fled from the town, but kept us before them: we were obliged to make our way as fast as possible, for the madness and terror of our attendants allowed us no compliments.

"We were soon overtaken by the government people, fleeing upon horseback.

About a mile and a half from the town they halted, and we were again placed before them. Mr. Hough and the linguists renewed their petition. After a few moments' conversation his irons were taken off, and he was sent on board the frigate with the most awful threatenings to himself and us, if he did not succeed.

"The remainder of us were obliged again to resume our march. Finally, a part of us were confined in a strong building, at the foot of the golden pagoda: I, with two others, was taken into the pagoda, and confined in a strong building, and

left under the care of a door-keeper. After dark, this fellow, by the promise of a present, was induced to remove us into a kind of vault, which had but a small aperture, and was without windows : it afforded only sufficient air for the purpose of respiration. The fellow himself, I believe, ran away. We were several times alarmed during the night.

"The next morning early, we were searched for by our blood-thirsty enemies, who, upon finding we were not in the room where they had left us, concluded that we had escaped, and fled. We expected every moment that we should be discovered, when, to our great relief, we heard them cry out, The English are coming!' and they fled. We waited, however, in vain, to hear some sound which would assure us it would be safe to cry out for assistance; for we soon found we were again surrounded with Burmans.

"About noon, the English troops came up, and to our inexpressible joy relieved us from our unpleasant situation. As soon as I could be disengaged from my galling chains, I hastened to the mission-house, to learn the fate of Mrs. Wade and Hough. I found them safe and well: but though not imprisoned, they had experienced great sufferings, and escaped great dangers. Mr. Hough I also found safe at the mission-house. When we met, and heard the relation of each other's dangers and escapes, we felt constrained to join in the most hearty acknowledgments of gratitude to God, by whose divine interposition our lives had been preserved.

"I have too little room to think of entering upon our feelings, when we viewed ourselves as in one

moment more to launch into eternity. Suffice it to say, I felt an assurance in the grace of God, which disarmed death of its terror. The hope of the gospel seemed to me a treasure, whose value was above all computation. Finally, I trust the dangers and sufferings of the past week have yielded me a rich spiritual harvest." "We

Well then may the believer exclaim, rejoice in hope of the glory of God; and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost who is given unto us." Reader, have you a personal experience of this? Sanctified trials tend to individual advantage, and to the promotion of the cause of God; but unsanctified afflictions will rise up in judgment to the condemnation of multitudes!

CHAPTER VII.

Extreme Sufferings of Messrs. Judson and Price.-Devoted Efforts of Mrs. Judson.-Her Illness and Death.-The Convert Moung Dwah.-Other Converts.-Mr. Boardman's last Labours.-Dr. Judson's Visit to Prome.Rapid increase of a Spirit of Religious Inquiry.—Recent Intelligence.

MESSRS. HOUGH and WADE soon after returned to Bengal, their stay in Rangoon being attended with danger, while they had no opportunity of effecting anything for the mission.

The situation of Messrs. Judson and Price, who had gone to Ava, now became a subject of intense anxiety to all the friends of the mission. There was too much reason to fear that they had fallen victims to the hasty resentment of a vindictive and haughty government. The English troops were uniformly victorious. Army after army of Burmans were defeated; and the English were on the advance towards the capital. These events were likely to incense the Burman government, and to induce them to treat all foreigners with the utmost severity.

For nearly two years the cloud which concealed their state was dark and portentous. That suspense, which is often as dreadful as the most awful certainty, agitated the minds of their relatives, and of all the friends of missions, with alternate hopes and fears. Those who cherished the belief that the missionaries were alive, relied only on the power of that God who had so signally protected